058 – A Room You Can’t Leave Without Finding Something #3
Jeon Somi, a currently active explorer, wasn’t pleased with the current situation.
Of all people, Hanamjin, her nemesis, had even managed to secure the team leader position.
‘Does it really not matter that I got slapped?’
Jeon Somi felt a growing resentment towards her high school classmate Jang Hyun-ah as she walked in a single file along the perilous one-tree bridge over the cliff.
She was so filled with anger that she wanted to push Jang Hyun-ah off into the deep abyss beneath.
‘What’s this “ho-cation” date nonsense?’
Just moments ago, the male student had asked Jang Hyun-ah about her “ho-cation” date with Prince Juhyun last week.
The problem was that Jang Hyun-ah had supposedly taken leave that week to visit her hometown.
Moreover, wasn’t Jang Hyun-ah the one who had always said things like, “Somi, you and Prince Juhyun really suit each other. I truly hope everything works out for you,” seemingly supporting Jeon Somi’s relationship?
‘Was she just pretending to support me while secretly flirting with Prince Juhyun behind my back?’
Could such a thing really be possible?
Since high school, Jang Hyun-ah had always claimed, “I have no interest in romantic relationships.”
As far as Jeon Somi could tell, throughout their three years of high school, Jang Hyun-ah had acted like someone who had no interest in men whatsoever.
But what if all this time Jang Hyun-ah had secretly been meeting with Prince Juhyun?
What if all her apparent support for Jeon Somi had been nothing but lies and pretense?
‘They always say that an apparently calm cat is the first to leap onto the stove. Jang Hyun-ah, you conniving woman! If it’s true that you’ve secretly been dating Prince Juhyun and kept it from me, I won’t let this go!’
Friendships of three years could break easily when it came to matters of love.
Still, Jeon Somi decided to leave a small ray of hope.
There was a possibility that Hanamjin had simply been lying.
And so, Jeon Somi laced her words with thinly veiled hostility towards both Hanamjin and Jang Hyun-ah as she spat out several sentences.
“Hanamjin, if you don’t discover anything valuable during your time as team leader, how about apologizing and posting it with some stars? It would become a viral post in no time!”
This was a rare opportunity for revenge.
Though her words were directed at Hanamjin, her eyes were fixated on Jang Hyun-ah.
“And apologize for spreading nonsense about my friend Hyun-ah going on a date with Prince Juhyun! Hyun-ah doesn’t like dating men. Hyun-ah, isn’t that right? You always said you disliked men because of your philandering father.”
Jeon Somi observed every subtle movement of Jang Hyun-ah’s facial muscles closely. Jang Hyun-ah’s lips moved as if she had much to say, her brow furrowed in anger, presumably because of the mention of her father.
“Somi, why are we talking about my dad all of a sudden?”
“Why not? It wasn’t a secret. Anyone who needed to know, did.”
Seeing the irritated Jang Hyun-ah brought Jeon Somi an unspoken joy.
Just then, Baek Yeo-ul shouted.
“…If your words are kind, mine will be too. But if we achieve results, it’s you who will owe us an apology! For stealing my lunch and yelling at me! You owe me big time!”
Baek Yeo-ul harbored deep resentment.
She wanted a clear apology for all the bullying she endured during the labyrinth exploration.
But the process wouldn’t be easy.
‘Who knows what kind of mischief these weasel-like seniors will try.’
Baek Yeo-ul decided to meticulously monitor her seniors to ensure they didn’t do anything malicious.
If she helped Hanamjin achieve results, her own name would surely gain recognition.
‘If I become famous, it’ll also help promote our family business, “Baek’s Shop,” right? That would improve our family’s financial standing! And…’
Baek Yeo-ul glanced at Hanamjin’s back.
Though Hanamjin had appeared during a tough time like a prince on a white horse, even without a single luxury item, he seemed more charming than the likes of Prince Juhyun or Jeong Yi-seon that Baek Yeo-ul had known.
