Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Grizz's Secret Research Lab
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The title "Master" felt pretty damn awkward, but since there wasn't a shorter way to sum it up, Kang Seol decided to just roll with it.
Ugh... Master...
Should I kill it? Master?
Not wrong though. Summons always call their summoner 'master.'
But... Karuna's way too cool to call you 'master.'
Doesn't Jamad call you master?
If Jamad did, Snowman would've talked him out of it.
Good discrimination, approved.
The room Kang Seol stepped into was definitely a research lab.
It seemed like Chao had converted the largest room in this mansion into one—the sheer scale of it was impressive just from what he could see.
Of course, the reason Kang Seol and Karuna had pegged it as a lab wasn't just the size.
"It's all documents."
The walls were covered in crisp, precise handwriting, along with diagrams and detailed footnotes.
Kang Seol approached the wall and read the most eye-catching text.
The biggest letters always drew the gaze first.
And those were likely the main topic, so he naturally focused there.
—Things That Must Be Solved.
Everything written here seemed to be problems Chao needed to tackle. So what did they say?
Kang Seol scanned the walls carefully, finger tracing along. Then he made his judgment.
"...The contents are all different."
In other words, Chao hadn't tacked on "things" for nothing—the problems weren't just one issue.
But they were jumbled up, seemingly unrelated, and mostly incomprehensible.
'Still... it's not like there's zero hints.'
Fortunately, even in this mess, one theme jumped out.
—Discovered Grizz's secret research lab inside the Great Forest.
'A secret lab of Grizz's near the Great Forest?'
Grizz was a pretty big deal in Pandea.
He dabbled in mechanical engineering and all sorts of knowledge, unleashing groundbreaking inventions and bizarre creations on the world.
And most of them packed insane power.
With so many coveting his talents, it was said Grizz wandered the continent, leaving secret labs scattered everywhere.
'I met him just once.'
Even after raising 30 pieces, he'd only seen Grizz in person that one time.
It was a one-off encounter, but they'd spent quite a while together.
"Oh! That's highly logical! It's been ages since I met someone I can actually talk to—I'm thrilled!"
Kang Seol recalled how the guy had geeked out over their meeting in that quirky speech pattern.
'Eccentric, but a genius. Anyway, his secret lab piques my interest...'
One of his inventions, some gear he'd made, or even scraps of blueprints—any of it would give a huge boost to his growth.
Stuff made by a genius, after all.
'But... it'll be just as dangerous.'
The reason Grizz could keep his secret labs hidden so long wasn't just clever camouflage—it was the guardians he left behind.
That way he could roam the continent worry-free. Made perfect sense for him.
Of course, it was a bit of a headache for Kang Seol right now.
Anyway, he decided his next adventure would be Grizz's secret lab.
'Hope Chao came here.'
The main content of 'Missing Summoner' has changed.
'Missing Summoner' has changed to 'Grizz's Secret Research Lab'.
Grizz's Secret Research Lab adventure is now scheduled.
This is a solo adventure, so no companions will join.
Adventure prep didn't change much.
First, check if anyone knew about this adventure. If not, gear up for predicted threats.
'Limited info, so gotta play it safe.'
Not that he lacked info on Grizz—it was uncertainty about what traps lurked in a Great Forest lab.
In that fog, all he trusted were his long-hoarded memories and powerhouse summons.
Time flew, and the rest period ended.
Kang Seol's body vanished in a burst of light.
Swish...
The others nearby just glanced at the spot and went back to their routines, uninterested.
Bzzz—
Starting next adventure.
Fifth adventure begins.
Adventure 5. Grizz's Secret Research Lab
Adventure 5. Grizz's Secret Research Lab
You found a clue to Grizz's secret research lab in Chao's lab and came here to find her.
Grizz is a genius and eccentric inventor. Ordinary thinking won't grasp him—you'll just hit a wall.
Rumors say he's hidden amazing inventions or creations in his secret labs. But unless he hands them out freely, expect guardians.
Break through Grizz's obstacles, search the lab. Main goal: Chao's traces. But unexpected loot? Keep an eye out.
Goal: Search Grizz's Secret Research Lab.
Remaining Time 「71:59」
A 3-day limited adventure.
Kang Seol first checked his surroundings.
"...A forest."
Forest. Endless trees stretching out.
Swish swish swish...
The trees swaying in the wind gave him an odd sense of fulfillment.
But that mood didn't last—he focused on the task.
'The secret lab's nearby.'
Fortunately, spotting the traces wasn't hard.
Insight activates.
The trees around here look way too artificial.
Insight activates.
Something's hidden here with intent to conceal.
With Insight from his new discernment, it did its job well. Kang Seol closely examined the traces it pointed out.
Sure enough, the vegetation here felt off.
