Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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[This station is Grudge, Grudge Station.]
[The doors on the right will open...]
A suffocating silence flowed through the subway car in this ghost story.
I was contributing to that silence myself.
Even though I already knew this ghost story, I'm the kind of guy who gets startled by thumbnails on YouTube recommendations and hits 'Not Interested' to skip them. And now I have to survive inside the ghost story itself?
"Just kill me already..."
That might be the better option.
I didn't even have the energy left to piece together what had happened. With a desire to deny the whole world, I was pressing my face into my hands with both palms.
That was when it happened.
Flicker.
"...?!"
I lifted my head.
Something like a notepad was floating by, following my line of sight.
I could see it even with my eyes closed, and with them open.
Bits of paper, like a notebook torn out lengthwise and folded up, fluttering this way and that...
"This is..."
Wait. No one else seems to see it.
I immediately shut my mouth. Standing out in a situation like this would be idiotic.
Instead, I awkwardly poked at the notepad in front of me with my finger, trying not to draw attention.
Flutter.
Surprisingly, the notepad unfurled like it was opening and spat out something small.
"...!"
I hurriedly cupped my hand over it to catch it.
It was... a GripTok.
A simple black GripTok, with the only distinctive feature being a golden 'X' hanging in the center.
But that pattern alone told me exactly what this GripTok was.
'It's merch.'
The merch from the [Darkness Exploration Records] popup store I'd stopped by right before waking up in this bizarre situation!
One of the items I'd bought today.
With trembling hands, I picked up the GripTok.
As for what this did in the story...
'Displays memories as text...'
Then, maybe?
With shaking hands, I peeled off the adhesive and stuck the GripTok onto my smartphone right away.
At that moment, the fragmented lines from [Darkness Exploration Records] that I'd half-remembered took sharp form and structure, appearing as pages on my phone screen.
"...!"
So this means...
'The merch I bought actually works?'
Come to think of it, the black merch box that had been on my lap was gone.
'That goods box... turned into this notepad and spat out the merch I bought?'
What kind of insane situation is this?
No, but it's definitely to my advantage.
This [Darkness Exploration Records] ghost story world I've fallen into.
Do you know how many internet old-timers burned their creative passions based on it? Hundreds of ghost stories, literally.
Of course, pulling them all up in my head like flipping through pages is tough.
Plus, true to ghost story form, it doesn't spell out survival methods—you have to infer them from the stories. Deriving answers in new situations is even harder.
'But now I can check everything I've read at a glance.'
If that's possible, the first thing I need to see is...
'Past escape cases!'
I scrolled down the wiki page immediately.
And after breathlessly reading down to '3.2 Exploration Records'...
"...".
I pieced it together quickly.
'Got it.'
I'd found my own answer for which station to get off at.
But there's a problem.
"...".
I turned to the people in the same car.
Eight young new hires, including me.
The ones who'd panicked at the sight of two people being live-dissected were barely regaining composure and starting conversations.
"What was that just now... Grudge Station? Like the grudge when people get mad... right?"
"Yeah..."
"Ugh, no phone signal, no data... What the hell is going on..."
"...".
Right. The problem is how do I convince these strangers I can't trust to get off at the right station.
'I need to get as many as possible to come with me somehow.'
I clenched my fist.
Was it some noble sense of mission to save the extras sacrificed in this ghost story world, realizing they're real people?
Well... yeah, humanly speaking, that tugged at me, but that wasn't my top priority.
The reason that made me most desperate was...
'I can't get off alone...!'
Yeah.
These stations are all messed up in the head.
Walking alone through a station full of eyeballs, a pitch-black one, or one flipped upside down?
Just imagining it had me breaking out in cold sweats bad enough to make me crawl on all fours.
'Chance of passing out midway and failing to escape: over 90%...!'
No. Save me.
'I have to convince them somehow!'
I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it again.
'But blurting out about supernatural phenomena and Darkness is stupid.'
Who'd want to admit they're in a Tsukuru horror game? Either they won't believe you and mock you fiercely, or they will and panic harder.
'Slowly... build trust first.'
Start with one person.
If I convince one or two solidly, crowd psychology kicks in and others will follow like a herd.
'Let's see. Someone who needs help, or shows signs of bonding...'
"Ha... This isn't some YouTube ghost story."
Found her!
"Ghost story... did you say?"
"Oh."
A calm-looking bob-haired woman nodded with a slightly flustered face.
"Yeah. I, uh, watch a lot of ghost story videos on YouTube, and this came to mind."
"Could you tell me more? This doesn't seem normal, so sharing any info might help."
"It's not exactly info... It's just everything feels like a ghost story. The seminar room suddenly turns into a subway, people... die like that."
Her face paled a bit, recalling the insane disassembly show from before.
I get it. I want to puke too.
Let's both scrub it from our minds quick.
"Sorry. Talking about it suddenly..."
"No, same here. This absurd situation has me losing it."
The woman let out a weak chuckle.
