How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 28: The Hand Is Faster Than the Eye

Chapter 28: The Hand Is Faster Than the Eye

“Seon‌ Yuhan-ssi?”

“W-where⁠‍ are you going‍ all of a sudden?! What’s wrong‌‌ with you?!”

“You‌ shouldn’t be running!‍ Your heart rate…!”‌

I had to escape.⁠ Anywhere.

I had to get‍‍⁠ out of there. Somehow.

“What⁠⁠ an ungrateful creature.”‍

It‌ was a voice‌ that could not⁠ be ignored.

I…‍‍ simply couldn’t…

I couldn’t defy it.

“Filthy⁠ beast that doesn’t⁠ even know gratitude.”‌‍

“Please…”‍⁠

I bit my lips‌ and ran without thinking.

I knew my heart⁠‍ could no longer‍ calm down as‌‌‌ long as I kept hearing that‌ voice.

I knew my heart⁠ would be torn out if I didn’t leave that⁠ floor.

So⁠‌ there were only‍ two things I could do.

First,⁠ hope that returning⁠ the name “Bae‌‍ Seou” to the⁠ urn had been‍‍ the condition for⁠⁠ escaping Basement 5.‍⁠

Second,‌‌ assuming that was true, get out⁠ of the parking‌‍ garage before 108⁠⁠‍ seconds passed.

The‍ emergency exit. Where‍‌ is the emergency‍ exit…?

“Look⁠⁠ at you twisting‌ yourself apart trying⁠ to survive.”

I found it.

Bang!‌‍

I ran until I was out of‍‍ breath, and the‌ moment I saw‍⁠ the emergency exit‍⁠‍ sign, I threw‍ myself down the⁠‌ stairs without thinking.‍

“Seon⁠‍ Yuhan-ssi, that emergency⁠‍‍ exit…!”

Wait.⁠‍

At‍⁠⁠ the same moment⁠ I heard Yoo⁠ Hyunjae’s urgent shout‍‌ behind me, a doubt arose.

Am‌‍ I going down?‍‌‍

But‍ aren’t we already⁠‍ on the lowest⁠ floor?

‘In‍‍‍ fact, a small⁠‌‍ emergency exit I had never seen⁠ before appeared. When‌‍ I opened it,⁠‍ there were only‌‍ stairs leading down.⁠ Even though Basement‍‌ 5 should be‍‌ the lowest level.’⁠‌

It‍ was exactly the‌ emergency exit Yoo⁠ Hyunjae had mentioned.‌

Damn‌ it.

As⁠‌⁠ I stretched my‌‍‌ foot toward the⁠⁠ next step, my‌‌ mind spun frantically.⁠

There‍‍‌ was no time‌ to stop and think.

If‌‍‌ I stayed on‍ the same step‍ for more than‌ five seconds, I would fall.

Should I go back⁠ and take the‍⁠ emergency exit we‍ had originally used‍ to descend and‌‌ return to the‌ second floor?

Would there still be time left before‍ the 108 seconds⁠⁠‌ were up?

What‌⁠‌ if something interrupted⁠ me while I was heading toward the other exit?‌

What if I had‍‌ to hear that‌ voice again?

Clack.‍⁠

The‍⁠ decision was made.⁠‍

I opened the emergency‌⁠ door that had‍ no floor number.⁠

***

The⁠‌⁠ first thing I saw when I opened the door‍⁠ was a completely⁠‌ ordinary office hallway,⁠‌‌ illuminated by the‍ sunset light coming‍ through the windows.⁠‍

I had escaped.

From‍‌ the parking garage⁠‍ where not a single ray of light could enter.‌

The⁠‌ first thing I did was check‍‌⁠ the floor number written above the⁠ door.

14th‌ Floor.

Below⁠ the second floor.‌

Below‌⁠ Basement 5.

And⁠⁠ below that, the‌ 14th floor.

I knew the order‌ was scrambled, but⁠⁠ seeing it was‍‌‍ still absurd.

Before‍⁠‌ moving, I pulled the Tarae Journal‌‍ from my inner‌ pocket and checked‍ the floor information.‌⁠‌

[14th⁠⁠ Floor | NeoSoft]⁠

A software company?

In‌‌ any case, it‍‍ seemed to be⁠ another outside company⁠‌ located in the‌‌⁠ Jarae Building, just‌‌ like the Hawol⁠⁠ Accounting Firm where⁠‍⁠ Choi Jaeha worked.‍‍

Wait.

