An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 66

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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 66
Part 5. Not Everyone Is Like You (3)
Clatter.
“Please, enjoy your meal, sir.”
The Poultry Farm Owner’s son—the target of the cleansing ritual—set down a vibrant red broth on the table, watching carefully for any reaction.
It was his restaurant.
Though the poultry farm was nearby, the place was immaculate; not even a hint of chicken droppings lingered in the air.
“I’m sorry you had to witness such a scene.”
“Oh, no, sir. When many people gather, these things happen.”
The son waved his hand dismissively, then turned his gaze toward Kang Hyung-seok, who sat across from Lee Geum-kyung.
“Please eat well, and let me know if you need anything more.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The son’s eyes as he regarded Kang Hyung-seok were far from simple.
He knew Lee Geum-kyung was a great Shaman, and while the other Shamans sat separately, only Kang Hyung-seok shared her table.
Recognizing that he was no ordinary person, the son withdrew with considerable courtesy.
Bubble, bubble, bubble.
Meanwhile, the hot pot the owner had left behind simmered deliciously.
As Kang Hyung-seok stared intently at something in the broth that resembled an egg yolk, Lee Geum-kyung let out a soft laugh.
“Chicken offal soup. Your first time seeing it?”
“Not exactly, but I’ve never eaten it before.”
“They do it well here. Try some.”
Only after Lee Geum-kyung picked up her spoon first did Kang Hyung-seok begin eating.
The rich broth carried not a trace of fishiness, and the chicken offal was pristine.
The flavor was extraordinary—as if chicken had been distilled and concentrated again and again until it reached this essence.
The yolk-like piece was particularly intriguing; it had an elastic texture while delivering an intense, concentrated yolk flavor.
‘No wonder they distribute to major corporations.’
The desire to contract with such a place was so strong that Kang Hyung-seok glanced at the son once more before continuing his meal.
Then it came.
“What do you make of Hong Kyung-soo?”
Kang Hyung-seok set down his spoon and met Lee Geum-kyung’s gaze.
She too had set down her spoon.
“He doesn’t seem to be a sage, but he didn’t strike me as someone who speaks only lies either.”
“That would be right. Some of what he said was credible.”
“But are you all right, sir?”
Lee Geum-kyung furrowed her brow and widened her eyes, while Kang Hyung-seok placed his hands on his lap and continued.
“Your friend. You received help from Hong Kyung-soo, after all.”
Misfortune and calamity beyond my own capabilities.
To handle these, your friend sought Hong Kyung-soo’s assistance.
I could never have imagined such a thing was possible.
Because I had no need for it.
Until now, I had resolved flesh and misfortune through my own strength alone, never once considering any alternative method.
“As if I wouldn’t have known.”
Lee Geum-kyung took a spoonful of broth and let out a small click of her tongue.
“You’re someone who’s done things beyond your capabilities more than once. I’ve always suspected there was something more to it.”
I began to understand why Lee Geum-kyung had attempted the cleansing ritual.
‘She knew all along.’
Because we were friends.
Because we were both Shamans.
Lee Geum-kyung had known.
“Foolish. If you’re overwhelmed, you should just do what others do. What’s eating at you so much?”
Lee Geum-kyung’s face remained composed as she muttered this.
Yet her eyes and voice betrayed something different.
“Take heart. It can be resolved if we act now.”
“Yes. That’s the right way.”
Lee Geum-kyung picked up her spoon again and continued eating.
Nothing had been resolved yet.
But we had to eat and regain our strength if we were to accomplish anything at all.
‘Hong Kyung-soo….’
As I continued eating, my thoughts turned to Hong Kyung-soo.
To complete the cleansing and resolve my friend’s karmic debt, I ultimately had to address the source from which the flesh had originated.
And only Hong Kyung-soo knew that location.
It was deeply unsatisfying.
It was as though Hong Kyung-soo held the hilt of the sword.
“I have thoughts on this as well.”
I turned my gaze toward Lee Geum-kyung as she ate.
“He’s a cunning man. He must have acted that way because he had something in mind.”
“Are you speaking of how Shaman Hong Kyung-soo went alone?”
