How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 21: Reunion

Chapter 21: Reunion

“Cgh,‍⁠‌ aaagh……! Ugh, whyyy……?”‍‍‌

I don’t regret it.‌

“Khk!⁠‍ I-I’m sor…….”

I don’t regret it.‍

“Ghk,‌ ugh…….”

There’s no way I regret it.

“Ugh,‌‌ uuk…….”

So‌‌ this is nothing‍ more than a physiological nausea.

Toward‌‌⁠ that disgusting monster⁠⁠‍ wearing human skin.‌‍

“Ha……‌‌ ah…….”

3:50 p.m.

The⁠⁠ reading club did⁠ not begin.

No‌‌⁠ human died.

And‌ no one was‍‍ forgotten.

Finally.‌

Silence‌‍ came to the‍ library.

***‌⁠

“¡Oh!‍‍ Hello!”

“Ah, Seon Yuhan……! You’re⁠ safe!”

“What’s‌‌ wrong with you?‌‌ Why did you⁠‌ take so long?‌ I seriously thought⁠ you’d abandoned us!”⁠⁠

When‍⁠ I entered Saenal Daycare, a monster⁠ shaped like a doll and two‍‍ humans greeted me‍ one after another.‌⁠

First‌⁠ I confirmed that⁠ Jung Jiho was safe, resting against‌‌‍ the wall, and‍⁠ I breathed a sigh of relief.‌⁠

Then‍⁠⁠ I took Jiho’s⁠⁠ bag with his‌ spare clothes out⁠‍ of the locker.‍

“…….”‌

Inside‌ the toy box‌ hidden behind the‌ fake panel, the‍ “fired” teacher was‍ still there, folded⁠‌ up and arranged⁠ grotesquely.

Just‍‌ as I expected.‌⁠

“Seon‌ Yuhan, what are‍ you doing over‌ there?”

Judging⁠ by the way⁠ Choi Jaeha and‌ Hwang Juyeon were acting, it seemed‌‍⁠ they knew nothing‍ about the teacher.‍

Everything‍‍‌ had probably happened‌‍ right after the⁠ place turned into‌ a labyrinth.

“Come⁠‌‌ quickly! Don’t just‌⁠ stand there! Can’t‌‍ you see I’m⁠ dying over here?”⁠‌⁠

Since⁠‌ the goose teacher⁠ had already recognized those two as⁠ companions, I also‌‍ joined the “slaughter.”

The‍ “slaughter” had evolved⁠‌⁠ one level beyond‌ the clumsy choreography⁠⁠ show I did⁠‌⁠ before.

Now⁠⁠ it included ball‍⁠‌ games.

Basically,‍‌ we were playing‌ something similar to⁠‌ soccer, but every⁠ time Hwang Juyeon’s‍ piano accompaniment sounded,⁠‍‍ everyone had to‍⁠⁠ stop immediately and⁠ dance along with⁠ the lyrics of‍‍ the song.

“Huff…⁠⁠ I used this‍ method when my‌⁠ nephews were little,‍⁠‍ but children’s energy is no joke.⁠ If you want them to fall‌ asleep even a little faster, you‌ really have to……⁠‍ huff…….”

The‌ sounds of joints⁠‌ cracking filled the‌⁠ entire daycare, both⁠ from people and⁠⁠‌ toys.

Two‌⁠ men dressed in‌‍ black seriously dancing⁠‌‍ to children’s songs‌ together with toys,⁠ and yet there‍ was nothing funny about it.

“By‍⁠⁠ the way…… there⁠ really wasn’t anyone⁠ in the library……?”‌⁠

When Hwang Juyeon stopped‌ playing, the ball‌ game started again.‌⁠

“No.‍ That’s why I ended up searching‌⁠ other places too‍‍‍ and got delayed‍ a bit.”

“Ah…….‌⁠ then, where did‌ she go……?”

The⁠ piano teacher’s expression‌ darkened as both‍⁠ hands rested motionless⁠ on the keys.‍

“I‌‍ think she disappeared.”⁠‌‌

“What⁠ do you mean?”‌‍

“I⁠ was in the‍‍‌ middle of the‍ interview with the⁠ interviewer when it‍‍ happened. She disappeared right in front⁠‌⁠ of my eyes.”‌‌

Pang!‍‌

I lightly kicked the‌ ball coming toward‍‌ me and sent⁠‍ it toward Choi⁠ Jaeha.

“Since⁠‌ the other children⁠‌ aren’t here either, I think everything‌ happened almost at‌‍ the same time right after the‌‍ place turned into‌ a labyrinth.”

“What⁠‍⁠ do you mean the children aren’t‍ here?”

