Surviving in a School of Ghost Stories-Chapter 5

"Right."

"My goodness. Could the owners of the cemetery be the people from Chesswind Village?"

Noah didn’t respond.

Eastern thought that this silence was a form of agreement.

There was not much information about Chesswind.

It was a remote rural village, and it had been a long time since it had become a ruin, with no one living there.

The only reason they had any information was because of this one mansion that seemed to be intact.

Someone living there often caused the postman to visit the village.

"As I said, this is both a school ghost story and an external event. It’s perhaps the hardest ghost story to solve."

Noah’s gaze was still fixed on the woman in the photo.

"If someone gets involved with this village, they won’t survive. No one will."

It felt as if he was speaking directly to the woman in the photo.

When I opened my eyes, a familiar space came into view.

It was Lady Lanatte’s mansion.

I was stunned and looked around.

On the workbench in front of me, flour dough was spread out messily, and my hands were covered in flour.

It seemed like I had been in the middle of making bread dough.

"...Did I really go back one year?"

It was hard to believe.

What if all of this is just a bad dream?

Meeting the Student Council President, Raven dying—everything.

The kitchen wall clock was pointing to noon.

I glanced at the corridor beyond the kitchen. There was a calendar hanging there.

August 27, 902.

It’s real.

I’ve really gone back exactly one year.

"If that calendar is real, that is."

If that's the case, it had been just about one year since I settled in Chesswind Village.

I slowly recollected everything that had happened and wiped the flour off my hands.

"Melody? Are you okay?"

A familiar voice called my name.

I looked up, and an elderly woman was staring at me.

It was Lady Lanatte, the baroness.

"I’ve called you several times, and you didn’t answer."

I almost asked her, "This isn’t a dream, is it?" but I remembered the Student Council President’s advice and closed my mouth.

I decided to act as naturally as possible.

"Lady, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you, I was lost in thought."

Lady Lanatte’s expression softened with concern, and she walked toward me.

"If you’re not feeling well, you should rest today."

I was about to answer, but my gaze fell on the flour dough on the kitchen counter.

"Have you ever seen the villagers eating?"

The Student Council President’s question echoed in my head.

No matter how much I tried to recall, I had never seen the villagers eating.

"No, Melody. Maybe I didn’t see it. Maybe I just can’t remember."

I couldn’t help but think that everything from Raven’s death to me returning to the past... I wished it was all just a dream.

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"But I need to figure out which one is the truth."

I decided to try my luck and ask.

"I was preparing dinner just now, but let me finish this and then I’ll go. You should have your meal too, Lady."

Lady Lanatte stared at my face wordlessly.

She looked at me with a completely expressionless face, fixing her gaze on mine.

"Ah. And if you turn back time, they’ll notice you’ve changed. But it’s okay. Just act naturally."

I wasn’t good at pretending.

A cold sweat ran down my back.

Had I said something wrong?

"Even if it weren’t you, someone would take care of my meals. You’re so sweet, Melody. So kind."

Lady Lanatte gave me a little smile and patted my head.

"Go inside and rest now."

I returned home in a daze.

On the way back home, I looked up at the sky. It was getting dark.

I locked the door tightly when I got home and lay down on the bed, but sleep didn’t come easily.

"No, I shouldn’t think negatively. As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, I’ll leave the village."

If I succeed, I can pack my things and leave the village. But if I fail, I would have to find another way to escape.

"I should pack my things just in case."

I got up from the bed and started packing.

Knock knock knock.

At that moment, someone knocked on my door.

The strange thing was, it wasn’t the front door—it was my bedroom door.

"Wh-Who is it?"

"Melody. Are you inside? It’s me."

It was Lady Lanatte.

I had locked both the front door and the entrance, so how did she get inside?

"I have something to tell you. Can you open the door for a moment?"

"I’m sorry, but I’ve already changed into my pajamas, Lady. I just want to rest now."

"Why are you being so cold, Melody? Are you..."

For a moment, Lady Lanatte’s voice trailed off, and she suddenly asked in a chilling tone.

"My sweet Melody. Are you really going to make me break this door down...?"

It seemed like she was about to break the door down.

I quickly thought through my options and finally opened the door.

There she was—Lady Lanatte, standing outside.

The elderly woman straightened her hunched back and smiled. She then held out the basket she had been holding.

"I made strawberry pie, would you like to try some?"

Lady Lanatte didn’t know how to cook.

Even though she lived in a rural village, she was a noblewoman with servants.

Moreover, it wasn’t strawberry season. Where did she get those strawberries?

But I swallowed my doubts.

Instead, I clapped my hands and put on a joyful expression.

"Wow. Thank you, Lady. Would you like to eat with me?"

"Right now?"

"Yes."

"I’m already full."

"Now that you mention it, Lady, you don’t seem to eat much. That’s probably why you’ve gotten so thin."

I said, looking at Lady Lanatte’s thin arms with concern.

But she didn’t seem disturbed at all, and she looked back at me with a subtle smile.

"I’m fine. I just don’t have an appetite. I don’t like eating."

Lady Lanatte really felt like a different person.

"I didn’t know you didn’t like to eat, Lady. I didn’t realize, and I’ve been preparing meals for you all this time... It must have been hard for you because of me."

"..."

"Lady?"

"I’m not sure if the strawberry pie turned out well. It was my first time cooking, but I had so much fun."

"Lady, I appreciate your kindness, but it’s getting late..."

"It’s late, but would you still like to try it? I’m curious if it suits your taste."

"I’ll taste it tomorrow if you leave it. It’s too late now."

"I had such a hard time with Palmer while baking this. He kept complaining, and it was so funny seeing him act °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° all high and mighty, even though he didn’t know how to bake. Really, won’t you try it?"

"Lady, not now..."

"Why aren’t you eating it when I’m telling you to? Why keep avoiding it?"

Startled by Lady Lanatte’s sudden outburst, I stopped talking.

She marched over to me and pressed her forehead against mine.

Then she said...

"Salvation for Kritoban, your Abaddon descendants will never receive all of Kltuta’s divine grace. Salvation for Kritoban, your Abaddon descendants will never receive all of Kltuta’s divine grace."

"Lady... Are you okay?"

"Doorgwilllverdeabwilldeadwilldead..."

Lady Lanatte suddenly stopped speaking and stared blankly ahead.

There was no focus in her eyes.

"You want to go to the bathroom, don’t you?"

"Lady, there’s a window..."

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Lady Lanatte was already gone, having passed through the window.

In a daze, I hurried to the window and looked around. I could see Lady Lanatte running toward the center of the village.

With a stunned face, I looked down at the strawberry pie plate I was holding.

When did I even get this? It had been so natural that I hadn’t even noticed her handing it to me.

My whole body was drenched in sweat from the tension. I wiped the sweat from my chin with the back of my hand.

I placed the strawberry pie on the table and covered it with a cloth.

I carefully closed the window and checked the bedroom and front doors again. The front door was definitely locked.

"Did she come in through the window? With the plate?"

I was sure I had locked the window too.

The situation was definitely not normal. Everything felt strange and off.

A chilling feeling crept over me.

Could I really escape this village alive?