An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 315

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 314
Part 1. May Loss and Pain Be Healed, May We Move Forward Without Hindrance or Obstruction (1)
Wee-woo, wee-woo, wee-woo!
As we drew closer to the seaside, the ambulance that Shin Yoseph had summoned announced its presence with a loud siren and flashing lights.
The Village People had gathered, yet none of them moved to block or threaten the ambulance.
It was cowardly guilt that held them back.
They had tacitly collaborated in the human sacrifice, and now that they understood something was unraveling, they knew that speaking up might bring harm upon themselves.
“Just hold on a little longer!”
Shin Yoseph raised his voice to Kang Hyung-seok as though addressing someone on the brink of death.
Though it didn’t seem quite that dire, my body refused to move properly and my voice wouldn’t come, so I offered no response.
Instead, I tried to approach Go Se-hee, who lay near the Captain’s Quarters where the stove burned.
“You…!”
Shin Yoseph moved to stop me, then clenched his teeth.
He supported me and guided me toward Go Se-hee’s side.
Clink.
He pressed the Shaman’s Bell into my hand and then watched the situation unfold in silence.
Swish.
Struggling to shake the Shaman’s Bell, I opened my mouth toward Go Se-hee, whose eyes remained closed.
“…Heo-gung cheon-ha bi-bi cheon-ha sam-man-eun do-ri cheon-ha ol-lyeo-dal-la sam-sip-chil-gwan nae-ryeo-dal-la.”
Then, in the softest of voices, I recited the blessing.
After a harsh life, you have found freedom—this is all I can offer you.
“…Ho-ho-ching-ching maek-hin ma-eum chun-seol-gat-i pul-eu-si-go… nan-cho-gat-i maek-hin ma-eum cho-rok-gat-i pul-eu-si-go.”
Go Se-hee would escape Ko Jun-yeol and live as a Hereditary Shaman.
Reciting the sacred verses with a throat damaged by Ko Jun-yeol would not be easy, yet there are shamanic practitioners in this world who cannot speak or see.
The sacred verses are the heart.
This is what I have become.
“Ae-dong-je-ja yang-eo-kae-e deum-bbuk-sil-eo seo-gi-jul-do nae-ri-si-go myeong-gi-jul-do nae-ri-si-eo.”
With all my heart, I continued the blessing, praying that Go Se-hee’s future would be bright.
“On-gat jo-hwa sin-tong-ryeok-eul gol-go-lu nae-ryeo-ju-sa sang-tong-cheon-mun ha-dal-ji-ri myeong-gyeon-man-ri ju-yu-cheon-ha.”
That was when it happened.
The boat stopped.
The paramedics rushed aboard quickly, supporting Go Se-hee first, as her condition was the most critical.
Flutter.
A blanket was draped over her to preserve body heat, and as I watched Go Se-hee recede into the distance, I recited the final verse of the blessing.
“In-gan-hwa-bok gil-hyung-sa-reul mu-bul-tong-dal-ha-ge ha-sa, eok-jo-chang-saeng man-in-gan-eul gu-je-jung-saeng-ke ha-op-so-seo.”
Though wounded by humanity, she would live a life helping others.
That is what it means to be a shamanic practitioner.
At times it may seem cruel, and there may be moments when one wonders if it must go this far.
Yet still, that path must be walked together with the divine.
May that path not be too arduous.
Kang Hyung-seok watched Go Se-hee being helped off the boat, his lips moving silently.
Moments later, a heavy blanket was draped over his own body, and he was guided down from the vessel by the medical staff.
Thud.
As Kang Hyung-seok’s feet touched the ground with support, the Village People flinched and retreated sharply.
Fearing him as much as they felt guilt, they couldn’t even bring themselves to meet his gaze and turned away.
Clang!
Go Se-hee was loaded into one vehicle, while Kang Hyung-seok was placed on a stretcher and loaded into another.
Just before the door closed, Shin Yoseph climbed aboard.
His expression suggested he had volumes to say, yet Shin Yoseph could only swallow his words with a sigh.
Click!
The door shut.
