Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 21 (Part 1): The Fall (1)

…In the dense forest of the labyrinth.

At the moment when Yoon Hwa-rim was dozing off at the wheel.

Kang Hyun’s gaze dimmed like dissipating sea fog. He moved stealthily. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was half-asleep, he pretended to lean against the cargo and sleep while secretly driving his sword into the cart’s wheel.

That instant sealed the cart’s fate—not because of Hwa-rim’s drowsy driving, but due to Kang Hyun’s sword.

The cart veered out of control and crashed straight into a tree. Kang Hyun calmly destroyed the evidence.

‘If I remove the cart’s body and drag it manually, that’ll do.’

He swiftly cut away the cart’s body to remove any traces of his sword.

I saw the entire sequence with my own eyes, but I couldn’t understand his motive.

Why did Kang Hyun do it?

Was it simply because he didn’t like Yoon Hwa-rim letting her guard down? Or was he trying to create a more dramatic situation?

—

“…It was necessary.”

That was all Kang Hyun offered in response. I quietly observed him. His eyes were unfathomable.

Eyes that were hard to read, impossible to predict, and never revealed the person behind them.

I’ve always been told I’m good at reading people. I excelled at uncovering disguised identities, conducting interrogations, and extracting confessions.

“Necessary?”

But Kang Hyun was an enigma. Everything about him was unsettling.

His pupils were transparent, but that very transparency made it impossible to see the bottom. It was like mistaking the depth of water and stepping in, only to be pulled under and drowned.

Was this just my misunderstanding?

Or was it because of my rebellious nature?

Or perhaps…

—

[Breaking News: 7 Bodies Recovered from Labyrinth Exploration NaN Debut Team.]

[All Confirmed Dead Except One… Partial Remains Found During Search.]

—

The past kept swirling in my mind, the facts from before the regression. The word “massacre,” followed by the lone missing person.

A belated question arose.

Who was that missing person, and why were they the only one not found?

—

“…Seol Ha-woon.”

Kang Hyun called my name. He looked straight into my eyes. I didn’t avert my gaze.

“Let go.”

We had been holding hands for quite a while.

“…Sure.”

His hand was cold. He must have been dragging the cargo like an ox until his muscles melted.

Kang Hyun pointed at the cargo.

“Let’s push it in.”

The portal to our destination was right in front of us.

“Okay!”

The team members loaded the cargo into the portal.

—

[Quest Complete]

[Labyrinth Cleared]

[You will be transported to the waiting room shortly.]

—

“Nice~”

A system window popped up in the air. The other team members high-fived each other.

“Ha-woon hyung!”

Lim Hae-jun handed me a bundle. I pulled out scissors.

“Ah, what are you doing—”

* * *

We were transported to the waiting room. Everyone was exhausted, but it was still a pleasant moment.

Loot distribution.

“Open it, open it~”

“Hehehe.”

Lee Jong-su danced with his shoulders, and Lim Hae-jun laughed like a fool. Kang Hyun sliced open the cargo with his sword.

Once freed from the labyrinth’s influence, the cargo broke apart easily.

“Wow! There’s so much equipment!”

I appraised the loot using [MoMo]’s system.

—

【Mana Stone】, 【Chieftain’s Feather】, 【Murak Club】, 【Orc-Style Axe】, 【Wolf Bone Armor】, 【Eagle Feather Coat】, 【Emergency Trauma Potion】 x8.

—

The Mana Stone was, of course, the gold standard of labyrinth loot, and the gear was all decent.

In terms of market value, it was close to 10 million won, but what caught my eye was the accessory, 【Chieftain’s Feather】.

It was the rarest item here.

I want it.

“If we divide these potions into four bundles, we’ll have eight. Let’s distribute them fairly, one each.”

Kang Hyun suggested. Most of the team nodded in agreement.

“Sure! So, who goes first?”

The problem was the distribution order. Clearly, the eight Emergency Trauma Potions were the least desirable.

Yoon Hwa-rim quickly raised her hand.

“I’ll—I’ll go last.”

She sighed like a guilty person.

“To be honest, I’m a bit ashamed to even take a share…”

“Hey. You should still take it. Hwa-rim, you were great except for that one moment. You were A-tier mage material.”

Lee Jong-su, who had cursed her out just 30 minutes ago, now comforted her. The other team members chimed in too.

“It’s okay~ It happens~”

“Yeah, totally.”

Yoon Hwa-rim smiled bitterly and bowed her head.

“Then, Seol Ha-woon.”

Kang Hyun called me.

“What do you think about letting Seol Ha-woon choose first?”

Was this a bribe?

The thought crossed my mind, but the other team members seemed to agree.

“Sounds good. Let Ha-woon Hyung-nim pick first. We owe him for getting us through…”

Lee Jong-su had already switched to calling me “hyung-nim.”

I gladly, without hesitation, chose the 【Chieftain’s Feather】.

—

【Chieftain’s Feather】

■ Overview: A feather from an Orc Chieftain. For some reason, it makes you feel agile.

■ Grade: Rare

■ Requirement: Recognition Level 5+

■ Effects: Agility +0.2, grants special effect [Feather-like Flexibility].

■ Feather-like Flexibility: Fall resistance increased by 20%. Flexibility increased by 20%.

—

“Whoa! Hyung! Are you sure about that?”

Lim Hae-jun asked, his nose twitching as if he wanted the feather for himself. The others also looked eager.

“It’s the best one for me.”

“Ah, I see…”

The 【Chieftain’s Feather】 was indeed the only Rare-grade item. The rest were all Common-grade.

Next, Kang Hyun stepped forward.

“Then I’ll take this.”

He picked up the four bundles of potions.

“Is that okay? No one else was going to take them anyway.”

“Wait, Are you sure?”

Lee Jong-su blinked. Kang Hyun smiled faintly.

“I didn’t do much. Jong-su dragged the cargo the longest, and the escort team worked hard too.”

“Well, still…”

From my perspective, Kang Hyun’s choice was extremely conscientious, but the other team members looked uneasy.

Yoon Hwa-rim also picked up the remaining four potions.

“I’ll take these four potions too.”

Now, the remaining members of the escort team were Lim Hae-jun, the archer; Jin Yun-hwa, the warrior; and Ichigo, the martial artist.

From the transport team, it was Lee Jong-su, the warrior, and Asher, the archer.

Kang Hyun gestured.

“Split the rest however you like. The gear seems to be of similar value.”

Dangun

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