"Strange, why is it Shibuya Station?"
"Where are the subway station maintenance workers?"
"Why are there so many clothes on the ground?"
"…"
The few passengers who got off later still didn't know what was happening. At this moment, they all looked bewildered, looking around.
"My phone… has no signal."
The female office worker who got off first held her phone and nervously looked towards Natsuki.
Although it was hard to accept, subconsciously, she had already begun to believe that the young boy in front of her was not lying—even if it was a missionary lie, it was impossible for the entire subway station to cooperate with him, right?
"Excuse me, have we really encountered an urban legend?"
The female office worker bowed slightly and asked nervously.
"What urban legend?"
Some quick-witted people wanted to get closer to inquire about the situation, while other passengers took out their phones, wanting to contact the outside world.
Unfortunately, just as the female office worker said, their phones had no signal.
Calls couldn't be made.
Messages couldn't be sent.
Their phones had become bricks.
"Wait a moment." Natsuki waved his hand, "I'll explain everything together later. There might still be passengers in the other carriages, let's call them out first."
Miko said nervously, "Natsuki, the subway is about to leave. Calling people out carriage by carriage might be too late."
Natsuki looked at Miko and said unhurriedly, "Who said I was going to call them out carriage by carriage?"
"Eh?"
Miko tilted her head in confusion.
The next second.
Natsuki conjured a large megaphone out of thin air, startling the several office workers nearby.
"Is that boy a magician?"
"It's not a magic trick." A passerby quickly retorted, "Magic is all sleight of hand. It looks amazing, but the principle behind it is very simple. It all uses the visual illusions of ordinary people to create various magic scenes. That's why real-life magicians often wear trench coats and top hats to hide things… But that boy is only wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts; there's no way he could hide such a large megaphone on him."
"If it's not tricks, could it be actual magic?"
"…"
Natsuki ignored the discussions of these passerby passengers, turned on the megaphone, took a deep breath, and shouted into the speaker:
"Attention all passengers, a criminal has boarded with a weapon. All passengers, please exit the train as quickly as possible to seek refuge!"
The rolling sound waves echoed in the empty subway station, deafeningly loud. Miko even raised her hands to cover her ears, indicating that the sound could definitely reach all subway carriages.
Passerby passengers: "…"
No way?
Could it be a trick and a terrible prank?
The reason he just gave for everyone to get off was completely different from now. Could it be that all of them were made-up excuses on the spot?
Natsuki ignored them, held up the megaphone, and shouted the same words twice more, ensuring that all passengers could hear him clearly.
If passengers couldn't hear him, or heard but didn't care… then he could only hope they would look out for themselves.
Natsuki was not a hero and had no intention of saving everyone.
Besides having to protect Miko, everyone else was just a bonus.
To be honest, if he encountered a trolley problem, where one side was Miko and the other side was all the passengers, and only sacrificing one side could save the other, then Natsuki would unhesitatingly choose to save Miko.
To sacrifice a girl he liked for a group of strangers whose names he didn't even know, probably only truly morally upright individuals could do that.
Natsuki asked himself, he could not do it no matter what.
As the sound echoed through the subway station, passengers gradually emerged from the other carriages, each with a look of utter bewilderment on their faces.
Natsuki silently counted. The number of passerby passengers was almost twenty, and there was even a man in a suit holding a laptop, still making a PowerPoint presentation… Even after hearing that there was a killer on the subway, he was unwilling to put down his work. The hardship of workers was imaginable.
"Everyone, come over."
Natsuki held up the megaphone and continued to shout.
Hearing the shouts, these bewildered passengers all walked over.
"Is there really someone with a weapon on the subway?"
"Where are the police?"
"Why are there so many clothes on the ground?"
The passengers came before Natsuki and asked their questions.
Natsuki raised his right hand and made a downward pressing gesture. After the passengers temporarily quieted down, he spoke:
"I apologize, I lied just now. There isn't actually a killer with a weapon on the subway…"
Upon hearing this, the passengers immediately became agitated.