The ambulance carrying the two of them sped rapidly toward the nearest Hospital.
As if finally permitted to rest, Kang Hyung-seok closed his eyes quietly in the warm interior air and surrendered to sleep.
***
Time passed, and the sun rose—a celestial body nearly forgotten in its absence.
Clang.
Shin Jung-ah, dragging a suitcase alongside Lee Geum-kyung as they departed the Village, held her phone to her ear.
Ring, ring, ring.
(Oh! Shin Manager! What’s going on? Nothing serious, I hope?)
“Don’t even ask!”
(Huh? Huh? What is it? Is something actually wrong?)
Lee Geum-kyung’s gaze followed Shin Jung-ah, who had spoken with an unconscious sigh.
It was a look asking whether it was safe to discuss.
But the events that had unfolded in the Village were not things that could be safely discussed, so Shin Jung-ah rubbed her brow and conjured whatever salvageable words she could.
“Well, in any case, the contract should go through smoothly, Manager.”
(Huh? Huh?)
“I’ll give you the details once I’m back at the office.”
(Wait, wait a moment. What happened? And I need to know at least the gist of how things turned out.)
“Well, you see. It’s just. Ah.”
Shin Jung-ah pressed her forehead and exhaled a sigh as if she desperately wanted to just lay everything bare.
But if she did, not only she but Kang Hyung-seok would be in trouble.
“Kang Manager has been hospitalized.”
(…What?)
Gwak Young-ho’s voice suddenly grew serious as he repeated the question, and Shin Jung-ah shook her head with a bitter smile.
“Please don’t worry too much. They said it appears to be food poisoning.”
(Food poisoning? All of a sudden?)
“Yes. A Village resident gave him homemade liquor, and it seems that was the culprit. He was taken in last night, and I’m planning to visit to check on him now.”
(Oh dear, oh dear.)
Gwak Young-ho’s visible panic drew a bitter smile from Shin Jung-ah.
“They say one IV drip should have him right as rain, but thanks to that, the contract negotiations went smoothly.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie.
The Village Chief and Lee Geum-kyung had talked for hours, and one of the decisions made at the end of that conversation was a contract.
They agreed to trade consumables, including fishing nets for the village’s use, with Daejeong Materials.
They also agreed to trade high-quality catches from the sea with Daejeong Materials.
There were no conditions attached, like turning a blind eye to what happened in this village.
The responsibility for not stopping the village.
And compensation for protecting the Hereditary Shaman Tradition and the sea.
The Village Chief had certainly promised Lee Geum-kyung with that attitude.
(No, the contract isn’t the problem. What about Manager Kang? Is his body really okay?)
“I called him earlier and his voice sounded much better.”
(Sigh, siiigh.)
“Please don’t worry too much.”
Shin Jung-ah looked out over the village and the sea.
Then, with a voice tinged with bitterness, suppressing just a hint of anger, and deeper still with compassion, she continued.
“Everything turned out well.”
After the possession lifted and she regained consciousness, she received a call from Shin Yoseph.
And she learned everything, understanding just how reckless and dangerous what Kang Hyung-seok had done was.
(Shin, are you hiding anything from me?)
“Yes?”
(For someone saying everything’s fine, your voice sounds heavy. I’m worried.)
Shin Jung-ah let out a small laugh.
“No, it’s not that. And I’ll make sure to tell Manager Kang that you’re very concerned about him.”
It’s always like this.
So few people acknowledge the hardship.
Though it’s said that there’s no benefit to it becoming widely known, the truth was that it sometimes felt cruel.
(…Understood. And listen, take your time returning to work based on the situation. As slowly as possible. You understand, right?)
“Huh? Can I take tomorrow off?”
(Shh!)
He was telling her to quietly take her compensation.
Shin Jung-ah laughed silently and nodded.
“Understood. Then I’ll stop by the hospital first. I’ll contact you again when I return to work later.”
(Yeah. Tell Manager Kang to get plenty of rest!)
“Yes.”
(Oh right, Shin?)
“Yes?”
