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▓…