Chapter 41
‘Blackie’s eyes are blue.’
That means Senior Noah is inside!
The cat quickly spoke after putting down the glass bottle on the floor.
[Sprinkle the holy water on it, press the cross to its forehead, and then recite the liberation prayer.]
As soon as he finished speaking, I uncorked the glass bottle and sprinkled the holy water on Erica.
“Aaaaargh!”
Then I took off the cross from my neck, rushed to Erica, and pressed it against her forehead.
“You, descendants of Abaddon, shall not be aided by the god of Klutha, nor shall you receive the salvation of Kritovan.”
Smoke billowed from Erica’s face, and then it finally calmed down.
Erica was sleeping peacefully as if nothing had happened.
Before the evil spirit could try another trick, I hurriedly opened the window wide above the bed.
“Aaaaargh!”
“No! I don’t want to go!”
Although its form wasn’t visible, I could see something whitish like smoke burning up.
Eventually, it was absorbed and disappeared out the window as if being sucked away.
I’ve never seen anything like this before.
Dealing with a possessing ghost was different from the usual methods.
After closing the window and things quieted down, I felt pain in my forearm.
As expected, the cross tattoo appeared and then disappeared. The entity had been destroyed.
Drip. As usual, my nose started bleeding again.
I got some tissues, stuffed them in my nose, and sighed.
In the quiet room now, there was only sleeping Erica, me, and Senior Noah borrowing Blackie’s body.
[I didn’t want to peep into a girl’s room, you know. I had no choice because I sensed an ominous presence.]
As expected, it was indeed Senior Noah.
[How do you know the liberation prayer? Hardly anyone knows that.]
“You tell me to do it like it’s obvious, and now you’re asking me how I know it?”
I asked in a nasal voice, sounding bewildered.
[I didn’t actually think you’d really know the liberation prayer.]
It was truly a coincidence. But I knew he wouldn’t believe me even if I said so this time.
I searched for a plausible excuse and answered.
“I saw Father Cesario chanting it while driving away evil spirits. At the church last time.”
After answering, I realized it was a better excuse than I thought. I could see the student council president immediately accepting it.
[I heard you were smart, but you’re even more extraordinary than I thought.]
I didn’t respond and just shrugged, then looked at the sleeping Erica.
It was fortunate that I was here. If it had been another student, Erica would have been completely possessed by the evil spirit.
Just thinking about it gave me goosebumps.
Then, Senior Noah, who had been staring at the side of my face, spoke up.
[That aside. Melody, isn’t it time you reconsidered my offer?]
“What offer are you talking about?”
[Joining the Ghost Story Investigation Unit.]
The senior brought up the topic I had been expecting.
“……”
Having shown the ability to drive away ghosts with the liberation prayer, I had even fewer excuses to refuse.
Above all, I had to admit it now.
That all these incidents weren’t unrelated to me.
I sighed and looked at Erica.
Erica was sleeping soundly, unaware of what had happened.
If only cute ghosts existed in this world.
The elevator ghost and the ones I saw at the church were clearly aggressive and malicious towards humans.
Even the cute ghosts wouldn’t dare to come near those kinds of entities.
Perhaps returning to a year ago, getting involved with ghost stories, and starting to investigate them were all part of my destiny.
“I guess you want something from me.”
“When you go back a year, come to Saint Gloria Private School. That’s all I want.”
Maybe Noah from 903 knew this would happen if I entered the school.
With a calmer expression, I asked the senior.
“…So what exactly do I need to do?”
[Hints about ghost stories are often posted on the student bulletin board. The student council catches them and investigates the incidents at specific times.]
He said ‘the student council’.
“Are all the student council members well-versed in ghost stories?”
[…As I said before, that’s unlikely. Almost no students actually believe in the existence of ghost stories. Everyone just thinks the student council is trying to resolve rumors that disrupt the atmosphere in order to fulfill their role.]
I thought as much. Senior Noah’s explanation continued.
[Among them, the only one with abilities similar to ours and who truly understands ghost stories is a guy named Easton Leaven Lauderdale. He’s a new student in the student council.]
Easton.
Hearing that name, I recalled what I had heard from the disciplinary committee on the day the elevator ghost story occurred.
The informant said that Easton and Raven were supposed to meet in front of the girls’ dormitory elevator at 9 PM.
“Senior, on the night the elevator ghost story occurred. One of the disciplinary committee members said they heard Easton and Raven would be coming to the girls’ dormitory.”
[…….]
“If all student council members investigate ghost story incidents together, does that include Raven? Can Raven see ghosts too?”
[As I said before, you’re the only one who can see ghosts as easily as breathing.]
“Please answer my question first. So, is Raven also involved in this dangerous work?”
[Raven is a student council member, so yes.]
That means Raven is voluntarily getting involved in these dangerous ghost story incidents.
It felt like the puzzle pieces were falling into place.
Could this be the reason Raven died in 903? Getting caught up in some inexplicable ghost story?
My head went cold.
Of course, I had subconsciously been aware. That these bizarre incidents could affect my life.
But when evidence appeared suggesting that ghost stories might be the reason for Raven’s death in 903, my heart was shaken.
I spoke in the coldest and most resolute voice I had ever used.
“Please remove Raven immediately. I don’t want that child to be involved in ghost story incidents in any way.”
[It’s something he volunteered for, so if I’m to make him quit, I’ll have to use my head a bit, won’t I? Again, Melody, Raven is part of the student council.]
The student council president’s voice was unwavering and cool.
[If you agree to join the ghost story investigation as a secret member, I’ll consider it.]
Could I refuse that offer?
No, I can’t. As long as Raven is involved, I absolutely cannot refuse.
Now it seemed Senior Noah knew too. That Raven was my weakness.
‘I guess it would be stranger if he didn’t know, given how obvious I’ve been.’
As I was berating myself for not having moved more strategically, Senior Noah tried to persuade me in a slightly softer voice.
[As I’ve said before, you’re the only one who can not only see them but also completely destroy them. We need you.]
“Are you sure no one else can do it? What about the priest? Isn’t there anyone like me in the Vatican?”
[You can probably guess from Father Miella. The Vatican isn’t what it used to be these days.]
Using Father Miella as an example made it immediately understandable.
“He said performing exorcisms for students’ delusional pranks would tarnish the school’s reputation.”
That was why Father Miella always disapproved of Father Cesario.
As Senior Noah said, it seemed that the clergy were not much different.
This world has already reached a stage where it cannot cognitively accept such bizarre entities due to scientific advancements and such.
[As I’ve said repeatedly, even Sister Gloria, 100 years ago, could only do her best to seal and confine them to this land. You need to realize now how special your ability is, Melody.]
I think I heard something about this before.
It still seems a bit strange that I can do something that even a historical figure hailed as a national hero couldn’t do.
Why on earth do I have such an ability?
“But it was you who told me how to seal them when they came from the other world to reality. You said we just need to find the medium.”
[That’s right. But that’s just ‘sealing’. You don’t just stop there, you completely destroy them.]
“……”
Indeed, without me, what they can resolve is limited. This was something that absolutely required my presence.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t easily bring myself to agree.
Just in case, I mentally went through all other possibilities, but the conclusion was still the same.
Ah, is this really unavoidable?
“Can I try it once before deciding?”
[Try it once?]
“Yes. I’ll just do a trial run for now. Let me be a trial member.”
Senior Noah burst into laughter at my brazen response.
Looking at me as if observing a strange life form, he replied:
[If that’s what you want.]
In the end, I became a trial(?) member of the Ghost Story Investigation Unit, a sub-department of the student council.
🐈⬛
Thank you for reading! ♡