‘Could he really be the prince who’s come to save my life?’
Despite her initial brutal meeting where she got kicked in the rear end, Baek Yeo-ul decided to overlook her anger graciously.
‘But why does he like that Seugal anyway? She’s a conniving woman. Honestly, she’s worse than these senior “badgers” here—a terrible woman through and through!’
Baek Yeo-ul knew over a hundred nasty things about Seugal, having been her friend since elementary school. For instance, how Seugal would always curse when tickled.
Just as she thought this, they reached a dead end.
Jang Hyun-ah smirked.
“Making all that noise, and it still ends up being a dead-end? I knew it. I’ve been here several times, but it’s always been this way—nothing special. Looks like we aren’t going to achieve much today.”
Jang Hyun-ah’s expression, which was slightly anxious as she nibbled her lips, seemed to relax. She appeared genuinely relieved.
However, Hanamjin brushed off Jang Hyun-ah’s jibes and slowly extended his hand toward the dead-end wall. As he did, a large rumble echoed through the Great Labyrinth, and the wall began to rise toward the ceiling, revealing a new space.
Everyone was momentarily speechless at this surprising turn of events.
Even Jeon Somi and Jang Hyun-ah were astonished by the sight before them.
“Flowers?”
“There’s grass here!”
It was a room filled with abundant flowers and grass, where beautiful minerals adhered to the ceiling, glowing in various colors like sunlight.
It was exactly the kind of place one might have dreamed of as a child—a place where a fairy princess could live.
At that moment, Hanamjin’s sharp eyes fixed on a particular spot.
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【This Room Belongs to the Princess…!】
【No Entry for Unauthorized Personnel…!】
An engraving on the dead-end wall.
As the hand adorned with a ring reached out, the door groaned and opened.
It was a room filled with colorful flowers.
So, this is what a fairy princess’s room looks like.
Just moments ago, the women who were behaving like wild animals were now wide-eyed in awe, exclaiming in wonder as their eyes scanned the room.
My hand moved toward the golden birdcage placed on the table.
Inside was a rainbow-feathered birdcage.
A piece of paper also lay inside.
【Happy 10th Birthday.】
【Once it flies, it can never be found again, so don’t open it.】
【To my beloved Spring, from Father Ballaga—】
【Name: Birdcage
Gifted to the daughter of the Great Labyrinth’s Fairy King.
Possession: 《Shrink Lv.3》 – Can shrink any target like a magnifying glass would.】
A shrinking birdcage?
Out of curiosity, I placed my hand inside the cage.
Surprisingly, my hand shrank to almost one-tenth its size.
Startled, I pulled my hand out and it returned to normal.
“What?”
Out of curiosity, I shoved my arm, shoulder, and then my entire body inside. My body shrank significantly and fit perfectly within the cage.
Baek Yeo-ul’s eyes, looking at me, seemed impossibly large, almost scary.
Like some kind of ‘Attack on Titan’ scenario.
“Han-chin! What are you doing in there!”
Poof!
As I jumped out, my body quickly returned to its regular size.
Whatever this item was, it was undeniably fascinating.
“It’s a relic! Han-chin! Wow, it’s a birdcage! You shrink when you’re placed in it! Look at my hand! It’s completely miniaturized!”
Hugging the birdcage tightly, Baek Yeo-ul was ecstatic.
On the contrary, Jeon Somi and Jang Hyun-ah’s faces betrayed deep consternation. They exchanged a glance, understanding each other as old friends often do.
【Name: Jeon Somi
Possession: 《Slipperiness Lv.2》 – As slippery as a master eel.
State: 《Villainy》 – She plans to gloss over everything as if nothing happened.】
【Name: Jang Hyun-ah
Possession: 《Vibration Lv.3》 – Can create precise vibrations like construction machinery.
