Ghost Story Club

After our exciting CA period ended, we all went back down to the classroom for the closing ceremony.

“Did everyone have a good time?”

The homeroom teacher entered the classroom, smiling as usual and asking us how our CA session was.

In the meantime, I zoned out of everyone’s chatter and was quietly pondering about where to invest my points.

[Current Ghost Story Points: 364]

This system was similar to a Daiso store, where everything was sold on 100 points or multiples of 100.

[T/N: Daiso Industries Co. Ltd is a large franchise of 100-yen shops founded in Japan. It has locations in 25 countries and regions worldwide. Daiso stores sell items priced at multiples of 100 yen, such as 200, 300, 400 and 500 yen. Source: Wikipedia]

Currently, I have over 300 points. Which means I could spend them however and wherever I want.

‘Should I try getting a new special ability? It has been a long time since I had one, hasn’t it?’

Having a special ability was similar to unlocking a skill in an RPG game.

As I thought about it, it had been a while since I got the ability of Lip Reading. Although so much time has passed, I still haven’t gotten a new ability yet since I was busy fighting ghost stories and explaining things to my members.

It was fortunate that I was able to defeat so many ghost and ghost stories, thanks to my witty senses and the help of my club members. However, it would be foolish of me to think that I would be fortunate like this every time in the future.

This system, which works beyond human perception, seemed like it wouldn’t deceive me if I can spend the points on the right things.

‘Alright, I’ve decided. I’m gonna use 100 points to get a new ability.’

But then, what should I do with the remaining points?

Perhaps it would be better to invest in new functions and try to see how to use them. Dukhun had advised me last time, rather than spending them on unnecessary things, it would be better to use them to improve my own ability or try unlocking new features of the system.

‘What features are there that have I not tried yet?’

Pondering for a while, two things appeared in my mind.

First is, I haven’t levelled up the club members.

Second is, the school facilities section of the system store.

‘I have no idea what use either of them have.’

What kind of changes would occur if I were to level up the members?

Would they suddenly become extremely strong?

‘Muahahaha! I’ve become incredibly strong! Look!’

As the image of Gyeongwon with big, strong muscles and incredible strength showing off to me suddenly appeared in my mind, I ended up laughing.

‘The second thing that I haven’t tried yet is the school facilities in the store… hmm.’

As soon as I opened the Shop menu, countless categories popped up before my eyes.

At first glance, the categories all looked quite similar to the categories in an ordinary convenient store. However, at the very end of the categories, there was this strange section called ‘School Facilities.’

According to my observation when I briefly scanned it before, various items or what could be said facilities related to the school directly were listed there. From small facilities like installing vending machines and upgrading the cafeteria to large facilities like building swimming pools and dormitories.

‘But it costs so many points. Not to mention, they aren’t that useful for defeating ghost stories either.’

Those were items that cost thousands of points. I wouldn’t expect less from such big facilities being installed on less points. Moreover, purchasing school facilities on a large scale would also raise suspicion among students as well as teachers.

For now, I thought of excluding the option and focusing on the important thing.

“When you get older, you will also have trouble urinating…”

Ignoring the homeroom teacher, who was standing at the podium and speaking of who knows what, I quietly opened the Status Window.

‘Okay, let’s get a new ability first!’

《MAIN SCREEN

[2019, April 26 | Friday, 15:24]

[Lee Joon – Number of Attempts: 2]

[Ghost Story Points: 364]

[Causality Rate: 13%]

Status Window

Manage Club

Statistics

Settings》

Pop.

《STATUS WINDOW

Name: Lee Joon

Age: 17

Title: Main Character

Disposition: [Two-faced] 

Special Ability:

1. Lip Reading [B-rank]

2. None

3. None

Quirk: Last Second Cramming》

With a flash as if lightning had struck, a window, which I hadn’t seen in a long time appeared as soon as I clicked the second ‘None’ option.

Pop.

[Currently, the second ability slot is empty. You may use 100 points to unlock an ability.]

[Unlock ability (100)/ Go Back]

‘Okay, click.’

[Spending 100 Ghost Story Points. You have unlocked your second ability.]

Then, just as it happened during the time when I was unlocking my first ability, a 16-bit cheerful melody began to resonate. Several words began to flash past across the second slot while the music was playing.

♬ Tada tan, Dada tan~♬

[…y – Life Design – Identity Forgery – Lip Reading – Jo…]

Swish.

[…Forgery – Lip Reading – Joint Regression – Fast Walking …]

‘I already have the Lip Reading ability, but it still could be seen on the list again.’

What would happen if I acquired the same ability again?

Would the skill just be upgraded?

For a moment, I couldn’t help but become curious.

♬ Tada tan, Dada tan~♬

[…ip Reading – Joint regression – Fast Walking – Detachment…]

Before long, the speed slowed down noticeably.

Unlike before when I was unlocking ability for the first time, I stared at the panel with a slightly relaxed mind.

When I saw the slot spinning for the first time, I desperately hoped that I could gain a useful ability that wouldn’t make me feel I was just scammed unconditionally.

The desperation of that time was reasonable, since it was my first time getting an ability. Not to mention, at that time I was mostly alone and didn’t have anyone in particular to rely on.

Now that I have come so far in this life-like game, as well as solved several cases and defeated ghost stories with my club members.

I wasn’t as anxious as before looking at the tempting abilities.

♬ Tada tan, Dada tan~♬

Swish, swish.

Certainly, that didn’t mean I didn’t want to have a good ability. No matter what, a good ability always comes in handy solving a ghost story easily and efficiently.

However, unlike before, I wouldn’t be too disappointed even if it was just an ability that has no use or only a little bit useful, like the Lip Reading ability.

And the reason was I already had two incredible abilities, which were the ability to go back in time and competent club members.

