Chapter 14
[Name: Labyrinthos (Cleared)] [Type: Labyrinth] [Difficulty: B]
[Description: The labyrinth designed by Daedalus in Crete. It is characterized by its incredibly complex maze and various types of traps.]
[You are the first to clear a labyrinth on the 1st floor!]
[This achievement will be recorded in the ‘Hall of Fame’ for one day.]
[Players Kang Jinhyuk and Park Hana will each receive 5,000 coins!]
Blinding sunlight and the exhilarating freshness of the air.
“Sigh…”
Jinhyuk closed his eyes, savoring the taste and feel.
“We… We survived! We really did!”
Tears welled up in Park Hana’s eyes.
What a hellish month it had been.
Chased by the Minotaur all day long, unable to get proper sleep,
And surviving on nauseating moss and mushrooms.
But they had survived.
Yes, they had survived that hell.
However, their time to relish in joy was brief.
Jinhyuk nudged her shoulder firmly.
“Hm?”
“Coins.”
“Co… Coins?”
Park Hana glanced around warily.
‘Pretending not to know, huh?’
Well, she wouldn’t want to cough up that amount.
5,000 coins could buy a D-grade item.
“Should I take it by force? Or will you hand it over?”
Jinhyuk spread his palm open.
According to their contract, profits from joint efforts were all for the boss.
“…Just give them here.”
Park Hana handed over the coins with a droopy face.
‘Good.’
That brought his total over 10,000 coins.
Jinhyuk’s lips curled upwards at his now significantly thicker wallet.
‘The first-clear rewards really are something.’
This was much more than he had anticipated.
At this point, there likely wasn’t another player with more coins than him.
“Brahm’s Ring. Have it in my hands within 3 days.”
“That’s impossible! 3 days is too…”
“Make it 2 days.”
Another word and it would be 1 day.
Any more and she’d have to bring it immediately.
“…I’ll find a way.”
Park Hana bowed deeply.
Even though they had just escaped the labyrinth and gained a new lease on life,
Her expression was utterly defeated.
Free from the monster, yet her life of servitude was just beginning.
Especially under a boss as ruthless as Jinhyuk, the future seemed even more agonizing than hell.
“Don’t look so down. I’ll make sure you’re the only one going up in the Hall of Fame.”
Park Hana’s eyes widened at Jinhyuk’s words.
“Is that even possible?”
“In cases involving more than one person, only the lead player gets uploaded.”
“…”
Park Hana bit her lip nervously.
Being the sole person known to have cleared an unconquered labyrinth would bring enormous attention.
Losing comrades.
Not leveling up for a month.
All could be forgiven with this.
Not just that – the media and internet would go wild with the emergence of a promising new talent.
For someone like Park Hana, who loved being in the spotlight, this was an irresistible reward.
From Jinhyuk’s perspective, it was a chance to avoid unwanted attention and competition.
“What about the viewers who know about you?”
“Worried about them?”
“You never know.”
Given their last messages, there was a good chance they weren’t in good shape.
But, as Park Hana said, there was always a ‘what if.’
“Then we’ll make sure they can’t speak carelessly.”
“Do you mean…?”
“I doubt the police will care if a few keyboard warriors go missing. But, that’s just my personal opinion.”
With all the focus on the tower, there wouldn’t be enough manpower to concern over a disappearance, much less a murder.
“It’s up to you to figure out a way.”
He didn’t need to spell out everything.
That was Park Hana’s area of expertise.
＊＊＊
After parting with Park Hana, Jinhyuk headed straight for the starting point.
Passing through the gate, the familiar scenery of Seoul unfolded.
Ah, not entirely familiar.
A giant screen had been installed right in front of the gate.
[Have you heard? In a week, ‘Dangun’ guild will represent Korea in the 3rd-floor boss monster raid.] [Oh! Dangun, as in Korea’s number one guild, right?] [Yes. With the USA, Europe, and even Japan having failed, hopes are high for Korea.] [It would be nice if China would join in, but they’re still silent, right?] [Yes. With various interests intertwined, countries prefer to act independently. At this point, it seems we need to find our own way through without expecting help from others.] [If it’s Dangun Guild, I believe they can do it on their own.]
The giant screen was broadcasting news related to the tower.
A raid on the 3rd-floor boss monster…
So much had progressed in just a month.
‘Wow, they’re already on the 3rd floor’s boss? Humanity really is incredible!’ But not in a good way.
The condition was to reach the next floor within 90 days.
In other words, there was no need to even attempt the 2nd floor at this point.
Yet…
‘They’re already aiming for the 4th floor.’
The myriad resources within the tower were too tempting.
Rather than leveling up step by step and gradually growing stronger, they chose rapid ascent.
‘That’s… how much are they planning to regret this later?’
While the climb might seem easy now, as they ascend, the challenges will intensify, and the time pressure will become more acute.
This isn’t a game where you can simply try again.
‘Well, I’ll be snagging all the first clears for myself anyway. I can adjust the pace to my liking.’
Jinhyuk’s gaze returned to the giant screen.
By tomorrow, it would be plastered with news about Park Hana.
