How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 46: Now Our Train

Chapter 46: Now Our Train

Clank,‍ rumble.

Along‍‌ with the familiar‌ sound of the⁠‍ subway, a scene‍‍ entered my field of vision that‍⁠‌ was also familiar,‌ though only to⁠⁠‌ a certain extent.‌

I had even taken‌ the subway today‌ to come to⁠ the interview.

But⁠⁠‍ the passengers traveling‍‌ with me then⁠ had not been‌ made up of‍ those masses of‍ black letters.

“What‍⁠ the hell?! What are these things?!⁠‌ What is this‍⁠ place?! And how‌ did those mannequins‌ follow us here?!”‍‍

“Aaah!‍⁠⁠ What is this…?⁠ Hey! Mr. Choi⁠ Jaeha?”

“Kyaaa!‍‌ A-A monster!”

Ah.⁠

I immediately knew where Choi Jaeha, Hwang‍ Juyeon, and Lee‌‍ Nahyun, the MD‌⁠ from Moment O’Clock‌‍ who had accidentally‍ dragged all of⁠‌ us here, were.

Then‌⁠‍ the fact that‌⁠‌ I couldn’t cut‍‍ my finger with⁠‍ the paper and‌ failed to avoid‌‍ bad luck wasn’t‌‍⁠ the cause.

After‍‌‍ all, the people‍ who had successfully‌‍ avoided that unfortunate⁠‍ event were also⁠‍ here.

『What’s‍‌ going on…?』

『Why⁠⁠ are they acting⁠‍ like that…?』

“Please calm down and⁠‌ gather over here.”⁠

I pushed through the⁠ murmur of floating⁠⁠ phrases, gathered everyone,⁠ and led them‌‌ toward the priority‍ seating area, where‌⁠ there were fewer‌ people.

It⁠‍‌ wasn’t difficult to find people made‌‌‍ of flesh and⁠⁠ blood among those‍ humans formed from‌ broken letters.

“You’re‍‍ Mr. Seon Yuhan,‍ right? What is‍ this place, seriously…?⁠‍ Why does everyone⁠ have black bodies‍‍ made of strange‌⁠ cockroach-like letters…? I can’t even properly‌ see your face‌ or Miss Hwang’s.”⁠

“That’s⁠ what I’m saying.‍ Mr. Seon Yuhan,⁠ are these the⁠‌‌ mannequins we saw‍⁠‌ earlier? They’re imitating‌ us and… it’s‍ creepy.”

However,‌‍ there was something⁠ strange.

I knew these people‌‌‌ had normal faces,‍‍ but I was‍‍‌ unable to remember‌‌⁠ what they looked‌ like.

I could clearly see⁠ their eyes, nose,‌⁠‍ and mouth.

But‍⁠‍ my brain couldn’t‍ connect all those‍ parts into a single face.

It‍ was as if⁠⁠⁠ each feature had⁠ an information value‍ of one, but‍‌ together added up‌ to zero.

Simply‌‌ put.

I couldn’t recognize them.⁠‍

I was looking directly at them, yet‌ I didn’t know‍⁠ who they were.‍⁠

And if they turned⁠ around, I probably‌ wouldn’t be able‍ to remember their‌ faces either.

“And⁠ you must be‍ Lee Nahyun, right?⁠‌ I think I saw your name‌ earlier. I’m Seon‍ Yuhan.”

“Ah,⁠‌ yes. Nice to meet you… When‌ did you even‌‍ find time to⁠ see that…?”

“Huff,‌ this feels so⁠‌ strange. It’s like⁠‍ not knowing who someone is while‌⁠⁠ also knowing who‌‌ they are.”

Yet,‍ oddly enough, I could still tell‌ who was who.

I couldn’t recognize their‍⁠ faces, but it⁠ was as if each person carried‌ an invisible nameplate.⁠‌

“Anyway,⁠ um… Lee Nahyun?‌ Was that it?⁠⁠ It seems you‌ did something, and‍ that’s why we‍ all ended up⁠⁠ here, so maybe‍ you could explain…”⁠‌

Just‌ as Choi Jaeha⁠‍⁠ was about to‌‍ ask Lee Nahyun⁠‌ something.

Bang.‌‍

Rattle.

The⁠‍ door to the‌ next train car opened.

