An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 195

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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 194
Part 5. We Must Not Become Entangled (1)
The office door swung open.
“Oh, Kang Manager!”
Gwak Young-ho, who had been with Shin Jung-ah, greeted me as I arrived at work.
It was the afternoon of the day after the exorcism ritual.
Since the Company didn’t know the detailed circumstances, I was only now showing up for work, and perhaps because of that, the Office carried an air of relative ease.
“I’m back, Manager.”
“Coffee?”
That was his way of asking to talk on the Rooftop where we could discuss matters freely.
Kang Hyung-seok chuckled softly and set his bag down at his desk first.
“Not yet.”
“Then grab some coffee first, and let’s talk up there with Shin Manager.”
It seemed he had something to convey.
The others were already holding coffee, so Kang Hyung-seok prepared only his own.
The Rooftop door swung open.
As I stepped outside, a breeze that had taken the edge off the heat greeted me, along with a sky even higher than yesterday’s, and the smell of cigarette smoke from the smokers.
“Ahhh.”
Gwak Young-ho covered his mouth as he yawned, then lit a cigarette, and Shin Jung-ah did the same.
It seemed she was switching to electronic cigarettes lately—her e-cigarette looked slightly larger compared to her hand.
“Shin Manager, how long have you been using that?”
“Are you interested?”
“No, it’s just that my wife keeps saying my dress shirts smell like cigarettes all the time.”
“Ah, if that’s the case, this might not be ideal. But you can get the cheaper ones for about 50,000 won, you know?”
“Can you buy them at a store?”
“Nah, just order online.”
There’s an atmosphere among smokers that makes it difficult for non-smokers to join in.
So Kang Hyung-seok sipped his coffee alone, but Gwak Young-ho spoke to me right away.
“Kang Manager, did you have a good trip?”
I could see Shin Jung-ah’s eyes flash with the thought, “He’s asking already.”
“Yes. It was a good trip.”
“I was surprised when you said you’d come in today. You should’ve just taken the day off.”
“I thought it was better to come in even if just for the afternoon.”
Kang Hyung-seok is a salaryman too.
Honestly, I’d take time off whenever the opportunity arose.
But I knew that raising false expectations could make things complicated later.
“It wasn’t anything significant. We just met up and did some light camping.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Yes. There was no business discussion.”
Gwak Young-ho smacked his lips with a disappointed expression.
“Anyway, you’ve worked hard. It looks like you came back almost immediately—are you feeling okay?”
“Yes. More importantly, how should I file the report?”
Gwak Young-ho waved his hand as if he had something in mind, then lit a cigarette.
“Don’t worry about it. Last time, Shin Manager introduced me to a place, remember? Just file the report saying you went out for customer management as a courtesy, and tie it in with that.”
Fortunately, Gwak Young-ho seemed to have a plan.
In any case, since I had returned from my business trip, it would help dispel the expectation of “maybe something good will come of this.”
When such things accumulate, they lead to disappointment and negatively impact evaluations.
“Anyway!”
Gwak Young-ho glanced at Shin Jung-ah once, then opened his mouth toward me.
“We touched on something briefly this morning—would you be able to go on a business trip with Shin Manager tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, sir?”
“Yeah. They reached out first. They asked if we could visit.”
That’s strange, isn’t it?
Gwak Young-ho’s eyes conveyed exactly that feeling.
“Phew—! It’s not unheard of, but it’s odd. Not through an introduction, but them contacting us directly.”
“You’re saying I should verify it, sir?”
Gwak Young-ho snapped his index and thumb together sharply as if to confirm the answer.
“The worst case is when they take the payment and disappear.”
Shin Jung-ah, standing behind Gwak Young-ho, drew deeply on her e-cigarette with a displeased expression.
An artificial, cloying strawberry scent wafted over.
As ominous as the unease I felt now.
“I’ll visit with Shin Manager tomorrow morning.”
“Sigh, I feel bad about it. Jumping into work talk right after you’ve arrived doesn’t seem right either.”
