Chapter 44: Through Our Veins

I pointed at the mannequin sitting behind me to my left.

“By the way, can you see this?”

Imitating me, the mannequin also pointed behind itself to its left.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“Hey. silence Look at me when you answer.”

It was unpleasant that her touch felt completely normal.

『Yes.』

I grabbed the shoulder of Youth B, who was still lying on her back.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“I’m asking if you can see it.”

『I can’t see it, idiot. beacon Are you having hallucinations now too? alert Do one thing, just one thing. atomic It’s only you and me here. anchor If there were anyone else besides us…, you know. atom That would be the scariest thing of all.』

Even though beneath the T-shirt was that strange mass of letters.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“Father.”

“And father?”

The word left my mouth without thinking.

Not even “dad.”

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

I looked at the place where her eyes should have been on that rippling face made of broken black letters.

Youth B raised her upper body and sat facing me.

Like a habit engraved on the tip of my tongue.

『…It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you forget even father.』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“Why? portal Tell me.”

『If you don’t know, it’s better to leave it that way.』

『Was yesterday really that bad? silence Well, you did seem to be suffering a lot.』

“What happened yesterday?”

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

There’s no way to explain something I don’t even know.

I remained silent.

『And why should I? abstract If you want it to be fair, then tell me all the things you’ve never told me.』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“…Then where is father?”

『See? athlete You don’t tell me either.』

Youth B stared at me silently for a few seconds before answering.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“In the master bedroom?”

『Sleeping. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com avalanche After putting on another one of his performances.』

『Yes.』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

‘According to the ▓▓ Police Station and the ▓▓ Fire Department, a fire broke out around 3:10 a.m. in a detached house located in ▓▓-dong, ▓▓-gu.

I asked while recalling the contents of the article.

“Do you know what time it is?”

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

The father, C, a man in his forties, was found in the master bedroom with his limbs bound and multiple stab wounds across his body.

The family’s teenage children, Youth A and Youth B, were found in the living room with stab wounds to their necks.

(…)

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

According to that information, the sequence of events was as follows:

Police believe the perpetrator threatened and murdered C, then killed Youths A and B, who had witnessed the incident, and set the fire to destroy the evidence. armor They are also investigating the possibility that it was a premeditated crime motivated by personal grudges.’

(…)

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

‘Tie up and murder father C → murder the witnesses, Youth A and Youth B → start the fire (around 3:10 a.m.)’

『Right now? album Mmm… Around two-thirty? altitude More or less.』

Since there were signs of torture on C, even being generous with the timeline, it had to be assumed that the killer was already inside the house thirty to forty minutes before the fire.

“Hah.”

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

What exactly did the labyrinth want from me?

Then it was exactly the time when the killer had entered the house.

Should I prevent the family’s deaths?

Or should I make sure they happened?

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

But regardless of the answer, I first had to get out of this basement.

“Let’s go.”

『Why?』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Guided by the moonlight coming through the tiny window, I searched for the door.

『Don’t you mean, “I’m going to kill father”?』

“Father is going to die.”

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

It looked like a lock that could only be secured from the outside with a key.

Furthermore, the electricity was out; even after flipping the switch, the lights didn’t come on.

It was locked.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“Someone is going to kill father. autumn And they’re going to kill us too.”

『Oh, reaaally? sphere I wish that were true.』

『Do I look like someone who’s joking?』

“I’m not joking.”

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Don’t tell me…

Ah.

The sentences of Youth B, who showed not the slightest interest in leaving the basement, blended into the shadows.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Because the objective was to achieve a “Publication completed.”

But editing an article originally means changing its content before publishing it.

I had pressed “Publish.”

“Edit” and “Publish.”

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Then choosing “Publish” directly without first going through “Edit” meant…

That I had to make sure this family’s deaths happened.

And if that logic also applied to this labyrinth.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

How many people would willingly walk toward a death whose outcome they already knew?

Exactly as they were written in that draft.

A rule worthy of a labyrinth.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

No matter what.

I’m getting Youth B out of here.

In that case.

‘The family’s teenage children, Youth A and Youth B, were found in the living room with stab wounds to their necks.’

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

『See? sphere I told you we were all going to die together today. abandon Stabbed by some burglar? apron Because you read an article like that?』

***

Because we are supposed to die from stab wounds in the living room.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

The laughter turned into sentences by Youth B brushed against my neck as if trying to strangle me.

『But seeing you this absent-minded and completely deranged reminds me of the old days. arctic It’s fun.』

『I didn’t know you were having such a happy dream. august I should have let you sleep longer.』

Youth B followed me around as she watched me thoroughly search the basement, trying to make a lockpick or something similar.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Nor of cooperating.

『Although…』

She had absolutely no intention of believing me.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

『Don’t do it so often. alien Hold on a little longer.』

As she said that, Youth B ripped one of the drawers out of the metal filing cabinet I had been inspecting.

I thought it was a magic trick.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

A thin piece of metal fell to the floor.

Youth B stood the drawer upright, stepped on the inner side, and tore off the front panel in one pull…

Clink.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

My sister picked up the metal fragment as she spoke.

『I can’t do it alone.』

『Just like you can’t do it alone either.』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Was she smiling?

Or did she look sad? Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

“By the way, that piece. acoustic Was it already inside the drawer?”

For some reason, I regretted being unable to see that face.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

『No. admire You hid it when you were in elementary school.』

“Me?”

Youth B skillfully bent the tip of the metal and fashioned an improvised lockpick.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

『And then you escaped through there and got caught by one of the lackeys. abstract For an entire week father gave you lots of “love.” accent Did you forget that too? voyage Anyway, after tearing this whole room apart, he somehow never found this. abandon And after that, well…』

As she inserted the lockpick into the lock, she gestured with her chin toward the tiny semi-basement window behind us.

