Chapter 1
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Episode 1 - Stories from a circus train [1] ─────────────────────────────────
When I had a headache, it was due to work-related stress.
Being a real estate agent couldn't be more exhausting, always hoping that, eventually, a client interested in buying the house entrusted to you would show up.
As I opened my eyes, a migraine assaulted my head.
The migraine didn't come with just a headache.
'Damn… I feel like I'm going to vomit.'
My head was spinning and constantly throbbing. As I looked up, blinking to understand where on earth I was, a voice saturated with static suddenly echoed.
〖Welcome, dear tourists. It is a great pleasure that you chose our circus among the hundreds available.〗
"...?"
The voice, distorted by the speaker's static, was unexpectedly human.
'What was I expecting?'
A setting that reminded me of a circus more precisely, of a moving train.
It's a scene I remember easily, although having
It felt more like a curse. Among its side effects were the constant headaches quite common during my workdays and sudden nosebleeds.
'The worst part is the dreams.'
Looking at my own body, I noticed I was sitting down. My arms and legs were restrained by shackles. Lifting my head, I could see about a dozen people in the same situation I was in.
I averted my gaze just as the speaker's voice resonated again.
〖You are VIP tourists who have paid for an unforgettable experience at our circus, and of course we will give you a great show〗
'Wait a minute.'
〖However, a simple show wouldn't be entertaining. As VIP tourists of our circus, starting with the main acts would be boring and too rushed.〗
'What it's saying…'
A flood of words overwhelmed my mind, recalling in detail and clarity a scenario from a novel.
〖How about a game, a question-and-answer game called "The Cat and the Mouse"〗
It was exactly as I remember clearly.
It was one of the stories of a character who had appeared in
Once again, I looked around, noticing the coincidence and similarity with the words from the speaker's voice.
At that moment:
〖I will explain the rules of the game…〗
The people who had been listening in silence until now observed their current situation, bewildered.
"I was kidnapped."
"Hello… what the hell is this?"
"W-what is this? Why am I tied to a seat inside a circus train?"
"Damn it… damn it… We're inside a
I wondered why no one had reacted.
It was because they were processing a situation too bizarre to speak about, right at the moment they opened their eyes in this place.
〖The rules of the game are simple: just answer correctly the questions I will ask you; otherwise, the cat will be released and eat the mice… which is you.〗
Clank!!! Clank!!! Clank!!! Clank!!!
At that instant, every head turned simultaneously in the same direction.
"...?"
It was like a hungry predator trying to break free but couldn't.
It was a strange, grotesque creature that reminded me of the scary stories parents often tell you when you misbehave.
At that moment, a set of eyes… a dozen eyes were watching me.
'A… a Sequence 7 Genocide.'
An Anomaly, seen from the shadows as a mere cat, but hiding a completely different form, with its entire body covered in eyes capable of paralyzing you with just a glance.
In that instant, I remembered a wiki page I had read years ago.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
| Record of Mysteries Exploration | Entry No. 17: "How to survive the circus train of the first scenario"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
When you enter the circus train
Well, my good friend, if by chance you entered that
The first scenario is simple: just answer the questions the loudspeaker's voice asks you. If you answer everything correctly, you will survive the first scenario.
If you fail… well, prepare to be devoured by a Sequence 7 Anomaly.
Mysteries Solved: 67
Survival Rate: 17%
Note: The cat is restrained by a collar attached to a bar with five screws. If you fail five questions, the screws will fall out one by one, and eventually, the cat will be set free.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
'Of course, it had to be that Passage.'
A damned game of life or death. If you answer wrong… everyone dies equally.
'Fortunately, the novel mentions all the questions and answers.'
Yes, that's it. As long as I answer correctly and they are the questions mentioned originally, everything will be fine.
'That's right, there's no need to be afraid of this.'
If it follows the course, then it will be a piece of cake, right?
〖First question: How many seconds does a memory need to forget it ever existed?〗
"...?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
What is that even supposed to mean?
The people looked at the speaker, confused, as if asking in unison, "Is this a joke?" However, the speaker did not speak again.
Amid the silence, where people observed each other in confusion, they began to break out in a cold sweat, and a shiver ran through each of their bodies.
As for me…
'It can't be… impossible.'
Was it because the question wasn't the one mentioned in the novel, or because the question that was asked made no sense?
'I'm screwed…'
Fortunately, someone unexpectedly answered. And just then…
"Ten… seconds."
"..."
A few seconds passed.
〖Incorrect.〗
Clank!
Beyond the Anomaly impatient to devour us, a bar made of a strangely resilient material, held by five bolts, began to move.
"..."
One of the five bolts fell to the floor. When the echo of the bolt's impact resounded, it drew the attention of some people sweating in fear.
'There's no such thing as luck…'
I guess I was wrong. I thought someone might answer that strange question, but…
'... Nothing. How on earth do you answer a meaningless question…?'
Right at that moment, before the voice could ask another question…
Flutter. Flutter. Flutter. Flutter.
My eyes followed the sound of paper.
"..."
That's when I noticed a paper bird appearing out of nowhere and landing in my hand.
"..."
Out of nowhere, the paper bird unfolded, revealing a note. It was as if it had been torn from a notepad somewhere.
However, I only read what was written on it with my eyes wide open. The note said…
…
Solve the riddle and receive answers.
…
Yes, that was all.
Just a few words.
Anyone else wouldn't understand, but in this situation, I understood immediately.
'Solving the riddle will give me the answers I need to the questions the speaker's voice is asking.'
Looking around, I noticed no one had realized what had just happened. I also tried to figure out where the note came from, but I couldn't think much about it.
