NPLLD 11

Chapter : 11

Yellow Belt (3)

Seoyul was racing through the Yellow Belt, choosing not to exterminate the hornets directly but instead using the Spear to trap them inside the labyrinth while he searched for Lee Yeon-hee.

‘Tough little bastards.’

But the situation was heading toward an unexpected outcome.

[Honey Slasher Count: 20]
[Sting Hawk Count: 70]
[Remaining Ghoul Count: 17]
[Red Goblin Count: 19]

Inside the labyrinth beyond the Spear, the combined assault of the Sting Hawks and Honey Slashers was overwhelming the Red Goblins and Ghouls, cutting them down mercilessly.

Normally, monsters trapped inside a labyrinth would lose their sense of direction and wander aimlessly.

However, there were so many of them that when multiple paths appeared, they were splitting into halves and advancing separately with unnerving cunning.

[Cross Block activated.]
[Spin Block designated.]

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Because Seoyul could see through the labyrinth clearly with his synesthetic ability, blocking their routes was not difficult.

The problem was their speed—far beyond that of the Ghouls and Red Goblins—making Seoyul’s responses dangerously tight.

On top of that, he was pushing his synesthetic ability to the limit to find Lee Yeon-hee, to the point where his brain was nearing blackout from information overload.

However, that was in the past.

Now Seoyul was maintaining mental stability by optimizing his thoughts through his internal technique, Clear Mind State, keeping both mind and body in balance.

If Seoyul missed the timing to trap the hornets, the worst-case scenario would occur: the labyrinth would be breached and the Spear would collapse.

Time remained fixed, but the situation inside the labyrinth was changing as if accelerating.

[Honey Slasher Count: 15]
[Sting Hawk Count: 80]
[Remaining Ghoul Count: 8]
[Red Goblin Count: 10]

In an instant, the number of monsters dropped significantly.

At this rate, the labyrinth would collapse and the Spear would be released—it was practically inevitable.

Even the boss, though a mere “scrap,” would fall easily under such numbers.

‘No good!’

Seoyul finally decided to use his final, ultimate method.

Whoooosh!

Dozens of Sting Hawks surged toward him.

Pa-pa-pa-pat!

Seoyul tore them apart with Dragon Heaven Martial Arts, then stepped onto the Spear.

[Do you wish to enter the labyrinth?]

He declined, so he was not pulled into the Spear.

Instead, he kicked it, and the Spear slowly sank into a lake filled with toxic miasma right before his eyes.

[Lake of poisonous miasma is flowing into the Spear.]

Inside the tutorial labyrinth—

Sssshhhhh—

The water Seoyul had redirected rapidly began to consume the labyrinth.

Sting Hawks and Honey Slashers, who had been just one step away from the exit, were swallowed by the flood without any means of escape.

Red Goblins and Ghouls were also submerged.

Within five minutes, the remaining monsters were suffocated and corroded by the toxic water, their skin peeling away as they drowned.

[Level Up.]
[Level Up.]
[Level Up.]
[Level Up.]

[Due to increased proficiency, ‘King of the Labyrinth’ skill has improved.]

[Trap, ‘Quagmire with No Escape’ has been created.]

[Trap, ‘Rain of Steel’ has been created.]

[Trap, ‘Blast Block’ has been created.]

[Due to the influx of lake water, the labyrinth has been damaged by 35%.]

The level-ups were certainly a good thing.

But thinking about the cost of repairing the labyrinth made Seoyul’s stomach ache.

“…That was a method that required extreme restraint.”

Landing back on the ground after kicking off the Spear, Seoyul suddenly sensed a color through his synesthesia—it was Lee Yeon-hee.

‘Found her!’

What he saw was Lee Yeon-hee screaming, her hair grabbed by a male student who was offering her up like a sacrifice before a Honey Slasher.

‘You bastard!’

Seoyul’s expression hardened as he sprinted toward her without hesitation.

“GRAAAAH! You bastard! My arm!”

Ma Dong-gi, whose arm had been severed, crawled desperately in agony, trying to escape the beast.

But the Honey Slasher watching him gave him no opening.

Slash! Fwoosh!

Its forelegs crossed again, finishing him off completely, spraying blood everywhere.

“KYAAAH!”

Witnessing the horrific scene right in front of her, Lee Yeon-hee covered her mouth and trembled.

“Do something! Kill that thing!” Park Jin-tae shouted.

Without needing to be told, Heo Tae-woong was already swinging his longsword frantically, dealing with the fast-flying Sting Hawks and Honey Slashers.

The hornets’ hunting pattern was relentless and cunning.

Realizing Heo Tae-woong was not an easy opponent, they circled around him, Park Jin-tae, and Lee Yeon-hee, tightening the net.

The distance closed gradually, forcing them to stand back-to-back.

“These damn clever bastards…”

Heo Tae-woong increased his sword speed, trying to break through—but a Honey Slasher slipped past his guard and lunged straight at Park Jin-tae.

Panicking, Park Jin-tae grabbed Lee Yeon-hee by the hair and shoved her forward like a shield.

“D-Don’t come closer!”

“Kyah! Let go of me! Let go!”

Lee Yeon-hee’s face turned pale as she struggled desperately, but her strength was limited.

The Honey Slasher raised its forelegs, aiming to strike them both—

But before it could land—

THUNK!

A spear shot in from the left and shattered its head.