“So⁠⁠‌ everyone was here.‌⁠ I was wondering‍‍ where all the noise was coming‍‌‍ from.”

“Ah,‌ Director. Oh… Jiho. You’ve grown a little… Even so,⁠‌‍ I’m glad I found you right⁠‍ away.”

The‍‌‌ child I identified⁠ as Jung Jiho⁠⁠‍ now appeared to⁠⁠⁠ be the age‍ of an upper⁠ elementary school student.⁠

Even⁠ for a seven-year-old,‌‍‌ this must have⁠‍ been too confusing, because he couldn’t‍ stay still.

“It‍‍ seems we’ve all‌ ended up inside‍ someone else’s body.‍⁠‌ Though it looks‌‍‌ like we’ve been⁠ assigned bodies relatively‍ similar to our⁠ own. By the‌ way, you are…”‍

“Ah,‌‍ I… my name‍‌‍ is Lee Nahyun.”‌

“Pleasure to meet you.⁠ I’m Yoo Hyunjae.”‌⁠

“What…?‌⁠ T-The Director Yoo‌ Hyunjae?”

“Yes.⁠‍‍ It seems you⁠‍ know something about‍ this situation.”

His⁠ calm and somewhat⁠ detached tone had‌ a strange ability⁠ to steer others wherever he wanted.‌

His‌⁠ voice was completely⁠ different from the⁠ original.

And yet, it was⁠‍ unmistakably Yoo Hyunjae.

“Well…‌‍ I was reading‌‍‌ an article about‍ an incident where‍ a lot of‌ people died from some kind of‍‌ toxic gas inside⁠‌‌ a subway train. Then I accidentally‌ pressed a button. I got startled‌‍ when all of you suddenly came‌⁠ in…”

“In⁠ a labyrinth, it’s‌‌ always better to‌‌ be careful. A single mistake can‌‍⁠ cost you your‌‍ life.”

A beautiful scene of‍⁠ mutual responsibility transfer.⁠

“But⁠ I didn’t mean‍‌ to do it‌ either! I was‌ trying not to‍ touch anything and‌‍‌ just hold out…”⁠‌

“I‌ see. But labyrinths⁠⁠ usually aren’t kind⁠‌ to people who stand still without‌ making progress. You’re lucky nothing happened‌ before we arrived.”‍

I didn’t feel like‌ taking either side.‍

But⁠⁠ I also couldn’t⁠⁠ underestimate a CEO’s‍ ability to control⁠‍⁠ a conversation.

“Then⁠‍‌ what exactly did⁠⁠ the article say?”‌‍

Hwang‌‍‍ Juyeon stepped in‍‍⁠ at the perfect⁠‍ moment to change⁠ the subject.

“Ah…‍ I didn’t have‌ time to read⁠ it in detail.‍ It was something‌‌ about toxic gas⁠ or something. It‌‍ said most of‍ the passengers had⁠‍‌ died. Did something like that really‍ happen?”

“No.”⁠

Yoo‌‌‌ Hyunjae pointed at‌ the passengers with‌ his chin.

“At‍‍ least not that‌⁠ I know of.‌‌⁠ And even if⁠‍ something similar did⁠ happen, the labyrinth probably altered it. Look at what‌ those passengers are‌ carrying.”

“Huh?”‍⁠⁠

Only‍⁠ then did I carefully observe the passengers.

It⁠ looked as if‌ someone had looted‌ a museum of‌ mobile phone history.‍

Some⁠ were holding flip‌ phones.

Others‍ had smartphones.

Some⁠‍ were reading paper⁠ newspapers.

Others‍‍‌ were reading books.‍‍⁠

“Can‌⁠ you identify the‌ era?”

I had suspected that‌ the articles saved‌ as drafts described⁠ events that might⁠⁠ happen someday in⁠‌ the future.

But‌ it seemed the⁠ labyrinth was incapable‍⁠ of displaying exact⁠ dates.

Though,‍‍ thinking about it,⁠‌ that made sense.‍

The⁠‍‍ future is something‍ that can change.‌‍‌

“That’s‍‌‍ why it doesn’t‌‍‌ matter much whether⁠⁠‍ these events are‌ real or not.‍‍ In a labyrinth,⁠ something else is‌ important.”

Yoo‌⁠ Hyunjae concluded.

