Chapter 80

“Hyung, can you give me more cola?” Yeongsoo asked while eating meat.

Kang Jin glanced around and brought over a bottle of cola from an empty table nearby.

“Here.”

Yeongsoo opened his mouth as Kang Jin held up the cola. Slowly, Kang Jin tilted the bottle to let him drink.

Although Kang Jin didn’t make the cola, ghosts could consume it since it touched Kang Jin’s hand, making it part of his food offerings.

Gulp gulp!

As Yeongsoo gulped down the cola, he sat upright, prompting Kang Jin to stop pouring.

“All done?”

“I had quite a lot.” In response, Kang Jin looked at the high school girl ghosts who were taking deep breaths while sipping soda through straws.

Seeing this, Kang Jin checked the time.

‘12:10 PM.’

They have been eating for one hour and ten minutes.

“Wanna eat more?”

Yeongsoo shook his head at Kang Jin’s question.

“I’m full. Huh?” As Yeongsoo spoke, he rubbed his stomach.

“Why?”

“The feeling of being full…”

He continued rubbing his stomach before continuing.

“It feels like it’s been forever.”

The high school girl nodded in agreement with Yeongsoo’s words.

“We were always hungry…right?”

“Yes. Even though we weren’t physically hungry, our stomachs constantly felt empty…but now I feel full.”

Kang Jin observed the ghosts’ slight confusion over the sensation of fullness and explained:

“People say that ghosts always have an emptiness inside them.”

“How would you know if you’re not a ghost, hyung?”

“Even though I’m not a ghost, I am the owner of a restaurant frequented by ghosts, so I picked up some knowledge.” Kang Jin glanced at the ghosts before adding, “I told you, didn’t I? You can’t leave this place.”

At Kang Jin’s statement, the high school girl looked up at him.

“By any chance…can you let us leave here?” The high school girl’s tone had softened considerably compared to her initial snarkiness, perhaps because she’d warmed up to Kang Jin after enjoying his cooking.

“You want to leave?”

“We don’t like being trapped here…” She trailed off.

The other ghosts nodded in agreement with their classmate.

“I miss home.”

“Even if you go back, your families won’t be able to see you.”

“I know, but…I still want to visit them.” Her shoulders slumped dejectedly.

Kang Jin sympathized and nodded. It was only natural for someone—even one who was deceased—to miss their family. Besides, they hadn’t even gotten to say good-bye due to sudden accidents…

He glanced around while watching the ghosts.

The place was clean and had beautiful scenery, but it might be boring compared to the city. At least ghosts in cities could freely enjoy places like department stores or theaters.

I don’t know about ascension, but I want to at least release her from being land-bound…

Kang Jin pondered for a moment before pursing his lips.

But I’m not sure how to do that…

Even Bae Yongsoo, who himself is a ghost, didn’t know how to free a land-bound spirit.

Suddenly, Kang Jin nodded and turned towards Yeongsoo.

“Yeongsoo, can you go somewhere far away?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Just me?” Yeongsoo looked uneasy as he glanced at the high school girls.

Kang Jin chuckled. “Are you worried because they’re your female friends?”

“I’m a man,” Yeongsoo replied.

Kang Jin shook his head at Yeongsoo’s words.

“These girls are virgin ghosts. What could a human male like you possibly do to them? Besides, would people consider you a pervert for showing interest in high school girls?”

“That…is not true.”

Kang Jin was correct. As Yeongsoo moved aside, Kang Jin signaled him with her hand to go further away. Once Yeongsoo had gone far enough that he couldn’t be seen, one of the high school girls eyed Kang Jin suspiciously.

“What’s going on here?”

“You aren’t planning anything weird, right?”

The girls’ questions made Kang Jin chuckle.

“How could I, a mere human, do something strange to you ghosts? If anyone should worry about weird occurrences, it should be me from your actions.”

Kang Jin continued, “I want to summon your senior.”

“Our senior?”

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Kang Jin asked, “By the way, what are your names? I haven’t heard them yet.”

