Chapter 4: Ch 4: We made it!
One person had escaped the ghost story.
But, they did so with an eye gouged out.
"Huu..."
"Did you hear that?"
However, unlike the previous times, the passengers didn’t show much pity,
even though they were terrified and disgusted.
’Is this the result of violence without persuasion?’
The train became briefly chaotic as people checked on the condition of the
person attacked by Baek Saheon.
[This stop is Hatred, Hatred Station.]
"Hatred, huh..."
"Haah."
The announcement only deepened the gloomy atmosphere.
Go Yeongeun, who had been looking after the new hire holding his injured
left eye, stood up. Her face was dark.
"I’m almost certain his cornea is damaged. It’s worrying..."
"Are you in the medical field by chance?"
"No. I studied it briefly in college but changed majors, so I never took the
national exam. I’m not a professional."
Go Yeongeun sighed and sat down on the floor, cross-legged.
[The doors are opening.]
The train doors opened, but people only glanced outside, not making any
moves. They simply looked out cautiously.
At the same time, they also glanced at me.
It seemed they were waiting to see if I would suggest we get off here.
’At least they’re paying attention.’
I had worried that Baek Saheon’s actions would make people more
suspicious of each other, but instead, having a common enemy seemed to
have calmed everyone down.
It also felt like, given the madness of the situation, they were waiting for the
next statement from the person who had spoken confidently earlier.
In other words... me.
It even felt like they might leave the decision of which station to disembark
at to me.
"You must feel a bit pressured."
"...?"
Go Yeongeun spoke with a complex expression.
"People keep leaning on you."
Uh, thanks...?
"They’re scared and anxious, so I hope you don’t find it too exhausting or
distasteful... ugh. Sorry."
I’m scared and anxious too, which is why I’m trying to lead everyone...
"I’ve been trying to think things through in my own way too..."
Oh, I see. The floor is open to opinions. In fact, I welcome them.
"What have you been thinking about?"
"Well, I’ve been pondering what you said earlier about the ’final
destination’."
Go Yeongeun lowered her voice.
"If it’s the final destination for a person... could it be death?"
"...!"
"Isn’t that what marks the end of human life? The more I think about it, it
feels like that’s what it means. So, I was wondering if we should get off
when we see a word like that."
Oh.
"But then I thought... would that just mean we’re going to die peacefully?
So I couldn’t say it for sure."
"No, that’s a very convincing thought."
"Is it really?"
"Yes. However..."
I trailed off, and before I knew it, I smiled slightly.
"...?"
It was because I had just seen the name of the next station on the display.
"What does the term ’destination’ really mean?"
"Huh, what?"
"If you look it up in the dictionary, a destination is defined as the place or
goal someone is trying to reach."
And the theme of this train is very straightforward.
Sit down. Find the lost item.
The instructions are given clearly and without twists, and if you follow
them, you stay safe.
Even those who got off at the wrong station died in a very straightforward
manner.
So, I’m approaching the term ’destination’ in the same way.
"I believe that the ’destination’ mentioned by this train refers to a place or
goal that we, in our current state, haven’t yet achieved or reached."
If you think about it that way, the criteria for choosing the right station
become very simple.
– Something I don’t have.
If we apply this logic, we can reinterpret the previous escape cases as well.
========================
1- Stations named after colors like red, yellow, blue.
: Two-person escape success (Attempt : Blue Station)
2- Stations named after body parts like left arm, cornea, heart.
: No recorded escape success (Attempt : Cochlea Station)
3- Stations named after serial killers like ■■, ■■■■, ■■■.
: Twelve-person escape success (Attempt : ■■■■ Station)
4- Stations named after years like 2008, 2012, 2016.
: No recorded escape success (Attempt : 2024 Station)
5- Stations named after illnesses like asthma, stroke, glaucoma.
: Three-person escape success (Attempt : Cold Station)
========================
At Blue Station, the people who escaped were likely those who had nothing
blue on their bodies or belongings.
And it makes sense that the station named after serial killers had many
escapees.
No one in the train would have been one of those serial killers, so almost
every station would have been the correct choice for them.
’On the other hand, stations named after body parts... the likelihood of
someone missing a body part is lower, which is why they failed to escape.’
It’s the same with stations named after years. Everyone had experienced the
year 2024, which is why they failed to escape that time.
If we apply this logic, it becomes clear which station we should get off at
now.
– An emotion I don’t have.
"...So, we need to choose an emotion we would never feel in this
situation."
"What?"
This is where it gets tricky.
’Most people have experienced all basic emotions like joy, anger, sorrow,
and pleasure.’
Unless you’re someone who lacks a particular emotion, it becomes very
difficult to choose the right station. Even if the intensity of emotions varies,
most people have felt them at some point.
