Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 72

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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 072

Die With a Smile(2)

[ Using Ability Point Selection. ]

[ Magic Power stat increases by 1. ]

Starting today, we have three days of rest. The 26 who were eliminated from the World Labyrinth pack their bags and leave, while the remaining 70 take a vacation to heal from the labyrinth’s aftereffects.

I recovered instantly.

【Dream Bubble】■ Grade: Rare■ Description: When used, installs a Dream Bubble. The Dream Bubble emits soft, gentle light and waves around it. This energy stabilizes the user’s body and mind, greatly enhancing natural healing power during sleep. The Dream Bubble’s energy only takes effect within a certain range and applies to all living beings.

It was thanks to this skill I obtained in the Consciousness Labyrinth.

A godsend that could replenish my rotten stamina and durability, like rain during a drought. Better than Dragon Scale.

…At least for me.

“Haaaaam…?”

I was getting cola from the vending machine in the 1st Floor Lobby when I spotted Kim Du-gyeom. The guy walking down the corridor with his arms full of supply boxes. He’s probably volunteering to help with staff work.

“Heave-ho.”

Even making sound effects – truly disgusting. Where did he learn that kind of act? If only it were possible, I’d love to punch him square in the face.

But with my current strength, I probably couldn’t even break his nose. The loss of physical ability really hits hard at times like this.

“…Oh.”

Kim Du-gyeom spotted me. Hiss. I glared at Kim Du-gyeom while opening my cola can.

“What are you looking at?”

“…Hello!”

“I’m not doing well though?”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I escaped from the labyrinth…”

“I had no intention of getting you out.”

Kim Du-gyeom bowed his waist. I glared at him quite suspiciously.

He’s in the perfect position to trip right now. Since he’s holding a large box in his arms, if I just extend my walking stick down a little, it’ll catch his shin and he’ll fall ungracefully.

Normally I would have done it immediately.

But today feels strange somehow.

This guy seems to want that too. Grinning, swaying. He’s wiggling his legs and approaching toward where my walking stick is…

I smoothly withdrew my walking stick. Kim Du-gyeom swayed unnaturally. This bastard was preparing to fall.

I grabbed his nape.

“Ugh!”

“…Be careful. You were about to trip and fall.”

Just then, Ryu Yeon-hwa appeared from behind. Writers and PDs also showed up in a group.

As expected. I knew this would happen. This cunning and arrogant bastard.

I smirked.

“Be more careful next time, okay?”

“…Yes.”

Kim Du-gyeom tried hard to manage his expression.

“Why, what happened?”

Ryu Yeon-hwa asked while supporting Kim Du-gyeom.

“Oh, well-“

“He was about to fall so I caught him. Why.”

Ryu Yeon-hwa’s expression looking at me is quite unpleasant. Probably because she’s close with Kim Du-gyeom. He must be acting like he’s completely fine, pretending to be okay while worsening my image.

I said to Kim Du-gyeom.

“Be more careful. You might be fine, but this walking stick is my leg, you know?”

The writers glanced at me. Their gazes seemed somehow disgruntled. Kim Du-gyeom nodded.

“Yes. I’ll be careful.”

“Let’s go, Du-gyeom.”

“Yes…”

Kim Du-gyeom leaving with the writers and PD, sadly dragging his words.

Tap. I deliberately pressed the ground with my walking stick. When he turned to look at me at that sound, I moved only my lips to say.

‘Did you think I wouldn’t know?’

I gave him the middle finger as his face hardened.

‘Go eat shit.’

* * *

Early dawn.

Pitter-patter. Pitter-patter.

The sound of falling rain woke me up. The rainfall outside the dark window was quite heavy. I immediately prepared to go out.

There’s a maxim that countless formula theory books, active mages, and even mages consider orthodox.

A mage must not avoid snow and rain. Rather, they should welcome it. Because snow and rain are products where nature’s mana has condensed.

So I put on clothes. I also put leather gloves on both hands. To make them into treasured items, I need to spend most of my daily routine with them.

“Pretty Snow Flower. I’ll be back.”

Snow Flower had sprouted a stem at some point. I petted it and went outside. I climbed the Back Mountain.

I was thinking of quickly doing Mana Breathing in my spot.

“…What the hell.”

There was some uninvited guest. Someone sitting cross-legged in the spot where I sit every day.

Pitter-patter. I glared disapprovingly at the white head soaked in rainwater.

“Hoooo…”

The guy seems to be practicing some kind of Mind Technique. A talented mage from a famous family, future Debut Team member.

It’s Ryu Yeon-hwa.

I limped toward him. I extended my walking stick and tapped his shoulder.

“!”

Ryu Yeon-hwa startled and opened his eyes. Discovering me, he frowned and stood up.

“What’s the matter?”

Ryu Yeon-hwa is tall. When he stands up straight, he gets so high it’s startling. According to his profile and claims, he’s 191cm, but that’s definitely a lie. He’s at least 3-4cm taller. I’m certain because I was exactly 191cm before my height decreased from the accident.

I pointed to Ryu Yeon-hwa’s spot with my walking stick.

