An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 115

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 114
Part 6. He Was Hiding (3)
Heads so decomposed their forms were unrecognizable.
Yet Kang Hyung-seok now understood their true nature and the circumstances surrounding them.
Uuuuung.
The sacred blade resonated faintly while the Shaman’s Bell chimed softly in accompaniment.
Simultaneously, Kang Hyung-seok grasped more detailed accounts of their deaths.
‘…Outsiders.’
More precisely, people with nothing in common.
If forced to identify what they shared, it was only that they were murdered by that man and had come to this Valley for recreation.
Splash!
“Cough! Cough cough cough! Ugh, ahhhhh!”
The woman who emerged from the water shrieked like a beast.
The man, by contrast, wore the expression of a predator stalking its prey.
And with that face, the man smiled.
Without uttering a word, as though engaged in some amusing game, he shoved the woman’s head back beneath the surface.
Splash! Thrash thrash thrash!
The man held the woman’s head submerged for a long time.
When her body went limp, he seized her by the hair and dragged himself toward the shore.
Click, click.
The man began removing his shirt.
Confronted with the horrific scene, Kang Hyung-seok squeezed his eyes shut, and only opened them when a sense of wrongness overcame him.
The landscape had shifted.
This time to night.
Bark bark bark bark!
The sound of a dog barking, ragged breathing, gravel crunching beneath shoes.
The man was fleeing into the Valley, evading both the pursuing dog and the light.
“Heh! Heh heh! Hehehehehehe!”
Why did the man continue laughing even as he ran?
Kang Hyung-seok watched him with a furrowed brow.
The man glanced back, and as though seized by resolve, twisted his mouth into a grotesque grin before hurling himself into the Valley.
Think you’ll catch me?
You’ll never take me.
How many have I killed so far, you bastards?
You cops dare interfere over a little fun with people?
I’d rather die than be caught by you.
Go ahead and torment my corpse!
The man’s malevolent thoughts pressed down relentlessly.
Steeped in pure malice, the man—still living—resembled a Malevolent Spirit.
Grrrrrrrgh!
The man ventured deep into the valley and grasped a massive boulder.
Even as he drowned himself, the man continued to laugh.
But did he know?
The Water Spirits he had killed had already gathered, watching over him.
“Manager Kang!”
At Shin Jung-ah’s sharp cry, I snapped back to awareness.
Shin Jung-ah was restraining Gwak Young-ho, her face a mixture of fear and concern as she watched me, while Shin Yoseph’s complexion had turned ashen.
Even for Shin Yoseph, witnessing such a powerful possession was a first.
I shook my head to fully clear my mind, then shifted my gaze to the dark valley waters.
‘Now I know your true nature.’
Those who drown become Water Spirits.
Water Spirits are bound to a place.
And the man who created these Water Spirits had himself become a Water Spirit bound to this valley.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
I shook the Shaman’s Bell vigorously and gripped the exorcism blade firmly.
Then I muttered in a low voice.
“I know why you bewitched Manager Gwak Young-ho.”
Whoooosh!
Even as the valley waters rushed violently, my voice rang out clearly.
“To summon people here, and to turn them all into Water Spirits as well.”
Gwak Young-ho held the highest position among them.
His subordinates would certainly come searching, and the man-turned-Water-Spirit had intended to drown everyone who came to the workshop.
Even in life, he had been something close to a Malevolent Spirit.
And now he had become a Water Spirit.
A vicious, utterly vicious Malevolent Spirit.
A Malevolent Spirit who, even in death, clutches the Water Spirits he created and refuses to release them.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
“Show yourself.”
As I commanded while shaking the Shaman’s Bell, a head bulged up from the black valley waters.
Hair drenched and limp as seaweed.
The skin and flesh were bloated, yet both eyes were wide open with venom and malice.
A pallid tongue swollen like a balloon filled the mouth and protruded grotesquely past the lips.
I stared directly into the man’s eyes and raised the exorcism blade.
“There is no prayer of salvation for you.”
I held the Shaman’s Bell high and shook it with great force.
Then I swung the exorcism blade with all my strength.
