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.⁠⁠