Ghost Story Club-Chapter 141: Sixteenth Ghost Story The Mysterious 4th Period (5)

Sitting on a chair in the corner of the broadcasting room, I waited alone with the girls.

“Attendance number 16, Lee Chaerin.”

“Attendance number 17, In Hayoon.”

Soon, the girls were called inside one by one and completed their interrogations.

“Attendance number 18, Joo Yeseul.”

The only remaining female student named Joo Yeseul entered at last.

I glanced at the girls seated beside me and examined their expressions thoroughly.

First of all, leaving out Jinhee and Hayoon, who were members of our club and people I already knew well.

‘Number 16, Lee Chaerin.’

She was the Vice Class President of our class and the girl who ranked second in the entire school during the midterm exams.

She has cat-like eyes, and with a sharp personality that makes sure to take care of everything by herself, the perfect image of a confident Vice Class President.

Even I, who only hung out with the club members, have talked to Chaerin a few times because of her position as the Vice Class President. I always got the impression that she was incredibly reliable.

‘… Honestly, the only things we have talked about were mostly schedules, announcements, and homework.’

In other words, we haven’t had any personal interactions yet.

‘And number 18, Joo Yeseul.’

Joo Yeseul was a devout Christian who served the Lord Jesus.

She had a bob perm that framed her neckline, a kind of hairstyle you’d typically see on Instagram, and a cross necklace adorning her neck, embodying her identity as a devoted Christian.

Although I’ve never talked to her, she’s the kind of girl who openly folds her hands and prays before eating at the cafeteria. I’ve noticed her doing it quite a few times, which is strange in my opinion.

Now I can see her anxiously being interrogated through the glass window.

As I watched her, I also took a moment to think slowly.

‘…Who was the murderer?’

It was clear that it was the work of someone from the inside.

It was just a few days ago that Teacher Jang Hwaeun’s latex riot show happened.

Since the official notice was issued, I heard that the school had strengthened security for outsiders more thoroughly, and installed CCTVs in several additional locations.

In other words, it was nearly impossible for an outsider to break into the main building at this time, kill someone, and run away.

‘…Someone inside the school killed someone.’

The location was the first floor hallway.

The crime occurred while I was spying on Hayoon from behind the store building.

‘Nothing happened until Hayoon and Joo Yeseul entered the teachers’ office.’

But the most concerning thing was, ‘who died?’

The headcount of all students and faculty members has already been completed.

This meant everyone who should be in the school was alive and well.

Then, who on earth was the one lying dead in the hallway on the first floor?

Creeeak—

Soon, the door to the studio, which was being used as an interrogation room, opened, and Yeseul and the young detective walked out together.

“Thank you for cooperating with the investigation.”

He expresses his gratitude, albeit indifferently.

“We are going to do a final cross-examination and collect each other’s testimonies, so please, I ask for just 5 more minutes of your cooperation.”

“……”

Some people checked their watches, but they stayed still as if acknowledging their situation.

“Okay, please pay attention to this whiteboard.”

The detective pulled the whiteboard over, quickly erased the broadcasting schedule, and then started writing down the movements by the hour.

“To summarize, this should be correct, right?”

[Overview of the Nakseong High School Murder Case]

① 4th period begins.

② Attendance number 15 (Lee Jinhee) and 16 (Lee Chaerin), who were in the classroom beforehand, went to the teachers’ office for the consultation session.

③ After the session, they went back to the auditorium together.

④ Number 17 (In Hayoon) and Number 18 (Joo Yeseul) left the auditorium together and headed to the teacher’s office.

⑤ At the same time, Number 14 (Lee Joon) left the auditorium to go to the restroom.

⑥ A murder occurs.

⑦ Teacher Han Ari, who was passing by at the moment, discovers the body.

⑧ Number 14 (Lee Joon) returned to the auditorium as soon as he heard the scream.

⑨ Number 17 (In Hayoon) and Number 18 (Joo Yeseul), along with their homeroom teacher, Mr. Park, who was conducting the session, left the teacher’s office and returned to the auditorium.

‘… So it was Teacher Han Ari who screamed.’

As I was carefully reviewing the outline of the case, the detective put a period after writing everything down.

“Is there anything different from your testimonies?”

The students silently shook their heads. At the same time, a cold sweat ran down my forehead.

‘… Crazy. Looking at it like this, it seems I’m the most suspicious one.’

Everyone else had moved in pairs or was having their consultation session, but I was the only one who went to the main building alone without an alibi.

“… Uh.”

I quietly raised my hand before the situation went against my favor.

“Wasn’t there anyone else who moved through the hallway other than us…? Why only our class-”

“Hmm, I don’t think there was anyone else.”

The young detective answered with his hands clasped together, speaking in a slightly defiant tone.

“Just as I gathered testimonies from your class, the homeroom teachers from the other classes also collected theirs.”

