Chapter 206: The Crucial Moment! Is It You Ruining My Life Again, Lin Wei?

“Finally here?”

“I thought we’d be wandering these tunnels forever—who knew it was so close by?”

“At last... We can finally get out of here!”

The announcement rippled through the group of adventurers like a sudden gust of wind, sweeping away their tension and igniting a chorus of relieved cheers. Shoulders sagged, faces brightened; for the first time in days, hope was tangible.

Even Oshu, who had been locked in quiet conversation with Captain Brandy, exhaled a long, pent-up breath as the path appeared.

“So we’ve made it?” he murmured, almost to himself.

He bore the Hero’s Blessing—a shield against most calamities—but as he’d explained moments before, no blessing was absolute. It merely kept him safe so long as fate allowed; sooner or later, someone would find a way around it, or he would simply stumble into a peril from which even divine favor could not save him.

Otherwise, how could seven Hero’s Parties have perished in just two years? The losses were staggering, a grim tally that weighed on every survivor.

But for now, after so many ordeals, their goal was in sight. Oshu, who had tried to appear above it all, couldn’t help but let a small, genuine smile slip through.

“Took you long enough to say something...”

“Well, I’ve never been here before either,” Eileen replied gently, her tone patient as she addressed the adventurer who’d spoken up. “I had to use old elven records to match the landmarks. It took a while before I realized we’d found the entrance.”

The adventurer, caught off guard by her gaze, stammered, “Sorry, I’m just exhausted, so I—”

“It’s fine. Let’s not worry about it,” Oshu interjected, dismissing the apology with an easy wave.

Surrounded by so many eyes waiting on his word, Oshu felt a spark of exhilaration. In this moment, he almost fancied himself a god leading his chosen.

“We’re nearly out. If there are any problems, we’ll handle them once we’re on the other side.”

He turned to Eileen. “This passage—how do we open it? Is there some special trick?”

“Just give me half a minute.”

As Eileen spoke, Mana began to gather visibly around her, swirling in delicate filaments. Intricate patterns emerged in the air, weaving themselves into a complex magical array. Under the group’s anxious gaze, the array hovered for a heartbeat—then surged forward, etching itself into the stone wall ahead. Ancient gears seemed to grind to life within the rock, as if the door itself were waking from a centuries-long slumber. The seam of the concealed door trembled, then widened with a series of sharp, echoing cracks.

“Oshu, before we go on...” Eileen said, turning toward him with her usual lazy, familiar smile. “This passage leads straight to the control room, but I worry we might get ambushed from behind—by demons, or monsters. Could you have Rein watch our rear for me?”

The others were still watching the door, but Oshu caught her request. He glanced back, momentarily surprised, but nodded. “That’s fine.”

He had plenty of warriors in the party, but in truth, he didn’t trust these adventurers. The rear guard was always a crucial post—and as Hero, he was expected at the front. Other than Rein, there was no one he could really count on for the task.

“Eileen, Kokoxi, and Krulu are your responsibility, then.”

He’d already decided to cut Rein loose as soon as they returned to the Imperial Capital—but that could wait until year’s end. For now, he still needed the only other man in the party.

“No problem.”

Rein, the ever-impulsive hothead, could cool his heels a little longer.

He hefted his shield and took up position at the rear, as if the earlier conflict had never happened. With the stone door yawning open and Eileen at his side, he found his chance to murmur, “Eileen, what are you up to?”

Her volunteering him for rear guard was suspicious. He knew her true strength—when danger loomed, she was always the first to run. As for Kokoxi and the rookie Krulu, she’d never cared about their safety before.

“I already told you... At the crucial moment, I’ll help you.”

“You really think I’ll let Oshu walk out of the Labyrinth alive?”

Her eyes glittered, her lips curving into a smile that was both inviting and predatory—like a beautiful wild beast baring its fangs in the moonlight.

Rein, all too familiar with that expression, fought to contain his excitement and kept his voice low. “So the opportunity is ahead? This isn’t an escape route, but a death trap?”

“The escape route is real—just not for everyone. For us, yes. But for the Hero and the rest? They’ll be buried here. Never underestimate what an angry elf can accomplish... especially when Oshu’s nothing but a useless bastard.”

She looked ahead, features soft with an almost tender affection. If not for her words, no one would imagine such a chilling intent from so beautiful an elf.

“Whatever happens, don’t be surprised. And remember: when the moment comes, stab Oshu in the back. End it.”

Stab him. End it all.

Rein’s long humiliation was at last poised for vengeance. He’d steeled himself for this, dreamed of the day he could kill the Hero and take his place—yet now, as the moment neared, his hands trembled.

“I... I understand,” he whispered.

There was no turning back. Using the demons to force Oshu into a corner had always been the plan, but after hearing Oshu’s words to Captain Brandy, Rein realized the Hero’s blessings were even more formidable than he’d thought.

So many strange, powerful protections...

“But the others worship him.”

“You really think you can take them all?”

“They’re just a pack of useless trash. Once the Hero’s dead, who cares about the rest? And Brandy—the only one with real strength—won’t lift a finger to help Oshu. So stop worrying.”

She traced a secret pattern in his palm, intimate and conspiratorial.

Eileen’s smile was sly, her voice unwavering. “You don’t want to be stepped on forever, do you? This is your one chance to replace the Hero. If you let him return to the Imperial Capital, he’ll throw you out the first chance he gets.”

“To Oshu, the Hero’s Party is just his personal harem now. And as one of only two men... you’re expendable.”

