How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 25: ♥→♡

Chapter 25: ♥→♡

Clank,⁠⁠‍ clank…….

“Jiho,⁠‌ sorry for waking⁠‌ you, but I have to go‌ check on those‌ two people.”

I carried the child‌ on my back‌⁠⁠ and made him‍‌ hide his face⁠ against my shoulder.⁠

No⁠‌ matter how urgent⁠ it was, I could not allow‍ him to see‌ something he never‍ should.

“Haa, huu…….”

Running‍⁠ while carrying a child who must⁠⁠‌ have weighed around⁠‍ 20 kg left‌ me breathless automatically.‍⁠‍

But⁠‍ I did not⁠‌‌ stop.

I had to keep‌⁠ running.

“Haa……‍ Hwang Juyeon-ssi? Director⁠⁠ Yoo Hyunjae?”

By‍‍‍ the time I arrived, the false⁠⁠ Buddha had already⁠ disappeared into the⁠ darkness.

While‌‌ gently pressing down⁠‍ on the child’s‌‍ head so he‍ would not look‌‍⁠ up, I moved forward slowly.

My⁠‌ heart was already‌ pounding violently, but‍ the anxiety made‍ it feel as‌⁠ though it would‌ explode.

“Seon⁠ Yuhan-ssi……?”

The‌ figure that seemed⁠ to have shrunk‍ in on itself‍ slowly stood up.‌⁠

It‌⁠⁠ was Yoo Hyunjae.‌

“T-that……‍‍ Hwang Juyeon-ssi…….”

Director Yoo Hyunjae shook⁠⁠ his head with‌ an exhausted face.‍‍‍

When‌ I shined the‍⁠ flashlight farther ahead,‌ I could see⁠ Hwang Juyeon lying on a carpet‍ soaked in red,⁠ covered with a stained suit jacket‌⁠ as though it‍‍ were a blanket.

Hwang‍ Juyeon was sleeping‌⁠ a sleep from‌‍‍ which she would⁠ never awaken.

“I……‌ thought that clue……‌⁠ the cross…… was wrong…….”

The⁠ words would not⁠‌‍ come out properly.‍‍

I could not breathe.‍

“Yes…….⁠ It seems that‍ was the case…….”⁠

It’s‌ my fault.

It’s‍⁠ my fault.

Again,⁠ it’s because of‌⁠ me.

Again,⁠ it was me.‍

Because‌ I’m an idiot.⁠

Because‍‍ I didn’t realize‍‌⁠ it sooner.

I should have noticed⁠ faster that it‍‌ was a trap.‍

If‍‌ I had opened‍‌ it earlier.

If‍‍ I had distracted‍ Choi Jaeha like‍ that.

Maybe⁠⁠ they would not have died.

Neither⁠‍ Choi Jaeha.

Nor‌ Hwang Juyeon.

No‍ one.

“But‍⁠‍ something is strange.‍ Even though Hwang‍‍ Juyeon-ssi held back‌ her scream, that‍ false Buddha still⁠ came…… Seon Yuhan-ssi?”‌⁠

Yes.⁠⁠⁠

If it were not‍‍‌ for me.

No⁠ one would have‍ died.

Clank…….⁠

At⁠ that moment.

The⁠ voices that kept‌ leaking into my head disappeared.

An⁠‌‌ eerie silence.

And‍‌‍ then.

The‍⁠ sharp sound of‍‌‌ footsteps.

Splash,⁠‌⁠ clank…….

No‌‍‌ one screamed.

Clank,⁠‍ kreeeak…….

I endured all of⁠ this as best‍⁠ I could.

“Seon‍⁠ Yuhan-ssi……!”

“What⁠ is it that⁠⁠ causes your thirst?⁠ Have you forgotten‍‌‍ the eighty-four thousand‌⁠ dharmas? Are you‌ still bound by‌ the one hundred‍ and eight karmas?”⁠‌‌

Why?⁠‍

Why?‍⁠

“This‍⁠‌ world is an illusion. The senses⁠‌ are karma. Memories‍ are pain.”

The World-Honored One approaches.⁠

Toward⁠ me.

Why?‍

What‌‌ was it that⁠‌ he heard?

What⁠ called the World-Honored⁠⁠ One here?

Thump,‌‍ thump…….

When‌‍ I brought my⁠ hand to my⁠ chest, thinking of⁠ the approaching mercy,‍ I could feel‌‍ beneath the torn flesh a mass‍ of blood pounding⁠‌ violently before the‌⁠⁠ truth.

Clank, splash.