But Natsuki didn't give them a chance to speak and shouted in a low voice:
"Quiet!"
"…"
The effect of the [Silver Tongue] skill was triggered; it could not only be used to tie cherry stems but also had an effect of verbal deterrence. As their ears buzzed, the passengers who had originally wanted to question him all closed their mouths.
Natsuki continued:
"Although we didn't encounter a thug, the situation is actually worse… We've encountered an anomaly."
"Huh?"
"What is this high school student talking about?"
"Kaidan?"
"That's just a high school student's boring fantasy."
"Why is my phone out of signal? I'm going to call the police!"
"…"
"Natsuki isn't lying to everyone." Miko helped explain from the side, "Everyone has really encountered an incredible Strange Tale incident!"
Unfortunately, it was useless.
Humans only believe what they see.
The empty, silent subway, the scattered clothes on the ground, and the inexplicably wrong station made one feel a chill… But humans have a common trait: they don't believe until they see the coffin.
The passerby passengers completely disbelieved the truth, thinking it was just a boring prank, and some had even turned around, preparing to return to the subway.
"No need to explain to them." Natsuki held Miko's right hand and said calmly, "If it were me, and I was resting on the subway and suddenly someone called me out, saying I encountered an anomaly incident, I wouldn't believe it either."
Miko bit her lip, her expression anxious:
"But…"
These ordinary passengers who knew nothing and didn't even believe in Strange Tales, once they returned to the subway, would likely encounter danger, right?
Natsuki said indifferently, "No rush, they'll believe what I say very soon."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Natsuki raised his right hand and lightly snapped his fingers.
Snap!
The next second.
A chilling aura suddenly swept through the entire subway station. A woman wearing a white dress, with thick black hair hanging down her chest, firmly covering her entire face, appeared out of thin air.
Beside Sadako, there was also a giant female creature, two meters sixty-five tall, wearing a white top hat, almost able to touch the subway station ceiling with her outstretched hand…
It was Sadako and Hachishakusama.
Hearing is not as good as seeing.
To make these passerby passengers believe in the existence of Strange Tales, explaining was too troublesome. It was better to let them see it with their own eyes. They wouldn't believe others' words, but they wouldn't disbelieve their own eyes.
"Sa-Sadako?!"
"And Hachishakusama!"
Seeing Sadako and Hachishakusama appear out of thin air, all the passerby passengers were first dumbfounded, then in disbelief, and then quickly turned to panic and fear.
The legends of Sadako and Hachishakusama were well-known in Japan, from eighty-year-old elders to kindergarten children, all had heard of their names.
Of course, most people heard of their terrifying notoriety, and some even regarded Hachishakusama and Sadako as urban idols.
Sensing the fear permeating the air, Sadako's hunting rule was triggered. She subconsciously raised her arms, and her entire body, like a frame-skipped video, flickered and teleported, causing the lights on the subway platform to flicker on and off wherever she passed.
Such a bizarre scene instantly intensified the fear. Only Miko, who had seen Sadako, could remain calm. The other passengers were already in a panic, their legs trembling, scrambling to escape.
Then...
Smack!
Natsuki slapped Sadako's hand and ordered:
"Don't scare people, stand aside."
"..."
Sadako, having been lectured, meekly lowered her hands and stood to the side.
"Little one, what is this place?" Hachishakusama looked down, her eight-foot height exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression. Her voice was lazy, "I feel so comfortable... It's like returning to a long-lost homeland."
"Hm?"
Natsuki was slightly startled, making a mental note.
Urban legends like Sadako and Hachishakusama, once they leave the Theater and enter reality, are immediately tormented by an endless void. Even Yandere Kaguya is unwilling to endure the torment of the void, choosing to stay in the Theater all day long.
But Hachishakusama said she felt comfortable now?
Is the Strange Tale mist special, or is there another reason?
Natsuki temporarily suppressed his doubts. The immediate priority was the surrounding passengers.
"As you can see, urban legends and Strange Tale truly exist." Natsuki spoke calmly, drawing everyone's attention. "The world is not black and white. Beneath the shadows, many dark things are hidden. It's just that ordinary people will never encounter them in their entire lives."
