Chapter 70 Waiting for the Train at the Station
The weekend passed quickly, and you still had to go to class.
The weather was bad today. It was chilly indoors when I woke up this morning. When the language class was about to end, the drizzle that had been brewing for half a day finally started to fall. By the time the class was over and we could go back to the dormitory, the drizzle had turned into a downpour.
A faint smell of earth wafted up from the first floor, and the air felt slightly fishy.
You coughed a few times; you seem a bit sick.
I rubbed my eyes with my slightly cold hands, gathered up and put away the computer and the materials the teacher had given me, and just as I unlocked my phone which was in Do Not Disturb mode, several messages popped up at the top of the screen.
It's an app called LINE. It's from Japan, but you don't recall downloading it.
Has this triggered some new "plot"?
Good afternoon! You were absent last week, are you feeling better?
After the other party sent several messages full of emoticons, the content she wanted to say was at the very bottom:
Don't forget your work today!
You paused for a moment.
work to earn a living?
So, is it your turn to start working? — No, that's not the point. The problem is you're completely unprepared, both mentally and physically. You've diligently attended classes all morning, and spent several nights cramming on Japanese language these past few days. You're exhausted and just want to rush back to your dorm for a good night's sleep.
Ah, well, there's nothing we can do about that. Many things just pop up at the last minute; if Xiaoming and the others can handle it, so can you.
You let out a plaintive "Ah!" from your throat and start checking the other related content that had been updated on your phone along with the job offer.
A simple contract with your work address in it.
That's a convenience store near the hot springs in the South District, which is at least a 10-minute drive from the North District where your school is located.
That's really strange. The school isn't far from the central district, which is full of shopping malls, and there are even many small shops near the school. Why would anyone go so far?
You temporarily suppress some of your wild guesses and swipe right to open your online bank account.
There were only a little over 10,000 Japanese yen and a contract worth a little over 1,000 flower coins left.
.
...
...
You swear you're really not a big spender.
In the first two instances, you were relatively well-off. Even in the Deguo instance, you didn't have much money in your bank account, but at that time, eating 12 large potatoes every day could really choke you to death. You didn't have any other expenses, so you didn't feel short of money at all.
But this time, you didn't have the credit card from your parents in the dungeon, and the only bank card you had for living expenses hadn't had enough money in it from the start. And you used most of that money to get a talisman from the Great Temple.
The amulet was effective; as soon as you put it on, you felt warm and had a sense of security that came from within. You then placed several more amulets around the house, and finally, you were no longer bothered by the translator's continued possession.
Even if it's expensive, I'll accept it. As for what happens next, you're waiting for the TV station's payment, so your living expenses for the next month will be covered.
Who would have thought the procedures here would be so complicated, with so many layers of checks at the bank? Only a few days have passed, so of course the money can't be credited yet.
Ten thousand Japanese yen is more than enough to last a few more days, but you've been calculating for so long, mainly focusing on one issue:
Can you still take a taxi to work?
To be honest, you find this place eerie. It might be related to the many horror movies you've watched since childhood, or it might be related to the fact that the entire instance here operates completely differently from before. In any case, you tend to approach everything here with a conservative attitude.
If you can avoid going out, then stay home. If you must go out, walk in crowded, open spaces. If the distance is far, take a taxi. This will generally prevent you from triggering any scary scenarios.
But now, taking a taxi from where you are to the convenience store would cost three or four thousand Japanese yen, which is a huge burden on your wallet. And this message appears on your phone almost right on time, leaving you not enough time for your commute to find a public bicycle and ride there.
I have no choice but to take the tram.
The station was just a few minutes' walk from the language institute building. Because of the rain, the platform was crowded with people.
You walk through the crowd with your backpack on, your steps hesitant.
There are too many people.
Especially in a world where rules are often hidden, the most dangerous places are always the most crowded. The "unspoken rules" of the instance are not explicitly stated, but you know in your heart that every platform and every corner may hide a spying gaze or a trap.
The machine at the ticket gate beeped, and you successfully swiped your card to pass through.
The platform floor tiles were wet, as if someone had gotten caught in the rain without an umbrella, leaving a trail of dark footprints. You carefully avoided stepping on these footprints, while completely blending into the crowd until you reached the waiting area. There, you found a corner against the wall, huddled up, and minimized your presence.
The light rail has arrived. But this isn't the one you need. I squeezed myself even further into the corner so as not to obstruct others from getting on and off.
Beep beep beep—
The train doors opened, and a pleasant female voice announced the station name. The crowd on the platform immediately surged forward, filling the carriage to capacity.
Passengers getting off and boarding the train formed staggered lines, quickly emptying the platform.
