Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 77
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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 077
Getting Some Fresh Air(2)
[ NaN Notice ]
[ All 70 members, please gather at the Set Stage by 3 PM ]
The first full group filming schedule in a long time since the World Labyrinth. All 70 survivors gathered on one Set Stage.
“Is everyone here?”
The mentor in charge was DK. He always wore sunglasses, spoke in a low voice, and constantly frowned, earning him the nickname “show-off,” but he was a top-tier domestic High Ranker warrior.
“Well, I’ll skip the greetings. Today isn’t really a class but a test. The first tally is in 2 weeks, so we won’t enter the Labyrinth until then. 20 of you are going to be eliminated anyway, right?”
The first tally only allowed the top 50 to survive. However, if the voting score differences weren’t large, reversals could happen through mentor evaluations, making this the last chance for those in the lower ranks.
“Monster hunting combined with in-camera scouting.”
The development was exactly the same as before my regression.
In-camera scouting was a segment that arranged career paths for explorers who would be eliminated and connected networks for explorers who would survive.
“You all know that monsters don’t only appear in Labyrinths. There are monsters that escape from Labyrinths, and monsters that naturally spawn near Rifts. But you know what? You guys are really a comfortable generation.”
DK showed off his old-timer attitude while signaling to the staff.
“Why? Because monster data values and patterns are conveniently analyzed for you. Just memorize them, and you can face monsters you’ve never seen before as if you saw them yesterday.”
The staff distributed record documents to the explorers.
“Now. I’m giving you three hours from now.”
Dozens of pages contained monster patterns. Goblins, orcs, zombies, werewolves, giant spiders, headless knights, red masks, flesh golems, explosive spiders, and so on…
“Memorize everything. After memorizing, you fight. It’s a simulation consisting of stages 1-5, and one monster will randomly appear from those written there. I wonder if maybe 3-4 of you could make it to stage 5.”
This kind of memorization was basic literacy for explorers. Even more so if taking a test.
“Memorize everything. If you don’t memorize or are careless, you could really die.”
I concentrated magic power on my optic nerves. My retina heated up intensely.
Due to my Sequence, visual information I see once becomes completely ‘imprinted’ in my mind.
Of course, this was also a type of formula, so it wasn’t eternal. After about 1-2 days, it would be forgotten unless I extended it with magic power.
Snap.
I flicked my finger.
A signal for self-suggestion. Like a camera’s shutter sound – click. According to mage theory, the presence or absence of this signal makes a big difference in formula manifestation.
I smoothly skimmed through the record documents.
Memorization was done quickly like taking photos, but a light headache occurred. My temples throbbed.
“Now. Time is passing~ Everyone memorize~”
Tick-tock-tick-tock. DK made ticking sounds with his mouth.
I got up from my seat. I should brew some black tea to drink.
Surprisingly, there was someone who came to the break room before me.
A strange guy clutching his smartphone while trying to tear at his own hair. It was Ryu Yeon-hwa.
“What are you doing?”
I sat in a chair on one side. Ryu Yeon-hwa startled and turned to look at me. His complexion was quite terrible.
“Ah, is it perhaps because you enjoyed some entertainment, young master?”
Then his face instantly turned bright red. A ketchup human.
“Wh-wh-what strange things are you saying, you odd fellow!”
Odd fellow. It seemed to be the maximum level of profanity Ryu Yeon-hwa could manage.
“Or wait, no way!”
Suddenly he glared at me with a shocked expression.
“Did you post that writing?!”
“What are you talking about. Why would I do that? I’m doing well enough without it.”
“…Then how do you know? My, my, my… that thing.”
“The post on the community spread to SNS too. Quite a few people here probably know about it?”
Ryu Yeon-hwa knocked his forehead with a despairing expression. I chuckled.
“Don’t worry too much. There’s still time left. These days, without proof, people say it’s fake, right?”
“…To put it simply. I’ve never done anything. I mean I’m innocent. Even when I go to clubs, I only dance.”
“So you did enjoy some entertainment.”
“Ugh, seriously.”
Ryu Yeon-hwa shot up. Steam might come out of his ears.
I put tea leaves in the teacup.
“If you’re innocent, what are you worried about? You’re at an advantage. Trust your build and charge straight ahead.”