"Heh, you seem the most level-headed here."
You haven't seen me pass out coldly yet.
"Huh?"
And surprisingly, someone approached me first around then.
There was a perfectly good reason.
"Um, weren't you sitting next to me earlier?"
A curly-haired guy with a pretty innocent look.
'Come to think of it, he was next to me in the seminar.'
The new hire didn't seem part of any group chat. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing between me and the woman I'd been talking to, then extended his hand like for a handshake.
"I'm Baek Saheon."
"...!"
I nearly forgot to shake.
Baek Saheon?
'He's a named character.'
An employee who'd shone multiple times in [Darkness Exploration Records].
I looked up at the curly-haired guy with his somewhat mild impression and groaned inwardly.
'This guy's... Baek Saheon?'
The image doesn't quite match.
Anyway, seeing a ghost story world employee in the flesh, whom I'd only read about in text, felt truly bizarre.
In the midst of it, the bob-haired woman who'd first mentioned ghost stories extended her hand.
"Even in this situation, let's at least introduce ourselves. I'm Go Yeongeun."
A name I'd never heard. For unknown employees, it's one of two things.
They handled ghost stories relatively easily and quit early.
Or died quick.
'Damn...'
Some named characters only had aliases or code names, but those had such distinct personalities you could spot them instantly.
It felt off. I shook off the lingering doubt and hid my expression.
"Kim Sol-eum."
The handshake ended quickly, and we naturally sat in the subway seats continuing the talk.
In the meantime, the group subtly split up.
"Ah, those folks... seem to be trying to talk to the front car somehow?"
"Yeah."
Movement between cars is forbidden in this ghost story. Sure enough, they soon gave up gesturing and came back.
"What do we do? Can't communicate with the front car at all. And sounds like a fight broke out up there..."
As the anxious, uneasy people fretted, the station arrival announcement came again.
But this time, the keyword's vibe was different.
"Huh?"
The murmuring crowd froze for a moment.
"Ecstasy?"
"Ecstasy sounds kinda good, right? Maybe..."
No.
'Can't judge it that simply...!'
I gritted my teeth, recalling the exploration records I'd just read.
This ghost story changed station name themes every time it appeared.
So finding an exact match like 'get off at this station' or 'this one's the answer' from cases was impossible.
'But I can look at patterns.'
Like this.
See? Even up to case 56, positive vibes in station names have zero correlation with escape rates.
Yet people were about to pile out at this Ecstasy Station.
The platform they arrived at happened to look bright and pleasant.
'Damn.'
The clean, brightly lit station like a new-build in a planned city shifted the mood instantly.
"Ah...!"
"Sh-should we get off here and look for people? This one looks totally fine..."
Excited people started peeking toward the doors.
No!
'My companion count!'
And my mental state seeing that!
'Goddamn it.'
I finally rushed to block the doors again.
"...!"
"Wh-what."
"Please wait."
"Are you certain?"
"P-pardon...?"
"Certain?"
"Yes. Certain this is safe. Or at least your reasoning."
I deliberately looked away.
"I think most would agree this feels like a ghost story."
Go Yeongeun flinched under the stares but didn't back down.
"But in ghost stories or horror movies, have you ever seen picking based on luck or vibes end well?"
"...Well,"
"No reasoning, no deduction—just betting your life like this?"
The antsy people hesitated, then one snapped.
"Hey, what great deduction do you have then?"
"This guy's been spouting nonsense since earlier..."
"Move already! What reasoning, what hints... You think this is Golden Bell? Who gave hints?"
"Yes."
"...?"
"They're giving hints."
I took a breath.
Then pointed up.
At the subway's display screen with the speaker.
"The announcements."
-Please pay attention to announcements for a comfortable ride to your final destination.-
The train announcements had politely informed us from the start.
"It keeps telling us to focus on and follow the announcements. Blatantly."
In that sense.
I asked while listening to the added announcement.
"Anyone for whom Ecstasy Station is the final destination?"
"...".
"...".
The movement stopped.
"B-but it's good, right?"
"Ecstasy means living blissfully... life's purpose..."
"So, is Ecstasy Station your final destination right now?"
"...".
"...".
They all felt the unease.
But a couple started venting at me.
"Hey, do we even have a destination? If you don't know either, why butt in?"
"If we can't escape because of you blocking us, will you take responsibility? Will you?!"
Take responsibility?
"Yes."
"...!"
"Huh...?"
"I'll take responsibility."
Easy question.
'I was planning to escape together anyway.'
Getting off here is a definite wrong answer. So my choice can't be worse.
But my unexpected reply left them gaping, frozen.
"...".
Being this forceful shook them—I could see the conflict.
The doors closed in the meantime.
"Ah...".
I stepped aside. A few stared blankly at the doors, clinging.
But no one yelled about why I stopped them now.
'This should... do it.'
As I felt somewhat satisfied,
A panicked shout rang out.
"Whoa! Everyone in the front car got off!"
"...!"
All of them?
I peeked out the train window too.
