Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 1 (Prologue): Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan

*Swoooosh….*

The sound of rain echoed outside the shabby one-room apartment. It was a particularly unpleasant night—my jawline felt rough from not shaving for a while, and the mood was just foul.

I sat there, absentmindedly staring at the TV while holding a chicken leg.

—

[Explorer Audition Program ‘Labyrinth Exploration NaN,’ Entire Debut Team Missing… Current Situation Under Investigation]

[D-Grade Labyrinth Expedition Team NaN Reported Missing. Status Unknown.]

[Breaking News: Bodies of 7 Members from Labyrinth Exploration Season 3 Debut Team Recovered.]

[All but One Confirmed Dead… Partial Remains Recovered During Search.]

—

“…Wow.”

A single word slipped out of my mouth like drool.

“This is messed up.”

That’s how shocking it was.

I turned up the volume on the TV with the remote.

—

──At approximately 6:17 PM today, the third team expedition of *Labyrinth Exploration NaN* commenced. The labyrinth was initially estimated to be D-grade, posing no significant danger. They set off, greeted by fans from around the world, only to return as cold corpses just six hours later, at 12:30 AM…

—

*Labyrinth Exploration NaN*.

It’s an explorer survival audition program. It started with *Labyrinth Exploration 101* and has now reached its third season.

The first season was ten years ago.

Back then, the response was hot, but it lost some steam when the top-ranked explorer died instantly in their first labyrinth. However, the second season, *Labyrinth Exploration AAA*, which aired six years ago, was a massive hit.

The winner of that season, Lee Jehoon, is now a top-tier explorer and one of the faces representing the Korean peninsula.

Not just Jehoon, but the rest of the debut team—2nd to 8th place—are now stars in their own right.

Not dead, of course. They’ve become top-tier celebrities, showered with praise and admiration.

The third season is the one currently making headlines—*Labyrinth Exploration NaN*.

This ‘NaN’ was a mega-hit, a jackpot. It topped global OTT charts and achieved a 30% domestic viewership rating.

But then…

—

──While details are still under investigation, it appears that a ‘Black Call’ occurred within the D-grade labyrinth…

—

They’re all dead. Every single one of them. The ones who captivated the world with their charm, uniqueness, and undeniable skill—gone in an instant.

“…What the hell? This can’t be real.”

*Ding!*

Suddenly, my smartphone buzzed.

—

[Labyrinth Exploration MoMo!]

[A Special Gift for Heavy User Seol Ha-un, Who Spends 23 Hours a Day on MoMo! An Opportunity Just for You!]

—

“What’s this?”

*Labyrinth Exploration MoMo*.

It’s a mobile game based on the *Labyrinth Exploration 101* series. The motto is, “You too can create your own labyrinth explorer by pulling characters!”

Characters from Seasons 1, 2, and 3 appear as unique units in the game.

—

[Buy 2 Additional Stat Points and 4 Random Boxes for 300 Diamonds Now!]

[Note: These points can only be used on new characters. This product is non-refundable.]

—

“Are you kidding me?”

What kind of timing is this for a cash-grab?

I was about to toss my phone aside but hesitated.

‘Additional stat points’ for 300 diamonds. That’s 3 million won.

“…That’s actually cheap. Maybe I’ll level up an alt.”

—

[Payment Complete!]

—

I went ahead and made the purchase.

Two-thirds of my monthly income gone, but what could I do?

After all, my paycheck comes from *MoMo*.

Yep. I do ‘rice-farming’ for a living.

—

──…Fans preparing to send them off are now engulfed in grief.

—

The wailing on TV sounded almost like a funeral.

“Ugh.”

I want to cry too. Even though I look like a shut-in, I’m actually a huge fan. My leg’s not in great shape, so I can’t chase them around everywhere, but still.

“…What the hell is going on?”

I sighed and picked up the chicken leg.

Even when you’re depressed, you’ve got to eat.

