Laboratory
Before Park Ha-jun sent the email above.
Having finished work for the day, Park Ha-jun peered into the System's [Space] window in his workshop.
In truth, while he'd said he could locate the Mines' hideout using [Darkness] and [Space],
at the time, it had been nothing more than a vague plan.
The System's [Space] window had been completely empty.
-
It wasn't just empty; there were no guidelines whatsoever.
One couldn't even tell if it was an attribute or a circuit...
But then,
a change had occurred just moments ago.
To be precise, it happened when he designed a circuit based on Lab 2's research results.
A strange yet familiar 'circuit diagram' had been etched into [Space].
It felt familiar because it resembled the circuit Park Ha-jun had envisioned.
"···."
Park Ha-jun stared at the diagram, shaking off his doubts with effort.
He could guess why a new circuit had been added to [Space], but...
'I want to sort out the reason for a moment, but...'
Right now, priority went to creating the scroll for the Association.
With that, Park Ha-jun reviewed the information from the Association and the lab's research results once more.
According to the Association, the Mines' hideout existed in the intermediate zone between Earth and the gate interiors.
Earth – Mines' hideout – Gate interior.
This meant dimensions layered upon one another.
If likened to a tower...
Earth was the 1st floor.
The Mines' hideout was the 2nd floor.
The dimension connected to the gate (interior) was the 3rd floor.
The gate itself served as a passage linking the 1st and 3rd floors······.
That was the extent of the Association's information.
And Park Ha-jun's hypothesis built on it was as follows:
1. The dimensions from the 1st to 3rd floors are continuously connected.
2. The gate is not a warp hole but a passage. It doesn't teleport from the 1st to 3rd floor; instead, it rapidly traverses the 2nd floor to reach the 3rd.
Based on this hypothesis, he proceeded with the project in Lab 2.
The results were successful—they had pinpointed the coordinates of the 2nd floor.
All that remained was to create a scroll for entering that 2nd floor.
Gazing at the System's [Space] window, Park Ha-jun picked up his quill pen.
The scroll he would create fully exploited the properties of the darkness attribute.
Didn't the darkness attribute have the property of 'erasing' space?
The plan was to use [Darkness Attribute Mana Arrow] on a gate to sever the path to the 3rd floor,
making the final destination the 2nd floor.
However, this was only possible if Park Ha-jun's hypothesis held true.
If the dimensions weren't continuous, or if the gate was a warp hole rather than a passage,
what happened to those passing through would be unpredictable···.
"···."
But this was the best option. Not every phenomenon could be proven with equations.
One couldn't solve every problem in the world with math.
After creating the scroll, Park Ha-jun sent the email to the Association, hoping his hypothesis was correct.
Around that time, in the Association President's office.
Problem 1. Below are two topological knots (A) and (B) representing the fire attribute······
Having belatedly obtained the Mathematical Circuitry problem, the Association President scribbled on paper with a pen.
Curiosity had struck because opinions in the magical academia were extremely divided.
Some called the problem filthy; others said it was insanely clean and beautiful.
How could 'filthy' and 'clean' coexist in evaluations···.
To satisfy his curiosity, the president even studied math.
Only after solving it did he understand why.
'···An insanely beautiful problem.'
That was his thought the moment he solved it.
It was composed solely of core concepts, without trivialities.
Not a problem for scoring points, but one that guided toward perfect concepts.
Just following the thought process it demanded would elevate one's understanding of specific spells to an advanced level···.
But it was too difficult.
The “filthy” assessment likely stemmed from this bizarre level of difficulty.
Yet it was unavoidable.
Magic and math were already arcane when viewed separately, weren't they?
Park Ha-jun had fused them, so 'filthy' made sense.
'That aside...'
Who knew math and magic could intertwine like this.
Was this why asd123 could craft such special scrolls······.
As the president's thoughts deepened,
knock knock—
Lee Dong-gyu arrived.
"President, asd123 has sent the scroll!"
His voice brimmed with excitement. Guessing what scroll it was, the president asked calmly.
"What scroll."
"The one we commissioned last time. A scroll for entering the Mines' hideout!"
The president's fist clenched.
This would be the first direct strike against the Mines across all regressions.
"···Is it certain?"
"Yes. Though there's a slight issue···."
Lee Dong-gyu recited asd123's email verbatim.
If asd123's hypothesis was wrong, they could end up in some unrelated dimension.
It even included a grim warning about possibly a non-existent dimension.
"Other dimensions are such unknown territory that it's problematic. Whether a human body can endure, or if time flows differently like that milk sea incident... too many variables."
"Indeed. With that uncertainty, sending a regular exploration team is iffy."
They could die upon entry.
No way to send a team into such high-risk territory.
But he had no intention of wasting the opportunity.
"···So form the exploration team from those imprisoned in the underground dungeon."
Lee Dong-gyu nodded with a stern expression.
No need to worry about their human rights anymore. The underground held only madmen.
