The Incident in the Labyrinth (2)
I turned the corner and a completely different kind of space appeared before me. A square area open on all four sides. Right in the center stood the blue flag I was supposed to find. Not only that, but unlike the rest of the labyrinth, various plants had been carefully arranged here, making it feel more like a small park.
Soil and grass cushioned my steps, producing soft crunching sounds beneath my feet.
Rustle.
I crept cautiously toward the flag. The ground around it was soaked with blood. That was the exact moment every hair on my body stood on end.
Unique Skill, Insight lv.3 has been activated.
Someone is emitting a powerful killing intent toward you!
The presence of a person suddenly appeared behind me. I spun around, swinging my dagger!
Clang!
What I deflected was a knife. And the one who had thrown it was none other than…!
“Excellent reflexes. Citizen Hall student Ha Yeonjun.”
Professor Lee Jun-gyeom spoke with a sinister smile. He then stood up and casually kicked at something near his feet. It was the corpses of female students. One of them had her heart completely gouged out, just like the male student’s body I had seen earlier.
Side Quest Completed
📍 Additional reward conditions have not been met.
🎁 Settlement of the bounty will be postponed.
The Constellation Moving Answer Sheet is attempting to analyze the situation.
Professor Lee Jun-gyeom pushed up his glasses and licked his lips. The expression was so cunning that it was impossible to guess what he was thinking. He said,
“I’ve been waiting all this time.”
“...You were waiting for me?”
I had no desire to speak politely to a psychotic murderer, so I replied casually.
“Actually, it didn’t have to be you. Any student from the academy would have been fine. You’re simply unlucky. You just happened to run into me here.”
What insane nonsense… Looking at his face, he reminded me of the kind of killer you’d only see in movies. And those kinds of murderers usually couldn’t be reasoned with. There was no point asking about his motive for killing.
I narrowed my eyes.
Unique Skill, Insight lv.3 has been activated.
Cognitive ability is influencing Insight.
Perfect Insight achieved!
Name: Lee Jun-gyeom (♂)
Age: 48
Unique Skills: Dagger lv.2, Throwing lv.1
Traits: Professor, Researcher, Hunchback, Cunning, Four-Eyes, Hooked Nose, Bachelor, Frail
Potential: ●◐○○○
I immediately checked the semi-transparent window that appeared before me. His potential wasn’t as high as I’d expected. In a way, that made sense. After all, he wasn’t even a hunter to begin with—just an ordinary professor. On top of that, he was a hunchbacked invalid who could barely take care of himself.
That was when an unexpected notification rang out.
Insight has leveled up!
Insight lv.3 → Insight lv.4
Congratulations! You have met the level requirement. The skill’s effect has been strengthened!
The skill’s effect had been strengthened…? But I didn’t even have time to check the updated information. My eyes snapped forward.
That was exactly when Professor Lee Jun-gyeom charged at me!
“N-now!”
Seeing that my attention had wandered, he seized the moment and attacked. He swung the knife downward in a vertical slash!
Whoosh!
I leaned back, dodging the strike. Even I had to admit it was a flawless movement.
“...!”
The moment he reached out with his other hand, a new Insight activated.
A powerful killing intent is emanating from the enemy’s right hand. Under no circumstances should it make contact with your body!
What?
I twisted my shoulder to avoid his hand.
Whoosh!
Professor Lee Jun-gyeom looked momentarily flustered, but he swung the knife again. This time it was a wild, reckless barrage.
“D-die…!”
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Though the attacks looked random, his empty hand was clearly dangerous. He kept trying to touch me. But since I was already aware of the threat, I moved with extreme caution.
When an opening finally appeared, I countered with a punch straight to his philtrum.
Thud!
“Ack!”
Professor Lee Jun-gyeom clutched his face after taking the clean hit. I quickly put distance between us.
“Ugh…”
Panting heavily, he glared at me with eyes full of resentment.