I would be glad as long as this special ability gave me a sense of security and strength.

♬ Tada tan, Dada tan~♬

Soon, the spinning stopped and only the cheerful melody which only I could hear remained.

[…Regression – Life Design – Identity Forgery – Lip-reading – … ]

[You have obtained Special Ability: Life Design.]

《LIFE DESIGN

Rank: C-rank

Trigger Condition: Automatic

Ability: After calculating the entire situation, simple advice that will help you lead a hassle free and smooth life is given. However, avoid having your hopes high.》

While I was bewildered at the strange ability and wondering, ‘What do I do with this?’, the ability was activated automatically.

[B-rank Special Ability: Life Design has triggered.]

[Lift one of your feet and put them down after 5 seconds.]

As I blinked in puzzlement at the message that suddenly popped up, time was already passing.

‘…5 seconds? Right now?’

Ting-

At the same time the sound of something metallic falling on the floor came from somewhere, I lifted one of my feet slightly before dropping them down.

The moment my feet touched the floor, the feeling of something underneath my shoes travelled through my legs to my whole body.

“Uh, my coin… my coin…”

A male student sitting in the row beside me quickly lowered his head and began searching for something, the coin to be precise.

‘No way…’

I sat still while the male student was searching desperately around him for his coin. Waiting until he gave up, I bent down slightly, pretending to pick up a ballpoint pen while making sure no was watching.

Something definitely slipped under my foot.

And It was none other than a 100 won coin.

“My coin… Where did it go?”

‘…Oh my.’

Amazed, I realized what just happened. The male student accidentally dropped the coin and it rolled to my seat. And unknowingly, I must have caught it with my foot.

Although the system told me to not get my hopes high, I still felt it was a great ability.

Finally, what seemed like forever, the closing ceremony ended.

The six members of our Ghost Story Club packed their bags and left the classroom. We all ran down the stairs and to the playground.

“They are running around a lot these days.”

“That’s right…”

From the pretty to the ugly, and the rich to the poor.

Our group was an amalgamation of students of various backgrounds. Just as we had model students, as well as the last in class, we also had those who were popular or outcasts.

While we ran down the hallway, some students and classmates glanced at us with curious eyes, perhaps thinking our friend circle was truly peculiar.

“…The members of the soccer club.”

At Sunah’s words, we all stopped running and turned around to where she was staring. Some of the teachers were seen crowded together in the parking lot far away.

Leaning to their vehicles, they were greeting each other and chatting harmoniously, as if they were having an after-work meeting.

[B-rank Special Ability: Lip Reading has triggered.]

[“He said he would join right after the appointment is over.”]

[“We’ll have to help him out a lot. Children nowadays are very mischievous.”]

[“They’ll definitely be asking him to tell them about his first love or something.”]

What flowed between them was a casual conversation between colleagues related to work. At first glance, they looked like a typical group of teachers, having fun in their own way.

‘So the members of Ghost Story Club have to fight against the members of Soccer Club?’

As we crossed the playground at a moderate pace, some teachers among the soccer club members glanced at us.

I didn’t know about the others, but both Gyeongwon and I stared back at them with zero hesitation.

The members of the soccer club only smiled in return and went back to exchange pleasantries among themselves.

With the sun shining in the far west, enveloping everything in a deep golden hue, we finally arrived at the main gate and gathered around for a moment.

“Everyone has worked hard. From midterms to strange incidents. This week has taken a great toll on us.”

“The President also worked hard.”

“Everyone worked hard.”

Just like an ordinary group of friends, we exchanged pleasantries before going our separate ways to our homes.

“Have a good weekend…”

“Okay. If anything comes up in the meantime, contact me in the group chat.”

“Bye~”

It only took me 20 minutes of walking to reach our apartment.

I was thinking of going straight home. But my throat suddenly felt dry, so I entered a nearby convenience store near our apartment building.

Ting~♬

“Welcome.”

The part-time worker at the front desk greeted me absentmindedly as the doorbell rang.

“Oh, a new product.”

Approaching the beverage corner, I saw an expensive looking beverage can standing there. Feeling curious, I picked it up.

[Light and refreshing with low calories! Ultra Monster’s explosive energy drink!]

A new energy drink from Clover Co., Ultra Monster.

3,100 won.

The drink was much more expensive than regular energy drinks.

‘…Hmm. But can this energy drink really make me sleepless and energetic?’

The poster of a red-eyed rabbit eating a four-leaf clover was plastered on the drink’s body, exaggerating the drink’s characteristic of containing a lot of caffeine.

Tomorrow was the weekend anyway.

It wouldn’t be a problem if I drink it and stay up all night.

‘The midterm is over and it’s the weekend tomorrow, I was planning to play games all night.’

I was curious how it tasted. So I thought of trying this.

Before, I’ve only had popular energy drinks like Hot Six and Red Bull.

It was my first time drinking a real and strong energy drink from Clover Co.

Without thinking much, I picked up the drink and headed to the counter. The part-time worker absentmindedly picked up the can and began scanning the barcode in the scanner.

I opened my wallet to take out money and pay for the drink. However, just then I realized that I didn’t have enough cash to buy it.

‘One, two…’

I only had 3,000 won in my pocket.

Pondering over it, I remembered using points to buy snacks during lunch because I didn’t have enough money.

‘How much was the drink again?’

3,100 won.

Something clicked in my mind and I quickly added the 100 won coin which I had picked up in the classroom earlier and handed it to the part-time worker.

“Thank you.”

“Goodbye.”

Ting~♬

The cheerful bell rang behind me as I opened the glass door and left the store.

For a moment, I sighed in relief at being able to pay right away without being embarrassed in front of the part-time worker.

Opening the lid, I took a sip of the drink as I thought,

‘The ability isn’t completely useless.’

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