NPLLD 03

Chapter : 03 

Tutorial

[Class Advancement Quest]

• Complete the tutorial to become a Labyrinth Architect

[Description]

• Eliminate 50 ghouls that have infiltrated the tutorial labyrinth

[Restrictions]

• Only the quest recipient may participate
• Requirement: Must have discovered and deciphered the monument text
• Must be completed within 24 hours

[Rewards upon Success]

• Class advancement to Labyrinth Architect
• The 50 defeated ghouls will be incorporated as Labyrinth Monsters

[Penalty upon Failure]

• Class advancement quest will be revoked

‘These must be Karakl’s ghouls.’

Seoyul could tell just by looking at the red dots scattered across the map.

He took a step forward.

—and the map disappeared.

When he stopped and waited about 10 seconds, the map reappeared.

‘So I can’t view the map while moving…’

“I get it now.”

To complete the quest, there were two key conditions:

1. Defeat ghouls using the labyrinth without relying on the map
2. Manage time efficiently

The first condition suited Seoyul perfectly as a scout.

The real problem was the second.

While navigating the labyrinth, the overwhelming influx of information could cause brief blackouts.

If he didn’t rest at the right times—

He would collapse before completing the quest.

“…Let’s do this.”

Resolving himself, Seoyul stepped forward.

* * ***

“Grrrr…”

Deep inside the labyrinth—

A ghoul resembling a rotting old man struck the wall with a pickaxe.

Clang.

The wall didn’t even scratch.

Seoyul seized the moment and kicked the ghoul’s head into the wall.

Crack!

The ghoul froze instantly.

[Level Up!]

“Good… I can do this.”

Seoyul grabbed the pickaxe and activated Silent Wave.

The invisible ripple spread outward—

Three ghouls detected.

‘I can’t take on three at once…’

The limits of a D-rank hunter stung.

Still, he waited patiently and generated the map.

‘They’re nearby… If I turn this corner—’

He was faster than the ghouls.

But the labyrinth restricted movement paths.

‘Give me something more useful…!’

Frustration built—

Then suddenly, his Sixth Sense reacted to the wall behind him.

At the same time, the wall turned green on the map.

[Spin Block discovered through Sixth Sense and map linkage]

Other blocks across the map also turned green.

‘What is this?’

The moment he instinctively tapped the spin block—

Click!

The wall behind him rotated like a revolving door—

And Seoyul was flipped along with it.

“Grrr…”

Right on cue—

The three ghouls arrived where he had been.

They looked around in confusion, then moved on.

“…Heh.”

On the other side of the wall—

Seoyul smirked.

“So that’s how it works.”

He activated a spin block near the ghouls.

One ghoul was swept along with the rotating wall—

looking completely confused.

“This makes things easier.”

Seoyul struck from hiding—

CLANG!

The pickaxe crushed the ghoul’s skull.

[Level Up!]
[Remaining Ghouls: 38]

Seoyul began hunting in earnest.

* * ***

[Time Remaining: 3 hours 20 minutes]

24 hours—

Long, yet painfully short.

Not a single second could be wasted.

Because his survival depended on it.

Through constant experimentation and hunting—

His efficiency improved.

[Level Up!]
[Remaining Ghouls: 12]

Now the ghouls realized—

They were being hunted.

They began moving in groups.

‘If there are too many… just split them up.’

Watching the map—

Seoyul noticed red blocks labeled:

Cross Blocks

Like switching train tracks—

They could alter pathways.

Click. Click. Click.

He manipulated blocks outside their vision—

Changing their routes.

Soon—

The scattered ghouls were picked off one by one.

[Remaining: 1]
[Time Remaining: 30 minutes]

‘That one…’

A massive presence he had sensed all along.

Stronger. Bigger.

A leader among the ghouls.

He had tried to kill it first—and failed.

Worse—

It had an incredible sense of smell.

It could find Seoyul instantly.

Just like now.

BOOM! BOOM!

“GRAAAAH!”

A gigantic ghoul charged forward.

Over 2 meters tall—

At least 180 kilograms.

Click!

Seoyul used a spin block and vanished.

The ghoul smashed into the wall—

[Labyrinth wall is cracking]
[Time Remaining: 18 minutes]

‘No time.’

Failure meant death.

So—

Seoyul made a reckless move.

“AAAAAH!”

From behind the flipped wall—

He lunged and drove the pickaxe into the ghoul’s knee.

THUD! CRACK!

The knee shattered.

The giant lost balance—

The ground trembled.

BOOM!

The ghoul struck back.

“UGH!”

Seoyul’s ribs cracked.

Internal injuries.

Another punch—

“AAAGH!”

His whole body felt like it was being crushed.

Blood blurred his vision.

WHOOSH—BOOM!

He barely dodged.

Then—

The ghoul’s knee finally gave out.

‘Now!’

Seoyul gathered all his strength—

And struck the head.

THUD!

Not enough.

No strength left.

‘I will survive.’

“AAAAAH!”

With everything he had—

He struck again—

CRACK!

The head shattered.

[Level Up!]
[Congratulations! Tutorial Complete!]
[Congratulations! You have become a Labyrinth Architect!]

[Status Window]

• Name: Seoyul
• Level: 21
• Class: Labyrinth Architect
• Fame: 10
• Gold: 20
• Active Quests: 1

Stats:

• Strength: 25
• Defense: 38
• Agility: 30
• Vitality: 130
• Mana: 70
• Remaining Points: 21

Skills:

• King of the Labyrinth
• Sphere
• Synesthesia
• Sixth Sense
• Silent Wave

‘What are these skills?’

[King of the Labyrinth]

• Passive (S Rank)
• Allows creation and design of labyrinths
• Full control, monitoring, and manipulation possible

[Sphere]

• Active (S Rank)
• Forces enemies into a labyrinth
• Escape requires clearing or defeating boss
• Warning: enemies may grow stronger
• Summons a sphere that absorbs the target

“…So this is possible… Then these guys too…?”

[Defeated ghouls are being converted into Labyrinth Monsters]

“…What?”

The ghouls reformed—

Like respawning in a game.

The giant ghoul knelt before him.

[This monster has been selected as the Labyrinth Boss. Please assign a name.]

“…Hmm…”

After thinking—

“…Jjeori.”

[Labyrinth Boss named ‘Jjeori’]

…It somehow looked offended.

[Tutorial complete. Return to a safe location?]

“…Accept.”

* * ***

Rain poured down.

Lee Han walked back to the office—

His face grim.

They had saved the Epic Guild.

But once again—

They lost a capable rescuer.

“…Did you prepare the funeral?”

“…Not yet…”

“What’s the point of sending them off like this?”

“Sir, Seoyul isn’t dead yet—why assume that?”

“The gate disappeared. How are we supposed to find him?!”

“…That…”

His fists trembled.

Anger barely contained.

“Damn it… I’m sick of this!”

BANG!

He kicked the office door open.

Inside—

Slurp.

Seoyul sat there—

Eating instant noodles.

“…Why’d you break a perfectly good door? Someone die or something?”

“Y-you—!”

“Senior!”

“Seoyul!”

Lee Han froze.

The others lit up with relief.

“I made an extra cup. Want some?”

“You bastard! If you’re alive, say something!”

“S-sir, calm down!”

“Let go! I’ll kill him myself!”

Lee Han launched a flying kick—

SWOOSH!

Seoyul dodged effortlessly—

Still holding his noodles.

CRASH!

The table shattered instead.