The turtle cautiously stepped forward.
‘Was there nothing unusual?’
It was at the moment of a relieved sigh.
Suddenly, the walls on either side split open, and a giant mouth emerged.
Filled with jagged teeth, it clamped down on the turtle.
The immense pressure caused the turtle’s shell to crack.
A chill ran down my spine.
‘If I had been up there, I’d have been sliced in half too.’
I imbued the turtle with magic, commanding it to charge forward.
The turtle began moving, ignoring the crushing force of the massive jaws biting into its shell.
The jagged teeth, like drills, dug deep into the shell, but they couldn’t withstand the turtle’s sheer weight and eventually let go.
The turtle ran forward for a long time, escaping the trap.
It reached a point where paths converged and finally stopped.
‘What on earth was that just now? To think it would lunge out from the walls like that…’
Until the turtle had been bitten, I hadn’t sensed any magical energy, so I hadn’t realized there was a trap there.
Thankfully, it seemed too slow to pursue us.
I cautiously scanned the surroundings.
‘I can’t afford another lapse in vigilance.’
But even after a thorough check, nothing seemed amiss.
This area appeared relatively safe.
I carefully climbed out of the turtle’s interior to inspect the damage left by the creature.
The shell was cracked along the bite marks.
It wasn’t the only mark—the shell was covered in scratches and gouges from all the traps we had encountered so far.
A bitter smile formed on my face.
‘That monster was on the easier side. At least the turtle managed to escape on its own.’
The previous trap came to mind.
Pillars of fire had erupted from all sides, engulfing the turtle entirely.
The flames had been so intense that the turtle’s legs melted almost instantly.
If I hadn’t rolled the shell to escape, both the turtle and I would have been cooked alive.
‘If only the turtle’s legs had been intact, we could have dodged before being bitten. That thought lingered as a regret.’
I had poured all my materials into repairing the legs, but they were still not fully stabilized, unable to react as swiftly as before.
Every trap so far had been filled with a malicious intent to kill.
Yet, they were designed so that, with every ounce of effort, I could barely escape.
I could already picture the professor laughing maniacally.
‘He must have set up these traps deliberately, just to enjoy watching me struggle. No doubt, the traps for others are even more diabolical.’
But now, the turtle was reaching its limits.
One or two more traps, and it would likely be destroyed.
I carefully followed the path.
Fortunately, it seemed like that had been the last trap.
Up ahead, an open area came into view.
It was several times larger than before.
This zone appeared to be a meeting point of multiple paths, and a significant number of people were already gathered there, resting.
It seemed like about half of the remaining participants were here.
As I arrived, the people glanced at me, then at the turtle’s pitiful state.
They quickly shifted their focus back to checking their own conditions.
Despite the labyrinth’s changes, there didn’t seem to be many dropouts.
Everyone here looked composed, which meant only the capable had made it this far.
I maneuvered the turtle to a corner of the clearing and let it rest.
It sprawled out like a corpse.
I immediately began repairing it.
Naturally, I also pitched a tent in front of it—business couldn’t stop even in this situation.
The labyrinth had changed, and the traps had become more malicious.
Many of my puppets had been lost in the process.
I couldn’t move forward anymore—or rather, I didn’t even want to try.
The outside of the clearing was simply too dangerous.
While I was fixing the turtle, a signal came through.
One of my retrieval puppets had recovered a person.
I sent out the few remaining puppets to bring them in.
Despite the chaos, the recovered puppet managed to drag the person back to the tent.
When I saw the face, I was shocked.
It was Jun.
‘I didn’t expect him to still be alive.’
When we parted ways, he had been on the verge of collapse.
For him to make it this far—he must have had some tricks up his sleeve.
He was still festooned with artificial organs, slowly restoring the flow of his magic.
Once he recovered, he would wake up on his own.
For now, I couldn’t afford to wait; the turtle’s condition required my immediate attention.
I stepped out of the tent and resumed repairing the turtle.
Its pitiful state made me sigh.
But then, I felt several gazes from people in the clearing.
