Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Sacrifice's Diary
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Bang, bang, bang.
“Look at this. The photo’s back to normal.”
Dayeon showed me the spirit photograph where the ghost had been. The ghost in the picture was gone without a trace. We had successfully exorcised it.
“That was exhausting…”
I caught my breath and took the photo.
Not for any impure reasons, of course. You never know when it might come in handy.
[Dayeon’s Photo has been acquired.]
“What are you going to use my picture for?”
“I don’t know. It’ll probably be useful someday.”
“Heeey. Are you planning to use it soon?”
Dayeon gave me a meaningful look. I changed the subject before she could say anything weirder.
“Check if any items dropped.”
“Well, I don’t know about items, but the camera’s broken.”
The moment the ghost was exorcised, the camera completely shattered. Smoke puffed and billowed from a crack in its body.
It seemed there were no other items besides the school store key we had just obtained. Still, just in case, I cautiously approached the camera.
Inside, the film tape and components were tangled together, a complete wreck.
As springs and screws clattered out, a thin piece of paper caught my eye, wedged between them.
“A piece of paper?”
I carefully reached in and pulled it out.
Sure enough, it was a new item.
[Sacrifice’s Diary #2 has been acquired.]
A diary.
It was an item with the same name as the one I found in the cold storage room.
[Sacrifice’s Diary #2]
【The diary of an unknown person. It is yellowed with age.】
It seemed to be the second part of that diary. I began to read it carefully.
[■■/■■/19■■]
【Unfortunately, the day of reckoning arrived without incident.
As soon as school ended, Gyeong-gyun and the others gathered in small groups, forming a clique for the test of courage.
I wanted to sneak away, but I didn’t get far before they caught me.
Meanwhile, Byeong-cheol left, saying his mom was calling. That jerk.
In the end, there are seven of us doing the test of courage today, including me.
We’ll be heading to the school soon.
I really hope nothing happens.】
“…Is that all?”
The diary entry ended after just one page.
It was so anticlimactic that there was hardly anything to it.
All this entry revealed was that he was heading to the school at dawn with his friends.
“Seven people. He has a lot of friends.”
“It should at least tell us what happened at the school.”
Was it telling me to find Diary #3 if I wanted to know what happened next?
It was clear that by continuing to explore the school, I would naturally uncover the truth of the diary.
That’s because most Horror RPG Maker games progress linearly.
If so, I had a rough idea of where the next diary might be.
‘It must be in the school store.’
The items from the annex room were the diary and the school store key. The next destination, the school store, was the most likely place to find the diary.
“So you’re saying there’s a hidden clue in the school store.”
“That’s what’s suspicious. It feels like we’re being deliberately led there.”
It felt as if the school was slowly luring us in to devour us.
Like being gradually pulled beneath the surface of the water.
Still, we had to go.
Not only did I have no other choice, but I had a reason to escape the school.
‘I have to get out of here before the sun rises.’
If I failed to leave the school within the time limit, I would die helplessly, just like in the classroom.
For now, time rewinds even if I die, but I had no idea what would happen once the sun came up.
The save point could get messed up, and I might be trapped in this school forever.
I’d rather die than live with a fried mind like Dayeon. I had to escape this damn school, no matter what.
“Alright, let’s head straight to the school store.”
“You’re going to buy me snacks if I follow, right?”
“…We’ll see how you do.”
Unfortunately, the school store was at the far end of the first floor. From the fourth-floor annex, it was a long, roundabout trip.
“Watch out for the guard.”
“I know. The second I see him, we run, so be ready.”
The probability of the guard popping out was high around this time.
In Horror RPG Maker games, chase sequences often happen suddenly and sporadically.
They always show up with a ‘tada!’ right when you’ve forgotten about them, make an appearance, and then disappear.
‘Just you try and show up.’
I cautiously made my way down the stairs, staying alert.
Fortunately, we didn’t run into the guard.
We quietly descended to the first floor. A heavy silence hung in the air with every step.
