Ten Ghosts Night Parade (10): Things Outside the Window Can't Harm Me
The second-floor rule stated that the things visible outside the window couldn't harm me. Was it telling me not to worry because they only staged a scary atmosphere from beyond the glass? But the moment I glanced out, I felt my mental strength draining away in real time. That tangible wear on my sanity—something you barely notice in everyday life. After going through it twice, I never looked out the second-floor hallway windows, no matter what.
If I were the type who loved horror flicks, maybe it wouldn't have fazed me. Do the youkai see the same scenery I do? And if they do, can they stare at it without a care?
I locked the door to Classroom 1-1 and asked Kim Eat-Chil, "Eat-Chil, can you look out the window no problem?"
"Of course. Want me to describe it in detail?"
"No."
Looks like he could. Youkai really were different.
Click. After locking the classroom door, I tilted my head just enough to scan the hallway without seeing the window. Nothing there, as expected. Would a youkai show up only after reaching the central stairs this time too?
This round featured two: a student-teacher set menu. According to Gallery admin Chieon Nak-si-kkun, you just had to avoid staring at the student youkai for too long. Perfectly suited to the second floor, really—"not too long" and all.
The teacher one was the issue. Probably more threatening than the student on instinct alone. I'd seen teachers since dropping into this school: Song Ha-yeon the most, Han Min-ji a couple times, and the bald-headed one on the fourth floor. But only in human form, so I couldn't gauge their true nature.
Come to think of it, Kim Eat-Chil's homeroom teacher was Song Ha-yeon. Maybe ask him?
"Eat-Chil, what's your homeroom teacher like... er, how is she?"
"You know correcting yourself like that is weirder, right?"
"Not wrong, though."
"Some of them really believe they're human, so watch out."
"……"
That unease on the fourth floor wasn't just my imagination. Kim Eat-Chil giving me free advice? Did he actually not want me dead? Hard to believe from a youkai, but the reason eluded me.
"Anyway... info on your homeroom teacher?"
"For free?"
"Forget it."
He tossed advice casually sometimes, but demanded payment for anything he deemed valuable. I'd logged enough chats with him—maybe analyzing for patterns? Problem was, I couldn't remember every word. No pen, no paper for notes. Gallery blocked writing with pop-ups.
Click. Locked Classroom 1-2. As I moved on, a student crouched ahead by the central stairs came into view—male, facing the right staircase, back to me. No door sound; where'd he pop from?
Response over curiosity first. Don't stare long. He blocked my path, but no big deal—I sidestepped crab-like, facing the doors to avoid windows. Ridiculous posture, but survival trumped dignity. This way, I could lock doors without even glancing at the student youkai.
Rattle. There it was. Right on cue.
The door from the Staff Room swung open. Teacher youkai, making her entrance. A bit of distance, but a chill still prickled my skin.
"Run."
"Huh?"
Kim Eat-Chil suddenly urged me to bolt. That slightly panicked tone from the fifth floor. What the hell had spooked a youkai?
I only felt a faint chill. Maybe peek?
"Run now."
His second warning hit as I hesitated. My instincts must've been busted—I wasn't sensing whatever had him yelling in desperation. Still, fleeing wasn't a bad call.
I side-stepped away, sneaking a glance at the Staff Room. There stood a woman with long hair dangling forward like a virgin ghost—except stark white. Matching white mourning clothes shrouded her body. The virgin-ghost lookalike advanced slowly toward me.
"Not that way!"
I'd veered for the central stairs, but Kim Eat-Chil stopped me cold.
"To the right staircase. Hurry!"
He was already fleeing ahead. I followed, reaching the right stairs unscathed.
"I can't help on the second floor."
Halfway down the stairs, catching our breath while a first-floor youkai passed, Kim Eat-Chil dropped that bomb. I stared blankly before blurting, "Why all of a sudden?"
"……"
No answer. Obvious trigger: the teacher youkai's appearance. But why the connection? Bad blood maybe?
"Isn't this a deal breach? What about my meal?"
"Technically, I did help—so no breach."
"No way. Door-locking's not done."
"Never said I'd stick till the end."
"But..."
I trailed off. Not wrong, but I was desperate. Kim Eat-Chil had smoothed out the third and fourth floors—that was fact. He'd become a major asset. Dropping out here, on tricky second floor? If he'd never been around, fine—but now? Gut-wrenching emptiness.
"It'll be easier without me."
"...What're you talking about?"
"……"
Silence again. Not his usual teasing withhold—this felt like a constraint he couldn't break. Low-rank youkai issue? Picturing him as a lowly office drone stirred unexpected pity. Who'd have thought I'd feel sorry for a youkai?
"Fine. I'll handle it solo. Thanks for the help."
"Paid for it—no need to thank."
"You sure you're a youkai? Feels like chatting with a person."
I'd avoided horror, so maybe this was normal? Plenty of non-communicative youkai existed—like today's first-floor U-turner or the third-floor cat. But Song Ha-yeon and Kim Eat-Chil conversed seamlessly. Too self-aware for mere mimicry. Humble, even. All an act? I couldn't fully drop suspicion for survival's sake, but a tiny trust sprouted anyway.
Now truly alone. I'd checked doors while fleeing—all unlocked. Positively: just three left.
One snag: the white virgin-ghost teacher youkai. Scary enough on looks—what terrified Kim Eat-Chil?
"Eat-Chil, no help, but you'll answer questions at least?"
"Depends."
"Know who supervised first-years' self-study tonight?"
Staying late during exams screamed supervision duty. A name could let Song Ha-yeon ID her later.
Kim Eat-Chil paused, then: "...Teacher Han Min-ji."
"...Han Min-ji?"
Han Min-ji—the one who'd hassled me outside the guard room weeks back. Long hair and feminine matched, but hair color and outfit? Totally different. Tough to connect instantly.
If the second-floor teacher was her, explained Kim Eat-Chil dodging. Motive unknown, but the fear made sense.
"Then why'd you follow me up here so willingly?"
"...Huh? Didn't know she'd be here."
"How not?"
"...? How would I?"
"...?"
Conversation felt off. Familiar vibe. Knowledge curse or something?
Sorting it: He knew about self-study but not her staying. I didn't know self-study but expected her from the duty log's notes.
"Ah."
I'd assumed he knew everything. Reality: he'd helped blind, clueless on youkai types. Gallery'd said I was raising youkai favor? Wrong. They were raising mine.
For escape, allying with youkai might be essential. The thought surfaced.