How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 8: The red thread

Chapter 8: The red thread

“The condition might simply‌⁠ be to stay‍‌ still and let‍ time pass. If‌ you get yourself‍ killed for nothing, it’ll be for⁠‍‍ nothing. Anyway, they‌ say fools have‌‍ no fear.”

The‍⁠ accountant, smart but‍‌ fearful, complained as‍‍‌ he followed me.‍
Apparently he didn’t want to be alone.

I raised my gaze‍ toward the sign‍‍‍ of the Yuwi⁠ Guild store.

[TARAE]‌

Tarae.‍

As the name indicates,‍⁠ the red logo⁠ was shaped like⁠ a coiled thread,‍‌ like a number‌‍‌ 8.

It‍ seemed inspired by‍‍‍ the official term for specialists who‌⁠ solve contact labyrinths, “Jeoksa”.

Jeoksa.⁠‌

Ariadne’s⁠ red thread that‍⁠‍ helped Theseus get‍⁠ out of the‍ labyrinth.

A name that symbolizes⁠ finding the correct⁠‍ path and resolving‌ the labyrinth.

In‌ reality, with enough⁠ brute force—weapons, explosives—many‍‌ problems can be‍‌⁠ solved.

But‍ not all labyrinths‌⁠ can be faced⁠‍‍ that way.

Some‍‌ completely ignore physical⁠⁠ strength.

That‌‌‌ is why jeoksa‌‌ exist.

Their⁠ mission is to⁠‌ resolve labyrinths in⁠ the most efficient‍‍ way.

Guilds⁠‌ function like agencies,‍‌‍ like those of⁠ celebrities.

They‌ decide which jeoksa‌ to send, coordinate‌‌ with the regulatory body, manage access,⁠‍ provide equipment, and‌‍ handle schedules.

And,‌ most importantly, they‌ commercialize the artifacts‍‌ obtained in the labyrinths and distribute⁠‌ the profits.

The⁠⁠‌ Yuwi Guild is⁠‌ a leader in‌ the sector.

Its⁠⁠ founders also created⁠⁠ sports and entertainment agencies.

I suppose that’s where‌ its capability comes‍‍ from.

And‌⁠ I came to⁠‍ an interview to‍ be a jeoksa⁠‌ agent at Yuwi.⁠

And‍ I ended up⁠ like this.

How⁠ depressing.

“Mr.‌‍ Choi Jaeha. Here.”‍⁠

Jeoksa‌‌‌ are as popular‌‍ as celebrities.

They⁠‍‍ earn fortunes.

If they survive.

“Is‍ there any rule for outsiders? Can‍ only employees enter?”‌

Before opening, I confirmed.‍

“No.⁠ A lot of‌⁠‌ people come. There⁠⁠ are only discounts‌⁠⁠ for employees.”

He⁠ muttered, not understanding⁠ why anyone would‍ like this.

But‍‌ perhaps that’s the⁠⁠ appeal.

The‌ ephemeral.

Like‍‌ a candle about‌⁠ to go out.‌

Like⁠‌‌ moths to a flame.

“Then‍⁠ let’s go in.”‍‌

I opened the door.‌

「I’m‌ on my way‌⁠ to you」

Pop⁠ music, elegant interior,⁠‌⁠ well-organized products.

「Don’t you remember, my‍⁠‌ dear」

It‌ looked like a normal store.

But‍⁠ it wasn’t.

“Why⁠‌ are there no⁠‌ employees?”

And indeed, there were⁠‍ none.

“Welco…me⁠⁠‍ to Tarae?”

“Ah!”‍‌

The‌‌ accountant shouted and‌‌ grabbed me.

I turned my head.‌⁠

On‌⁠ the LED screen,‌ a smiling yellow‌‍ emoji.

「You⁠ promised me in⁠‌ the endless night」‌

「You’d⁠‍ be my always daylight」

“If you have… ques…tions…‌ call the manag…er…”⁠‍

The‍⁠‍ emoji moved its‌‌ eyes.

And when it spoke,⁠ it showed too‍⁠‌ many teeth.

It‍⁠‌ sang along with‌ the music.

「Nothing‌ to be scared⁠‍ of, my love」⁠

“Enjoy…‍⁠ your visit…”

It’s⁠ uncomfortable.

Too uncomfortable.

“Seon‌ Yuhan… let’s go‍ over there. There‌‌ are survival kits.”⁠⁠⁠

Avoiding‌‌ the emoji’s gaze,‌ he pointed to‌‍⁠ a wall.

“Maybe‌ we won’t need them… but just‌‍ in case.”

I didn’t mention my‌‌ suspicions.

「Till the end」

I looked at the⁠ products.

And‍ I stopped.

「I’m⁠‍ the one who will be by⁠‌⁠ your side」

Survival‍‍ kits for labyrinths.⁠⁠‌

They‌‌ are bought in‌ case you enter‍ one.

And⁠ they are useful‌ even here.

“Let’s⁠ put everything into⁠ the most expensive⁠ backpack.”

The‍⁠ kits varied enormously‌‌ in price depending⁠ on their contents⁠⁠ and design.

Premium⁠‌ kits, with compression‍⁠ backpacks made of‍‌ new materials that‌‍ offered great capacity⁠ with low volume‌ and light weight,‍ as well as⁠ attractive designs, started‍ from several tens‍ of thousands of‌⁠ won.