“…….”

“For now, it’s only you students here.”

People who moved through the first-floor hallway during the 4th period. There really were just the five of us here?

“… The witness, Teacher Han Ari-”

“She fainted and is currently in the infirmary.”

“……”

Damn.

In the end, the most suspicious person was me, who moved alone.

I heard the body was brutally murdered, and I was the only man among us, even including Teacher Han Ari, who was a witness.

Just as I thought, the detective put down the marker before staring intently at me.

“……”

“……”

Following the detective’s gaze, the four girls also turned their heads slightly and silently at me.

The gazes of five people bore into me.

For some reason, I felt like my body was shrinking to itself, but then my eyes met Hayoon’s.

“……”

Her beautiful eyes, framed by long eyelashes, were staring blankly at me.

It almost felt like she was looking at me as if to ask, ‘Do you need help?’

‘Oh, right…!’

I quickly raised my head with sudden realization.

Now that I think about it, it was true.

That there was indeed someone who could vouch for my alibi.

‘…In Hayoon.’

At that time, I wasn’t in the hallway; I had been hiding behind the store building the whole time.

I, Lee Joon, was the only one who could prove my alibi, that I hadn’t even gone near the hallway where the incident occurred.

And the person who could prove that was the girl right in front of me, Hayoon.

She noticed my presence when she was having the session.

“……”

Hayoon slowly narrowed her eyes at me, seeing my anxious gaze.

A strange surge of tension flowed between our eyes, locked in a silent stare.

What should I do?

Should I ask for her help now?

While I was agonizing over this silently.

“Alright, you can all go and have lunch now.”

The young detective clapped his hands as he spoke.

“Get going, hurry.”

“…..?”

I raised my head at the unexpected development.

It wouldn’t be wrong to expect him to question me more.

But the detective only tapped his wristwatch dismissively.

“It’s already halfway through lunchtime. For now, please go to the cafeteria and have lunch, and instead of going to the classroom for 5th period, let’s meet here. I’ll let the teachers know.”

“…That.”

It was the Vice Class President, Chaerin, who spoke up.

“Didn’t the investigation on us just end….? Do we really need to gather again?”

“We have to compare it with the CCTV footage.”

The detective replied calmly.

“I heard that a few more CCTV cameras were installed at the school recently. Since they’re new, the teachers aren’t familiar with operating them yet, so they haven’t checked them. I’m planning to go and check those footages now.”

“……”

“Everyone, just go ahead and have your lunch comfortably. I’ll check it, and if there’s nothing unusual, I’ll send you back as soon as I get back. I’m just asking for one more favor. Alright, go ahead.”

“…Huu.”

At those words, we stood up and slowly made our way out of the broadcasting room.

We all first went down to the classroom to change into our uniform from gym clothes.

We had been dragged out of P. E. class, so we had been in our gym uniforms the whole time.

‘… I see. It’ll all be over once they check the CCTV.’

That’s why the detective let me go even though my testimony was questionable.

“……”

As we moved to the classroom, a few students whispered as they looked at me.

They also glanced at Jinhee and Hayoon for a moment, but their presence was so overwhelming that the others didn’t dare to whisper anything.

And unlike us, who had such a cold atmosphere, the Vice Class President and Joo Yeseul seemed to have many close friends in the class, as they were being comforted by a group of students gathered around them.

“Chaerin, are you okay? Did everything go well?”

“You must be anxious, Yeseul.…”

Leaving that scene behind, we grabbed our uniforms, left the classroom, changed into our uniforms in our respective locker rooms, and finally headed to the cafeteria.

“Let’s go.”

“Hmm.”

We didn’t really talk much while we were walking to the cafeteria.

‘… I see. CCTV….’

I was not actually in the clear, but just given a little more time before being dragged to the police station.

“…Haa.”

I entered the cafeteria, silently hoping that the culprit’s appearance was captured on the CCTV cameras, and that none of my actions would raise suspicion.

* * *

“Prez!”

“Joon!”

When we arrived, it was half past lunchtime, and the cafeteria was already deserted.

The club members, who had finished eating but were still sitting and waiting, rushed over to me in a hurry.

“Huff, huff. What happened? Is everything okay?”

“Are you okay, Joon….?”

“… Just, what.…”

The club members, especially those who came running to me, asked hurriedly.

I was a little touched.

“…I just had a casual conversation. They said they’ll check the CCTV and call me again.”

“I see…”

“Huu. What’s going on…”

Gyeongwon shook his head.

I patted them on the back as a gesture of gratitude, and together with the four female students, I picked up the tray and started filling it with food.

“Ugh, there’s not a single piece of meat.”

Jinhee complained as she stirred the chicken soup with the ladle.

However, there was one full new side dish container. It seemed the cafeteria ladies had received word that there would be late arrivals and had left some behind.

