How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 20: With empty hands you come, with empty hands you leave

Chapter 20: With empty hands you come, with empty hands you leave

“It‍ seems this floor‍⁠ is— ugh!”

I pointed the flashlight‌‍ directly into Yoo‌‍ Hyunjae’s eyes and⁠‍‍ threw a punch‌ with all my‌‌⁠ strength.

“S-Seon⁠ Yuhan……? Why……?”

I ran desperately.

Toward⁠‌ the place where‍ Yoo Hyunjae had‌ been standing before.‍⁠‌

“No.⁠ Wait. You mustn’t…….”⁠⁠

Which‌ sector was it‍ exactly?

C07?⁠⁠‌ G01?

“It’s⁠‍⁠ a misunderstanding. Stop.”‌‍

Ah.⁠ Seeing how this‌ entire line belongs‌⁠⁠ to sector C,‍ it must be‌‍ C07.

“Don’t‍ go, Seon Yuhan.‍ Stop. Stop running.‌ You mustn’t see it…….”

It⁠ sounded like Yoo⁠‍⁠ Hyunjae had gotten‌‍ back up and⁠ was coming after‌ me.

Maybe⁠‍‌ he had twisted‌‍ his ankle when‍‌ he fell earlier,‍ because it didn’t‌ sound like he⁠‍‌ was running.

“Ah.”⁠

Here.

In⁠ sector C07 there⁠ was a sedan⁠⁠ and an SUV⁠‍ parked.

On‌‍ the parking stopper‌ and the wall⁠‌ behind the sedan there were splashes⁠⁠⁠ of vomit, probably‌‌ Yoo Hyunjae’s.

And‌‌ on the stopper‌ and wall behind‍ the SUV……

“Ah,⁠‍ ah…….”

There‌⁠ was fresh red‌‍ blood that hadn’t‌⁠‌ even finished coagulating⁠ yet.

Ah.‌ No. No way.⁠‍ That doesn’t make sense.

Barely‍‍ holding onto the‍⁠⁠ vehicle, I staggered‌‍ toward the driver’s‌ side of the‍‌ SUV hidden behind the pillar.

Tap.‌‌

And the instant I saw the scene‌‍ before me, I dropped the phone.‍

“J-Jiho……?”‍‌

No.⁠‍ Not this. This is unfair.

“Miss‍‌ Hwang Juyeon……?”

It‍‍ looked like a stage play.

A faint white light⁠‍ softly illuminating the‌‍ ceiling.

The⁠ innocent child and⁠ the innocent woman collapsed hand in hand.

Bodies‌ soaked in dark⁠ blood as if⁠⁠⁠ they had received‌‌ absolution for their‍⁠ sins, and pale⁠ faces almost transparent.⁠⁠⁠

Fragments‌⁠ of exposed ribs,⁠⁠ crushed and mangled‍‍ red flesh, and⁠ the emptiness between‍⁠‌ them.

The‌ missing heart.

A tragedy where only‌ the purest receive⁠⁠ an eternal and‍ incomprehensible death, while‌ the most impure‌⁠ survive by miserably‌ clinging to life.

“H-how……?⁠‍ Why…… like this……?”‌⁠

“Seon‌⁠ Yuhan…….”

“You,‍‌ Yoo Hyunjae…… what‍‌ the hell did⁠ you do?”

Crack!‌

My‍ body reacted on‍ instinct.

“Ugh…….”⁠‍

“What‌‍ the hell happened‍‍ here?!”

“Calm⁠ down. It wasn’t‌⁠ me. Ngh…… it‌ wasn’t me.”

As‍‌ if trying to prove his innocence,⁠ Yoo Hyunjae slowly⁠⁠⁠ raised both hands.‍‌⁠

They‌‌ were dirty with‍ dust, but there‌ was no trace⁠ of blood on⁠‌ them.

“Don’t‍ play games with‌ me. Not even⁠ I believe you‍⁠ tore people apart‍‌‌ like this with⁠‌ your bare hands.”‌

The‌ elbow pressing against‌‌ his throat began⁠‍ exerting more force.⁠

“What⁠ I do believe is that you‌ offered them as‍ bait to a monster.”

