Chapter 11: Labyrinth Libarintos (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 11: Labyrinth Libarintos (5)
Ten days had already passed since they entered the labyrinth.
Various traps scattered everywhere.
The Minotaur relentlessly pursuing them.
On top of that, hunger and sleep deprivation.
Every single condition was far too harsh for a human to survive.
And as if to prove it, the raid that had started with seven people had dwindled to three before they knew it.
Jinhyuk, Park Ha-na, and Jang Cheol-sik.
Just the three of them.
“If we keep going like this, we're all going to die,” Jang Cheol-sik muttered with a grim expression.
“Yeah. We'll just get used by that devilish bastard and eventually thrown away,” Park Ha-na nodded in agreement.
Whether they were used as pawns to avoid traps, or as sacrificial lambs to distract the Minotaur, it would be one of the two.
Lee Hye-min and Jang Mi-na had died that way too.
They had failed to kill Jinhyuk, and in the end, they were thoroughly used before being discarded.
-Anonymous1: Why don't you just give up and stay quiet? It's obvious you guys can't handle him.
-Anonymous6: IMO, that guy looks like he's been to the 10th floor. Let's not mess with him.
-Anonymous3: Agreed. Two newbies are basically an easy meal for a veteran.
-Anonymous4: Plus, his personality is totally psycho. He knows they're trying to kill him, but he keeps using polite speech and dragging them along. Goosebumps.
-Anonymous9: The killer next to me is so gentle. Sob sob ㅠㅠ
Park Ha-na's chat window scrolled up rapidly.
These were people who belonged to the Black Crow Guild but did not climb the Tower. In short, they were the out-of-tower support group.
“Did you find any information on that guy?”
-Anonymous5: All past videos related to the [Tower of Trials] are locked, so there's no way to know.
-Anonymous3: They blocked everything completely. ViewTube, personal blogs... even stuff saved on phones got hacked.
-Anonymous2: Maybe if we at least knew his face, but...
-Anonymous1: Yeah. But he wears that mask 24/7, so there's no hope.
-Anonymous6: FR, I thought he was the Phantom of the Opera.
-Anonymous4: Just curious, does he wear that when he takes a dump too?
-Anonymous7: I searched, and he hasn't even made a streaming channel?
-Anonymous3: Doesn't seem like he has any intention of gathering subscribers. He's totally set on solo play.
A bizarrely shaped mask that gave off an ominous vibe.
Until their first day in the labyrinth... he hadn't worn that mask.
But that was only for a very brief moment.
By the time a panicked Park Ha-na turned on her stream, Jinhyuk had already purchased a black mask from the Coin Exchange.
Since then, he had completely hidden his face.
-Anonymous3: Damn. If I knew it'd turn out like this, I would've played like crazy back then. I'm suddenly so jealous.
-Anonymous4: Knowing all the walkthroughs and relic locations must be so sweet.
-Anonymous7: Totally agree. The thrill must be sending electric shocks straight to his frontal lobe.
-Anonymous1: Wow, but all the guys who played for a long time back then have gone completely off the grid. They should share some tips so we can make a living too.
-Anonymous2: Would you share if you were him?
-Anonymous3: Haha. Honestly, if it were me, I'd monopolize it all too.
'To think they recruited these idiots to support us from outside the tower...'
Park Ha-na's face contorted.
They were just giggling and hadn't brought back a single piece of useful information. Naturally, she couldn't help but feel frustrated.
“Shut up. Did you tell Oppa about the situation here?”
-Anonymous1: Whoa. Our Ha-na is being prickly.
-Anonymous5: Yeah. We told him.
-Anonymous9: But he said you're way too deep in, so it's hard to find you.
-Anonymous3: Impossible. Even in this situation, it's absolutely impossible.
-Anonymous4: Even if Bear Grylls showed up, he'd get lost.
-Anonymous2: Even Chief Kim would pull a U-turn on his way here.
-Anonymous6: In the first place, there's barely any info on this labyrinth. It'll take at least three more weeks to catch up to where you are.
Three weeks...
They were wiped out down to just two people in ten days.
And they had to endure three more weeks?
'It's impossible.'
Park Ha-na's eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
Even at this moment, she could see Jinhyuk fast asleep.
A monster of a guy whom they couldn't kill no matter how hard they tried!
Right.
This isn't murder, it's just attempted murder.
I mean, it's even in the law. The law where the sentence for attempted crimes is much lighter.