'These trees aren't natural.'
Even compared to the surrounding ones.
Unlike the Great Forest's varied trees, these were uniformly height-matched, sized, shaped—packed densely.
'This is it. Time to tread carefully.'
Grizz's secret labs were heavily fortified. Kang Seol recalled that and ramped up his tension.
Crunch.
Crunch...
Every leaf he crunched venturing into the thick trees doubled his wariness.
Bzzz—
A chilling buzz hit his nape, and Kang Seol froze.
Insight activates.
Unknown danger present.
He slowly turned toward the sound.
Bzzz—
A massive crystal eye like modern CCTV scanned the area on some mystery machine.
'Found it.'
Kang Seol was certain this was Grizz's turf.
His labs always had surveillance like this.
'Now, how to handle it?'
Grizz's surveillance device is active. Letting it run unchecked isn't ideal. What now?
1. Ignore it and pass.
2. Check for blind spots.
3. Throw a rock.
4. [Req: Mage] Use impact magic to shut it down.
5. [Req: Archer] Shoot it with a bow.
6. [Req: Mechanical Engineering 1] Approach and secure intact.
'No good options.'
Best to destroy it.
But nothing he could do cleanly. Throwing a rock and missing? Disaster.
He asked his summons.
"I can manage."
Karuna gave the answer he wanted.
Kang Seol pulled out throwing daggers he'd bought for situations like this.
Whoosh...
Karuna toyed with one, then took stance.
"Hup..."
Thwack!
Screeech—!
The dagger rocketed toward the device.
Crack!
It smashed the core dead-on, dropping it.
What the—lol accuracy wtf!
Ranged dealers unemployment rate spiking—you cool with this?
Hey, why have a party if you're soloing everything?
You with this Karuna... jealous af!
Discovering another talent in Karuna secretly thrilled Kang Seol.
"You can do that too?"
"Fairy perks, I guess."
"Fair enough."
The shadow calling itself a fairy felt a tad off, but problem solved—no complaints.
Screeech—
Crack!
Screech!
Crack!
Every throw a perfect hit.
Shadow Hand recovered the daggers easily, so clearing the first hurdle went smoothly.
After some progress, the lab started revealing itself.
"That it?"
A door overgrown with vines.
A password pad straight out of sci-fi.
Mechanical engineering? Wasn't this fantasy?
Cyberpunk, duh?
Mad scientists' OP tech is canon.
Info: This world's mechanical eng is advanced from the start. Magitech basically...
Locked door ahead. Numeric keypad suggests password entry. What now?
1. Risk it and smash the door.
2. Search surroundings for password clues.
3. Punch in random numbers.
4. [Req: Mechanical Engineering 1] Disassemble keypad for structure.
No password? ...
Machines obey when hit. Smash it!
The machine's the problem! Smash!
Lol arts major detected?
As if that'll work. Place with surveillance.
Punching random keys seems bad news.
Kang Seol eyed the pad and door back and forth, then chuckled.
He'd recalled what Grizz said when they met.
'Just like Grizz said.'
He turned to Jamad, watching quietly.
"Jamad, mind opening this door?"
"Smashing okay?"
"Do your thing."
"Roger."
Jamad gripped the handle and yanked with all his might.
Screeeeech—!
A grating metal-bending shriek as the door crumpled.
Wait! Don't open it like that!
Disaster! Don't force doors like this!
My god, these idiots...
Finally, the mangled door ripped free, exposing the entrance.
"This good?"
"Plenty."
No alarms or traps triggered, even after brute-forcing it.
It worked?
This actually worked?
Smashing really was the way?
This is game?
The idiot... was me.
Grizz: Got 'em lol
This was part of why Grizz was called an eccentric.
He toyed with normal expectations, shattering perceptions with his antics.
What he'd told Kang Seol was this:
"Ah, the secret labs! The doors? Oh, I built them fancy but they never worked, so they're just decor now. Why make all lab doors like that? Didn't bother with others? Anyway, more interested in that intriguing topic you mentioned earlier..."
Kang Seol entered through the lab entrance.
"Second Door" marked nearby meant other entrances existed.
So, ruling out Chao coming here was premature.
Whirr—
Fan-like hum. Passage lit up, no signs of life.
"What's that smell?"
Too fresh for forest air seeping in.
'Growing plants inside?'
Kang Seol pressed on without issue.
Oddly, no surveillance indoors.
After a few passages, he entered a room.
—Lab 3
True to form, machines crowded around a central space.
Kang Seol inspected them, spotted something, and smiled.
'...Got it.'
A note in someone's handwriting.
—Taking this item on the sly since I'm interested.
Polite note while sneaking? Bold or crazy.
Signature at bottom said bold.
—(Chao)
The main content of 'Grizz's Secret Research Lab' has changed.