Black, Part 3

The entire world, in more ways than one, was consumed by Labyrinth Exploration NaN. Ironically, Kim Yoon-jun's death had only fueled the show's notoriety.

"I don't even know what to say to you all..."

PD Kim A-rang looked around the room. Fifty explorers had gathered in a single space for a group counseling session.

I didn't really need it, but Kim Yoon-jun had deep ties with many of the explorers. The warriors, in particular, seemed heavily shaken.

"We were supposed to have the Mentor Class two days ago," Kim A-rang sighed. Filming had ground to a complete halt following Kim Yoon-jun's death.

"We're going ahead with the broadcast of Episode ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠10 and the theatrical release as planned, but the Mentor Class has been postponed indefinitely. We'll rest for the remainder of today and enter the labyrinth first thing tomorrow."

The break had ended up longer than expected.

But regardless of the contestants' mental states, the production crew had to keep filming. The word "canceled" wasn't even in their vocabulary. To an explorer, the death of a comrade was a daily occurrence anyway.

The train was moving far too fast to stop for a single casualty.

"Today, we'll be conducting psychological counseling. Please use this time to speak with the remaining mentors and find some peace of mind..."

Several warriors, including Lee Jong-su and Jin Ho-jong, fell into a quiet, somber silence. Lee Jun-ho, on the other hand, looked like he had chewed on glass. Seo Ji-woo let out a heavy sigh, while Kate remained entirely expressionless.

Kang Hyun kept his head bowed.

You're the only one who won't look me in the eye.

"Also... as for the warrior mentor position, several of Mentor Kim Yoon-jun's acquaintances have agreed to take turns filling in. Now, we'll begin the psy-cholo... psy-cho... Ah, sorry."

Kim A-rang's tongue tripped over the words, and she lightly tapped her own lips in frustration.

"Psychological counseling. Gosh. Psy-cho-lo-gi-cal counseling. We'll start with that."

Only then did the explorers let out small, tentative chuckles. Kim A-rang offered a faint smile.

"Let's begin. Please come in one by one."

Psychological counseling. It sounded nice, but in the end, this too was just footage for the cameras. They were planning to carve an entire segment out of Kim Yoon-jun's death.

Broadcast people really are ruthless.

"First up, Spellcaster Seol Ha-woon..."

I sat facing Yu Yul.

"..."

The moment I saw her sullen face in the counseling room, a single thought crossed my mind.

No matter how you look at it, this woman is the least qualified person to give psychological counseling.

"I am supposed to ask if you are alright," Yu Yul said. Her tone was stiff and unnatural. She was likely receiving directions from the production team; an earpiece was tucked snugly into her ear.

"Yes. I'm fine."

"What did you think of Mentor Kim Yoon-jun?"

"...I thought he was a good man."

Kim Yoon-jun was famous for his virtue. While charity wasn't the sole measure of a person, he had donated astronomical sums back to society and had always been generous with his time and talent.

"Indeed. Kim Yoon-jun was a man of many worries," Yu Yul said. "He wanted to protect young, promising children like you."

Was she grieving, or was she mocking him? I couldn't tell. Her face was an unreadable mask.

"We are technically ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all adults."

"They say that is the most dangerous age. The period when you foolishly believe you are fully grown. Though I suppose that doesn't apply to you, old-timer."

"Old-timer is a bit outdated itself. These days, kids use a harsher term. They'd call me a geezer."

It was one of my many nicknames. I didn't think of myself as old at all, but surrounded by these teenagers and twenty-somethings, I practically was.

I tossed a light joke back at her. "You're not exactly young yourself, Mentor Yu Yul."

A faint, statue-like smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. Leaning back into a more comfortable posture, she asked, "What did you really feel when you heard about Kim Yoon-jun's death?"

I glanced at the camera positioned behind her.

"It was sudden."

"And now?"

"...I've come to terms with it. But his death is a massive loss. Not just for us, but for the entire country."

Since the cameras were rolling, I had to say something appropriate.

"So, whoever did this must be brought to justice."

Yu Yul stared at me intently. "Do you want to find them?"

This time, the question didn't come from her earpiece or a script. It was born of her own pure curiosity.

"No."

I wiped away all the theories I had drawn up in my head, returning the canvas to a blank slate.

Certainty only obscures the truth.

For now, Kang Hyun was merely a suspect.

"Of course I want the truth to be revealed, but that isn't my job."

The world was vast, and it was full of hidden masters. There was no way I was the only one harboring these suspicions. Someone else would surely come looking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for us with the same doubts—but with far more conviction.

"...I see. Seol Ha-woon, it seems you have absolutely no need for counseling." Yu Yul checked a box on her clipboard with a soft chuckle.

Later that evening, after the counseling sessions had wrapped up, I sat on a bench along the walking path. I was yawning widely, fighting off sleep, when someone approached.

"Are you... okay?"

It was Seo Ji-woo, who had just finished her own session.

I answered nonchalantly. "No reason not to be."

"Cold as always. I heard he was a member of the Snow Removal Crew. Apparently, you were his top pick~"

I let out a dry laugh.

No matter how many times I heard it, "Snow Removal Crew" sounded like a group dedicated to getting rid of Seol Ha-woon. Why couldn't they have chosen something normal, like "Midwinter"?

"Hey."

Suddenly, Seo Ji-woo looked up at the night sky and let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Why do people die?"

She murmured the question as if she were genuinely puzzled by the most natural law of the universe.

"And why do they kill?"

Seo Ji-woo was at an age where such fundamental questions still kept her awake at night.

I gave a brief reply. "It's easiest if you don't think about those things."

She turned to look at me.

Over my years of wandering through oversaturated battlefields, I had learned one absolute truth.

