An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 39

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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 38
Part 5. They Talk About You a Lot at the Company (1)
The Shaman is also called a “prayer-giver.”
One who offers prayers to heaven.
With my eyes gently closed, I whispered the incantation softly through barely parted lips.
“Ishi bul jae sa ra ssang su gan im ba ni won si sa ri bul.”
Reciting the scripture in hushed tones so it wouldn’t seep past the curtains, I pressed the Shaman’s Bell into my palm.
The Shaman’s Bell—it warded off calamity and purified one’s spiritual essence.
I hoped its power would bring aid to Lee Jin-pyung.
“A ran geup mu ryang mu byeon je dae bo sal ma ha sal je dae je ja il che cheon in gae rae jip hoe bul hwan jeong jwa.”
I prayed, I beseeched, I yearned.
“Yeong ak se jung jung saeng mu yu byeong go mu yu hoeng sa jung sa go do sil gae so myeol a ran a so chok ru yu neung cha gyeong yak yu jung saeng mu nam mu nyeo mu gwi mu cheon yu neung dok song cha gyeong il gu il gae ja.”
The Spitz resting upon Lee Jin-pyung’s chest lifted its head.
The creature, ignorant of what the scripture meant, gazed at me with perfect stillness, its tail unmoving.
“Ji sim seo sa a so chul beop sang ha gu gae yeo bul so seol ji sim su ji mu ryeong mang sil.”
I recited the lengthy incantation with deliberate care, syllable by syllable.
After considerable time had passed, the scripture finally concluded, and I opened my eyes to look down at Lee Jin-pyung.
Nothing appeared visibly different from before the prayer.
His eyelids remained closed, and the heart monitor beside him showed the same rhythm as before.
Yet the spiritual essence around him had transformed.
“Now your role becomes crucial.”
I moved my hand from the Shaman’s Bell to the Spitz’s head.
Only then did the creature release the tail it had been holding still, wagging it as it let out a soft bark—a sound only I could hear.
“I’ve done everything I can.”
I had offered my prayers.
I had hoped the hearts of all those wishing for Lee Jin-pyung to open his eyes would reach the heavens.
I had driven away the malevolent forces that lingered, and ensured that pure spiritual energy remained in his presence.
What remained was time and the efforts of the medical staff.
And the presence of the Spitz Victim Spirit, steadfast in its wish for Lee Jin-pyung to awaken.
-Woof!
The creature barked briefly, as if in understanding.
I nodded with a smile and collected the Shaman’s Bell.
Then I slipped out of the Hospital Room, and near the Elevator, a middle-aged couple who appeared to be Lee Jin-pyung’s parents passed by me.
Ding!
The Elevator doors opened, yet I turned to look back at them.
Then, with a silent smile, I stepped inside.
『The doors are closing.』
Holding the bag containing the Shaman’s Bell, I watched the middle-aged couple’s backs as the doors sealed shut, and I offered my final prayer.
Please, do not burden yourselves with such worry.
For when Lee Jin-pyung opens his eyes someday, his heart should not ache.
***
(Kang Deputy Manager!)
The next day, I was heading to the Company for work.
Gwak Young-ho, who had called, raised his voice the moment he pressed the call button.
“Yes, Director.”
(I just spoke with Lee Deputy Manager’s parents. They said he’s undergoing tests right now!)
“Tests? What do you mean?”
For a moment, I wondered if something had gone wrong.
But the tone in Gwak Young-ho’s voice that followed carried no sense of gravity.
(No, no. It’s nothing bad. I’m not entirely sure of the details, but apparently there was some kind of response. If things go well, he might even open his eyes today. They’re running some additional tests, I think.)
“Ah.”
I exhaled in relief.
After all my prayers, the panic I’d felt thinking something terrible had happened now seemed like nothing more than a passing episode.
As I let out another sigh, Gwak Young-ho’s voice came through again.
