Chapter 12

Chapter 11: The Labyrinth of Labyrinthos (5)

It had been ten days since they entered the labyrinth.

Various traps scattered throughout.

The Minotaur relentlessly pursuing them.

Not to mention hunger and lack of sleep.

The conditions were harsh, making survival nearly impossible.

And as proof, the raid that started with seven people had been reduced to three.

Jinhyuk, Park Hana, and Jang Cheolsik.

Just the three of them.

"At this rate, we'll all die."

Jang Cheolsik muttered with a grim expression.

"Yeah. We'll just be used by that devil and then abandoned."

Park Hana nodded.

Either used as a pawn to avoid traps.

Or as a discard to draw the Minotaur's attention.

One of the two.

Lee Hye-min and Jang Mina died that way.

After failing to kill Jinhyuk, they were ultimately used and discarded.

- Anonymous 1: Why don't you just give up and stay quiet? It's obvious you won't make it.

- Anonymous 6: I think he's been to the 10th floor. Let's not cause trouble.

- Anonymous 3: Yeah, with two newbies, it's like a veteran can easily handle it.

- Anonymous 4: Plus, his personality is so bad. Even knowing he wants to kill you, he keeps using honorifics and dragging you along. So annoying.

- Anonymous 9: The murderer next to me is so nice. Sob.

Park Hana's chat window quickly filled up.

They were part of the Black Crow Guild but didn't climb the tower.

In other words, they were a supporting group outside the tower.

"Did you find any information about that guy?"

- Anonymous 5: All videos related to [Tower of Trials] are locked, so we can't know.

- Anonymous 3: They blocked everything. YouTube, personal blogs, even data stored on phones got hacked.

- Anonymous 2: If we knew his face, it might be different.

- Anonymous 1: Yeah, but he wears that mask 24/7, so there's no way.

- Anonymous 6: He's like the Phantom of the Opera.

- Anonymous 4: I wonder if he wears it even when he goes to the bathroom?

- Anonymous 7: I checked, and he doesn't even have a streaming channel.

- Anonymous 3: He doesn't seem to want subscribers and is completely focused on solo play.

The eerie, oddly shaped mask gave off a sinister vibe.

Until the first day they entered the labyrinth, he didn't wear the mask.

But it was only for a short while.

When Park Hana, in a panic, turned on the broadcast, Jinhyuk had already bought a black mask from the coin exchange.

After that, he completely hid his face.

- Anonymous 3: Damn, if I had known, I would have done it crazily before. Now I'm so envious.

- Anonymous 4: If he knows all the strategies and the locations of relics, it would be so sweet.

- Anonymous 7: Seriously, it feels like electricity is zapping my frontal lobe.

- Anonymous 1: But, all the veterans who played for a long time are now MIA. Can't they give us some tips? We need to survive too.

- Anonymous 2: Would you tell them if you were in his shoes?

- Anonymous 3: Haha, if I were him, I'd keep it all to myself.

‘To think they were chosen to support me from outside the tower...’

Park Hana's face twisted.

They were just giggling, not providing any useful information.

Of course, she felt frustrated.

"Shut up. Did you tell my situation to the others?"

- Anonymous 1: Oh, you're so sharp.

- Anonymous 5: Yeah, I did.

- Anonymous 9: But it's really deep, so it's hard to find.

- Anonymous 3: It's impossible. Even in the best-case scenario, it's impossible.

- Anonymous 4: Even Bear Grylls would be in trouble.

- Anonymous 2: King Byungman would turn back.

- Anonymous 6: There's almost no known information about this labyrinth. It would take at least three weeks to catch up to your location.

Three weeks...

They had already lost two people in ten days.

Another three weeks?

'Impossible.'

Park Hana's eyes glinted with a murderous intent.

She saw Jinhyuk, who was sound asleep.

A monster who couldn't be killed no matter how many times she tried!

Right.

This isn't murder, it's an attempt.

