Chapter 78: Ghost
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78: Ghost
“Hmm.”
Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo caught me just as I was trying to slip away from the filming site. Normally, I would’ve made a clean break, but the situation suddenly took a strange turn.
“Let’s check his laptop, Senior! I bet there’s nothing on there related to video editing—just porn!”
For some reason, Seo Ye-rin flinched at Ah-rin’s mention of ‘porn,’ but I let it slide for now.
Sensing she had the upper hand, Yoo Ah-rin gleefully drummed on the table, turning the pressure up on me.
“And where do you think you’re going?!”
“You barely have any scenes anyway, why are you coming at me?”
“Shut up! How are you any different from this guy who didn’t even memorize the script?”
I wondered why she was being like this when she only had a few lines, but then I remembered—she lived for screwing people over. She was devious like that.
Senior Ju-hee, who had been listening silently, slowly lifted her hand from her lap.
“It’s fine.”
“...Huh?”
Ah-rin’s aggressive shouting stopped mid-air. She blinked and peeked at Ju-hee, as if checking if she’d heard correctly.
“Editing won’t start until after we’re done filming anyway, so it’s not a big deal. If we try to edit while filming, things just get messy. It’s better to wait unless we need pick-up shots.”
“Ah...”
It seemed Ju-hee’s low expectations of me had unintentionally worked in my favor.
Disappointed that her political maneuvering had failed, Yoo Ah-rin slumped back into her seat.
“Lame.”
“But do make sure you have the editing software installed. If you wait until we’re ready to start to finally download it and learn how to use it...”
Ju-hee gave a warning look, jerking her thumb toward Ahn Hyun-ho.
“You’ll be learning while getting smacked around, just like him.”
“...I’ll start studying today.”
In any case, Ah-rin’s rebellion was suppressed. I suppose I could attribute that to the insight of a wise leader.
“Hey, aren’t you going to help me?”
Ah-rin turned to Choi I-seo, seeking backup. I wanted to tell her how pathetic she looked, but I-seo just took a sip of her beer and spoke up.
“But is there really any reason for him not to join in?”
Despite the alcohol, I-seo’s eyes remained sharp, piercing right through me.
“From what I’ve heard, it sounds like he doesn’t actually have anything to do right now.”
I was speechless.
The very lifeline that had saved me—the fact that I didn’t need the editing software yet because we were still filming—was now tied firmly around my ankles.
“Ah-rin and I only got involved in this because of Woo-jin in the first place. It doesn’t seem right for him to be the only one slipping away.”
“Do you... really have to do this to feel better?”
I looked at I-seo as I spoke, but she didn’t even give me an answer, as if she felt I was trying to abandon her.
“Hmm, it would be a bit awkward to leave the two people who came to help behind.”
Ju-hee thought about it for a moment, then smiled.
“Let’s put it to a majority vote.”
“No!”
The violence of democracy was descending upon me!
* * *
Wednesday.
The following evening, to be precise.
A chilly wind was blowing, and I was sitting on a bench wrapped in a blanket, scrolling through my phone.
Naturally, I was checking the Bamboo Forest, just like any other day.
The board was particularly active today.
On the surface, it looked like the usual mess, but those were just the regulars posting whatever they wanted.
The real reason the Bamboo Forest was so lively was a specific debate currently making the rounds.
The topic was which of the two recently finished dramas was better: Shout Out to the World or Dream War.
I didn’t know where it started, but the Bamboo Forest had been on fire with this debate for thirty minutes.
They were going back and forth, comparing the two dramas with heated passion.
Since I hadn’t watched either, I just focused on managing the posts that crossed the line.
Occasionally, I’d see photos of the female leads—Mi-u and Han So-ae—and find myself pondering.
Mi-u has that cute look, while Han So-ae feels more elegant.
Considering Se-tte-oe was a modern drama and Dream War was a historical one, the casting seemed perfect.
Personally, both were so beautiful it was hard to choose.
Grab!
Suddenly, an arm wrapped around my neck.
I was caught in a headlock, and a voice whispered in my ear.
“What are you doing?”
It was Choi I-seo, back from her shoot. It must be break time.
