An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 331

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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 330
Part 6. Are You Feeling a Bit More at Peace Now? (1)
Two days had passed.
The morning of the final day of the Golden Holiday.
Kang Hyung-seok, who had spent yesterday confined to his bed like a bound spirit, rose with a rumpled groan.
He immediately set about preparing to face the day.
Eating breakfast, lamenting over the barren Refrigerator, and showering—that was how his day began.
Click.
Once in the car, he inserted the tumbler into the holder.
Then, as if in prayer, he pressed his forehead against the steering wheel.
Though considerable time had passed, my heart refused to lighten easily.
It was because of the Japanese Onmyoji.
Just as I had seen him, he had seen me as well.
The way he looked at me didn’t feel like mere coincidence—it was unsettling, even repugnant.
Vroom.
Kang Hyung-seok drove toward Lee Geum-kyung’s Shrine, knowing that only she could provide answers to his turbulent thoughts.
Along the way, he stopped at a Large Mart that operated even during the holiday, purchasing an abundance of food and gift sets, and added several free-sized garments for Go Se-hee to his cart.
It was nothing extraordinary, yet as he left the checkout counter, his heart felt strangely lighter.
It felt precisely like visiting an elder relative’s home on a holiday.
Vroom.
He drove toward his approaching destination and parked his car in Lee Geum-kyung’s Shrine Courtyard.
Perhaps because it was a holiday, or perhaps because Lee Geum-kyung had anticipated his arrival, there were no other cars or people in front of the Shrine.
Click.
Stepping out of the car, he immediately spotted Go Se-hee poking her head out from the Annex Building.
“Se-hee.”
Go Se-hee approached with a bright smile, and soon the door swung open, revealing Chung-geum wiping her mouth.
“Oh, Young Master.”
“Were you in the middle of a meal?”
“No! Not at all!”
She certainly was.
I could clearly see grains of rice stained red with gochujang clinging to the corners of her mouth.
“I stopped by since it’s a holiday. I brought some gifts as well.”
“My goodness.”
“I got some clothes for you too. I’m not sure if you’ll like them.”
Go Se-hee was startled, and Kang Hyung-seok retrieved the shopping bags he had piled in the back seat.
He handed over the bag containing the clothes, and Go Se-hee stared at it blankly before smiling with a subtle expression.
“Ah.”
“Hmm?”
“I suppose I should call you Uncle.”
“Ah.”
His voice had improved considerably from before, but it was still difficult to understand.
“Ahhh… mmm.”
“Don’t strain yourself. It’s alright.”
Still, I was grateful for Go Se-hee’s consideration, and her smile was warm.
Kang Hyung-seok had interrupted my meal to apologize, mentioning that there were matters the adults needed to discuss.
At that, Go Se-hee bowed deeply and hurried toward the Annex Building.
There was something peculiar about watching her retreating figure.
It felt as though I had suddenly gained a grown niece.
“She calls me ‘older sister,’ you know.”
“Is that so?”
“She’s such a good child. It’s heartbreaking that she’s endured such an ordeal.”
Kang Hyung-seok nodded solemnly and handed the shopping bag he was holding to Chung-geum as well.
“Please take care of this together later.”
“Oh, why would you… I couldn’t possibly…”
Chung-geum hesitated with a flustered and awkward expression, and Kang Hyung-seok offered her a faint smile.
“It’s fine. There’s a sale going on these days, so it wasn’t expensive. Please don’t worry and accept it comfortably.”
“My goodness…”
Chung-geum accepted the shopping bag and sent a look of genuine gratitude.
“Thank you so much, young master.”
“Not at all. By the way, is the teacher inside?”
“She’s away on business, but she should be back soon. She said she’d return today.”
“Today?”
Wondering if she had left for another distant business trip, Kang Hyung-seok asked again, and Chung-geum nodded in response.
“Yes. She left yesterday morning. She said she was going to meet with a Dharma Master she knows.”
“I see.”
If she left yesterday morning, I could roughly guess the reason.
‘Did the teacher know as well?’
That harrowing ordeal had occurred two days ago.
If she left yesterday morning, she must have departed as soon as matters arose—perhaps to leave for consultation.
Vroom!
At that moment, a Van entered the Courtyard with a rumbling engine.
“Teacher!”
“Welcome back.”
Kang Hyung-seok and Chung-geum greeted Lee Geum-kyung as she stepped out of the passenger seat, and Lee Geum-kyung, having received their greetings, turned her gaze to the person in the driver’s seat.
“You’ve worked hard. Drive safely on your way back.”
“Yes, teacher.”
“Have a prosperous new year.”
The Afflicted Man nodded with a good-natured smile and turned the car around, heading down the Mountain.
As the sound of the departing car’s engine faded gently, Lee Geum-kyung looked at Kang Hyung-seok and offered a warm smile.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Those few words seemed to carry profound weight.
As if seeing through what trials I had endured, I bowed my head deeply.
“No, it was something I had to do.”
“This isn’t a conversation for standing. Let’s go inside.”
Chung-geum excused herself to prepare tea and refreshments, while Lee Geum-kyung and I made our way to the Inner Chamber.
That was all.
Before my eyes was Lee Geum-kyung’s back, hands clasped behind her.
Yet even that simple sight brought a wave of solace washing over me.
Tap.
Upon entering the Inner Chamber, Lee Geum-kyung took her seat at the upper position, while I sat across from her.
