How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 7: Why did you come to our daycare?

Chapter 7: Why did you come to our daycare?

A small village where the hills seem closer than tall‌‍ buildings.

A peaceful landscape where⁠ the residents live‌‍ their daily lives normally.

「You…‍⁠‍ who are you?」‌

No…⁠‍ no one has noticed yet.

But‌ the peace of‌‍ that village has‍‌ already been shattered.‍‌

「My⁠‌‍ mom… I feel like my mom⁠ is no longer‍ my mom. She‌⁠ looks the same,⁠‍‍ she talks the⁠‌ same, but… there’s‌ something…」

Tense⁠ music plays and‍‌ the serious faces‍⁠⁠ of the inhabitants‌‌ appear one after⁠‍ another.

「Doesn’t⁠ it seem strange⁠ to you? People‌ enter the village…‌‍ but no one⁠‌‍ leaves.」

「Why‍ does no one‍‌ think this is‌ strange? The whole village is like‍‍ this!」

「It⁠⁠ seems they are‍‍ interfering with external communications…」

「Come to your senses!‍‌‌ That’s not your‍ daughter!」

The⁠‍ loud music slowly⁠ fades and the‍ scene changes.

The⁠ camera, which was‌‍‍ focused on the‌‌⁠ winter mountain next‌‌ to the village,‌ slowly approaches while‍‍ footsteps on the‌ snow are heard.⁠

In‌‌ that valley there‍ is a place that is not⁠⁠ large enough to‍ be called a lake nor small⁠ enough to be‍ called a pond.⁠‍

Everyone‍ calls it “Dalumul”.‍⁠

「Ha…」⁠‌‍

The⁠‍ back of someone climbing alone along‍‌ the dark path‌ of the winter⁠ mountain is seen, without the proper⁠⁠ clothing for the⁠ weather.

Between⁠‍ the branches, the‍⁠ young face of⁠ that strange hiker‌‌ can be briefly‍‍‍ seen.

The‌ screen darkens.

[COMING‍ SOON]

From⁠ the subtitle, it‌⁠ seemed like a post-credit scene as⁠ a teaser for‍‌ the sequel.

Clack!‌‍

The‍⁠ stage lights turned‌ on and the⁠ auditorium was illuminated.‍

「The… nex… t mo…‍ vie… sta… rts⁠ at 6… 30…」‍‍

For‍‌ some reason, I felt nauseous and‍‍‍ couldn’t stand up.‍

「To…‍‌ mi… ni… mi…‍ ze dis… tur…‍ ban… ces… ple…‌ ase en… ter‍‌ up… to 10‌‍ mi… nu… tes‍‍ be… fo… re⁠ the be… gin…‍‍ ning…」

“Let’s‌‍ go, quickly.”

Choi‌‌ Jaeha approached hurriedly‍‌ and shook my‍‍ shoulder.

Once‍⁠ again, he had⁠ been sobbing. His‌‌ eyes and nose⁠‌ were red.

“Why‍ are you standing there like an‍ idiot? Move!”

“Ah…‍ yes…”

The‍‍ accountant pulled me‍ up almost like‍ pulling a radish.‌⁠

“Seriously…‍ what kind of‍‌⁠ garbage was that?‍ Even if it’s⁠ a labyrinth… the⁠ kids died like‌‌ that… I’m never⁠ coming back here.”⁠‍

As⁠‍ we left the‍ auditorium, my mind‌⁠ was in a mess.

I wasn’t sure if‌ I should watch‍ the next movie.⁠

If‌‌ those two movies‌⁠ were clues to‌‍ get out of‌ the second floor,⁠‌ then all the‌‌ more reason not⁠ to watch it.

After⁠⁠ all.

“By‌‍ the way, that post-credit scene… that‍‍ was also an‍ invasive labyrinth, right?‌‌‍ An old one…‍ what was it⁠ called…?”

