Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 6 (Part 2): I Hate Pain (1)

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Third round, the final preliminary.

The main PD of *Labyrinth Exploration NaN*, Yoon Sa-hyeok, scanned the faces of the participants gathered on the balcony.

Total of 437 people.

Of course, there were some who had already been pre-selected.

Around 20, perhaps—those who were destined to pass, who couldn’t possibly fail even in a fair competition.

“PD Yoon, shall we begin?”

Assistant Director Kim A-rang asked.

“Yeah. Let’s start.”

PD Yoon Sa-hyeok. A man who rarely showed emotion, with an appearance as cold and barren as his personality, and a ruthlessly businesslike approach. His selection criteria were simple.

Just three things.

Star quality, skill, and past conduct.

Since the program would be broadcast worldwide via OTT, star quality and skill were essential. But since it was based in Korea, past behavior was also crucial.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

*Step, step.*

Yoon Sa-hyeok descended the balcony stairs and stepped onto the ground. He took the microphone handed to him by the assistant director.

“Ahem. Welcome, everyone. I’m Yoon Sa-hyeok.”

*Clap, clap, clap.*

Everyone reflexively started to clap, but he raised his hand to stop them.

“No need for applause. Welcome to the third and final round of selections. As you can see, cameras have been set up starting from this round.”

Yoon Sa-hyeok pointed to the cameras. The participants’ heads swiveled to follow.

Of course, this entire selection process wouldn’t be broadcast. It was just for inserting clips of the selection process when introducing the final 96 contestants.

“There are 437 of you here. Only 96 will remain. However, applying the same standards to everyone would be unfair. After all, each of you pursues a different ‘class.’”

Class. It referred to the role one would take on inside the labyrinth.

“We’ve divided them into categories you’re all familiar with.”

Yoon Sa-hyeok lightly tapped the stage. The floor panels lit up, and words appeared.

[ Warrior ] [ Martial Artists] [ Archer ] [ Mage ]

This was the Korean, or more accurately, East Asian classification.

Globally, Warriors are Tanks, Martial Artists are Bruisers, Archers are Dealers, and Mages are, well, Mages.

Of course, there are more detailed subdivisions within each class, but this is the general idea.

“Please stand according to your class.”

Everyone moved.

92 Warriors, 137 Martial Artists, 133 Archers, 75 Mages.

Mages are the fewest because aptitude and talent play a huge role in this field. Warriors are avoided since they’re the ones who have to ‘take hits.’ Martial Artists and Archers, on the other hand, get a lot of spotlight and have higher salary ceilings, so their numbers are higher.

But in *Labyrinth Exploration NaN*, 24 people will be selected for each class.

“Now, choose the portal that matches your class.”

Portals appeared in all four directions.

Warriors: Red portal. Martial Artists: White portal. Archers: Green portal. Mages: Blue portal.

They weren’t real portals, just replicas, but they functioned well enough. Step inside, and a completely different scene would unfold.

“Well then. Good luck.”

—

* * *

“Good luck.”

PD Yoon Sa-hyeok left after his formal farewell, but for me, luck was the last thing on my mind—I was too busy gawking.

“…Wow.”

There were so many famous people here.

Top-tier prospects like Ryu Yeon-hwa, Kang Hyun, Lee Jun-ho, China’s Zhao Yun, Japan’s Kenta, America’s Kate…

Everyone was good-looking and attractive. People with superior looks were everywhere.

But among them, one person stood out.

Kang Hyun.

Currently considered one of the top candidates, but in the timeline I know, he was already number one.

His features were smooth yet sharp, his face a perfect blend of beauty and charm—a true face genius, even among celebrities.

The type that rebels like me tend to dislike.

The moment Episode 1 airs, he’ll probably soar sky-high.

“Alright, everyone, please move along.”

I headed toward the Mage portal. I could feel a prickly gaze at the entrance.

Assistant Director Kim A-rang. Since I was the only one limping and using a cane, I must’ve been easy to spot.

I felt self-conscious for no reason.

“Please enter.”

Kim A-rang gestured toward the portal.

“Yes.”

I obediently stepped inside.

Just one step, and the inside and outside switched.

The inside of the portal was quite spacious. It looked like a dome stadium. In the center was a grassy field, surrounded by stands that resembled spectator seats.

“Hello~”

Someone on the grassy field waved at us.

“Whoa.”

“What? Isn’t that Kim Se-jin?”

“It’s Kim Se-jin, right?”

Mage Kim Se-jin. A guy with curly brown hair and round features that somehow gave off a poodle-like vibe. Judging by the commotion from the participants, he was pretty well-known.

“Yep, nice to meet you. I’m Kim Se-jin, high-ranker and mage.”

He grinned and raised both arms.

“It’s pretty big here, right? I modeled this subspace after a baseball stadium, a dome stadium.”

Subspace. A space constructed from mana.

“What you need to do here is simple. Look around—you obviously came in through an entrance, right? But there’s no exit.”

Only then did we glance around. Sure enough, there wasn’t an exit anywhere.

“It’s simple. Escape from here.”

With that, Kim Se-jin sat down on a chair on the grassy field.

That’s it?

“…….”

I blinked quietly, while the other participants glanced around, sneaking looks at each other.

When you don’t know what’s going on, the national rule is to follow the guy who looks like he does.

I followed their general line of sight.

There, I saw Seo Ji-woo.

A woman with long blue hair tied back in a ponytail. The kind of striking, refreshing beauty that’d make anyone on the street do a double take, clad in a stylish red coat.

I knew her.

Or rather, I knew her family.

Her older brother had been my comrade-in-arms.

Dangun

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