How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 33: The Game Is Not Meant to Be Won

Chapter 33: The Game Is Not Meant to Be Won

“Ah.‍ Ah…”

“D-Director⁠ Yoo Hyunjae?”

Yoo⁠‍ Hyunjae was still‍ alive.

For‌⁠ a moment.

A strange gurgling sound‌ began escaping from the lips that had been smiling⁠‌ normally just a moment ago.

His‍ eyes, which had been full of life before, rolled⁠⁠‌ from side to‍ side before dropping⁠‍ with a dull⁠ thud.

With‍ the support that‌⁠ had held them‌ in place gone,‍ his neck bent‍‌ at an impossible‍‍ angle beneath the‌⁠ weight of his‍‌‌ own head.

And‌⁠ the body that‍⁠ had remained upright⁠‌⁠ in the chair‌⁠ collapsed, following the‌ exact shape of‍‌ the backrest.

“Mr.‍⁠‍ Seon Yuhan… don’t⁠‍‍ tell me his‌‍ bones… all of⁠⁠ them…?”

I didn’t even think‍‌ about moving the‍ corpse.

I just stared at‍‌ Yoo Hyunjae, slumped‌⁠ over in the‍ chair.

He‍ looked like a doll.

A doll clumsily stitched‍ together from flesh⁠‌ and blood by a child.

A doll whose creator‌ had forgotten to⁠‌ put bones inside,⁠‌ unable even to⁠ stand upright, with‍‍⁠ its insides spilling⁠⁠ out everywhere.

A doll abandoned before‍⁠ anyone had ever‌⁠‍ gotten the chance⁠‍⁠ to play with‌ it.

Yoo‍⁠ Hyunjae had died.‍

For‍ the first time.‍‍

The⁠⁠ very first time.

And⁠ for some reason,⁠ that felt so…

Terrifying.⁠⁠‍

“I’ll move the director‌‍‌ somewhere else.”

Rrrk…⁠ Rrrk…

As⁠ I carried Yoo⁠⁠ Hyunjae’s corpse away,⁠⁠‌ I had to⁠ shake my head‍‌ over and over⁠‌⁠ to drive away‍⁠ a fear I could not understand.‍

I couldn’t keep thinking‍⁠ about it.

Not‍‍ anymore.

【Welcome‌ to the land‌‌ of happiness, Happyland!】⁠

Now⁠ it was my‍‌ turn.

【What‍ is your name?】‍

【▶‌ Seon Yuhan】

【▶⁠ binary】

【▶⁠‌⁠ Hwang】

【▶‍ Lee Jeong-u】

【▶⁠⁠ I forgot】

The⁠⁠ beginning was similar.‍‍

Since‌‍ all events, including‌‍ the attractions, seemed⁠ to be subject‍ to randomness, the‍‍ order and types‍ varied slightly.

But‍‌ the overall flow‍ was the same.⁠‍‌

Ride‍‍ attractions.

Encounter‍‌ food stands.

Answer‍‌ questions about your‌‌ name.

【Seon‍ Yuhan!】

【Ah】‌

Ah?

【I】‍‌⁠

I?⁠

Was‌⁠‍ that an error?⁠‌

Why⁠‌ was that appearing?⁠⁠

【ㅇ】⁠⁠

【ㅡ】

Eu?⁠‍

【ㅇ】⁠‍

【ㅠ】

Yu?

What the hell does⁠‌ that mean?

Just‌‌⁠ as I tilted⁠‌‌ my head in⁠ confusion.

【Ma】‌

【Machine is】

【Machine‌‍ is the one‌‌ that stays or‍ the one that leaves I remain‌⁠⁠ you have gone‍‍ who are you‌⁠‍ machine is the‌⁠ one that stays‍‌ or the one‍ that leaves I remain you have gone who are‍⁠ you machine is‌ the one that⁠⁠ stays or the‌ one that leaves⁠ I remain you‌‌‌ have gone who‌ are you machine】⁠

The‌ phrases began multiplying‍‌ until they filled⁠‌ the entire screen.‍‍

At‍ the same time,⁠ a fragmented mechanical⁠ voice started playing,‌‌ stretching and breaking⁠ apart exactly like‌‍⁠ the text.

“……”⁠

Don’t‍‍ tell me.

Ding!⁠⁠‌

As⁠‍ if trying to‌‍ hide that screen,⁠‌ a pop-up window⁠⁠ appeared.

【Hello, Seon Yuhan. We‌ are LabyrinSoft. We‌‍ sincerely apologize for‍ the inconvenience caused‍ during your playthrough‍ of 《Lost In‌‍ HAPPYLAND》.】

An‍ apology?