"I can tell everyone very clearly."
"Strange Tales are very dangerous; people really die. Don't harbor any delusions; being careful and cautious is the only way to increase your chances of survival."
"..."
The air fell silent.
No one wanted to believe Natsuki's words, but the facts were before them, leaving them no choice.
"I'm done talking." Natsuki paused for a few seconds, waiting for the passengers to process the information, then continued, "Whether you believe it or not, it doesn't matter. I'm only reminding you because we're on the same subway. You're very unlucky today; you've encountered an anomaly incident where you could lose your life at any moment. It's not a prank, nor is it a reality prank show."
"The subway is about to depart. You can either get back on the subway or leave directly, as you wish."
"..."
Leave?
Of course, no one would leave.
The group of passengers looked at each other, but no one moved.
Although many still felt that Natsuki was exaggerating, and some even thought there must be cameras hidden in the corner filming a prank show, it's better to be safe than sorry.
What if it really was an anomaly incident?
An empty subway station, no phone signal, Sadako and Hachishakusama appearing in a bizarre way... If it was really a prank, the investment would be too great, wouldn't it?
Few people in reality are fools. When suddenly faced with a strange and dangerous environment, sticking together for survival is an instinctive choice.
Those thugs who neither believed their eyes nor their ears, who insisted on cursing and acting alone, and ultimately paid with their lives, might not have been truly stupid, but rather influenced by a 'wisdom-reducing aura'.
After a brief silence, the initial office lady bravely asked:
"Excuse me... How do you know so much?"
"And..." The office lady nervously glanced sideways. She didn't dare to even look directly, let alone call them by name, and nervously said, "What about them...?"
"It's simple." Natsuki spoke nonsense with a straight face, "After encountering Strange Tales, if you can survive, you might gain special abilities."
Upon hearing this, several passengers' eyes lit up:
"Can we also?"
Almost no one in Japan hasn't read manga. Even office workers whose edges have been smoothed by life still long for special abilities.
Natsuki calmly said:
"I said 'might'. Whether you can ultimately gain special abilities depends on your luck."
The truth was, it was completely impossible.
If one was chosen by the game, although dangerous, there would be gains for the effort. However, all Strange Tales have always tormented and toyed with humans, and even if one luckily survived, they would not gain special abilities.
Of course, survival had just begun, so Natsuki naturally wouldn't reveal the truth.
As he spoke, the subway slowly started again, quietly disappearing into the darkness.
Natsuki withdrew his gaze, first sending Hachishakusama and Sadako back to the Theater, then looked at Miko and said:
"Let's go out first and see what the situation is like outside."
"Mm."
Miko softly agreed, following closely behind Natsuki.
The other passengers exchanged glances, then stepped forward and followed.
Humans are a type of animal, just like sheep. In a dangerous environment, they will naturally follow the lead sheep.
Undoubtedly, Natsuki was now everyone's leader.
As they walked upwards, the passengers became increasingly worried and afraid.
In the vast subway station, apart from their footsteps, not a single person was seen. Moreover, clothes were scattered everywhere on the ground, creating an indescribably eerie and sinister scene. Even with the bright lights overhead, it still sent shivers down their spines.
A moment later.
The group finally exited the subway station.
It was nighttime outside, the sky a deep black, but the surrounding buildings and streetlights were brightly lit.
"It really is Shibuya Station!"
"I see the Hachiko statue!"
Seeing the familiar landmark, the passengers all breathed a sigh of relief, but then immediately fell into panic and fear.
The reason was simple.
"No one..."
"Shibuya Station is like the subway inside, completely empty..."
"Where did everyone go?"
As Tokyo's busiest station, Shibuya Station is usually bustling with people during the day, and although it gets quieter at night, it's impossible for there to be no one at all.
But at this moment, the vast area in front of Shibuya Station was completely empty, not a single person in sight, only countless scattered clothes on the ground, as if everyone had vanished simultaneously in an instant...