The Drunken Outsider
Ever since I, an outsider, arrived at this school, my life had been nothing but downsides. I didn't even like horror, yet I had to face it every single day, and my days and nights got flipped upside down by force.
Still, there was one precious, reliable source of happiness blooming amid it all.
The school lunches served up by the fridge on the tray. The menu was always the same predictable cafeteria fare, but the taste was second to none.
Already feeling down in the dumps today, I hoped it'd offer at least a little comfort as I opened the fridge door.
Piled high in the center of the tray was a heap of bright red gangjeong.
With a twinge of foreboding, I bit into one piece.
I had my doubts, but this couldn't be happening. It wasn't chicken gangjeong—it was pollock gangjeong.
Depressing, but so damn tasty I couldn't stop chewing.
I popped another piece into my mouth and sat down in front of the monitor. What I needed right now was advice from the Gallery.
An emergency: an outsider had broken into the second floor.
Way too much for me to handle alone.
Whenever I posted stuff like this, Chieon Nak-si-kkun would swoop in like clockwork, but for some reason, no reply yet. I checked older posts—there were traces of the admin, so probably nothing wrong. I waited patiently.
Then a comment notification pinged. Not the admin.
According to EternalNewbie, special incidents usually happened once a week at most. And it was rare to hit one on day one— they saw me as just unlucky. But hitting another on day three? Not unlucky, straight-up cursed. Pitiful, they said.
Not all specials were deadly, but some could threaten your life depending on the type, so frequent ones were bad news.
Hearing that, I felt wronged. Why was I stuck on hard mode? Just bad luck?
As I wallowed in self-pity, the admin finally showed up.
While the admin was gone, I chewed on another piece of gangjeong.
Come to think of it, Chieon Nak-si-kkun often advised others too. With so many places, any question posted here got a solid answer.
They must've been here for years' worth of time—no way they memorized it all. Probably dropped somewhere with records, like a library. But the name fit a lighthouse keeper more than a bookworm—Bookworm owned the library vibe.
Of course, pure speculation. Most picked nicknames matching their spots, but not always. EternalNewbie? No clue where they were.
At first glance, the huge youkai sounded worse.
Honestly, EternalNewbie had me a bit spooked. But thankfully, per the admin, neither type seemed too deadly.
I popped the last pollock gangjeong into my mouth. Fed and informed, confidence surged.
Youkai or not on the second floor, crab mode still worked per the rules. I'd wrap this up quick, head back, and find some peace.
Right before leaving the guard room, a baseball bat in the corner caught my eye.
Brought from the gym storage yesterday to lock the annex, never used. No point swinging at youkai—only I'd get hurt—so I'd stashed it away to avoid temptation. Today, though, it tempted me.
Wouldn't subdue a huge youkai, let alone resist, but what if it was a drunk? Insurance, I thought, grabbing it.
Now that I held it, great balance and grip. Clutching the bat and key bundle tight, I stepped out.
Headed to the annex first. Door securely locked, like yesterday. Day one's open door must've been a welcome ritual.
Locked it safe, back to the main building.
Today, reverse order: start from fourth floor, ice tag my way down locking doors.
All classrooms locked. Keep it up.
Third floor easiest after first, sans youkai—no need to run. Only Class 2-2 unlocked—Kim Eat-Chil must've slipped out without locking.
Locked it, third floor done. Second floor left.
Down to first, up the left stairs to second. If the huge youkai faced me, bolt to third—I peeked down the hall. Nothing.
What the?
Familiar from day one. Kim Eat-Chil had hidden in a classroom too.
Issue: this was an outsider. Could they enter classrooms freely?
Didn't change my job. No one? Even better. I went full crab mode, eyes fixed on classrooms, ears perked.
If a youkai ambushed, it'd make noise—I'd countercharge opposite.
Class 1-1: locked.
1-2: locked.
Sobbing started from behind.
Ignored it, headed to 1-3. Sobs grew louder, crystal clear by the door—from behind? But behind 1-3 was the central stairs, not windows.
Glanced back: shabby man slumped against the wall by the stairs, bottle in hand. Definitely the drunk.
"You damn bastards..."
His lament drifted into the air. Didn't notice me.
No need to poke the bear. I checked 1-3's lock: unlocked.
Click.
Tension made it echo louder than usual. Glanced back—yep, drunk staring right at me.
"You... click... you ignoring me too...?"
Busted. Time for improv.
"Sir, you're really drunk."
"Not drunk at all! You lying too? Click."
Whoosh.
He swung the bottle wildly. Good distance—I dodged.
"Everyone ignores me... all liars..."
No talking sense. Understood why predecessors knocked him out.
But crazy youkai don't get humored. Wouldn't hurt me much anyway—finish locking, bail.
As I turned for the hall: "Where you going! Click... don't ignore me!"
Glanced: he staggered up, lurching toward me.
"Anyone ignoring me has to die..."
Way too extreme. Youkai logic?
I quickened my pace to escape. Stepping forward—ankle agony.
"Ow!"
Instinct to run strained my sprained ankle.
Couldn't whine here. Limp away, check doors.
1-4: locked.
1-5: locked.
Done. Nothing holding me. Footsteps behind faded—he staggered slower than my limp-run.
Regained composure, dragged my feet leisurely down the right stairs. No pursuit.
Gallery admin was spot on— no big deal.
Ankle nixed exploration for now. Shift end, I melted time on Gallery.
Oddly not boring. Endless stories flowed like a bottomless bag—time flew.
Was I accepting reality, adapting like the others?
Until the warning letter next day.
During your shift, some classroom doors were found unlocked. You are hereby warned.
The unlocked classrooms are as follows:
Class 1-1
Class 1-2
Class 1-3
Class 1-4
Class 1-5
Please exercise utmost caution to prevent recurrence and perform your duties diligently.