Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 76 (Part 1): A Bit of Fresh Air (1)

‘…Hey. Let’s make a promise.’

*Whoooosh—*

On a buoy rocked by crashing waves. Floating aimlessly on a tiny board in the vast ocean, I lie sprawled out, while the guy next to me keeps yammering.

‘Hey. Hey. Yo, punk. You dead or what?’

He keeps tapping my shoulder.

‘…Ugh, quit your nonsense. I’m tired as hell.’

‘No, you jerk. What if we suddenly croak like we almost did this time? That’s why I’m saying, let’s make a promise.’

Seo Ji-hyuk often talked about death. Not about ways to avoid it, but about the kind of death he’d face, like he was mulling it over.

‘Don’t jinx us, man.’

‘Just in case, you jerk. Just in case. Let’s make a promise.’

‘…What kind of promise?’

*Shotaaaaa.* A wave crashed over the buoy. Seo Ji-hyuk’s blue barrier blocked the seawater.

Even then, I survived thanks to him.

‘My little sister. You saw her, right? Back when she came for visitation, you saw her from a distance.’

‘Yeah. Long hair, looked just like you.’

‘Cut the crap. She’s a genius. My magic mentor took one look at her and said she’s likely to be picked as a mage candidate.’

‘Is that so.’

I pulled out the satellite terminal. The distress signal had definitely gone through. A helicopter would come soon.

‘To think I’d get hit by a torpedo in my lifetime….’

Back then, our ship was completely wrecked by a torpedo. Quite the novel experience.

Truthfully, it was a near-death situation.

‘Ah, damn. Hey, are you listening?’

‘I’m listening, so spit it out.’

‘So, if—and I mean *if*—I kick the bucket first, she’s gonna have a real hard time.’

‘If you know that, then get discharged, you bas—’

I swallowed the words. Telling him to get discharged wasn’t easy. I needed Seo Ji-hyuk too.

Seo Ji-hyuk had his own dreams. He loved his sister, but he was the kind of person who’d dedicate himself to his ambitions.

‘Ha-woon, keep her from going down a bad path.’

Back then, I scoffed, but Seo Ji-hyuk’s prediction was right.

When Seo Ji-woo learned the truth, she lost her grip on life, becoming someone alive yet dead. She turned into a vengeful spirit worse than me.

She couldn’t become part of NaN’s debut team. She dropped out midway.

And yet, she died even earlier than the debut team.

Cause of death: killed in battle.

‘…Fine, but focus on not dying first.’

‘What about you?’

Seo Ji-hyuk asked me.

‘What do you mean, me?’

‘Your promise. You gotta say something too.’

I thought about it.

A promise.

I’d never considered it before.

‘…For starters, you take charge of my funeral until it’s over. Not sure how many people would even show up.’

Having no family, I was quietly asking Seo Ji-hyuk to be my family.

‘And after the funeral’s done, visit my ashes every year.’

Seo Ji-hyuk, sitting cross-legged on the buoy, looked down at me and grinned.

‘…That’s some grim-ass sh*t. What’s that supposed to mean?’

Even now, the pillar holding Seo Ji-woo together is still Seo Ji-hyuk.

Seo Ji-hyuk’s heroic death. Billions in compensation, an honorary medal pinned to a corpse. A grave in the National Cemetery and your name searchable on Wikipedia.

I think that spot suits you perfectly.

I don’t like your sister, and I really can’t stand how she overworked herself to death, ignoring your wishes.

But to keep my promise, I’ll protect your sister.

* * *

Early in the morning, I headed to the back mountain. The aftershocks from yesterday kept me from sleeping, but I managed to get some rest using the sequence, waking up as usual.

My condition was top-notch.

The skill 【Dream Droplet】 I got from the labyrinth is low-key overpowered. Activate it before bed, and every night’s a deep sleep.

【Mana Core】

■ Overview: A core infused with mana.

■ Bonds and assimilates with an object.

Now, I need to decide how to use this Mana Core. It’s both a reinforcement item and an equippable, growth-type item.

If raised poorly, it’s just a mediocre mana battery. But if nurtured well, the Mana Core can become its own entity.

“Hm.”

I toyed with the Mana Core. Its texture was peculiar—hard like a stone yet soft, molding to the contours of my hand.

This thing usually bonds with equipment. Among my gear right now…

“…You.”

The 【Mysterious Cane】 I’ve used since the first day of regression.

Sure, there are probably better canes out there. Ones made from centuries-old saplings, crafted by master artisans in fantasy labyrinths, tagged with Epic, Legendary, or Mystic-grade labels.

“Wanna stick with me for the long haul?”

But reality isn’t a game.

Now that I’m living it, I get it. Swapping out gear for a 0.1 stat boost feels cold and empty.

Besides, I never even knew about a system like ‘Beloved Items’ back then.

Looking back, [MoMo] had plenty of features tied to attachment. Stick with a mediocre explorer, and they’d have a grand awakening at a critical moment to buy you time. Or keep a low-tier pet instead of tossing it, and it’d die for its master in the labyrinth.

I used to read those stories and think, *Why waste time raising that when you could swap it for a better character or pet and avoid that mess altogether?*

In terms of pure efficiency, that might be true. But now, I think it’s time for a change.

There are values in this world more important than efficiency.

This isn’t a game—it’s reality.

“Let’s go the distance.”

I embedded the Mana Core into the cane.

*Wiiiing!* The cane flashed blue. I could feel its mana circuit latching onto the Mana Core.

The core, seeking a circuit to root itself in, connected with the circuit ready to accept it.

*Pajijijik!*

Mana sparks flew. Lightning-like streaks lit up the dawn sky.

*Pajik—Pajijik!*

When the tremors settled, I opened my Status Window.

【Mysterious Mana Cane】

■ Synchronizing…

Synchronization.

That’s how it works. It’ll probably take a day or two.

“…The name’s kinda lame.”

The item name doesn’t sit right with me. “Mysterious” is accurate, and “Mana Cane” is too, but…

We’re in it for the long haul, aren’t we?

“Your name is…”

An idea clicked instantly.

“AC-0308.”

Arcane Cane, AC for short, and March 8th, the day we first met.

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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