Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 68

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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 068

Living Like That(2)

One person, two people, three people, four people…. Starting with Im Hae-jun, the explorers were waking up one by one.

It meant Seol Ha-woon had succeeded, but Kang Hyeon didn’t have the capacity to tend to them.

The enemy was right in front of him.

Swish!

He swung his sword. A mana flash that erupted from the blade’s tip severed limbs. Im Hae-jun’s arrow backed him up.

Whoooosh──-!

Suddenly, a sound of tearing air echoed from behind. Literally the resonance of striking air. A violent shockwave sent the enemies flying.

Kang Hyeon and Im Hae-jun turned to look in that direction.

Mage Ryu Yeon-hwa. Having just awakened from sleep, he snapped his fan shut with a sound.

“Oh! Yeon-hwa hyung! Please help us!”

“…I understand.”

Ryu Yeon-hwa seemed to quickly grasp the situation. Swish. He let his fan unfold again, preparing a formula in the posture of a nobleman.

Someone like Ryu Yeon-hwa was worth a thousand troops.

Kang Hyeon looked at the Seer while shaking off the blood and oil on his broadsword.

“It seems we won’t need to negotiate. Thanks to you gathering the explorers for us.”

However, the Seer on the screen still had a relaxed expression.

─Mr. Kang Hyeon. As you probably know, there are occasionally people who are particularly affected by labyrinths. They say they have exceptional sensitivity.

Kang Hyeon stared at him quietly.

“Hyung! Don’t listen to that bastard!”

“Stay put.”

He briefly pushed away Im Hae-jun who was making a fuss.

─This Unconscious Labyrinth has captured her. No, she has captured the labyrinth. She was someone with great longing for happiness. Had she never been happy even once?

Someone who had never been happy even once.

─You’re probably that kind of person too, Mr. Kang Hyeon.

Kang Hyeon raised his sword. A faint anger flickered in his transparent eyes.

The Seer was acting as if he knew everything about me. I can’t let this slide. I need to cut off his neck, his body.

─It was fortunate for me. That such a person, that she was the one.

The Seer spouted enigmatic words.

─She is a noble person.

One person came to mind in Kang Hyeon’s head.

In an era where hollow equality and empty values of natural human rights ravage society, someone who is openly regarded as precious nobility. Someone whose very existence refutes the hypocritical words that there is no distinction between noble and base among humans.

Catherine Violet Hailford.

─She is probably more valuable than all of you put together, more than our entire Labyrinth World.

Kang Hyeon moved his eyes busily searching for her.

She wasn’t there.

Kate wasn’t inside any of the capsules.

─Yes. Her physical body is inside.

Crack!

The labyrinth’s fissure grew even larger. Kang Hyeon watched it with coldly cooled eyes.

It was a transformation.

─She is already becoming one with the labyrinth. No, she has embraced the labyrinth.

Kate had embraced the labyrinth.

Kang Hyeon spoke the reason aloud.

“Because she found happiness?”

─That’s right.

The Seer nodded with a faint smile.

─So now, may I request negotiations again? To those watching us from afar….

* * *

│Labyrinth Exploration NaN, Global OTT #1… The PD’s Philosophy Shows!│

│Labyrinth Exploration Season 3 Soars Through Countless Doubts and Controversies│

│I’m enjoying watching it too~ Season 2 Winner Lee Je-hoon’s Selfie│

│Kang Hyeon, Lee Jun-ho and Other Main Cast Members’ Follower Count Surge│

│Dark Horse So Right! Moments of the Always-Right UDT Veteran Soldier│

│Excessive Vote Solicitation… 10,000 Won Per Weekly Vote, Vote Buying Rampant│

The whole world is Mitamnan, somewhere in a monitoring room in South Korea where that catchphrase spreads like wildfire.

“This is crazy. Absolutely crazy.”

Kim A-rang rubbed the goosebumps on her arms with her hands. The development was that insane.

The episode of Kang Hyeon and Seol Ha-woon encompassing the entire western region of the World Labyrinth.

She had never felt such a strong sensation in her life. It was like being certain of winning the lottery the moment you buy it, no, even before buying it. Even if they deliberately wrote a script, it couldn’t come out this good.