“The spot.”

“…Hah.”

Ryu Yeon-hwa let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

“It doesn’t seem like a particularly good spot.”

“You can sense that?”

“Of course. A good spot for a mage is where yin and yang are in harmony, mana concentration is appropriate, and nature’s spiritual energy lurks-“

“Move.”

He talks too much. What’s with showing off that he’s some noble’s son? Ryu Seong-ryong died ages ago.

“Shoo.”

I waved my walking stick.

Using this walking stick lately, I think I understand why elderly people use it like an arm.

“…”

Ryu Yeon-hwa twitched his nose and moved aside. I sat in my spot. It was warmed to just the right temperature. How unpleasant.

“Mage Seol Ha-woon.”

“…What now.”

I looked at Ryu Yeon-hwa.

“Du-gyeom has been suffering lately.”

Suddenly it’s about Kim Du-gyeom.

“Kim Du-gyeom?”

“Yes.”

Well. Both before the regression and in recent broadcasts, Kim Du-gyeom and Ryu Yeon-hwa get along quite well. It’s a relationship where Kim Du-gyeom parasitically feeds off Ryu Yeon-hwa’s screen time and recognition, while Ryu Yeon-hwa remains completely oblivious.

“Did you come here just to say that?”

“There’s no reason to torment such a good friend. I’ve never seen a child as kind as Du-gyeom.”

I almost spat. What’s this dark 21-year-old doing calling someone else a child?

“You need to learn how to judge people.”

“…Karma always comes back. Like a boomerang.”

“You be careful. That club thing about you is spreading as rumors, isn’t it?”

I’m surprisingly good with the internet. Information gathering is essential for tracking people.

I’m well aware of the ghost stories about me related to Kim Du-gyeom circulating on communities and SNS.

Facts that only insiders could possibly know are being posted – I wonder who’s doing it?

Obviously it must be Kim Du-gyeom.

The writers and PDs at the broadcasting station aren’t so lacking in sense that they’d share internal matters. They’re all regular employees, not contract workers.

“…Is this blackmail again?”

“It’s not blackmail, I’m saying it’s been posted on the internet lately. Don’t you know about the internet?”

I remember the scenario.

Some druggie club MD spreads rumors about Ryu Yeon-hwa, articles break out causing controversy, Kim Du-gyeom comforts Ryu Yeon-hwa, their friendship gets highlighted, Kim Du-gyeom’s recognition skyrockets while Ryu Yeon-hwa suffers losses.

“…Sigh.”

Ryu Yeon-hwa shook her head and went down the mountain road.

I immediately closed my eyes. I had to get things done before the rain stopped.

Haaaaah…

While developing mana breathing, I recall the mental visualization.

Today’s goal is a ‘magic power implant that strengthens the nervous system’.

The biggest problem I see with the sequence is headaches and heat sensation. The heat generated when magic power amplifies the nervous system burns the nervous system and heats the brain to a melting point.

Therefore, if I install a magical implant between the brain and spinal cord, then spray magic power to protect and cool the nervous system…

Crackle!

Sparks flew at the back of my neck.

When I came to my senses, my body had collapsed on its own. My insides were hot like lava.

“…”

I blinked blankly.

Drip. Pitter-patter. Drip. Rainwater poured down on my face.

Did I just faint?

It seems so. The sun was barely visible now.

It’s difficult.

Difficult, but I must accomplish it.

I never thought it would work on the first try anyway. I just need to keep trying until it works.

“Hah…”

I focused on breathing while getting rained on.

Nature’s flow cooling my heated body.

It seems I’ll only be able to practice implant training when it’s raining or snowing.

[ ‘Seol Ha-woon’ seeks to pioneer his own unique path. ]

[ Magic power grade increases. ]

■ C+ → B-

* * *

Whoooosh. In the mountain valley of Gangwon Province where rain was falling. A luxury limousine that didn’t quite match the charming scenery of grass blades turning lush green from the rain – inside it, Kate met a family member after a long time. It was under the pretext of examining aftereffects from the Labyrinth.

“…Ms. Maeve.”

“Yes.”

The housekeeper who had been with the family since Kate’s birth and had stayed with them all this time.

Kate had something to ask of her.

“Could you possibly investigate Uncle Percival’s affairs?”

“You mean Lord Percival?”

“Yes.”

“Specifically what kind of…?”

At her words, Kate thought. She struggled to grope through her foggy, whitish mind.

“Suddenly, this thought occurred to me.”

Memory.

She couldn’t recall a clear form, but the feeling was certain.

“Uncle Percival’s death… might not have been a simple accident.”

A weighty impression triggered from Kate’s not-so-distant dreams. Reverberations that had settled like an anchor at the bottom of her unconscious.

“…No.”

Her eyes reflected in the window glinted coldly.

“Surely, there must be other hidden circumstances.”

* * *

David Magic Bookstore. David Han was looking at the predicted ranking table for Mitamnan shown on the news.

