The path leading to the old school building was as disconcerting as its bizarre rumors. The sound of leaves brushing against each other swayed by the wind, the chirping of insects, and the sound of stepping on soil tickled the ears eerily. The streetlights laid along the dirt road flickered as if they would go out any moment, and the moon hanging in the night sky was obscured by clouds, making even its trace impossible to find.
"E, Eimi. Walk just a little slower."
A slightly frightened voice came from behind. It was Himari. She was in her wheelchair set to auto-pilot mode, sticking right next to Eimi. Eimi, as if annoyed by her, raised her walking speed with a blank expression.
"It's hot. President, don't stick so close."
"I, I'm cold. So just a little closer......"
Himari panted as she drove her wheelchair closer to Eimi. Eimi let out a deep sigh seeing her approach even after creating distance, but didn't avoid her any further. Though grumbling, they seemed to get along well. Kenji chuckled and turned his head forward.
The long dirt road stretched out with no one else besides the three of them. Moths gathered around the flickering streetlights, and flocks of birds fluttering by carved black shadows in the sky. Kenji, leading the way, watched the trajectory the birds created.
No, more precisely, he watched something they dropped fall.
"......?"
It was paper. Paper rolled up like a scroll, tied with a rubber band. The number was exactly three, and the people standing on this path were also three.
......Is it right to consider this a coincidence? Kenji frowned and glared at the scrolls fluttering down.
To begin with, birds dropping paper doesn't make sense. There's no way they would carry paper rolled up like scrolls in their claws. The most rational assumption is that someone gave them the scrolls to hold. This isn't medieval Europe using carrier pigeons, but a near-futuristic world using smartphones and electronic devices. There was absolutely no reason to attach notes to birds.
Even if using carrier pigeons, they tie notes to their legs, not give them to hold in their claws. And in scroll form at that.
Then, what on earth are those? Are those things that just flew away really birds?
"......"
Feeling something strange, Kenji carefully snatched the slowly descending paper. Himari and Eimi, who belatedly noticed them, tilted their heads and approached Kenji.
"What is it? What did you catch?"
"......It says 'Guidebook' written on it."
Kenji said that after seeing the title visible as soon as he unrolled the scroll. He handed the other two scrolls to each of the two people, then slowly began reading the content written below the title.
===========================================
Millennium Old School Building User Guide!
This content was written for those visiting the old school building existing in Millennium. The author is anonymous. Please don't try to find out who I am, and even if you know, you should pretend not to know. I'm only giving this warning once, so if we come looking for you later, it's your fault. Don't resent us, just prostrate yourself.
The guide content is as follows.
1. There is no rooftop in the old school building. If you discover a door leading to the rooftop, please quickly avoid that place.
2. There are no operating CCTV cameras in this old school building. If you find a CCTV camera with its light on, please leave that place as quickly as possible. If you cannot do so, act as naturally as possible. Even if something appears, you must never act like you know it.
3. This old school building was built up to 4 floors. But remember that the 4th floor is marked not with a number but with F. If the floor you are standing on has the number 4 written on it, that place is not reality.
4. There is no connected broadcasting equipment in this building's broadcasting room. If you hear bell sounds or broadcast sounds, cover your ears until the broadcast ends.
5. If you see a woman crawling on the ceiling, pretend you didn't see her. She is not human.
6. If you hear someone's laughter in your ear, it means 'that thing' is by your side. Please hide yourself as quickly as possible.
7. There is a human body model in the science room. If the model is not visible, it means someone is moving around wearing someone else's skin. Do not blindly trust someone you came with.
8. There is no security in this building. If you hear whistle sounds or footsteps, please quickly avoid that place.
9. The woman reflected in the windows is not dancing. Do not be mesmerized by her movements—it is a strangled corpse.
10. The food inside some club room refrigerators is not of this world. Do not eat it or touch it.
11. Wigs floating in the sky are not wigs but heads. Subdue them or quickly avoid that place before they replace your head. But the moment they spot you, they will fiercely chase you.
12. If you encounter a tall woman in the hallway, have a brief conversation with her. But you must not be surprised when you see her. She is a very timid woman and a great person who can even give her life for a friend. Making her a friend will be very helpful.
13. There are no children in this building.
14. The water pouring from the hose provided in the shower room is not water. Quickly avoid that place before learning its true identity.
15. All liquids placed in the laboratory are hydrochloric acid. The girls drinking it are not human, so please quickly run away before they notice you.
16. Item 3 is false. This building exists up to the 5th floor.
The guidelines for this building end here. Please be sure to follow them properly. If you do not, we are not responsible for any disadvantages that occur.
Then, I hope you have a good time.
Have A Good Time!
===========================================
"......"
"......"
Silence enveloped the group.
Kenji finished reading the guide and let out a hollow laugh.
