Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 21 (Part 2): The Fall (1)

[A4-B12 Joint Labyrinth Success]

—

Monitoring Room.

Kang Hyun and Seol Ha-woon’s team had just cleared the labyrinth. It was quite a difficult one, perhaps the most brutal cargo labyrinth this season.

Kim A-rang tried to calm her pounding heart. She had already lost her composure. At one point, she nearly clapped.

“…I wondered if it was too difficult.”

Even she hadn’t expected the Orc Shaman.

The labyrinths in the *Labyrinth Exploration* series are scaled to the participants. The production team can control some aspects, but they can’t interfere with the fundamental structure.

This is why some irregulars from the Explorer’s Association criticize the *Labyrinth Exploration* series itself as one massive labyrinth.

Anyway.

Teams like Ryu Yeon-hwa’s, Lee Jun-ho’s, and Seo Ji-woo’s had also cleared their labyrinths impressively, but none had the narrative impact of Kang Hyun’s team.

The sudden appearance of the Orc Shaman. Seol Ha-woon’s long-range sniping support. The scenario where it wasn’t over until it was over.

“Hey, PD Kim, are you still not done? We’re about to go grab dinner.”

The youngest PD in the monitoring room pointed at the door.

“No, I just finished.”

Kim A-rang smiled and stood up.

“Let’s go eat something good.”

Today, her appetite seemed quite strong.

* * *

[Labyrinth Exploration NaN Premieres May 19…]

—

Two weeks until the first broadcast—a decent amount of time.

My recognition Level was still 5.

“I guess it’ll only go up after the premiere.”

I tapped my wrist. NaN’s info window popped up.

—

[Seol Ha-woon]

Rank: 96th

Votes: 7,301

—

“…The votes are increasing, though.”

This was the pre-broadcast profile vote. People voted based on profiles and introduction videos.

Yesterday, it was around 5,000 votes, but it had increased by a thousand in a day.

Of course, it’s still very low. Kang Hyun probably already has over 100,000 votes.

I checked my watch. It was exactly 6:25 PM.

My body moved instinctively.

Following my routine, I left the dorm and headed for the hill behind the building.

“Hyung!”

Someone called me. It was Lim Hae-jun, holding a soccer ball under his arm.

“Want to play soccer?!”

“…….”

This punk’s got some nerve.

I silently pointed at my leg. Lim Hae-jun’s eyes widened.

“Ah, I forgot—no, I mean, even so, I don’t judge, maybe goalkeeper—”

“Go.”

“Yessir!”

Lim Hae-jun dashed off to the field. Quite a few people had gathered to play soccer. Seo Ji-woo was among them.

I climbed the hill.

I sat on the grassy field where I had trained with Yu-yul and began both mana breathing and circuit activation. The total amount of mana accumulated through mana breathing also helped the mana circuits themselves, and now my upper body circuits were nearly complete.

Arms, chest, back, waist, stomach. I had carved out a proper path in my upper body.

“Looks like things are going well.”

Just then, Mage Yu-yul arrived. I had sensed her coming. She had a distinct scent.

“Yes. Thanks to you.”

I greeted Yu-yul warmly. She glanced me up and down.

“You’re at a level where you can refine your circuits.”

“Oh. Are you going to teach me refinement?”

I brightened and stood up. Yu-yul replied as if it were nothing.

“Refinement itself is simple. You just tear them.”

“…Huh? Tear them?”

“Think of it like weight training. Lifting weights tears muscle fibers, and they grow back stronger. It’s the same with mana circuits.”

“Then…”

“Use your mana to finely tear the circuits. It’s self-harm, essentially.”

Yu-yul sat on a rock.

“The difference between refinement and weight training is that the pain becomes more intense as you refine.”

She tried to cross her legs but failed.

“You can’t predict the threshold of that pain.”

“…Does it hurt a lot?”

“Mana is like a mage’s soul. Mana circuits are artificially carved paths into the soul. Tearing them apart—does that sound painless?”

Her words steeled my resolve.

“Whether you’re a genius or an ordinary person, the pain isn’t easy to endure. You might be trapped in nightmares or tormented by hallucinations and voices. That’s why, once people reach a certain level, they choose an easier path.”

But my body is accustomed to pain. That much is true.

“Because of that pain, most people need a supervisor for their first refinement. If done wrong, the circuits could be ruined.”

“Understood.”

I clenched my fist.

“I’m ready.”

Yu-yul replied stiffly.

“Come back next week, then.”

“…Huh?”

“There’s a mentor class scheduled for the program. I’ll teach you then. All together.”

I blinked but soon smiled and nodded. I had overstepped without realizing it.

I had assumed I was receiving special treatment from her.

I’m not disappointed. It was my own misunderstanding.

“Got it.”

“…By the way.”

Yu-yul raised an eyebrow and changed the subject.

“Yes.”

“How was Kang Hyun? You were on the same team.”

She asked about Kang Hyun.

“Is he your top pick?”

“…….”

Silence. That meant yes.

“You haven’t seen the cargo labyrinth footage yet?”

“Not yet. Feedback will probably happen next week.”

“Hmm…”

I thought about Kang Hyun.

A guy who seems shady but isn’t. Too transparent to be transparent.

But I didn’t feel the need to share such thoughts with others.

“He’s exactly as he appears—clean-cut and strong.”

The first principle of suspicion is doubting even oneself. Always assume you might be wrong—or outright know you are in many ways.

“Hmm. I see. Good work.”

Yu-yul twisted her lips in satisfaction and left.

It seemed her real purpose wasn’t my refinement but Kang Hyun.

“…I feel a bit disappointed.”

It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel that way.

I lay down on the grass and yawned.

Dangun

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