Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 86 (Part 1): An Ordinary Day (2)

“…What’s this bullshit about discussing his withdrawal?”

In the hallway of the editing room, Kim A-rang snapped at Lim Hyung-wook. Lim Hyung-wook scratched the back of his neck.

“No, look, the incident is what it is, you know? There’s the military violence thing, and the school bullying thing…”

“What’re you talking about? Did he, like, kill someone or something?”

“…Well, he probably *has* killed someone. He’s a former special forces soldier, isn’t he?”

“Are you playing word games right now?”

Lim Hyung-wook let out a hollow laugh.

‘Man, she’s sharp. The veins in her neck are practically bamboo stalks.*’

“…Alright, fine. At this rate, he’s probably going to drop out during the first tally anyway. Forcing him out now won’t even help with World Labyrinth immersion. Whether he crashes and burns or pulls through, it’s probably better to just keep him in for now.”

Kim A-rang bit her lip. Lim Hyung-wook clicked his tongue.

“But, let’s be real here, A-rang. Last season, you were the one who pushed for Lee Jin-woo to drop out over those bullying rumors, weren’t you?”

“…….”

‘What a messed-up situation.’

Yoon Sa-hyeok’s words started creeping back into her mind. Something about how it’d hurt a lot if the first picture you draw goes awry…

“I know. If it’s really that serious, we can make him drop out then. It won’t be too late.”

Kim A-rang brushed past Lim Hyung-wook.

“Hey, hey. Watch your blood pressure.”

“Ugh, shut up…”

‘Who’s he mocking?’ Kim A-rang chewed her lip as she rounded the corner of the hallway.

Right then, a woman was standing directly in front of her.

“Whoa, you startled me, Ji-woo?”

Seo Ji-woo. She nodded at Kim A-rang.

“They said I had a separate shooting schedule, so I came.”

“…Filming’s gonna be delayed for a bit.”

It was an all-stop. Seol Ha-woon was ranked between 10th and 20th, but the next labyrinth segment was going to be massive.

The next chapter was hovering around the top 10.

Seo Ji-woo asked, “Is that guy dropping out?”

“…Who, Seol Ha-woon?”

“Yeah.”

“The fact-checking hasn’t even been properly done yet. Even if we did all that…”

Even if, by some chance, Seol Ha-woon really was that kind of person, they needed to delay as much as possible. They couldn’t let it mess with Kang Hyun’s arc.

Throwing out the perfect scenario for the World Labyrinth without even writing it would be a loss not just for Labyrinth Exploration but for the entire nation.

“Ugh. Why am I even telling you this? Go rest.”

Kim A-rang massaged her temples and left the lobby. Seo Ji-woo watched her back, letting out a sigh.

“…Seol Ha-woon.”

Seo Ji-woo picked up her smartphone. She frowned at the flood of “Seol Ha-woon takedown” articles filling the portal sites.

‘Is he really that kind of person? Someone who hurts others without a second thought, a bad person like that?’

*”I’ll act like I’m a little interested in you. You just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s perfect as is. Let’s debut together, yeah?”*

The sight of Seol Ha-woon making that suggestion with a cowardly face was distasteful, but….

“Ugh. I don’t know.”

Seo Ji-woo started to send Seol Ha-woon a check-in text but stopped herself.

‘If you want to debut, figure out how to survive on your own~’

* * *

The next day, at the back hill at noon.

I’m meditating. Right now, mental management is critical. I need to stay as far away from electronics as possible—

“You okay?”

A voice came from somewhere. I knew who it was from the start.

Lee Jun-ho, perched lightly on a tree branch above.

I looked up at him, frowning. “You mocking me?”

“Nah, come on, mocking? Thanks to you, I survived too.”

“So you *do* know. Heard you got an A+.”

The performance evaluations posted in the Labyrinth Exploration gallery every week.

They’re not official, just user-generated, but Lee Jun-ho got an A+.

“You got an S, didn’t you?”

“…With a little (including the controversy) in parentheses.”

“Thanks to you, I didn’t get slapped with the ‘crazy guy’ label.”

In the mentor evaluations for the Situational Labyrinth, my comment about considering wiretapping saved Lee Jun-ho’s image. If anything, it made him look better.

“But. Is it true you beat up kids at school?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded honestly. Lee Jun-ho tilted his head.

“Why?”

“The bullies were f*cking annoying, so I bullied them back.”

I’ve always had a bit of a mean streak.

*If you don’t want to be hurt, don’t hurt others.*

“…Aha.”

Lee Jun-ho laughed as if he understood.

*Hoi-tcha!* With a weird shout, he jumped down from the tree and held something out. A cigarette.

“You smoke it.”

“…What, you’re not a smoker?”

“I quit.”

Lee Jun-ho stuck the cigarette in his mouth. *Tssst.* He lit it with the friction of his sword against its sheath and spoke.

“So, did Kim Doo-gyeom bully someone or what?”

“Pretty badly.”

No reason to hide Kim Doo-gyeom’s past. Whether he believes it or not is up to him.

“…Really? How’d you know?”

Lee Jun-ho exhaled a puff of smoke.

“By the way, did you see? You’re 40th right now. In the individual profile poll.”

“…I was at 20th?”

“No, 40th.”

“I’m saying I *was* at 20th.”

“No, I’m saying 40th.”

“I’m telling you, I was at *20th* originally.”

Lee Jun-ho blinked and nodded.

“Oh~ You were at 20th before? That’s a big drop. First tally only goes up to 50th, so you’re barely hanging on.”

“…This guy.”

Is it because he’s always at 1st or 2nd? He probably doesn’t even think about the lower ranks.

I’d probably be the same.

Lee Jun-ho twisted his lips.

“Honestly, I don’t like it. You have to stick around until I wipe the floor with you.”

Then he took a deep drag of his cigarette.

“Wipe what?”

What’s with the sudden middle-schooler vibe?

“Hmm…”

Lee Jun-ho seemed lost in thought for a moment, then smirked and nodded.

“Alright then. I’ll do some checking myself. Since you helped me out and all.”

“Checking?”

“Yeah. I’m off.”

Lee Jun-ho turned around. His loose dobok fluttered as he strode down the hill with wide steps.

“What’s with that guy?”

He’s pretty different compared to before my regression.

Did he actually take my half-baked “accept yourself” advice seriously?

…It was just something I threw out there.

* * *

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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