Without wasting time, I read the riddle.
…
At night, darkness intensifies everywhere. To escape the darkness, seek natural light.
Clue: People.
…
If it was a riddle related to darkness, what could it be?
In many cases, the answer to such a riddle would be light itself or a lamp.
'Seek natural light in the midst of darkness.'
The hint only left the word "people," which perhaps refers to the people I have before me.
The dozen people trapped in this horror game held the answer.
However, this led me to more doubts than clues, and as I was thinking…
〖Second question: If light walks backward, what thing walks forward?〗
"..."
It was the same as the first question, but this time I wasn't startled. By now, any questions mentioned would be nonsensical.
'Clues, clues…'
I need to understand the meaning of the riddle's clue.
Otherwise, I won't be able to find the correct answer in time.
'Only three more questions and it's all over.'
Upon hearing the question, a trembling person answered:
"P-perhaps... the shadow or the darkness."
〖Incorrect.〗
Heavy gasps echoed throughout the train car.
'I'm running out of time.'
〖Third question; How many decisions does it take for a mistake to cease being an accident and become an intention?〗
"More than a hundred... n-no, that's not it... wait..."
〖Incorrect.〗
Looking at each of the people present, I couldn't find the clue the riddle was referring to.
Breaking out in a cold sweat, I felt the drops fall from my forehead down to my groin.
'Damn it, I need one more clue... No, wait... what if "the people" refers perhaps to someone's identity...'
An idea crossed my mind; for example, the person's own name, in case the clue was about seeking identity.
'If that's it... a name. I need a name, but whose?'
I looked back and forth. Although I wasn't really sure whose name exactly I needed to know, I could rule out some people.
For instance, those who seemed the least suspicious and those who were most covered by clothing.
Only perhaps...
Flutter. Flutter.
Suddenly, the note began to "jump," and at that moment a new letter appeared right where the word "Clue" had been.
"..."
What the new clue said was…
…
Clue: Moon.
…
It was just a single word as before, but this time I understood more clearly what it meant.
'Moon... it doesn't refer to the moon itself, but rather that the moon is on someone's body...'
In short, the name of the person I needed to know belonged to someone who had a moon tattoo.
Just then…
〖Fourth question: A door opens by itself three times a day. Which of the three should never have existed?〗
To which someone answered immediately, as if with full confidence.
"T-the one at night."
However…
〖Incorrect.〗
It was the fourth incorrectly answered question.
Clanck!!! Clanck!!!
And a fourth screw fell to the floor, leaving only one still holding the metal bar from which the chains secured the "cat" that kept it from leaping onto us.
"..."
〖Fifth question: If you erase all your memories, are you still you?〗
Fear loomed over the people struggling to break free.
"Damn it, if we fail one more time, that thing will break loose."
"Shit, shit... Please, don't anyone answer. Not until we're sure of the answer."
"You idiot, how do we answer a nonsense question? Can't you see this is just a trap?"
"Shut up. So what if it is a trap? Either we find the logic in the answer, or we die."
Though I tried to ignore the desperate cries of the people, I could still hear them.
'Of course everyone is afraid.'
Fear only feeds despair.
'There's only one option left.'
I might sound like a lunatic right now, but what else can I do?
There was no way to find someone with a moon tattoo and know the name of the person who had it.
However, I was sure that among them was someone with that tattoo whoever it might be among the dozen people screaming in desperation.
'Just ask...'
Gathering my breath, I let out a shout.
"Is there anyone here with a moon-shaped tattoo!!!? Whoever has it, tell me your name now."
It was the first time I had ever shouted so loudly in public, but that wasn't even an excuse in a life-or-death situation.
By nature, I suffer from terrible nerves and tend to stammer when speaking in public.
I was so embarrassed in school that I'd rather skip class than present in front of everyone.
"..."
All eyes turned to me.
"Who is this lunatic?"
"Bastard, asking stupid things at a time like this."
"Isn't that the one person who's been silent all this time?"
"Is he crazy?"
I clenched my hands tightly. I've always been terribly shy and get extremely nervous when speaking in public.
I can't stand the gaze of many people.
But...
'I don't feel any of that right now.'
Unexpectedly, it wasn't what I thought I would feel.
'Is it because of this body...?'
I shook my head and forced myself to look directly into the eyes of the people staring at me strangely.
'Fine, it's to be expected. To everyone, I must look like a madman asking something totally unrelated to the current situation.'
I understood them perfectly; I even thought no one would answer me, but...
"Excuse me..."
Someone who until now had been watching everyone, assessing the situation with an eerie calm, raised a hand.
"... Yes."
"I have a moon-shaped tattoo, and my name is Sohel Silversky."
I've got it.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The woman with pale pink hair smiled. Her expression seemed somewhere between resigned and desperate.
I could guess the reason she answered calmly.
But...
'I have the answer.'
The answer lay in the meaning of the name.
Sohel means moonlight; and what light is natural in the darkness?
'Of course, moonlight... except the answer isn't literally "moonlight," but the meaning carried by a name that represents moonlight.'
If I said "moonlight," the riddle would mark it incorrect, as it was seeking an answer within a meaning.
Crumple.
Suddenly, the note crumpled for a second, and the next moment, it unfolded and revealed a series of answers alongside their questions.
Each question was the same as the voice had previously stated, paired with its legitimate answer.
'Good...'
Now I just had to answer.
"The answer to the fifth question is... No."
"..."
Everyone looked at me in silence, expecting the same word the speaker's voice had repeated more than four times.
But...
'This time it won't be.'
〖Correct.〗
The answer was correct.