How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 12: And then there was no one left?

Chapter 12: And then there was no one left?

I reacted one step⁠⁠ earlier and pulled⁠‍‍ the librarian toward‌ me, while Choi Jaeha grabbed Hwang⁠‌ Juyeon.

“Y-you’re⁠⁠ crazy! What are‍ you doing? You’re‌ crazy!”

“—?! What—!? —gh—!?”

“Ugh…!‌‌ Ah!”

Thud.‍

The⁠ attacker, shouting incomprehensible‌‌‌ words, struggled until the accountant pushed⁠ her back.

She⁠‍⁠ violently hit the⁠‍ back of her‍ head against the⁠ sharp corner of‍ a shelf and‍ fell.

I looked alternately at⁠‌⁠ the two failed aggressors and the‌ two unconscious ones,⁠ and suddenly I wondered.

How will this scene be described?

Will‌ it say that I failed to‍‌ stop it?

Or…?‍

“S-she’s‍‍ not dead, right?‌ Seon Yuhan, w-what‍⁠ do we do?”⁠‍‌

“Kim‌‌ Gilyeong wasn’t stabbed‌‌‍ deeply, so she’ll be fine. I think she just⁠⁠ fainted from the‌⁠ shock.”

It’s‍ not easy to‍⁠ kill someone with⁠ a regular pen.‌

A couple of stabs⁠ to the chest‍‍‌ covered by clothing‍‌ do not cause‌‌ a fatal wound.‍‍

Unless‌⁠‍ you aim for‍⁠ the eye from‌ the start to⁠ reach the brain, or precisely at⁠ the carotid artery.⁠‌‍

“As‍ for Hwang Juyeon…⁠⁠ I don’t know.‌‌ It looks like‌ a concussion, and the back of‌⁠ her head is⁠⁠ split open. Hwang‌ Juyeon! Hwang Juyeon!”‍

I placed a cushion‍⁠ under her head‌ and tried to‌‍ check her consciousness,‌‌ but she didn’t‌⁠‍ respond.

I can do basic‍‌ first aid, but‌⁠ I don’t know⁠‍ how to treat‍ a concussion.

It’s⁠⁠ not always fatal,⁠⁠ but in her‌‍ case it looks‍‍ serious she’s unconscious‍⁠⁠ and bleeding.

The only thing I can do is‌⁠‌ stop the bleeding‌⁠ as best as‌⁠ I can.

Improvised.‌

If⁠ I had a medical kit it‌‌ would be easier.‍

“I…‌ I just… tried‍⁠ to stop her…‌‌ I didn’t push‌‍ her hard… ugh…”⁠

“I‌‍ know. It’s not‌ your fault, Mr.‍⁠⁠ Choi Jaeha. Don’t⁠‍ worry too much.”‌

I patted his back‍‌ while he struggled‍ to breathe.

If‌ this guy loses⁠ his mind too,‌⁠‍ it will be‌ a problem.

“Hwang⁠ Juyeon tried to‍ kill Kim Gilyeong,⁠‍ and you just‍ stopped her. It’s⁠‌ self-defense.”

It‌⁠ may not legally‍⁠ be so, but‍ it’s not something‌⁠‍ I should tell‍ him now.

“Mr.⁠ Choi Jaeha, drink some water.”

There⁠‍ was a dispenser‍‍ in the library.⁠‌

The⁠ accountant walked unsteadily‍‍ and drank.

Meanwhile,⁠ I pushed two⁠ sofas together and‌ laid the librarian‍ down.

I placed the other‌‍ one where I could see her,‍ but outside Choi⁠ Jaeha’s field of⁠ view.

But…‌‌ why did Hwang⁠ Juyeon try to⁠‍ kill Kim Gilyeong?⁠‍

And⁠⁠ with that expression⁠ of fear.

I looked at the‌‌‍ book that Hwang⁠ Juyeon had dropped.‍‌

Maybe⁠‍‍ the answer is⁠‌⁠ in Kim Gilyeong’s⁠⁠ story.

Did‌ she do something⁠ horrible?

Is⁠⁠ she the daughter‌ of someone who‌ killed her family?

Or‌⁠ something like that…‍‌⁠

Did⁠‍ she think she‌ deserved to die?‌⁠

Will‍ I understand if‍⁠ I read it?‍

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

As⁠‍ soon as I reached out toward another book, the‌‌ voice interrupted me.⁠⁠

“Mr.⁠ Choi Jaeha, I know it’s difficult,‍⁠ but open the‌⁠ book. We must⁠‌ read at least‌‌ one sentence.”

