How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 11: The Culprit is Inside This Reading Club

Chapter 11: The Culprit is Inside This Reading Club

“Hmm……”‌

The‌‌ suspect in the‍‍ librarian’s murder put‍‍ on a serious⁠‍ expression.

“Then,‍ how about we⁠ leave right when‌⁠⁠ someone else opens‌‍‌ the door from‍ outside?”

“It‍‌ won’t work.”

The rules of the‌‌ labyrinth are absolute.‌⁠‌

That‍ kind of trick⁠‍ doesn’t work.

Unless⁠⁠ there is a rule that precisely‌ seems like a trick.

“Even⁠‌‌ so, can’t we‌⁠ try it?”

“In‌ any case, we would end up⁠ coming back. In‌ fact, that’s an optimistic assumption. The‍ part of the‍ body that sticks‌⁠ out through the‌ door could even‍ disappear.”

The‌‍ woman in the⁠ three-piece suit opened‌ her eyes wide.‌‍

“Really?”‍

“I’m⁠⁠ saying it’s possible.‍ In the labyrinth‍‍‌ you always have to assume the⁠⁠ worst.”

The‌ woman’s eyes, which‌⁠ resembled a fox’s,‍ narrowed.

“Are you a jeoksa?”

“No,⁠‌ I’m just an‌ applicant who came⁠ today for an‍‍ interview at Yuwi.⁠ My name is‍ Seon Yuhan.”

The⁠ woman showed a slight expression of⁠‍ pity.

“My‍ name is Hwang⁠‍ Juyeon and, well,⁠ sometimes I do‍‍ magic performances. My‌ main job is⁠ teaching piano at⁠‍⁠ an academy. Today⁠ I came because‍ there was a magic show at‍ this daycare.”

Daycare?⁠

Then⁠‍ that means this‌⁠ Hwang Juyeon can‍‍ also enter Woori⁠‍‍ Saenal Daycare.

She⁠⁠ is not an‍ employee like the⁠‌ librarian, but she‌⁠ is not a complete outsider like‍⁠ me either.

Although‌‍‍ she is still⁠ a murder suspect.‌

I slid my gaze toward Kim Gilyeong.‍

“Ah,⁠‍ I… am Kim‌ Gilyeong. I’m the⁠ librarian here.”

The‌⁠ librarian extended her‍ ID, clean of‍ blood.

“Yes,⁠ nice to meet‌‍‍ you. I am……”⁠‌

The‍‍ certified public accountant⁠‍ Choi Jaeha, who‍‌ works at the‍ accounting firm Howol on the 16th‌‌ floor of the‍ Tarae building, took out his card‍⁠ again and finished⁠‍‍ introducing himself.

Meanwhile,⁠ I was thinking⁠ about a murder‍ that had not yet happened.

“Were only you two‌ originally here? I mean before this‍ turned into a labyrinth.”

“Huh?⁠ Yes……”

Kim⁠‌‍ Gilyeong nodded.

“At this hour there‍ are almost no‍ users. The employees of the companies‍ are also working.‌‌ But suddenly the‍ power went out…⁠ and there were‌ sounds like collapsing‍‍ outside… I tried⁠ to leave, but‍ the door was‍⁠ closed. I tried‍ to call administration,⁠ but the phone‍ didn’t work……”

The⁠ last part wasn’t‌⁠ important.

In⁠ other words, if‌ no one else‍ enters this library,‍‍ the person who‌‍ killed Kim Gilyeong last time is‍‍ Hwang Juyeon, the⁠‍ piano teacher and⁠ freelance magician.

“It‍ is time for⁠‌ the reading club.”

“What…⁠ who said that?”‍

No,‍‍‌ it’s certain.

“The‌⁠ reading club will‍⁠‍ not accept additional‌‍‌ participants until it‌ ends.”

“What is that? Where‌‌ is it coming from?”

“I’m‍‌ not the only⁠ one hearing it,⁠ right?”

“What‌ the hell is‍‍ this?”

“It⁠⁠⁠ seems the labyrinth‍ is starting something. Let’s stay calm.”

3:50.⁠

Under the absolute rule‍‍‍ of the labyrinth,‍‍ “Chaekbang Ollae” became‍ a perfect locked‍ room from which one cannot enter⁠ or exit.