‘Almost there…!’
The school store was just at the end of the hallway.
But the path through the hall was not so smooth.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
As we entered the main entrance hall, the guard’s footsteps echoed once again.
‘Again…?’
I quickly scanned for a place to hide.
Of course, I already knew where.
I found the cleaning supply closet, which had been tucked away in a corner of the main entrance hall for years.
Having hidden in it twice already, it felt almost familiar.
However, the situation was a little different this time.
Normally, I would have just crawled into the closet by myself, but with Dayeon here, that wasn't an option.
To avoid being caught by the guard, both Dayeon and I had to hide.
But the cleaning supply closet was far too cramped.
There was no way it could fit two people.
“What do we do? There’s nowhere to hide.”
“Hmm, should I go in?”
“What about me?”
“Oh, right. I didn’t think that far.”
“…This is no time for jokes.”
Thump, thump, thump.
The footsteps were getting closer.
The nearer the guard came, the more my heart pounded with anxiety, but Dayeon remained as calm as ever.
‘Whatever happens, happens.’
-Creeak.
First, I yanked open the closet door.
Perhaps because I’d been in it twice already, there was noticeably less dust than before.
It was clean enough to hide in without issue.
“We’re going in.”
“Who is?”
“Both of us.”
Dayeon looked at me, bewildered. Her expression clearly said, ‘There’s no way two people can fit in there.’
I was half-doubting it myself, but it was the only way to avoid the guard’s eyes.
The guard was getting close.
I pushed Dayeon into the closet and immediately squeezed myself in after her.
“I can’t breathe.”
“Shh. Be quiet.”
Thump, thump, thump.
At last, the guard’s footsteps reached the main entrance hall. We had avoided being seen by a hair's breadth.
It was a relief to have evaded the guard, but the situation inside the closet was far from ideal.
‘It’s even smaller than I thought…’
As expected, it was impossible for two people to fit.
Because we had forced ourselves into a nonexistent space, I was pressed completely against Dayeon.
It was similar to the situation in the library, but this was far more intense.
“…”
Dayeon stared at me blankly, same as always.
The problem was that her face was right in front of mine.
Her breath tickled the bridge of my nose, and I could clearly hear her soft, rhythmic breathing.
We were so close that the slightest stumble would cause us to collide. I focused all my energy on keeping my body stable.
As I was barely holding on, sweating bullets, I saw the guard’s figure through the crack in the door.
Thump, thump, thump.
The guard wandered around the main entrance hall. He showed no signs of leaving anytime soon.
‘Just get lost already!’
Thanks to him, my predicament only worsened. The closet was submerged in silence.
“…”
Dayeon was still staring intently at me. Her gaze was so intense it felt less like a look and more like pressure.
I wanted to turn my head, but we were so tightly packed that I couldn't move an inch.
Hiding in a confined space with Dayeon. My heart started pounding before I knew it.
As if sensing it, Dayeon poked my cheek with her finger. Then, she mouthed something to me without a sound.
‘What is she saying?’
I couldn’t understand a single word.
But given her personality, I had a feeling it wasn't anything good.
And so, the tense minutes ticked by.
With each passing moment, the pressure on me grew.
It was a long time before the guard finally left for another area.
After confirming that the footsteps had completely faded, I exited the closet.
“Is he gone?”
“I thought I was going to die…”
I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest.
Not because of the guard, of course, but because of Dayeon.
“Your face is bright red. Were you that scared? Should I hold your hand?”
“No, thanks.”
I composed myself, trying to calm my racing heart. I maintained my composure, determined not to fall for Dayeon’s games.
“We’re almost at the school store. Let’s go.”
“Okay. If you get scared, just let me know. I’ll hold your hand right away.”
“I said I don’t need it…”
“Really? Then I’ll give you a hug.”
Dayeon spread her arms wide, ready for an embrace. I quickly backed away.
By now, I was getting used to Dayeon’s eccentric behavior.