“It’s duck bulgogi.”

(Picture of duck bulgogi)

I scooped a fool ladle and poured it generously into the soup bowl.

Among the people who came late to have lunch, the other four, except for me, were slim female students.

They clearly looked like they would eat less, so it shouldn’t be a problem if I scoop a bit more.

‘If you eat too much, you’ll gain weight.’

Pour-

Chaerin, the Vice Class President, glared at me as I scooped so much duck bulgogi that it spilled over to the next section, but I ignored her.

I picked up my tray and moved to the table where the other club members were sitting with Hayoon and Jinhee.

“Oi, sit down quickly.”

Gyeongwon, Dukhun, and Sunah were whispering and talking about something.

The expressions on their faces hinted at something ominous.

“What’s wrong?”

When Jinhee, Hayoon, and I put down our trays, Gyeongwon showed me the screen of his phone.

“Here’s an article. Read it while eating.”

“An article?”

I pulled out a chair and took his smartphone.

[Sinkhole with a diameter of 10m occured in ShinLim Neighborhood, 8 vehicles overturned]

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

“…What kind of article is this?”

It was basically about cars crashing into a hole that formed when the road collapsed.

Gyeongwon opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“This is the source of the black smoke rising outside.”

As I sat down and turned my head, I finally noticed the scene outside the window.

The cafeteria window was made entirely of glass.

Beyond the city, dimly lit due to the backlight, dark black smoke was still rising in thick waves.

The strange smoke was gradually staining even the clouds black.

“…Is it still like that?”

“It got worse while you guys were being investigated.”

“What happened….”

“Read the full article first, Prez.”

I mixed the duck bulgogi with my rice while staring at the screen of his smartphone.

[Sinkhole with a diameter of 10m occured in ShinLim Neighborhood, 8 vehicles overturned]

[According to the Gwanak District Office in Seoul, on Monday the 13th, around 10 a.m., an explosion occurred and the road collapsed at the intersection of Seoul National University entrance in ShinLim Neighbourhood, Gwanak District, causing a sinkhole approximately 10 meters in diameter to appear.]

‘… Explosion. Is that the sound I heard at the same time as the screams back then?’

While I was running out from behind the school building, I heard the sound of something exploding outside the school, along with the screams from inside the school.

I continued reading the rest of the article.

[At around 11:30 a.m. on this day, the Gwanak District Office received a report stating ‘the road has collapsed’, and visited the scene to carry out temporary measures such as installing fences. However, the eight vehicles that overturned and fell into the pit have still remained missing.]

[The scene is currently inaccessible to rescue teams due to endless smoke and flames rising from the pit. It is suspected that the smoke and flames were caused by an explosion of a chemical transport truck owned by Clover, one of the overturned vehicles.]

“… Vehicle overturned? Chemical?”

“It’s not normal, Prez. It’s not normal.”

Gyeongwon said, pushing up his glasses.

“In particular, the chemical truck owned by Clover…. it exploded and formed a collapsed pit.”

“… Hmm.”

“The smoke that is rising right now. It’s not just smoke from a fire. It’s a mass of gas containing chemicals.”

“… An industrial accident.”

It was much more serious than I thought.

“What kind of chemical substance was that?”

“That… There’s no news about it yet.”

I handed the phone back to Gyeongwon, who still had a tense expression.

Then I took a spoonful of duck bulgogi bibimbap, chewed on them slowly as I pondered deeply.

‘This situation might be tied to a ghost story….’

The murder inside the school and the gas cloud outside the school.

Which one would be the ghost story?

“……”

First of all, I’ve never been attacked by two ghost stories at the same time.

I don’t know about the small ghost stories that followed while I was solving a high-rank ghost story, which was about A-rank, but I don’t think I have ever come across two completely independent ghost stories at the same time.

‘…One of the two must be just a coincidence.’

The murder could just be a crime.

Or maybe the gas cloud outside was just an accident.

“Anyway, Prez, In Hayoon and Lee Jinhee. Solve the murder case as quickly as possible and come back. We’ll be in the classroom, looking for something on our own.”

“… Okay.”

I nodded while mumbling.

Gyeongwon and Dukhun were searching through news articles and discussing something, while Sunah was nodding along with a serious expression with her lips pursed.

I suddenly had a feeling that they were very dependable.

‘They’re working hard.’

Even though I was not the one leading and urging them, the members were finding tasks on their own and discussing them.

‘… How admirable.’

Thinking that, I glanced at Jinhee and Hayoon on either side of me.

‘… We also have to work hard.’

Jinhee, who was wild and unruly, like a speedy horse difficult to handle.

And Hayoon, whose thoughts were completely unpredictable.

Should we take these two with me to solve the murder case?

“……”

It was a composition that made me worry more than anything.