Not everyone, but really, five or six got off at once.
"...".
Whew.
I really didn't want to see what happened next.
But witnessing it would make future convincing more solid, damn it...
I held back curses, squinting hazily out the window.
"Huh? They're running!"
The ones who'd gotten off decided to bolt for the exit immediately. I saw five or six figures sprinting toward the platform stairs.
But too late.
"Agh!"
The platform floor boiled up in yellow light, and the runners' feet began melting into it like sinking.
"G-gold...?"
A bizarre sight, like their lower bodies turned to gold and stuck fast.
They screamed, trying to run, but slowed more and more...
Eventually, torsos with only upper bodies staggered and thudded down before the stairs.
Even that turned to glittering gold.
The easiest way to ecstasy.
"Eek."
"Gasp."
Inside the departing car, only gasps of shock and choked sobs echoed.
One who'd tried to get off grabbed me desperately.
"Y-you said you'd take responsibility. You can guarantee we find a safe place, right? Right?!"
"Yes."
I answered firmly.
I had no idea why they'd jumped to assuming I had the answer, but honestly, it was the only reply I could give.
'I'm gonna die, for real.'
My legs shook like I'd collapse...!
Lower bodies bursting kept replaying in low-res in my head, churning my guts.
One thing's sure: even if I survive this, no sleep tonight.
Amid it, Baek Saheon chimed in admiringly.
"You're amazing, sir."
"...Sir?"
"Ah, I tend to call people 'sir' when I meet them."
Then he grinned sheepishly and added,
"Hard to find people like sir these days. Everyone hems and haws with 'I think ~' instead of straight yes or no."
"...".
"Hope it turns out as well as you claim."
Uh... thanks for the well-wishes, but this isn't the time for detached third-person vibes.
'No good outcome here means you die too...'
Wait.
No.
I'd missed it whining about fear.
'Baek Saheon has exploration records as an employee in [Darkness Exploration Records], so he passed this entrance exam, right?'
Then couldn't I just stick to whatever station he picks?
Me, Go Yeongeun, and him makes three. If he's proactive, others might follow herd-like.
'Such an easy way?'
"Baek Saheon."
"Yes?"
"Any station you want to get off at? Like... a word you think we should exit on if it comes up."
"...Suddenly?"
"Want to hear various ideas."
"Ah."
Baek Saheon pondered briefly, then shrugged.
"Nothing specific. I'm not great with this stuff."
"I see."
Not feeling it yet, huh.
I nodded readily. It was a decent idea anyway; I'd keep watching...
Ding-dong.
"...!"
The announcement restarted.
Everyone stopped talking and looked up instantly.
No freaking way.
"Everyone, sit."
No one objected; they sat quickly.
Fast enough to prove mentioning announcements worked.
Even the one who'd whined to get off clamped their mouth and sat first.
But not everyone, apparently.
"Whoa! Front car!"
"Those people..."
In the front car, people were too busy yelling at each other to stand—all on their feet.
Couldn't hear specifics, but they'd probably drowned out the announcement screaming.
Obvious from looks: total panic after seeing companions die in unimaginable ways.
"Sh-shouldn't we say something?"
"Hey! Can you hear us?!"
"Sit down!"
New hires near the front yelled. But front car folks barely glanced; one who did even approached us.
"Sit!"
"No, don't come closer, sit..."
Too late.
Lights out.
"...!"
In the dark, the train shook with a roar.
And amid the roar, sharp cries rang out.
Screams.
-Aaaagh!!
-Agh, ah, aaagh...
The sound of something watery bursting.
Like squeezing overripe grapes tight.
Dull thuds.
...As if just one door away.
"...".
"...".
This car's people stifled breaths, trembling faintly.
Lights on.
-......
Through the narrow glass of the front door, the front car's state appeared.
Covered in blood and filth.
Like only living things run through a grinder— no human traces left.
All dead.
Contrasting the neat announcement, panicked cries filled the car.
"Let me out! Let me out!"
"H-heh... What is this. What the hell... Mom."
Yet even then, new hires covered mouths, muffling voices, straining to hear announcements.
Proof the announcements were their lifeline!
'Damn.'
It's going my way for survival, but reality's too gruesome—cold sweat beaded my forehead.
Ignoring my shaking wipe-hand, I gritted teeth.
Don't look at the front door anymore.
'Convince, just think convincing...'
A few more stations, and when the right answer comes, they'll surely follow...
The announcement started again.
"Again?!"
"Hic... sob..."
Cutting through exhausted wails, the prim, mechanical recording continued.
With irrelevant content.
Wait.
I snapped my head up.
I knew this case.
'...Other records' escape cases!'
Unconditional escape ticket.
Just have the announced lost item, and you can exit safely!
But...
'Escapees: exactly one.'
......For someone like me who can't go alone, it's an instant disqualifier.
I clenched my fists tight.
'Then, who should I send out to make it good?'
No, is sending someone even right?
And...
An unimaginable lost item emerged.