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▓…