How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 1: The last question

Chapter 1: The last question

“If⁠ it were possible‍ to turn back‍‌ time, what would you do, Mr.⁠ Seon Yuhan?”

It⁠‌ was the last‌ question of the interview.

For‌ a question from‌‌ one of the‍ most important companies‌‍ in the country,⁠‌‌ it was a bit strange and⁠‌⁠ light, but I didn’t respond foolishly⁠‍‍ or let out‍ an awkward laugh.‍‌

If‍ it were possible⁠ to turn back time, what would you do?

It‍ is one of⁠ the most famous⁠‍‌ questions passed around‌⁠‌ by word of⁠ mouth in the⁠⁠ Jaerae Group’s hiring⁠⁠ interviews. Perhaps the⁠ most important.

“We‍ promise you, in⁠‍⁠ the name of⁠ Jaerae, that whatever⁠‍ your answer to‍‌ this question, it‍‍ will not negatively⁠⁠ affect your evaluation⁠ in the interview.‌ Of course, if⁠ it is a good answer, that⁠ will be reflected‌ in your score.”‌‍

A key question where⁠ you are not‌ penalized no matter‍ what you answer, but the better⁠⁠ the answer, the⁠‌ more points you‍‌‌ get; an opportunity⁠‍ to make up⁠‌ for mistakes or‌ shortcomings.

Although⁠ there is no‌‌ way to know what the criteria‍‌ for a “good‍⁠⁠ answer” is.

“If‍ I could turn⁠‍ back time.”

The⁠‍⁠ important thing is‌ that my present‌ and my future‍ depend on this‍ question.

“I……”

And‍ that the answer‌‌ lies in the⁠ past.

***⁠‌

“Ah.”‌

For a moment I went the wrong‌⁠ way and, because⁠ I froze, I missed the elevator⁠‌⁠ right in front⁠‍‌ of me.

I think it even‌‌⁠ made eye contact‌‍ with me. I could have stopped‍‍ it.

Anyway,⁠‌ today I just‍‍‌ wasn’t lucky. The‍‍ interview too.

Did‌ I fail?

With‌⁠ that salary, seriously,⁠ if they accepted‌⁠ me, I could⁠‌ stay there for⁠⁠ my entire life.⁠⁠

Ah.‍ I was about‌⁠ to let out a deep sigh,‍⁠ but I remembered that I was⁠‍ still inside the⁠ company and shook‌ my head.

That’s⁠‍ it.

What’s‍‌‌ done is done.‌ It can’t be‌⁠ changed.

Should‌ I go watch‌ a movie before‌⁠ going home?

3:33.‍‌‍

It’s⁠ a bit of‍⁠‍ a waste to⁠ just go back⁠⁠ like this.

Besides,‌ if I go‌⁠ home, all I’ll⁠ do is brood‌ pessimistically over the⁠‌ interview.

“…Huh?”

What is this?

At‍ the top of⁠‌‍ the phone screen, which I had‌‌ turned on to⁠⁠⁠ buy a movie‍ ticket, instead of⁠‍ the cellular network‌⁠ icon, the message‌‌ “SOS” appeared.

Why⁠ do I suddenly‍ have no signal?

The‌⁠ moment I pressed⁠ the button to‌ restart the phone.⁠

Click—‌⁠‍

The⁠ ceiling lights flickered‌ and then all‍ went out at‌‍ once.

A blackout?

What‌‍‌ will the employees‌‍ here do?

Looking‍‌ at the panels‍‌ of the four⁠ elevators, where no‌‍ number appeared, instead‍⁠ of worrying about‌ the people who‌ would be trapped,‍ I worried about‍ those whose work‌ could not be‍ interrupted.

I’ll‌ have to take⁠⁠ the stairs.

I changed direction and‍⁠ headed toward the⁠⁠ emergency stairs.

Anyway,⁠ I’m on the‍ third floor, it’s⁠‍⁠ not hard to⁠ go down to the lobby.

But seriously, what’s going‍ on?

Even‌⁠‌ after turning the‌⁠ phone back on,⁠‍ the message “SOS”‍‍ still appeared.

For‌ there to be‌ no service in‍ the middle of⁠‍ the city means something must have‍‍ happened to the‍ nearby base stations.⁠

A fire, or perhaps.⁠‌

Could a maze have‍‌ formed?

