Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 50 (Part 2): Cliché Melody (4)

“The person I’m most concerned about…”

Lee Jun-ho pursed his lips, rolling his pen between his fingers.

“……”

The writer checked the time on her smartphone. Lee Jun-ho had been stuck on the first question for 30 minutes.

“Just write comfortably~”

The writer said with a forced smile. Lee Jun-ho scratched the back of his neck.

“Yes. I’ll write.”

He answered and placed the pen on the survey. The writer let out a sigh of relief.

Scritch.

One line.

Just one line.

A line that didn’t even form a single character.

The writer rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

“……”

Lee Jun-ho stared at the line, thinking.

Should I write Seo Ji-woo?

But “most concerned about” can be interpreted in many ways, and in the end, it’s Seol Ha-woon.

No, wait. Isn’t Seol Ha-woon the one I’m most wary of? I need to separate concern from wariness…

“…Ugh.”

He clutched his hair, agonizing alone.

The writer swallowed a sigh.

At this rate, it’ll take three hours for one survey.

* * *

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

The moment he saw the survey, he scribbled a name with swift strokes.

Seol Ha-woon.

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

Seol Ha-woon.

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

Seol Ha-woon.

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

Ditto.

“…All Seol Ha-woon?”

At the writer’s words, Kang Hyun looked up. With wide, round eyes, he asked, “Is that not allowed?”

“No, it’s just surprising. There’s Jun-ho, Kate, Ji-woo, Zhao Yun… so many others.”

Kang Hyun listened quietly, then raised an eyebrow.

“Just…”

He continued in a low voice.

“Ha-woon hyung was the most impressive. In the Situation Labyrinth, the Survival Labyrinth, the Cargo Labyrinth—he always found the answer.”

Seol Ha-woon found solutions in every situation.

A person who spares no means or methods, who’ll do anything for their goal. A person who ultimately gets it done.

Kang Hyun was curious about him.

* * *

*Tap tap tap tap tap.*

Seo Ji-woo pointlessly stabbed the survey with her pen.

*Press. Press. Press.*

She marked dots on the survey, then connected them with lines.

“…Do I *have* to fill this out?”

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

Seo Ji-woo was stuck on the first question.

“What, no one you’re particularly concerned about?”

At the PD’s question, Seo Ji-woo looked up.

“No…”

“What about Seol Ha-woon?”

PD Kim A-rang. She smiled at Seo Ji-woo. Seo Ji-woo narrowed her eyes.

“What? Why would I be concerned about him…”

“If not, just write anyone.”

*Press. Press. Press.*

Seo Ji-woo pressed on the survey and muttered.

“…Honestly, Hwa-rim is the one I’m most concerned about. She’s been getting so many hate comments lately…”

Apparently, it’s bad enough that she can’t even use SNS. They’re not supposed to post on SNS anyway due to the contract, but even Seo Ji-woo finds the comments terrifying.

“Really? Oh, by the way, did you know?”

Kim A-rang started with a slightly mischievous expression.

“Seol Ha-woon wrote it—then erased it.”

Seo Ji-woo tilted her head with an innocent face.

“Wrote and erased what?”

“Your name, Ji-woo…”

* * *

These days, Labyrinth Exploration parodies are everywhere—not just on community forums and SNS but also on public broadcasts and cable variety shows.

─Phew… My words are absolutely correct.

─What if you’re wrong?

─That’s impossible. I’m correct.

─Can I spit on you, you b*stard?

Right now, SNL (Sunday Night Live) has a segment mimicking me, and YouTube is overflowing with them.

Main and sub-characters alike, Labyrinth Exploration’s characters and terms are being used as material.

Even “I’ll commence a more proactive escort” has been memed, with “escort” replaced by weird words.

It’s even made the news. Some politician supposedly “commenced a more proactive escape” or something.

“…It’s kind of fascinating.”

I let out a hollow laugh. Seeing the character “Seol Ha-woon” consumed as content was oddly intriguing. Amusing, even.

But I can’t indulge in it for long. Fame is merely a means for my survival. What matters is my growth and my lifespan.

*Labyrinth Exploration* is just a stepping stone.

A slightly larger stepping stone.

“Time to go.”

I put on my uniform. Today was a rather important day within *Labyrinth Exploration 101*.

Tier re-selection.

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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