Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Monster Tale Specialist Office: The Invisible Person (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"It's so lively."
Boyoung was grinning from ear to ear.
"The reaction's better than expected. It's all because the content's so good."
You might see posters like that at a university, but it was rare for one to go up at a high school.
Talk about it had dominated the whole day. Some students were even discussing it during class.
"Isn't it disrupting the lessons?"
Seuli said it with a twinge of guilt toward the teachers.
"Well, that's not on us."
Boyoung flashed a mischievous grin. They weren't responsible for students who couldn't focus.
"Besides, the teachers seem to be taking it pretty positively."
Woli nodded in agreement.
"One of them even asked what we thought about the content."
Some teachers had told the students to quit chattering and focus on class, but others had asked the students for their thoughts on the poster's message.
"Only the ones ahead on their curriculum, though."
Woli yawned as she spoke.
"Anyway, no teachers seem to have spotted any hidden message, right?"
Boyoung nodded at Woli's question.
"Someone even turned it into an impromptu debate on the spot, though."
"Seriously?"
Seuli looked a bit flustered.
"Just from what we wrote?"
"It's written too well... "
Not that the content itself was brilliant, but the intent was hidden masterfully.
Obviously, if they'd written something blatant like "Invisible person, come out!", it would've been torn down immediately. So Boyoung had asked for writing that concealed the intent, and Seuli had delivered perfectly.
"It's crafted so it reads straight on the surface."
But just like a well-made third-person pun doesn't reveal its intent, no one suspected the message Seuli had hidden.
At least none of the teachers seemed to think there was anything more to it—no one among the students, either, as far as they knew.
"The real question is whether that person will catch on..."
Seuli's concern was more likely the issue.
"...Then isn't this all for nothing?"
Woli looked annoyed.
"That's why I slipped that letter into the radio show ahead of time."
It was something they'd anticipated while making the poster yesterday.
"If they hear that too, won't they get it? And this thing looks like it'll stay up for a while."
The content was so plausible that it didn't seem like it'd come down anytime soon.
"If they see it a few days in a row, they'll catch on. We'll keep sending letters to the radio meanwhile."
If not, there was nothing more they could do. They'd tried everything and could bow out cleanly.
"Good thing. I was worried what we'd do if it got taken down right away."
Seuli smiled in relief.
"Once a poster's up and the content's solid, it's hard to justify removing it. Keep that in mind. People try to separate benefits from pretexts, but sometimes the pretext is the benefit."
Boyoung just kept grinning. It was the first time Woli had seen her like this.
"You look like you're having a blast."
"Of course!"
Boyoung couldn't hold back her smile.
"This is way more fun than I thought. We've only gathered rumors before—I never actually did anything like this."
"...Yeah, sounds fun."
Woli got it a little, nodding despite her half-hearted expression.
"Pretext is the benefit."
Seuli pondered it like she'd heard something profound. Boyoung explained matter-of-factly.
"In today's world, power boils down to numbers."
Who wins depends on who gathers more allies.
"To convince a lot of people at low cost, securing legitimate pretext is key."
The poster was a perfect example.
"Posting without permission means they'd normally have grounds to remove it, but with that pretext, trying to take it down would stir opposition."
That way, the poster could stay up long enough to build buzz.
Of course, the sudden hype owed a lot to no one knowing who'd put it up.
"Maybe we won't have to wait days after all?"
Things were going better than expected.
"So, how'd you do it?"
Boyoung asked Woli, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Huh... what?"
"Breaking into the school. I only told you to hop the fence at most, but you actually pulled it off."
She hadn't expected much, but it'd worked.
"How?"
"Well, it's a long story..."
Woli rolled her eyes. She couldn't exactly say she'd leaped over in one bound and into a classroom.
"Ask her, then. I'm busy."
"What?"
While Boyoung gaped, Woli bolted.
"I've got stuff to do—if I explain, I'll never finish!"
She yelled as she vanished down the hall.
"...Is it that hard to explain?"
Boyoung was dumbfounded, but her eyes soon sparkled.
"Then... I can hear it from you, right?"
"Uh, haha..."
Seuli laughed awkwardly. She could guess how it'd happened, but couldn't say it outright.
"Well... she climbed the wall or something..."
Seuli mumbled vaguely.
"Climbed the wall? For real? Is she insane? No, I must've misheard."
"You heard right..."
Seuli's voice trailed off. Boyoung's eyes now gleamed with something else—more like burning.
"Where'd she go?"
* * *
It was half an escape, but she did have real business.
Woli needed to check the window. If she wasn't imagining it, someone had closed it.
And that someone was likely the invisible person.
So Woli headed to the film club room. She hadn't told anyone yet about her encounter.
"Not certain, after all."
She didn't fully trust her memory. Still, she figured she wouldn't mess up twice.
