Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 66

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Labyrinth Exploration 101 Episode 066

Runaway(3)

He’s someone whose inner thoughts can’t be seen through, someone unpredictable.

Kang Hyeon thought this as he looked at the sleeping Seol Ha-woon.

He had faced him as an enemy but suddenly turned into an ally, seemed to hide his past but then suddenly opened up about his inner feelings.

He seemed to suspect him, but now he slept defensively as if he completely trusted him.

He seems artificial yet random, planned yet unplanned.

About this human called Seol Ha-woon, if I had to find a similar form── chaos.

A conceptual human where nothing can be certain and no predictions should be made.

At least to Kang Hyeon, Seol Ha-woon is that kind of person.

“….”

He lowered his gaze while leaning his broadsword against his shoulder.

I’m curious.

If I were to cut him open, what would be inside? What kind of existence would be coiled up there….

He closed his eyes after pondering.

Kang Hyeon slowly fell asleep.

* * *

I woke up from sleep.

“Ha…!”

Rough breath poured out from my lungs. My heart was pounding like someone who had just died and come back to life.

It’s probably because of my leg.

This damn dull pain just won’t go away. Even lately, perhaps due to my nervous system, my head and the back of my head are throbbing.

At this rate, I’ll die before my lifespan runs out.

“Hmm.”

I checked on my companion. Kang Hyeon was sitting with his back against the wall. With his broadsword leaning against his shoulder.

He seems awake, yet also seems asleep, and also seems dead.

Complete stillness where not even breathing can be heard.

I quietly looked at him.

Suddenly, suspicion arises.

What kind of appearance is he hiding from me? What kind of principle is inherent in him? What is his hidden side that I haven’t detected yet?

“….”

Suddenly Kang Hyeon opened his eyes. His slightly swollen face was full of sleepiness.

I said to him.

“Get up. Let’s go now.”

I stood up leaning on my walking stick. It seemed like this cherished item and I had almost become one body now.

Kang Hyeon asked.

“Are we going to the Labyrinth?”

“Yeah.”

Snap. I immediately flicked my finger.

The second detonation signal.

Boom!

An explosion erupted somewhere in the debris.

This bomb is a completely different type from before. Rather than power, it’s focused more on ‘deflagration’ – a giant smoke grenade.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Explosions occurred in succession, and I put on my gas mask. Kang Hyeon seems envious of my gas mask.

“You have a strong body so you’ll be fine. Let’s go. Let’s clear a path.”

I put on my coat and pointed to one side.

“Yes.”

Kang Hyeon swung his sword and cleanly cut through the debris. A passage was created. I held up the ceiling with magic power so it wouldn’t collapse.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Feeling the chain explosions and vibrations, we advanced through the passage.

Weeeeeng. Weeeeeng.

As we walked, all kinds of siren sounds rushed in,

-Please step back. Everyone please step back. It’s dangerous. Please step back.

The mechanical voices of robot police can be heard.

Swoosh.

Kang Hyeon cut through the last layer of debris. Outside was completely black. The smoke created by the formula covered not only the hotel but the entire area.

The performance far exceeded expectations.

I have talent.

“Kang Hyeon. Grab my coat.”

“Yes.”

Kang Hyeon grabbed my coat from behind. I walked while cutting through the smoke. Screams, crying, cursing, coughing and such echoed chaotically from here and there.

Perfect environment for escaping.

I found a car without delay. A quite viciously modified SUV. There was one person inside though.

“Ugh, what the hell!”

He thankfully came out first. It was a man wearing VR-like glasses.

“Damn, I can’t see ahead! What the hell happened! I’m busy as hell and this shit! Hey! What the hell is this situation?!”

The man ran out to complain to someone, and I bloodlessly entered the driver’s seat. Kang Hyeon, who had somehow gotten into the passenger seat, asked.

“Hyung. Are you good at driving?”

“Of course.”

I stepped on the accelerator. Vroom! I escaped the completely blocked road by alternately violating the center line and sidewalk.

Suddenly, a thought crosses my mind.

Could I use [Magic Coefficient] on this car? A car is broadly speaking an item too.

I’ll know if I try.

I poured magic power into the hand gripping the steering wheel. The sensation of leather touching my palm. Magic power flows down beneath it. The magic power seeps not only into the steering wheel but also into the car body, tires, and windows….

[ Magic Coefficient has been activated. ]

Success.

I can feel my circuit, the flow of magic power in the SUV.

