An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 327
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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 326
Part 4. If What We Do Is Truly Right (3)
Click.
As I closed the door behind me, a silent, frigid wind swept across my skin.
A desolate ache seized my heart, and even the moon hanging above seemed to retreat behind the clouds.
Rustle.
I withdrew two business cards from my pocket and drew my lower lip inward.
I’d found them in the Sealed Room that Kim Joo-seok had revealed before his ascension.
Song Hyung-doo.
The name was identical, yet each card bore different phone numbers and addresses.
Song Hyung-doo, who’d frequently slipped in and out of this Rental House, must have dropped them accidentally—the Son had kept them, though I’d attached little significance to them at the time.
But now, everything had changed.
Now that I understood this man’s true nature differed from his facade, the meaning of the other two business cards was painfully obvious.
“Hyung-seok.”
Yoon Sang’s quiet voice carried an expression that mirrored my own.
“What.”
Already knowing what question was coming, I replied calmly, and Yoon Sang continued with an expression that anticipated our entire conversation.
“Are you going?”
“I have to. It’s the deceased’s request.”
Kim Joo-seok had asked me to ensure no one like him would ever emerge again.
“There’s still far too much left unresolved.”
“…Yes, that’s true.”
The Victim Spirit’s ascension didn’t mean everything was finished.
Song Hyung-doo still lingered in the Abandoned School, and I hadn’t even begun to understand the true reason behind his assault on Kim Joo-seok’s family.
“I don’t know what’s at this address, but I’d prefer you didn’t come along.”
I held up the stiffer of the two business cards.
“This doesn’t seem to be the work of an individual. This isn’t a place for you.”
“…I understand. Yes.”
Yoon Sang rubbed the bittersweet curve of his mouth and forced an awkward smile.
“I know this might be something even the Horror Broadcast can’t resolve.”
“….”
“You’re worried I’ll get caught up in this, aren’t you?”
I answered with a bitter laugh, and Yoon Sang sighed, scratching the back of his head vigorously.
“Don’t worry about me. I can just cover what happened in this Rental House for the broadcast. If things go south, I simply won’t air it.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. So please, don’t worry too much.”
Yoon Sang spoke with forced cheerfulness, and I nodded heavily.
“Alright, then….”
We should move separately from here.
That’s what I was about to say.
“I’ll see how it ends, hyung.”
“What?”
“I know this might frustrate you. But just in case, you know? If something happens to you, there needs to be someone to report it, right?”
Kang Hyung-seok met Yoon Sang’s gaze, speaking sparingly.
Cruelly, the moon had hidden itself behind clouds, leaving everything shrouded in darkness—his features indistinct in the gloom.
“And who knows? It might already be abandoned.”
“Yoon Sang.”
“I’ll just check if there’s camera equipment. I’m good at that sort of thing.”
He would absolutely prevent Kang Hyung-seok’s face or personal information from being exposed.
That was the feeling Yoon Sang’s expression conveyed.
“Sigh.”
“Once I’ve checked, I’ll wait in the car.”
Kang Hyung-seok fell into deep thought, his lips pressed firmly shut.
Then, exhaling heavily, he turned to Yoon Sang and spoke.
“If anyone tries to open the car door or you see anything strange, call me immediately.”
“Easy! That much I can handle.”
“Let’s go.”
Kang Hyung-seok moved forward first.
Thud.
Once in the car, Kang Hyung-seok watched Yoon Sang climb into the passenger seat.
He started the engine, and as Yoon Sang rummaged through his bag to check for necessary equipment, Kang Hyung-seok clasped his hands over the steering wheel as if in prayer.
He didn’t recite sutras or close his eyes.
He simply exhaled shallow breaths through his nose, as if taking a moment of rest.
“Navigation starting.”
The GPS navigation’s voice filled the car, and Kang Hyung-seok sighed softly before beginning to drive.
Of the two business cards, only one remained pristine.
Since it was obtained relatively recently, it wouldn’t be the one given at their first meeting.
Rumble.
It was a place with only the name “Prayer Hall.”
What kind of place was it?
What kind of place would use someone like Kim Joo-seok as a scapegoat and have someone like Song Hyung-doo move like a salesman, hunting for sacrifices?
Seeking those answers, Kang Hyung-seok drove toward his destination with a grave expression.
Bump! Bump-bump!
The destination wasn’t far, but the road quickly grew treacherous.
The city fell away behind them.
In its place, the Mountain drew closer, and he felt as though they were driving down a path to another world.
Screech! Bump-bump!
Through the Window, Yoon Sang watched tree branches sway like ghostly hands and clasped his clammy hands together, while Kang Hyung-seok silently followed the navigation’s guidance.
Ring, ring, ring.
As they drew nearer to their destination, the Shaman’s Bell rang with increasing frequency, sounding of its own accord.
Kang Hyung-seok glanced at the bag in the back seat through the rearview mirror, then clenched his jaw.
Please protect us.
I ask this not only for myself, but for Yoon Sang as well.
We move not for selfish desires, but for a greater purpose.
To prevent incidents like those involving Kim Joo-seok from repeating.
If what we do is truly righteous, then Guardian Spirit, please watch over us.
Your disciple humbly makes this plea.
『You are approaching your destination. Navigation will now end.』
After driving along an unpaved Mountain Road for quite some time.
Kang Hyung-seok brought the car to a stop upon hearing the announcement and stepped out with Yoon Sang.
Deep within the Mountain, a Temple that resembled an Abandoned School stood before them.
How strange.
He had marked the address and the building was right in front of him, yet nothing appeared on the map.