Then…

—

───

—

Suddenly, lightning struck. The TV turned off first, followed by all the lights in the room.

*Kwa-rururung──!*

The thunderclap came a moment later.

“Ah, damn it. Not again.”

This isn’t the first time.

I got up, familiar with the routine, and reached for a flashlight.

I shone the light, opened the circuit breaker, and was about to turn it back on when…

—

────!

—

The world lit up again.

After that, I don’t remember.

Something tingled, and my vision went white.

—

* * *

—

[Labyrinth Exploration MoMo Trial Version!]

[Welcome, Character Seol Ha-woon!]

[Remaining Trial Time: 30 Days, 30 Days!]

—

[ID: Seol Ha-woon]

　Strength　│　2(-5)　│　F　

　Stamina　│　2(-5)　│　F　

　Agility　│　2(-5)　│　F　

　Durability│　2(-5)　│　F　

　Magic　　 │ 　3　　│　F　

　Perception│ 　9　　│　B　

　Mental Strength │ 　9　　│　B　

　Appearance│ 　6　　│　C+

　Luck　　　│ 　6　　│　C+

—

[Recognition Level: 1]

[Recognition: 0]

—

“Huh….”

Whether it was the next day or some other day, I found myself staring blankly at the status window in front of me.

This is the character status window from *Labyrinth Exploration MoMo*.

You might be wondering: “So what is MoMo?”

Simply put, it’s an explorer character-raising game.

You pull characters, train them, send them into labyrinths or dungeons, have them appear in in-game broadcasts, and use the rewards to upgrade your explorers or earn rice.

It’s a major mobile game with a huge global player base due to its high recognition.

But now, Seol Ha-woon—that is, me—has stats floating in front of me like I’m a *MoMo* character.

“This is…”

Let me explain briefly.

The **Recognition Level** in the character window is like the level in any RPG game. **Recognition** is the experience points.

When a character successfully clears a labyrinth or gets media exposure, their Recognition increases. Once it reaches a certain threshold, they level up.

So, right now, I’m Level 1… Wait, no.

“Hold on. Is this real?”

This isn’t a situation you can just accept naturally.

I shook my head vigorously.

But the status window didn’t disappear. It stayed right in front of me.

It’s just… after getting struck by lightning, I woke up like this.

“I don’t get it.”

First, I got up. Limping on my left leg, I opened the window.

“…Weather’s great.”

Outside was surprisingly clear.

Last night, it was definitely raining. Lightning even struck. But there wasn’t a single trace of wetness on the windowsill, let alone the asphalt.

“Huh?”

I tilted my head and picked up my smartphone. I searched for “NaN” first.

—

[Application Deadline for Next Season of *Labyrinth Exploration* ‘NaN’ Closes in 36 Hours…]

—

“Next season?”

What kind of nonsense is this?

It shouldn’t be about the next season of NaN. The news should be filled with reports about the NaN debut team’s deaths.

“What’s going on?”

I absentmindedly scrolled down, then stopped.

“……?”

—

[March 8, 2024]

—

The article’s date was March 8, 2024.

Wasn’t it supposed to be 2027?

Wait, is this year 2024?

“…No, that can’t be.”

Even if I’ve been cooped up at home, there’s no way I’d forget three whole years.

I frantically tapped on my phone.

—

[Search: Current Year]

[March 8, 2024]

[Year of the Blue Dragon, 2024]

[The Hopeful New Year of 2024 Has Dawned]

[2024 New Year’s Fortune]

—

“…….”

Every piece of information on my smartphone confirmed that the current year was 2024.

“Wait. This can’t be.”

I turned my head sharply and looked at the vacuum cleaner in the corner of the room. Goosebumps erupted all over my body.

“No way!”

There was no bandage on the vacuum cleaner’s handle.

To explain, a year ago, the handle broke, and I had patched it up with a bandage.

“…No. This can’t be.”

My legs gave out, and I collapsed. Clutching my pounding chest, I muttered blankly.