“No.‌⁠⁠ I just…….”

Yoo⁠‌⁠ Hyunjae, cornered against‍‍‍ the wall and‌⁠‌ coughing, lowered his head in shame‍‍ without trying to⁠⁠ resist.

His⁠ eyes hidden by‌ the shadows were red.

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand how‌‍‍ those two died‌‌ like that in such a short amount of time.‍‌‌

And⁠‌ I don’t understand Yoo Hyunjae hiding⁠⁠‌ this while wearing‌‌ that hypocritical expression.⁠

“Sorry⁠ for lying earlier.‌ I thought you‌ were the one‌‍⁠ trying to harm‍ those two…….”

“……What?”⁠‍⁠

“I‍ thought that, if‌ things went wrong,‌‌ I would have‍ to attack you and run away…….”‌⁠

“What……‌ what the hell⁠ are you saying……?”⁠

Suddenly,‌⁠⁠ I felt my⁠‍ chest tighten.

“Seon‍‌ Yuhan, please…… calm⁠‌ down and listen to me.”

Yoo⁠‍ Hyunjae’s hands slowly⁠‌ covered the arm‍‌ and fist with⁠‍ which I was‍‍ holding him.

As⁠⁠ that calm warmth‌‌ passed through my‌⁠ skin, the strength⁠⁠ gradually began leaving my body.

“When‍ you asked about‌ those two people‌ at first, you‌ sounded exactly like‍ a hunter who‍‍ had lost his‌ prey…… so I misunderstood.”

Amid‌ the chaos in⁠ my head, I struggled to reconstruct⁠ that conversation.

“Have‌‌ you perhaps seen⁠ any other people‌‌‍ around here?”

“Other people?”

“Yes.‍‌ A woman and‌⁠‌ a child. They‍ should’ve come down‌ here.”

“Are⁠ they your family?”

“No.‍‌ We met upstairs‍ and, well…… I lost them.”

“Do I need to‌‌ catch them?”

Hah.⁠

While‍ I was suspicious‌⁠ of Yoo Hyunjae,⁠ he was also‍ suspicious of me.‌‌

And‌‍ from his perspective,‍‍‍ there was enough‌ circumstantial evidence to⁠ consider me dangerous.⁠

“And⁠⁠ even if it‌ was only for⁠‍ a moment, when‌‍ I encountered them,‌ they truly looked⁠ like they were running away from‍ something.”

I couldn’t breathe.

As‌‌‍ if I were‍‍⁠ listening to a story I should‍‍ never have heard.

The voices were unraveling⁠ inside my head.‌⁠

“The‍‌ woman screamed in‍‌ terror before she‍ even properly saw‌ my face. And⁠‍ shortly afterward they‍⁠‌ ended up like‌ this…… Ah, Seon‌ Yuhan, no. Don’t do that. Take‌‌‍ a deep breath.”⁠⁠‍

So⁠ it was because‌‌ of me.

Everything‍ was because of‌ me.

Because⁠‌ of me.

“Seon‌‌ Yuhan. Breathe slowly.”‍⁠

Someone‍ grabbed my wrist.‍‌‍

It⁠‌⁠ seemed someone was‌ still talking.

But‍‍ I could no longer hear properly.‍‌

Thump,‍⁠‍ thump.

I could feel my‌‍ heart inside my⁠‍ ears.

Thump,⁠‌ thump.

Hearts.‌‍

The⁠ hearts of the‌ dead too.

Thump,‍‌‍ thump.

As‌⁠ if they were⁠ beating inside me.⁠‌‌

Thump,‍ thump.

They‍ are mine.

The ones I took⁠‌ away.

Thump,‌‌ thump.

They‌‌ are mine.

The‍‌ ones taken from‌‍ me.

Thump,⁠ thump.

“Look⁠ at me. Calm do—”

Clank.‍‌‌

“Ah,⁠ so you did‌⁠ hear it. Maybe two minutes……?”

