Chapter 126
Chapter 126
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Labyrinth of Sindorim Station - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A labyrinth had opened at Sindorim Station, but I didn't rush right in.
Labyrinths are different from your typical dungeons.
They don't have just one entrance, and if you go in unprepared, you're bound to get lost.
You can enter and exit freely as many times as you want to chip away at the clear.
"But it's so damn vast and deep..."
Labyrinths come in all sorts, but none of them are small.
The minimum investment is half a day, and sometimes you'd wander for days on end.
The terrain, traps, and monster types vary wildly, and the difficulty is sky-high. Skimp on prep, and you'd get obliterated.
"Monopolizing it won't be easy..."
Even the smallest labyrinths could fit dozens of people.
The massive ones? Hundreds wandering around wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Of course, that's just in terms of size.
Survival Life never had that many players to begin with.
"Right now, the key is figuring out what kind of labyrinth it is..."
I could scout it myself, but there's a better way.
Aggregate info from folks who've already poked around.
The auction house is crawling with attention-seekers dying to share what they've seen and heard.
Sure, there's plenty of bullshit and rumors, but I can sift through it by cross-checking with what I know.
I headed to the spacious second-floor restroom.
Getting back to my hideout would take time, so this spot was better for handling surprises.
"Gotta check the intel, then tell Darling to head here."
She'd gripe about ditching the hideout again, but it meant nothing to me.
My real sanctuary was inside the dimension gate.
Thinking like this in a restroom felt off, but there weren't better options nearby.
Shh, shh.
Familiar sounds drew my eyes outside—a pack of lizardmen patrolling past the restroom.
They clutched their signature tridents and nets as they prowled the halls.
Monsters popping up already? Not a tame labyrinth, then.
"The area's gonna turn into chaos..."
Just getting in is a hassle, so it's on the higher end of difficulty.
Expect the inside to be damp as hell.
"Already feeling grimy."
In a game, I'd skip a labyrinth like this, but reality didn't allow it.
Not when I had to scour every nook for items.
"No being picky."
"Levitation... Handy for crossing swamp areas."
It shines in recon normally, but sucks in combat—that's the downside.
Parties form up for clears, and if your DPS lags, drama ensues.
"One 'you slacked off' or 'you're the weak link' and boom—party's done."
Fine at the entrance, but disband inside? You're screwed.
I pulled up my laptop in the hideout cave and scoured videos for lizardman labyrinth types.
"Tons of underwater ones."
The most headache-inducing kind.
Water terrain is inherently mismatched for land-dwellers like humans.
Lizardmen and their elites grant underwater breathing, but it's still claustrophobic.
"Stuck soaking wet the whole time—miserable."
Stinks too. Total pain.
Hmm...
I replayed videos, refreshing on strategies.
The terrain's brutal, but monsters aren't too scary.
Lizardmen elites and the boss at worst.
"Clear time around 10 hours..."
Short side.
But 10 hours drenched? Few would bother.
"Trolls galore."
Guaranteed pests lurking at entrances to grief.
I mentally mapped the entrance terrain a dozen times.
Lots of hiding spots—mess up the plan, and I'd panic in the thick of it.
"...Good."
I slipped out after the lizardmen passed and found the entrance.
The subway hall was flooded.
Lizardmen, swamp serpents, and crying toads everywhere.
"Of course those guys."
The crying toad—unnamed officially, so that's what we called it.
Toad-shaped, man-torso sized.
Attacks are dumb brute force: hunkers like a rock, then headbutts threats.
Insane range, follow-ups chain—dodge if you can.
"Dodging's no joke."
Usually, you spot a weird boulder in the swamp... delete character.
Launches from outside aggro range—no escape.
Serpents fighting among themselves too. Hall was no picnic.
"How to punch through..."
Too wet for firecrackers.
As I pondered, a grasshopper leapt from the dark tunnel.
"Enhanced ghoul? Why here?"
Swamp labyrinths have zero zombies or ghouls.
This one's the grasshopper enhanced ghoul—hops everywhere.
Sticks to walls, ceilings, camouflages perfectly. Nasty.
My perception caught it quick, but it'd already jumped.
Dimension wall to block...
"Nah."
Isn't there a girl who goes nuts for ghouls?
I pinged Darling via auction house.
She griped about why not come to her, but bolted at "grasshopper."
Short wait.
I practiced precise dimension wall placement while I waited.
Not everyone in the government shelter welcomed Hwang Seok-hyun's return.
Tiny group of dozens, but politics and factions still festered.
No open fights, but the mutual glaring was obvious.
Some opposed Seok-hyun outright.
Murder's murder—kick him out, excuses be damned.
President Jang Won-taek tried talking them down at first, then quit.
Hard to argue "rules are rules."
His stonewalling quieted the voices eventually.
But not all opponents backed off.
Lee Jang-hoon, Kim Dae-ho, Chae Sang-sin.
Colleagues of Baek Geom-in, but trust wasn't total.
Just an alliance to speak up once the metal plague cleared.
More allies benefited Geom-in too.
Bigger stake in the pot.
