An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 271
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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 270
Part 7. Getting Out of Here (3)
Beep beep beep.
Shin Jung-ah stepped out of the Container Housing and immediately called Gwak Young-ho.
(Hello?)
“Ah, Manager. We just arrived and conducted a quick meeting. It looks like this is going to take some time.”
(What? Why?)
Shin Jung-ah’s gaze shifted to Kang Hyung-seok, who stood in the middle of the Factory District surveying his surroundings.
The sky was clear, and the time had just passed 3:30 in the afternoon.
An awkward hour—too late to begin something new, too early to wrap things up.
From that delicate threshold, Shin Jung-ah continued her conversation with Gwak Young-ho.
“This place is newly established. There’s no signage, and from what I can see, there are things we’ll need to review in terms of securing materials and checking equipment.”
(Since it’s new, that’s understandable. And Manager Kang?)
“He’s checking the facilities right now.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Though his intentions differed, he was indeed inspecting the Factory.
“And they had some prototypes made, so I checked them out—the quality is quite good.”
(Really? Ah, you said you went there on someone’s recommendation, right?)
“Yes. If we can negotiate a good unit price, it could be a huge success, right? I’ll bring samples when I come in tomorrow.”
While Shin Jung-ah continued her business call with Gwak Young-ho, Kang Hyung-seok pulled out his phone as well.
He then moved away to a secluded spot, leaving Lee Jung-woon, who watched him anxiously from the corner, behind.
Beep beep beep beep, ring ring ring.
A call to Park Mi-ryung.
‘A Goblin’s territory…’
If what Lee Jung-woon said was true, perhaps he could get advice from Park Mi-ryung, a Goblin Shaman.
At the very least, he thought he might discover something that Lee Jung-woon was overlooking.
(Hello?)
“Hello. This is Kang Hyung-seok. How have you been?”
(Oh! Yes. It’s been a while.)
At the warmth in her voice, Kang Hyung-seok offered a faint smile and continued speaking as he surveyed the Factory, which was filled with production equipment.
“I’ve arrived at the Factory you recommended. I’ve already spoken with the Factory Owner. And I’m alone.”
There was no one else nearby.
He made it clear that she could speak freely.
“They say this is a Goblin’s territory. Did you happen to know about that?”
(Ah, yes…)
“What did the Great Goblin say about it?”
Lee Jung-woon had made contact with Park Mi-ryung first.
Naturally, the Great Goblin who inhabited her body must have seen Lee Jung-woon as well, and surely would have left some kind of hint.
(She said she couldn’t be certain.)
“…Is that so.”
(Yes. You mentioned the Goblin scent was present, but very faint.)
What exactly was this Goblin scent?
Kang Hyung-seok unconsciously drew the air deep into his nostrils, but he couldn’t detect anything distinctly recognizable.
(You also mentioned that since the region is different, it might create some awkwardness with the elders there. That’s why it seems you requested help from Kang Hyung-seok.)
“Ah.”
(The elder is relying on you quite heavily.)
Kang Hyung-seok laughed awkwardly.
Earning the trust of the Great Goblin was a good thing, but it felt burdensome as well.
After all, it was the Great Goblin who had orchestrated this situation in the first place.
(In any case, it seems there is definitely a problem, and it appears difficult for anyone else to resolve it.)
“I understand.”
(Have you discovered anything so far?)
Sigh.
Kang Hyung-seok exhaled softly so his breath wouldn’t carry, then answered after glancing at Lee Jung-woon, who watched him from a distance.
“Something seems to be there, but I can’t see anything concrete.”
(…I see.)
Park Mi-ryung’s voice grew quieter.
It must feel like a massive riddle had been suddenly thrown before her.
“Don’t worry too much. If it turns out to be nothing serious, that would be good for everyone, wouldn’t it?”
(Haha.)
“Just in case, I’ll examine things more carefully as well.”
(Do you have any thoughts on this?)
Kang Hyung-seok slowly surveyed the area around where he stood.
Perhaps it was because, despite being called a Goblin’s territory, there was nothing visibly remarkable.
Where a Goblin exists is a Goblin’s territory, and whatever transforms is a Goblin.
Walls, vehicles, a tin can holding cigarette butts, stones, gravel, wooden pallets stacked with tarps and materials.
Everything around him seemed to stare at him as though it had become a Goblin with two eyes.
Observing the winter sun, shortened by the season, tilting westward, he opened his mouth with a cautious demeanor.
“Since it appears at night, I should spend a night here.”
(…Will you be alright?)
“Yes. I need to try something.”
(Understood. If you need my help at any point, please let me know anytime.)
“I’m grateful for the offer alone.”
Kang Hyung-seok ended the call.
Then Shin Jung-ah quietly poked her head out and asked if the conversation was finished, and when Kang Hyung-seok nodded, she gave him an OK sign with her finger.
It was a signal that she had received permission to arrive late tomorrow under the pretext of inspecting the Factory.
***
Rumble.
Night had fallen.
After finishing dinner with Shin Jung-ah, I returned to the Factory and parked the car in the same spot where I’d left it during the day.
Lee Jung-woon stood waiting, as if he’d been watching for my arrival.
Click.
“I never expected you to go this far for us.”
The moment I opened the car door, Lee Jung-woon spoke with furrowed brows, but he startled slightly when Shin Jung-ah stepped out of the passenger seat.
“Oh, you’re both coming?”
“Yes. Since there are multiple buildings, it makes sense.”
“Ah, goodness.”
He clearly hadn’t anticipated that Shin Jung-ah would also be spending the night at the Factory.
