How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 34: Let There Be Carnival

Chapter 34: Let There Be Carnival

【Be‌ happy!】

【Seon‍ Yuhan!】

【Eat!】⁠

【Be‌ happy!】

【CONTINUE!】‍‍

【If it were possible⁠‌‍ to turn back‌ time, what would‌ you do, Mr.⁠ Seon Yuhan?!】

【Eat!】⁠

【Seon‌ Yuhan!】

【Be⁠‌ happy!】

【CONTINUE!】‍

【If⁠‍⁠ it were possible‌‍‍ to turn back⁠‌ time, what would⁠‌ you do, Mr.⁠ Seon Yuhan?!】

【Be happy!】

【Prayer‍⁠ Room!】

【Seon⁠⁠ Yuhan!】

【Be⁠‍ happy!】

【CONTINUE!】‍‌

【If‌⁠ it were possible⁠‌ to turn back‍⁠⁠ time, what would⁠ you do, Mr. Seon Yuhan?!】

【Be‍ happy!】

【Eat!】⁠

【Seon Yuhan!】

【Be‌ happy!】

【Be⁠ happy!】

【CONTINUE!】‌

【CONTINUE!】‍

【CONTINUE!】⁠⁠

【Seon‌ Yuhan?】

…

【You have finished resting.⁠ Now it’s time‌‌ to be happy again!】

My⁠‍‌ vision was somewhat⁠ blurry, but I was not dead.⁠‍‌

I could still continue.⁠

【What‌⁠⁠ is your name?】‍‌

【▶⁠ Kim Minjun】

【▶⁠ Hyunjae】

【▶‍ Seon Yuhan】

【▶‌ binary】

【▶‌ I forgot】

I wish they would‌ stop asking me⁠‌ this already.

【Seon‍ Yuhan!】

【Correct.‌⁠ You are Seon‌⁠‌ Yuhan.】

“Mr.⁠⁠⁠ Seon Yuhan, you⁠ don’t look well.⁠⁠ How about at‍ least taking this?”‌

“No.⁠ It’s fine.”

This‍ was not the‌⁠‌ time to take‌ medicine.

【An⁠ employee dressed as⁠ a rabbit is‌⁠ selling churros. They‍‍⁠ look delicious. You‌ can’t bear the‌⁠‍ hunger.】

【▶‍‌⁠ Eat】

【▶‍ Hold back】

If⁠ it were real‍⁠ food, maybe.

【Eat!】

Crunch!‍⁠ Crack! Craaack!

【A‍ crispy, hot churro‌‍ dusted with sugar,‌‌ dipped deep into‍‍‌ a thick, steaming‍‌ sauce! You pat‌ your stomach in‌‍ satisfaction. It seems‍ you won’t be‌‍ hungry for a while.】

“Hmm,‍‍ Mr. Seon Yuhan.‍ Mr. Seon Yuhan?”‍⁠

“…Yes?‌‌‌ What is it?”⁠

“Ah.‌‌ Nothing. It’s nothing.”‌‌

‘Hyunjae’ shook his head.‍

‘CJH,’‍ ‘Hwang,’ and ‘Jyo’‌‌‍ had stayed behind‌ at the daycare‌ and came down‌ later.

By⁠⁠ now they were⁠‍ probably already dead⁠ in the parking‍ lot.

It‍⁠ didn’t matter much.‍

【Who⁠‌ will be the fastest? Enjoy the‌ speed while trying‌ not to fall‌ off the horse! Be happy!】

【▶‍‌ Be happy】

【▶⁠‌‌ Be unhappy】

I never intended to⁠ give them the‌ chance to be‌ happy anyway.

【Be⁠ happy!】

…

【After‌‌ the greatest deliberation‍‌ of your life,⁠ you chose the‌‌ bulgogi pizza.】

Crunch!⁠ Splash! Crack-crack-crack!

【As‌⁠ expected of the‍‌ chef’s recommended dish!‌ The soft, chewy‌ crust, the cheese⁠ with its wonderfully‌ crisp texture when⁠ bitten into, and‍ the sweet stir-fried‍⁠⁠ bulgogi topping create⁠ a perfect combination!】‍‍

【You‌⁠ have finished your‌⁠‌ meal happily. The⁠ only regret is⁠‍ that you will‍ never taste this‍ chef’s cooking again.】

Dinner⁠ ended pleasantly as‌‌‌ well.

Now only a little more time remained⁠ before the parade⁠ would begin.

