Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World

In the school ghost story part, how did the SH1 unit clear this dungeon? 

It was simple. They uncovered one truth. The most important and central truth of this place. Hwashin planned to use that method again this time.

 

The winter night atmosphere made the school feel chilly. It was fortunate they were wearing winter uniforms.

 

Cha Jaeha walked in the lead, followed by Jin, Hwashin, and Jeong Mueum in that order.

 

Cha Jaeha wasn’t afraid of ghosts. That was an advantageous trait in a place where things could suddenly pop out. On the other hand…

 

“It’s not true.”

 

“What isn’t?”

 

“I’m not at the back because I’m scared.”

 

No one had said anything though. When Hwasin snickered, Jeong Mueum pouted his lips. The dark corridor was lit only by occasional thunder and lightning, and Cha Jaeha. The will-o’-the-wisps floating around Cha Jaeha illuminated the space between them.

 

“Did we really have to visit this kind of place on a night like this? Horror movie protagonists always do this. There’s always a reason you’re told not to go to such places.”

 

Mueum, who rarely spoke, was now chattering away. Hwashin, quietly listening to his grumbling, asked him.

 

“You’re scared, aren’t you?”

 

At that, Mueum briskly walked ahead again.

No, I’m not!

 

“Can both of you be quiet?”

 

“Ah, Jaeha, are you scared too?”

 

“See, even hyung is scared. No, wait. I’m not scared either!”

 

Jin, who had started walking side by side, laughed.

 

“Hahaha, SH1 unit seems to get along well?”

 

“Does it look like that to you?”

 

“Does it look like we get along?”

 

“It does~”

 

Haa. Mueum sighed deeply and clutched his headset tightly again. He just wanted to get to the science lab and finish this dungeon. If you could even call this place a dungeon in the first place.

 

According to the school map drawn in the first-floor lobby, the science lab was on the fourth floor. There was some discussion about splitting up, but in the end, they decided to go up together.

 

It was only natural since there was no benefit to splitting up. Most of them still didn’t even know exactly what kind of place this was.

 

Ah, of course.

 

“Haa.”

 

Except for Hwasin, who yawned loudly.

 

School ghost stories were good chapters. They contained lessons, and the kids wore uniforms. It’d be fun to scroll through social media after this was over. With the workshop this time, the response would surely be explosive when combined with solving the gate.

 

At the same time, this place was boring except for the specific zones. It was so quiet on the way up to the fourth floor that they didn’t even see a trace of a monster. Unlike the others who were tense, not knowing when a monster might appear, Hwasin just wanted to reach the science lab quickly.

 

“There it is.”

 

Cha Jaeha nodded towards a classroom with a nameplate that read ‘Science Lab’. A classroom made of old wood painted green. A half-tilted nameplate. A corridor that creaked with every step.

 

The worst of the worst. Jeong Mueum grimaced.

 

Cha Jaeha grabbed the doorknob. Without even saying he was opening it, he threw the door wide open.

 

Oh.

 

Wait. Here—

 

Hwashin shouted.

 

“Everyone, cover your ears!”

 

Screeeeeech—!!

 

As soon as the door opened, a deafening noise surrounded them.

 

***

 

What was the most famous ghost story in the science lab?

 

Of course, There was no way Elric would know. But Yoo Jian had clearly said this in <YHH>:

 

– If it’s the science lab, it’s definitely that! The human model in the science lab!!

 

The model that looked like a person, showing everything from the brain to the internal organs, and sometimes even the muscle tissue. The ghost story that this model came to life was the most famous one.

 

In the school ghost stories,

 

all the tales come to life. Each in their own form.

 

“Screech-.”

 

Bang. The noise stopped as soon as the door closed. Should he just burn it all?

 

Cha Jaeha seriously considered it.

 

But Cha he persevered. His past experience told him that this was not the way to clear this place. And the one who knew the answer was—

 

Cha Jaeha was a rational protagonist. He knew that saving others wasn’t possible just by letting emotions take the lead.

 

He recalled the writing he had seen on the way to the science lab.

 

「 Suho quickly ran away after seeing the human model he met in the science lab. However, he couldn’t leave the lab. 」

 

Is he still inside?

