An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 142

—————

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

—————

Chapter 142
Part 1. Hearts Reach Toward Heaven (3)
Clink!
As beer glasses collided crisply, droplets of foam sparkled under the light.
It was a hof bar a short distance from Daejeong Materials.
“Drink up! Today’s on me!”
At Gwak Young-ho’s hearty declaration, Shin Jung-ah, seated across from him, laughed and set down her glass.
“It would’ve been nice if the department head was treating us to somewhere fancier.”
“Shin Manager, give me a break. You know payday is ages away.”
“I’m just joking. And I’ll chip in too.”
Though brief, Gwak Young-ho’s moment of flustered reaction was visible to the other department members.
“No, no! Today’s a good day—I should be the one treating.”
“That’s exactly why I said it.”
Shin Jung-ah glanced at Lee Jin-pyung, seated beside Kang Hyung-seok, and offered a warm smile.
“Congratulations, Deputy Manager Lee!”
“Thank you, Manager.”
“Congratulations, Deputy Manager Lee!”
When even Namgoong Min-ah celebrated as if it were her own achievement, Lee Jin-pyung grew bashful and laughed awkwardly.
Gulp, gulp.
After drinking his beer with satisfaction, Gwak Young-ho exhaled with a soft sound and regarded Kang Hyung-seok and Lee Jin-pyung with an approving gaze.
“You two really worked hard. Don’t worry—I packaged the report nicely on my end.”
“What did they say upstairs?”
At Kang Hyung-seok’s question, Gwak Young-ho chuckled and grabbed some colorful snacks that had been served as complimentary appetizers.
“They were surprised, naturally. Reviving a dead contract is always harder. And that client—they’re just a regular business partner, right?”
“I heard they’ve been with us since the early days.”
“Then they’re a place I developed myself.”
Nostalgia washed over Gwak Young-ho before the alcohol could, and he smiled briefly before reaching for his beer glass again.
“And here’s the thing—right after we signed the contract, they immediately placed an order. That looks good to the higher-ups.”
That much was certainly true.
A contract was merely a means to generate performance metrics; real results came from actual transactions.
Kim Young-chan’s furniture factory had requested substantial quantities of lumber immediately upon signing.
It was for constructing memorial tablets and a memorial shrine, but for Daejeong Materials, it was good business either way.
“Plus, I heard his son decided to inherit the family business. Since he’s still in his twenties, we’ve essentially secured a solid long-term client. How could the higher-ups not be pleased?”
As Gwak Young-ho looked around the department members seeking agreement, the fried chicken arrived.
Strangely, whether it was hof bar chicken or delivery chicken, it was always the same single bird, yet somehow it looked like there was more.
“Come on, let’s eat. Deputy Manager Lee, have plenty.”
“Thank you.”
“Manager Kang too!”
“Of course.”
Kang Hyung-seok smiled and picked up a piece of chicken, transferring it to his own plate.
It was an impromptu company dinner.
Yet the atmosphere was far from unpleasant.
Glug, glug, glug.
“Min-ah, aren’t you getting a bit ahead of yourself from the very start?”
“It’s a good day. Hehe.”
Shin Jung-ah watched over Namgoong Min-ah like a much younger sister, and Namgoong Min-ah laughed brightly without pause.
I understood why.
How much a good contract could mean to someone in sales.
“I hope Lee Deputy Manager becomes a manager too.”
“Wait, then we’d have three managers in our department?”
“Then Shin Manager could become a senior manager.”
It was something Namgoong Min-ah tossed out as the alcohol warmed her up, and Gwak Young-ho received it with an expression that said ‘not a bad idea.’
“Shin Manager, let’s work hard and aim for that senior manager position.”
“What? How am I supposed to work any harder than this?”
“Well, just bring in one big contract.”
“That’s easier said than done! It’s not like those things just fall from the sky.”
“I believe in you, Shin Manager.”
“Ah, Director!”
Shin Jung-ah’s voice was loud, but her expression wasn’t unpleasant.
As the two of them bickered, Kang Hyung-seok took a sip of beer with a smile on his face.
Fresh draft beer from a hof bar.
