An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 32

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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 31
Part 2. The Raven Cried (3)
The Haunted House.
Kang Hyung-seok murmured silently, his lips barely moving.
Suddenly, the air felt suffocating and heavy.
A Haunted House devours the living and draws in spirits.
‘It wasn’t the person—it was the place that was the root cause.’
Kang Hyung-seok rubbed his lips with his thumb as if scratching them.
Something didn’t sit right.
It felt as though I’d been dragged into something impossible.
“You said it wasn’t a dangerous place.”
Chung-geum had said that Lee Geum-kyung managed the Haunted House.
It made no sense that a malevolent force capable of harming people would take root in such a place.
Chung-geum, meeting Kang Hyung-seok’s gaze, answered with a flustered expression.
“Yes. It was certainly that kind of place.”
“I went there myself and saw it. It’s a place where malevolent force has taken root. Are you certain the Haunted House is really the Abandoned Warehouse in Gaseong-dong?”
The flood of words left Chung-geum bewildered.
She nodded with an uncomfortable expression, and Kang Hyung-seok suppressed his emotions, rubbing his lips.
“No. Something doesn’t add up.”
It was after he sent a look demanding explanation.
“You said the Victim Spirit didn’t need a Dharma ceremony.”
“…In such a place?”
“Yes. Because it was appeased with street offerings. You said it was a matter of time.”
Street offerings meant scattering leftover food from the ritual into the streets.
It was meant to appease Malevolent Spirits, but how could a Victim Spirit capable of unleashing such force be called a Malevolent Spirit?
My head spun with confusion.
“There must be a reason.”
Kang Hyung-seok spoke quietly, biting his lower lip with his upper teeth as if scratching it.
‘Otherwise, there’s no explanation.’
A Victim Spirit has no physical body.
It is a soul without a vessel, a wandering essence.
Unstable and uncertain, it could either ascend or become a vengeful spirit depending on circumstances.
“There have been many people poking around that place recently.”
Chung-geum’s cautious voice drew Kang Hyung-seok’s attention.
“Some even brought Shamans with them. I suspect one of them may have disturbed the Victim Spirit.”
“…Damn.”
Kang Hyung-seok rubbed his face with his palm.
Cursed bastards—the thought filled my mind completely.
The world was indeed full of such wretches, just as Chung-geum said.
They set foot in Haunted Houses they needn’t visit, provoke peaceful and quiet Victim Spirits, and inflict harm upon the space itself.
It was a desperate act of someone trying to overturn their own misfortune, and such actions inflicted damage on both the space and the Victim Spirit.
“So someone did something they shouldn’t have.”
“There’s no other way to explain it.”
Otherwise, the Victim Spirit, which had caused no significant harm until now, wouldn’t be seething like a wildfire.
“Sigh…”
Kang Hyung-seok exhaled a deep, profound breath and clenched his teeth so hard his jaw jutted forward.
“Investigating the details is pointless. We need to do something.”
“…Would you like me to tell you about the Victim Spirit?”
Kang Hyung-seok closed his eyes and nodded with difficulty.
Right now, every small clue was precious.
“From what the Dharma Master told me, it’s a Victim Spirit with a story. That’s why he didn’t forcibly guide it to ascension.”
“…A story?”
“Yes. He only said it was a story that time would resolve.”
But there is no time.
That was the problem.
“Tell me about that Haunted House—or rather, the Abandoned Warehouse.”
“Are you planning to go…?”
“A person’s life is at stake. We need to do something.”
Chung-geum’s face darkened as she swallowed back too many words.
“Wait for the Dharma Master. It’s not that I’m disrespecting you, but it’s dangerous right now.”
Kang Hyung-seok smiled bitterly and shook his head.
“There’s no time.”
“Still, if you could just wait a little longer…”
Kang Hyung-seok shook his head again, cutting off Chung-geum’s words.
An awkward silence lingered for a moment, and when the distant cry of a scops owl echoed through the air, Kang Hyung-seok spoke.
“Do you know Spitz?”
Chung-geum only raised one eyebrow without answering.
“My coworker who’s currently in the hospital. He used to have a dog named Spitz. That dog is now a Victim Spirit, staying by its master’s side.”
“…”
“Afraid its master might pass away, afraid it might follow him there.”
Kang Hyung-seok lowered his gaze to the hand that had held Spitz.
Even without feeling its weight or warmth, I could sense how terrified the creature had been.
“If I don’t sever the thread today, what that creature fears will come to pass. Others will be in danger too.”
“Young Master.”
Chung-geum spoke as if to stop me, but Kang Hyung-seok shook his head.
“I’m going. I believe it’s the right thing to do.”