In⁠‍‌ rhythm with the⁠ footsteps.

Thump,⁠‍‍ thump…….

“The‍‌ place of the⁠‌⁠ Tathagata is not upon a rotten‌‌‌ throne nor beneath a sala tree‌ consumed by flames.”⁠⁠

Ah.⁠

“Hah……⁠ I should have guessed.”

That⁠‌ false Buddha that devours hearts does‌ not come because⁠⁠ of screams.

“It‍ was not the sound of screams…….”‌

“But‌ the place where⁠⁠ the blood of those blinded by‍ attachment and desire‌⁠ boils like hungry‌ demons.”

The heart.

“For⁠ I have waited‌ there.”

It⁠ is drawn by the sound of the heart.

“So‌‌ it was listening⁠ to the beating‌‍ of hearts.”

“At last, I have‌‍ heard you.”

At the instant when‌ my revelation and‌‌ those two voices‍ became one.

The‍‍ entire world was dyed in darkness.‍‌‌

***⁠

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

“Sh-should‍ I…… stop my heart?”

“Huh?⁠‍ Stop what? Ah,‌‌ are you feeling‍ sick? Should we end the interview‌‍ here for now?”

“……Yes. We should stop‍⁠‌ for now. I’m‌ sorry.”

I pushed aside the pain that vanished‍ like an illusion‍ and helped the‍‍ interviewer stand before⁠ stepping out into⁠‌ the hallway.

While‍ separating emotions and information inside my‌⁠ head and organizing‌⁠ them, I explained‌ the precautions to‌‍ the interviewer.

“And⁠ in Basement 5 there’s a monster‍ that imitates a Buddha. It seems‌ to come when it hears strong‍ heartbeats, though I don’t know the⁠⁠ exact criteria…….”

“Mm,⁠‌ then, in other‍⁠‌ words, that monster‍⁠ checks people’s heart rates.”

“Yes……‍‍ I suppose.”

“Then⁠ the smartwatch…… ah. Mr. Seon Yuhan‍ doesn’t wear one.”‍‌

The‍ interviewer showed the‌ smartwatch on his⁠⁠ wrist while frowning.‌⁠

“I think it would⁠ help to control‍ your mind while‍ constantly checking your⁠⁠ heart rate with‌‍ this…….”

“Ah.”⁠⁠

So‍‍ that was it.‌

Choi⁠ Jaeha and Hwang Juyeon probably wore‌‌ smartwatches, so they‌‌ should be fine.‌⁠

I’m⁠⁠⁠ not sure about‍ Yoo Hyunjae, but‍‍ considering how he has acted so⁠ far, he does‌ not seem like‌ someone who irrationally‍‍‌ loses his composure.⁠

The‍ problem is Jung‌ Jiho.

Though perhaps it is⁠‍ not something I should worry about, considering I died‍ before that child‌⁠‌ did.

“In‌ any case, thank⁠ you. You helped⁠‌ me a lot. Mr. Interviewer, please‌ go down first.‍ Be careful.”

“You⁠ too…… be careful,‌‌ Mr. Seon Yuhan.”‍‌‍

The interviewer looked at‌ me with a worried expression before‍ heading toward the‌‍ emergency exit.

3:32⁠‍ p. m.

Click.⁠‍

Riiiiiiiiing―!‍‌‍

I activated the fire⁠‍ alarm just before‌‌ the blackout.

It⁠ was time to find the accountant,‌⁠ the magician, and‌ the child.

***

“Khk,⁠⁠‌ blegh…….”

After⁠⁠‍ killing that filthy⁠‌ thing that dared to cover itself‌ in human skin‍⁠‍ inside the library.‍‌

“……the‌ child stays alone…….”‌‍

After‍‍⁠ putting the toys‌ to sleep in⁠ the daycare with‌‌‌ ball games and⁠⁠ choreographed dances.

“Ugh,⁠‍ ugh…….”

We met once again‍‍⁠ with the director⁠‌ of Yuwi Guild,‌ who was still‌‌ vomiting in Basement‌ 5.

“Huh?‌‌ Isn’t that Director‍ Yoo Hyunjae? Are⁠ you alright……?”

While‍ feeling slight pity‌ for Director Yoo‌‌ Hyunjae’s esophagus, which seemed to suffer‍ from reflux every‌ time we met⁠⁠ him.

Choi‍‍ Jaeha stepped forward first to greet‍‍‍ him.

“Mm,⁠⁠ I’m fine.”

Director‍⁠ Yoo Hyunjae once again pretended that‍ nothing had happened and began introducing⁠ himself flawlessly.

