Hell Train (3)

[Ahem, this is an announcement. Our Hell Train will soon arrive at the sixth station, 'Forgetfulness' Station. Judgment equivalent to how much you forgot important things in your lifetime will be carried out, so please take note and enjoy your train ride.]

"Kids! Everyone, ■■ ■ ■■ ■■!"

Eh? What did I just say? It felt like I'd shouted something important, but I couldn't remember what it was. What was I trying to say, and why? No, wait—where even was this place?

Little by little, my memories started fading away. First the unimportant ones, then gradually the crucial ones. What was my name? And what kind of person was I? They were slipping away. The things that defined "me" were vanishing. The terror of me disappearing. The horror of there being no "me." The fear of dying.

I didn't want to fade away.

"Sis, you okay?"

Right, I was sitting down. There was a stranger in the seat next to me. Or maybe not a stranger— I just couldn't remember. She seemed to be in a daze too, probably losing her memories just like me. Was this inside a train? The constant vibrations suggested I was riding one. The other passengers were all blank-faced. Only the little girl sitting across from me was looking at me.

"Who... are you? Did you mean me when you said 'sis'...?"

"Yeah."

■■ nodded.

"Who am I? What kind of person am I? What the hell is going on here...?"

"Hearing you use formal speech is kinda refreshing. Feels like the early days when we first met."

"??"

"It's okay."

■■ stood up from her seat and gripped my hand tightly.

"Even if you can't remember, I do. So it's fine."

"Huh?"

"Your blood, sis. It has healing powers infused in it."

■■ shook a small vial lightly. A transparent glass bottle with just a tiny bit of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠residue left inside. A thick red liquid. It must've held blood before, but now it was almost empty.

"You told me to drink your blood. I almost lost my memories too, but maybe thanks to my vampire instincts? I drank the blood I'd drawn from you in advance and barely held on."

"I have no idea what you're talking about..."

"You don't need to. More importantly, sis— you really don't remember anything?"

"Memories..."

I tried recalling at ■■'s words. My mind was practically empty. But for some reason, one thing remained crystal clear.

- Playing as the cute girl protagonist.

"I remember that I was the cutest girl in the universe... Like, I was born a cutie, that kind of feeling."

"Uh, y-yeah... That's good enough."

■■ looked exasperated but forced a smile anyway. With no memories, everything terrified me. But having ■■ by my side let me relax a little.

And as we pulled into the station, all my memories came flooding back.

"Formal sis was refreshing too, but whatever~."

Nao made a face like she genuinely regretted it. I knew she was messing around, but I still flicked her forehead hard. You said you like pain, right?

"Eat up."

Every seat on this train had a fold-out table. On mine sat a plate piled high with bugs. Grasshoppers, spiders, cicadas, you name it. Though weren't spiders technically arthropods, not bugs? Some were nicely grilled, but most were still wriggling like they were alive.

I glanced at whoever had served it.

"Not gonna eat? I'll kill you."

The guy was riddled with holes all over his body, bugs pouring out nonstop. Maggots squirmed in some of the openings. A walking corpse swarming with insects, staring at me through eye sockets full of larvae. He'd boarded at this 'Insects' Station.

I knew the drill. If I didn't empty this plate, he'd jumpscare me. But every bug I ate would tank my Sanity stat.

"Tastes bad."

Someone snatched my plate. Ari. She devoured the bug feast in my place at lightning speed.

"Tastes bad. More."

"Yes, one serving coming up."

"All."

"Pardon?"

"Give me all."

And just like that, we cleared the tenth station.

"Easier than I thought?"

Nao shot a glare at the departing bug passenger.

Things had gone smoothly so far, just like she said. We'd passed ten stations, and not only was I fine, but so were all my agency staff.

Anomalies this forgiving don't exist.

Usually, just passing a few stations would shred your HP or SAN. Get off at a station? Instant death. Hold out until HP hits zero? Eaten by other passengers. Same if SAN depletes—you're trapped on the train forever. Less a survival anomaly, more like one for bad-ending collectors.

Maybe our agency girls were just OP, but we were holding up better than expected.

Still, no slacking. Plenty of dangerous stations ahead.

I clenched my fist, steeling myself.

In that instant, everything went black.

Absolute darkness. Not just dim—nothing visible.

It reminded me of being hit by 'Corruption.' But even then, it hadn't been this pitch-black. I'd managed a light source with Taemi's Bond Effect.

I almost triggered Taemi's Bond Effect on reflex, then stopped. This wasn't the surroundings going dark—my eyes were blind.

"Ari? Lisa? Nao...?"

I called for my agency members, but no replies. I groped around. Felt like dirt.

...The train interior had changed drastically. Meaning I'd been separated from everyone.

Then, far ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off, a beastly howl echoed. Thud. Thud. Thud... Massive footsteps. Instinct screamed: Don't get caught. Especially blind like this.

This is bullshit overkill!

I knew the Hell Train was brutal, but forcing this playstyle? This was legit dangerous. What now?

-Tap.

Something touched my shoulder.

"Eek?!"

"Detective, Detective. It's me, your detective assistant Watson. I'm right behind you."

"Sua...?"

A slight movement from my shoulder. She was nodding.

"Sua, you're here... The others?"

"Gone. Train layout shifted, scattered us, yup."

"Got it. How'd you find me?"

"Watson's the detective assistant. Can't leave the detective, yup."

...She could've just said it was 'Mary-san''s power. As we chatted, the footsteps resumed. Thud. Thud. Thud... Getting closer.

"S-Sua..."

"It's fine, Detective."

Squeeze. My shoulder gripped tight. A soft sensation pressed against my back. Sua hugging me from behind.

"Detective assistant Watson protects the Detective. No worries. Just focus on solving the case, yup."

She whispered. But did she have to cling this hard? Kinda suffocating. I considered asking her to back off, then let it go. In total darkness, her body heat was all I had.

Clung to Sua, I waited for the next station.

My sight returned. And what I saw filled the train aisle: a massive monster corpse.

"Sight's back at last."

Lisa said. Bloodstained kitchen knife in hand.

Eh?

"Lisa...? What happened?"

"It seemed like a threat to Lady Mayuri, so I took it down. Blindness was a hassle, but a skilled chef can chop onions with a blindfold."

Apparently so. If Lisa said it, who was I to argue? Don't sass the knife-wielder.

After that, we passed several more stations without much issue. Sure, things got dicey now and then.

But I had my reliable agency staff and their Bond Effects. You can't survive this world alone. Especially me—outside Cute Girl Mod, I'm just a regular universe-cutest-girl. Not much I can solo.

People help each other, right? Conversely, with my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠agency girls backing me, any crisis is beatable.

We'd overcome tons already. This time too, I'd survive. No doubt.

That said.

"When the hell do we reach the final stop...?"