Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 88 (Part 1): An Ordinary Day (4)

│Kim Doo-gyeom, School Violence Controversy?│
│From Seol Ha-woon to Kim Doo-gyeom… Explorers’ Past Controversies│
│Kim Doo-gyeom Reveals His Feelings Through SNS│

@kimdoogyeom
Hello, this is Kim Doo-gyeom.
I apologize for worrying so many of you with the recent stories and controversies surrounding me.
However, I have never bullied anyone during my school years. The allegations being made are not true, and I, too, find this situation deeply bewildering.
I do not know what misunderstanding or resentment the accuser holds, but I will try to have a conversation and set the facts straight. I am sincerely grateful to those who have believed in me.
I will continue to move forward in a mature manner. Thank you.

Kim Doo-gyeom posted the message on SNS. He had been thrown into brief panic, but quickly regained his composure and responded.

The exposé was the work of just one person. And he had a pretty good idea who that person was.

‘That damned piece of trash aside, the others took the money and kept their mouths shut, didn’t they?’

‘If I can just bury this bastard somehow, I win…’

With that thought, Kim Doo-gyeom lied. To his guild manager, to the CEO, to the production team of Labyrinth Exploration NaN, and to the one person he absolutely shouldn’t have lied to—

“So. Kim Doo-gyeom, you’ve never bullied this person?”

—to Yoon Sa-hyeok, the main PD.

“Y-yes…”
Kim Doo-gyeom nodded with a sorrowful face.

“There’s no one else accusing me except that guy. It’s probably because he was jealous of me… or something like that.”

Yoon Sa-hyeok looked at him steadily.
“I’ll ask you one more time.”

*Thud.* He set down a cup of instant mix coffee in front of Kim Doo-gyeom. The dark brown surface rippled.

“Kim Doo-gyeom.”

“…Yes.”

Kim Doo-gyeom met the man’s eyes. The pupils were unusually dark—so dark that the iris folds weren’t visible. A darkness so deep you wondered if human eyes could really look like that.

“You have never bullied this person?”

‘Goddamn it, why does he keep asking if I bullied him? I said I didn’t, so just believe me already.’

“Yes.”

At that, Yoon Sa-hyeok sighed. *Tok. Tok.* He tapped the table, then placed his smartphone on it.

“Sorry about this. Since this kind of leak is a production fault, you’re free to pursue legal action if you want.”

“…Huh?”
Kim Doo-gyeom blinked. The hell was he talking about?

Yoon Sa-hyeok sipped his coffee, then pressed something on his phone.

“──That son of a b***h!”

The sudden profanity made Kim Doo-gyeom’s shoulders flinch.

“—I’m gonna kill him, that f***ing piece of s***. That crippled bastard thinks he can mess with me? I’ll snap his neck…”

His eyes flew wide.

“──One-legged piece of sh*t, f***ing bastard!”

A voice all too familiar to Kim Doo-gyeom—his own.

“I–Is this some kind of voice synthesis? AI’s gotten pretty advanced, I hear…”

The corners of his mouth trembled as he forced the words out.

“It was when you went in as a Scout,” Yoon Sa-hyeok said calmly, “there were no cameras, but apparently the audio was recorded.”

“…What? No, no, this is—”

Kim Doo-gyeom hurriedly looked at the phone screen.

│Kim Doo-gyeom Scout Profanity Leaked│

It wasn’t just an audio file—it was already uploaded on YouTube. The view count was climbing in real time, with a flood of comments below.

“No, wait. This, uh—what?!”

“It’s our fault. No one outside the crew could have gotten that recording, so it had to be leaked by someone on the production team.”

Yoon Sa-hyeok’s gaze drilled into him.

“I suppose one of the staff members was disappointed—seeing you lie like that.”

“No, no! You can’t… you can’t let this happen!”

He shouted like a man having a seizure, jostling the table and spilling the coffee.

“And why *can’t* this happen?” Yoon Sa-hyeok asked quietly.

“You have to protect your contestants! That’s the production team’s duty! Even if there weren’t cameras, a leak—please, just say this is AI manipulation—”

“The production team’s> duty is to deliver explorers chosen by the people,” Yoon Sa-hyeok said, gripping the paper cup.

“Sorry, but there’s no clause that says we have to protect contestants.”

‘—F***ing hell, why are there so many people here?’

The leaked recording was still playing. Kim Doo-gyeom just stared down blankly.

“You decide what you want to do,” Yoon Sa-hyeok said, standing up.

“If you want to hold out until the first tally, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”

It almost sounded respectful—but it was really a declaration that whatever he did, it was over. His eyes were dry, barren.

Leaving Kim Doo-gyeom alone, Yoon Sa-hyeok stepped out into the hallway. Kim A-rang and four or five writers were waiting there. She was the first to approach.

“…I didn’t think Doo-gyeom was that kind of guy. But… wow, YouTube views are already at 330,000. It’s only been ten minutes since it went up.”

“Looks like ratings will be even higher next week.”

“…Uh, shouldn’t we be finding out who leaked it?”

“Leave it.”

A roar like a wild beast came from inside—Kim Doo-gyeom screaming. Kim A-rang scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.

“Well… tsk. PD Yoon.”

“What.”

“What would have been the best outcome? For us, and for Kim Doo-gyeom.”

“The best outcome is not leaving a past like that behind in the first place,” he replied tersely, making another coffee.

“I don’t understand people who waste their past. It’s the one thing in this world that can’t be changed.”

He nodded toward the room.

“Well then, take care of it.”

“…Yes.”

Just as Yoon Sa-hyeok was about to leave, Lim Hyung-wook appeared around the corner and bowed.
“Good work, sir!”

“Get to work.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Yoon left, Lim approached.
“…So Kim PD and everyone’s here, huh? I still don’t know exactly what’s going on. Ha… damn.”

He chuckled incredulously.
“But listen, this guy *has* to be dropped. That exposé is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve been contacted by victims number two and three already.”

Lim’s network was annoyingly wide. Most exploration-world info passed through him before it hit the news.

“The sexual assault’s real too. This isn’t his first time. He’s been paying people off to keep quiet—”

“Shh.”

Kim A-rang pressed a finger to her lips.

“He’s still inside.”

“…Oh, really?”

*Tok—*

The sound of something tapping the floor. Lim turned toward it, and his breath caught. He instinctively stepped back, guilty as a thief.

It was Seol Ha-woon.

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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