How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 45: The Young A and the Young B

Chapter 45: The Young A and the Young B

『▓▓▓.‌ Snap out of⁠⁠ it already. Tell⁠ me again about⁠ that happy dream you had a moment ago.』

When‍⁠⁠ I turned my⁠‌ head forward again,‍‍ Mr. C was⁠ already completely tied‍ up with fishing‍ lines.

It⁠ seemed that while⁠‍ I had been‍‍ distracted, Youth B had taken care‌ of everything.

So she did remember‍‍⁠ my entire story.⁠‌

『So.‍‌ You’re saying we‌‌⁠ get stabbed in⁠ the living room?』⁠‍

This‍ girl really intended‍ to do it.‌

Without‍‍ hesitation.

What‍ I had been‌‍ unable to do.⁠‍

“…The⁠⁠ living room.”

‘At‍ the scene of‌⁠ the fire, two separate points of origin were identified, one in the‌ master bedroom and‍ the other in⁠ the living room.

It‌ was reported that‌‌ a large number‌ of opened alcohol bottles and flammable⁠ materials were found‌⁠ around the points⁠‌‍ of origin.’

When⁠‌ I explained a few more details‌‍ while recalling the‌⁠ contents of the‌‍⁠ article, Youth B nodded.

『Ah.‌‍‍ I get it‍ now. So that’s‌‍‍ how it is.⁠ Good. If we’re‍ going to do⁠‌ it, let’s do⁠⁠ it properly. Then⁠ first we need‍‌ a lighter and…‌‌ ah. You go⁠‌‍ get the alcohol from the refrigerator.』‍

Her‌‌‍ humming, transformed into‍‍ sentences, fell lightly.

I helped Youth B.⁠‍‍

I filled my arms‍‍ with bottles of‍⁠ alcohol from the first-floor kitchen and⁠ went upstairs.

We⁠ opened the door‍⁠ to the master‍⁠ bedroom.

“……”⁠

Everything‍ was black.

Black⁠ fragments scattered everywhere.‌⁠‌

Even‌ so, I could sense the smell‌‌ of blood, a smell I had‌ become far too‌ familiar with inside‌ this place.

Shhhh.‍‍

On⁠⁠‍ top of it‍‌ spread the sharp smell of alcohol.⁠

We gathered blankets and‍ clothes and soaked‍‌ them with liquor.‌‍

『Are‌‍ you done already?⁠ Then spray some‍ over here too.』‌

When‍‍ I went down‌ to the living‍ room, Youth B had already finished⁠⁠ the preparations.

Newspapers,‍ schoolbooks, blankets.

Everything‍ that could burn‌ had been piled⁠ together in one‍ place.

『Give⁠‍⁠ me one too.』‍‍

Youth B took one‍ of the bottles‍ from my hand.‌‌‍

At⁠⁠ first, I thought‍⁠ she was going⁠⁠ to drink it.⁠⁠‍

“Ah. What are you‍‌‌ doing?”

But‍ Youth B suddenly poured it all‌ over herself.

Then‍ she threw the⁠ rest of the‌ alcohol on me.‌⁠

As‌ if we were⁠ playing with water.‍‍

『What‍ do you think⁠‍ I’m doing? I told you we⁠‌ were going to‍⁠⁠ do it properly.』‌

Her‌ bright, refreshing laughter‍ transformed into letters⁠⁠⁠ that pierced my⁠ ears.

If‍ I could hear‍ her real laughter.‍⁠‌

Would⁠⁠ I be able‌‌‌ to endure it?⁠‍

『Here.』⁠

The‍‍ girl grabbed my‌ hand.

Making sure I wouldn’t⁠⁠ let go of⁠⁠ the knife, she‍⁠‌ forced me to⁠ hold it tightly while guiding my‌‍ hand toward her‍ own neck.

『Are‍‌⁠ you going to‌⁠ back out now?⁠‌ Don’t make me‍ laugh.』

I instinctively tried to⁠ pull my arm away.

The⁠⁠‌ strength with which‌ she held me‌ increased.

