Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: The Great Labyrinth is Dangerous - 6
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While a massacre was unfolding in the Great Labyrinth...
A not-insignificant commotion had broken out at the Yeouido Korean Shelter.
It started in the restaurant—a bloody brawl.
The trigger was a quarrel related to the Battle Royale.
Someone, mid-meal, had picked a fight with another person.
"Don't you remember? You killed my friend back then."
An immediate, heated backlash erupted, and the two overturned the restaurant as they fought.
With level 20-plus Awakened going at it like they wanted to kill each other, the place was trashed.
Someone clutched a shattered meal tray and wailed, "They say even dogs don't mess with you when you're eating!"
Fortunately, it ended with both injured, but it was still enough to chill everyone to the bone.
Upon hearing the news, Jang Won-taek stepped in personally to mediate while letting out a deep sigh that seemed to shake the earth.
The aftershocks of the Battle Royale showed no signs of fading.
The restaurant fight was just one outcome of countless simmering conflicts.
Big and small fights kept breaking out inside the shelter.
Even more troubling was that factions were starting to form.
People who felt threatened by the violence began banding together for mutual protection, and those alliances turned into factions.
Of course, Jang Won-taek didn't deny any of it.
Human behavior was inherently political.
Especially in extreme situations like this.
And factions forming within any gathered force was only natural.
In fact, he thought a force without factions was the dangerous one.
It meant someone had seized total control.
But letting hatred and anger fester like this was a problem.
At this rate, they'd be no different from the endless political bickering in the National Assembly.
Finally at his limit, Jang Won-taek took drastic measures.
"The restaurant is closing effective immediately."
"Then where do we eat?"
"We'll distribute ingredients, so cook in your quarters."
"This is basically the Middle Ages."
Sneers followed, but with violence erupting right then, there was no choice.
Jang Won-taek sat blankly in his office chair when Lee Beom-seok approached.
He looked quite shocked.
"The Chinese in the Great Labyrinth are gone. Most seem dead, and some were chased out."
"Who... No, stupid question. Sung-ho did it? People said they hadn't seen him lately."
"Hyung-jun's team ran into him on the first floor."
"Then it's certain. So, what's the Great Labyrinth like now?"
"Their bases are littered with corpses... Hyung-jun's team joined the Hannam-dong Clan to check it out."
"I see..."
Jang Won-taek sank back into his chair.
People dying was tragic, but in this case, not entirely.
Because avoiding conflict had been impossible.
The Chinese boat people who arrived here had started from the West Sea coast and expanded inland.
It was only natural for Koreans to push back.
The auction house had been the spark, escalating to historical insults.
Anyone could predict the festering wound would burst in the Great Labyrinth.
No one expected Sung-ho to be the one to lance it.
"Remember that report from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries during last year's early summer typhoon?"
"Yeah... They all swarmed one island to avoid the storm like a pack of dogs."
"When officials went to investigate illegal fishing, knives came out... Looking back, it's no different now."
"To be honest, it feels refreshing. Sung-ho swept them all away—feels damn good."
"People died. Can't say that."
Jang Won-taek said it, but his expression was subtly relieved.
Arms bend inward, after all—Koreans he'd shared hardships with felt familiar.
He just worried about pointless slaughter.
With Sung-ho involved, it was likely to go all the way.
Jang Won-taek leaned forward.
"So, what's the outcome? Still ongoing?"
"Sung-ho cleared the Chinese from the Great Labyrinth, then headed to Bucheon. Seems the entrance was there."
Lee Beom-seok drew circles on a Seoul-area map.
"According to Su-yeon's scouting, a battle broke out here a few hours ago. Probably Sung-ho versus the Chinese."
"Clearing the battlefield too while he's at it... We've got more land to stand on now."
"Su-yeon is reporting via paper airplanes now. Want to contact her?"
Jang Won-taek shook his head.
"Think he can resolve this mess?"
"Everyone seems scared of Sung-ho anyway."
"That's the problem."
Jang Won-taek stood, and Lee Beom-seok watched his back.
A heavyweight in Korean politics...
But right now, he looked utterly pathetic.
Heavy words came.
"Kang Sung-ho... He's got incredible power. He could solve this. But relying on him alone means we lose our own coping skills. Not others—us especially."
"Then ignore it?"
"We owe him that promised gift, so make contact. But don't mention shelter issues."
Then noise erupted outside.
A drunk was bellowing.
"Jang Won-taek, you bastard! Huh? So what if you're hotshot? If you didn't ration the booze, would we have to brew our own?!"
"Jang Won-taek! Lee Beom-seok! Kim Hyun-woo too! All come out! Oh, right, Kim Hyun-woo's dead."
Jang Won-taek's eyebrow twitched, but he closed his eyes silently.
Lee Beom-seok shut the window and urged.
"Rest a bit. I'll mediate the restaurant thing."
"...Thanks."
The Chinese vanished from the Great Labyrinth.
The piled corpses were devoured by monsters, turning into Bone Creepers or skeletons patrolling the dark corridors.
The crowd's topic shifted to Kimbap Lover, who'd crushed the Chinese.
While they chattered away in the auction house, Sung-ho was wrapping up the final Battle Royale in Bucheon.
The battlefield never ends until one survivor remains.
Meaning he had to kill every last Chinese to turn it into a safe zone.
