Intermission - Club Level Up!

"I was surprised to hear that Teacher Jang Hwa-eun comes from a shaman family. Looks like we'll be hearing some pretty interesting stories from here on out."

"Jin-hee... she's amazing. Same age as us, and she's already working part-time... No wonder she was always passed out at school."

After school, at the fast food joint in front of the station near school. True to our promise to come back here once everything was over, the three of us—Yoon Seon-ah, An Gyeong-won, and I—sat by the window on the second floor, munching on burgers and chatting.

In Ha-yoon had gone through the ghost story with us too, but when I looked around the classroom after the end-of-day bell, she'd already slipped out without a word. So it ended up just the three of us.

"I see. So the president has encountered that same bizarre phenomenon multiple times. Quite the experiential expert."

"Yeah. That's exactly why I started the club."

"Hmm... I'd love to hear the full details of what the president went through, from the very beginning—"

"Joon-ah, over there..." Seon-ah suddenly cut in, nodding toward the side. I followed her gaze and saw the part-time worker sister sweeping the floor with a broom.

"She's the one from my dream."

I replied, and Seon-ah nodded while chewing her burger.

"This isn't a dream right now, is it?"

"Haha, don't say spooky stuff like that, President."

Gyeong-won laughed and waved it off.

"One way to tell is that totem you showed me, President."

"Totem? What's that? Did I show you something like that?"

Gyeong-won nodded and pulled out his smartphone from his pocket. It was the latest model from Clover Corporation, with some logo engraved on top.

"Beyond numerical or temporal math, balance sense is another handy tool for RC checks. The devices used for it are called totems. Watch closely."

He placed the phone on the table and spun it.

"In dreams, once something starts spinning, it doesn't stop easily. The human subconscious tends toward endless continuity rather than proper starts and stops."

Of course, the phone couldn't overcome friction and stopped after a few turns.

"Relax, both of you. This is reality, heh."

I let out a relieved sigh, and Seon-ah smiled softly, looking at ease.

"So, did she stick in my memory from when I visited before, and that's why she showed up in the dream?"

"Digging into finished business just gives you a headache, President. Eat your burger."

"Pfft."

"Take care~ Have a good weekend~"

"Hehe, see you next week."

"Bye, Joon-ah... Thanks for the food."

I covered the bill. I'd promised to treat these two to something tasty before. Seon-ah for the smiling woman incident, Gyeong-won for the mom ghost.

The trigger for this whole mess was my weird Goddess of Luck ability making us all pass out at once. I felt bad for dragging my friends into it and making them suffer, so even though my allowance was tight, I splurged without regret.

"Luck, huh..." I muttered to myself as I walked along the main road from the station.

All four of us bumping into each other in a chain, passing out. Then the battle with the Dream within Dream ghost story that followed. An insanely low-probability coincidence, sure—but calling this luck?

In most online games, skills you get are permanent. But my S-grade Goddess of Luck vanished after one use.

Balance adjustment?

The recent events didn't quite add up as just the massive luck from an S-grade disposable skill.

"Luck... what the hell was the luck here?"

The points I earned from clearing this ghost story were the usual amount. Exactly what you'd get from beating a B-grade one—no more, no less.

"What did I gain from this mess? What was the luck?"

Besides points... did I get anything else?

...Club members? Seon-ah, Gyeong-won, and Jin-hee were already in. Teacher Jang Hwa-eun was our advisor from the start. Today's incident netted us Ha-yoon and Deok-hoon as new members.

Eh, maybe skip Deok-hoon.

In Ha-yoon.

Ha-yoon... The quiet, well-behaved girl type every class has one of. Pulling her into the Ghost Story Club—is that supposed to be some huge stroke of luck? She's pretty and has that mysterious vibe, but looks aren't it, obviously.

I figured I should check Ha-yoon's status window.

"Club Management. Member Management. In Ha-yoon Status Window."

"...Something's off."

The understanding was way too low. We rolled through life-and-death together for a bit—how could I know so little about her?

I clicked on her trait.

Nothing like "calm personality," "quiet usually," or "kind to everyone." I had all these images of Ha-yoon in my head, but none reflected in the understanding.

For Gyeong-won or Seon-ah, it shot up just from rough guesses about their personalities.

"Sigh, damn. No clue. Table it for now."

Putting Ha-yoon aside, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pondered again what I'd gained this time.

Members, members... wait.

"...Ah! That's it!"

Yes. Through this incident, I'd fully shared my bizarre situation with the club members.

The school announcement ghost story, smiling woman, mom ghost, even the Demon King. From first encounter to death—everything, exactly as I experienced it. Even the regression on death.

Well, technically not regression, just looping back to the dream's start—but from our perspective, same thing.

It all lined up perfectly.

Holy shit.

I smacked my forehead.

The four of us headbutting and passing out wasn't the luck. It was this perfect timing for the Dream within Dream to let them experience my situation by proxy!

In that sense, this ghost story timed out flawlessly and bowed out.