She had no idea why they'd close the window. She couldn't think of a reason worth guessing.
But whatever the reason, closing it deliberately meant they preferred it that way.
That's why Woli had left the window open on purpose when she escaped. If someone had closed it intentionally, they'd do it again after she left.
Woli soon reached the film club door.
"Anyone here?!"
She knocked twice. A muffled "wait a sec" came through, then the door clicked open.
"What's up at lunch?"
Sunwoo opened it, sounding puzzled.
"You've never come by in person before. Something else happen?"
A hint of caution in her tone—not aimed at Woli, just checking for weirdness.
"No, just... had a question."
"For me? Or him?"
Sunwoo pointed at the guy inside, furiously typing on a tablet with a keyboard attached.
"He's really into it."
Woli blurted it out thoughtlessly—he was pounding away.
"Anyone can answer, but... can I even get him to now?"
"Probably not... We went to the movies last time, and he got some inspiration again. Guy's workload spikes after fun outings."
Sunwoo shook her head, but smiled. She didn't mind their hangouts.
"...You two are in your own world."
It could sound like a jab, but Sunwoo took it as a compliment. They suited each other fine, but Woli didn't need to watch it up close.
"Anyway, not that—the window."
"Huh? Window?"
"Yeah. Was it open this morning?"
A random question, but Sunwoo answered without suspicion.
"Hmm... not sure. It's open now, but I don't know if it was from the start."
She tilted her head.
"Makes sense if you don't pay attention."
Woli got it, but it left her stuck. As she pondered, a voice came from inside.
"It was closed. I opened the door for ventilation right when I got here."
Suhyeon had paused typing and was looking at Woli.
He must've heard outside despite working. A good change—from the days locked in his own world, this was a million times better.
"If you've got time to notice outside, why didn't you come out from the start?"
Woli grumbled. Suhyeon replied seriously.
"No spare time, but if you came in person, it must be important. Another weird thing? That'd trump my deadline."
"Y-Yeah?"
Spot-on. Woli blinked.
"Someone who's helped me before can't just clam up. More questions?"
"No, that's it. But you... look way better now?"
Woli stared, wondering if this was the same guy. Everything—looks, personality—had changed.
Hair neat, uniform ironed, healthy glow.
"What'd you do to him..."
Woli asked Sunwoo instead. Sunwoo blushed and grinned silently. Suhyeon answered.
"I did it to myself. Sunwoo was the catalyst, sure."
He said it boldly, but his cheeks were pink.
Woli shook her head at the sight.
"Aigoo, good for you~"
She smacked her lips. Seeing blatant couple vibes at school stung a bit.
"Anyway, that all?"
"Yeah. Just the window—definitely closed."
Suhyeon nodded firmly.
"Locked tight."
"Got it."
Woli said thanks; Suhyeon half-acknowledged and dove back into typing.
Woli stepped out.
"That poster—you guys?"
Sunwoo followed and asked. She had questions too.
Woli hesitated, then spilled.
"Yeah, I put it up. Secret."
"Figured. Good content, though?"
Sunwoo smiled knowingly. But I didn't write it. Woli started to explain, then just nodded—felt lame otherwise.
"Glad you liked it."
Woli left.
Checks done; time to report back. Radio show soon.
"Don't wanna go back..."
She remembered dumping the explanation on Seuli right before leaving. Not gonna hear good things.
Passing down the hall, Woli's eyes caught the poster she'd put up.
"W-What... reading it once won't hurt, right?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I'm just verifying."
Muttering like an excuse to someone, Woli slowly—casually as possible—started reading the poster.
~
For the overlooked people around us
We face a problem right now: failing to truly understand others. That's why I'm saying we need to look more closely at those around us from now on.
How well do you think you know the people around you? I haven't seen anyone who could answer that properly yet.
Do you know what troubles the people around you are facing? What scents they like, what color flowers they prefer? Do you know their favorite star, weather, or the poem etched in their memory?
I'm not saying know everything. Effort to understand those around you is what's needed. We don't know why they wear yellow clothes. We don't know why they love tacky pink flowers. We don't know why they like rain or the North Star.
It's easy to say "I know the facts." But effort to know the other person is hard.
I, who writes this, vow it. And propose to you all: We must understand those around us more—not just what they think, but why. Listen to it.
Thinking you can tell by looking is delusion. Judging someone by appearances alone is the most dangerous mistake. So talk. Share your thoughts, and hear theirs.
Notes, letters, whatever. The attempt alone will help you understand each other.
Start with the you here. Worry they'll feel burdened? A small step suffices. Share trivial likes. Grand gestures aren't how you understand someone. Trivial things are the shortcut.
↓↓↓
-An anonymous someone who doesn't want to show their face directly.