Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 47 (Part 1): Cliché Melody (1)

The live stage, the Situational Labyrinth, progressed swiftly. Kang Hyun’s team cleared it in just two attempts, Seo Ji-woo’s team in three, and Ryu Yeon-hwa also in three. Our team was the only one to use all six attempts.

In return, we received a difficulty adjustment. The post-assessment result rated the [Plaza]’s difficulty at A+.

The live audience scored the performance and left, leaving 96 explorers standing on the empty stage.

Now, it was time for the ‘Mentor Evaluation.’

I’m dead tired.

“Team 1. Please step forward.”

Yoo Ji-in spoke.

Lee Jun-ho. Kate. Kim Woo-hyun. Lee Jong-su. Kim Doo-gyeom. Ryu Wei. Jung Min-ki. Me.

A total of eight people stepped onto the stage. The mentors at the judges’ table gazed at us silently.

They seemed to have a lot to say—and yet, perhaps nothing at all.

First, the Warrior Mentor, Kim Yoon-jun, picked up the microphone.

“…The Plaza was the toughest labyrinth. With two S-tier and three B-tier explorers, the difficulty was adjusted accordingly… Lee Jun-ho-ssi?”

“Yes.”

Lee Jun-ho stepped forward, his face tense. Unlike his usual demeanor, he looked visibly uneasy. He had stirred up quite a mess, after all.

“And Seol Ha-woon-ssi.”

I took a step forward as well.

Thud! The sound of my cane echoed a bit loudly. It couldn’t be helped.

With my leg badly injured, I had to rely more on the cane.

“I’ll ask Seol Ha-woon-ssi first. In the final sixth attempt, was it a mutually discussed decision?”

At that moment, Lee Jun-ho’s eyes twitched. I looked at Kim Yoon-jun and answered.

“Yes. It was a somewhat rough method, but we felt it was necessary. If we’d stood by idly, we’d have been swept away. To seize control, a far more aggressive approach was needed, so we executed it together.”

“The radio conversation suggested otherwise.”

“We prepared for eavesdropping.”

Kim Yoon-jun’s eyebrows lifted.

“Eavesdropping?”

“Yes.”

He stared at me intently, then gave a slight smile.

“…You’re thorough. That’s the correct answer.”

In labyrinths, ‘Bosses’ are mostly non-human entities. Detecting radio frequencies is child’s play for them.

“The final boss definitely showed signs of intercepting frequencies. That was a wise move.”

Next, DK picked up the microphone.

“…Well. You’ll only use this method in the labyrinth, right?”

“Of course. This situation wouldn’t happen in the real world.”

DK nodded.

Then, the Archer Mentor, Kim Ji-an, took the microphone.

“I’d like to ask Kate-ssi…”

She questioned Kate about her aptitude as a Destroyer, among other things. The mentors provided various feedback afterward, but there wasn’t much directed at Kim Doo-gyeom.

Because he hadn’t done anything noteworthy.

Because I’d erased his presence.

The look on that rotten bastard’s face was ‘delicious’.

As the feedback session neared its end, Yoo Ji-in spoke.

“Next, we’ll reveal the scores, combining the live audience’s votes with our mentors’ evaluations.”

[Kate 8.8] [Lee Jun-ho 8.7] [Kim Woo-hyun 8.4] [Ryu Wei 8]

[Jung Min-ki 7.3] [Seol Ha-woon 8.8] [Kim Doo-gyeom 6.8] [Lee Jong-su 7.5]

“These scores will be reflected in future tier re-evaluations.”

I smiled. More than my own score, Kim Doo-gyeom’s score was satisfying.

6.8. The lowest. Kim Doo-gyeom’s face trembled, his lips and cheeks quivering as he struggled to maintain composure.

“Congratulations. Please return to your quarters.”

Before leaving, I glanced at Yu-yul at the judges’ table. She met my eyes and nodded impassively.

We’d made a promise before this Situational Labyrinth.

I was ready for the second refinement.

* * *

On the way back to the quarters from the stage, my left leg was nearly numb, so I relied entirely on my cane to walk.

Lee Jun-ho emerged from behind a tree. Had he been waiting for me? He stood there, smacking his lips silently.

I swung my cane back and forth.

“If you’ve got nothing to say, move.”

“…Ahem.”

Lee Jun-ho cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck.

“Well… uh… I appreciate you… covering for me. And I’m also curious about the reason.”

“Thanks to you, I figured it out, didn’t I?”

“…Really?”

Lee Jun-ho sighed, a hint of worry in his expression.

“I’m a bit concerned about how it’ll come across on the broadcast. It was kinda… ugly, wasn’t it?”

“Ugly’s a stretch.”

Of course, Lee Jun-ho harbors desires. It’s the backlash of his talent. He can kill anyone, burn anything. A man like fire. Closer to a demon of flame than a hearth.

I told him.

“Keep denying it, and you’ll break.”

“…Deny what?”

“You know what.”

Lee Jun-ho’s face darkened. He likely knew his own flaws. They’d be too vivid to ignore.

“Were you like this too?”

The question made me pause.

In the past, on the battlefield, what kind of person was I?

“Maybe worse than you.”

All problems arise when desire overtakes the self. Destruction, murder, revenge—when the craving to do something *madly* consumes you, you can’t stop yourself.

Someone else—or the world—has to stop you.

“Just acknowledge the darkness within you. You can only control it once you accept it.”

The moment you deny it, control becomes impossible. Suppressing it only leads to an explosion of desire that devours you in an instant.

Only by accepting your inherent flaws and creaking rationality can you cultivate the ability to control yourself.

“You’re more dangerous than I was back then. Because you’ll become far stronger.”

Strength brings many things.

But you mustn’t be intoxicated by it. A fire fueled by desire will burn not only those around you but yourself as well.

“…….”

Lee Jun-ho turned away quietly. It wasn’t the path to the quarters.

He seemed to be planning a walk.

* * *

Dangun

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