【Do⁠⁠‌ you remember your‍⁠ name?】

【▶‍‌ I remember】

【▶⁠ I forgot】

【I‍ remember!】

Why‍ do they keep‌ asking?

【What⁠ is your name?】‍

【▶‌⁠‍ Lee Siun】

【▶⁠ ■■■】

【▶ Hyunjae】

【▶ Seon Yuhan】

【▶‍ I forgot】

You⁠‌‍ already know.

You⁠ know what my⁠‌ name is.

I selected the correct‌‍⁠ answer.

【Correct.⁠ You are—】

Just‌‌ as the sentence⁠‍ was about to‌‌‌ continue.

“Ha.”

I suddenly lowered the⁠⁠ screen and turned‍‍ around. ‘Hyunjae’ widened⁠ his eyes as‍‍‍ he quietly inhaled.

That‍⁠ was normal.

Humans⁠‌ find what lies‌ beneath the skin‍⁠⁠ unpleasant.

A left eye whose‌⁠ half had been‌‌ cleanly removed vertically,⁠⁠ completely exposing the‌‍⁠ vitreous humor.

Or⁠‍ a missing right‍ cheek, clearly revealing‌ both the upper⁠‍ and lower rows‍ of teeth.

“You‍‍⁠ can relax. Don’t⁠ worry.”

The‌‌ words came out‌‍‍ distorted through the‌ hole in my‌ cheek.

“I‌ won’t pass the turn to you.”‍‌⁠

I licked my lips⁠⁠ as I walked‌⁠ past an empty‍ stall.

No⁠ one was selling snacks anymore.

There⁠ stood the Haunted⁠‍ House.

Right.⁠⁠ Earlier, during the‌‌‌ day, I never‌ had the chance‍‍ to visit it.

This⁠ time I was‌ going to enjoy⁠⁠ myself happily.

A dark corridor.

Faint‌‌ breathing audible with‌ every step.

And⁠ the metallic scent‌⁠ of fear brushing against my nose⁠ along with that‍‍⁠ breath.

【Where‌‌ are you? Where⁠ are you hiding?】⁠‍‍

There⁠ were no longer‌ any ghosts in⁠ the first-floor kitchen‍‍ that were crisp‍⁠ like apples.

Only⁠ soft, sticky ghosts⁠⁠ remained, like overripe‌⁠‍ persimmons.

It⁠‍‌ seemed they had⁠ spoiled on their‍‍⁠ own.

Organic‍ waste should be⁠ removed quickly.

But‍⁠ since I had⁠‍ already eliminated the‌ Cleaning Cast, there‍⁠ was nothing to‌ be done.

【Are you here?】

There was no one in the first-floor‍ living room.

No‌‍ toys either.

I had expectations.

I stood still and listened.

Slowly,⁠⁠ I made a complete circle around‍‌ the room.

And‍ then.

【I‌‍ found you.】

I leaped.

Craaash!⁠‍ Crack! Crunch!

The⁠ ghost was on‌⁠‌ the second floor,‍ directly above my‍‌‍ head.

Ah.‍‍

Not⁠‍ anymore.

I carefully examined the‌‍ ghost’s toy.

How‌‌ did ghosts play‍‌ with something like⁠⁠ this?

Wasn’t‌ it too large‌ for such short‌ limbs?

Click.‌

Clack.⁠

Ah.‌

A familiar sound.

So that was how‍⁠‍ it worked.

As‍ I fiddled with‍ it, a delicious‍ smell began seeping⁠‌ through the crack‌‌ beneath a door.

Creeeeak…

【Hello?‌‍‌ I’ve been waiting for you.】

Ratatatatatatata—!⁠ Bang! Thump!

Huff.‌

This⁠⁠ toy smells very‌ bad after being⁠ used.

I’ll‍‍ have to throw‍ it away.

Crack!⁠ Crunch!

Though⁠ I don’t like other people using‌‌ it either.

“The‌‌‌ final festival of‌ Happyland, the Happy‌‍ Carnival Parade, will‌ begin shortly! Please gather in the‌‌‌ plaza in front‌ of the Merry-Go-Round!”‌

Following⁠‌ Pipi’s instructions, I walked toward the‍ plaza.

“Your‌‍ name is—”

“▶‌ I forget”

“▶‍‍ I forget”

“▶‌‍‍ I forget”

“▶⁠‍ I forget”

“▶‍‌ I forget”

Now I knew the⁠ correct answer.

【I⁠‌ forget!】

A cheerful fanfare rang‍ out.