'......No doubt about it.'
They seemed to be properly caught.
They arrived at the old school building.
The exterior was cleaner than expected, but beyond the glass door, it was dark enough that nothing could be seen. The long hallway somehow had an unsettling feeling lingering, and the pitch-black windows created the illusion that someone was watching. Kenji chuckled and rolled up his jacket sleeves.
It was true that the current situation was highly bizarre. But Kenji didn't feel particularly scared. Considering he had already personally sent at least five ghosts to salvation, there was no reason to be afraid of mere ghost pranks.
Usually, ghosts are scary because of the assumption that they are incomprehensible beings. The fear of helplessness—that they can toy with us as they please, but we cannot deliver any blow to them—was the biggest reason ghosts were feared. At least Kenji thought so.
But the ghosts here die when hit. They can be sent to the Lord's side with one punch. So reason to be afraid? None. If they appear, I'll beat them up and offer them as sacrifices to all sorts of gods.
'The first to God, the second to Buddha, the third I'll send to Allah.'
Kenji giggled and put on the black gloves he brought. On the other hand, Himari was looking at the old school building with eyes mixed half with fear and half with curiosity.
If what lies dormant here is really a Prophet of Decalcomania, then they were currently in a very dangerous state. Because he could suddenly show hostility and attack the group. Of course, it was obvious that the process leading to an attack would take a very long time, so it wouldn't be a huge threat, but that didn't mean it was safe. As a super-genius sickly pitiful brilliant beautiful girl elf hacker, she had to be aware of the danger at all times.
'But...... what if it's really the work of a ghost?'
Just thinking about it sent a chill through her whole body. Himari let out a suppressed groan, eut, and stroked her left arm with her right hand.
Although she was interested in occult culture, her resistance to scary things was lacking.
Considering that occult culture itself focuses on horror or bizarreness, it was a really peculiar thing, but what could she do? She was born that way. Himari was still afraid of ghosts and scared of bugs. The bugs that occasionally appeared in the club room were all caught by Eimi.
"......No matter what, there wouldn't be bug ghosts, right?"
"Among the ones I've met, there weren't any like that."
Kenji said while spinning his wrists after doing a few jumps in place to warm up.
"Don't worry. I'll stick close so that ordinary things won't even be able to approach."
"......Huhu, that's reassuring."
The reason Himari remained at this place while feeling fear was purely thanks to Kenji's declaration.
If what lies dormant in this building isn't Decalcomania but a ghost, then since I've caught ghosts a few times in the past, I'll handle it myself. So you two just look for traces a Prophet might leave behind, he had said before arriving at the old school building.
He also explained the method of catching ghosts. Just grab them by the hair and beat them until they achieve salvation on their own, but for Himari it was an impossible task, and Eimi was also clumsy with using fists, so it was hard to have high expectations. They each brought guns thinking bullets might work, but since it was an unverified method, they couldn't blindly trust it. It was better to receive the protection of Kenji, who had experience.
"Would silver bullets definitely work, maybe?"
Eimi asked while tapping the shotgun she held in her arms. Kenji chuckled and slightly adjusted the position of his tilted mask.
"We can check that out later. We don't have silver bullets now."
"Yeah. We should do that."
She nodded. Kenji shifted his gaze toward Himari.
"Ready?"
"Yes, I think we can go in now. Are you okay too, Eimi?"
"I was waiting for the President."
"Ahem! Then let's go in! We're looking around slowly from the 1st floor, right?"
"Probably."
Kenji gave a short answer, then lightly tapped the two people's shoulders.
"Let's go."
Himari and Eimi nodded. The three slowly opened the glass door and entered the old school building.
As soon as they entered, they felt the illusion that the air had grown heavier. A dreadful silence lingered around, and unfamiliar darkness gnawed at their vision from the corners. But they couldn't be scared right from the entrance. Himari forcibly twisted the corners of her mouth into a smile and muttered softly.
"N, nothing much, huh. Right?"
"......"
"......"
No answer came back. Himari tilted her head and called the two people's names.
"Kenji? Eimi?"
"......"
"......"
"......Don't joke around. I don't really like this kind of thing."
"......"
"......"
"E, Eimi? Kenji? You're there, right? Behind meㅡ"
The moment she spoke, something flashed through Himari's mind.
When they just passed through the old school building's door, the two people were standing in front of Himari.
That is, the one at the very back of the group was Himari. The two people should have been standing not behind her, but in front of her.
But they weren't. They couldn't be seen. In the brief moment she blinked, the two people had disappeared without a trace.
"......"
In the dreadful silence. A soundless scream burst from Himari's mouth. She opened her eyes wide and urgently covered her mouth with both hands.
Then, a footstep sound came from the ceiling.
-Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.*
5. If you see a woman crawling on the ceiling, pretend you didn't see her.
She is not human.
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