The Rescue Signal
Bang!!!!
"What?!!"
"Ch-Choi Kang-hyuk and Kim Dan have gone to Japan and changed their nationalities…"
While everyone was fixated on the Hyeolma Inn and the kobolds, the Awakener Association had still been monitoring Choi Kang-hyuk’s movements in real time.
"How is that even possible? We were watching him!"
"It looks like Kim Dan reached out to Japan first. They used Ether to scramble the information."
"Issue a formal protest to Japan immediately. Those lunatics. Stealing a ranker? Ignoring every precedent?"
The global Awakener Treaty prohibited nations from forcibly poaching each other’s Awakeners. Yet no one could stop an individual from exercising free will. The United States and China had long been quietly recruiting Awakeners under the banner of “personal choice,” and any protest would be met with feigned ignorance and smug laughter.
"This… what the hell. If they had just waited a little longer…"
The Association had already begun discussing how Park Hyun-gi’s Ether payments had set a precedent that would force them to support other rankers as well. But procedures took time. While they were still building the foundation for a ranker support program and seeking approval from above, Choi Kang-hyuk had left Korea. There was no going back now.
"Haa… I should have known things were going too smoothly."
Park Hyun-gi might bring in twice as much Ether as Choi Kang-hyuk, but the latter’s contribution had never been small. Eight pieces a month—double the amount of the third-ranked Han Seol-ah. Before Park Hyun-gi appeared, Korea’s annual Ether acquisition had been around 400 pieces; Choi Kang-hyuk alone had supplied nearly 100 of them every year. Thanks to Park Hyun-gi they had briefly closed the gap with Japan’s mid-500s, but the difference was widening again.
Korea had lost a ranker. Japan had gained one. It was the biggest blunder Korea had made since the Labyrinth first appeared.
Kim Min-woo collapsed into his chair and clutched his forehead.
"Everything was going so well lately… Why did this have to happen?"
He was still mulling over his mistake and searching for countermeasures when—
"…Association President, are you busy?"
"Of course I’m busy! …Wait, what?"
"Then I’ll come back later."
"A-Ah, no! Please come in! What brings you here?!"
Mongmo had suddenly appeared in the doorway, peering into the president’s office. Kim Min-woo shot to his feet, grabbed Mongmo’s hand, and ushered him inside. Kim Hyun-ah, without being asked, immediately brought out a glass of milk.
"What could possibly bring a busy person like you here?! You should have called—I would have come to you!"
"My master asked me to inquire about something."
"Goodness, you could have just phoned! I know how busy you both are these days. Haha!"
Kim Min-woo forced an exaggerated laugh. It was true that Mongmo and the Shut-In Blood Demon were extremely busy. Setting aside the safe zones inside the Labyrinth, the sudden addition of trained kobolds had more than doubled the overall safety level. He was genuinely curious. How much had the survival rate improved? What additional value had the survivors created?
At least on the first and second floors, Korea’s Labyrinth was cruising smoothly alongside the Hyeolma Group’s cruise ship.
"We launched two new businesses this time, didn’t we? The Hyeolma Inn and kobold rentals! Money is pouring in…"
"Haha! Of course! You deserve every bit of it! After everything you’ve done, you should keep raking it in!"
"Yes, so my master was thinking we should start another business for Awakeners. Something like the Hyeolma Carriage!"
"You’re already doing plenty—wait, no! If you’re offering, we’d be incredibly grateful…"
"So, would you like to invest in this? And put the Association’s name on it?"
"What exactly are you planning…?"
"We have quite a few kobolds left over. So…"
Mongmo explained the new business that would utilize the surplus kobolds. Their keen senses—especially their sense of smell—made them perfect for search and rescue. Kim Min-woo’s eyes grew wider with every word.
"That’s the plan. If you could help us produce the signal flares and handle the publicity… and if possible, have the Association sell the standard-grade ones…?"
"H-Haa! We’ll do it!!! Absolutely!!! In fact, let’s push this as a national project instead of just an Association one!!!"
"Do whatever is convenient. What about producing the flares?"
"Leave it to us!!! We’ll modify military signal flares… In one month—no, one week!—we’ll have the production line ready!!"