As the train pulled away from the platform, another wave of passengers entered the station.
A group of people stopped in front of you and scrutinized you closely.
You felt a little uneasy under their gaze. What were they trying to do?
These people don't look like they know each other.
Looking at the open space in front of you, you suddenly realized what was going on. You took a few steps forward and followed the people in front of you in line. The people in the line seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and stood behind you, forming a complete line.
A few more minutes passed.
The second light rail train has arrived.
You looked up and saw that the logo on the front of the car was the same as before; it still wasn't your car.
The crowd began to move again, mechanically surging towards the train. Just moments before the train arrived, they had been a lively group, chatting and laughing, but now they seemed to have reverted to their numb selves.
They surged onto the train, they surged off the train, and you, in the queue, kept moving forward until the train drove away.
How much longer until your bus arrives? The next one should be here.
You feel a sudden, inexplicable panic. Reaching into your pocket, you find the expensive amulet you bought in your bag, only to discover its surface is slightly warm. Instinctively, you tighten your grip on the amulet, your gaze sweeping towards the edge of the platform where there are no safety railings.
Just then, in the corner of your eye, a strange scene catches your eye—someone suddenly jumps off the tracks at the edge of the platform.
"Bang!"
His body disappeared onto the tracks, as if swallowed up, without any screams or bloodstains.
You were stunned, but no one around you reacted. The crowd on the platform continued to come and go, and no one gave you a second glance, as if nothing had happened.
The station was quickly filled up again.
You're trying to convince yourself it's just an illusion when you see another person slowly walk to the edge of the platform and jump off without hesitation. Then, a third, a fourth… the crowd comes alive again. They no longer have the stiffness of a robotic army rushing to catch a train; they laugh and joke as they gradually move towards the edge of the platform.
They lined up, chatting about everyday life, their movements lively and vibrant, before leaping down.
Your eyes widened, and fear seeped into your body like ice water.
You know you're in this group.
No… now you’re really confused. Why did this have to happen to you?
There were seven more people, then six more, and you were pushed further and further forward until you could clearly see the situation on the tracks:
Those who jumped did not die from the fall, nor did they survive unharmed.
Instead, they turned into blurry shadows, twisting and swaying on the tracks.
They looked like a mass of leaden gray, and when the wind blew, they stretched out long arms, climbing towards the crowd on the platform and pulling more and more people deeper into the tracks.
You jerked back, trying to get away from these people. However, a pair of hands blocked your way from behind.
They spoke simple Neon words—"Your hard work these past few days has paid off, you understood—"
"Don't leave the group..."
"It's a hassle to queue again..."
"Don't cause trouble for others..."
Perhaps because your intention to run away was too obvious, more people on the platform started to block you from the opposite direction.
"Your turn will be coming soon..."
"Go quickly..."
"It's okay..."
Watching my body being involuntarily swept along by the crowd, moving closer to the edge of the platform.
"It's okay my foot!" you cried out in your heart, the amulet was so hot that you could barely hold it.
You glanced down at the tracks; the shadows were still writhing. Whether it was a hallucination or not, you thought you heard a gurgling laugh.
You struggle to get out of the crowd, but you're already standing on the edge of the platform. Your toes are almost dangling over the tracks.
And those shadowy, twisted fingers have climbed the steps and are reaching for your ankles.
At that very moment, the light rail whistle sounded.
You see the lights of the next train slowly approaching from the darkness, but the passengers don't care and just happily jump off.
You wanted to scream, but something seemed to be blocking your throat, and you could only let out low, hoarse breaths. The amulet in your hand seemed to sense your fear, trembling slightly, as if reminding you of something.
"Run! Don't get caught in it!" A thought flashed through your mind. You struggled with all your might to break free from the shoving around you and used all your strength to push in the opposite direction of the crowd.
You stumbled, nearly falling. Suddenly, a small crack appeared in the amulet, casting a faint light that shone on the climbing shadows. They seemed to be suppressed, writhing and retreating beneath the tracks, letting out a low, unwilling growl.
The light rail train roared past, obscuring the scene on the platform. You slumped to the ground, panting heavily, your palms clammy with sweat. The surrounding passengers resumed their normal behavior, as if nothing had just happened.
Instead, they stared at you and whispered among themselves, as if you were some kind of weirdo.
Screw you all!
You rolled your eyes at everyone who was looking at you, and when they saw you dare to glare back, they immediately turned their heads away and stopped paying attention to you.
Brush off the dust, and get up, still shaken.
He held up the amulet in his palm; apart from a small crack and a slightly worn appearance, it was in good condition.
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Author's Note: Good evening! I'll be updating like crazy on Sunday... ^ ^
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