“I’m Lee Yerim, and she’s Choi Ga-eun.” The girl with short hair and broken glasses was Lee Yerim, while the pretty one with long flowing hair dripping blood was Choi Ga-eun.

“I am Lee Kang-jin,” he belatedly introduced himself. “The one coming now is probably like the ultimate boss among virgin ghosts in South Korea.”

“Ultimate boss of virgin ghosts?”

“Does such a thing exist?”

“Yes, it does. So when she arrives, be extremely respectful towards her.”

“But how can one virgin ghost be different from another?”

“You’ll see when she arrives.”

Kang Jin then scanned his surroundings and called out:

“Kim Sohee, Kim Sohee, Kim Sohee.”

At hearing her name thrice, Choi Ga-eun and Lee Yerim abruptly stood up, their eyes wide with surprise and confusion. Following their gaze, Kang Jin turned to find Kim Sohee standing there.

Her sudden appearance stunned the girls, leaving them frozen by the overwhelming energy emanating from her. With a sword in hand, Kim Sohee’s expressionless face dripped with blood from her hair.

Shhhk!

She silently surveyed her surroundings before speaking.

“This isn’t your restaurant.”

Kim Sohee’s words made Kang Jin bow his head.

“My apologies for the sudden request.” Kang Jin spoke apologetically.

Kim Sohee glanced at the high school girls. “Is it because of them?”

“Yes,” replied Kang Jin.

With that answer, Kim Sohee looked at the girls and opened her mouth to speak.

“Hello?”

“A…hello.”

“Hi.”

As the high school girls hastily bowed and greeted her, Kim Sohee nodded.

“Don’t be nervous. I won’t eat you…” She attempted to ease their tension with a slight smile and a joke. However,…it only made her appear more intimidating.

Observing the still anxious girls, Kim Sohee remarked, “They seem bound to this place.”

“Huh? Yes,” responded Lee Yerim.

Kim Sohee then turned to Kang Jin. “Are they asking to be released from this binding?”

Realizing why Kang Jin had approached her, Kim Sohee responded:

“Can you possibly release them?”

Kim Sohee glanced at the Maiden Ghosts upon hearing Kang Jin’s question.

“Do they have anywhere to go once released from here?”

“We want to return home,” replied Lee Yerim.

Kim Sohee looked at Choi Ga-eun.

“I also wish to see my home.”

In response to their answers, Kim Sohee shook her head.

“It never ends well when the living associate with the dead.”

“But…I still want to visit at least once,” said Choi Ga-eun.

Kim Sohee turned towards Lee Yerim.

“You feel the same way?”

”…Yes.”

With both girls’ responses, Kim Sohee shifted her gaze.

“Will that celibate male ghost accompany you as well?”

“Yes.”

“Come forth.”

Kang Jin spoke softly, “He might not hear you from afar. Let me…”

“No need; come closer.”

“It’s fine; come here,” Kim Sohee interrupted Kang Jin, and instantly, Yeongsoo appeared before them without raising his head as he hurriedly stood next to Lee Yerim. Kang Jin looked at Kim Sohee with surprise on his face.

‘Did her voice carry that far?’

Despite being too distant for him to see, Yeongsoo responded promptly to Kim Sohee’s call. She then turned towards the three ghosts.

“Follow me.”

Kang Jin and the ghosts trailed behind Kim Sohee. Passing by the lively party on the field, they reached the entrance of the auditorium where Kim Sohee spoke:

“A ghost unable to accept their death becomes a land-bound spirit due to lingering attachment.”

Intrigued, Kang Jin cautiously asked,

“M-miss?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve seen quite a few ghosts who don’t accept their deaths.”

Kim Sohee looked at Kang Jin before responding.

“Typically, ghosts cannot remember how they died. But land-bound spirits are different.” Kim Sohee turned to address the ghosts. “You know why you perished and what your lingering regrets are.”

“We do?”

“You might not recall immediately, but deep down, you’re aware. By remembering those moments and resolving your regrets, you can be freed from this place.”

