Chapter 147: Things That Go Bump In The Night

Instead of admiring the library that Han didn't know was there, he was instead plunged into another dangerous situation involving his friend being choked by a translucent man. It was in this moment that one could already imagine options popping in thin air as the situation became very clear to Han:

1) Attack The Ghost-Thing

2) Talk To The Translucent Man

3) Head Back to the Exit

Alas there was no time to choose another option as he found himself floating above the air. He yelped and held onto his energy saber, "Ack!" Of course the ghost noticed him the moment he stepped into the library—if anything they might have noticed him right from the very start. The Moderator didn't give any clue at all!

The translucent figure didn't stop from choking Timothy though and that made him realize something. "Wait, you're a ghost but how can you actually choke my friend?" The man's gaze pierced through him and he realized that he should have just shut up at this moment. If there had been any surprise or shock that Timothy may have felt with Han arriving—well, he was still being choked to even say or do a single thing.

A cold chill came down within the entire room as if winter frost had blasted their way in the library.

"You dare use such light terms on me and yet you do not know anything. It is a wonder how two fools are able to come here and turn this place upside down." As the translucent man gazed at him, Han was able to see that there was some kind of glowing light in his eyes that burned bright yellow. There was a sense of timelessness in those eyes that may have been a bit similar to the Wood Elf he was allied with but not necessarily the same.

But this guy claims he isn't a ghost?

Han tried to use Inspect but it didn't work. Whether it didn't allow him to Inspect living beings… or undead beings? Well, it had worked with the Black Slime before so it was probably because he was too far away from the man. Instead he grimaced and clutched the toolstick tighter in his hand, "Ah, well, you can call me a fool but I doubt that my friend applies there—but er, if we're unknowledgeable, could you perhaps explain where we landed ourselves into?"

Timothy was already being choked for reasons unknown to him so he didn't know if diplomacy would work. But as far as Han could see, there was a sign of intelligence in the man's eyes that told him that he was facing something that was possibly way worse than the Colossal Wyvern. Because as much as he could try and had somehow outwitted a Wyvern, he needed to convince this guy.

His skillset wasn't suited for facing ghosts. Where was a damn exorcist when you needed one?!

If a ghost could sniff, well, there was a sound similar to the man harrumphing as his grip loosened slightly on Timothy. He watched his friend gasp for air at the moment and Han could only internally sigh in relief. And yet he didn't say thank you or anything else... he needed to be wary and careful before any other dangerous incident were to occur for them.

"I used to be a human until I found my untimely end—but it may have been a blessing in disguise, freeing myself from the bonds on this physical world and gaining this new form. That is how I become a Spectre."

Han raised a brow? He wouldn't say anything but wasn't that just a ghost. Wait. Did this guy say he became a ghost—er, spectre? He said it like it was rare so that meant…it was possible to change one's Race?

What did it mean in this setting for residents in this world?

Timothy looked like he was about to say something else but decided to bite back his words as well. The man looked more troubled than him in this scenario and he had no idea why. Well besides them possibly dying at the hands of a ghost.

"Hmph, that befuddled look on your faces." The Spectre raised his head, "You believe that all undead are unable to retain their intelligence, nothing but a hollow husk of what they are or at most, traces of their former self—but I have kept my memories and sanity all throughout these years."

Really?

And yet he chose to live his undead days by haunting people or trying to ensnare them within the lower area of Kraelonia Academy? Han wasn't sure if that was sane or what but there was something he understood correctly in this situation. With the passage of time, the man's moral compass clearly degraded or vanished.

He couldn't appeal via compassion.

Not that would actually work in the first place. And yet there was only one thing left to do wasn't it, "T-That's amazing! I didn't know that something like that was possible! How'd you become a Spectre? Was it through the help of a Necromancer or something?"

"Bah!" The man's translucent form flicked as the man snorted. "No simple Necromancer can do this or even a great one—this has been all due to my brilliance. I have…" The man paused and frowned as he eyed Han with a look that was way nastier than the one he had been giving Timothy.

It seemed like even in this world, it didn't change the fact that first impressions somewhat always didn't do well with him. Han gulped and waited for them to do something as he assessed the possible Skills he could use. How would he even break free from this bind and hold him in the air kind of Spell?

"You." The Spectre's voice was laced with venom. "Yes, you are the third seeker of these recent searches, aren't you?"

Seeker? What? He hoped the man could explain. It was as if Han had kicked some kind of dog or made a kid cry kind of anger. At least that was what he was getting from the vibes right now and it was all he could think of as all his Skills seemed to be useless. Should he invest all of his remaining status points into Luck?

"It was you who destroyed my work. No, it isn't destroyed yet but it has disappeared—did you use some kind of Teleportation Spell?"

What work? Han thought about it for a moment and remembered the Black Slime. He wasn't going to spill that information, beside their question was something else. It was much better to not talk about the little Black Slime he had in his Inventory right now. He shook his head and tried not to grip the energy blade tighter in his hand. "Uh no, Sir. I don't know any Spells."

Whether it was their inattention or simply not caring that he wielded a weapon, the Spectre drifted closer to him as he finally let go of Timothy and frowned. "You really don't seem to be a Mage nor are you some kind of Enchanter to have that toy." Still the Spectre eyed him with a cold look despite the glow in his eyes burning brighter. "What had you done to my Black Slime?"

Crap.

"Er, um, it's still safe and alive!" He wasn't lying about this at all in case this guy had some Truth Detecting Jewels or even a Spell. Still he was supposed to control the conversation and not this guy, Han coughed, "But you um, created this Black Slime? Are you an Alchemist?"

"I am a renowned Mage-Scholar and that is greater than this 'mere' Alchemist you speak of." The Spectre looked positively offended. "I do not simply dabble with potions and draughts but I am continually seeking to understand the world that we are in—look at my library, this is where numerous bodies of knowledge are contained. And it is what you seekers come for in the first place."

At the last bit of the Spectre's words, the glow of the room that was thanks to the floating and gleaming tomes and spell books darkened. Of course with how the conversation went, Han was no doubt going to make things worse by asking such a question.

.

.

.

Something quickly shook their surroundings that even if they were in the air—he felt the vibrations. One of the bookshelves in the library opened up as the sight of two people came out. One of them he could identify immediately with the lack of her cloak, it was Ellynn who looked mildly surprised at the situation she found herself in. Well, who wouldn't be? And right beside her was a man who wore spectacles and a leather waistcoat?

"T-That's my toolstick!" The man cried out at once.

The young man received a slight whack on the back from Ellynn. She looked more pissed than he ever thought could be possible. It was a little frightening since she had been pretty patient around him.

But this had been some kind of unplanned distraction wasn't it? Han glanced at the Spectre and saw that they were once again rendered speechless. "H-How is this possible? M-my chambers! That barrier was—!"

"...Wait, were you the skeleton in the cells?"