Darkness.
Complete darkness.
The lights had gone out.
The air turned cold.
A voice whispered:
"I found you."
Silence.
Tension.
Fear.
…
Then Yui spoke.
"Okay first of all—WHO invited you?"
Baek didn't move. His scythe appeared instantly.
"Stay behind me."
Yui grabbed his sleeve.
"Oh now you want me behind you? Yesterday I was basically frontline soldier."
Jae-min whispered loudly, "I can't see anything. If I die, tell my parents I was cool."
"You were not cool," Yui said immediately.
Something's Here
A shadow moved across the wall.
Then the ceiling.
Then—
Right behind Yui.
Baek turned sharply—
Too slow.
The shadow lunged.
Yui screamed—
"NOPE—NOT TODAY—"
She threw the first thing she grabbed.
It hit the shadow.
SMACK.
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Jae-min blinked.
"…Did you just throw a slipper?"
Yui looked down.
"…Yes."
Baek stared at the shadow.
The shadow… paused.
Actually paused.
"…It worked," Jae-min whispered.
The Enemy… Is Confused?
The shadow slowly reformed.
Tall.
Distorted.
But now slightly… offended.
"…What was that?"
Yui crossed her arms.
"That was emotional damage."
Baek muttered, "I don't think that's standard combat."
Mr. Lee appeared, already stressed.
"WHY are you fighting a high-level corrupted entity with footwear?!"
"IT WAS NEAR ME," Yui snapped.
Round Two
The shadow hissed and attacked again.
Baek moved fast—scythe slicing through the air.
The shadow split—
Then reformed.
"Great," Yui said. "It's one of those 'you can't kill it' types. Love that."
Obaa-chan clapped once.
"Everyone relax."
Everyone did not relax.
She pointed calmly.
"Yui, that's not a normal corrupted spirit."
Yui squinted.
"…You're telling me THIS is not normal?"
"It's a scout," Obaa-chan said.
Silence.
Jae-min blinked.
"…Like… a spy?"
Mr. Lee nodded grimly.
"Yes."
Baek's grip tightened.
"That means…"
Yui finished:
"More are coming?"
The Worst Timing Ever
The shadow lunged again—
Then suddenly froze.
Mid-air.
Like something grabbed it.
A deeper voice echoed.
Colder.
Heavier.
Familiar.
"Not yet."
Everyone froze.
Even Baek.
Even Mr. Lee.
The shadow trembled—
Then collapsed into nothing.
Gone.
Just like that.
Aftermath (aka Yui Losing It)
Silence filled the room.
Then—
Yui slowly sat down.
"…I want a refund."
Jae-min nodded.
"Same."
Baek dismissed his scythe.
"That wasn't a full attack."
Mr. Lee looked worse than usual.
"That was a warning."
Yui looked up.
"A warning for what?"
Obaa-chan answered quietly:
"He's testing you."
Yui's Response
Yui stood up.
Walked to the broken window.
Looked outside.
Then sighed.
"Of course he is."
She turned back to the group.
Completely done.
"Okay. New rule."
Baek raised an eyebrow.
Yui pointed at everyone.
"If I'm being hunted by a ghost king…"
She grabbed another slipper.
"…I'm at least doing it in style."
Jae-min grinned.
"I support this."
Ghost Dog barked proudly.
Mr. Lee pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This is not how professionals handle impending doom."
Yui shrugged.
"Good thing I'm not a professional."
Baek looked at her.
Then—very slightly—
Smiled.
Final Line
Yui flopped onto the couch.
"…So who's making dinner?"
END OF CHAPTER 18