The one who kills‌‍ Kim Gilyeong is⁠‌‌ Hwang Juyeon.

“The⁠ participants of the reading club sit‌⁠ comfortably gathered in⁠ the reading area.”

That⁠‌ sentence in present‍ tense is not⁠ a simple statement.‍⁠ It is an⁠ order.

“I‌‍ think we should⁠ follow what it⁠ says.”

“What⁠ if it kills⁠‍ us?”

Hwang‌‍ Juyeon asked with‌ narrowed eyes.

“We⁠‍ could also die‌ if we don’t‌ follow it. With⁠ luck, only one⁠‍‍ person would die.‍‌ If you are⁠⁠ sure of that,⁠‍‌ I won’t stop⁠ you.”

“Huff,⁠‌ it’s scary even⁠⁠ to talk.”

The‍⁠ freelance magician raised⁠ her eyebrows and⁠‍ stepped back slightly.

“Sorry‍ for arguing first. I got sensitive‍ without realizing it.”‌⁠⁠

“No,⁠‌⁠ I understand.”

Really,‍‍ that is quite‌‌ a mature reaction.⁠‌

Even‍ recognizing one’s own‍ state and apologizing⁠ is not easy‍⁠ even under normal‌⁠ circumstances.

How⁠ did someone like‌‌ that end up‍ killing Kim Gilyeong?‍⁠‌

“Well,‌‌ the situation is‌ the situation. I also reacted badly.‌ Sorry.”

“The participants of the⁠ reading club sit‍⁠ comfortably gathered in‍‍ the reading area.”⁠‌

“Yees,⁠ we’ll sit. Let’s‌⁠ sit for now.‌⁠‌ I don’t know⁠ what they’ll make us do, but‌ at least as long as we‍ obey we won’t‌ die, right?”

Each‌⁠‌ of us chose‌ a sofa and‍‌⁠ we sat in‌‌ a circle awkwardly.‌‍⁠

It⁠⁠ was the same⁠‍ circular space where‌ before there had‌ been a single⁠⁠ book lying.

On‍‌‍ my sides sat⁠ Kim Gilyeong and‌ Choi Jaeha.

I tried not to⁠ direct my gaze‌ too much toward‌‌ the piano teacher‌‌ in front of‍ me.

I don’t know the‌ reason for Hwang⁠‍ Juyeon’s murder.

Considering‌ the nature of‌⁠‌ the labyrinth, it⁠ could have simply⁠⁠‍ been a sudden⁠ mental breakdown.

The⁠ labyrinth makes people⁠⁠‌ irrational.

I hope it’s not that she thought⁠ that by killing⁠⁠ everyone she could‌⁠ escape the labyrinth.‌

That‍ would already be complete madness.

Although,‌‌ technically, it’s not‌‍ a completely wrong‌ idea.

If‍⁠ everyone inside dies,⁠‍ the labyrinth is‍ resolved which means she would also‍⁠ die.

And‌ besides, it wouldn’t‍⁠‍ be easy to‌⁠ kill everyone here.‌⁠⁠

But⁠ leaving aside the⁠ motive there is‍ something that unsettles⁠‍⁠ me.

Time.

Last‍‌‍ time, when I came here after‌ losing time in⁠‍‌ the interview room,‌ it was around 4.

Now,‌ about 10 minutes‌ before that, the⁠‌ relationship between Hwang Juyeon and Kim⁠‍ Gilyeong does not⁠⁠‌ seem at all⁠ like that of⁠⁠ an imminent murder.‌

“The‌⁠‍ reading club has begun.”

Perhaps the reading club‍‍ is a dangerous⁠ event capable of⁠‌ making someone kill⁠ another person in⁠ just ten minutes.⁠

***‌‍

“A‍ life is a story. This is⁠‌‌ the theme of‍ today’s reading club.”‌

Along‌‍ with the voice‍‍ that pierced into⁠ my mind, a book fell into‍‍ the hands of‍ each participant.

I observed the completely‌ white hardcover book‍⁠ I held in‌‌‍ my hands.

It⁠‍ was thicker than⁠ a finger, but⁠‍ thinner than two.‍ The typical thickness‌ of a single-volume⁠‌ novel.