“…This is really crazy.”

Another writer said from behind.

“Hey. I told you to monitor your assigned area, didn’t I? The eastern region is just as important as the west.”

“That one’s already over. Failed. Absolutely can’t gather WP. He was 90th place to begin with….”

It wasn’t just her. Too many writers and PDs were watching the current situation.

“PD Kim. Be honest with me. You didn’t write a script for this, did you?”

“This is just absolutely insane.”

“Aren’t we going to hit 50% viewership with this?”

These were legitimate observers. All their assigned explorers had been trapped in the consciousness labyrinth.

“…But I do feel a bit sorry for him. That person called the Seer.”

“Sorry for what.”

Kim A-rang let out a hollow laugh.

“It’s a fake labyrinth anyway. If you’re going to feel sorry, feel sorry when it’s a real labyrinth. They’re programmed like that. You don’t feel sorry when you use GPT, do you?”

“Ah, well that’s….”

“This won’t cause problems, will it?”

One writer asked worriedly. Kim A-rang clicked her tongue.

“The problem has already occurred.”

They’d have to remake the preview from scratch, and more importantly.

This NaN World is an epic saga.

“The runtime is going to be way over. Tremendously so.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

The answer came from elsewhere. Kim A-rang and the staff turned their heads.

“If you ask to increase the episode count, they’ll increase it. If you want more runtime, take as much as you want. Film if you want to film. Our problem isn’t something like contracts.”

It was the main PD Yoon Sa-hyuk, holding instant coffee.

The writers and PDs bowed their heads to him as he came in for a break and patrol.

“The whole world is NaN. From this week on, just think of yourselves as the broadcasting station. Nothing, no one will interfere with you. I’ll make it that way. Whether it’s terrestrial or OTT or whatever, we’re number one right now.”

Kim A-rang grinned. Yoon Sa-hyuk also seemed to be in a good mood.

“Then, we’ll be able to buy a house each after this ends, right? Outright purchase.”

Yoon Sa-hyuk raised his eyebrows.

“Small dreams.”

Everyone’s expressions brightened at those words.

“Now everyone go back.”

“Yes!!”

“Understood!”

All the writers and PDs returned to their seats, and Yoon Sa-hyuk sat down next to Kim A-rang.

“PD Yoon. What you just said was exactly what I wanted to say.”

Yoon Sa-hyuk smiled faintly.

“PD Kim. The picture seems to be drawing well?”

“Yes. This was honestly unexpected, but I think I need to revise my evaluation.”

“Evaluation?”

Kim A-rang nodded.

“He can become a mage. This person, Seol Ha-woon.”

“Do you really think so? He’s in his late twenties?”

Yoon Sa-hyuk asked back while fidgeting with his paper cup. His cave-like low voice seemed to tickle her ears.

“It’s not just intuition. Several schools have already made inquiries. They even said he could make appearances. Even Zephyrell.”

Schools are particularly important to mages. They’re the most decisive framework for forming future careers.

“Seol Ha-woon probably won’t go. No, he shouldn’t go.”

Kim A-rang tilted her head at Yoon Sa-hyuk’s words.

“What do you mean by that?”

“He said Mentor Yoo Yul is his teacher. Surely even if other schools make offers, didn’t he say in an interview that he’d stay by Yoo Yul’s side?”

“Oh come on. That was just something he said. It’s Zephyrell we’re talking about?”

Zephyrell is a third-generation active mage, and his school is considered Tier 1.

“Still, he said something he didn’t mean. I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t keep his word.”

Kim A-rang narrowed her eyes.

“You’re checking me right now. Who would trade a winning lottery ticket for scratch-offs?”

Yoon Sa-hyuk laughed.

“I like honest people. I’d like them to at least pretend to be honest.”

He turned his gaze somewhere.

“People who pretend to be faithful on the surface while harboring other purposes…”

Kim A-rang looked in that direction too. Mentor Kim Yoon-jun was nearby.

“I really hate that.”

“I know. I know your style too, PD Yoon. We’ve worked together for years. But still, it’s Zephyrell we’re talking about.”

“Does he come often?”