“What‍ matters is whether we can get⁠ out or not.”‍

After‌‍ saying that, he‍‌ remained motionless for a few moments.‌‍

He‌‍⁠ seemed to be‍ looking at something.⁠

Not‌ something that was‌⁠⁠ here.

But‍ something that was⁠⁠ no longer there.⁠

“Director?”‌

“Ah.‌⁠ Sorry.”

Yoo‍⁠ Hyunjae shook his⁠ head as if‌ waking from a dream.

“It’s‍ been a very‌‍ long time since‌ I last rode‍⁠ a subway.”

Sometimes he manages to‍ irritate me in‍ very specific ways.‍

「Dear⁠‍ passengers, we would‍‌ like to make‍ a brief announcement.」⁠‌‍

At‍ that moment, an‌⁠ announcement sounded through‌ the speakers.

「Our‌ train is temporarily reducing its speed‌‍ to maintain a safe distance from‍‍ the train ahead.⁠ We appreciate your‍‌ understanding.」

Clank.⁠ Rumble.

The‌‍ train’s speed decreased‍⁠ slightly.

“Anyway, this is that train, right?”

“Yes…⁠⁠ it certainly looks‍‍ like it. Then‌⁠ do we just‌‌⁠ need to get⁠‌ off at the‌⁠ next station?”

Now‌⁠ fully accustomed to‍ labyrinths, Hwang Juyeon‍‍⁠ and Choi Jaeha‍ asked the question with resignation.

“Mmm…⁠ Miss Lee Nahyun.⁠‍‌ I think I remember seeing a message earlier that‍ said an edit‍‌ would begin. Is‌ that correct?”

I recalled the pop-up‌‌‌ window that had⁠ appeared just before‍ entering the article.⁠

‘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.’

“Publish”‍ was what I had pressed the‌ previous time when‌ I read the‌ article about the murdered family and had to choose‌ between “Edit” and‍‌ “Publish.”

And‍ as soon as‌⁠ I became Young‍ A, I only‍ killed Mr. C and left the‍‌ house with Young B, and I failed.

According‌‌⁠ to my theory,⁠ “Publish” means making⁠ the events of‍‌ the article occur‌⁠ exactly as written.‌⁠

While‍ “Edit” means the⁠‍‍ opposite preventing those⁠ events from happening.‌

“Uh… Yes? I guess‌‌ so. There were‌‍ edit and publish⁠‌⁠ options. The cursor⁠ was probably on‌⁠ the edit button.‍ But… is that‌ important?”

This⁠⁠ Lee Nahyun.

She’s‌⁠ exactly the kind‌⁠‌ of person who‍ would end up‍‍‍ dying absurdly in⁠ a labyrinth.

Even worse than Choi‌‌ Jaeha.

“Then I think our‌ objective must be‍ to prevent the‍ incident described in⁠ the article from⁠ happening. If nothing had to be‌ changed, there would be no reason⁠ for the ‘Edit’‌‍⁠ option to exist.”⁠⁠

“Ah.⁠‌ Then we have‍⁠ to stop the‍‌ gas attack in‌ the subway?”

The‍‍⁠ leader of the‌ Jaerae Group showed‍ interest.

“Yes.‌ I think we should use the⁠ emergency intercom, shout‌⁠ that there’s a fire, and open‌⁠ the doors.”

“Mmm.”‌

“What is it?”

“No,‍ nothing. Don’t worry.⁠‍‌ It would be‌‍ nice if it⁠‌‌ were that simple.”‍

Yoo‌‌‍ Hyunjae waved his‌ hand.

「Dear‍ passengers, we would⁠ like to make‌‌ a brief announcement.‌ Our train will⁠ temporarily stop to⁠ maintain a safe‌ distance from the‍ train ahead. Thank‍ you for your‍ understanding.」

Rumble.‍

The‍ train stopped.

As if it were‌ a starting signal.‍

“Then‍ let’s give it‌‍‌ a try.”

***⁠

「…Please‌‌ remain calm and⁠⁠ follow the instructions…」⁠‌‌

Before‍‍ we could even‌ make our way⁠⁠ through all the‍ cars shouting “Fire!”,‌‍ an announcement began‍ playing and the‍ doors started opening.⁠‌

『Get‌‍ up! They said‍⁠ there’s a fire!』⁠‌

『Aaah!‌‍ Don’t push!』

『Hey!‌‍ Move out slowly!』⁠

The‍‌⁠ sight of those⁠‌⁠ masses of black letters, like a colony of ants, throwing themselves over⁠⁠ one another to‌‍⁠ escape felt strangely⁠‍‌ unreal.

