Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work Novel - Chapter 4

One escaped the ghost story.

However, their eyes were gouged out.

“Whew…”

“Did you hear that?”

Unlike the previous few times, the passengers, while disgusted and frightened, did not show pity.

‘Is this the consequence of unpersuasive violence?’

The train car was briefly in an uproar as they checked the condition of the person attacked by Baek Saheon.

[The next stop is Hate Station.]

“Hate, my foot…”

“Haah.”

The announcement further depressed the atmosphere.

Go Youngeun, who had been watching the new employee clutching their left eye, stood up. Their face was rather dark.

“I’m pretty sure that person has significant corneal damage. I’m worried…”

“Were you a medical professional?”

“No. I just… majored in that in college… but I switched majors and never took the national exam, so I’m a quack.”

Go Youngeun sighed and sat cross-legged on the floor.

[The screen doors are opening.]

The train doors opened, but the passengers only glanced at them and didn’t move. They simply looked outside with wary eyes.

And at the same time, they looked at me.

It seemed like they were checking if I was going to tell them to get off.

‘It’s good they’re paying attention.’

I was worried that Baek Saheon would make them more suspicious of each other, but having a common enemy seemed to have calmed everyone down.

The situation was so chaotic that they seemed to be anticipating the next words of someone who had confidently spoken before.

That is… me.

I even have some hopes that they might delegate the power to decide on the next station to me…

“Um, it’s… a bit overwhelming.”

“…?”

Go Youngeun said with a troubled expression.

“People keep trying to rely on you.”

I’m grateful…?

“It’s because everyone is scared and anxious, so I hope you don’t feel disgusted or that it’s too much… um, I’m sorry.”

I’m the one who’s scared and anxious and trying to rally the people…?

“I’ve been trying to think about things too…”

Oh, well, opinions are welcome.

“What have you been thinking about?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about the ‘final destination’ you mentioned earlier.”

Go Youngeun said in a low voice.

“When it comes to a person’s final destination… is it death?”

“…!”

“Isn’t it? The end of human life… no matter how I think about it, it’s associated with that. When similar words come up, I wonder if I should get off.”

Oh.

“But then… is it just… a peaceful death?  That’s why I couldn’t say anything.”

“No. That’s a very persuasive point.”

“R…really?”

“Yes. However…”

I trailed off.

And I unconsciously chuckled slightly.

“…?”

It was because I saw the name of the next station on the electronic board.

“What is a destination in the first place?”

“Yes, yes?”

“If you look it up in a dictionary, a destination means the goal or direction one is trying to achieve.”

And this train’s theme itself is very straightforward.

Sit down, find the lost item.

The instructions are not convoluted; simply following the instructions keeps you safe.

Even those who got off at the wrong stations died in a very straightforward manner.

So, the expression ‘final destination’ should be approached in a similar way.

“What this train calls a destination is, ultimately, the point that my current self has not yet achieved or reached.”

Considering this, the criteria for choosing a station becomes very simple.

– What I lack.

This makes the escape cases clear.

———————

1. Station names indicated by colors such as red, yellow, and blue.

: 2 successful escapes (Blue Station)

2. Station names indicated by body parts such as left arm, cornea, and heart.

: Escape failed (Attempt: Cochlea Station)

3. Station names indicated by the names of serial killers such as ■■, ■■■■, ■■■.

: 12 successful escapes (■■■■ Station)

4. Station names indicated by years such as 2008, 2012, 2016.

: Escape failed (Attempt: 2024 Station)

5. Station names indicated by diseases such as asthma, stroke, glaucoma.

: 3 successful escapes (Attempt: Cold Station)

———————

At Blue Station, those who got off without anything blue on their body or possessions would have escaped.

And it’s understandable that there were unusually many escapees from the station with the serial killer’s name.  No one was the serial killer, so almost every station was the correct answer.

‘Conversely, the stations named after body parts… people are less likely to be missing a body part, so they would have failed to escape.’

The same goes for stations named after years. 2024 is a year everyone has lived through, so they failed.

Applying this logic clarifies the station we should get off at now.

– An emotion I don’t have.

“……So, we have to choose an emotion we absolutely don’t feel right now.”

“Huh?”

It gets drastically more difficult here.

‘Most people experience joy, sorrow, anger, and pleasure.’

Unless you’re someone lacking an emotion, choosing a station becomes extremely difficult.  Even with differences in intensity, everyone experiences them.

