Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 2

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 2

ep1. When the Siren Sounds (2)

Survival Rules for Missing Persons in “The Siren-Ringing Train Station”

■ General Precautions

One. Do not forget that you are human.

Only humans can escape from this place.

Two. Comply with the social norms of the Republic of Korea.

Criminal acts are not permitted even in Special Management Zones (SMZ).

Three. All acts of consumption such as eating, drinking, or reading are strictly prohibited in the Special Zone.

Such acts may cause serious damage to your body and mind.

■ Escape Guidelines for “The Siren-Ringing Train Station”

“The Siren-Ringing Train Station” is a railway station-type Special Zone characterized by sirens that sound every 47 minutes.

The escape routes identified so far are as follows. Please refer to the content below and we hope for your safe return.

-Next-

Route A. Escape by boarding a train

Route B. Escape through “Cloth Doll”

Route C. Escape through “Recycling Bin”

Route D. Take refuge in Special Zone “The Circulating Library”

Route E. Martyrdom

—

While reading the rule book, I habitually reached out with my right hand.

Hm? Oh, right.

I sighed belatedly at my hand flailing through empty air.

Without realizing it, I had been trying to grab a pen to underline each sentence.

This was an occupational hazard and chronic condition of editors.

It also meant there were that many errors in this rule book.

Why were the sentences written in such a state?

There were more than a few sentences that made me want to add comments.

But I set aside my editor’s ego for a moment and pondered the sentences before me as a missing person.

Even so, I couldn’t understand this one word in the end.

What the hell is ‘martyrdom’?

Could it possibly mean what I think it means?

After pondering, I first looked for and read the ‘martyrdom’ section in the detailed explanations of each route.

—

Route E. Martyrdom

Recommended when escape is not feasible or you lack the courage to choose Route C.

This Special Zone has areas whose internal structure and danger level have not yet been confirmed.

If you are prepared to face death, please head to the location specified below.

In case of martyrdom, a small consolation payment will be delivered to your legal heir.

Additionally, if meaningful information is confirmed through your sacrifice, substantial compensation will be provided.

—

…Really?

Learning the answer only made me feel more uncomfortable.

‘Martyrdom ‘ was exactly what it meant in the dictionary: ‘sacrificing one’s life for the country.’

So it was telling me to use my life, which was going to die anyway, to at least gather some information.

I was so dumbfounded that I checked the first part of the rule book again.

It clearly stated ‘Currently managed by the Government of South Korea.’

So is this really true?

Was South Korea a country that urged its citizens in distress to either escape on their own or sacrifice themselves?

Absurd content from start to finish.

But my reality was the same.

Besides, what if I don’t believe it because it’s suspicious?

Do I have any other clues or methods?

Unfortunately, no.

I don’t even know why those two people who suddenly died in front of me ended up that way.

So for now, I have no choice but to rely on this rule book.

I quickly read through the rule book with the desperation of grasping at straws.

The only thing I can choose here is ‘Route A. Escape by boarding a train.’

‘Route B. Escape through “Cloth Doll”‘ doesn’t meet the conditions at all.

‘Route C. Escape through “Recycling Bin”‘ is… I just don’t want to attempt it.

I’m weak at probability games.

Moreover, I don’t want to meet that janitor again.

In the end, Route A is the only route worth attempting.

But to board a train as written here, I first need to get a ticket.

There are two ways to obtain a ticket.

One is to purchase it at the Ticket Booth.

The other is through bartering.

In a normal situation, I would naturally buy a ticket at the Ticket Booth.

But purchasing a ticket here seemed nearly impossible.

Because the ticket was insanely expensive.

—

Route A. Escape by boarding a train

A ticket is required to board the train.

The price of tickets sold at the Ticket Booth is 15,870,000 won.

They can only be purchased with cash, and credit cards, debit cards, and blank checks cannot be used.

Also, please note that ATMs within the Special Zone do not operate.

—

No, what kind of person carries 15 million won in cash around with them…

Fortunately, the author of the rule book seemed to have had the same thought.

Below that was a reasonable alternative.

—

If you don’t have cash, you can exchange items for cash through the Item Storage Locker located in the Waiting Hall.

Put the item you want to exchange in row 7, column 1 of the Item Storage Locker and close the door.

Then the item placed in the locker will disappear, and cash equivalent to 70 percent of that item’s market value will be automatically dispensed.

Citizens who possess high-value items can secure cash through the above method to purchase tickets.

—

Hmm. A completely useless alternative.

Exchange my possessions for cash to make 15.87 million won.

It might be different for someone with expensive luxury goods, but for a poor editor, this was a method I couldn’t even attempt from the start.

I doubt even selling everything I currently own would yield a million won.

No, come to think of it, there’s not completely no way.

If I removed organs from inside my body and put them in, wouldn’t I earn enough for a ticket?

Of course, to use this method, I’d first need to find a kind surgeon.

I felt resentful and pitiful, but on the other hand, I thought it was for the best.

I can still vividly see the sight of that person’s head flying off in front of the Ticket Booth.