Then‍ she took my‌‌ free hand as well and placed⁠‍‍ it on some‌ point on her‍‍‍ neck.

『Here.』‌‍

The‌‌ broken, unreadable sentences⁠ touched my fingertips.‍

They‍⁠ writhed underneath.

They⁠ screamed.

Read‍‌ me.

『Stab.』⁠

Just⁠ once.

『In‌ a single strike.』‍

Can you do it?‌

『You‌⁠ can do it.』⁠

I nodded.

And‌ slowly raised my‍ right hand…

Clank.⁠

I dropped the knife⁠ stained with the⁠ black fragments of‌⁠ my father.

The tip fell to‌ the floor and⁠⁠⁠ remained standing upright,⁠‍ as if it‌‌⁠ had been made‌ for that purpose.⁠

“……What‍ are you doing?”‌

With the same hand⁠ that had wielded‍⁠ knives to kill‍‌ monsters, I grabbed her.

Ah.‍⁠

She’s‍‌ definitely still alive.‍⁠⁠

“▓▓▓.‌ What’s wrong with‌ you?”

My⁠‌ sister.

My‍⁠⁠ ▓▓.

We’ll‌‍⁠ find another way‍‍ out.

Because‌⁠‌ this is a labyrinth.

“A‍⁠‌ labyrinth? What are⁠ you talking about?”‌‍‍

▓▓‍⁠ smiled faintly, as‍ if she were‍‌ about to break.‌

“You‌‍ can only call⁠ it a labyrinth‍⁠ when there’s an‌ exit.”

Yes.‍‌‌

That’s‌ why we have to leave.

Let’s‍⁠⁠ get out of⁠‍ this labyrinth that‍⁠ has trapped us.‍

“Do‍‍ you really think‍ that’s possible?”

Yes.‍‍

“You’re‍ still a child.”⁠⁠

▓▓’s⁠ laughter grew louder,⁠‍⁠ as if digging‍‌ into an open⁠ wound.

“Fine. Try it.”

The‌ moment I took‍‍⁠ her hand, I opened the front‍‌ door and we‌‌ went outside.

We▓⁠⁠‌

***‌

“Ah.”‍‍⁠

I blinked slowly.

[Three‌⁠ members of a family found dead‍ in a detached house in ▓▓-gu…‍‌ ‘Robbery-murder followed by‌ arson suspected’
｜20▓▓.▓▓.▓▓.‌‌ 08:49 Saved
｜Publication‍ failed 1 minute‌‌ ago]

Publication‌⁠ failed.

“Ah……”

Why‌ did I do that?

Why‌⁠ did I ruin‌‌ something that had‌⁠ already been completely‌‍ prepared because of⁠‌ a girl whose‍‌ face and name‍⁠ I don’t even‍ know?

Did⁠⁠ I simply not⁠ want to die⁠‌‍ alongside her?

Hah.⁠

Then‍ now…

What’s⁠‌‌ going to happen?⁠

I leaned back against‌‍ the chair and‌⁠ caught sight of⁠ the mannequin from⁠ the corner of‌‌‌ my eye.

The‍ image of the⁠‍ mannequin sitting in‌‌ midair without any‌‌ chair, leaning its upper body backward,‌‍‍ looked strange.

“……”‌⁠⁠

But⁠⁠‌ wait.

Didn’t it just move‍‍‍ a little to⁠‍⁠ the right?

Just‍ as I sat⁠ up to get‍‌ a better look.‌⁠

The⁠‍⁠ mannequin stood up⁠‍⁠ from its place‍⁠‌ at the same⁠ time.

And‍ extended its right⁠ foot.

I extended my right‍ foot as well.‌‍

Fuck.

***‌

If⁠⁠ the mannequin takes a step forward,‍⁠ my leg moves‍ as well.

The‍‍ same posture. The‍ same direction.

As‌ if I were copying the mannequin.

An⁠ unpleasant sensation that⁠ was my will⁠‍ and, at the⁠ same time, wasn’t.

