Chapter 27: Conflagration
Yoo Hyunjae and I simply kept our mouths shut and looked each other in the eyes, reaching the unspoken agreement that the radio sound was not an individual auditory hallucination.
Chzzzt, chzzzt…
For a while, music filled with static played, as if someone were tuning the frequency.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
It was a veteran radio program that had accompanied the history of that station for many years.
「Hello, listeners of .」
Eventually, the signal became clearer.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
「…Here is today’s story. orbit “Hello, Jeong-DJ! admire Tomorrow I’m going on a trip alone with my girlfriend. acoustic I’m going to forget about grades and everything else and just enjoy myself.” adapt Oh, you must be very excited. alpha “We’re going to drive around, go hiking, eat delicious food, and I’m also going to show her my villa.” aluminum Oh! album A villa too? august How impressive. august Ahem. timber “I’ll also show her my villa. admire By the way, Jeong-DJ, do you know any good places near Mount Yeongun?” adopt Ah, Mount Yeongun…」
Did people actually go there for trips?
Mount Yeongun?
「…Hoping you have a wonderful journey, we’ll listen to a song by a charming mixed-gender duo that has recently been gaining popularity…」
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Although calling it “recently popular” was an exaggeration.
At best, it was a song from the early 2000s.
A song began playing with the typical low audio quality of radio broadcasts.
“It sounds like an old broadcast.”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Then the content of the story started making sense too.
“Seon Yuhan-ssi, does anything come to mind when you hear Mount Yeongun?”
“It does.”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
I did not understand why he was wasting time like this.
He did not look like someone asking because he did not know.
I stared at Yoo Hyunjae.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
More precisely, five years ago part of Mount Yeongun became an Invasion-type Labyrinth.
“It became a labyrinth a few years ago.”
“Yes.”
Yoo Hyunjae opened his eyes slightly, inviting me to continue.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“As far as I remember, a forest fire broke out a week after the labyrinth’s existence was discovered, and the labyrinth disappeared.”
Whether it was an accident or deliberately caused by the people trapped inside.
It was a rarely visited area, but a small road passed through the affected zone, so every vehicle that crossed that point disappeared.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
In the end, they escaped the labyrinth.
“You remember it quite well. advance But there’s something else you should know.”
By dying.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“In addition to the bodies of the people trapped inside the labyrinth, they found fragments of unidentified human bones. armor Remains that had been buried in that mountain for a very long time.”
Yoo Hyunjae pointed at the silent radio.
“Unidentified remains…? palette Ah, now I remember.”
I looked at him as if asking what it was. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
The director of Yuwi Guild stroked his chin while trying to remember.
Come to think of it, when I followed the news about the Mount Yeongun Labyrinth, public attention had suddenly shifted to those discovered bones, which was why I barely obtained any information about the labyrinth itself.
“As I heard it, the condition of the bones was so poor that they couldn’t properly obtain DNA. silence Even so, by assembling the remaining fragments, they estimated that they belonged to…”
Then he frowned.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“I think they concluded they belonged to a middle school or high school girl.”
Regardless of my will, the puzzle pieces began fitting together by themselves inside my head.
If…
Feet…
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
An adult traveled around Mount Yeongun with his “girlfriend,” a middle school or high school student.
In the early 2000s.
About twenty years ago.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Her body must have been twisted exactly like the dummy we found in the truck.
For some reason, that girl was struck by a car traveling at practically full speed.
Afterward, she was buried in Mount Yeongun.
And roughly fifteen years later.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Part of Mount Yeongun became an Invasion-type Labyrinth.
Five years ago.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“And even knowing all that, we still don’t know that girl’s name. arch Perhaps we’ll find the clue here.”
Yoo Hyunjae lightly waved the automobile catalog in his hand and opened it so both of us could read it.
“Ha…”
After everyone inside was wiped out and the area was subsequently cleared, fragments of that girl’s bones were found…
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Flip.
Flip.
I slowly turned the pages, searching for any unusual mark or sign.