As expected, [Magic Coefficient] doesn’t just stop at simply enhancing the power of objects. I can amplify the performance itself by inputting my magic power.

Vroooom!

I stepped on the accelerator. The speed became much faster. Kang Hyeon quietly fastened his safety belt.

“Hey.”

I called Kang Hyeon. Kang Hyeon looked around nervously while fiddling with his safety belt.

“You’re supposed to wear safety belts originally. It’s not that I don’t trust your driving-“

“I know. Fasten mine too.”

It’s much faster than I thought, so I’m a bit anxious too.

* * *

We escaped from the city. At some point the height of buildings became lower, and the drones and air taxis racing between skyscrapers similarly disappeared.

Since I didn’t feel any encirclement, I took it reasonably easy. We even stopped by a drive-thru and bought hamburgers.

“The hamburgers are delicious.”

“Eat plenty. We’ll have to fight soon.”

I’m also eating a hamburger while driving. The hamburger floats through the air into my mouth. I’ve been learning telekinesis lately, so I can handle simple manipulations like this to some extent.

“…Did you always do operations like this alone, hyung?”

“Sometimes alone, sometimes with others.”

“Was it more comfortable alone?”

Kang Hyeon asked while eating french fries. Instead of answering, I threw back a question.

“What about you right now?”

“…I think it’s fifty-fifty. It depends on who you’re working with.”

“You know well. Same for me.”

Meanwhile, we arrived near the research facility.

I say near, but it’s incredibly far. It’s barely visible even to my eyes.

“We’re here.”

Kang Hyeon tilted his head and craned his neck forward.

“You won’t be able to see it. It’s quite far.”

“So, how do we infiltrate? Stealth?”

“…I can’t do stealth.”

Kang Hyeon glanced at my leg.

“You did well against the goblins though.”

“Because the opponents were goblins.”

“I’ll leave it to you, hyung.”

I pondered for a moment, but there really wasn’t any reason to deliberate.

We have a car. A sturdy car with activated magic coefficients. The more magic power I input, the much sturdier and much faster it becomes. I think I can make this SUV like a tank.

Therefore, the operation is simple.

“We just go in.”

“…Go in, you say?”

“Yeah.”

Swoosh. I deployed a barrier to protect against internal impact. Crystal-like fragments floated up, forming a thin membrane around the front seats.

Next, I input magic power into the entire car. Auxiliary battery. I poured in even the magic power from the bracelet Seo Ji-woo gave me as a gift to strengthen the SUV.

Pazzeuk!

Blue currents rose from the car’s external frame. Among them, the front bumper was particularly formed like a battering ram.

I stomped hard on the accelerator.

Screeeeeeeeech──-!

It was a roar. Heavy steel cutting through the air. Wind pressure surged up as if grinding the road surface. The speedometer had already exceeded several hundred km/h and displayed an error.

The scenery flashing past the windows looked like a mosaic, and the weight of gravity pressing down on our entire bodies was overwhelming.

At some point, the enemies seemed to notice us as gunfire and lasers poured down. The car body strengthened by magic power didn’t even get scratched.

No, most of them couldn’t even hit us.

My set destination was the research facility’s wall.

In an instant, right before my eyes flashed and the research facility came into view.

Kwaaaaaa─aak!

The car pierced through the building. It broke through the titanium material framework at one point. The SUV’s engine died, but fortunately the internal impact was bearable.

“…Are you okay?”

I asked Kang Hyeon.

“Yes. You made the barrier well.”

Kang Hyeon smiled. It was a smile that didn’t match the situation.

“Let’s get out.”

I got out of the car.

Limp, limp.

“Hyung. Should I carry you on my back?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t have prepared for this?”

I have a trump card item for times like this. Purchased through internet shopping I happened to see at the tavern, the so-called 【Pony Projector】!

Whirrrr─-

A beam was projected into the air. A hologram imbued with magic power formed the shape of a proper beast… and the guy stood on the ground.

“….”

I stared at the creature silently. Kang Hyeon spoke as if holding back laughter.

“It’s cute, hyung. What’s its name?”

“No… isn’t this a dachshund?”

Even if it’s called a pony, it’s way too short. Its legs are incredibly stubby too. A creature that fits words like tiny and cute.

Hee-hee-hing!

It’s neighing like a horse in its own way, but it’s so different from the advertisement.

On screen it looked reasonably tall and handsome.

“…Let’s go for now.”

I was deceived by false advertising, but there wasn’t time to be flustered. I quickly mounted the pony. From atop the creature that seemed less than 140cm tall, I shouted.

