One person had escaped from the ghost story.
However, with their eye gouged out.
"Hoo..."
"Did you hear that?"
But unlike the previous few times, the passengers weren't filled with pity or regret amid their exhaustion and fear.
'So this is what they mean by violence without persuasion.'
The train car had been briefly chaotic as people checked on the condition of the person attacked by Baek Saheon.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[This station is Hatred, Hatred Station.]
"What a load of crap about hatred..."
"Haa."
The announcement made everyone sink even deeper into depression.
Go Yeongeun, who had been tending to the new hire clutching his left eye, stood up. Her face looked a bit grim.
"That guy's cornea is probably damaged beyond repair. I'm worried..."
"Are you a medical professional by any chance?"
"No. I just majored in it in college... but I switched departments anyway, so I'm just a quack who never even took the licensing exam."
Go Yeongeun sighed and sat cross-legged on the floor.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[The screen doors are opening.]
The train doors opened, but people only glanced warily outside without moving. They peered out with guarded eyes.
And at the same time, they looked at me.
As if checking whether I would suggest getting off here.
'At least they're paying attention to me.'
I'd been worried that Baek Saheon's actions would make everyone more suspicious of each other, but instead, a common enemy had emerged, calming people down.
Given how insane the situation was, they seemed to be expecting the next words from the person who had spoken confidently before.
In other words... me.
Maybe they'd even delegate the station decision to me...
"Um, this must be... burdensome for you."
"...?"
Go Yeongeun spoke with a troubled expression.
"Everyone keeps trying to rely on you."
Thanks, but...?
"They're all scared and anxious, so please don't feel disillusioned by their lack of shame... Ha. No, I'm sorry."
I'm the one scared and anxious, trying to rile everyone up...?
"I've been thinking about it myself too..."
Uh, anyway, opinions are welcome.
"What have you been thinking?"
"Well, about that 'final destination' you mentioned earlier."
Go Yeongeun lowered her voice.
"If it's the final destination for a person... wouldn't it be death?"
"...!"
"Right? The end of a human life... no matter how I think about it, that's what comes to mind. So I wondered if we should get off when something similar comes up."
Oh.
"But then... would it just be dying peacefully? That's why I couldn't say it."
"No. That's a very persuasive point."
"R-really?"
"Yes. However..."
I trailed off.
And unwittingly smirked.
"...?"
Because I saw the name of the next station on the display board.
"What even is a destination, to begin with?"
"Y-yes?"
"The dictionary defines purpose as something you aim to achieve or the direction you're heading."
And this train's theme is straightforward.
Sit down, find the lost item.
The instructions aren't convoluted; you just follow them literally for safety.
Even the person who got off at the wrong station died in a very intuitive way.
So, we're approaching 'final destination' in a similar straightforward manner.
"The 'destination' this train refers to probably means a point I currently haven't realized or reached."
Considering that, the criteria for choosing a station becomes very simple.
-Something I lack.
This reframes the escape cases too.
1. Stations marked by colors like red, yellow, blue. : Escape success 2 people (Blue Station) 2. Stations marked by body parts like left arm, cornea, heart. : Escape failure (Attempt: Cochlea Station) 3. Stations marked by serial killer names like ■■, ■■■■, ■■■. : Escape success 12 people (■■■■ Station) 4. Stations marked by years like 2008, 2012, 2016. : Escape failure (Attempt: 2024 Station) 5. Stations marked by diseases like asthma, stroke, glaucoma. : 3 people escape success (Attempt: Cold Station)
At Blue Station, the people who escaped probably had no blue on their bodies or possessions.
And it makes sense why so many escaped from stations named after serial killers.
No one was that serial killer, so almost every one was correct.
'Conversely, body part stations... the odds of someone missing that part are low, so escape failed.'
Year-marked stations are the same. Everyone lived through 2024, so failure.
Applying this logic, the station we need to get off at now is clear.
-An emotion I don't have.
"...So, we need to choose an emotion we're absolutely not feeling right now."
"Yes?"
That's where it gets tricky.
'Most people feel all the basic emotions: joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure.'
Unless you're someone deficient in a particular emotion. Otherwise, choosing becomes extremely hard. Even if the intensity varies, everyone feels them to some degree.
So...
An emotion that expresses a flat state not defined by intensity.
