An Office Worker Is Good At Exorcism - Chapter 97
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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 96
Part 1. Please Trust Only Me! (2)
Vroom.
Inside the car speeding toward Banyasa Temple with the navigation app set, Kang Hyung-seok was on a phone call.
“Yes. I’d appreciate it if you could pass that along to the master.”
(Will one person be sufficient?)
The voice coming through the vehicle’s Bluetooth speaker belonged to Chung-geum.
“Yes, one will do. And if possible, it would be even better if they serve a General Spirit or a Great Grandmother.”
(Ah… I understand.)
I was in the process of requesting that a Shaman be sent to the Motel where Kim Jae-sik was staying.
“Please also let them know that I’ve booked the room right next door, so they can just go in.”
There could be danger.
Banyasa Temple might not have what we need.
I might not return.
Even if the worst happened, it felt right to secure Kim Jae-sik’s safety, and it wasn’t a bad feeling at all.
If a Shaman watched over the situation from the adjacent room, at least I could have some peace of mind.
(You said it was a Changgwi, correct?)
“To be precise, it’s a Tiger Spirit. A malevolent one.”
And one that had devoured many people.
(It’s a Beast Spirit. This must be difficult.)
Kang Hyung-seok unconsciously nodded with a complicated expression.
There’s a saying that the most difficult spirits for Shamans to handle are fetal spirits and beast spirits.
They don’t communicate.
And they share the common trait of being intensely obsessive, making them extraordinarily difficult to deal with.
Among those, handling a Tiger Spirit—especially a Changgwi—was no wonder Chung-geum’s voice had grown somber.
“I have to.”
Speaking calmly as if to betray no inner thoughts, I took a sip of the canned coffee wedged in the drink holder.
“I have a sacred blade. And recently, I’ve even heard the voice of my Guardian Spirit.”
(What? You heard it?)
Chung-geum asked in surprise, and I rubbed the inside of my mouth—still carrying the aroma of coffee—with my tongue before speaking.
“Yes. They told me to save myself. I think I understand the intention.”
It all began with the Changgwi.
From the moment I was chased by the Changgwi and grasped the Shaman’s Bell, my life changed drastically from before.
Now that I’d obtained a second divine artifact, I thought I’d gained the strength to handle a Changgwi on my own, but the board was far larger than I’d anticipated.
“My Guardian Spirit seems to believe I can handle this. That’s why they sent me here.”
(Then… I understand.)
I won’t dare worry about Kang Hyung-seok.
That was the emotion I sensed in Chung-geum’s voice.
“Yes. Then I’ll ask you to handle what I mentioned.”
(Yes! I’ll do whatever I can, so please don’t worry about anything, young master.)
“Thank you.”
After hanging up, Kang Hyung-seok focused on driving with a composed expression.
The sky was overcast, and despite the hour approaching noon, everything felt dim and gloomy.
And as expected, soon thick sheets of rain began drumming against the windshield.
Tired, aren’t you?
You have so many places to go.
If there’s no Tiger Spirit at Banyasa Temple, you’ll have to search from scratch in the open fields.
So rest a little now.
As if the rain were speaking these very words, its persuasive patter was remarkably convincing.
Screeeech!
A construction dump truck roared past in the adjacent lane, and he smacked his lips.
‘Maybe I can sleep a bit.’
He’d been awake all night without a single moment of rest.
His heart was racing from too much coffee.
Vroooom.
Kang Hyung-seok pulled onto the shoulder, killed the engine, and watched the downpour, feeling as though his body was melting into the seat.
Rest was certainly necessary at this point.
But he couldn’t relax comfortably either.
Rubbing his eyes hard, Kang Hyung-seok stared at the pouring rain with bloodshot eyes.
‘How much easier this would be if I had someone to help me.’
Why did Shin Jung-ah suddenly come to mind?
But she hadn’t come along in the first place, and she hasn’t fully recovered from the shock of the Goblin incident.
