Let’s take a moment.
Let’s look at Baek Saheon’s eventful record of witnessing his psychopathic roommate.
The psycho who mocked him for giving up his left eye, the dopamine addict who used people as bait in the dangerous Darkness, the madman who swung an axe while pretending to be a serial killer….
‘And now he’s playing cult leader??’
At this point, it goes beyond being appalled; a state of anomie begins to set in, where it feels only natural for all these personas to belong to that bastard Kim Soleum.
He could accept all of that.
But how on earth was he running into that bastard right now!
‘I even took a vacation to get away!’
He hadn't just left the company housing; he had left Seoul entirely.
Baek Saheon shook his head violently for a moment, wondering if he was having a nightmare, but the reality was unrelenting.
Accompanied by two superiors from the Elite Team and leading dozens of people, Kim Soleum was standing in the middle of the Car 3 aisle with his arms raised.
Spouting things that sounded truly cult-like.
“There is no need for concern. We will all be able to overcome this test safely.”
If there was any emotional consolation, it was that the idiots in this train car were pointing fingers at the guy!
“What’s with that guy?”
“F*ck, now some crazy bastard is…”
“Sigh…”
“D-Don’t make eye contact.”
Ridicule and rejection erupted toward Kim Soleum, who was babbling insane nonsense.
‘Y-Yeah. This is normal….’
However, Kim Soleum didn’t even flinch.
He simply wore a gentle smile and looked around Car 3.
“…?!”
That was even scarier!
"Everyone, you must be bewildered by this crowd of people suddenly arriving. And you're probably wondering what kind of crazy talk this is."
‘Test? What test?’
Kim Soleum gave a sheepish, bitter smile, looking every bit like a neat office worker.
“To be honest, even as I’m saying this, well… I know it sounds like a cult. So it’s quite embarrassing for me as well.”
His tone was calm and not particularly heightened. It was a serious tone, as if he were giving advice to an acquaintance at a cafe.
“But because this is such a terrifying and horrific situation, I’m gathering the courage to speak up. …If one knows the answer, it is one’s duty as a human being to share it.”
Kim Soleum’s expression hardened as he made eye contact with the people around him.
“I hope you can set aside your aversion just for a moment and think about this. We aren't fools; that's why dozens of us have come together to tell the same story.”
Baek Saheon looked around.
He saw people on the verge of going insane in this unrealistic situation, dying and restarting in a train that plummeted meaninglessly several times.
He saw Kim Soleum starting to say exactly what those people, who desperately wanted to escape this train or for it to be a dream, wanted to hear.
That story told with such conviction.
“This is a test, and there is a way to pass it.”
A voice suddenly popped out.
“So… you mean you know how to get out of here?”
“That is correct.”
“…!!”
Kim Soleum naturally turned his gaze back.
Then, the people from Car 7 standing behind him shouted with eyes sparkling with excitement and passion.
“Just once out the window!”
“You just have to go out the window. Then it’s over!”
“What kind of crazy talk is that?!”
A flurry of additional explanations poured out toward the horrified people in Car 3.
“No, I’m telling you, there’s a way to do it without it hurting! About ten people have already gone out that way!”
“Honestly, it’s a bit gruesome, but you just have to look at the light and head for the exit. Anyone can do it.”
“For those who have trouble walking, someone else can fall with them and support them! It’s not hard at all!”
“If only The Precursor helps…!”
The surprising thing was that while they said only ten people had left, dozens were explaining it.
No, nearly a hundred people were following that crowd, and people from other cars were mixed in among them.
Kim Soleum watched those eyes filled with hope and passion, then turned his gaze forward and smiled brightly again.
“That’s right. Everyone. You can all go out the window.”
At that moment, Baek Saheon realized.
“There won’t be any problems.”
“He’s right!”
He’s scamming them!
‘T-That crazy bastard.’
He’s inciting the other idiots to jump all at once so he can slip away himself!