Since I don’t need to pass by there, let’s consider it a blessing. Yeah.

In the end, the method I could attempt was bartering.

I took a deep breath and stood up.

Then I slowly came out to the Waiting Hall.

It was quiet and clean, just like when I first arrived here.

All traces of the overflowing blood had been perfectly erased, and the janitor was nowhere to be seen.

I walked with my gaze fixed on the floor, trying not to look at the signs scattered around and the text on them.

A giant celadon jar placed as decoration.

Next to it was an escalator connecting to the second floor.

I rode the escalator that was operating by itself, and it led to the second floor corridor.

On one side of the corridor were restaurants and cafes.

On the other side were restrooms and various office spaces.

Those office spaces looked like conference rooms or business lounges.

However, I couldn’t read the sign text, so confirmation was impossible.

So I walked forward, counting the columns in the corridor.

One, two, three…

Following what was written in the manual, I stood in front of the sixth column and looked to the right, where there was an automatic glass door.

I couldn’t read the text written above it either.

But if I had found the right place, this would be the Military Personnel Lounge inside the station used by soldiers and military personnel.

As I approached, the glass door opened automatically.

Inside was set up like a small unmanned cafe.

Quite a cozy atmosphere.

But as soon as I entered, I was startled with surprise.

Something was sitting in the deepest part of the lounge.

It was wearing khaki top and bottom, but it didn’t look human.

With its head deeply bowed, that thing with abnormally long arms and legs.

So its knees, bent to sit in the chair, protruded at least 50cm above its head.

Moreover, its outer skin was cracked and glistening black like charcoal.

It looked like a spider that had died and shriveled up.

I was inwardly tense at that bizarre appearance.

Still, I pretended to be unaffected on the outside and approached politely to ask.

“Do you happen to have any unclaimed tickets?”

Then that strange thing slowly nodded its head.

—

If you cannot purchase a ticket at the ticket booth, go to the Military Personnel Lounge on the second floor of the waiting hall.

Then request a barter exchange with the “thing wearing old military uniform” there.

If it finds an item to its liking, it will give you a ticket.

Up to 5 barter attempts are safe, and more attempts may provoke the aggressiveness of the “thing wearing old military uniform.”

Items that have succeeded in barter exchange so far are as follows.

1. Cigarettes

2. Painkillers

3. Handkerchief

4. Silver ring

5. Cross, rosary

6. White flowers

7. Burn treatment medicine

8. Raw rice

Items that have failed in barter exchange so far are as follows.

1. Pornographic materials

2. Various electronic devices

3. Precious metals except silver rings

4. Food items such as snacks, chocolate, bread, kimbap, etc.

5. Various clothing and footwear

For your safety, attempting to barter the following items is prohibited.

1. Various firearms including replicas

2. Various bladed weapons including replicas

3. Various explosives and explosive materials including replicas

4. Living or dead humans

—

Among these, I don’t have any of the items I currently possess.

Whether from the successful side, the failed side, or the prohibited side.

None from any side.

Still, there was room to try.

Who would have thought that not organizing my bag due to the deadline would be helpful.

I had just visited a promotional goods company last week.

Thanks to that, my bag was now rolling around with various souvenirs and goods I received as samples.

I opened my bag and took out a metal cigarette case, placing it on the table.

No reaction.

I put away the cigarette case and placed a portable first aid kit on the table.

No reaction.

Instead of the first aid kit, I tried placing a flower-shaped keyring.

Still no reaction.

At the consecutive failures, I laughed emptily.

Room to try, my ass.

Right, it couldn’t be this simple.

Just because cigarettes, painkillers, and white flowers were possible, I had taken out the cigarette case, first aid kit, and flower-shaped items I had.

All of them failed spectacularly.

Now all that remained in my bag were miscellaneous items like bookmarks and memo pads.

If even these fail, I’ll have no choice but to move on to “The Circulating Library.”

Or enter the “Recycling Bin” leaving everything to luck.

I really don’t want to do either.

I rummaged through my bag wondering if there was anything else.

Then I felt something square along the lining of the bag.

Wondering what it was, I took it out from the inner pocket of the bag.

Ah, right. This was here?

What came out of the bag was a palm-sized pocket book.

Flipping through it, I saw the author’s signature and a brief message written on the pages.

“To Editor Seo Do-un, who always helps,

From Nabbit, who always receives help.”

Nabbit was one of the authors I was in charge of.

And what just came out of my bag was a collection of literary passages created to commemorate Nabbit’s 10th debut anniversary.

I had put it in my bag to take home, but I had completely forgotten about it because I was too busy lately.

I flipped through a few more pages of that book.

Then, with a hopeful heart, I placed it on the table.

Again, no reaction.

I was thinking I got it wrong again, when suddenly it extended its long, gaunt arm.

Then it picked up my book and began slowly turning the pages.

What?

Could it be working?

…Is it working?

It seems to be working!

I thought I had nothing to lose!

I rejoiced a bit prematurely at the thought that I had succeeded.

But the next moment.

It suddenly tore up my book.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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