Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 26 (Part 1): Snowflower (1)

The given shopping time ended, and the 96 explorers gathered once more in the department store lobby.

“Everyone, are you ready to set off on your journey?”

Yoo Ji-in smiled as she asked. Most responded energetically. It seemed they had at least grasped the “cold place” hint from their preparations—everyone was bundled up warmly. The department store itself had been chilly to begin with. Seo Ji-woo, too, had hastily thrown a parka over her designer outfit.

“But before that… What do you have inside your suitcase or travel bags right now?”

Yoo Ji-in swung her gaze over the explorers’ bags, her smile deepening with meaning.

“Let me tell you. This mission is a Survival Labyrinth.”

*Survival Labyrinth.*

The explorers’ eyes widened in shock.

But before they could even react to Yoo Ji-in’s words—

[ Entering the Labyrinth ]

A brief message flashed across their retinas, and the scenery shifted.

The opulent backdrop of the department store vanished entirely. The marble floor crumbled away like dust. Instead, the ground beneath their feet sank inward. A biting chill seeped through their clothes.

It was a snowfield.

In an instant, the entire space had transformed into a vast, blinding expanse of white.

*Whoooosh───*

A blizzard raged in the desolate wilderness. The wind, sharp as a blade, grazed their cheeks.

I was alone. There was no one beside me—only the suitcase clutched in my hand. A random entry—that was how this worked.

[ Objective: Survive for 360 hours ]

The purpose of a Survival Labyrinth was straightforward: survival. To endure an extreme environment without losing oneself, to preserve one’s own existence.

In other words, don’t die.

Perhaps this was the most essential quality—no, the *fundamental principle*—of an explorer.

Survival Labyrinths like this actually existed. A prime example was the [Rocky Snowfield], known as the “White Hell”. It was a labyrinth that had appeared near the Rocky Mountains in the U.S., with a simple clear condition:

If even a single explorer survived for 600 days, it was a success.

“It’s cold.”

Haaah. A white vapor formed as I exhaled.

Standing in this sea of snow, I scanned my surroundings.

The landscape was mesmerizingly white—but not the slightest bit comforting. If anything, it was desolately bleak.

[ Warning: The blizzard in this area accelerates caloric expenditure. ]

So it said.

I started moving my legs. Though I’d been transported here abruptly, I wasn’t at a loss.

I already had a plan in mind. But to execute it, I needed to find a suitable location first. Preferably a forested area. I’d explain the reasoning later.

*Crunch. Crunch.*

As I trudged through knee-deep snow, a dilapidated cabin came into view.

I paused briefly and pushed open the cabin door. Inside, I checked the kitchen shelves, drawers, and the like.

There was a fair amount of food—two cans of tomatoes, three crackers, an energy bar. I even took the oil canister tucked in the corner of the living room.

While wandering the labyrinth, I’d likely come across more scavenging spots like this—but they wouldn’t be plentiful. I’d have to loot every one I found.

No matter how much food I had in my suitcase, it wouldn’t last 15 days. And since my plan required a considerable stockpile, I’d need to gather as much as possible.

Ah, you’re wondering what my plan is?

I intend to build a base camp myself.

—

***

An endless, dizzying expanse of snow. A blizzard swirling like mist. In this Antarctic-like wasteland where directions were indistinguishable, Seo Ji-woo stood frozen in place, clutching her Hermenian bag tightly against her side.

*Whooooo─-*

“Ugh, it’s freezing.”

A sudden gust of icy wind slapped her face. Seo Ji-woo yanked her collar tighter. The biting cold helped her belatedly grasp reality.

“Damn it…”

This was all Yoon Hwa-rim’s fault. That woman kept provoking her—

Though inwardly panicked, she maintained a calm façade and began weaving a spell. Seo Ji-woo interlaced threads of mana, wrapping them around her body like a thick coat. She regulated the rise and fall of her mana to cocoon herself.

This was called *Weaving*.

Her innate attribute, the talent of “thread,” was remarkably versatile and efficient. Of course, mana-clothing wasn’t exceptionally warm, but it was far better than nothing.

“How many hours do I have to endure like this…?”

[ 359:45:15 ]

An unfathomably long time.

“Seriously, this is ridiculous.”

Seo Ji-woo let out a hollow laugh.

‘How the hell is this a “journey,” you broadcast bastards?’
She’d gone through all the effort of dressing up for a trip, and now this.

“……”

She reassessed her situation. The most critical resource—food—was missing. She did have the handbag Seol Ha-woon had given her, but using it felt like a blow to her pride.

‘As for food… I’ll just hunt for it somehow.’

There had to be wildlife here, right?

‘Don’t panic.’

Even if you fall into a tiger’s den, as long as you keep your wits about you, there’s always a way out.

Dangun

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