Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 73 (Part 2): Die With a Smile (3)

─ Jin Ho-seung: “Come in.”

Seol Ha-woon and Seo Ji-woo enter Jin Ho-seung’s shelter and meet Lee Jun-ho.

Lee Jun-ho’s eyes widen.

─ Lee Jun-ho: “Ji-woo, why are you here?”
─ Seo Ji-woo: “Why? Because someone’s seriously hurt.”
─ Lee Jun-ho: “…Yeah. Hurt. I accidentally cut him. At night. Thought he was an enemy.”

A flashback cuts in. Lee Jun-ho, blinded by a swirling blizzard, unwittingly slashes someone.

─ Seo Ji-woo: “What? Are you insane?”
─Lee Jun-ho: “Yeah, guess I lost it for a second.”

As they talk, the camera zooms in on Seol Ha-woon.

His eyes darken, brooding. The camera lingers meaningfully on his sharp gaze.

Jin Ho-seung’s party’s ‘left hands.’ Seol Ha-woon scans their left hands one by one, the camera following suit.

Eerie background music creeps in, thick and ominous.

– What’s this?
– Something’s off.
– Not just off, this guy acts like he knows everything. Always so smug.
– Why’s that guy so mad?
– Looks like Seol Ha-woon’s stealing their spotlight lol

Suddenly, Seol Ha-woon pulls a cigarette pack from his pocket.

─ Seol Ha-woon: “I’ll step out for a smoke.”
─ Lee Jun-ho: “Oh, you’re smoking? Can I bum one? Just one!”
─ Seol Ha-woon: “Follow me.”

Cigarette break. The two head outside, standing a good distance away.

Seol Ha-woon pretends to hand Lee Jun-ho a cigarette, then speaks.

─ Seol Ha-woon: “Listen carefully.”
─ Lee Jun-ho: “…why do you keep talking down to me? You think I’m using polite speech because I want to?”
─ Seol Ha-woon: (pulls the cigarette back) “Hm.”
─ Lee Jun-ho: “Maybe this is a chance to get closer. Not the worst idea.”

Lee Jun-ho caves for the cigarette, and Seol Ha-woon lays out his theory.

─ Seol Ha-woon: “About 85-90% of the world’s population is right-handed. Saying nine out of ten isn’t far off. But all four of them are left-handed. Sure, it’s possible for four people to all be right-handed, but all of them being left-handed? That’s too weird, don’t you think?”

The left-handed deduction. I narrow my eyes at the live chat. The reactions are heated, in more ways than one.

– Left-handed? So what?
– This guy’s always acting like he’s the smartest in the room.
– It’s not acting, he *knows* stuff lol. Still don’t trust Seol Ha-woon?
– Always right~ My word is absolute~
– Why’s he dissing left-handers? Suspecting them just for that?
– So many weirdos in here.
– Y’all can talk, but Seol Ha-woon’s debut team is confirmed~
┗ Yeah, right lol. Who’d vote for that limping jerk? Only idiots would.
┗ You’re the idiot lol. Seol Ha-woon’s at 20th in homepage votes. Shot up from 96th to 20th like it’s nothing.
– Why Seol Ha-woon’s catching heat lately: Started at 96th, climbed to the top ranks with pure votes and skill. They’re freaking out ‘cause he’s coming for their faves.
└ For real lol
└ Straight facts hahaha

“…Why are they fighting like this?”

The mockery and bickering feel alien.

Still, I check the rankings on my phone.

He’s really in the top 20. It’s just profile votes—ten per account, reversible anytime—but top 20 is top 20.

Feels good for no reason.

On a day like this, I hope people stop fighting…

– That limping bastard’s so annoying. Should’ve been shot dead.

“What’s this guy’s deal?”

One chat catches my eye. It’s quickly deleted for mass reports, but the raw malice feels… suspicious.

Could it be Kim Doo-gyeom?

─ Lee Jun-ho: “You’re saying it’s weird that all four were left-handed?”
─ Seol Ha-woon: “Yeah.”
─ Lee Jun-ho: “Could just be a coincidence. Ignoring coincidences gets you killed.”

The live broadcast continues.

Lee Jun-ho brushes off the all-left-handed party as a coincidence.

─ Seol Ha-woon: “That ‘patient’ you slashed? His heart was beating on the right side.”
─ Lee Jun-ho: “What the hell are you talking about? Just give me the damn cigarette.”
─ Seol Ha-woon: “The guy they laid down over there, calling him a patient. His heart beats on the right side.”
─ Lee Jun-ho: “…Huh? Hearts beat everywhere. Just louder on the left.”
─ Seol Ha-woon: “Then go check for yourself.”

Seol Ha-woon finally hands over the cigarette, and Lee Jun-ho snatches it eagerly.

*Scritch-scratch.* Lee Jun-ho rubs his blade against its sheath to spark a flame. Seol Ha-woon lights it with a lighter.

─ Lee Jun-ho: “So, what’s your point?”

*Huff…* Lee Jun-ho, freed from nicotine withdrawal, asks with newfound calm.

Right then.

─ Seol Ha-woon: “Those bastards. They’re labyrinth dwellers.”

All background music stops. The silence of the snowfield takes over, and the live chat becomes unreadable, text flooding like a pattern.

─ Lee Jun-ho: “…Labyrinth dwellers?”
─Seol Ha-woon: “Yeah. My guess? They’re mimicking eliminated contestants. Ever heard of the *Jangsanbeom*?” [T/N: Jangsanbeom: explained in Chapter 32 (Part 1)]

The conversation pauses. The camera pulls back slowly. Both of us and the labyrinth dwellers’ shelter fit into one cinematic long shot. The ethereal scenery calms the chat just enough to make it legible.

– Labyrinth dwellers or not, this view’s a painting…
– Look at that direction;;
– They’re going all out with this editing, damn lol
– Their proportions look great together hahaha
– How tall’s Seol Ha-woon? Why’s he look so big?
└ 188cm, I think, but they say he shrunk a bit after the accident.

And then.

– Holy shit, chills!!! Just watched Jin Ho-seung’s voting video. He’s totally right-handed;;
└ For real?
└ fr?
– No way, I checked too, it’s true lol Jin Ho-seung’s right-handed hahaha
– It’s legit;; Seol Ha-woon’s sharp as hell;; What’s this guy’s deal?

The live chat ignites again.

“…Is that right?”

Curious, I pull up the broadcast website.

I was about to check Jin Ho-seung’s voting video…

[ 502 BAD GATEWAY ]

No connection.

“Wow. It crashed.”

The entire broadcast site’s down from too much traffic.

I let out a dry laugh.

Almost at the same time, a pleasant notification pops up.

[ Recognition Level Up! ]
[ Recognition Rank: 12 ]
[ An additional 60 days have been granted for the trial period. ]
[ Karma: A rank-up gift has been granted! ]
[ Acquired Mana Stone. ]

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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