The‍‍⁠ cover had nothing⁠⁠ written on it.‍ No title, no⁠‍ author, no publisher.

“The‌‍ participants of the‍⁠ reading club read‍ their respective books.”⁠‍

In‌ a labyrinth, if‌ they tell you‍ to do it,‌‌ you do it.‍‍‌

I opened the book‌‍⁠ in silence.

[Choi⁠ Jaeha was born⁠ as the youngest⁠‌ of three siblings.]‌‌

What is this?

[His‍‌ older brother, with whom he had⁠⁠ a large age gap, was like‌‍ a distant father‌‍ due to that‍ strange awkwardness between‌ them. Even when‍ Choi Jaeha caused‍ trouble, he would only say, “He’s‌‌ at that age.⁠ Don’t scold him‍⁠ too much. Surely‌ he won’t do‍⁠‍ it again.”]

What‍ am I reading?‍⁠

I doubted my own‌ eyes for a moment and raised⁠ my head.

Choi Jaeha was looking⁠⁠ at Hwang Juyeon⁠‌‌ with the same‌‌ expression as me.

Hwang⁠‍ Juyeon was looking‍ at Kim Gilyeong‍ with the same‌‍ expression.

And‍ Kim Gilyeong was⁠ looking at me, just the same.‍

“Could‍⁠‌ it be…?”

“You too?”

“You?”⁠

“A‍⁠ life is a story. This is‌ the theme of‌⁠ today’s reading club.”‍

We‍ were reading another‌⁠ person’s life.

“But…”⁠

I was about to‌‌ say something, but‍ I leaned toward‍‌ Kim Gilyeong.

“Is there any rule⁠ that forbids speaking⁠‍‍ in this library?”‌‍

Although‍‍ we had already‌‍ spoken before without‌⁠‍ anything happening, I asked in a low voice just in case.

The⁠‍ librarian shook her⁠ head.

“Not‌‍ really… the library‍ is a place⁠‌ to read, not‍⁠ to maintain absolute‌‌‌ silence. In fact,⁠‍ reading clubs are‍‍ also usually held⁠‍‌ here by employees.”⁠‍⁠

She‍‌ replied with an⁠ appropriate volume of⁠ voice.

“As‍ long as you‍ don’t make too⁠‌ much noise… although⁠ that applies anywhere.”‍

“That‍‍‍ makes sense. Then,⁠‍ are you reading‌‍ my story? I got a book‍ where the protagonist⁠‌ is Choi Jaeha.”⁠

“Really?”⁠‍

Choi‌‍ Jaeha frowned.

“I⁠⁠ have Hwang Juyeon’s.”‌‍

“Hmm,⁠⁠ I have Kim‍ Gilyeong’s.”

“It‌ seems that we all received the‍ book of the‌‌ person to our‌‍ left.”

I read Choi Jaeha’s‍⁠‍ story, Choi Jaeha‍ reads Hwang Juyeon’s,‍ Hwang Juyeon reads‍‍⁠ Kim Gilyeong’s, and Kim Gilyeong reads‍ mine.

“And what are we⁠⁠‍ supposed to do⁠ with this…?”

“The⁠ participants of the‍‌‍ reading club read‌ their respective books.”‌⁠‌

“Uh…⁠⁠ we better read.‌ If we don’t,⁠ it seems like⁠ it’ll pressure us‍‍ again.”

I looked back at‌ the book.

[His‌ older sister, who‍‌ was five years‍‍ older than him, was like a strict mother, unlike‌⁠ the distant older‌ brother. When Choi Jaeha misbehaved, she‍ would firmly reprimand‍‍ him so he‌ wouldn’t develop bad⁠⁠ habits. She always‍‌⁠ followed it by‍‌ telling him what⁠ he should and should not do.]‌‍⁠

I have no interest⁠‍ in reading Choi‌⁠ Jaeha’s life.

But⁠‍ a reading club consists of reading⁠ and sharing impressions,‌‌ right?

Then‍‍ I have to⁠‌‍ read it. Even if I don’t⁠ want to.

If⁠ that is the‌‍ rule.