“Dalumul-ri,‌‍ Cheongwol-myeon, Muwon District.”‌

“Ah,‍‌ right. The Dalumul-ri⁠ labyrinth. There were‍‍‍ no survivors either…‌ no one knew‍‌‍ what happened. Was⁠ there something like‌‌ body snatchers too? Like those that‌⁠ pretend to be‍⁠ students in Seonghwa…”⁠‌

Choi⁠ Jaeha muttered and⁠‍ suddenly turned his⁠ head.

“Hey,‍ Seon Yuhan… you⁠‍‌ have a good‍⁠‌ memory, huh?”

“It’s‌⁠ not that I have a good⁠ memory. It’s that‍ people forget quickly.”‍‌‍

The⁠‍ accountant moved his‌ mouth as if‌⁠ he wanted to‌‍ say something, but‌ remained silent.

“Anyway,⁠‌ let’s go to the daycare. I don’t know if‍‌‍ the kids are‍‌ okay.”

“Yes…”‌

6:03.‍

After⁠‌ the movie, the‌‌‍ sun was already‍ going down and‌ the hallway without‍ electricity was much‍‍ darker.

We‌ passed in front‍ of the colorful‍ facade of the‍⁠ daycare and stopped.‍‌

[Saenal‌ Daycare]

Because‍ of the vinyl,‌ the interior couldn’t⁠‌⁠ be seen.

I opened the door‌ uneasily.

“Excuse‍ me… is anyone…?”‌

Tap.‍

As‌‌ soon as I entered, something hit my foot.

I slowly lowered my‌ gaze.

“Ah…⁠‌‍ what is that?”‍⁠‍

“Shh.⁠ Step back.”

The⁠‌ reason both of us reacted like that.

There⁠‌ was a large‌ number of toys⁠⁠‌ and dolls.

Like⁠ soldiers forming a wall.

A train and its‍‌ tracks marked the‌ rear.

In‍‍ front, robots, dinosaurs,‍‍ bears, animals of‍⁠ all kinds, magical girls all mixed⁠‍ together forming a defensive line.

“The‌⁠ door… is closed…”‌

I was no longer⁠⁠ surprised.

The‍ toys did not‍ move, but seemed⁠ about to come⁠‌ to life.

“Oh!”‍‍⁠

Oh?‌‍

I turned my gaze‌ toward the voice.

“Hello!”‍‍

There,‌‌ lying on the floor, was a rather silly-looking goose⁠‌ plush.

The⁠‌ same one I had kicked.

“Could‍⁠‍ you tell me⁠‍ the reason for⁠⁠ your visit?”

I stared at it,⁠ incredulous.

Those eyes without intelligence.‌

That‍‍‌ sewn beak, completely‌ motionless.

No⁠⁠ matter how much I looked at‌‌‌ it, it didn’t‍ seem like a living being.

“Did‍‍ you come for‌ an enrollment consultation?”⁠

“Ah‌ no, that’s not‌⁠‍ it.”

I closed my eyes‌ tightly and spoke.‌‌

Labyrinths‍‌‌ are like picky‌⁠ bosses impossible to‌‌ satisfy.

No⁠ matter what you‌‌‍ do, you can‍‍‍ die.

Some‍‌‍ attack as soon⁠‍ as you answer‌ a question.

Others‍ get angry if‍‌ you don’t answer.⁠

If‌ it were a contact labyrinth, there‌ would be accumulated‍⁠ information.

But‌‍ in an invasive‌ labyrinth like this,⁠⁠ everything is new.‍⁠ There are no‍ patterns.

“Ah,‍ I see.”

It‌ seems it wasn’t⁠ the typical “then‍ why did you⁠⁠ come? die.”

I sighed silently.

“Are‍⁠‌ you the guardians⁠‌‌ of a child?”‌‌

“No.”

“Ah,‍‍ I see. As‌ I thought.”

Huff.‍

It‌ also wasn’t the⁠ “why did you⁠⁠ come? die.”

“Since‍ I hadn’t seen‍ you before, and‍ no parent mentioned⁠ that another guardian⁠⁠ would come in‍‍ their place…”

Huff.‌⁠

If⁠‍‍ I had lied,⁠ I would have⁠ died.

