Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 29 (Part 2): Snowflower (4)

This time, she ate like a human, with a spoon.

Ha-woon studied her.

“Your clothes are wrecked. That shopping trip was a waste.”

“…Clothes?”

She checked herself. A disaster. Her designer set was shredded, patched haphazardly with rags.

“Oh~ This still held up pretty well, though.”

Seo Ji-woo lifts her Hermenian bag with a finger. Inside, there are just three peanuts left.

“Well… thanks. You saved me. Twice.”

Ha-woon shrugged. Ji-woo sipped soup, then pointed at the wolf.

“Shouldn’t we feed him too?”

“It’s an undead familiar. Doesn’t need food.”

“…Really? Still.”

She slid her half-finished bowl toward the wolf.

“I owe him my life.”

“It won’t eat. Probably has no digestive system.”

Ji-woo stroked the wolf’s head. It woke, sniffed, then *lap-lap-lapped* the soup clean.

“Seems to be eating fine?”

It even licked the plate.

“…Ahem.”

Ha-woon coughed awkwardly.

“Must’ve been because you didn’t kill it properly. Its organs are still intact—”

“So~ How can I repay you?”

Ji-woo rubs her hands together with a sly grin, striking a pose like some groveling goblin.

Ha-woon pointed at the cabin door.

“No thanks needed. Now leave.”

“…….”

That was cold.

Seo Ji-woo quietly sat down on the floor.

“Uh… how about we team up? Like, cooperate?”

“Why? I already have shelter.”

Her eyes darted. Then—*click*—a lightbulb.

“Ah! That’s exactly why you need me! Think about it.”

Ha-woon handed her another bowl. She accepted it eagerly.

“I’ve been starving. If things go south, I might not care about cameras or pride.”

A fair point. Human hunger was a primal force—especially for modern folks who’d never truly starved.

“And, you know what? It’s getting colder. Compare the first day to yesterday—it’s a world of difference. Someone might try to raid us—we could defend together. Plus, who knows? Labyrinth dwellers might show up.”

‘Labyrinth dweller’ referred to humanoid creatures born of the labyrinth.

Outwardly identical to humans, yet off in uncanny ways—byproducts of the labyrinth itself.

“How about it? Mage party, let’s go?”

She clasped her hands prayerfully. Ha-woon tsked.

“Your fuel efficiency’s trash, though.”

“…Excuse me? Look, I’ll eat less! Bare minimum! I’ll even skip meals! See? I’ll put this back—”

She guiltily pushed the soup away. She’d already downed three bowls to his one.

Get a grip, Ji-woo. At least match his pace.

“…Deal?”

She eyed him hopefully. He stared back silently.

“I’ll be your bodyguard! Ditch me if I’m dead weight. I’ll take the fall!”

“Before you talk about being a bodyguard, how about fixing your manners? How old are you compared to me?”

“It’s only six years.”

“‘Only’? What, did we meet on a construction site?”

“…….”

She pouted.

“…If I use honorifics… will you keep me?”

***

I opened the cabin’s freezer. Ji-woo peeked in.

“Whoa. Meat galore.”

The department-store rations were long gone—only hunted game remained.

It looked plentiful, but with an extra mouth to feed? Maybe five days’ worth. We’d need three or four more kills.

Ah, right. I agreed to team up.

Ji-woo probably hadn’t thought it through, but I had a reason. Right before I met her, I saw an actual ‘labyrinth dweller.’

Clothed, yet indistinct—hazy, like a ghost.

99% of them were hostile. They were labyrinth byproducts, meaning they’d vanish if the dungeon collapsed.

“You’ve hunted a lot, huh? Haha. My only catch in 200 hours was that guy.”

Ji-woo pointed at the wolf, now her beloved familiar.

“Not enough. We’ll need at least three more adults to be safe.”

We’d need hides and fat for insulation. The final day’s temperature would plummet to -90°C. This survival labyrinth’s true boss was the cold itself.

“Oh? Then let’s hunt together!”

“If we run short, can we eat that wolf too?”

I pointed at her pet.

“…….”

Her face stiffened.

“Just kidding.”

“Ah~ Hahaha. You and your jokes. Hah.”

*Whap!* She slapped my back. I give her a deadpan look. She instantly bowed.

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”

Anyway.

Something was off.

The orc shaman from the cargo labyrinth, the labyrinth dweller here… things keep happening that I never saw in the original broadcast before my regression.

If my regression was altering the show’s trajectory…

Well. I’ll adapt.

I boiled water, dissolving coffee into two cups.

“You even brought coffee? Impressive.”

I set one before the chattering Ji-woo, keeping the other for myself.

“Thank you!”

She cradled it reverently. Outside, the wind howled.

We sat in silence.

*Whoooosh—*

The cabin stood firm against the storm, warm and peaceful inside.

“Slurrrp.”

Ji-woo drank coffee like noodles. Annoying, but…

She was a celebrity. Teaming up meant screen time. I’d wasted days building this cabin—doubt viewers cared for an ex-soldier’s carpentry.

One reason I’d accepted her.

I sipped coffee and checked the timer.

[156:10:35]

Eight days down. Six-plus to go.

“Day eight… Must be today.”

“What is?”

Ji-woo blinked. I answered flatly.

“The premiere.”

She counted silently—then slammed the table.

“…Ah! Right! Our first episode airs today!”

Dangun

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