◈ Episode 129. The Labyrinth of Tefferen (2)
[Teffern Labyrinth]
[Recommended Level : Lv.500~?]
[Collapse Rate : 0%]
A regular update added this rift to the [Teffern Labyrinth].
Lee Ho-Yeol, the Dark Spirit, the Infinite Darkness, and the Teffern Labyrinth.
The interest that had been building for nearly a week had finally reached its peak.
The AAU has been watching the situation carefully.
Park Minjae, the head of the Korean branch, his eyes widened.
“Is this even a reasonable search volume, Soogyeom?”
The traffic literally went through the roof.
It was the number of searches for the keyword ‘Arcana Labyrinth’.
Tadadak─
Tapping on the keyboard.
Yoon Soo-gyeom, who was contributing to the search volume, spoke up.
“Ho-yeol is the only one who received the quest, but it seems like everyone is looking forward to it. It’s not a chance that comes along every day.”
Sung Hyun-joon was looking between the two bosses.
He joined the conversation.
“It’s the 10th Wonder of the Arcana Continent.”
Back when Arcana was just a game.
It was impossible for the developers to not know the 10 wonders.
If you were a developer of Arcana, it was strange not to know.
“I’m not making this up, it’s a world-class quest.”
It was.
The Ten Wonders, each one of which will affect the world beyond the continent of Arcana.
So I didn’t think it was content that would be released at this time…….
Park Minjae’s eyes flashed with a sharp intensity.
“You mean Lee Ho-yeol’s level has reached that point.”
“That’s right, because his estimated level is at least level 900.”
“Wait, doesn’t that mean other players shouldn’t interfere?”
Isn’t that scary?
Their lives were on the line.
Sung shook his head.
“Exactly. How can they compete with Mr. Ho-yeol?”
“……What, Ho-yeol?”
“Didn’t you just tell me not to homenhomen?”
I pretended not to hear.
Sung continued.
“Still, it’s a labyrinth, so I guess they’re hoping for the best.”
“That’s right. Labyrinths aren’t like ordinary hunting grounds.”
“What, you think you can break it if you know how to break it?”
There were many ways to tackle the Labyrinth in Arcana.
Polar opposites, for example.
You could destroy every trap in the game and walk out of the Labyrinth without a single capture or kill.
It was also possible to hit every trap, defeat every monster that spawned, and get out.
“If you get stuck, you can just sit still.”
Or you could just stand still and wait.
Even when Arcana was just a game, experience was valuable.
There was even a way to abandon the quest and wait for another player to clear the Labyrinth and then save the day.
“Hmm, such complicated calculations?”
That’s how players think.
This feeling of worrying for nothing.
Park Min-jae held his tongue for a moment.
Yoon Soo-gyeom interrupted.
“Besides, the recommended level is level 500, which is high compared to the average player’s level……. The rifts I’ve seen so far shouldn’t have been so vicious.”
“More than likely, there weren’t even any vicious demons!”
“…… Isn’t that right?”
Soo-gyeom and Sung Hyun-joon didn’t seem to mind.
However.
‘I can’t help but think of Teffern, a place that hasn’t even begun development.’
Is it because he’s gotten older and more senile?
There was a piece of information that was particularly disturbing to Park Minjae.
The recommended level of [Teffern Labyrinth].
“Hey, Soogyeom.”
“What? Go ahead, branch manager.”
“That……. Labyrinth originally had a level like that, right?”
“Question mark? It’s always been like that.”
As you can see, there are many different ways to solve the Labyrinth.
Depending on your options, the difficulty level can vary widely.
In the past, the recommended level was marked with a question mark.
Yeah, it was just a simple system notation…….
‘It’s not just a labyrinth, it’s the 10 wonders of the world.’
Even the developers themselves.
No one remembers the details of the setup.
Content from the distant future.
Park Minjae couldn’t help but be concerned.
[Recommended level: Lv.500~?]
What is the maximum value of that question mark?
Lee Ho-yeol, I’m not doubting his abilities.
‘Am I supposed to just stand by and watch?’
Park Minjae, while he’s in his own troubles.
Sung Hyun-joon’s excited voice pierced my eardrums.
“……What? Wait a minute, Ho-yeol and the Explorers’ Federation must have had a good talk, because the Explorers’ Federation is starting to make moves, but it’s not just any Explorers’ Federation, it’s Fabian himself!”
……What, Fabian?!
That Fabian?
Are you referring to the Fabian Delon I know?
Park Minjae asked, dumbfounded.
“Fabian Delon, the legendary explorer and head of the Explorers’ Federation?”
“Yes, that’s the same Fabian!”
“…… This is crazy.”
Fabian Delon!
Aka, the legendary explorer.
Including the 10 wonders of the world.
Closer than anyone to the hidden riches of the Arcana continent.
So, just like Magic Tower.
