Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 94

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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 094

 

Home Sweet Home(4)

 

Yoo Ji-in made numbers with her fingers.

 

Three, two, one.

 

All the explorers swallowed nervously.

 

“We’re revealing the labyrinth.”

 

Text appeared along with her low voice.

 

[ Defense ]

 

Defense. A genre with quite a long history and tradition. As such, the format is also simple.

 

Defending your stronghold from endlessly surging enemies.

 

“However! You can’t win by just defending, right? This Defense labyrinth has two roles.”

 

Yoo Ji-in raised both hands.

 

“Offense and Defense.”

 

Then she clenched her right hand.

 

“First, the offenders must travel across the map attacking enemy dungeons and destroy all [Enemy Crystals] until their [Fatigue] and [Stamina] allow.”

 

Next, she spread her left hand like a wrapping cloth.

 

“Meanwhile, defenders must install [Allied Crystals] at strongholds and maintain them as solidly as possible.”

 

In this type, offense is usually easier. The waiting side is harder, while the moving side is more comfortable.

 

“Attackers can recover stamina and fatigue at defenders’ strongholds, and if all strongholds fall, everyone is considered to have failed.”

 

Defense where you endlessly wait for the end, and offense where it only ends when you end it.

 

The psychological burden and fatigue are relatively higher for defense. There’s also much more to do.

 

“Shall we hear the detailed explanation inside?”

 

Yoo Ji-in smiled brightly.

 

Snap!

 

The moment she flicked her fingers, our bodies were transported.

 

“…I still get startled every time.”

 

It’s a virtual reality-like space with grid patterns carved into the pitch-black area.

 

A hologram appeared before my eyes.

 

「Please select your role: Offense or Defense」「If you choose Defense, you can enter the labyrinth 36 hours early to fortify your stronghold.」「You will also receive 400,000 coins usable only in this labyrinth and a loot acquisition probability increase bonus.」「After fortifying your stronghold for 36 hours, 2 weeks will pass in labyrinth time. Defense begins from then.」

 

Naturally, the Defense side has advantages.

 

Still, most will choose Offense.

 

Explorers need to be active to receive votes, and Offense roaming the field would be much more advantageous than Defense holed up in strongholds.

 

“…Hmm.”

 

But it’s also problematic if Defense has too few people. The attack team needs to recover stamina, fatigue, and such at the defense team’s strongholds.

 

Ultimately, the defense team’s sacrifice is necessary, but explorers will definitely assume ‘someone’ will be on the defense team.

 

Me.

 

There’s no way Seol Ha-woon would choose Offense with his limping leg… It’s a sound reasoning.

 

Additionally, I am—though it’s awkward for me to say—objectively a reliable mage.

 

Therefore, quite many explorers will choose Offense without burden, and naturally the load will concentrate on the Defense side including me.

 

I’m not lacking in confidence.

 

As a mage, I’m specialized in warfare.

 

“Defense.”

 

「You have selected Defense.」「You acquire a coin bonus of 400,000.」「Buff acquired: Defense Aura」■ 20% increase in loot acquisition probability during Defense.「Now please select mercenaries.」

 

The attack team can also hire mercenaries. Instead, they have to pay out of their own pocket.

 

■Alchemina 1035 [Intermediate]

 

■Eoros [Beginner]

 

■Okuramas of the Kerok race [Intermediate]

 

■Kim Min-gi who likes computers…

 

There are many options. But I need to fill what I lack.

 

My Mental Visualization is a one-man army. I can sufficiently replace the numbers of ordinary soldiers by myself.

 

So…

 

■Akiman of Clear Mirror Still Water [Unique]

 

■Smeshion [Unique]

 

Akiman is a 300,000 coin Swordsman, Smeshion is also a 300,000 coin Warrior.

 

I picked two from the most expensive mercenaries who seemed like they’d match my style. 400,000 bonus coins plus, the remaining 200,000 from my own pocket.

 

「Now please select a location to start as your stronghold.」「The moment you select a stronghold, the crystal will change to ‘Seol Ha-woon’s’ ownership. If this crystal is destroyed, the stronghold perishes.」

 

I pondered while looking at the map.

 

There are strongholds with civilians and strongholds with few or none. Areas with few civilians are in the west, the opposite is in the east.

 

“…Hmm.”