If‌⁠ in the process⁠‍‌ a transmission tower‌ or a nearby⁠ utility pole was⁠ damaged, then the⁠ building’s blackout would also make sense.⁠

Even‌ so, since it was broad daylight,‍⁠⁠ it wasn’t too dark.

The‍‍⁠ building had a “ㅁ”-shaped structure, with⁠‍‌ the center open.‍

Not‍⁠⁠ only the offices along the perimeter,‌ but also the‌⁠ inner hallways received⁠ sunlight through the‍‍ windows.

Suddenly, I looked toward‍ the first floor‌‌ through the hallway⁠ window.

In⁠ the center there⁠‌ was a green⁠‍ garden.

From‌‍ below it just‍‍ looks like a wall, but seen‌⁠ from above it‌‌ reveals its beauty—an⁠⁠⁠ enormous maze-shaped garden.‍⁠

Booom!‍

Just as I was‍‌‍ about to lose‍ myself in my‍ thoughts, a roar‌ echoed from somewhere‍‍⁠ behind me.

Boom!‍ Crash! Baaang!

A huge noise, as⁠⁠ if something had⁠ collided, strong enough to shake the‌ entire building.

Crash!‌‍‍ Thud!

By‍ instinct, I ran‌⁠‍ toward the emergency⁠⁠ exit and threw‌ myself inside.

“Huh?”‌⁠

Stepping‌‌‌ wrong.

Do‌ not run on⁠‍ the stairs.

**‌

“If‌ it were possible‌⁠ to turn back‌ time, what would‌ you do, Mr.‌ Seon Yuhan?”

“Huh?”⁠

I blinked, not understanding.‍

The interviewer smiled gently.‌‌‌

“It‌‌ seems you really don’t know this question, Mr. Seon‍ Yuhan. Normally everyone‌⁠ comes prepared.”

“In⁠ principle, sharing it⁠ is forbidden,” he said, shrugging.

“Anyway,‌⁠ I’ll ask you⁠ again. If it were possible to⁠ turn back time,‍ what would you‌⁠ do, Mr. Seon‍ Yuhan?”

What‌‌⁠ was that?

What‌‍ just happened?

What‌ is happening right‌ now?

A déjà vu?

Or‍ did I fall‍‌ asleep during the interview and dream it?

“Mr.⁠ Seon Yuhan?”

“Ah,‍‍ yes. I, if‍‌ that were possible……”‌

***‌

“Thank you.”

I stepped out into⁠‍ the hallway after bowing politely, half‌‍⁠ dazed.

I managed to get‌‌ out the answer‍ I had prepared⁠‍‍ somehow, but due‍ to nerves I stumbled over my‌‌ words too much.‌⁠

Did‌⁠ I overdo the⁠ mental training?

To‌‌ what extent did⁠ I go overboard⁠ to keep imagining‍‌ things even after⁠ the interview? And‌⁠ on top of‍‍⁠ that, in the‍ worst way.

I must have been‍⁠ very tense. Even‌⁠ my body felt⁠ stiff.

I rubbed the back⁠ of my neck‍⁠ for no reason‌‌ while standing in‌‍ front of the‍ elevator.

5…⁠⁠ 4… 3… ding!‍

「The‌ doors open.」

Luckily,‌‍‍ I managed to⁠‌ get in just‌‌ in time.

I met eyes with‌ the man who‍‍ was already inside and gave a slight nod as‌ a greeting. It was the first‌‌ time I had seen him, but‌‌ you never know‍ how things might⁠ turn out.

「The‌ doors close.」

Wait⁠‌ a moment.

For‌ some reason, I felt a chill‌ and glanced sideways‍‍ at the man next to me.‌

A stranger.

Or‍‍ not?

Hadn’t‌‍ I made eye⁠⁠‌ contact with him‍⁠ before?

Just‍ a moment ago…‍‍‌ no, before… no,‌⁠ wait…

At‌‌‍ the beginning?

Clack.‍

The‍ panel showing the‌ floors suddenly went‍ out and the⁠ elevator stopped.

“Huh?⁠‍‍ What is this?”‍

The‍ man, who had‍‌⁠ been looking at⁠ himself in the mirror, raised his‍ head.

He⁠‍ looked at the‍ black panel once,‌ then looked at‌ me.

“I-it‌⁠⁠ stopped?”

His‍‍ voice cracked, clearly‍ shaken.