“...Just looking at the school’s Bamboo Forest.”
As I carefully lowered my phone while answering, I-seo tightened her grip.
“No, they’re just debating which actress is prettier on the Bamboo Forest, so I was looking at that.”
“Did I say anything?”
“You’re squeezing my neck.”
I felt like I might pass out if she wasn’t careful.
Slowly loosening her grip, I-seo patted my shoulder and laughed.
“I’m just kidding. Senior Ju-hee said if you have nothing to do, go to the assistant instructor and get the classroom keys.”
I guess we were filming in a classroom next. I tucked my phone into my pocket, stood up slowly, and stretched.
“Which classroom keys?”
“She said they’ll just give you whatever’s vacant.”
“Captain Ju is always so efficient.”
“Cap...tain?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Just as I was about to head off, I looked back at I-seo, who was seeing me off, and a thought occurred to me.
“Hey, in the end, I really don’t have anything to do here, do I?”
“...”
I-seo shut her mouth tight. She seemed to feel a bit guilty, realizing I was even more idle than she’d expected.
“Y-you’re taking good care of the actors. Buying drinks, getting bread...”
“So I’m just a bread shuttle?”
“...”
Unable to deny it, I-seo looked away. I let out a sigh and rubbed my stiff neck.
“Well, it’s my assignment, so it’s only natural I put in the work, but it is a bit boring.”
At first, I’d watched them act, but eventually, I just ended up waiting on the bench.
I was basically the designated bag-holder.
“I’ll play with you later, so just go.”
“And what exactly are you going to do to ‘play’ with me?”
Ridiculous.
I-seo seemed embarrassed by her own words and couldn’t come up with a retort.
“I’ll be back, so think of something fun to do.”
I gave her a smile so she wouldn’t feel too bad and headed toward the assistant instructors’ office.
Seeing as they hadn’t left yet, I realized being a TA was busier than I thought.
“Huh.”
The office was locked.
The keys were just hanging on the doorknob.
There was no classroom number written on them, so I had to figure out where they went.
I figured it was probably one of the English Department classrooms—1, 2, or 3.
“This is creepy.”
I’d rarely been at school late at night, and the hallways I usually walked through without a second thought now looked quite ominous.
It felt like a long-haired ghost might come sprinting at me from the shadows.
If a ghost appears, I’ll keep it at bay with a jab, feint a hook, and then go straight for a leg sweep...
I mentally rehearsed my anti-ghost tactics as I checked the classrooms one by one.
Room 1 and Room 2 were both duds.
That left Room 3.
It was the classroom furthest down the hall, so I trudged toward it.
No, a jab is too risky. I should fight more cautiously. I’ll pretend to run, and when it chases me, I’ll hit it with a backspin elbow...
The key slid perfectly into the lock of English Room 3.
I went to turn it, but...
Click, click.
“Huh?”
The door was already locked—meaning I had just locked it myself.
Which meant it had been unlocked to begin with.
“Ah!Mmm!”
“What the...”
A bizarre sound leaked through the crack in the door. I wondered if I’d heard correctly, but when I pressed my ear to the wood, the strange noises continued to echo.
What is that?
Should I run?
Should I go get Yoo Ah-rin or Senior Ju-hee? Or maybe Ahn Hyun-ho?
I felt like I needed someone who could fight.
But wait, if I actually film a ghost, wouldn’t that be huge?
I quietly pulled out my phone and started recording. This was my chance to debut as a Ghost Hunter Neutuber.
Ten million views, easy.
Since I was an English major, I confidently told myself I’d have no problem being interviewed by foreign media. I turned the key again, and the lock clicked open.
Creeeeak!
I stepped inside.
The classroom was pitch black.
My phone’s flashlight cut through the darkness, illuminating the interior.
Over by the lecture platform...
“Haah! Harder!”
Two people were stripped to their waists, bodies pressed together.
“Ah...”
As fate would have it, I knew both of them. A third-year male student and a second-year female student—both from the English Department.
Click.
Without thinking, I flipped the light switch.
“Eek!”
“W-what the fuck?!”
The classroom flooded with light.
The two of them scrambled to put their clothes back on in a panic. I stood there, jaw dropped in sheer disbelief.
