Ch. 54 - Eighth Ghost Story - Doomed Midterm Exam (5)

The members looked at me with an absurd expression.

“This... time. When I go back…”

Not being able to bear the awkwardness, I cleared my throat.

“… Honestly, there are probably some people among us who don't believe me. The job is just simple. If I get a phone call later from the teacher, all you have to do is accept it instead of me.”

“……”

"Okay? It's not difficult, right? When the call comes, just answer it, and you're done. Since there's also the danger of having a heart attack... Only those people who believe in me can accept.”

“...haa.”

Gyeongwon sighed at my continuous persuasion.

“And the plan is that after learning the questions and answers, Prez will memorize everything and go back.”

"Yes."

“Your shamelessness knows no limits. However, Prez.”

Adjusting his glasses, Gyeongwon declared.

“I’m in.” Sunah also nodded along.

“Me too, Joon. I'll help you too…”

“...Thank you, Sunah.”

“I’m willing too.”

When Hayoon responded in a calm voice, Dukhun flinched and sighed before saying.

“Yare yare... Well, as long as it’s just answering the phone. Let’s do this.”

Jinhee stayed still with her hands in her skirt’s pockets. Then, turning her head, she said with a sigh.

“I am in too.”

Although her reaction was indifferent most of the time, it was certain that Jinhee would follow our decision wholeheartedly when the time came.

Brimming with confidence, I nodded to my members.

“Thank you so much for helping me, guys.”

* * *

The next day.

During the first midterm exam, Math.

I reviewed the plan once again in my mind while roughly taking the exam.

The members would answer the phone call on my behalf and participate in a quiz session with the science teacher. From there, the science teacher would re-pose another problem to avoid the curse returning back to him. Then, we would ask questions that would somehow elicit information from him, whether the answer was correct or not.

If Gyeongwon died without getting the right answer, Sunah would take over the baton and repeat the situation again.

'Huu. I wonder if it will work out.’

I was the one who was being targeted by the science teacher's curse.

The members were 17 years old and not yet 20 years old.

The first problem was whether it was possible for the 17-years-old members to receive and bear the curse through the phone call.

‘...Since Gyeongwon also participated in it willingly, it should be okay, right?’

In ghost stories related to curses, it was shown as normal for others to carry the burden of a curse on someone else's behalf.

The second thing that bothered me was. Even if we ask questions to the science teacher, the game ends the moment a member dies without being able to answer the science teacher's question.

The picture I had in mind was that I want to continue to dig up information by exchanging questions with each other like the ping-pong game.

However, as soon as the other person dies, it is determined that the curse is unsuccessful. Therefore, if the science teacher hung up the phone not being able to answer our questions, all my strategy would be for naught.

Dukhun answered that it was possible, but the reason was somewhat absurd.

“If you change from an individual game to a team game, the situation would turn into a relay format. Isn't it natural for that to happen?”

‘When you put it that way, it’s like passing a bomb at a family gathering.’

A scene where people frantically exchanged questions and answers while passing a bomb to refrain themselves from being blown up by it appeared in my mind.

A death game of quiz that doesn't stop until all the people on one side are wiped out.

The science teacher would have to spit out all the information even if he were to be a person who doesn't talk much.

Finally, the second exam, English arrived. While teacher Jang Hwaeun was wandering around the classroom with a bored expression and tapping the floor with her foot, I was concentrating on the system window in the air.

『Congratulations on your acceptance at Nakseong High School, the school full of secrets and mysteries. Uncover the shady secrets hidden within the school, and fight against the legends and ghost stories of the campus in order to earn points to unlock special abilities. Additionally, you must gather comrades to prevent the resurrection of the Demon King before graduation. The world is in your hands.』

It had been a long time since I saw this message.

Come to think of it, the science teacher didn't seem to be the first person aware of ghost stories.

Except for Teacher Jang Hwaeun, who seemed to be unaware and suffering instead, there was one more person.

‘Damim.’

[T/N: Fun fact; the name Damim simply means ‘homeroom teacher’.]

A terrible dark secret was hidden in the school.

Until now, I vaguely thought that all the strange phenomena around me were related to the Demon King and the ghost stories. However, the reality was, there were some terrible secrets hidden in the school.

Soon after, it was time for the third exam, Science.

In the quiet classroom where students were focused on taking the test.

The only sounds one could hear were the footsteps of the science teacher as he walked around while supervising, and the sound of the students scribbling on their question papers.

As I was checking my plan once again and wondering about various things, the science teacher came up to me and asked.

“Why aren't you solving the problems?”

I sighed in frustration and answered.

“Haa. I solved everything.”

“I think you missed some questions.”

“Stop bothering me and go away.”

At that moment, the sound of some students gasping in surprise in the quiet classroom could be heard.

The always blunt face of the science teacher distorted for the first time.