“Damn it…”
He suddenly pressed a hand to his temple and began muttering toward thin air. Watching him, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu. That posture…
That was when the enhanced Insight activated again.
The target is attempting to converse with an invisible entity.
Lip movements are being analyzed to infer the dialogue.
I began to make out what Professor Lee Jun-gyeom was quietly murmuring.
Reading those words, I realized something new. His expression confirmed it. It seemed Professor Lee Jun-gyeom might be a streamer just like me. And the constellation he had contracted with was none other than…
“Servant of Slaughter.”
…That was the one.
A familiar narration sounded at that moment.
The Constellation Moving Answer Sheet realizes the truth and lets out a groan.
The Constellation Maestro of Beating makes a displeased expression.
The Constellation Muscle Pain Lover belatedly tilts his head, wondering what’s going on.
The Constellation Love Connector…!
The Servant of Slaughter was the first constellation that had approached me. Because of that, I had looked up a lot of information about her in the guidebook. I recalled what I had read.
Though much of it had been censored, it was still readable. Her influence was among the widest of all constellations. She frequently intervened in human affairs, urging murder, and tempted people with enormous rewards each time.
Now it all made sense. Professor Lee Jun-gyeom must have fallen for her temptation out of a desperate desire to become young and healthy again. Of course, he had no idea the price would be his own miserable fate.
I looked at Professor Lee Jun-gyeom once more. His hand was likely empowered by a Blessing received from the Servant of Slaughter. I guessed it was some kind of life-taking technique.
The Blessing category has been updated. Killer’s Touch has been added.
Bingo. That was probably what an SSS-rank instant death skill looked like. No matter how weak his physical abilities were, possessing an ability like that made him a difficult opponent.
“D-damn it, you promised to keep your word…!”
That was when Professor Lee Jun-gyeom lifted his head. He charged at me again, wildly swinging both his knife and his right hand.
Thud!
But his movements were nothing more than those of an ordinary person. I struck his chin with a knee kick.
“Puheng!”
Professor Lee Jun-gyeom flew backward, teeth scattering. He clutched the blood flowing from his mouth with a frustrated expression.
“Y-you damn Citizen Hall student…!”
Looking down on Citizen Hall was one of his usual habits. He must be extremely flustered right now. After all, he couldn’t even lay a finger on the very student he had always scorned.
Of course, he had no idea I was deliberately avoiding only his hand. If I hadn’t known about his ability, I would have ended up just as horribly as the others. A chill ran down my spine at the thought.
Professor Lee Jun-gyeom was trembling all over. Because of his hunched back, he looked like he was curling in on himself.
“Huff… huff…”
With a face completely twisted in rage, he exhaled roughly and charged at me once more!
At that exact moment, he thrust his palm toward my face.
“Haaah!”
The target has activated the Blessing Killer’s Touch!
It steals the life of every living thing it touches.
Just one touch would be enough… That was probably what Professor Lee Jun-gyeom was thinking. Indeed, Killer’s Touch was more destructive than any other blessing. But that only applied when the opponent didn’t understand the ability.
In that sense, Professor Lee Jun-gyeom was simply unlucky. I was the only person who knew all his secrets.
At that moment, I dodged his attack and threw another punch.
“Puhuk!”
Professor Lee Jun-gyeom staggered after taking my fist directly to the face. He screamed,
“Ugh… How dare a mere Citizen Hall student…!”
The Constellation Maestro of Beating expresses strong displeasure at the target’s words and actions.
When his trump card failed to work, the professor seemed to feel suffocated by frustration and finally exploded in anger. His behavior was no different from a child throwing a tantrum. Of course, the purpose behind it was worlds apart…
Even now, his eyes were clearly asking why I wouldn’t just die for him.
At that moment, a message appeared.
The target has just received a new Blessing!
What? A new blessing?
The target’s tantrum has been accepted.
At the same time, Professor Lee Jun-gyeom rummaged through his pocket. What he pulled out was a still-fresh human heart.
Thump. Thump.
The professor’s expression completely changed.