I nodded, as if fully understanding their hesitation.
“I get it. It’s hard, I know. In this life, I’ll go out the window one more time…”
“I’ll go.”
Huh?
Supervisor Dolphin raised her hand.
Supervisor! My eternal gratitude…
“But not alone. Supervisor, you should jump with me.”
“Huuuh?”
“W-Wait, sir. Are you su—”
I had planned on doing it anyway! As disgusting and revolting as it was, there was no way around it.
“If no one else volunteers, I shall demonstrate again.”
“Yup! But before we do, I’d like someone else to go first.”
Supervisor Dolphin pointed with both hands.
Right at Assistant Manager Butterfly.
“Seniority first!”
Aaack!
“Hey, you said you’d do me a favor, right? I’m calling it in now!”
“This isn’t exactly the favor I had in mind… But fine, whatever.”
Surprisingly, Assistant Manager Butterfly seemed calm. It felt like the two of them had discussed this beforehand.
“Should I go now?”
First Altar Entrance
The surroundings darkened with a crimson hue.
People instinctively froze, but Assistant Manager Jin Nasol’s small, composed voice cut through the tension.
“I don’t like repeating myself.”
Eek.
“Y-Yes. Please close your eyes for a moment. I’ll give you the token of approval.”
I pretended to shake her hand while discreetly passing her the Happy Maker in the darkness.
‘Just stick it in.’
Before I could mouth the words, she had already expertly and discreetly injected herself with the Happy Maker.
It was as if she had anticipated it all along—likely realizing it was a pain-relieving item.
“Hmm.”
Plick.
The soft sound of the stick being used was followed by the leftover injector disappearing seamlessly into her sleeve.
“Not bad at all.”
Assistant Manager Jin Nasol grinned, then immediately leaned back and let herself fall out of the window.
“Hiieek!”
“S-She was smiling as she went!”
Thus, the first offering for the altar willingly sacrificed herself.
The atmosphere in the car had now shifted into full excitement.
No one found my companions suspicious anymore. They wanted to believe this would work.
‘The feeling that things are being resolved—it’s addictive.’
Soon after, two more volunteers came forward.
“M-Me!”
“Me too. We’ll go together.”
It was a couple sitting near the window. They had been observing everything since the first loop—the falling, the conversations—so their courage likely came from all the ‘information’ they had gathered. R̃𝔞Ó𝖇ÊꞨ
Still, I didn’t immediately say yes.
“……”
I stared at them quietly for a few seconds, as if evaluating their worth.
The couple, now filled with both anticipation and nervousness, waited as if they were being judged.
A moment later—
“Yes. You two are qualified.”
“Oh…!!”
“When we reach the altar, close your eyes briefly and extend your hands. I will grant you the sign of approval.”
The couple, overjoyed and receiving congratulations from those around them, stood before the open window.
Second Altar Entrance
Taking advantage of the darkness, I secretly injected them both with the powerful painkiller, the Happy Maker. Holding hands, they leapt out of the open window together.
Hmm. The scam was proceeding smoothly…
‘This is much better than everyone throwing each other out the window, going mad in the process.’
Still, cold sweat trickled down my back as I carried out the deception.
“Since there are no other volunteers, the supervisor and I will proceed next. Please remain calm and safe, and we’ll see you all at the starting point.”
“A-Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine. I can handle another round.”
“…Ahh!”
I truly hated this, but I had no choice. I’d do it again.
‘I need to set myself apart.’
To continue leading these people, I had to highlight my uniqueness. Showing them that I could survive multiple falls without issue would leave a strong impression.
Fortunately, Supervisor Dolphin didn’t change her mind.
“Let’s do this together!”
“Ah, thank you.”
“But, you know…”
She looked up at me with a curious gaze.
“Am I qualified?”
“…Yes.”
The nuance was subtle, but—
Third Altar Entrance
“B-Be careful!”
“We’ll see you soon!”
And so, I successfully rallied the crowd and fell out of the window once more. This time, with Supervisor Dolphin.
Into the mad tunnel filled with rotting flesh.
“Gross!”
Supervisor Dolphin, who had landed with a roll, grimaced at the horrific surroundings, shaking herself off as she complained.
“Uuuugh, filthy. W-What? Ugh, so noisy. Ah, that way? Toward the light?”
“Yes. It’ll be a bit tough, but if we walk, we’ll get there.”
It was somewhat reassuring to have someone else with me.
‘…The voices are gone.’
The eerie whispers urging us to ‘Cast away our sins’ and ‘Go to Tamra’ were mysteriously absent.
‘Not that they’re essential for the escape, though.’
I tilted my head slightly as I walked.
Then, Supervisor Dolphin spoke up.
“Actually, I had something to talk to you about, which is why I jumped with you.”
“Yes.”
“The things you told the others—you know, about protecting them from pain and all that. Technically, it’s not a lie, right?”
“Yes. I chose my words to fit the situation. It’s a bit extreme, but a method like this works.”
“Hmm…”
She touched her chin, thinking for a moment, then suddenly said,
“Supervisor, do you know how many people have suffered because of cults?”
She didn’t scowl or frown.
She simply stared at me, her gaze unwavering, not even blinking.
“……”
Right.
Supervisor Dolphin was an extreme idealist when it came to integrity…
‘O-Oh no, she might outright reject anything cult-related!’