“But⁠‌‌ you are employees‌ of the Yuwi⁠ Guild, right?”

“Uh…⁠ not exactly…”

I answered uncertainly.

Choi‌‌‌ Jaeha isn’t even‌ from Yuwi.

I’m just a candidate.‍⁠‍

“Ah…‌ I see.”

The‌‌ goose didn’t attack.‌⁠

It‌‌ stayed silent.

For‌ a few seconds,‌‌ only Choi Jaeha’s⁠‍ breathing could be⁠ heard.

I looked at the‌ shoe cabinet.

There‍ were stickers with⁠‌⁠ names.

But‍ there were no shoes.

Except‌ for two pairs.‍‍

A pair of adult‍‌ sneakers and a pair of children’s⁠ shoes.

Maybe‌‍⁠ they disappeared like‌ the interviewer.

But at least, two⁠ people were here.‌

An‍ adult and a child.

“Then…”‌

The⁠ goose’s voice broke‌‌ the silence.

“Two‌‌ adult men, outsiders…”‌

Its‍ neck slowly lifted.‍‌⁠

“Why⁠ are you wandering‍ around in a daycare?”

The‌‌‌ toys behind began‍⁠ to move.

“Entry‌‌‍ by outsiders is‍⁠ prohibited.”

So⁠ it really was‍⁠‍ the “why did‍ you come? die.”‌‍

Damn⁠ it.

Do‌‍ not enter the⁠ daycare as an outsider.

**‍

“If⁠ it were possible‍ to turn back‌‌ time…”

“I⁠⁠‍ must find the‌ employees…”

“Huh?”‌

I shook my head.‌

“This‌‍ building is a labyrinth. At 3:33⁠‌ there will be⁠ a blackout.”

I explained everything.

Stairs,‌⁠ rules, auditorium.

And‌ the daycare.

“The‌ toys are very‍‌⁠ strict about security.”‍

They‌ attacked me from‍⁠‌ all sides.

But⁠ at least I died quickly.

“You‍‍ are an employee,‍ so you might‌ be safe…”

Dying‍⁠ for being an‍⁠⁠ outsider makes sense.‌⁠

“Understood.‌ Take care.”

“Yes.”⁠‍

I went to the⁠ elevator.

5…‌‌ 4… 3… Ding!

“Huh? Choi Jaeha?”

This‍⁠ time I pretended‌ to be surprised.‌‍

“I‍‌⁠ was just looking‌‌ for you. Can‌⁠‍ you step out⁠ for a moment?”‌

He⁠⁠ stepped out, confused.⁠

“Huh…‌ what’s going on?”‍‌

I looked at him.

I just had to⁠‍ buy time.

“Do⁠‍ you like rock‍‌ festivals?”

“What?”‌‌‍

“I’m‌⁠ Seon Yuhan. Today⁠ is the first time we meet.”‍

“What?”⁠‌

He‍ froze.

“What‍‌ the hell are‍ you say—”

Boom!⁠⁠

Crash!‍‍ Bang!

“What‌‍ was that?!”

“It’s‌‌ the elevator falling.”‍

Falling is also rock.‌

***‌‍

“So,⁠⁠ what do we‌‌⁠ do?”

“I’ll‌‌⁠ explore the second⁠⁠‌ floor.”

Store,⁠ library, daycare…

In‌ the opposite direction.‌

“Maybe⁠‌ there are clues.”‍

Maybe‌ there are employees.⁠‌

And‌ something else.

I didn’t say it.‌⁠

The‌⁠ Tarae Diary.

The‍ clue.

The‌⁠ labyrinth is rules.‍

And⁠ rules have a reason.

“Information‌‌ by floors.”

Then‍ there are only⁠ two options.

There‌‌ is no exit on the first‍⁠ floor.

The‍ floor below the⁠⁠⁠ second is not‍⁠‍ the first.

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Chapter 7: Why did you come to our daycare?

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