Chapter Text
[Welcome to Daydream Inc., everyone!]
The familiar words which I was used to reading on my phone screen was now ringing in my ears. I look around me, watching everyone applaud in an auditorium while I sat quietly in the back. My head was still a bit woozy, and I could only focus on how loud everyone else was.
Seriously, did these guys not have any manners? This is a formal orientation! The bitter thought lingered in my mind before I dismissed it with a shake off my head.
[Our new employees, who have successfully passed a 145:1 competition, should be proud of themselves! Haha! Now, let’s begin the new employee orientation!]
The host who stood on the stage cheerfully announced, a wide grin stretching his wrinkled face. He wore an odd bright red suit with a colorful tie, looking as though he came straight from a kindergarten drawing.
On the other hand, the new recruits who were dressed in tidy suits next to me cheered once more, their expressions a mix of excitement and nervousness as some of them whispered among themselves. My gaze subconsciously shifted down. I was wearing a suit too. My throat suddenly felt a bit tight.
[You are the chosen candidates!]
[In fact, only a select few of those who applied through this job posting have been gathered in Orientation Room A for this special session!]
[Congratulations! You have passed the aptitude test and have been assigned to the special team, the <Field Exploration Team>.]
...
Holy shit! What the fuck? This has to be a dream. My mind was running wild, a sudden realization coming over me as sweat trailed down my neck.
This wasn't my world.
I hear someone stand up abruptly a few chairs over to my right and my head snapped towards the sound. We were definitely thinking the same thing—it was already too late.
[Before official employment, there will be a brief probationary period, but don’t worry, it won’t be long! We will assess your practical abilities through an absolute evaluation.]
[Of course, full participation is necessary for a proper evaluation! Freeloading will not be tolerated!]
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The auditorium doors began to shut one by one. But instead of panicking, the poor naive employees sat still in their chairs, listening intently to the crazy old man. They must think this was some kind of final test before getting the job, not knowing what kind of fate awaited them. With everyone's attention on him, the crazy geezer’s grin widened, and he let out a lively shout.
[Now, let's get started!]
The lights went out. The ground beneath me shook, and when I raised my head back up, I was face to face with my reflection in a darkened window across from where I sat. In less than an instant, the surroundings shifted from an auditorium to a subway train.
[Passengers, thank you for using Abyss Transpo today… Our train will not halt.]
[Please pay attention to the announcements for a pleasant journey to your destination.]
The calm announcement cut through the clear confusion of everyone around. They shot up to their feet, looking around and poking at their surroundings. Some even tried opening the doors to the other cars, but to no avail. I took a deep breath in to calm my racing heart, making no move to get up because I knew it was useless. Whispers of this being some kind of escape room puzzle floated through.
… I didn't think buying cheap sketchy merch from Amazon would get me into this situation, into this novel specifically… even if I’ve fantasized about it countless times.
It felt so surreal, I couldn't help but just stare at my reflection. I looked a little older than a minute ago, whether from stress or some weird magic shenanigans, I didn't know. It was probably the latter—didn’t the protagonist also turn a bit younger when he arrived here? My age was probably adjusted to make sure I could fit in with my colleagues properly… it'd be odd if a highschooler worked at a pharmaceutical company without graduating first.
While I was deeply lost in thought, someone moved in front of me. My raised head looked up to see a woman with dark brown hair, the ends curling into itself over her shoulders. She looked pretty… but not like anyone in the novel. Probably a side character who'd die later.
“Ah, hello… this is a bit of a bizarre situation, isn't it?”
I blinked. Was she talking to me? Looking around, I made sure I was the only one nearby. Then I stood up so fast that my head started to feel woozy, but I forced out polite smile anyway, not wanting to seem rude. I really wish she hadn't approached me first, but considering we were meant to be colleagues, the awkward small talks were inevitable…
“It really is. It feels so real, it makes me wonder if we've actually been in a subway this whole time?”
I knew my joke would probably land flat, but the words escaped my mouth before I could stop them. Feeling a bit out of place, I covered my smile with a fist, avoiding eye contact. I really can't stand talking with people I don't know. Why did she even start talking to me out of everyone? There were lots of other, better, charming people here, ready to talk unlike me. Even back in school, I’d stumble over the simplest Japanese… wait, what language was I speaking in?
“That would definitely be a plot twist. Well, I hope they tell us how they did it later! I think it would make a cool party trick.”
Holy crap? I understood her Korean perfectly. I could even speak it perfectly myself! I didn't even realize it until now with how fast everything was moving. Thank you, Transmigration Gods! I don't have to learn a whole different language! It was a weird feeling, knowing and speaking something unfamiliar.
Just as I was about to open my mouth, feeling a sudden rush of excitement to speak again, the cheerful ringing that signaled an announcement sounded from the speakers.
