Labyrinth Trials and a Thousand-Point Bargain
The turtle cautiously extended a foot. Nothing seemed amiss. I let out a sigh of relief—right then.
Suddenly, the walls on either side split open in an instant, and massive jaws lunged out. Lined with serrated teeth, they clamped straight onto the turtle. The sheer pressure cracked its shell in that split second. A chill ran down my spine. If I'd been up top, I'd have been sliced in half just like that.
I poured mana into the turtle and commanded it to charge forward. Ignoring the crushing bite of those enormous jaws, it bolted ahead. The teeth dug into its shell like awls, but they couldn't overcome the turtle's immense mass and finally let go. The turtle ran for a good while before escaping that section.
A crossroads appeared where paths converged, and only then could the turtle finally stop. What the hell was that just now? Hiding in the walls and ambushing us—who'd expect that? No mana fluctuations at all until it bit. I hadn't sensed a single trap there.
Luckily, the thing lacked mobility and didn't pursue. I scanned the surroundings briefly. Couldn't afford another lapse like that. But even after staying vigilant for a while, nothing happened. This spot seemed safe enough.
I slipped out from inside the turtle to check the damage from the beast. The shell was split along the tooth marks. And it wasn't just that—scratches from breaking through all the previous traps covered it. A bitter smile crossed my lips. That monster was one of the easier ones, at least. The turtle had escaped on its own.
The last trap came to mind. Pillars of flame had erupted from all sides, swallowing the turtle whole. The blaze was hot enough to melt its legs in seconds. We'd barely rolled the shell to escape, or the two of us would've been roasted alive inside.
If only the turtle's legs had been intact, we could've dodged that bite easily. That was the real regret. I'd dumped materials into regenerating them, but they weren't fully stabilized yet—nowhere near as responsive as before.
All the traps we'd passed were brimming with malicious intent to kill. Yet they were just barely survivable if I threw everything I had at them. I could picture the professor cackling with laughter. She'd set them up like this on purpose, no doubt—to watch me suffer.
Other people's traps were probably even more vicious. But now the turtle was at its limit. One or two more, and it'd be done for.
I proceeded cautiously along the path. Luckily, that seemed to be the last one. Up ahead, an open clearing came into view—several times larger than the previous ones. Paths converged here, forming a wide area where a bunch of people had already gathered to rest. Looked like about half the remaining participants.
As I arrived, they glanced my way. Seeing the turtle's pitiful state, they turned back to tending their own wounds. Even with the labyrinth shifting like this, dropouts were minimal. Everyone looked plenty composed. The weaklings had been weeded out; only the real talents remained.
I maneuvered the turtle to the edge of the clearing and laid it down. It flopped like a corpse. I got straight to repairs, of course—not forgetting to pitch a tent in front. Business never stops, even here.
The labyrinth had changed, traps grown deadlier. Many of my dolls had been lost in the chaos. They couldn't move a single step now. No, they wouldn't even try. Outside the clearing was suicide.
As I worked on the turtle, a signal pinged. One of the coffin dolls had picked up a person. I sent the remaining dolls to retrieve it. The survivor, who'd endured the mayhem somehow, crawled into the tent and spat out its passenger.
I jolted at the face. It was Jun. No idea he'd lasted this long. He'd been half-dead when we parted—yet here he was.
He had some trick up his sleeve, clearly. Once again, he hung artificial organs all over himself, restoring his mana flow. He'd wake up on his own once recovered. No time to wait; the turtle was still in bad shape.
I stepped out and tinkered with the turtle some more. A sigh escaped at its wretched state. Then I felt eyes on me from the clearing. Following their gaze, I spotted people I hadn't crossed paths with since entering: Hongryeong and his group.
One approached—a young man with that signature smile always plastered on his face. Hongryeong.
“That looks like a fun doll. Mind giving me one?”
Hongryeong extended his hand. Probably the coffin doll. I handed it over quick.
I glanced toward where he'd come from. His entourage—looking every bit the great family retainers—chatted without a hint of fatigue.
Hongryeong inspected the coffin doll, then held out his ring. I carefully touched mine to it. Two points transferred.
“Others said two points is fair. Same material as that turtle I saw before. Very useful. I'll put it to good use and return it.”
“Grateful for the kind words. But why's everyone gathered here?”
Hongryeong's smile turned a touch wry. He shook his head and raised his hand. A faint wound marred his palm, thick curse clinging inside, trying to pry it open. His mana burned at it, but the curse clung stubbornly.