Clang.‍ Splash.

Something⁠‍ was approaching from⁠‌ the darkness beyond‌ the weak reach‍‌ of the flashlight.⁠‍

Clang-clack.

Metal‍‌⁠ colliding in a steady rhythm.

Kirik-kirik.‌‍

The‍ faint sound of‍⁠‍ gears locking together.‌‍

Squish-splat.‍⁠

Something⁠ like flesh being⁠ crushed beneath heavy⁠‌ footsteps.

“Seon⁠ Yuhan.”

A monster.

“Stop‌‌‌ thinking about the‌ dead and calm‍ down first.”

A people-devouring monster.

“Take⁠ a deep breath.‍‌ That is the‌‍⁠ only way you⁠‌‍ will survive.”

As⁠ if swallowing so many had not‍‌ been enough.

In‍ the end, even……⁠

“According‌⁠ to my suspicions,‌ that false Buddha is searching for⁠ hear—”

“—One⁠‍‍ who cannot free‌‍⁠ himself from desire‍ does not understand⁠ that the self⁠ is empty, that you are empty,‌‌ and that we⁠ are empty.”

Crack.

“Isn’t that, precisely, the‍ true monster of‍⁠ the labyrinth?”

The⁠‌ instant that indifferent‌ voice echoed beside⁠‍ my ear once⁠‍ more.

“The‍ Tathagata is the⁠‍ one who comes in accordance with⁠‍ truth, who departs‍‍‍ in accordance with‍⁠⁠ truth, and who‍‌ correctly awakens to‌‌ nirvana.”

Crack,‍ crunch.

“Willingly‌‌ listening to the‌ thoughts of beings‌‍‍ incapable of severing‌‍ their 108 desires.”⁠

The‍‍‍ compassionate fingers of⁠ the Buddha statue‍ tore through my‍ chest as if‍ it were paper⁠‍‌ and shattered my⁠ ribs as they‌⁠ pierced through them.‍‌

“I‌‌ shall personally guide‍ these poor living⁠ beings toward the‌⁠ world of true‌ reality.”

An icy mercy pierced‍ through my entire‌‍ body as though‍‌ it were absolute truth.

“However, being reborn in⁠‍ paradise is neither⁠‌ a sufficient nor‍⁠‍ necessary condition to⁠ attain liberation.”

Even⁠‍‌ at that moment,‍‌ Yoo Hyunjae was⁠‍ still holding my‌ wrist.

Until‍⁠‍ the instant I abandoned the earthly⁠ world.

……You‍⁠ should have run⁠‍ away, you crazy‌‌ bastard.

***⁠

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

“Co—”‍

A horrifying pain rippled‌ across my chest‌⁠ like a mirage.⁠‍

It’s‌‍ an illusion.

“The‌ hear…… the hearts.”⁠⁠

“Huh?‌‍‌ Seon Yuhan, are‍ you feeling unwell?”‌

When‍⁠⁠ I clutched my‌ chest and muttered that, the interviewer‍ looked at me‌‌ with concern.

“No.‌‌ I’m fine.”

“Ah,‍‌⁠ um… yes.”

I approached the interviewer,‌ who answered with‌ an uncomfortable expression.‌⁠

“Get‌ up. This building‍⁠ has turned into a labyrinth.”

“What?”‍

Once‌‍‌ we were in‍⁠ the hallway, at⁠ first the interviewer‌ looked at me‌ as if he⁠ truly thought I was sick.

But‍‍ when he saw⁠‍ me reciting the‌ precautions inside the⁠‍ labyrinth like a mantra, he nodded‍⁠‍ seriously.

“Ah,‍‍⁠ and the librarian. We have to⁠‍⁠ kill the librarian…….”‍⁠

The⁠‍⁠ instant I remembered⁠‍ that disgusting existence.‌⁠

The‍⁠‌ words began spilling⁠⁠‌ incoherently from my⁠‍ mouth.