 

I was eyeing the west but shifted my gaze back to the east.

 

Without civilians, I’d have too much to do. Not just combat but food supply, medical care, maintenance, etc. It’s better to leave miscellaneous tasks to civilians while my two mercenaries and I handle only Defense.

 

“This place looks good.”

 

A village with mountains behind it. There’s also a well to draw up groundwater, meaning a water supply source.

 

「Stronghold Selected」「Random Item Draw」「You can draw one-time use items that will help inside the labyrinth.」◎Beginner Draw: 1,000 coins◎Intermediate Draw: 5,000 coins◎Advanced Draw: 25,000 coins◎Food Pouch Draw: 10,000Available coins: 931,102

 

Coins are vote counts. But weekly votes are excluded. They accumulate weekly causing tremendous inflation.

 

Therefore, coins are ‘individual profile vote counts.’

 

It’ll look good to viewers. They’ll see explorers using their votes effectively.

 

The production team is also pleased. They can give legal advantages to explorers with high vote counts.

 

“Just three advanced ones.”

 

I’ll really need these coins later. Let’s not spend more than 300,000. I can supply food with snack boxes.

 

I got three advanced boxes.

 

“…What’s this.”

 

I was slightly surprised.

 

This looks similar to [MoMo]’s random boxes.

 

I opened the boxes for now.

 

「Advanced Random Draw! You acquire three Stronghold Teleport Scrolls.」

 

Tearing a Stronghold Teleport Scroll will transport you to your stronghold no matter what. Please note they become useless if the stronghold disappears.

 

「Advanced Random Draw! You acquire one Universal Fatigue Recovery Potion.」

 

A Universal Fatigue Recovery Potion that perfectly revives even half-dead corpses.

 

「Advanced Random Draw! You acquire the buff ‘Eye for People’.」

 

Now you can identify the talents of the residents inside the Labyrinth.

 

「You are given a Command Token that proves you are the base’s defender.」

 

Thud. The Command Token dropped. I picked it up with telekinesis.

 

「Commencing drop.」

 

Suddenly part of the space opened, and wind rushed in from outside.

 

Whooooosh!

 

The bright blue background and pure white clouds shone brilliantly.

 

“…Strong.”

 

I smiled. The sensation of the fierce wind gripping my hair felt good.

 

It’s been a long time.

 

I was about to jump down when I stopped. A status window appeared before my eyes.

 

「Warning! Please board the capsule!」

 

“…Huh? Oh.”

 

I turned around. There was a capsule-like descent device.

 

I must have gone crazy for a moment. I almost jumped without a parachute.

 

I quickly boarded the capsule.

 

* * *

 

“Oh~ As expected, you chose an S-rank mercenary.”

 

Im Hyeong-uk, almost lying back in his chair, giggled as he watched Seol Ha-woon on the screen.

 

“But you don’t know~ what kind of trap S-rank mercenaries have~”

 

Kim A-rang glanced at him with disbelief.

 

“Excuse me. You sound like some third-rate villain?”

 

“Among billions of people, being a third-rate villain would be fortunate. Hey, but is this ratio okay? They’re all offense.”

 

42 offense. 8 defense. I thought it would at least be 7:3.

 

The prediction was seriously off, it’s barely 8:2.

 

“One person is confirmed defense. So everyone chose offense without worry.”

 

If everyone picks offense they’ll all perish, but Seol Ha-woon is definitely defense.

 

Offense was already much more advantageous, but Seol Ha-woon is on the defense team? That Jemallot guy?

 

Then they’re betting on offense with confidence.

 

“Right, right. Well then, let’s just watch the mercenaries cause chaos~”

 

S-rank mercenaries are hard to handle. Due to the so-called S-rank trap where skill and ego are proportional.

 

“Hehehe.”

 

Im Hyeong-uk chuckled and picked up popcorn.

 

* * *

 

Thud! The capsule landed on the ground.

 

Hissss. The lid opened.

 

I raised my stiff body and stepped forward with my walking stick.

 

Thud! Thud!

 

Two more capsules landed beside me. Hissss. The lids opened the same way and two mercenaries walked out.

 

“Are you mercenaries?”

 

I asked them.

 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Akiman.”

 

First, a swordsman in light leather armor. The eyes showing through his shaggy hair looked quite skilled. His weapons were a katana and arm guards that seemed to serve as a shield.

