How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth

Luckily, I managed to prevent the door from opening.

I grabbed the doorknob tightly and threw myself forward like a runner receiving the baton in a relay race.

Clack, bang! adjust Clack, bang!

Bang!

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

And, of course, it doesn’t seem like a normal human either.

Damn it, what kind of strength is that…!

It’s definitely not a child.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

While barely restraining that thing that was trying to break in like crazy, I turned my head and looked inside the interview room.

I can’t take the phone out of my pocket while I’m holding it back.

“Now. arctic What hour. riddle What minute.”

Ah! portal Ah! beacon There’s a clock there!

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Luckily, on the wall behind the seat where I had been sitting, there was an analog clock.

I shouted urgently toward the dark figure visible through the gap of the half-open door.

Click, clack.

“Ugh, 3! 3:57…! galaxy No, 58 minutes! 3:58!”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Thud…

At the same time it said that, the doorknob that had been shaking violently stopped, and the overwhelming weight from the other side disappeared as if by magic.

“Thank you.”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

The unpleasant friction sound gradually moved away.

Squeak, screech, squeak.

“Now 3:58. adopt Communication error. riddle Reconfirm later. admire Sorry. arch Support to the interview.”

The door closed.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Only when the sound disappeared completely could I breathe normally again.

“Ha…”

I stayed silent because I felt that I shouldn’t respond.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

My legs completely gave out.

Did it only need me to tell it the time and it would leave quietly?

I wasted energy for nothing.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

I sat down for a moment to think.

Should I go down again through the emergency exit?

By the way, should I leave?

I can’t stay here forever.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

This time I have to be careful not to fall.

I mentally reviewed the location of the stairs.

If that thing is still on the third floor, I have to flee by the shortest route. beacon I can’t get the direction wrong.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

The door opened.

Just as I was doing that mental rehearsal carefully—

Bang!

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“Time stops.”

Darkness.

Everything happened in an instant.

Without any prior sign, without the slightest hint.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

It was total darkness, capable of leaving you blind.

It wasn’t the hallway lit by sunlight coming through the windows despite the blackout.

I saw darkness gathered outside the door, like a puddle.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

I felt a wind flowing like a waterfall from outside the door.

It wasn’t a gentle breeze that caresses your hair and brushes your ear.

“Time flows.”

Wind.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“Usage time finished. august Time exists.”

Fwoooosh—!

It was a wind strong enough to make your legs wobble.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

That darkness began to suck in the air like a vacuum.

“It must not exist. artist Time does not exist.”

And I was nothing more than dust.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

The last thing I saw was a paper stuck under the sign of the interview room that said “Conference Room A”.

And just before bursting from the head—

As if I were toothpaste being squeezed, my body was crushed and twisted from the feet.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

10:00 a. m. ~ 4:00 p. m.]

[Recruitment of new employees of the Yuwi Guild

Interview Room

Damn.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

It was 4:01.

Respect the usage time of the interview room.

**

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

**

That’s what I’m saying.

I swallowed those words and took out the phone with trembling hands.

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

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

[3:29｜5G｜87%]

Is there still internet signal?

It felt as if my head was throbbing and my body was falling apart, but that was just an illusion.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“I have to get out. auction Alive.”

Anyway, first…

How strange.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“I’m sorry. altitude Excuse me.”

“Huh?”

I stood up and took the interviewer by the arm to help him stand.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“Ah.”

I ignored that nonsense and went out with him from the room.

“Is this a dramatization? altitude It’s been a while since I’ve seen a candidate who shows their answer with actions.”

On his somewhat absent-minded face, an innocent smile appeared.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

He seemed to think this was my answer to the question of “what would you do if you could turn back time,” and was observing me with a look full of interest.

The interviewer followed me without resisting.

If they hire me, this person will be my superior.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“Ah. alert There it is.”

“Yes, more or less. atom On the third floor there’s only the auditorium and conference rooms, and today there are no events apart from the interviews.”

“Is it normal that there’s no one in the hallway?”

Now that I think about it, it was already quiet before entering.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

In a few minutes there will be another blackout, and the internet will also be cut off.

I extended my hand toward the red alarm button.

I found a fire extinguisher on the hallway wall, near the restrooms.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“Mr. amber Seon Yuhan.”

With luck, I might even prevent someone from getting into an elevator.

If I activate the fire alarm now, at least everyone in the building will be alert and prepared.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

He had more strength than he appeared to have.

Just as I was about to press the button, the interviewer grabbed my arm.

Clack.

With a professional smile, he began to speak without stopping.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Not because of the executives or the false alarm.

