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

Chapter 4

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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One person had escaped from the ghost story.

Except, with their eye gouged out.

“Phew…….”

“Did you hear that sound?”

However, unlike the past few times, although the passengers were revolted and terrified, they did not feel sorry.

‘Is this the end of violence without persuasion?’

The inside of the train was briefly noisy as people checked the condition of the person Baek Sa-heon had attacked.

[This station is Hatred, Hatred Station.]

“Hatred, my foot…….”

“Sigh.”

They sank into a deeper depression at the announcement.

Go Yeong-eun, who was tending to the new employee clutching his left eye, stood up. Her face was somewhat dark.

“I’m almost certain his cornea is damaged, which is worrying…….”

“Were you perhaps a medical professional?”

“No. Just my college major was that way… Anyway, I transferred during school, so I’m just an amateur who couldn’t even take the national exam.”

Go Yeong-eun sighed and sat down cross-legged on the floor.

[The screen doors are opening.]

The train doors opened, but people only glanced and threw looks without moving. They merely watched the outside with wary gazes.

And at the same time, they also stared at me.

As if checking if I would ask them to get off here.

‘It’s a relief that they are mindful of me.’

I had worried that they would distrust each other more because of Baek Sa-heon, but on the contrary, having a common enemy had calmed them down.

Because the situation was running so crazily, they also seemed to expect the next words of the person who had spoken with some confidence earlier.

That was, well… me.

I even had a expectation that they might delegate the decision of the station to me at this rate…….

“Excuse me, this is… a bit burdensome, right?”

“……?”

Go Yeong-eun spoke with a troubled expression.

“The fact that people keep trying to rely on you.”

But actually, I appreciate it……?

“Everyone is doing that because they are scared and anxious, so I hope you don’t feel disgusted, thinking they are shameless… Ah. No, I’m sorry.”

But actually, I’m the one who is scared and anxious, trying to instigate people……?

“I also tried to think of something in my own way but…….”

Uh, anyway, opinions are welcome.

“What kind of thoughts did you have?”

“Well, I pondered about the ‘final destination’ you mentioned earlier.”

Go Yeong-eun spoke, lowering her voice.

“If it’s a person’s final destination… is it death after all?”

“……!”

“Right? The end of a human life… No matter how I think, it connects to that. I wondered if we should get off if a similar word comes up.”

Oh.

“But then, I also wondered if that just meant… dying peacefully? So…… I couldn’t bring myself to say it.”

“No. That is definitely a persuasive point.”

“Is… that so?”

“Yes. However…….”

I trailed off.

And without realizing it, I smiled slightly.

“…?”

Because I had seen the name of the next station on the display board.

“In the first place, what is a destination?”

“P-pardon?”

“If you look it up in a dictionary, a purpose or destination means the work one intends to realize or the direction in which one advances.”

And this train’s theme itself was intuitive.

Sit down, find the lost item.

The instructions were not given in a twisted way; literally, as long as you acted according to them, you were safe.

Even the people who got off at the wrong station died in an extremely intuitive manner.

Therefore, we could approach the expression ‘final destination’ in a similar way.

“I believe the destination this train speaks of ultimately means a point that the current ‘I’ has not realized or reached.”

Considering this, the criteria for choosing a station became extremely simple.

-Something I do not have.

If so, the escape cases could be seen in a new light.

—–

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 serial killers’ names such as ■■, ■■■■, ■■■.

: 12 successful escapes (■■■■ Station)

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

: Escape failed (Attempt: Year 2024 Station)

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

: 3 successful escapes (Attempt: Common Cold Station)

—–

At Blue Station, the people who got off and escaped must have been those who did not have blue on their bodies or belongings.

And it was also understandable why the number of escaping people was exceptionally high at the station bearing a serial killer’s name.

Because none of them would have been that serial killer, almost every station was a correct answer.

‘Conversely, for the station with body parts… since the probability of a person lacking a specific body part is low, they probably failed to escape.’

The same went for the station indicated by a year. The year 2024 was a year all passengers had lived through, which was why they failed.

Applying this logic, the station we had to get off at now became clear.

-An emotion I do not have.

“……So, we must choose an emotion that we absolutely do not feel right now.”

“Pardon?”

Here, it became rapidly tricky.

‘Most humans feel all of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.’

Unless they were a type of person deficient in a particular emotion. It became extremely difficult to choose a station. Because anyone would feel it, even if there was a difference in intensity.

Therefore…….

An emotion that represents a flat state not expressed by intensity.

‘A sentiment that exists as a concept, but is actually extremely difficult to be perfectly in.’

We had to choose this.

[This station is Taepyeong, Taepyeong Station.]

The announcement was broadcast.