"It can be done that fast…?"
Leaving a bewildered Mongmo behind, Kim Min-woo stood up with a flushed face.
"Uwahaha! Don’t worry! I’ll show you exactly what it means when the nation throws its full support behind something!!!"
The revolutionary and flawless business plan from the Shut-In Blood Demon had already erased Choi Kang-hyuk from Kim Min-woo’s mind.
***
"Oh my, Hyun-gi… is this it?"
"Yes, this is our new house."
"This is a house? This is the kind of place only foreign billionaires live in…"
"Mom, your son is a billionaire now."
"Oh my goodness…"
Ever since the Hyeolma Inn advertisement went live, the Korean government, the U.S. government, and the Awakener Association had all contacted him in a panic. The current house wasn’t safe. They needed to move immediately. They even offered to simply give them a house—just bring their bodies.
"Hyun-gi… haha. Is this really okay?"
The sudden increase in scale left his father simply glancing around in a daze.
"Yes. It’s fine. We’ll have drivers, bodyguards, and secretaries. Go inside and greet them."
"N-No, why would we need secretaries? Mom, can’t we just live normally? You even made that protective barrier thing…"
The government had provided Ether to create protective barriers for his parents, convinced the matter was too important. Even though Park Hyun-gi’s information was protected by Ether, they insisted on preparing for every possibility.
"It might feel a bit stuffy, but please bear with it. In exchange, you can do whatever you want."
"Mm. All right. Actually, what’s there to feel stuffy about? It’s nice—really nice…"
His parents looked at the new house once more.
"It’s so nice that it doesn’t feel real."
"Yeah. Even winning the lottery wouldn’t feel like this."
Two large mansions. One slightly bigger for his parents; the other was his. Both were safety residences built with Ether—top-grade security facilities that imbued the land itself with special Ether abilities. The United States had provided them. Apparently, even the U.S. President and key officials received houses like these.
"Then go inside and look around. I need to tidy up my place too."
"Y-Yes, go ahead!"
After his parents entered their house, Park Hyun-gi headed to his own. It was a mansion with a small logistics warehouse attached. He went straight to the warehouse first.
He pressed the button beside the warehouse, and with a whirring sound the massive shutter rose. It was large enough for a trailer to drive in and out. Mongmo poked his head out of Park Hyun-gi’s pocket.
"Master. Is this the new house?"
"The house is next door. This is the warehouse."
"Then we should designate the reality base here!"
"Right? We need to move supplies to the territory."
Park Hyun-gi stepped inside the warehouse and lowered the shutter again.
"Declare Reality Base."
Scanning space…
Designate small logistics warehouse as Reality Base?
"Yes."
Base designation complete.
The interior of the logistics warehouse glowed with light. Since all the doors were closed, nothing would be visible from outside.
"Master! A door appeared over there!"
"Must be because it’s a logistics warehouse. The door got bigger too."
On the wall opposite the shutter—where there had originally been nothing—another shutter had appeared. When he pressed the switch, it rose with a whir, revealing his territory.
"Hm?! Captain! The door got bigger! Keruk!"
"Yeah. Supplies will be coming through here from now on. It’ll be easier with the extra space."
"Keruk! We can use carts! We were already busy, so this will save time!!"
"Gob, are you busy?"
"I’m busy replacing everyone’s equipment with the new gear we made! Keruk!! I have to outfit every single familiar!"
"Ah! Let me see. Come here."
"Keruruk!"
Park Gob approached and proudly presented his chest. On the breastplate of his new armor was a single symbol. It was the work of the newly trained artisans. For Park Gob, it was a white star drawn inside a red blood drop. The star was the mark of nobility.
Park Hyun-gi smiled and tapped the symbol with his finger.
"Looks good."
"Kuhuhuhuk! It’s perfect! This is proof that the Captain chose me! Keruk!"
"Yeah. Let’s keep doing our best."
"Of course! Keruk!"
Park Gob snapped a crisp salute.
It was the new symbol that would represent the Hyeolma Group. Each division would have a different inner design, but the red blood-drop background would be the same for all.
Park Hyun-gi nodded and stepped out of the Labyrinth.
