Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 98

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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 098

 

Home Sweet Home(7)

 

“Oh. Let’s just do that~ Leave the Eastern Region to Mal-ok Hyung~”

 

Lee Jong-soo made phone calls from the Waiting Room. Almost everyone below the top 10.

 

“Ah, the starting point is random of course. Just come to the West. That’ll be easier.”

 

Most would choose the West even without phone calls, but just in case.

 

“Defenders exchange information with each other too. Right? Hehe.”

 

Everyone seemed to agree.

 

“It’s called selection and concentration. We all trust Mal-ok Hyung. How reliable he is.”

 

Probably, there are tons of people who find Seol Ha-woon annoying, they just don’t say it. Not only the top 10 competing for debut, but also the lower ranks who realistically have it tough.

 

Someone who was 96th place suddenly shot up.

 

Quite a few people think it’s because of Kim A-rang. It’s famous that the PD only favors Seol Ha-woon.

 

“Oh. Yeah. Then let’s meet in the West~ Hang up, Seon-hye~”

 

After finishing his last call, Lee Jong-soo checked his message inbox again.

 

“Wow… This guy still hasn’t even sent a text till the end.”

 

Even though it was almost time to start, Seol Ha-woon was still leaving him on read.

 

I’ve never been ignored this much even by women.

 

“Fine. Fine. Keep doing everything alone. Let’s see who helps you~”

 

If you act all high and mighty alone, no one will help you. More people will just wait for a chance to push you off a cliff.

 

“…Kim Du-gyeom was so fucking contrived too.”

 

The orphan story and the orphanage story too. Does he think others don’t do emotional appeals because they can’t?

 

When I was 11, my mom got cancer and it was really tough too.

 

“Keep working hard alone from now on~”

 

Since you’re so great alone, let’s see how well you can do.

 

* * *

 

「Labyrinth Re-entry」

 

I closed my eyes briefly and when I opened them, 12 hours had passed. It was time to dive in again, and I climbed into the Capsule in a drowsy state.

 

Crash.

 

Whiiiiiii──-

 

The 12 hours I slept. During that time, 14 days had passed in the Labyrinth.

 

I wonder if Auto-hunting went well, or if some problem occurred.

 

I’m both worried and excited.

 

Thud!

 

The Capsule touched the Ground. As the lid opened, I could see the expanded Castle Wall.

 

On the Castle Wall stood scarecrows, and on the Ground stood two people guarding the Castle Gate. Civilians in leather armor, no, they were soldiers now.

 

I approached them.

 

“Royal Inspector! You’ve returned!”

 

The soldier who recognized me widened his eyes.

 

I asked them.

 

“Was there any trouble inside the Village?”

 

“Ah, there wasn’t. The scarecrows keep watch with wide eyes not just Outside but inside too… Haha.”

 

The soldier’s complexion looked quite good. There seemed to be no Food Supplies problem.

 

I entered through the Castle Gate. First, Smeshion and Akiman greeted me.

 

“You two, it’s been a while.”

 

To me it feels like I just met them after leaving, but they’ve already spent 2 weeks.

 

“You came right on time.”

 

〔Was going to abandon you if you were later.〕

 

Then the Village Chief came running out in his socks.

 

“You’re here, Royal Inspector! There’s much to report!”

 

He guided me to the Medical Office. They hadn’t been idle – the beds had increased to twenty, and four more nurses had been added.

 

“We’ve made many natural medicines.”

 

I checked the medical supplies.

 

【Natural Bandages Soaked in Regeneration Herb】■ Immediate Hemostasis effect

 

【Detox Pills】■ Has fever reduction and antibiotic effects, alleviates Curse.■ Stamina +7, Fatigue +10

 

【Warmth Pills】■ When consumed, generates warm energy within the body.■ Stamina +9, Fatigue +7

 

“These pills are…”

 

“Hyeon Dan the herbalist mixed them to make pill-like forms. Over here are containers with herbs finely ground by type as you instructed.”

 

Pottery with different colors according to herb types were placed in cool spots.

 

“We’ve also prepared herb cultivation areas. They’re growing very well.”

 

The Village Chief opened the back door. In a position receiving half shade and half sunlight was a 【Herb Garden】.

 

“Sergeant Hyeon takes good care of it every night.”

 

“Yes. Good.”

 

In other words, Auto-hunting was a great success.

 

The Village Chief smiled and clapped his hands.

 

“Ah right, more people have come to the Village.”

 

“More people came?”

 

“They seemed to have heard rumors and came looking. They were people from a neighboring Village we knew, so we took them in for now.”

 

Relief work isn’t always a good thing. Because it means more mouths to feed.

 

The Village Chief said while reading my expression.

 

“Thanks to them, the Food Storage is full. They knew the locations of Rice and Barley Fields abandoned due to monsters. We quickly harvested and returned.”

 

〔I commanded that.〕

 

Smeshion chuckled.

 

“Yes yes. We worked together with Lord Smeshion.”

 

Anyway, it meant more supplies had increased.

 

“Yes. Good work.”

 

Then Smeshion turned around and opened his shell.

 

“…Ah. Yes.”

