Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 3

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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 3

ep1. When the Siren Sounds (3)

Crash-!

As soon as the book tore, I kicked back my chair and stood up.

I was planning to run away immediately.

“Ugh…!”

But something like a steel bar caught me at the waist.

Looking to see where it came from, I saw “the thing wearing an old military uniform.”

What blocked my path was its abnormally long arm.

“Grgh!”

When I tried to shake it off, its blade-like fingers wrapped around my upper body.

The cold touch of metal against my nape.

Along with an ominous feeling, the warning from the manual came to mind.

—

Bartering attempts are safe up to 5 times.

Further attempts may provoke the aggressiveness of “the thing wearing an old military uniform.”

—

No, this is only my fourth time!

—

For your safety, bartering attempts with the following items are prohibited.

—

Could it be that books are also prohibited items?

But why…!?

I struggled desperately to escape from what was choking my neck.

But it didn’t budge at all, like real steel bars.

Moreover, the surface was sharp, only scraping my skin.

If I had known this would happen, I should have just crawled into the “recycling bin.”

Then I would have had at least a fingernail’s worth of chance to survive…!

I closed my eyes tightly in regret.

But nothing happened.

Only my intermittent groans echoed around.

…What?

I opened my eyes at the strange silence.

Its fingers were still gripping me.

However, it seemed more like it was trapping me so I couldn’t run away, rather than planning to tear me apart.

I was bewildered, then belatedly realized that its other hand was near me.

It was holding the tattered book in front of me.

And between those paper scraps was a stiff piece of paper made of completely different material.

What is this?

Could it be… a ticket…?

I looked toward the main body with half doubt, half belief.

In front of it lay a single sheet of paper.

It was a torn page from the book I had offered.

I slowly extended my arm while keeping my eyes fixed on it.

The fingers gripping my body were thin and sparse, so there was no problem extending my arm outward.

When I took the book and ticket, the hand that had trapped me released its grip.

It withdrew its hands from me and curled up its limbs again as it had initially.

Freed from restraint, I hesitated for a moment, then grabbed my bag and turned around.

Then I crossed the lounge at neither a fast nor slow pace.

When I glanced back at the exit, it was silently staring at the torn page from the book.

“Ha…”

A long breath poured from my mouth as I came out into the corridor.

I survived…

I thought I was going to be torn apart and die for sure.

I looked at the ticket while pulling myself together as strength drained from my body.

Just an ordinary paper ticket.

However, the writing on it was still unreadable.

I didn’t bother trying to read it and just put it in my pocket for now.

My heart lifted a little at the thought that I could leave now.

But then a shadow was reflected on the smooth marble floor.

I reflexively turned around.

Crack-!

At the same time, something hard struck down on my shoulder.

“Ugh…!”

It felt like my shoulder blade was being shattered.

That sensation was closer to shock than pain.

I staggered greatly and instinctively rolled my body.

After rolling on the floor frantically and raising my head again, I couldn’t help but be flustered.

What had suddenly attacked me wasn’t some unidentified monster, but a man.

The man was holding a fire extinguisher.

And as if to show me what that fire extinguisher was for, he swung it at me again.

Whoosh-!

The heavy iron mass barely grazed past my face.

“What are you doing!”

I shouted, but the man paid no attention and pressed his attack on me.

The fire extinguisher flew at me repeatedly, making vicious sounds as it cut through the air.

If I hadn’t happened to look back, it would have hit my head.

But why?

Why is this person attacking me?

No, where did he suddenly appear from?

The fire extinguisher flew toward my body and I had no choice but to block it with my arms.

Bang-!

With a rough sound, my feet slipped.

As I sat down heavily, the man raised the fire extinguisher high.

It was aimed precisely at my head.

At that pure malice, I suddenly realized.

That this man had attacked right after I succeeded in bartering.

The man had been waiting around here the whole time.

For someone to succeed in bartering and obtain a ticket.

Since I had accomplished that task and was standing there defenseless, now there was only one thing left for him to do.

Steal my ticket and escape from here.

So this act of trying to kill me was also an act for that man to survive.

I gritted my teeth and rolled again.

The fire extinguisher barely grazed past my ear.

What do I do now?

Should I fight back?

My left shoulder, which took a direct hit earlier, feels wrong for fighting.

I can barely put any strength into my left arm.

Then should I run away?

What if there are other people around here?

So what if that man shouts ‘That bastard has a ticket!’?

While I was agonizing, the man charged at me again.

I rolled my body once more.

The fire extinguisher struck the empty floor.

Clang-!

The fire extinguisher that hit the marble made a metallic sound as it bounced back.

At that moment, the warning phrase written in the rule book came to mind.

…Would it work?

Damn it, whether it works or not, let me try it first.

I turned my body around.

As I ran down the corridor, the man cursed and chased after me.

Running at full speed, I soon reached the restaurant and cafe area.

Those shops had glass walls facing the corridor so you could see clearly inside.

I leaned my back against one of them.