‘But you can’t fool me.’
Baek Saheon swallowed hard, thinking that he alone had noticed.
“Um, if you listen to the stories of the people who went out the window here…”
“Us! Our couple went out at the second Altar during our third life…”
He clicked his tongue as he watched the people of Car 3 gradually start to listen to the people of Car 7, who were sharing their experiences as if they were writing testimonials for passing an exam.
Fools.
‘He could even manufacture those kinds of experiences by brainwashing them with my fountain pen!’
It was certain that Kim Soleum had brainwashed the people using the fountain pen he had confiscated.
Right. If that was the case, he just had to maintain his strategy.
‘Let’s stay still.’
He just had to avoid joining that procession of Kim Soleum worshippers.
Baek Saheon made a firm vow and wore a triumphant smile.
It was fortunate that he had judged the situation so quickly.
He had almost been swept up in the mess!
‘I’ll just stay out of sight and hold out until that guy tricks the other idiots and throws them all out at once….’
It was then.
“Hey, instead of a long explanation, we’ll show you right now! Going out the window!”
Huh?
“I’ll be the one going out the window at this Altar.”
“That’s right. This person has earned the qualification this time.”
“Oohhh!”
“Everyone, applaud!”
Wait?
“Since you have to go out alone at the first Altar, it might be lonelier and scarier….”
“It’s okay! I want to do exactly as The Precursor did!”
“I-I’m not a precursor, just someone who tried it first… Ahem. Yes. If you say so.”
Kim Soleum gave a slightly embarrassed smile, then took the person’s hand with a serious, prayer-like expression.
“I will also do my best to protect the applicant from pain and to provide a powerful Token.”
“…! Yes!”
Entering the First Altar
Baek Saheon watched the situation with a dumbfounded expression.
In the red train car that had grown dim upon entering the Altar, he saw Kim Soleum lightly grasping the person’s forearm and doing something….
“I’ll be back!”
“See you in a bit!”
“Good luck!”
And amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the people, the applicant climbed down the window with a determined face.
After that happened several times, and then several times more….
Entering the Fourth Altar
“These are the last people.”
And then he realized.
‘…The Items!’
Kim Soleum was subtly using Items on the people going down.
He didn’t know what they were, but they were so that people wouldn't go insane even if they really fell from the window!
‘W-Wait a minute.’
He was actually being serious?
And for that psychopath to go that far…
Baek Saheon’s mind raced as he instantaneously shifted his stance.
‘This Darkness, it’s a first-come, first-served clear!’
Wasn't it the type where it wouldn't be cleared until the required number of people was filled on a first-come, first-served basis?
‘Falling out the window was the main game all along!’
And Kim Soleum was the kind of bastard who would definitely play cult leader just to incite people to jump in voluntarily.
Why?
‘Because that provides more dopamine!’
Because that was more fun than dragging people and throwing them out the window by force!
He was truly a chilling fellow….
Baek Saheon shuddered.
But that wasn't what was important right now.
‘If that bastard has a plan!’
Then!
“S-Supervisor!”
He was jumping on board!
He raised his hand high and stood up for the first time, revealing his presence.
It was right after the train brightened after passing the 4th Altar.
“Wh-What?”
“Was there someone there?”
Whether the people in the same car, who had come to know each other through five repeated loops, were surprised by the unfamiliar face or not.
Baek Saheon put on an even more surprised face and desperately tried to speak to Kim Soleum in a natural and friendly manner.
Yes, to Kim Soleum!
Actually, he wanted to speak to the Elite Team first, but no matter how much he thought about it, he didn't think they would meaningfully engage with a new recruit they didn't know.
In that case, let’s target the one with whom he had at least the connection of being roommates.
Since that psychopath seemed to be the face of the operation anyway!
“Oh my goodness… Hello! I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“…….”
Kim Soleum stared at him without a word.
Then he grinned.
“Really? I knew you were here.”
