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How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth Chapter 35: How Many Funerals Has It Been Now?

Chapter 35: How Many Funerals Has It Been Now?

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

**​

[Deceased:‍‌    ]

I led Choi Jaeha,⁠⁠​ Hwang Juyeon, Jung⁠‍‌ Jiho, and Yoo​​‌ Hyunjae through the‌​​ B5 basement parking​ lot and quickly‍‌ found Bae Seou’s‌ funeral urn.

It⁠ wasn’t difficult.

We⁠‍ only had to‌‍⁠ pretend we were‌‌ following what was‌ written in the‍​‍ diary.

[Deceased:‍ Bae Seou]

“Huh?⁠ Bae Seou…? Huh?⁠ Huh…?”

Fwoosh.‍‌

Five‌​​ flowers burst into⁠‍‌ flames on their⁠ own and turned‌ to ashes.

“T-this…”‌

Hwang​‌ Juyeon watched the‌ scene in confusion​ before moving her​‍ lips.

“What‌ is it? Do‌⁠ you see something?⁠ Or hear something?”​​‌

“No,​⁠ it’s not that.​ It’s just that…⁠⁠‍ I don’t know‌​⁠ whether I should​ say it or‍ not. I’m not​ completely sure either.”​‍

What‍‌‍ was she suddenly​ talking about?

Honestly,​ at that moment⁠‌ my head was​ completely occupied with⁠ the idea of⁠​‍ clearing that game.⁠‍​

After​‌ all, everything was​‍‍ random.

And​ many of the‌​​ penalties weren’t fatal.‌‍‍

I was only thinking.​‍

‘This​​ time I have‌‍ to win.’

Nothing‌ else.

But‍ a single sentence⁠‍ from Hwang Juyeon,‍ spoken while carefully‌ pointing at the‌​ urn, erased all‍ those absurd thoughts⁠ at once.

“I⁠‌ think I know‍⁠ this person. Bae​​ Seou.”

“…What?”‍​

What‌⁠‌ was she suddenly‍‍‍ talking about?

No,‍⁠ wait.

Then​‌ why hadn’t she‌ said something like​‍ that before…?

Ah.⁠​

Because⁠​ we had never⁠⁠​ been in a situation where she⁠ could.

The​⁠ first time, I was the one‌ who heard that‌ strange voice and‌‍ ran toward the‍ emergency stairs.

The‍ next time, Choi‍ Jaeha had just​‌ died.

And⁠⁠⁠ after that.

I had completely abandoned⁠⁠​ Hwang Juyeon.

Obsessed​‍ with the game.‍‍

“When‌⁠ I saw the​‍ name in the‌⁠ diary, it felt⁠ familiar. And when​‌⁠ we heard on​⁠⁠ the radio about‌‌ the unidentified skeleton‍⁠ found in the⁠​ Yeongun Mountain Labyrinth.⁠⁠ But I couldn’t‌ remember properly. I couldn’t connect the‍⁠‍ pieces.”

The‌⁠ piano teacher continued⁠​ speaking while nervously‌‌‌ moving her slender​⁠ fingers.

“There​ was a girl‍ named Bae Seou⁠ who disappeared. About‍ twenty years ago.​​‍ I was in‌‍‍ middle school. We‌‍​ went to the⁠ same church. Though‍‍​ only for a short while.”

“Ah…”‌‍

“After⁠​ that, I stopped‌ going for various‌⁠ reasons, so I lost contact with‍​‌ her. But I think that Bae‍‌​ Seou and this⁠​ Bae Seou are‍​‌ the same person…”‌⁠

Wait.‌‍‍

The‌ church?

Then​​ the cross?

I remembered the cross-shaped‍ pendant inside that‌‌‍ delivery box.

And‍ how using that‍​ cross as a clue had led​⁠ me to search⁠ for the car⁠ with the cross‌⁠ ornament, which ended‍‍​ up causing Hwang​⁠⁠ Juyeon’s death.

Hadn’t‍‍ it been a trap?

No.​

That​​ wasn’t it.

The‍ real clue connected‌‌ to “Bae Seou”⁠‌⁠ was the shipping⁠ label.

Not‌​ the cross inside.‌‍⁠

“Ah.‍ The emblem.”

Yoo‌​⁠ Hyunjae said, slightly‍⁠ raising his eyebrows.⁠‍

“I⁠‍‍ mean the emblem‌ on the sedan‌ that the snake⁠​ entered. There was‍​ a cross drawn⁠⁠⁠ next to the​​‍ snake. Maybe that‌ was also a clue.”