Yoon Sa-hyuk suddenly gestured toward Kim Yoon-jun with his chin.

“Yes. He comes quite often. He’s a kind person, checking on how the kids he taught are doing.”

“Right. He’s a good person.”

Warrior Kim Yoon-jun. A sharp light flickered in Yoon Sa-hyuk’s eyes as he looked at him.

“Just a good person, though.”

Yoon Sa-hyuk gripped his paper cup. He threw the crumpled thing into the trash can.

* * *

I’m an experienced person of the Consciousness Labyrinth. Therefore, I know how to wake people up.

In the end, the problem is sensitivity. If sensitivity is high, they become deeply eroded by the labyrinth, requiring considerable effort and plausibility when awakening them.

Im Hae-jun succeeded with just a smack to the back of his head because his sensitivity was terrible, but if I had done that to Ryu Yeon-hwa, either I would have been ruined or Ryu Yeon-hwa would have been ruined.

Anyway.

I’ve awakened quite a lot of people. I didn’t count exactly, but it’s already over 20.

“…This bastard, pass.”

Then I reached Kim Du-gyeom’s unconscious. A guy I just hate looking at and sincerely hope dies. Even his dream itself is disgusting.

You just die peacefully here. I really hope you become a cripple. Okay? Please.

Bang.

I closed Kim Du-gyeom’s door.

Thud!

An explosion sound occurred somewhere. I startled and looked in that direction. Distortion had occurred in a specific door.

An abnormal phenomenon.

I ran over and opened the door.

The interior was ordinary. A quiet hotel room. However, the person lying on the bed inside was special.

Someone whose posture was so proper and upright that they looked like Dracula in a coffin at first glance.

Kate.

I approached her and felt the pulse on her wrist. I could feel warm body temperature and heartbeat.

“…It’s a physical body.”

Kate, like me, had her physical body enter this place and was dreaming.

Thud!

Once more, this time distortion occurred around her. It was smoke-like darkness.

“Whoa!”

It pulled me in strongly.

* * *

…Crackle. Crackle crackle. Crackle crackle crackle.

I opened my eyes with the sound of the back of my neck burning.

“Ugh.”

The implant’s electrode. I rubbed the back of my neck and looked ahead. There was some huge mansion.

“This place is…”

Since I was dragged here by Kate, presumably it’s Hailford Estate.

But… this is obviously.

“The sensitivity is tremendous.”

It’s a dream but doesn’t feel like a dream at all. It’s unconscious but feels like consciousness. I can tell just from the vividness of the scenery and the five senses touching my body.

This is going to be troublesome.

“You there!”

Suddenly someone called me. It was a mansion security guard.

“Who are you wandering around?”

By the way, it’s in English. Kate dreams in English.

“…Ah. Yes.”

Fortunately, I speak English quite well. Being fluent in foreign languages is a qualification requirement for the BLACK Team itself.

Anyway.

“Speak up.”

This is Kate’s unconscious, the dream world she desires. But I’m free in this place. Because I’m the only consciousness that realizes this place is unconscious.

In other words.

“I came for a butler interview.”

“…Butler interview?”

“Yes.”

I rummaged through my jacket while ‘visualizing’ something. There was definitely nothing there, but a document came out.

“Here.”

The security guard who received the paper scratched the back of his neck.

“…Ah. That’s right. Today was the butler interview.”

Dreams flow as dreams do. Just as you don’t doubt even the strangest and most bizarre things that happen in dreams, I can manipulate situations to some extent as long as the plausibility doesn’t completely break down.

“Wait a moment.”

He seemed to be communicating with someone inside the mansion.

It would probably proceed without any issues. Dreams always flow with that ‘I suppose so’ feeling.

“Confirmed. Please enter.”

Groooong. Hailford’s main gate opened.

“Yes.”

But, before going in.

I swept my face with my palm. I looked at my reflection on the gate pillar.

It wasn’t Seol Ha-woon’s face. Far from having long hair, my hair was so short it could barely be styled properly—a plainly ordinary soldier by anyone’s standards.

Such things are possible in the unconscious.

As for the name… let’s go with Seo Woon-ha.

I stepped both legs into Kate’s unconscious.

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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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