Parade of Ten Ghosts (11)
Before heading up to the second floor, I stopped by the guard room. I'd gathered info on the teacher youkai's appearance, so I wanted to post it on the Gallery. Who knew—maybe I'd pick up something useful in return.
It looked like a virgin ghost, but with snow-white hair and wearing mourning clothes. Even from a distance, I felt a chill. Guess it's going for the ghost vibe.
No "posting prohibited" popup appeared. I couldn't post the youkai's name or human form, but descriptions of their shape seemed fine. Come to think of it, I'd posted about Kim Eat-Chil as a mud youkai before, and that went up no problem.
Suddenly, a question popped into my head. I'd given him that name myself—why couldn't I post it? No way did naming it "Kim Eat-Chil" make that its official name, right? If so, I might feel a little bad for the guy. What kind of youkai name is Kim Eat-Chil?
I knew what a snow woman was. Japan's yokai that eats hikers on snowy mountains, right? The legend says it lets survivors go if they promise not to tell, but punishes them if they do.
Thinking about it, I hadn't run into any youkai that fit the "school-appropriate" mold so far. It felt like the fixed ideas I'd been unconsciously holding were shattering.
EternalNewb almost planted a new fixed idea in me, but the admin shut it down nicely.
I got the gist, but it still left me stumped. What exactly shouldn't I do against a snow woman? No matter how I racked my brain, avoiding her altogether seemed best.
Nothing more useful came up on the Gallery. The admin stayed quiet too, so it was time for me to face it head-on.
Forcing myself to face fear nonstop must've dulled it a bit. Compared to day one, shivering in place from sheer terror, this was huge progress. Still, I wasn't about to welcome horror with open arms. Time to make a plan.
Goal: Lock the second-floor doors with minimal youkai contact. CCTV showed the second-floor hallway was clear. At least the right staircase side was safe. Classes 1 and 2 were already locked, so no need for the left stairs. Go up the right stairs, lock in reverse order? If the staff room opens, bolt back down the right stairs. Starting from Class 5 meant no risk of the youkai blocking my retreat. Solid plan. I stepped out of the guard room—and there was Kim Eat-Chil, sitting blankly in front.
"...What are you doing here?"
"Nowhere else to go."
"Nowhere?"
I vaguely recalled our first meeting. Main gate locked, so I'd let him into second-year Class 2 and locked it. Now? Doors were done, including second-year Class 2.
"Don't worry about it. I'm not in the way."
He seemed to know how humans felt seeing him like this. But did he get why that made it harder to just leave him?
"I'll unlock second-year Class 2 after locking the second floor."
"I'm fine like this, really."
"I'm not. Having a youkai parked outside the guard room messes with my sleep."
"Uncle, the gate opens at shift end anyway?"
"Yeah. Do whatever."
Offered twice—that's enough. Leaving Kim Eat-Chil behind, I waited for the first-floor youkai to pass right.
"You didn't forget our deal about the cafeteria food at shift end, right?"
"Whoa... You're waiting for that?"
"Obviously."
"Can't I just give you tomorrow's at the start?"
"Nope."
What a stubborn youkai. Any tiny pity I felt evaporated. I'd forgotten about the food, but now it was all I could think about—and I was hungry again. Hope it sucked, but the fridge never served bad stuff. Best I could do was pray for something I hated.
"If it bugs you that much, tell Kim Geu-rim to come get me."
"Right, that. Is it really okay if she comes down? She didn't want to."
"If you say it's fine 'cause she sees me as Kim Geu-rim, she'll come."
"What does that even mean?"
"Who knows?"
Another restricted info thing. And did this guy have to troll to talk?
"Speaking of names—does giving any youkai a name lift restrictions?"
"Not if they already have one. Like our homeroom teacher."
"Names? Just give 'em multiples. Aliases, right?"
"Uncle. I hide some stuff, but I don't know everything."
"So you don't know?"
"Yeah. No clue."
So straightforward, no room to push. If he'd shown even a hint of shame, I'd have sniped back for petty revenge. Guess that waits.
As we bantered, the first-floor youkai slowly passed right.
The path up the right stairs to the second floor was long. Skipped third floor (cat youkai), fourth (annoying hallway rules). Up to fifth and back down, my legs felt a bit firmer. Worth it—no one in the hall.
Click. Locked first-year Class 5. Two left. Staff room still closed. Was it really quiet 'cause Kim Eat-Chil wasn't with me?
Walked to first-year Class 4 to lock it. Why was the door wide open? Grabbed it to close—and froze. A faceless student stood right there, facing me.
"Gasp... Hup!"
Zero warning—I jolted hard. Knew not to stare long, so whipped my head left. Heart pounded wildly. This is why I hate jump scares. Thought my heart stopped.
Kept my head turned, groped right-handed to shut the door. Nothing ever goes smooth. Deep breaths, calm down. Turned back—the student youkai was now inches away.
"Huuuuh!"
Snapped my gaze to the ceiling. No footsteps—how'd it get out? Any sign, and I wouldn't have been this exposed. Assess calmly, decide...
"Haaaaack?!"
Couldn't hold the scream. It hugged me. Icy cold wrapped me, goosebumps exploding. To erase the creepy feel, I cursed nonstop inwardly. Relentlessly. Futile—the cause lingered.
Like one minute stretched to ten, I froze. After a minute, my head inched around. Chill persisted, but I feared resisting. Staying still seemed okay—no damage after a full minute as its teddy bear.
Glanced down at staff room—still closed. Relief. Teacher youkai joining would've been game over.
Tested moving. Clingy and awkward, but lighter than expected—no big walking issue. Now, shake it off. Easy: Per Kim Eat-Chil, nameless youkai can't leave their floor. Stairs it is. Problem if named, but deal later.
Before central stairs, locked first-year Class 4.
Click.
The arms tightened hard.
"Urk?"
Bad move? Hurt a bit, but bearable. Tighter might snap me, so skipped Class 3. Ceiling-gazing, trudged to central stairs. Hug weighed me down. Finally there, starting down—arms slipped off.
Short restraint, but freedom's precious. Good—no name on this one.