Win No Matter What

CHAPTER 18 - CAUGHT IN A LIE

You listen with bated breath, trying not to miss a single word that Principal Bang says. He spends quite a long time detailing everything he knows. You vaguely hear the school bell ringing and the chatter of students making their way back to their dorms, yet that is just background noise to you which you have blocked out. You are shocked by what you are being told right now. If Nam Joon and the rest of the guys knew all this, they certainly wouldn't be as calm as they are now.

Principal Bang finally ends his seemingly fantastic narrative and looks at you, awaiting your response. He seems to be ready for your first question. "So Ji Min really doesn't know? The others really have no idea?"

"I have been waiting for the right time to tell them as I only just found out this information myself a few weeks ago. But what with school starting, you discovering what you did, and Ji Min falling ill, unfortunately, I haven't had the chance. Maybe the timing is more fortuitous now, seeing as I've told you everything I know."

"So, just to make sure I've not misinterpreted you.......you are in possession of an ancient tablet which describes a prophecy. And there can be no mistake in its accuracy?" you ask, hopefully.

Principal Bang shakes his head slowly. "When I knew about the occurrences around the lake, I made sure to do my research thoroughly so as not to make any mistaken assumptions. I hoped, like you, that it wasn't true."

You continue, "I've heard about malspirits and even the name Luciferous on occasion, but I thought it was just a story to scare children. My mother did talk about beings from not around here, but I can't remember much now. I still can't believe it, Luciferous actually exists? So the prophecy says that Ji Min is closely associated with Luciferous and that he has to fulfil his destiny and take his place by Luciferous' side. Does that mean Ji Min is some sort of ruler of demons and malspirits in another world? The prophecy also mentions a woman who is strongly driven to protect Ji Min because of a foretold connection. Why are you so sure that person is me, Principal Bang?"

"Because the prophecy mentioned a powerfully protective charm that has been passed down through generations to this woman. And I think I am correct in my information that you possess that charm in the form of a locket?" he asks, pointing to the chain around your neck.

You instinctively touch the locket, shocked at the accuracy of his information.

"You may be thinking that's why I hired you to teach here, but rest assured, I didn't know who this woman was until I found out that you were wearing a protective locket and that Ji Min appears to be drawn to you considering you only just joined us. That's when I realised that you were part of the prophecy and part of his destiny."

"Why you are telling me all of this before telling the others? More importantly, why haven't you told Ji Min? Surely he has a right to know about his apparent demonic destiny and what we can do to stop this from happening," you ask. You can't even believe the words coming out of your mouth. It all seems too incredible to be true.

"Tae Hyung has been having visions recently which have terrified him. He has seen malspirits coming to take Ji Min and lead him to his throne. Ji Min is apparently blind-folded and his wings are starting to appear. Tae Hyung may not seem like he is fully tuned into the present, but his visions are usually accurate. Ji Min has been suffering these convulsions every month. I'm convinced it's the wings trying to break through and sadly the pain he endures has been getting worse each time. The Bangtan teachers will have started to link all these occurrences to some otherworldly event that is about to happen. They have already seen black falcons flying around near the lake. That is the first sign that the prophecy is coming true."

You look at Principal Bang and say desperately, "So Ji Min has absolutely no idea about why he's going through all this. Surely that's not right. He has to be told everything. He suffers every month and doesn't even know what's in store for him. How can we allow him to be oblivious to the terrible fate that awaits him? Ji Min is no demon!"