20 A DEAL FOR ACCESS

20 A DEAL FOR ACCESS

"So ghosts really do lie."

As she said that, I suddenly felt a strong force grab my neck. It held me tight, making it hard to breathe. She just stood there, watching me, controlling the tiny gusts of wind in the room that now strangled me.

I could feel her anger rising, the air thick with tension.

“G-ghost?” I choked out. Apparently, stepping toward her had triggered this violent reaction.

“W-why would a ghost lie to you?” I could’ve laughed if she wasn’t literally choking me.

“You know I'm a guardian. That means you can break through my spell.”

I could do what she said—but revealing myself would only bring attention from HER. The one man who almost pushed me into the wrong timeline.

One guardian as an enemy is already enough. Adding more would make it impossible to stay hidden in this world.

I let out a bitter laugh.

“Dying a second time isn’t that hard for a ghost… Being dead doesn’t make me any different from a living human, after all.”

'Doesn't she fear death?' Lourdes said in her mind.

“You are… different,” she said, the anger fading from her face, replaced by curiosity as she studied me. Her grip loosened slightly, letting me breathe more easily.

“You act like my granddaughter… but without her spoiled attitude. You carry yourself independently, yet you're still using her body. Who might you be?”

She should’ve asked, “Where is my granddaughter’s soul?” instead of that.

She’s driving me mad. Just a few more words and she might expose everything.

Does she already know what really happened to the real Illeon?

“So killing me has become a hurdle for you… That’s why you’re starting to take an interest in me.”

I paused, meeting her eyes.

“I heard guardians are supposed to destroy foreign beings who defy the laws of nature… But asking me who I am? That already breaks your own code,” I said slowly, making sure she heard every word.

She loosened her grip even more and said, “What else do you know? Being called smart is one thing—but the way you keep stomping on my pride…”

“It’s still too early for questions like that,” I interrupted. “Don’t you know people need rest? Especially since you’re a mortal human yourself.”

“But I didn’t come at the wrong time, did I?” she replied, echoing my earlier words. “Like you said—let’s wait for the sunrise together.”

She was just as alert as I was when she first arrived.

Honestly, I couldn’t sleep at all. What I had witnessed earlier had awakened every nerve in my body. Sleeping would only make things worse.

I slapped at her WIND POWER—not with real strength, but just enough to act the part. As my hand met hers, I felt the invisible force of wind dissipate. The grip released me.

“Nah, you didn’t,” I said with a smirk. “In fact, you make the perfect partner for this long morning. Let’s wait for the sun to rise again.” I said sarcastically.

She sighed and walked toward the window. “I’ll let you off for now. With how people see you around here, even if you spill the beans about what you saw yesterday, no one’s going to believe you. Not even with that young man on your side.”

I scoffed in disbelief. She really viewed me opposite to how other's see me. Voice is not the only way to reveal the truth, the worst is, experience. Rather than adding for more pollution, letting them witnessed it is more persuading.

She gestured toward the sleeping Trevor.

I chuckled. “You’re the one who brought him here… And why would I tell anyone? It’d stir up too much energy, and I hate that kind of attention. No benefits, no secrets.”

I rubbed my neck—getting it a little red was better than exposing myself.

“Indeed. Your rules… and only you can pull them.” Where did she get those words? So unusual of her.

“Rhyming doesn’t excuse everything,” I muttered. “So, what exactly is the reason you showed yourself here? And please don’t say your presence is a ‘great honor.’ I wouldn’t be pleased.”

“You won’t even give me your name—”

“And for what? So you can go digging through your domain’s records?” I cut her off. “Whether you know my name or not, it won’t change a thing.”

"This place has become a living hell. Some students have gone missing."

Did she mean those undead?

She did mention it, after all. The ones I saw yesterday were even in uniform though it became tattered and worn out.

“And they became those beings. Zombies. They thirst for blood... The first body we found had all of its blood drained—only skin and bones left. Yet the body was still warm, even though the brain was already dead… and the heart had rotted, just an hour after.”

First body?

An hour?

Now that she mentioned it, I hadn’t seen her secretary around. I thought nothing of it—just another day in her office.

But the way she said it… that body must’ve been someone close to her. Close enough for her to confidently say it had only been an hour.

“Where’s Jane? Your secretary,” I asked. My face darkened.

If those undead came from Augustia… then maybe this is tied to the memory fragments I’ve been missing.

“She was the only one who could handle your attitude. Did she already get… suffocated?”

She didn’t reply.

It took me energy for me to say it.

“Or was that her body?”

As the words left my mouth, something clicked. The pressure in the room spiked, thick and suffocating. I could feel it—and so could Trevor.

He started to groan in pain, his body trembling, but he couldn’t move a single muscle. He’s paralyzed.

“Stop that. You’re going to kill Trevor.”

She didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes were still on me, burning with something unreadable—grief, rage, maybe both.

The air shimmered, like it was being twisted by invisible heat. ‘Did she cast that? how did a human like that have this kind of power?’

“He has nothing to do with this,” I said, stepping forward. My voice cracked, but I held my ground.

“If you want to punish someone, punish me.”

Trevor’s breathing grew shallow, his face paling by the second.

“Please,” I added, softer this time. “Let him go.”

And it seems it already reached in her ears as she stopped and looked at me with her dark expression. “Just like I guessed, you can easily decode everything.”

'Rather than being afraid of her death, she's more afraid of other's death.' Lourdez said in her mind.

“Not because I’m a ghost living in this body, I can help you deal with those beings.” I said in a pissed tone. 30 minutes passed by since she arrived but she’s giving us a hard time.

“You have a different role.”

Different role? Is she going to entrust me something for the first time? it didn't happen before Time walked backwards. IS SHE ALSO ONE LIKE ME WHO DIDN'T GET AFFECTED BY TIME REVERSAL?'

Even if I asked, she will never give me an answer.

This might be a chance. With those people in my section, they will only block my way if I'm gonna do some secret investigation for myself. They will only stop me because of how huge their interest in me is. ANOTHER ACCESS TICKET TO THIS PLACE.

“You’ll be studying with the new class… The REGULAR PROGRAM, SECTION E.”

My eyebrows raised. If I’m not mistaken that place is assigned for Zebelle. The one and only who loves to piss me off. Maybe, she can help me pull something off.

“Alright. Rather than being exempt in your class activity again, I rather do some fat burning.”

“It will not gonna be easy—”

I positioned my palm in front of her face and said. “Mrs. Timothy, There is no easy access in life, just death is the easy way for you to think.”

“That arrogant attitude of yours—”

“Your precious granddaughter taught that to me.” As I said that I sensed the presence of the guidance of death. He is not far from my direction, but he’s injured. I could feel his energy in my direction. He’s weak. Did that fight cause him that? But where is his partner?

Why is it only him who came back?

“Intruder.” My eyes widened. She felt him. She looked around through the window, sensing where his real location was. But because he is becoming weak, the source of his energy is faint.

“Where are you going?” She was about to jump through the window when she paused.

“Though this is just a clinic, it is still located on the fifth floor of your own building.” She pulled herself back and stood up and turned around without looking at my direction and hurriedly exited the door. I was just expecting her to continue. She didn’t leave a word when she left.

Seems like her age has become an issue, jumping from this height is not easy anymore for her.

But the guidance of death is in trouble right now, she’ll never stop without finding him. I need to think of a plan.