“Giddy up.”

Hee-hee-hing! The pony galloped while prancing. Fortunately, its speed was fast.

Clip clop clip clop. Clip clop clip clop.

I rode the pony and ran, while Kang Hyeon ran beside me. Soldiers appeared at every turn, but before I could do anything, Kang Hyeon cut them down. There was no mercy in his movements.

I prepared adhesive bombs while going down the stairs. They were supplies to forcibly open closed spaces.

“…Huh?”

But the door was open. As if there was no reason to lock it in the first place.

“It’s open?”

“Let’s go in for now.”

We entered inside. We didn’t lower our guard.

Heh-heh-hing.

Suddenly the pony cried out.

“What. Why.”

Purururu.

It shook its body this way and that as if it was heavy.

The duration must have ended. I think I only used it for about 15 minutes.

I gripped my walking stick instead of the pony, and the pony disappeared into the projector.

“….”

I silently looked around the interior. In the wide space, dozens of capsules were lined up. The capsules were connected to some tubes, and the tubes extended long to reach the magic rift─that is, the labyrinth.

I looked inside the capsules. Explorers were already lying peacefully inside. They had fallen into unconsciousness.

“Hah.”

A hollow laugh escaped.

“They said it would take at least three more days.”

I was deceived.

Was my business card sequence seen through, or did they deliberately share false information internally to prepare for any possible situation?

─You’ve come.

A voice echoed. One wall lit up brightly.

Seer was in that screen.

─As you can see, you’re already too late.

Seer somewhere spoke while sitting in a chair.

─Don’t worry though. Everyone is experiencing the happiness they desire. For them, it would be paradise on earth.

Flash! A strange light emanated from the labyrinth’s rift.

That’s when I understood his intention.

─This consciousness labyrinth projects happiness onto them. It lets them infinitely experience the happiness they want. If possible, I’d like to go there myself.

He intends to destroy the Labyrinth. If the Labyrinth is shattered from the outside while consciousness is connected, it becomes difficult to recover the fragmented consciousness.

You fall into a coma.

─I recommend negotiation to all of you.

The Consciousness Labyrinth cannot be overcome by humans alone. I know this because I was once an experiencer myself.

Humans cannot overcome their own unconscious. Therefore, it is the most dangerous Labyrinth, and typical adventurers receive assistance from tools when entering the Consciousness Labyrinth.

“What if we refuse to comply?”

─You are not the subject of negotiation. I will negotiate with those who sent you here.

I saw the crack in the Labyrinth. I saw the countless Consciousness Capsules connected to the crack.

“Ha-woon hyung. What should we do?”

“…There are two ways to enter the Consciousness Labyrinth.”

Either only the unconscious enters like these people now, or you enter with your bare body.

The latter is legally prohibited. Because the danger level is extremely high. Consciousness can be recalled even if lost, but if you lose your body, you can never find it again.

“I’ll go and try to wake them up. You guard this place in the meantime.”

Fortunately, I know how to maintain myself. It’s not just because of my mental power stat reaching [ 9 ].

I placed my fingers on the back of my head. Breathing quietly, I conceived an ‘Implant’.

I haven’t learned it for long, so complex mechanisms are impossible. I don’t want anything complex right now anyway.

It’s simple.

Electrode.

When I enter the Labyrinth, the Implant will continuously apply electrical shocks between the spinal cord and brain to help consciousness awaken.

─It’s impossible. The human species is designed to be unable to overcome the unconscious.

Seer objected. Desperation could be glimpsed in his overly dry, cold voice.

“…First.”

I let out a light sigh and looked at Seer.

“I’m not without apologetic feelings toward you.”

Seer showed no change in expression.

“I would have done the same if I were you.”

The reason trying to resist the world’s extinction. He dares to demand negotiation from the subjects outside.

However, they will not comply.

I know them very well.

“In the world I lived in, there’s a famous saying.”

If the Broadcasting Station concludes ‘uncontrollable’ and asks the Association or Government to resolve it, there will be no happy ending.

“It’s something I’ve heard to the point of being sick of it too.”

They might impose punishment on this entire world that makes even ‘dying peacefully’ impossible. They might reduce it to toys to satisfy some perverts’ destructive and sadistic desires.

They are too cruel people.

That’s exactly why.

“We don’t negotiate with terrorists.”

This is something I must resolve on my own.

I inserted my body into the Consciousness Labyrinth.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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