An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 15

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

Chapter 15
Part 5. There Are Many Shamans Like Lumps of Mud (3)
About a week had passed since I encountered Noh Su-chul.
“I’m moving.”
When there were about five minutes left in the lunch break, Shin Jung-ah, whom I’d met on the rooftop, suddenly broached the subject.
“Is that so? When?”
“Tomorrow.”
It was genuinely sudden in every way.
Kang Hyung-seok stopped his hand as he was about to drink his coffee and gave me a bewildered look.
“The House Owner agreed to this?”
Shin Jung-ah took a deep drag from her cigarette before answering.
“Phew! He said he understood. Good thing too. I felt like I couldn’t live there anymore because of the unease, not just the discomfort.”
Shin Jung-ah furrowed her brow and exhaled the cigarette smoke irritably.
One week. Just one week.
Enough time to adapt to the work and settle into the company to some degree.
And it’s a time when the face hidden behind a mask can occasionally slip through without seeming strange.
Naturally, Shin Jung-ah expressed her emotions more openly than before, and she was exactly as sensitive and prickly as I’d anticipated.
“I tried to just stay put since moving is also work, but I really couldn’t manage it. Every time I enter the Sealed Room, those memories come flooding back. How could I possibly live like that?”
“Moving must be quite taxing then.”
“Ah! Deputy Manager Kang doesn’t need to worry. I’ve decided to use a moving service this time.”
Shin Jung-ah added the words hurriedly, her expression suggesting she was being cautious.
She had gotten angry at least once with both Namgoong Min-ah and Lee Jin-pyung.
But with me, rather than getting angry, she seemed careful.
“Please don’t worry about it. If you’re too considerate, it makes me uncomfortable.”
“Phew! Then should I be inconsiderate?”
Her expression was joking, so I couldn’t help but chuckle as well.
“One difficult superior seems to be enough.”
I was referring to Noh Su-chul.
Just recalling his appearance made me feel a chill run down my spine.
“I’ve heard bits and pieces. Honestly, I’m not exactly the caring type, but I’m not that bad, right?”
I took a sip of the coffee I’d brought in my tumbler and nodded.
Shin Jung-ah was incomparable to Noh Su-chul.
And this thought just occurred to me, but if I hadn’t helped with the move at Shin Chang-yong’s request, I probably wouldn’t have this kind of relationship with Shin Jung-ah now.
“By the way, did you find a place?”
“Yeah, my family helped out a bit. I’m going to Dongwoo Apartment.”
“Dongwoo? Isn’t that newly built?”
“My family helped out, I said?”
It was a question about whether it was expensive, but the response that came back was ‘what’s the problem with that?’
She must come from a wealthy family. Shin Jung-ah, that is.
Then again, her uncle is Shin Chang-yong, a founding member and director of this company.
And judging purely by appearance, Shin Jung-ah gave off the impression of coming from a well-to-do family.
“Still, you’re covering the moving costs, aren’t you, sir? It’s a shame you haven’t even been there long.”
“Ah, the House Owner agreed to cover it. I was just testing the waters, but he readily consented.”
Kang Hyung-seok nodded with a look of understanding.
The House Owner had concealed the fact that someone had been murdered in that dwelling and had even sealed away the Victim Spirit.
Moreover, since the House Owner was already aware of his connection to Kang Hyung-seok, who had performed the ascension ritual for the Victim Spirit, he would have complied with whatever was asked of him.
“In any case, congratulations on moving into a new construction home.”
“The more I think about it, the more that House Owner irritates me. What on earth was he thinking?”
“He’ll get it all back eventually.”
“Will he really?”
Shin Jung-ah’s eyes conveyed exasperation, and Kang Hyung-seok’s lips curved upward.
“At the very least, his health will deteriorate.”
“That’s frightening….”
“It is.”
The House Owner and the real estate agent were not particularly young.
Health problems arising at their age would be quite severe.
While it wouldn’t lead to death, they would endure considerable suffering for the remainder of their lives.
“And I’m sorry to you, Kang. You helped me move, but I won’t be staying long.”
“It worked out well. That’s what matters.”
Shin Jung-ah smiled awkwardly, her expression mingling apology with gratitude, then took a drag from her cigarette.