But just because we attempted it, he's trying to kill all of us?
That's too much.
It really is too much.
'Aren't six lives obviously more precious than one?'
Even right now, there are two of us.
So he has to die.
For the majority.
The minority.
“Should we strike now? While he's sleeping seems like our best chance.”
Jang Cheol-sik picked up a rock from the ground. It was crude, but its lethality was a weapon proven since ancient times.
While he's fast asleep—crack!
If his head gets crushed, any living thing has to die.
“No,” Park Ha-na shook her head. “That guy's reaction speed is a total monster. Whether we fight him head-on or launch a surprise attack, we stand no chance in a fight.”
There are always idiots who try to pull off clumsy assassinations. Without considering the opponent's skill, they just jump right in.
Such emotional attempts usually meet a bad end.
“Then what do you want to do? We can't just sit here and wait for our turn to be killed, can we?”
“Who said we're just going to sit here and take it?”
Park Ha-na spat coldly as she drew a sharp stinger from her breast pocket. One with a drop of clear liquid clinging to it.
It was a Giant Squash Bee Stinger.
“That's...”
“Even a monster has to eat, right?”
Preparing the meals was the job of Park Ha-na and Jang Cheol-sik.
Gathering the moss and mushrooms inside the labyrinth, cooking them over the fire, and plating them—all of it was done without any interference.
“Let's prepare it for him. His last supper!”
Park Ha-na imagined Jinhyuk chewing on the deadly neurotoxin and writhing in agony.
Hehe.
It felt as if all her suffering up to now was being washed away.
* * *
Poke! Poke! Poke!
Something poked Jinhyuk's shoulder.
“Excuse me... wake up.”
Immediately, Park Ha-na's voice reached him.
“...What is it?” Jinhyuk slightly opened one eye.
“Meal's ready. Come and eat.”
“Is it that time already? Ah. Is it stir-fried moss and mushrooms again?”
“Is there anything else to eat here? Unless you want to catch and eat bats or moths,” Park Ha-na snapped.
'Prickly, aren't we.'
Jinhyuk stretched and stood up.
His body felt light.
The 'Gap' stat he had raised over the past week totaled 21. On top of that, through real combat with powerful boss monsters, his battle instincts had been honed to the absolute limit.
Though his numerical level was 1, he was by no means a mere level 1.
'Definitely not.'
The strongest level 1.
That was why he looked forward to it. The day he would finally step out of this labyrinth!
Jinhyuk walked over to where Park Ha-na and Jang Cheol-sik were.
A musty smell assaulted his nose.
A mixture that looked hideous from its very appearance. The dish made of moss and mushrooms was truly at a level where one only ate it to survive.
'It really feels like I'm filming a survival show.'
Since he had to shove it down while completely abandoning his sense of taste.
At least it was well-balanced nutritionally... which was a relief, if nothing else.
“Hey, Ha-na. Could you get me some water from behind?”
“...Water?”
“And Cheol-sik, could you scoop a bit more mushrooms and moss for me?”
“Wanting more of this tasteless crap. Knock yourself out.”
With the brief exchange, the preparations were complete.
Jinhyuk picked up his utensils and chopsticks carved from bat bones. The others picked up their utensils as well.
The three of them put the food into their mouths at the same time.
However...
“Hehe.”
“Heh. He ate it.”
The two of them let out chuckles simultaneously.
An unusually cold draft in the air. An unpleasantly heavy atmosphere.
This was...
“...You used poison.” Jinhyuk slowly set down his utensils.
“That's right. It's a deadly poison that spreads through the veins. It's useless to struggle.”
-Anonymous1: Lmao, he swallowed it right down!
-Anonymous3: Now this is what you call a true rice thief.
-Anonymous7: Esophagus feeling nice and warm, huh?
-Anonymous2: Yerim, show us that card. Is it a trick, or are you losing a hand?
Before they knew it, even the public chat window had become active. Seeing them snickering as if they had been waiting for this, they were undoubtedly certain of his death.
Of course they would be.
Items that could detoxify lethal poisons were extremely expensive. With the coins they currently possessed, it was out of the question.
Hence, a guaranteed kill.
Once the poison spreads, the heart stops.
But what if...
“...If I actually ate the poison, that is.”
At Jinhyuk's words, Jang Cheol-sik's eyes widened.
“You... knew about the poison?”
“It's not like this is the first or second time you guys have tried something like this. Did you really think I'd just blindly eat whatever food you handed me?”