If⁠‍ options such as‍‌ artifacts or other‍‍ special functions were‍ added, they easily⁠ exceeded hundreds of‍⁠‌ thousands.

Of‍ course, there were‌ also kits for less than 100‍‍ thousand won.

But⁠‌ now survival kits for labyrinths have‍ become more of‍ a luxury than⁠ a necessity, despite‍‍ their name.

「You‌‍⁠ have to follow⁠ no more」

The‍ probability of being‌‍ absorbed by a contact labyrinth is⁠‌⁠ similar to that‍ of having a traffic accident.

And‍⁠ the probability of dying in one has also become‌ similar.

「Rules,⁠ rules, rules」

Just‌‍ as people do‌ not live constantly‍‌ fearing accidents when⁠‌‌ crossing the street⁠ or driving, now⁠‍ they also do‍⁠ not obsessively carry‌ survival kits.

「You‍‍‌ tell me now, no more」

I also had a cheap kit, but‍⁠ I rarely carried⁠‌ it.

It’s‍‌ a hassle.

「Lies,‍‍‍ lies, lies」

But‌‌‌ getting trapped in⁠‌ an invasive labyrinth.⁠

If⁠ I get out‌⁠ of here, I should buy a lottery ticket.

“There⁠ are no medications.”⁠‌

“But⁠ there is disinfectant and gauze.”

As‌‌ is logical, guilds‌‍ cannot legally sell medications, so the user must buy‌‌ them separately.

At least there were⁠ first aid kits.

“There’s⁠‌ also emergency food⁠ it would be⁠‍⁠ good to have‌⁠‍ water. Is there⁠‌ a dispenser nearby?”‍

“I‌ don’t know. I hardly come to‍ the second floor.‍ Maybe in the‍⁠ library or daycare.”‍

“Ah,‍ probably.”

Hopefully‌‌ it’s in the‍‍‌ library.

「Come‍‌ to me, come‍⁠ to you」

I took a thermos⁠ and, right after, found the special‍ product.

The‌‍ Tarae Diary.

A single reddish-brown leather‍⁠ notebook.

With‍ a “Limited” label.⁠‌

Obviously‍ it couldn’t be‌ opened before purchase.⁠‌

I glanced sideways at‌‍ the emoji on‌ the screen.

“I‍ want to ask‌‍‍ something.”

“Of⁠‍‌ course, what would‌‍ you like to‍‍ know, customer Seon‌ Yuhan?”

The⁠‌‍ emoji smiled, showing‌ too many teeth.‍‌

Choi‍ Jaeha got scared.‍

“Can⁠ I buy this‍⁠‌ without a problem?”‍

“That’s⁠ right. In addition,⁠‍ that product is⁠ a limited edition⁠ that becomes bound⁠ to its owner,‌ at any time‌ and place.”

“At⁠‌ any time and‌ place…?”

It⁠‌ was suspicious.

“Yes,‌ customer Seon Yuhan.‍ As long as‌ you desire it,‍ it will be‍‌‌ yours at any‌‍ time, in any⁠ place, in any‌‍‍ form. However, damages‍‌ occurring during that‌⁠ special delivery process⁠ are a completely⁠ natural phenomenon and‍ Tarae assumes no‍⁠ responsibility. Would you‌ like to purchase⁠ it now?”

Purchase…‌

There‌ was no choice.‌

“Ready?”‍

“Yes.”

Choi‍⁠‌ Jaeha looked at‌‌ the diary with‌ disgust.

“Are⁠ you really buying⁠⁠ it?”

“Yes.‌ Then…”

I looked at the emoji.

“We‍‌ pay.”

If‍⁠⁠ you don’t pay,‍‍ you die.

For‍ sure.

“Pay?⁠ In this situation?”‌

He‌⁠ fell silent.

「Just‌ say the word,⁠‍ you have my‌‌ word」

The‍‍ emoji was smiling‍ widely.

“Yes,‍⁠ of course. We⁠‍ have to pay.”‌‍‌

Immediate‌ change of attitude.‌

“Do‌ you know how‍ to use this?”‍

“No.”‍

“Then‍ I’ll pay first⁠ and then I’ll‍‍‍ pay yours.”

I took the reader.⁠

Beep.⁠‌

Nothing⁠⁠ happened.

Beep,‍ beep.

Everything⁠ fine.

「Will⁠ you be mine even though my‍ heart doesn’t belong to you?」

The‍‌ price was frightening.⁠⁠

But⁠‌‌ I paid.

「I‍⁠ will, I will‍⁠⁠ promise you Whenever」‌‌

Payment⁠⁠‍ completed.

Everything‍⁠ fine…

「No‍⁠ need to」

“Uh…⁠ the emoji changed.”⁠

「Hide」‍⁠

Now‌ it was a golden scale.

「No‍ need to」

“Get‌‌‌ out! Now!”

The⁠‌ door opened.

We⁠ went out.

「Run」⁠‌

As⁠ we crossed—

「You⁠⁠ be there, my‍ dear」

“Ugh!”

Something⁠⁠‍ grabbed my neck.⁠

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Chapter 8: The red thread

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