State: 《Brazenness》 – Feels good about planning to steal the junior’s accomplishment.】
Not only do they want to cancel our agreement, but they’re planning to steal the credit?
Jang Hyun-ah spoke.
“Hey, Baek Yeo-ul, hand it over. We’ll carry it.”
“What?”
Baek Yeo-ul was visibly flustered. She glanced around but clutched the birdcage even tighter.
“I won’t! You made me carry everything until now, and now what? I’m carrying it! Until we leave! Because it was found by Han-chin!”
“Hey! When seniors ask for something, just hand it over! Why are you so talkative!”
Zing.
“Ah!”
The rough hand of Jeon Somi grabbed Baek Yeo-ul’s hair, causing her to cry out in pain. Still, she wriggled around, refusing to let go of the birdcage she embraced.
“Aaah! No, I can’t give it! It’s ours!”
Baek Yeo-ul and Jeon Somi began wrestling.
Watching them, Jang Hyun-ah gritted her teeth tightly. Her vibrating punch, which rumbled with power, looked quite ominous.
A punch that would surely hurt.
But Baek Yeo-ul was unyielding.
“I won’t give it! It belongs to Han-chin! No way!”
“Aah! Hey, Jang Hyun-ah! She just bit me! Baek Yeo-ul this psycho!”
The situation was highly volatile.
Jang Hyun-ah said,
“It’s better to comply quietly. No matter how much you shout here, no one will come to rescue you. Do you know how many Awakening Ones go missing in the labyrinth each year?”
This was a threat.
An implicit suggestion that if they didn’t comply, they would go missing in this labyrinth.
Since Jang Hyun-ah’s resolve seemed firm, I turned to Baek Yeo-ul.
“Baek dang, just give it away. Come over here.”
“But, but this belongs to you, right?”
“Just give it for now.”
Baek Yeo-ul’s expression was filled with reluctance, but she eventually extended the birdcage to Jeon Somi.
As Jeon Somi took it, she smirked.
“You should’ve done this earlier. This is rare, so if we auction it, we might take around ten percent. Or we could just submit it to the school’s treasure exhibition and claim the bonus!”
“You were lucky.”
As the glamorous Jeon Somi and the vibrating Jang Hyun-ah celebrated, I took Baek Yeo-ul, who was crying loudly, “You found it!” and left the room.
“Baek dang, do you know what happens when you lock quarrelsome women in one room?”
BOOM!
The door slammed shut as soon as I extended my hand.
Immediately, faint voices came through the cold stone door.
—Hey! What are you doing! Open this!
—Hyun-ah, why can’t I open it?
A startled Baek Yeo-ul looked at me.
“You’re going to keep them locked in?”
“They’re the ones who threatened to make us disappear. We should lock them away for a few days until they come to their senses. Since this is a dead-end, no one will come, and they can’t move.”
In the Great Labyrinth, Smartwatches don’t work.
Because this is another dimension entirely.
Since exploration teams often spend days inside the labyrinth, it would take no one by surprise if Jeon Somi and Jang Hyun-ah disappeared for a few days.
Besides, if anyone comes, they won’t be able to open the door without this ‘ring.’
It was a perfect prison.
Just then, Baek Yeo-ul, who had been trembling, exclaimed in awe.
“…It’s the Curse of Solitude!”
“What curse?”
“My mom says that the Curse of Solitude originally came from a tradition where fierce women were locked in one room until only one remained alive! The surviving woman becomes a Solitary Poison (Toxic Person)!”
What kind of tradition is that? What could a Solitary Poison be used for?
Before I could inquire more, Baek Yeo-ul chuckled.
“They’ll grovel to us within a few days, begging for forgiveness! Good for them!”
It wouldn’t take that long.
According to my prediction, it would all be settled by tonight.
I know what happens when ill-tempered women are locked in the same room.
They’ll do anything to get themselves released, and they’ll beg me.
.
.
.
.
And my prediction was spot-on.