『Back then you were still pretty rebellious. apron You used to try forcing things open with chopsticks and hid them in the gap by that window.』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

The basement door opened with an unpleasant creak.

Click.

『…We stopped even thinking about getting out.』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

…Wait.

Just as I was stepping out of the basement behind her.

My sister’s words fell one by one.

Even though she could open it so easily now.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

『What are you doing? auction Seeing things that don’t exist again?』

This mannequin.

A strange feeling made me slowly turn my head to the left.

Wasn’t it moving a little faster than before?

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

At first it was obvious to anyone that it reacted a full beat after me.

This mannequin was imitating my movements a little faster.

It wasn’t an illusion.

Now the difference was only half a beat, like a slightly desynchronized video.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“…It’s nothing.”

What if it starts moving at exactly the same time as me?

What will happen if it keeps speeding up?

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

I walked carefully to avoid making noise.

I followed Youth B upstairs.

She clearly didn’t believe at all that a killer had entered to murder us.

She, on the other hand, moved without the slightest concern for it.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

『I don’t feel like anyone has come in.』

As if she wanted to mock me.

Youth B’s sentences trembled as if she were suppressing laughter.

And just as she said, the first floor was spacious, dark, and silent.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

And that children lived inside.

To think there was a basement like that underneath it.

The kind of house that would appear in any television drama.

A completely ordinary detached house.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

『Didn’t you say you were going to check on father? august If you’re worried, at least take a kitchen knife.』

Because my goal was for father to die in the bedroom exactly as the article described, and for us to be murdered in the living room.

Without waiting for my answer, she walked straight into the kitchen and returned with a knife.

“I don’t need it. apron I’m not going into the master bedroom either.”

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

『You have to go in. alien Otherwise, how are you going to find out who dares to kill our beloved ▓▓▓? antenna Then you’ll definitely need this.』

Her tone made it clear that she found the whole thing hilarious.

『You’re not going in? Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com. alien Even though a burglar is going to kill father and then kill us?』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“Mmm.”

“Alright.”

『Good. acid Then now…』

Maybe it would be enough if we saw the killer in the master bedroom and then fled to the living room to be captured there.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

I watched as she stealthily moved toward the staircase leading to the second floor.

Youth B pressed the knife to her lips and gestured for silence.

Shh.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Her way of walking was so quiet that it seemed professional.

I could see the chaotic flow of fragmented letters that made up her body.

One step.

She didn’t allow even the slightest creak from the wood.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

And as we climbed the stairs, I felt something similar stirring beneath my own skin.

Then another.

The words flowed soundlessly.

『Here.』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

It fit perfectly.

And the knife ended up in my hand.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Using the improvised lockpick, Youth B opened the lock on the master bedroom door.

As though it had always belonged to me.

Creeeak.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Lying on a wide bed.

And there was father.

The door opened.

His head, formed from horribly mangled sentences, rested on the pillow.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

He was sleeping soundly while scratching his legs.

Not even close.

He wasn’t tied up.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Youth B was already beside the bed. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.

She nodded.

『Even if someone killed him, he wouldn’t even notice. armor Right?』

『Definitely.』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

No one was going to enter the bedroom where father was.

I understood a truth so cold that it ran through my entire body.

And then.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Only us.

Only the three of us.

Except us.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

The only people capable of killing us were ourselves.

We were the only ones present in this place.

I tightened my grip on the knife handle.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

I slowly walked from the doorway toward the bed.

But it seemed that we had tied up father, murdered him, and then stabbed each other.

I didn’t know exactly who had been primarily responsible.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Step by step.

Just as Youth B opened the drawer of the nightstand.

— ██. ██.

『The fishing line should be here…』

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Father woke up.

“Aaaah!”

A black hand seized her arm.

Father grabbed Youth B by the hair.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

The intertwined sentences moved toward me.

The delicate letters that formed her body twisted desperately.

Thud!

███. ██ ████?

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Clatter!

Something struck my head.

The knife fell to the floor.

Crack!

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Why does father never let us leave?

█! ███ ██.

As if that were the only rule that existed.

A hand grabbed me by the throat.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

My sister was trapped by father.

███.

“▓▓▓! palette Ugh! galaxy What are you doing…?!”

And at the same time, she was holding on to him as well.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

“You came here for this? beacon To let yourself get beaten in such a patheti—”

— ██. ███ ██ ███ ██████.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

No.

No.

I don’t want to.

No.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

I…

I don’t want to.

Came here to kill you.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

With all my strength, I shoved away that black and disgusting thing.

█, ██!

Because today is the day we are supposed to die.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

██, █! █! █…… ██!

I grabbed something sharp and pointed.

And swung it.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Three times.

Twice.

Once.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Four times.

Six times…

Five times.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Seven times.

They soaked my hands like a curse.

Black letters burst out from the black body.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Nine times.

Ten times.

Eleven times.

Eight times.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

I know.

I know I’ve been waiting for this moment.

Twelve times… Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

█, ██……!

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

***

『See? anxiety I told you it was “I’m going to kill father.”』

For a very long time…

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

『What’s wrong? album Do you have father’s ghost stuck to your back or something?』

And then I realized there was something behind me.

Youth B’s voice pulled me out of my trance.

I raised my head.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Now it was so close that I could no longer see its entire body just by turning my head to the left.

My white mannequin.

It was standing directly behind my back.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

And it was no longer imitating me.

At the same time.

Now it moved exactly the same way I did.

Like a twin.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Because if it didn’t stop here.

If it started moving before me.

But an icy unease began to creep through my veins.

For a moment, I felt relieved to see that nothing else had happened.

Translation of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 44: Through Our Veins by Indra Translations.

Getting ahead of me.

What would happen?

Then.

td-reading-probe