Genius Engineer in the Labyrinth - Chapter 50
Only Noblemtl
Field trip (4)
A compass is a tool whose needle moves in response to a planet, which can be considered a giant magnet. Since the needle points to both south and north, there is no problem finding your way when used with a map.
But a compass in a labyrinth? Does that mean the entrance and exit of each floor are in the north and south directions? That wasn’t the case at all.
So, that Oparts was a completely different tool that only borrowed the name of a compass.
Oros shook the round, transparent crystal. The needle floating inside remained still despite the vibrations generated by his thick forearm.
“This needle uses magic stones or magic crystals as raw materials. For example, if you catch a monster on the 40th floor and absorb the magic stones it produces, it will tell you where the door to the 41st floor is. You must use the magic stones from that floor to point to the next floor, so be sure to remember that.”
“Something is strange. Isn’t the labyrinth trying to stop its entrants, that is, its explorers? But why is there a compass here that tells you where the door is?”
Oros raised his index finger at a student’s question. Even his wrinkled eyelids could not hide Professor Oak’s shining eyes. Their color was full of curiosity and a desire to explore.
“Right? A monster placed to block the explorer, a compass pointing down. It’s a truly contradictory situation. There’s also the assumption that the labyrinth itself is a test. It means that it’s a training ground set up by someone. Then what kind of reward will be given to those who prove themselves? Maybe they can become the master of the labyrinth.”
“Professor, isn’t that an overly optimistic outlook? Too many people will die if we assume it’s a training ground. It’s too harsh if we assume it’s a test to determine the master. Even if that’s true, the creator who put people in a vortex of desire must have anti-social tendencies. Naturally, the reward would be strange.”
Oros would just smile and listen to the students’ objections. He was even happy, like when he discovered the compass.
“Thank you for your different opinion. There are opinions like that, as the student said. But every argument will end when someone reaches the end of the labyrinth. You have a better chance than me. If you like it, join a famous explorer’s guild or party and continue on.”
“Professor, we are scholars. Do you think they will accept us?”
“What have I always said? A scholar cannot just stay locked up in a building. Remember, be both civil and military. This is the goal you should pursue.”
There was no student who refuted that statement. Saying that it was difficult in front of a living witness who had achieved both literary and martial arts skills was nothing more than an excuse.
Oros is a professor at the city university’s labyrinth department and a level 5 expert. He is currently focusing on educating his juniors, but even 10 years ago, he was an enthusiastic explorer of labyrinths.
Depth 1. In fact, it’s a position that’s embarrassing to even use the word depth. Thanks to the spread of magic tools and magicware, anyone can reach it if they put in the time.
From Depth 2 onwards, things are a bit different. It can be achieved with just Magic Wear without Mana Hearts, but it requires both self-discipline and a talent for combat.
From Depth 3 onwards, it gets increasingly harsh. Explorers who fall into this category possess Mana Hearts, either created by themselves or implanted with artificial means.
Depth 4 could not be called the same person. Faster than a beast, more sensitive than a herbivore, and outputting machine power with flesh and bone.
Depth 5 is where Oros is. Even a well-armed chariot with magic was like a fish waiting to be slaughtered on a chopping board in front of them. This is the maximum point of achievement for someone who lacks at least one of talent, chance, and effort.
So, even if the students tried to argue that it was difficult in front of Oros, who was 5 in depth, it would be useless. Or maybe they were just afraid of his huge arms.
Anyway, now that the fight was over, it was time to have fun collecting the loot. We walked around the open space with 2-3 students per escort.
Oros was right next to Alan, who was diligently disassembling the automaton.
“I never knew that outer armor could be broken down like this.”
Alan took the sling out of the cart and inserted it into the gap between the automaton’s armor and stirred it, and each time he did so, the iron plates separated easily.
It was the result of a combination of Alan’s knowledge of the eye’s clairvoyant abilities and the structure of the automaton.
“So, what method do you use, professor?”
“I am like this···.”
Oros placed his hand on the belly of the lion-shaped automaton and spread it apart. The opened lion looked like a frog in an anatomy lab.
“If you’re smart, your body suffers less, and if your body is smart, your head suffers less. I’m embarrassed to say this, but both apply to me…”
“I don’t think there’s an easier explanation than that.”
Alan felt envious of Oros’ sturdy body.
“With a body like that, you could stay up all night reading a book and be fine, right?”
“Haha, that’s right. But don’t forget that our brains need rest. Getting enough sleep helps us reach our peak concentration.”
Oros, who laughed out loud, kept his mouth shut and watched Allen’s dismantling show. It was faster than the speed at which six students were dismantling it. It was an unbelievable hand movement.
I tried to dissuade Alan because it was obvious that the students would finish all of the class work.
“Alan Explorer. Aren’t you tired?”
“If you’re having fun, there’s no reason to be tired.”
“Well… that’s an undeniable argument. But please give me some time. Not just for me, but for the students as well.”
When Alan turned his head, there were a few college students staring at him. They were looking at him with oily hands, hoping that he would dismantle it.
But Oros’s forearm muscles twitched in his direction, startling him and making him refocus on collecting his loot.
“You must be tired from dragging the explorer back when he was planning to return.”
Oros placed his palm on Alan’s back and guided him to the place where the magic stone lantern was. The strength was too much for the reinforced exoskeleton to withstand.
Alan gave up and followed along obediently. When he turned on the stove next to the stone lantern, the warm air made his body tired.
“Do you have anything to say?”
“Is this the main point? I also like conversations without frills. When I meet other professors or people from various fields, I wonder why I have so much to say…”
Oros sat on a chair made of crumpled scrap metal and frowned.