“Time…”

Has it been reversed?

*Ding─!*

An alert popped up in front of my eyes. This time, there were quite a few.

—

[Gift Box]

[The Special Gift Package You Purchased Earlier Has Arrived!]

[You’ve Received 2 Stat Points!]

[You’ve Received 4 Random Boxes!]

[Your Character’s Penalties Have Been Adjusted!]

—

[Trait: Disabled]

■ Your wounds torment your entire body, and breathing is difficult. Strength, Stamina, Agility, and Durability are permanently reduced by 5.

■ Your left leg is disabled. Movement speed is reduced by 40%.

■ Recognition gain is increased by 15%.

—

[Achievement Unlocked: Rare Penalty Trait!]

■ Penalties are being converted… You’ve received an additional 5 Stat Points.

—

[Achievement Unlocked: KARMA! You’ve Saved Quite a Few Lives. Your Karma is Repaid.]
■ You’ve received a Mid-to-Low Grade Trait Selection Ticket.

■ Every time your Recognition Level increases by an even number, you’ll receive a special gift.

—

“What… what is all this?”

Messages kept popping up, but my head was pounding. My temples throbbed.

“…Wait, just give me five minutes…”

Staggering, I lay down on the bed. The mattress, which had been half-broken, felt as good as new.

The most mundane yet vivid sensation of regression.

Feeling chills that made my breath stop, I closed my eyes.

—

* * *

—

When I opened my eyes, it was night.

The *MoMo* system was, of course, still there. I belatedly realized that this might be an opportunity.

“…Is this really an opportunity?”

Or maybe it’s the afterlife, or just my brain playing tricks on me.

“My leg’s still messed up.”

It’s a shame it’s not a full year back. If it were my brain, it would’ve sent me back to before the accident.

Then again, I wouldn’t have been discharged from the military, would I?

Anyway.

—

[Stat Points Available: 7]

—

“Whoa… this is insane.”

I had a whopping 7 Stat Points.

Stat Points are an incredibly valuable resource in *MoMo*. I just spent 3 million won on 2 points, after all.

They’re untradeable, can’t be used on your main character, and are only for new characters. Yet, 2 points cost 3 million won.

And that’s during a special event. If you could buy and sell them freely, each point would be worth tens of millions.

“But my stats…”

—

　Strength　│　2(-5)　│　F　

　Stamina　│　2(-5)　│　F　

　Agility　│　2(-5)　│　F　

　Durability│　2(-5)　│　F　

　Magic　　 │ 　3　　│　F　

　Perception│ 　9　　│　B　

　Mental Strength │ 　9　　│　B　

　Appearance│ 　6　　│　C+

　Luck　　　│ 　6　　│　C+

—

I sighed. Look at those negative modifiers on Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Durability.

For reference, stats in *MoMo* represent a character’s ‘potential.’

Take Strength, for example.

If your Strength stat is around 11–12, it doesn’t mean your current strength is overwhelmingly superior to others. It means that if you train in strength-related activities, you’ll improve faster and reach higher grades more steeply.

On the other hand, the letter grade after the potential represents your current ability level. If your Strength grade is A+, it means your current strength is overwhelmingly superior to others.

In that sense, I’m a total failure. Even with seven Stat Points, most of my stats are below the average for a normal person (4–5).

“There’s no way around it.”

In the end, it’s about choices and focus.

I dumped all my remaining points into Magic.

—

[Magic Stat has increased to 10.]

[Seol Ha-woon senses an unprecedented mystique.]

[Magic Grade has increased.]

■F → D

—

Just by allocating points, my Magic grade rose to D. With effort, I could easily reach B+, and with time, even A-grade. The higher your potential, the faster you grow, and the higher your ceiling.

However, going all-in like this is usually not a good idea. If your physical stats are lacking, you’ll end up like a blobfish.

“Feels like a YouTube gimmick.”

It’s the kind of stat distribution you’d see in a gimmick playthrough on YouTube, but I have no choice.