“Ah,‍ I suppose so.⁠ Sorry for not‍ realizing it sooner…”​​⁠

At‌⁠ this point, it​ could no longer‌‍‌ be a coincidence.​

They​⁠‌ didn’t know because‍ they had never‍​ opened the box‍‍ to see what⁠‌ was inside.

But⁠​‌ I did.

“Still,​ I’m glad we‌ figured it out…‍ Well, shall we⁠⁠ go down? I think the next‍ floor was the‌ 14th, right?”

Hwang‍‌⁠ Juyeon quickly changed‍ the subject, as⁠​ if trying to⁠‍⁠ hold back her‍​‌ emotions.

But‌​ I decided to‌​ remember it.

Because‍⁠ that cross.

Might⁠ be a clue⁠⁠ to finding the‌‍⁠ culprit.

***​‌‍

[NeoSoft]‌⁠

By‌​ now, the image‍‍ of the game‌​ company office plunged​ into a blackout‍⁠‌ felt familiar.

“Uh…⁠‍ hello…”

A living Lee Jinsu‍‍ did not.

I had only seen⁠‌ him once.

He‌‌ has a tongue,‌‌​ he has hair,​‍⁠ and he has‍ ears.

It​⁠⁠ looks like he’s​ missing a few⁠‍ fingers and part⁠‌ of a leg.​‍​

But‍​ in any case,​​​ he’s alive.

“Ah.‌​ You came down‌ from the parking‌‍‍ lot…? My coworker‍‌‍ and I were‍​ playing this game‌‌ and… ah. We‍‍⁠ had another coworker‌‍ too, but he‌⁠ died, so we​ moved him to⁠ the director’s office‌‍ over there…”

He⁠⁠‍ felt strangely similar​‍ and yet different⁠⁠ from the man‍ who calmly confessed‌ to killing his‍⁠‍ coworker and refused‌ to quit the​ game simply because⁠ he found it⁠ fun.

He‍​‌ wasn’t cold.

But‌‌ he wasn’t energetic​ either.

He‌‌ had deep dark‍‌‌ circles under his‌​​ eyes and a gloomy expression.

And​ he barely showed‍‍ any emotion.

Ding.​

As‍‌‌ we exchanged brief‌⁠‍ introductions, a familiar‍‌‌ pop-up window appeared‌​ on Lee Jinsu’s‌‍‌ monitor.

【Hello,⁠‍⁠ binary! It looks‌​⁠ like you’re happily⁠‍‌ enjoying 《Lost In⁠ HAPPYLAND》 by LabyrinSoft!‍​‍ How about inviting​⁠ some new friends‍​ to share happiness?】‍‍

【▶​ Invite】

Lee‍⁠ Jinsu sighed while‍⁠ holding the mouse.⁠​​

“I’m​‍‌ sorry, but I’m​​⁠ going to invite‌​ you. There’s no‍​ other way…”

“Yes.​ Go ahead.”

【Invitation‍⁠ Complete!】

Five​‍​ screens lit up,​‍‍ including Jung Jiho’s,⁠‌ who received a new handheld console.‍

【Enter‌‍​ Your Name】

【____】‍

“Be‌‍ careful with that…​​​ I’m not completely‍‍‍ sure, but I think it’s played⁠⁠‌ in the order‍ that names are⁠ entered…”

Lee⁠‍ Jinsu began explaining‍⁠ everything he knew⁠​ in a quiet,‍ subdued voice.

That⁠‌​ it was probably‍​ possible to quit⁠‍‌ by pressing EXIT,‌‍‌ though he wasn’t‌‌‍ sure.

And‍ that pressing CONTINUE​​ caused a random‌‌ body part to​​ be lost.

“But​⁠‌ you can also‍⁠ lose something like‍​‌ your heart and​‌​ die. My coworker‍⁠​ died that way…”​

As‌ I carefully watched‍‍‌ Lee Jinsu’s eyes‌ as he vaguely​‌ finished the sentence,​‌⁠ I realized something.‌

I realized which option‌ he would choose‍⁠ between CONTINUE and‍‌ EXIT.

Suppressing⁠⁠ a slight anger,‍​ I looked at‍ the monitor of⁠ the man who⁠ wanted to die.‌​

【What​⁠‌ is your name?】⁠

【▶‍ Kim Jinwoo】

【▶‌‍⁠ kmj1234】

【▶‍​ Yoo Min】

【▶‌​ binary】

【▶​​‍ I forgot】

It⁠​ was exactly something‌‍ I wanted to​ ask.

“Those‍ names… are they⁠‍​ IDs of people​⁠​ you know?”

