Chapter 274: Labyrinth of Change: Labyrinthos (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 274: Labyrinth of Change: Labyrinthos (3)
While I was preparing for the dungeon, the obsession of my friends—whom I thought had given up after being turned down once—continued.
First, there were Lilac and Cheon Yu-hak.
“So-hyun, we’re practicing a new technique. Want to take a look?”
“Once you see this, you won’t be able to help but acknowledge us.”
They showed off a bizarre move called ‘Light-Dark Thunder Dragon Fang,’ claiming it was their new combined ultimate skill. They subtly flaunted their prowess, asking if this didn’t prove they had become strong enough.
In Ha-ni’s case, she went beyond just showing off her skills; she even mobilized Luna to tug at my conscience.
“Luna~ Daddy says he’s going to a dungeon next week. We’re worried, aren’t we~?”
“Daddy, are you going to a dungeon?”
“He says it’s too dangerous for us to go, but he won’t even explain how he’s supposed to go. It’s really too much, isn’t it?”
“Then… we can’t play together next week…?”
“Uh? Oh? No, Luna. Daddy will be back soon. He’s not leaving this very second. Shall we play with Mommy and wait for him until then?”
Of course, Ha-ni ended up failing because she got caught in her own trap.
Ga-eul came up with a truly extraordinary method.
Slowly kneeling before me, Ga-eul bowed her head and handed me an envelope filled with money.
“Could you please reconsider with this…? I’ve gotten pretty strong now that I’ve contracted with Bel…!”
“You’re hopeless. A hero cadet offering a bribe? Where did you even learn that?”
“But I couldn’t think of any other way!”
And when it came to Professor Cathy, it finally escalated to a show of force.
“Fine, if that is the cadet’s opinion, I understand. I shall accept it. However, if I cannot accompany you as an Academy professor, please understand my position as someone who must consider a cadet’s safety.”
“…And? Why are you taking a combat stance right now?”
“If you defeat me in a duel, I will let you go. Cadet Kang So-hyun! Come at me!”
Fortunately, the Chairperson stepped in to stop her, allowing me to move on safely, but it was a truly tumultuous preparation period.
“So-hyun, can I really not follow you…?”
Actually, the tumult was still ongoing in real-time.
Looking into Professor Cathy’s eyes, which were brimming with lingering regret, the words the Doctor had said during our previous consultation began to feel strangely real.
This is literally at the level of separation anxiety disorder.
It was true that my heart wavered for a moment, but seeing her like that actually made me steel my resolve further. I couldn’t have this happening every single time something like this came up in the future.
Watching my expression, the Little Witch professor let out a chuckle.
“Wipe that look off your face. Doesn’t it just mean everyone treasures Kang So-hyun that much?”
“I just didn’t expect it to be like this every single day.”
“Haha, honestly, when I first heard you were going to Labyrinthos, I wanted to stop you too. I thought both Leilan and you had gone mad.”
“You’re speaking as if you don’t think so anymore.”
“If Leilan gave her permission, she must have her reasons. And you’re not the type to just dive in without a chance of success. It’s not that I’m not worried, but what choice do I have but to trust you?”
“Professor…”
If only everyone else could be just like her, I’d have nothing left to wish for.
“Uh, wait. Cathy is right here, so could you please not look at me with such moist eyes? If you keep doing that, I won’t hold back, okay? Should I just go for it?”
…Actually, maybe not. If everyone were like this, my mental state wouldn’t be able to take it.
“…Unnie?”
“Now then, Cathy, let’s go. Stop bothering Kang So-hyun. You and I have some things to talk about today.”
“Things to talk about?”
The atmosphere, which had been playful just a moment ago, stiffened instantly.
Judging by the wink Professor Park A-ram sent me, it seemed she was putting in some effort to take Professor Cathy away quickly.
“Yes, things to talk about. Just the two of us, slowly and thoroughly.”