Fck!*
“Truly?”
“Haha, no way. I was joking. How would I know?”
“…….”
Baek Saheon barely suppressed the anger rising through his fear!
“Ah, this person is also a colleague from the same company. I heard he took his annual leave; I guess he was on his way down to his hometown.”
“Ah.”
“Nice to meet ya.”
The two Elite Team employees gave a rough nod. They didn't feel any particular inspiration from a rookie who hadn't even finished his probation.
Instead, it was the people standing behind who were delighted.
“Ah, since you’re a colleague, you might be able to go out the window right away!”
“Right. Just like those people!”
Exactly!
Baek Saheon brightened up.
“Ah, I-If that’s the case, I would gladly take the test through the window as well….”
“No. This person does not have the qualification yet.”
You son of a bitch!
“Th-Then… when will I have the qualification?”
Kim Soleum shook his head as he looked at Baek Saheon as if it were truly a pity.
“That, I cannot know.”
“…….”
“I am merely a person who passed this test first, and I only wish to guide everyone along the path with the least pain possible.”
A vein popped on Baek Saheon’s temple.
But he desperately smiled and said.
“I see. Ah! One moment, I know the situation is like this, but I’d like to have a quiet conversation between the two of us regarding company business….”
“Ahem!”
Thunderous criticism erupted from among the passengers who were fully focused and immersed in seeing off the people going out the window.
“No, the train is in this state and you're talking about company work? Trying to call The Precursor away for such a trivial matter….”
“This guy has no sense of the situation!”
“It’s alright, everyone. Everyone might have different things they consider important…. We have some time until the next life, so I’ll go have a quick conversation.”
“Oh, of course, of course.”
The people whispered that he was ‘so kind it was a problem.’
Baek Saheon didn't even get goosebumps anymore….
“Shall we talk over here?”
“…Let’s!”
However, as soon as they went to the restroom and locked the door, he couldn't hold back.
“Listen. I saw you using Items, Supervisor.”
The smile Kim Soleum had been wearing until a moment ago vanished like a lie, replaced by an expressionless face as he crossed his arms.
“And?”
Baek Saheon swallowed hard.
“I’m just… saying you should think about it. What would happen if I went out now and exposed everything to the people?”
He had to drag this madman to the negotiating table somehow.
However, Kim Soleum stared at Baek Saheon in silence… then gave a slight nod.
“Braun says you won’t do that.”
“…Ah, really?”
“Yeah. He says if you did that in this atmosphere, you’d be thrown out the window with your bare body.”
“…….”
“Since the result is the same, it’s simpler to just jump voluntarily, so there’s no reason to go back.”
It was the truth.
‘F-Fck.’*
Baek Saheon gulped.
Fortunately, instead of pressuring him further, Kim Soleum did something unexpected.
He used a carrot instead of a whip.
“Now that I think about it, there’s something I want to ask of you.”
“……!”
“I need your eye.”
Huh?
“The one I gave you as a gift.”
Baek Saheon reflexively touched his eye patch.
Thinking of the purple Sclera Inversion that would be underneath.
When checking the field of vision through that equipment, danger zones or beings would appear as hot-colored Halos.
An excellent hazard detector.
It was also a tool that would be incredibly useful for the Field Exploration team, where split-second judgment was crucial.
To the point where Baek Saheon himself couldn't understand why Kim Soleum had given it to him.
Well, the reason was actually simple.
It was because… Kim Soleum was highly likely to see everything as a bright red Halo even if he wore that equipment….
Since it was a body part, it was heavily influenced by the wearer's subconscious judgment, so it wasn't very effective for someone with the heart of a coward.
However, giving it to someone else would be like encouraging them to pull out their own eyeball, so he ended up giving it to Baek Saheon, who was already missing one.
In fact, he was the perfect person for it.
There was no one among their colleagues with a stronger survival instinct than him.
In any case, Baek Saheon, who didn't know all these principles, merely asked warily.