Lee​⁠ Jinsu slowly nodded.​

“They‍‍‌ seem to be​‌ people from our‍ office. Actually, when⁠⁠​ we first saw​‌​ them, my coworker‌ and I talked⁠‌​ about it. We⁠‍​ thought maybe it‌⁠‍ was like an‍ instance dungeon. Honestly,​ I wish it​‌ were. At least‌​⁠ that would mean‌⁠ they’re not all⁠‍ dead and are‌​ still alive somewhere.”​⁠‌

“Uh…”​‍

Hwang‌⁠ Juyeon spoke timidly.​

“Instance?​ What does that⁠‌‌ mean?”

“An‌‌⁠ instance dungeon.”

“Yes,‍ but what exactly‌​ does that mean?”‍⁠‍

“Oh…​​ ah…”

The⁠‍ NeoSoft employee froze‌​ for a moment⁠ before briefly explaining‌ the concept of​‌​ instance dungeons, player‌ parties, and his⁠‌‍ own theories.

“Ah.‍​ So, in gaming‌‍ terms, we’re a party. And the‌⁠ people who disappeared⁠ belong to other‍‍‌ parties and are‌​ trapped in labyrinths⁠​​ identical to this‌​‌ one?”

“Yes.​⁠⁠ Something like that…”​

While​ the teacher and‍‍ the model student‌ conversed, the first⁠‌‌ person I thought‍‍ of was the‌ interviewer.

The​⁠‌ idea that the‌​‍ missing people were‍​⁠ still alive somewhere​‌⁠ not being just‌ my own hypothesis⁠ was good news.‌​

But⁠​ the fact that​​‌ I couldn’t find‍ them without surviving‌‌⁠ myself was very‌ bad news.

“Ah…”‍

Lee‍‌​ Jinsu’s voice pulled​‌‍ me from my​⁠‍ thoughts.

I looked back at⁠​‌ the monitor.

【What‌​‍ a shame! There⁠‍⁠ was a better​​ driver than you.‍‍⁠ You are no​‌‍ longer in a condition to enjoy‍ happiness. But you‌​⁠ can still be​​ happy.】

【CONTINUE】‌‍

【EXIT】‌

“No.‍​‍ Wait a second…”‌‌

【CONTINUE!】​

“What‍⁠ the hell…? You…​‌​ Ha…”

I had never managed‌‍‌ to beat this‍ damn man’s speed.⁠⁠

For‌​⁠ a moment, I grabbed Lee Jinsu‌‍ by the collar‌‍ of his hoodie​‌‍ and then let​ go.

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

Getting‌‌ angry at someone‌ who was about‍ to die was⁠​ pointless.

The​ entire time I watched Lee Jinsu‌‌ die, suffocating with‌ a pale blue‍​ face, just as​‍‌ it had happened⁠ to me once‍ before, I had‍⁠⁠ to curl up‍ as if trying⁠ to hide my​‍​ entire body.

You’re⁠​ going to find‍‌ peace all by‌⁠ yourself?

I can’t even die.⁠‍‌

I’m‍ not allowed to‌ die.

Why‍ do you get‍​ to rest?

Only‌‌‍ to suppress that​ irrational anger.

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

“Ha…”‌‍

“Are‌‍​ you okay?”

“I’m⁠⁠‌ fine… Just a little dizzy.”

“Dizzy?‍‌ Then this… No,⁠ would some medicine‌⁠​ help? Ah, Mr.​⁠​ Seon Yuhan, you’re‌ not going to‌​ die, right?”

“I’m‍ not going to⁠⁠ die… My head‍‌ is just ringing⁠​‍ a little.”

“Huh?‌ Ah. Right. I’ll‍⁠​ be quieter.”

Fortunately,‌ it seemed that‌‍‌ only part of‌‍‌ my liver had​⁠ disappeared and not‍ something fatal.

【Lost​‍‍ In HAPPYLAND】

【CLOSED】​

All‌ of our screens​‍⁠ changed at the⁠‍‍ same time.

“Wow!‌​​ It really ended!⁠⁠ It’s over! Look!​⁠ The door opened!‌‌ Come on, qui—!‍‍⁠ No, wait. Mr.​⁠​ Seon Yuhan, sit‍‍ in that chair.‍ I’ll push you.”‍​

“I‌ already told you‌ I’m fine…”

The‌‍​ huge accountant in⁠​ his thirties was‌‌⁠ jumping around in⁠⁠ delight like a small child.

Meanwhile,‍ the actual child‍ remained still behind‍‌ Hwang Juyeon, clutching⁠ the edge of‌⁠ her clothes.