“A⁠ pleasure to meet‍‍ you, Hwang Juyeon.⁠ Jiho as well.‍⁠ And you are…….”

“Ah,‍ nice to meet‌ you. I’m Seon‍⁠ Yuhan.”

“Ahh…….⁠ Seon Yuhan. I see.”

Yoo‍⁠ Hyunjae smiled as‍ though painted.

“It’s‌⁠‍ a pleasure to‍‍ meet you.”

This‍‍ time he did‌‍ not say anything‍ about my face‌ seeming familiar.

Last‌⁠ time he probably‌⁠‍ thought I was‌⁠ an employee of‍‌‌ his company because‌‍⁠ I was the⁠ first to quickly‍ greet him by‍ calling him “director.”⁠

If⁠⁠‌ I had really⁠ been an employee⁠ of Yuwi Guild,‍⁠ the moment the⁠ director pretended to‌‌ recognize me, I myself would have‌ immediately stated my⁠ affiliation and name.⁠

“You‌‌ do not belong‌ to our company,‍⁠⁠ correct?”

“No,‌‌ I do not.”⁠‌⁠

I decided to omit⁠‍ all that about‍ having gone to‌‍ the interview for Yuwi Guild’s agent‍ team.

Yoo‍‌ Hyunjae did not⁠ ask further and‍⁠‌ simply nodded.

“Good,⁠ let’s organize a simple formation. We‍ already know each‌‍⁠ other’s faces and⁠ have finished introductions,‍‍ so let’s reduce‍⁠ the light as‌ well.”

“Uh……‍ is it bad‌‍ if the light⁠ is too bright?‌‌ Why?”

At Hwang Juyeon’s question,‍⁠ Yoo Hyunjae fell⁠ silent for a moment before explaining‌ how his personal‌‍ driver died.

He‌‌ said that, for some reason, the⁠ man suddenly began‍⁠‍ screaming and babbling⁠ incoherently, and shortly afterward a monster⁠ resembling a Buddhist⁠⁠ statue ripped out‌‍‍ his heart.

It⁠⁠ seems some phenomenon‍⁠ occurs that startles‍ people.

“That’s‍ why I thought⁠⁠⁠ perhaps it is‍ attracted to sounds like screams.”

“Ahh.”‍‌

“Th-then,⁠ does talking like‍ this also……?”

“No.‍‍ It does not⁠‍‍ seem capable of⁠‍ hearing normal conversation⁠‍ at this level.”‍‍⁠

“Excuse‍⁠‍ me.”

I,‍ who had remained‌‌‍ silent all this‍‍ time, spoke cautiously⁠ and everyone’s gaze turned toward me.⁠‍

“What⁠‌ if it actually‌ hears heartbeats?”

Yoo⁠ Hyunjae then slightly⁠⁠ raised an eyebrow,⁠‍ as though inviting‍ me to continue,‍‌⁠ without showing any displeasure.

“I‌‌‍ mean…… that monster‍‍ steals hearts. So‍⁠ I thought it‍‍ would make more‍‌ sense.”

I deliberately spoke as⁠‌‍ though it were‌‌ merely a hypothesis.‌

I did not want‌‍ to sound certain⁠ based on absurd⁠ stories about turning⁠ back time or‍ dying and coming‍ back to life.⁠‍⁠

After‍ all, the only‌‌ information I know‌ as a regressor‌‍ is that the‌⁠ monster clumsily imitating‌‍ a Buddha appears⁠ when it hears‌ strong heartbeats.

I know nothing beyond‍ that.

Besides…….⁠‌⁠

I know exactly how‍ far people can‍ empathize with someone‍ else’s suffering.

But I also know‌ how far they‍‍ can become indifferent.‍⁠

In‌ that sense.

I do not trust these people at all.

Of‍ course, I do‍⁠ not think they⁠ are bad people.‍⁠‍

It’s‍ just that in‍ a disaster like‌⁠‌ this, what comes‍ to light is⁠ not personality.

It‌‌ is instinct.

Even‍‌⁠ the kindest person‍ wants to survive.‍

And⁠ in order to survive, they can become cruel.

And‍ that has nothing‌ to do with‍‌ good or evil.⁠⁠

I……‌⁠ I rather…….

Wanted‍ them to survive⁠ more than someone‍‌⁠ like me.

“Ah,⁠‌ now that you‍⁠‍ mention it, that‌‍⁠ makes sense. After⁠‌‌ all, screaming is‌ also a reaction⁠ caused because the‌‍ heart starts beating violently from fear.”‌⁠⁠