Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 33 (Part 2): Snowflower (8)

***

[ 56 : 15 : 30 ]

*Snore… snore…*

Lim Hae-jun was still asleep. Literal hibernation. Not that he hadn’t moved at all these past 15 days.

He’d hunted too—one deer, two foxes, twelve rabbits. Just enough.

*Snore… snore…*

Thanks to his unique winter sleep, he conserved energy perfectly. His underground den was now fortified with frozen animal hides blocking the wind, complete with a sophisticated ventilation system.

*Snore… snore…*

So, in his own way, Lim Hae-jun was sleeping strategically.

“…Ugh.”

A sudden chill made him groggily open his eyes. He adjusted the lantern’s heat and added pre-prepared animal fat to the fuel tank. Then, he cast 「Heat Emission」, using a Mana Stone looted from the escort labyrinth as a catalyst.

As an Archer, Hae-jun was a hybrid between mage and warrior—he knew basic spellcraft.

“Huuu…”

Now warmer underground, he curled up under a rabbit-fur blanket. The fine soil beneath him felt like a cozy mattress.

***

[ 36 : 23 : 18 ]

The outside temperature began dropping sharply. Frost was forming inside now. We took shifts tending the fireplace.

“Keep it burning. Separate wet logs from dry ones. Maintain the spells too.”

“Got it.”

Ji-woo wrung moisture from the logs with a spell as she spoke.

“This labyrinth—don’t you think the others have already given up?”

“No. There are probably more remaining than you think.”

Survival labyrinths were tough, but not unbeatable.

Somewhere in this snowfield, there were caves. Ruins better than my cabin. Digging underground wasn’t a bad idea either—the cold couldn’t reach deep.

“Here! This batch is bone-dry.”

Ji-woo grinned, pointing at the perfectly desiccated firewood.

This should be enough.

Actually—no. Gathering more firewood would be impossible now. The blizzard and gales would sweep away any tree or branch the moment it was cut.

“Let’s eat, then.”

“Yay~”

I tossed meat into the fireplace.

Our living space had shrunk to a 1.5-meter radius around the fire. At least we’d built the toilet right beside it—no risk of freezing to death mid-business.

***

[ 18 : 17 : 00 ]

18 hours left. The blizzard hadn’t let up since yesterday. The cabin stayed warm, but we had to stay alert for outside threats.

Then—

*Knock, knock.*

Someone rapped on the door. Ji-woo, half-asleep, jolted. I approached the door.

I waited, but there was no response.

“…….”

Let’s think.

Labyrinth Dwellers wouldn’t knock.

Another explorer? Unlikely. In this blizzard, finding a cabin but neither calling for help nor trying to enter? Only one knock, then nothing?

Probably someone with too much pride.

Only that guy fit.

I gripped the doorknob.

“You sure? We don’t know who it is.”

Ji-woo grabbed my wrist, her eyes worried.

“I think I know.”

I opened the door. A figure stood with his back turned, already retreating—Lee Jun-ho, trudging back the way he came.

“Huh? Lee Jun-ho!”

Ji-woo called out first. He paused, glancing at us sidelong.

I spoke.

“Come in.”

Maybe this was the butterfly effect.

Jun-ho should’ve survived this labyrinth unscathed, but because of me, Labyrinth Dwellers appeared. He got caught up in it, wasted time and stamina, and couldn’t prepare properly.

“Let’s eat.”

I owed him at least this much.

***

[ 12 : 13 : 00 ]

Now we had two guests. Food was nearly gone, but rationing could last us 12 hours. Still, something else bothered me more.

**Crackle, crackle.**

The fireplace burned, and Seo Ji-woo had fallen asleep. Silence filled the cabin.

In the firelight, I stared at Jun-ho and asked:

“…It was you?”

If he took it, he’d understand.

“…….”

He nodded quietly.

Good.

I swallowed a sigh of relief.

With Ji-woo here, I couldn’t take it back yet—and I didn’t want the cameras catching it. I’d reclaim it after this labyrinth.

“…Haam.”

The tension eased, and drowsiness crept in.

Jun-ho spoke.

“Get some rest. I’ll watch the fire.”

I nodded and closed my eyes.

***

[ 06 : 00 : 00 ]

*Whoosh── Whooshhhh──*

Six hours left. It wasn’t just a blizzard anymore—it was a full-on typhoon. It’s a miracle the roof’s still intact.

I really built a solid house, huh.

“What now? We’re out of firewood.”

Ji-woo pointed at the empty log rack.

“I’ll go chop some outside.”

I stopped Jun-ho’s insane suggestion.

“The moment you open that door, the whole cabin flies away.”

Basic physics.

In a closed space, the house’s structure acts as a shield, creating a pressure difference between inside and out. The interior stays in a stable low-pressure state.

Open the door, and that difference vanishes instantly. Wind rushes in, equalizing pressure instantly—and with that force, the entire cabin could be ripped apart.

“Then what? The fire’s dying.”

“We use this.”

I grabbed a chair and shoved it into the dwindling flames. It caught fire instantly, blazing up.

Kinda sad—that backrest was pretty comfortable.

*Craaaack────-*

The blizzard’s roar turned vicious. Like a giant’s hand tearing at the sky.

“Everyone, dismantle all the furniture.”

Dining table, kitchen cabinet, bed frame, even the fridge. We broke everything down into firewood-sized pieces.

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novels: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" & "The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring " If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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