Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 75 (Part 2): Die With a Smile (5)

I climbed the back hill right after the broadcast ended. I needed to calm my mind.

“Ugh… PD Kim A-rang.”

A curse simmered in my gut, ready to burst.

I picked up my smartphone.

My usual post-broadcast routine was checking public sentiment.

│[Spoiler] Why He Shined in This Labyrinth│

[Photo]

– Always-Right passed the UDT 64th class training curriculum. Hell among hells.

Someone who went through that daily wouldn’t fail a Survival Labyrinth. –

This post was normal, listing UDT curricula and hyping me up.

│[Spoiler] Always-Right’s Highlights│

A post detailing all my feats in the Survival Labyrinth. Especially the shotgun moment, which got a lot of “dopamine rush” reactions.

But…

│[Spoiler] Seol Ha-woon & Seo Ji-woo Interview OMG│

│[Spoiler] Seo Ji-woo & Seol Ha-woon Daily Moments│

│[Spoiler] Seo Ji-woo & Seol Ha-woon High-Five│

“Nope.”

I’ll pass today. It’s an explorer competition show—focus on the competition and labyrinths. Why add this dopamine bait?

I ran a hand through my hair, gazing at the night sky under the breeze.

…Seo Ji-hyuk and Seo Ji-woo.

Blaming anyone feels ridiculous.

My guilt over Seo Ji-hyuk transferred to Seo Ji-woo, making me want to help her, even just a little… Or not.

It’s Kim A-rang’s fault for butchering the interview. Who else would I blame?

*Rustle.*

A sound. I lowered my gaze. Seo Ji-woo stood among the bushes.

“…What are you doing?”

Scratching here and there as if itchy, she greeted me.

“…What.”

I answered curtly, mentally preparing my words. The broadcast interview? Total trash edit.

“You didn’t reply. Got a 500-million offer for the Dragon Scale.”

“Sell it if you want. You a kid?”

“Hmm… Guess I won’t!”

Seo Ji-woo laughed, her face suggesting she already knew something.

“Oh, and Emer offered, but I’m not going.”

Emer. The school I trashed for their overly academic spellbooks.

“I dug deeper, and their rep’s really bad. Even the academic crowd says so.”

“…What do you want me to do about it?”

“Seo Ji-hyuk. You know him, right?”

Seo Ji-woo threw an uppercut. My heart twitched.

I studied her face. Not just probing—there was some certainty in her eyes.

“You know him. Same class, no way you don’t. 64th. Only 30 out of 400 handpicked passed that hell class.”

I expected this. Spending time in the same space, I couldn’t hide it forever.

Even pre-regression Seo Ji-woo found me eventually.

What matters is what comes next.

I said to her, “…I know him.”

“Right? You’re *that guy*, aren’t you?”

I knew what *that guy* meant.

Once again, that future was about to repeat itself.

The future Seo Ji-woo asked if I was *that guy*.

I said yes.

I shouldn’t have.

“In the letters I got, my brother said he had a friend.”

Seo Ji-woo pulled out a bundle of letters from her pocket.

Letters. Those damn letters were the problem.

When I received Seo Ji-hyuk’s letters from Seo Ji-woo, I uncharacteristically let my emotions slip and said things I shouldn’t have.

“‘A guy you can trust. Others think he’s a Doberman, but he’s really a retriever.’”

Hearing it again pissed me off. That dog of a guy calling me a dog.

“Right? Seo Ji-hyuk’s friend, Seol Ha-woon.”

I glared at her.

A guy who only spouts righteous nonsense.

But this way, the future just repeats.

I want to hide Seo Ji-hyuk’s death. His failure.

I want him to remain a proud brother, a dutiful soldier. Not a failure.

The years with Seo Ji-hyuk, the lives we saved for each other…

It’s my desperation.

“No.”

“…Huh?”

Half-convinced, Seo Ji-woo tilted her head, eyes wide.

“No. Just because we’re in the same class doesn’t mean we’re close. Factions often make us dislike each other more.”

I couldn’t let you find out how Seo Ji-hyuk died.

How he was *used*.

“Then… why?”

Seo Ji-woo asked. I pondered. Desperately.

The easiest way was right in front of me.

“Why? The show, obviously.”

“…What?”

I put on a mask.

Faking an expression is easy.

“Seen the internet? It’s all about us. Cameras will be on us soon.”

Seo Ji-hyuk’s end is mine alone to know.

“…You know why I saved you, right?”

If I keep my mouth shut.

If I push Seo Ji-woo away forever.

“Let’s keep this up a bit longer. It’s not bad for you either.”

In this life, I might keep my promise to protect your sister.

“I’ll act like I’m into you. You just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s perfect.”

“…….”

“Let’s debut together, yeah?”

Seo Ji-woo said nothing. Her wide eyes brimmed with disbelief.

“Wow…”

She ran a hand through her hair, sweat on her palm. She must be pissed.

“…Hah.”

A sneer curled on her lips. Biting them, she glared at me, then flipped me off.

“Fu*k you.”

She turned and stormed off, stomping through the grass with rough steps.

Why?

It felt like I just saw a mirror.

I think I understood what Seo Ji-hyuk meant when he said his sister was like me.

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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