Following their direction, I spotted individuals I hadn’t encountered before in the labyrinth.
One of them approached me.
It was Hong Ryeong, the youth who always carried that peculiar smile.
“That’s an interesting puppet you’ve got there. Could I have one?”
Hong Ryeong extended his hand as he spoke.
He was likely referring to the retrieval puppet. Without hesitation, I handed one over.
Meanwhile, I glanced at the group he had come with. They looked like nobles, chatting casually without any sign of exhaustion.
Hong Ryeong examined the retrieval puppet from various angles, then extended his ring.
I cautiously tapped my ring against his. Two points were transferred.
“Others told me two points would suffice. This seems to be made of the same material as that turtle. Very useful. I’ll borrow it and return it later.”
“I’m just grateful for your kind words.”
“But why are you all gathered here?” I asked.
Hong Ryeong’s smile turned slightly bitter.
He shook his head and raised his hand.
On his palm was a faint wound, with a sticky curse attempting to force it open. Hong Ryeong’s magic was burning the curse away, but it stubbornly persisted.
“The traps have gotten so difficult that we can’t move forward like before. We haven’t even found any treasure.”
“I see. No wonder so many people are gathered here.”
The conversation ended there.
I turned back to repairing the turtle, but Hong Ryeong didn’t seem inclined to leave.
I glanced at him subtly. He was staring intently at me.
‘He seems like he wants to say something more.’
I carefully observed my surroundings. Other people were watching this area too.
‘Should I create a space where we can talk privately?’
Since my tent was completely open, I had only one place where we could speak in secret.
I opened a path into the turtle’s side, leading to a temporary workshop Hong Ryeong had been to before.
Leading him there, I set up a table and chairs and served him tea.
Hong Ryeong took a sip and savored the aroma.
“Hmm, it’s been a while since I’ve had this. The taste is even cleaner now.”
“I apologize for having nothing better to offer. So, may I ask what’s on your mind?”
Hong Ryeong squinted and studied me carefully.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a slightly lighter tone.
“What do you think, Evron? Where would the professor have hidden the treasure?”
His words caught me off guard.
Awkwardly, I laughed and shook my head.
Hong Ryeong ignored my response and continued.
“We know nothing about the professor—not even what he looks like. To be honest, the only reason we’re here is because of you, Evron. So naturally, I can’t help but wonder…
Do you already know where the treasure is?”
Hong Ryeong wore a deep smile on his lips.
‘Well, it’s only natural for him to be suspicious,’ I thought.
If I were in his shoes, I’d certainly entertain similar doubts.
Even if I claimed ignorance, he wouldn’t believe me.
Forcing a stiff smile, I showed him my left hand.
As I circulated magic through it, the contract mark etched on my wrist began to glow vividly.
Hong Ryeong’s eyes narrowed slightly as he observed it.
“I truly don’t know. I’m merely someone the professor orders around. The only reason I entered here is that he told me to follow along. I don’t have any special utility as you’re imagining. That’s why I’m just selling puppets to earn points.”
I voiced my frustration.
Of course, even after saying that, he didn’t seem entirely convinced.
This contract mark wasn’t proof of my innocence, so it was only natural.
I had shown it simply to explain my circumstances—my relationship with the professor.
He seemed to catch on and responded with a light laugh.
“Hmm, is that so?”
Hong Ryeong leisurely sipped his tea.
I sat across from him, drinking my own tea, but cold sweat ran down my back.
I didn’t know what he might bring up next.
But instead of saying anything, he simply extended his hand.
On his finger was a ring.
“Since I’ve detained a busy person for tea, I should pay for it. I’ll give you some points.”
He made it clear that refusal wasn’t an option.
Cautiously, I brought my ring close to his.
As magic flowed between them, points were transferred.
When I checked, the amount exceeded my expectations.
One thousand points.
Thinking I’d seen it wrong, I counted again. It was still a thousand points.
I stared at Hong Ryeong, confused about what this meant.
He simply smiled.
I swallowed dryly.
This was far too large a payment for tea.
It had to be a message—an unspoken demand to spill everything I knew.
