Chapter 10: Sweets for the Damned
I subtly shifted my gaze from the kids, pretending it was a casual glance.
– Trick or Treat!
The children followed me, thrusting their baskets, but I desperately ignored them.
Kids in Halloween costumes roamed the school, unnoticed by others.
Of course.
‘They’re ghosts, so that’s expected.’
I didn’t know what kind they were.
Dangerous or not.
They seemed harmless for now.
‘But why are they here on White Day…?’
On special days like White Day or Valentine’s Day, hidden entities often appeared.
Spirit Exorcism, being a game, had plenty of such events.
But another holiday’s spirits crossing over? That was new.
‘Let’s watch for now.’
It wasn’t time to act and take risks.
I soon realized this wasn’t a simple matter.
“Alright, next page…”
Class time.
As the teacher spoke and we flipped our textbooks, a cough came from beside me.
“Achoo! Ugh, it’s chilly… you okay?”
“…Yeah, fine.”
“Just me? Feeling weak lately…”
Kim Dodam grumbled, eyeing the closed window.
No breeze, yet the air felt cold.
It wasn’t my imagination.
– Trick or Treat!!
Ghost kids swarmed around us.
No, around me.
‘What’s with them?’
Did they sense I’m not human?
Unlikely.
Even the headless ghost couldn’t pierce my mimicry.
Maybe instinctual attraction.
My strong spiritual energy might draw spirits unconsciously.
‘Or do they just want candy?’
I tried a straightforward guess.
The kids chanting “Trick or Treat” wanted sweets, like White Day’s candy exchange.
I discreetly handed them some candy I’d received, out of sight.
– …
A kid examined the candy, put it in their basket, and shouted again.
– Trick or Treat!!!
“What the—?”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
That didn’t work.
Their baskets were already stuffed with candy.
‘They didn’t lose their candy—they stole it.’
Stealing that much and demanding more? Truly ghostly greed.
“…”
Scanning the classroom, I saw Lee Hwaseo watching anxiously.
As an exorcist, she must be worried they’d cause trouble.
That reassured me slightly.
Right, there’s an exorcist.
I didn’t have to step in.
As I kept ignoring them, the kids moved to other students, repeating their chant.
No one could hear them, so no candy was given. Frustrated, they started acting out.
“Oh!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Sorry, my pencil case fell.”
A girl picked it up, puzzled.
“Weird. I didn’t touch it…”
The kids pulled more small pranks.
Minor, easily dismissed as everyday mishaps.
But if this continued, it’d raise suspicions.
‘Exorcist… please do something…’
I sent a mental SOS, but Hwaseo couldn’t act either.
Then, a small but clear voice rang out.
“There’s something here.”
Yoo Kishin, the ghost maniac, holding some electronic device.
“Huh, Kishin… what’s that mean? What’s in your hand?”
“EMF meter. Electromagnetic field detector—a ghost hunter’s essential.”
“EMF…?”
“Ghostly areas often have electromagnetic interference. This detects it.”
Calm but slightly excited, Yoo Kishin moved the device, measuring.
“Readings this high? Something’s definitely here…”
“Stop it. I don’t care what you like, but it’s class time. And you shouldn’t bring that to school.”
Park Irim, usually bubbly, got stern.
Her stiff face seemed more scared than scolding.
“What’s with Yoo Kishin?”
“He’s intense.”
“Ghosts and electromagnetic waves? Seriously?”
The class wasn’t impressed.
Not quite alien-level, but Yoo Kishin pocketed the device after a glance around.
“Sorry.”
His quick apology let class resume.
But his blank stare still showed interest.
‘I’ll give it to him. He’s the real deal.’
Even more into the occult than past-life me.
I knew why he was so obsessed, but…
“Phew…”
Hwaseo’s relieved sigh marked the start of break.
“In that sense, wanna investigate the school tonight?”
Yoo Kishin approached my desk.
I replied.
“I see.”
“Yeah.”
His proposal was simple.
Like last time, he thought something was up and wanted to check it out together.
Other kids would say no, so he asked me.
We’d already tackled one ghost story.
‘That was a real ghost, though.’
My interest in the occult must’ve stuck with him.
Sensing my hesitation, he pressed.
“Special days like White Day mean something to ghosts too.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Means something’s likely to show. The EMF meter’s picking up signals…”
“Got it.”