“…When should I use it?”
“In Car 1.”
“Car 1?”
He felt like he had heard that in the people’s conversations. Baek Saheon frowned and racked his brain before remembering.
“…I think they said the door there is closed.”
“That’s right.”
Kim Soleum readily admitted it.
“The door has probably been locked since the 2nd round. And now, they’ll be locking the door every time we return to the start of the train.”
“…….”
Just hearing about it….
It was suspicious.
‘No, more importantly, how does that guy know this?’
Didn't he come from Car 7?
Then how on earth did he know the situation in the very first car so well?
‘Is he saving people and leading them around because of this…?’
For intelligence?
W-Whatever.
“So what do you want me to do?”
“It’s simple.”
Kim Soleum said casually.
“When the door to Car 1 opens, go straight there and pick out the person who shows up as the most dangerous.”
“W-Who on earth is in Car 1?”
“I don't know.”
If you don't know, who does!
Sure enough, Kim Soleum tilted his head and stroked his chin.
“But you see…. In Car 1, they’ve been dropping people out the window as they please every time.”
“…!”
“Without me knowing. It seems someone is being dropped in every round…. It’s such a pity. It must be painful….”
“…….”
“So I’m going to stop them.”
That’s a lie.
“How about it? Sounds good, right?”
“T-That’s right. Truly!”
This is a total lie.
‘He’s going to crush them for ruining the big picture by dropping people as they please, fck.’*
But he decided not to say a word.
Because Baek Saheon valued his own life….
Instead, he smiled desperately and said.
“I-In that case. If I identify the most dangerous person in Car 1, wouldn’t that person earn a ‘qualification’? The qualification to receive an Item, I mean.”
You’re giving me an Item for this, right?
“Hmm? That’s a favor I asked of you. What do Items and qualifications have to do with it?”
“…….”
“Rather, if someone were to encourage the people of Car 2 by saying let’s try our best to persuade them until the door of Car 1 opens voluntarily, well… wouldn’t that person earn a qualification?”
“…….”
Baek Saheon smiled broadly!
“Wow! That’s exactly what I wanted to do. Hahaha….”
“Really? Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes!”
Die!
Just die, Kim Soleum, you son of a bitch!
And so, Kim Soleum successfully made Baek Saheon perform unpaid labor.
‘They say even dog dung can be used as medicine.’
“You’ve come!”
“Yes. Let’s do our best this time too.”
The train started again. The people of Car 7 greeted each other vigorously and also greeted Kim Soleum. No, now people from other cars came over and talked about this and that.
They looked stable, to the point where one wouldn't think they had experienced the train crashing six times.
…As expected, it seemed true that having hope made it at least a little easier to endure.
‘The important thing is to keep the people’s spirits together.’
And to do that… he had to keep playing this crazy pseudo-cult scammer role that he wasn't even suited for….
‘Sob.’
-Let’s go, Mr. Roe Deer! I’m looking forward to seeing which audience—no, passenger—will be anticipating your wonderful performance today. Ah, it’s truly fun….
“Everyone, today, many people in Car 8 have earned their qualifications.”
“Ooooohhh!”
Braun, please don't cheer too.
Kim Soleum was starting to feel a sense of existential dread, but regardless, he didn't give up on faithfully scamming the people.
No, he applied himself to the task enthusiastically.
And time passed….
Round 14.
“The Precursor!”
“The Precursor, we’re almost there now. Haha!”
Kim Soleum succeeded in unifying public opinion in every car except Car 1, gaining the support of 342 out of the 355 passengers across seven train cars.
It had reached the point where Braun started asking Kim Soleum if he was interested in producing related programs.
Now, only one car remained.
‘Car 1.’
The place where 53 passengers had been quietly isolated without any news since the 2nd round, keeping the door locked.
A place where the only thing that could be known was that they were steadily offering sacrifices.
“I-It’s open!”
Finally, news arrived.
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