Surviving in a School of Ghost Stories
Chapter 118

The outsider's entry was on that morning.

James Parker, at the young age of thirty, was already a brilliant math teacher at the prestigious Saint Gloria Private School.

However, he did not like the head of the academic department very much.

‘He asks for the strangest things. Does he think I became a teacher just to do this kind of stuff? Should I just quit and leave for the mainland?’

But the salary was enormous. He grumbled and knocked on the door of the head of the academic department’s office.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

The voice of the department head came from inside.

‘Does he think he's the dean or something? He’s being so extra...’

The only people who have a personal office at Saint Gloria Private School are the chairman and the dean.

But one day, out of nowhere, the head of the academic department had demanded his own office.

His argument was that he needed a personal space because he had so many responsibilities.

‘The chairman is a good person, that’s why...’

The dean, being conservative and authoritative, had only agreed to this due to the chairman's decision.

Upon entering the office, James found the head of the academic department sitting at his desk, reviewing documents.

He raised his fountain pen and signed a document.

‘Oh? Was he left-handed?’

James tilted his head in surprise.

‘Was his signature like that before?’

Unlike what James had known, the head of the academic department scribbled his signature in reverse.

Thinking he might have mistaken something, James called out to him.

“Department head.”

Only then did the head of the academic department look up.

James placed the daily newspaper on the desk.

“You heard that the student council president collapsed last night, right?”

“They said he was unconscious.”

Did he smile?

James noticed a slight smile flicker on the department head’s lips as he mentioned the student council president being unconscious.

“He was unconscious, but they say he woke up quickly.”

“Oh, I see. They say his personality has changed strangely. He acts like he’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

Possessed by an evil spirit?

James hadn’t said anything like that, but the department head added that analogy of his own.

“The exam is passed. Perfect for the role.”

“Huh?”

When James asked in confusion, the department head shook his head.

“No, never mind. We need to go now. The outsiders must be arriving soon.”

The department head stood up and grabbed his jacket. James quickly took the jacket from him.

Although James hated himself for this, he thought he had no choice but to do it since it was part of social life, and he diligently assisted the department head.

They went down to the village and met with the dean, chairman, the pope, the crown prince, high-ranking nobles, and political figures.

‘Wow. People I’ve only seen in the newspaper...’

While secretly charging up his fanboy energy, James followed the department head, who was in charge of the formalities, only to notice an extra edition of the newspaper.

It was an article mentioning Melody Hastings as the student representative.

Reading the extra edition, he glanced at the department head, who was too focused on the formalities to notice it.

‘This looks like something I need to address.’

Fearing the department head might throw a fit again if he didn't act fast, James decided to quickly pull the department head aside and handed him the extra edition.

“Well, that’s good.”

Contrary to James’s expectations of the department head flying off the handle, his reaction was unexpectedly composed.

“It’s a bit unsettling that Hastings is the student representative, but it can’t be helped. It’s better than performing the sealing ritual for ‘that person’.”

‘That person?’

While James was confused, the department head continued speaking.

“It’s a critical time. We can’t afford to let Eglinton’s body be harmed, so make sure to be extra careful.”

James tilted his head in confusion at the department head’s instructions.

“You want me to take care of Eglinton’s health? Am I supposed to look after a student’s personal health?”

The department head tore his eyes away from the extra edition and looked up at James.

Their gazes met, and James felt a chill in his spine. He couldn’t understand what the department head was thinking, but he definitely felt an overwhelming sense of danger, as though refusing would lead to death.

The department head then smiled gently. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were cold and emotionless.

“As you saw earlier, Eglinton the Duke is also on the list of visitors. He’s a guest of honor who must be treated with the utmost respect, just below the pope and crown prince. Now, does it make sense?”

James nodded, though his face remained dazed. If that was the reason, he understood it.

“That’ll do. We’ve been away for too long.”

At the department head’s words, James nodded.

That’s when it happened.

Clunk—

A noise came from somewhere.

The department head and James were startled and turned their heads. The sound came from a wardrobe left at the end of the alley.

“What’s that?”

James cautiously approached the wardrobe.

“Oh? They’re blocking the view by filling the space with bodies. Even spirits are getting smart about this.”

The department head muttered to himself.

What did he mean by blocking the view?

The department head was staring at the wardrobe intently, as though something was standing in front of it.

‘What, what’s there?’

Shivers ran down James’s spine from the department head’s behavior, so he too stared at the wardrobe, but no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t see anything.

“Looks like they’re well loved by the spirits. I’ve suspected this for a while, but now I’m sure.”

“Department head. I don’t understand what you’re saying. Could you explain more clearly?”

“It’s nothing. Just ignore it.”

“...Yes.”

James, looking flustered, stepped back.

“Melody Hastings. I know you’re hiding there.”

The department head’s next words shocked James, and his eyes widened.

Melody Hastings is inside there?

“Check it out.”

The department head gestured for James to open the wardrobe.

Reluctantly, James opened the wardrobe door wide, only to quickly shut it again upon seeing a man and a woman passionately kissing inside.

The department head looked at James with a frown. His face was flushed red.

He was a thirty-year-old bachelor who had never even had a date, let alone kissed anyone, so the scene he had just witnessed was shocking to him.

“M-Milf lovers... They don’t seem to be students of this school.”

Flustered, James stammered. The department head opened his mouth, as though he had something to say, but...

“Haah. Haah. Here you are! Everyone’s been looking for you. They said we need to move to a different place, department head!”

The physics teacher rushed in, looking for the department head. They had been gone for too long.

With a displeased look, the department head briefly glanced at the wardrobe and sighed before walking off.

“Let’s go.”

James followed him, breathing a sigh of relief.

James couldn’t stop thinking about the scene he had just seen. Inside the wardrobe were clearly Melody Hastings and Noah Eugene Eglinton.

Their eyes met as Noah Eglinton, who had his head tilted to kiss, made eye contact with James.

His bright blue eyes showed no signs of embarrassment. He nonchalantly waved his finger, signaling James to close the wardrobe door.

In that brief moment, the energy emanating from Noah was anything but human.

James froze, unable to move a muscle.

He closed the wardrobe door at Noah’s gesture. It wasn’t by his own will, but as though someone else was controlling his body.

And if he said «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» something about this to the department head, he would no doubt be scolded for making a fool of himself.

‘It must have been a mistake.’

So he convinced himself that the people inside the wardrobe weren’t students from the school but rather look-alikes.