Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 8 (Part 2): I Hate Pain (3)

“…….”

Seol Ha-woon opened his eyes in silence. For a moment, it felt as if the scene had shifted. The track’s surface blackened, and the stench of blood, gunpowder, and mana filled the air.

A desolate black desert.

A single target far in the distance.

He extended his hand forward.

Folding his middle, ring, and pinky fingers.

Aiming with his index, thumb cocked upward.

Then, like pulling a trigger, he pulled his thumb back.

*Click.*

The sound of actual mana forming in his grip.

“…Aim.”

It sounded like an incantation.

“Fire.”

In an instant, his spell took shape at the tip of his index finger.

*BANG──!*

A bullet-shaped burst of mana surged forth. Scattering blue fragments, it streaked upward and struck the target at the far end—1 kilometer away.

A perfect bullseye.

“Hm?”

Ryu Yeon-hwa’s eyes widened slightly.

Seo Ji-woo stared blankly before letting out a hollow laugh.

“…Ha. A handgun, huh? Guess he really was a soldier.”

“A soldier? There’s a soldier here?”

Ryu Yeon-hwa seemed genuinely clueless, but Seo Ji-woo had done her homework on the contestants.

That’s why she’d zeroed in on Seol Ha-woon from the start. His military background alone had piqued her curiosity.

“Nice. Next.”

Kim A-rang gave Seol Ha-woon a faint, intrigued smile. Seo Ji-woo’s eyes followed him as he limped away.

“If 24 people make it from here… he’s probably in.”

In *Labyrinth Exploration NaN*, exactly 24 contestants advance per class.

That’s why clueless warriors and archers whine that mages have an advantage, but if they’re so jealous, they should just become mages.

“Does it bother you?”

Ryu Yeon-hwa asked.

“A little. Not as much as you bother me, though.”

“…You’re really delusional. I’m not bothering you—”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Just shut up, please.”

“…….”

“Alright, folks. If you’re done, you’re free to leave. The in-depth interviews are tomorrow.”

Kim A-rang glanced at the two of them. Probably telling them to quit bickering.

“Whatev~”

Seol Ha-woon had already vanished, and the remaining mages were honestly nobodies worth watching.

“I’m out.”

Seo Ji-woo spun on her heel and left the set.

“Suit yourself.”

Ryu Yeon-hwa, on the other hand, stayed until every mage had finished—thanks to Seo Ji-woo’s offhand advice to “analyze the competition.”

—

* * *

The next day’s in-depth interview was straightforward.

A lie detector.

“Please step inside here.”

A doctor in a white coat pointed to a capsule.

“Yes.”

I sat down inside. Octopus-sucker-like pads latched onto my head, arteries, and heart.

“It’s simple. I’ll ask a few questions. Just answer honestly.”

The doctor explained. Beyond the glass window behind him, PD Kim A-rang and a writer were seated.

“Is your name Seol Ha-woon?”

“Yes.”

“Are you 27 years old?”

“Yes.”

The basic questions went on like that, until—

“Have you ever hit someone in the past?”

“Yes.”

“…Yes?”

The doctor blinked, caught off guard. I quickly clarified.

“I was a soldier.”

“Oh.”

He glanced back at PD Kim A-rang for guidance. She waved him on.

“…Have you ever intentionally caused harm to someone in the past?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

He paused, checking the lie detector. Probably all true so far.

Tilting his head, the doctor continued.

“Uh, well then—have you ever caused serious property damage or physical harm to someone in the past?”

“Yes.”

“…Hey, uh, over here? We might need to tweak the questions for this guy—”

—

* * *

“Have you ever bullied or ostracized anyone during your school years, including elementary, middle, or high school?”

“No.”

The questions got way more specific.

“Have you ever committed an illegal crime that violated your duties as a soldier?”

“No.”

A lie detector to avoid potential scandals.

Thing is, this lie detector’s kind of a joke.

“Did you fulfill the responsibilities of your duty and calling?”

“Yes.”

For real villains—like psychopaths with muted emotions—it barely works. And there’s probably at least one piece of trash like that among this season’s contestants.

“Alright. We’re done.”

“Okay.”

I peeled the octopus pads off my body.

PD Kim A-rang, who’d been watching the whole time, spoke up.

“Mr. Seol Ha-woon. Good work. The third-round prelim results will be announced later.”

“…Yes. Understood.”

And with that, the third preliminary round came to an end.

—

* * *

I didn’t head home—I went straight to the Magic Bookstore.

I think I did well in the prelims, but the only person I could brag to about it was the old man at the shop.

“So, you’re basically in?”

David Han, the owner, asked.

“Probably.”

“Oho~”

His big lips and muscles twitched with a grin.

“You sure?”

“Not entirely, but—”

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The system popped up just then. A notification confirming my confidence.

I smiled.

“…Yeah, I’m sure. I made it.”

“What? Look at this kid! So, what got you through?”

“A handgun spell.”

It was a spur-of-the-moment thing—old movies, comics, and mostly my military days flashing through my mind.

Turned out way better than I expected.

“A handgun spell?”

“Yeah. I hit a target 1 kilometer away.”

“Really? Then show me.”

David grinned wide. I blinked.

“Show you? Here?”

“Yeah.”

“There’s no target.”

“Shoot me.”

“…What?”

It was a pretty shocking suggestion.

“Are you nuts?”

“Hah, look at this kid. You think a rookie like you could scratch me with your little magic?”

“Well, I mean… I could try.”

My handgun spell could probably knock out an ordinary person. If I hit a vital spot, it might even kill.

“Then go ahead, punk. Right here.”

David pointed at his stomach. It looked like a steel plate.

“…You sure?”

“Yeah. Bring it on.”

I raised my handgun and fired.

*BANG──!*

The mana hit his gut square on. But it fizzled out instantly, and the old man didn’t even flinch.

“What the—”

“Hmm. Not bad.”

David mumbled, rubbing his belly.

“You’re a self-enhancement type, boss?”

“Yup.”

Self-enhancement types—put simply, people who’ve done “mana training.”

Instead of channeling mana into visions or complex magic, they take it raw and use it to boost their physical body and athletic ability.

While mages go mana → vision → spell, these guys go mana → physical embodiment.

Usually Warriors and Martial Artists fall into this category.

“Right. But that’s pretty damn good. How many shots can you fire?”

“Dunno. Maybe seven?”

“Hm. Too few rounds. And it’s loud as hell. Work on quieting it down first.”

“Yeah. I should.”

“Good. Now get lost.”

“…Huh? Wait—”

David grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dumped me out the bookstore’s back door.

“It was too loud, idiot. Sounded just like a real gunshot. I think someone called the cops.”

*Wee-oo wee-oo—*

The faint wail of sirens drifted in.

“Ah. Okay. I’ll go then. See you later.”

“Yeah. Take care.”

I slipped out the back door.

Dangun

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