[Choi⁠ Jaeha cried a lot because of⁠⁠ his sister and‌ spent a long‍ time hating her.⁠⁠ But that is⁠ precisely family. If‍⁠‍ it weren’t for‌‌ his sister, who‍⁠ would have shaped‍⁠ him as a person? His parents,⁠⁠ exhausted from raising‍‌ two children? His⁠‌ older brother, who‍ indulged him for‌ not feeling much‌ attachment toward him?]

The‌⁠ book described Choi⁠ Jaeha’s life with‍‍‌ many trivial details.‌‌

Memories‍‍ of eating ice cream with cousins‌⁠ at his grandfather’s‍ funeral.

Winning⁠‌ math competitions throughout‍ elementary school.

Learning⁠ bad words in‍‌ middle school and⁠ being harshly corrected‌‌‌ by his sister.

It‍ was literally a book about his‍ life, full of‌‌ everyday stories without⁠ importance.

In‌ the end, life‍‍ is only interesting‍⁠ to oneself; to‍‌ others, it is‌‍⁠ nothing more than⁠⁠⁠ boring stories.

[Choi⁠⁠ Jaeha, crying under⁠ the covers, suddenly‌‍ got up and‌ began to write‍ a letter in‌ clumsy handwriting that‍‍ no one could‍‍‌ read.]

Why⁠‍‌ do I have‍ to know the‍‌ love story of⁠ a student that‌‌ I find pathetic?‍‌

Although,‌ at least, it‍‍ didn’t reach the⁠⁠ level of the‍ grotesque.

It‌⁠‍ seems his sister⁠ raised him well.⁠‍‍

[“Hey.⁠⁠‍ Where are you‍⁠ going at this hour?”

His⁠ sister’s cold voice‌ pierced into the‌ back of Choi Jaeha, who had gone out dressed,⁠⁠ determined to go‌⁠ to her house⁠ after writing a desperate letter.

Unable⁠‍ to lie to‍‌ her, he explained‍‌ the situation with a trembling voice.⁠⁠

After‍ hearing him, his‌ sister sighed instead⁠ of yelling at⁠⁠ him.

“Hey,⁠ friends or partners,‌‌ everything is like⁠‌ that. If one⁠ clings too much,‍ the one who‍ clings gets hurt in the hand, and the one‌⁠ being held gets hurt where they’re‍⁠ grabbed.”

While‌ saying that, she‌ pulled his cheeks.⁠

“Ah,⁠ ah! It hurts!”⁠‌

“Does‌‍ it hurt? It‍ hurts for me⁠ too, idiot.”

“Of‌‍ course it hurts!⁠‍‍ It hurts more for me! Let⁠⁠ go!”

She‌ released his cheeks.

“See?‌⁠ It hurts more⁠ for the one‍ being held. If‍ you don’t accept‍‌‌ the rejection and‌ go looking for⁠‍‌ her, you’ll be‍⁠ the one who‌ makes her suffer.‌ Is that how‌ I raised you?”]‍

That‍ childish but honest‌ character of Choi‌ Jaeha was proof‍ that he grew up in a good environment.

More⁠ precisely, surrounded by‍‍ people who loved him.

[With‌ his sister’s teachings⁠‌ and a chicken‌ as consolation, he‌ finally accepted the‍ breakup. Although he‍‍ spent days crying⁠ while listening to‌⁠ sad songs until‌⁠‍ his sister hit him again. And⁠‌ shortly after, he‌ found a new‍ love.]

I leaned my back⁠‌ against the backrest‍ and looked at⁠⁠ the ceiling without thinking.

There⁠‍ was an excess‌⁠‌ of private life‌⁠ without demand.

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t even read‌ half of it‍ yet.

My⁠‍ eyes slid toward⁠‌‌ the librarian on‌‌ my right.

She had her face‍⁠ buried in the⁠‌ book.

Seeing her, I thought‌ about the reason⁠ she had to die.

Maybe‌‌ Hwang Juyeon killed⁠‌⁠ Kim Gilyeong because her life was exposed in words.‍

I glanced at the‌⁠‍ accountant, who was⁠⁠ reading the magician’s‍ life.

If‍ Hwang Juyeon kills⁠ for that, this‍ time it will⁠ be Choi Jaeha.‌

So, while I kept‌ reading, I stayed‌⁠ alert to be‍‍ able to pull‍‌ him away at‌‍ any moment.

“Grrk—kgh—shk—!”‍

“Aaaah!”‌