“To‌ get down from‌‌ the second floor……⁠ but the floors‌ are mixed, and‌ after that comes‌‍ basement five, but‌⁠ in any case⁠ we have to‍ kill the librarian⁠‌⁠ in the library.‍ It’ll be difficult,‌‍⁠ but we have‌‌ to kill her.‍⁠ That damn thing……!‍‍ That. That is not human.”

“Wait.⁠‌ One moment, Seon⁠⁠ Yuhan.”

The‍ moment I felt‍‍ hands gripping both⁠⁠ my arms, my‍⁠‌ trembling vision focused‌‌ again.

There were no monsters‌ disguised as humans⁠‌ there.

Nor‍‍⁠ humans bleeding to death because of⁠ them.

There⁠‍‍ was only the⁠ interviewer looking directly⁠ at me.

“Look at me.”

“Yes.‌ I’m looking.”

“Good.”⁠

When‍ I finally managed to calm down, the interviewer finally‍‌ smiled.

No…‍⁠‌ was it the⁠⁠ other way around?⁠⁠

I probably could never‌ become a Red Snake agent as‍⁠⁠ good as him.⁠

“But when you mention‌⁠ the library, do‍ you mean Book⁠ & Allae? There isn’t actually a librarian there originally.‍ It’s an autonomous⁠‍‍ borrowing system…….”

“Ah, shi—”

This‍ time it was truly difficult to⁠ hold back the‌ curse.

“It’s⁠‍ not that easy…….”‍

“Huh?”‍

“I’m⁠ saying it’s not that easy. These labyrinths…… really…….”

I felt heat rising‍‍ from deep inside⁠ my abdomen.

So⁠⁠ all that chaos⁠⁠ had happened repeatedly⁠‌‌ just because the people gathered there had never been⁠⁠ to Book &‌‌ Allae before?

“Then‌⁠ I’ll see you‌ later, Seon Yuhan.‌ Be careful.”

“Yes.‌ Don’t wait for⁠‍ me. I hope‍⁠‌ you make it‍‍ out alive.”

After‍‌‍ finishing the remaining‌‍ explanations, I quickly‍ separated from the‌ interviewer.

3:31…‌⁠ 3:32.

Click.⁠‍‍

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiing—!‌⁠

I activated the fire‍⁠⁠ alarm and sprinted‌ down the hallway⁠‌ to press the‍ elevator button.

4…⁠ 3… Ding!

That was close.

I panicked and lost‍‍‌ time; I almost‍‍ didn’t make it.‍

“The⁠ doors are opening.”⁠‍‍

The‌‍ elevator doors split‍ apart to both‍‌ sides like a chest ripped open.‌‍

The⁠ expressionless face of⁠ the brown-haired accountant,‍ impeccably dressed, appeared.⁠

“Are⁠ you going up?‌ I was just‌⁠ about to head⁠ down because of the alarm.”

“……Long⁠ time no see, Choi Jaeha.”

Seriously.‌

***‌

“I⁠ already told you‍ it won’t work…….”

“We‍ won’t know until‌ we tr—”

“—Uh,‍⁠ excuse me…….”

While we were arguing‍‍ on the second⁠ floor about whether‌ or not to break the windows‌ with a fire‍⁠ extinguisher, we ran‍‍ into Hwang Juyeon,‌‌ who had just‌⁠ come out of‌‍‍ the endless staircase.‌‌

If‍ you activated the‍ alarm before 3:33,⁠⁠ before the blackout, you could get‍ Choi Jaeha to‌‌ come down from‍ the third floor‌‌ and also meet‍‌‍ Hwang Juyeon in⁠ the hallway.

Even‍‍ though it had⁠ almost happened by‍ accident, we had‍‌‍ found a way‌⁠‌ to gather outside⁠‍ Book & Allae.‌

The three of us‌‍ quickly shared our⁠‌ situations and introduced‍‍ ourselves.

“I‍ came here to‌ do a magic‍ show at the‍‌ daycare, you know.‌‌ Then I thought⁠ I’d rest for‍‌ a bit in‌‌ the library and…‍⁠‌ ah, seriously.”