As you can see, my physical abilities have been severely reduced due to a certain incident. I’m even limping. What am I supposed to do with high Strength, Agility, or Stamina?

I’m not choosing a wild build for fun; my situation is forcing me into it.

I know nothing about magic and have never learned it, but I can’t engage in close combat with all my muscles gone, can I?

Next up—

“Trait Selection Ticket…”

—

[Achievement Unlocked: KARMA! You’ve Saved Quite a Few Lives. Your Karma is Repaid.]

■ You’ve received a Mid-to-Low Grade Trait Selection Ticket.

■ Every time your Recognition Level increases by an even number, you’ll receive a special gift.

—

Usually, traits come in the form of scrolls, and they’re all random. You get one random trait out of countless possibilities. But this [Selection Ticket] is different.

Mid-to-Low Grade traits are mostly trash, but this lets you pick the better ones from the bunch. If these were tradable, they’d be worth millions.

The selection options are already predetermined.

“Found it.”

—

[Camera Love]

■ Grade: Mid-to-Low

■ Appearance +1

■ The longer you’re exposed to cameras, the more your Appearance points increase.

—

[Camera Love]. It’s a famously OP trait. Simple is best, right? It gives you a free +1 to Appearance with no conditions.

—

[Trait [Camera Love] has been acquired!]

—

In *MoMo*, Appearance is quite important. In some ways, it’s almost essential. The higher your Appearance, the more Recognition you gain.

“Good. For now.”

If we scale character stats, 4.5 is average, 7 is talented, 8 is gifted, and 9+ is genius-level.

In other words, I’ve become a decent-looking, limping magic genius.

“I’m a magic genius.”

I repeated it to myself, flexing my fingers. I gathered an invisible force in my palm.

Bony knuckles bulged with Mana… or so I’d like to say.

“…I’ve never used magic before.”

Suddenly, stress surged through me.

My life, which had been modestly content, was shattered in an instant. What the hell is going on?

“Sigh…”

But there’s no time to complain.

As you can see, I hastily dealt with my traits and points.

Why?

—

[Trial Remaining Time: 29 Days, 15 Hours, 15 Minutes, 05 Seconds]

※ Every time your Recognition Level increases, 30 days are added!

※ If your time runs out, the character ‘Seol Ha-woon’ will be disposed of!

—

I only have 29 days left.

If time runs out, disposal.

That basically means death.

“Then… huh?”

I blinked as I looked at the trait slot where [Camera Love] was added.

There was another trait.

—

[Good Ears, Good Eyes]

■ Grade: Mid

■ Your character’s vision and hearing are exceptionally sharp. All actions involving sight and hearing are superior.

■ You can accurately assess people and sensitively observe invisible things.

■ You can easily appraise the value of objects.

■ If you can see it, you can hear its sounds.

—

“Oh~ Freebie?”

A freebie trait—something tacked on for free.

*Labyrinth Exploration MoMo* is heavily grounded in reality. Its slogan is ‘reality-based.’ The items in *MoMo* are real-world items, and the explorers are mostly real-life explorers. So, some characters get these free traits.

“So that’s why my eyes are so good.”

Anyway.

My current problem isn’t traits—it’s my lifespan. To extend it, I need to raise my Recognition Level.

“Recognition…”

The most efficient way to level up in *MoMo* is to send your character into labyrinths with a camera rolling, but in the real world, it’s obviously different.

I picked up my smartphone.

—

[Application Deadline for Next Season of *Labyrinth Exploration* ‘NaN’ Closes in 36 Hours…]

[Requirements: Anyone aged 18 to 28]

—

This is the best way for me to raise my Recognition right now.

Of course, their future is horrifying—wiped out in the labyrinth.

But hey, I can either give up on the debut team or join it and fiercely oppose that labyrinth to fix things.

“I’d go even if I were dying tomorrow.”

Why? Because I’ve only got 30 days to live.