TRGBM 108

Episode 108

108. In a Straight Line

As Geumson let out a hollow laugh, the player nodded as if in understanding.

However, it seemed they had what they thought was a sufficient reason.

If you can’t walk out, and you can’t fly out, then the idea was to force your way forward, even if it meant being catapulted bit by bit.

“If it’s a catapult, we’d advance regardless of the maze, right? If we launch someone high into the sky, they might luckily fall outside the maze, or at the very least, move to a place much farther than here.”
“What? But if you die doing that…”
“Dying here or dying there, it’s all the same. If we just keep moving forward, won’t we eventually break through this maze someday…? Well, that’s the thought. A perfectly rational one, right? Haha…ha.”

A brute-force method only available because they were players.

A strategy that literally used ‘human cannonballs,’ exploiting the fact that they would revive even after death.

At first, golden hand laughed too.

But upon reflection, it didn’t seem entirely wrong.

Instead of walking while disoriented, be forcibly moved the distance the catapult flings you.
The players launched by the catapult would cover a certain distance.
And the survivors at the landing point would build another catapult and move again.
Then, eventually…
If they were truly lucky, they might even reach the end of the maze.

‘This is insane.’

golden hand held his forehead.

How desperate must they have been to come up with such a method?

He felt sorry for their desperation, yet at the same time, their outlandish idea made him laugh bitterly.

Contrary to expectations, however, the players’ faces were filled with anticipation.

To them, as long as Lepyon was a game, this too was part of the content.

It was their own way of enjoying Lepione.

“Ready!”
“Passenger number one, board!”
“Me! Me! I’ll go first!”

Before anyone could stop him, a person climbed into the catapult’s basket.

He adjusted his helmet with a solemn expression.

He took a deep breath.

“Fire!”

Thwoom-!

The moment the rope holding the catapult was cut, a massive explosive sound erupted, and the basket was flung upward.

The player in the basket screamed as he soared into the sky.

“Waaaaaah—! I’m going first—! Yaaaaah!”

He rose to a dizzying height, then traced a parabolic arc before disappearing far beyond the snowy field.

Whether he died or lived, he had undoubtedly covered some distance.

“Whoa! He flew pretty far!”
“The angle was good this time! A new record!”
“Next! Hurry up! They’re probably already building the next catapult over there! Hey, you! Wanna ride this too? It’s kind of fun.”

The player operating the catapult gestured to golden hand.

His face was bright, like an amusement park worker.

But Geumson shook his head firmly.

“No, I’m good.”
“Aw, don’t be scared. It’s a free ride, you know? Isn’t it better to fly once than to rot here?”
“I’ll find another way to break through.”
“Tsk tsk, after suffering in the maze for a few weeks, you’ll go, ‘Ah! The catapult is the answer!’… I was like that too. I totally understand that feeling. Well, good luck then! Next!”

Clicking his tongue at golden hand’s refusal, he called for the next person.

Players boarded the catapult one by one, launching into the air.

Like moths to a flame, or migratory birds seeking freedom.

Watching this bizarre and absurd spectacle, a familiar figure came into Geumson view.

“Hajun, don’t be scared. It’s just like riding an amusement park ride for a moment!”
“Sniff… I don’t like rides…”
“It’s fun! Really! Believe your unnie, okay?”

At the back of the catapult boarding queue.

A woman in a modest robe was holding the hand of a boy who looked about five or six, trying to soothe him.

The boy was on the verge of tears from fear, and the woman was forcing a smile, trying to reassure him.

Somehow, her actions didn’t seem unfamiliar.

Moreover, that boy’s name was Hajun.

If so, then that woman.

The woman dressed uncharacteristically plainly for Lepione was undoubtedly Jung Harin.

‘Jeong Harin? That’s Jung Harin… right?’

The Jeong Harin Geumson remembered.

Her appearance in-Lepione was different from her real-life appearance.