“I—”
“I know.”
Lee Geum-kyung cut me off and gazed at me quietly.
Her eyes held the tenderness of a mother watching her child.
With my lips pressed firmly shut, I exhaled through my nose before speaking.
“There is someone on this land intent on causing harm.”
Lee Geum-kyung nodded, and I continued, recalling the Japanese Onmyoji from my memories.
“It seems he has noticed me.”
“Are you afraid?”
“I am not afraid.”
Given the malevolence of his intentions, we may inevitably clash someday.
I harbor no fear of such a confrontation.
But there was something else I feared.
“I fear that you and those I know might be harmed because of me.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
“A younger acquaintance has already been drawn into this affair. He has no power to speak of, and I worry he may suffer hardship because of me.”
Lee Geum-kyung nodded in understanding.
Then, shifting her gaze to the firmly closed door, she spoke in a measured tone.
“That’s why I’ve been rather busy myself. I even visited the Prayer Ground.”
“Was that the reason you left?”
“Your troubles are my troubles.”
Lee Geum-kyung rubbed her stiff knees, then turned her gaze back to me.
“You need not concern yourself with such matters.”
“….”
“If that being is truly evil, then his wickedness will prevent him from revealing himself carelessly before you.”
It was not immediately convincing.
As I sent a questioning look, Lee Geum-kyung continued.
“Do not overthink it.”
“I find it difficult to understand.”
“You are someone he must avoid.”
Kang Hyung-seok’s face hardened, and Lee Geum-kyung drew a deep breath that swelled her chest.
Her expression bore the weight of the countless prayers and offerings she had made to obtain the answer she now granted him.
“It cannot reveal itself freely before you, nor can it lay hands upon those close to you without restraint.”
“I am afraid.”
“When you faced that being, was your younger brother at your side?”
Kang Hyung-seok’s eyes widened slightly.
He had been alone when he witnessed the phantom at the Temple.
Yoon Sang had not been there.
“That is not the case.”
“Then it cannot move against your brother immediately.”
“The future will be the true test, then.”
Kang Hyung-seok answered with uncertainty in his voice.
He had no confidence in what was the right course of action.
“Live as you have been living.”
“What I did this time was merely damage control. I saved no one.”
“Do you truly believe there was no life you saved?”
It was only after Kang Hyung-seok lifted his gaze, which had unconsciously fallen downward, to meet Lee Geum-kyung’s eyes.
“You said it sought to cause harm. Can you be certain that nothing would have occurred had you not gone there?”
“…That is difficult to say, Master.”
“It has lived since before you were born. What can be done?”
It is a being that has lived for an unfathomably distant age, even before receiving the divine calling, pursuing some purpose all along.
Sorrowfully, time cannot be turned backward, and spilled water cannot be gathered again.
“You can prevent greater calamities.”
“Is that… what you are saying, Master?”
“It is possible because it is you. It is possible because your Spiritual Guardian protects you.”
Kang Hyung-seok fell into quiet silence.
He did not feel as though all his doubts had been cleanly resolved.
Yet he seemed to understand what he must do now.
“I think I understand why my Spiritual Guardian commanded me to live as a Shaman in this world.”
“Do you regret it?”
“It is no different from before.”
Even then, Kang Hyung-seok had accepted his Spiritual Guardian’s will.
He doubted that a different answer would emerge even if Lee Geum-kyung posed the same question.
“If the karma my Spiritual Guardian has entrusted to me is such, I will accept it gladly.”
“It will not be easy.”
“It does not matter.”
“They may envy you, resent you, and seek to obstruct you.”
“I will endure it.”
Lee Geum-kyung, exchanging words as if in a dialogue from long ago in this very place, wore a gentle smile at the corners of her mouth.
“Fear nothing. Not all of this is your fault, so there is no need to scourge yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Chung-geum.”
Lee Geum-kyung’s gaze turned toward the door.
Only then did Kang Hyung-seok, who had noticed how unusually late Chung-geum was arriving, look in the same direction as she carefully opened the door.
“Yes, Teacher.”
“Our discussion is finished. Come in.”
Chung-geum, who had been waiting outside to avoid disrupting the serious atmosphere, entered with an awkward smile.
She set down a small table, though the refreshments were ones Kang Hyung-seok had brought.
“There’s no need to bring things like this every time.”
“No, Teacher.”
“You stubborn thing. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Lee Geum-kyung clicked her tongue.
“The young master brought quite a variety of things. There was even the yokan you enjoy, Teacher.”
Lee Geum-kyung gave Chung-geum a questioning look, and Chung-geum turned her gaze to Kang Hyung-seok with a smile.
“Please have dinner with us before you go.”
All Chung-geum could offer him right now was a warm meal, and she hoped he would not refuse.
“I couldn’t possibly impose on you.”
“But….”
Chung-geum looked to Lee Geum-kyung for support.
Yet she merely shook her head in silence, and disappointment deepened across Chung-geum’s face.
“I’m truly grateful, but I have to return to work tomorrow.”
“Ah.”
“I’ll gratefully accept the tea, though.”
Kang Hyung-seok carefully lifted the teacup.
The tea had grown quite cold, perhaps from the long wait outside. Yet the consideration I felt was far greater than the tepid warmth of the liquid.
It was always like this.
Life outside was so exhausting and draining, but whenever I came here, I received guidance and care.
I knew it was shameless to feel this way, but I was grateful nonetheless as I sipped the tea.

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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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