100 – Become a Myth #2
6:00 AM.
Many people had gathered in the school auditorium.
They were the faces I’d seen at the inauguration ceremony of the extermination team.
“Hey, Captain.”
Also present was Captain Kang Cheol-min, the instructor for Yeongsa High’s 3rd-year Class D, and it made me feel quite glad.
Captain Kang Cheol-min was talking to Moon Hyun-a, the teacher of Class F and a member of the extermination team, when he noticed me, walked over, and tapped me on the shoulder.
“Hanamjin, I heard you’re the team leader now. How much time has passed since you transferred that you’ve ended up wearing that kind of hat already?”
“Hahahaha! Are you envious?”
“It’s more embarrassing than anything else.”
Captain Kang Cheol-min eventually sighed deeply.
“You adults, who have no choice but to impose heavy responsibilities on students who haven’t even experienced proper freedom. The adults I grew up with used to be different. I wasn’t taught like this.”
It was unexpected.
I thought he’d just be a solid warrior-like man, but he had sensitive and emotional aspects as well.
Decades later, perhaps the many children of Yeongsa High who would be known by the name “Supernova” and prepared for a glorious sacrifice learned this from such adults.
“Captain, don’t worry. I’m an adult now. When I return, I’ll be even more grown-up.”
My body might be that of a third-year high school student, but my spirit is that of someone in his mid-twenties.
And I’m a man.
When Captain sensed my resolve, he merely patted my shoulder again.
“Frankly, I’m not worried about you. But there are three other kids besides you, right? Seugal from Class F, Prince Juhyun, and especially Yeo-ul…”
Indeed, they were still students.
Young children, at that.
But.
I could confidently say…
“I’ll bring everyone back home.”
“You better do. This is your home, after all.”
As we were talking, Baek Yeo-ul, carrying a huge bag, could be seen entering the auditorium from afar.
Her steps were unusually determined, but at the same time, they somehow looked fearful, like she was forcing herself to muster courage.
“…Hanamjin!”
“Why have you brought such a big bag? Are you a snail?”
The one with an enormous bag on her back looked like a snail carrying her home. Perhaps my question lessened her tension because Baek Yeo-ul opened the bag to show me its contents.
“I’ve brought food! We don’t know how long we’ll be gone. This is instant combat rations made by my dad and this is rice cake pills made by my mom; they’re eaten with water. And this is…”
The Bangdaengi’s hand trembled slightly as she went through her explanations. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes, indicating she was overwhelmed by emotions I couldn’t fully grasp.
“Name: Baek Yeo-ul
Possessions: Expand details »
《Bad Luck Lv.3》 – As unfortunate as the cry of a winter crow.
《Good Luck Lv.4》 – As lucky as a fairy tale bluebird.
Status: 《Scared and Sad》 – Afraid of what lies ahead and fearing she might never see her family again.”
I suddenly remembered Captain Kang Cheol-min’s words when he’d grabbed my shoulder.
We adults who have no choice but to push children into the pit of d*ath.
I couldn’t help but feel ashamed as well.
But.
Bangdaengi seemed stronger than I’d thought.
“Hanamjin, I’ll definitely protect you! Don’t be afraid!”
Instead, she said she would protect me.
How?
I glanced at the status window and noticed the concept of “luck” that I had earlier transferred to Seugal was somehow now with Baek Yeo-ul. That must be why she seemed brimming with confidence.
“Hey, Hanamjin.”
Just then, someone approached me.
I thought it was Seugal, but it was Prince Juhyun.
“Hanamjin, just so you know, there’s no way you’re going to hog all the limelight. Moreover, if you try to hold me back, I won’t let it slide.”
That was all he said.
He turned his head abruptly and walked away, a man who said only what he wanted to. Bangdaengi frowned and muttered in discontent.
“I don’t like him! Why does he have to be here? He’s just going to get in the way!”
“Everyone has a phase where they’re immature, right?”
“Will he ever grow up?”
That’s… I shouldn’t spoil it by telling ahead of time, right?
I like watching movies, and when someone spoils the ending, it takes away half the fun.
Life is like a movie, and revealing too much of the knowledge of the future that I possess is not very polite.
In any case, Prince Juhyun’s participation in the extermination team seemed driven more by a desire for prestige.
If Bangdaengi volunteered for this for the safety of her cousin and family, the reasons why each individual is here are varied.
All of them stand here for their own reasons.
But, the moment we enter the Great Labyrinth, we will all share the same goal.
Surviving!
# # #
“Hanamjin!”
I was just about to go to the restroom when someone grabbed me.
It was Seo Do-cheol, the president.
“Haven’t you forgotten your promise? The promise between men, that no matter what happens, you’ll bring my daughter Seugal back safely!”
His beard was scruffy, and he had prominent dark circles under his eyes.
He hadn’t slept well, it seems.
Each time he spoke, the heavy smell of alcohol wafted.
“What kind of nation takes children from their parents and throws them into life-threatening situations? Truly a foolish and broken world.”
That’s not something Seo Do-cheol, who’s always been at the forefront of creating such a nation, should be saying, but I respected the promise.
