The Conjurer of the Academy

Chapter 94

“Huh, huh, huh, huh… Uweck, kek, cough, cough, aack…”

The face of Jin So-yul, who had stopped, turned pale. It seemed like she had been running desperately, as she kept coughing uncontrollably.

‘You’re really putting on quite the show.’

I barely swallowed the words that had risen in my throat and patted Jin So-yul’s back.

“Senior, are you okay?”

“Uweck… T-thank you, Ha-baek. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve definitely been dragged back to that hellish place.”

At that critical moment, I helped Jin So-yul escape the student supervisor.

Although I wanted to avoid getting involved in this way, I still hadn’t repaid her for what she did at the spirit spots.

“I think you should apologize sincerely and return to your supplementary lessons, senior. How are you going to handle it tomorrow?”

Jin So-yul made a V-sign with her fingers and placed it under her chin.

“My life motto is to just live for today.”

“What are you talking about?”

Before I knew it, I had blurted out my thoughts at her absurd comment.

“You need to finish the supplementary lessons to participate in club activities.”

It had been ages since we’d had any official club activities. Oh, right, since we’re not an officially approved club, that might not matter.

“Haha, you’re saying good things. Ha-baek, why do you think I ran away from the supplementary class today?”

“Just because you didn’t want to study.”

“Well, that’s part of it. I won’t deny it.”

With a serious expression, Jin So-yul began making unfunny jokes. I decided to watch a bit longer to see how far this madness would go.

“That’s because today is the perfect opportunity to uncover the third school ghost story!”

“Why today, of all days?”

“Because that’s what I want to do!”

Of course, it would make perfect sense for Jin So-yul.

Circle Quest!

Q. Uncover the third school ghost story

※ Discern the truth from the lies.

With the quest popping up, there was no backing out now. Given the situation, I had no choice but to go along with it.

“Then, just one thing before we go.”

“Need to take a dump?”

Her blunt question left me shaking my head.

“…I just have somewhere I need to stop by first.”

* * *

After buying some bread and a drink from the store, I went out to the backyard. The air was chilly, and the lone monument standing there looked particularly desolate.

“What are you doing?”

“Praying.”

I placed the food in front of the monument and stood silently in prayer.

[Awww…]

As usual, an old man wearing a sleeveless top appeared. This mysterious old man always showed up during the Occult Club’s circle quests.

Normally, paying respects at the monument would be classified as an independent quest, but ever since I gained the ability to see spirits, he would consistently show up during circle quests.

[Someone, please make that stop…]

The old man pointed towards the direction of the old storeroom. It was called the old storeroom because it was used as one before the new building was constructed.

[I can’t sleep because of that squelching noise.]

The old man covered his ears and buried his face between his knees. He looked more wretched and haggard than the last time I saw him.

‘He’s pointing out the location and content of the ghost story.’

As I suspected, this old man had some connection to the school ghost stories.

The old man always pointed to the next location where a ghost story would occur, and his words were always tied to the content of that story. Of course, I would only know for sure once I cleared all the quests.

“Huh, seems like there’s something hazy there?”

Jin So-yul lifted her eyebrows in the direction of the old man.

Jin So-yul’s spiritual abilities were genuine. I quietly watched her for a while as she tilted her head, trying to make sense of what she saw.

“It’s strange. I feel like I’m seeing something wrinkled.”

[I’m not that wrinkled…]

While Jin So-yul was engaged in a silent stare-down with the invisible old man…

“What’s this? Fancy meeting you here?”

A voice called out from the other side of the monument. For a moment, I thought the monument itself was speaking because the person was so short.

“It’s a school, so we’re bound to run into each other.”

I responded curtly, and Ise-ah peeked over the monument.

“Still, what a surprise.”

Ise-ah grinned mischievously and approached us. Her eyes quickly scanned Jin So-yul from head to toe.

“I thought nobody would talk to you if not for me.”

“That’s my line.”

Since the last incident, Ise-ah has increasingly initiated conversations like this.

Jin So-yul, seemingly interested, stepped closer to Ise-ah with her eyes sparkling.

“Who’s this small and cute friend?”

“She’s our class’s official troublemaker.”

“Hey, who are you calling a troublemaker!”

Ise-ah stomped her foot in frustration, clearly displeased with my introduction.

“Judging by your nametag, you’re a senior in the second year. Nice to meet you, I’m Ise-ah, the eldest daughter of Seonjin Networks.”

Ise-ah straightened her outfit and bowed respectfully. It was probably the most polite demeanor I had ever seen from her.

‘I can see right through you.’

The reason for Ise-ah’s courteous behavior was obvious. Unlike her classmates, she couldn’t afford to risk offending someone in the second year due to insufficient prior research.

By openly declaring her identity, she ensured that most people would defer to her, making it a wise move from her perspective. And Jin So-yul’s response to that was—

“Nice to meet you, I’m Jin So-yul! If you have any questions, feel free to ask this senior anything! Except math.”

Jin So-yul grabbed Ise-ah’s hand and shook it vigorously up and down. Ise-ah, blinking in confusion, didn’t seem to grasp what was happening.

“T-That’s it? I just told you I’m the eldest daughter of Seonjin Networks.”

