An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 162

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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 161
Part 1. You Thought It Was Light? (1)
Jingle.
Jo Myung-sook picked up the Shaman’s Bell, and Lee Ha-yoon and Shin Jung-ah settled into their seats before her.
“Hello. We’d like to have our fortunes read.”
Shin Jung-ah spoke with casual boldness, studying Jo Myung-sook carefully.
She had visited many Shamanic Temples.
Working in sales, she had seen countless people.
And having experienced betrayal even from a Shamanic Temple she had trusted, she no longer harbored the blind faith of before.
Jingle-jingle-jingle-jingle!
As Shin Jung-ah watched Jo Myung-sook shake the Shaman’s Bell with theatrical flair, she felt a hand creeping across the back of her own.
It was Lee Ha-yoon’s hand.
I’m scared.
That boldly confident Lee Ha-yoon had been overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere of the Shamanic Temple she was visiting for the first time.
Just as Shin Jung-ah sent her a look that said “stay calm,”
Thud.
Jo Myung-sook set down the Shaman’s Bell.
“What are you two doing?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re not just ordinary people here for a fortune reading—where’s this act coming from!”
Lee Ha-yoon flinched in shock, and Shin Jung-ah felt panic rising within her as well.
But if she got caught up in the Shaman’s words, they would accomplish nothing and have to leave.
“Get out!”
“Ah, no, why are you suddenly like this?”
“I said get out!”
Shin Jung-ah pressed her lips firmly shut, then suddenly remembered something and thrust her hand into her pocket.
Jo Myung-sook’s eyes narrowed to slits, and in that same moment, Lee Ha-yoon cast a look that screamed “what is she doing?”
“Is it because of this, perhaps?”
Shin Jung-ah withdrew the talisman she always carried with her.
A protective amulet blessed by a sage.
When Jo Myung-sook’s gaze became rooted to the talisman as if taking hold, Shin Jung-ah continued speaking.
“A great Shaman wrote this for me. That’s why you’re reacting this way, isn’t it?”
“…Who gave it to you?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know their name.”
It was common not to know a Shaman’s name even after visiting their temple.
Jo Myung-sook nodded with understanding, and Shin Jung-ah slipped the talisman back into her pocket.
“How did you get here?”
“By taxi.”
Jo Myung-sook’s eyebrows twitched sharply.
But Shin Jung-ah continued her performance, appearing displeased at being misunderstood without cause.
“I’ve told you repeatedly—I came to have my fortune read.”
“Hmm.”
Jo Myung-sook stared at Shin Jung-ah for a long moment, then closed her eyes and nodded slowly.
If her spiritual guide had given her even the slightest hint, how would Jo Myung-sook have received Shin Jung-ah’s words?
“Your birth date and time?”
Shin Jung-ah recited the fabricated fortune she had memorized.
“That’s strange. Are you certain about your own fortune?”
“You’re suspicious again?”
Jo Myung-sook glared at Shin Jung-ah, her brow furrowing with displeasure.
“It feels as though a Shaman is nearby.”
“I showed you earlier. I received talismans from another Shamanic Temple.”
“Tsk.”
Jo Myung-sook slowly contemplated the fortune she had heard from Shin Jung-ah once more, then continued with her reading.
“Unremarkable. You’ll often see the blessings of your ancestors, and especially the great fortune bestowed by your parents.”
“Is that so?”
“What do your parents do?”
“They’re both office workers.”
“Are they well-prepared for retirement?”
“Yes.”
Jo Myung-sook interpreted Shin Jung-ah’s fabricated fortune with considerable care and attention.
From the fortune of karmic connections and wealth, through the periods when major cycles shifted, to the destiny of her later years.
“Sigh.”
After completing the lengthy fortune reading, Jo Myung-sook gazed at Shin Jung-ah with an expression of regret.
‘If only her fortune had been slightly more auspicious…’
She could have arranged a marriage with the Victim Spirit in some way.
But the fortune was far too ordinary—even if she arranged the marriage, there would be little gain, so she couldn’t demand a high price.