I would not forget my vow to protect Seugal.
“Grandpa, during this time, don’t cause trouble and stay put.”
When I returned to the auditorium, everyone seemed ready to depart.
Class F’s teacher, Moon Hyun-a, who held the concept of “Door,” was standing in the center of the auditorium. One by one, each of us placed our hands on her shoulder.
“Jeon Su-ho!”
The people in the auditorium shouted the names.
Jeon Su-ho waved to the crowd, lifting his hand.
Shooosh-
With that sound, Jeon Su-ho disappeared. Soon after, Prince Juhyun stepped forward.
“Prince Juhyun!”
“Prince Juhyun!”
Once again, people loudly cheered the names of the extermination team members. It felt like they were bidding farewell to victorious soldiers or generals. Prince Juhyun seemed thrilled, his shoulders trembling with excitement.
Shooosh-
And just like that, his figure too vanished. Each team member, amidst powerful cheers and calls, entered the Great Labyrinth one by one.
Though Nam Bada sneered, saying, “Everyone loves meaningless formalities,”
“Hanamjin!”
“Hanamjin!”
When people called out my name, I didn’t see this situation as merely “meaningless formalities.”
From the voices shouting my name, I felt both hope and anxiety.
This heightened atmosphere and emotion might be what the heroes of old experienced. Was this how the Achaean alliance felt setting sail for Troy?
Indeed, the extermination team heading towards the myth was no lie.
In that sense, it might be good to give a heroic speech to the crowd.
“I am invincible—”
Shooosh-
d*mn it!
Just as I was about to deliver a majestic line, teacher Moon transferred me into the Great Labyrinth. For a while, as my coordinates suddenly shifted, my stomach churned—and then—
An unexpectedly crisp and fresh smell of pine filled my nose.
I looked up and saw towering trees densely surrounding me.
Huge structures resembling ancient monuments were entwined with thick and mysterious vines.
“What is this place?”
I thought we were being teleported into a place surrounded by cold stone walls, but the term “forest” describes this area better.
Veteran scout Jeon Su-ho, who had arrived earlier and was inspecting the surroundings, slapped me on the back.
“No time to zone out! In the ‘Fairy Forest,’ those who lose focus are the first to drop out. Look over there! See that fool being eaten by flowers?”
“Don’t just stand there; help him!”
Prince Juhyun was trapped in some strange tentacle-like vines, clearly in distress. sh*t, the first thing I see upon entering the Great Labyrinth is a man being attacked by tentacles!
Anyway, this place is known as the ‘Fairy Forest.’
There are so many types of the Great Labyrinth, I see.
“Actually, it’s more accurate to call this an ancient city than a forest. It’s an old city where fairies used to live. Those things resembling monuments are fairy buildings.”
Just then, a woman in a white gown pulled out a pair of glasses from her jacket pocket and put them on.
She was Wi Seon-a, a doctor who conducted special classes at Yeongsa High.
“Through Yeongsa High, we’re connected to the underground layers of this city. This place can be thought of as the ground level. Understand?”
“I totally get it.”
Now I understand that this is the ground level of the Great Labyrinth.
That raises a question.
“Why are we brought to the ground level?”
“This is at the order of our team leader, Nam Bada. To fully utilize our numerical advantage, we need an open space. Imagine facing Nam Woo-joo in a narrow spot. Terrifying, isn’t it?”
That’s true.
Crowds are better for ambushes.
As I looked around, I could see massive boulders floating in the air.
On top of those rocks were structures resembling castles floating in the air.
Floating castles from fairy tales must look exactly like those.
“That? That’s the fairy palace. We still don’t know how they managed to float these things or build palaces in the air. Hehehehe…”
Doctor Wi Seon-a seemed knowledgeable and enjoyed showing it off.
But she wasn’t a bad person.
Her small chest was compensated by a warm heart, making her worthy of being called “Mom.”
“The fairy civilization was more advanced than we thought. Exploring it and converting it for our use is the duty of scouts.”
Goooo—
Wi Seon-a gazed at the palace in the sky that stood tall.
“But despite such advanced civilization, we still can’t figure out why it vanished overnight. Why did the fairies abandon their city and palaces and flee into the Great Labyrinth?”
“Because of demons!”
Even though he looked like an uncle who enjoyed manual labor, Jeon Su-ho, who was still in his twenties, roared heartily. The extinction of the fairy civilization due to demons sounded like a plausible story.
However, Doctor Wi Seon-a in her white gown thought otherwise.
“A recent study suggests that transformation into demons only happens to us modern humans. It happens due to a reaction against the ‘concepts’ of the fairy world.”
“Doctor, if what you say is true, then it means that fairies used ‘concepts’ without worrying about reactions. There’d be no reason for me to be forced to do daily knitting because of the ‘steel’ concept!”
Fairies don’t suffer from concept recoil and don’t become demons.
This is an intriguing story, but unfortunately, we’re not here to explore the fairy world right now.
I shouted aloud, clearing up the confused atmosphere.
“Everyone, when ready, we’ll summon the ‘Star’ demon to this place!”
The concept stone of ‘Conquest’ in my pocket seemed blazing hot.