I stopped while putting‌‌⁠ away the journal.‍

Until‍‌⁠ now, I had only opened it‌⁠⁠ to check floor‌ information.

But if I wrote‍ something in it.

Would⁠ it still be‍⁠ written there even‍ after dying and‌ returning?

The⁠ journal reappeared with‍ me every time‍⁠ everything restarted.

If⁠‍⁠ the contents remained⁠ as well…

Then there would have⁠ been no need‍‌ to memorize all‍⁠⁠ the vehicle information‍ from the parking⁠ garage.

…Hmm.⁠⁠‌

I calmed down and‌‌ first wrote down‌‍ the actual order‍‍ of the floors.‌

[3,‍ 2, B5, 14]‍

On‌ one hand, I was glad I had brought a pen for the⁠‌ interview.

On‌‌ the other hand,‌⁠ I thought that‌⁠ if I had⁠ never come to‌⁠⁠ that interview, none of this would be happening.

I suppressed the nausea rising again and‌ wrote.

[Bae⁠ Seou]

I stared at that⁠ name for a long time.

Then a question suddenly⁠‍ struck me.

And‍⁠ who was the‍‌ killer?

Did⁠ it not matter‌ who had killed⁠‍ Bae Seou?

Was⁠ it enough simply‍ to find the victim’s name and honor her memory?‌‌‍

Normally,‍ you would also‍ have to discover the culprit before‍‍‌ considering the case‌‌ solved.

“……”⁠

If‍ labyrinths were truly‌ tombs of unresolved‍⁠⁠ problems waiting for‌‍ someone to solve‌‌⁠ them…

Then⁠ perhaps I would‍ end up solving⁠ that mystery.

Right⁠‍ there.

Inside⁠⁠⁠ that labyrinth.

And‌ the moment that‌ uncomfortable premonition crossed my mind.

Bang!‍‌

The‌ emergency door burst‍ open behind me,‌ and the other‌⁠⁠ four came rushing‌ out.

In⁠ order.

Choi⁠‍ Jaeha.

Hwang‌ Juyeon.

Jung‌‌ Jiho.

And⁠ Yoo Hyunjae.

“Hah!‍ And where are‍ we now? Huh?‍⁠ Fourteenth floor?”

“At‌⁠ least we managed‍‌ to get out‌ of the parking‍‍⁠ garage. What a relief…”

“So‌ you arrived here‌ as well, Seon‌‌‍ Yuhan-ssi. That’s a relief. Since you‍‍ didn’t come back,‌ I assumed you⁠‌ had reached a different floor.”

“Yes,‍ exactly. But what⁠ was with that‍ sudden sprint?! I thought something terrible‌ had happened.”

“I’m⁠⁠ sorry. I had‌ a rather unpleasant‌ hallucination.”

The moment I apologized,‍⁠ Choi Jaeha’s expression‌ completely relaxed.

He‍ was such a simple person that‌ it was refreshing.⁠

“What?⁠ So you do‍‍ know what fear⁠ feels like? Honestly,⁠ I thought you‌⁠ were some kind⁠⁠ of cyborg. You‌ said screams didn’t attract the monster‌⁠‍ and started screaming⁠‍ without fear. You⁠‍ didn’t even blink.”

“By⁠ the way, Seon‌⁠ Yuhan-ssi.”

“Yes.”⁠‌

I ignored Choi Jaeha’s‍⁠‌ comment and looked‌ at Yoo Hyunjae.‍‍

“What is that notebook?”‌⁠⁠

The‌‍ owner of the‌ Jarae Group pointed‍⁠ with his chin‍‌⁠ at the journal⁠ in my hand.‍‌

“Ah. I found it⁠ here a little‌ while ago.”

Lies⁠⁠ depend on momentum.⁠‍

“I‌ thought it would‌‍‌ be useful to‍‍ write down the⁠‌ things I know,‍‍ so I was⁠‍ making some notes.‍‍ If you need⁠‍ them, I can⁠ tear out a few pages and hand them around.”‍‍

“Before⁠⁠‌ that, may I take a look⁠ at it?”

In‍‌‍ any case, the⁠⁠ journal had told‍ me that as‌⁠ long as I wished it, it would always remain⁠ linked to me.‍

I wasn’t worried about‌ it being taken‌ away.

“Ah,‍‌ yes. Of course.”⁠‌

I handed over the‍‌ reddish-brown leather journal‌ as naturally as⁠ possible.

Yoo‍‍ Hyunjae examined it‍ as though appraising‌⁠ a jewel, carefully‌ turning it over‌⁠⁠ again and again,‌‍ then flipped through⁠‍ each page with the same caution⁠‌‍ one would use‍ when reading an‌ extremely rare antique⁠ book.