It made sense.

“We promised that there would be no disadvantages in the interview, but doing something like this is already debatable. arctic Showing your answer through actions is within expectations, of course, but for those actions to affect the entire building is already problematic. harbor We are not alone in the company; there are also executives. timber You understand, right? amber Besides, triggering a false alarm… even the firefighters might come, and that wouldn’t be appropriate, don’t you think?”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

The problem was that more people would enter the building.

It may be that the part about having died and returned is not real, and everything is happening in my head.

According to my intuition, this place is…

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

In the end, there is only one place where something like this can happen.

A maze.

So I must assume that it is and act accordingly.

But to me this feels real.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“Are you serious? abstract It’s not that a maze appeared, but that it has already turned into one?”

“Mr. interviewer, this building… has turned into a maze.”

“Are you still with the dramatization…?”

The interviewer, who was looking at me, closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

As expected, being someone who works with difficult clients, he had a great capacity for perception.

Perhaps, by nature, he is a kind-hearted person.

Although grasping the situation is one thing, believing me without hesitation is something entirely different.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

They appear as “rifts” that connect with another space-time, absorbing those who are nearby.

Common mazes exist in a space different from that of Earth.

“Yes. artist It is an invasive-type maze.”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

But there are always exceptions.

In very rare cases, a space on Earth itself turns into a maze.

Those are called “contact mazes,” and most are like that.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“Huff… this is serious.”

The interviewer ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath.

“Then it’s already too late to get out, right?”

That is called a “labyrinthization phenomenon,” and those places are called “invasive mazes.”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

The start of the labyrinthization is set at 3:29, when my return occurred.

Soon there will be a blackout, and the elevators will fall.

“Yes, it seems so.”

Now it’s 3:32.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“If it’s invasive, then the firefighters won’t come. antenna I was naive.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. amber Seon Yuhan. alien It seems we lost time because of me.”

I didn’t want to see his face while he apologized, so I turned around.

“No.”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Invasive mazes usually end with the total annihilation of those inside.

That all humans inside must die.

Because that is their resolution condition.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Thanks to years of experience, explorers can resolve them.

Contact mazes, even though they are in another world, still follow known patterns.

Of course, there are other conditions.

The problem is that they are not known, or that they are difficult to fulfill.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

But the invasive ones are different.

A completely new environment.

They are extremely rare, and they directly convert a real space into a maze.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

That is an invasive maze.

That is to say, an unknown space where anything can happen.

Collecting data is practically impossible.

And since everyone dies, there are almost never survivors who can provide information.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

“Mr. interviewer, what is the fastest way to alert everyone that this place is a maze?”

The interviewer nodded and took the lead toward the emergency exit.

“For now, let’s go down to the first floor. arctic The lobby should be the exit. acid The elevator is out of the question.”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

No one would risk their life entering an unknown maze.

In an invasive maze, external rescue cannot be expected.

“At the very least, we must prevent more people from entering. matrix And in any case, explorers won’t come.”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Bang!

“Ah, right. crystal We should report it to the Maze Management Department…”

As the emergency door opened, all sounds echoed.

And even if someone wanted to, their agency or guild would stop them.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

This time without tripping.

“Then… ah!”

“No. apple Not the department. shadow They follow procedures before acting. armor By then, civilians won’t know anything. atlas We need everyone to know right now.”

I went down the stairs carefully.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

The interviewer’s face lit up.

I stopped in my tracks.

“There is a very easy and safe way—”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

His voice bounced off the walls like an echo and disappeared.

Why does this person disappear again and again?

Why?

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

The sound shook the entire building.

Boom! airport Crash! sphere Bang!

Where does he go?

Bang!

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Crash! galaxy Thud!

He didn’t disappear like the interviewer.

Then I remembered the man from the elevator.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

My breath caught and I grabbed onto the handrail.

Maybe I could have saved him.

Why am I like this?

If it was him…

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

I…

Idiot. zenith Selfish. aspect Regretting too late.

Plop.

Why am I still like this?

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Suddenly, the ground disappeared beneath my feet.

Like when you think you’ve already finished going down the stairs but there’s one more step.

“Huh?”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

Into a cold and deep void, like a well.

I fell.

“Aaah!”

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

I reached upward uselessly.

Toward the only faint light filtering through the darkness.

It was rectangular.

Further and further down.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 2: The clock is Watch published by TrungTu Reads.

…Anyway.

The landing where I had stopped had collapsed.

It seems I will have another chance to save the man from the elevator sooner than I thought.

Damn it.