For systemic reasons.
He was tied to his position as head of the Explorers’ Federation.
To think that he had started to make such a move!
To join forces with Lee Ho-yeol to conquer the Teffern Labyrinth.
Park Minjae spat out a hollow laugh.
“This is how you really felt like an old woman, really?”
.
.
.
Three explorers from the Federation, including Fabian.
To truly find out their true colors.
As expected, there were only explorer players belonging to the same Federation.
──────
Title : Relay as persistent as a wheel! Taffern Labyrinth! is up!
──────
Kingdom of Yusra.
In front of the Explorers’ Federation headquarters.
“Can you see well?”
Park’s camera panned over the explorers, including Fabian.
Before the viewers could react in disbelief, Park’s excited voice took over.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Fabian in action since I joined the Explorers’ Federation, and it’s not just him, it’s Aaron and Lombus!”
Aaron and Lombus.
Except for Fabian, who had been inactive.
The two top performers in the Explorers’ Federation.
-What?? They’re great???
-No, you wouldn’t know it by looking at them. Of course they’re great.
-From the looks of their equipment, they’re not bad.
-What is this, explorer’s gear? My heart swells with pride.
We haven’t even entered the Teffern Labyrinth yet.
The chat window is already buzzing.
Park concluded his summary with a single line.
“In short, the best of the best!”
The elite forces of the Explorers’ Federation have set out to challenge the [Teffern Labyrinth] Rift!
This came as a huge shock to the players, who had somewhat anticipated the situation.
“This is crazy. Fabian was a character that could move?”
“The guy who won’t even face us is coming out with a stance like that?”
“No. Even if Fabian could, he’s not……. Those two!”
Even to the Rankers, Fabian was an unknown.
The natural direction of the arrow was toward the two men.
Aaron and Lombus.
“Aren’t they both notorious for ransom?”
Two men who were executives of the Explorers’ Federation and whose track records could be counted on one or two fingers.
Yes, their high ransoms were not unknown.
“Ransom or not, those two. They’re not cheap.”
The one who stuck out his tongue was the fifth ranked guild member, Bohemian.
Guild Master, Guyver.
In the aftermath of the events in Muon, the Holy Land, the guild’s ranking dropped one spot.
Bohemian had switched places with Inazuma.
Guyver treasured the experience.
More important than rankings is understanding the subject matter.
The lesson taught him to look at the situation calmly.
“You all remember, right? We were in a dungeon capture competition with Second Sun. We were losing, they were losing. You recruited those two people despite the loss.”
“You still remember that? That was before the Cataclysm, man.”
“How could I forget, I did.”
The disgrace of the day!
Aaron and Lombus had egos as big as their abilities.
Just as Bohemian and Second Sun had a rivalry.
There was also a rivalry between them.
Thanks to this, the two guilds were caught between the two explorers.
“I realized that day that if I ever opened my hand to the Explorers’ Federation again, I’d be a son of a bitch, not a man. Too bad it was before the Cataclysm. If it was after…….”
How many guild members on both sides had been killed and forced to log out because of the ego battles between the two Explorers? It was Guyver who knew.
He couldn’t help but be both proud and concerned.
“Voluntarily. It’s good that you even declared yourself unpaid.”
……Lee Ho-yeol, is it really okay?
As I said.
The madness of explorers in front of an expedition is beyond imagination.
Moreover, explorers’ brains spin fast.
Like a dungeon or a labyrinth.
When you’re in a position of power, you use it to your advantage.
“Can I control three such tired people?
I don’t know what Ho-Yeol thinks.
I don’t know what he thinks.
Guyver shook his head.
“I refuse, no matter who offers.”
He’d be overrun by explorers and never find the real thing.
“……Guyver, are you serious?”
“Huh? Seriously, of course.”
“I understand if you’re honestly envious. Master.”
“What? No, it’s not like that…….”
“It’s your arm that’s injured. You’re talking about it like it’s your head.”
“No, wait, you’re being harsh. You?”
But Mr. Guyver’s non-nutritive explanation didn’t last long.
“!”
Soon, Ho Yeol and the three explorers met in front of a rift in the [Teffern Labyrinth].
Their first encounter was broadcast to the world on the airwaves of nettubers.
To Ho Yeol.
Aaron and Lombus bow respectfully.
And Fabian, the president of the Federation.
“……is this real?”
The spectacle brought him back on topic.
At the same time, it gave courage to the players who were hesitant to enter the [Teffern Labyrinth] rift.
“Okay. If it’s really tough, we’ll just stay put.”
“Right? Even if we can’t break through, Lee Ho-yeol will clear it for us.”
“Uh-huh. What’s Lee Ho-yeol, anyway. It’s Mr. Ho-yeol.”
Rumbling─
[Teffern Labyrinth] On the verge of a rift.
The crowds, the attention.
