An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 72

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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 71
Part 7. He Lived a Good Life (3)
Ding.
“Manager Kang, don’t push yourself too hard. You can come in late tomorrow.”
The text message reached Gwak Young-ho at 11 PM.
It was late.
Lee Geum-kyung had left to attend to her own matters, leaving only Kang Hyung-seok at the Funeral Hall.
And he helped with the work.
There was far more to do at the Funeral Hall than one might expect.
Checking for necessary items here and there, verifying the count of incoming food and water, organizing visitors’ shoes—the tasks were endless.
“Are you a relative?”
So thoroughly did Kang Hyung-seok assist that even the funeral service company staff asked him this.
In truth, there was no real reason to go this far.
Yet it was difficult to turn away.
I had witnessed far too many Malevolent Spirits and Victim Spirits at Anmok Reservoir.
The Shaman had saved one person for each Malevolent Spirit vanquished.
To help with the Shaman’s funeral was only fitting.
A mark of respect for a senior who had gone before.
I poured my heart into the work with the same devotion as a purification ritual.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
It was after the stream of visitors had thinned and a moment of respite had come.
The Son approached Kang Hyung-seok with a weary face and bowed in gratitude, and Kang Hyung-seok returned the gesture with a warm smile.
“Not at all. You’ve endured much as the chief mourner.”
“Um… there’s something…”
The Son began to speak, then wet his lips with his tongue.
Then, with careful hesitation, he continued.
“You mentioned you work at a company, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Could I possibly know which company it is?”
He likely already knew.
He must have seen the disposable product boxes the company had sent.
But asking this way meant he wanted to hear it directly from Kang Hyung-seok’s own lips.
“Daejeong Materials—an ordinary company.”
“Ah… Materials.”
“Yes. We connect good goods with the right people.”
The Son fell into contemplative silence, then a gentle smile graced his face.
“That suits you well.”
The unexpected compliment made Kang Hyung-seok laugh unconsciously, and the Son’s voice continued.
“Could our company contract with you as well?”
His tone was earnest.
Kang Hyung-seok’s smile faded, but the Son maintained his serene expression.
“You seem like a good person. I run a small chicken farm in Samgol, and I’d like to establish a business relationship with Daejeong Materials.”
Kang Hyung-seok pressed his lips together.
Ordinarily, he should have expressed his gratitude.
Yet for some reason, the words wouldn’t come easily.
This was a first.
I had never met anyone who approached a business proposal with such genuine sincerity.
“Do you happen to have a business card?”
“Ah, yes.”
Kang Hyung-seok reached into his jacket and withdrew a business card holder from his inner pocket.
He then offered a card bearing the title “Manager Kang Hyung-seok” with both hands, and the Son accepted it with even greater courtesy.
“I’ll contact you again once the funeral service concludes.”
So much resonated in the Son’s voice.
Genuine gratitude.
An acknowledgment of the effort made thus far, and a gentle suggestion to return inside.
“…Thank you.”
The Son ran his fingers across Kang Hyung-seok’s card, then exhaled slowly through his nose with his lips sealed.
His expression suggested he had more to say.
But he spoke no further.
Instead, he bowed deeply.
So Kang Hyung-seok returned the gesture in kind.
After gathering his belongings, he surveyed the Funeral Hall once more.
Then he walked toward his car, pressed the key fob to unlock the door, and climbed inside.
The engine rumbled to life.
The headlights of the running vehicle illuminated the darkness.
Kang Hyung-seok began to drive.
***
The next day, I took my time getting to work.
With Gwak Young-ho’s approval, there was nothing to worry about.
I opened my eyes at eleven, showered in hot water, grabbed a quick brunch, and climbed into my car with the coffee delivered to my doorstep via the app.
I did all this without using a single hour of paid leave.
Tick, tick, tick.
After setting the Company as my destination on my phone’s navigation, I called Gwak Young-ho while driving.
Beep, beep, beep.
“Oh! Manager Kang. Did you have a good time yesterday?”
“Yes, sir.”
I took a sip of my coffee.
“Your voice sounds good. I heard you helped out yesterday. Did they say anything unusual?”
Subtle anticipation colored Gwak Young-ho’s tone.
“Wait, why aren’t you saying anything? Did it not work out?”
After only a few seconds of silence, I took another sip of coffee before speaking.
“They said they’d contact you once the funeral is over.”
“Really?”
“They want to contract with us. It’s verbal for now, but they’ve made their intention to sign clear.”
I could practically see Gwak Young-ho’s expression light up.
“Wow! Manager Kang!”
Just as I’d expected.
“You’re truly something special. How do you even manage to revive deals like that?”
Since his reaction matched my imagination perfectly, I smiled slightly.
“I’ll give you the details at the office.”
“Wait, Manager Kang. They definitely made their intention clear, right? They won’t back out in the middle or anything?”
“The contract should go through without any issues.”
This wasn’t a simple B2B transaction.
It was a promise between people, and I had solidified that connection.
Because of me, the Samgol Farm Owner’s father could ascend peacefully without complications.
How could a son turn his back on that?
“So I should just trust you and report this right away?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to wait until after the contract is signed?”
“If you’re confident, Manager Kang, then it’s a sure thing. And I’ll use this as an excuse to get you a corporate card too.”