There was no way he would trust anyone in a place as treacherous as this.
The simple effort of swapping the bowls of food... was something he never neglected.
However...
Even so...
Park Ha-na still didn't lose her composure. As if she had already anticipated that much.
“Who said I put poison in the food?”
She knew he was quick-witted. That was why she had coated the chopsticks with poison, not the food.
So that even a veteran would have no choice but to fall for it.
“Urgh? Cough! Ack! Kegh!”
Along with painful groans, red blood sprayed from a mouth.
Veins and blood vessels bulged as if they were about to burst, creating a grotesque sight.
However...
“W-Why?”
The one foaming blood at the mouth was not Jinhyuk.
“Gurgle... Cough! Ack!”
Jang Cheol-sik writhed, twisting his entire body. The sight of him frantically clawing at his own throat with his fingernails was wretched.
Of course, that pain did not last very long. Because the rapidly spreading poison stopped his heart in an instant.
“You... even noticed this? How, just how?!”
“Because you acted differently than usual.”
Since entering the labyrinth, Park Ha-na had never been the first to suggest having a meal. Instead, Jang Cheol-sik or someone else had always taken on that role.
But today, she set up the entire meal beforehand?
How is that any different from someone asking you to go for a drive by the sea on the day your life insurance policy matures?
“Just... because of something so trivial...?”
“Those trivial things are what matter.”
The reason I was able to conquer the Tower of Trials to the very end.
Because my reflexes were outstanding?
Because my determination or persistence was extraordinary?
Of course, those played a part. I can't deny they are important factors.
But they aren't the most important.
The reason I could become a veteran... was because of an observational skill unlike anyone else's.
No matter how trivial the information, I collected and analyzed it without missing a beat to draw a single conclusion.
That was how I could climb the Tower that everyone deemed impossible.
-Anonymous1: Crazy.
-Anonymous4: He figured all of that out just from her saying that one thing? Does that even make sense?
-Anonymous2: Whoa. Did he exploit the fact that the viewers share the same field of vision as Park Ha-na?
-Anonymous5: The food is one thing, but swapping the chopsticks too is absolutely chilling.
-Anonymous7: Someone summon Conan or Kindaichi, please.
-Anonymous3: Stop overreacting. Honestly, anyone who graduated elementary school could predict this much. Agree?
-Anonymous2: Agreed. Actually, I noticed it too.
-Anonymous6: Seconded.
-Anonymous8: Thirded.
“And you guys...”
Jinhyuk looked at the bastards snicker-laughing in the public chat. To be precise, he was merely staring at a single point in the air, but...
-Anonymous3: Oh, lol, is it our turn now?
-Anonymous2: What are you gonna do, glare at us to death?
-Anonymous6: Is he about to challenge us to a real-life fight?
-Anonymous8: Bro, what's your SBD? I was the top dog at Dobong Elementary.
-Anonymous3: Lower your eyes if you don't want your teeth knocked out by my cat punch.
“You guys still have a lot of mouth. Well, I suppose there's nothing to fear when you're behind a monitor.”
Jinhyuk chuckled.
“But if you have a brain in your skull instead of a walnut, try thinking about why I've been tolerating your existence all this time.”
If he had blocked her from streaming, he wouldn't have had to go through the trouble of acting. He wouldn't have had to wear a mask all day, either.
But there was a reason he endured all that hassle.
To find out who Park Ha-na was connected with.
And...
To gather evidence that they were using underhanded tricks.
“Since you're on the outside, you might not know, but there is only one case where live streaming is permitted.”
The Tower of Trials had rules.
– Live streaming can only be turned on when facing a boss monster to advance to the next floor.
And if those rules were violated...
– Appropriate measures will be taken if view manipulation or other fraudulent activities are detected.
There would be a corresponding punishment.
Of course, the punishment mentioned here... well. It would be far from lenient.
[The anonymous group has been disbanded.]
- 'CrowGoesCawCaw' has left the chat.
- DolsoeToTheMadam: W-What?
- JackBauer: Why did they suddenly leave?
- 'DolsoeToTheMadam' has left the chat.
- tyg123: H-Hold on.
- JoYen: Wait!
- 'JackBauer' has left the chat.
- Note20: Fuck. Someone just broke down my front door.
- SquirrelS2: What is this? What's going on?
One by one, the people in the public channel vanished.
And a moment later...
[Current Viewers: 0]
“T-This can't be.”
Left all alone, Park Ha-na collapsed to the ground.