Therefore...
We need to choose an emotion that isn’t expressed in degrees but exists as a
more neutral state.
’An emotion that conceptually exists but is extremely difficult to fully
experience.’
That’s what we need to choose.
[This stop is Serenity, Serenity Station.]
The announcement played.
It’s easy to think that this is just another ordinary emotion as a station name.
After all, we often say things like, That person looks so serene.
But...
’It’s a phrase we often use when describing others.’
It’s rare for someone to describe themselves as serene.
And it makes sense.
The dictionary definition of serenity is ’to be without any worries or
concerns’.
But can a person truly be serene, without any worries or anxieties?
’The chances of that...’
Are almost nonexistent.
Especially in an extreme situation like this.
"This is the correct station."
"...!"
"We’re getting off here."
I spoke confidently and without hesitation.
I stood up immediately. The others, startled, stood up as well, watching me.
"W-we’re getting off here?"
"Yes."
I then approached the injured new hire, who was clutching his eye, and
helped him to his feet.
"I’ll help you."
"Ah, th-thank you..."
As I led the injured person toward the door, the others instinctively
followed. No one could back out now.
We’re all getting off together.
’Good.’
If we all escape together like this...
[The doors are opening.]
But outside the open door, there was a sea of blood.
"..."
No way... this is over the line, I mean, what the hell...?
’Dear fuck almighty. Save me.’
"Kim Soleum-ssi?"
I almost hid behind Go Yeongeun.
But my last shred of dignity as an adult stopped me.
Instead, I awkwardly turned my head and looked at the others.
"Are you sure... this is the right station?"
"Yes."
It definitely is.
But I couldn’t think of any fancy words to convince them to get off.
Actually, I didn’t want to get off myself.
I wished someone would convince me that we didn’t have to get off. Please,
someone.
"...Excuse me! I still think we should get off."
Huh?
Go Yeongeun?
"You’re the only one who’s been certain of your decisions. Everyone else is
scared, but you’ve stayed calm this whole time."
Me?
"That guy earlier tried to get off on his own, causing all that chaos... At
least I’d rather listen to someone kind. I’m getting off."
And with that, Go Yeongeun bravely stepped out of the train first.
On the rusted platform, the eerie lights flickered, and liquid dripped from
the exposed pipes above.
Blood dripped onto Go Yeongeun’s shoulder. Ha, ha...
"Kim Soleum-ssi?"
"..."
"Don’t worry about me. I believe in you too! Let’s go!"
The injured person I was helping urged me forward.
Maybe they thought I was hesitating out of concern for them. Honestly, I
was starting to get confused myself about whether I was grateful or
resentful.
In any case, I naturally followed Go Yeongeun off the train. The others, still
hesitating, eventually followed as well.
At least I wasn’t the last one off, which was a relief.
It’s easy to overlook, but being the last one is the scariest position.
’...Ha.’
At this point, I just want to abandon myself.
"Should we head up the stairs?"
"Yes."
Even in this situation, Go Yeongeun yelled toward the other train cars.
"Hey! Get off! This is the right station!"
I wasn’t sure how effective it would be. Some might have been too wary to
get off, but...
’Still, if even one more person gets off because of that, we’re saving them.’
I have to admire her.
No, I’m really trying to focus all my attention on admiring her right now...
Helping the injured person was definitely a good decision. Whenever my
focus started to waver, I instinctively stopped myself from panicking.
I recommend it to all cowards.
Though, I doubt many cowards would ever be in such a ridiculous situation!
"Ugh..."
"Let’s keep walking."
I tried my best to avoid looking at my surroundings as I walked with the
group.
I saw the stairs ahead.
’Talisman-like symbols are plastered all over them...’
Realizing that even the stairs looked far from normal sent chills down my
spine, but...
’I’ll just focus on the feeling of going up.’
One step.
Another step.
I walked quietly.
Soon, I felt my vision blur slightly, and then...
[Congratulations, new employees!]
Suddenly, we were back in the lecture hall.
"...!!"
Bright lights.
A modern, comfortable, spacious room.
Reality came rushing back as I looked at the large screen in front of me,
where bold text had appeared.
<Congratulations on Completing Your Probation Period>
: Congratulations. You have been officially hired to the Field
Exploration Team of Daydream Inc.
"Ha..."
"Ah!!"
The people who had escaped with me collapsed into chairs, their legs giving
out.
I turned my head and counted.
One, two... three... seven.
Everyone who had been in our car survived.
’We made it.’
From the ghost story <Welcome to Abyss Transpo>, seven out of the ten
people in our car escaped.
[Now, it’s time for the gift awarding ceremony!]