The ghosts exchanged glances upon hearing Kim Sohee’s words. They could vaguely remember their deaths, but couldn’t pinpoint their specific regrets. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that they had too many regrets, making it unclear which one kept them bound?

As Kang Jin observed them, he noticed Yeongsoo deep in thought before glancing at Lee Yerim.

Even if I’m unsure about the others, it seems like Yeongsoo knows his lingering regret.

Kang Jin had a hunch what that might be. For a male high school student, especially one who became a bachelor ghost, love seemed to be the only plausible reason for such attachment.

He looked between Lee Yerim and Choi Ga-eun. Just as he was about to speak, Kim Sohee interrupted him.

“Please wait.”

Kang Jin turned towards her.

“Hastening this process won’t yield results. If it were easy…no one would willingly become a land-bound spirit.”

“I understand,” replied Kang Jin.

Kim Sohee continued, “And…”

After briefly observing Kang Jin, she addressed the ghosts.

“Could you please give us some space?”

In response to her gentle voice, the ghosts bowed their heads and moved away from the area. Once they were at a distance, Kim Sohee focused back on Kang Jin.

With Kim Sohee’s gentle voice, the ghosts bowed their heads and moved away. Once they were at a distance, she turned to Kang Jin.

“Don’t get too involved with ghostly matters.”

“Huh?”

“From a human perspective, you might feel sympathy for them.” As she spoke, Kim Sohee glanced toward one side of the road.

“Were they victims of a traffic accident?”

“How did you know?”

Kang Jin hadn’t provided detailed information about the high school ghost incident, yet Kim Sohee had unknowingly arrived at the accident site.

“That is not important,” replied Kim Sohee after briefly observing Kang Jin. “The philosopher Mencius stated that compassion towards others is inherent in human nature. Therefore, I don’t consider it wrong for you to empathize with spirits, even though they are no longer living beings.”

Kang Jin nodded at Kim Sohee’s reference to Mencius.

‘She truly is a ghost of a Joseon scholar.’

As Kang Jin pondered this, Kim Sohee continued her discourse.

“However, humans and ghosts exist in different realms. Even if you can see and communicate with ghosts, we must acknowledge that our worlds are separate.”

“Do you disapprove of me helping these children?”

Kim Sohee squinted at Kang Jin’s question. At that moment, Kang Jin felt a chill run down his spine, as if the temperature around him dropped by ten degrees just from her gaze alone.

She truly is the ultimate boss.

Observing Kang Jin’s reaction, Kim Sohee spoke again.

“Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

“Didn’t you say not to help ghosts?”

Kim Sohee sighed as she observed Kang Jin’s response.

“It seems like talking to a deaf cow.”

“Did I misunderstand something?”

“A cow understands what its master says.” Kim Sohee looked at Kang Jin intently. “Remember this: Ghosts and humans live in different worlds with distinct ways of life.”

Kang Jin listened to her words before replying, “I am aware of that.”

“Oh really?” Under Kim Sohee’s gaze, Kang Jin nodded firmly.

“Bae Yongsoo, the ghost, told me himself. He said all ghosts are pitiful due to their deep attachments and regrets. When I offered to help him, he insisted it was beyond my ability.”

As Kim Sohee continued watching him, Kang Jin elaborated.

“I know I can’t help all ghosts, nor should I try to. And frankly, I don’t intend to assist every ghost. However…” Kang Jin paused and looked at Kim Sohee. “I believe minors deserve protection.”

“They’re just ghosts now.”

“Even if they became ghosts as adults, they might have had opportunities related to their lives. But these children never got a chance to live theirs.”

“In my time, people married young and often had several children by that age.”

“That was during the Joseon Dynasty; now we live in modern South Korea.”

Kim Sohee shook her head while listening to Kang Jin’s words.

“Do what you think is right, but remember…”

“I understand. The ways of humans and ghosts differ significantly.”

Kim Sohee nodded at Kang Jin’s response before addressing the room:

“Come forth.”

In response to her call, the ghosts reappeared beside them.