Now it was time to look around his new house. As he closed the warehouse and headed for the door leading to the main house, his phone vibrated.
Buzz— Buzz—
It was a message from Association President Kim Min-woo.
"…He sounds really excited."
"The Association President was grinning from ear to ear the first time he heard about it."
"Really? Well, good news is good news. The country will handle all production. We’ll just collect the premium service fees."
"We’re ready on our end too, Master!"
"Good. Then Mongmo, you take command of the kobolds."
"Understood!"
After finishing his conversation with Mongmo, Park Hyun-gi tapped out a reply.
***
Choi A-ram sat in the Association lobby on the first floor, holding her number ticket and waiting for her turn.
Ding-dong!
Number 432. She checked her ticket and approached the window displaying the matching number.
"Welcome. How can I help you today?"
"Um… I came to sell magic stones. And this."
Choi A-ram presented her Awakener license.
"I’m planning to enter the second floor starting today, so I’d like to renew my license."
"Understood! I’ll help you with the magic stone sale first."
"Okay."
Choi A-ram exchanged the community points she had accumulated for magic stones. Particles gathered above her palm and dropped into solid form.
"Yes! Five normal-grade magic stones confirmed! Please wait a moment!"
As the counselor stood up with the stones, Choi A-ram glanced around the lobby.
"Were there always this many people?"
She had visited a few times before, but lately the Association seemed far more crowded. Had the number of Awakeners suddenly increased?
— …Save your life.
An unfamiliar advertisement was playing on the lobby TV. What was that animal giving a thumbs-up? A wolf?
The counselor returned.
"Five million won has been deposited into the designated account, and your license renewal is complete. Ah, and!"
Along with the newly renewed Awakener license, the counselor placed something on the counter. It was a basket containing smoke grenades—yellow and red. The red ones had “5,000,000 won” written on them.
"…What is this?"
"You said you’re entering the second floor for the first time, right? Then you absolutely must go to the Black Forest."
"The Black Forest? I was planning to go to the Underground Ruins because the compatibility is better for me…"
"Are you a member of the Hyeolma Guard?"
"…No."
"Then you definitely need to go to the Black Forest. And these."
The counselor handed her two yellow smoke grenades.
"If you’re in danger, use these. Pull out the safety pin and throw them hard onto the ground."
"What are they?"
"Rescue signal flares. A new joint project between the government and the Hyeolma Group."
Choi A-ram turned the rescue signal flare over in her hands.
"What changes if I use it when I’m in danger?"
"You’ll receive help in an emergency."
Did the Labyrinth have things like this? Choi A-ram tilted her head, but no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t recall anything similar. This was something that hadn’t existed in the Labyrinth before.
"It’s not even an item… Okay, I understand. By the way, what’s the red one?"
The counselor smiled and pushed the basket forward.
"It’s a premium service. The government guarantees the effect! Would you like to purchase one?"
"O… five million won?"
"Yes! Five million won!"
Even though it was for use inside the Labyrinth, the price was steep for an Awakener just entering the second floor. With her budget already tight, Choi A-ram shook her head and stood up.
"I’ll pass on that. Thank you."
"Of course. Have a safe Labyrinth life!"
Choi A-ram headed straight home. There was still time before the next reset, so she decided to enter the second floor right away. She equipped the magic-grade gear she had bought from Hyeolma Gentleman, slung on her bag, and attached the mysterious rescue signal flare to her waist.
"Enter the Labyrinth!"
Flash!
After entering, Choi A-ram immediately headed for the center of the first floor. She had already defeated the hobgoblin a few days ago. Three gates—green, gray, and red—stood open in the center. Normally she would have chosen the gray gate, but—
"…Still, the Association recommended it, so it should be fine, right?"
Choi A-ram entered the green gate leading to the Black Forest.
The moment she stepped inside, she was greeted by the scent of grass and pitch-black darkness.
"They said there’s an inn or something here, right? Should I look for it?"
Having already one-shot a hobgoblin, Choi A-ram’s confidence was at its peak. She was a B-rank flame mage. Even though her level was only 10, being B-rank meant the second floor should be manageable. She began exploring slowly. Once her eyes adjusted to the dark, shapes gradually became visible.
