Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
31. Ghost stories, paintings and clues (6)
[Seong Siwan] I thought of going to check it out tonight with a junior who tipped me off. ㅎㅎㅎ [1]
[Seong Siwan] Do you want to go too, Uisin?
It looked like Seong Siwan was thinking of going to confirm the information about the secret passage now.
[Me] Yes. Where should I go?
After checking Seong Siwan’s reply, I prepared to go out again.
***
Central zone.
In front of the Guideline Club Hall.
Seong Siwan was standing with a person I saw for the first time.
“Hello.”
“…”
After my greeting, the person just nodded without a word.
‘Did something bad happen? His expression is particular.’
In the atmosphere which turned awkward, Seong Siwan cut in.
“This is Uisin and Idam’s first meeting, right? This guy is Gye Idam. And he is my Wing Council 2nd year junior.”
Looks like this guy called ‘Gye Idam’ was the Wing Council junior who liked ghost stories, who Seong Siwan spoke about before.
His wordless image didn’t match him somewhere.
Even after Seong Siwan finished introducing me to Gye Idam, the guy kept his mouth shut.
“Hahaha! Idam is very shy.”
This was the first time in this world that I saw a guy who didn’t speak to this degree.
‘It’s better he speaks less.’
In our country the surname ‘Gye’ was rare.
Among my army seniors, the irritating and talkative bastard had that surname.
Even after we met by chance after being discharged, and he almost got involved in an annoying matter, but even at that time, that ‘Gye’ bastard talked a lot.
The surnames were the same, but if the personality was opposite, he was welcome.
“I’m Jo Uisin. Please take care of me.”
“…”
Gye Idam didn’t open his mouth like before and only nodded.
After we finished our greetings, we started walking, with Seong Siwan at the front.
“Then let’s enter the Guideline Club Hall.”
“Won’t we need an entrance permit code to enter the Guideline Club Hall at this hour?”
“Idam will use his student card, and we will enter, so it’s fine.”
Didn’t you say that Gye Idem was your Wing Council junior?
No way, was he active both at the Wings Council and Guideline Club at the same time?
“Idam was in the Guideline Club during his 1st year. From the 2nd year he transferred to the Wings Council, but it seems that his position at the Guideline Club wasn’t revoked.”
There was no way that under Oh Hyeji’s lead and support of Cheon Dong-ha and Ma Jinseung the Guideline Club was lax about dealing with such matters.
It should be left like this with the intention of saying it’s okay for Gye Idam to come back to the Guideline Club at any time.
It seemed that he didn’t change his club activities because of a bad situation.
“Then let’s enter!”
As I entered the Guideline Club Hall’s lobby following Seong Siwan, the first thing that caught my eye was an enormous banner.
It was a banner engraved with a big font ‘Guideline’ beside Eungwang School’s symbol.
Because the lobby wasn’t particularly decorated, it was even more eye-grabbing.
‘The Guideline Club banner seen in the game was torn and burning.’
This was what it looked like when whole, huh?
“Idam, please guide us.”
At Seong Siwan’s words, Gye Idam nodded and started to walk towards the stairs.
While we descended down the stairs, Seong Siwan gave me a brief explanation of the details of him coming here.
“In fact, it seems that the children, who are currently active at the Student Council and the Guideline Club, seem to be protecting the secret of that so-called ‘secret’ society of Student Council and Guideline Club, so I was worried a lot. But then, it so happened that among my juniors Idam came from the Guideline Club, so I was lucky.”
“So what did you ask about?”
“Haha, in fact, I didn’t know what to ask, so I talked about the ghost story. And then he said that he went to investigate that alone and found out about it.”
Unexpectedly, Gye Idam seemed to have an excellent ability to gather the information.
“He confirmed that there is some sort of meeting between the Student Council and Guideline Club. Um, as we don’t know its exact name, I’ll temporarily call it a ‘Secret Society’. We’re guessing that the Secret Society begins accepting new members at the end of the 1st year.”
It had such a complicated structure?
‘During the PMH concentrate collapse incident, all 3rd years from the Student Council and Guideline Club died, and taking out a few people, the 2nd years were also annihilated. So the Secret Society probably wasn’t able to maintain its existence…’
I seemed to know the reason why Ju Su-hyeok and An Dain didn’t join that secret society like meeting.
When, thanks to Seong Siwan’s words, I came up with and organized the clues one after one.
He stopped talking and then said with a stupefied voice.
“Eh? It’s the end?”
Guideline Club Hall’s basement which was completely tangled up like a maze.
Gye Idam stopped in a dead-end alley.
“…”
Wall with nothing.
Seong Siwan stepped forward and examined the wall, then tried to knock at it, but…
“Shouldn’t there be some more clues?… What should we do?”
There was no need to worry about that point.
Because the stagnant water of the national game wreck was here.
I figured out the key gimmicks of mazes which appeared in PHM.
“Let’s try releasing a superpower wave.”
“Ok?”
While searching or when discovering a suspicious location.
