Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 18 (Part 1): Rush (2)

“Ms. Yoon Hwa-rim, your route doesn’t look good at all.”

Yoon Hwa-rim gritted her teeth. The atmosphere inside the room grew tense. Only the production staff in the same meeting room looked excited.

Yoon Hwa-rim forced a smile and asked, “Why? It’s the easiest path.”

“It might be when entering the cargo location.”

I continued calmly.

After all, my target for persuasion wasn’t Yoon Hwa-rim, this mushroom-headed mage. It was Kang Hyun, the team leader. Every word I spoke now had to reach Kang Hyun.

“But there’s a section where we’ll be surrounded once we start transporting the cargo.”

About 300 meters after dragging the cargo, we’d reach an open field.

In an open field, proper escorting becomes impossible. We’d only be ‘participating’ in the fight, not preventing it.

“An open field is better, though. We can fight together.”

“Escorting isn’t about fighting together; it’s about preventing the enemy from getting close in the first place.”

An open field is the worst against orcs. They’re monsters with enough intelligence to execute encirclement tactics.

If a thousand orcs surround us, even Kang Hyun won’t be able to overcome them.

“So, we’ll keep the entry route the same but change the escape route.”

I altered half of the route Yoon Hwa-rim had set. I twisted the transport path much higher up.

“Then we’ll have to go through the forest. How are we supposed to transport the cargo if our vision is obstructed?”

“The escort team will lead. Besides, the orcs will also have their vision obstructed. We’ll pick off the orcs that enter the forest one by one.”

“…What are you leading? You’re ranked 96th.”

Yoon Hwa-rim brought up ranks instead of logic, but it was a fact, so there was nothing I could do.

No matter how bad a strategy is, the skill to execute it exists, and no matter how good a strategy is, incompetence can ruin it.

Either way, it’s Kang Hyun’s call.

“Hmm…”

Kang Hyun quietly examined the labyrinth’s structure. Then he asked me, “Are you confident?”

“Yes. In this mission, my words will absolutely be correct. At the very least, I’ll strive to make it so.”

“……”

He seemed to ponder for a moment before looking back and forth between Yoon Hwa-rim and me.

“…We’ll follow the escort team’s opinion.”

A very rational choice.

I nodded in satisfaction. On the other hand, Yoon Hwa-rim let out a frustrated sigh.

—

──30 minutes remaining until labyrinth entry. Teams ready to proceed, please set your entry positions.

—

Just then, Yoo Ji-in’s guiding voice echoed.

When entering the labyrinth, teams could choose their starting position. Of course, you couldn’t just go anywhere—there were designated zones where positioning was allowed (Green Zones) and others where it wasn’t (Red Zones).

“The escort team will standby in this forest area.”

I was the first to pin a location on the map. It was the only Green Zone near the escape route.

“But I’m the leader…”

“Shh.”

I quietly silenced Lim Hae-jun’s grumbling.

Kang Hyun also pondered before pointing to a certain spot. Then he quietly looked at me as if seeking my opinion.

I looked at the point he had marked.

It was a forest close to the underground where the cargo was buried but out of sight from the orc settlement.

“Looks good. Let’s proceed as planned.”

—

──15 minutes, 15 minutes remaining until labyrinth entry. All alliance teams, please move to your waiting rooms.

—

* * *

I clicked on another post.

Just before entering the labyrinth. Team A4’s waiting room.

“…Aren’t you trusting the escort team too much?”

Warrior Lee Jong-su asked Kang Hyun. The archer, ‘Asher,’ also wore a similarly worried expression.

“?”

Kang Hyun tilted his head in silence.

“I mean, sure, that soldier guy might have a lot of real combat experience, but our teamwork matters too, doesn’t it?”

Lee Jong-su glanced at Yoon Hwa-rim.

“She looks pissed.”

She’d been tight-lipped ever since the meeting.

Probably because her opinion got overruled by the team’s lowest ranker.

Kang Hyun leaned against the wall.

“The transport team and the escort team are one team. It’s not just the transport team working alone.”

He subtly checked the cameras filming the entire team. The camera director had a smile on his face.

“Ms. Hwa-rim?”

Kang Hyun called Yoon Hwa-rim.

“…Yes.”

Yoon Hwa-rim pouted as she replied. Kang Hyun smiled faintly and nodded.

“Let’s do well.”

“…Okay.”

Her tension seemed to melt away with just a few words, and she lowered her head shyly.

“What the hell was that?”

Lee Jong-su was baffled.

“She ignored me when I talked to her…”

—

──Team A4. Entering the labyrinth.

—

“Everyone, get ready.”

At Kang Hyun’s words, everyone closed their eyes.

*Whoosh.* With the sensation of floating, I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark night.

Not far away, the orc settlement’s scenery was visible. *Grrr… Grrr…* The orcs’ rough breathing echoed like mist.

—

[ Objective: Transport the cargo outside the labyrinth. ]

—

“Let’s move. Follow me.”

Kang Hyun whispered to the team members.

—

* * *

“So, what do we do now?!”

Lim Hae-jun shouted as if he were on a picnic.

Anyway, we entered the forest, almost the opposite side of Team A4’s location.

“Let’s move first.”

I said, limping with my cane. Then Lim Hae-jun grabbed me with narrowed eyes.

“Uh, hey. Rank 96.”

“Seol Ha-woon.”

“Seol Ha-woon. I’ve been trying to say this since earlier, but I thought I might be mistaken, so I kept quiet.”

“Yeah? What is it? Spit it out.”

“It’s not about spitting it out. Why do you keep using informal speech with me?”

“……”

I looked at Lim Hae-jun. Suddenly, I felt dumbfounded.

Should I punch him?

“Using honorifics during a mission is inefficient.”

“What’s honorifics?! Is it some kind of fish?!”

“…How old are you?”

“21.”

“I’m much older than you, so you can use informal speech with me too. Follow me.”

“But the leader is me…”

I silently glared at him.

A 21-year-old brat. My intimidating glare, honed over years of military service, still worked wonders.

Back in the day, rookies wouldn’t even dare to look me in the eye.

“…Yes! Let’s go!”

Lim Hae-jun quickly pointed ahead.

“Since I’ve delegated the pathfinder authority to Seol Ha-woon, everyone should treat him as the leader when finding the path! Please!”

Having been appointed as the pathfinder by the ‘great’ team leader, I spoke to the team members.

“Follow me.”

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novel: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

•