I had reached a point where I could let most of her nonsense just slide off me. I could feel myself maturing.
“Just follow me quietly.”
We soon reached the end of the hallway.
After checking to see if the guard was coming, I used the key to enter the school store.
[The School Store Key has been used.]
The store, which would normally be bustling with students, was as quiet as a mouse.
“It feels so weird with no one here.”
Maybe it was because it was always a chaotic mess whenever I came.
The sight of it completely empty was unfamiliar.
I scanned the store, taking in everything I could see. Pens, school supplies, and all sorts of junk food were lined up on display.
It looked exactly like the normal school store.
There didn’t seem to be any puzzles here.
“Maybe this is a place to rest.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice…”
I plopped down onto one of the hard, uncomfortable plastic chairs exclusive to the store.
Dayeon sidled up and sat next to me.
“I’m thirsty. Buy me a drink.”
“Is that really what you should be saying right now…?”
I pointed to the vending machine in the corner of the store.
“Go get one from over there.”
“I don’t have any money.”
Dayeon cupped her hands together and held them out to me. It was the signal for borrowing money.
“…Seriously? But I don’t think I have any money either.”
“You never know, check your pockets.”
Reluctantly, I fumbled through my pockets.
A crumpled 1,000-won bill emerged from deep inside.
“See? You have some.”
“When did this get here…?”
The sudden appearance of the 1,000-won bill was baffling. Still, since I had money, I handed it to her.
“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”
Dayeon accepted the bill as if it were a sacred treasure and trotted over to the vending machine.
-Clunk.
She inserted the bill into the machine and bought a drink.
A moment later, Dayeon returned with the drink and a piece of paper.
“What’s that?”
“I don’t know. I reached into the machine to get the drink, and this was in there with it.”
Curious, I took the paper she handed me. A message popped up.
[Sacrifice’s Diary #3 has been acquired.]
It was none other than the diary.
Just as I had predicted, the third diary had appeared in the school store.
‘Again…?’
I thought I might get a moment to rest, but this school just wouldn’t leave me alone.
I opened my inventory and examined the diary.
[Sacrifice’s Diary #3]
【The diary of an unknown person. It is yellowed with age.】
It was indeed a continuation of the previous diary. With no other choice, I read the contents.
[■■/■■/19■■]
【The seven of us entered the school as soon as dawn broke.
To be honest, I desperately wanted to sneak out of the school. But I couldn't, for fear that my friends would look down on me.
Listening to them call Byeong-cheol a coward for running away with the excuse of his mom, I couldn't think of any way to escape.
And so, I had no choice but to step into the school at dawn.
Once we were in the classroom, Gyeong-gyun said we had to perform a ritual and began chanting a strange spell.
When I asked what it was, he said it was a spell to awaken the ghosts.
I wanted to beg him to stop because I was scared, but the other kids were snickering, so I couldn't bring myself to do it.
After successfully completing the spell, Gyeong-gyun announced that ghosts would now appear in the school.
But no ghosts appeared. Instead, Byeong-cheol suddenly showed up out of nowhere.
When we asked what was going on, Byeong-cheol said he had snuck out without his mom knowing.
Everyone welcomed him back with open arms.
But I couldn't.
The fact that Byeong-cheol appeared right after the spell ended made me feel uneasy.
Could he be a ghost?】
“What is this supposed to mean?”
The more I read the diary, the deeper I fell into a maze. It was impossible to even interpret what it was trying to say.
I was contemplating the cryptic contents of the third diary.
-THUD!
Suddenly, a loud noise erupted from the store’s door.
It wasn’t a decibel level I could mistake for mishearing. It was a rough, aggressive sound.
I turned my gaze toward the door.
Just in case, I locked it with the key.
Then, I heard a click as the doorknob turned.
“…What the.”
That confirmed it.
There was someone on the other side.
Soon, a banging sound began to pound violently.
-BANG, BANG, BANG