Chapter 9: Installment payment

“Ugh… khk….”

The force gripping the back of my neck was so brutal that I couldn’t take even a single step forward.

“Ghk….”

It was as if a mechanical clamp were strangling me.

No matter how much I resisted, I only flailed my arms and legs meaninglessly in the air.

The self-defense techniques I had learned long ago were useless.

That only works under the premise that the opponent is “human”.

My body was starting to lose strength.

No.

I can’t die.

“Ugh! Khh….”

Just as I felt I was about to suffocate, I was thrown to the ground.

I felt someone lift my body and tie me to a pillar.

“Th-this… ngh… let go….”

I was out of breath. I was dizzy. I had no strength. I couldn’t focus my vision.
I have to get up.

I have to get up and run.

“Ugh… ah….”

Gasping, I managed to raise my head to see who had tried to strangle me.

“Ha… seriously….”

It was a mannequin.

A mannequin dressed in clothing merchandise.

A faceless mannequin, like an egg-shaped ghost, was looking down at me.

If I were standing in front of it, it would be different, but looking at it from the ground, the pressure was terrifying.

Bang, bang!

I turned my gaze toward the store entrance.

Through the small window of the door, the accountant could be seen with a desperate expression.

His voice couldn’t be heard, probably because the place was well soundproofed.

‘The door is closed!’

From the movement of his lips, it seemed he was saying that.

“Go away. Go away.”

Without strength, I gestured with my hand.

Staying there wasn’t safe either.

「There’s something you cannot lose」

The mannequin, indifferent, moved with rigid motions until it stood in front of the LED screen.

「Even if you want to」

Crack.

It raised both arms and tore off its head.

Thud.

I looked for a moment at the faceless head on the ground, then looked again at the mannequin’s back.

And right after, I was stunned trying to process what I was seeing.

What is that…?

「You know I’m the one」

The headless mannequin extended its hands and pulled out a golden scale from the LED screen.

It literally took an object with physical mass out of the digital screen and left it floating over its neck.

It was more natural than any graphic made with absurd technology.

Before I could react, another emoji appeared on the white screen.

A knife.

It was the emoji of a kitchen knife.

「The only one」

Thump, thump.

The rhythm of the music sounded like footsteps of death.

The mannequin, now with a shining head and armed, turned its body toward me.

「Who sees you just the way you are」

For an instant, I felt as if our gazes met.

The plates of the scale looked like human eyes.

A scale and a knife.

A combination that resembled the goddess of justice.

“Pleased to meet you, customer Seon Yuhan.”

But the “guardian” of this store was not wearing a white robe, but black technological clothing.

“Thank you for purchasing Tarae products, customer. You have paid through a 3-month interest-free plan, correct?”

The mechanical voice kept coming from the LED screen.

The “head” of the golden scale only swayed gently.

“Currently, according to your financial situation, it has been confirmed that you can pay the first installment.”

Hearing something so logical is even more frightening.

“But…”

I knew it.

There is always a “but”.

“Moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoney…… money is like life, something that exists and then disappears.”

No way.

“It is doubtful that you will be able to pay the second and third installments.”

“Hey! I have money for that! I can even pay it all now!”

I couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“Yes, but you chose to pay in 3 months without interest.”

“So what?!”

It was unfair.

Had they contributed anything?

“The use of a credit card is, in essence, a debt based on trust that your future self will be able to pay it.”

“That… hm.”

It’s right.

“But how can I trust you if it is the first time I see you?”

“What are you talking about? Do you think all credit employees are my friends?”

“If you leave here… how will I receive the rest of the payment? Do you think I do business by digging the ground?”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

The head of the scale completely ignored my words.

“It has been decided to collect installments 2 and 3 in advance. Thank you for your understanding.”

“Do you know what installment payment means? You don’t know?! Hey!”

The plates of the scale were moving slowly, approaching step by step.

“We will proceed to initiate the collection of the installments.”

「I’m on my way to you」

Finally, the song ended.

***

“Ugh… haaah….”

How much time had passed?

“Khh! Keh…!”

The cough burst out.

A metallic and unpleasant taste slid down my throat.

“Ugh, kh… aah….”

I couldn’t form a coherent sentence.

It wasn’t just because I had shouted until I lost my voice.

With this amount of blood, I should have died.

No, I should have died from shock long before bleeding out.

“I’m sorry, but until the customer’s payment is completed, you cannot die.”

The damned rules of the labyrinth were preventing my body from dying.

Long live the labyrinth.

“There’s not much left… please wait a little longer.”

The bloodstained scale was watching me from above.

Now I understand that my body is not a single thing, but the sum of many parts.

Now I understand the formula for measuring my weight with additions and subtractions.

The eyes are too light.