After wandering for a while—
Grrrrr.
Growl.
Kraaaak!
"Eek! Fireball!!"
Boom!
Choi A-ram unleashed magic at the kobold that lunged out of the darkness. The tremendous power reduced one kobold to pieces, but—
"Grrraaah!"
"Keng! Keng!"
Two more remained. She tried to cast again, but the kobolds were faster.
"Kyaaah!"
Claws raked across her thigh while one kobold bit down on her staff and refused to let go.
"F-Fire Curtain! Flame Armor!"
She activated her skills, but they kept misfiring because the kobolds were too close. The kobolds flinched and backed away for a moment under her magic, but by then Choi A-ram was already covered in wounds.
"Aah… N-No…"
Tears streamed down her face from sheer terror. She should have prepared more before coming up, or just gone to the Underground Ruins instead. Trembling, she backed away as the kobolds crept closer.
Then she remembered.
‘Use it if you’re in danger!’
The rescue signal flare. She quickly pulled it out, removed the safety pin, and—
Thud!
Threw it onto the ground with all her strength.
Hisssssss.
"…"
"?"
"?"
Yellow smoke billowed up from the ground along with a sour smell.
"W-What is this…"
"Kikikiki."
"Kkik! Kkik!"
The two kobolds laughed as if mocking her.
"Rescue, my ass. You said it would help!"
She had thought the smoke would at least obscure their vision, but it was just this useless yellow cloud?
"M-Mom…"
Choi A-ram cried as she continued backing away. The kobolds approached, swinging the stolen staff like a toy. Just then, she heard a sound.
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
Tap-tap-tap.
The kobolds turned at the sudden noise. From the darkness—
"Krrraaah!"
A kobold burst out and sank its teeth into another kobold’s neck. It was a kobold, yet its power and speed were on a completely different level. A symbol of a white cross inside a red blood drop gleamed on its chest.
By the time Choi A-ram came to her senses, the other kobolds had already turned to ash and vanished. A kobold wearing clothes walked toward her.
"D-Don’t come any closer! What are you?!"
The kobold snatched her bag, stuffed items into it, picked up the fallen staff, and handed it back to her. Then it tied Choi A-ram and her belongings onto its back.
"???"
The movement was so fast it happened in an instant.
"Huh?"
After blinking a few times, the kobold carrying Choi A-ram on its back—
Whoosh!
"Kyaaaaah!"
—dashed off at incredible speed. In the forest, beasts were naturally faster than humans. The wind rushing past her ears sounded like passing structures when riding in a car with the windows down.
"Kyaaaaaaaah!!!"
"Are you all right, patient? Keruk?"
"…?"
When she regained her senses, her hair was a mess. They were in some unknown clearing, and a goblin was standing there.
"Uh… Eh?"
"Where are you hurt?! Where does it hurt?! Keruk!!"
"Uh… Ah, uh? My thigh…"
"Thigh!!!!"
The goblin brought some unknown medicine and splashed it onto her thigh.
"Anywhere else?! Where else hurts?! Keruk!"
"It’s okay now…"
"No pain anywhere?! Nothing hurts?! Keruk!!"
"…"
Being repeatedly asked if it hurt in such a frantic situation made her feel like maybe it did hurt after all. Tears streamed down her face.
"I-I don’t know…"
"What should we do?! Will you stay?! Or go home?! Keruruk!"
"I want to go home…"
"Understood!!! Kobold, depart!!!"
Smack!
The goblin slapped the kobold’s rear, and it took off again with Choi A-ram on its back.
"Kyaaaaah!"
After screaming for a while, the kobold leaped into the nearest exit. The kobold disappeared, and—
Crash! Thud!
"…"
Choi A-ram landed in her own room.
Was she dreaming? But when she turned her head, unknown spoils spilled out of her bag.
[Kobold Hide x2]
[Kobold Bone x2]
[Kobold Meat x2]
[Magic Stone Fragment x6]
"…"
She was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t even cry or speak. She just stared blankly at the floor for a long time before a single thought surfaced.
"…What the hell is the five-million-won premium signal flare?"
The Hyeolma Group had started something strange again.
— End —