I knew Jung Jiho​⁠​ was looking at‌​ me with concern.‍⁠⁠

And‌​​ I pretended not‍​ to notice.

Children’s​ eyes sometimes pierce‍ through the world‌ like sharp ice⁠‌ or needles.

I didn’t want to⁠‍​ know exactly what​ he saw in‌​ me that frightened‌‌ him.

“I⁠ can really walk.”⁠‌

While‍ I was arguing‍ with Choi Jaeha⁠‌ about whether I should sit in​​​ the chair or⁠‍ not—

Click.‌⁠ Bzzzz.

“Ah!​ You scared me!”‌

Suddenly,‌​​ the multifunction printer⁠⁠⁠ against the wall‌ started operating.

Shhk…‌‌

Scratch…⁠​

“It’s⁠⁠ printing something. Looks​ like a photograph…”‍

Yoo‌​‍ Hyunjae, who was‍​ closest, tilted his⁠⁠ head as he‌​⁠ watched the page‌‌ come out.

Shhk…​⁠⁠

Scrape…​​‍

We‍ all gathered around‌‌ the A4 sheet.⁠‍‍

“It‍‍⁠ looks like those‌​‌ photos they automatically‌‌‍ take when you‍​​ come down from⁠‌ a roller coaster.”⁠‍‌

The⁠ printed image was‌ very low quality,‍ as though a Polaroid photograph had‍ been scanned.

An‌ old six-seat roller⁠‌ coaster wrapped in​‌⁠ shadows.

In⁠ the background, the‍‌​ rails could be​ faintly seen along‌‌​ with a completely​​‍ black night sky.⁠

And‌‍⁠ beneath the photograph‍‍ was a caption‌ written in an⁠‌ adorable font.

[One⁠ of Seon Yuhan’s⁠ Happiest Moments]

“Seon…?‌‌ Wait. Why does‌ it say it‌​⁠ belongs to Mr.‍​ Seon Yuhan? There’s‍​⁠ nobody in the‌‌ picture.”

“That’s​‍ true.”

I took the sheet⁠‍ and carefully examined‍‌ the image.

“I’ll​​ keep it, just​ in case.”

“Yeah.‌ Let’s get out​‍‌ of here first.‌​ But Mr. Seon‌‍ Yuhan, are you​‌ really okay? You​ still look terrible.”‌⁠

“Yes.​ I’m really fine.”​​⁠

I folded the photograph⁠⁠⁠ and slipped it‌‌ into my pants​⁠‌ pocket while hiding⁠‌ the trembling of​ my hands.

Because‌​‍ I knew.

I knew that my​ eyes had met​‍​ the eyes of‍ the person in⁠‍ that photograph…

***‌​

“What​⁠ do you think⁠‌ the next floor‍ will be…?”

“Yeah.‌⁠ Mr. Seon Yuhan,‍⁠ there wasn’t anything‌⁠ after the 14th​​ floor in the⁠⁠‌ diary, right?”

“No.”‍‌​

“Then​‍ maybe this is‍ the last one.​​ Hopefully.”

Their‍ voices echoed through‌ the hallway descending⁠ from the emergency​​ exit on the⁠⁠⁠ 14th floor.

Clank.​​‍

We​⁠⁠ opened an emergency‌ exit door that‌​‍ indicated Floor 13​‍ on the inside,‍‌ even though we‍​‌ knew it probably‍ did not lead⁠‌⁠ to Floor 13.​

“What?”‌‌

“Uh…‌‍‌ why…?”

We‍​ came out onto⁠‍ the 14th floor‌‍⁠ again.

“Maybe…”‌​⁠

“…there‍ was some kind‍​ of mistake. Let’s‍ try going down​⁠ again—”

“—Mr.​ Seon Yuhan.”

Yoo‍​ Hyunjae’s deep voice⁠​ pierced into my‍‌⁠ back when I tried to deny​‌ reality.

“Labyrinths​ do not make‍ mistakes. That is⁠​ something humans do.”‍​

Suddenly,⁠‍​ all strength left​ my body.

“M-Mr.‌‌⁠ Seon Yuhan!”

Then…​

Had‍‍⁠ everything I did​‌⁠ in Happyland been⁠⁠​ meaningless?

Had‌⁠ all that sacrifice‌ of my organs‌ been for nothing?‍‌‍

All‍⁠ that time I spent forgetting them?⁠

Losing‌‌ myself?

Trying⁠‍‍ to abandon my‍‌ own name?

…Please.‌

Tell‌​ me it wasn’t.‍

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