Chapter 255
Chapter 255
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 255
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall into a Ghost Story, I Have to Go to Work
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Really, I agonized over it.
How to successfully escape this insane groom class ghost story with Deputy Manager Lee Jaheon.
'Seriously, I considered every possible method...'
Ways to slip out through gaps outside the rules.
From confessing that he's already married and it would be hard to marry again, to convincing them that he had fatal flaws as a groom.
But considering the patterns in the exploration records, only spine-chilling outcomes came to mind...
'From the start, he'd get grilled by the educational supervisor for lying about qualifications he didn't have, then get subjected to some outlandish punishment where they "create qualifications for him," leading to a censored deletion ending...'
The exploration records for this ghost story had the thrill in how well you matched the "answer key" of "acquiring the virtues of a groom," even amid sudden twists.
Or in the ridiculous ways someone who failed met a gruesome end.
In the end, whether disqualification or ineligibility, anyone who didn't meet the "groom standards" was overwhelmingly likely to face a creepy, meaningful sewer ending in true ghost story fashion.
Groom Class.
A mental and physical labyrinth that drove people mad because it never gave up on its pupils.
So then...
'The answer... is a frontal breakthrough.'
And the one equipped with the stats needed for my "frontal breakthrough" was...
Brown.
The incarnation of intense talk shows and entertainment.
A being from the ghost stories that operated on a grammar different from ours.
-If Brown becomes a groom candidate, he'll definitely be a huge help.
'Worth a shot.'
That was the conclusion I'd reached after hearing about this place's features, the supervisors' characteristics, and the wedding descriptions.
The problem was...
Yeah.
The problem of convincing both sides...
-Brown.
...The voice drew closer.
......
Good thing I wasn't in a human body right now.
I wouldn't freeze in terror.
And.
-Hold on, Brown.
I could say this calmly.
-This isn't requesting a service. You're here too, so I'm just suggesting we do it together.
Because.
-This is the most fun, right?
-You wouldn't want a bland ending like other exploration cases, where it flows predictably to a hollow conclusion. Surely you don't crave such foreseeable developments?
-In a situation where you're participating?
Of course not.
Of course!
-I figured you'd gladly take charge and cleverly steer this cliché situation.
-Like your show.
Brown fell briefly silent.
But.
A voice that sounded somewhat moved patted my shoulder with a warm weight—how the hell??—
The grip on my shoulder grew heavier.
My heart nearly dropped.
And.
The weight brushed off my shoulder and vanished.
......
Whew.
-Of course.
...That was close.
'No next time.'
I really had to be careful from now on.
...Anyway, the convincing had gone well for now. Good.
'Alright.'
Suppressing a sigh of relief, I spoke to the current body owner, who had been silently listening to the whole conversation.
-Deputy Manager.
-Let's gamble just once.
Brown...
'Will cause a total uproar.'
A hazy morning at St. Anticus Boarding Academy.
"Hm, hmhm."
The groom candidate was finishing his shave, wiping away the shaving cream cleanly in front of the small sink mirror. Soon, his smoothly groomed jaw emerged.
Then he styled his hair with pomade. A low, pleasant hum rumbled from his throat, and soon the brush swept back his hair skillfully.
A fine face revealed itself beneath the white hair.
Lee Jaheon.
He was dressed in the same outfit as yesterday. The St. Anticus Boarding Academy uniform.
But it somehow carried a different flair. Because the way he wore it and adjusted the collar had changed...
"Much better."
The touch of a professional.
The aberration—whose existence revolved around standing before cameras and presenting itself to the masses—smiled at the mirror.
And stepped lightly out the door.
Screeech.
The dormitory's once somber and ascetic interior was now elegantly decorated with blue candles and white velvet.
Roses, silver bells, mist flowers, and silver ornaments placed beneath patterns of melting candles in green flames were so...
Classic and utterly unremarkable.
"Oh. Good to see you."
Lee Jaheon sat at the breakfast table.
The mask—no, the ideally pale body and face crafted by masterful makeup—took its place among the seated figures.
Today's menu was simple. To purify the body before the wedding.
Lee Jaheon cheerfully asked without touching the single glass of willow sap.
"Tomorrow's the wedding we've all been waiting for, right?"
The educational supervisor affirmed.
And simultaneously gently corrected the groom candidate's speech. It was too ornate and fluid, with an accent that was too striking, failing to convey the solemnity befitting a groom.
The pronunciation was also too New World-esque.
"Oh, I'll keep that in mind."
A witty, elegant gesture zipped his mouth shut with an imaginary hand.
It wasn't fitting for the groom of a white bride, but it wasn't deemed a full "failure," so no penalty points were assigned.
But it did influence the judgment.
The educational supervisor, who had raised one eyebrow, surveyed those seated at the table and lightly tapped a silver goblet with one hand.
Like a bell announcing the hour.
♩-
And announced.
Among the candidates, the one.
The name of the most outstanding and complete pupil who could become the "groom" at tomorrow's wedding.
That candidate was...
......
Not Lee Jaheon.
The alias he'd used to enter wasn't called.
Lee Jaheon had not become the groom.
Unfortunately!
"Hoo."
However, the supervisor encouraged all groom candidates, saying they too had roles in the wedding.
News Lee Jaheon had already heard.
And the announcement ended with them all moving to the chapel together that afternoon for introductions and preparations.
Oh, additionally, a experiential pupil failed breakfast. For vomiting under the table.
"An...!"
His penalty was to extract and clean his stomach himself.
