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.