“Yes.⁠ It seems—”

“What’s⁠⁠ going on? Why‍ isn’t it responding?”‌

Tap,‍ tap, tap.

I watched in silence‍ as the man‍⁠‍ repeatedly pressed the‍⁠ yellow emergency button.⁠‌

“Damn‍ it. What’s wrong‌‍ with this thing?⁠ On top of‌ that, there’s no‍‌ signal on the‍⁠ phone.”

This⁠⁠‍ doesn’t feel right.‍

I turned on my‌ phone when I heard that, and‍‍ at the top,‍‍ as expected, “SOS” appeared.

No‍‌ way.

“Huh?”‌‍

Clack,⁠ creak.

“Oh!⁠‌ It’s moving again.⁠ Thank goodness. Right?”⁠

Moving?‍

No.‌ No.

It’s‍ not moving.

This⁠ is…

“W-wait…‍ isn’t it going‌‍ too fast?”

This‌‍ feeling.

Like‌ when a roller⁠ coaster car reaches‌ the highest point,‌ pauses for a moment, and then⁠ begins to descend.

That‍ moment when your⁠ whole body bristles.‍⁠

Bang!‌

The⁠ crash that made me run toward⁠ the emergency stairs.‍

Boom!‍ Craaash!

It⁠‍‌ was the sound‍ of the elevator⁠⁠⁠ falling.

**‍‍

Do⁠ not run on‍ the stairs.

**‌

“If⁠ it were possible⁠⁠ to turn back⁠ time, what would⁠‍ you do, Mr.‌⁠ Seon Yuhan?”

“If…”‍

I was about to⁠ say “if I could.”

“If‍‌ I could turn‌ back time.”

I opened and closed‍ my fist. It⁠‍ felt as if⁠ my whole body‌ was tingling.

“I…‌‍ I think I should first observe⁠‌‌ the situation a bit…”

“Hmm,‍ could you explain⁠ a bit more⁠‍ what you mean‌⁠ by that?”

Because‌⁠ it seems like‌ time has really reset and I need to see⁠‌‍ what’s happening!

I wanted to shout‌⁠‌ it, but I barely managed to‍ hold myself back.

At⁠ the very least,⁠ I needed to⁠‍ know whether right⁠ now I should‍‍ go into the‍ company or to‍ the hospital.

Or⁠ better yet, if⁠‍‌ everything could be⁠ solved by going‌⁠‌ into a psychiatric⁠ hospital, that would⁠‌ already be a relief.

“Mr.‌ Seon Yuhan. Are⁠ you alright?”

After‍ calling him several‍⁠ times without getting a response, seeing‍‍ that the applicant‍ only remained silent and trembling, the‌ interviewer seemed more‌‍‍ concerned than annoyed.‍

“I‍‍‌ think it would be best to‍ end here. There’s‌⁠ a hospital on‍ the fourth floor;⁠⁠ if you don’t⁠‌⁠ feel well, go get checked.”

The⁠⁠ interviewer gestured for‌ me to leave,⁠⁠ but I didn’t⁠ want to go.‌

Even⁠ if they lowered‍ my score for‍‌ a bad attitude‌ and I failed the interview.

It’s⁠⁠ still better than‍⁠‍ falling down the stairs or having‍ an elevator collapse.‌‌

Please,‍‍ let it be‌‌ a dream. An⁠⁠ illusion. An imagination‍⁠ too vivid.

Please,‍⁠ let me be‍ a patient with‌⁠ a serious problem⁠‌ in perceiving reality.‍

“If‍ it’s hard for‍‌ you to get⁠⁠‌ up on your‍‌ own, I can‌ help—”

Silence.‍

And⁠ then, darkness.

I looked around, stunned, at the emptiness‌‌‍ of the interview room.

The‌‍ interviewer had disappeared.⁠⁠

Where‍‌ did he go?‍

And where am I?⁠

[3:33｜SOS｜87%]‍‌

Sitting‌ in the chair,‌‌ I stared fixedly⁠ at the phone‍ screen.

Bang!‍‍

Not‌‌‍ long after, I heard a sound⁠⁠ that was not‍‌‌ familiar, but not‍⁠ entirely new either.‌

Boom!⁠‌ Crash! Bang! Crash!‍ Thud!

A total of six‍ times.

There‍⁠ are six elevators⁠ in total.

Four⁠ are together, and‌‌ one of them‍‌ was the one‍ I took.