Lee Geum-kyung nodded.
“I have my suspicions. He’ll certainly contact us later, but his purpose won’t be benign.”
I nodded silently as well.
In the past, I wouldn’t have even been able to speculate.
But now, having worked as a Shaman to some degree, I could infer Hong Kyung-soo’s intentions somewhat.
“You said he deals in curses, didn’t you?”
Lee Geum-kyung looked at me with slightly surprised eyes, then smiled bitterly and nodded.
“You’re thinking of Mugho.”
“Yes. If vicious things have been accumulated, they take the form of Mugho.”
Sealed liquor and Shaman Spirits.
It was something I had experienced before.
There, I had witnessed a Shaman Spirit clinging to Mugho even in death.
Mugho became a powerful curse tool, and Hong Kyung-soo, who wore black robes and dealt in curses, could not possibly be ignorant of this.
“There’s likely another reason as well.”
“What… are you referring to, sir?”
“I’m not certain yet. But that fellow showed an unusually keen interest in you.”
Several times, my eyes had met Hong Kyung-soo’s across the table.
The sensation of something amiss was natural enough, but I couldn’t discern his intentions in the slightest.
“Did the spirit master say anything particular?”
“He constantly employs curses to prevent the flesh from returning to him. That’s why it’s difficult for me as well.”
Curses always rebound upon their caster.
How much must one who practices such arts fear the flesh and divine punishment that would return to them?
I exhaled as if understanding her meaning.
“There’s nothing to worry about. After all, a great spirit walks with us—what scheme could he possibly attempt?”
I smiled bitterly, and Lee Geum-kyung silently lifted the corners of her mouth as she picked up her spoon.
It was immediately after this.
Clunk.
The Female Shaman approached the table, soju bottle in hand.
“Teacher! Won’t you accept just one glass from me?”
The Shaman’s face was already flushed.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop drinking so much?”
“But the broth is so good, teacher. Please, just one glass.”
Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.
As Lee Geum-kyung lifted her soju glass, the Shaman filled it with a radiant smile.
Glug, glug, glug, glug.
“Stop! How much are you planning to pour?”
“A full cup shows true affection, doesn’t it?”
“Goodness!”
“It’s overflowing! This shows how much I respect and love you, doesn’t it, teacher?”
I watched Lee Geum-kyung and the Shaman with a faint smile.
Clink.
“By the way, your young master is quite handsome. Tell me, do you have anyone you’re seeing?”
“If you’re going to ramble drunk, then go home.”
“Oh, teacher!”
“Sigh, you’re destined for ruin if you don’t quit drinking. How many times have I told you?”
“I’ll be careful.”
Lee Geum-kyung drank her soju with genuine concern in her eyes, and the Shaman who had brought it grinned widely.
“By the way, teacher, when will you continue with the cleansing ritual?”
“First, we must resolve the source of the flesh. There’s an order to these things, isn’t there?”
“Then we’ll need to hear from Shaman Hong first?”
It was likely an offhand question.
Yet contrary to the Shaman’s intent, the heavy atmosphere that had retreated moments before peeked its head back out.
In any case, the situation was unfolding according to Hong Kyung-soo’s design.
It was not a welcome situation—Lee Geum-kyung’s friend could pass away at any moment.
“Teacher, I have something to say.”
Lee Geum-kyung and the Shaman’s attention turned toward Kang Hyung-seok.
“I think it would be best if I made contact myself.”
“You…?”
“According to what you said, it doesn’t seem to be a dangerous situation.”
Hong Kyung-soo’s purpose was merely to confirm, he had said.
If that were the case, it shouldn’t be dangerous.
“Stop it. This is not your concern.”
“But wouldn’t it be good to verify his intentions?”
Lee Geum-kyung’s expression showed intellectual agreement but emotional rejection.
“I want to keep you away from that man.”
“Since a great spirit walks with me, he would not dare cause me harm.”
Hong Kyung-soo was also a Shaman, so that would certainly be true.
Witnessing Kang Hyung-seok’s resolve, Lee Geum-kyung let out a small sigh with arms crossed, while the Shaman standing beside her cast an intrigued gaze.
It was then.