(You’ve worked hard too! Really! You’re an indispensable ace on our team.)
Shin Jung-ah’s eyes widened as if her heart had been struck.
Then she lifted the corners of her mouth and smiled warmly, nodding as she opened her mouth.
“Thank you for acknowledging that, Manager.”
(What? I mean it sincerely.)
“I mean it sincerely, Manager.”
Shin Jung-ah exchanged a few brief words before ending the call.
She slipped her phone into her pocket and offered Lee Geum-kyung a bitter smile.
“Thank you, Teacher. I managed to land a contract because of you.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Lee Geum-kyung’s eyes held the gaze of someone viewing a pitiful creature.
“You work so hard. You work so very hard.”
“Where in South Korea is there a single office worker who doesn’t struggle?”
Lee Geum-kyung let out a soft laugh and drew in a deep breath.
Then, turning her back to the Village, she began to speak.
“How is your body feeling?”
“Oh, yes. This time I didn’t go through anything too rough.”
I hadn’t chewed on raw pig organs or been covered in filth.
Instead, my body felt knotted in various places, so I grimaced while rotating my stiff shoulders.
“But Teacher, strangely I keep tasting salt in my mouth. There’s a fishy smell coming up too…”
“…It will pass soon enough.”
“I… suppose so?”
A great spirit had entered, so the space it left behind was equally vast.
Perhaps there would be some discomfort for about a month.
Even so, it was nothing serious—merely a briny, seawater taste when swallowing food or saliva.
“Where is the Hospital?”
“Oh, should I call a taxi soon?”
“Good idea. The weather’s cold anyway, so walking would be difficult.”
“Would you like something warm from the Convenience Store if you’re cold?”
“No need. I’m fine.”
Lee Geum-kyung walked alongside Shin Jung-ah, their conversation flowing softly between them.
She had no children of her own.
But if she had, would it have felt like this?
With such thoughts, Lee Geum-kyung gazed around the Village once more, her eyes carrying the longing for a friend who had departed this world first.
***
Creak.
Shin Yoseph pushed open the hospital room door, his brow deeply furrowed.
“You’re unbelievable. Absolutely insane.”
“I had no choice.”
Kang Hyung-seok, lying on the single-occupancy bed, struggled to prop himself up, and the IV line connected to his arm swayed.
“Stay down. You’re in no condition to move.”
“I’m fine. This much is nothing.”
“Your hospital bills certainly aren’t ‘nothing.'”
Shin Yoseph spoke coolly, narrowing the space between his brows as he carefully examined the IV hanging from the stand.
Then he tossed down the small paper bag he’d been carrying since entering the room.
“What is this?”
“Open it and see for yourself.”
Kang Hyung-seok clicked his tongue and opened the paper bag.
He pulled out the box inside, and after confirming what it was, he looked up at Shin Yoseph with wide, astonished eyes.
“It’s a phone?”
“Your old one got soaked in seawater, so I figured it was done for.”
Kang Hyung-seok turned the box over in his hand, his expression caught between bewilderment and shock.
“Hey, this is expensive.”
“Exactly. So contact me before you get wrapped up in something like this again.”
Scrape.
Shin Yoseph dragged over a chair and sat down, folding his arms across his chest.
“More importantly, what are you going to do now?”
Kang Hyung-seok understood what he meant and pressed his lips firmly shut.
The matter involving the divine had been resolved, but the human matter remained unfinished.
Ko Jun-yeol and the Village People who had cooperated with him.
Shin Yoseph was asking Kang Hyung-seok what to do about them.
“If it were up to me, I’d want them to face punishment.”
These were the words of Kang Hyung-seok the human, not the Shaman.
Shin Yoseph conveyed his agreement through his eyes alone, and Kang Hyung-seok lifted the corners of his mouth bitterly as he continued.
“It’s not my decision to make.”
Tsk.
“When Go Se-hee wakes up, I’ll ask her then.”
The person who suffered the greatest pain should be the one to decide.
Kang Hyung-seok stated his position clearly, and Shin Yoseph gazed up at the ceiling and exhaled a long sigh.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————