Bus's Backdoor

?! W-What the hell?!

Without warning, the bus ground to a sudden halt in the Backstreets.

We'll stop here today.

Charon, I fear we haven't quite reached the destination.

We're approximately 15% short of the target location. Considering our schedule, proceeding at least 3% farther would be ideal.

Charon's sleepy. Excellent bus drivers don't drive while sleepy.

Got it, just stop stomping the brakes every damn time!! D'you know how much you've done this?!

Forsooth, Ser Heathcliff hath crashed his nose unto the back of the front seat for the fourth time, which must signify that this is the fourth screeching halt to occur!

"Leave the wheel as soon as you start feeling sleepy", said the radio.

That's a good point, but… you need to be a bit more flexible about that sorta thing.

Fuhu, a statement as plain as that can be quite amusing depending on who says it~

Hah, the minted boy agrees with me, eh. It's funny when the least flexible one says that kind of gabble.

…What was that? If that's what you're playing at, what about that old fogey over there who still thinks she's a wartime general -

Ishmael pointed to Outis, whose veins were beginning to stick out on her veteran and placid face.

Sigh.

This is a prime example of the terror of learned fear.

It's happened enough to be familiar… but it's still rather intimidating to hear Vergilius send the bus into chilling silence with a single gesture or utterance.

…What is it? You were all happily chattering moments ago. No reason not to continue.

Weren't you sighing to go on a proper rampage after?

I was stretching. Felt a bit stiff…

Load of…

Ahem…

It's laughable how you behave. You're like dogs that drool at the sound of a bell.

……

If you've got complaints, remember that my office in the back always has open hours. I'll make time for consultations… Miss Faust, I leave the rest to you.

Of course.

Vergilius nonchalantly walked past the Sinners (and their piercing stares) with Charon at his side, and both stood at the back of the bus.

Open perilla.

It's "sesame", Charon.

Charon knows. It's not like magic phrases are what open doors, anyway.

…I suppose so.

While they exchanged corny jokes, the door large enough to fill the backside slowly opened…

Been a few months, but still weirds me out every time I see it…

It's bigger on the inside, right?

As the Backdoor opened, a splendid narrow deep spacious hallway revealed itself.

An endless corridor… that looked to go on forever.

Far into this hallway, classy poles demarcate the end of the area we're allowed to traverse, standing in front of unending lines of red lights.

Though the place seems comfy… something about it makes eerie feelings creep up.

Now that I think about it… Is that one of those Singularities belonging to a Wing? Frau Faust, do you know anything?

Of course it is known. But I am certain that you do know that I cannot speak of them in much detail, Herr Gregor.

Could stand to be a bit nicer about it…

This is a corridor.

That's correct. It's a corridor.

Haah… Sure is - a long hallway with doors to rooms on the sides, of course it's a corridor.

I. F.

What're you trying to… Pfah, whatever. I'm too tired… Dante, please hurry on with it.

Gregor's words snapped me out of idly staring down to the edge of the passage.

<Oh, yeah… Right.>

Dante, while I understand that you may feel it to be an unnecessary repetitive act… simply put, the executive manager's approval is a vital part of the procedure. Please understand.

<No need to put it like that, Ms. Faust…>

With that answer, I got up from my seat and stood at the front of the bus, looking at the crew.

<I hereby confirm today's close of business for the Sinners.>

Thank you kindly. Starting now, you all will be given a maximum of 12 hours to partake in sleep and rest; the duration is subject to change. Have a good night.

As soon as Faust finished speaking, the Sinners walked along with groans and sighs.

Ah, geez~ Man, I'm whipped…

A fine night, Young Sinclair! What say you another game of chess?!

N-No thanks, Don Quixote… You always run to Mr. Yi Sang for hints whenever you're losing!

That is untrue, Sinclair. That… was because I could not bear to watch the grievous misplacements…

T - That's even worse!

Bonsoir, Manager, and thank you for today's work. As for tonight's watch…

<Oh, Meursault. Thanks for suggesting. Yeah, I wasn't really feeling sleepy today…>

Then, Outis suddenly intervened.

Executive Manager! Allow me to remind you that I am always willing to stand in for night watch duty if you ever feel fatigued -

Yeah, yeah, babushka-de-camp~ How's about we get inside now~

Executive Manager! Your hard daytime work must -

Sure~ Let's get you to bed.

Ishmael gave me a small nod, and then proceeded to draggingly chaperone Outis through the back door with Rodya.

Then, at last, Faust and I remained.

That was fortunate, Dante. Had they not forced Outis to retire, she would have nagged you for the duty of night watch for quite a while again.

<Haha, does happen a lot…>

I commented back as I watched the Sinners head into the corridor, one after another.

After Rodya has entered and closed the door, Ishmael opens the same to get inside.

<You said the door leads to a different space each time it opens, right?>

Yes. As long as a Sinner is in the right mental condition… the door will lead to lodging appropriate for rest and personal use.

Lodging, is it… They looked more like jail cells last time I peeked through the window.

Still, she must mean it can be used as a personal living space… for sleep, showers, self-care and all that…

…You seem to have other questions besides that.

My clock has no eyes, nose, or mouth, and yet…

Somehow, it feels as though Faust reads something out of me.

…Not that she'll tell me how she manages it…

<…Y'know, just curious about what's over there.>

I pointed down to the far end of the corridor with my finger.

Right to the horizontal depths of this seemingly endless corridor.

…As I have told you repeatedly, it is best not to be curious about it, Dante.

As expected, Faust chose to walk into the corridor with a faint sigh instead of a real answer.

And yet, just maybe… Faust knew all along. She "knows it all" as she likes to say.

…Maybe she knew that I would learn about what lies beyond in the corridor soon enough.