Kang Hyung-seok looked down at the three seals imprinted on his palm.
Marks left on his body by the Guardian Spirit, instructing him to do what is right.
Resolving the Warehouse’s resentment wasn’t a command from the Guardian Spirit, but it felt like something he had to do.
“Sigh…”
Chung-geum exhaled deeply and pressed her fingers to her forehead.
She understood that no amount of words would dissuade Kang Hyung-seok, so her eyes had lost their intensity.
“Young master, your fate is not an easy one.”
“That’s the fate of all shamans.”
“Really now? And you haven’t even received a formal divine descent.”
“But the spiritual possession has already been achieved.”
Chung-geum laughed silently, then regarded Kang Hyung-seok with a smile that merely pulled at the corners of her mouth.
“It won’t be easy. Let me come with you.”
“Please offer prayers here instead. That will be sufficient.”
“You know how the master is. If anything happens to you, I’ll lose my mind.”
Kang Hyung-seok laughed silently.
Shamans are fundamentally formidable beings.
Even though Lee Geum-kyung was like a grandmother to him, Kang Hyung-seok knew all too well how terrifying she could be when angered.
“Then will you hold back the malevolent aura and the Malevolent Spirit?”
The malevolent aura and Malevolent Spirit that would emerge from outside the warehouse were dangerous.
“The malevolent aura has already begun extending outward. I need someone to suppress it while I’m inside the warehouse.”
Two rituals would need to proceed simultaneously.
The transcendence ritual inside the warehouse.
The malevolent aura dispelling ritual outside the warehouse.
It was a task too difficult for one person to perform at the same time.
“…I understand.”
Chung-geum replied in a tone that showed understanding but disapproval.
“Do you know anything about the Victim Spirit attached to the warehouse?”
“It was originally a textile factory, I hear.”
“A factory? I thought the structure seemed odd for a warehouse…”
“There was apparently a major fire long ago. Because it happened during the IMF crisis, there were unfortunate rumors. Some say people died.”
Kang Hyung-seok paused to think, then nodded.
Several conditions were necessary to transcend a Vengeful Spirit.
He felt he had grasped a clue regarding the spirit’s history.
“Then the Victim Spirit attached to the warehouse must be someone who died back then.”
“That’s why we’ll need to move at night. It will be hiding during the day.”
“The hour of the Rat seems most auspicious.”
From one to three in the morning.
The time when spirits move most actively.
Simultaneously, the time shamans most dread.
“…I will offer prayers beginning at the hour of the Rat.”
From eleven at night until one in the morning.
The time when shamans draw closest to the divine.
During these hours, Chung-geum, who would offer prayers for Kang Hyung-seok’s safety, pointed toward her residence.
“I will lend you the sacred implements you’ll need. But you must promise me one thing.”
Chung-geum stood rooted in place, her voice low and weighted with resolve.
“The amulet must be returned directly by the young master himself.”
Without possession.
Without passing it through another’s hands.
May he return safely and deliver it with his own hands.
Understanding Chung-geum’s meaning, Kang Hyung-seok nodded deeply, his eyes closed.
“Follow me.”
Only then did Chung-geum begin to move.
As the two of them made their way toward Chung-geum’s Residence,
A flutter of wings—
A raven suddenly descended and concealed itself within the branches, watching them intently. Its eyes bore the whites of human eyes, giving it an eerily human gaze.
***
The soft sound of pouring water—
Inside his car, Kang Hyung-seok transferred water into a plastic bottle.
It was approaching 1 AM, and the phone mounted on his dashboard indicated that the Warehouse lay one kilometer ahead.
With hands pressed together in prayer, Kang Hyung-seok whispered a brief supplication with his eyes closed.
“Forgive me. Lacking proper etiquette, I could not procure a suitable vessel.”
He had offered purified water and maintained his prayers throughout.
He had to enter the Warehouse.
He had to guide the Vengeful Spirit—the source of the murderous intent—to salvation.
Without the aid of his guardian spirit, such a task would be impossible, so he offered his prayers with utmost sincerity.
‘Let’s go.’
Kang Hyung-seok started the engine and drove toward the Warehouse.
As he did, he activated a pre-recorded Buddhist scripture.
『Aigeum-gang samdeung bangbyeon sinseung-geum-gang banwol-poong-ryun dangsang-gubanang namja-gwangmyeong soyeo-muryeong sojuk-jishin.』
The monk’s voice reciting the demon-banishing incantation was clear and composed.
As if meant to soothe a heavy heart.
But you know, Venerable One.
There is not a single easy matter in this world, and the resentment of a Vengeful Spirit is sharp and profound.