When‌‌‌ the imitator catches‌ up to you.‍

You‌ become the imitator.‌

I couldn’t even resist.‍‍‌

And‍⁠⁠ I didn’t feel‍⁠ any desire to⁠‍⁠ do so.

I only felt that⁠ familiar helplessness of⁠‌ moving out of⁠‍⁠ inertia even when⁠‌‍ I didn’t want‍ to.

Since the mannequin didn’t‍ tremble, neither could⁠⁠‌ I.

And‍ yet.

Even⁠ though there is‍‌ no greater existential⁠ horror than this.⁠

Even‌‌ though there is⁠ nothing more terrifying‌⁠ than the feeling‌ of being trapped‍‍ in this body, in this life,‍‌ in this world,⁠ unable to escape.‌‌⁠

It’s‍‍ strange.

My heart, which should‍ have been trembling,⁠ desperately screaming to⁠⁠ be freed, to⁠⁠ be let out,⁠ that it wanted‍‍ to escape, that‍ it wanted to⁠ leave.

Remained‍ calm.

Only‍‌ then did I realize that I was no longer‌‌ the same person‌⁠ as before.

I don’t know whether that was something‍ important.

In‌‌ the end, I let my body‍‌ follow the mannequin‌ on its own‌‌ and leave Shingye‍‌ Daily.

Meanwhile, I started thinking‌‍ about several things.‌

If‌⁠‍ the mannequin had‌⁠ followed me even inside the article,⁠⁠⁠ then the rules‌‌‍ of Shingye Daily⁠⁠⁠ and Moment O’Clock‌ seemed to be connected.

In‍‍ that case, was⁠ the condition for clearing the 15th‍ floor to complete‍ the publication of‍ the article before‌⁠ the mannequin caught‍ up to me?⁠

[Moment‌‌ O’Clock]

Before‍‌ I realized it,‌ I had arrived‍‍ once again in⁠ front of the‍⁠ office where the⁠ number of stored corpses would soon‌‌ increase from two‍⁠‌ to three.

When‍‌ the mannequin on⁠ my right pretended⁠ to open an‍ invisible doorknob, I also grabbed the⁠‌ office’s glass door‍ and opened it.‍

The‌ mannequin bent down‍‌ to pick up‍ something invisible.

As‌‌ if it were‌ showing me an‌‌ example.

But‌‍ my body could⁠ imitate it even‌ without seeing it.

I picked up the‌‍ hand sanitizer beside‍‌ the head of‌‌ the young employee⁠‍ from the MD Team.

I took the lighter‍‍ from the pocket⁠ of the middle-aged‍⁠ man who had‌‌ been the head‍ of the Social‍ Affairs Team at⁠ Shingye Daily.

I took a box‌‌ cutter from the‍‍ drawer of an‍‌ abandoned desk.

And⁠‍ prepared myself to‌‌ die.

Step‌‍ by step.

As‌‍ if it were a mandatory ritual.‍

Without‌⁠‌ any emotion.

When‌ the mannequin finished⁠‍ its preparations.

And‍⁠ I did as‍ well…

We‍ entered the storage‍‍ room.

I gazed at the‍ future waiting one⁠ step ahead of‌ me.

And‍⁠ inwardly laughed at‍‍ a reality in‍‌ which I couldn’t‍‍ even scream of⁠⁠‍ my own free‍ will.

Ah,‌ seriously.

I don’t want to‍ die.

Not‌ like this.

**‍‌

Do⁠‍ not let the‍ mannequin catch up‍‌‍ to you. You‍ will end up‍ imitating it.

**⁠‌

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

“Ah,‍‍ damn—”

I barely managed to‌‌ cover my mouth‌‌ in time.

I almost shouted and⁠ cursed in front‌ of the interviewer.

The⁠⁠ sensation of burning‌‌ while my entire⁠ body filled with‍⁠‌ holes disappeared as if it had⁠‍ been an illusion.

So⁠‍ did the smell‍⁠ of sizzling flesh⁠⁠ brushing against my‍ nose.

I knew what that‌‌‌ tasted like.