Cha Jaeha opened his mouth.

 

“Yoo Hwashin.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You already know how to clear this, don’t you?”

 

Hwashin smiled faintly and nodded slowly. A slight smile accompanied the affirmative gesture. Cha Jaeha didn’t probe him further. Instead, he asked about the solution.

 

“What’s the method?”

 

This guy would know. Cha Jaeha felt certain about that.

 

And this guy…

 

“It’s simple.”

 

…lived up to expectations.

 

***

 

After hearing Hwasin’s answer, Mueum asked again.

 

“Will that really work?”

 

“The most important thing is to stop that voice, right?”

 

And never let the child called ‘Suho’ die. It was originally Cha Jaeha who figured out how to do this. But Cha Jaeha asked him. This much was permissible. The huddled discussion came to an end.

 

Jin was still smiling, and Cha Jaeha was like the usual.

 

And then the door opened once more.

Screeeeeech—!!!

Again, the sound hit them relentlessly.

 

‘Ugh, I feel like my ears are splitting.’

 

Mueum used his headset while the others tore their clothes to cover their ears.

 

Screeeeeech–!!! The sound came with a strong wave that washed over them. It was powerful enough to make their bodies feel crushed. Mueum bit his lip hard. When Cha Jaeha, barely holding on, stretched out his hand, flames burst from his fingertips.

 

The flames extended like a rope and burned the vocal cords of the human model. The blackened pieces of the vocal cords fell to the floor with a thud. At the same time, the sound and the overwhelming wave ceased.

 

“…Wow.”

 

Almost died. Mueum briefly marveled and then took off his headset. So this was what it felt like to be crushed by gravity, he thought. Only then could he take in his surroundings.

 

Suho was supposed to be here.

 

Ah, found him.

 

He saw trembling legs behind the teacher’s desk. As Mueum approached, the legs startled by the sound completely disappeared. Mueum stuck his face under the desk and said gruffly.

 

“Hello?”

 

“….Ah, ah.”

 

The kid named Suho was wearing the same uniform as him. Or maybe it was a bit more worn out?

 

His age… seemed to be the same as Mueum’s. From the name alone, he seemed like a mischievous kid, but he wasn’t at all. He didn’t look like someone who liked to stand out. Just an average kid.

 

Jeong Mueum scratched his cheek awkwardly and asked.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“…”

 

“Those hyungs finished off the model that made the weird noise.”

 

At Mueum’s explanation, Suho shyly looked at the three people beyond the desk. Hwashin waved at them cheerfully.

 

“….Are they… seniors?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Seniors? Mueum looked at where Suho was pointing. Two of them were in their mid-twenties, and the remaining one looked like he could be dismissed as a student.

 

“…Yes, they are. I’m a freshman here.”

 

Somehow, Mueum felt like he was lying. His conscience pricked him.

 

Suho turned to Mueum in disbelief. This time, Mueum smiled awkwardly.

 

“It’s true.”

 

Really. I’m telling you it’s true.

 

Believe it, believe it, believe it

. As Mueum sent such an earnest look, Suho slowly nodded. It seemed he was willing to accept it for now.

 

“….I’m a first-year student.”

 

Suho said as he got up, taking Mueum’s outstretched hand. When asked how he ended up in the science lab, Suho showed an old notebook.

 

“….My notebook is here.”

 

“Did you leave it behind?”

 

“No, I don’t remember.”

 

Mueum stared at the old notebook. Could this be some kind of item too?

 

Mueum hadn’t fully adapted to this dungeon or new world yet.

 

To Mueum, monsters and gates were like a game. A very dangerous and annoying game where people’s lives were at stake. A game that must be won at all costs.

 

To clarify, Just because he called it a game didn’t mean he took lives lightly.

 

Anyway, he was getting used to these unrealistic ‘monsters’ when this suddenly appeared. Prince of the desert, whatever it was, and now this school.

 

A strange space where people who weren’t much different from them lived. Mueum didn’t want to understand this space. Understanding it would surely lead to repercussions for himself. Monsters or not, they were things to be killed. Hesitation meant the end of his own world.

 

Therefore, the choice he had to make was obvious.

