Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 78 (Part 1) A Bit of Fresh Air (3)

The observation room of [In-Camera Scouting] overlooked the first-floor explorers like a balcony. Gathered there were experts from various schools and factions, the kind of celebrities who popped up on media whenever they got bored.

Yu-yul sat in the mentor’s seat.

“Ah~ So you’re the one.”

Someone spoke to her. Yu-yul turned to look.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Kim Jung-wook, head of the Korean branch of the Zephyrell School.”

Kim Jung-wook, a man with a slick demeanor, extended his hand. Yu-yul shook it.

It’s not even a real hand anyway, so what does it matter what touches it?

“Yes. Nice to meet you,” she replied.

“Hahaha.”

Kim Jung-wook took a seat, smoothing out his suit as he scanned the faces of the distinguished guests.

“Quite a few school representatives here, aren’t there? Well, I suppose it makes sense. Seo Ji-woo, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Yoon Hwa-rim—they’re all overflowing with talent. The pool of unaffiliated sorcerers this time is unusually wide, isn’t it?”

Yu-yul listened silently.

Or rather, let it go in one ear and out the other.

“Well, we’re not particularly interested in them, though.”

Kim Jung-wook paused, glancing at Yu-yul, clearly hoping she’d take the bait and say something.

Yu-yul remained quiet.

He let out a hearty laugh.

“Ah~ Don’t think we’re too full of ourselves, please. Seo Ji-woo and Ryu Yeon-hwa are beneath us? Absolutely not~ We’re just keeping an eye on other prospects.”

Yu-yul nodded.

“Haha. I have something to discuss with you, Yu-yul. It’ll be beneficial for you too, I’m sure of it.”

As he spoke, the simulation began.

—

[Stage 1]

The first stage. The first contender was Seol Ha-woon.

Time limit: 1 minute 30 seconds. Opponent: a Stone Golem.

“Hmm~ Starting off tough from Stage 1, huh? A Stone Golem for a sorcerer? And it looks like it’s granite-based, no less.”

Stage 1 monsters typically had simple patterns. The same applied to golems, but their base stats were formidable. For a novice sorcerer facing one head-on, it was quite a challenge.

*BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!*

The golem charged. Seol Ha-woon, staring at its massive form, merely raised a finger.

“Oh ho~ That’s the hand pistol, isn’t it? I’ve been dying to see it in action…”

Kim Jung-wook was a talkative one, and before he could finish, a mana bullet fired. A large-caliber projectile obliterated the golem’s core in a single shot.

“…Huh?”

Kim Jung-wook blinked. He’d apparently expected a barrage of bullets, a chaotic firefight.

“Wow, wow~ Bravo. Just as I’d heard.”

He clapped enthusiastically again.

Yu-yul didn’t react. Kim Jung-wook shot her a slightly miffed glance.

“But, Mentor Yu-yul, aren’t you a bit *too* quiet? I’m pretty sure I’m your senior here. Higher in rank, too.”

Some people were like that—heads of schools who thought they were mages just because their institution was.

“I’m just the quiet type,” Yu-yul replied.

Fortunately, she wasn’t the type to hold grudges. She didn’t keep score to settle later, nor was she cruel or vindictive.

“Haha~ That’s fine. Still, I’m sure we’ll get along famously. Now, let’s see the rest of the explorers!”

Starting with Seol Ha-woon, sixty-nine others took their turns.

Some cleared it with ease, others barely scraped by, and ten failed.

“…What the heck?” Kim Jung-wook muttered, genuinely surprised.

The ten who failed were gathered in the waiting room, sobbing their hearts out. They must have sensed their elimination in the first tally. The VJs zoomed in relentlessly with their cameras.

“Oh… wow. That’s tragic. Full-on bawling. Hoho, look at that. Is that snot or tears?”

—

[Stage 2]

Regardless, the competition moved to Stage 2.

Gargoyles. Same time limit: 1 minute 30 seconds.

Once again, Seol Ha-woon was first and cleared it effortlessly.

From his position, he unleashed a barrage of mana bullets at the airborne gargoyle. The projectiles struck precisely at its weak points—between the wings and shoulder blades.

“Wow~ Bravo~”

Kim Jung-wook leapt to his feet, clapping again. Representatives from other schools raised their eyebrows at him.

“…At this point, it’s obvious I’ve laid my claim on him, right?”

Kim Jung-wook whispered to Yu-yul with a sly grin. She only nodded slightly.

—

[Stage 3]

The Stage 3 monster was a Cursed Corpse.

An undead zombie.

Seol Ha-woon didn’t move an inch. From the same spot, he dismantled the zombie. Against a creature with high durability, he unleashed a torrent of firepower, ultimately incinerating its entire body. It wasn’t so much pierced by bullets as cooked by the heat of countless wounds.

To Yu-yul, his combat ability had clearly improved. The real combat experience in the labyrinth must have helped quite a bit.

“…A pure mage is rare in modern times.”

But Kim Jung-wook’s expression had turned serious.

There was a hint of suspicion in his eyes, beyond mere admiration.

* * *

“He’s good.”

In the explorers’ waiting room, Lee Jun-ho watched Seol Ha-woon’s monster-hunting replay on a monitor.

His personal take? *Specialized.* Like how some classes in games were better for PvP, others for PvE.

*Tap.*

Kang Hyun, sitting nearby, closed his notebook. Lee Jun-ho glanced over.

“Why’d you stop? You were taking good notes.”

“Pointless.”

“Pointless? What do you mean?”

“There’s no pattern or routine to that guy.”

“…Isn’t just standing there and casting spells a pattern?”

“Similar, but different. The sequence of spell deployment, gaze handling, behavioral reflexes, mana collection patterns… and yet…”

Kang Hyun trailed off.

Seol Ha-woon lacked what sorcerers often called “habits.” No patterns. No telltale signs or precursors to his spells.

It was as if he’d deliberately erased all rules and order from his being.

“An unanalyzable sorcerer.”

“…Okay, sure.”

“Like a person with no fingerprints.”

“That’s kinda creepy.”

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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