“And⁠ what do we‌ do with them…?”⁠‍⁠

Right.⁠

What‍‌ about those two?‌‌

They‍‍⁠ can’t read.

“Mr.‌⁠ Choi Jaeha, sit‍ down.”

“But…”‍

“There’s nothing else we⁠⁠ can do for‍‍ them.”

The⁠‌ librarian will wake‍ up if everything‌⁠ goes well.

Hwang‌ Juyeon, if she’s⁠‍ lucky, will live‍ with sequelae. If‍ not, she will‍ die.

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

No‌⁠ matter what we‌⁠⁠ do, we cannot‌‌ change the outcome.⁠

“The‌⁠‍ only thing we‍ can do now…”

Is‌⁠ follow the rules.‍

I forced him to‍ sit.

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

“Read.”⁠⁠‌

My‌‍ voice was drowned‌ out by the‌⁠ voice of the‌ labyrinth.

But‍⁠‍ Choi Jaeha understood.‌⁠⁠

I also sat down‍ and opened the‍ book.

[When‌ Choi Jaeha was in his third‍ year of middle‌ school, his brother‍‌ married his college‌ girlfriend…]

His⁠ brother was always someone distant.

But⁠‌ upon becoming a father.

He felt more distant‍ and closer at‍⁠ the same time.‍

I wonder if his⁠⁠ sister is already‌⁠ married.

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

[The⁠ house without his⁠⁠ sister was silent…]‍

What?‍‌⁠

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

[He⁠⁠ thought it would‌⁠ be better without‍ her scoldings… but…]⁠‌

Ah.⁠⁠⁠

She⁠‌ didn’t die.

She‍⁠ just went abroad.‌‌

I sighed in relief.

It‌‍ was the first‍‍⁠ time I felt‌⁠ tension while reading.‌

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

How‌ long will this‍ keep repeating?

How‌⁠⁠ long will it⁠ wait for them?⁠⁠⁠

The labyrinth is not‍ a compassionate place.‌‍‌

“Ugh…‍ ugh…”

A small sound broke‍‌‌ the silence of‌ the reading club.‌‌

I immediately raised my⁠⁠ head.

“Miss‍‌ Kim Gilyeong. Are⁠ you conscious?”

“Ah… yes… ugh.”

The‌ librarian frowned as‍ she struggled to‍‍ sit up, as‍ if she felt⁠ pain in her‌‌ chest.

“Uh…‌ I… this… why…?”‍

“You‍ were unconscious. Do‌‍ you remember what‌⁠ happened?”

“Hmm…‌ uh… no… not‍ very well…”

Kim⁠‌ Gilyeong did not‌ remember at all‍ who had stabbed‌ her.

She‌ seemed to have‍‌ lost her memory‌ from the impact.

The‍ human brain sometimes‌ does those kinds‍ of curious things.‍

Or‌‌‍ should I say‌‍ horrible?

In⁠ any case, that‌ means Kim Gilyeong⁠ does not know⁠‌ who the culprit‌⁠ is.

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

“I⁠ know it’s difficult,‌ but sit down‍⁠‍ and read that‍ book.”

“Yes…‍‍ yes…”

Only‍‍‌ when I confirmed‌ that the librarian⁠‌ had started reading‍‍ her book did⁠‌‌ I turn my‌‌‍ gaze back to mine.

[Kim⁠ Gilyeong was born‌ on September 16‌‍ at 7:32 in‌‍ the evening.]

Huh?‍

Something‌ is strange.

[Kim‌‍⁠ Gilyeong’s father used‌ to put his⁠‍⁠ little daughter on‍‌ his back and‌ read newspapers or‍ books while lying‌⁠ face down. For‍ Kim Gilyeong, reading‍⁠‍ was something completely‍‌⁠ natural in her daily life.]

Then‌ why did the‌ culprit fail to‌ kill her this‍‌‍ time, unlike before?

Did‌‌‍ they hear us‌ coming and run⁠‌‌ away?

I looked to the⁠‌‌ left.

Ah,⁠ I got confused.‌‍

Did‌ the culprit hear⁠⁠ us coming and⁠⁠ escape without finishing‍ what they were⁠‍‌ doing?

But trying to kill‍⁠ her twice.

That⁠ no longer seems like something caused‍‌ only by the‌‍ labyrinth.

There‍ could be personal‌⁠ resentment.