And I also knew‍‌ how much happiness⁠‌ it gave me…‌

“Mr.‌ Seon Yuhan?”

“Ah.”‍

I blinked blankly again.‍

I looked once at⁠ the interviewer’s somewhat⁠ confused face.

Then‌‌‍ at the ceiling.‌

And‍‍ finally lowered my‍ head slowly.

Hah.‍

I…‍

Really⁠ did a lot‍ of crazy things.

“If⁠ you didn’t hear⁠‍‍ the question, would⁠⁠⁠ you like me‌‍ to repeat it?”⁠

Without‌ answering him, I desperately reviewed those⁠‌ memories.

Those‍‍‍ impossible-to-digest memories.

Yoo Hyunjae had gone into the gambling‍‍ room on his own, so that‍ was one thing.⁠

But‍ Choi Jaeha.

Hwang‍‍ Juyeon.

Jung‍ Jiho.

Lee⁠‌ Jinsu.

I convinced all four‍‍ of them to‌⁠‌ enter the gambling‍ room and die.‌

Just‌⁠ because I thought‍ that when I revived, they would‌‍⁠ come back to‍ life as well.‍‍

And‌ the worst part‍⁠ was that it⁠⁠ had even seemed‌ logical.

『Don’t‍ worry! It will‍ hurt. A small⁠‍‍ curse will make‍⁠ you more unhappy,⁠ brain.』

Damn‍⁠ Happyland.

It‌ seems it didn’t take away a useless part of my brain.

It⁠ seems it took‌ away a very‍ important part.

I remembered everything I had done.

The‌ things I normally⁠ never would have‌‍ done.

But⁠⁠ it was still‌ me.

The‍⁠ one who pushed⁠⁠‌ his companions toward⁠ death.

The⁠ one who saw⁠ corpses as mere‍ objects.

The⁠ one who repeatedly⁠⁠‌ stabbed Mr. C.⁠⁠

All⁠⁠ of that was‍ me.

I have no intention‍‌ of denying it.‌

Nor‍‌ do I want to.

It‍ doesn’t matter whether‌ they tore out‌⁠ my frontal lobe⁠‌ or my temporal‌ lobe.

That’s‍ not some magical‍ switch capable of‍ instantly transforming a good person into‍ a monster.

It⁠⁠‍ only adds another layer to the‌‌ filter through which‌⁠ you see the⁠ world.

Or⁠ removes one.

It‌‍ merely removes the‌ leash holding you‌‍⁠ back or the‌⁠ one you’re holding⁠⁠‍ yourself.

I simply.

Changed a little.

And⁠‌ human beings change.‍

That’s⁠‍ how they work.‍

***‌⁠

Floor 11.

[Strategic‍⁠‌ Planning Department | Future Strategy Team‍⁠ | Budget Planning⁠⁠ Team]

Once‍ again, Do offered⁠‍⁠ a wager whose prize was escape.‍⁠

“I’ll⁠‌‌ parti—”

“I‌ wouldn’t recommend it,⁠ Director.”

As⁠ expected, Yoo Hyunjae‍⁠‌ raised his hand‍⁠ to accept.

And‍ I stopped him.⁠

Then⁠ I turned to‍‌ the rest of‌ the group.

This‌ time to convince‍‍‌ them otherwise.

“We’ve‍ made it this‌⁠ far without any⁠ serious problems, haven’t‌ we?”

Of‌ course, Jung Jiho⁠ had almost died⁠ in the parking⁠‌‌ lot after crying‍‍ for more than⁠ one hundred and‍ eight seconds when‌ he saw an‌ illusion of his‌‌ mother.

And⁠ when we reached⁠ NeoSoft, Lee Jinsu‍ was already dead,⁠‌ so there was‍‌ nothing that could‌‍ be done.

“If‌ it were that easy to beat‌‍⁠ that guy, he‌ wouldn’t wager the‌ exit.”

“Well… that’s true, but…”‍‍‍

After‌⁠ emphasizing the risks⁠‌‍ several more times,‌ they soon gave⁠ in.