It was ordinary beer, nothing special about it, yet the atmosphere seemed to wash away even one’s worries.
“Phew! Congratulations, Lee Deputy Manager.”
Lee Jin-pyung laughed bashfully and lowered his head.
“It’s thanks to Manager. Really.”
“What do you mean? I know how hard you worked preparing for the meeting.”
Lee Jin-pyung had even brought a tablet and conducted the meeting with the employees.
Though Kang Hyung-seok had created the opportunity for the lumber order, it was Lee Jin-pyung who had made the chance happen.
Above all, knowing how hard Lee Jin-pyung had prepared, Kang Hyung-seok gave him a sincere look of gratitude.
“Thank you.”
Lee Jin-pyung, grateful that Kang Hyung-seok recognized his effort, smiled softly.
“If there’s good news next time, let’s have another gathering like this. Anyway, congratulations on the contract.”
Kang Hyung-seok extended his glass, and Lee Jin-pyung raised his as well, clinking them together.
They each took a refreshing sip, and Kang Hyung-seok brought over some chicken breast and placed it on his small plate.
“Huh? Manager Kang, are you on a diet?”
Shin Jung-ah asked because it was noticeable how carefully he was removing the crispy coating from the outside.
Kang Hyung-seok shook his head slightly and tore the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces with his fork.
Only then did Shin Jung-ah catch on to his intention, jumping up and raising her glass.
“Come on, let’s make a toast.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Why, Manager? When else would we do this if not now?”
Gwak Young-ho raised his glass with a look of agreement.
In the meantime, Kang Hyung-seok dropped a piece of shredded chicken breast beneath the table.
‘You’ve suffered through a lot too.’
Baekseol.
The Spitz Victim Spirit that Lee Jin-pyung had raised.
Kang Hyung-seok, who had placed a piece of chicken breast down for that creature still lingering at his feet, raised his glass and toasted with his department members.
—Slurp, slurp.
The sound of Spitz licking the chicken breast and partaking in the blessing reached their ears.
The dinner progressed smoothly, and soon the atmosphere shifted toward wrapping up, with department members sipping refreshing drinks in front of the hof bar and exchanging brief pleasantries.
“Then I’ll head out first! Manager, thank you so much for today.”
Gwak Young-ho waved with a smiling face at Namgoong Min-ah, who bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
“Get home safely! See you tomorrow!”
“Yes!”
Namgoong Min-ah left, and Lee Jin-pyung also gave a slight bow to Kang Hyung-seok.
“Please get home safely, Manager.”
“Yes. You too, Deputy Manager.”
“Thank you.”
Phew, really.
Lee Jin-pyung had a peculiar way of touching people’s hearts.
Kang Hyung-seok smiled and said “See you tomorrow,” while Lee Jin-pyung walked slowly toward the bus stop. It was then that I watched Baekseol spinning around happily beside him.
“Should we head in soon?”
“Shall we?”
“Right. Take this.”
Gwak Young-ho suddenly remembered something and pulled out his wallet, extracting three fifty-thousand-won bills and handing them over.
“What? Why this…?”
“Call the deputy manager and head in. Drop off Shin Manager on the way.”
“No, Manager!”
Shin Jung-ah, startled, pressed down on his wrist holding the bills, but Gwak Young-ho waved his hand with a laugh.
“That’s enough. I know how hard Kang Manager has worked.”
Gwak Young-ho didn’t know.
That Kang Hyung-seok was the one who received the blessing, and that he had driven away the Dog Spirit that had been targeting Kim Young-chan and Kim Young-jun.
“I know Kang Manager is straightforward and doesn’t show it much. But I know he’s been working hard behind the scenes more than anyone. I’m grateful that he’s been looking after Deputy Manager. Take it.”
Still, he understood how immense Kang Hyung-seok’s efforts were in producing results every time.
“No, Manager…”
“It was originally my job. I’m sorry for leaving it to you, and I’m also grateful that you did it well.”
Shin Jung-ah felt the sincerity conveyed so strongly that she withdrew her hand from his wrist, and Gwak Young-ho extended more bills toward Kang Hyung-seok.
“Take it quickly. I’ve got frozen shoulder now, so even doing this is hard.”
