Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 72 (Part 2): Die With a Smile (2)

*Haaa.*

As I began my mana breathing, I visualized my goal.

Today’s goal: a ‘mana’ implant to strengthen the nervous system.’

The biggest issue with my sequence, as I see it, is the headaches and heat. The heat generated when mana amplifies the nervous system burns it out, overheating to the point of frying the brain.

So, if I install a mana implant between mana the brain and spinal cord, and inject mana to protect and cool the nervous system, then…

*Zzzzt!*

A spark crackled at the back of my neck.

When I came to, I was face-down on the ground. My body felt like molten lava.

“…”

I blinked dazedly.

*Plip. Plip-plop.* Rain poured onto my face.

Did I just pass out?

Seems like it. The sun’s peeking through now.

It’s tough.

Tough, but I have to do it.

I never expected it to work on the first try. I’ll keep at it until it does.

“Haa…”

Focusing on my breathing, I let the rain soak me.

Nature’s flow cooled my overheated body.

Looks like implant refinement will have to wait for rainy or snowy days.

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

[ Magic Rank increases. ]

■ C+ → B-

* * *

*Shaaaa.* Rain falls over the mountains of Gangwon-do. In a scene that clashes with the rustic charm of dew-soaked grass, a sleek limousine idles. Inside, Kate meets a family member for the first time in a while, under the pretext of checking her labyrinth aftereffects.

“…Miss Maeve.”

“Yes.”

The butler who’s been with the family since Kate’s birth, always by her side.

Kate had a request for her.

“Could you… look into something about Uncle Percival?”

“Sir Percival, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“What specifically…?”

At her question, Kate paused, sifting through the foggy haze in her mind.

“I suddenly had a thought.”

A memory.

She couldn’t recall a clear shape, but the feeling was unmistakable.

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

A heavy intuition sparked in a recent dream, an echo anchored deep in her unconscious.

“…No.”

Her eyes gleamed coldly in the reflection of the window.

“There’s definitely more to it.”

* * *

David’s Magic Bookstore. David Han is eyeing a ranking chart for *Labyrinth Exploration NaN* on the news.

[ 1–9th: Lee Jun-ho, Kang Hyun, Seo Ji-woo, Kate, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Zhao Yun… ]

[ 10–19th: Kim Dong-ha, Jin Ho-seung, Kim Doo-gyeom, Lee Jong-su, Kim Woo-hyun, Lim Hae-jun… ]

[ 20–29th… ]

“Oh~ Look at that. The rankings flipped like that?”

His interest lies in the 20th range.

Seol Ha-woon.

It’s not an official ranking, of course. Only profile votes are tallied now. The first official count, with weekly votes, will clarify things.

“An entertainment show making the news? Must be peaceful times.”

A low, gravelly voice chimed in.

David Han glanced over.

“Peaceful times? You from the Joseon era or something? And you, you’re always checking it too.”

Tae-woo. A mage with no real job, just wandering around. Rumor has it he lectures at a university.

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

“SNS. Search #SeolHawoon, and it pops up.”

“…Let me see.”

The old man leaned in. Tae-woo’s smartphone was flooded with Seol Ha-woon-related posts.

[ Can Seol Ha-woon hold the 20th spot?? ]

[ No way he drops lol don’t worry ]

[ Debut team material fr ]

[Seol Ha-woon’s derp face screenshot]

[ Y’all watching Labyrinth NaN?? Do u know Seol Ha-woon?? ]

[ Went to a bakery this week, and they asked if I knew Seol Ha-woon… Said they’d give extras if I voted and showed proof lol. Baker was ex-military lmao ]

[Updated guide to Seol Ha-woon’s spells]

[ Can’t wait anymore… That guy who saved Seo Ji-woo at the end of NaN, it’s Seol Ha-woon, right? ]

“Oh, right. Hey.”

David slapped Tae-woo’s shoulder.

“Where’d that wolf come from in the last episode?”

“Seo Ji-woo’s earring artifact.”

“Ahh~ That earring? Then who’s the guy who showed up before that?”

“…”

Tae-woo fell silent, thinking deeply. Stroking his chin like he was solving a magic theorem, he concluded:

“Based on the flow so far, it could be Lee Jun-ho.”

“Lee Jun-ho? Not Seol Ha-woon? Seol Ha-woon seemed into Seo Ji-woo.”

“No way. Seol Ha-woon’s not the type to have room for others in his heart. Lee Jun-ho’s the one who’s got a thing for Seo Ji-woo.”

David shook his head.

“Man, this is why you’re single. How can you be *this* clueless?”

“Public opinion’s leaning my way.”

“…Public opinion?”

Tae-woo held up three fingers.

“News. Communities. SNS.”

“You follow all that? You’re obsessed.”

“Not like you’re one to talk.”

Tae-woo gestured somewhere. The bookstore’s center, its most prominent spot. A pristine glass case displayed a cup and several autographs.

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

[ Seol Ha-woon Autograph ]

[ Kang Hyun Autograph ]

Even the descriptions were meticulously written.

“…Ahem. Look, kids come here treating it like a pilgrimage. Gotta give ‘em something to hype about.”

The place where Seol Ha-woon first learned magic—David Han’s Magic Bookstore. Plenty of fans visit, snap photos, and buy books.

“But you gotta admit, it’s fun. My granddaughter and daughter are hooked too.”

“The show itself is magic.”

David’s eyebrows twitched at Tae-woo’s words.

“That’s what I thought, right?”

“It’s built on a clear magical framework.”

“What’s that framework?”

“Even a mage can’t explain it. A mage doesn’t cast magic—they summon it.”

“…You’re the least fun mage I know.”

Tae-woo’s actually pretty humble for a mage. Top 0.1% among them, maybe. David only knows two mages who admit what they don’t know and own their mistakes: Tae-woo and Tae-yul.

“Magic evolves so unpredictably.”

Tae-woo continued softly, eyes still glued to *Labyrinth Exploration NaN* posts on SNS.

“Sometimes, it feels alive.”

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

Tae-woo’s face stiffened. His gaze sliced through the old man like a honed blade.

“Old man. There’s science in the magic world.”

“A mage talking science?”

“It’s like basic arithmetic. Mages who learn polymorph and use it to deceive human society aren’t sane. At the very least, they’re far from normal.”

The old man crossed his arms. He could think of three mages who’d mastered polymorph, and it seemed Tae-woo was taking a shot at one of them.

His younger sibling.

Reading his thoughts, Tae-woo added:

“…That’s not my opinion. It’s a statistical fact.”

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novels: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" & "The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring " If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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