“You‌ say you found it here a little while ago?”‌

“Yes.⁠ It was lying⁠ around.”

“Hmm.”‍‌

Did‍‍‌ he realize I was lying?

My‍‍ mind immediately began‍ working at full‍⁠ speed again.

Should‍ I insist that⁠⁠ it was true?⁠‍‌

And‌⁠‌ how could I make it sound‍‌ convincing?

Or would it be‍‍ better to explain⁠⁠‍ why I lied?⁠

And‌⁠‍ if I explained‌⁠ it, should I choose the truth⁠ or a lie?⁠

And⁠⁠ what would happen⁠ if I chose‌‍ the truth…?

However,‌ all those efforts‍ turned out to‍‍ be pointless.

Yoo⁠ Hyunjae calmly handed‍ the Jarae Journal‌‌‌ back to me.‍

“Keep‍ carrying it yourself,‌ Seon Yuhan-ssi. If‌‍⁠ you want to‌ give it to⁠‍⁠ someone, hand it‌ over whole. Don’t⁠ tear out any‌ pages or damage‍ it in any‌‌ way.”

“Ah…⁠‍ yes. Understood.”

Although I had never‍⁠ really been that‍ worried, things had⁠⁠‌ turned out even‍⁠ better than I expected.

“Do⁠⁠ you know what⁠⁠ this journal is?”⁠

Does‌⁠ this guy know‍‍‍ something?

“Well… isn’t it just⁠‌ a Jarae Group journal? That’s what‍ it looked like⁠⁠‍ from what I saw inside.”

The‍ representative of Yuwi Guild smiled silently.‍

“I‍⁠ meant whether you⁠ know that it’s a labyrinth artifact.”‍‌‍

“An‍ artifact…? This? And‌‍ how do you know? At first⁠‌ glance it looks‌ completely ordinary.”

Of course, I already‍ knew.

After‍⁠ all, the labyrinth‌‌ itself had announced‌ it in the‍‌⁠ auditorium as a special limited-edition item.

A cursed object that‌ would follow you⁠‍‍ even after death‍ once purchased.

How‌ could it not⁠‍‌ be an artifact?⁠‌

“Because‌‍ no such journal⁠⁠ exists among ours.‌ Not in any‌‍ year.”

Ah.⁠⁠‌

So‌‌ that was how⁠‍ he figured it‍⁠⁠ out.

“If‌ work is progressing⁠ normally, by this‌⁠ time of year‍‌ we would usually have already narrowed‌⁠‍ down next year’s designs to a few options. But‍ I don’t remember‌ receiving any report.‌ It doesn’t even look like it⁠ has reached the‍ sample stage.”

In other words.

Since‌ it was impossible for a physical⁠‌ journal with that‌‍ design to exist,‌ it had to‍‌⁠ be an artifact.

“Ah…”

The⁠ more I looked‍ at him, the‌ more I understood‍⁠ why he was‍ an extraordinary person.⁠⁠

Not⁠ just anyone could‍ gather all the⁠⁠⁠ information they knew‍ so quickly and⁠‌‌ use it exactly where it was‍ needed.

And⁠‌ on top of⁠ that, he minimized‌ his own risks‌ by not trying‌ to damage or‌‍ seize an artifact⁠‌ whose properties were⁠ unknown, while at⁠⁠ the same time earning people’s goodwill.

“If⁠‍ it weren’t for‍ you, Director, I never would have‌ realized it. I’ll⁠‍ use it carefully.”‌

“I trust that you will.”

Choi‌⁠ Jaeha, Hwang Juyeon,‍‍‌ and Jung Jiho⁠ watched me with curiosity.

It‍ seemed to be the first time‌ they had seen‌‌ a genuine artifact.‌

“Then⁠ let’s get moving.‌ If there’s anyone⁠⁠ here, they’re probably‌ on this side.”⁠⁠

Yoo‌ Hyunjae pointed down⁠⁠ the hallway to‍‌‍ the left.

Looking‌‍ carefully, the 14th‌ floor also had‌ a square-shaped layout.

The‌‍ left half was‌ NeoSoft’s office.

The⁠‍ right half appeared‌ to be empty.

[NeoSoft]⁠

We‌‌ stopped in front of the entrance.

To⁠‍⁠ the right of‌‍‍ the company sign‌‌ was a logo⁠‌ made of squares‍⁠ arranged like a crossword puzzle, spelling‍⁠ out “NEOSOFT.”

