Chapter 92: 7 Wonders Of The Academy

Chapter 92: 7 Wonders Of The Academy

The seven mysteries of Ichijo Academy, as told by Satoru over the phone, were as follows:

1. The Fox Staircase

2. The Ghost Girl of the Music Room

3. The Radio in the Broadcast Room

4. The Human Specimen in the Infirmary

5. Hanako of the Restroom

6. The White Face in the Window

Apart from the last one, they all seemed like familiar tales I had heard somewhere.

Wait, if its the seven mysteries of the academy, why are there only six?

[Oh, that. Apparently, anyone who experiences all six of these mysteries will die. Thats the seventh mystery.]

That was scary in its own way.

Feeling goosebumps, I rubbed my arms.

[Arent you getting close to the classroom by now? Why is it taking so long?]

Thats because you suddenly started telling me these ghost stories. If we hadnt talked, I would have arrived much earlier.

Grumbling, I reached the door of Class 2-B.

Clank!

Ah.

Now that I think about it, every class locks its doors at the end of the day to prevent theft.

I couldnt believe I just remembered this simple fact. It seemed I had a bit of forgetfulness.

What should I do?

The keys to the classroom were in the sophomore teachers office.

Even if I wanted to sneak in and take them, the security system was so tight that an alarm would definitely go off.

As I was contemplating giving up on the Korean book and going home, my eyes suddenly fell on the hallway window.

The lock was open.

It seemed that todays duty student didnt check it properly when leaving.

For me, it was like a stroke of luck, so I opened the window and reached inside.

Click!

Soon, with the sound of the lock disengaging, the door to Class 2-B opened.

I carefully opened the door and went inside.

Inside the quiet classroom.

My seat was at the very back of the class, so it was right in front of me as I opened the door.

I bent down to rummage through the desk drawer.

Ah, here it is.

Fortunately, the Korean book I was looking for was safely inside the desk drawer.

Having achieved my purpose for coming to the school, I put the Korean book in my bag, locked the door from the inside, and stepped out into the hallway.

Time to go home.

Just as I was thinking that and turned around,

Flash!

Suddenly, a blinding light shone towards me, and a small figure let out a scream like a tearing sound.

Aaaaaaaaah!!

It was like the cry of a pterosaur, loud enough to be heard throughout the entire school.

Instinctively feeling trouble, I quickly covered the mouth of the person screaming with my palm.

Mizuki Nanae, the homeroom teacher of Class 2-B, was on duty, covering for another married female teacher, with final exams just a few days away.

Originally, it was her turn next week, but because the other teacher had left early, citing menstrual discomfort, Mizuki, the junior in the staff room, ended up taking the duty.

Although this wasnt her first time on duty in a darkened school, she still couldnt get used to it.

Most people dont know how lively spaces during the day become so desolate at night.

The Teacher looked around, and upon finding me sitting next to her, she gasped loudly in surprise.

Well, it was an inevitable reaction.

What else could you expect from someone who had just fainted upon encountering me in the hallway?

I waited quietly for the Teacher to calm down on her own.

After a while, the Teacher, seemingly having calmed her confused mind, took a few deep breaths and then looked at me and asked.

Kim Yu-seong, why are you at school at this time?

Hearing the Teachers question, I scratched my head in embarrassment.

It was indeed the first question to ask.

Because a student sneaking into school late at night wouldnt have a normal reason for doing so.

I opened the bag on my back and showed the Korean textbook inside.

Actually, I realized late that I left my book at school after lending it to a friend at lunch. So, I sneaked into the school to get it.

You know thats against the school rules, right?

Im ashamed.

As I said that and rubbed the back of my neck, Ms. Mizuki sighed lightly, and then, placing her hand on her waist, spoke in a stern voice.

Luckily for you, Im on duty tonight. If it were another Teacher, there would have been no excuses. Ill keep todays incident a secret, so go home quickly. Your parents must be worried.

Yes.

After hearing the Teachers scolding, I put the Korean book back in my bag and stood up.

Sorry for the trouble. Ill see you next Monday.

Alright. Off you go.

The incident in the middle of the night at school seemed to have ended well, somehow.

I was thinking this as I was about to open the door of the duty room and leave.

Teacher? What happened?

Suddenly, someones voice came from outside the door.

I hesitated

I stopped trying to open the locked door and quickly turned to look at the Teacher.

Then the Teacher gestured hurriedly and said,

Hide for now!

I took refuge in a corner of the duty room as the Teacher had said.

Meanwhile, the Teacher talked to the person outside, with the door between them.

Oh, Im sorry, security guard. I screamed earlier because I saw a mouse.

Is that so? I thought something had happened to you, Teacher. The scream echoed throughout the school.

Ahahaha

As the Teacher awkwardly laughed, trying to brush it off, the security guard outside spoke.

Teacher, if its alright with you, could you open the door for a moment? Id like to speak with you face-to-face.

Then, the Teacher quickly made an excuse.

Ah! Can we can we do it a bit later?! Im changing clothes right now!

How long would that be?

30 minutes! 30 minutes will be enough!

Then, after a moment of silence, the security guard said he would return in 30 minutes and left.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of footsteps beyond the door gradually faded away, and I, who had taken refuge in a corner of the duty room just in case, sighed in relief and muttered.

I survived

It was fortunate that everything passed without incident, right?

Thinking this, I turned to thank Ms. Mizuki once again.

But the Teachers complexion was somehow pale.

I asked the Teacher what was wrong, and she said to me in a frightened voice.

I didnt hear the sound of the key bundle