Whoooosh!
Water sprayed from the drenched sleeves.
Waves surged violently around me.
The moon’s reflection in the water rippled and danced.
And as the water’s turbulence subsided and the moon reclaimed its original form, the Water Spirit’s face was split diagonally.
Squelch.
Something reddish and grotesque protruded from the fissure.
The Water Spirit’s visage twisted hideously, its eyes rolling in opposite directions.
May no god ever grant you salvation.
Squelch, squelch!
The Water Spirit crumbled and vanished.
And when its head disappeared beneath the Valley waters, the acrid malevolence vanished with it.
Drip, drip-drip, drip.
Water droplets fell from my soaked shirt and sleeves.
Kang Hyung-seok turned his gaze quietly toward Shin Yoseph.
Shin Yoseph, who had been watching Kang Hyung-seok with startled eyes, suddenly seemed to snap back to awareness, and immediately placed both hands on Gwak Young-ho’s chest as if pushing Shin Jung-ah’s hand away.
“Hold his legs.”
“Yes, what?”
“Hold his legs!”
Shin Jung-ah gripped Gwak Young-ho’s legs firmly, her expression bewildered.
Then he covered Gwak Young-ho’s chest and face with his palms.
Since the Water Spirit—the cause of Gwak Young-ho’s condition—had been vanquished, it was time to awaken him.
“Let me be your instrument.”
Shin Yoseph recited the prayer while keeping his gaze on Kang Hyung-seok.
He was shaking the Shaman’s Bell.
Ring-ring-ring-ring.
“Victim Spirits, as we chant in unity, may ignorant karma dissolve and prajna wisdom manifest, that you may transcend the suffering of samsara and attain liberation and nirvana.”
To guide the Water Spirits dwelling in this Valley toward salvation, Kang Hyung-seok recited the sacred sutra.
Meanwhile, Shin Yoseph continued with his prayer.
“Where there is hatred, let there be love; where there is conflict, let there be forgiveness; where there is division, let there be unity.”
“May you be reborn in the Pure Land and all attain Buddhahood. The four great elements and five aggregates are illusory, and in the end, all dissolves.”
“Where there is error, let there be truth; where there is despair, let there be hope; in darkness, let there be light; where there is sorrow, let there be joy.”
“Release attachment to this flesh, awaken to the true way, and all suffering shall cease as you behold the Buddha.”
“Rather than be comforted, let us comfort; rather than be understood, let us understand; rather than be loved, let us love.”
“The path the Victim Spirit treads shall be filled with radiance. Where is the Pure Land of Amitabha, countless leagues away? Where delusion and affliction have ceased—that place is paradise itself.”
Ring, ring.
The Shaman’s Bell chimed as prayer and sutra were recited in unison.
Gwak Young-ho’s trembling gradually ceased, and Shin Jung-ah stared blankly at the two men.
Somehow, she sensed what they would do next.
“All distinctions are emptiness; you came with empty hands and shall depart with empty hands. What binds you to this realm that prevents your rebirth in the Pure Land? As we chant this mantra with singular intent, the gates of hell crumble, the karmic bonds you forged are severed, and may you attain the highest rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land.”
“We receive by giving, we are forgiven by forgiving, and through self-surrender and death, we gain eternal life.”
Ring, ring-ring!
Kang Hyung-seok shook the Shaman’s Bell as he finished the sutra.
Shin Yoseph made the sign of the cross as he completed the prayer.
It happened right after.
“Ugh, uhhh…”
Gwak Young-ho groaned, his eyelids fluttering.
“Manager! Manager, come to your senses!”
Shin Jung-ah quickly seized Gwak Young-ho’s shoulders, while Shin Yoseph swept the sticky rice scattered across his body away with his palm.
It was just as Kang Hyung-seok tucked the bell into his embrace.
“Ah, ugh. D-Director Shin?”
“Yes!”
Shin Jung-ah abruptly grasped Gwak Young-ho’s face as he tried to survey his surroundings.
Thanks to her blocking his view of Kang Hyung-seok, who had ventured into the Valley, she stared at Gwak Young-ho and tears streamed down her face.