Ryu Yeon-hwa chose the complete opposite response from before my regression. He was desperate to hide the truth. It was probably because of Kim Du-gyeom’s gaslighting. That’s why the backlash came.
“Build?”
Ryu Yeon-hwa glanced at his own shoulders.
“Not that build. Your family.”
“…I cannot receive help from my family.”
“Why. Will your dad scold you?”
I poured hot water over the tea leaves. Not too hastily, not too slowly. Exquisitely so the tea leaves would steep perfectly.
“…”
Ryu Yeon-hwa had no answer.
It seemed my joke hit the mark.
I chuckled while stirring the black tea with a spoon.
“With that build, you’re scared of getting scolded by dad.”
“…It’s not just getting scolded. Please don’t speak carelessly if you don’t know.”
“Why should I.”
I removed the steeped tea leaves with telekinesis.
This way, magic power naturally mixes in, which is very good. The fact that a mage’s Mental Visualization helps with taste is famous. It’s why chefs bother to train their magic power.
“Mmm.”
Fragrant smell. Appropriate temperature. Kate had more elegance even when drinking black tea. How did she drink it? Lightly touching the edge of her lips…
Ah, hot damn!
I almost burned my tongue and the roof of my mouth.
“…Haah.”
Ryu Yeon-hwa let out a sigh. With his height reaching the ceiling, his childlike lamenting was somewhat disgusting.
“Hey. So, do you have some money?”
“…Money? Money? Are you talking about won?”
“What else, dollars?”
“Why money all of a sudden…”
“Just give me operation funds. I’ll solve it for you.”
If Ryu Yeon-hwa fell into ruin anyway, only Kim Du-gyeom would benefit. There was nothing to lose by putting Ryu Yeon-hwa in my debt.
All future debut team members were both suspects and victims.
“Operation funds… What are you talking about?”
Ryu Yeon-hwa looked at me with suspicious eyes.
“Oh, Yeon-hwa!”
Then, a familiar garbage smell that hit my nose. A voice like fermented herring.
It was Kim Du-gyeom.
“Yeon-hwa. So you were here. Why didn’t you answer my calls…”
I spoke very quietly. So Kim Du-gyeom couldn’t hear.
“That guy. Be careful of him.”
“…Be careful?”
Ryu Yeon-hwa looked back and forth between Kim Du-gyeom and me. Kim Du-gyeom, who had approached, grabbed his collar with a worried expression.
“Yeon-hwa. You saw that post too?”
“…Yeah.”
Ryu Yeon-hwa approached Kim Du-gyeom first.
“You should have talked to me first….”
Kim Du-gyeom glanced in my direction. I quietly sipped my black tea.
Me, who demanded operational funds. Kim Du-gyeom, who would listen to her troubles and pretend to empathize while gaslighting her.
Which side seemed more trustworthy, and which side seemed more like a scammer, was up to Ryu Yeon-hwa’s heart.
I wasn’t particularly obsessed with this matter. If Ryu Yeon-hwa collapsed like before the regression, it would benefit my ranking, and if she asked for my help, I could sabotage Kim Du-gyeom, which would also be beneficial.
I merely provided options without forcing anything. I wasn’t meddlesome enough for that.
Most importantly, Ryu Yeon-hwa wasn’t Seo Ji-hyuk’s family.
Whether she would take the hand of the demon wearing human skin—Kim Du-gyeom—or take my blood-stained hand.
The choice was entirely up to the noble young lady.
“This should be interesting.”
Clink.
I set down my teacup.
* * *
After enjoying the leisure of a cup of tea, I entered DK’s classroom.
“Hey. Mage Seol Ha-woon?”
As soon as I sat down, DK called out to me. It was quite an impatient way of addressing me.
“Did you memorize everything?”
“Yes. I memorized everything.”
“You didn’t even memorize… What? You memorized everything?”
“Yes.”
“Ha. Smart, are you?”
DK twisted his lips and crossed his arms.
“Then can you recite it?”
“Yes.”
“…Look at this bastard. Fine. Then do it. Starting with this one.”
Some monster appeared on the beam projector.
A long body and limbs that seemed about 3 meters tall, with a red torn mouth.
Red Mask. This guy was incredibly famous domestically, and also a monster that only appeared domestically. An entity formed from long-standing ghost stories and fears that had crystallized within the labyrinth.