The‌‍ other two must⁠ be emergency ones.⁠‌‌

But do elevators fall‌‍ during a blackout?‍‍‍

The probability of an‍‌ elevator falling is‌‌ practically zero.

They‌ are designed with⁠ extremely robust safety‍‍‌ systems.

That‌ thing about the elevator collapsing while‍ you’re inside is‌⁠ something from movies;⁠ it doesn’t happen‌‌ in reality.

Yes. It’s not supposed⁠‍ to happen.

“Ha…”⁠‌‍

I let out a heavy sigh.

Even⁠‌ so, for now‍‍ nothing absurd has‍ happened like me⁠ falling off the‍ chair and breaking‍‌⁠ my neck, or‍ the ceiling collapsing.‍⁠‌

If‌ I stay here,‌‍‌ won’t anything happen?‍‌

Then‌‍ how long should‍⁠‌ I stay?

Everything‍‌⁠ is silent.

Nothing‌ can be heard.‍‌⁠

I hate that silence,⁠‌ so I filled‌‍‌ my mind with‍ thoughts.

Mr.⁠‍ Seon Yuhan, why‌ did you decide‌ to apply to‌ our company?

Because it is the most famous in the sector and‍‌ pays a lot‍‌ of money.

Why‍⁠ did you apply⁠ to the field‍ support department?

Because‍⁠‌ I am an‍ indecisive coward who⁠⁠ can’t do anything‌⁠ alone.

What‍ do you consider‍ your greatest strength?⁠

My⁠ survival instinct to‌ live like a rat and survive‍ like a cockroach.‌

If‌⁠⁠ the client’s interests‍⁠ and the company’s‍ interests come into‌‌ conflict, how would⁠‌ you act as‌‍⁠ an agent?

I will move toward‌⁠ the side that‍ gives me more‌‌ money.

Do‍ you have any final question?

Yes,‍‌‌ why is my life like this?‌⁠⁠

Creak,‍⁠ creak.

How‌ much time had⁠‌‌ passed like that?‍

I raised my head⁠‌‍ upon hearing a sudden sound.

Screech,⁠ squeak, screech.

That‍‍ unpleasant sound of‌⁠ wet soles rubbing⁠‍ against the smooth‌⁠ floor.

There’s⁠ someone in the⁠⁠ hallway.

Squeak,⁠ screech.

The‍‌ unknown footsteps came⁠⁠ right up to‍ the front of the interview room.‍‌

I held my breath.‍‍

Knock, knock.

I didn’t respond.

Knock,‍ knock, knock.

“What‌ time is it?”‍

I stood up abruptly.⁠‍

It’s‌ the voice of⁠‌ a child.

“What‌ time? There’s no‌‍ clock outside.”

A child who uses⁠ the internet a lot? But what‌ is a child‌ doing here? Ah,‌ was there a daycare in the‍‍ company?

Thinking‍ that, I was‍‌ about to open the door when.

“I‍‌ don’t know the‌⁠ time. What time⁠ is it now?‌‌ I want to‌‍ know the time.”‍

There⁠⁠ was something strange⁠ in that mischievous⁠‌ voice on the‍ other side of⁠ the door.

“The⁠ clock is inside.‍⁠⁠ What hour and‌ what minute?”

I held my breath⁠⁠ and pressed my⁠‌ ear against the‌ door.

“Don’t‌ you know how‌ to read the time? The small‍⁠ hand is the‌ hour. The big‌⁠‍ one is the⁠ minutes. Is there‌ an even smaller‍‍⁠ one than the⁠‍⁠ hour hand? Those⁠ are the seconds.⁠ I know how‌ to read the‍ time.”

Height.⁠‍

The⁠‍ height is strange.‌‍‌

It’s‌‍‌ the voice of‍‍ a child who‍⁠ should barely reach my waist.

“What‍ time? There’s a clock inside.”

I slowly raised my‍‌ head.

Toward⁠‌‍ where the cheerful‌ voice was coming⁠‌‌ from.

“I’ll‍ read it for‌ you. What minute?”‍

The⁠‌‌ child’s voice on⁠‌ the other side‍‌ of the door.‌⁠⁠

“What‍⁠ time is it‍‍ right now?”

It‍ was coming from‍‌ above.

Higher‍⁠‌ than my line of sight.

As‍⁠ if his head‍‌⁠ touched the ceiling.‌