I began sorting through my thoughts carefully.
Should I return the points?
But the thought of letting go of such a fortune made me hesitate.
Clearing my throat, I cautiously approached the subject.
‘The professor must be watching all of this,’ I thought.
So I had to be subtle.
“Come to think of it, there is something strange.”
Hong Ryeong’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“This space keeps changing. How is that even possible? There’s no visible magic flow or anything of the sort. In fact, when I came up here a month ago, it was just an ordinary place. The professor must have transformed it into this labyrinth.”
I stopped there, saying no more.
The truth was, I had a vague idea of where the treasure was hidden.
I’d heard bits and pieces about it while helping the professor prepare lectures.
But saying it outright was far too risky.
Even sharing this much was dangerous.
Hong Ryeong pondered for a moment before finishing his tea.
“Hmm, as expected, you never disappoint. That was delicious.”
He stood up from his seat.
I opened the path back outside for him.
Watching him leave, I returned to my seat and collapsed into it.
‘A thousand points. He really went all out.’
Of course, considering the treasure’s value, it could be seen as a small amount.
But since I had no intention of claiming the treasure, what good was it to me?
After this lecture ends, the information will be meaningless anyway.
Selling it beforehand might not be such a bad idea.
The problem, of course, was the professor.
The thought of how he might torment me made me shudder.
From the moment I’d spoken, I was certain that I’d suffer terribly in this place—until I was on the verge of death, if not beyond it.
And when I failed and was dragged before the professor, I’d face yet more punishment.
Knowing all this, I had hesitated to speak.
But at the sight of those thousand points, I couldn’t resist.
Before I realized it, the words had already left my mouth.
Sighing, I stood up stiffly.
‘Might as well get back to repairing the turtle.’
‘I didn’t know when the professor’s retribution would arrive.’
‘At the very least, I needed the turtle in working condition to survive a little longer.’
As I worked, my thoughts drifted back to Hong Ryeong.
He had handed over a thousand points so easily.
That was more than I had earned through all my efforts so far.
‘Just how many points does he have?’
‘Or perhaps points didn’t even matter to someone like him.’
‘After all, he’s from a great family.’
Either way, this was a good opportunity for me.
It had been 20 hours since I entered the labyrinth.
***
Only four hours remained.
Although I had been pleased with my thousand points earlier, I was now wandering the labyrinth again.
‘Damn it.’
By now, many participants had fallen.
About half of the students were left.
I continued with the same routine.
Lending out puppets, having people brought back in them, sending puppets down explored paths to retrieve half-dead participants, and recovering retrieval puppets lost to traps or monsters.
And getting kicked out of clearings.
I’d been forced out of clearings six times so far.
Apparently, the professor wasn’t fond of me selling information.
Whenever I lingered in a clearing, he set traps to drive me away.
In the end, I had no choice but to carefully follow paths others had taken, dodging traps as I went.
Ahead, a broken magic circle came into view.
It seemed someone with a sword had passed through, leaving the circle in shreds.
I cautiously climbed out of the turtle to examine the half-destroyed magic circle.
It was filled with complex circuits beyond my comprehension.
The few I recognized were circuits related to lightning, soul disruption, and slicing—spells I had painfully experienced firsthand from the professor.
They were lessons engraved on my body.
Just one of these spells was excruciating, yet here they were combined into a single circuit.
And that was only part of the magic circle.
‘How did others manage to destroy such things?’
Judging by the blood splattered around, it hadn’t been easy.
Following the trail of blood, I cautiously moved forward.
***
At the end of the path, a retrieval puppet lay sprawled, its legs completely destroyed.
It was crawling toward me on the ground.
This must have belonged to whoever had been clearing this path.
I quickly opened the puppet’s compartment.
But the person it carried was already gone.
Too much time must have passed, and the puppet had been unable to preserve them.
‘Does this mean this path isn’t safe anymore?’
With a bitter smile, I turned back the way I had come.
At least traveling these paths didn’t trigger instant traps like the clearings did.
‘Perhaps this is the professor’s way of showing mercy—or maybe not.’