Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 24 (Part 1): The Fall (4)

*Whoooosh…*

A sandstorm swept across the world, engulfing everything in its path. It was so intense that even opening my eyes felt impossible. Gritty dust forced its way into my mouth.

This was a desert with scorching heat that felt like it would melt my skin. In this place, my heart pounded wildly. To save someone. To press my hand against someone’s chest and stop the gushing wound.

‘Ha-woon, ah.’

A guy calls my name, spitting blood. His voice was mixed with blood, as if he were spitting it out with every word.

‘I’m… sorry.’

He looked at me, grabbed my hand, and apologized.

That apology annoyed me. If you’re sorry, then live. Just live. That’s what I wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t leave my lips.

‘Hey, ah, my… younger sister….’

Seo Ji-hyuk spoke.

*Drip, drip.* His breathing was fading, life slipping away.

‘My… younger sister….’

Even as he was dying, Seo Ji-hyuk worried about someone else. It frustrated me to see him like that.

*‘My poor… little…’*

What thoughts crossed his mind in that final moment, as his breath was cut off? What feelings did he hold as he spoke of his sister? What dreams did he see?

—

“……!”

I opened my eyes. I sat up abruptly, breathing heavily, clutching my chest. My whole body was trembling.

“I told you. It would hurt.”

A voice flowed from beside me. I turned to look. Mentor Yu-yul was there.

“More than your body.”

She looked at me and continued.

“Your heart.”

My eyes were damp. I realized belatedly that tears had formed. I wiped them away with my sleeve.

“It’s no big deal,” I muttered. “What is this place? Is this… the infirmary?”

Yu-yul crossed her arms without a word. One corner of her mouth tilted up in a smile-like expression.

Just then, the infirmary door opened. Another person entered.

It was Yoo Ji-in.

*Click, click.* With legs a full three segments longer than Yu-yul’s, she walked in, glancing between Yu-yul and me.

“Mentor Yu-yul, please refrain from overly sadistic lessons from now on.”

“I wasn’t being sadistic.”

“I heard there was a lot of blood and screaming?”

“He was the only one like that.”

Yoo Ji-in faced Yu-yul, her mouth twitching as if she were about to spit out a curse. She turned her gaze to me.

“Mr. Seol Ha-woon. Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

“Was the lesson too harsh?”

“No. It wasn’t. I… just pushed myself too hard.”

A vein bulged on Yoo Ji-in’s temple. It seemed my answer wasn’t what she wanted. She glared at me and clicked her tongue.

“Fine. Suit yourself, then.”

She left in a huff, clearly warming up to unleash her temper.

“Seol Ha-woon.”

Yu-yul called my name.

“Yes?”

“Let me ask you one thing.”

She crossed her legs. This time, she succeeded properly.

“What exactly were you imagining? Such extreme refinement is rare, even for someone like you.”

“Uh… well….”

I scratched the back of my neck.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say.”

Yu-yul looked at me with a slightly expectant expression.

“Do you know what a kidney stone is?”

“…What?”

* * *

[ Labyrinth Exploration NaN, Labyrinth Interior Stills ]

Stills were uploaded to Ionet. Ishia logged in the moment she saw the update.

“Wow.”

There were quite a few photos. At least thirty, maybe more.

Ishia calmed her pounding heart as she scrolled down. She examined each one as if appraising treasure.

Photos of the labyrinth being cleared. The cargo slightly visible in the background—it’s a cargo labyrinth!

The explorers captured in the angles were Lee Jun-ho, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Seo Ji-woo, Kate, Kang Hyun… and Seol Ha-woon.

The explorer Ishia had unconsciously been looking for.

In one photo, Seol Ha-woon was handing an arrow to Lim Hae-jun in a forest. For some reason, it felt poignant. Why would a mage give an arrow to an archer?

Anyway, Ishia looked at the next photo.

“…….”

Her breath trembled.

Kang Hyun and Seol Ha-woon shaking hands, facing each other like in a movie. Their faces were smeared with mud, sweat, and what looked like fallen leaves.

Was this right after clearing the labyrinth? Or during the process?

Either way, this was a hit.

She immediately accessed the community. She reposted the photos and uploaded a post.

—

[ Labyrinth Exploration NaN Pre-release Stills ]

—

Nine carefully selected photos. Among them, Seol Ha-woon and Kang Hyun were in the very first one.

When there are multiple photos, many people just glance at the first one and skim through the rest before commenting.

—

─Whoa, Kang Hyun’s insanely hot.

─Wow, holy sh*t..

─Looks like a cargo labyrinth. Kinda expected that.

─But who’s the guy facing Kang Hyun?

└Seol Ha-woon. Ex-UDT.

└UDT? His spectrum is so wide.

─The long-haired guy next to Kang Hyun’s got vibes too, lol.

─Seol Ha-woon?

—

The reactions were satisfying. The speed at which comments poured in was unusual. Ishia felt a tingling sensation all over.

She couldn’t wait any longer. For the premiere, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4. And…

“Seol Ha-woon.”

So far, nothing was known about Seol Ha-woon. He didn’t seem to have any SNS like Instagram.

That made her even more curious.

What kind of person was he?

How would he come across?

Ionet’s editing was infamous for driving people crazy. Reaction splicing, interview distortions—they were the ones who started calling it “devil editing.”

Ishia rested her chin on her hand as she stared at the screen.

Please, let Seol Ha-woon survive their labyrinth-like manipulation.

Dangun

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