Suddenly‌ the ridiculous goose‌ doll interrupted with‌ a sharp, almost⁠‍⁠ indignant voice.

“But‌ our children are⁠⁠ right here, playing‍‍‍ so happily!”

As‍‍ if ice water‌‍ had been thrown‌ over them, everyone’s⁠ expressions stiffened.

Hwang‌‍ Juyeon.

Choi‌ Jaeha.

Even⁠‌ Jung Jiho.

Everyone‌⁠ turned pale.

“Don’t‍ tell me all these toys are……?”‌

“Don’t‍ believe them.”

Without‍‌ caring, I took‌ the ball away⁠⁠ from a robot⁠‍ and passed it‍ to Choi Jaeha.‍‌

“There’s no need to‌ take everything labyrinth⁠‌ monsters say literally. Lying is practically⁠ their hobby.”

“Hey,‍ hey. Why are you saying that‌ in front of‌ them……?”

Choi⁠ Jaeha lightly hit‌ my shoulder while⁠⁠ nervously looking at‌ the goose teacher.⁠‍

“Ah,⁠‌ this shouldn’t be a problem. Though‍⁠ I’m sorry for⁠⁠ scaring you.”

Last‍‍ time, when I said something similar,‍ the goose teacher did not try⁠‍ to stop me.‌

He⁠‍⁠ didn’t even deny‍⁠ it.

Just‌ as I thought, according to the⁠ rules of this⁠‍‍ place, those toys‌‍‌ could not kill‌ me right now.

Annoying⁠ the goose teacher‌ posed no danger.‌‌‍

Then‌‌ the condition for‌ clearing Saenal Daycare must be……

Not⁠ being a complete‌‌‌ outsider to the‌⁠ daycare and playing⁠‌ safely and healthily⁠‍‌ with the toys⁠ until they got‍⁠ tired.

Something like that.

“Then……⁠ does that mean‍⁠‌ those children didn’t⁠ die……? I mean,‍⁠ something like that‌ didn’t happen, right?”‍

Hwang‌⁠ Juyeon’s fingers began‌‍ moving again.

The‌ melody was sad,⁠ very different from‌⁠ the cheerful lyrics‍ of the children’s song.

“I‍‍ don’t think so.”⁠‍

I silently listened to⁠ the song the‍‍ toys were singing while moving my‍ arms and legs.‌

“The‌⁠⁠ labyrinth doesn’t like‌ people dying too‍ much.”

“Huh?‌‍ What does that‌⁠ mean……?”

“What⁠ nonsense are you⁠ talking about?”

The⁠⁠ moment the accompaniment⁠⁠ stopped briefly, the ball began bouncing⁠ back and forth‍⁠ again.

“What‍ the labyrinth likes⁠ is for people‌⁠⁠ to get lost⁠⁠ inside it. And‌⁠ in order to⁠⁠ get lost, they⁠‌ first have to‌ stay alive.”

The‍ black pupils of⁠ the goose doll⁠ were fixed on‍ me.

“That’s‌ why it doesn’t⁠‌ waste people by‌ killing them all‍ at once without⁠‍ even giving them‌‌ the chance to⁠⁠‍ get lost.”

Choi‍⁠‌ Jaeha nodded as if he understood,⁠‍‍ but then abruptly⁠⁠‍ turned toward me.‌‍⁠

“But⁠⁠ you… what kind‌‌‌ of person are‌ you to talk⁠ so confidently? You⁠ said you came‍ for an interview‍⁠ at Yuwi Guild.‌‌ You’re not some‍‌⁠ Red Snake, are‌ you? Though… do⁠‌‌ the Red Snakes also do interviews‍‌ like office workers?”⁠‍

“No.⁠ I’m just……”

I laughed in disbelief.‍‍

“Someone⁠ who won the⁠ lottery twice.”

“Huh?⁠‍ Really? No way!”‌

“Yes.‍‌⁠ It’s a lie.”⁠

“Ah,‌⁠ seriously. What a weird guy.”

I heard someone holding‌ back a laugh.‌

When⁠ I turned my⁠‍ head, the freelance⁠‌ magician’s upper lip‌‍ had stretched as‌ she tried to‍‍ suppress her laughter.‌‍⁠

Choi‌ Jaeha puffed out his cheeks, but‍‌‍ in the end‍⁠‍ he also started‍ smiling.

And⁠⁠ Hwang Juyeon kept‍⁠‌ playing the piano with effort, trying⁠ to wipe the‌ laughter from her‌‍ face.

The⁠ labyrinth is a strange place.

No.

Humans‍ are the strange⁠ ones.

Even‍ when they are‌‍ in a situation‌ where they clearly‌‌ should not be⁠‌ able to laugh,‍ if something funny‌ appears, they end⁠ up laughing anyway.

