An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 189

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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 188
Part 3. This Is What Lee Geum-kyung Meant (1)
The car hummed as it sped forward.
Inside the moving vehicle, I gazed out the window and drew a deep breath.
Desolate. In every sense.
The four-lane highway didn’t appear to be particularly well-maintained.
The car lurched violently as we passed over a pothole in the asphalt.
The entire vehicle shook with the impact.
“Some ride quality, huh?”
“Then drive carefully.”
Shin Yoseph shrugged, his expression betraying unfamiliarity with operating this particular vehicle.
“Should we grab something to eat nearby?”
I studied Shin Yoseph’s profile in silence for a moment, then shifted my gaze beyond the window and exhaled through my nose.
“Never mind. We’ll just pick up a convenience store bento on the way.”
“That works too.”
Shin Yoseph, who moments ago had been criticizing the domestic car’s suspension, now agreed to convenience store food.
Watching him accept this without complaint revealed just how anxious he truly was, despite his silence.
“No pigs this time?”
“I’ve already confirmed where the nearby pig farms are located.”
Pigs are fundamentally not quiet animals.
So if the need arose, we’d acquire one—certainly not a poor choice.
I rested my elbow on the passenger window frame and shifted my attention to the navigation system.
Approximately twenty minutes remained until arrival.
“How would you prefer this to go?”
“No particular thoughts.”
A lie.
If he meant it sincerely, his eyes wouldn’t shine like that.
Whenever demons are mentioned, Shin Yoseph’s eyes always change in precisely this way.
Sorrowful, moist, and dark.
Because of that, I couldn’t even bring myself to think something like “I hope the demon you’re searching for is found this time.”
The car hummed quietly as it ventured deeper along the national highway.
We stopped at a convenience store with unusually pristine signage to purchase bentos, canned coffee, and bottled water, then resumed driving toward our destination.
Not a single word of conversation passed between us during all this.
Because I understood.
That something unfortunate might occur at the Retreat Venue ahead.
Shin Yoseph exhaled sharply, puffing out his cheeks, and turned off the navigation well before we reached our destination.
Then he slowly drove the car toward a densely overgrown empty lot.
The parking brake engaged with a click.
After setting it, Shin Yoseph rubbed his face and worked his stiff shoulders.
Shin Yoseph, who had pulled up the side brake, rubbed his face and then kneaded his stiff shoulders.
The car door swung open.
Shin Yoseph grabbed his cigarettes and stepped out of the vehicle.
These were cigarettes he hadn’t touched once during the entire drive here with Kang Hyung-seok.
The door opened again.
As Kang Hyung-seok exited the car, I understood why Shin Yoseph had chosen to park here.
Through the gaps between distant trees, a single building came into view.
“Is that the place you’re running?”
A lighter flicked. Smoke curled upward.
“Pfft—! It’s half-abandoned. Just barely has electricity running to it.”
Shin Yoseph answered while lighting his cigarette.
“The power of faith is terrifying. Holding a retreat here of all places… tsk.”
He and Kang Hyung-seok stood together, smoking as they gazed at the distant building.
“They believe nothing will happen. And they’ll go around saying that the Lord’s grace has blocked the demon’s approach.”
Despite being of a different faith, the respectful tone he used revealed how much Shin Yoseph wanted to show deference.
And through his eyes, I could see the fear he harbored toward demons.
“You might not understand this.”
“…No, I think I grasp it well enough.”
“In any case, if something happens, the Deaconess will contact the Nun. Then she’ll contact me immediately.”
“Understood.”
He glanced down at his wrist.
Shin Yoseph checked the time on his watch.
Eight o’clock in the evening.
The hour when daylight fades away.
Gazing up at the darkening night sky, Shin Yoseph drew deeply on his cigarette.
The sun descended rapidly, moment by moment.
The sun vanished in an instant.
During that time, we ate lunch boxes inside the car, and after rinsing our mouths with coffee, Shin Yoseph lit another cigarette.
Then we moved.
Kang Hyung-seok scattered the glutinous rice flour from the bag widely across the ground.
Shin Yoseph began reciting a prayer.
“Eternal Priest, Jesus Christ. Protect the priests who seek to follow Your example, that no one may harm them.”
The flour dispersed in all directions.
After scattering all the glutinous rice flour, Kang Hyung-seok surveyed the surroundings, whistling softly as he searched for any hidden malevolent spirits.
“Keep the priests who ascend to Your glorious priesthood, who consecrate Your body and blood daily, always pure and holy.”
Shin Yoseph’s prayer continued unbroken throughout.
The flour scattered in sweeping arcs!
Kang Hyung-seok shook the Shaman’s Bell loudly, his lips pressed firmly together, and cast one final glance at the building where the retreat was taking place before withdrawing his gaze.
Then he began reciting a scripture.
“Simsa Yeongji Asim Jeonggyeong Mugung Johwa Geumilje Byeoksa Gyeong.”
A scripture for driving away malevolent spirits.
In case the worst-case scenario unfolded, I needed to be prepared so that the Malevolent Spirit wouldn’t cause greater harm.
“Central Purification, Heavenly King of Heaven and Earth, King of Paradise, Azure Emperor, Lightning Bolt King.”