The first thing the Player should do was to select the ‘Release superpower wave’ command.
Paat!
When superpower flowed from my fingertips towards the wall and touched it.
Kaaaaaa—
The wall moved and the corridor’s structure started to change.
“Wow, it’s good we brought Uisin! You somehow thought about this straight away!”
It was because I was the rotten water of the game wreck.
“…”
Unlike Seong Siwan who spoke brightly, Gye Idam frowned and glared at me.
I had no idea what that taciturn guy, who liked ghost stories, was thinking.
Kuung!
As if the changing of the basement into a secret passage ended, the sounds stopped.
“Let’s enter!”
With Seong Siwan as a lead, we entered the secret passage.
It seemed that this passage was connected to the Student Council Hall.
‘Looks like there is something in the basement between the Student Council Hall and Guideline Club Hall.’
Did the Ho tribe members know that there are such facilities in the basement?
Supposing someone made this without the Ho tribe’s knowledge, how the hell did they make it and for what purpose?
‘Seong Gukeon has to know the answer to that.’
And to hear Seong Gukeon’s answer, I had to solve all the tasks he gave me.
“There is such a place in the basement of our school!”
Seong Siwan, who was walking ahead, burst into admiration.
When we walked for a while, following the hidden passage, a branching path appeared.
“Looking at the directions, this one should lead towards the Student Council Hall. There should be something in the opposite direction.”
My idea was the same as Seong Siwan’s.
After, according to his suggestion, we decided on the direction and walked for a dozen minutes.
The place we arrived was a room covered in otherworldly metal on all sides.
‘It’s similar to the simulator room.’
But it was a bit different from the ones I saw at school or in the game.
“I saw it at the modern history museum! It was in the days when even smartphones didn’t use LCD, you know? Amazing.”
In this world, LCD, a liquid crystal display screen, became difficult to see because they were replaced by holograms.
There was a control panel underneath.
Seong Siwan, who examined the LCD with delight, spoke as he looked at the panel.
“This is an old virtual simulator. Why is it here?”
As I expected, it seemed to be a simulator room.
“Let’s activate it.”
At Seong Siwan’s suggestion, I and Gye Idam nodded.
***
Seong Gukeon’s Eungwang District regional office.
While the majority of aides already left work, Seong Gukeon remained in his office to read documents printed on paper.
“When are you thinking of going home?”
After the head assistant, Jeon Muyeong, asked, Seong Gukeon still didn’t lift his gaze from the document and replied:
“After just checking the Player’s Association’s investigation materials and satellite inspection documentation.”
“An hour ago, you said you would go home after just checking the Gyeong-gi province’s education office’s financial analysis report.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. For a reference, two hours ago you said something different.”
“Hehehee!”
Rather than making an excuse, Seong Gukeon laughed cheerfully and the speed of flipping the pages increased.
After he read all of the pages and before he stretched his hands out towards another file.
Jeon Muyeong suddenly asked.
“Why did you ask Siwan to investigate the ghost stories now? Why wait until he is in the 3rd year?”
Seong Gukeon’s hand stopped, and he answered:
“If it’s Siwan, he can break through it even if he is alone, but if he is to enter that room, it’s better he has a party, remember? I and you also didn’t conquer it until we became 3rd years.”
“But aren’t there many good guys even among Eugwang School’s current 2nd and 3rd year students?”
“Yeah, probably many. However, among them there is a descendant, and most of the students are personally or through their Player families connected to Jin people.”
Looking at Seong Gukeon, who made a grave expression, Jeon Muyeong swallowed his words.
‘You still can’t erase your distrust towards Jin People and descendants, huh?’
Seong Gukeon’s words continued.
“Currently, we can’t control what kind of new members the children in that ‘Secret Society’ will accept.”
“The words ‘Beware of Jin people’ circulate in the gathering, but they wouldn’t think of checking if a family member or a teacher is related to Jin people, correct?”
“Yeah. It can’t be helped. So at least the identity of the party that enters ‘that room’ with Siwan had to be certain.”
Finishing those words, Seong Gukeon stood up from his seat and then stared at the Eungwang School visible through the office window.
“I like that while Uisin has amazing abilities and accomplishments, he has a clean background.”
***
The program set in the old simulator was a SSR – – – rank descending tower simulation.
It was a descending tower type otherworld, whose clear method was to descend to the lowest floor to face the boss.
It looked like a high difficulty to conquer by just three people, but we progressed easily thanks to Seong Siwan’s performance.
Paaa…
From behind Seong Siwan, I saw the Enemy vanquishing effect.
Soon, he brought down four SR+++ rank Enemies and two SR – – – rank Enemies.
“Hey, next!”
Martial arts[2] and dagger arts.
Seong Siwan fought combining the two.
His main attack skills were martial arts, but he also used dagger arts at appropriate moments.
‘At first glance, it isn’t a well-matched combination.’
Puuk!
Seong Siwan’s fist, wearing protectors, pierced the stomach of a virtual Enemy.
Observing the wobbling Enemy, he grabbed a stiletto into his hand.