 

〔I am Smeshion.〕

 

Smeshion next to him was huge. A warrior much larger than David Magic Bookstore Owner. Half his body was mechanical. According to Sequence’s radar, vicious heavy weapons were hidden beneath the black exoskeleton.

 

“I’m Mage Seol Ha-woon who hired you both.”

 

I introduced myself to them.

 

“Our destination is over there.”

 

There was a village not far away. I could see it right now.

 

Sparse castle walls that seemed to have endured quite a lot of hardship, and a scene covered with resignation and despair.

 

“We will protect them.”

 

Akiman looked at me intently. Smeshion sent a similar gaze.

 

It seemed like eyes trying to gauge me, but so what.

 

I gestured toward the village.

 

“Shall we depart?”

 

“…Understood.”

 

〔Confirmed.〕

 

We walked together. Whirr thud. Whirr thud. Smeshion’s footsteps were like RoboCop, while Akiman made no sound at all.

 

Perhaps due to the loud capsule landing, people were already gathered at the village entrance.

 

Among them, a white-haired old man stood trembling with his walking stick. He blocked our path with a face trying hard to suppress fear.

 

It was probably because of Smeshion. He looked almost like a monster.

 

“Are you the Village Chief?”

 

“…Yes. What brings you… here?”

 

I held out the Command Token to him.

 

“We’ve come to protect this village.”

 

“…!”

 

The Village Chief’s face brightened for a moment, but soon darkened. A despairing sigh flowed through his teeth.

 

“First… please come in.”

 

The Village Chief guided us inside the village. I followed behind him. The mercenaries also followed without complaint.

 

As we walked, several dogs and children watched us with curious eyes while hiding behind walls.

 

“As you probably saw on your way here, this entire area is being annihilated. Too many villages have disappeared. They were devoured by monsters without a trace. We’re also considering relocation, but…”

 

Even if they relocated, where could they settle? Would there really be no monsters there? In that case, wouldn’t it be better to fight with their lives in the land they had cultivated?

 

That must have been their feeling.

 

“Whether we run or not, if we encounter monsters, dying is all the same…”

 

〔Weak creatures indeed.〕

 

Smeshion muttered arrogantly.

 

The Village Chief asked.

 

“Sir. Can this village survive?”

 

“Yes. It’s possible.”

 

I answered immediately.

 

“If you just follow my words, it’s definitely possible, because Your Majesty has commanded us to save you all.”

 

As for who Your Majesty is, that would be you viewers.

 

Anyway.

 

I stood in the Village Center. The overall condition was quite rotten. First of all, whether houses or buildings, nothing was intact.

 

Construction materials were needed.

 

“Akiman.”

 

I turned to look at Akiman.

 

“Speak.”

 

“Please handle the logging.”

 

“…”

 

Akiman blinked blankly for a moment. Smeshion chuckled.

 

“Smeshion. I need you to quarry stones.”

 

〔….〕

 

Smeshion’s smile froze. He turned his artificial eyes red.

 

“It’s important work for protecting the village.”

 

The two mercenaries looked quite displeased, but I ignored them.

 

I asked the Village Chief.

 

“By any chance, do you have any discarded food supplies?”

 

“Discarded food supplies?”

 

“Yes. Food that’s become inedible, destroyed, contaminated, that sort of thing.”

 

Food supplies are important. Not just for the villagers right now, but the offenders will be eating like crazy too.

 

“Ah! Most of the chickens in the poultry farm died from monster toxins. They’re buried right now.”

 

“Then…?”

 

I turned around.

 

The two mercenaries were still standing there blankly.

 

“What are you doing? Logging and quarrying. I clearly gave you orders.”

 

〔…Orders?〕

 

Smeshion’s eyes flashed bright red. A laser-like glare pressed against my forehead.

 

I looked directly at him and answered.

 

“Yes. Orders.”

 

A brief staring contest.

 

After that, Akiman turned away first.

 

〔Ahem.〕

 

Smeshion also cleared his throat and stomped away.

 

“Village Chief?”

 

“Yes. Please follow me…”

 

The Village Chief led me to a cabin adjacent to the back mountain.

 

“Hey, Mr. Yoon!”

 

He opened the door familiarly and called for Mr. Yoon. Someone buried under bed covers groggily sat up.