“This is my job too, sir.”
When I smiled gently and spoke, Gwak Young-ho’s eyes grew tender.
“If this goes smoothly, I’ll recommend paid leave for both you and Shin Manager.”
“Really?”
Shin Jung-ah, surprised, pulled the e-cigarette from her lips and asked, while I furrowed my brows awkwardly.
“No, sir…”
“I know! It’s a busy season.”
Tap.
Gwak Young-ho lightly touched my chest with the hand not holding the cigarette.
“Do you think I’m lazy? There’s Employee Min-ah, and there’s Deputy Manager Lee. And if someone does the work, they deserve to be treated accordingly.”
What kind of manager would I be if I couldn’t show this much care to a capable subordinate?
That was the sentiment conveyed through Gwak Young-ho’s eyes and tone.
“…Understood, sir.”
Unable to refuse further, I answered with difficulty, and Gwak Young-ho patted my shoulder with a smiling face.
“Then we’ll leave right away tomorrow. If anything comes up, just contact me immediately.”
“Yes.”
I answered with a faint smile, looking at Gwak Young-ho.
***
“Kang Hyung-seok, do you have time tonight?”
It was quitting time.
Kang Hyung-seok and Shin Jung-ah, who had left work a bit later than others due to pending matters, conversed in front of the Elevator.
“Time?”
“No, I’m just curious about what happened yesterday.”
Shin Jung-ah seemed to have sensed that something had occurred.
Ding!
As the Elevator arrived on cue, Kang Hyung-seok stepped inside and pressed the button for the Underground Parking Lot.
“Yes. I did some work after Shin moved.”
“Oh my?”
The doors closed, and the Elevator descended toward the Underground Parking Lot, yet Shin Jung-ah had not pressed the first floor button.
She was someone who used public transportation.
Yet she was moving along with Kang Hyung-seok, which meant she had quite a bit she wanted to discuss.
“And yes, I do have time.”
“Ah.”
Shin Jung-ah’s face relaxed with relief as she thrust her hands into her pockets.
“Then let’s talk at a leisurely pace. Dinner’s on me.”
“Is it something urgent?”
“Not exactly, but tomorrow will be hectic from morning on, so I thought it best to mention it beforehand.”
Her words made sense.
Kang Hyung-seok nodded silently, while Shin Jung-ah tilted her head back with her arms crossed.
“Ah, I’m starving.”
I couldn’t tell if that was genuine or if she was deliberately trying to think of something else.
Ding!
The Elevator arrived at the Underground Parking Lot, and Kang Hyung-seok set her Apartment Complex as the destination after getting her into his car.
“There’s a Sashimi Restaurant on the way. I’ll show you.”
“Sashimi?”
“It’s easier on the stomach and quite good.”
“It’s better than chicken, at least.”
“They do it well there. You’ll like it.”
Shin Jung-ah laughed playfully.
They soon arrived at a modest tuna Sashimi Restaurant, and Kang Hyung-seok was about to order a light menu suitable for two.
“Owner! Two Executive Chef Specials here!”
Before Shin Jung-ah had even taken her seat, that was what she ordered.
“Isn’t that excessive?”
“Kang Hyung-seok is making time because of me, and besides, you need to eat properly. Did you get by with a Convenience Store meal yesterday? Your face says it all.”
Shin Jung-ah raised one eyebrow as she drank the water Kang Hyung-seok had poured for her, then raised the other eyebrow as well.
“…What, really?”
“If you’re referring to the Convenience Store meal, then yes.”
“You went with Director Shin, didn’t you?”
“There were no restaurants nearby.”
“Ah… that works out well. Think of it as nourishment and eat plenty.”
“Yes.”
Clatter, clatter.
The server brought out side dishes that were laid on the table first.
Just as I finished the abalone porridge that warmed the stomach nicely, sliced tuna arrived on a large, round plate—it certainly had the visual appeal worthy of being called special.