Too light to have value on the scale.

That’s why I watched everything. With my own eyes.

If I deceived myself into believing I was a spectator, it hurt less.

If I believed that this body that was slowly falling apart was not “me,” but “something else”.

If I freed myself from the illusion of being myself.

This pain was an illusion.

I am not Seon Yuhan.

I died a long time ago.

“Now… it’s the laaast…”

I didn’t understand well what it said.

Only the sensation of my chest being opened like raw meat by a sharp blade dominated my mind.

“The installment payment has been completed.”

Then, the world was dyed in darkness.

**

Do not pay in installments.

**

“If it were possible to turn back time, what would you do, Mr. Seon Yuhan?”

“I…”

I was about to say “shi—”, again.

“I will avoid using credit cards…”

“It’s been a while since I heard such a realistic answer.”

I couldn’t respond anymore. I lowered my head.

This attitude is not good in an interview.

I feel like I’m short of breath.

As if at any moment I would stick out my tongue and die.

I’m going to die. I’m going to die.

No.

I’m not going to die. I can’t die.

I don’t want to die.

A transition without pauses between life and death.

A boundary that flips like a coin.

Phantom pain that clings without form.

The discrepancy between remembered suffering and the still-living body.

All of that.

I felt like it was devouring me little by little.

Why am I still alive again?

Why am I the only one who is still alive?

I don’t want to live.

No. That’s not it.

I… I… Seon Yuhan… cannot die.

“Ugh… kh….”

What did they do in these cases? What did they do?

Right.

Inhale deeply. Exhale.

Clench the fist tightly. Release it.

One, two, three, four…

How strange.

Why do I have so many fingers?

How disgusting.

“Seon Yuhan? Are you okay?”

The urgent voice of the interviewer broke the buzzing in my ears.

“Shall we try to breathe slowly together?”

I felt a gentle warmth at the tips of my fingers.

I watched without reacting as he took a deep breath, and then I imitated him.

Only our breathing echoed in the silent room.

“The water is gone… it’s okay. Don’t worry. You’re in a safe place.”

No, interviewer. It’s not okay. This place is dangerous.

“I’ll stay with you until you calm down.”

No, you won’t be able to stay.

“There’s a hospital on the fourth floor. Also a rest room. I’ll take you.”

No, you won’t be able to take me.

“Do you need anything? Are you cold or hot…?”

Do you see?

3:33.

The interviewer disappeared.

Bang!

Boom! Crash! Bang!

Crash! Thud!

Choi Jaeha died.

***

While I was sitting in the chair without reacting, I noticed something strange in the inner pocket of my jacket.

“Ha…”

I felt the reddish-brown leather at my fingertips.

I felt nauseous.

That damn diary.

Well received.

Just as the advertisement said, on the first page of the Tarae Diary there was information by floors of the building.

From the parking lot to the rooftop, what departments were on each level the typical thing for visitors.

Damn it.

With this I can’t know where the exit of the labyrinth is. Not even if it’s on the first floor.

Tap. I closed the diary and put it away.

In the end, I have to go down beyond the second floor.

[3:54｜SOS｜86%]

I checked the time and stood up.

Hmm. But my legs feel heavy.

Or should I say light because they move?

I don’t know.

If I stay here, I’ll be expelled again from the interview room, so I started moving quickly.

Without realizing it, I was heading toward the elevator, but I changed direction.

Choi Jaeha is already dead.

Even so, that guy, so fearful, seemed worried about me in front of the door.

I don’t remember well what happened after.

But I don’t want to reset just because of him.

Although I would probably die again because of some stupidity.

Even so.

As far as I can. As far as I reach. As far as I survive.

I want to fight.

I don’t want to throw away my life.

It feels like an offense to life.

I.

At least I…

I cannot allow myself that.

***

I opened the emergency door on the second floor without hesitation.

Without Choi Jaeha, I didn’t have to check the first floor again.

In front of the auditorium, I chose the path to the left.

This time I would go clockwise pass the daycare and head to the Yuwi Guild library.

I don’t want to get close to that store again.

Survival kit?

What is that for?

It’s surely expensive and low quality.

I don’t need it.

As I passed the colorful hallway of the daycare, a wall of sober tones appeared.

There were large windows, but the shelves blocked the view.

Of course I can’t trust what I see.

The labyrinth is never what it seems.

[Are you coming to the library?]

It seems like a play on words.

Wait a moment.

I extended my hand toward the door and stopped.

Is it allowed to enter?

What if a librarian robot appears and kills me?

“Ha…”

But I can’t not go in.

Maybe the key to getting out is here.

Creaak.

I opened the door slowly.

The cold and sweet air of the library filled my nose.

I took a few steps and stopped.

“There was a corpse there.”

What?