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.

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.”‌