Ten Ghosts Night Parade (13): The Cliché I Forgot
I'd forgotten the cliché of horror stories. For viewers, sure, the scary scene unfolds right there on the screen. But I was the one living it. So I should've been watching my back.
The fact that this was on the second floor made it hard to stay vigilant behind me. I'd deliberately approached from the right staircase because I didn't want to look back.
"Security guard?"
A chilling cold that made my whole body tremble even from the slightest brush. Han Min-ji's breath felt like it was freezing my neck solid. Or was it really just a feeling?
If she was a yuki-onna youkai, maybe I was freezing right now. I couldn't tell if it was actual ice locking me in place or pure terror stiffening my body—it left me disoriented.
What was the best move here? All I could do was ignore her or respond.
Could I ignore her? This youkai had been waiting for me and pounced openly from behind. Ignoring a youkai with clear intent seemed like the worst possible choice.
"Security guard?"
"Yes?"
"……"
Suddenly, the youkai went silent. I'd finally answered, and now silence? It scared me even more.
My body felt like it was gradually freezing over. Since falling into this school, this was the first time I'd sensed real cold. And it was brutally sharp.
"Don't you think that's rude?"
"…Huh?"
"When you're talking to someone, you look at their face. You did the same last time—turning your back on me again."
So the yuki-onna youkai was telling me to turn around right now.
…It'll be fine.
This was Class 1-3. Turning around would just show the central staircase, not the windows.
I twisted my body cautiously, keeping my eyes fixed downward to avoid even glancing at the windows.
When I turned, a white mourning skirt filled my view.
"Not lifting your head?"
I raised my head slowly. Even in the darkness, her white hair caught my eye first. Then her bloodless neck, pale lips, and crimson eyes peeking through the strands.
Han Min-ji's red eyes gleamed deep and vivid in the shadows. Goosebumps prickled my skin.
And though it sounded insane to even think it in this moment, she was beautiful.
"It's really hard to get a look at that ugly mug of yours."
"……"
I sensed an odd irritation from her. Why? I didn't think I'd ever provoked Han Min-ji.
If anything, there was that time she'd tried forcing her way into the guard room. But that was self-defense, plain and simple. Of course I couldn't let her in—I'd politely refused over and over.
If that was the issue, it was basically saying I shouldn't defend myself. Not that I voiced any of this. I wasn't suicidal.
"Got nothing to say to me?"
"……"
"Cat got your tongue?"
"I… I was just up here checking the doors…."
I couldn't afford to rile her up, couldn't run, felt like I was going mad. At least tell me why she was doing this before crushing me.
"You really don't know?"
"Know what…?"
"Property damage."
"……Huh?"
The word came out of nowhere—I doubted my ears. When had I ever damaged property? I'd been quietly patrolling and securing doors this whole time.
If I'd actually broken something, wouldn't the admin office have sent a warning letter? Bewilderment overtook my fear.
"Ahh… You've completely erased it from your memory, huh?"
"Me? No, when the hell—?"
"Didn't you cause a ruckus in Class 1-3 a month ago?"
"What…?"
A month ago? Class 1-3? Ruckus? That was right around when I'd been kidnapped into this world. What had happened then…?
…Oh. Right. There was one thing.
I'd tangled with a drunk, used that classroom's rule to deal with him. The room where touching the wall was safe. I'd shoved the drunk against the wall.
Yeah. And that was Class 1-3.
"Rings a bell now?"
"Ah… No… But why bring it up now?"
"Now?"
Han Min-ji grabbed my arm with her pale hand. Even through my uniform, a piercing chill stabbed like ice on bare skin.
"If you mess up a classroom, shouldn't you at least clean it up?"
"……"
"Even if you were too busy, an apology is the least you could do."
"……"
"I thought you'd apologize when we first met, but you pulled that weird face gag instead. I figured you were sick or something."
"……"
"But you're fine, aren't you? That's not okay, right? You should die for that."
I wanted to scream it wasn't fair, but my damn empathy held me back. Shouldn't a youkai just kill me with some absurd logic? This was blatant cheating.
By her reasoning, I was trash—no room for argument. Sure, there were extenuating circumstances. After the drunk fiasco, I truly had no time, and it never crossed my mind to apologize to the homeroom teacher. In normal human society, maybe, but not here.