“You just told me.”

“Then aren’t you curious about my family or special skills?”

“What does that matter when making friends?”

“…”

With a big grin plastered on her face, Jin So-yul left Ise-ah speechless.

“But you’re really cute. Sniff sniff, you smell really nice too.”

“Ugh, let go of me!”

Ise-ah struggled to break free, but there was no way she could overpower Jin So-yul.

“Oh, look at this! It’s a poltergeist phenomenon!”

Jin So-yul’s shirt collar stretched, and her body lifted off the ground.

Ise-ah watched with furrowed brows as Jin So-yul flailed her arms without a care to cover her skirt.

“I feel like I’m the only one losing out here.”

Just as Ise-ah was tidying her disheveled hair—

Plink.

A raindrop fell on her nose.

The raindrops that fell one by one soon turned into pouring rain.

“They said it would be clear today! All that effort with the hair straightener gone to waste.”

Ise-ah quickly covered her head. It was odd for rain to pour from a sky that had been cloudless just moments ago, regardless of erroneous weather forecasts.

‘It definitely started raining suddenly with the third ghost story as well.’

In the game, when the third ghost story began, such downpours were also triggered.

“I know a place we can take shelter from the rain! Follow me!”

“Wait, senior!”

If it was just about finding shelter from the rain, any nearby building would do. But Jin So-yul dashed off in a completely different direction.

I called out to her, but she had no intention of stopping.

“We’re going to get soaked!”

Ise-ah followed closely behind Jin So-yul, her eyes tightly shut, missing the strangeness of the situation.

‘I have no choice. If this is the path we need to take, then…’

Resignedly, I also followed. Knowing where Jin So-yul was headed, I had no fear of falling behind.

“We’ve arrived!”

The place we had arrived at was the old storeroom where the third school ghost story was said to occur. If you’re picturing a cramped storeroom, think again.

‘It’s even bigger in person.’

Though a single-story building, its height was comparable to a three-story building, with various items stacked on large shelves.

“Glad the lights are on.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit dim, but this will do!”

To put it simply, the interior resembled a warehouse-style store. It made sense that everything necessary was managed from this one storeroom in the past.

“I’m completely soaked.”

Ise-ah, drenched from the rain, complained. Her eye makeup had inevitably smudged, leaving mascara streaks around her eyes.

“Could you please cover yourself?”

I turned my head away from the whimpering Ise-ah. She blinked, seemingly not understanding right away.

“Cover what—”

Ise-ah looked down.

“Eek! Where are you looking, you pervert!”

“I’m not looking.”

Her white shirt was completely soaked, revealing everything inside. Realizing this belatedly, Ise-ah covered herself with both hands.

“Haha, I knew this would happen, so I wore sportswear!”

On the other hand, Jin So-yul, clueless about shame, proudly puffed out her chest. Although her sportswear hid her underwear from view, it still revealed the contours of her body, making it hard to know where to look.

“Both of you, cover up with these. Otherwise, it’s going to be awkward for me.”

I took some gym uniforms off a sealed shelf and handed them to the two. The old-fashioned gym clothes were a bright blue, reminiscent of Smurfs.

“The design’s pretty cool, right? I like it.”

“Yuck, are you crazy? How can I wear something this hideous? I’d rather just walk back in the rain.”

Unlike Jin So-yul, who liked it, Ise-ah used every muscle in her face to express her disgust.

“I’m going out.”

“It won’t work.”

Ise-ah ignored my words and approached the exit.

“When did the door close?”

“I didn’t close it.”

Ise-ah reached for the firmly closed door. She pulled with all her might, but the door wouldn’t budge.

“Huh, why isn’t this opening?”

No matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t move.

It was as if someone had locked it from the outside, but the door remained completely unmoving.

“I’m already annoyed enough…!”

Seething with anger, Ise-ah stepped back and stretched out her hand.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

An invisible force pounded on the door with great strength. It was just a metal door, yet it didn’t even leave a scratch, let alone tear off. It was almost unbelievable.

“Why won’t it open!”

I felt bad for Ise-ah, but this door couldn’t be opened until the ghost story was resolved. Although I had initially suspected it wouldn’t open, now I understand why.

‘A barrier.’

From the moment we entered, a barrier had enveloped the entire storeroom. Even Yomi, who had been asleep, slowly opened her eyes in response to the barrier.

[This one’s a big shot.]

“I know.”

Just as I was whispering with Yomi—

Pop!

The lights illuminating the storeroom went out.

“Huh? A blackout?”

“It’s so dark! Someone, turn on a light or something!”

Unlike the calm Jin So-yul, Ise-ah started to whimper in the sudden darkness.

‘It’s starting.’

Don’t worry. The lights will turn on by themselves. But instead…

※ Discern the truth from the lies.

Pop!

Soon enough, the lights flickered back on.

“What kind of maintenance does this school do anyway?”

Only then did Ise-ah stomp her foot in relief. But there was one problem.

“Seriously. They should tear down this dilapidated storeroom already.”

“…What?”

Jin So-yul furrowed her brows.

“There are… two Ise-ah?”

The third school ghost story.

A doppelganger in the old storeroom.

——
(T/N): I’m baaack with the premium chapters ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) *.✧