Chapter 1: The Ghost Who Entered With the Bell
It’s been seventeen years since I was possessed in the world of Spirit Exorcism.
This world, set on Earth, differs in subtle ways, but seventeen years was a long time.
I had already adapted.
Truthfully, adapting to myself took longer than adapting to this world.
Standing before the mirror, a familiar yet slightly strange girl stared back.
“Pretty stunning. Feels weird to say it myself, though.”
Forced to keep my distance from friends, I had little interest in girls during my school days.
But I can say with certainty, I’d never seen a schoolgirl this beautiful.
It’s a feast for the eyes.
Why it had to be me, though, I don’t know.
Seol Haru.
A character in Spirit Exorcism, shrouded in mystery.
She barely has a role, her face only occasionally appearing, but whenever she did, she drew every gaze.
Now, she was me.
“Being a girl is one thing, I can deal with that… but why a ghost, of all things?”
No point hiding it—she wasn’t human.
Having loved Spirit Exorcism so much I even read its lore, I knew.
I looked in the mirror again.
The same beautiful girl reflected back.
“…I thought ghosts don’t show in mirrors.”
I had my doubts because of things like this, but for various reasons, I had to accept the truth.
She could do things impossible for humans.
Even if I could accept being a ghost, a bigger problem remained.
With a deep sigh, I got ready for school.
Today was the entrance ceremony at Paradise High School, the main stage of Spirit Exorcism.
Since Seol Haru was a character there, the game hadn’t even started yet.
“This is where it really begins.”
Paradise High, the stage for countless ghosts and exorcists.
Yes, as a ghost, I was now the enemy of exorcists.
Given my abilities, I likely wouldn’t get caught easily, but you never know.
That was the source of my worry.
Skipping the entrance ceremony was an option, but as Seol Haru, that was impossible.
“It’s fine. No one’s figured out my identity so far.”
Even my childhood friend of ten years had no clue I wasn’t human.
A ghost disguised as a human, Seol Haru.
My disguise was that perfect.
Dressed in my school uniform, I stood outside my house, gazing at the sky.
It was still March.
The early morning city sky was quiet and cold.
“…”
Maybe it was a side effect of the gender change, but I sometimes got sentimental.
As I stared blankly upward, I heard running footsteps.
“Sorry! Am I late?”
A boy in a school uniform.
I replied plainly.
“Nah. I just came out.”
“Really? Good. Took me a while to put on the uniform. It’s so different from middle school.”
“Yeah. It’s a hassle to wear.”
Scratching the back of his neck, the boy’s name was Kim Dodam.
A bond formed in this world, my childhood friend.
“You okay? You look a bit tired.”
I noticed the dark circles under his eyes.
“Huh? Oh, I didn’t sleep much. High school’s got me nervous.”
“Nervous about what?”
“It’s different from middle school. Exciting, but… you’re the same as ever.”
“No reason to be different.”
“…Yeah, that’s so you.”
I’d already lived through high school and the rougher corporate world.
Kim Dodam laughed, as if giving up.
‘A guy getting nervous over something like that?’
After being possessed in this world, I was lonely.
I couldn’t tell anyone about my past life, and finding someone to open up to wasn’t easy.
Not only was I a ghost, but my mind was far too mature for my appearance.
That’s when I met Kim Dodam.
He was just a kid, but he was different from the others.
Competitive, he’d join in even the roughest games.
Unlike other kids who’d cry over nothing, he was fun.
After hanging out a few times, we became friends.
‘I never told him my secret, though.’
I considered it but decided to keep it hidden.
It wouldn’t get a good reaction.
“Let’s go. We’ll be late.”
Neither of us wanted to be late on the first day, so we walked side by side.
Paradise High was close to my house.
No need for a bus or taxi.
Whoooosh—
Kim Dodam shivered in the cold wind.
“Brr, it’s chilly.”
“…Yeah.”
I mimicked him naturally.
Truthfully, I didn’t feel the cold.
Because I’m a ghost.
Kim Dodam glanced at me as I hugged myself.
“…Cold? Want my jacket?”
“What? No, I’m good.”
‘What’s with the cheesy line?’
Was he dreaming of some cliché where a guy lends his jacket to a girl?
Hard pass.
“Oh, okay. Just saying.”
“That was gross, dude.”
I smirked and nudged his shoulder.