“Hyung-nim, then I’ll go scout the perimeter.”
“Go ahead.”
Though no signs of life emanated from the Temple, Yoon Sang moved cautiously to avoid any unfortunate situations.
As Yoon Sang made a wide circuit around the Temple with his heavy equipment, Kang Hyung-seok gazed at the winter Forest that surrounded the area.
‘This was built here intentionally.’
The air was damp.
Despite the absence of Mist, it carried the scent of brine.
A place where malevolent energy pools.
Yet the absence of Malevolent Spirits nearby suggested this was a space even ghosts would avoid.
Jingle, jingle, jingle.
As the Shaman’s Bell chimed softly to protect him, Yoon Sang’s voice reached his ears.
“Hyung-nim, it’s fine. There are no cameras or anything. No generators either.”
Yoon Sang placed the infrared camera into his bag and returned, and Kang Hyung-seok thanked him for his efforts.
“Wait in the car. Keep your head down just in case.”
“…Will you be alright alone?”
“What could possibly go wrong?”
He remembered the times he had spent with Yoon Sang before.
The expression on Yoon Sang’s face when he had slashed his forearm with the ritual blade—that memory would linger for a long time.
He did not wish to create such a moment again.
“I’ll be back before the Hour of the Rat. So….”
Kang Hyung-seok held the passenger door and paused to choose his words carefully, then smiled as if pulling up the corners of his mouth.
“There’s no need to worry too much.”
“…Yes.”
“If anything happens, let’s call each other.”
Kang Hyung-seok closed the passenger door as if to shield Yoon Sang’s worried gaze.
Then he scattered salt widely around the area and, grasping the Shaman’s Bell and ritual blade in both hands, stepped toward the Temple.
Jingle, jingle, jingle!
“Supreme Lord speaks: the Yellow Heaven is the Yellow Earth, the sun and moon are born, the stars and spirits flourish.”
Chanting the Taeul Bosin Gyeong to protect himself, Kang Hyung-seok stared at the Temple drawing steadily closer.
“The Chosen One speaks, the Named Spirit speaks, Taeul Forest speaks, the Jade God speaks, the Three Officials speak, the Five Emperors speak.”
I feel it.
The Guardian Spirit is behind me.
“The Northern God speaks, the Southern Pole speaks, the Golden Copper speaks, the Jade Maiden speaks, the Six Jia speaks, the Six Ding speaks, the Heavenly Gate speaks.”
Help me.
Watch over me.
Protect me.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling!
As I stood before the door, the Shaman’s Bell suddenly rang out loudly.
Kang Hyung-seok looked down at the Shaman’s Bell, then shifted his gaze toward the door.
Then I reached out and placed my hand on the door.
Creeeak.
With just a light push, the door swung open.
And a suffocating darkness and cold air welcomed me.
‘As expected.’
Though there was no light whatsoever, my eyes had adapted to the darkness long ago, so I could see the vast interior clearly.
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
The interior was exactly as I’d anticipated—damned if it wasn’t.
A place abandoned after its usefulness had expired.
Pitter-patter!
Apparently startled to find a person here, a large rat scurried away in panic.
In contrast, I moved slowly into the interior.
Then I caught sight of a Buddha statue beyond the sliding door, but its characteristic benevolence was nowhere to be felt.
Instead, I felt an eerie unease, as if confronting the Four Heavenly Kings.
‘This is not a normal Buddha statue.’
Because of the darkness, it felt as though the statue’s eyes were following me.
I stopped walking and gazed at the darkness enveloping the interior of the Temple.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling!
As I shook the Shaman’s Bell, the air itself seemed to ripple visibly.
This is a space used by vicious people.
Song Hyung-doo being struck by a reverse curse might not have been an accident after all, and it seems they left nothing undone when departing this place.
What did they hide here? What did they do?
Ding-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling!
Ringing the Shaman’s Bell with commanding force, I opened my mouth while glaring at everything within my sight.
“Hear me now, at this moment let fire consume the wicked, grant me swift aid and solace.”
The Diamond Sutra.
In this place where nothing could be trusted, only the truth of my sutras remained.
“Among the bhikshus gathered, twelve hundred fifty in number, the World-Honored One then rose from his seat, arranged his robes, and entered the great city to beg for alms.”
No matter how deep the darkness, it shall be illuminated by a handful of light.
No matter how thick the falsehood, it shall be revealed by a small truth.
So let all that blinds us retreat, and let only truth be exposed.
“…with biased views we bow in reverence, and with palms joined in respect we remain silent, yet O World-Honored One, the Tathagata cherishes all bodhisattvas, and Song Hyung-doo is a bodhisattva of virtue.”
The dharma assembly was transitioning from the opening section into the section of questioning the sages.
The wind ceased.
And what had been suppressed and hidden by sorcery began to reveal itself.
***
Fluttering!
At the sound of an unnamed bird taking flight, Yoon Sang flinched.
But his head remained bowed, unlifted and silent.
Kang Hyung-seok had told him to stay that way, and besides, I had no desire to witness anything terrible.
“Huu.”
I exhaled a trembling breath, interlacing my fingers in prayer, bowing deeper until my forehead touched my knees.
‘Brother, please be safe. Please, please.’
It was then that I licked my lips, which had grown strangely parched.
Ssshhh.
A wind like a sigh echoed around the car.
Whoooosh.
This time, a wailing wind drew closer, and the salt Kang Hyung-seok had scattered turned black.
It was then that Yoon Sang’s eyes, knowing nothing, closed even more tightly.
Scritch-scratch.
Sliding across dry leaves and earth, something serpentine slithered toward him.
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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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