Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 37 (Part 1): Hate You (4)

David Han, the owner of David’s Bookstore, sat at the counter, pouting.

Lately, the bookstore had seen quite a few more customers. It was all thanks to that Seol Ha-woon fellow mentioning the Magic Bookstore in Episode 1. Sales had even increased by about 30%.

“…What are you smirking at, punk.”

But right now, David wasn’t in a good mood. Because of Tae-woo. That bastard was skulking between the bookshelves, snickering under his breath.

“When did I laugh? My lips haven’t moved.”

“That’s what smirking is. What’re you here for?”

Tae-woo fiddled with his leather gloves.

“Mr. ‘MyWordIsAbsolute,’ they call him now. That soldier.”

Mr. ‘MyWordIsAbsolute’. Seol Ha-woon had become global kindling for controversy as the main villain of Labyrinth Exploration NaN’s second episode.

“Are you Mages so free you just watch TV all day?”

“It’s entertaining.”

People often misunderstood—mages weren’t some otherworldly beings. Their hobbies rarely strayed far from the ordinary.

David clicked his tongue.

“Tsk. Devil’s editing, I tell ya. Broadcasting companies are all like that. You voting?”

“The weekly vote?”

“Yeah. That one.”

“Are you voting, old man?”

“…Yeah.”

The Labyrinth Exploration NaN website allowed up to 7 votes per week—not one per day, but one per week.

Voting opened on Monday and closed at midnight the following Monday. Until then, votes could be canceled or changed.

“I’d recommend not doing it if you can help it.”

“Huh? Why?”

David tilted his head. Tae-woo crossed his arms, gazing out the window.

“When you vote, a tiny amount of mana leaks out. For a normal person, it’s negligible, but still…”

“…Wouldn’t that just mean your smartphone’s faulty?”

Tae-woo nodded calmly.

“Could be.”

As a mage, he never asserted certainty where there was none. Like a blind man trying to grasp an elephant’s shape by touch alone.

“Who’d you vote for, old man?”

“Me?”

David scratched his cheek.

Seo Ji-woo. Kate. And Seol Ha-woon. Only three, but since two were women, he felt a little awkward admitting it.

“Ever heard of a secret ballot, punk?”

* * *

Geoje Island Naval Base.

Inside the UDT barracks, the TV blared the hottest show sweeping the nation—Labyrinth Exploration NaN, which had taken the peninsula by storm in just two weeks since its premiere.

The soldiers chattered about their favorites—mostly female explorers like Seo Ji-woo, Kate, and Yoon Hwa-rim, though Seol Ha-woon’s name popped up now and then.

That’s when it happened.

“Ugh, shut it.”

The company commander slammed the door open. The soldiers snapped to attention.

“What’s going on? I can hear you all the way outside.”

“Ah, sorry, sir!”

“Disappointing. Watching TV’s fine, but keep the ruckus down… What’re you watching?”

The commander’s eyes flicked to the screen. A senior private quickly redirected the conversation.

“…Sir, do you know Seol Ha-woon? They say he’s ex-UDT.”

The captain’s expression stiffened.

“Seol Ha-woon? Why’re you— Wait, how do you know him?”*

“He’s on TV, sir.”

“…What?”

Frowning, the captain shoved the soldier aside.

─Seol Ha-woon: This third route doesn’t look good at all.

It was him. A bitter smile tugged at the captain’s lips.

“Why’s that bastard…?”

“You know him, sir?”

“Course I do. UDT. Special Missions Unit.”

“Whoa!”

The Special Missions Unit—or SMU—was already elite, but Seol Ha-woon went deeper than that.

Just as DEVGRU operated under NAVY SEALs, Seol Ha-woon had been part of UDT BLACK.

His codename? Hound. A slightly cheesy play on words.

“What kind of guy was he?”

“…A weird one. Why’d he grow his hair out like that?”

Even back then, many soldiers feared him. Though his magical aptitude was lacking, his physical prowess, reflexes, and—above all—his tenacity and mental fortitude were borderline superhuman.

“You must’ve met him a lot, sir.”

“A few times. Not often.”

Captain Lee In-gang had met Seol Ha-woon. But they weren’t close. It was hard to even talk to him. The former Sergeant Seol Ha-woon was the kind of man even superiors struggled to meet eye-to-eye with.

Because he was consumed by vengeance.

“Hey. Can’t you rewind this from the start?”

“Can’t rewind, sir. But it’ll replay right after it ends.”

“It replays immediately?”

“Yes, sir. This is actually the rerun—back-to-back reruns.”

“…Damn. Must be a hit.”

“Everyone’s talking about it outside, sir. You should watch.”

“…Yeah?”

He perched on a bunk, eyes glued to the screen.

Coincidentally, it was another scene featuring Seol Ha-woon. He looked different now—95 kg of muscle had withered away. Months in a coma would do that.

But his aura remained.

─Yoon Hwa-rim: Why? It’s the easiest path.

─Seol Ha-woon: Because in this mission, my word is absolute.*

“Hah. Look at this guy.”

Seol Ha-woon’s arrogance drew a dry chuckle from the captain. A few soldiers furrowed their brows.

“Sir, was he really like that?”

“Well…”

UDT BLACK operated differently. There were no “grunts”—each member was a core operator.

Given an objective, they’d achieve it by any means necessary—counter-terrorism, high-value target elimination.

And among them, Seol Ha-woon stood out.

“Pretty close. He couldn’t stand incompetent superiors.”

“Ooh~ So, was there a superior who could handle a guy like that?”

“There was.”

“Was it you, sir?!”

The captain chuckled, shaking his head at the obvious flattery.

“Not me. Probably watching this somewhere out there.”

“Just a tiny hint on his rank…?”

“He’s discharged, punk.”

Seol Ha-woon’s former superior was no longer in the military. He’d gone mercenary. Those connected to that day all suffered from PTSD, regardless of nationality or race.

Anyway.

“…This is fun.”

The labyrinth challenge featuring Lee Jun-ho had just begun. Without realizing it, Captain Lee found himself engrossed.

***

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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