Surviving in a School of Ghost Stories-Chapter 54

The town square on the weekend was busy and crowded.

It was a sight filled with the smell of people, but when I saw ghosts wandering around, that feeling really hit me.

‘This island is not ordinary.’

I shook my head and walked through the crowd to the end of the square.

The crowds thinned out by that point and it was somewhat quiet. The cafe where I was going to work part-time today was right there.

A large but old and somewhat unsightly building like a shack was visible at the end of the alley in the square.

A signboard was erected at the entrance of the cafe.

OPEN

Always

Welcome♥️

Welcome customers, whether you’re awake or asleep

What is that? I looked at the signboard with disgust.

‘Was there something like that there?’

No matter how I looked at it, it didn’t seem like that signboard was for advertising. The owner had a very old-fashioned taste.

I shook my head again and opened the wooden door and went inside.

“Welcome, Hastings student!”

When I went inside, Mrs. Lewis, the owner of the café, greeted me.

“Please be kind.”

After bowing, she handed me an apron.

“Okay, let’s start cleaning together.”

After listening to a few instructions from the lady, I picked up the broom.

After cleaning the store busily, I went out to the front yard and cleaned the terrace.

Heek-!

I heard the cries of ghosts from somewhere and raised my head.

Several ghosts were sticking out their round bellies and hitting each other’s bellies in the crowd, challenging each other.

‘They’re fighting each other too.’

I watched the scene with curious eyes and then saw a familiar face in the crowd.

Leonard, walking leisurely with his gray hair flowing, noticed me and waved.

There were some students among the people who came out to the square. They seemed to know Leonard and me, and they were whispering among themselves when they found us.

‘I wonder if it’s going to be posted on the student bulletin board again.’

I guess it was because I’d been mentioned so much that I thought it would be okay even if my every move was made public.

He came inside the cafe, changed into his uniform and apron, and helped me clean up.

‘Good. I’ll ask Leonard.’

I asked Leonard about the F-class courage test as if I had been waiting for it.

“What’s the F-class courage test? I heard it’s a tradition.”

“The F-class courage test? Oh. It’s an event held every year before the second semester exam period at Johannes Castle. All F-class students have to participate regardless of their grade.”

Leonard continued to explain.

“Don’t worry. It’s not scary at all.”

Well, I had a feeling of something ominous. In this era where ghost stories keep popping up, a test of courage?

“Why on earth do we have a test of courage? And why is it only for the F class students?”

Leonard kindly explained to me despite my barrage of questions, even though it might have been annoying.

“It’s because of the location of Johannes Castle. It’s a tradition created by the F class seniors in the past to offset bad energy.”

Only then did I remember the location of Class F.

St. Gloria Private School had a total of four grades, and all classrooms from Grade 1 to Grade 4 were located in the main school building.

Each grade was divided into Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class F.

The classes were then divided by grade level, and naturally, all the top students were in Class S.

Class F was somewhat unique in that it was a special class for students who excelled in the arts and physical education.

Considering the characteristics of the students, Class F was placed in a separate building called <Johannes Castle>.

The problem was that the castle was located closest to the mountain behind the school and was also far from the main building, giving it a feeling of isolation.

Although all of the F classes from the first to fourth grades were gathered there, there were not many people coming and going compared to the main building, and because it was close to the mountain behind, the old castle was eerie and chilly even in the middle of summer.

That’s probably why there were so many ghost stories surrounding the F class castle.

In the past, they created events like “courage tests” to improve the students’ perceptions, and now it has become a tradition.

“A courage test? It’s an extension of a ghost story.”

However, we still don’t know what will actually happen in the courage test.

You can’t stop an event that has been passed down from generation to generation just because of something that didn’t happen.

There was no way to avoid it.

“It’s a tradition for the F class, but it might be dangerous for you. Ask your friends for more details.”

“But just in case, I’ll take care of the preparations. You just enjoy it.”

I thought back to what Noah had said.

That’s why he said that back then.

‘Yeah. If you can’t avoid it, you should enjoy it. What else can you do?’

Noah said he’d take care of the preparations, so let’s not worry too much.

“What kind of conversations do you have?”

Mrs. Louise brought a tray full of something and asked us.

“What’s that?”

My eyes widened as I asked.

That was understandable, because the tray was filled with a more extravagant dessert than the parfait I’d seen last time, so I couldn’t help but ask.

“Oh, this? It’s a new menu.”

She added that it was an ambitious menu and placed the tray on the table.

“The left is a special new menu for the Night of the Dead! Strawberry Chocolate Parfait!”

“What’s the Night of the Dead?”

“Ah. It’s a fall festival held on the island after the midterm exams. It happens every year.”

Leonard briefly explained the name of the festival, <Night of the Dead>.

Perhaps because of the name, the strawberry chocolate parfait had a clear concept. It seemed to represent the ground with chocolate and blood flowing with strawberry syrup.

The ghost-shaped cookie stuck on top with ice cream was quite impressive.

“It looks hard to make.”

Somehow, I expected that my part-time job would be difficult.

“The one on the right is a special drink made to target students during exam periods. Pasta Choco Latte!”

The drink, which mixed mint and chocolate, looked quite tasteless.

“Pistachios are nuts that clear the mind and energize the brain. Pistachios contain magnesium and iron, so they are said to help improve memory. What do you think?”

However, after hearing the boss’s explanation, I felt a sense of relief.

“I’d like our transfer exam perfect scorer and last semester’s top student to evaluate me.”

“I think I’d ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) like to buy 10 cups a day. Concentration enhancement, isn’t that something I really need right now?”

I was lacking time to study because I was solving ghost story cases, so I needed something that could enhance my concentration.

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However, our well-raised Ramsport Youngsik responded with an indifferent face.

“What’s important about concentration enhancement? If a drink tastes good, that’s all that matters.”

I was quite envious of the luxury of the wealthy.

“I’ve never chosen a drink based on its taste, so I don’t know.”

Leonard was shocked and surprised by my answer. No, is it really that surprising? It’s embarrassing.

“What? Then what criteria do you use to choose a drink if it’s not for its taste?”

“I’ve never bought a drink or dessert to begin with.......”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“If I were to buy it with my own money, wouldn’t I choose it after checking the price?”

Mrs. Lewis and Leonard looked at me speechless. Why are you looking at me like that? Embarrassing.

After a long silence, Mrs. Lewis handed me a strawberry chocolate parfait.

“Here, you can drink as much as you want, Hastings student.”

“Huh? No. I came here to work.”

“That’s our cafe’s welfare.”

Mrs. Lewis said affectionately with a motherly smile. Leonard, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly got up from his seat and said.

“Boss, I’ll go to the dessert shop next door.”

“Okay.”

Mrs. Lewis nodded solemnly without asking why.

I looked at the two people with curious eyes. Leonard left the cafe without saying a word and came back a little later with a handful of chocolates in his arms.

He put down a box of chocolates in front of me and said.

“I picked it up here. You eat it.”

“......All of this?”