(Apparently he’s improved quite a bit. I’ve decided to stop by for a bit this morning. I’m driving there now!)
It was a good decision.
Lee Jin-pyung didn’t get hurt while working at the Company.
But to ease the minds of his parents, who were overseas, it would be good for at least one person from the Company to visit.
It would be even better if that person was the director.
If I were someone’s parent, I would feel the same way.
(And he wanted me to thank you.)
“Me? Thank me for what?”
(You remember how you and I went together on the day Lee Deputy Manager had surgery, right? And you visited yesterday too. He wanted me to tell you how grateful he is for looking after his son.)
“That’s not true. I didn’t do anything special.”
(That’s just how parents are!)
I laughed quietly so the sound wouldn’t carry through the phone.
The image of Lee Jin-pyung’s parents, whom I’d passed in the hallway yesterday, flickered before my eyes.
Shoulders drooping, faces darkened with worry.
A parent’s love for their child could be this heavy.
(Kang Deputy Manager, do you call your parents often?)
“Ah, well….”
(Hey! Call them while you can. See them in person while you’re able to! That time is shorter than you think.)
The sudden shift into a scolding tone made me laugh awkwardly.
“I’m sorry.”
(There’s a holiday coming up soon, right? Take some time off then and visit your parents’ place. That’s what you should be doing.)
“Yes.”
Thoughts of my parents filled me with a bittersweet sense of guilt.
There wasn’t a single word out of place in what Gwak Young-ho had said.
I knew I shouldn’t be this way, but as I got caught up in work, I often forgot to call them.
(Anyway, how far have you gotten?)
“We’re almost there. Should be about five minutes.”
(Remember that meal I mentioned yesterday? We’re doing it during lunch today, so get ready for it.)
“That was faster than expected?”
(Of course! You wouldn’t know, but people are talking about you a lot around the Company.)
This wasn’t surprising to Kang Hyung-seok—he’d anticipated as much.
It was only natural.
Not that he was referring to eliminating the flesh trapped in the Warehouse.
The Warehouse had certainly been urgent business for the Company, and securing favorable contract terms for it had indeed been Kang Hyung-seok’s achievement.
But rather than pure joy, his first instinct was to be cautious about his conduct.
(If anyone tries to touch you, just ignore them. You know what I mean, right?)
“Yes, I understand.”
Not everyone at the Company was like Gwak Young-ho or Shin Jung-ah.
Gwak Young-ho was already on guard against those who might approach Kang Hyung-seok with jealousy and provocation.
(If things get rough, just call me.)
“No need to worry. I’ll handle it so you won’t have to be concerned.”
(I’m concerned because I care, Deputy Manager Kang!)
As the Company building came into view, Kang Hyung-seok quickly spoke up.
“No, and I’ve just arrived at the Company. I’ll head up right away.”
(Okay! I won’t go past 11 o’clock either, so if you have anything to finish, hurry up and wrap it up.)
“Yes!”
Kang Hyung-seok hung up and took a deep breath, puffing out his chest.
A lunch with the executives.
An opportunity made possible through Shin Chang-yong’s influence.
He needed to stay sharp.
Still, the fact that his lips wouldn’t stop curling upward was likely because he’d heard good news about Lee Jin-pyung.
Vroom!
Kang Hyung-seok parked in the Parking Lot and settled in to prepare for work.
He powered on the monitor, typed his password on a keyboard that still looked brand new, slid the mouse aside, and opened his notebook.
Then he headed to the Break Room for the indispensable coffee.
The atmosphere within the Company wasn’t bad.
“Heyyyy there.”
Namgoong Min-ah appeared through the Break Room door’s glass window, greeting everyone with a drawn-out voice.
The start of an ordinary day.
Yes, that was enough.
Don’t think about anything else, and don’t be tense.
Beep! Hisssss!
The machine began dispensing an espresso shot into the tumbler he’d placed.
It was as Kang Hyung-seok gazed down at the coffee filling the tumbler.