For some reason, I had a feeling that if I let those two go like this, the conversation wouldn’t exactly be positive for me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t seem to have the courage to step between the two of them as they stared at each other with bright smiles.
“So-hyun, I’ll see you tomorrow then. You know I’m not doing this because I don’t trust you, right?”
“Have a safe trip back, Cadet Kang So-hyun. Prepare well for the dungeon.”
After saying their goodbyes with beaming smiles, the two of them looked back at each other.
“Shall we go then?”
At Professor Park A-ram’s words, Professor Cathy nodded silently.
Regrettably, as I watched their retreating figures, the only thing I could do was pray that they wouldn’t actually get into a fight.
* * *
The Doctor was peacefully conducting research while sipping coffee.
Due to the series of incidents that had occurred recently, most of her ongoing projects had been suspended. Even when she finally managed to find some personal time, it was often consumed by giving relationship advice to Leilan and Cathy regarding their eventful love lives.
Occasionally, Luna would come over to play, but she had finally found a moment to proceed with her research in leisure for the first time in a long while. However, the Doctor calmly set down her coffee cup and decided to accept the future that was about to arrive.
Roughly five seconds from now?
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
“Doctor!”
“We need a mediator!”
…Precise.
Of course. There was no way these troublemakers would leave her in peace.
Even Leilan, who used to share the burden of suffering, had been a bit broken lately, making it feel like all the incidents were converging here.
“Sigh…”
Still, these were the problems of the few people she could call close friends. And considering the cause of the problem was likely her only remaining blood relative…
She couldn’t exactly turn them away at the door.
“Coffee or tea? Which one?”
“Ah, I’ll take coffee. Sweet, with milk and sugar, please.”
“Oh, then I’ll have tea.”
“…Fine. I’ll clear this up and listen to you, so wait a moment.”
The Doctor saved the file she was working on, titled ‘Observations and Research on the Creature Known as a Nephew,’ and closed her laptop.
With practiced efficiency, she prepared two cups of instant coffee and one cup of brewed green tea, bringing them to the table.
“So, what is it this time?”
“Doctor, I’ll be honest with you.”
“Hmm.”
As the Doctor nodded while sipping her coffee, Park A-ram spoke dynamically, claiming it was an act of God and acting as if she were truly wronged.
“Is it so wrong to like a friend’s boyfriend…?”
But the content was absolute nonsense.
“No, wait. You probably think I’m talking crazy, but just wait a second! I’m just anxious, so the words came out wrong! Hey! Don’t look at me like that!”
“…One stack. Keep going.”
“…How many stacks do we get, and what happens when they’re full?”
“Three. Once they’re full, I’ll decide your story isn’t worth my time and go back to my research.”
“R-right. I’ll continue then. If I had been acting out behind her back to steal him, or if I only liked him because he was a friend’s boyfriend, I’d admit I’m a crazy bitch.”
“But that’s not it?”
“Yes, of course!”
After explaining the background of how her feelings developed and the circumstances under which she clearly realized her affection, Park A-ram took a deep breath and made a bold declaration.
“It’s not that I like Kang So-hyun because he’s my friend’s boyfriend; it’s just that the person I happened to fall for turned out to be my friend’s boyfriend!”
“Two stacks. You’re trash, no doubt about it.”
“Okay, calm down. There’s still more. I know I’m a bad person for falling for a younger guy my friend is dating, but don’t I deserve some sympathy? If I had met him first, things might have gone differently…!”
“Three sta—”
“Ah, I’m not saying I’ll steal him! Let’s just share him nicely! What’s the harm in letting me join in a little! It’s already a harem anyway!”
“Hmm. That’s true.”
“Huh…? I just blurted out whatever came to mind, and that actually worked…? I’m not one to talk, but Doctor, are you sane?”
“At least more sane than you two. I was actually lacking samples for my current research, so this might work out.”
“Eh? Is the subject this time Kang So-hyun? He is a fascinating cadet, but Doctor, don’t you usually prefer observing monsters or peculiar creatures?”