In crude terms, it was a fortune that wouldn’t even cover labor costs, so Jo Myung-sook’s interest naturally drifted toward Lee Ha-yoon.
“What about you?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Your birth year, day, and time.”
Lee Ha-yoon, who rarely visited the Shamanic Temple, hesitantly revealed her fabricated fortune.
In the meantime, Shin Jung-ah slowly examined Jo Myung-sook and the interior of the Shamanic Temple.
‘Something feels like it might be here.’
She showed no strong reaction to the false fortune.
Just an ordinary, unremarkable response.
Yet there was no guarantee she wasn’t a Shaman who peddled fortunes.
‘Is she ordinary?’
Just as Shin Jung-ah was about to abandon her suspicions, finding nothing particularly striking—
In one corner, along the right wall relative to Jo Myung-sook’s position where shamanic implements were arranged, something unfamiliar caught her eye.
It was a wooden carving of a mandarin duck.
Mandarin ducks are known as birds with good marital harmony, and thus have been used as decorations in traditional wedding ceremonies.
‘Wedding supplies?’
Shin Jung-ah wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about it, but the red and blue threads wound around the beaks of the mandarin duck figurines were items used in spirit weddings.
Gulp.
Shin Jung-ah swallowed dryly and found her gaze drifting unconsciously toward the ceiling.
A CCTV camera was installed there.
It was positioned at precisely the right angle to capture the faces of customers seated before the fortune teller’s desk.
‘…I may have found the right place after all.’
It was the moment Shin Jung-ah carefully shifted her attention toward Jo Myung-sook.
“Heh!”
The corners of Jo Myung-sook’s mouth were curling upward.
A smile that carried such greed it couldn’t be dismissed as mere imagination.
“You have an excellent fortune. So good you wouldn’t even need to visit a Shamanic Temple.”
“Oh, really?”
“If you fall into the hands of some incompetent shaman, they might steal it from you. So from today on, don’t go anywhere else.”
“Wow… to that extent?”
Watching Jo Myung-sook nod vigorously, Shin Jung-ah swallowed dryly.
“Moreover, your parents’ fortune is excellent, and your financial fortune is excellent too. You must have suffered because of a man—but you did get married, right?”
“No! I don’t even have anyone I’m seeing.”
“Is that so?”
Shin Jung-ah was certain.
She had seen Jo Myung-sook’s eyes gleam at the mention of not being married.
Withdrawing her gaze from Jo Myung-sook, who had no idea she was being observed, Shin Jung-ah pulled out her phone.
Tap tap tap tap.
Then, pretending to take notes on the fortune reading, she began typing a message to Kang Hyung-seok.
***
“Ah! Hyung-seok, slow down a bit.”
Yoon Sang gasped for breath, placing both hands on his knees.
We were at the boundary between the Commercial District and Residential District, not far from Jo Myung-sook’s Shamanic Temple.
“Huff, huff! Hyung-seok, what have you been doing? What kind of stamina….”
“Wait.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket to check the message.
I confirmed the text from Shin Jung-ah and exhaled deeply, my chest swelling with relief.
‘Found her.’
The location was included as well.
If I ran at full speed, it would take roughly five minutes.
‘Manager Shin’s fate seems to lean this way too. There must be something to this.’
Impressive. Truly.
As I thought I should buy her a meal once this was over, I heard Yoon Sang’s breathing.
“Yoon Sang, I need to ask you for two things.”
“Huff, huff, yes?”
“You have a camera, right?”
This matter wasn’t something to resolve with spirits.
It was a human affair.
Evidence collection might be necessary, and Yoon Sang was the most skilled at that.
Whoosh.
Yoon Sang, still gasping, pulled out a latest-model smartphone from his pocket, and from another pocket, he retrieved a professional lens attachment for the phone’s rear camera.
“Huff, why?”
“Start recording video. Don’t use it for the broadcast.”
“Yes. Whew! Whoooo.”
Having rushed to keep up all this time, Yoon Sang seemed unable to gather his wits.
So he couldn’t even ask why.
‘In the end, it’s all human affairs.’
These kinds of situations were the most troublesome.