“Come to your senses, will you? I’m asking if you’re coming to your senses.”
“Ah, ugh. Why am I here…?”
“Phew! Seriously, because of you, Manager.”
Shin Jung-ah gripped Gwak Young-ho’s shoulders firmly as he stood bewildered, then turned her gaze toward Shin Yoseph and Kang Hyung-seok.
Her eyes conveyed gratitude and appreciation for their efforts.
Kang Hyung-seok approached Gwak Young-ho without making a sound, a faint smile playing at his lips.
***
When we returned to the Pension, Namgoong Min-ah came running from the Terrace with a startled expression.
“Oh! What were you all doing?”
Everyone reeked of water.
Particularly Kang Hyung-seok and Gwak Young-ho had their lower halves completely soaked as if they’d fallen into water, causing Namgoong Min-ah to hop anxiously as if something terrible had happened.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious? Your clothes are completely drenched!”
Gwak Young-ho turned his troubled face toward Kang Hyung-seok, his eyes pleading for an explanation.
So Kang Hyung-seok spoke up, pushing past Shin Jung-ah and Shin Yoseph.
“It seems like sleepwalking.”
“Pardon?”
Namgoong Min-ah’s eyes widened, and Gwak Young-ho’s shoulders sagged as his expression grew troubled.
“I have no idea either. I don’t remember anything.”
“Manager…”
“You gave us quite a fright. You weren’t answering your phone either.”
“Ah, well…”
Namgoong Min-ah’s eyes reflected pity and sympathy, but Gwak Young-ho’s expression grew even more complex and melancholic.
But there was nothing to be done.
How could he possibly explain that he’d nearly died after being bewitched by a ghost?
“Manager, don’t be too alarmed. As soon as we get back, please go to the Hospital and get a health checkup.”
“Yes… that’s right. Okay.”
Gwak Young-ho seemed so shocked that Shin Jung-ah offered an awkward smile and added a word.
“Come on! Don’t look so down. It’s about time you got a health checkup anyway.”
“Uh, yes, yes.”
“And sleepwalking, too. Apparently, it can happen temporarily when you’re under a lot of stress.”
“Really?”
Shin Jung-ah nodded vigorously while forcing her smile to appear natural.
“Exactly! My father gets stressed often, and whenever he does, he falls asleep and ends up on the living room sofa. In the morning, he wonders why he’s sleeping there. It’s quite common, actually.”
“Ah….”
Gwak Young-ho nodded faintly, as if accepting the explanation.
“You seemed to have enjoyed yourselves at the Valley?”
Shin Yoseph threw out the remark casually, and Gwak Young-ho laughed awkwardly, responding with an embarrassed “Yes, yes.”
After all, Gwak Young-ho had genuinely been delighted like a child at the Valley during the day.
“Phew, I must have dozed off without realizing it.”
“You had some alcohol when you were eating the meat earlier.”
“Right, that’s true.”
“My goodness, our Manager. I didn’t think you were the type, but you’re surprisingly weak with alcohol. Just a few drinks and look at you.”
Gwak Young-ho’s face flushed as he protested against Shin Jung-ah’s words.
“No, it wasn’t that much.”
“What do you mean it wasn’t that much? That’s exactly how much it looked like.”
“I’m telling you it wasn’t.”
“Fine. Go wash up and get some rest early.”
Shin Jung-ah pushed Gwak Young-ho toward the stairs.
As he headed up, Gwak Young-ho muttered, “It’s like I’ve been possessed by a ghost or something.”
“Min-ah, you should head in too. It’s getting late.”
Namgoong Min-ah looked up at Kang Hyung-seok with worry etched across her face.
“Are you all right, sir? Your clothes are completely soaked.”
“That’s exactly why you need to go in first so I can rest as well.”
“Oh! Yes, yes!”
Namgoong Min-ah headed toward the stairs, her eyes still filled with concern.
Once she had completely disappeared from view, I turned to face Shin Jung-ah and Shin Yoseph.
I exchanged a grateful look with them, and strangely, they were both gazing back at me with similar expressions.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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