 

“Can I take a look for a moment?”

 

As he touched the notebook, hologram-like windows popped up all at once.

 

「 X month X day

 

I lost my notebook again. This time, it was in the classroom locker. Why do I keep losing my notebook? It wasn’t particularly important, so it’s fine. I hope it doesn’t disappear tomorrow. 」

 

「 X month X day

 

I confessed today. She said she didn’t like me. Too bad. 」

 

「 X month X day

 

Both my diary and homework notebook disappeared. What if other kids read my diary? I’m a bit worried about that. I guess I’ll have to go look for them when the school closes.]

 

Huh.

 

“This isn’t your homework notebook?”

 

‘Suho’ clearly came here looking for his homework notebook. But the boy shook his head. A familiar arm wrapped around Jeong Mueum’s shoulder. Hwahin asked Suho with a smile.

 

“Hello. So you… need a homework notebook other than this one, right?”

 

Suho nodded.

 

“….Yes. Because I have to do my homework ‘tomorrow’.”

 

“Can you find it by yourself? We’re looking for something too, so we’ll help you.”

 

‘We’re looking for the homework notebook?’

 

When Mueum whispered, Hwashin nodded.

 

Homework. Yes, that notebook was needed. In fact, the notebook itself wasn’t as important as the process of finding it. A keen mind would uncover the truth there.

 

As the boy fiddled with his fingers, he asked in a small voice.

 

“Um, will you really help me look for it?”

 

“Of course.”

 

The boy’s young face brightened.

 

Hwashin closely examined Suho’s uniform.

 

It was indeed more worn out than Mueum’s, looking quite old.

 

This school itself was like that. Everything was old. Even in the place where Elric used to live, schools like this were only found in rural areas, not in the capital. Anyway, what needed to be done in this science lab now was…

 

Bang. A loud noise from behind made Hwasin’s shoulders jump like a spring.

 

Good grief.

 

Through the window, Hwasin’s lips trembled slightly as he witnessed the scene.

 

‘Huh.’

 

Was this how the plot changed?

 

‘No matter what, that’s how it is. They say no one can win against a barrage of numbers, but isn’t that a little troublesome?’

 

Silently, Hwashin moved next to Mueum, who was taking care of Suho.

 

Mueum

. He whispered in a serious tone, different from his usual playful self. Mueum didn’t argue, sensing the the seriousness in Hwashin’s demeanor.

 

Can you run?

 

A strange hand attached itself to the window with a thunk.

 

Beyond the wall leading to the window, there were more of them. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

 

“When I count to three.”

 

Hands, decorative brains, spinning eyeballs. Even chattering fake teeth. Everything was unpleasant to look at.

 

Hwashin glanced at the wall clock.

 

It was almost 12 o’clock. Someone needed to go there on time. In that case, Mueum would be perfect for this.

 

“….Take Suho and go.”

 

One.

 

“You know what to do once you get out, right?”

 

Nod. Mueum firmly grabbed Suho’s wrist. When Suho tried to look at the window with a puzzled face, Mueum blocked his line of sight. His right foot was already pointed towards the back door.

 

Two.

 

Hwashin slowly got up from his seat. The hands that were only visible from the teacher’s desk angle had already climbed over the outer wall and were now visible to Cha Jaeha and Jin.

Cha Jaeha tightened his loosened gloves again. Jin was leisurely counting, ‘One, two, three…’ But in the end, Hwashin couldn’t finish counting and gasped.

 

“Run!!!”

 

You said on the count of three, hyung!

 

Mueum jumped up and ran without looking back. A terrible wave came through the back door that opened with a bang. Ugh. His body trembled so much it was hard to stand up.

 

His knees gave out. It must be the same for Suho, as he was already drained of energy. But they had to keep running. Mueum bit his lip hard.

 

I can do it. This much.

 

Slowly again. One step at a time. From now, one step at a time.

 

There must be a reason why that hyung told me to get out!

 

What did he have to do once he got out?

 

….Homework notebook. Hwashin’s last words flashed in his mind. Running towards the stairs, Mueum shouted.

 

“Notebook! Where’s that homework notebook!?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“That notebook!!”

 

He needed to find it.