Right. The dinner.
It was the celebration dinner we’d planned from the start to mark Lee Jin-pyung’s discharge.
Now we were finally going to hold it.
“Understood.”
“Did you leave just now? Are you on your way?”
“Yes. I’m heading there now.”
“You diligent guy. Stop by a sauna on the way or something.”
“No, I’ve already showered. I’ll just head straight in.”
(Hehehehe, got it. Come quick! I miss you, Manager Kang!)
Kang Hyung-seok ended the call and focused on driving with a composed expression.
Perhaps it was because everything had gone smoothly.
The noon sunlight streaming through the car window felt pleasant.
***
Downtown Cafe.
A large chain cafe.
Soft jazz music flowed from the speakers, and most of the patrons were young people wearing headphones or earbuds, studying textbooks or tapping away at laptops.
Against this backdrop, Lee Geum-kyung stood out distinctly.
Ding!
The cafe door opened and Hong Kyung-soo entered.
He wore a light business suit and had a bandage plastered across his face.
“Shaman Hong.”
Hong Kyung-soo spotted Lee Geum-kyung and bowed his head, then ordered a coffee from the counter and sat across from her.
“What brings this about, calling me out like this?”
Lee Geum-kyung opened her mouth calmly as she watched Hong Kyung-soo greet her with a light tone.
“You came through unscathed?”
“Unscathed, more or less. It’s been three days. Three days, mind you.”
“Where are you injured?”
Hong Kyung-soo scratched at the bandage on his face, his expression turning bitter.
“Must be the age. It’s not healing well. Rather troublesome.”
“And what of Kim Mi-sook?”
A casual question, lightly thrown.
Yet Hong Kyung-soo’s face grew cold and rigid.
Sip.
Lee Geum-kyung sipped her warm coffee before her, continuing in an unhurried voice.
“Kang Hyung-seok—that boy took a hit of flesh.”
“…Oh my.”
“While you were going to retrieve the jar. So I reversed the flesh, but is Kim Mi-sook well?”
Hong Kyung-soo awkwardly loosened his rigid expression and lifted his coffee cup.
“I do owe a debt to that side, but I wouldn’t know about that.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes, quite so.”
Hong Kyung-soo spoke as though he harbored not the slightest shame before heaven itself.
Lee Geum-kyung’s lips curled briefly upward before she set down her coffee cup.
“But why are you here?”
“Pardon?”
“Why would I have called you here, is what I’m saying.”
Hong Kyung-soo’s face, which had been watching Lee Geum-kyung, gradually loosened.
Then he exhaled through his teeth, and soon after, he rubbed his eyebrow with his thumb and erased his expression.
“…Honestly, I thought you’d tell me I’d been through hardship.”
He sent me a look laden with disappointment and clicked his tongue.
“I never dreamed you’d interrogate me over something I know nothing about.”
“Hong Kyung-soo.”
Meeting Hong Kyung-soo’s gaze, Lee Geum-kyung’s face remained expressionless save for the gleam in her eyes.
“You orchestrated this whole affair, didn’t you?”
“Ah, really. Teacher.”
“Taking Kang Hyung-seok with you, having your subordinates flay him—all of it was your doing.”
“…Teacher.”
Hong Kyung-soo spoke as though he had much to say.
Lee Geum-kyung then nodded silently, and Hong Kyung-soo sipped his coffee with visible displeasure.
“It was fifteen years ago when I placed that jar in Anmok Reservoir for you, Senior. Back then, I didn’t even know that friend existed in this world.”
“Can you swear by the divine?”
“Yes!”
There was no hesitation in Hong Kyung-soo’s answer.
It felt as though he was leaving no room for doubt whatsoever.
“Since you speak with such conviction, I’ll accept it.”
“What a relief. I’m grateful you understand my sincerity at last.”
“Remember this.”
Lee Geum-kyung stared directly into Hong Kyung-soo’s eyes as she began to rise.
“There’s nothing good that comes from laying a hand on that child. I trust you understand what I’m saying.”
I will be watching.
Lee Geum-kyung’s words carried a chilling, razor-sharp edge.
Nothing good comes from touching Kang Hyung-seok.
Especially not for one who serves the divine.
He is a vessel for a great spirit, blessed by that spirit’s protection.
To carelessly lay hands on such a being would leave even someone as skilled as Hong Kyung-soo in curses and hexes unscathed.
“Of course.”
Hong Kyung-soo spoke indifferently, his expression blank as he continued.
“I also know what kind of person that friend is. I protect what I protect. You needn’t worry about such things, Teacher.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
Lee Geum-kyung drained the last of her coffee in one sip. She rose from her chair, and Hong Kyung-soo stood with proper courtesy.
“And that person who travels with you.”
“Yes.”
“They’ll have a difficult time ahead.”
For the first time, Hong Kyung-soo’s face hardened.
There were two who flayed him.
The man who had been with Kim Mi-sook was a Dharma Master who had worked in perfect harmony with Hong Kyung-soo for many years.
Thud, thud.
Hong Kyung-soo stared after Lee Geum-kyung as she left the cafe for a long while.
Left alone, he ran his tongue over his fangs and slumped into the chair, draining the scalding coffee in one desperate gulp.

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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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