Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 41 (Part 1): Believer (1)

The next morning, on the hill behind the lodgings that now felt like my front yard—I was in a good mood as I went through my morning training.

[ Mid-to-Low Grade Mana Manipulation ]
■ You can easily manipulate mana inside and outside your body. The flow of mana becomes slightly more refined.

[ Mid-to-Low Grade Mana Concentration ]
■ You can easily concentrate mana. The manifestation of mana lasts slightly longer.

[Mana Manipulation] and [Mana Concentration], the two core techs, had advanced to Mid-to-Low Grade. The difference was palpable. Moving mana, forming spells—the processes felt much smoother.

I had also developed a new technique.

I held out my palm. A mana sphere the size of a baseball formed.

Grenade in the hole!

I swung wide and threw it.

*BOOM!*

The mana bomb exploded in the forest. The ground cratered, and blue fragments embedded themselves among the trees.

Its power was far more destructive than a fragmentation grenade.

“1, 2, 3, 4….”

I counted the time while watching the mana fragments. The mana disappeared in 9 seconds.

This is what they call phenomenon retention—the degree to which “mana itself” lingers in reality even after the spell dissipates.

According to Mage Tae-hyuk’s theories, 9 seconds was a fairly impressive benchmark.

*Whoosh!*

I extended a wire and launched myself up into the trees. Landing carefully, I exhaled.

“Huu…”

Amidst the branches, breathing in the crisp air, I gazed at the dormitory building.

A faint smile tugged at my lips without me realizing it.

There’s a secret hidden in that place.

That fact alone stirred an inexplicable vitality within me.

I didn’t know why. They say people eat to live, but maybe I was just born a hunting dog at heart…

*Ding!*

[ All 96 Explorers, please gather at the set location by 5 PM. ]

It was the first mass notification in nearly a week since “Labyrinth Survival.”

***

The set was pitch-black. Not an inch of visibility ahead. In this darkness, all 96 explorers had assembled.

“Hyung, what do you think it’ll be this time?”

Somehow, Lim Hae-jun had materialized beside me.

“No clue.”

*Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.*

Just then, the ceiling lights flickered on. The vast, concert-hall-like space was divided into eight sections.

Hae-jun made a grim face.

“…Hyung. Are we seriously gonna have to sing and dance?”

“Doubt it.”

*Swoosh—*

The doors at the center of the stage slid open, and Yoo Ji-in appeared. K-pop music played in the background.

“Hellooo~ I’m here again today to explain the next labyrinth!”

She was dressed in a full-body idol costume, glitter plastered all over, with some kind of hat perched on her head.

“The next labyrinth challenge begins tomorrow—right here, with a live audience!”

Live audience. In other words, a stage.

“You’ll all be thrown into a repeating scenario.”

A Situational Labyrinth. A labyrinth where a specific scenario loops.

Quite tricky, but the most straightforward type.

“The time limit per loop is 10 minutes. The maximum number of repeats is six.”

Meaning six coins, or tries.

“Each labyrinth will involve eight participants.”

Yoo Ji-in raised a finger.

To summarize: All eight members had to quickly grasp the situation, figure out the clear condition, and accomplish it within the time limit.

“But this isn’t a team battle.”

Eight people working together—but not as a team.

Murmurs broke out among the explorers.

“Each of you must independently discern the objective of the scenario and act in a way that benefits your own completion. It’s an individual battle—but if you get too greedy and act overly selfish, the audience will judge you harshly, won’t they?”

Yoo Ji-in grinned and flicked her fingers.

The monitors onstage lit up, displaying various scenarios.

“Here are the themes you can choose from.”

│Plaza│Luxury Hotel│Secret Base│Underground City│
│Mercenary Street│Casino│School Ghost Story│VR Game│

“……”

I was slightly taken aback. Compared to my previous regression, the themes had changed quite a bit.

The first two—Plaza and Luxury Hotel—were the same, but the remaining six were completely new.

“Please select your preferred theme via the NaN System! First eight people get their pick!”

*Tug.* Hae-jun grabbed my sleeve.

“Hyung. Which one are you going for?”

“…Plaza.”

An open plaza would be more advantageous for me than a confined space like a luxury hotel.

“Ooh, the Plaza~ Sounds fun.”

“I’m going in first.”

I immediately selected Plaza.

*Poof!*

[ You will now be transported to the briefing room for the ‘Plaza’ scenario. ]

—

A roundtable meeting room. No one else had arrived yet.

I took a seat and waited.

About five minutes later, the second person arrived—a man.

It was Lee Jun-ho.

“…Ah.”

When he spotted me, Lee Jun-ho’s lips twisted in dismay.

“What’s with the ‘ah’?”

“…Don’t act friendly with me.”

I smirked. Honestly, he still reminded me of a yapping Chihuahua.

Which only made me more curious—what the hell happens in the next three years to make this guy so terrifying?

“Sigh. This is why you shouldn’t be nice to black-haired beasts. Shouldn’t have opened that door back then.”

“……”

Lee Jun-ho clicked his tongue, clearly having nothing else to say.

*Shiiing—*

Next, the third person arrived.

Kate. She glanced at Lee Jun-ho and me before taking a seat.

*Shiiing—*

Immediately after, the fourth—Mage Kim Woo-hyun.

“Jun-ho hyung!”

“Hey.”

Kim Woo-hyun had teamed up with Lee Jun-ho in the Cargo Labyrinth, so he naturally sat beside him.

*Ding—*

A message arrived via the NaN System.

[ Lim Hae-jun: Master~ I’m heading to Casino lol! ]

This kid calls me “Master” all the time, but when it comes down to it, he only picks whatever suits him best.

*Shiiing—*

Then, the fifth teammate arrived.

“Ah, hello…”

A languid voice. Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, his fox-like eyes crinkled in a smile.

It was Kim Doo-gyeom.

My expression turned icy as I stared at him.

“Oh! Doo-gyeom hyung!”

Kim Woo-hyun seemed happy to see him. Lee Jun-ho and Kate also appeared satisfied with Kim Doo-gyeom’s presence.

But me?

To put it simply—

I want to kill him.

***

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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