Thud!
“Deputy Manager Kang!”
I spun around in surprise, only to find Lim Jin-gil, my colleague from the same cohort, grinning at me.
“What is it?”
“Why are you so startled? You look like someone who’s done something wrong.”
“If you’re getting coffee, just wait. I’m almost done.”
There was nothing more irritating than having someone I wasn’t even close to crack jokes at my expense.
I sighed and finished tidying the coffee machine, then moved to stand in front of the water dispenser.
I was about to pour cold water when Lim Jin-gil’s voice came from behind me.
“I didn’t think you had it in you, but you’re quite the operator, aren’t you?”
“What operator?”
I turned to face him with a genuinely confused expression.
“Word’s gotten around. Apparently, while Lee Jin-pyung was hospitalized, you managed to renew contracts like that. If there’s some secret trick, you should share it with me.”
I opened my mouth loosely and stared at Lim Jin-gil.
Despite being my cohort from when we joined, we weren’t close enough for him to speak to me this way.
And in corporate life, one’s instincts sharpen faster than one’s salary grows—I could tell exactly what Lim Jin-gil was getting at.
“Are you being sarcastic right now?”
“Sarcastic? No, since it’s just us here, I’m just being honest. It’s not like it’s something we can’t say, right?”
“It’s something you shouldn’t say. Not now.”
“Come on, you’re being too serious. And honestly, I know Lee Jin-pyung has his frustrating sides. But still, the guy’s lying in a hospital bed—the contract renewal thing feels a bit off, doesn’t it?”
Glug, glug.
Lim Jin-gil had started extracting his own coffee, but the air had grown so cold that even the rich, warm aroma of the brew couldn’t warm it.
“Apologize.”
I threw the words out bluntly.
But Lim Jin-gil just looked at me as if he didn’t see the problem.
“For what?”
“I said apologize.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re really going to play it this way?”
“Did something bad happen? You’ve been sensitive since earlier.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
I knew I shouldn’t get dragged into this, that I shouldn’t even respond—but Lim Jin-gil had to bring up Lee Jin-pyung.
Lee Jin-pyung, who’d been shot and was now lying in a hospital bed, who’d nearly lost his life.
“You’ve crossed the line. This is it.”
Muttering, I glared at Lim Jin-gil and sealed the tumbler lid.
“Apologize when you get the chance.”
“What chance? And apologize for what?”
“Sigh.”
I exhaled deeply and took a sip of coffee.
Bokji Company was a good place, so they didn’t use cheap beans.
Yet all I could taste was bitterness, my palate thoroughly soured.
“I have lunch scheduled with the executives today.”
Lim Jin-gil’s eyes widened slightly, and Kang Hyung-seok swirled the coffee in his tumbler.
“Your department head will be there too, so I’ll make a little slip of the tongue myself.”
“Excuse me? A slip of the tongue?”
Bewilderment spread across Lim Jin-gil’s face as he realized the conversation was taking an unexpected turn.
“I’ll relay exactly what you just said to me.”
Despite Lim Jin-gil’s obvious panic, he let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd.
“No, wait, what do you—”
“You said there’s nothing to apologize for. So it shouldn’t matter if the executives hear it, right?”
“No! Kang!”
“I gave you a chance.”
As Kang Hyung-seok moved to leave the Break Room, Lim Jin-gil hastily blocked his path.
“That’s taking the joke too far. What are you doing right now? What did I do that you’d go tell the executives?”
“Move. I have work to do.”
With lunch with the executives ahead, I had no idea when I’d be free.
I couldn’t afford to waste time on someone like Lim Jin-gil when I needed to accomplish as much as possible before then.
“No, wait, just hear me out—!”
Lim Jin-gil’s voice rose as his desperation grew sharper in contrast to my composed demeanor.
The door swung open.
Shin Jung-ah had just arrived, still holding her bag, and stepped into the Break Room.
Lim Jin-gil’s face turned glacial.

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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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