I'd need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to explain my circumstances to them step by step again, but now they're primed to accept it. Huge asset.

I could've been stuck in some third-rate suspense flick, struggling alone in the dark for three years while everyone else was clueless. Now that's neatly resolved.

No more lonely fights. Weird shit happens? Call the club, discuss, done.

I have friends who can truly share this madness now.

"Whoa, that's badass. Haha."

I smacked my forehead again. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠S-grade luck for sure.

Smiling contentedly as I walked, our school came into view. On the map, it's house-school-station in a straight line. Heading home from the fast food spot, I naturally passed by school again.

Seeing the building reminded me of something I needed to do.

Right, points!

I'd been planning to dump my saved Ghost Story Points into club leveling, but needed privacy. After school was perfect.

I crossed the empty playground, entered the main building, and climbed to the club room on the fifth floor.

Sunset light filtered through the quiet school. Aside such as a few seniors prepping for self-study, it was silent.

No one around, right?

I cautiously opened the club door and stepped in. Sunset glowed through the window. Table, chairs, whiteboard ahead.

A cozy club room that put the mind at ease.

Just wish it was a bit bigger.

With Ha-yoon and Deok-hoon suddenly joining, it was cramped for six. Teacher counted as a member made seven. Somehow we'd crammed through club time here before.

Anyway—Club Management!

"Number one. Club Status."

"Alright. Time to level up."

I pressed firmly, and text appeared.

"Proceed!"

"Oho."

I eyed the three options. Ghost Story Collection and Talent Accommodation were mysteries from the names alone. But Space Expansion? Obvious.

"Gotta be making the club room bigger, right? Priority one."

Seven members including the teacher. Current room was too tight. The club room is the heart of activities—psychologically and practically. Space first.

I clicked Space Expansion without hesitation.

"...Loading?"

Really necessary? I glanced around the room. Large window with sunset, pure white curtains. One big table, four chairs. Wheeled stand whiteboard.

To compare before/after, I memorized this ~2-pyeong space and stepped out.

*Slide.* Door closed, text appeared on it.

Strange mechanical hum from inside, loading resumed. Curious, I tried peeking through the small door window—but it fogged over, opaque.

*Ding!* 100%

*Slide.*

"Holy crap."

I couldn't help but gape. The room had doubled to about 4 pyeong—from gosichon room to small studio size.

"Furniture moved too."

Table, chairs, whiteboard centered perfectly as space expanded. Window shifted to match the new wall, centered. Furniture hadn't bunched up—auto-arranged. Even extra chairs for members now. Amazing!

This system can outright manipulate reality!

My heart raced. Endless potential ahead.

Master the features right, and maybe I can take on those freaky monsters!

Buoyed by confidence, I checked my status.

As expected, Goddess of Luck was gone from abilities. One-time use, as described.

Can't leave it empty. Half points to club, half to my powers.

I clicked the first empty slot.

Unlock Ability.

Abilities flashed by like last time. I strained to memorize them. Knowing options ahead meant smarter picks. Phone pics caught nothing but air—eyes only.

"Quick Step... Lip Reading... Identity Disguise... Shared Regression..."

Shared Regression especially caught my eye. Rewind with someone? Handy. Hope it lands.

This ghost story's shared regressions were due to the nested dream setup. Reality from here? I regress solo on death.

But Shared Regression? Club together, solve faster.

Not what I hoped—arrow stopped elsewhere.

No filling up on first try, huh.

Shrugging off regret, I clicked to check.

Not top-tier, but useful for eavesdropping when needed.

"Whew~"

Points spent, I slumped into a club room chair with a sigh. Exhausted. Died multiple times, even if in a dream.

But payoff: members fully briefed via experience, room expanded, Lip Reading. Solid gains.

"Sofa here would be perfect."

Imagining lounging on a club sofa, I rested a bit before heading out.

* * *

"Ooh, Joon! What brings you here this late!"

Crossing the playground toward the school gate, someone called cheerfully. Pot-bellied raccoon-man—Homeroom Teacher Park.

"Just checking on the club room."

"Hol hot, I see. Lucky you."

He patted his belly, grinning.

"Wish us teachers had a chill spot like that~ Hol hol."

"Isn't there a staff lounge?"

"That's for the popular insa teachers, Joon. No room for a flabby middle-ager like me."

Teachers had cliques too? Hard to tell if serious, but I chuckled. Makes sense—any group does.

"Hmm, Joon. By the way..."

His face turned serious, glancing around for listeners before whispering.

"Was the thing I gave you useful?"

"Thing...?"

Brain blanked a sec, then it hit.

"Oh, the club room key. Haha, yeah, super useful."

"No, not that. You know."

"Which...?"

"Hol hot, ho hol."

I just stared.

"The totem. The totem. Quite useful, right? Hol hol hol."

He hummed a trending idol's new song, strolling off, ignoring my shocked face.

"Da ham che po~ lin~ seu~ hol hol hol."

I stood frozen at the gate, blankly watching his silhouette fade against the sunset.

My Friend's Ghost Story Club