Interlude: Ghost Stories, the System, and the Status Window

While the entrance ceremony dragged on at the playground, I sat in the classroom chatting idly with Seon-ah and Gyeong-won to kill time. Of course, the delinquent girl was sprawled out asleep at the back the whole time.

With the vibe of needing to make friends fast now that we were in high school, plus the shared camaraderie of ditching class behind the teachers' backs, we hit it off in no time. We talked about stuff like where we lived, how long it took to walk to school, what middle school we came from, how much we'd studied, whether we went to cram school—typical chit-chat between new students.

Before we knew it, the ceremony wrapped up, and we heard footsteps as students started heading back up. We naturally drifted apart, pretending like we'd just sat down.

After that, we had a long stretch of just waiting in the classroom, which gave me time to slowly sort through my thoughts.

A lot had happened, but it boiled down to three big things: ghost stories, the game-like system, and the fact that I returned to the past when I died.

First up, ghost stories. What I just went through? Probably a ghost story manifesting straight into reality. The events unfolded just like in the tale, and acting like the characters in it let me survive.

Of course, ghost stories are all tall tales with variations—even the same one has different versions. The core plot stays the same, but details differ. Still, the conclusion was simple: a ghost story had happened in real life.

Second, the game system. There's this game-like interface that only I can see. It seems to provide all sorts of info to help me understand the reality I'm stuck in. The first message straight-up told me some grotesque thing called the Demon King would revive on graduation day three years from now, and it even previewed the "ghost story" phenomenon I just faced.

I'd skimmed it before since it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠made no sense, but from now on, I needed to examine it closely. Especially terms like Ghost Story Points, Understanding, and Status Window.

Ghost Story Points… Like experience? Or since it's "points," maybe in-game currency?

Understanding. Seems like a number that goes up when I learn something about someone or figure out their personality. It ticked up when Seon-ah admitted she was slow, and again when I internally pegged Gyeong-won as the type who brags about his smarts.

And the Status Window. It says it's unlocked, but how do I use it? Hm…

I tried calling it mentally, like I did with the tutorial messages.

Status Window!

Oh-ho, I marveled inwardly. Felt just like a character stat screen in a game. Name and age were obvious. Trait: Two-Facedness… Probably meant my personality was two-faced, right?

It had "NEW!! ► Click to expand," so I did—and a wall of text popped up. Too long; I'd check it later at home.

'Special Ability' and 'Quirk'… Skills or something? Anyway, it matched game stat screens perfectly.

'Can I use it on others?'

I glanced sideways at Seon-ah, who was leaning against the wall, spacing out while fidgeting with her fingers on the desk.

Yoon Seon-ah Status Window!

Probably low since we just met. Message said understanding insufficient. Unlike mine, her trait and quirk were all question marks.

I clicked the "NEW!" on her trait question marks.

Trait: ???

- She's slow.

Just that one line she'd said herself. Guessed it filled in as I learned more.

I turned back to look at Gyeong-won.

He was reading some thick, mysterious book.

An Gyeong-won Status Window!

Gyeong-won's understanding was way higher than Seon-ah's. That's why his trait showed as "Explanation Bug" instead of question marks.

Clicked it.

Trait: Explanation Bug

- Thinks he's smart and loves showing it off. Speaks in stiff, intellectual style.

Spot on, just like I'd thought. Easy personality to read? It reflected my assessment perfectly, and understanding shot up fast.

Now for the delinquent girl snoring away at the very back.

Quest said make three friends. For some reason, the system counted this badass as one too.

The hell? Why's she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my friend?

Ridiculous, but I called her status anyway. Didn't know her name, but willed it mentally.

Delinquent Girl Status Window!

As expected… Knew nothing about her.

That scary-looking girl's name is Lee Jin-hee, huh. News to me, but it was right there. Did the status transcend my knowledge? If so, something bugged me: Seon-ah's age listed as 16.

We're all '03-born, 17… Early admission since early birthdays were phased out? Confirm later; it'd prove the system overrides my perception.

That covered the game system. Last: my looping life.

First word that came to mind: time loop. Seen it in SF novels. Regression, reincarnation, or time loop. Seemed like I reset to entrance day on death.

Headache… Resetting to entrance every death—what's that mean? Nothing clear yet. Gotta die more to get a feel.

Why me, all of a sudden…

While lost in thought, a pot-bellied middle-aged man waddled in. Introduced himself as homeroom teacher, said let's get along for the year.

Three years. High school life restarts.

Scraped through three years of near-death studying for CSAT, and now redo it all?

Fuck… Ghost stories, Demon King—too absurd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to think straight, but realistically? Massive pain. Tons crack from one gap year; I had to redo three full years… Sigh.

"Alright, passing out the guide printouts. Front of each row, grab and pass back."

Front students went to the podium.

"Back has rules like no booze, no smokes, hair length—read carefully so you don't get in trouble."

The balding middle-aged guy, polite to us kids, started handing them out.

I listlessly took one from the guy in front and passed it back. Obvious crap like welcome blurb, school history, rules—skipped reading.

Brain already maxed sorting the weird shit from earlier. No room for words, knowledge, info right now.

Mine's weak mentally anyway.

Felt it grinding through CSAT prep last life. Not dumb, but mental stamina's shit—gets bored fast with long hauls. Genes all-in on quick wits for snap situations.

Aced internals cramming short-term, bombed long-haul CSAT, ended at meh uni.

Handled crises with fast brains, but no vessel for steady grind to greatness.

Wanna go home, crash… Even now, rest trumps digging deeper. Brain full; unavoidable.

…Wait, three years back means old house. Miss it.

Whoa—whoa—

Class suddenly buzzed. Kids exchanging uneasy glances.

…What? Bad vibe.

Then the school PA crackled.

Whoa—whoa—

Homeroom rushed back in after getting word, flustered.

"Ah, printout printing error. This time, back row students come forward."

I picked up mine to check, but a passing kid snatched it at the angle he expected.

Thought I was handing it over for ease.

What was on it to freak everyone? Should've skimmed despite laziness. Oh well, ask new pals Gyeong-won or Seon-ah.

Later.

"Sorry. Figured it'd be boilerplate, didn't read."

Gyeong-won said flatly.

Seon-ah timidly chimed in beside me.

"I read it, but they grabbed it quick… Don't remember details well… Ooh!"

"Recall what? What error made everyone buzz?"

I asked. Seon-ah furrowed her brows, digging up memories slowly.

"Print was fine, but… weird content…"

"Weird how?"

"Well…"

She flapped her mouth, struggling for words.

"Rest normal, but amid school rules… warning not to meet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠some woman…"

"Woman?"

Gyeong-won and I echoed.

Woman? In school rules?

"Beware meeting some woman…"

"Which one?"

"Uh, smiling woman? Yeah… smiling woman!"

"Beware smiling woman in school?"

Seon-ah pondered, then grimaced.

"Sorry, said how to beware too… Forgot that…"

Beware smiling woman in school—as a rule?

"Prank?"

I glanced at Gyeong-won. He was deep in thought.

"Could be. But looks like a trending manual ghost story."

"Manual… ghost story…?"

Ghost story! There it was again!

"New internet creepypasta: normal manual with bizarre warnings slipped in. First time hearing?"

Manual ghost story… Ghost Story Club.