Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 68 (Part 2): Living Like That (2)

The writers and PDs bowed as he entered for a break and patrol.

“The whole world is NaN right now. Starting this week, just think of yourselves as the broadcasting station. Nothing and no one will interfere with you. I’ll make sure of it. Terrestrial, OTT, whatever—right now, we’re number one.”

Kim A-rang grinned. Yoon Sa-hyeok looked in high spirits too.

“So, after this wraps, we can each buy a house, right? Cash upfront.”

Yoon Sa-hyeok raised an eyebrow.

“Your dreams are too small.”

That one line lit up everyone’s faces.

“Now, everyone, back to your stations.”

“Yes, sir!!”

“Understood!”

All the writers and PDs returned to their posts, and Yoon Sa-hyeok took a seat next to Kim A-rang.

“PD Yoon, what you just said—that’s exactly what I wanted to say.”

Yoon Sa-hyeok gave a faint smile.

“PD Kim, looks like the picture’s coming together well?”

“Yeah. This was honestly unexpected, but I’m starting to think I need to revise my evaluation.”

“Evaluation?”

Kim A-rang nodded.

“Seol Ha-woon. He could become a true mage not just a spellcaster.”

“You really think so? He’s in his late twenties.”

Yoon Sa-hyeok fiddled with his paper cup, his low, cavernous voice tickling her ears.

“It’s not just a hunch. I’ve already gotten inquiries from several schools. They’re even saying he could make an appearance. Get this—Zephyrell.”

For a mage, a school was especially critical. It was the most decisive factor in shaping their future career.

“Seol Ha-woon won’t go, though. Or rather, he *shouldn’t*.”

Kim A-rang tilted her head at Yoon Sa-hyeok’s words.

“What do you mean by that?”

“He said Yu-yul is his mentor, didn’t he? I’m pretty sure he mentioned in an interview that he’d stay by Yu-yul’s side, even if other schools made offers.”

“Come on, that was probably just something he said. It’s *Zephyrell* we’re talking about.”

Zephyrell was a third-rank active mage, and his school was considered top-tier.

“Still, he shouldn’t say things he doesn’t mean. If he can’t keep his word, I’d be disappointed.”

Kim A-rang narrowed her eyes.

“You’re trying to keep him in check, aren’t you? Who’d trade a winning lottery ticket for scratch-offs?”

Yoon Sa-hyeok laughed.

“I like honest people. At the very least, I want them to *act* honest.”

His gaze shifted somewhere else.

“People who pretend to be loyal while harboring other intentions…”

Kim A-rang followed his gaze. Mentor Kim Yoon-jun was nearby.

“I really don’t like them.”

“I get it. I know your style, PD Yoon. We’ve worked together for years. But still—*Zephyrell*.”

“Does he come by often?”

Yoon Sa-hyeok suddenly gestured toward Kim Yoon-jun with his chin.

“Yeah, pretty often. He’s a kind guy, checks in on the kids he’s mentoring.”

“Yeah. A good person.”

Warrior Kim Yoon-jun. A faint glimmer passed through Yoon Sa-hyeok’s eyes as he looked at him.

“Just a good person, nothing more.”

Yoon Sa-hyeok crushed the paper cup and tossed it into the trash.

* * *

I’m a veteran of the Unconscious Labyrinth. So, I know how to wake people up.

The issue, in the end, is receptivity. Those with high receptivity are deeply ensnared by the labyrinth, requiring significant effort and plausibility to awaken them.

Lim Hae-jun’s receptivity was abysmal, so a single smack to the back of his head did the trick. But if I’d tried that with Ryu Yeon-hwa, either I would’ve broken or he would’ve.

Anyway.

I’ve awakened quite a few people. I haven’t kept exact count, but it’s well over twenty by now.

“…This bastard gets a pass.”

Then I reached Kim Doo-gyeom’s subconscious. Just looking at him made me sick, and I sincerely hoped he’d just drop dead. His dreams were utterly repulsive.

Just stay here and die quietly. Become a wreck, please. I’m begging you.

*Bang.*

I shut Kim Doo-gyeom’s door.

*Boom!*

An explosion sounded from somewhere. Startled, I turned toward it. A distortion was occurring at a specific door.

An anomaly.

I ran over and opened the door.

The interior was ordinary. A serene hotel room. But the person lying on the bed inside was anything but ordinary.

Her posture was so upright and rigid, she almost resembled a Dracula in a coffin.

Kate.

I approached her and checked the pulse at her wrist. Warmth and a steady beat confirmed it.

“…Her body.”

Like me, Kate’s physical body was here, dreaming within the labyrinth.

*Boom!*

Another distortion occurred, this time around her. It was a dark, smoky haze.

“Whoa!”

It pulled me in with tremendous force.

* * *

…*Zzt. Zzzt. Zzzt.*

I opened my eyes to the sensation of my neck burning.

“Ugh.”

The electrodes of my implant. I rubbed the back of my neck and looked ahead. A massive mansion loomed before me.

“This place…”

Since I was pulled in by Kate, this must be the Hailford mansion, I presumed.

But… it was obvious at a glance.

“Her receptivity is insane.”

It’s a dream, but it doesn’t feel like one at all. An unconscious world, yet it feels conscious. The vividness of the scenery, the way my senses registered everything—it was clear.

This was going to be a headache.

“You there!”

Someone suddenly called out to me. It was a mansion security guard.

“Who are you, loitering around like that?”

It was in English, by the way. Kate dreams in English.

“…Ah. Yes.”

Fortunately, I’m pretty fluent in English. Being multilingual was a requirement for the BLACK team.

Anyway.

“Speak.”

This is Kate’s unconscious, the dream she desires. But I’m free here. I’m the only conscious being aware that this is an unconscious world.

In other words—

“I’m here for the butler interview.”

“…Butler interview?”

“Yes.”

I rummaged through my pockets, ‘willing’ something to appear. There was nothing there, but a sheet of paper materialized.

“Here.”

The guard scratched the back of his neck as he took the paper.

“…Right. Today’s the butler interview.”

Dreams flow like dreams. No matter how strange or bizarre something is in a dream, it’s rarely questioned. I can manipulate the situation to an extent, as long as it doesn’t completely break plausibility.

“Wait a moment.”

He seemed to be communicating with someone inside the mansion.

It’d probably go smoothly. Dreams always just ‘go along’ with things.

“Confirmed. Go in.”

*Guuuung.* The Hailford mansion’s gate opened.

“Thank you.”

But before entering—

I swiped my hand across my face. I caught my reflection in the gate’s pillar.

It wasn’t Seol Ha-woon’s face. My hair wasn’t long—barely enough to grab, just a standard short cut. I looked like an ordinary soldier to anyone who saw me.

This kind of thing is possible in the unconscious.

My name here… maybe Seo Un-ha or something.

I stepped forward, crossing into Kate’s unconscious world.

Dangun

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