 

I supplied Magic Power as promised. Tssssst. Smeshion devoured almost 20% of my Magic Power before smiling with satisfaction.

 

“Sergeant Akiman.”

 

Akiman turned to look at me.

 

“Please gather the soldiers now.”

 

“Understood.”

 

I came out to the Training Ground.

 

Before long, soldiers lined up in formation.

 

The numbers aren’t many. Just about a platoon’s worth. Still, these are people who volunteered to risk their lives to protect the Village.

 

Beside the Training Ground, their families, children, or friends lined up.

 

“Soon the monsters will come charging in.”

 

There’s no need for long words. You understand this situation better than anyone.

 

“It will be grueling days ahead. Many people will die. However, remember this. We chose not to avoid this despite knowing everything.”

 

In the past, my first principle was the success of the operation.

 

For that, I had to sacrifice everything, even myself.

 

“…So for yourselves. For your families and neighbors.”

 

Now there’s no need for that.

 

Because I’m not a soldier.

 

“Survive.”

 

I was about to turn around.

 

But one of the soldiers raised his hand in salute. The salute I had taught them two days ago. Starting with him, everyone raised their arms.

 

“…”

 

I nodded silently.

 

Whiiiiing-!

 

Just then, a roar erupted from the sky. We all looked up.

 

Capsules streaming down through the sky like a meteor shower.

 

It was the airdrop of 42 Offense team members.

 

* * *

 

Hissss. The capsule that touched the ground opened.

 

“Phew!”

 

Im Hae-jun sighed and walked out.

 

His stomach felt queasy. Honestly, he felt like throwing up. But pretending to be calm, he turned around without staggering as much as possible.

 

There were three mercenaries.

 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Im Hae-jun.”

 

Three A-rank mercenaries worth a whopping 100,000 coins each. Im Hae-jun had accepted the financial loss this time. It was a strategic investment of sorts.

 

This was a team to make up for the ‘cargo labyrinth incident’ that still made Im Hae-jun uncomfortable.

 

Actually, there are too many people online who underestimate me these days.

 

“I’m the team leader. Please follow my orders from now on.”

 

His model was Seol Ha-woon. That guy would probably say something like this.

 

“Now. This is the map.”

 

Im Hae-jun unfolded the map.

 

“It’s a valuable item.”

 

Since he got it from premium gacha, it roughly showed the locations of enemy crystals and allied bases.

 

“First, we’ll infiltrate enemy territory, destroy crystals, then conduct guerrilla warfare by resting at bases.”

 

“Who will take the vanguard?”

 

One mercenary asked. A-rank mercenary Kim Yong-tae with dark stubble. Im Hae-jun mumbled hesitantly.

 

“…Vanguard?”

 

“The person who takes the front.”

 

“Ah~ Front line? You should say front line. We don’t use that term anymore, no, we don’t use that terminology.”

 

Im Hae-jun changed his voice to serious again.

 

“First, Kim Yong-tae will take the front line.”

 

Kieeeeeek──-

 

A demon beast’s cry echoed. Im Hae-jun hastily retrieved the map.

 

“Let’s go!”

 

“Where are we going?”

 

Kim Yong-tae asked back.

 

“First… to the east!”

 

Seol Ha-woon’s base should be in the east. So they decided to operate in that vicinity.

 

“There are many bases in the west though. Wouldn’t it be better to establish routes and strategies at a base first?”

 

Kim Yong-tae suggested. Im Hae-jun thought for a moment.

 

It was reasonably sound. There were indeed seven bases in the west…

 

But a comment he’d seen somewhere flashed through Im Hae-jun’s mind like lightning.

 

“…No. I’m the team leader.”

 

The reason Jemallot was always right was

 

because he made even wrong decisions right.

 

“We’re going east.”

 

* * *

 

Evening time. The torches on the castle wall burned away the darkness, and a bleak wind swept through the night.

 

“They’re coming!”

 

I climbed up onto the castle wall.

 

Boom─boom─boom─boom!

 

The first wave began with the soldiers’ drumbeats.

 

“…There are so many.”

 

Demon beasts were surging forward.

 

Demon beasts aren’t monsters. They’re entities with magic power flowing instead of blood, so they evolve differently from both humans and monsters. Thanks to this, their appearance is grotesque too. They have bodies where arms should be, legs where eyes should be, and sometimes exist in forms unimaginable by our common sense.

 

“Fire!”

 

The archers fired arrows. Enchanted wooden arrows rushed toward the demon beasts.

 

Shrieeeek!

 

The arrows penetrated the demon beasts’ skin. Their gloomy screams settled like fog.

 

But it was only about thirty arrows. The number of demon beasts was in the hundreds. By the end of the wave, it might swell to thousands.

 

Grooooooo──-

 

Even while hit by arrows, they approached the castle wall, and Smeshion activated. Heavy weapons that emerged from his exoskeleton bombarded the enemies.

 

Kwaaaaaa──-!

 

Akiman jumped over the castle wall and swung his sword. Cleanly drawn lines. With each sword strike, demon beast flesh flew up.

 

“Fire!”

