Ghost Story Club

“…Who is your grandfather that you think you can stake his name like this?”

The young detective asked while stroking his chin.

My grandfather’s name is Lee Chunbae.

He was always drunk, constantly committed domestic violence, and in the end, gambled away even his house.

He died early from alcoholism in his later years, and I heard that because of this, my father’s childhood was very difficult.

Since he was that kind of person, I figured I can sell his name however and whenever I want.

“I’ll stake my grandfather’s name. If my deduction is wrong, his name is yours from now on.”

In other words, if my deduction is wrong, Detective ‘Jang Gihoon’ will have to change his name to Detective ‘Lee Chunbae’.

“…I will decline.”

“So, what is it that you’ve figured out now?”

“I’ll explain everything in due time, so please calm down.”

I took a deep breath.

The air, the gazes, all focused on me.

The detective looked like he was itching to arrest me right this moment and take me to the police station, but I had no intention of letting things go that smoothly.

‘To hell with you, you idiots.’

The truth is, I haven’t figured out anything yet.

But even if I had to go back eventually, I wanted to stir up trouble with all my might, vent my frustration, and gather any clues I could.

“……”

Everyone was staring at my expression, which was weighing me down, to be honest.

From their perspective, it probably looked like I was preparing to present some highly sophisticated logic.

No one looked down on me.

No one doubted me anymore.

On the contrary, the club members and the rest of the people looked at me with almost reverent eyes, as if they were waiting for the mystery show to begin.

I decided to gladly meet their expectations.

“Listen carefully. From now on, don’t interrupt while I explain. If you do, you are the culprit.”

“……!’

Everyone flinched and shrunk back.

Anyway, even if my deduction is wrong, I can just end it all by committing suicide and return.

A perfect last-minute improvisation detective show, where I’ll tackle everything on the spot, begins now.

“Let’s get started. First, look at the map.”

“The map is pretty messy and sloppy, so I ask for your understanding on that.”

The detective glared at me, clearly annoyed.

I lightly ignored him and continued my explanation.

“Now, as you can see, the witness, Teacher Han Ari, was standing in front of the main entrance. The victim was in front of the teachers’ office. And I was standing next to the store.”

Everyone nodded.

It was something they had heard over and over again, almost to the point of being exhausted.

“However, both sides of the main entrance were thoroughly monitored by CCTV. The culprit had to either come through the classroom or through the hallway windows.”

“…That’s right.”

The detective nodded again.

“So it couldn’t have been possible without unless you, who were in the back—”

“Shut your mouth and listen till the end!”

Bang!

I slammed the whiteboard hard.

Everyone, including the detective, flinched in surprise.

“I told you clearly. If you interfere with my explanation, you’ll be treated as a culprit.”

“……”

“Don’t interrupt. The culprit is here with us. And by with us, I mean you too, Detective. You’re not excluded.”

“……!”

At that moment, all eyes snapped toward the detective in shock.

The detective clenched his jaw tightly and glared at me.

“…W-what non-”

Bam!

Instead of answering, I slammed the whiteboard down hard once again.

The detective raised his head and blinked his eyes in surprise.

“……”

I glared at him, as if I wouldn’t let him off if he spoke again.

“……”

“…Huu.”

The detective, silently staring at me, soon sighed and lowered his chin again, as if he understood.

‘Ah~ that feels refreshing.’

How does it feel?

Just like how you yelled at me and pressured me without any evidence, I’m giving it right back to you.

The worst investigative method in the world.

Characterizing the culprit and fitting the pieces together based on that assumption.

“Detective…?”

“Uh, uh. No way……”

Just like before, when everyone was glancing at me, their gazes now shifted toward the detective, glancing at him nervously.

“…Let’s continue with the explanation.”

Just like he spoke informally when he wanted to set the tone, I also switched to informal language.

When explaining, I switched back to using polite language.

“As I’ve said before, entering through the sides is impossible. That leaves the classroom or the hallway windows as the only possible routes. And as you can see on the map, I was thoroughly watching the hallway. There was no sign of anyone entering. And the classroom windows were locked, so entering through them isn’t possible either.”

At this point, I glanced at the homeroom teacher and Vice Class President.

“If they opened it for an accomplice, then I suppose it’s not something that couldn’t have been done. But I don’t think that’s the case. If there was an accomplice from the start, killing someone could’ve happened at any time. Do you understand?”

Everyone silently listened to what I said.

“If there had been an accomplice, there would’ve been no reason for the culprit to kill someone in broad daylight, right in the middle of the school. Why would he commit murder in such a conspicuous place? The two of them could’ve just teamed up, followed the victim at night, and finished it by smashing their head with a brick.”

“P, Prez. That means……”

Gyeongwon interrupted, but I nodded with a tone that said it was okay since he was one of our club members.

“That’s right. For the culprit, this time, this place, there was a decisive reason why he had to kill someone here, in broad daylight, inside the school.”