Did‍⁠ that mean this was not part of the game’s original design?

Wasn’t it true that‍‌‍ only the rules‍‍ of one labyrinth‌‌ could interfere with⁠⁠ the rules of‌ another?

Just like when everyone⁠‌‍ forgot Jung Jiho‌ in Will You‍‌ Come to the‌ Bookstore?, and even⁠‍⁠ Teacher Goose from‍‍‌ Saenal Daycare ended⁠⁠ up forgetting him.‌

【Measures‍⁠‍ have been taken‍‍ to correct the⁠ detected error. As‍‍ compensation, you will‌⁠ receive a reward‌ through a special⁠‌ event. We once again apologize for‌ any inconvenience this⁠‍ error may have⁠ caused.】

I rubbed my arm‌ unconsciously while staring at the screen.‌⁠

For⁠ now, I had‌ to focus on⁠‌ the game.

【Oh!⁠‍ While you’re happily⁠⁠ having fun, a blazing light watches‌ you from above. It’s time to⁠ eat!】

A pixel-art restaurant appeared‍‌ beneath the sign:‍

【Happy⁠ Restaurant】

【Your⁠ meal is ready.‍ It smells delicious.】‍‍

The‌‌ illustration showed three⁠‍ dishes.

Tonkatsu‍ covered in thick‍‌‍ sauce.

Tomato pasta loaded with‍‍ meatballs.

And‌ a huge hamburger‌ overflowing with juices.‌

【You⁠ can only choose‍‌ one! What will⁠‌ you eat? The‍ chef especially recommends the tonkatsu.】

【▶‍ Tonkatsu】

【▶‍ Pasta】

【▶⁠ Hamburger】

The‍ recommended menu item⁠‌ was the tonkatsu?‍‍

【Hamburger!】‌

And‌ how exactly am‌ I supposed to⁠‍‍ trust that?

People⁠‌ who are desperately‍ trying to survive.‌

Or‍‌ who, if they‌ are going to‌⁠‌ die, at least‌‍‌ try to hurt‍ me before they‍⁠ go down.

【Amazing! The flavor of‌ the thick hamburger‍‌ meat and the‌ fresh, crisp texture⁠⁠‌ of the vegetables form a perfect‍ combination.】

Crunch!‍‍ Chomp! Crack! Crunch!‍

【You‍‌ happily enjoyed your⁠⁠⁠ meal.】

I have to survive.⁠‍

【The chef’s eyes grow⁠‌ moist. He seems‌ moved by how‌‍ much you enjoyed⁠⁠‌ eating.】

Just⁠‌ like they wanted‌ to survive.

That‌‌ tonkatsu made with unknown ingredients.

The‍‍ chef must have⁠ added some special ingredient.

Poison.‌‍

Explosives.⁠‍

Whatever.‌‌

If‍‍ I could only‌‌‍ choose one of‌ the three dishes,⁠ then according to‌ the rules, the‍ chef could probably‍⁠ only tamper with⁠‌ one of them.‍‍

That⁠⁠ was why he‍‌‌ went out of‍ his way to‍‌ recommend it.

【I‍‍‌ can’t wait for dinner. Perhaps then⁠⁠‌ you’ll taste the‍‍ true flavor of⁠ a real chef.】‌⁠

“……”‌

Dinner.‍

When‍‍ that time came,‌ I would have‌ to eat carefully.‌‍

Very⁠⁠ carefully.

【An‍⁠ employee dressed as⁠‍ a lion is‍‍ selling hot dogs.‌‌‍ They look delicious.‍⁠ You are full‍ right now.】

【▶‍‍‍ Eat】

【▶‌‌‌ Hold back】

If⁠‍ you’re full, the‌‌ logical thing is‌ to hold back.⁠‌

What⁠⁠⁠ if you get⁠ sick from overeating?‌‍

【Hold‍ back!】

Craaack!‍‌

“Huh?”⁠

Crack!‍‌

Crunch!⁠

The screen was splattered‍⁠ with vivid red‌ ketchup stains accompanied‍⁠ by disgusting chewing‍‌‍ sounds.

“Eh? Mr. Seon Yuhan,⁠ didn’t you just⁠ choose ‘Hold back’?”‌

【No‌ matter how full‌‍‌ you are, there’s‌ always room for⁠ snacks! You happily‌ lick the ketchup⁠‌ left around your‍ lips. It seems⁠‌ you won’t be‍ hungry for a while.】

“Ah,‍‍ seriously, what kind‌ of garbage is‍‌ this…!”