As her words faded, the stone door finished grinding open.

He’s planning to throw me away? Treating the Hero’s Party like his own private harem...

If all Rein feared was Oshu’s blessings, Eileen’s encouragement and this do-or-die moment left him no room for hesitation. This was it!

Eileen believed in him—maybe even loved him. Oshu was heartless. What was left to doubt?

“Leave it to me,” Rein said, his voice steady at last.

“Mhm... I knew I could count on you.”

The door’s passageway opened fully before them—a narrow path leading forward.

The adventurers’ faces shimmered with hope. Oshu readied himself to lead the way, while Rein and Eileen nursed their hidden schemes.

A little farther back, Krulu watched the scene unfold, unease gnawing at him as he stared at the open doorway. Every instinct screamed that disaster waited beyond.

And Kokoxi... Beneath her black hood, her face was as lifeless as ever—silent, head bowed, drifting forward like a corpse that walked and talked.

At this knife’s-edge moment—

“Ready—”

“Hm? Looks like we made it just in time.”

A relaxed voice rang out from behind.

Oshu, caught up in his own triumph, froze mid-gesture at the all-too-familiar—and deeply hated—sound.

He whirled around, disbelief etched across his face, and saw the last person he wanted to meet at such a moment.

The newcomer strolled in, utterly at ease, as if taking a leisurely walk rather than emerging from a deadly labyrinth—more tourist than survivor.

“I was wondering why there were so many monster corpses on the path, but no attacks. Turns out the Hero and his party cleared the way for me.”

“You!!”

That bastard—showing up at the worst possible moment!

He’d caught up to the main group, all because Oshu’s party had cleared out every last monster?

If the sight of Lin Wei merely rekindled old grudges, his next words stoked a new, burning humiliation—like Lin Wei was sweeping aside obstacles for his own nemesis.

And Iresha was right there, staring at him with that same, withering contempt?

“You piece of shit, you still dare show your face here?”

“Just wait! I’ll kill you before we leave the Labyrinth!”

“Calm down, Hero. Wait—who is this, do you know him?” Several people rushed to restrain Oshu, fearing he’d ruin their chance at escape.

Captain Brandy, second only to Oshu in strength, stepped in quickly, his voice steady. “We’re almost out. Please, for everyone’s sake, don’t start a fight. If you do, we might draw more monsters.”

“What’s this guy done, anyway? Once we’re out, we’ll help you settle things—but right now, the big picture matters!”

“This is that adventurer, Lin Wei~” Eileen sang out, her voice sweet as honey.

Though most had already guessed, hearing Eileen confirm it made every eye in the room light up with understanding.

So this was the man who’d stolen the Hero’s woman—who’d cuckolded him.

“No wonder the Hero’s so furious.”

“He dared to cross the Hero? Does he really think we, the righteous adventurers, will just stand by?”

“Tch... It’s a pain when people start rumors behind your back,” Lin Wei muttered, his tone light and unbothered.

A few words were all it took for everyone to grasp the situation.

Lin Wei caught Iresha’s anxious glance, then swept his gaze to the ever-dutiful Captain Brandy.

Still as skilled in Disguise as ever...

His tone, bearing, even his memories matched the real Brandy perfectly. Truth be told, if Morteir appeared in a crowd, unless Lin Wei happened to probe him with Mana at just the right moment, he wouldn’t spot him either—not when Morteir’s Skills were at their peak.

Damn it.

Even as the adventurers urged him to focus on escape, Oshu could only barely restrain his fury.

At every crucial moment, he ran into Lin Wei. Every time he tried to kill him, something intervened—was this man simply born lucky, always able to slip away?

But no matter how much anger boiled in his chest, he had to consider the greater good.

“We’re about to escape the Labyrinth. I don’t have time to waste on you here.”

“If you’re a real man, stay put. Don’t use the escape route we found. If you insist on following us, don’t blame me for calling you a coward who survives only by clinging to the Hero’s coattails!”

“Oh?”

Oshu’s tone was all righteous resolve—a far cry from his usual impulsiveness.

“Your head’s finally working for once,” Lin Wei said, a rare smile flickering across his lips. “At least you’re not charging at me, sword drawn, screaming for revenge.”

“But whether I’m a real man or not... let’s skip the trash talk. I’m a civilized adventurer, after all. Still, I wouldn’t call this much of an escape route.”

He nodded, almost approving, then swept his gaze over the crowd. “Honestly, this looks like a massive trap to me. Call it veteran’s intuition.”

“Hope is a wonderful thing, but sometimes things go a little too smoothly. My advice? Don’t let your guard down. Break into smaller groups and enter in turns.”

“Otherwise, you might end up like the last batch who vanished on the Lava Platform of the seventh floor.”

He’d said all he could.

But Captain Brandy stepped forward, eyes fierce, as if Lin Wei were some villain trying to sabotage their escape.

“What are you talking about? This escape route was found by a member of the Hero’s Party—inside is the control room for the entire Labyrinth. It’s absolutely safe!”

“You want us to split up? You’re the dangerous one here!”

“You’re clearly trying to sow discord, get us fighting over who goes first, win people over, and pin your crimes on the Hero!”

Some adventurers, hearing Lin Wei’s warning, felt a spike of unease—things were going almost too well.

But Brandy’s words landed like a shot of adrenaline, his reputation and authority quelling any doubts.

“Yeah! You just want to divide us!”

“Don’t listen to him, everyone! We go in together—nothing will go wrong!”