The sound of thin pages turning filled the interior of the vehicle.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“There’s something stuck between the pages. harbor It looks like a note.”
“Ah. abstract I think this is it.”
“Hmm?”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Yoo Hyunjae stopped at a page featuring a dark green SUV.
“Seon Yuhan-ssi?”
But my gaze remained fixed on the note trapped between the pages like a bookmark.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
I slowly reached toward the note.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
For some reason, it felt as though my fingertips were trembling.
“The drawing. arrow The drawing…”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Tap—
A hand had been drawn on the paper in red ink.
And there was also a drawing of a scale tilted to one side.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Chzzzt, chzzzt…
The moment I dropped the note as though it had burned me.
The radio turned on again.
First came a song filled with static, then the signal gradually cleared.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
「You be there, my dear」
Eventually the introduction ended.
「I’m on my way to you」
And the song truly began.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
No.
So well that it felt as though blood were pouring out of every opening in my body.
I know it far too well.
I know this song.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
That’s not it.
No.
No.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“Seon Yuhan-ssi, are you seeing something strange?”
Even if all the blood leaves me, I cannot die.
Not until balance is achieved.
I don’t see anything. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
There’s nothing there.
I already paid everything.
No.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
This is wrong.
No.
“Clench your fist and then relax it. audit Breathe slowly. arena One, two…”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“105 seconds.”
Someone grabbed my shoulders and shook me hard.
There are too many hands.
Do I have to cut them off?
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“The average between a minute and a half and two minutes is 105 seconds.”
What… is he talking about?
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Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Hwang Juyeon died.
That’s right.
Because of me.
“A moment ago you muttered between a minute and a half and two minutes, right? shadow After Hwang Juyeon died. august You were calculating the time between the snake bite and the monster’s arrival.”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Was it in the previous iteration?
Or didn’t she?
Or the one before that?
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
The rules.
“Seon Yuhan-ssi. anxiety Forget about death and focus on the rules. aspect If you know the rules, you can escape the labyrinth. advance Think only about that.”
The rules.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
But if I don’t know them, how am I supposed to escape?
“For approximately 105 seconds, Hwang Juyeon’s heart rate almost never dropped below 110.”
The rules.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“And that monster…”
In other words.
If a heart rate remains above roughly 110 for approximately 105 seconds. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.
That monster appears.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Crudely imitates a Buddha.
And that monster.
What does 105 seconds mean?
While speaking about freeing oneself from worldly afflictions.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Between 105 and 110.
Somewhere between the two.
What does a heart rate of 110 mean?
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
‘You do not understand for yourself that your heart remains bound by the 108 afflictions. arrow Then how could you cut them away? crystal How could you free yourself from them and attain perfect enlightenment?’
108…
Clank.
Hearing the footsteps of that grotesque and sorrowful Buddha Tathagata, his voice flooded my mind as if I had suddenly attained enlightenment.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“I suppose that’s the correct answer. zenith There’s a certain margin of error, but it took approximately that long this time as well. riddle Though I want you to understand something. anchor I never intended to use you as a test subject. alien I didn’t expect it to happen like this either.”
108 afflictions.
“108.”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“I couldn’t help. beacon I’m sorry.”
There’s no need to make that expression.
I don’t think you did anything wrong.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
**
The sound of metal deforming and glass shattering echoed through the car.
Crack.
Crunch.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“If it were possible to turn back time, what would you do, Mr. autumn Seon Yuhan?”
Escape from the 108 Afflictions. silence The Venerable One is listening to your heartbeat.
**
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Now that he had discovered the rule, he could have told us earlier.
“……”
Though, of course.
Even so.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“Interviewer. auction This building has become a labyrinth.”
“Mr. shadow Seon Yuhan?”
And even if he had known it beforehand, I doubt he would have been able to calm his own heart.
He probably wasn’t certain enough either.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Please.
This time.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
*** This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.
“Aaaaaah!”
Let’s get out of here.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“W-what the hell! anchor Are you crazy…?!”
A loud sound from the voice.
In the parking garage, we decided from the beginning to eliminate any concerns related to screaming.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
And a loud sound from the heart.