“Red Mask. Physical type, main weapon is claws. Shows unexpected movements with long arms and long legs. There are variations between individuals, but generally moves at speeds of 30 meters per second or more. Its entire body is flexible, utilizing terrain like a snake. It has a weakness to light attributes and resistance to darkness. The pattern breaking method is to get behind the bastard if possible….”
I recited all information about Red Mask exactly as written in the record documents.
“…What about this one?”
DK seemed a bit flustered, but immediately turned the page.
Flesh Golem.
“Flesh Golem undergoes endless cell division in its internal core, spitting out blood and flesh. The golem’s flesh and blood are toxic explosive materials, so….”
I spoke exactly as remembered in the sequence. DK seemed determined and asked about 7 monsters in succession, but I passed them all.
“…Fuck. Do you have photographic memory or something? How did you memorize it so quickly?”
“I memorized it skillfully.”
“Skillfully… Sit down. We’ll see about this later.”
I sat down. Somehow it felt like a cliché situation, making me feel awkward for no reason.
Sniff sniff.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of someone sniffing from somewhere.
It was Kate. She in the front seat seemed to want to smell my black tea, sniffing a few times before quietly getting up from her seat.
She must be going to the tea room.
“…Wow. Boss. How did you memorize it? Please tell me the secret method.”
Im Hae-jun from the seat next to me tapped my desk with his pencil.
Wasn’t this guy not sitting next to me? He must have changed seats.
“It just got memorized.”
“What. Boss is pretending to be a genius.”
“Don’t chatter and memorize~ This in-camera scouting is much more important than you guys think~”
DK walked around like a school principal, monitoring the explorers.
* * *
3 hours later.
We arrived at the combat training room. DK, who had changed into combat training uniform, stood at the front.
“Alright~ We’re starting now. The monsters you’ll face here are all real. Don’t just think of it as a simulation, and if you think you can’t handle it, forfeit immediately.”
Gulp.
Im Hae-jun to my right swallowed his saliva.
Kang Hyeon to my left said.
“Don’t be nervous.”
“…I’m, I’m not nervous.”
These guys had somehow positioned themselves to my left and right. It was annoying, but actually a good thing. They were like buffs that increased my chances of being caught on camera.
“Hey! Everyone, see that balcony over there? Many people from martial sects and schools have come.”
DK pointed to the balcony.
“We’ll reveal who came from where after everything’s finished. So you can’t make excuses about being nervous. Their combined evaluation will be reflected in the mentor assessment. Does everyone understand?”
“Yes.”
The explorers answered.
“Okay. First, Mage Seol Ha-woon.”
DK gestured at me with his eyes.
“You go first. You memorized fastest, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
DK definitely didn’t like me.
The feeling was mutual.
I entered the training room.
A wide empty space. Soon magic power twisted and obstacles were generated one by one, and a message appeared on my retina.
[ NaN combat simulation initiating. ]
[ Monster Hunting Stage 1: Rock Golem ]
Stage 1, Rock Golem. Pretty tough for a stage 1 opponent.
I called up the visual information from the sequence.
The method to deal with it was relatively simple, but actually facing it was difficult. I needed to discern the location of the very small ‘golem core’ and pierce it.
Thud!
The Rock Golem stomped its foot heavily. The encounter pattern was a charge.
Thud thud thud thud!
The core of the bastard charging at me unnecessarily dynamically was instantly identified. If it were a human, it would be around the collarbone area. It was surrounded by rock like armor, making it difficult to penetrate.
Meanwhile, the golem reached close range.
Sequence.
The perceived speed slowed down. There was no need to waste many resources on just a golem.
I raised my finger.
Aim. I targeted the golem’s core and loaded a mana bullet. It was a precisely visualized large caliber magic bullet. The motif was a 20mm large caliber round, as big as a human palm, said to tear through even tank armor.
Something that would instantly kill even a well-trained explorer if hit without preparation, fire.
Shriiiiek──
The vicious mass of magic power rushed through the air, cutting through the wind.
Craaack!
It penetrated as if tearing apart the rock surface, completely destroying the core and upper body. The golem still took a couple more steps, but as it extended its fist, it completely crumbled and collapsed. The remains of what had been the golem clattered down at my feet.
“Whew….”
I breathed softly and looked up at the balcony. Subtitles appeared on the electronic billboard nearby.
[ Stage 1 Complete : Seol Ha-woon Success ]
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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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