Besides, it would take time for her to get here.
Whoooosh!
As the rain poured down relentlessly, Kang Hyung-seok unbuckled his seatbelt.
For now, let me get some rest.
If an accident happened while driving, the aftermath would be incredibly difficult to manage.
It was the moment he was forcing himself to close his eyes despite his uneasy heart.
Ziiiiing!
His phone rang with tactless persistence.
“Damn it.”
Kang Hyung-seok smiled bitterly and picked up his phone, but an unexpected name appeared on the screen.
‘Yoon Sang?’
A BJ who deals with horror content and the younger brother who helped during the Goblin incident.
Kang Hyung-seok fumbled with the phone before pressing the answer button.
(Yes! Hyung-nim! How have you been?)
“What’s going on?”
(Oh! I was just calling to say hello. Have you been doing well?)
Wait.
A sudden thought sparked life back into Kang Hyung-seok’s dimming eyes.
“Where are you?”
(Huh?)
“Where are you right now? Are you broadcasting? Or are you preparing?”
(Hyung-seok….)
Why did Yoon Sang suddenly inject such emotion into his voice?
(You’re thinking of me right now? Wow.)
“I’m asking where you are.”
(I came out looking for material. But it’s a dead end. I heard there was a Haunted House, so I came, but the informant must have sent an old photo—it’s been demolished now.)
‘No, I’m asking where you are.’
Kang Hyung-seok furrowed his brow, then tilted his ear toward the faint sound coming through the phone.
It was the sound of rain.
More precisely, it was the soft pattering sound of rain drumming against an umbrella.
“Are you in North Chungcheong Province?”
(Oh! How did you know? Right, you’re a Shaman.)
Kang Hyung-seok exhaled deeply and opened his mouth.
“You didn’t call me just to find material, did you?”
(No, no. I wouldn’t contact you just for that. It’s a bonus, Hyung-seok. Hehe.)
Yoon Sang spoke in a tone that painted a vivid picture of his expression, and Kang Hyung-seok glanced at the rain streaking the windshield before speaking.
“I’m going to catch a ghost.”
(Hyung-seok, where are you?)
Yoon Sang, who had been cheerful just moments before, suddenly shifted to a grave tone.
“It’s a big one. A Tiger Spirit that carries Changgwi around. It’s dangerous because it harms people too, so don’t come unless you’re prepared.”
(No, where are you?)
At a response that suggested he would follow even to hell, Kang Hyung-seok’s lips curved upward silently.
“Don’t think of this as just broadcast material. It’s dangerous because this thing harms people. So answer me clearly. Are you coming or not?”
(I’m coming! I’m going. No matter what!)
There was not a moment’s hesitation.
Kang Hyung-seok exhaled through his nose and nodded firmly.
“It’s Yeongdong.”
(Yeongdong? Yeongdong in North Chungcheong Province?)
“Yes.”
(I’ll be traveling by public transport, so it’ll take some time, right? So you absolutely cannot leave without me and just go. Understood? You really can’t leave without me! Really!)
He was clinging so desperately that Kang Hyung-seok found himself wondering if this was all right.
“Got it. But you might have to walk quite a bit.”
(Oh! Walking is my job. I travel all over the country looking for broadcast material.)
“Yeah, thanks.”
(Then Hyung-seok! I’ll call you again when I arrive in Yeongdong. Get some rest.)
“…What?”
(Your voice is full of exhaustion, you know. I’ll call and wake you up when I arrive, so rest easy until then. Understood?)
For a moment, words failed him.
I wondered if it was that obvious.
Kang Hyung-seok laughed deeply and said simply, “Alright.”
(I’ll leave right away! Please trust me. I’ll do everything you ask!)
With Yoon Sang’s confident words as the last thing I heard, the call ended.
Whoooosh—!
Watching the rain pour down refreshingly, I blinked my drowsy eyes.