“Correct.‍⁠ You forget. You‍⁠‌ forget all that⁠⁠⁠ sadness.”

Three‌‌ riders.

The‌⁠ Red Liberation.

The‍⁠ Black Freedom.

And‌ the White Joy.‌

They⁠⁠ sang of the⁠ end of suffering⁠⁠ while leading an⁠‌‌ army of corpses.⁠

Everyone‍ looked happy.

“This is the land⁠‍‍ of happiness we‍ have always dreamed⁠ of. A place‍ where no one suffers. Where no‍ one is bound. Where no one‍‌ cries. Where everyone‍ is freely liberated…”‌

They no longer feared‍ the sound of⁠‍‌ someone opening a door.

Nor‍⁠ unexplained laughter and‌ crying.

Nor‌ the weight of‌ bodies that had‌‌⁠ been dead for‌ a very long⁠‌‍ time.

I would become like⁠ that too.

“Look‍‍ up. We will‍ all become stars‌ rising into the‍⁠‍ sky and merge‌ into a single⁠ song…”

Bang!‍ Bang-bang!

Those⁠ ascending into the‌ sky exploded into brilliant flashes of light.

Tap…

Thud…‌

Red‌⁠‌ tears ran down‍‌ my cheeks.

In⁠‌ the midst of⁠‍ it all, I sang and danced.⁠

I savored liberation.

I closed my eyes,⁠ intoxicated by happiness.‍‍

I became one.

I became eternity…

“Seon‌⁠ Yuhan!”

【How noisy. Don’t ruin‌⁠‌ the festival.】

“Seon⁠‍‌ Yuhan!”

【Be quiet. Am I not allowed to‍ be happy?】

“▶‍ Seon Yuhan”

“▶⁠ Seon Yuhan”

“▶‌‍‌ Seon Yuhan”

【You⁠‌⁠ know it. That‍‍⁠ is not my‍⁠ name.】

“Your⁠‌ name is—”

【I’m‌ telling you it’s‍‌ useless.】

“▶‍ Lee Hyunseon”

【…What‌ are you doing?】‍‌

“▶⁠⁠ Kim Jeyu”

【What‌ are you trying‌ to do?】

“▶⁠‍ Kim Byeonghan”

【That‌⁠ is not my‌ name. You know‍‍‍ that.】

“▶‍ Did you forget?”⁠

【No.‌⁠‌ No. I didn’t.】‍

“▶‍⁠ Seon Yuhan”

【I…⁠ No. I am⁠ not…】

“Hello.”⁠

“Seon‌‌ Yuhan!”

“We‌‍⁠ are LabyrinSoft. We sincerely apologize for⁠⁠ the inconvenience caused during your playthrough.‍ We have immediately corrected the detected‍ error and once⁠‌ again apologize to⁠⁠‌ ■■■ for any‍ inconvenience caused by‍ the game malfunction.”⁠

At‍‌⁠ last, peace arrived.‍

There‍‍ was nothing left⁠ that could make‍ me sad.

No⁠ one blamed me.‌‍

No‍ one called out⁠ to me.

No‌ one made me‍‌ unhappy.

The dead are dead.‌⁠‌

And therefore they do‌ not exist.

What‌ is dead and‌⁠ does not exist cannot make me⁠ unhappy.

It‍ was quiet.

So⁠ quiet that it‍ was impossible to‌‌ understand why I had suffered so‍ much.

Beautiful.‍⁠

“That⁠⁠ is happiness!”

Pipi‍ said.

“Aren’t‍ you happy?”

【Yes.】⁠‌

I answered Pipi.

【I⁠ am happy. I feel nothing but‍‍‍ that.】

“Right?”‌‍

Pipi‍ smiled brightly.

I stared at him.

Soft,⁠⁠ distant music began‌‍ to play, as⁠ if announcing the⁠ ending.

“Then⁠‌ it’s time to‍⁠ close Happyland! Good.‍⁠ Before we finish,‍‌ let’s check one last thing.”

【Yes.】‍⁠

I knew exactly what‍ I was about⁠⁠ to do to myself.

“Do⁠ you remember your‌ name?”

“▶‌‍ I remember”

“▶‌⁠‍ I forgot”

【I⁠‍ remember!】

“Your name is—”

“▶⁠‍ ■■■”

Beneath‌ that six-syllable placeholder‌⁠ existed only a single path to‌ happiness.

【Seon‍ Yuhan!】

And‍ I knew I would willingly choose‍⁠ to be unhappy.‍

“What⁠ did you say?”