[“Munrim‌‍‍ elementary school children‌⁠ who will write‍ a new story!”‌⁠

The⁠ time when they‌ listened to the‌⁠‍ principal’s boring speeches‍‍ in front of‍ the podium and⁠ sang the school‌ anthem. The time‍⁠ when there were‌ school Saturdays and⁠ free Saturdays. The‍ time when they⁠ shared 500-won cup tteokbokki and slushies,⁠ buying tokens at‌‌ the stationery store.⁠‍ The time when‍‌ they competed to⁠ see who climbed‍‌‌ the bars first⁠ or who swung‌ higher on the‍‍ swing.]

Something‍‌ definitely doesn’t add‌‌ up.

Isn’t⁠ it supposed that‍‍‍ you can’t leave the library here?‌⁠

Then‍ how did they‌ escape?

Could‌ it have been⁠ before this became‍ a labyrinth?

No…‌ it doesn’t make⁠‍ sense.

Am⁠‍ I overlooking something?‌‌‌

No,‍ of course I am.

But⁠‌ something important.

Something I shouldn’t ignore.‌

What⁠‌⁠ is it?

[Kim‌ Gilyeong won a school review contest.‌

“After‌⁠ reading this book,‍ I thought that‌ dreams are not⁠ only things that⁠ happen at night.⁠ Because we too,‌‌‌ at school, suddenly‍ grow or shrink,⁠ or run with⁠‍‌ a clock in‍ hand for fear‌ of being late.‍ And sometimes, the⁠ things friends say‌ seem so unreal‍⁠‍ that one doesn’t‍‍⁠ know if they⁠ were real or‌‌ a dream.
When Alicia woke‍ up at the‍‌ end, I felt‌ sad. Because I would like to⁠ always live in‌ such a strange place. If it⁠‍ were me, I wouldn’t return.

But‍‌ Alicia returned and⁠⁠⁠ continued her life⁠ as if nothing‍ had happened. That‍‍⁠ seemed normal to⁠ me, but also⁠ sad.

This‌‍⁠ book is fun,⁠ a bit scary‍ and confusing. But‍⁠ thinking that all⁠⁠ of that could‍ be real made‍‍‌ me feel that‍ that world truly‌ exists.

That’s‌⁠ why, after reading it, I opened‍‌‌ the closet door‌⁠ a little every night.”]

《Alice⁠ in Wonderland》 became‌ Kim Gilyeong’s favorite‍‌ book.

Wait.‌

If‍‍ I read the‌⁠ last page, could‌ I discover the⁠ culprit?

The‍‌ book follows her⁠‍‌ life in chronological⁠‌ order.

Then,‍⁠ the recent part‍⁠ should be at‌‌ the end.

Unless⁠ it doesn’t include‌ what she doesn’t‌ remember but it’s‍⁠ worth trying.

Flap.‍‌

[Kim Gilyeong—]

The‍⁠ sound of pages⁠ turning.

[Kim‌ Gilyeong, with a puzzled look—]

At‍ me—

[Kim‌‍‌ Gilyeong looked at‍ Seon Yuhan with‍ a bewildered expression.‌‌

“Se—”]‌

“Yuhan…?”⁠

“A‌‌ life is a story. That is‌‌ the theme of‌ this reading club.”

“Damn‌⁠‌ it.”

“The⁠‍ gaze that flows‍ from left to⁠⁠ right collides with⁠ a void and falls from top⁠‍⁠ to bottom. Then⁠‌ it flows again from left to⁠‍‌ right. Again it⁠ is blocked by⁠‍ a white wall⁠‍ and falls. It rushes to climb⁠‍ to the top.⁠ And once again⁠‍ runs toward a final point…”

[“Turn‍⁠ to the next‍‍ page.”]

From‌‌‌ the voice that suddenly echoed in the library, it⁠ seems I made‌ another mistake.

[“Words‌‌ that sound like‍ a revelation impossible‍⁠ to reject. Sounds‌ that are read‌ like an incomprehensible‌‌ poem.

Repeating‌‍⁠ it infinitely until,‍ at some point,‍⁠⁠ it stops with⁠ a final point.‌‍ That is the‍ rule of a story.”]

If‍⁠ a life is‍‌ a story, then the rule of⁠ the story is‌‌ the rule of‌ life.

“Seon‌⁠‌ Yuhan broke that‌‌ rule.”

So⁠‌ reading the ending⁠ while skipping the⁠⁠ rest is enough‌⁠ reason for this?‍‍⁠

[“Seon‌ Yuhan…?”]

The⁠⁠ voice of the‌ librarian, filled with‍‌ confusion, fear, and⁠ concern, reached my⁠⁠‍ eyes and ears.‌⁠‍

Just⁠ before my memory cut off—

An absurd thought crossed⁠⁠ my mind.

‘I‍‍ read Alice in‍⁠ Wonderland then, so‍‌ why did I open the closet?’‌⁠