An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 188

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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 187
Part 2. I’ve Had Much on My Mind Lately (3)
A week of peaceful time had passed.
“Yes. Then I’ll see you again next time.”
“Come by whenever you’re comfortable. Whenever.”
“Ha, yes.”
After shaking hands with the Factory Owner, Kang Hyung-seok climbed into his car and started the engine.
He then drove out of the Factory District, and the affable Factory Owner remained standing in place, waving until Kang Hyung-seok turned his vehicle around.
‘Phew—!’
Kang Hyung-seok gripped the steering wheel with both hands and exhaled a silent sigh.
Now the time had come to seriously build up my performance metrics.
Fortunately, thanks to Shin Yoseph, I’d gotten off to a good start, and Gwak Young-ho’s shoulders had puffed up once more, and while I occasionally caught envious glances, the real problem was how to fill this quarter.
‘Introductions don’t seem like they’ll be easy.’
Getting introductions to people was always difficult.
Especially when money was involved.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Following the navigation’s guidance back to the Company, Kang Hyung-seok’s gaze drifted absently to his phone.
The screen had changed.
Ding-ding-ding-ding.
Perhaps because the car’s Bluetooth was outdated, the ringtone sounded a beat too late.
Click.
“Huh. Why?”
(Can you talk right now?)
The call was from Shin Yoseph.
And the way he’d opened the conversation meant he wanted to discuss something only the two of them would understand.
“I’m in the car. Alone.”
(Good timing.)
“For me? For you?”
(For me.)
This bastard?
Kang Hyung-seok glanced briefly at his phone screen displaying Shin Yoseph’s name with that impression, and Shin Yoseph’s voice flowed from the speaker.
(I wish you’d stop by sometime.)
“We just saw each other not long ago.”
(You know why I approached you, don’t you?)
His voice suddenly turned serious, and Kang Hyung-seok’s brow furrowed deeper.
I knew Shin Yoseph’s past all too well.
Though he had never confessed his secrets aloud, from what I’d observed over time and the glimpses of his past I’d caught, I knew what had happened.
The death of a senior.
That wasn’t something you could speak of lightly, even in jest.
“What’s going on.”
Kang Hyung-seok’s voice carried the same weight as Shin Yoseph’s as he pressed for details, and through the speaker came Shin Yoseph’s sigh followed by his response.
(I wish you could come with me.)
Like a voice emerging from a damp cave, Shin Yoseph’s words were dark and viscous.
“Did you find something?”
(Not exactly, it’s more complicated than that.)
“Tell me everything. That way I can prepare too.”
Shin Yoseph’s laugh—a sharp “heh!”—briefly filled the car before dissolving into the engine noise.
(You know what a retreat is, right?)
“Out of nowhere?”
(There’s a church I know. They’re saying they’re going on a retreat.)
“Hold on.”
There was more than one point that needed clarifying.
So the moment the red light stopped the car, Kang Hyung-seok turned up the phone’s volume.
“You’re not Catholic?”
(Right?)
“A church means Christianity.”
(Protestant.)
Shin Yoseph spoke in a somewhat clipped tone before continuing in his usual manner.
(We don’t have bad relations with other faiths. You’d know that.)
Was that so?
Still, thinking it over, I could sense what Shin Yoseph was getting at.
I seemed to recall seeing a video where a Monk and a Priest appeared together, explaining what religion was and how one should live.
(Anyway, there’s a church I know, and the Pastor recently changed.)
“Mm.”
(Apparently he’s quite devout. The retreat venue used to be a place where something bad happened long ago.)
“…How did you know that?”
(You know that orphanage we saw before? Where the Nun and the children were.)
The place where I performed an exorcism with Shin Yoseph and ate pork.
It’s hard to forget.
In a way, it’s where the two of us truly began our connection.
(The church Deaconess knows that Nun. That’s how I found out.)
“So you need to go there yourself?”
(To be precise, both of us.)
“What exactly happened there?”
Just then, the traffic light turned green.
So Kang Hyung-seok moved his foot to the accelerator and asked as the car slowly moved forward, but his heart sank at Shin Yoseph’s words.
(Possession.)
“…What?”
(To be precise, demonic possession. I only heard about it secondhand so I’m not entirely sure, but it was about ten or fifteen years ago. They went on a church retreat just like this one, and a demon entered a young girl’s body.)
“Ha.”
If this is true, it’s a horrifying situation.
A demon possessing a child’s body—and at a Church event, no less.
The irony was so staggering that I found myself exhaling a deep sigh without realizing it.
(You never know. Come with me.)
“How many days does a retreat usually last?”
(Why? Can’t you spare the time?)
“That’s not it.”
Work was pressing, but if it meant meeting Shin Yoseph, Gwak Young-ho would welcome it with open arms.
Landing a new contract was important.
But maintaining a relationship with a major client like Shinjin Construction was even more so.
“I think I can make it work.”