But on Seok-hyun, Geom-in and the trio clashed.
Geom-in: give him a pass.
Them: hell no.
Surface excuse: can't shelter a killer.
Real hate: Seok-hyun himself—or rather, Kimbap Lover behind him.
Geom-in couldn't admit Kimbap Lover's aid or their link.
Feared the backlash.
They packed serious punch—no desire to burn bridges.
Labyrinth cries hit as they headed for the shelter.
"Geom-in? Heard the news?"
"What news?"
Geom-in played dumb.
His and Jang's meetup with Kimbap Lover was hush-hush.
Passed it as routine recon, but the trio smelled bullshit.
Uncharacteristic moves left holes everywhere.
"Labyrinth opened. Under Sindorim Station."
"Let's go. Auction'll ID the type."
"Idiots everywhere."
Snow let up; point farming tempted Geom-in.
But a labyrinth making that sound? Worrying.
Headache type incoming...
Sung-ho nearby made him hesitate too.
He'd dive in for sure—paths might overlap.
"...Just back, feeling off. Rest first."
Fake fatigue fooled no one.
"With physical enhancement? Quit whining."
"Measuring too much? Said call anytime."
"Guess we go solo."
Cornered, Geom-in tagged along.
Met Sung-ho, scarfed tasty lunch—mood was gold...
The four packed heavy and exited.
Exit to Sindorim: quick trip.
But vibe was weird.
A woman's voice boomed through the subway.
Screams mixed in.
"Crazy bitch! Run!"
"Argh!"
Labyrinth leaked already?
They hustled downstairs, bumped survivors.
Station chaos drowned awareness skills.
Queeek!
Folks fumbled weapons, froze at the freakish cry.
First-time hear for most; Geom-in clocked it.
"Grasshopper! Hide!"
"Gra-grasshopper?"
"Enhanced ghoul!"
Long-limbed ghoul skidded across the platform.
Chasing someone.
Enhanced ghoul.
Leagues above regulars; each has unique perks.
Grasshopper: insane mobility, name says it.
"Hide!"
Someone yelled; mad dash to opposite restrooms.
Could team-fight, but trust who?
Men's and women's—horrid screams followed.
"Kyaargh!"
Chasee bought it.
Breaths held, praying it skips them.
Then a woman strolled casually past.
Everyone thought: insane.
Enhanced ghouls aren't solo fodder.
Worse than werewolves in spots—gang up standard.
She didn't flinch, approached the corpse-munching ghoul.
Queek?
It whipped around.
Bloodbath incoming...
Folks averted eyes—then jaws dropped.
Grasshopper crept to her submissively, bowed low.
Grotesque red skin, twisted limbs—but obedience clear.
Geom-in got it: who else tames ghouls?
Then from women's restroom:
"Zombie-munching slut!"
"..."
Darling's smug triumph soured, brow twitching.
"W-we didn't say it!"
Next-door women's excuse.
Geom-in flailed, pointing at men's: not us, them!
Darling's glare stayed ice.
"These fuckers messing with me..."
Pre-rage, urgent footsteps from men's.
Invisible—stealth skill.
"Oh? Think you'll slip me?"
Darling smirked, snapped fingers—ghouls swarmed from everywhere.
Restroom folk bolted out.
No thanks to the brawl.
Geom-in froze—locked eyes with passing Darling.
"..."
"Darling..."
No words, just glare—then she turned.
Chasing ghouls peeled back to her.
Sees him as friendly? Spared.
"Th-thanks."
"Tell him: yap again, next time I actually kill you."
Her aura crushed him—even "who?" slipped his mind.
Government shelter beatdowns conditioned it.
Frog vs. snake—immobile.
Geom-in mute, watched her go.
Shoulders slumped.
Word spread fast: labyrinth at Sindorim.
Prime spot—survivors with means flocked.
No one entered.
Not just monsters.
Ghoul Queen sealed the entrance.
Regular ghouls? Fine.
Enhanced ones hopped walls/ceilings, repelling all.
Even mid-tiers fled embarrassed.
Auction exploded with Ghoul Queen hate.
Vibe turned toxic.
Labyrinth in sight, blocked—tempers flared.
Darling camped, barring entrants.
All per Sung-ho's ask.
'Block till I ID the type...'
Some seal player skills outright.
Specialty blocked? Same entrance overlaps paths—risky.
Other entrances? Her problem.
She yelled at fleeing backs:
"Come again! Thanks for shopping!"
"Fuck!"
"Insane..."
Sighs echoed.
No bold trash-talkers.
Knew Ghoul Queen unhinged = disaster.
But patience ran thin for some.
Lure her away.
Peel her off entrance, options open.
One dude taunted in plain sight.
Miscalc proved fatal.
Vent ghoul pounced.
Red spider-limbs engulfed him.
Speedy guy—no scream, snagged.
Darling beckoned; ghoul dragged him.
"No smog lately—easy breathing, huh? Wanna spike the PM2.5 today?"
"S-spare... Kyaaagh!"
One-sided beatdown.
Lure plan scrapped.