I hadn’t measured them exactly myself.
It seemed better to worry about only one thing instead of two.
However, I didn’t mention anything about 108 seconds or 108 beats.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Woo9356, dark green SUV, D09.
And I had no way of convincing anyone.
The five of us finally arrived in front of the vehicle that appeared in the catalog.
“Wow. alpha This dark green one looks pretty nice too.”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Inside the Bae9502 delivery truck where the crash-test dummy was located, Jung Jiho saw what seemed to be his mother’s ghost and barely managed to hold back his tears.
Next to the Go1020 black sedan where the package appeared, Hwang Juyeon saw the image of her former piano teacher and screamed.
How much effort it had taken us to get here.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
No.
And Choi Jaeha, inside the Seo8102 sports car.
Better not talk about that.
It’s a miracle he’s still alive.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“Choi Jaeha-ssi! portal Open the trunk from there!”
“Alright. action Let’s open it and search.”
While Choi Jaeha, Yoo Hyunjae, and Hwang Juyeon checked the driver’s seat, passenger seat, and rear seats respectively, I took Jung Jiho’s hand and went to inspect the trunk.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
The trunk opened.
Click.
And I froze.
“Yeees, wait a second.”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Yes.
“Seon Yuhan-ssi? palette Did you find something? abstract There doesn’t seem to be anything here…”
There was something.
Five white chrysanthemums placed in a container.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
I wish we were the ones bringing flowers to someone.
…What a coincidence.
There were exactly five of us.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“Ah.”
My gaze fell on the container.
And not the other way around.
“Why aren’t you answering? anchor What is it?”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
It was decorated with golden edges and an elegant orchid painting on white porcelain.
Ah.
It was too low and wide to be a flower vase.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
This…
Then the engraved character appeared in the center.
[Deceased ]
I quickly turned it over.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
It wasn’t a flower vase.
“It’s a funeral urn.”
I see.
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Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“What?”
It was completely empty.
“A funeral urn…?”
All of us gathered around the urn holding the chrysanthemums.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Except for the flowers.
“Then the clues are the story we heard on the radio and the skeletal remains found in the Mount Yeongun Labyrinth.”
The chrysanthemums carried the scent of incense.
“It doesn’t have a name. timber I think we’re the ones who have to figure it out.”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
But.
I felt the same frustration.
“But how are we supposed to figure out the name of someone we don’t even know?”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
The problem is dying before you do.
In theory, any labyrinth can be solved.
“Probably we can. album Labyrinths don’t present unsolvable problems…”
As long as you remain alive. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
If there exists a labyrinth that remains impossible even after dying and coming back to life.
Go1020, black sedan, D11.
I pulled out my phone and reviewed once again all the information I had photographed and memorized in that parking garage.
Then it probably means a clue provided by the labyrinth itself was overlooked.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Seo8102, red sports car, A11.
That was all the information I had obtained there.
Bae9502, white truck, E02.
Woo9356, dark green SUV, D09.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
[Deceased ]
So it was highly likely that the answer was there as well.
Furthermore, the name that had to be engraved on that urn could not exceed four syllables in Korean.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Bae.
Go.
So, eliminating the numbers from the four vehicles.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
Seo.
I found the deceased’s name.
Woo.
“Go Bae Seo Woo…”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
The moment I spoke her name, three characters appeared neatly engraved on the urn.
[Deceased Bae Seou]
“Huh? adopt Bae Seou…? antenna Seon Yuhan-ssi! timber Smoke is coming out of the flowers!”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“Ah? silence What?”
The five flowers began to burn.
“Hey, drop it! advance It’s catching fire!”
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
“……”
And in an instant they were completely consumed.
Inside the urn, only ashes remained.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
As I stared at them, a memory from that day returned to my mind.
They looked like charred bone fragments.
The ashes of those incense-scented flowers.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
The moment I heard that voice.
“The day you threw my ashes down the drain?”
“What day?”
That terribly longed-for voice.
Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 27: Conflagration by Indra Translations.
My breathing stopped completely.
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