Rooms Past the Backdoor

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

Whether we're riding the bus through a forest or navigating the busboat over a vast lake, our daily routine changes very little.

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.

The usual hubbub, followed by the usual leisurely idleness.

I guess I'm not the only one starting to enjoy these normal, routine days.

It wasn't by our choice, though. By now, I thought we'd be sailing vigorously across the waters toward the Lobotomy Corp. Branch located somewhere within U Corp.

But here we are, unable to leave the coastal side of the Great Lake, dawdling and twiddling our thumbs.

Well, it's not like there's been an accident. While Faust didn't elaborate, she explained that we had to wait for now.

If I were to hazard a guess, we were waiting here to complete some kind of an entry procedure like we did at K Corp. Either that, or we're waiting for someone(probably the Before team) to get in touch with us.

Which brings us here, surrounded by nothing but endless, endless water. The Sinners chattered about inane subjects before complaining about this immense boredom...

But deep down, we were all exhausted from the unending onslaught of physically and emotionally draining happenings. Deep down, we all knew these leisurely days would not last.

So we each elected to enjoy this brief maritime respite in our own ways.

Huff, Hurk...

If thou needest mine assistance...

... As I have repeatedly made myself clear...

I am... quite... alright...

Thy countenance, returning the contents within thy stomach to the Lake with such vigor... sayeth otherwise...

Except for Yi Sang, who had a surprisingly low tolerance for seasickness...

... This voyage was proving to be rather uneventful.

<Yi Sang, the day's over. You can go back to your room now...>

Oh... Shall I finally be freed from this suffering...?

<Seriously, I told you that you could rest in your room if you wanted.>

Our fellows must also have their share of suffering... I can not, in good faith, seek comfort only for myself.

<You're the one with the biggest share of suffering right now...>

While I wished that he'd be more reasonable with himself, I could see where he was coming from...

I thought better of it than to try to convince him otherwise. I instead chose to help Yi Sang to his room.

I thank you, Dante. Then... until later.

I waved at him and watched until he stumbled into his room and closed the door behind him.

Then I shall seek myself respite as well, Manager Esquire!

<Yeah, rest well.>

Don Quixote walked into the same Door that Yi Sang had walked into. I could get a blurry glimpse into her room over her shoulder.

I couldn't get a good look at it... but it was certainly not the same room Yi Sang had walked into.

<I see these doors every day... but I still don't get it.>

I should probably be used to this by now, but it's still pretty fascinating how the rooms changed based on who opened the doors.

I turned, leaving their shut door behind, ready to return to my room.

<......>

There's a door immediately to the right side of that demarcation of the corridor we're not allowed to cross.

Within that door is a space somewhat different from the Sinners' rooms.

In there were the wooden door to my room and the metal door leading into the Mirror Dungeons.

The doors leading to the Luxcavation Dungeons and the recently-opened door to the Refraction Railway also come into view.

<No new doors... yet.>

For no reason in particular, I creak those doors open and take a quick peek inside to see if anything changed.

Well... I've never actually managed to catch any changes myself, but... who knows?

Maybe I'll notice something worth keeping to myself...

... Which I should probably report to Faust.

<...!>

Something must've caught wind of my rather mischievous thought.

An ear-splitting siren blares all the way here from the other end of the bus.

Blimey, what the hell is...

Oh boy, this again?

M.E. Kill the volume...

I spun around to face the other side of the corridor. The Sinners, alarmed by the noise, were one by one peeking out of their rooms.

They were used to this siren by now, but that didn't change the unpleasant fact that their sweet private hours were disturbed...

Well met, Dante. Let us observe this disturbance together.

<O-okay.>

... I accompanied Faust to the helm.

She fiddled with a few buttons, and shut off the alarm. Incomprehensible, complicated-looking letters began to fill the round screen.

<... Is that a new room?>

Even Faust needs a moment to decipher.

<Right, right...>

The siren always comes without warning.

And with it appeared the Mirror Dungeons, the Luxcavation Dungeons, and the Refraction Railways.

<I don't know if it's relevant, but... I didn't see anything that would indicate activity when I checked the Railway door earlier.>

It is unlikely that anything new would appear from that entrance.

I find it difficult to believe that the next Line would arrive so soon when the glow of the door leading to Line 2 has yet to go out.

<I guess you're right.>

The first Railway really took me by surprise when it appeared.

A new door had appeared before us, its edges shimmering with a blue glow. And when we entered it...

A mysterious vehicle was just sitting there, waiting for us.

Its appearance somewhat resembled that of Mephistopheles... but it was also patently clear that I'd never seen anything like it before. An odd feeling.

I see that your first encounter with the train has left a strong impression, Dante.

Well, I recall that you had a rather violent reaction when I entered the train to observe its interiors.

<Come on, I wasn't the only one that freaked out. Everyone did...>

What if that thing left the Station before the rest of us got on?

... Was what I wanted to say if Faust hadn't already turned around from the screen, to which her eyes had been metaphorically glued for a while, and walked away.

<This wasn't it, then?>

No. This particular volatility is not something we can utilize.

<Right... I thought it was an awkward time for a new door to appear. Too soon, too soon.>

The Dungeons and the Railways appeared at 'awkward times' as well, Dante. I recommend that you refrain from settling into a premature conclusion. A new variable may present itself at any moment.

... Moreover...

If this volatility has triggered an alarm in Mephistopheles' engine, then it naturally follows that a new door has appeared at an indeterminate location down the corridor.

This may reveal a space from which one could never return. It is best that we keep track of these incidents.

<Even Heathcliff won't do anything like that again. ... Probably.>

... As per my last advice to you, a premature conclusion is...

<......>

Regardless, no serious issues have been detected at this moment. ... It would be most apt that we enjoy our remaining rest period.

Now, if you will excuse me. Rest well, Dante.

With those as her parting words, Faust disappeared into her room in her usual manner.

Left alone again, on this bus... boat.

I looked at the numerous letters displayed on the screen.

Numbers. Unintelligible letters. Drawings and symbols depicting something.

I had to shake my clock head after staring at that dizzying sight for a while.

<I wonder if this is how Yi Sang felt earlier... I'm starting to feel nauseous.>

I was barely able to hold back the vertigo from setting in. Time to saunter back to my room.

Let's turn in early tonight...