So….

An emotion that expresses a certain flat state, not expressed through intensity.

‘It exists conceptually, but it’s incredibly difficult to be in that state completely.’

We have to choose this.

[This is Serenity Station, Serenity Station.]

An announcement is made.

It’s easy to think that a common emotion was used as the station name again. We often use the expression, ‘That person is so Serenity,’ in everyday life.

But….

‘It’s an expression often used when guessing someone else’s state.’

Few people describe themselves as Serenity.

That’s understandable.

The dictionary definition of Serenity is ‘having no worries or concerns.’

But really, can a person be completely without worries and concerns, truly Serenity?

‘The probability of that… is…’

Almost zero.

Especially in this extreme situation.

“This station is the correct answer.”

“…!”

“We’ll get off here.”

Spoken confidently, assuredly, without hesitation.

I immediately stood up. People got up from their seats in surprise and looked at me.

“H-here?”

“Yes.”

And I approached the injured new employee clutching his eyes and helped him to stand.

“Let me help you.”

“Ah, t-thank you…”

As I guided the injured person towards the door, the gathered people unknowingly followed.  Now we’re all in this together.

‘Good.’

Escaping like this, blending in with the crowd….

[The screen doors are opening.]

But the outside is a sea of blood.

“…….”

No… this is beyond the pale, no, f***ing hell…

‘Help me.’

“Kim Soleum?”

I almost hid behind Go Youngeun.

My last bit of professional dignity stopped me.

Instead, I tilted my head and looked around at the people.

“Is… this really it?”

“Yes.”

Unfortunately, it is.

But I can’t think of any flowery language to persuade them to get off.

No, I don’t even want to get off myself.

I wish someone would persuade me not to get off. Please.

“…Hey! I think I should get off after all.”

Huh?

Go Youngeun?

“You’re the only one among us who’s certain of your opinion right now.  Everyone else is scared, but you’ve remained calm.”

Me?

“That guy earlier made a fuss to get off alone… At least I’ll listen to a good person’s opinion.”

And Go Youngeun bravely went out first.

On the rusty platform, dim lights flickered ominously, and a liquid other than water dripped from pipes on the exposed steel frame.

Blood dripped onto Go Youngeun’s shoulder.  Oh, god…

“Kim Soleum?”

“…….”

“Don’t worry. I trust you! Let’s go!”

The injured person I was helping urged me on.

He probably thought I was hesitating out of consideration for my own feelings. I was starting to wonder if I was grateful or resentful.

Anyway, thanks to him, I naturally followed Go Youngeun. The hesitant people then poured out behind us.

I’m relieved I wasn’t the last one out.

It’s easy to overlook, but being last is the scariest….

‘…Hah.’

At this point, I want to abandon myself.

“Shall we go down the stairs?”

“Yes.”

Even in this situation, Go Youngeun shouted at another open car.

“Hey! Everyone get off! This is the right one!”

I’m not sure how effective it was.  It probably made many people even more hesitant to get off…

‘Still, if even one more person gets off after hearing me, it means I’ve saved a life.’

I find that rather admirable.

No, I’m trying, with all my might, to pour all my energy into that feeling of admiration…

The decision to help the injured was truly excellent.  Even when my nerves are frayed and I feel my strength waning, it reflexively stops me from giving up.

I’d recommend it to all cowards.

Of course, there probably aren’t many cowards who’d end up in this kind of hellish situation!

“Ugh…”

“Let’s… let’s walk.”

I walked through the crowd, trying my best not to look around.

I saw the stairs.

‘Amulets and such… plastered all over…’

Realizing that even that wasn’t normal, a shiver ran down my spine…

‘Just focus on the sensation of climbing.’

One step.

One step.

I walked silently.

Soon, my vision swam… and then…

[Yay! Congratulations, new recruits!]

We were back in the lecture hall.

“…!!”

Bright lights.

A modern, pleasant, spacious interior.

As reality crashed back, a clear message appeared on a huge screen in front of me.

:Congratulations. You have been officially hired by the Daydream Corporation Field Exploration Team.

“Ha…”

“Ah!!”

Those who escaped with me collapsed to the floor, their legs giving way.

I turned my head and counted them.

One, two, three… seven.

Everyone who remained in the car.

‘I’m alive.’

In the urban legend <Welcome to Abyss Transportation Corporation>, 7 out of 10 people in the same car escaped.

[Now for the gift presentation!]