“…..!!”

“Oh, I see……!!”

Gyeongwon nodded his head in admiration.

Everyone’s mouths hung open, looking slightly shocked.

If you think about it, it was only natural.

There are over 900 people packed into this building right now, who would kill someone in a place like this?

The detective was so incompetent that he had not pointed out that the culprit must have a decisive reason to carry out the crime here until now.

‘But I don’t know the reason either!’

I simply followed the flow of consciousness, laying out my logic without hesitation.

And surprisingly, it flowed effortlessly.

As if possessed by a god, the words poured from my lips.

I’m really good at this kind of contingency.

“The decisive reason why the culprit had no choice but to act this way, it will all be revealed in the end. For now, please focus on this map.”

The club members gulped and turned their eyes to the map.

“It wasn’t from the sides, nor from the front or back. Then where did the culprit come from?”

With a sharp motion, I popped the cap off the marker and reached out toward the map.

“Right hereeeeeeeeeeeeeee—”

“……”

“Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr—”

“……”

“Ummmmmmm—”

My marker stopped abruptly in front of the map.

This was the perfect moment to dramatically draw it and say, ‘Right here!’

Since I myself have no idea what exactly I was trying to explain or point, the marker just circled helplessly in the air.

“Hey! You there!”

I suddenly snapped my head around and pointed straight at Teacher Han Ari.

Startled, the teacher looked up in surprise.

“I understand you’re shocked and going through a lot, but please focus for just a moment. This will be over soon.”

The teacher slowly nodded with a bewildered expression.

I opened my eagle eyes once again and scanned the room.

“It seemed someone was not paying attention, so I gave a quick reminder. Now, look closely. Where did the culprit appear from?”

“……”

“Now, let’s see.”

“……”

“Lee Jinhee! Don’t cross your legs!”

At my sudden remark, Jinhee flinched for a moment, then frowned and quickly uncrossed her legs.

“Alright then, everyone’s watching now? No one spacing out, right?”

“……”

“From this moment on, the truth will be revealed. The culprit will confess everything right here.”

“……”

“Where did he come in from? Every direction was under watch. Now then, the answer is.”

At that moment, the detective let out a deep sigh.

Immediately, I whipped around and pointed a sharp finger.

“Hey! You there! Why did you sigh just now?!”

“……”

The detective looked at me with a serious expression.

“…I just wanted you to get to the point.”

“As you wish, I’m doing it.”

Once again, I boldly thrusted the hand holding the marker toward the map.

Whoooosh—!

However, the pen abruptly stopped again just 1cm away from the whiteboard.

At that moment, a cold sweat trickled down the side of my forehead.

‘…I’m f*cked. Should I just go kill myself right now?’

The whiteboard map, with my pen trembling and standing still 1cm away from it in midair.

Just as I was contemplating what to do, a soft muttering sound was heard from behind.

“Joo. Joon… It’s okay….”

Encouraged by that sound, I slowly.

Very slowly, I draw a circle at one point.

“Heeee… rrrrr… eeeeee……”

“……”

“Riiiiiiigggghtt here… it is.”

Ji-ik.

Huu, I exhaled slowly and finally pulled away.

I looked back at everyone with a relieved heart, thinking that I had done everything I could.

“……”

“……”

“……”

However, the crowd’s reaction was extremely cold.

The club members wore desperate expressions, trying to understand the meaning of the mark I had drawn.

And the Vice Class President looked fed up, as if asking me to stop already.

The homeroom teacher watched with a slightly bewildered expression, and Teacher Han Ari stood still, not moving an inch.

And even the detective glared at me fiercely.

“……”

Soon, in the awkwardly sunken silence, the detective slowly opens his mouth.

“…What’s the meaning of that?”

“……”

“The spot you marked as the culprit’s location, right there.”

“That’s exactly where you have been!!!!”

“……!!!!!!!”

I flinched in shock!

I quickly turned my head back to look at the spot I circled, only to realize that I had just marked myself as the culprit!

‘D, damn it……!!’

It was true!

I had completely marked the wrong spot!

But I couldn’t back away like this!

“Damn it! Just shut your damn mouth!!!!”

I yelled whatever came to mind and slammed the whiteboard hard with a bang!

“I told you not to interrupt! I clearly warned that anyone who interrupts is the culprit!!”

“…..!!!”

“You!! You are the culprit!!!! I’ve found you!! The mystery is solved here!!! The culprit is none other than you, Detective!!!!!”

“What are you talking about!!!!!!”

He slammed the table with a bang!

“That’s enough of your bullshit!! I’m arresting you right now!!”

“Don’t come any closer!! Sunah, stab him!!!”

Just as Sunah opened her eyes wide and dashed forward!

“Everybody calm the hell down!!!!!!!!”

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—!!

The homeroom teacher flipped the table over and let out a loud roar.

Bang, crash–

The table flipped over and spilled all of its contents, and both the detective and Sunah froze in mid-charge.