This time, too, it was easy to think that an ordinary emotion had appeared as the station name. In fact, we often use the expression ‘That person is really carefree/easygoing’ in daily life.

However…….

‘It is an expression frequently used when speculating on another person’s state.’

Very few people describe themselves as carefree.

And for good reason.

In its dictionary definition, ‘Taepyeong’ (carefree) means ‘having absolutely no worries or anxieties in one’s mind.’

But really, can a person be carefree without any worries or anxieties?

‘The probability of that is…….’

We should consider it almost nonexistent.

Especially in an extreme situation like this.

“This station is the correct answer.”

“……!”

“We will get off here.”

Speaking with confidence and certainty, I did not hesitate.

I stood up immediately. The people stood up from their seats in spite of themselves and stared at me.

“H-here?”

“Yes.”

And approaching the injured new employee who was clutching his eye, I helped him stand.

“I will support you.”

“Ah, th-thank… you.”

As I guided the injured man to the front of the door, the huddled people followed in spite of themselves. Now, none of us can back out.

We are going out together.

‘Good.’

Fitting in among the people and escaping just like this…….

[The screen doors are opening.]

But the outside of the opened door is a sea of blood.

“…….”

No… crossing the line, no, what the fuck is this…….

‘Save me.’

“Mr. Kim Sol-eum?”

I almost hid behind Go Yeong-eun.

The last shred of an adult’s dignity stopped me.

Instead, creaking my neck, I looked back at the people.

“Is this place… certain?”

“Yes.”

It just so happens to be so.

But I couldn’t think of any flowery words to convince them to get off.

Actually, I didn’t want to get off myself in the first place.

I wished someone would convince me that we didn’t have to get off. Please, someone.

“…Excuse me! I still think it’s right to go out.”

Pardon?

Go Yeong-eun?

“Among us, he is the only one who has certainty in his opinion. While everyone else is scared, he has also been continuously calm by himself.”

Me?

“Earlier, that guy caused all that fuss just to get off by himself… I’d rather listen to a good person’s opinion. Personally.”

And Go Yeong-eun bravely stepped outside the door first.

On the completely rusted platform, the lights flickered eerily, and from the pipes on the exposed steel framework, liquid dripped instead of water.

Blood dripped onto Go Yeong-eun’s shoulder. Ha, ha…….

“Mr. Kim Sol-eum?”

“…….”

“Don’t worry about me. I also believe you! Let’s go!”

The injured man I was supporting urged me.

He seemed to think I was hesitating to consider his intentions. I was starting to get confused myself about whether I was grateful or resentful.

In any case, thanks to that, I naturally followed behind Go Yeong-eun. Behind us, the hesitating people poured out in a crowd.

Still, I felt glad that I didn’t get off last.

It’s easy to overlook, but standing at the very end is actually the scariest part…….

‘…Sigh.’

At this point, I wanted to cut ties with myself.

“Shall we go to the stairs?”

“Yes.”

Even in the midst of this, Go Yeong-eun looked at the other open cars and shouted.

“Excuse me! Everyone, get off! This is the correct answer!”

I didn’t know how effective it was. On the contrary, many people probably didn’t get off out of wariness, but…….

‘Still, if even one more person gets off after hearing those words, we are saving that person.’

I felt a bit of respect for her.

No, I was trying, striving, to focus all my attention on that feeling of respect…….

Deciding to support the injured man was truly an excellent decision. Even when my attention was dispersed and my strength was about to fail, I reflexively endured it.

I’d like to recommend it to all cowards.

Although very few cowards would be placed in a dog-like situation like this!

“Ughhhhh…….”

“Let’s, let’s walk.”

I walked among the people, striving as hard as possible not to look at my surroundings.

The stairs came into view.

‘Tattered talismans plastered all over…….’

Realizing that even that was not in a normal shape sent chills through every pore of my body, but…….

‘Let’s focus only on the sensation of climbing.’

One step.

One step.

I walked silently.

Soon, just as I felt the space before my eyes waving…….

[Wow! Congratulations, new employees!]

Before I knew it, we had returned to the lecture hall.

“……!!”

Bright lighting.

A modern, comfortable, spacious interior.

As a sense of reality returned with a rush, clear words were already floating on the giant screen in front of us.

<Congratulations> Completion of Probationary Period <Congratulations>

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

“Sigh…….”

“Ah!!”

The people who had escaped together collapsed into their seats as if the strength had left their legs.

I turned my head and counted the number of people.

One, two. Three…… seven.

Everyone who had remained in our car.

‘I lived.’

In the ghost story <Welcome to Abyss Transit Corporation>, seven out of ten people in the same car escaped.

[Now, there will be a gift presentation ceremony!]