Naturally, Sung-ho harbored killing intent.
Even as countless lives flew away, his eyes didn't waver as he swung his blade.
'Kill them all, and the problem vanishes.'
It was the conclusion he'd reached after meeting and killing all sorts of people.
Conflicts that would end in light squabbles normally amplified uncontrollably in the apocalypse.
Conflicts bred hatred, leading to death.
Sung-ho saw himself as just taking the shortcut.
'Chinese coming to this land made clashes inevitable.'
Who would let them slowly encroach on territory?
He killed, killed, and killed again.
Screams echoed nonstop on a Bucheon street.
Sung-ho's slaughter ended only when the sun hit midday.
His backpack held three resurrection scrolls, an expansion scroll, a weapon enhancement scroll, and items.
"..."
The Battle Royale ended, and the Status Window returned to normal.
Sung-ho looked back at his path.
It was stained with blood and bodies.
'My doing.'
He faced the carnage head-on, unflinching.
Then he hunted the swarming monsters.
No fear, no regret.
Just silently swinging his blade.
'What I must do.'
To survive.
I returned to the Great Labyrinth second-floor hideout.
Under the dim light, Da-jeong lit up.
She'd been waiting.
"Everything go okay?"
"Should be quiet for a while."
"Eee, good job. Come here. I'll hold you."
I rested in her arms.
Meant to nap briefly, but I woke in the cabin.
Passed out completely.
Splashed cold water on my face and went out—people were watching TV.
Generator in the shelter center, hooked to a big screen.
Not on often—only for must-see stuff.
"Oppa, you're here?"
"Yeah..."
Mi-kyung beamed; I mumbled back and sat by Da-jeong.
Great Labyrinth攻略 video—fifth floor.
Me, Seok-hyun, and Da-jeong's dumb antics played on loop.
Like catching a ghost and wearing it as a hat to charge monsters...
Three pantsless men dashing the maze in tattered sheets—quite the sight.
Everyone speechless, staring at me.
Why me?
Seok-hyun thought it up.
Yeo-ul's gaze was especially odd.
"Uncle, you played like that in the game?"
"Yeah... something like that."
Only possible with sky-high mental resistance.
Normal folks fighting ghosts hallucinate easily.
Seok-hyun grinned at me.
"Try it on fifth floor? Was fun."
"Don't. Low mental resistance items."
"Nightberry and ring should suffice?"
"Doppleganger then. Headache if hit."
"Restart fresh. Oh, you guys can't."
"Got resurrection scrolls though."
Pulling scrolls and items from my bag drew all eyes.
"Resurrection scrolls..."
"Three more—nice."
"Hyung, where'd you get these?"
"Bucheon, Chinese camp."
Air grew heavy.
They got it—Battle Royale exclusive drops.
To lighten mood, handed skill scroll to Seok-hyun.
"Yours."
"One empty slot left?"
"Take it now. Won't later."
Da-jeong pocketed the expansion scroll.
No takers for face mask... Weapon enhancement to shared storage.
Put resurrection scrolls there too.
Total seven usable now.
"Da-jeong, cleared fifth?"
"Yup. Just enter. Oh, she's level 30 too."
Shrugged at Geom-in.
"Level 30 adds big bonuses, right?"
Geom-in replied.
"Not huge. Copied your minor skills. Seok-hyun's Death Overcoming, Da-jeong's Monster Taming, Sung-ho's trait... Dimension Backpack here."
Bag had a portal now.
Dimension Backpack, fitting.
Da-jeong eyed the size.
"Yours was huge."
"Minor version—can't help it. Satisfied though. Got three traits at once."
All downgraded, of course.
Seok-hyun's infinite revives with points vs. once-a-day Death Overcoming.
Monster Taming maybe one pet, Dimension Backpack no combat boost.
Still, Geom-in's beaming smile cheered me up.
"Can fight solo now?"
"Yeah... But maybe better stay shelter? Defense matters too."
Shelter fanatic, as expected.
With three itching to fight, she fits shelter duty.
"Do what suits you."
Night fell; we ate together.
Good, but everyone watching my stream vid felt awkward.
Embarrassing...
Curious for next bits, Yu-hyeon grabbed remote.
Poor Man joined as usual; Gukbap Addict valued everything in soup rice.
I eyed the screen.
"Gukbap Addict was in the Labyrinth. Weirdo, guy's male."
"Bring him."
"Had party... Hannam-dong Clan? So-ye, that idol."
"Remember her name? What'd she say?"
Da-jeong's tone chilled—not imagination.
Stayed calm.
"Trouble with her. Tried boarding bus openly."
"And?"
"Told her scram. You're enough."
"...Real?"
"Why lie?"
"Hmmm..."
Cat-like hum, then turned my head for lip bump and nuzzle combo.
Others left awkwardly; just us.
Deep night, her whisper clear.
"Didn't say look only at me. But no outsider sluts, got it?"
What?
Asked, but she stood, brushing butt.
"Su-yeon's glasses broke? Feed her skill if griffon drops."
"Didn't she have extras?"
"All smashed. Griffon Eye lets see far."
Dunno if replaces glasses.
Next monsters flying types like griffon—give her it.
Slept night; rushed prep for fifth floor.
The Great Labyrinth is Dangerous - 6 End