Anyway, that marked the official end of all lessons.
Amid anticipation, sorrow, and fear, they underwent bathing and meditation to purify body and mind.
No lunch was provided.
Instead, a glass of white wine with salt arrived.
Lee Jaheon experienced it all with a smiling face.
Then.
♩- ♩-
The final bell rang.
Now the educational supervisors led the pupils to the wedding venue.
Downward.
A door to the boarding school's basement opened. The supervisors urged the pupils to go barefoot, and they descended the stairs shoeless. Candles at each landing melted, casting light.
The stairs turned to stone and led outdoors. There...
Was a dark cave.
"......"
An ancient quartz cave, touched by human hands since time immemorial, revealed itself.
Deeper in was a vast space.
The wedding hall.
Its stone walls bore unreadable characters. Seats for guests, decorations, and even an altar for vows were prepared.
A bizarre place where ancient silver ornaments, which should have rusted, still gleamed in candlelight due to obsessive care.
Blue candle flames burned the damp air, and strangely vivid roses, silver bells, and mist flowers bloomed.
And...
The bride's seat, with white clothes laid out.
The supervisor said.
The groom candidates would gloriously become important, beautiful, artistic elements to grace the wedding, and at its close, be distributed to guests as commemorative gifts.
She said so.
Exciting, isn't it?
"Oh, of course. Artwork! My heart races wondering what magnificent piece you're planning."
Before correcting that impudent tone to be more groom-like, the supervisor smiled and explained.
They would become...
The wedding cake.
Isn't it amazing?
They could take on this pivotal role decorating the wedding's finale. Perhaps even become part of the groom's mouth. Some groom candidates wiped tears of emotion.
The experiential pupil screaming and trying to flee seemed unable to accept not becoming cake.
The supervisors decided to encourage and help by using her as a practice cake before the main event. Of course, she wouldn't be served.
It could incur the wrath of the great White Hand dwelling beneath our land, the dissatisfied bride deity.
Substandard experiential pupils who couldn't even become groom candidates couldn't be used.
Becoming part of the wedding should go to those grateful for training as her groom. The unfit must settle for attending.
"Hmm."
And even the wedding cake had its most glorious part.
The very top tier.
"What honor is that?"
The honor belonging to the bride.
The top tier would be cut as the piece offered to the white bride, served at the altar, basking in joy.
"Indeed."
Thus, the educational supervisor announced the candidate to claim that joyful spot...
You.
"Me?"
Yes.
Your most appealing face among them will become the piece dedicated to the white bride.
We'll neatly slice out the tongue that fell furthest from groom standards and fill it with rose cream.
"......"
The groom candidates grabbed Lee Jaheon. Those who would become cake with him smiled in joy and camaraderie.
Already dead souls.
Captured and buried alive long ago by some bizarre, powerful entity that awoke underground, they repeated this soul wedding...
About to begin.
"That's..."
The entertainment ghost story smiled brightly.
"So classic."
Eh?
"The white bride! Oh, using human sacrifice under the name of marriage is truly classic. A kind of metaphor. Timeless, easy to grasp, simple."
Words poured out.
"They must have desperately tried framing their relationship with an overwhelming, terrifying foe in the mold of human civilization!"
Clap, clap, clap...
"Oh, don't misunderstand. It's not criticism, but pity. Preserving tradition is vital... It's just heartbreaking that it's pointless empty ritual!"
He stylishly donned gloves from his pocket and straightened his attire once more.
And asked.
"Has anyone recently discovered new preferences of the white bride?"
Silence.
"Knew it. No sense of adventure."
"How many times have you repeated this? The bride must be bored to irritation. Shoving in barely tolerable sacrifices—no, 'grooms'—to appease her!"
"At least make the ceremony fun enough to hold her attention? But wedding cake? Guest invites? Return gifts? Utterly stale."
Vicious barbs pierced vitals.
The stunned figures stood rigidly, listening.
But one soul held back cheers, fists clenched in excitement.
'This is it.'
Well done, Brown!
It was Kim Sol-eum, residing in Lee Jaheon's mind.
Having anxiously watched Brown in Lee Jaheon's body alongside him, he now breathed a sigh of relief.
'It works perfectly...'
This was the frontal breakthrough.
Ruining the wedding outright!
Causing such a mental breakdown in the dormitory that they release all candidates and postpone the wedding.
Of course, achieving the insane combo of not dying, avoiding retaliation, and successfully persuading the ghost story in the process.
Surprisingly, the one—or rather, ghost story entity—capable of it all clung to their minds.
Talk show host.
Legendary entertainer.
And this dormitory's essence being an event-related ghost story made its overwhelming influence unavoidable...
Look at this scene.
'Bonus: no blood drawn.'
Perfect.
"Now, do you know what to do next?"
In his view, Brown, using Lee Jaheon's body, raised one hand triumphantly.
Yes, tell them to rethink the next wedding properly and disband for now...
"Survival!"
......
Eh?
"A dignified yet desperate battle until one final groom candidate remains!"
Wait a second.
Clink.
Eun Ha-je dropped the spoon from her mouth.
This employee, finally released from the Disaster Management Bureau two days ago with "Daydream resignation. No charges," back at her My Sweet officetel...
"...What the fuck is this now?"
Saw it.
A crazy broadcast airing on the late-night TV she'd left on in her officetel.
A dating show aired amid early 20th-century black-and-white TV visuals and effects.
But a familiar face was hosting.
"Deputy Manager?"