Park A-ram tilted her head, unable to follow the sudden turn in the conversation. The Doctor then remembered she hadn’t specifically told them about her relationship with Kang So-hyun.
Cathy had seen her observing the boy, but she probably hadn’t explained the connection.
So, it was safe to assume that everyone except Leilan was in the dark.
“I was curious if someone like me, who has had almost no family since birth, could feel affection for a relative. So I meet him occasionally for experimental cooperation.”
“What? Family?”
“What are you talking about?”
“He’s my nephew. It seems Kang So-hyun is the son of the sister I was separated from when I was young.”
She spoke calmly while sipping her coffee, as it wasn’t something she needed to hide. For some reason, the two who had been bickering just moments ago were now frozen stiff.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um, Doctor… you said it was necessary for So-hyun’s health, so I think I submitted a very detailed report…?”
“Mhm. Both the first and second experiences were very helpful. Both for the experiment and for assessing his health status.”
“…S-so, until just now, I was basically talking nonsense in front of the kid’s aunt about ‘sharing him nicely’ or ‘feeling wronged even though he’s a friend’s boyfriend’?”
“I suppose? Well, even if I’m his aunt, I haven’t done anything for him until now, and there hasn’t been much progress in the experiment, so we’re practically strangers.”
The two of them began to look incredibly restless.
“…Why are you both acting like that?”
“No, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
“Honestly, liking a friend’s boyfriend is already a bit crazy, but liking a friend’s boyfriend who is also another friend’s nephew… that’s just overflowing with madness.”
“Uh, I suddenly became someone dating an older sister figure’s nephew…?”
“Mhm. And you also submitted a report on the sexual intercourse you had with that nephew to his aunt.”
They had seemed a bit annoying when they were interrupting her research with nonsense, but seeing the two of them with their faces flushed bright red was actually quite cute, and her heart softened.
“L-let’s just go, Cathy.”
“Ye-yes! Unnie. I think it would be best if we met and talked again next time.”
Hmm, but if I let them go like this, those two will just end up fighting again.
“There’s no need for that. As I said, we’re practically strangers. I’m not angry.”
In fact, thinking about it, she was short on samples, so there was no need to let go of prey that had walked in on its own.
Before the two of them could regain their composure, she felt there was something she could do for her nephew as an aunt.
“Why don’t you try it this way instead?”
Enjoying the way the two of them looked surprised yet intrigued by her half-joking suggestion, the Doctor decided to look forward to what kind of reaction her nephew would have when he returned from the dungeon.
“…By the way, the dungeon he’s going to this time won’t be easy.”
Well, he usually handles things well on his own, but as his only remaining family, she couldn’t help but be a little worried.
* * *
After long and arduous days of persuasion, the day to depart for the dungeon finally arrived.
The party members I chose after much deliberation were the Chairperson, Master, and Baek Seol, who joined at Master’s recommendation. And finally…
“Um, why was I suddenly dragged into this…? Honestly, I think there are others who want to go much more than I do…?”
It was Aisha Livias.
“In this dungeon, you’ll be better than Lilac in a certain sense.”
“Huh? Just what kind of dungeon is it?”
“It’s a dungeon that favors people who don’t trust others easily, are self-centered, and are as egoistic as possible.”
I had originally planned to take Woo Jae-hee, but since that guy had run away screaming ‘absolutely not’ only to be dragged off by Cheon Yu-hak, I had no choice but to pick Aisha.
“…I can be angry, right?”
“It was a compliment. A compliment. In this dungeon, you must never trust people easily. Never.”
“No, just what kind of image do you have of me, So-hyun?”
“I think the world has failed to recognize a talent born specifically for this dungeon until now.”
“Do you seriously have some kind of grudge against me…?”
Hmm, everyone seems to be in good spirits.
“Excuse me. Why are you ignoring me…?”
I had a feeling this was going to be a truly wonderful dungeon raid.