『Bulseon-sim-ja gae-rae-ho-gwe cheong-a-soseol gaji-beop-eum sa-je-po-ak pae-yeok-ji-sim eo-bul-beop-jung ham-gi-sin-sim.』
An ancient Vengeful Spirit.
One that has likely lost even its sense of self, a Victim Spirit that hurls murderous intent at all living things.
『Ong-ho-do-ryang yeok-ho-si-ju gang-bok-so-jae.』
I must receive the resentment of that spirit and sever the murderous intent.
『Om somani somani hum harikhanna harikhanna hum harikhanna banaya hum anayahok baabam baara hum batak.』
“Please, grant me the strength to resolve all of this….”
That was when it happened.
A piercing screech—
Sudden noise erupted, swallowing the incantation whole.
Kang Hyung-seok grimaced at the ear-splitting sound and reached out to stop the playback.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
As the car fell suddenly silent, the cries of the Raven echoed from all directions.
Kang Hyung-seok exhaled slowly through gritted teeth.
He checked his watch just to be sure—1 a.m.
The Hour of the Rat.
***
Click, click.
“Ugh… ugh…”
The face of Gwak Young-ho, who had been sleeping peacefully just moments before, contorted in agony.
The wall clock pointed to 1 a.m.
Gwak Young-ho thrashed in pain, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
Then, with a scream, he jolted upright and gasped for breath.
“Honey, what’s wrong?”
His wife, Lee Mi-suk, who had been sleeping beside him, sat up while putting on her glasses.
“Did you have a nightmare? You’re sweating so much in your sleep.”
“H-honey.”
Gwak Young-ho looked at Lee Mi-suk, then suddenly touched his own neck.
After confirming there was nothing wrong with his throat, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He’d had a terrible nightmare.
A woman whose face was twisted beyond description had been slashing at his throat with a kitchen knife.
“I must be stressed. You know that Lee fellow, the subordinate who got into an accident and was hospitalized. That’s weighing on me too.”
Gwak Young-ho spoke as if trying to convince himself, while Lee Mi-suk, her eyes full of concern, wiped his sweat with her sleeve.
“You’re always so timid, that’s your problem. Didn’t that Kang fellow say something about not feeling well? Don’t worry about it. He’s not even a shaman or anything.”
“Y-you’re right?”
“Goodness, a department head with so much fear. I’ll go to a reputable Shamanic Temple on Monday and get you a talisman.”
“Thank you, honey.”
“Just wait. I’ll bring you some warm water.”
It was right after Lee Mi-suk pulled back the blanket and was about to get out of bed.
“Honey.”
“Yes?”
“This is reality, right?”
Lee Mi-suk stared at Gwak Young-ho, who seemed entranced by something, then let out a small laugh.
“Yes, it’s reality. So wake up from the dream and sit for a moment.”
Lee Mi-suk closed the door behind her and headed to the living room.
She turned on only an auxiliary light, then filled the coffee pot with water in the kitchen.
Bubble, bubble, bubble.
It was the moment steam rose from the coffee pot.
Lee Mi-suk’s face suddenly went slack.
As if her contents had been switched in an instant, she was transformed, her gaze shifting to the kitchen window.
Tap, tap-tap.
There, a Raven pecked at the window while staring at her.
***
-Caw. Caw.
The Hospital where Lee Jin-pyung was admitted.
Even after Lee Jin-pyung was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, Spitz refused to leave his side.
The dog had continued to watch over him.
To ensure that no Malevolent Spirit or dark force could harm Lee Jin-pyung.
His small frame mattered not.
For his desire to protect Lee Jin-pyung burned fiercely.
-Woof! Woof woof woof! Woof!
Spitz suddenly began barking, every hair on his back standing on end.
Something was coming.
A dark force intent on claiming Lee Jin-pyung’s life.
Its head thrashing wildly side to side like a willow branch caught in the wind.
The dark force crawled toward the Hospital on limbs like blackened branches.
***
“Shall we begin, Dharma Master?”
At Chung-geum’s words, the man in white hanbok puffed out his cheeks and exhaled sharply.
The hastily summoned Dharma Master’s face bore questions he longed to ask.
What curse was being suppressed, and why had this ritual been conducted without warning?
And why, of all times, during the Hour of the Dog?
Yet faced with Chung-geum’s solemn expression, he asked nothing and grasped the drumstick.
Thump thump thump thump!
“From the blessed lands where the Great Han, the dual provinces, and the Eight Deities dwell, block all manner of calamities and misfortunes that arise and follow from the east, west, south, and north as we walk.”
As the man chanted the scripture, Chung-geum began to dance, waving the colorful flags in her hands.
This ritual was meant to buy time—to suppress the curses spreading everywhere until Kang Hyung-seok could resolve the Vengeful Spirit.

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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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