Lee Jung-woon bowed repeatedly, caught between embarrassment and gratitude, while Shin Jung-ah flustered and insisted it was fine several times over.
“Well, thank you. Truly.”
Lee Jung-woon smacked his lips and turned his gaze toward the Factory District.
Then he exhaled, and his breath froze into a misty cloud like cigarette smoke as the temperature dropped.
“Still, it’s reassuring. With three buildings, one person per building should work well.”
Lee Jung-woon’s expression made it clear he hoped Shin Jung-ah would take the Container Housing.
“Perhaps you should choose whichever place suits you best, sir.”
“I understand propriety. That won’t do.”
Shin Jung-ah looked at me, and only after confirming that my expression matched Lee Jung-woon’s did she nod.
“Very well. I’ll do that then.”
“You can sleep on the sofa. I’ve already laid out blankets.”
“Thank you.”
“Then… where will Manager Kang Hyung-seok go?”
“Whatever you decide is fine with me.”
The most dangerous place.
The place where the most harrowing nightmares had occurred.
The place where Goblins appeared most frequently.
Recognizing my resolve reflected in my eyes, Lee Jung-woon nodded heavily and turned toward the Warehouse.
Click.
“You won’t be cold.”
I nodded as I observed the brightly lit interior of the Warehouse.
“You used insulation material, I see.”
“This was the last building we renovated. We had some test production samples from process testing, so we figured we might as well put them to use.”
I exhaled into the space between us.
Just one door separates this from outside.
Yet unlike the exterior, my breath doesn’t freeze here.
Though the Warehouse interior was stacked with materials in a sparse, desiccated manner.
“You can sleep over there.”
Following Lee Jung-woon’s gesture, I spotted a heating tent set up in that direction.
“There’s an electric heating pad inside as well, so if you turn it on before sleeping, you’ll be nice and warm.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m aware of it myself—people who help like this aren’t common.”
When Kang Hyung-seok looked at Lee Jung-woon, his expression remained composed, yet his hands trembled ever so slightly.
Not from the cold, but from fear.
Being in the early stages of his business, everything in the world terrified him, made him feel like he was losing his mind. And of all places, he’d discovered something sinister at the very location where he’d built his factory. How could his heart not be in turmoil?
To him, grasping at straws, Kang Hyung-seok was nothing short of a savior.
“I’ll sleep at the factory. If anything happens, please call me right away.”
“Yes.”
“If you get hungry late at night, just let me know. Even though it’s remote out here, delivery services do come.”
Kang Hyung-seok smiled faintly and expressed his gratitude, while Lee Jung-woon bowed repeatedly before leaving the warehouse.
Left alone, I took a long walk around the interior of the warehouse.
In doing so, I became aware of the bag I was carrying, but the Shaman’s Bell made no sound.
‘Is this just anxiety playing tricks on me? Or is there really something here?’
There was only one way to find out.
To create the same conditions that Lee Jung-woon had experienced when he saw the Goblin.
Zip.
I unzipped the thermal tent and stepped inside.
Not a single thing matched—not the material, not the color—yet I couldn’t help but think of the tent I’d used during outdoor training exercises.
I set down my bag, took out the Shaman’s Bell and the divine blade, placed them beside the pillow, and turned on the electric heating pad.
Click.
Then I switched off the light as well, returned to the darkened tent, and buried myself under the blanket.
“Sigh…”
Please, let this just be needless worry.
With my eyes closed, I sought sleep that would not come.
The surroundings were silent and dark.
Unfamiliar with the environment, my mind grew increasingly restless, contrary to the quiet around me.
I even found myself thinking, ‘I’m really doing something difficult to experience in many ways.’
‘I have to sleep.’
Only then could I see what Lee Jung-woon had seen in his dreams, and tomorrow afternoon I could return to the office and handle work.
As I thought about this quarter’s performance and recent requests from clients, I shook my head vigorously.
Shin Jung-ah wasn’t contacting me either.
I was trying by any means to fall asleep.
“Sigh…”
I closed my eyes peacefully and exhaled deeply.
Time passed and passed.
Light sleep came and retreated several times, and finally, just as deep sleep was about to arrive with the warmth of the electric heating pad—
Ding-dong.
The Shaman’s Bell placed beside the pillow rang out.
With my eyes open, I remained perfectly still, breathing quietly.
I couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality, but my eyes had adjusted to the darkness enough to see my surroundings.
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
The Shaman’s Bell before my eyes rang out alone.
“Shhhhh.”
I watched as my conscious breath froze white in the air.
‘This isn’t a dream.’
It was reality.
Lee Jung-woon hadn’t been dreaming.
Perhaps I had mistaken what I’d seen and heard in reality for a dream.
As this thought reached me, I tried to push myself up.
That was when it happened.
Thump!
The tent shook violently.
I immediately grabbed my phone and turned on the light.
Inside the brightly illuminated tent, as I raised my upper body, what I saw was a palm-shaped indentation pressed into the fabric.
Someone outside had touched the tent.
“Who’s there?”
I spoke in a low voice, gripping the Shaman’s Bell.
At the same moment,
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Multiple palms began pounding against the tent.
Just as I was about to recite a protective prayer inside the wildly shaking tent,
Thump!
The area near where my head had rested bulged upward sharply.
At the shape pressed into the winter tent, I forgot even to recite the prayer—my breath caught in my throat.
A face twisted in a fierce scowl.
Tusks gleaming densely, eyes wide and glaring with demonic malice.
A Goblin was pressing its face against the tent.
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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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