Forcing human common sense on bullshit like this is what screws me over, you damn Kkamang-i.
"Where's Kim Eat-Chil? You came up together earlier."
"……"
"You two make a great pair? Couldn't even go to the guard room because of him."
An unexpected bombshell from her lips. After that incident, Han Min-ji hadn't shown up again—had Kim Eat-Chil pulled some strings? It finally clicked why she harbored hostility toward him, a fellow youkai.
I had no idea what he'd done, but spilling his location might mean I'd never see him again. So I stayed silent.
"Not talking? Fine, say your last words."
Her grip tightened on my arm. The cold, once confined to it, spread through my whole body. My captured arm felt truly frozen—no sensation when I tried to move it.
Was she really going to freeze me solid? I couldn't even resist properly; only my mouth worked, and even that trembled from the cold, slurring my words.
I had one life left, but could I afford to waste it here? I still had the annex to tackle, unknown crises before escape.
What final struggle did I have left? Han Min-ji seemed based on yuki-onna lore. Recalling the tale, all I could do was…
Beg for my life. That was it. The legend spared the young man.
"Pl… please… spare me…"
"……That's not a last wish."
"Spare… me… please…"
"……"
Han Min-ji's expression hardened, like begging triggered some restriction. But my consciousness faded with the freezing, and I thought, This is it.
……
My awareness didn't snap. Gradually, the cold ebbed. Had the school's air always been this warm? The familiar atmosphere felt new.
Suddenly, I realized her hand was gone from my arm.
"God, you're so annoying."
I'd suspected, but it actually worked. Without the Gallery tip, I'd be dead.
"You knew?"
"Knew what…?"
"When you begged for your life earlier. Didn't sound desperate. Or do you have multiple lives?"
How did she nail it perfectly? Even with one coin left, dying terrified me. I'd thrashed desperately—or so I thought. Not desperate enough? Felt a bit unfair.
"You're sparing me?"
"You didn't think I'd just let you go? There's a condition, obviously."
"Keep quiet about witnessing you?"
"Nope."
"……?"
What then? Yuki-onna lore said witnesses.
"Take a peek out there, then go. About a minute?"
I didn't get it at first. She pointed down the hall.
"The hallway?"
"Idiot. Outside the window, obviously."
"Huh?"
"What, can't handle it?"
I'd avoided and evaded it so much. Thought I'd never have to see it again.
Han Min-ji smirked faintly for the first time, watching my face twist. Her icy expression had fit the yuki-onna name perfectly—didn't know she could do that.
Refuse and die. No choice but to look.
It's fine. Recall the second-floor rule. Things visible outside the window can't harm me.
Just watch a scary horror flick for a minute, then leave. I'd toughened up since day one—might be bearable.
★ I couldn't bear it. I puked. ★
The wardrobe in the guard room proved its greatness today. Even caked in vomit, stuff it in briefly.
Click. Open it—fresh, dry clothes.
This wasn't mere laundry. It was a full replacement, like new.
My shabby civilian clothes from arrival had reborn the same way. If being kidnapped here had hundreds of downsides, this was the lone upside.
I flopped onto the bed. I'd worried about today's shift at first, but it ended fine. No oversights.
Returned the key bundle to the admin office, submitted the log. Double-checked the keys—no issues.
Nothing left to torment me. Tension melted; sleep crashed in.
Just a quick nap…
……
Knock knock.
Who'd disturb my sleep? I'd worked properly—no staff.
"Ajusshi."
It was Kim Eat-Chil. I opened the door and stepped out. Scanned the central entrance—no anomalies.
"Feed me."
"……Not time yet."
"It is. Check the clock."
I eyed the CCTV timestamp. Rubbed my eyes, checked again.
5:50.
"Wha…?"
Thought I'd just blinked. What the hell?
"Don't forget our deal. Hurry up."
"Fine, quit whining."
Into the guard room, fridge open. Prayed for normal food.
No such luck. Not a tray—a huge round bowl. Utensils were fancy: knife, fork, spoon.
The meal? T-bone steak, roasted veggies, oil-dressed salad, cream soup.
This… cafeteria food?
My hands shook carrying it out. Not jealousy. Just heavy. Really.
My special feast vanished into Kim Eat-Chil's hollow gut, just like that.