Since they could be cleanly cut off, I absolutely had to leave evidence.
‘Karma and responsibility—I’ll make sure they bear it all.’
So they could never do such things again.
So they would face proper punishment for the harm inflicted on humans.
I looked at Yoon Sang manipulating his phone, and our eyes met directly.
“Why, Hyung-seok? What’s the other favor you need?”
“Run.”
“What?”
I gestured for him to follow and began running toward the address Shin Jung-ah had sent.
Yoon Sang, following behind me, made a sound that was either a scream or gasping breath as he desperately chased after me.
Clang, clang, clang.
The Shaman’s Bell in my bag rattled.
Click, click.
The Shaman’s Bell produced the same small metallic sound with each step, as if it were speaking to me.
Hurry, it seemed to say.
Sever the lifeline of evil.
***
Shin Jung-ah’s eyes moved subtly.
Lee Ha-yoon beside her was still engaged in earnest conversation with Jo Myung-sook about the fake fortune.
So nothing stood out.
Not a single movement.
‘I need to find something else. Something different.’
I had the feeling, but the only physical evidence was the mandarin duck figurine.
I’d told Kang Hyung-seok to come, but before that, my mind was consumed with the thought that I needed to find at least one more clear piece of evidence.
“It would be so nice if I could write just one more talisman.”
“Pardon? A talisman? Aren’t those expensive?”
“Since it’s related to health, you don’t have to do it if you think it’s unnecessary.”
“Well, then how much would it cost…?”
“Just show your sincerity. That’s all that matters.”
Jo Myung-sook, who had been conversing with Lee Ha-yoon, lifted one knee and pulled out a notebook from beneath it.
It was clearly old and worn.
The densely packed notes were suspicious enough on their own.
Rustle.
As Jo Myung-sook flipped through the notebook, Shin Jung-ah saw the densely written fortunes.
‘…’
Chills ran down my spine.
So this really was the right place.
Feeling my mouth go dry, I turned my head toward the sudden sensation of being watched.
Snap!
My eyes met Lee Ju-hyun’s, who had been watching me through the crack in the door.
They were not the eyes of an ordinary person.
They were eyes gleaming with greed so pure it was almost intense.
Slam!
The door shut abruptly.
Jo Myung-sook’s mouth closed, and it was enough to draw Lee Ha-yoon’s attention.
An awkward silence fell, and Shin Jung-ah shifted her gaze to Jo Myung-sook.
“Actually, I’d like to ask you one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you happen to perform spirit marriages as well?”
Jo Myung-sook’s eyebrows twitched.
“What?”
“You heard me. Do you perform spirit marriages?”
In stark contrast to Shin Jung-ah’s expressionless face, Jo Myung-sook’s visage twisted with displeasure.
Even that sight was repugnant.
Everything about her seemed false, like someone who dealt in fortunes behind closed doors with sinister intent.
Shin Jung-ah’s eyes narrowed slightly as she continued in a low voice.
“Ma’am, do you really toy with other people’s fortunes like that?”
“Where did you even get—”
“Don’t do something you’ll regret. We won’t.”
Shin Jung-ah spoke so quietly that even Lee Ha-yoon was taken aback, checking her phone.
There was a text from Kang Hyung-seok saying he would arrive soon.
“Someone who can verify this is coming shortly, and if you really have been toying with the fortunes of other people’s precious children…”
You’ll find the consequences terrifying.
Before Shin Jung-ah could even finish speaking.
Bang!
The door burst open and Kang Hyung-seok entered the Shamanic Temple with Yoon Sang, whose face was drained of color.
“…What?”
Jo Myung-sook’s brow furrowed before her expression quickly relaxed.
“Ah, ah…”
The moment she saw Kang Hyung-seok, she understood.
A Shaman.
And one who had received a far greater spirit than any of the countless shamans she had encountered before.
Jo Myung-sook may not have felt pangs of conscience, but she was acutely aware that she was committing a sin.
And so, upon seeing Kang Hyung-seok, Jo Myung-sook’s face drained of all color as if she had just glimpsed the Grim Reaper himself.

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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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