“Once the cleansing is performed, your heart will find peace, won’t it?”
“…Mm.”
“And I’ve heard you are a Shaman who spent your entire life helping others. If that is who you are, I wish to help you pass on with ease.”
Gratitude gleamed in Lee Geum-kyung’s eyes as she looked at Kang Hyung-seok.
“You’ve grown. You’ve truly grown.”
Lee Geum-kyung murmured as if speaking to herself, then continued while lifting her water glass.
“If there were hidden intentions, they would reach out first.”
“Yes. That is my thought as well.”
“Then let us listen to what they have to say and decide from there.”
“Understood.”
As Kang Hyung-seok answered without the slightest hesitation, the Shaman standing beside him cast a look of admiration.
“You are indeed one blessed by a great spirit. Truly blessed by a great spirit.”
The Shaman marveled repeatedly, having discerned in mere moments of conversation that Kang Hyung-seok was the caliber of person worthy of receiving a great spirit, and Kang Hyung-seok shook his head vigorously.
“You should head back too. You must be uncomfortable.”
“Ah, teacher.”
“Drink less. Don’t have any more tonight.”
“Gasp.”
It was then.
Zzzzzing!
Lee Geum-kyung’s phone, resting on the table, rang and drew everyone’s attention.
The name displayed was Kim Mi-sook.
For a moment, Kang Hyung-seok wondered who it was, but Lee Geum-kyung’s face had gone rigid.
As if it were someone connected to Hong Kyung-soo.
***
Beep.
The moment Lee Geum-kyung picked up, the woman exhaled a long plume of cigarette smoke she’d been holding.
“Hello, Teacher.”
(What’s the matter?)
Her name was Kim Mi-sook.
She too was a Shaman.
She ran a small Shamanic Temple in the nearby area, and she was standing in front of her temple when she took the call.
In the remote location, a single weathered streetlamp cast a dim glow around her as Kim Mi-sook held a cigarette between her lips.
“Well, something seems to have come up.”
(What is it?)
“You know that Shaman Hong Kyung-soo? He came to our temple….”
(What?)
Kim Mi-sook narrowed the space between her eyebrows and drew deeply on her cigarette, then exhaled the smoke.
“He’s been cursed.”
(What…. Hong cursed?)
Disbelief colored the voice on the other end.
A curse was something like a punishment incurred for doing something dangerous.
“No, it’s not that Hong Kyung-soo himself is cursed. It’s that man who moves around with him.”
There was a man who followed Hong Kyung-soo like a shadow.
He drove, handled the ritual tools, and assisted in conducting the ceremonies.
“That man is cursed and lying in our temple right now.”
(What in the…. Where’s Hong? Is he there?)
“No. He’s doing something next to the man.”
(Tsk.)
Kim Mi-sook furrowed her brow as she burned through her cigarette and opened her mouth.
“Teacher, you’re not doing anything dangerous, are you?”
(No. It’s nothing like that.)
“Hong Kyung-soo said there’s no time. He even asked me to lend him my hands. Something like this should have happened.”
(….)
The silence stretched on.
In that time, Kim Mi-sook had burned through an entire cigarette and now held a fresh one between her fingers.
(What about Hong?)
“Is there anything you’d like me to tell him?”
(If he’s cursed, Hong shouldn’t be unscathed either. Is Hong alright?)
Kim Mi-sook pushed her eyebrows up toward her forehead and laughed bitterly.
“He’s not fine. Hong either.”
(My goodness.)
“His face is a mess from whatever he was rolling around in. He’s limping a bit too.”
(Anything else?)
“There’s a fishy smell.”
A pungent, acrid stench and the reek of stagnant water.
These were the odors Kim Mi-sook detected emanating from Hong Kyung-soo’s body.
(Tell the Shaman that if his condition is stable, he should return. Otherwise, at least inform me of his location.)
“Will that suffice?”
(It will.)
“Understood. I’ll do as you’ve asked.”
The call ended.
Kim Mi-sook let her hand holding the mobile phone drop to her side, cigarette dangling from her lips, as she pushed open the door to the Shamanic Temple.
Hong Kyung-soo stood waiting on the other side.

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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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