Chapter 26: Midnight Library. Strange Footsteps

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Tensley University Library.

As the sky turned dark, the students in the library gradually left.

However, many hardworking students were still studying.

“Lily, it’s already eight o’clock. Let’s head back,” a brown-haired girl said to her companion.

“No, I’ll study for a while longer. The exam’s the day after tomorrow.”

The blonde girl, Lily, waved her friend away gently and continued to read the book in her hand.

To her, studying was everything.

She had nothing else but her studies. If she could not even do well in studying, she would lose the ability to compete with her peers.

If it were any other time, the brown-haired girl would have left already.

After all, it was normal for Lily to work so hard. Everyone was used to it.

But this time, she frowned slightly and hesitated to leave.

“Why don’t we go back to the dormitory to study? It’s best if we don’t stay in the library.”

At this moment, Lily finally raised her head and looked at her companion, puzzled.

“Hmm? Did something happen?”

Seeing that Lily was interested, the brown-haired girl looked around. After making sure that no one around could hear her, she lowered her voice and said, “Have you heard about the scarecrow?”

Lily rolled her eyes as soon as the brown-haired girl finished her first sentence.

“Come on, what era is this? How can you still believe in these ghost stories?

“We’re university students. We should advocate science. Have you heard about science?”

Seeing Lily’s reaction, the brown-haired girl did not seem surprised.

This time, she said even more seriously, “I’m afraid you’re the only one in our dorm who doesn’t know about this.

“It’s no wonder. You almost never go online to read up about things related to entertainment. It’s normal that you don’t know.”

There seemed to be some information in her words. Lily shrugged and looked back at the book on the table.

“I’m sorry, then. I’m not interested in entertainment at all.

“In my opinion, it’s just mental opium.”

Lily was a very stubborn person. She only believed in what she wanted to believe.

The brown-haired girl seemed to understand this as well.

No matter how much she tried to persuade her, it was useless. She might as well save her energy and head back to rest earlier.

Helplessly, she could only say, “In that case, I’ll head back first.

“Don’t blame me for not reminding you. That scarecrow’s really strange.”

This time, Lily did not say anything. She only waved the ballpoint pen in her hand lightly as a way of saying goodbye.

…

Two hours had passed and the number of people in the library had decreased by a lot.

No matter how hard they worked, they did not want to stay in the library past 10 o’clock to study.

At such a late hour, they would rather choose the dormitory.

However, Lily was different.

To her, being at the library at this time was her favorite.

Because it was quiet and empty.

Only such an environment could leave her undisturbed.

As for the dormitory, the girls would always be playing and talking all day long.

Lily was not interested in those topics.

Every individual’s idea of joys and sorrows was not the same. To her, they were noisy.

“Ah…” Lily stretched and yawned. “Tensley University’s much better. It’s so late but the library’s still open.”

This yawn did not mean that she was sleepy. On the contrary, it made her feel more energetic.

Lily looked around and looked at the empty library. She smiled with satisfaction.

This was the environment she wanted.

A gust of cold wind blew past her and Lily trembled slightly. She could not help but rub her arms.

“It seems a little cold. But why’s there wind in the library?”

Because it was hot during the day, Lily had only worn a short-sleeved shirt.

She did not expect the temperature to drop that night.

“If I continue to stay here, I’m afraid I’ll catch a cold.

“But…”

Lily was a little hesitant.

She really did not want to go back to the noisy, chattering dormitory.

Every day, there would be people discussing some boring trivial matters.

But at this moment, another gust of wind blew.

Lily shivered again and could not help but frown.

“It seems that I have to go back.”

She closed the book and put it back on the bookshelf. Lily held her notebook and prepared to leave the library.

The lights in the library at night were not very bright.

Except for the slightly brighter reading area. The lights by the bookshelves and the corridor were relatively dim.

People could be seen from a distance, but not their faces.

To Lily, this was nothing, because she knew she was the only one who would be in the library that late at night.

Click, click, click.

The sound of heels walking on the ground echoed in the library.

Lily was used to the sound.

Today, however, she felt a little uneasy.

She felt that something was wrong, but she could not pinpoint it.

[Fear points: +10.]

Tap, tap, tap.

Lily walked forward, step by step. Some frown lines had disrupted the initially calm expression on her face.

Finally, she stopped in her tracks.

[Fear points: +10.]

Tap, tap, tap.

Lily was shocked.

She had stopped in her tracks. Why were the footsteps still ringing?

[Fear points: +20.]

Thud, thud, thud.

Listening to the footsteps, Lily wanted to convince herself that it was probably the other students in the library.

Yes, it must be.

Unfortunately, the fear on Lily’s face grew even more intense.

The footsteps sounded exactly like her own footsteps.

It was impossible for footsteps to sound exactly alike, even if they were wearing the same shoes.

However, the footsteps that appeared in the library sounded exactly the same as hers.

Tap, tap, tap.

She raised her foot and took a light step forward.

Tap.

Although she only took a light step, the sound of her footsteps was extremely loud.

Not only was it very loud, but it was continuously echoing in the library.

[Fear points: +30.]

This time, Lily grew even more flustered.

Although Tensley University’s library was big, it was not that big.

Just by listening to the echoes, it sounded as if the place was at least three times the size of Tensley University!

Moreover, how could she make such a loud sound with just a light step?

Faced with these strange occurrences, Lily stood where she was. She did not dare to take another step.

She was afraid.

At this moment, her roommate’s words rang in her mind, ‘That scarecrow is really strange.’

Subconsciously, Lily took out her phone and searched for the scarecrow’s keywords.

However, no matter which search result she clicked on, all she got was a web page that had been processed by the authorities.

There was no information about the scarecrow at all!

This time, Lily was completely flustered.

Before she had time to think, something strange happened.

Ta ta ta ta ta ta…

The footsteps that kept echoing in the library suddenly became urgent and tense.

On top of that, they sounded like they were approaching Lily!

[Fear points: +50.]