“...What did you just say?”

“I told you to stop bothering me like a fool and go away.”

The teacher's stoic expression gradually wrinkled.

“You, follow me.”

“I don’t want to. I have to finish my test.”

Certainly, I was referring to none other than the cursed midterm question on my question paper.

The science teacher looked sternly at my shameless expression before speaking again.

“Then stop fooling around and solve the questions.”

“Actually, I suddenly feel skeptical about studying.”

“......”

“Why should I study and get admitted to a good university? Those worries suddenly occurred to me and I can’t concentrate on the test.”

The atmosphere in the exam hall sank in an instant, to the point it was difficult to breathe.

Perhaps everyone was thinking what kind of absurd question this was.

The science teacher surprisingly didn't reprimand me or anything. It was as if his sole purpose of existence was to trick me into reading the ghost story.

“Why are you suddenly having such worries?”

“Because we’re in the middle of a test, of course.”

“……”

“I am very worried that once the test is over, I will have to prepare for and take 100 more tests like this in the future.”

The science teacher just listened without replying.

Sighing to myself, I pretended to contemplate as if I was disaffected with the worry of the future.

“If only this problem was resolved, I think I could take my exam without any worries.”

Standing in front of me with his imposing figure, the science teacher stared at me for a long time.

Finally, he raised one eyebrow with a stern expression and spoke.

“If you can’t get admitted to a good university, you won’t be successful in life.”

In response to that, I heard someone snickering from somewhere in the back.

When I looked over, I saw Hayoon covering her mouth with her hand and giggling.

I also smiled secretly and nodded.

“Teacher's inspirational words really encouraged me. I will try to do well on the test.”

"Okay. Work hard."

Nodding his head, the science teacher turned around, holding his nose high, as if he had achieved something great by giving useful advice to a child. However, his eyes were looking sideways to see if I really read the question paper or not.

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself and pretended to open the back page of the question and read it as he wanted.

Only then did the science teacher nod his head as if relieved and began walking around the classroom again.

‘It seems all the teachers in the world are like that.’

People such as himself exist everywhere. Even if it wasn't because of the ghost story, or the strangeness of the school, there were countless people like him around.

When students need assistance, adults like him approach students with the pretense of teaching and assisting them for the topics they hold no interest in, such as college entrance examination or being successful in life.

Stretching leisurely, I yawned loudly. The teacher who tried to kill me, his student three times.

I must give him back what he deserved with interest.

Ding~ dong~ Dang~ dong ♬

Six members of the Ghost Story Club stood up as soon as the bell rang.

"Quickly!"

“Huu, huu.”

In an instant, we all rushed out of the classroom door.

Teachers and students looked at us with surprised expressions on their faces as we ran down the hallway.

We even passed by the science teacher, who was heading to his office to call me as he finished his supervision, and rushed up the stairs.

Finally, we reached the 5th floor where our clubroom was.

“Huh, huh... So damn high…”

The only one who looked fine was Jinhee, who seemed to have an excellent physique trained through exercise.

Then, we quickly lined up around the table.

Just at that moment.

[.....♬…]

An ominous melody slowly rang from my phone soon.

Taking it out of my pocket, I put my phone in the center of the table.

The members' attention was immediately drawn to the cell phone that was ringing ominously.

“Prez, since I'm the most knowledgeable one among all of us, I think I should be the-”

"Wait."

I stopped Gyeongwon from reaching out to the phone.

[…♬…]

Inside the clubroom, where the languid afternoon sunlight shone through the white curtains.

Outside, the sound of students making noise in excitement that the first day of midterm exam was over could be faintly heard coming through the door and beyond the window.

In the midst of such an ordinary school scene.

The six of us were huddled together in the clubroom, looking at my cell phone from where an uncanny tune was blaring.

[...♬…]

“Joon, won’t you answer it…?”

Sunah asked, not understanding why I wasn't doing anything.

What would happen if I didn’t answer the phone like this?

That definitely wouldn't be a good ending.

[... ♬...]

However, the secrets hidden in this school. And the people who were already aware of ghost stories.

If that was the case.

Crossing my arms, I looked up slowly to a certain person and said coldly.

“In Hayoon, you'll be the first one taking the call.”

Hayoon raised her head and stared at me with her usual calm expression.

The members also looked at each other in puzzlement at my sudden change in attitude.

[……♬……]

The sound of the ringtone was gradually increasing in volume, as if warning that if I didn't answer it quickly, I would be in big trouble.

I spoke firmly again.

“In Hayoon, you must take it.”

Hayoon was staring at me blankly.

Sunah and Gyeongwon gave me questioning stare, as if asking, ‘Why are you doing this?’

But I just ignored their stares and glared at Hayoon with a stern expression.

"Answer it. Hurry."

Yes.

In Hayoon.

You are the most suspicious person.

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