Cliché Melody (1)
The live stage, the Situation Labyrinth, proceeded rapidly. Kang Hyun's team finished in just two attempts, Seo Ji-woo's team in three, and Ryu Yeon-hwa's team also cleared the Situation Labyrinth in three. Our team was the only one that used up all six attempts.
In return, we received a difficulty correction. The final assessment rated the difficulty of The Square as A+.
The live audience left after casting their votes, leaving ninety-six explorers standing on the empty stage.
Now, it was time for the "Mentor Evaluation."
I'm tired to death.
"Team 1. Please step forward," Yu Ji-in said.
Lee Jun-ho, Kate, Kim Woo-hyun, Lee Jong-su, Kim Du-gyeom, Ryu Wei, Jeong Min-gi, and me. A total of eight people stepped onto the stage.
The mentors in the judges' seats stared at us in silence. They looked as if they had a lot to say, yet at the same time, nothing at all.
First, the Swordsman Mentor, Kim Yoon-jun, picked up his microphone.
"...The Square was the most difficult labyrinth. With two S-Tiers and three B-Tiers on the team, it seems the difficulty was adjusted accordingly... Mr. Lee Jun-ho?"
"Yes."
Lee Jun-ho stepped forward, his face tense. Unlike his usual self, he looked visibly anxious. He had, after all, caused quite a massive scene.
"And Mr. Seol Ha-woon."
I also took a step forward.
Thud! The sound of my cane echoed a bit loudly. It couldn't be helped. Having severely injured my leg, I had to rely heavily on it.
"I'll ask Mr. Seol Ha-woon first. Was the final action in the sixth attempt discussed beforehand?"
Lee Jun-ho's eyes twitched. I looked directly at Kim Yoon-jun as I answered.
"Yes. It was a rather crude method, but I believed we had no other choice. Standing idly by would have only left us at their mercy. To seize the initiative, we needed a much more radical approach, so we executed it together."
"The radio transmission logs tell a slightly different story, though."
"We anticipated wiretapping."
Kim Yoon-jun's eyebrows shot up. "Wiretapping?"
"Yes."
Kim Yoon-jun, who had been staring intently at me, let out a soft chuckle. "...How meticulous. You are correct."
In a labyrinth, most 'bosses' are non-human entities. Intercepting radio frequencies is child's play for them.
"The final boss was indeed showing signs of latching onto the radio frequencies. That was wise."
Next, DK picked up his microphone. "...Well. I assume you'll only use this kind of method inside the labyrinths?"
"Yes. In the first place, such situations do not occur in reality."
DK nodded as well.
Next, the Archer Mentor, Kim Ji-an, took the microphone. "I would like to ask Ms. Kate..."
She asked Kate various questions about her Destroyer attribute. The mentors continued to offer feedback, but barely any comments were directed toward Kim Du-gyeom.
Because he hadn't done anything. Because I had completely erased his presence.
The sight of his rotting expression was highly satisfying.
As the feedback drew to a close, Yu Ji-in spoke. "Next are the scores, combining the live audience votes and our mentors' evaluations."
"These scores will be reflected in the upcoming tier reassessment."
A smile played on my lips. I was far more satisfied with Kim Du-gyeom's score than my own.
6.8. The absolute lowest score. Kim Du-gyeom's lips and facial muscles twitched violently, clearly struggling to maintain his composure.
"Congratulations. Everyone, please return to your quarters."
Before leaving, I glanced at Yu Yul in the judges' seats. Yu Yul met my gaze and gave an expressionless nod.
We had made a promise before this Situation Labyrinth.
I was ready for my 2nd Refining.
On the way back to the quarters from the stage. My left leg was almost completely numb, so I was walking solely by relying on the strength of my cane.
Lee Jun-ho stepped out from behind a tree. Had he been waiting for me? He stood there silently, smacking his lips.
I swung my cane lightly. "If you have nothing to say, move."
"...Ahem." Lee Jun-ho cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck. "No... well... I wanted to thank you for... covering for me. And I was curious about your reason."
"We cleared it thanks to you, didn't we?"
"...Is that so?" Lee Jun-ho let out a sigh, looking somewhat worried. "I'm just a bit concerned about how it'll look on the broadcast. Was I... a bit pathetic?"
"I wouldn't go so far as to call it pathetic."
Of course, Lee Jun-ho harbored an innate desire. It was the side effect of his talent. He was a man who could kill anyone and burn anything. A man like fire. Closer to a raging inferno than a cozy hearth.
I told him, "If you keep denying it, you'll break."
"...What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
Lee Jun-ho's expression darkened. He, too, likely knew his own flaws. They were far too vivid to ignore.
"Were you like this too?"
That question made me pause in thought.
In the past, what kind of human was I when I stood on the battlefield?
"I might have been even worse than you."
All problems arise when desire eclipses the ego. Whether it be destruction, murder, or revenge.