 

“Ah, what is it now…”

 

The buff ‘Eye for People’ obtained from premium draw activated.

 

[ Yoon Yoon ]

 

·A-rank Livestock Farmer·B-rank Chef

 

“Here, this Royal Inspector has something to say to you!”

 

I asked Mr. Yoon.

 

“I heard you have chickens.”

 

“No… when was that, that thing.”

 

“Don’t cut your words short! He’s a Guardian who came by His Majesty’s command!”

 

At the Village Chief’s sharp rebuke, Mr. Yoon sighed.

 

“…They’re all dead. All that effort raising them for nothing.”

 

“We’ll have to find that effort’s worth from now on. Where did you bury them?”

 

“Why on earth would you… Ugh.”

 

The Village Chief’s glare at Mr. Yoon was sharp as a knife.

 

“Yes, yes. Follow me.”

 

Mr. Yoon got up.

 

He led us to a mound not far from the cabin.

 

“This is the place. They’re buried pretty deep, so it’ll take time to dig them up.”

 

Thud. I pressed the road surface with AC-0308. Crash! The entire ground was torn up.

 

Mr. Yoon and the Village Chief’s eyes widened.

 

“Hmm…”

 

I looked at the chickens buried underneath.

 

“There must be over 500. How many villagers are there?”

 

“Exactly 203 people.”

 

203 people. Roughly 60-70 households, more than I thought.

 

“Thanks to Mr. Yoon, the food problem is somewhat relieved.”

 

If I turn all these dead chickens into snacks and combine them with existing food supplies, I can feed all the ‘civilians’ until the Defense time limit.

 

“Are you crazy? You’ll die if you eat them.”

 

Mr. Yoon grabbed my shoulder. The Village Chief extended his walking stick to knock Mr. Yoon’s hand away.

 

“You fool, watch your speech! Watch your manners!”

 

“…No. These chickens were exposed to monster toxins. The moment you eat them, they cause rejection reactions and cardiac arrest. You understand? You’ll die.”

 

“I know. In that state, yes.”

 

I used telekinesis to pick up one chicken and plucked its feathers. I put the bare carcass into the box.

 

It was quickly refined into snacks.

 

The appearance was, perhaps influenced by my mental visualization, a famous snack shaped like chicken drumsticks.

 

“…Wow. What kind of item is that?”

 

“As expected of His Majesty’s Royal Inspector…”

 

While Mr. Yoon and the Village Chief watched with interest, crunch. I ate the snack myself.

 

“It’s delicious.”

 

Sorry to the chicken, but chicken can’t not be tasty.

 

“Try some.”

 

I tossed them each a drumstick. They had suspicious faces, but at my look, they trembled and chewed.

 

Crunch. Crunch.

 

“…Oh. Oh?”

 

“What’s this. It’s tasty?”

 

“Yes. About 20 pieces would be one serving. Do you have any living chickens?”

 

“Ah, yes. About thirty are still alive.”

 

Mr. Yoon answered.

 

“Then let’s keep them alive and collect eggs.”

 

Special meals are quite important. Rewards to give to civilians or offenders who accomplish great things.

 

“First, gather people to pluck all the feathers from these dead chickens.”

 

“Yes, yes. I’ll call them right away.”

 

“By any chance, do you know anything about herbs?”

 

“Herbs… I do have one with me right now. I caught a cold.”

 

The Village Chief took out an herb. NaN’s status window appeared right above the herb.

 

【Grass-like Herb】■ Description: An herb that resembles grass. Effective even when consumed directly.■ Stamina +5 Fatigue +6

 

Stamina and fatigue recovery. Different from reality. Probably the Labyrinth’s own rules.

 

「Stamina decreases when hit by monsters. You’re eliminated if it reaches 0.」

 

「Fatigue is consumed when moving outside the ‘base’ and recovers when inside the ‘base’.」

 

I see. Thank you.

 

“By any chance, is there an herbalist in this village?”

 

I’m in no condition to wander around outside the base. The mercenaries couldn’t possibly distinguish herbs either.

 

“Ah, yes! Just one. One person remains. Living with an herbalist father, then about 3 years ago the father died and now just with a sibling-”

 

“Please guide me there.”

 

I checked the remaining time.

 

[34 : 13 : 37]

 

For 34 hours, this base must be equipped with maximum facilities.

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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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