“Do you come here often?”
“Sometimes with Ha Yoon.”
Shin Jung-ah rotated the plate so the belly portion faced Kang Hyung-seok, then opened her mouth cautiously.
“What happened yesterday?”
Kang Hyung-seok glanced briefly around, then picked up his chopsticks and answered.
“I performed an exorcism ritual.”
“…Wow.”
“Fortunately, it was resolved well.”
Kang Hyung-seok smiled faintly at the corners of his mouth, as if truly relieved.
“A possessed person appeared at a retreat the Church organized. Fortunately, they regained consciousness and it seems everything passed without major incident.”
“What? At the Church?”
“Yes. What remains is the Church’s reputation, but I believe that’s something the Pastor needs to handle.”
The Pastor certainly knew.
What had happened at that retreat venue.
He wasn’t a bad person, but he knew and treated it as superstition anyway, which caused Oh Ju-young to endure suffering she didn’t need to face.
He had to bear that karmic weight.
“Remarkable, really. In many ways.”
Shin Jung-ah picked up her chopsticks with an exasperated expression and began eating.
Tuna always tastes excellent as long as it isn’t instant.
Especially when it’s dusted lightly with gold leaf like this.
“But what was it you wanted to say?”
“Oh, right.”
Shin Jung-ah’s eyes lifted as if remembering, then met my gaze.
“Actually, I reached out to my former workplace as well.”
“Yes.”
“But you know what’s funny?”
Tap, tap.
Shin Jung-ah tapped her fingertip beside the soy sauce dish as she continued.
“They said they received contact there too.”
“That’s strange. Definitely.”
“From what I can tell, the Manager’s theory seems right.”
Kang Hyung-seok shared a similar opinion.
The probability of there being some dark ulterior motive was far too high.
However, if it wasn’t a scam, it could turn out to be a decent deal.
“It could be urgent, so that’s why you’re asking us to look into it, isn’t it?”
“Hmm, what do you think, Kang Manager?”
“I don’t see any harm in checking it out.”
In business dealings, the party in a hurry always has more to lose.
If we play it right, we could negotiate the contract terms in Daejeong Materials’ favor.
“Alright. If that’s what you think, Kang Manager, I’ll give it serious consideration too.”
“Thank you.”
Kang Hyung-seok replied with a smile, and Shin Jung-ah continued eating with a smile as well.
After finishing their meal, they smoked a cigarette outside the restaurant before heading out.
“Thanks for today.”
“What are you saying? You even bought us sashimi. I should be thanking you.”
Shin Jung-ah unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.
The surroundings were shrouded in the darkness of night, and the evening air felt crisp and cool.
“See you tomorrow then.”
Just as Shin Jung-ah was about to close the door.
A sudden question popped into Kang Hyung-seok’s mind, so he asked her.
“Hey, Manager.”
“Hmm?”
“About that company. I didn’t get to hear what kind of place it is.”
“Oh, sorry. I guess I didn’t mention it.”
Shin Jung-ah rubbed her lips with a strange look in her eyes, as if she’d been possessed by a ghost.
“It’s an old place, but not a big one. From what I heard, it’s a place that manufactures funeral supplies.”
“Funeral supplies?”
“Yeah. They make burial garments and cremation urns, I believe?”
“…I see.”
“Since this kind of business generates steady revenue once you secure funeral halls as clients, if there’s nothing suspicious as you mentioned, I think we should go ahead with the contract.”
Shin Jung-ah closed the door with an apologetic expression for not mentioning it sooner.
She waved from outside the car, said “See you tomorrow!” and walked toward her home.
Vroooom.
Kang Hyung-seok began driving toward his home.
‘Funeral supplies….’
Perhaps that’s why it felt so unexpected.
In the dark car interior, illuminated only by the faint glow of the dashboard, Kang Hyung-seok bit his lower lip with a contemplative expression.
An unsettling feeling persistently gnawed at him like a moth drawn to the car’s headlights.

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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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