How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth

“The condition might simply be to stay still and let time pass. matrix If you get yourself killed for nothing, it’ll be for nothing. anchor 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.

[TARAE]

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

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

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

Tarae.

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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.

Jeoksa.

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That is why jeoksa exist.

But not all labyrinths can be faced that way.

Some completely ignore physical strength.

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

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

Guilds function like agencies, like those of celebrities.

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

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I suppose that’s where its capability comes from.

The Yuwi Guild is a leader in the sector.

Its founders also created sports and entertainment agencies.

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And I ended up like this.

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

How depressing.

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They earn fortunes.

If they survive.

“Mr. atomic Choi Jaeha. arcade Here.”

Jeoksa are as popular as celebrities.

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

He muttered, not understanding why anyone would like this.

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

Before opening, I confirmed.

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Like moths to a flame.

Like a candle about to go out.

The ephemeral.

But perhaps that’s the appeal.

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「I’m on my way to you」

“Then let’s go in.”

I opened the door.

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Pop music, elegant interior, well-organized products.

「Don’t you remember, my dear」

But it wasn’t.

It looked like a normal store.

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And indeed, there were none.

“Why are there no employees?”

“Welco…me to Tarae?”

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The accountant shouted and grabbed me.

“Ah!”

I turned my head.

On the LED screen, a smiling yellow emoji.

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「You promised me in the endless night」

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

「You’d be my always daylight」

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And when it spoke, it showed too many teeth.

It sang along with the music.

The emoji moved its eyes.

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「Nothing to be scared of, my love」

Too uncomfortable.

It’s uncomfortable.

“Enjoy… your visit…”

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

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

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

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I didn’t mention my suspicions.

I looked at the products.

And I stopped.

「Till the end」

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Survival kits for labyrinths.

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

And they are useful even here.

They are bought in case you enter one.

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

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

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.

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

「You have to follow no more」

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

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

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「You tell me now, no more」

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.

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「Lies, lies, lies」

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

It’s a hassle.

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

“There are no medications.”

But getting trapped in an invasive labyrinth.

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“But there is disinfectant and gauze.”

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

At least there were first aid kits.

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

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「Come to me, come to you」

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

“Ah, probably.”

Hopefully it’s in the library.

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A single reddish-brown leather notebook.

The Tarae Diary.

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

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Obviously it couldn’t be opened before purchase.

With a “Limited” label.

I glanced sideways at the emoji on the screen.

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

“I want to ask something.”

The emoji smiled, showing too many teeth.

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Choi Jaeha got scared.

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

“Can I buy this without a problem?”

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Purchase…

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

It was suspicious.

“At any time and place…?”

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“Yes.”

“Ready?”

There was no choice.

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“Are you really buying it?”

Choi Jaeha looked at the diary with disgust.

“Yes. alert Then…”

I looked at the emoji.

Content of How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth - Chapter 8: The red thread published by TrungTu Reads.

For sure.

If you don’t pay, you die.

“We pay.”

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「Just say the word, you have my word」

He fell silent.

The emoji was smiling widely.

“Pay? anxiety In this situation?”

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Immediate change of attitude.

“No.”

“Do you know how to use this?”

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

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Beep.

Nothing happened.

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

I took the reader.

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

Beep, beep.

Everything fine.

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The price was frightening.

Payment completed.

「I will, I will promise you Whenever」

But I paid.

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“Uh… the emoji changed.”

「No need to」

Everything fine…

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「No need to」

“Get out! armor Now!”

Now it was a golden scale.

「Hide」

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As we crossed—

The door opened.

「Run」

We went out.

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“Ugh!”

「You be there, my dear」

Something grabbed my neck.