As a human, Arthur had made mistakes and learned to swallow his pride when necessary. But as a ghost… he didn't know. And yet, this time, he prayed he was wrong.
That Mikel—this teen—would prove him wrong.
Even when every sense of his ghostly form screamed that things could go worse, he remained rooted to the ground. Eyes fixed on Mikel. Heart praying sincerely.
"Is there… Mikel?" he asked, his voice barely breaking out of his throat.
[So quick to trust, so easy to break. How fragile.]
Mikel didn't answer, didn't react. He just stared blankly. Or rather, unreadably.
"Is there?" Mikel repeated, stepping closer.
Arthur's ghostly senses tingled, alarms blaring in his head. He swallowed hard, almost unable to believe that he had instinctively taken a step back, just to maintain distance.
Mikel paused, noticing the reaction.
"Hah…" A shallow laugh escaped him as he lifted his eyes to meet Arthur's. "Arthur… are you afraid of me?"
The irony of asking a ghost that.
Arthur didn't answer; part of him was ashamed to admit it, and the other part wanted to believe he shouldn't be.
Maybe this would have been a completely different confrontation if he were still alive. But as a ghost? Yes… he was afraid.
Mikel nodded slightly and offered a faint, almost understanding smile.
"You should be," he said. "That makes two of us."
A quiet night breeze whispered past their ears as they held each other's gaze. One carried a slightly surprised look; the other, a tinge of sincerity.
It was a strange exchange—one that slightly wavered the doubt brewing in Arthur's heart.
And then, breaking the silence, a faint, distant call reached them.
"Oyyyy! Boooosss!"
The sound wasn't coming from the left or right.
Mikel and Arthur turned their eyes upward.
"Booooosss!!!"
A younger ghost appeared above them, floating and charging toward their position.
In a blink, she landed several meters away, with no sound, no impact, nothing.
She spread her hands wide behind her, knees bent, head lowered. Then, lifting her head with a grin, she straightened and saluted.
"Reporting back from duty, boss!"
Arthur blinked at the sight. The girl was still in her school uniform—unlike most of the other ghosts, she bore no visible injuries. But that wasn't the most important thing.
Arthur, who had become practically everyone's assistant, especially Mikel's for the construction, recognized almost every ghost's face, role, and even their wishes, though the latter he only knew through overheard whispers.
"You're… one of the recruits from last night?" he blurted out.
"Hai! Hai! That's me!" she cheered, still holding her salute. "Just came to say hi to the boss and report that the border area between South Block and Fula Block is cleared!"
"The border?" Arthur frowned and turned to Mikel. "Isn't that a bit far from here?"
Mikel nodded. "The residents near the border evacuated. I thought it was better to widen the lookout scope… in case of intruders."
"..."
"I've stationed them at key points where an entrance or exit might form."
"And the boss gave us talismans too!" The young ghost flashed a talisman between her fingers, beaming. "I can touch it!"
"It's a special talisman I got today after visiting a temple," Mikel added, still holding Arthur's gaze with a calm smile. "If you're still doubtful, I can have her call the others and do their…"
[Attendance sheet.]
"…attendance sheet," Mikel finished dryly.
Arthur was left speechless, darting his eyes between Mikel and the young ghost. A sheepish smile crept up his face, the overwhelming urge to be swallowed by the ground rising fast.
But despite the embarrassment, he couldn't deny the overwhelming relief flooding his chest.
He could finally breathe again—free from the corrupting doubt that had plagued his trust in Mikel.
"I'm sor—"
"Save it for later," Mikel waved him off before he could apologize. "Not saying you shouldn't, but… I'm glad someone asked. Makes me feel grounded—or something like that."
With a hand shoved into his pocket, he turned and added, "Lookout. Follow me."
"Hai! Hai~!" The young ghost cheered, skipping in huge, weightless leaps without touching the ground.
Arthur remained standing, torn between relief and shame. But in the end, all that remained was peace of mind.
"I knew it," he whispered, smiling faintly as he watched Mikel's retreating back. "I was wrong… and I'm glad I am."
Little did Arthur know, as Mikel turned and walked away, the corners of his mouth curled ever so slightly.
[A lie always tastes sweeter when it's served with a smile. I am learning.]
Huh… no, I am.
[Rest easy, Master. Even the grandest tragedies begin with rehearsal.]
Mikel spared Doom a glance, a fleeting flicker of contempt flashing in them before facing forward again.
Truth or not, some rehearsals always ended in blood.
---
Earlier That Day…
It was futile, but Mikel had spent a significant amount of time at the bathhouse, scrubbing at the ink on his skin.
There had been no results. But he'd still hoped—perhaps it would help the marks fade faster. Hopefully.
In the end, the scriptures on his skin remained the same.
As he stepped outside, he spotted several figures loitering near the entrance. Recognizing the ghosts he had deployed to hunt for corrupted or malevolent spirits, he stopped.
"Did you find one?" he asked, resuming his pace. The ghosts quickly fell in behind him.
One of the younger ghosts kept a careful step back. "Boss, I did hear a rumor…"
"Didn't I say I don't want rumors or whispers?" Mikel muttered, voice low, eyes forward. "Did you find one?"
The ghosts zipped their mouths shut and exchanged uneasy looks.
The young ghost cleared her throat, eyes fixed on Mikel's back.
"We tracked something last night," she began cautiously, "but we spent too long looking… and we didn't get to confirm it…"
She flinched when Mikel abruptly stopped.
[They're still not a bad alternative, Master. Even pawns have their uses. You just have to decide how many you're willing to sacrifice.]
Mikel exhaled sharply, ignoring Doom's comment as he turned to face the ghosts.
"Confirm it tonight. Meet me at the site," he ordered. "Don't even bother showing up if it's not what I'm looking for."
The ghosts frowned as they watched him resume his steps, only to jolt upon seeing him stop once more.
"What are you still doing?" he glanced over his shoulder. "Follow me. I have some other things to discuss."
That includes their alibi to conceal their true task, and as well... to keep them safe from any corrupted or malevolent spirits. Mikel still had a few basic talismans; it might work for them.
So, the moment Arthur mentioned the new recruits, Mikel knew the man had just handed him a way out.
It was narrow, but an out was still an out.
After all, he had no better excuse for the missing lookouts… and maybe—just maybe—he liked Arthur enough not to silence him.
Not yet.
Mikel was right.
Arthur should be afraid of him.
---
[PRESENT TIME]
Arthur watched Mikel and the young ghost walk back to the construction site. A shallow breath escaped him, and he shook his head with a helpless chuckle.
"I've lost my mind for a second," he muttered, but his feet still moved to follow.
*
*
*
In the distance, far beyond the South Block of District 5, someone was watching… waiting for the hunt to begin.