But judging by her speech style and the approximate age of the boy who seemed to be her brother, it seemed certain.

‘She should be in Airtoss, why is she here doing this?’

The future ‘Fantasy Grand Wizard’.

One of humanity’s last ten, and the very Jeong Ha-rin to whom Golden hand had considered yielding his position as Astrid’s disciple.

According to the plan, Jeong Ha-rin should be in Airtoss.

That’s how she could become Astrid’s disciple.

‘Don’t tell me… she’s trapped too?’

As Geumson was lost in thought, the Jeong Harin siblings were about to board the catapult basket.

golden hand reflexively moved.

“Wait!”

golden hand urgently called out, blocking their path.

Jeong Harin looked up, startled.

Her eyes were filled with unease and wariness.

“Wh-who are you?”
“Hmm… You’ll regret riding that, you know?”
“Huh? Why?”

Jeong Harin made a puzzled face.

Geumson grinned and pointed behind himself with his thumb.

“I know the way out. Safe and comfortable escort service, I promise.”

At his words, Jeong Harin’s eyes widened.

Other players nearby also stopped what they were doing and looked at Geumson.

But the players just gave hollow laughs.

“What? You know the way?”
“You know what? There are always guys who show off like that, seriously.”
“Are you going or not? Probably not, right? Then next person, please!”

Thwoom-

The catapult quickly launched, hurling players away one after another.

Finally, the last player spoke to the Jeong Harin siblings.

“You can use the catapult alone too, so come find us if you change your mind. I’m going ahead!”

Thwoom-

And so, the last player also launched himself via catapult.

Now, all that remained were Golden hand, the catapult, and the Jeong Harin siblings.

Jeong Harin seemed to ponder for a moment, then began loading the catapult.

“You’re going to ride it?”
“Thinking about it, it seems better to just move along with the others. How can I trust someone I just met?”
“Well, that’s true.”

I nodded at Jeong Harin’s words.

Even he wouldn’t trust Golden hand in this situation.

But Geumson knew Jung Jeong Harin’s weakness well.

“But what if you get separated far from your brother? Don’t you respawn randomly when you die here? Even for Lepyon… that’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

At Geumson’s words, Jeong Harin’s hand stopped.

And Jeong Harin looked at her brother, Hajun.

Hajun, perhaps scared of the catapult, was instead hiding behind Geumson.

“Hajun, I told you not to follow strange men. Come here.”

At Jeong Harin’s words, Geumson chuckled and lowered the collar of his Shadow Robe.

Simultaneously, the Iron Walker and Tia were revealed.

And with his face now clearly visible, he said to Jeong Harin.

“I’m not a strange man, you know?”
“Huh? No way… Golden hands? Sir, are you really golden hands?”
“It’s a robot! A robot! sister! There’s a robot here! Woah-!”

Seeing the Iron Walker, Hajun beamed, calling it a robot.

And seeing Golden hand, a surprised Jeong Harin.

Fortunately, it seemed Jeong Harin also knew of golden hand.

Being famous certainly had its conveniences.

“Sir, do you really know the way?”

Golden hand, who had been the most active in the Airtoss defense battle.

Jeong Harin seemed to believe he wouldn’t talk nonsense.

But to her, Geumson said.

“No, actually, I don’t really know either.”
“Huh? But you said you did earlier!”
“Well, I said I think I know. But don’t worry. The part about a comfortable escort is true.”

Jeong Harin let out a sigh.

Ignoring her, he called the Iron Walker.

“Walker, give Hajun a ride.”
“Oh, mister! No, hyung! Can I really ride the robot?”
“Sure. But… your sister seems to want to ride the catapult?”
“Sniff… sister— I wanna ride the robot! The robot—!”
“Walker! Do it! Do it!”
“Tit! Tee—!”

The snowy field grew noisy.

But seeing Jeong Hajun having fun riding the Iron Walker, Jeong Harin seemed to have no choice.

Jeong Harin’s weakness was still valid.