Chapter 26: A Mirror Unshattered

The sudden scream drew everyone’s attention, but Hwaseo quickly composed herself.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

The students lost interest, but her gaze lingered on the boy protruding from the wall.

Red glasses, pig-like… and his behavior suggested— ‘A voyeur ghost?’

I discreetly observed it too.

It just ogled the girls, doing little else—no immediate threat.

In truth, aside from freaks like the White Day Killer or the mirror ghost, most spirits were like this.
But Hwaseo clearly found its actions repulsive.

“Disgusting…” she muttered.

Focused on exorcist work, pure and inexperienced in romance, she couldn’t stomach it.

She wanted to banish it but was held back by onlookers.

‘Doesn’t bother me much.’

I’d already changed, so ignoring it was easy.

Then, the voyeur ghost looked my way, scanning me up and down, smacking its lips in disappointment.

“…”

Nope, it’s gotta go later.

Bang!

Hwaseo subtly kicked it, and with a pig-like squeal, it vanished into the wall.

Back in class, I noticed Yoo Kishin staring at the door.

“What’re you looking at?”

“The class rep rushed out,” he said.

“Hwaseo?”

“Yeah. Looked super busy. Ignored her friends’ requests, which isn’t like her.”

Her haste meant exorcist business—probably chasing that voyeur ghost.

“No teacher’s errand, no big school event… weird,” Kishin mumbled, his face different from usual.

As I tilted my head, a soft arm wrapped around my neck.

“Lu-chan~ Let’s hit the canteen.”

Lee Gahee, the blonde delinquent.

‘Scared me.’

Her earlier invite wasn’t empty talk.

Thought she was gonna choke me.

“Who’s this? Lu-chan’s friend?” she asked, eyeing Kishin.

“Uh, I’m…” he stammered.

I nodded, and Gahee casually said, “Join us then.”

“Huh? I mean, sure…”

Even for the eccentric Kishin, her insider vibe was overwhelming.

The canteen was packed with students.

‘Truly a hot spot.’

While I marveled, Gahee moved like a soldier before battle, grabbing quirky bread and ramen, shouting, “Hurry up, or it’s all gone!”

I didn’t even know what they sold.

Grabbing leftover snacks, I saw Kishin reach for the last bread.

A larger hand snatched it first.

“Okay~ Safe,” said Pyo Jiseok.

“Oh,” Kishin muttered.

“…Yoo Kishin?” Jiseok said.

I tensed, recalling their earlier clash, but Jiseok just grinned and left, no hostility.

Despite his delinquent rep, he wasn’t all bad.

‘He did search for me after I helped him.’

Grumble—

Kishin’s stomach protested his empty hands.

Gahee, pitying him, offered a bread.

“Here. Special for Lu-chan’s friend.”

“Take it. I’ll share too,” I added, handing over snacks.

Kishin, rarely touched, looked moved. “You guys…”

“Why’s he so emotional?” Gahee laughed.

“He’s usually a loner,” I said.

“Harsh…” Kishin mumbled.

The canteen sat at the school’s edge.

Outside, a breeze ruffled my blue hair.

I scanned the open courtyard.

To the left, a sandy square for P.E., unused for years.

At the center’s end, a locked shed.

Kishin spoke up. “The buried corpse legend.”

“Hm?”

“Found it while researching. Rumor says the first principal’s body is buried in the courtyard’s center.”

His eyes lit up at such topics.

I’d heard similar tales.

“Like that famous Incheon school story? Debunked, though,” I said.

“Yeah. Checked if Paradise High had one too. Need reports to keep the club alive,” he said.

Unlike me, who joined without much care, he, as club president, was dedicated.

Gahee snickered at our serious vibe.

“Lu-chan’s into that? Hilarious~”

You’re the funny one. What’s with “Lu-chan”?!

“Lunch is almost over. Let’s head back,” I said, checking the time.

Gahee was unfazed. “A bit late’s fine.”

“Gotta be punctual.”

“Ugh, Lu-chan’s such a goody-goody.”

Grumbling but not refusing, she joined us toward the gate.

Then, I spotted the voyeur ghost fleeing a window.

– Teeeng… Why so mad?!

Bruised and crumbling, likely from Hwaseo’s attack, it was escaping Paradise High.

But my anger wasn’t satisfied.

“Go ahead,” I said.

“Why?” Gahee asked.

“Gonna… take a quick walk.”

At my lame excuse, she grinned approvingly. “Heh, Lu-chan’s a delinquent.”

“…”

That red-glasses, acne-ridden pig ghost would pay for my new nickname.

– Kweeeek—!!

No more creepy stares in the changing room.

At the Supernatural Phenomena Research Club, I dragged a chair to the window.

“Whoops.”

It was Kishin’s chair.

He paused, then took a less comfy one.

Staring at me in the breeze, he propped his elbows on the desk, hands clasped. “Seol Haru. Emergency.”

His grave face met my blank one.

“What?”

“We’re at a crossroads.”

“Hm?”

“No new members.”

A trivial issue for such drama.

“There were lots of applicants,” I said.

“All clueless about the supernatural.”

“Just accept them.”

“The supernatural’s no joke, Haru. It’s life-or-death. How do we strategize with kids here for an idol concert?”

What.

“You’re not enlisted.”

“…Neither are you. I’ll go later. Unlike you.”

What?!

‘Go back to the army? Over my dead body…’

But dismissing my service was unforgivable.

As I plotted revenge, a knock came.

“Come in?” I said.

Hwaseo entered politely, holding a paper. “This.”

Our eyes widened—a club application.

“Found it and filled it out… is this okay? For the ‘experience or thoughts on the supernatural’ part, I’m interested. My grandma was superstitious.”

Her eyes wandered, but her acting was solid, like she’d rehearsed.

“Sit,” I said.

“Okay… oh?”

Only two chairs.

I glared at Kishin.

‘Couldn’t grab enough?’

Couldn’t leave a guest standing, especially not the club president.

“Take mine,” I offered.

“No, I’m fine standing.”

“It bugs me.”

She looked worn, probably from chasing the pig ghost.

Sitting, Hwaseo pitched herself. “So…”

Kishin, despite the top freshman joining, seemed skeptical.

“Why our club?”

A top student joining an obscure club was suspicious.

After some back-and-forth, he turned to me.

“What do you think?”

“Me? Uh… let her join?”

Her intent was obvious—monitor Kishin’s other-side digging.

Maybe me too, since we’d crossed paths often.

‘Probably more protection than surveillance for me.’

No difference to me.

She’d do her job whether we accepted her or not.

Better to keep her close and use her skills.

“…Alright,” Kishin said.

A new member joined.

Hwaseo, happy, left for a teacher’s errand.

“Good. One more member, and we’re safe for now,” Kishin said.

“…Yeah.”

“Hwaseo won’t treat it like a game.”

“…Yeah.”

His robotic replies made me tilt my head.

His serious face looked heavy.

“What’s wrong?”

“…”

He stared, silent, countless thoughts flickering across his face.

Finally, resolved, he spoke.

“Seol Haru.”

“Yeah?”

“I trust you.”

“…?”

“So I’ll tell you. But you can’t tell anyone. Promise?”

A prank?

His face was too serious—more than before.

“…Sure.”

I nodded hesitantly.

Kishin took a deep breath and spoke.

“There are people in this world with unnatural powers.”

“…What?”

“Hwaseo’s one of them. They think I lost my memories, but I remember everything. So don’t breathe a word. No telling what they’d do…”

My jaw dropped.

He hadn’t forgotten.