“Holy shit.”
“Y-you bastard! Put that phone away!”
“Turn off the light!”
“Oh, right.”
I immediately killed the light and lowered my phone. I’d accidentally caught a live recording, but honestly, it felt like it was polluting my phone, so I deleted it on the spot.
“I mean, no matter how horny you guys are, you shouldn’t be doing it in here.”
Click.
When they didn’t answer, I flipped the light back on.
“We get it! We’re sorry, so turn off the light!”
Click.
The TA probably just left the door unlocked and hung the keys there out of laziness.
This couple must have stumbled upon the open room and decided they wanted a little more excitement than usual.
“P-pretend you didn’t see anything! Got it?”
“Don’t you dare tell anyone!”
Click.
“Fine, just don’t go dying of embarrassment.”
“Stop turning the light on!”
“Why do you flip the switch every time you talk?!”
Both of them were beet-red, unable to meet my eyes. They were definitely going to be kicking their blankets in shame tonight.
“Just go. I need to air this place out.”
At my words, the couple bolted out of the room.
I left the lights on and headed toward the window. The room smelled stuffy, so I needed to ventilate it immediately.
As I slid the window open, a gust of wind rushed in, making the curtains flutter.
And then...
Click.
The classroom lights went out.
“Huh?”
I instinctively tensed up. Confused, I looked toward the entrance.
A woman with long hair was standing by the door.
It was too dark to see her clearly, but her silhouette sent a chill down my spine. I took an involuntary step back.
A ghost?!
I wondered why it hadn’t shown up while those two were going at it, only to target me now.
Thump.
She began to walk toward me, one step at a time.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Thump.
“I said, don’t come closer!”
Thump!
“Seriously! I’m warning you! You’ll regret it if you come any closer!”
Thump!
“If you’re a virgin ghost, you should’ve gone after that couple! Why are you doing this to me?!”
Thump!
“Y-you shouldn’t cross the boundary between the living and the dead!”
Thump!
“Wait, in novels, saying stuff like this usually pacifies the spirit! Why isn’t it working?!”
Thump!
“I-if I die, I’ll be a ghost too! Do you think you can handle the weight class difference then?! How are you going to deal with the aftermath...!”
“Pfft!”
The ghost burst out laughing.
The moment I heard the voice, I knew.
“...Get over here.”
The second I realized who it was, I crooked my finger at her.
“No way.”
Seo Ye-rin tried to run away, laughing, but I was faster. I lunged forward and grabbed her.
“Gah! Seo Ye-rin!”
I couldn’t really do anything once I’d caught her, so I just snapped at her in frustration, but she only laughed harder.
“Ahaha! ‘You shouldn’t cross the boundary between the living and the dead!’”
“You’re dead meat, seriously.”
“That was original. Threatening me with a weight class battle once you become a ghost? That was fresh.”
“Can you handle me right now, then?”
“Hehe! Why were you taking so long? It’s my break, and you weren’t there, so I came looking for you.”
“Sigh... You have no idea what I just went through.”
At my words, Ye-rin hopped closer and asked, “Oh, right! What was that about a couple?”
“...”
Without using names, I gave her a brief rundown of what had happened.
The reason I didn’t use names was partly because I didn’t actually know them, but...
“They were r-really doing it in here?!”
A flustered Ye-rin stood by the platform where the man and woman had been tangled up.
“Yeah, they were really going at it, thrusting away, and then I walked in...!”
In my excitement, I even started mimicking the positions to explain, when suddenly Ye-rin gave me a sidelong glance.
“Why are you seducing me?”
“...Me?”
“Yeah, explaining it in such detail. Aren’t you basically saying you want to do it with me here?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Wow, Kim Woo-jin, you’re quite the player, aren’t you?”
“I said no. You need to watch less porn. It’s rotting your brain.”
Thump.
Ye-rin didn’t argue; she just started walking toward me.
She seemed to be stepping lightly, but for some reason, her footsteps sounded incredibly loud.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Thump.
“I said, don’t come closer!”
Thump.
“Seriously! I’m warning you! You’ll regret it if you come any closer!”