That’s why, the instant‍ I realized the⁠ expression I had‌‍ on my face,⁠⁠ it felt as⁠ if my heart‍ froze and I became completely motionless.

The‍‌⁠ labyrinth must not⁠ become a place‌⁠⁠ where people can‍ laugh.

The‌‌ labyrinth must be‌ a place filled‌ only with painful⁠‍ memories.

Because if it is‌‌‍ a place where‌‍ laughter exists.

If‌‌ happy memories exist there.

Then……⁠‌

wouldn’t‍ you end up⁠‌ wishing to never escape?

Wouldn’t‌ you end up⁠⁠‌ wanting to return‍ to the labyrinth?

So‍ I……

“……the⁠‍‌ child is left‌ alone…….”

The‌ toys stopped playing⁠⁠⁠ with the ball and began swaying‌ while lying on‍ the floor to‍ the gentle rhythm‍‌ of the lullaby.‌⁠

Soon‍‍ after, soft snores‍‍⁠ began to be⁠ heard.

“Thank you for playing‌ so well with⁠‌ our children. Have⁠‌‌ a safe trip,⁠⁠‍ dear guardians. Goodbye,‍ Jiho.”

And so we escaped⁠ from Woorisaenal Daycare.‍⁠‌

**⁠⁠

If‍‍‍ you have to play with the‌ children, choose active‍‌‍ games such as‌ ball games or⁠⁠ choreographies.

**⁠‍⁠

“Let’s‌‍⁠ try going down‍⁠‌ one more time.⁠‌ Maybe saving Jiho‍ was the condition.”‍

As‌‍ soon as we‍‌‍ left the daycare,⁠ I naturally guided‌‍ the group toward‍ the emergency stairs.⁠

Even⁠‌ though I had⁠ taken care of⁠‌ the traces, it‍ had been far‌⁠ too improvised.

I had to avoid‌‌ at all costs‌⁠ letting them pay‍ attention to the⁠ library.

“Ah,⁠ right. It could⁠‍ be.”

“Jiho,‌⁠ aren’t you tired?‍ Can you walk?”‍‌

Jung‌‍‌ Jiho nodded softly‌⁠⁠ at Hwang Juyeon’s‌‌‍ question.

As‌ I watched that,⁠⁠ something suddenly came‌ to mind.

“Don’t‌‌ you need to‌⁠⁠ use the bathroom‍‍ or anything? Maybe‍‌ it would be⁠‍ better to go‌‍ now. You could⁠ also change your⁠‌ clothes.”

Unless⁠⁠‌ the floor below‍‌ was truly the⁠‌ first floor, there‍‌‌ was no way‌ to know how‍ much farther we‌⁠⁠ would have to‍‍⁠ go.

The‍‌ fact that the‌ floors were mixed‌ was practically proof⁠‌ that the first‍‌ floor was the⁠ labyrinth’s exit.

But‌ the problem was‍‍ not knowing whether‌‌‍ we had to‌ go up or‌ down to reach‍‍ it.

For‌⁠ now, the best option was to‌‌ keep descending in‌ one direction.

And‌‍ if the first‌ floor did not⁠ appear, then try‌⁠ going upward.

“Bah,‍‍⁠ can’t he just‍‌ go to the‍ bathroom after we‌‌ get out?”

Well,⁠⁠ if he really couldn’t hold it,⁠⁠‍ then it couldn’t‌ be helped. The⁠‌ accountant added that⁠ defensively.

Jiho⁠⁠ also shook his‍ head as if‌ saying he was fine and pointed toward the emergency⁠‍ door.

From‍‌⁠ his expression, it‍‌ was impossible to⁠ tell whether he‍ was simply anxious⁠‌ about being trapped‍ in the labyrinth⁠ or merely watching‌ the adults closely.

“Hey, I don’t want‍⁠ to ruin the⁠‌ mood either, but…….”‍⁠⁠

“Then‌‍ don’t ruin it.”

“Huh?”‍⁠‍

“Now‌ every time you‍⁠ try to say‌ something serious, I suddenly get scared⁠‌⁠ to death. I think I’m traumatized.”‌‍

The‌⁠‌ huge accountant started⁠ shaking his head while covering his⁠‌ ears.

“Aaaaaah,⁠ I’m not listening,‍‌ aaaah.”

Wow.‌‍

I genuinely felt overwhelmed.⁠

By‍ the embarrassing spectacle‍ of a grown‌ man.

As‍‌‌ expected, people who‌ exchange business cards⁠ inside a labyrinth⁠ are on another‍‌ level.

I opened my mouth an instant before silently shifting my‍‌ gaze toward Hwang‍ Juyeon and Jung‍ Jiho.