Then I drifted off to sleep, my heart far more at ease than it had been before speaking with Yoon Sang.
***
Beep beep beep.
Lee Geum-kyung held her phone to her ear at her Shamanic Temple.
I need a shaman.
A great shaman, at that.
After hearing Kang Hyung-seok’s words relayed through Chung-geum, Lee Geum-kyung had deliberated for no small amount of time before making a call to someone.
“Master… would you be available?”
“We’re connected by karma. I should at least try asking.”
The person Lee Geum-kyung called was Park Sang-chul from Gangneung.
The Blacksmith who had forged the divine blade.
There was a reason for contacting him, despite him not being a shaman.
Click.
(Yes! Master.)
His voice was so bright it was hard to believe this was Park Sang-chul, who had been avoiding Lee Geum-kyung’s calls.
“How is your health?”
(Yes. I’ve improved greatly since the Dharma Master visited before. My leg has healed completely too.)
Gratitude toward Kang Hyung-seok still lingered in his voice.
How could I ever forget?
He was the benefactor who saved my daughter when she fell ill serving a goblin.
“And your daughter is doing well?”
(Ah, yes!)
There was a moment of hesitation, but Park Sang-chul answered with conviction in his voice.
Chung-geum, listening to the conversation from beside me, narrowed her eyes with curiosity, and Lee Geum-kyung continued.
“That’s good to hear. Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask of you. Do you happen to have time?”
(Um, could this be related to my daughter?)
Lee Geum-kyung closed her mouth for a moment, then opened it again.
“It is.”
(I’m sorry. If that’s the case, I don’t think I can help.)
“Didn’t the Great Goblin promise to protect your daughter? Is something wrong?”
Kang Hyung-seok had subdued the Malevolent Goblin with the Great Goblin.
And the Great Goblin had promised to protect Park Sang-chul’s daughter.
(No, that’s not it. These days she’s recovered enough to even go pray at temples… but that’s…)
“Speak freely.”
(Actually, he left his seat. He said he had something to attend to early this morning and went out.)
Lee Geum-kyung’s brow furrowed before she suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
“He’s been summoned.”
(Yes, that’s exactly what he said.)
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry for troubling you with an unnecessary call and unsettling your mind.”
(Excuse me, but… if I may ask, was the call because of the Dharma Master?)
Lee Geum-kyung bent one knee and rested her elbow upon it as she answered.
“That’s right. I received a request that a great shaman was needed, but it seems the Goblin has already made his move.”
(Ah!)
“It appears he’s taken a liking to Hyung-seok as well.”
Lee Geum-kyung’s expression grew relieved.
Changgwi or the Tiger Spirit could rampage at any moment.
To protect the person the Tiger Spirit had marked, a great shaman was naturally necessary, and a shaman who served the Great Goblin was undoubtedly a talent beyond question.
“I’ll send some rice cakes and liquor later for you and your daughter to share.”
(But… the Dharma Master will be all right, won’t he?)
“Didn’t you forge the divine blade for him? What more is there to worry about?”
Lee Geum-kyung ended the call with a faint smile on her lips.
“So set your mind at ease.”
After hanging up, Lee Geum-kyung set her phone down beside her feet and drew a deep breath.
Then she reached out her hand toward Chung-geum, who watched her with eyes still tinged with concern.
It was a sudden gesture.
Chung-geum flinched, but Lee Geum-kyung gently stroked her hair with a composed touch.
“You have nothing to worry about either. Everything will work out well.”
“…Yes, teacher.”
Chung-geum lowered her head in reply, embarrassed that her true feelings had been read.
And at that same moment.
“Phew!”
Park Mi-ryung, who had arrived at the motel, opened her bag and retrieved her shamanic implements.
A gong with a goblin drawn upon it and a metal striker. Shamanic robes.
She had now become the servant of the Great Goblin, Park Sang-chul’s daughter.
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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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