Pipi’s‌ face twisted viciously.‍

【Seon‍‌ Yuhan!】

I repeated my name.⁠

Again‍ and again.

Without⁠‍ stopping.

“Wrong!‌‍ Wrong! You are‌‍‍ ■■■! Not that‍ miserable gray trash!‍⁠ The happy ■■■!”⁠

【And‌ why should I be happy?】

Pipi’s‍ round face turned⁠‍ so red it⁠‍ looked ready to‍⁠‍ explode.

“Because‍ happiness is the‍ supreme goal of all existence! You’re‍ happy right now! Why are you trying to escape?‌‍ You clearly said‌ you were happy!”‌

【Yes.⁠‌ That’s why I no longer feel⁠‍⁠ like myself.】

Me,⁠ who no longer‌‌ felt anything when remembering the things‍‌ that made me‍‌ unhappy.

Me,⁠‍ who was no‌⁠ longer crushed beneath‍⁠ the weight of‌ my name.

Me,⁠⁠⁠ who was happy⁠ after forgetting myself.

“How‌ could that be me?”

That⁠ was a monster.‍

“Good.‌⁠ It’s time to⁠‌ close the gates.”‌

【Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha】⁠‌

Happyland’s⁠ mascot smiled until⁠ its mouth split⁠ apart.

【You‌ think you’ve defeated⁠‍⁠ me.】

“Because⁠ I did.”

I was still myself.‍

I had not forgotten.⁠⁠‍

【This‍ is Happyland, the⁠‌ land of happiness.⁠‍ Anyone who is‍ not happy has‌‌ no right to⁠‍‍ exist here. The⁠‌‌ only choice left‍‌ to you is⁠ happiness.】

“Ah.”⁠

Pipi was saying I had only one‍⁠⁠ option.

That‍‍ if I was‍ not happy, I could not remain‍‌‍ in Happyland.

【Or die at Pipi’s‌ hands hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha】

【▶‍‌ Be happy】

【▶‌‌‌ Die】

“I‍ see.”

Then⁠‍ all I had⁠ to do was‍⁠‍ not be happy.‌⁠

【Huh…?】‍

Pipi’s⁠⁠‌ laughter stopped.

【Die!】‍

And‌⁠ then Pipi began‌ to lose his‍ mind.

He‍ shrank as small‍‍‍ as an ant⁠‌ and then grew‍ as large as⁠‍ a building, crushing‌ Happyland beneath his‍⁠ feet.

【You’re⁠‍‌ an idiot! A fool! There is⁠ only one path—to⁠⁠‍ happiness!】

“No.”⁠

Labyrinths⁠‍ always have countless paths.

And⁠ there is never⁠⁠ only one way‍‍ to escape them.‌

Even‍ when it looks⁠ like there is.⁠

“There‍ is one path I never took.”‍

In‌ Happyland, I had⁠ eaten.

I had held back.‌‍‌

I had ridden some⁠‌ attractions and skipped‍ others.

But there was one‌ choice I had⁠⁠‍ never made.

【The⁠ foolish you dies.】⁠

As‍⁠⁠ I watched the‍ enormous hand gripping⁠‍ me like an⁠‌ insect, I thought:

If‌ it were possible‍‌ to turn back‍‍ time…

**⁠⁠

“If it were possible‌ to turn back‍‍ time, what would⁠ you do, Mr.‌ Seon Yuhan?”

I would choose to‍⁠‍ be unhappy.

**‍

【Be⁠‌ unhappy!】

“Hey,‌‌ Mr. Seon Yuhan.⁠ Are you really sure about this?”⁠

“Exactly. Even if it’s‌‍ written in the⁠‌ diary, it feels‌‍ pretty unsettling.”

After‍‌ returning, I heavily⁠ crossed out all the scripts I had written down‍⁠ from Will You‌‌ Come to the⁠‌ Bookstore? and wrote‌ a single sentence.‌⁠⁠

【Be⁠⁠‌ unhappy!】

【You⁠⁠ have voluntarily taken‍⁠ a step into⁠ the shadow of‌⁠‍ unhappiness. Pipi will remember this choice.⁠⁠ You must be‍ happy. This is‌ the land of‌ happiness.】

“Don’t⁠‍ worry so much.‌‍ Nobody knows what‌‌‍ will happen.”

“No,⁠‌ you’ll become unhappy…!”⁠‌

Choi‌ Jaeha looked at⁠ me with that familiar expression that‌‌ said, Is this‌ guy completely insane?⁠

I knew it so well by now that he didn’t‍ even have to‌ say it.