“Here is your weak spot, huh!”
Slim stiletto held a superpower wave.
Its power wasn’t big, but as it stabbed the vital point between the rugged armor, the Enemy’s HP greatly decreased.
Kieeeeek—!
Piercing shriek of the virtual Enemy rang out.
The scream contained a superpower wave.
‘It’s a type that inflicts damage with a sound! Is Seong Siwan fine?’
Seong Siwan, who was the closest to the Enemy, had a calm expression.
Without being shaken, he materialized three stilettos and stabbed them precisely into vital points and flying a fist at the Enemy every time it rampaged.
Amidst Seong Siwan’s fierce attacks, the Enemy couldn’t resist properly and began to vanish.
Paaat…!
“If it’s this much, I can continue even alone. Then let’s go to the bottom floor!”
The Earthly Wings Council’s president wasn’t selected based on power, but Seong Siwan was ignorantly strong.
He was fighting very well with the subtle looking skill combination of martial arts and dagger arts.
But why use stilettos which didn’t match his build?
Thinking about it for awhile, I came up with a plausible answer.
‘If you use protectors for bare-handed combat, weapons like swords or guns become difficult to deal with. So you use a slim and light stiletto, which is easy to carry.’
After that, the battle in the narrow space continued and Seong Siwan’s solo battle also continued.
There were traps mixed among gimmicks, but I dismantled them, displaying my stagnant water’s knowledge, so we progressed without particular problems.
Among us, the most useless party member was Gye Idam.
But there was nothing he had to do.
“Are the Student Council and Guideline Club doing some ‘secret training’? Um, facilities are outdated, but the Enemy combination is fine.”
Seong Siwan wiped his sweat off with the back of his hand as he spoke.
He was entirely responsible for the lonely combat, but he still seemed to have energy to spare.
Then, the air turned heavy.
“Seems like we arrived at the boss area.”
“… Right. I may have to fight together with you from that moment onwards, Idam, Uisin.”
I saw a door looking to be the boundary of the lowest floor.
Looking at the door, Seong Siwan started to fasten the protectors and examined the number of remaining stilettos.
However…
‘Strange. There is no Exclusive Menu’s notification about approaching Enemy.’
Even while doing an otherworld simulation, when approaching the boss room to a certain degree, the notification ‘⟨Warning, Enemy approaching.⟩’ floated up.
“It seems there is no Boss Enemy.”
“Uh? Idam, what do you think?”
Gye Idam stared at the door to the boss area and then shook his head.
It seemed that he also thought there was nothing there.
“Considering it’s an old simulator, did an error appear? Let’s open it now.”
When Seong Siwan raised his hand to the door.
Uuuung—.
Together with a machine noise, a phrase appeared above the door.
[Only humans can pass through this door.]
“Uh? What is that sound? Does it mean Jin people or descendants can’t…? All three of us here are humans, so it’s not a problem!”
After Seong Siwan put his hand to the door, the door started to open.
Inside, behind the door, was filled with light.
When we saw the dim silhouette[3] of someone.
“Uh? This Person…”
I heard Seong Siwan’s voice, mumbling something with a surprised face, but the rest was buried in the audible system message.
‹Power of Fate activated.›
Paaaat!
When in the instant a powerful light enveloped my vision and disappeared.
There was nothing around me.
It was a space I was thrown into a few times the moment when the Power of Fate activated.
But there was one point of difference.
‘What is that?’
In the dark space, a screen opened.
Ping.
The power entered the screen and someone was illuminated.
It was a person I saw in the game.
‘It’s the Player’s Association’s Korean Branch’s head who went through the Dark Age, remember?!’
That person started to calmly speak.
[I don’t trust Jin people or descendants. The reason I left my dying wish at the Eungwang School, which is backed by the Jin people, was because this is the safest place I know.]
I heard a thick voice, similar to Seong Gukeon’s.
As PHM had no voiceover, I had no way to compare it in the game, so I didn’t know, but if I covered my eyes and listened, I might have mistaken them for the same person.
[My dying wish remains in my alma mater, Korea’s most prestigious highschool.]
On the screen, the old Korean branch’s head disappeared, and instead, a painting floated up.
[This thing, this is one of the clues I left.]
The thing illuminated on the screen was ‘Death of Imoogi’[4].
It was an unfinished version, before Min Geurin put her brush strokes and completed the painting.
*~*~*
[1] ㅎㅎㅎ – ‘hahaha’.
[2] Martial arts – generally referring to all kinds of bare-handed martial arts.
[3] silhouette – it’s not the same word which is used when describing Silver Shadow or sometimes gods when they are blurry. This one literally means ‘human shadow’.
[4] ‘Death of Imoogi’ – It seems I didn’t leave a note about it earlier? ‘Death’ could also mean distinction of classes, in the meaning of distinguishing between rich and poor or distinguishing between nobel and lowly. So it also could mean ‘Distinguishing Imoogi’.
Translator’s note: *laughing throughout the entire chapter like a crazy person*
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
Leave a Reply