Why? The law says so.

The punishment for an attempted crime is much lighter.

But to try to kill us all just for an attempt?

It's too much.

Really, it's too much.

'Isn't the life of six people more valuable than one?'

Right now, there are two of us.

So, he must die.

For the majority.

The minority.

"How about now? It seems like when he's sleeping is the best chance."

Jang Cheolsik picked up a rock from the ground.

It was crude, but a weapon proven effective since ancient times.

Crack!

If his head is crushed, the creature will die.

"No."

Park Hana shook her head.

"That guy's reaction speed is completely monstrous. Whether it's a fair fight or an ambush, there's no chance of winning in a fight."

There are always those who attempt clumsy assassinations.

Without considering the opponent's skills, they just act on impulse.

Such emotional attempts usually end badly.

"Then, what do you suggest? We can't just wait our turn to be killed, can we?"

"Who said we would just wait?"

Park Hana coldly pulled out a sharp stinger from her pocket.

A transparent liquid clung to it.

It was the stinger of a giant squash bee, filled with venom.

"That's...?"

"Even a monster has to eat, right?"

Preparing the meal was the job of Park Hana and Jang Cheolsik.

Collecting moss and mushrooms inside the labyrinth.

Cooking them over a fire and serving them in bowls.

All of this was done without any interference.

"Let's prepare his last meal!"

Park Hana imagined Jinhyuk chewing on the deadly neurotoxin and writhing in pain.

Heh heh.

It felt like all the pain she had endured so far was washed away.

***

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Something poked Jinhyuk's shoulder.

"Hey... wake up."

Immediately, Park Hana's voice was heard.

"What is it?"

Jinhyuk opened one eye slightly.

"The meal is ready. Come and eat."

"Already? Ah, it's moss and mushroom stir-fry again?"

"Is there anything else to eat here? Maybe you can catch a bat or a moth."

Park Hana snapped.

'So sharp.'

Jinhyuk stretched and got up.

His body felt light.

He had raised his 'Gap' stat to 21 over the past week.

Through intense battles with powerful boss monsters, his combat senses had been honed to the extreme.

His level was 1, but he was far from it.

'Far from it.'

The strongest level 1.

That's why he was looking forward to it.

The day when this labyrinth ends and he steps outside!

Jinhyuk approached where Park Hana and Jang Cheolsik were.

A foul smell hit his nose.

The mixture looked terrifying.

The moss and mushroom dish was something they had to eat to survive.

'It feels like I'm in a survival show.'

He had to force it down, completely giving up on taste.

At least it was nutritious.

If that was a blessing, then it was a blessing.

"Park Hana, can you bring some water from behind?"

"Water?"

"Jang Cheolsik, can you give me a bit more mushrooms and moss?"

"To eat more of this tasteless stuff? Enjoy it."

With light conversation, the preparations were complete.

Jinhyuk picked up the chopsticks and bowl made from bat bones.

The others also picked up their utensils.

The three of them put the food in their mouths simultaneously.

But.

"Heh heh."

"Heh, you ate it."

The two of them laughed at the same time.

The atmosphere was different from usual.

A cold, unpleasant tension.

This...

"Poison, huh."

Jinhyuk slowly put down his bowl.

"Right. It's a deadly poison that spreads through the bloodstream. Struggling is pointless."

- Anonymous 1: Hahaha, you swallowed it!

- Anonymous 3: This is what a [Food Thief] is.

- Anonymous 7: Is your esophagus burning?

- Anonymous 2: Yerim, show your hand. Is it Sakura? Or your hand?

The public chat window had already activated.

The way they giggled showed they were certain of his death.

Of course, they would be.

The antidote for such a lethal poison was extremely expensive.

There was no way they could afford it with their current coins.

Thus, it was a sure kill.

The poison would stop his heart.

If.

"What if I ate the poison?"

Jinhyuk's words made Jang Cheolsik's eyes widen.

