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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.‍⁠‌

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