[ 1st-9th place: Lee Jun-ho, Kang Hyeon, Seo Ji-woo, Kate, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Jo Woon… ]

[ 10th-19th place: Kim Dong-ha, Jin Ho-seung, Kim Du-gyeom, Lee Jong-soo, Kim Woo-hyeon, Im Hae-jun… ]

[ 20th-29th place… ]

“Oh~ this is really something, how the rankings got reversed like that.”

The name he was interested in was in the 20th place range.

Seol Ha-woon.

Of course, these weren’t official rankings. Right now only individual profile vote counts were being tallied. He’d know for sure during the first tally when weekly votes are reflected.

“Is that kind of variety show really news-worthy? I guess these are truly peaceful times.”

A deeply lowered bass voice cut through.

David Han glanced in that direction.

“Peaceful times – what are you, from the Joseon Period? And you, man, you’re always looking it up despite saying that.”

Tae-woo. This guy who calls himself a mage has nothing to do but wander around everywhere. I hear he gives lectures at university.

“You’re looking at that right now too, aren’t you? What is that?”

“SNS. Search hashtag Seol Ha-woon and it comes up.”

“…Let me see too.”

The old man stuck his head way forward. Tae-woo’s smartphone had tons of tweets related to Seol Ha-woon.

[ Can Seol Ha-woon maintain his 20th place ranking?? ]

[ Definitely possible lol don’t worry ]

[ Debut group seems possible too ]

[ Snowy Wasteland Seol Ha-woon close-up shot ]

[ Everyone do you watch Mitamnan?? Do you know Seol Ha-woon? Am I right?? ]

[ Went to the bakery this week and they asked if I knew Seol Ha-woon.. they said they’d give service if you vote this week and show proof lol the bakery owner used to be in the military lol ]

[ Summary of formulas used by Seol Ha-woon (latest updated version) ]

[ Ah seriously I can’t wait anymore.. At the end of Mitamnan, that person who saves Seo Ji-woo is Seol Ha-woon, right? ]

“Ah right. Hey.”

David placed his hand on Tae-woo’s shoulder.

“Where did that wolf appear from in the last episode?”

“Seo Ji-woo’s earring artifact.”

“Aha~ That earring? Then, who do you think that guy who appeared before was?”

“….”

Tae-woo pondered silently. For a long time. Like double-checking magic theory calculations, he seriously stroked his chin before reaching a conclusion.

“Looking at the flow so far, it could be Lee Jun-ho.”

“Lee Jun-ho? Not Seol Ha-woon? That guy Seol Ha-woon seemed to like Seo Ji-woo.”

“Not at all. Seol Ha-woon is a person who doesn’t have the capacity to hold others within himself. Rather, Lee Jun-ho is the one who has taken a liking to Seo Ji-woo.”

David Han shook his head.

“Geez, you fool. That’s why you can’t date. How can someone be this clueless?”

“Public opinion was leaning toward my thinking though.”

“…Public opinion?”

Tae-woo held up three fingers.

“News. Communities. SNS.”

“Do you follow all that stuff too? You’re really hooked, aren’t you.”

“That’s not something an old man should say.”

Tae-woo gestured somewhere with his eyes. The center of the bookstore, the most visible spot. Inside a cleanly polished glass case, a cup and various signatures were displayed.

[ Seol Ha-woon’s First Loot : Goblin Cup ]

[ Seol Ha-woon’s Signature ]

[ Kang Hyeon’s Signature ]

He had even kindly written explanations and posted them.

“…Ahem. Look here. Still, I have to fulfill the expectations of the kids who come looking for this holy site, don’t I?”

The place where Seol Ha-woon first learned formulas─David Han Magic Shop. Quite a lot of fans visit to take pictures and buy books.

“But this, I have to admit. It is interesting. My granddaughter and daughter got hooked too.”

“The program itself is magic.”

At Tae-woo’s words, David Han raised his eyebrows.

“That’s what I thought, right?”

“It definitely contains the framework of magic.”

“What is that framework?”

“Even a mage can’t explain it. A mage isn’t someone who casts magic, but someone who calls forth magic.”

“…For a mage, you’re really no fun.”

Actually, Tae-woo was quite humble by comparison. Among mages, he’d be in the top 0.1% perhaps. A mage who expresses not knowing what he doesn’t know and admits his mistakes─at least David only knew Tae-woo and Tae-yul like that.

“Magic develops quite capriciously.”

Tae-woo continued quietly. Still, his eyes remained fixed on the Labyrinth Exploration NaN-related SNS.

“Sometimes it seems like a living creature.”

“Really? Then go experience it yourself. Can’t you do something like Polymorph?”

Suddenly Tae-woo’s complexion hardened. He swept over the old man with eyes sharpened like blades.

“Old man. There is science in the magic world.”

“A mage discussing science?”

“It’s also arithmetic like basic math operations. Those who learn Polymorph and use that magic to deceive human society are not in their right minds. At minimum, they’re far from normal.”

The old man crossed his arms. Mages who had mastered Polymorph. About three people came to mind, and it seemed like Tae-woo was targeting one of them.

His own sister.

As if reading his thoughts, Tae-woo added.

“…It’s not a conclusion I reached, but a statistical fact.”

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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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