Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 36 (Part 1): Hate You (3)

“Hyung~”

Lim Hae-jun beamed at me, holding something out.

“What’s that?”

“Well, I think I managed to clear this survival labyrinth thanks to you, Hyung!”

I reached out to take it, but he suddenly took a step back.

“Come here, here.”

He beckoned me forward.

“What’s this about?”

I stepped outside to receive it. There was an unmanned camera in the corner of the hallway.

Ah, so he wants the gift-giving moment caught on camera? This kid is sneakier than he looks.

“It’s a pair of shoes! They’ll be comfortable, trust me. They’re mana-treated!”

Veronica. A luxury brand everyone knew. This wasn’t just a casual gift; a single pair probably cost two to three million won.

Then again, Lim Hae-jun was born with a silver spoon. His father was some kind of land tycoon, after all.

“Ah. Thanks.”

I didn’t refuse. I needed shoes anyway.

Then, Hae-jun whispered very quietly:

“…Hyung. You’re seriously impressive.”

“What do you mean?”

“You got hit with a bad edit, but you’re acting like it’s nothing. Have you not checked the internet?”

The internet. Online communities. SNS.

It was a different kind of blow compared to my military days. This wasn’t just verbal abuse—it was cyberbullying, saturated with mockery and sarcasm.

But keeping my cool was my specialty. I rarely let my emotions show.

“I can’t control the editing.”

Even if I went to Kim A-rang, grabbed her by the hair, and dunked her head like planting rice seedlings, nothing would change, More importantly—

“Distorting the process doesn’t negate the outcome.”

They could paint me as arrogant, but they couldn’t erase my achievements. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be a bad edit—it’d be spreading false information.

“…Hyung.”

Hae-jun suddenly looked up at me with a serious expression.

“What?”

Clenching both fists, he blurted out:

“Can I call you Master!”

“No. Go away.”

***

I entered the interview room. Inside the pitch-black space, two writers and about three cameras were set up.

“Seol Ha-woon-ssi, your performance in this survival labyrinth was a huge topic in the monitoring room. You built a cabin—was there a particular reason?”

The interview itself was straightforward. They showed footage from the labyrinth and asked why I did this or that at certain moments.

“It reminded me of the past. Establishing a base camp was an important role for the vanguard.”

I glossed over the truth. The real reason? I’m a regressor who planned ahead.

“Ah~ I see. So, what about this moment?”

The writer played another clip.

“You happened to find Seo Ji-woo-ssi right before her elimination. Was there a reason you went out of your way to save her?”

“A reason… for saving her?”

“Yes. This is still a competition, right? Having a strong competitor fail would’ve been more beneficial for you. And yet, not only did you save her, but you even formed a team together.”

Labyrinth Exploration NaN had elimination conditions:

– Fail a labyrinth three times, and you’re out.
– During the first vote tally period, participants ranked below 50th are also eliminated.

“Well… at the time, I had food and shelter, but having an extra teammate was good preparation for unexpected situations. And in the later stages, Seo Ji-woo’s magic was a big help. Without her mana, maintaining the fireplace would’ve been difficult.”

“Hmm. What are your personal thoughts on Seo Ji-woo-ssi?”

“I just think she’s a decent person.”

The writer’s eyebrows twitched.

“Okay. Ah, right—you encountered a labyrinth dweller midway, didn’t you? Your deductions there were pretty cool. We thought you were Sherlock Holmes! Are you usually observant?”

The sudden praise made me smile faintly. In an era where humility was a virtue, such compliments felt unfamiliar.

“Yes. A little.”

“Aha~ Speaking of which, what were you thinking when you faced that labyrinth dweller?”

Labyrinth dwellers. When confronted with enemies whose strength couldn’t be measured, the first thing that surged through me was unfiltered killing intent.

If I don’t kill them, I die.

“…I don’t really remember. Adrenaline made everything blurry. I just fought recklessly.”

I softened my response appropriately.

“And~ three days before the end, Lee Jun-ho-ssi joined your team too. Why did you help him?”

“Simple. He helped me, so I helped him back.”

“Hmm~ After the blizzard cleared, we saw you teasing Seo Ji-woo. Did you do that because you’d grown close?”

“No. I wasn’t thinking anything in particular.”

The writer continued with many more questions. I avoided giving them material for a bad edit, but none of the questions leaned overly negative.

That was fortunate.

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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