“The traps ramped up too much. Can't push on like before. Haven't even spotted any treasure.”
“Makes sense. Explains the crowd.”
Conversation wrapped there. I turned back to the turtle, but Hongryeong lingered, no sign of leaving. I eyed him cautiously. He just stared, like he had more to say.
I scanned around. Others were watching. Needed a private spot? Tents were open-air; only one truly secluded place for me.
I carved a path into the turtle's side—leading to the makeshift workshop Hongryeong had visited before. I led him there, set out a table and chairs, poured tea.
Hongryeong sipped, savoring the aroma.
“Mm, been a while. Tastes even cleaner now.”
“Sorry there's nothing better to offer. So, what brings this?”
Hongryeong narrowed his eyes at me. After a pause, he spoke lightly.
“Where do you think the professor hid the treasure?”
Unexpected. I gave an awkward laugh, shook my head: no idea.
Hongryeong pressed on, ignoring it.
“We know nothing about the professor—no face, nothing. Truth is, you led us this far. Makes me wonder if you know the treasure's spot.”
His smile deepened. Fair suspicion. I'd think the same. Denying it wouldn't convince him.
Awkward smile on, I showed him my left hand. Circulating mana made the contract seal on my wrist glow clear.
Hongryeong's eyes widened slightly.
“I really don't know. Just a servant tossed around by the professor. Came in because she said to follow. No such usefulness as you imagine. That's why I'm selling dolls for points.”
I vented my innocence. He didn't buy it, naturally—the seal didn't prove anything. Just showing my situation. Our relationship.
He got it, chuckling lightly.
“Hmm, is that so?”
Hongryeong sipped leisurely. I matched him across the table, but cold sweat dripped down my back. What next?
But he said nothing more, just extended a hand—with a ring.
“Kept a busy man for tea; time to pay up. Some points for you.”
Firm, no refusals. I touched my ring. Points flowed in. Glanced: way beyond expectation.
A thousand. Double-checked. Still a thousand.
Stunned, I stared. He just smiled.
I swallowed dryly. Too much for tea. This meant spill something.
I sorted my thoughts slowly. Return it? Too wasteful. Coughing lightly, I leaned in. Professor was watching every word. Couldn't be direct.
“Come to think, something odd.”
Hongryeong's eyes gleamed.
“This space keeps shifting—how? No mana flows visible. Month ago, when I came up, it was ordinary. Professor turned it into this labyrinth.”
I stopped there. I'd roughly guessed the treasure spot from lecture prep, overhearing her. But saying it outright? Too risky. Even this hint was dicey.
Hongryeong pondered, drained his tea.
“Mm, didn't disappoint. Delicious.”
He rose. I opened the path out. Saw him off, collapsed back into my seat.
A thousand points. Big spender.
Treasure value-wise, maybe peanuts. But I wasn't claiming it anyway—what use? Info worthless post-lecture. Selling early wasn't bad.
Problem: the professor. Dread at how she'd torment me. That hint sealed my fate—agonizing suffering here, near-death or worse. Then dragged before her for more.
Knew it, hesitated, but thousand points broke me. Mouth opened before I knew.
Back to fixing the turtle. Stumbled up. Punishment could hit anytime. Intact turtle might let me endure a bit.
Musing on Hongryeong. Tossed a thousand casually—more than I'd scraped forever. How many did he have? Points probably meaningless to great families.
Anyway, earning like this was golden for me.
Twenty hours in the labyrinth. Four left. Satisfied with the thousand, I roamed again.
Damn. Many dropped out since. Students down to less than half.
I kept at it: renting dolls, picking up riders, sending dolls along paths for half-corpses, recovering lost coffin dolls, getting evicted from clearings.
Six evictions so far. Info sale irked her? Any hint of lingering, she'd spawn traps to boot me.
Only option: tail others cautiously, dodging traps.
Ahead, a wrecked magic circle. Swordmaster passed—torn to shreds.
I slipped from the turtle, inspected the half-destroyed array. Complex circuits beyond me, save lightning, soul extraction, slashing—ones I'd suffered from her before. Body etched with lessons.
One alone agony; combined here. Just a fragment.
How do others smash these? Tough one—blood splattered everywhere.
Followed the blood trail. End: a coffin doll, legs gone, crawling toward me. Pioneer’s doll, surely.
Opened it fast. Empty—time expired, magic failed, dropout.
Path unsafe now. Backtrack.
Bitter smile, turned around. At least no instant traps like in clearings.
Small mercy. Professor's consideration? Who knows.