"I'll select appropriately."
"Thanks. I'll discuss with the foreign awakener associations."
Eradicating the Mines wasn't Korea's goal alone.
The world needed to unite.
As Lee Dong-gyu headed to the underground, the president requested an emergency meeting with the International Hunter Federation.
The next day at dawn.
The Association arrived in a small Chinese city with an exploration team of criminals.
To use asd123's scroll on a gate influenced by the Mines.
But there was one variable···.
"Are you sure this is okay?"
"It's fine. I specialize in stealth and escape."
"I'll just check around the entrance and return."
Some nations had volunteered for the exploration team.
Superpowers wary of Korea monopolizing intel, mindful of hegemony.
For Korea, it was a win-win.
They could gather more info however it played out and eradicate the Mines.
No need for Korea to do it all.
If the superpowers handled it, even better.
"···But does that scroll really alter the gate's path?"
John Miller, the American hunter, asked with furrowed brows.
Base Destructive Power: 1
Mana Consumption: 800
Attribute:Darkness
Aside from the absurdly low power and unusual darkness attribute, it seemed ordinary.
Was Korea pulling some trick?
Reading the mood, the president explained.
"This scroll incorporates detection principles. The mana arrow passing through the gate will embed at a set 'energy coordinate,' then erase the subsequent path······."
The complex explanation earned reluctant nods.
···Whatever. If the mana arrow had no special power, they could just clear the gate.
John Miller checked the team: five A-rank hunters from superpowers···.
'More than enough.'
No need for needless worry.
No downside.
If the plan flopped, Korea's standing would drop.
If it succeeded, they'd collect more intel than Korea and boost their influence.
As John Miller organized his thoughts, the president, having coordinated with Lee Dong-gyu, spoke.
"···Just in case, I recommend entering after our team goes first."
Korea's team planned to retreat immediately upon entry.
Confirming dimensional stability came first.
"Understood."
Recognizing the courtesy, the foreign hunters agreed readily.
Chinese hunters then surrounded the gate widely, under the pretext of protecting their land.
Once preparations were complete, Lee Dong-gyu activated the scroll.
───!
The silent mana arrow passed through the gate.
The sight of space contracting along its trajectory was utterly chilling.
'···Did space just shrink?'
Proof it wasn't ordinary.
As John Miller swallowed hard, the gate shuddered violently. The [Mana Arrow] had triggered change.
One awakener's power affecting a gate···.
The hunters present felt awe in all its forms.
And simultaneous fear. What lay beyond that gate···.
Was asd123's hypothesis true or false?
As they exchanged glances, Lee Dong-gyu used an item to send two criminals through the gate.
They were ordered to return to Earth immediately upon passing.
Everyone watched tensely. After a minute,
"···They're out."
The two criminals emerged.
Foreign hunters looked puzzled, unfamiliar with asd123 and struggling to follow.
But Korea's hunters were different.
Lee Dong-gyu, certain of success, ordered them to report what they saw.
"La···b···ora···to···ry···."
That was their only response.
"Laboratory? No gate like that exists. Did it successfully alter the path?"
"···Seems so. No idea what lab, but high chance it's the Mines' dimension."
···
Speculation flew. Yet Korea's hunters stayed unusually quiet.
The president subtly signaled Lee Dong-gyu: time to return to Korea.
"···We'll head out now. Not certain yet, but if this gate connects to the Mines' dimension, I recommend reinforcing before entering."
But John Miller and the others showed displeasure.
"I know you're S-rank, but don't underestimate me. Few can match me in this field."
Elite selection, no doubt.
But knowing he couldn't mishandle Korea now, John Miller sighed deeply.
"···Sorry. We won't stray far from the gate, so no worries."
The president nodded without pressing.
"Good luck."
With that, the Korean Association withdrew.
On the way back, Lee Dong-gyu couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"···asd123's scroll worked perfectly. Wasn't exploring with them okay?"
"I wanted to, but 'laboratory' feels off."
More precisely, the Mines couldn't be unaware of this plan.
No secrecy at all.
Yet the connected space was a 'lab.'
Common sense dictated labs were vital places.
No way they'd let explorers leave easily.
Even keeping distance from the two criminals who entered and exited fit the same logic.
So the Mines could kill just them and vanish if attacking.
"···Harsh, but we can send our team after they return safely. No rush."
Further exploration wasn't planned anyway; schedule-wise, it was right.
After the Korean Association withdrew.
John Miller and six other hunters entered the gate as the exploration team.
But.
"···."
Every one of them was speechless in horror.
It wasn't a simple lab.
Hundreds of cylindrical experiment tubes. People trapped inside the liquid—clearly in the process of mine-ification.
One hunter reached a trembling hand toward a tube. A familiar face, it seemed.
As John Miller tore his eyes from the tube to survey the surroundings, swallowing a groan,
"Precious materials delivered themselves right to my door?"
A chilling voice echoed from the gate side.