“There’s‍‌ no guarantee…… that the next floor‌‍ will be the‌ first floor.”

In‌ the end, I had to ruin‍ their mood.

It⁠ would be much‌‌ worse for them⁠‍‌ to get their‌‍ hopes up too‍ high and then‌‌ suddenly run into‌‍ a dark Basement‍‍ Five.

It⁠⁠‍ was better for‌‌‍ them to prepare themselves now.

“If⁠‌‍ it’s a labyrinth⁠‌ this large…… I think we should‌⁠ be prepared for⁠ anything.”

But‌ seeing their expressions‍‍ made me feel‌ as though I had handed them⁠‌ a death sentence.⁠

I found it difficult‌ to look them‍‍ directly in the‌ eyes.

As if everything were‍ my fault.

Do⁠ police officers who‌‌‍ announce the death⁠ of someone’s parents‌‍ feel something similar?⁠‍

“Haa…….”‌

Hwang‌ Juyeon let out‍‌‍ a long sigh‌⁠ and stayed silent‍⁠ for a moment.⁠

“Well,⁠ it’s an invasion-type⁠ labyrinth…… so it‍‍‌ couldn’t be easy.‌ I understand what‌‌‌ you mean. We‌‌ lose nothing by⁠ preparing ourselves mentally.⁠‌ If we find‌‌⁠ the first floor,‌⁠ great. And if not… then it can’t be helped.⁠‍ Right?”

The‍⁠ freelance magician lightly‍ hit Choi Jaeha,‌⁠ who had already‍‍⁠ lowered his hands.‌‍

Only then did his⁠⁠ sulky expression finally‌‌ collapse.

“Huh,‌‌ uaaaaaah……. What kind‌‌‌ of misfortune is‌ this……? No, wait.”‌‍‍

Choi‍ Jaeha abruptly raised‌‌ his head.

“It’s⁠‍ still not certain,‌‌ right? We won’t know until we‍⁠ go down. Right? Isn’t that so?”⁠‍⁠

The‌‌ accountant gently patted‌ Jung Jiho’s head,‌ seeking approval.

The‍‌ child, who only‍‍ moved his round‌ eyes from side⁠‌⁠ to side, tilted‌‌ his head ambiguously.

“See?‍‌ You think so‌⁠ too, right? That⁠ guy is way‍ too negative.”

And⁠⁠ so, together, we opened the emergency‍‍⁠ door to the⁠ first floor.

“Basement⁠ Five? No, this‌ can’t be…….”

The⁠⁠⁠ optimist Choi Jaeha‍ denied reality.

***⁠‌

“But⁠⁠ it’s dark only⁠‌⁠ because there’s no‍‌ electricity, right? Even‌‍ with the flashlights‍ on, this feels claustrophobic.”

“Jiho,⁠ hold the teacher’s hand tightly.”

“If‍ it gets hard to walk later,‍ tell me. I’ll⁠⁠ carry you.”

As‍ soon as we‍⁠ entered Basement Five,‍⁠ each of us‌⁠ turned on our‌ phone flashlights and‍ we started moving forward.

Then.‍

“Khk,⁠‍ ugh…….”

“W-what was that? Who’s‌‍‌ there?”

From‍ somewhere, the sound‍ of someone emptying‍ a stomach that probably no longer⁠⁠ had anything left‌⁠ inside echoed again.⁠

I think I knew‍⁠ who it was.‍‌

“Excuse me, is someone‌ there? Are you‌ alright?”

“Khm.‌ I’m fine.”

We‍⁠ slowly approached while⁠⁠‌ shining our lights⁠⁠ ahead, and the‌ figure of a man lightly shielding⁠⁠ the light with‌ one hand appeared.‌⁠

“Eh,⁠ that man…….”

Just‍‍‍ as I expected.‌‍‍

It‍‌ was Director Yoo‌⁠‌ Hyunjae.

“Let’s‌⁠ reduce the light‍ to the minimum‌ after introducing ourselves.⁠ Since there are‍ several of us,‌‍ turning everything off‍‌ would actually be‌‌ even more dangerous.”

That‌ was the first‍ thing Yoo Hyunjae⁠‌ said upon meeting⁠⁠ the four of us.

“Understood,‌ Director.”

When‍⁠ I answered respectfully,‌‍ his reddened eyes⁠ naturally settled on⁠ me.

As⁠‌ if dividing time‌‌ itself, he observed‍⁠ me for an⁠ instant so long‌ it felt eternal.‌

Yes,‍‍ as if…….

“Have⁠⁠⁠ we met before?”‌

As‍ if he were⁠ trying to find⁠ me within his‌ memories.