It’s been a while since I’ve explored.
Or perhaps it was too much attention.
Fabian relaxed his heavy shoulders.
‘It’s a tired world you live in, adventurers.’
I hated the idea of a world without freedom.
Then he shifted his gaze.
To Ho-Yeol.
His many names and accomplishments.
What kind of man was he?
Fabian had been waiting for this day, apart from the surprise.
Indeed, the wait was not wasted.
He looked like he was living in a different world.
First of all, that outfit.
It was not of the Arcana continent, nor was it the attire of an adventurer.
It’s hard to believe that he’s about to enter the Labyrinth. He’s dressed with formality and dignity.
More surprising was his demeanor.
“I’m sure we’ve exchanged enough greetings by letter.”
Putting himself at ease with the head of the Explorers’ Federation?
I could understand that.
After all, he was the equivalent of a king and a Hakuna in the Kingdom of Yusra.
The Explorers’ Federation had established itself in Yusra, so his attitude was understandable.
‘No, considering the treatment the Explorers’ Federation receives in the Kingdom of Yusra……. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to treat us poorly.’
So it wasn’t the slight that surprised Fabian.
‘……That’s great.’
His gaze and posture were not the least bit pressured.
Fabian scanned the air around him again.
The moment Ho Yeol entered.
The attention and stares focused on him.
He was a little embarrassed to say it in his own words, but…….
but the attention was many times more than he was used to as Arcana’s greatest explorer.
‘I told you it was a camera.’
And did I mention that those little machines, those cameras, broadcast the situation here in real time to the rest of the world?
The world was literally watching.
‘I can’t say enough about how amazing it is.’
Despite all the attention, he didn’t falter.
Maybe that’s why he felt like he was living in another world.
Fabian spat out a wry laugh.
‘So much for thorough preparation.’
He was the expert in the labyrinth.
He’s actually glad he’s with Ho-Yeol.
This shouldn’t be happening.
Fabian pulled himself together.
“Let’s go in.”
“……!”
Ho-Yeol’s voice came through as if he was pleased with his assessment.
A nod.
An exchange of glances.
The explorers of the Federation, including Fabian, stepped forward.
Fabian spoke up.
“I don’t want you to regret your decision. I will do everything in my power.”
*
Good.
Looks like we’re not the only ones entering the labyrinth.
This is the modern world, after all.
‘It’s not like we’re going to capture a demon, just the four of us.
The Demon Castle and the Labyrinth.
The recommended level was 300 levels above the Demon Castle Rift.
But for me, the [Teffern Labyrinth] is a much more burdensome rift……. It was more important to me whether or not [Natural Enemy] was triggered.
‘Still, I’m relieved.’
It’s reassuring in that way, Explorers’ Federation.
We need to be prepared.
You mean you didn’t read my rambling letter?
First of all, the equipment you’re wearing is no joke. It’s impeccable, even by Grandfell’s aesthetic standards.
The equipment was at least [luxury] quality.
Of course, even if I was concerned.
I wouldn’t have been as reticent as I am now.
Still, it gave me the confidence to speak up.
“Enter.”
[Teffern Labyrinth]
[Recommended Level : Lv.500~?]
[Collapse Rate : 0.1%]
At the same time as I step in.
The landscape changes in an instant.
The only good thing is that the place where the [Teffern Rift] was created is a void.
The Rift is a [『Anomaly』], a space that is half reality and half the continent of Arcana.
‘For example, it was created at a transit station.’
An intricate labyrinth mixed with an infernal railroad transit station?
I’m horrified just thinking about it, seriously.
But…….
I guess it’s been a long time since I’ve been relieved.
The view gradually brightens.
The landscape of the Teffern Labyrinth is revealed.
At the same time, a message and an eerie voice.
[Foolish one who has entered the Teffern Labyrinth].
[There is no wealth here].
[Leave this place immediately].
“……voice!”
“Mr. Fabian, did you hear that?”
“I heard it. Not a good start, this one.”
Judging by the reactions, this is not an uncommon scene in the Labyrinth.
Fabian, Aaron, and Rombus pause for a moment.
The final message came through.
[Unless you want to die].
…… Glup!
I can hear Fabian and the others salivating.
A warning from the start.
The anger I had tried so hard to suppress is rising again.
But I don’t show it.
Regardless of my personality, I still had something to trust.
I spoke in the same voice as always.
“Hiel.”
Hiel appeared out of thin air.
A black figure hovered at her side, a dark spirit.
It looked at me and whispered.
“I’ve been waiting for your call, infinite darkness.”
……Waiting and all that.
“The infinite darkness……!!”
Some people listen.
How can I not be called by that name, even in the labyrinth?
A plea echoed in my chest for a moment.
Soon my vision flickered.
[10 Wonders Quest: The Labyrinth of Teffern].
A new quest objective popped into my mind.