Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 45 (Part 1): Believer (5)

…The development was unpredictable. The audience watching from the stage felt this especially keenly.

Ishia, more than anyone, couldn’t understand Seol Ha-woon’s actions. When he killed the head of security, the entire hall was stunned. If there had been a chat function, it would’ve been flooded with ???s.

“No, why….”

Seol Ha-woon was shaking up the entire situation. It wasn’t just disruption—it was outright sabotage.

Even if this was an individual competition, was he trying to pick a fight? *I won’t clear it, so you shouldn’t either*—was that his logic?

“…Someone said Ha-woon got evil-edited, but maybe he’s just… like this.”

The whispers behind Ishia pricked her ears like needles.

It was blatant trolling. There’d been hints of him being unhinged from the start, but now he’d clearly crossed a line.

─”Seol Ha-woon-ssi. Don’t move.”

Finally, Kate made her move. She formed a spear while warning him—a Destroyer’s ability Ishia had never seen before.

Most Archers used bows or guns. Debates over which was superior depended on the Archer’s skills and aptitude, but Destroyers who wielded thrown weapons were undeniably in a league of their own.

To what extent? Destroyers are considered one of the branches leading to mages.

“Kate’s killing it.”
“Never seen anything like that before.”
“Shoot! Shoot!”

Before anyone realized, Ha-woon had become the villain, and Kate—cheered on by the stage audience—hurled her spear at him.

*Sssshwaaaak!*

The spear tore through the air, devouring even the thin mana bullets in its path. *Kwaaaang!*—It obliterated the upper half of the building where Ha-woon stood.

“Whoa, that’s satisfying.”
“Like downing a cold soda after spicy food.”
“Phew~”

Most reactions were cathartic. Ishia alone clenched her fists.

She was so disappointed.

Looking back, maybe Seol Ha-woon was never meant to be taken seriously. A guy content to stay in 96th place, with no ambition to rise…?

[ Failure ]

“Huh?”
“What?”
“Why—why another failure?!”

Was there another variable? Ishia switched back to Ha-woon’s POV.

The scene reset to the beginning.

─”Tsk…”

He massaged his throbbing leg with a frustrated expression but quickly climbed back to the rooftop, wasting no time.

Another unforeseen event soon followed.

* * *

Sixth attempt.

The labyrinth had regressed to 10 minutes prior.

The politician on the podium spouted nonsense, and the crowd roared until eardrums nearly burst—the same “situation” as before.

“Ugh….”

Lee Jun-ho felt heat rising to his crown. His neck burned. His teeth ground. A strange fever crawled down his spine.

He pressed his eyelids, cracking his neck. *Creak. Creak.* Odd sounds leaked from his joints.

“I’m so. Damn. Pissed.”

No one—no one—here knew what they were doing. No matter how many times he tried, it never ended.

‘What the hell am I supposed to do?!’

“…Just getting fu*king pissed.”

Five identical failures. This was his last coin.

Of course, the time Lee Jun-ho had experienced was a mere 50 minutes.. But each loop demanded every nerve in his body on edge.

This was no easy battle.

And because it wasn’t easy, his mental screws had already come loose.

Scorching adrenaline raced down his back. His facial muscles twitched spasmodically. His empty palms burned as if drenched in blood.

Then—

─”Lee Jun-ho.”

Ha-woon’s voice flowed into his ear. Jun-ho snapped back.

“The fu*k you want.”

Cameras no longer mattered. The fatigue from looping battles and rage at the repetition itself amplified Jun-ho’s inherent flaws.

The desire to destroy.

─”Calm down.”

‘Calm down?’ At those words, Jun-ho smiled. A grin so wide it nearly split his face.

“Calm?”

Instead, he drew his sword. Bloodshot eyes glinted. Mana rippled off his feverish body like heat haze.

Jun-ho staggered toward someone in the crowd.

“You.”

A labyrinth dweller with a sword at his waist.

“Lookin’ real damn suspicious.”

He swung his blade, severing the man’s neck. Blood fountainized from the stump.

*Kyaaaah!*

A scream erupted nearby. Jun-ho turned.

“Shut the fu*k up.”

His sword slashed the screamer’s mouth open.

These weren’t humans anyway. Just labyrinth byproducts—mana manifestations. Tearing them apart changed nothing.

─”Lee Jun-ho.”

Ha-woon called again. Jun-ho had no clue what he wanted.

─”Lee Jun-ho. Get a grip.”

Not knowing made him want to disobey even more.

─”Lee Jun-ho-ssi!”
─”Jun-ho hyung, what are you doing?!”

Kate and Kim Woo-hyun yelled at him, but—

“Shut the fu*k up. I’ll handle it myself.”

He tossed his earpiece to the ground and charged toward the armored labyrinth dweller. Everyone in his path was bisected. Limbs flew, blood mist blooming.

A massacre. Indiscriminate slaughter.

“Lee Jun-ho-ssi!”

Kate’s voice scattered as she tried to stop him.

Jun-ho was beyond control. Kate had no choice but to subdue him.

*Bang!*

A silent mana bullet struck the ground at Kate’s feet.

─”Leave him.”

Ha-woon.

“…You, until the very end.”

─”People should go where they want. Especially someone like him—he needs to go all the way to find release.”

“Bullsh*t.”

Kate cursed in her native tongue but was interrupted by grenades raining from the sky.

*Kwa-gwagwagwang!*

The ground quaked. Placards shattered under the bombardment. Dust and debris smothered the square like smog.

Chaos engulfed the plaza. The speech had long stopped; labyrinth dwellers scattered in panic.

Even in the bedlam, Jun-ho didn’t stop.

* * *

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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