Hwang⁠ Juyeon almost raised‍⁠ her voice, but seeing the sleeping⁠‌ child beside her,‌ she closed her‌‌ mouth.

“It‌ seems that even⁠ if you choose‍⁠⁠ to hold back,⁠ there’s still a chance you’ll end‌‍ up eating.”

“That’s⁠⁠ ridiculous…”

【Look!⁠‌ It’s the ‘Twist Train.’ A hunt‍ for hidden snacks‍ inside a train‍⁠‍ that twists and‌‍ twists! Be happy!】‌‍

【▶⁠‌‍ Be happy】

【▶⁠ Be unhappy】

The‌ attraction in the⁠ illustration was a small three-car electric‍‍ train resembling a subway train, violently‍ swaying up, down,⁠ left, and right‍‌ without moving from‍ its place.

【Be‌ happy!】

Rumble!⁠ Screeech!

【The‌‍ train has stopped.‍ Which car will‍‌ you open?】

【▶‍ Car 1】

【▶‌⁠ Car 2】

【▶‍⁠‍ Car 3】

So‌ it was a guessing game.

Or⁠‍‍ perhaps a game⁠ of scent.

Since I had no‌ clues, I decided‍ to simply choose‌⁠⁠ the top option.‌⁠⁠

【Car‍ 1!】

Bang!‍⁠ Crack!

【Correct! Your senses perfectly‌⁠ located the snack⁠ that was sneaking⁠ between the train⁠ cars.】

The‍⁠⁠ sound of someone⁠ chewing something hard like a dog‍ treat, though slightly‍ soft, echoed before⁠⁠ being swallowed.

What‌‌‍ an appetite.

It was even making‍ me hungry.

【There‌ is graffiti on‌‌‍ the wall. Waiting‌ for happiness while‍‍ doodling is also‍ part of the‍‌‌ charm of an‌ amusement park.】

This⁠⁠‍ was an event‍ I had not‍ seen before.

Perhaps‌ because this was‍ the first time‌⁠ I had survived‍‍ past lunchtime.

【As‍‍ you look at‌⁠ the mischievous graffiti,⁠‍ you feel as⁠ though you are⁠ about to begin⁠ a treasure hunt.】‍‍‍

A treasure hunt?

Now that I think‍‍ about it, when⁠ the error appeared,‌‍ they said they‌ would give me‌ a reward through an event.

This‌‌ was probably it.⁠‍

As⁠⁠⁠ always, this game‌‌‍ did not hand⁠ out a single⁠ reward easily.

【You⁠⁠ examine the graffiti.】⁠‍

[↓Come here

●●

▼▲‌‍‍

Cometotheticketbooth]⁠

【They⁠ hope you won’t‌‍‌ be able to‍⁠⁠ read it. But you can. Where‌ will you go?】‌‌‍

【▶‍‍ Restroom】

【▶‍‌⁠ Ticket Booth】

【▶‌ Prayer Room】

…Of‌‌ course.

I could read it.‌

【Ticket‌⁠‍ Booth!】

【How⁠ strange. There’s nothing‍ in the ticket‌‍ booth. Has someone already taken the‌⁠ treasure? You examine‍⁠ the booth carefully.】⁠

[　　 Admission Fees
Adults: 10,000 won⁠⁠
Children: ⑦,000 won]‍‍⁠

【It⁠ seems someone likes‍‍ the number ‘7.’⁠ They even circled‌⁠ it. You open⁠ the cash register.⁠‍‍ Could there be‌‌ treasure inside?】

【There‍‍ is a note.】⁠

[You can’t escape but‌‌⁠ you can kill‌ if you come‌‍ to the control‍ office there will‍ be a corpse⁠‌‍ enter calmly open⁠‍ the paper drawer‌ in the upper‌‌ compartment there is‌ a key don’t⁠⁠ be afraid and‌ come pray]

Grammatically,‌⁠‍ there was nothing‍ strange about it.‌

But‌ considering it was‌‌ an emergency situation, it contained too‌ many unnecessary words and sounded odd.‌‌

“This…”‍

“It‌ looks like a coded message.”

Even‌⁠ so, the clues⁠ were sufficient.

And it did not‍⁠‌ seem very complicated.‌

“A‍ code? And how‍‌‍ exactly are we‌⁠ supposed to…? Ah!‍‌⁠ Could the ‘7’‍ be the clue?”‌

“Probably…”⁠‌

I copied the message‌‌ exactly into the‍‌ Tarae Diary and⁠ circled every seventh‍⁠ word.