He didn’t know, but I already knew this.
I wasn’t planning to brush it off.
Ghost kids were already here, and who knows what else might appear.
Their antics could cause trouble.
What to do?
As I opened my mouth, another voice cut in.
“What’s that nonsense?”
Kim Dodam, voice sharp.
“Investigate? Do it alone. Why drag her into it?”
“Just a suggestion.”
“Suggestions should make sense. Didn’t you get scolded earlier? Wake up. Ghosts don’t exist.”
Yoo Kishin’s calm gaze met his, their eyes clashing in the air.
‘Why’s he so worked up?’
Was Yoo Kishin’s idea that annoying?
To a normal person, maybe.
“I’m not forcing her. And it’s not your business, is it?”
“…What?”
“I asked Seol Haru, not you.”
Yoo Kishin wasn’t ordinary either.
Before it escalated, I nodded.
“Sure. Sounds fun.”
I agreed.
Kim Dodam reacted faster than Yoo Kishin.
“Wait! You’re really doing it? Just because he said so?”
“It sounds fun.”
“No… can’t you tell he’s up to something? He just wants to be alone with you.”
“Up to something? With me?”
“Obviously. Someone like you—”
“Like me, what?”
“…Anyway, he’s weird. Don’t fall for it.”
Such slander.
Yoo Kishin’s a certified occult maniac, at least.
“It’s fine.”
“But… you’re good at school. Don’t you need to study?”
“Haven’t studied in a while.”
“Damn genius…!”
Realizing persuasion was futile, Kim Dodam made a bold move.
“Fine, I’m in too. If you’re not scheming, you won’t mind, right?”
“You too? Really?”
“See? He’s flustered. My stance doesn’t change—”
“Welcome! Let’s dig into this ghost story!”
Yoo Kishin grabbed his hand, eyes gleaming.
Kim Dodam yanked free, looking at him like he was crazy.
After homeroom.
Park Irim spoke to me and Hwaseo, lingering for class duties.
“Thanks for helping the teacher. Go home early. Don’t stay late.”
“?!”
“…!”
I flinched.
Hwaseo too—why?
“And trading candy on holidays is fine, but no impure relationships.”
“W-What do you mean?”
Hwaseo’s cheeks flushed.
Such a girly reaction to “relationships.”
I was unfazed.
No word felt further from me.
“I’m serious. It’s caused issues before. You two are pretty, so be careful.”
Was that a compliment or a warning? The teacher left.
Quiet classroom.
Being alone with a girl felt tense.
As I tried to leave, Hwaseo spoke.
“Haru, can I have your number?”
“…Number?”
“Yeah. We’re class reps. Might need to contact you.”
I entered my number, and an unknown caller rang.
I saved it.
‘First girl’s number…’
Including my past life.
Overwhelming.
“Hehe…”
Smiling at her phone, she coughed abruptly.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
“Like the teacher said, we should head home early.”
“Hm? Yeah.”
“Staying late at school’s bad. Last time was a big mistake…”
“…Right.”
Emphasizing oddly, she headed for the back door, then paused.
“Haru.”
“What?”
“This is awkward, but… any shamans in your family? Or been told you’re spiritually sensitive?”
“…”
Her eyes were shut tight, reluctant to ask.
The costumed ghost kids still loitered around me.
– Trick or Treat!
Demanding free treats selfishly.
Threatening pranks if I don’t.
“Nope. Never.”
Denying it flat, she fled, ears red.
“S-Sorry for asking weird stuff! Bye!”
I felt a slight pang of guilt.
Her reaction was cute, though.
‘Can’t say I’m a ghost.’
She’d exorcise me with a face devoid of cuteness.
At the school’s back, Yoo Kishin and Kim Dodam waited.
“You’re here? Tough job.”
“Your fault, jerk!”
I low-kicked my smug childhood friend.
He casually rubbed the spot.
‘Can’t hit him for real.’
Yoo Kishin spoke.
“Staff’s still here, so we can’t start. Let’s kill time nearby until dark.”
Kim Dodam nodded.
“PC bang?”
“I don’t game much.”
“Me neither.”
“…Karaoke then? Sing something.”
“Never sung.”
“I don’t like karaoke.”
Kim Dodam stared at us like aliens, exasperated.
“What do you guys even do normally?”