"Did you... know about the poison?"

"You've tried this before. Do you think I would just eat whatever you give me?"

In such a treacherous place, he wouldn't trust anyone.

Swapping the bowls of food was something he always did.

However.

Even so.

Park Hana still maintained her composure.

As if she had expected this.

"Who said I put the poison in the food?"

She knew he was observant.

So, she put the poison on the chopsticks instead of the food.

To ensure even a veteran couldn't avoid it.

"Choke! Cough! Gasp! Gasp!"

With a painful groan.

Red blood spurted from his mouth.

His veins and arteries swelled grotesquely.

But.

"Why...?"

The one with blood foam in his mouth wasn't Jinhyuk.

"Grind... Grind! Grind! Grind!"

Jang Cheolsik writhed in agony.

He scratched his neck with his fingernails, a desperate sight.

Of course, the pain didn't last long.

The poison spread quickly, stopping his heart.

"How... did you... notice? How?"

"It was different from usual."

After entering the labyrinth, Park Hana never suggested eating first.

Instead, Jang Cheolsik or someone else usually took the lead.

But today, she prepared the meal first?

It was like going for a drive near the sea on the day your life insurance expires.

"Just because of such a trivial thing...?"

"Trivial things are important."

The reason I could clear the Tower of Trials.

Was it because of my excellent reflexes?

Or my exceptional determination and perseverance?

Of course, those things matter.

They are important factors.

But they are not the most important.

The reason I became a veteran...

Was because of my keen eye for detail.

I collected and analyzed even the smallest pieces of information to draw a conclusion.

That's why I could climb the tower, which seemed impossible.

- Anonymous 1: BS.

- Anonymous 4: Did he really think of all that from just a small detail? Is that even possible?

- Anonymous 2: I think he used the fact that viewers see the same view as Park Hana.

- Anonymous 5: Swapping the chopsticks is creepy, even if the food was fine.

- Anonymous 7: Bring out Conan and Kim Jeon-il.

- Anonymous 3: Stop overreacting. Honestly, anyone who finished elementary school could predict this.

- Anonymous 2: Yeah, I noticed too.

- Anonymous 6: 222222

- Anonymous 8: 333333

"And you guys..."

Jinhyuk looked at the giggling people in the public chat.

He was just staring at a point in the air.

- Anonymous 3: Haha, are we next?

- Anonymous 2: What can you do by glaring at us?

- Anonymous 6: Is this a request for a ban?

- Anonymous 8: How many punches, bro? I'm a former school champion.

- Anonymous 3: If you don't want to lose all your corn, show your face.

"You still have the nerve to talk. I guess, since you're behind a screen, what's there to be afraid of?"

Jinhyuk smirked.

"But if you had any brains, you would think about why I tolerated your existence."

If he had blocked the broadcast, there would have been no need to act.

He wouldn't have had to wear the mask all day.

But he endured all the trouble for a reason.

To confirm which side Park Hana was on.

And to.

Catch evidence of their cheating.

"You might not know, but there's only one case where live streaming is allowed."

The Tower of Trials has rules.

-Live streaming is only allowed when facing the boss monster to advance to the next floor.

And if you break that rule...

-If manipulation of views or other cheating is detected, appropriate action will be taken.

The punishment for that...

Well, it's far from mild.

[Anonymous has been disbanded.]

-'Crow is Cawing' has left the chat.

-Madam is Stone to: What? What is it?

-Jack Bauer: Why are they leaving suddenly?

-'Madam is Stone' has left the chat.

-tyg123: Wait, hold on.

-Zhao Yan: Wait!

-'Jack Bauer' has left the chat.

-Note20: Damn, who just kicked our front door?

-Darami S2: What the hell is this? What is it?

The people in the public channel disappeared one by one.

And a moment later.

[Current Viewers: 0]

"It... can't be."

Park Hana, the only one left, collapsed on the spot.