Essentially,‌ it was exactly‍⁠ the same process‍ I had used‍ to push them‍‍ into the gambling⁠⁠ room.

Just⁠ in reverse.

“Now⁠ that I think⁠‌ about it, it’s⁠‍ better not to‌‌ risk our lives⁠‍ in a wager.‌⁠ We only have⁠ one chance.”

The‌ fact that Yoo⁠⁠ Hyunjae changed his‌‌ mind and supported‍ me helped quite‍ a bit as‌‍ well.

“Do‌ we really have‍‍ to do this? It looks like⁠⁠‌ it’s going to‍‌⁠ hurt…”

“Better⁠⁠ this than dying in some ridiculous⁠ game, don’t you‌ think?”

“Ugh…”⁠⁠

Sshk.⁠⁠‍

Five⁠ times in a row, the sound‌ of fingers sliding‌‍ across paper could‌‍‍ be heard.

“Ugh.”⁠⁠‍

“Good‌ thing I brought‌ bandages.”

Fortunately‌⁠ or unfortunately, everyone‌‍ cut themselves cleanly on the first‌⁠ attempt.

“Ah.”⁠⁠

Everyone‌‍ except me.

“You’ve already failed once.‍⁠ You’ll have to find another way.”

I heard the mocking‌‌ voice of the‍ flesh die.

Damn‌‌ it.

I hadn’t thought of⁠ any alternative besides‌⁠ cutting myself with⁠ paper.

“What‍‍‌ do we do?”‌‌

“It’s‌⁠ fine. Let’s go‌ first.”

So⁠‍ we left Do’s⁠ smile behind and⁠⁠ reached the 15th‌ floor.

“It’s right below our‌ company…”

“Why‌⁠⁠ don’t we check‌⁠ the left side‌ first?”

I ignored the comment‌ from the accountant‍ of Howol Accounting‌‌ Firm and pointed‌⁠‍ toward Shingye Daily.⁠

I wanted to check‍⁠⁠ whether the mannequins‍‌ still appeared even‍⁠ without entering Moment‌‌ O’Clock first.

“Huh?⁠ What’s that?”

As⁠ we were approaching‌‌ Shingye Daily, Hwang‍⁠ Juyeon cried out‍ in horror.

Five‌‌ white mannequins were⁠‍ walking down the‌ hallway from the‌ opposite side.

Damn‍ it.

So⁠⁠⁠ they come on their own and⁠ follow the rules⁠‌ perfectly.

“Shit!⁠ What the hell‌ are those things?‌ Quick, let’s get inside!”

“No,‌ wait, Mr. Choi⁠ Jaeha, just a moment…!”

Swoosh.‌

Choi‍ Jaeha, who didn’t‍⁠⁠ know that those⁠⁠‌ mannequins weren’t monsters‌ that had to‍ be urgently avoided,‍⁠ flung open the⁠‌ door to Shingye⁠‍‍ Daily.

The‌‌ moment we entered‌‍ the office.

“Huh?”‌

“Aaaaagh!”⁠

A young woman with‍⁠⁠ bleached blonde hair‌ who had been‌ sitting in front of the only‍ desk jumped in‍‌‍ surprise and screamed.‍‌

“Ah,‍ no! What do I do?!”

I immediately realized that‌ she had accidentally‍⁠⁠ pressed something.

I ran toward her‍⁠ and looked at⁠‌ the laptop screen.‍

[Unknown‍⁠ toxic gas invades⁠ a subway train⁠‌ during rush hour…‍‌ “Mass Suffocation Tragedy”⁠‍

｜20▓▓.▓▓.▓▓. 15:01 Saved]

[This‍ article is currently‍‍ being published by‌ ‘Kim Youngho’. An‌‌‍ edit will begin‌‍ under another name.‍ ‘Seon Yuhan, Yoo‌ Hyunjae, Lee Nahyun,‌ Jung Jiho, Choi‌‌ Jaeha, and Hwang‌‍ Juyeon’.]

“Ah.”‍

Are they kidding me?⁠⁠

I don’t want to‍ die swallowing a tie▓…