“…Thank you.”
“I’m the grateful one. Now, get home safely! Let’s see each other again tomorrow with smiles!”
Gwak Young-ho waved his hand as if finally relieved, then walked away.
Left alone now, Kang Hyung-seok smiled with just the corner of his mouth while holding the bills.
“I never would have expected that.”
At Shin Jung-ah’s words, Kang Hyung-seok laughed, exhaling through his nose.
“Right? That’s just how the Manager is.”
“Well, thanks to him, I can leave without worry.”
“Should we go?”
“Want some coffee? I’ll buy.”
“Coffee at this hour? That’s a bit much.”
Shin Jung-ah pointed toward a nearby convenience store with a smile.
“Then something warm, anything. Let’s go.”
The two walked through the night streets, conversing quietly.
They had called a deputy driver, but it would take some time for him to arrive, so they had leisure.
***
【Broadcast starting 3… 2… 1】
Pop.
“Hello, everyone!”
Yoon Sang began the broadcast with his usual bright voice.
[Yo, welcome back.]
[Hey there]
[Liar.]
But that’s how broadcasting is.
The viewers’ reactions don’t match my feelings.
“I know, I know. I’m really ashamed.”
Yoon Sang, who had been energetic until he turned on the broadcast, drooped his shoulders and his expression grew gloomy.
“I’ve been absent lately. I haven’t been doing exploration content much either.”
[What about the collaboration? What happened?]
[You haven’t mentioned that hyung in a while. Did something happen?]
It feels like I got cut off. lol
[Honestly, when someone’s busy with their own work, having a broadcaster around is annoying.]
[You’re a burden, a burden.]
[For real.]
“Who’s a burden! I swear to the heavens I’ve never been a burden to that hyung, not even once! Everyone who watches my broadcast knows that, right? Right?”
That’s true. Haha.
[But why no contact?]
[You’re trash. Cut.]
Click.
[User ‘Troll’ has been forcibly removed.]
After kicking out the viewer who crossed the line, Yoon Sang took a deep breath.
Honestly, managing my expression is difficult today.
Today, the viewers happened to strike a nerve.
“I do feel a bit wistful about it. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that hyung. But because I respect and admire him, it feels wrong to push for a collaboration or suggest doing something together.”
[Oh, what a thoughtful comment.]
[If you’re thinking long-term, maintaining boundaries really is important.]
[Yoon Sang, the principled broadcaster.]
[Excessive loyalty. lol]
I watched with a smile, ignoring the last chat message.
Yoon Sang forced his lips upward into a smile, then exhaled deeply and fixed the camera with a clearer gaze.
“Lately my broadcasts have been a bit sparse and subdued, so I’ve actually been planning something with that old-school flavor to it.”
[?]
[Are you trying to do another haunted house experience?]
[???]
“No! Actually, I received a tip about a week ago. It’s from someone quite well-known in the Factory District, and apparently a rather famous yokai appears there.”
[A yokai…?]
[Like a Dullahan or a Nine-tailed Fox?]
The viewers began to grow curious.
Guesses flooded in, but not a single person correctly identified the yokai I’d been tipped about.
Yoon Sang smiled with an enigmatic expression and confidently pulled up an image file.
Click.
[Ah, startled me.]
Turn on the turn signal, please.
[Gross.]
[The drawing looks Japanese? So you’re saying a Japanese yokai appeared in Korea?]
“Yes!”
Yoon Sang clapped his hands together and laughed, pointing to the chat from the viewer who’d given the reaction I wanted.
“Since it’s a Japanese yokai, it might be unfamiliar to you. Let me start by telling you its name.”
Yoon Sang made eye contact with the camera and composed his expression for the broadcast’s atmosphere.
Then, in a serious tone, I revealed the name of the yokai I’d been tipped about and displayed on the monitor.
“Rokurokuби. As you can see in the image, it’s a yokai whose neck stretches.”
Yoon Sang grabbed the mouse and enlarged the photograph I’d displayed.
A drawing of a person whose neck was long and serpentine, coiling grotesquely.
Rendered in the style of Japanese folklore, the yokai appeared even more grotesque, filling the viewers’ monitors completely.

—————

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

—————