“Am‍ I not allowed‌‍ to be unhappy?”‍

“I suppose not!”

Ignoring the accountant on⁠‍ the verge of⁠‍ a breakdown, I suddenly remembered a conversation I had‍⁠ once had with‌‌ the director of‍‌‌ Yuwi Guild.

‘Mr.‌‌⁠ Seon Yuhan. Was‍ it really necessary⁠‍ to hold back?’‌‌‌

‘It⁠‍ wasn’t necessary to⁠⁠‍ eat either.’

‘But‌⁠ you didn’t want⁠ to be unhappy‍ either.’

‘Then why would I deliberately make myself‌‌‍ unhappy?’

In⁠ the end.

I was the one‍‍ who had been⁠‍ wrong.

I had to deliberately‌‌ become unhappy.

【Look!⁠ It’s the Happy‍ Swing. Hold on‌ to the pole⁠ spinning above the‌ hill and move‌ forward one space‌ at a time! Be happy! You⁠ must be happy.】‌‍‍

【▶‌ Be happy】

【▶‌ Be unhappy】

【Be‍ unhappy!】

Because⁠‍ I had finally‌‌ understood that what‌ I truly wanted‍‍ was not happiness.⁠

“Well,⁠‍ if it’s written‍‌ like that, there‌‌ must be a reason.”

【You‍ have taken another‌‌ step toward the‍‍ abyss of unhappiness.⁠⁠ Pipi asks you:⁠‍ Why aren’t you‍‌ happy? You can‍‌‌ be happy.】

“And‌‌ besides, there’s no‌‌‌ need to blindly‌ obey something as‌‌ suspicious as the⁠ happiness offered by a labyrinth.”

Of‌‌ course, saying that⁠ was basically spitting‍⁠ in my own‍‍ face.

But‍⁠‌ nobody else knew‌⁠ that.

【Be⁠‌ unhappy!】

【You‍ are rejecting the‍⁠⁠ happiness granted to‌‌ you. How pitiful.⁠ How miserable. How‌ foolish.】

…

【Be⁠‍ unhappy!】

【How⁠ long can you⁠‍ continue rejecting happiness?⁠ You can become‍‍ a more perfect‍⁠ happiness.】

…

【Be unhappy!】

【Correct.‍‌ You are unhappy.】‌

“Ha.‌ Finally.”

The⁠⁠ breath I had‌⁠ been holding finally left my lungs.

After‍⁠‌ repeating it over‌ and over, a line of text‍‌ finally appeared that⁠ seemed to acknowledge‌ my stubbornness.

【One⁠ who does not⁠ know how to⁠ desire happiness and‍‌ remains unhappy has‍‌‍ no right to‌⁠ exist in the‌⁠‌ land of happiness.‌⁠ Leave.】

【EXIT】‌‌

“No⁠⁠ way… Did it‌ work…?”

【EXIT!】‍‌

【The‌ foolish you has‌ lost the opportunity‍‌ to be happy.】‌⁠‌

【But⁠⁠ even that foolishness‍ has a price.】⁠

What?‌‍⁠

No.‌

Wait.‌

【Don’t‍ worry! It will‌⁠ hurt. A small‌‌ curse will make you unhappy: Blood】‍

“Ghk…!”‌

My‍‍‍ limbs froze like‍‍ a machine without‍⁠ power.

An⁠ unbearable screech rang⁠ through my ears.‌‍⁠

An‌⁠ empty heart beat⁠ inside my chest.⁠

That‌⁠ familiar pain of‌‍‍ being unable to‌‍ breathe returned.

My entire body screamed‍⁠ on a cellular⁠⁠ level, as though⁠ red-hot iron rods‍‍ were being driven⁠‍⁠ through it.

And‍‌ it all happened‌ simultaneously in a single instant.

“Mr.⁠‌ Seon Yuhan!”

The‌⁠ world, flickering again‍ and again, finally‍‌ sank into darkness.‌⁠

【Lost‍‌ In HAPPYLAND】

Just‍‌‍ before I lost‌‌ consciousness.

The‍‌ last thing I saw was that‌ damned screen.

【CLOSED】‌

Damn⁠‍ luck-dependent trash game.⁠

Next‌ time.

I won’t die.

11. Do not become happy. Unlike unhappiness, happiness is never‌ satisfied with a single price.

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Chapter 34: Let There Be Carnival

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