He had given up the Hall of Fame spot for this reason.
Excessive attention.
It’s a double-edged sword.
If you can firmly establish yourself and deter others from messing with you, great…
But it could also become a hindrance to crucial early growth.
For the sake of humanity.
For the sake of the country.
For the sake of others.
If personal effort is overshadowed by the guise of public service, that’s the tyranny of the majority and a disgusting hypocrisy.
Those obsessed with vanity or those mad about playing hero might bite, but not me.
‘Let’s gather some information on what’s happened over the last month.’
It’s doable through the internet.
But to obtain quality information amidst the rumors and falsehoods…
Well.
That would require much more time and effort.
Better to employ a more effective method.
Jinhyuk logged into the [Tower of Trials] community.
Numerous categories and posts filled the screen.
Among them, he needed to find one person.
A player he had been eyeing since his time in the labyrinth.
‘Where are you?’
Finding one person among so many felt like playing ‘Where’s Waldo.’
But Jinhyuk efficiently sifted through likely places: [Today’s Popular Posts], [Hall of Fame], [Tips Board]… And finally.
‘Found you.’
A familiar name caught his eye.
[User: BaldHuman / Joined: 2007. 8. 13 / Details: Private]
Given the join date, it was definitely him.
BaldHuman.
There he was, as expected.
Jinhyuk logged in using the ID he had used while playing.
‘TeemoCaptain’.
An account joined on 2007. 7. 1.
It felt nostalgic, returning after so long.
But why…
‘Damn, why did I choose such a username back then?
There were so many cool options.’
Clear, Sword Emperor, Martial God…
Names that would have been respectable anywhere.
But back then, he was fixated on Teemo, fluffy and infuriating to opponents.
An irreparable mistake, but one thing was clear.
BaldHuman.
At least it’s better than that.
- TeemoCaptain: Hello, BaldHuman. Do you remember me?
‘Will he respond, I wonder?’
They had been together once, but that was in the past.
He could easily be ignored now.
Or perhaps completely forgotten.
As he pondered, a response came surprisingly fast.
- BaldHuman: Lol! Captain Teemo! Long time no see!
He remembered.
It had been over 7 years since their last interaction.
Jinhyuk felt a warmth in his heart.
- BaldHuman: Wow, but why didn’t you ever reply to my whispers or messages? I’ve been sending them since Day One.
- TeemoCaptain: Ah, I’ve been a bit busy for the past month.
- BaldHuman: Lol, what were you? On a deserted island?
- TeemoCaptain: Well, somewhere similar.
The labyrinth, to be precise. Spent a hellish month there.
Naturally, there was a gap in information.
Luckily, someone who could fill him in on recent events had appeared.
If it’s BaldHuman, he’d know more about the Tower of Trials than anyone else.
He could ask him everything.
- TeemoCaptain: It’s a bit awkward to keep chatting here. How about we meet in person, if you’re free?
- BaldHuman: Of course! But I was planning to meet up with NuclearFist from Bukgwangdong, too. Is it okay if we all meet together?
An unexpected nickname came up.
NuclearFist from Bukgwangdong.
He had planned to meet him, too.
‘This is turning into a real-life gathering of Tower of Trials veterans, isn’t it?’
The idea intrigued him.
Meeting the veterans he had only interacted with in the game.
He didn’t hesitate long.
- TeemoCaptain: Please come to the entrance of the Tower. I’ll find a cafe and wait inside.
Jinhyuk sent a brief reply.
＊＊＊
In a cafe where people seldom wandered, at the very back,
Jinhyuk sat with a cold chocolatte, letting time drift by for about 30 minutes.
Then, the door creaked open,
And two individuals, a man and a woman, entered.
No need for confirmation; it was evident.
They were BaldHuman and NuclearFist from Bukgwangdong.
They seemed to recognize him as well, making their way over immediately.
“Hello! I’m BaldHuman!”
A man just over 170cm tall, with curly permed hair and fair skin, greeted him with a bright smile.
Quite a cutie, with a likable face.
In the game, he was a bald black man dressed in leopard print panties, a bee tail, and butterfly wings…
‘Ah. This must be the guy who set the Bug Labyrinth on fire and then screamed for pest control to come.’
[Your blood pressure is rising.] [Risk of adverse health effects.]
Agreed.
It felt like his cheeks were burning just from looking at him.
Then, the woman on the other side introduced herself.
“I’m NuclearFist from Bukgwangdong.”
Tall, with a healthy tan and long, flowing hair, dressed in athletic wear that perfectly complemented her physique.
This person must be…
The generously built Caucasian wearing a floral tube around her waist and boxing gloves on her fists, definitely…
No doubt about it.
The image of her shouting, “My fist knows no mercy!” was still vivid in his mind.
What a turn of events.
It was expected they might be somewhat older and rugged in appearance.
‘But to be this…normal? No, in another sense, they’re too striking, aren’t they?’
Jinhyuk hesitated before speaking.
“Te…emoCaptain.”
He had almost forgotten.
In the game world, even the most deranged veterans could be utterly mundane in reality.