 

Following the adjutant’s command, the archers and Kesooabi fired arrows. The elites that Akiman had separately trained also killed demon beasts outside the castle wall.

 

I… looked up at the empty sky.

 

“Tsk.”

 

As expected, the difficulty had increased as feared.

 

If you had to pick the most difficult enemy to face in this kind of defense, it would naturally be aerial mobs. Flying enemies are hard to deal with from a base.

 

So before regression, aerial mobs appeared from the third or fourth day.

 

Not far away, I could see winged creatures.

 

“Royal Inspector! Over there! There are some in the air too!”

 

The sharp-eyed adjutant also spotted them.

 

“I’ll handle them.”

 

I activated my sequence.

 

Stop.

 

The arrows cutting through the sky halted.

 

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

 

The bullets fired from Smeshion’s exoskeleton flowed slowly, and Akiman finally moved somewhat like a normal person.

 

I measured the number of aerial enemies flying around.

 

Some flapped giant palms, some flapped huge soles, some flapped eyeballs, and some… how should I describe them.

 

Flesh clumped together like clouds with multiple human eyes, noses, and mouths attached. Anyway, they were flying toward us.

 

I lifted wooden arrows with telekinesis.

 

Exactly forty-three arrows. But the arrows were merely a medium.

 

The mental visualization I’ll assign to this──anti-air missile.

 

Reading the flight paths of those soaring through the air, I draw a perfect interception trajectory and launch.

 

Tssssssst──!

 

43 arrows embroidered the sky.

 

Becoming guided missiles with not an inch of error, they tracked and pierced through the enemies.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, Lee Jong-soo’s team took advantage of the first wave to infiltrate deep into enemy territory.

 

The so-called ‘Desolation Zone’, where vein-like things were trampled on the ground, and human organ-like objects could be seen frequently while walking.

 

A region eroded by demonic beasts. Think of it as a demonic beast habitat.

 

“Wow, the smell is really disgusting… Where is it?”

 

Lee Jong-soo asked Kim Dong-ha. Kim Dong-ha looked at the radar and answered.

 

“Soon…”

 

The radar was an item from a premium draw. A device that detects crystal wavelengths.

 

“Wait. Not soon, but here? Look around and see where it is.”

 

“Here?”

 

Lee Jong-soo looked around.

 

There’s nothing that looks like a crystal, huh?

 

“Hey. Isn’t that it?”

 

A crystal-like object was covered in purple flesh. The other team members also widened their eyes.

 

“That’s right. It looks like that one?”

 

“I thought it was a structure.”

 

Lee Jong-soo drew his great sword and immediately swung it.

 

Bang!

 

Kieeeeeek──!

 

Suddenly the crystal let out a scream.

 

“What, what is it.”

 

“Damn, what the hell is this?!”

 

Kieeeeeek──!

 

They looked at where the sound was coming from. A mouth was attached to a corner of the flesh pile covering the crystal.

 

Kim Dong-ha quickly smashed it with his hammer, but it was already too late.

 

Grrrrrr…!

 

The rumbling of demonic beasts stirring. Not far away. They’ll swarm here soon.

 

“Run!”

 

“Wait, let me grab some loot!”

 

Putting one orb and fragments from the crystal into a wrapping cloth, they ran away frantically. To the rendezvous point where they were supposed to meet the mercenary team.

 

“There they… are!”

 

Fortunately, they joined up with the mercenary camp without being too late.

 

Lee Jong-soo said urgently.

 

“Mercenaries, let’s go to the base!”

 

“There’s nowhere to go.”

 

Lee Jong-soo hesitated at the mercenary’s words.

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

The mercenary gestured toward a distant place.

 

The base was on fire. It was Ryu Wei’s base, which they had thought was fairly sturdy.

 

“What… couldn’t even last a day?”

 

“Let’s move somewhere else for now. Jong-soo, what’s your fatigue level?”

 

“30.”

 

“Mine’s 27 too. Did we overdo it? Want to go to Kate’s place?”

 

“That’s too far from here.”

 

“Then… what’s the closest place from here?”

 

They spread out a map. It was also an item obtained from a premium draw.

 

“Yoon Hwa-rim’s place.”

 

“Oh. Let’s go there then. Let’s go!”

 

Lee Jong-soo asked the mercenaries while running busily.

 

“By the way, did you see the situation?”

 

“What situation do you mean?”

 

These people are B+ grade worth 30,000 coins. Hired based on good faith, so communication works fairly well.

 

“Why did Ryu Wei suddenly fail when he even had S-grade mercenaries?”

 

One S-grade mercenary and about ten B-grade ones to assist him. Ryu Wei had spent quite a lot of his own money too.

 

The mercenary smiled bitterly.

 

“…The S-grade mercenary probably has a high chance of not helping with your work.”

 

“What? Why?”

 

The mercenary answered quietly.

 

“S-grades originally pick and choose their clients. No matter how much you pay in fees, if it doesn’t suit their taste, they won’t obey orders. The more you dare try to hold the reins tight, the more they’ll just sneer at you. Especially.”

 

He looked Lee Jong-soo’s team up and down.

 

“If young and inexperienced people like you are the employers, even more so…”

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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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