I’d known Kim Dodam for a while.
Despite his decent looks, I knew he had no interest in girls.
He hadn’t dated once, even in high school.
‘Even with all the confessions he got.’
Honestly, I was jealous.
I’d dreamed of a bittersweet youth, but that was when I was a guy.
My identity was still male, so while I might be okay with a girl, I had no interest in guys.
“There it is.”
“That’s Paradise High. The building’s huge.”
Looking at the school, Kim Dodam suddenly asked.
“By the way, I heard Paradise High has a lot of ghost stories. You know any?”
“Like what?”
“The usual. Like it was built on a graveyard or used to be a military base. They say ghosts show up a lot.”
He chuckled creepily.
“Scared? You can cling to your big bro anytime.”
“What? You’re the one who’ll be crying to your big sis… I mean, just cry alone.”
Ghost stories about Paradise High.
There were more than a few.
Even now, I could feel an eerie spiritual energy.
Something only a ghost like me could sense.
“Probably just made-up stories. Ghosts don’t exist, right?”
“…”
My childhood friend mumbled, hands clasped behind his neck, embarrassing the ghost listening.
As expected of the entrance ceremony, the school gate was crowded with students.
We naturally joined the line of freshmen.
Tap—taptap—
Someone was banging their head against a sign that read “Paradise High School.”
What’s that about?
“What’s up?”
“Look over there.”
“There’s nothing there.”
“…Oh.”
Seeing Kim Dodam tilt his head, I realized.
It’s a ghost.
‘Gotta be careful.’
Lucky it was just him; if an exorcist was nearby, I’d be in trouble.
I steeled myself.
Passing through the gate, I glanced at the ghost again.
A male student, blood streaming from his head, repeatedly banging it.
He seemed lost, unable to find his way in.
‘His uniform’s old. Been dead a while, huh?’
No need to worry about it.
I’m not an exorcist.
Ghosts come in types.
Unless it’s a vengeful spirit, they usually don’t cause harm.
“All freshmen, please gather in the auditorium.”
Following the announcement, we reached the auditorium.
The entrance ceremony began as soon as we took our seats.
“That was close.”
“Good thing we’re not late.”
Chatting, I looked around the auditorium.
As the region’s top high school, it was impressive.
VIP seats for guests and dignitaries were at the back, second-year students on the second floor.
Freshmen, including us, stood in the center of the first floor.
“Paradise High School sincerely welcomes you all.”
After a brief procedure, the elderly principal gave a speech.
“Our school may not be prestigious, but it’s a historic institution in the province. Thanks to our dedicated teachers and students, we’ve built a strong reputation. To uphold that legacy…”
Yawns echoed around.
The principal’s speech was like a lullaby, same as in my old world.
While Kim Dodam’s eyes drooped, mine sparkled.
Principal Ko Yongtae.
Characters from Spirit Exorcism were scattered around.
“Next, the freshman oath. The freshman representative, please come to the stage.”
A key character stepped forward.
As she ascended, soft gasps of admiration spread.
A major female character, as expected.
Excited, I nudged Kim Dodam.
“Hey, what about her?”
“Yawn… Huh? What?”
“She’s really pretty, right? Bet she’s popular.”
“Uh? Yeah… I guess.”
That’s it?
I waited, but no more reaction came.
‘That’s all?’
Shouldn’t a teenage boy be raving?
How uninterested in girls is he?
“I, Lee Hwaseo, along with 266 other freshmen of Paradise High School, solemnly swear to uphold the school’s rules, honor our responsibilities as students, and dedicate ourselves to our studies.”
Lee Hwaseo’s voice was as lovely as her appearance.
Applause poured as she stepped down.
“Next, we’ll announce the homeroom teachers. First-year teachers, please come to the stage…”
Click—
As the announcer spoke, the lights went out.
Sudden darkness sent students and staff into confusion.
“What? A blackout?”
“What’s going on? Did a breaker trip?”
While Kim Dodam and Lee Hwaseo looked around, a memory surfaced.
I’d seen this in Spirit Exorcism.
“The Entrance Ceremony Incident.”
A tutorial-like event.
Even after seventeen years, I remembered it clearly.
What happens next?
Step, step.
Footsteps echoed, cutting through my thoughts.
Approaching from the auditorium entrance was the ghost I’d seen at the gate.