“Phew! I hope everything turns out well. Really.”
Then, as she stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, she added a parting remark in a casual tone.
“I won’t trouble you again this time.”
***
The engine rumbled to life.
The moment Kang Hyung-seok clocked out, he immediately entered a destination into the navigation system—not his home, but somewhere else entirely.
Lee Geum-kyung’s Shamanic Temple.
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Yes, Chung-geum. It’s Kang Hyung-seok.”
“Oh! Young Master!”
As Chung-geum greeted him with a surprised voice, Kang Hyung-seok merely lifted the corners of his mouth and exited the company parking lot.
It was rush hour.
The road was congested with vehicles, and the traffic lights seemed to stop them on cue with their crimson glow.
He signaled his intention to merge, then spoke while glancing at his phone.
“Is the Master there today?”
“No. She’s away on a business trip.”
A business trip—was it for a ritual performance?
But why hadn’t Chung-geum gone with her?
Before Kang Hyung-seok could even furrow his brow, Chung-geum’s explanation followed.
“She went to meet with Professor Park Ki-yeol. They’re preparing for a ritual performance.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, that makes sense.”
There was something called the Dragon King Ritual.
A performance offered to the Dragon King of the Sea, asking him to hold back the winds and praying for the safety of ships and abundant catches.
It was an important ritual for fishermen and was now maintained as a traditional cultural practice, and Lee Geum-kyung had been participating in it for decades.
“She must be quite busy for a while.”
“There’s nothing for me to be busy with. It’s not a place where a disciple like me should participate.”
No matter how much it resembled a traditional cultural form, this was no ceremonial performance.
A ritual where the lives of sailors hung in the balance.
A grand ritual offered to the Dragon King himself.
It was far too significant an occasion for a disciple like Chung-geum to attend.
“I understand.”
“But what brings this up?”
“Oh, it’s nothing major.”
The light changed, and a gap opened in traffic.
Kang Hyung-seok merged onto the road and drove slowly.
“I was just thinking of asking for some guidance.”
“Guidance on what?”
Kang Hyung-seok exhaled a heavy sigh before speaking.
“I witnessed someone who had been manipulated by a charlatan shaman.”
(….)
“Hello?”
Wondering if the call had dropped due to the silence, he waited.
But soon, Chung-geum’s voice came through, tinged with a bitterness so palpable it was almost visible.
(Before the teacher stepped away, there was something she said.)
“What did she… say?”
(She said it was about time you encountered him.)
Kang Hyung-seok closed his mouth, rendered speechless.
‘She truly is the teacher.’
To leave such a timely remark.
Lee Geum-kyung was certainly one of the rare few who could be called a true shaman.
“Did she leave any other messages?”
(She said entanglement with frauds is unavoidable.)
“I see…”
(She also said not to hate them.)
It was a statement that seemed impossible coming from Lee Geum-kyung.
The moment Kang Hyung-seok’s eyes reflexively shifted to his phone, narrowing the space between his brows, a calm voice flowed from the call screen labeled Chung-geum.
(Truly malicious fraudulent shamans are surprisingly rare, she said. And since they will all receive their punishment, there is no need for you to accumulate karma by opposing them.)
“…So that’s what she meant.”
(Yes. And frauds fear the genuine.)
Just as darkness fears the light that would drive it away.
Just as a single drop of water fears the wave that would swallow it.
Fraudulent shamans revere true shamans.
(You are a true shaman. They will fear you, so why concern yourself with them?)
Do not waver.
Believe in yourself and move forward with steadfast resolve.
That was the message I felt in Chung-geum’s words.
“Thank you. By the way, I never expected to receive help like this.”
(Were you perhaps on your way here?)
“I was actually thinking about it. But since I’ve already received so much help, I’m not sure if a visit would be appropriate.”
I worried I might only cause inconvenience.
That’s what I thought.
(Today is Friday, isn’t it? Do come by.)
“May I really visit?”
(Yes. Your voice is full of worry. Come have some tea with me.)
“I’d hate to impose.”
(All I can do for you right now is to serve you tea, so please.)
I understood Chung-geum’s intention.
So I couldn’t simply refuse.
(And the teacher likely has a separate list of shamanic temples. I’ll look into it just in case.)
