Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 50 (Part 1): Cliché Melody (4)

“Today, we’re going to do a little survey.”

It was a filming day for Labyrinth Exploration’s daily life segment. Called in by the writer, I blinked in surprise.

“A survey?”

“Yes.”

The writer handed me a piece of paper. But her words and gestures were unusually curt.

Probably because of Kim Doo-gyeom.

Kim Doo-gyeom is clever. Sly and cunning. He knows how to isolate people. Not just with the contestants but with the PDs and writers too, he subtly reveals the things being done to him.

From afar, in places unseen, he’s tarnishing my reputation.

It’s something I was prepared for.

“Write it quickly, please.”

“Understood.”

I scanned the survey.

[1. Who is the person in Labyrinth Exploration you’re most concerned about?]

[2. Who is the person in Labyrinth Exploration you’d like to go on vacation with?]

[3. Who is the person in Labyrinth Exploration you want to get closer to?]

[4. Who is the person in Labyrinth Exploration you’re most wary of?]

[5. Who is your favorite mentor in Labyrinth Exploration?]

[6…]

The first question, the person I’m most concerned about… Honestly, there are a lot. Kang Hyun, Lee Jun-ho, Kate, Kim Doo-gyeom, Seo Ji-woo, and so on.

“You don’t have a lot of time. Hurry up and write.”

The writer’s tone was quite grating. What was her name again? Lee Yu-kyung, was it? The writer who’s especially close to Kim Doo-gyeom.

I propped my chin on my hand.

The person I’m concerned about.

If it’s someone I’m concerned about in any way, it has to be *her*. The woman who’s a thorn in my side just because she’s Seo Ji-hyuk’s sister.

I wrote “Seo Ji…” and then quickly scratched it out.

No need to be unnecessarily honest.

I wrote a different name instead.

Kang Hyun.

[2. Who is the person in Labyrinth Exploration you’d like to go on vacation with?]

The second question. Someone I’d want to go on vacation with… There’s no one. If I got a vacation, I’d want to rest completely alone. Sleep for a long time.

“Can I skip it if there’s no one?”

“Please try to write something.”

“…Alright.”

If I had to pick, it’d be Kang Hyun.

The reason? He’s the most suspicious.

I’m curious about Kang Hyun’s daily life. I want to closely observe unfiltered self, his usual behavior.

Because to tear him down, I need to find evidence.

[3. Who is the person in Labyrinth Exploration you want to get closer to?]

I don’t particularly want to get close to anyone, but if I have to write something, it’s Kang Hyun again.

Same reason as above.

[4. Who is the person in Labyrinth Exploration you’re most wary of?]

Kang Hyun.

[5. Who is your favorite mentor in Labyrinth Exploration?]

The fifth question. Finally, I wrote a different name.

“…You chose Mentor Yu-yul?”

The writer asked, sounding surprised. I paused, fidgeting with the pen.

“How did you know?”

The writer was sitting across from me, but quite far away. There’s no way she could see what I was writing.

Silently, she pointed upward with her finger.

“…Ah.”

There was a camera. Right above, filming the survey.

I asked the writer, “Am I the only one who picked Mentor Yu-yul?”

“Yes, of course.”

That makes sense. Yu-yul isn’t famous or particularly charming. On the contrary, she’s blunt and curt. Some explorers even badmouth her behind her back, calling her rude and unpleasant.

They’re all fooled by her surface.

“I’m grateful to Mentor Yu-yul.”

I’m thankful for Yu-yul.

I learned Mana Breathing and Refinement from her, and I’ll keep learning more.

“My feelings are sincere.”

But Yu-yul, as a person, has no emotions toward me. She sees me as no different from an ant on the roadside or a pebble on the ground.

I can feel her indifference.

“She’s a precious person who illuminated my path as a mage.”

Even so, I need to stick to her as much as possible.

I have to say whatever nice words I can, even sell my soul if necessary, to learn as much as I can from her.

“Illuminated your path?”

“Yes. I didn’t even know what Mana Breathing or Refinement were. I didn’t know how to properly construct spell formulas. Without Mentor Yu-yul’s advice and teachings, I would’ve been at risk of elimination by now.”

“Hmm~”

The writer twitched her eyebrows curtly.

“Let’s say, hypothetically, the Cayden School contacts you after watching Labyrinth Exploration. But Mentor Yu-yul also starts a small School. Which would you choose?”

For reference, the Cayden School is one of the world’s top magical institutions. There’s no way they’d contact me.

“I’d stay with Mentor Yu-yul.”

This level of acting is easy. But I can’t let it be exposed as acting.

“Oh, come on~ What if a real offer comes?”

“I’m serious.”

To deceive a mage, I first have to deceive myself. I need to pack my heart full of boundless respect, gratitude, and even genuine affection for Yu-yul.

“Mentor Yu-yul is…”

Starting today, I’ll become someone who loves her.

I’ll thoroughly gaslight the surface of my consciousness.

“She’s someone I want to stay connected with for as long as my strength allows.”

* * *

“…The person I’m most concerned about is honestly Doo-gyeom hyung.”

Lim Hae-jun spoke before writing anything.

“Huh? Why?”

The writer tilted her head.

“Just because.”

The implication of “being concerned” varies depending on interpretation.

Kim Doo-gyeom looked like a good person. Most contestants, writers, and PDs thought so.

But for some reason, Lim Hae-jun doesn’t want to get close to him. It’s not quite wariness, just… concern.

“The person I want to get closer to is Ha-woon hyung.”

Lim Hae-jun wants to get closer to Seol Ha-woon.

In fact, the biggest reason he suspects Kim Doo-gyeom is Seol Ha-woon.

There’s a bad rumor going around the dorms lately. They say Seol Ha-woon is bullying Kim Doo-gyeom in a nasty way, and because of that, the writers, PDs, and some contestants close to Kim Doo-gyeom don’t look kindly on Seol Ha-woon.

“Aren’t you already close? You talk to Seol Ha-woon the most, Hae-jun.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, but…”

Lim Hae-jun shook his head.

“It doesn’t feel that way.”

He can talk face-to-face with Seol Ha-woon. He can follow him around.

That’s it.

Seol Ha-woon only “allows” him to approach but doesn’t truly accept him. An invisible line—no, a wall—enveloped him.

“It’s like there’s a barrier.”

There’s an enormous wall surrounding Seol Ha-woon. So he can’t grab his hand. He can’t even dare to reach out.

“Even when we’re together, there’s this sense of distance.”

“Hmm~ I see. But…”

The writer started to say something but swallowed her words.

Seol Ha-woon is on thin ice. His one-sided bullying of Kim Doo-gyeom will definitely air on the show. If public opinion turns too harsh, even Lim Hae-jun might get caught in the backlash.

“I’ll head out then.”

Perhaps sensing what the writer was about to say, Lim Hae-jun, who had finished the survey, stood up.

* * *

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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