[This stop is Sorrow, Sorrow Station.]
The calming yet unnerving voice snapped me out of my joy. No, I can't lose focus. This was a ghost story where the death rate is high. It started exactly the same from what little I can remember from the novel. It's been so long since I last opened it, and I really only remembered the ending to Part 2, plus the plot twist at the end of Part 1. Actually, now that I thought about it, could I also be…?
Argh, if only I had a cheat or a system window like every classic protagonist. A Memory Socket, I think that's what it's called, would be amazing right now. Unfortunately my merchandise box was a scam and only had bubble wrap in it. I should've known it was a fake when a mini figurine made abroad costed only 500 yen…
My hand subconsciously drifted down to the right pocket of my pants and I felt the familiar ridges of my smartphone. Thank God. Maybe I still had the epub downloaded.
[The doors are on your right...]
The train slowed down before coming to a complete stop. Everyone in the car went quiet, seemingly holding their breath and not daring to move an inch.
[The doors are opening.]
The doors did open, excruciatingly slow like it had been damaged. Further beyond it was an ordinary subway station. Though it was a bit dark and damp, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The employees plainly relaxed when they saw there was nothing too weird outside, even laughing about how scary that moment felt. Especially the extroverted group of five, they were starting to get rowdy again. It's a wonder how only a handful of people could nearly burst my eardrums.
[The doors will close in 30 seconds. Once closed, they will never open again.]
[Passengers whose destination is Sorrow Station should disembark according to the announcement.]
“Pssh, it's just a subway. C'mon, let's get out of here!”
The leader of the small group, I can only assume, urged the others on to join him in going outside. He had this cheerful and confident aura around him, his hair neatly styled into an all-back. His clothes on the other hand were a bit rougher, tie loosened and top button undone.
“Um, is it really safe outside?”
A female voice called out to them, stopping them from going out further. It was the woman next to me! She really had a golden heart—talking to a loner like me to saving others. I couldn't help but silently call her Senior in my heart…
“Haah? Of course it is, can't you see?”
The leader was clearly starting to get annoyed. What an asshole. She's trying to save you, dipshit! Maybe she shouldn't have stopped them.
“Well, it's just that the announcement earlier said ‘Sorrow Station,’ and I don't think that's an… actual station? Shouldn't we be a bit more cautious…? Ah, those are just my thoughts.”
She politely bowed, somehow apologetic for being the only smart person in this car. Even though I wasn't the perpetrator, I still felt a bit of guilt.
The guy waved his hand at her dismissively, moving to step outside anyway, and I almost wanted to push him out myself.
“Wait, she's right. I think we should wait a bit more. Look, the people in the other cars aren't getting off.”
Oh? Someone else, from the extroverted group, spoke up. He was tall, with messy hair and round glasses. His build was lean, and his skin pale. He looked like he could be on the front page of a Korean magazine. Was he a unnamed canon character? There should be others who passed the test other than the main four newbies. Authors like making their characters pretty, right… Then could the woman next to me be also?
[The doors are closing.]
The announcer spoke from the speakers again, reminding everyone in the car that time was up. The asshole tried to move, but the model held the other’s wrist and shook his head. He then pointed outside the window again towards where the panicked people from the other car got off. Oh, that must be the protagonist’s car. I silently thanked the Transmigration Gods for not placing me in the same place as the protagonist. My heart wasn't ready for that yet.
One, two… Only two people got off? Was it like that? I would pull out my phone to check, but it'd definitely be odd if I did now. Especially with what was going to happen next.
The two people who stood outside the door waved to the others who didn't get out, an almost smug expression on their faces. The protagonist really did do a bad job on describing things, because I could see the way their ego shot through the roof… well, not for any longer.
As soon as they moved, silver colored droplets poured onto them, their bodies melting under the liquid. Red and silver splattered onto the windows like rain. We all watched silently as they dissolved into nothing but pieces of flesh and bone.
I glanced away at the others, not wanting to see the scene any longer. It was more grotesque than I thought it would be. My head started to pound as I turned away and covered my ears. It's not that I've never seen anything gory, or that I was adverse to that sort of stuff like the protagonist—I had unrestricted access to the internet as a kid, plus I lived in Japan where the suicide rate was high, so I've grown a sort of tolerance to corpses and gore.
What bothered me most was how they screamed. Being forced to hear people shout and beg for their mother was… certainly an experience.
I've always hated unexpectedly loud noises. Sudden fireworks, public karaoke, doors slamming. It's a known fact that sound is half the scare in horror, so I've always played the media with the sounds off.
[Please pay attention to the announcements for a pleasant journey to your destination.]
A quiet sigh escaped my lips as I watched everyone’s faces go pale with shock. Even the asshole who almost got off the train started to tremble. Lucky bastard.
With fear filling the air, the story finally made its start. How exciting.
Just kill me already.