Once the burning desire to do something consumes you, you lose the ability to stop yourself.
Someone, or the world itself, has to stop you.
"Just accept the darkness inside you. Only by accepting it can you control it."
The moment you deny it, control becomes impossible. A desire suppressed by force will eventually explode and devour you in an instant.
You must embrace your inherent imperfections and your creaking sanity to cultivate the ability to control yourself.
"You are more dangerous than I was back then. Because you will become far stronger than I ever was."
Strength brings many things. However, one must not become intoxicated by it. A fire drunk on desire will burn not only its surroundings but also itself.
"..."
Lee Jun-ho turned around silently. It wasn't the path back to the quarters. He seemed to be heading out for a walk.
Late at night.
Returning to her quarters, Kate turned on the radio as she always did. It was an ordinary radio station broadcasting on a channel called EMA.
"Hello, everyone. Spending the deep night, this early morning with you..."
Kate quietly closed her eyes.
"Here is our first story. It's about something that happened at a convenience store today."
A mana cipher embedded in everyday language.
Kate absorbed the radio DJ's syllables through her mana and reassembled them. These were the messages she was meant to 'receive' regarding today's events.
"The part-timer wasn't there, so as I looked around..."
Kate had a different purpose.
The reason why a talent from a wealthy American family, one of the most prestigious in North America, had bothered to participate in an East Asian audition program was not simply to gain popularity or to have her potential as a mage recognized.
"The storage door was open. So..."
It was to unearth the secrets lurking at the very bottom of Labyrinth Exploration.
"Yes~ That was an interesting story. It certainly is flustering when something like that happens at a convenience store."
She jotted down notes with a pen while listening to the radio. They were sentences translating the mana cipher into English.
"Well, life has its ups and downs, after all~"
The name Seol Ha-woon. And then, the concluding directive.
Kate turned off the radio. She took a sip from her teacup and sank into the sofa. Squeak. The texture of the high-end fabric felt cozy.
Whoosh. She burned the paper containing the decoded cipher.
"...Seol Ha-woon."
Her family wanted Seol Ha-woon eliminated. It was an unprecedented command from those who rarely interfered with individual figures.
Did it mean Seol Ha-woon was that dangerous? Kate couldn't understand it yet, but her family's will had to be carried out.
Tap. Tap.
She tapped the table with her pen, pondering the method of 'elimination.'
Late at night.
Kang Hyun was watching a video. It was the footage of the Situation Labyrinth, specifically the strategy used in [The Square]. Having checked out the video for study purposes, he was already watching it for the third time.
His subject of observation was Seol Ha-woon.
Kang Hyun watched Seol Ha-woon's methods. Amidst the chaos caused by Lee Jun-ho, Seol Ha-woon had shot the child dead. He had made a decision that no ordinary person would ever dare to choose.
He was undoubtedly a man who would stop at nothing. A man who would make any sacrifice to complete the mission. A man capable of sacrificing the few for the many.
A man who knew what was right and what was important.
Seol Ha-woon was reflected in Kang Hyun's hollow eyes.
He let out a smile without even realizing it. A strange joy settled on his twisted lips.
He might be just like me.
The thought crossed his mind, completely unbidden.
The day after the Situation Labyrinth ended. Fortunately, today was a rest day.
"You're growing well, aren't you~?"
I gently touched the Snowflake, which had begun to sprout.
It was a form of handling. I felt it would grow better if it got used to my touch.
After doting on the Snowflake for about five minutes, I sat on the sofa. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress my nervousness.
Because Episode 3 was about to air.
Ding!
I hope so. I pray our actual performance is shown, not some goddamned evil editing.
Surprisingly, a message had also come from Kang Hyun.
Kate too? What is wrong with these guys? Did they all agree to text me first or something?
Anyway.
The logo of Labyrinth Exploration NaN appeared on the screen, and Episode 3 began.
The opening scene was right before entering the labyrinth—the waiting room of Team A4.
—Lee Jong-su: ...Aren't you trusting the escort team a bit too much?
—Kang Hyun: Team A4 and Team B12 are one team. It's not just Team A3.
After some discussion in the meeting room, the cargo team entered the labyrinth first.
—Kang Hyun: Transport team. We have secured the cargo.
Having infiltrated the Orcs' burrow, they successfully located the cargo, and the perspective shifted to the escort team.
I could see myself and Im Hae-jun walking through the forest.
—Im Hae-jun: Then what should we do!
—Seol Ha-woon: Let's move for now.
From here on, it was crucial. If my image got distorted here too, my life was over.
—Im Hae-jun: Mr. Seol Ha-woon. I've been meaning to ask this for a while, but I kept quiet thinking I might be mistaken. Why do you keep speaking casually to me?
Im Hae-jun tried to initiate a battle of nerves, but Seol Ha-woon merely glared at him in silence. Im Hae-jun was instantly cowed.
This editing is making me nervous too.
I glanced at the real-time chat.