(Then your choice matters.)
I let out a short laugh.
“Moisten your lips before you speak.”
Shin Yoseph had spoken as though he’d be deeply disappointed if I didn’t come.
“How long will I need to stay?”
(Give me your address. We’ll take my car.)
“Won’t that be too conspicuous?”
From what Shin Yoseph had said, it sounded less like I’d be attending the retreat and more like I’d be watching from a distance.
It was essentially surveillance work, and Shin Yoseph’s car was far too noticeable.
(It’s fine. I’ll take a different car.)
“Ah… really?”
(Yeah. I have plenty.)
I gazed sadly at my own car with its outdated Bluetooth version, then gave the dashboard a reassuring pat as if to tell it not to feel discouraged.
***
(A summons from Director Shin? I should go. Of course!)
Gwak Young-ho’s reaction unfolded exactly as I’d anticipated.
The company was nearby, and the time was an awkward 5:30 PM.
“It might take several days, sir.”
(It’s fine. Managing a major client—no problem at all.)
“Are you really sure?”
(If you say you’re not going, then it won’t be fine.)
Remarkable, Shin Yoseph.
Receiving such boundless affection from Gwak Young-ho.
I laughed heartily, sipped my coffee, then offered an awkward smile.
“I was surprised myself. He suddenly asked me to come.”
(That happens. So, where did you decide to go with Director Shin?)
We hadn’t coordinated that part yet.
So I hesitated briefly before speaking with an uncomfortable smile.
“Actually, I haven’t heard that far ahead.”
(Seems like he just really likes you, Manager Kang.)
“I don’t think that’s it.”
(Of course not. How close do you have to be for someone to ask you to come along like that? Back in university, I used to take off like that all the time. Ah, I’m jealous.)
I rubbed my forehead with a bitter laugh, and Gwak Young-ho’s excited voice followed immediately.
(Anyway, Manager Kang, go with peace of mind. I’ll smooth things over upstairs. Think of this as an opportunity to build a solid relationship with Director Shin.)
“Understood.”
(Then… what? When did it get this late?)
“I’m already near the company, so I’ll head up right away.”
(No. You said you’d leave tonight, right? Just go now.)
“Ah, sir.”
(It’s fine. Maintaining one major contract like Shinjin Construction is more profitable than securing one or two small deals. And if you’re going, how could upper management not understand that?)
I nodded at his rueful smile.
(Then go carefully! If needed, I or Manager Shin will stop by!)
If a demon truly came looking for me, nothing would be more dreadful than a visit from Gwak Young-ho.
I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head.
“Yes. If Director Shin asks for me, I’ll let him know.”
(Got it. Go carefully. Good work, Manager Kang!)
“Yes. I’ll head in now, sir.”
After hanging up, I changed the navigation destination to my rental house.
I drove down the quiet road toward home, and absurdly, I ran into Shin Yoseph right in front of the house.
Had he not waved, I wouldn’t have recognized him in such plain clothes.
Thud.
As I stepped out of the car, Shin Yoseph’s voice came at me immediately.
“You live in a place like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Hmm.”
Shin Yoseph gazed up at the house where Kang Hyung-seok lived, his lips twisting into a peculiar expression—his eyes gleaming with the urge to throw a punch.
“How about it? Want to come inside and have a drink? Or should we head out right now?”
“Do you need to prepare anything? If there’s nothing urgent, let’s just go.”
“I’ll just grab my toothbrush.”
“Don’t bother. I’ve already bought everything.”
Shin Yoseph pointed with his thumb at one of the cars parked behind them.
A silver domestic sedan that blended naturally into the ordinary residential district and its quiet alleyway.
So unremarkably modest that one could never have imagined it belonged to Shin Yoseph.
Thunk, thunk.
Kang Hyung-seok and Shin Yoseph climbed into the car, and Shin Yoseph immediately started the engine.
Vrrrrm.
Right—Shin Yoseph drove this kind of car too.
So there was no reason to complain if the Bluetooth version was a bit outdated or the model year was a few years back.
“The car’s fine, right? I picked one up on the way here. It was cheap.”
“…You have a real talent for getting under people’s skin.”
“I got beaten a lot by my father as a kid, and I never managed to break the habit.”
“Should’ve beaten you more.”
Shin Yoseph cast a disgruntled glance before setting up the navigation and pulling the car onto the road.
In the meantime, Kang Hyung-seok twisted his body to move the bag he’d been holding to the back seat.
“What?”
Shin Yoseph’s question came so quickly that Kang Hyung-seok suddenly froze mid-motion.
Though Shin Yoseph had made a casual remark like an old neighborhood friend, I could tell his heart wasn’t light.
It was because of the priestly supplies and vestments that filled the back seat.
“No, nothing.”
Kang Hyung-seok set his bag down beside the vestments.
It was a bag containing office supplies along with the Shaman’s Bell and a sacred blade.

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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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