Then the man who had been chasing me like a hound swung the fire extinguisher again.

I stared at that bright red piece of scrap metal and barely dodged it.

The fire extinguisher struck the glass behind me head-on instead of hitting me.

Crash-!

A bursting sound accompanied by scattering glass fragments.

At that moment, the man’s eyes, which had been half-crazed, trembled with shock.

It seemed this man had only now realized what he had done.

—

■ Individual Precautions within “The Siren-Ringing Train Station”

One. Strictly observe public morals in the relevant Special Zone.

If you damage property within the railroad station or threaten railroad station staff, the “Railroad Police” may punish you.

—

Something like rope grew through the glittering glass fragments.

It was the same thing that had blown off the woman’s head in front of the ticket booth.

As if he knew the danger of that rope like I did, the man glared at me.

“You son of a bitch…!”

Just as the man was about to hurl curses at me, the rope cut him in half.

Swish-!

With this, I learned the cause of that middle-aged woman’s death.

The “Railroad Police” punishes those who violate public morals.

Shouting and threatening ticket booth staff.

And smashing shop windows with a fire extinguisher.

Anyone could see this was behavior that greatly violated public morals.

I turned my head away to avoid seeing the man’s death.

Then I held my breath.

Was I truly innocent?

What if they treated me as a petty criminal who also caused a disturbance?

I could see the “Railroad Police” approaching smoothly like a water snake.

I squeezed my eyes shut among the glass fragments.

A moment of silence passed.

When I opened my eyes again, the “Railroad Police” had already disappeared.

Only I remained alive in the corridor covered with blood and glass.

Looking at the scene before me, doubt arose before relief.

Did I kill that man?

I did lead him to it.

But this was self-defense. He brought it on himself.

That person tried to kill me first.

No, forget it. It’s all my responsibility.

I’ll accept that blame, so I just wish this had been a dream.

Please, I want to wake up from this filthy nightmare.

“…Urgh!”

Suddenly nausea surged up.

I wanted to vomit right there.

But thinking the “Railroad Police” might return, I covered my mouth.

Then I ran blindly into the restroom I could see across the way.

Only after seeing the interior layout did I realize this was the women’s restroom.

But there was no time to turn around and leave.

“Ugh, uwaaek!”

I went straight into the nearest stall and stuck my head into the toilet.

Since all I’d eaten in the past half day was coffee, only stomach acid poured out.

After vomiting like that and gasping for breath.

Clunk-!

At the sound from next to me, I looked alternately at the ceiling and floor like someone with neurosis.

Fortunately, there were no ropes crawling between the restroom stall partitions.

Then what was that sound I just heard?

Did I mishear it?

Or is someone there?

The moment I thought that, my head went cold.

When I first came here, I was happy to see other people.

But not anymore.

In just a few dozen minutes, the world I live in had changed.

So I had no choice but to adapt to it.

I held my breath and then burst out of the restroom stall.

There was no one outside.

So I looked around to find the source of the sound.

Most of the restroom stalls lined up front and back were open about a hand’s width.

But for some reason, only one stall had its door tightly closed.

My heart sank.

Then the disgust I felt earlier surged up again.

I took a step forward, turning that fear into hostility.

Someone is hiding.

To avoid being attacked again, I have to catch them first.

They must have locked the door from inside. Would it open if I kicked it?

No, then I might be killed by the “Railroad Police.”

Then how do I draw them out?

I looked around for a suitable tool.

Then I discovered my reflection in the mirror.

The me in the mirror was gasping for breath like a crazy person, with disheveled clothes and hair.

…That’s me?

Facing that appearance, my excitement suddenly subsided.

Only then did I think that I might be the unwelcome intruder.

There’s no way someone targeting me would lurk in the women’s restroom.

“Ha…”

I finally regained my reason and dry-washed my face.

So this is how people go crazy.

To think of dragging someone out right off the bat.

Having barely calmed down, I stared at the tightly closed door.

I didn’t know who was inside, but I didn’t particularly want to encounter them.

So I tried to leave quietly.

But I hadn’t gone far before I stopped walking.

I now find other people troublesome.

But it was still another person who spoke to me when I was trembling with fear, who handed over this rulebook and opened a path to survival.

I sighed again and approached the closed stall.

I tried pushing the door gently, but it seemed locked from inside and wouldn’t open.

So I knocked.

Knock knock.

Naturally, there was no answer.

Right, why would they answer when they don’t know who I am.

I considered trying to talk to them but gave up.

Instead, I slid the leaflet with the rules under the stall partition.

I thought I’d pass it along in case they might need it.

I had already memorized it all, and it would be inhuman of me to just take without giving back in this situation.

But it was when I bent down to slip the rulebook under.

Bang-!

The door burst open and something struck my head.

“…!”

More startled than hurt, I stepped back, then reflexively grabbed the person who came rushing out.

There was resistance, but it wasn’t strong.

No, it was desperate, but I could subdue them easily enough.

What had come bursting out from inside was some girl in a school uniform.

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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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