“Through the Lord’s burning love, protect the priests from being tainted by the secular world.”
“Red Emperor King, White Emperor King, Black Emperor King, Yellow Emperor King, Water Extreme King.”
“Bless all the work of the priests and grant them abundant fruit of grace.”
“Jade Emperor, First Buddha King, People’s Selection Inner Presence Wind King.”
Prayer and sacred incantation.
They were completely different, yet both performed what they could with singular devotion.
If only it would be safe.
If only nothing would happen.
Crack.
Shin Yoseph looked at the building and clenched his teeth desperately before opening his mouth again.
“Through us, may those in the world obtain incomparable joy and comfort, and in heaven may they shine with brilliant glory.”
“People’s Selection Inner Presence Wise King, World Inner King, Kunlun King, Malevolent Spirit Destruction, Dwelling Retreat Mountain.”
Zzzt.
The building must be to the east.
Judging by how the moon was rising as if approaching the building.
Shin Yoseph and Kang Hyung-seok finished their prayers and incantations while gazing at the moon, which seemed particularly captivating tonight.
“Amen.”
“Om hurried hurried, ye rate ling, svaha.”
***
“Alright, Youth Group, gather over here. Everyone brought their lanterns, right?”
A lean-faced young Pastor spoke with a smiling face, and a group of university students gathered in a huddle with varying expressions.
It was in front of the Retreat Venue building, which looked like an Abandoned Building, and with a bonfire and a still-lit barbecue grill in front, there wasn’t much of a dark feeling.
“Lighten up those faces. You know how much the Children’s Group has been looking forward to this.”
“Still, Pastor.”
A sturdy university student male grumbled and held up the shabby lantern in his hand as if to show it.
“What is this? If you’re going to give us something, at least give us something better.”
“They’re all the same. Our faith in the Lord is the lamp—what’s the problem?”
“I can’t see ahead well. If the kids get hurt like this, that’s a problem.”
“That’s why you all need to take good care of them.”
The youth, thinking the conversation wasn’t getting through, scratched his head and stepped back.
“Yes, Deaconess. Everything is ready here.”
The Pastor made a phone call to report that preparations were complete.
Shortly after, the Children’s Group kids, who had been brushing their teeth and preparing inside, came out under the guidance of the Deaconess and Deacon.
“We’re going to do the courage experience as planned, but we won’t divide into groups or anything like that. We’ll all go together, and we just need to make one big loop around this area and come back.”
“Aw.”
“That’s boring.”
“Can’t we just go separately?”
“No way, we can’t.”
“I don’t want to….”
“Now, now.”
The Pastor spoke firmly, and as he looked at the Youth Group Students, the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.
“Then I’m counting on you. Don’t think of this as just a casual evening stroll. If anything happens at all, call me immediately.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Watching the Youth Group Students respond half-heartedly, the Pastor smiled apologetically and gestured to the children.
“Let’s go. Listen well to what your older sisters, older brothers, and older friends say. Understood?”
“Yes!”
“We’ll be back soon.”
“See you later.”
The children moved along with the Youth Group with light, eager steps.
They called it a courage-building experience, but that was being generous with the name.
With children present, they couldn’t do anything truly dangerous, so it was essentially just a short walk at night.
Still, the children seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Judging by how they chattered and laughed, they were having a wonderful time.
“Oh, what precious little ones.”
The Pastor smiled warmly and clasped his hands together near his chest.
Then he prayed that nothing would go wrong.
***
The sound of children laughing and chattering faded into the distance.
Watching the lantern light visible from far away and hearing the children’s laughter, Kang Hyung-seok furrowed his brow.
He had overheard something about a courage-building experience or something like that.
“What do you make of it?”
Shin Yoseph’s question followed, and Kang Hyung-seok shook his head as he answered.
“There are no Malevolent Spirits.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Kang Hyung-seok had thoroughly searched this entire area, but he detected no Malevolent Spirits that posed any threat.
Yet his unease stemmed from an entirely different reason.
“Shin Yoseph.”
“Yeah.”
Kang Hyung-seok watched the children disappear into the distance, moistened his dry lips, and spoke.
“This Bumaja you mentioned… there’s no way to prevent it beforehand?”
Talismans or incantations.
Shamanism possessed methods to ward off evil and danger.
I had asked hoping for such a solution, but Shin Yoseph denied it with a calm tone.
“No.”
“…Why?”
“Because resisting evil is humanity’s role to bear.”
Thus, humanity must always remain vigilant against evil, refine the spirit, and practice goodness.
Evil is not the equal of good.
Just as a small candle can illuminate an entire room, even the smallest act of goodness can stand against evil.
Yet the devil is relentless and cruel, and will persistently find its way into the human heart.
“Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Shin Yoseph recited the passage as if in prayer—the First Epistle of Peter, chapter five, verse eight.
His voice carried the weight of an urgent plea directed at someone in particular.
Kang Hyung-seok rubbed his parched lips with the back of his hand, his gaze fixed on the distant figures of the Church’s youth group and children.
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
Then his eyes lifted upward, where a spider the size of a palm was advancing steadily toward a moth caught in its web.

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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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