Blood and viscera exploded outward, splattering over them.

“…O-Old man.”

Lee Yeon-hee stared at Seoyul, who stood there like a force of nature driving back the hornets, visibly stunned. Park Jin-tae also froze in disbelief.

“You’re struggling, huh? Good timing. Hey. Watch the rear. I’ll handle the front.”

“……”

Heo Tae-woong frowned at the tone but, given the situation, immediately coordinated with Seoyul.

Soon after, thanks to their combined efforts, the hornets were wiped out in an instant, leaving silence behind.

“Are you okay?”

Seoyul kicked the spear, spinning it once before resting it on his shoulder and looking at Lee Yeon-hee.

“Uncle!”

Lee Yeon-hee burst into tears and hugged him tightly.

“Waaah! Why are you only coming now? I was so scared!”

“You shouldn’t be wandering into a place like this, you little brat.”

Her usual composed demeanor was gone—she looked like an innocent child again.

Park Jin-tae, watching nearby, spoke arrogantly again.

“Good, good. Uncle, I’ll pay you well, so let’s get out of here quickly.”

Seoyul ignored him completely.

Instead, he turned a cold gaze toward Heo Tae-woong and Park Jin-tae.

“I’m Seoyul from the Management Bureau. What are you doing here with a minor?”

“T-That is…”

Caught off guard, Park Jin-tae stammered, but Heo Tae-woong stepped forward, showing his license.

“We are on a commissioned mission by a professional division hunter. Details are classified.”

A lie to conceal their crime.

But it was a lie backed by enough power that it could be made into truth.

Seoyul clicked his tongue.

“Ridiculous.”

“….”

“…Uncle.”

Heo Tae-woong and Park Jin-tae were momentarily speechless, while Lee Yeon-hee tugged at Seoyul’s sleeve, but he ignored them and began taking photos with his phone—of Ma Dong-gi’s corpse, of Lee Yeon-hee, and of Park Jin-tae and Heo Tae-woong together.

Snap. Snap.

Park Jin-tae’s face turned pale as he sensed something going wrong.

Heo Tae-woong quickly reached to snatch the phone—

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Shing!

A spear blade pressed against his neck stopped him instantly.

Seoyul stared at them sharply.

“You said it yourselves—you’re on official duty. I won’t interfere, but you’ll need to explain later. Why there’s a corpse here, and why a minor who isn’t even an awakened individual is in the Yellow Belt.”

“That corpse is not with us. We just happened to run into that hunter.”

“We’ll see once we investigate.”

“….”

“I’m taking the kid. You can go.”

“…Uncle.”

Lee Yeon-hee looked shocked—Seoyul felt completely different from the man she had known before.

Heo Tae-woong’s brows twitched slightly.

Should he kill him?

He seriously considered it.

But touching a Management Bureau hunter was like poking a sleeping lion.

Even if he made it look like a monster attack, the problem was Seoyul’s presence.

Just by looking at him, Heo Tae-woong felt an overwhelming pressure—like this man could not be easily subdued.

‘What the hell is this guy? I should know every Bureau hunter above B-rank in the capital… Is he from the provinces?’

“…Fine. Do as you say.”

In the end, he backed down and dragged Park Jin-tae away.

At that moment, Seoyul smiled faintly.

“Oh, but isn’t that the entrance? You said you were on official duty—you should go that way.”

At those words, Heo Tae-woong’s expression shattered.

He had tried to use a lie to cover up his crime, but it had instead trapped him inside the Yellow Belt.

His eyes subtly warned that if they went toward the entrance, an immediate investigation into Ma Dong-gi’s corpse would begin.

‘This sneaky bastard!’

“…I took the wrong way.”

“Hey, hey! Are you crazy?!”

To buy time, Heo Tae-woong grabbed Park Jin-tae’s wrist and dragged him in the opposite direction of the entrance.

After dealing with the commotion, Seoyul brought Lee Yeon-hee to the barrier near the exit.

Outside the barrier stood his colleague from training, Kang Jeong-min, wearing a wizard’s robe.

“You came out earlier than expected. Is that Lee Yeon-hee?”

“Y-Yes. H-hello…”

“You did well.”

Kang Jeong-min adjusted his glasses and looked at her approvingly, then turned to Seoyul.

“You’ve changed a lot.”

The Seoyul he remembered was a top-tier scout hunter in Korea—but with combat ability barely above D-rank, forced to live as a civil servant rather than a field hunter.

But now, something was different.

From head to toe, Seoyul carried the aura of someone who had survived brutal trials and emerged hardened.

“Things happened. Take care of Yeon-hee for a while.”

“Sure.”

Kang Jeong-min didn’t ask further, though he more or less understood the situation.

“Sorry… because of me…”

Lee Yeon-hee lowered her head, but Seoyul gently patted her.

“It’s not your fault. The adults are just incompetent. Don’t worry anymore. This might end more simply than you think.”

With a faint smile, Seoyul turned away.

“Where are you going?”

“There are still missing people. I’ll search a bit more.”

“Do whatever you want.”

Kang Jeong-min shook his head in resignation as Seoyul went deeper into the Yellow Belt.

Searching for missing people was just an excuse.

His real purpose was elsewhere.

“How could I waste a gift given by God?”

Seoyul smirked faintly as he looked through his synesthesia, spotting Park Jin-tae and Heo Tae-woong hiding, waiting for a chance to ambush him.