Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 61 (Part 1): Let You Down (9)

Kang Hyun woke up in the early dawn. After a quick wash, he stepped outside and slid into the driver’s seat of a jeep. Dozens of similar jeeps surrounded him.

Their destination: Sier’s mining site.

“Oh~ You know how to drive too?”

Kim Dong-ha, climbing into the passenger seat, let out a snicker. Kang Hyun gripped the steering wheel silently. A heat seemed to rise from the base of his throat. Something between tension and excitement…

*Thud.*

Suddenly, Kim Dong-ha placed a hand on his shoulder. Kang Hyun turned to look at him.

“Hyun-ah. I know you. There’s no need to be nervous.”

“…Yeah.”

‘No. You don’t know me. Not as much as I don’t know you, nor as much as I don’t want to.’

─ “Start moving to your assigned routes.”

Sindra’s voice announced the operation’s commencement. Kang Hyun floored the accelerator.

Dozens of jeeps set off from this location. Likely, similar numbers were departing from other camps, spreading out to encircle the mining site.

Kang Hyun thought quietly.

‘How many of these will actually make it there?’

*Vroooom.*

The jeep roared along the mountain path. Soon, its frame and windows were enveloped in a mana shield. NaN World’s technology, capable of easily deflecting most bombardments.

“Takes about three hours, they say. Hyun-ah, I’m gonna catch a nap. Didn’t sleep much last night.”

Kim Dong-ha, glancing at the GPS, reclined his seat.

He didn’t know. Probably no one here did.

The battle had *already* begun.

*Whoosh!*

Kang Hyun sharply swerved the steering wheel, breaking away from the convoy.

“W-what? Why aren’t you following them?”

Kim Dong-ha jolted upright, startled. Kang Hyun replied curtly.

“Follow, and we die.”

“Huh? What’re you talking about? Hey, we’ll fail the quest like this. Hurry—”

“Quiet.”

Kang Hyun turned to face Kim Dong-ha. His pupils gleamed an eerie gray. Kim Dong-ha swallowed hard, instinctively.

“Trust me. If you don’t want to die.”

—

I surveyed the ground from a rocky outcrop, a safe distance from the base. I’d already estimated the enemy’s positions and likely approach routes.

They’d try to surround this place.

Of course, they could opt for a long-range bombardment to soften us up before advancing, but their goal was to seize the mining site. Excessive shelling risked collapsing the underground facility, so that was unlikely.

Our best response? Whittle down their forces without direct combat.

In simple terms, inflict one-sided damage.

So, I’d laced the entire area with traps.

Soon, when they reached the choke points, a fireworks show would greet them.

“…*Sip.*”

I took a sip of black tea. The drones had drained quite a bit of mana, leaving me with a throbbing headache.

“You seem to like black tea.”

A refined voice came from behind.

It was Kate. Approaching with elegance, she glanced at the tea I was drinking.

“Would you like a cup?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Kate didn’t decline. I gladly brewed another cup.

She took the teacup and sipped. Even her simple movements were graceful.

That’s how nobles are. Even mundane actions shimmer with an air of refinement, like gold dust. Their upbringing, etiquette, and poise are worlds apart from an orphan like me.

Savoring the tea, Kate nodded.

“…The tea’s quite good.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Well-brewed. The temperature’s just right.”

Probably thanks to the leather gloves I’m wearing.

■ Mysterious Leather Gloves: Provides a subtle enhancement to hand-related actions.

*Hand-related actions* include the art of brewing tea.

“Never thought I’d be praised for tea by a Hailford.”

The Hailfords are an immigrant family from England, serious enough about tea to own their own plantations.

Kate raised an eyebrow, surprised.

“You know about the Hailfords, it seems.”

“Only a spy wouldn’t. A quick Wiki search pulls up dozens of pages.”

“…Those are just surface images.”

Kate took another sip. Her expression softened with each taste.

She must really love tea.

“To the public, the Hailfords are only shown in a flattering light. The reality isn’t so gentle.”

In conversations like this, you have to read between the lines. Kate isn’t one to badmouth her family with empty flattery. She’s subtly asserting her status.

In that case, I should also probe her a bit.

“Everyone’s got a public face and a private one.”

The Hailfords are on my radar. Opportunities for one-on-one talks like this don’t come often.

Kate’s lips twisted slightly.

“Some gaps between face and truth are… wider than others.”

I nodded.

“Yes. Especially with the Hailfords.”

“…….”

Caught off guard by my agreement, Kate fell silent for a moment. I looked at her.

“I worked with Colonel Percival.”

Kate’s expression stiffened.

Percival Alistair Hailford. I’d run several operations with him. He was once my superior, and he took a liking to me. Wanted me by his side.

Though the ending wasn’t great.

“The Colonel often talked about his niece. That must’ve been you, Ms. Kate.”

A quiet way of saying: *I know far more about the Hailfords than you think.*

“…I see.”

Kate replied nonchalantly, setting down her teacup. *Thud.* The sound was sharp. Her fingers trembled faintly.

“The enemy will be here soon.”

“Likely.”

*Tap tap.* Kate brushed dust off her pants and stood.

“Seol Ha-woon. You’re always just outside the heart of the battlefield.”

Her tone was laced with thorns.

I smiled. Was Percival a sore spot for her?

“I’ve been at the heart of too many battles. Time to retire.”

“…I hear their scouts have arrived nearby.”

“I know.”

I’d spotted their advance team last evening but left them alone. Didn’t trigger the mines, either.

Obviously, to lure in more of them.

“I’ll be watching.”

I replied calmly to Kate’s words.

“Watch closely.”

Kate descended the outcrop.

—

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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