Come by and shed your worries, she seemed to be saying.
With that feeling, Kang Hyung-seok nodded and replied.
“Understood. It’s around quitting time, so I’ll be a bit late, but I’ll bring something that pairs well with tea.”
(Oh, no, you don’t need to do that.)
“I’m not comfortable receiving it alone. If there’s anything you’d like to eat, just text me the order.”
(No, that’s…)
“Besides, you won’t be there anyway.”
(Um, uh…)
I’d meant it as a joke, but Chung-geum was visibly flustered.
“Is there any particular food you’d like to have?”
(Um… yes.)
“Just tell me. I’ll go get it.”
(Well, then… chicken.)
Kang Hyung-seok barely suppressed a laugh that threatened to burst out.
She seemed like a proper disciple, yet seeing her like this made it clear she was unmistakably young.
“Do you have a preferred brand?”
(Ah, anything is fine.)
“Understood. I’ll be back shortly. See you in a moment.”
Kang Hyung-seok ended the call and leaned back deeply against the seat, lifting the corners of his mouth into a smile.
He drove along with the traffic flow, his gaze drifting toward the sidewalk.
Colorful neon signs illuminating the darkness shone more brilliantly than the stars in the night sky, lighting up the street.
***
At the same moment.
Shin Jung-ah arrived at the Shamanic Temple in the Commercial District, set down her bag, and sat on a cushion.
“How have you been, Master?”
Whoosh!
A man dressed in colorful shamanic robes, which he unfurled like a fan, opened his eyes narrowly.
“My, you’re full of worries.”
“Something happened.”
“Let me see. Divine Child, please reveal it to me.”
The young shaman picked up the bell and shook it, producing a wa-rang wa-rang sound.
Shin Jung-ah felt a strange sensation.
She came to this temple often and had seen this young Park Su shake the Shaman’s Bell many times before.
At first, it had been quite frightening.
But ever since she’d seen Kang Hyung-seok shake the Shaman’s Bell, it no longer felt the same.
“There’s movement here. Are you moving?”
Shin Jung-ah silently marveled and nodded.
“Yes. Something bad happened.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Then you should have called me.”
“Ah, well…”
Shin Jung-ah started to explain what had happened in that house but shook her head instead.
It was too long even by her own thinking, and it had nothing to do with what she was asking for today.
“I just had someone I know handle it.”
“Huh! Is that person a shaman or something?”
“Perhaps… maybe?”
It was an answer I tried to brush past casually.
But Park Su’s eyes narrowed sharply, and a rasping voice burst out.
“A Shaman is a Shaman! What do you mean ‘maybe’? Do you even know what a Shaman is?”
“Excuse me?”
As Shin Jung-ah blinked her wide eyes in confusion, one corner of Park Su’s mouth lifted.
“A Shaman is one who dominates spirits. It is the divine who designates a Shaman—not some wishy-washy uncertainty. How presumptuous.”
Shin Jung-ah felt a surge of emotion in that moment but clamped her lips shut.
She had heard countless times that showing one’s temper in a Shamanic Temple was never wise.
Knowing that a temperamental Shaman could cause all manner of harm with no recourse, she swallowed her anger as best she could and opened her mouth.
“Please write me a talisman.”
It was right after this.
Suddenly Park Su pressed her lips firmly together and stared at Shin Jung-ah with narrowed eyes for a long moment.
Then one corner of her mouth curved upward.
“You’ve been suffering quite a bit, it seems.”
“Well, yes.”
“I’ve told you many times before—your fate chart has far too much misfortune written into it. It’s the perfect invitation for spirits to enter.”
Having heard this explanation many times before, Shin Jung-ah nodded with her lips pressed together.
“I’ll write you a talisman, but if something happens again, steel yourself and undergo a proper ritual. That’s the only way you’ll survive.”
“…Yes.”
As Shin Jung-ah answered with a sigh, the Shaman lifted her brush with one corner of her mouth raised.
Swoosh, swoosh.
She dipped the brush in crimson ink and began writing the talisman.
The characters were written in a flourishing hand and composed of complex Chinese script that Shin Jung-ah could not read, but there was one character she could make out.
The character for “Gate” (門).

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