Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 28 (Part 1): Snowflower (3)

*Whoosh—!*

On the screen, a flying lasso looped around the beast’s neck. This time, it was a clear success.

Seo Ji-woo immediately yanked the rope, and the creature was dragged toward her as if flung through the air.

‘…Hah.’

She had barely secured food. Though she let out a sigh of relief, her face soon stiffened.

‘It’s… a young one.’

Up close, the deer was too small. Its eyes were too innocent.

A fawn.

Seo Ji-woo hesitated over whether to kill it or not.

It didn’t take long.

Had it been slightly older, she might have slaughtered it for meat—but this one was too young. Even if she ate it, it wouldn’t fill her stomach.

‘…Tch.

She loosened the lasso.

‘Go. Bring your parents with you next time…’

She watched the fawn scurry away before sitting on a tree stump. She pulled out a portable stove and a pot, scooping snow into it. The melted hot water was poured into her combat rations.

*Whoooosh—*

The blizzard began to rage again.

‘Damn it.’

Seo Ji-woo moved between the trees, weaving mana threads between the trunks to create a makeshift tent. She amplified the mini-stove’s flame with a spell, generating warmth.

As she shoveled the last of her dwindling rations into her mouth, she muttered:

‘Is this really going to work…?’

“Well, isn’t that the question~”

The PD in charge of Seo Ji-woo stretched lazily.

Seo Ji-woo was undeniably kind—compassionate enough to pity even a beast.

That could be good or bad for her image. Explorers weren’t required to be ruthlessly cold-hearted. A little warmth was something everyone needed.

*Ooooh—!*

“……?”

A sudden burst of cheers erupted from somewhere. It was coming from Kim A-rang’s station.

“What’s going on?”

An idle curiosity stirred. Had a fight broken out?

The PD glanced at Seo Ji-woo on the screen.

She was still eating. Nothing major would happen for now.

He quietly stood up.

—

The blizzard howled across the white plains. Lee Jun-ho trudged through the snow, a wolf he had hunted slung over his shoulder after a full day of pursuit.

‘……’

Abruptly, his steps halted. He spotted a silhouette in the distance. A labyrinth dweller? His guard went up briefly—until he recognized the face and smiled.

It was Kang Hyun.

‘…You’ve been hunting too?’

Two deer were draped over Kang Hyun’s shoulders. He gave a slight nod and moved to pass by, but Lee Jun-ho called out:

‘Want to team up?’

Kang Hyun stopped dead in his tracks.

‘Honestly, two is better than one, right?’

Lee Jun-ho grinned.

Cooperation—a team proposal. But the atmosphere between them was unnervingly icy.

Cold.

The way they looked at each other.

Was it wariness? Or mutual caution?

“Who knows.”

PD Lim Hyung-wook was engrossed in analyzing the scene between the two top contenders when—

*Oooooooh!*

A raucous cheer erupted.

“…What now?”

Lim Hyung-wook stretched his neck like a giraffe. A crowd of PDs and writers had gathered around Kim A-rang’s station.

“What’s happening over there?”

A pang of jealousy struck him, precisely because it was Kim A-rang again. He was curious, but felt no need to move himself.

He had Kang Hyun and Lee Jun-ho right here.

*Ahem.* Clearing his throat, Lim Hyung-wook deliberately exclaimed:

“Wow~ Kang Hyun and Lee Jun-ho just ran into each other here~”

*Pay attention to me. This is way more interesting.*

—

*Shhk-shhk.*

The saw blade sliced smoothly through the wood, clean as a radish being chopped. There was an oddly satisfying rhythm to it.

A few passes with the grinder, and the log was polished into a long, straight timber. The edges were flawless, the fit snug.

Seol Ha-woon assembled the cabin walls with the timber. The joints aligned perfectly, as if glued together.

Not a single misalignment—just looking at it was soothing. Like a balm for the soul.

*…Ooooh.*

The sudden gasps made Kim A-rang flinch. She turned around.

“W-what are you all doing here?”

A crowd of writers and PDs had gathered behind her. Not just one or two—over a dozen.

“Just watching. My assigned contestant’s asleep right now. But seriously, was Seol Ha-woon a carpenter, not a soldier?”

“I know, right? Why is this so comforting? Look at that perfect fit.”

“…No, you should get back before your own contestants—”

Kim A-rang tried to shoo them away when—THUD!

The sound drew her attention back to Seol Ha-woon’s screen.

“Ooooh.”

This time, he had felled an entire tree. With nothing but a small hand axe, he chopped through a trunk as thick as a bodybuilder’s torso in just three swings.

“What—he’s not a [Warrior]? How does he do that?”

At the assistant’s question, Kim A-rang pursed her lips. Strangely, a prickling sense of pride swelled in her chest.

“Wow~ Kang Hyun and Lee Jun-ho just met~”

Lim Hyung-wook’s voice boomed from somewhere, louder now.

“Kang Hyun and Lee Jun-ho meeting? Insane. How did these two even cross paths?”

Kim A-rang ignored him, pointing at Seol Ha-woon’s axe instead.

“Look, everyone. See that axe?”

Wriggling along the blade were spell patterns like earthworms.

“Yeah, I see it.”

“It’s super clear, right? That clarity reflects the quality of the spell.”

Spells had grades. Even basic ones—those that reinforced tools or amplified strength—varied in refinement.

In that regard, Seol Ha-woon was an exceptional spellcaster. Even if his speed was… well, *severely* lacking due to his leg.

“I guess there’s a reason Kim PD’s so invested. How far do you think he’ll climb in the first rankings? Top 10?”

Kim A-rang raised an eyebrow at the writer’s question.

“That’s up to the viewers.”

A PD shouldn’t overstep—or even *think* about influencing the results. Their job was to cater to the audience’s tastes, not drag them along by force.

“Lee Jun-ho just proposed a team-up to Kang Hyun, but Kang Hyun turned him down~ Wow~”

Lim Hyung-wook’s commentary stubbornly continued.

“Alright, everyone, back to work.”

Kim A-rang waved the PDs and writers off, but no one budged.

The cabin was nearly complete.

Dangun

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