'It exists conceptually, but it's incredibly hard to be perfectly in that state.'
That's what we need to pick.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[This station is Serenity, Serenity Station.]
The announcement plays.
It's easy to think this is just another ordinary emotion for a station name. We even use phrases like "that guy's so serene" in everyday life.
But...
'It's an expression we often use to guess someone else's state.'
Few people describe themselves as serene.
And for good reason.
Dictionary-wise, serenity means 'having no worries or concerns in one's heart.'
But can a person really be completely free of worry or concern?
'The odds of that...'
Are practically zero.
Especially in a extreme situation like this.
"This station is the correct one."
"...!"
"We'll get off here."
I spoke confidently, with conviction, without hesitation.
I stood up immediately. People rose unsteadily from their seats and looked at me.
"H-here?"
"Yes."
I approached the injured new hire clutching his eye and helped him stand.
"I'll support you."
"Th-thank you..."
As I guided the injured man to the door, the crowd followed almost unconsciously. No backing out now.
We're all getting off together.
'Good.'
Just blend into the crowd and escape like this...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[The screen doors are opening.]
But outside the open doors was a sea of blood.
"..."
No... this crosses the line, fuck, what the hell...
'Save me.'
"Kim Sol-eum-ssi?"
I nearly hid behind Go Yeongeun.
The last shreds of my dignity as an office worker held me back.
Instead, I stiffly turned to look at the others.
"You're sure about this place...?"
"Yes."
Of all the damn luck.
But no flowery words came to mind to convince them to get off.
No, I didn't even want to get off myself first.
Someone convince me it's okay to stay. Please.
"...Hey! I still think we should get off."
What?
Go Yeongeun?
"You're the only one among us truly confident in your opinion right now. Everyone's scared, but you're staying calm alone."
Me?
"That other guy tried to get off alone and caused a scene... At least I'll listen to a good person like you."
And Go Yeongeun bravely stepped out the door first.
On the rusted-out platform, eerie lights flickered, and from the exposed steel beams and pipes, liquid—not water—dripped down.
Blood splattered onto Go Yeongeun's shoulder. Ha, ha...
"Kim Sol-eum-ssi?"
"..."
"Don't worry about me. I believe you too! Let's go!"
The injured man I was supporting urged me on.
He probably thought I was hesitating out of consideration for him. I was starting to confuse gratitude with resentment toward myself.
Anyway, thanks to that, I naturally followed behind Go Yeongeun. The hesitant crowd followed in a rush.
At least I wasn't the last one out, which was a relief.
Easy to overlook, but being at the very back is the scariest...
'...Ha.'
At this point, I wanted to cut myself loose.
"Stairs?"
"Yes."
Even in this mess, Go Yeongeun shouted toward the still-open other cars.
"Hey! Everyone get off! This is the right one!"
I don't know how effective it was. Probably a lot stayed behind out of suspicion...
'Still, if even one more person gets off because of that, she's saving a life.'
Kind of admirable.
No, I'm trying, putting all my nerves into feeling that admiration...
Deciding to support the injured guy was a brilliant move. It distracts my nerves and keeps me from collapsing reflexively.
I recommend it to all cowards.
Though not many cowards would end up in a shit situation like this!
"Ugh..."
"L-let's walk."
I walked through the crowd, trying not to look around as much as possible.
The stairs came into view.
'Covered in talismans...'
Realizing even that wasn't normal made goosebumps erupt from every pore...
'Just focus on the sensation of climbing.'
One step.
One step.
I walked silently.
Suddenly, the space ahead rippled...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Yay! Congratulations, new hires!]
Before we knew it, we were back in the lecture hall.
"...!!"
Bright lighting.
A modern, comfortable, spacious interior.
As reality sank back in, a massive screen in front displayed a clear message.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
⟨ Probation Period Completed ⟩
Congratulations. You have been officially hired by Daydream Corporation's Field Exploration Team.
"Ha..."
"Ah!!"
The people who escaped with me collapsed to the floor, legs giving out.
I turned my head and counted heads.
One, two, three... seven.
Everyone who had remained in the car.
'We survived.'
From the ghost story [Welcome to the Abyssal Transit Corporation], 7 out of 10 from the same car escaped.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Now, we will proceed with the gift-giving ceremony!]