Since‌ there wasn’t actually‍ a fire, I decided to stay‍‌ out of the‍‍ way and wait quietly so I wouldn’t get swept‍ up in the⁠ crowd.

That was when—

『Excuse⁠‍⁠ me.』

Someone‍‍ grabbed my arm.⁠⁠

And‍‍ at that instant.‍‌

As‍⁠ if a digital⁠‍ distortion effect had⁠‍ occurred, my vision⁠ filled with static‍ and the entire⁠ scene changed.

Only‍‌ for a moment.⁠

Like‌ a hallucination.

“……”

A subway car so‍‌⁠ silent it could‍ make you deaf.‍

The‍ subway hand straps‌‌ looked like nooses.‍‌

And‍ from every one⁠‍ of them hung⁠‍ a hanged person.‍

Faceless‍ corpses swaying to the rhythm of‌⁠‌ the rattling train.⁠

『What‌‌ company do you‍ work for?』

The‌ voice addressed me⁠‌ again.

I shook my head⁠⁠ to clear away‍ the lingering image.‌

“Excuse‍‌ me?”

I gently removed my⁠ arm from his‍ grip and looked‍‌ at the person.‍‍

Judging⁠ by the short‍ hair and body‍⁠ build, he was probably a man.‍⁠

At⁠ first I thought‌‌ he might be a student because of his small‍‌‌ stature and slender‌ frame.

But⁠⁠‍ he wasn’t wearing‍⁠⁠ a school uniform.‍

『I⁠‌ asked where you‌‍ work.』

It‍‌ was a completely‌‌⁠ unexpected question.

Is‌‌‌ this how future‌ cult members start‌‍ a conversation?

“Why‍‌ do you ask?”‍⁠

『Because I’ve been watching‍‍ you and some⁠ of your companions‌‌ for quite a while now.』

The‌⁠ fragmented letters, twisting‌⁠ like insects, lifted‌ their gaze toward me as they‍‍ drew closer.

『And‌ I was wondering‌‍ exactly who you⁠‍ people are to‌ be spreading lies‌ like that.』

Ah.‌

He‌⁠‍ must have been‍⁠ one of the‍‌ passengers who had⁠ been riding in⁠ the same car‌⁠ as us from⁠⁠ the beginning.

If‍‌ he had been‍‌ observing us all‍‌‌ this time, it‍ was natural that he would find us suspicious.

Did‍⁠‍ he think about‌‌‍ reporting us for‌ making a false‌‍‍ emergency announcement?

It‌‍ didn’t matter.

We‌⁠ just had to‍ stop the gas⁠‍ attack and complete⁠ the article’s “edit.”⁠‍

“The⁠ truth is, we‍‌‍ suspected something much⁠ worse. But it⁠ was so absurd that we thought it would be⁠ more effective to say there was⁠ a fire and‌⁠ evacuate people quickly.”‍‌‍

『Something⁠‍ worse than a fire?』

“Yes.‌ A biological or‌‌‌ chemical attack.”

I answered honestly while⁠ checking that nearly‌ all the passengers‌ had already left‍‍ the train.

After‍‌‌ all, once everyone⁠⁠ got out and⁠ the situation was⁠‌ resolved, the edit‍ would be completed‍‌ and we would‍ leave this world‌ contained within the⁠‍‍ article.

『What?‍ Are you serious?』‍

“Yes.‌ So you should leave as soon⁠ as possible. Now‍ that almost nobody is left, you’ll‍ be able to⁠‍ get out safely—”‌‌

『…How⁠ strange.』

The‍⁠‌ mass of black⁠ letters clustered into‍‍⁠ the shape of⁠ a head tilted⁠‌ slightly to one⁠ side.

『Where‌‌ did the information‌‍ leak from?』

“…What?”⁠⁠

Bam!⁠

I felt a brutal‍ impact on my‌ lower jaw, as‍‍⁠ if it had⁠ been shattered.

And⁠⁠ the world went‌ dark.