There was no grave without a story, and every death had its reasons. But if you tried to weigh and understand every single one of them, you would either lose your mind or end up dead because you hesitated to pull the trigger.

"Force yourself to keep your distance. In our line of work, it's best to apply empathy selectively."

"...Did my brother do that too?"

She threw a sudden, straight jab. It stung, as if I had actually been punched in the nose.

I looked down at her hands. Her small fists were clenched tight, trembling slightly.

She was in worse shape than I thought. The trauma and weariness of losing those close to her still ran incredibly deep.

"...He did his best in everything. That's why he received the Order of Military Merit. The Taegeuk Cordon, no less."

The Taegeuk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit was the highest honor a South Korean soldier could receive. Seo Ji-hyuk had truly worked himself to death. He had staked his very life.

"I wish he hadn't done his best," she muttered, sounding like a pouting child. "It hurts. I can never see him again."

She slumped back against the bench, tilting her head back to stare up at the sky.

"...Just think of it as bad timing."

It was just an eternal mismatch of schedules. The chance to get closer to Kim Yoon-jun, the chance to share a meal at the wrap party after the show—all of it was simply gone because the timing hadn't worked out.

"Pfft. What kind of logic is that?"

"...Are you speaking casually to me again?"

I furrowed my brows. She shot back with a pout.

"I'm helping you with your strategy. I deserve at least this much."

"You might actually be the one benefiting from this partnership now."

"Wow~ look at the celebrity ego on this guy. So arrogant."

"Or we could both end up losing."

Seo Ji-woo giggled, scratching her eyebrow. I quietly watched her profile.

One day, I will have to tell you the truth.

But not today. Not until she grew stronger, sturdier, and capable of bearing the weight of his death.

But what if...

What if she could never bear it? What should I do then?

Seo Ji-woo wrinkled her nose. "What are you glaring at? Want me to poke your eyes out?"

I laughed, utterly dumbfounded. Was she suffering from some disease where she'd die if she didn't pick a fight?

"I'm just amused."

"...By what?"

"Your face is funny."

"What? Excuse me? Are you blind? Have you not seen the posts online praising my visuals?"

"I don't look at those..."

Suddenly, various forum posts and feeds flashed through my mind. The ones praising my flawless skin, calling me the man who suited long hair best, describing my low voice as pure cinema...

"...I'm leaving."

I stood up from the bench.

Lee Jun-ho was hiding behind a tree. Erasing his presence had become second nature to him. All he had to do was hold his breath, close his eyes, and open his ears wide.

Listening to Seol Ha-woon and Seo Ji-woo's conversation, a sudden bitterness coated his tongue.

Do I... like Seo Ji-woo?

No, that was impossible. The long years he had spent by her side proved it.

"What are you doing?"

"!"

Lee Jun-ho leaped backward, landing in a tense, defensive stance.

"Are you a cat?"

It was Seol Ha-woon.

"W-When did you...?"

"What do you mean, when?"

Lee Jun-ho cleared his throat awkwardly.

"...I meant, when... are you going back inside? That's what I was asking."

"I'm heading back now. Are you okay?"

"I mean... yeah, I'm fine."

"I suppose so. You liked DK more anyway, didn't you? Or rather, loved him?"

"What are you talking about? It's not like that. We just share a similar vibe."

Seol Ha-woon stared at him. His eyes were always difficult to meet. They felt like they could pierce straight through your heart and soul.

It was bizarre. If any other bastard stared at him like this, Jun-ho would have wanted to smash their face in—and he actually would have done it. But this man...

Yes, he was difficult.

That was the perfect word for him.

A difficult person to deal with.

Suddenly, Seol Ha-woon asked, "Did you kill him?"

What kind of joke is this? Lee Jun-ho blinked in confusion.

Seol Ha-woon let out a soft chuckle. "Never mind. Forget it. I guess you don't have many worries."

"...Why would I? I just realized how vast the world is. I haven't even made it to the Murim yet, but someone managed to murder a guy who did, right in the middle of the city."

Lee Jun-ho ran a hand through his hair.

"It makes me feel a bit left behind. But it also makes me want to climb up faster."

"No need to rush."

Pat. Seol Ha-woon suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Because you'll be up there soon enough."

"...Huh?"

It was an uncharacteristic word of encouragement.

While Lee Jun-ho stood there dazed, Seol Ha-woon turned and walked away, his cane tapping rhythmically against the ground. Tap, tap, tap.

"What was that about?"

Did the man eat something bad?

The next day.

Just as PD Kim A-rang had said, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠filming resumed. We arrived at the set. The concept appeared to be a space station.

"Whoa. They really outdid themselves with this set."

The explorers looked around in awe.

It looked exactly like something out of a sci-fi movie. But why the sudden shift to space?

Psssssh.

A corridor at the far end of the set hissed open. The main MC, Yu Ji-in, emerged wearing a spacesuit.

Meeting us again after quite some time, she looked around at the contestants with a sorrowful smile.

"...Everyone. You've been through so much."

Her makeup was light, applied with subtle touches to make it look as though she had been crying.

It was all for show.

I could guarantee that behind the scenes, Yu Ji-in had thrown a massive fit, complaining about how someone dying had disrupted her shooting schedule.

"So much has happened. Losing a colleague is always a tragic thing..."

As Yu Ji-in continued her somber speech, Im Hae-jun slipped beside me. Kang Hyun did the same. The three of us stood side by side, just like always.

"But we will overcome this. Just as we always have."

Yu Ji-in spoke with renewed energy, raising a hand.

"Now, shall we journey somewhere into space?"

"...Space?" I muttered under my breath.

Space.

Before my regression, no such labyrinth had ever existed.