Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 51 (Part 2): Spring Rain (1)

Round 3.

My third opponent is Ryu Yeon-hwa.

This natural white-haired mage is quite famous and promising, but this is our first face-to-face encounter.

“Hello. I’m Ryu Yeon-hwa.”

“Seol Ha-woon.”

I slip into informal speech right away. Ryu Yeon-hwa’s temple twitches.

“…Isn’t this our first meeting?”

Ryu Yeon-hwa dislikes informal speech from strangers. Raised refined, he values etiquette and is needlessly fastidious—a classic young master type.

Perfect for me to mess with.

“We’ve met before.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Ryu Yeon-hwa’s expression turns hostile, but I continue calmly.

“We met. Back then.”

“Back then?”

“At Aqua Cube.”

“……”

Ryu Yeon-hwa’s face hardens.

Ryu Yeon-hwa is a known club enthusiast. He doesn’t go often, but maybe two or three times a month. A young master’s rebellion, you could say.

It’s a well-known rumor among the Labyrinth Exploration fandom.

“…Why bring that up? There are cameras here.”

Ryu Yeon-hwa whispers urgently.

“You always book VIP tables. Must be loaded.”

“Shh. Shh. Shh.”

“Blink first, and I’ll shut up. You’re already top-tier; you don’t need the extra minute.”

“…Ha. So that’s how you’re playing?”

He grits his teeth.

“Do you know my motto? Strong against the strong, weak against the weak. —I don’t bow to threats—””

“I know the MD’s name too.”

“—to threa… what?”

“You should watch out for that guy. Who knows? He might do something shady using your name.”

In the future, Yeon-hwa would be embroiled in a scandal. It’s a false accusation, but a nasty drug-related mess.

I hold up three fingers.

“Three seconds.”

Before I finish, Ryu Yeon-hwa blinks.

* * *

Round 4, Final Round.

One more win, and I’m set. My last opponent is Kate. Just one look told me she wouldn’t go down easy.

“……”

Her lips are tightly pursed, her eyes fiercely narrowed today.

She’s not someone who’ll just let me win.

Maybe it’s better to stay silent this time.

“……”

“……”

We glare at each other.

Kate is, honestly, strikingly beautiful. How is her skin this flawless? Does she use something like the 【Mysterious Skincare Set】?

[ 40:15:23 ]

The staring contest has passed 40 minutes, but nothing’s changed. Kate seems determined, her cheek muscles twitching as she forces her eyelids to stay open.

Suddenly, I recall a comedy show I watched this morning.

“Kate.”

Kate shows no expression. I mumble, moving my lips.

“Can I spit?”

I fake a spitting motion. *Ptoo.*

“…You psycho—”

Her eyes blinked in disgust.

[ Kate eliminated ]

“Phew.”

It wasn’t a foul. I didn’t actually spit.

* * *

I climbed the podium through any means necessary.

The six winners are Kang Hyun, Seol Ha-woon, Kim Woo-hyun, Ji Young-ho, Ryu Wei, and Kim Doo-gyeom. As expected, aside from Kang Hyun, it’s mostly A- to C-tier contestants desperate for PR time. But Kim Doo-gyeom, that bastard, is relentless. He even made it up here.

“Everyone~ Pick a door and enter!”

Yoo Ji-in points to six doors beside the set.

Kim Doo-gyeom chimes in with a smug smile.

“How should we decide the order? Rock-paper-scissors?”

“Do it alone in front of a mirror.”

“……”

Kim Doo-gyeom’s face sours.

Then Kang Hyun steps forward, looking mildly amused.

“Everyone, ever heard of Confession Jump?”

Confession Jump. Similar to 3-6-9, but on multiples of three, you choose Go, Back, or Jump. Go stays put, Back steps back, and Jump skips one person. That kind of game.
[T/N: “Confession Jump” (고백점프 – Gobaek Jeompeu) is a variation of the popular Korean counting game “3-6-9” (삼육구 – Samyukgu). Instead of clapping or saying ‘clap’ on multiples of 3, players must say “Go” (continue normally), “Back” (reverse turn order), or “Jump” (skip the next player). It’s used here to determine the picking order.]

“Confession Jump…?”

Kim Doo-gyeom looks puzzled. Kim Woo-hyun raises his hand.

“I know it.”

I nod.

“I know it too. Let’s do it.”

“Sure, I’m fine with it.”

“Let’s go with that.”

Ryu Wei and Ji Young-ho agree, so the order-deciding game is set as Confession Jump.

“No practice rounds. Ha-woon hyung starts, then left.”

Kang Hyun swings his arms, reciting the intro with odd enthusiasm.

“Confession Jump, Confession Jump~”

I go first.

“1.”

Kang Hyun.

“2.”

Kim Doo-gyeom.

“Back!”

“……”

Silence.

It’s Back, so it’s Kang Hyun’s turn again.

I look at Kang Hyun.

“Ah.”

Kang Hyun realizes too late, his face like a man who’s lost his country. I’m dumbfounded.

“What are you doing?”

You’re the one who suggested it.

“Ah…”

“What’s ‘ah’?”

“…Ah.”

As Kang Hyun sighs wordlessly, I feel a creeping unease and glance at Kim Doo-gyeom. A vile smirk is etched on his face like a sculpture.

This bastard knew the game.

I’ve been played.

* * *

In the end, I won Confession Jump. Kim Doo-gyeom came in second. I was so determined not to lose to him that I even put on my 【Reinforced Compression Rimless Glasses】.

Meaning I amplified my nervous system just to win Confession Jump.

“…Hoo.”

“Ha-woon hyung, you’re good.”

Kang Hyun looks at me with a hint of envy.

“You’re the one who sucked.”

“…Ah.”

He’s unnecessarily hurt by that.

Anyway, I chose the first room.

It was entirely pink. Four Mystery Boxes sat on a table.

The writer said,

“Pick one of the four and do your PR.”

“Got it.”

Which one should I choose? As I ponder, a thought strikes me.

“Can I… pick later?”

“Huh?”

The writer tilts her head.

“Later? How do you mean?”

These Mystery Boxes probably contain something good. The Labyrinth Exploration team is known for being generous.

But there’s no rush to open them.

“I’ll…”

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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