Taking advantage of the brief stillness in the air, the homeroom teacher spoke again, this time in a gentle tone.

“…Joony is trying to explain.”

“……”

“Please, let’s just hear it out to the end. Detective, you really need to stop interrupting.”

“……”

The detective glared at me and took a step back again.

Sunah also put the boxcutter she had taken out back in.

“…Right, Joony? You were just about to explain, weren’t you?”

The homeroom teacher looked back at me and asked gently, so I nodded.

“…Thank you, teacher.”

“Alright.”

“Now then, let me explain why I marked this spot as the point where the culprit entered.”

Stretching out my words like that, I looked at the map again.

“Let me explain the reason.”

‘…So that’s where I marked it.’

In front of the hallway window, the culprit is marked in a black circle.

I took a deep breath and clenched my fist.

‘…Why did they come in through there?’

There’s no way I would know.

I just wandered the pen around and marked the dead center, that’s all.

“……”

Before long, only silence filled the broadcasting room.

The detective, arms crossed, asked in a low voice.

“…You said to listen, so I’m listening. Now explain, quickly.”

“…Alright.”

I lightly tapped the mark of the culprit.

“I was just about to explain. Now, take a look.”

However, the spirit that once captivated the crowd had already faded away.

“Why is it only possible here? That is a very natural conclusion. Now, take a look.”

Once again, I draw everyone’s attention.

“We may not know how the culprit got in, but we do know for certain how they got out. As the witness Teacher Han Ari testified, it was through the hallway window.”

“…That’s right.”

“Then it’s obvious. The culprit must have come in through the same place.”

I spread my hands, as if to show my confidence.

“It’s obvious, it’s so obvious.”

“…If it’s obvious, then that’s that. But your testimony contradicts that.”

The detective, looking too tired to even get angry, spoke wearily.

“You said you were watching that way and didn’t sense anyone entering. Right?”

“……”

“I agree too. The culprit came in that way. The problem is, ‘you’ were also in that way.”

“No, no, that’s not true.”

I denied it, without anything to back myself up.

“The culprit definitely could have entered this place. You’re saying strange things again.”

“……”

“Everyone, did you hear that? Again, again, the detective is saying weird stuff agaaain…”

But before I knew it, the public’s reaction had cooled.

The only ones who were still trying to understand my hollow reasoning were our club members.

“Really? Then go ahead and tell me.”

The detective lifted his chin and looked down at me.

“From where you were obviously watching, tell me, when and at what timing did the culprit come in with the body.”

“Y-yeah. That’s right. Excuse me, but there’s something I’d like to point out.”

I swallowed dryly and argued back at him.

“It’s not like I kept my eyes glued to the female students every single second. There were times when I looked away for a moment.”

“Really?”

“Yes, yes, there definitely were.”

For example, the moment I was caught by Hayoon and had to quickly hide.

“How many minutes was that?”

“…Not a few minutes, maybe just seconds……”

“So, please… how could he have entered in those few seconds? You didn’t even hear anyone entering, did you?”

“That’s right, that’s right. But what I mean is.”

I waved my hands uselessly and looked around at everyone.

“What I’m saying is, in that brief moment I took my eyes off, there was a way for the culprit to slip into the hallway without making a sound.”

“…Above.”

At that moment, a faint voice echoed through the broadcasting room.

Startled, I looked around, and Hayoon, who was gently smiling with her eyelashes lowered, whispered.

“…He came from above.”

“Uh, huh? Y-yeah, from above. I was just about to say that they came from above.”

I quickly accepted those words.

Actually, I didn’t understand what she meant, but if it was Hayoon who threw it at me, I would take it. She never talks nonsense.

[Your understanding of the character In Hayoon has increased by 5.]

“Ah, do you understand? I hesitated to explain something so obvious, but really, there’s not a single person who gets it. It’s, it’s ridiculous.”

Tap, tap, I tapped the map on the whiteboard.

“Ah, do you understand? Above. The culprit came from the air.”

With trembling eyes, I unfolded my barrage of logic once again.

I believe. I believe in Hayoon.

“What I’m saying is, if he came from above the moment I looked away, he wouldn’t need to make a sound; he could just open the window in the hallway and get in.”

If it’s Hayoon, there’s no way she would be wrong.

And I, myself, slowly began to realize the meaning of the words she threw out.

“Look, see! The culprit was waiting on the second or third floor, watching me. Then, at the moment I hid, he hurried down, opened the window on the first-floor hallway, and got in. Do you understand? Until now, we’ve only been looking at the floor plan from the north, south, east, and west, so the thinking was limited. But look, with this, theoretically, it would take less than five seconds to slip in. This is what I’ve been trying to say. The culprit jumped down from above to this spot. Since Class 3 Grade 1 had P. E class at the time, if he entered through here, no one would have seen him…..”

Hayoon smiled faintly and looked down at the floor.