“If it’s okay with you, have you ever thought about working at a university? I’ve been watching Explorer Alan for the past few days, and it seems like he either learned magic engineering from an unusual teacher or taught himself.”
“I studied alone.”
“As expected, my judgment was right. I think that creative and enterprising Allen Explorers can grow bigger wings if they work at a university, a treasure trove of knowledge. What do you think?”
“Are you talking about the teaching assistant? But I cannot enroll in college due to some circumstances.”
“···I see what the problem is. Is it because of the ID?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
As he grew older, his accumulated experience became sophistication that he immediately matched Alan’s circumstances. He was just becoming an adult, a maze explorer, and a self-taught person. He just combined a few clues.
“It’s unfortunate that sacred learning is being swayed by identification, but I understand the position of the city hall or the administrative office. The city university is a university where talented people attend. If someone with evil intentions infiltrates and causes problems, it will be difficult in many ways.”
“I am also very sorry.”
Alan was also a pity. Aside from the time he spent eating and sleeping, he always had the opportunity to keep knowledge by his side.
However, there were many restrictions. First of all, the cost of the Yohwa’s blood-sal flower was 300,000 coins. And that was for just one flower.
‘I receive 2-3 seeds a month, so that alone adds up to a lot of money.’
Just maintaining the status quo would cost that much. As I got older, my physical condition would deteriorate, so my expenses would increase.
“There is a way to hire someone through a roundabout method, but···.”
“The salary will be ridiculously low.”
“I’ll add a little more so that it reaches 300···.”
Oros suddenly stopped talking and looked into Alan’s eyes. Then he smiled faintly, as if he knew something.
“I thought you were a bit materialistic because you suddenly started talking about money, but I was wrong. A person with such eyes would never do that. I pride myself on my ability to read people. Even if you deceived me, that alone is impressive.”
“Anyway, I ask for your understanding.”
“Everyone has things they can’t say.”
There were other reasons besides money and health issues. I was starting to enjoy exploring dungeons, but it was obvious that if I worked at the university, I would lose the opportunity to come down.
Not only that. If he had to move according to the schedule set by the Labyrinth Department, he wouldn’t be able to freely conduct the research he wanted to do.
Whether in the past or present, it is easiest to travel alone if you have the ability.
Anyway, it was a pity in many ways. The position of university teaching assistant is usually held by elite people with master’s and doctoral degrees.
*
Back at his warehouse and lodgings, Alan began remodeling Matan and adjusting his eyes.
As he rubbed his eyes as if waking up the soul stone, the Milky Way appeared in the warehouse. It was larger than a normal soul stone, and there were many stars. The large input window meant that Allen could add abilities as he pleased.
‘If you adjust the star letters well, wouldn’t you be able to shoot eye rays like a goalkeeper?’
As long as the output is good, there is no need to look for a cutter or welder. There is also the advantage of saving time, which gives you more time to learn other fields.
Or it could be used as a secret weapon. Wouldn’t anyone be surprised if high-powered heat rays suddenly shot out of their eyes?
Alan immediately set to work. Using the eyeball he had placed in the leopard’s throat as a guide, he carefully created stars while examining the star script.
After the arrangement was finished, I calmed my pounding heart and looked straight at the paper with my left eye. As I breathed in my magic power, a thin red line jumped out from my eye.
“Ugh!”
Alan immediately cut off his magical power supply at the sudden feeling of warmth.
‘Even if the eye is fine, the surrounding skin is··· due to the fever.’
Even though it was a sensitive area like the eyes, it was fortunate that it stopped right away.
Although he almost got a big burn, Alan’s eyes naturally scanned the paper, which was the target of the heat ray. There was a hole in it, as if the sunlight had been focused by a magnifying glass and burned it.
Alan sat on the vine chair, recalling what had happened earlier. Then the demon came and started nagging him.
“Do you think this is a hospital? This is strictly a pharmaceutical workshop.”
“Because the effects are so good.”
The fairy, unable to hide her smile at Alan’s compliments, asked slyly.
“How did you fight in the labyrinth and get burns on your eyes?”
“It is a wound caused by a moment of carelessness.”
“Be careful in everything. In the labyrinth, be sure to keep your composure whether you’re awake or asleep… Wait a minute, the cause of the burn isn’t external, it’s internal.”
“···.”
“You… I didn’t see you like that, but you know how to lie? Well, you seem much more human now. There’s a saying that goes like this. If an AI can lie on its own, you can think of it as a person.”
“Are you saying that it was like a machine until now?”
“I know. But how did you get hurt like this? I won’t say anything, so tell me the truth.”
Alan brought up the idea of getting hurt while doing an experiment.
“Oh my. Are magic engineers just weirdos like this?”
“You clearly said you wouldn’t reprimand me.”
“Write it down. It’s advice that will become your bones and flesh, so take it to heart. If you lie down for about two hours, you’ll be completely better. Just in case, check with me before you go back.”
The fairy who had greeted Alan while he was tending to the garden went off to do what she was doing, and Alan lay down with cold moss stuck to his eyes.
Even with his eyelids closed, his eyes still functioned. A blue window suddenly appeared in the darkness.
It was a message from François, delivered to the phone number that Alan had opened. Since he had registered the number in Breaker, it wouldn’t have been strange for François to know.
The content is.
[Do you remember what we talked about last time? Let’s meet up.]
Alan tried to get up from his moss-covered position, but failed because of the vines that bound him.
“I’m watching you all!”
The fairy of flowers. The entire Western Sky was under her gaze.
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