Just⁠ like the number‍‌‌ 7 had been‍‌ circled in the⁠‌ price list.

[You‌‌ can’t escape (but)‍ you can kill if (you come) to the office⁠ there will be⁠‌ a (corpse) enter calmly (upon) entering‍‍‍ open the (paper)‍ drawer in the‌⁠ upper compartment (there‍ is) a key‌ don’t be (afraid)⁠‌‍ and (come) pray]‍

“But…⁠ you come… corpse…⁠ upon… paper… there‌‌ is… afraid… come…”‌

No.⁠‌⁠

Reading‍ it properly.

“Ferris⁠⁠‍ wheel… pig compartment…⁠‌⁠ weapon.”

There‍ was a weapon‌⁠‍ in the pig compartment of the‌‍ Ferris wheel.

I didn’t know exactly‌⁠ what the pig⁠‌ compartment was.

But‍ it would probably‌‍ have a pig⁠ drawn on it‍ or something similar.‍

That‌‍ was why they⁠ had specified it‍ in the message.‌

【Where‍‍ will you go?】‍

【▶‍‍ Control Office】

【▶‌ Ferris Wheel】

【▶ Prayer Room】

If‍ the note was⁠‍ read normally, the⁠ control office was⁠‍ an intermediate stop‍‌⁠ and the prayer‍ room was the‍ final destination.

But‌‍‌ if you followed‍ the hidden message in every seventh⁠⁠ word…

【Ferris Wheel!】

I was going there‍ and destroying everything.⁠

Their‍⁠ treasure.

The weapon they planned to use to‌ kill me.

【Look!⁠‌ It’s the ‘Observation‍ Wheel.’ Its twelve⁠⁠ cabins are decorated‍⁠ with adorable animal‌ drawings. Which one‍‌ do you like‍ best?】

【▶⁠ Rat】

【▶⁠‌‌ Ox】

…

【▶‍ Dog】

【▶⁠ Pig】

They‌‌ seemed to be‌ the twelve zodiac‌ animals.

【Pig!】‍⁠

【Without‌ hesitation, you run⁠ toward the cabin‍⁠ decorated with an⁠ adorable little pig‌‌ and open the‍ door.】

Thunk!‍‌⁠

BOOOOM!‌‌

Ratatatatat!‌‌⁠

BOOOOOM!‍‌

“Ah.”‌⁠

With‍ a horrifying explosion,‍⁠⁠ the screen began⁠ shaking and flickering⁠‍ once again.

【What‍ a shame! When‌ one takes up‌ piracy, sometimes they⁠⁠ misread a treasure‌ map and end‌⁠ up empty-handed. You‍ are no longer‌‌ in a condition⁠‍ to enjoy happiness. But you can‌‍ still be happy.】‌

【CONTINUE】‌‍

【EXIT】‍⁠

“What the hell? Why‍‌ is this happening?⁠ Don’t tell me⁠ it was a trap too?”

“Ha…”⁠

I had been deceived.⁠

Now⁠‍⁠ I understood why‌‌ it had seemed‌‍ so easy.

The‍⁠ clues were too‍ obvious.

And⁠⁠ precisely because of⁠ that, I overthought‍ everything.

No.⁠

They‌‍⁠ made me overthink‌⁠ it.

They.‌

Now‍ that I thought‍‌‌ about it…

[↓Come‍ here
●●
▼▲
Cometotheticketbooth]

“If‌ someone has enough⁠‍ reading comprehension to‍ go to the‌‌‌ ticket booth instead‍⁠ of running straight‌‌ to the restroom⁠ after seeing this,⁠⁠ then they won’t‌ blindly trust the contents of the‍‍‌ note either.”

That⁠ was what they‌‌⁠ thought.

Humans.⁠

Especially⁠‌‍ since the system‍‍ remembered that I had previously distrusted‌ the chef’s recommended‍ menu item in⁠ the restaurant.

…They’re‌⁠‌ studying me.

【CONTINUE!】‌‍‍

【The wise decision of‍‌ someone like you⁠ never wastes an opportunity to be‍‌ happy.】

“Mr.‍ Seon Yuhan… are⁠ you going to⁠‌ keep going?”

“Yes.”

【But⁠⁠ happiness always comes‍‌ at a price!】⁠

【Don’t⁠‌‍ worry! It won’t‍‍ hurt. A small‌⁠ contribution will make‌‌ you happy: Appendix】‍

“I‍‌ suppose I’ll keep‍ playing.”

And‌ he kept playing.⁠‍