The‌‍‌ voice with which‌⁠ she added “I‌‍ wish I hadn’t”‌ sounded bitter.

“Ah,‍ right! The librarian!”‌⁠‍

Suddenly,‌‍‌ Hwang Juyeon shouted‌ as if she‍ had just remembered.‍‌

“Where‌ was she for‍ us not to⁠‍ run into her?⁠ Is she still inside the library……?‍ Ah, no, when‍⁠ the alarm went‌⁠ off I headed toward the entrance‍ and the librarian‌‍‍ was there. When‌‍ I entered I didn’t see her‍ because she wasn’t⁠‍ at her spot,‍‌ but……”

The⁠‍ freelance magician awkwardly⁠ explained the situation.‌⁠

“Anyway,‍⁠⁠ I asked her‌ what the hell⁠ was happening, whether‍ the alarm was‌ real. And she‌ told me to‍ leave first. That⁠ she was going‌‍ to check the‌ administration office and⁠⁠⁠ then come out‌ right away. But‍‍ now that I think about it,‍‍ if she came‍ out, she should⁠ still be on⁠ the second floor, right? Because no‍‌ matter how much⁠‌ you go down,‍‌ you can’t reach‌⁠‌ the lower floor.”‌

“Ah,‌⁠ wait a moment,‍ Hwang Juyeon.”

I called out to‍ Hwang Juyeon just‍ as she was‌‍‍ about to head‌‍ toward the library.⁠‌

“What⁠‍⁠ do you think⁠ about you and‍⁠ Choi Jaeha going to the daycare‍ first? I’ll go⁠‌⁠ look for the librarian.”

I could not let‌ them enter the‌ library.

Neither‌ Hwang Juyeon nor‌ Choi Jaeha.

No‍⁠ one except me.

I could not make‍ the same mistake again.

“You‌ at least already have some familiarity with children, so‌‍ they’ll probably accept⁠ you more easily.‍ I’ll bring the librarian and head‌ to the daycare‍ right away.”

“You’re‍ not thinking of⁠‍ abandoning us and‍⁠‌ escaping alone, are‍‌⁠ you?”

Choi⁠ Jaeha glanced sideways⁠‌ at me.

He‍ seemed half-joking, so‍‌ I weakly shook‍ my head.

“I‍‌⁠ wish there were‍ a place I could run away‌‍‍ to, even if‍ I wanted to.”‌‌‌

Mm.

It‍ seems it didn’t‍‌ sound funny. Even‌⁠ though I really‌‍ was joking.

“In‍ any case, if⁠‍ nothing strange happens in the library…….”⁠

3:41.⁠

I checked the time‌‍ and continued.

“Even‌⁠ if I’m delayed,‌ I’ll get to‌⁠⁠ the daycare in⁠ less than ten‌ minutes.”

“Fine.⁠⁠‍ Go quickly, bring‌‍ the librarian, and‍⁠ come right back.‍ Don’t do anything‍ weird.”

Leaving behind the accountant‍‌‌ whose trust in‌‌‍ me tended toward‍ zero and the‍‌ freelance magician looking‍⁠‌ at me with‍‌‍ concern, I headed‌ toward Book &‍ Allae.

If⁠ my theory is⁠‌⁠ correct, the reading‌ club checks participants‌ every ten minutes‍⁠ and begins whenever‌ there is at‌ least one human‍ besides the librarian.⁠

That‍⁠ meant there were‌‌⁠ still nine minutes‌ left before 3:50.‌‌

“U-uh……?⁠ How did you⁠‌ open the door?⁠⁠ I couldn’t get⁠ out because it⁠‌‌ was locked…….”

Nine minutes are enough.‍‍

“E-excuse⁠ me……? Why are‌ you looking at⁠ me like that……?”⁠⁠‌

To⁠ kill a monster.‍⁠‌

**‍

Kill‌‍ the librarian. There‌ is no librarian‌ here, and that‍ thing is not⁠ human.