“And what exactly is this company…?”

Yoo‌ Hyunjae stared at‍ the invisible interior‍⁠ beyond the frosted glass door and⁠ answered.

“As‍ far as I know, it’s a video game company.”⁠

Damn‍ it.

I already had a bad feeling.

I looked at the‌ others and weighed‌ whether it would be better to‌‍ enter together or‌‌⁠ split up.

Watching‍‌‍ someone die right‍‍‌ in front of‌ my eyes.

Or‌⁠⁠ having them die‌ somewhere I couldn’t‍‍ see.

“…Let’s⁠‍ go in.”

I knew which of‍ those two options‍ was better.

I had known for a very long‍ time.

***‍⁠

The⁠‍ interior of NeoSoft‌‌‌ was dark and‍ silent.

“There’s no one here…?⁠‍ Ah, wait. Isn’t‌ someone over there?”‌‌

A faint monitor glow‍‌‍ shone from a corner of the‍‌ darkened office.

There⁠ seemed to be‍ someone there.

It‌⁠ carried that gloomy⁠ yet strangely peaceful‌ atmosphere of a person working alone‌‌ in an office after everyone else‌ had gone home.‍

“Excuse me…”

We‌ approached slowly and‌ cautiously.

Then⁠⁠ the face hidden‍ behind a cubicle⁠ appeared.

“Eh…”

It‌⁠ was a bald⁠ man in a sweatshirt soaked with‍ sweat.

His⁠ face was pale‌ as he stared‍‌ fixedly at the monitor.

His‍⁠‍ neck was stretched‍⁠ so far forward⁠ that it looked⁠‌⁠ as though he‍‍ was about to‍⁠ be swallowed by‍ the sea or‍‌ by the screen‍ itself.

【A‍ raccoon-disguised shopkeeper is‌‍⁠ selling ice cream.‍ It looks delicious.‍⁠ You cannot bear the hunger.】

【▶⁠⁠⁠ Eat】

【▶⁠ Endure】

There⁠⁠⁠ was only a text game on‍ the screen.

Very simple pixel art.⁠‍

Narration.‍‌

And⁠⁠‌ choices.

“Are‍‌⁠ you okay?”

“Can⁠ you hear us?”

“Uh…‌‌ ah…?”

Only‍‌ after we called‍‌⁠ him several times⁠‍ did the man‌⁠ pull back his neck and turn his gaze toward⁠‌ us.

“Do‍‍ you know this‍‍ place has become⁠ a labyrinth?”

I briefly explained the⁠ route we had‌⁠⁠ taken and the‍ current situation.

Meanwhile,‌‌ the man blinked several times with‍⁠ his bloodshot eyes and began typing‍ rapidly on the‌‍‍ phone lying on‌ his desk.

I followed the words appearing in his⁠‍ notes app.

[The‌‌ office suddenly lost‌‌⁠ power and everyone⁠‍ disappeared except me⁠ and one other‌ coworker

I tried to leave‌ but it seems‍‌ I can’t until‌ I finish this‌⁠‌ game

And‍‌ if you’re wondering⁠ why I’m not‍‍ speaking it’s because‍⁠‌ I lost my‍⁠‌ tongue after choosing‍ the wrong option⁠‍

The⁠ baldness was because‍ of that too‍‍‍

Anyway‍‌ my coworker died‍‍ the same way‌ so I stored‌⁠ the body in the kitchen]

Despite the content.

The‍ tone was strangely⁠ light and calm.‍‌

“Hah…‍‌ yeah, it’s locked.⁠ Though I wasn’t‍ expecting anything else…”⁠

Choi‍‍‌ Jaeha returned after trying to open‌ the door.

It⁠‌ seemed the experiences‍ in the library⁠‌ and the parking garage had toughened‌ him up a little.

Just‍ as the bald⁠‌‌ man was about to continue typing.‍‌‌

Ding!‍

A pop-up window appeared‍ on the game‌ screen.

【Hi,⁠⁠ binary! It looks‌⁠ like you’re happily enjoying LabyrinSoft’s Lost‌‌ In HAPPYLAND. How‌ about inviting some‌‍ new friends to share the happiness?】‍

【▶‌ Invite】

“Happyland…?⁠‍ This damn game, wait!”

I read the unsettling⁠ message and hurried‌‍‍ to stop the‌⁠ man.

But‍ it was already‌‍‌ too late.

【Invitation‌ Complete!】

His⁠ hand had already‌ clicked the mouse.‍⁠‌