Are MZ Shamans In Trouble In Romance Novels? - Chapter 2

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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2.

Three years ago-.

The middle slopes of Aewol Mountain in Banwol County, Gyeongnam City, were unusually bustling with people. It was because of a ritual ceremony for some high-ranking official. A shamanic ritual to ward off the year’s bad luck and disasters while praying for the future. It was a type of exorcism ritual.

Fruits, rice cakes, and traditional sweets were piled in layers on the spacious altar. The shamans prepared the offerings and ritual effigies before the upcoming ritual, while the musicians checked their instruments like flutes and drums before taking their positions. Since it was quite a large-scale ritual, it took a full half day just to set up the stage and arrange the offerings.

“Does he think he’s a presidential candidate or the president himself?”

A little distance from the ritual site, the figures of a young man and woman could be seen. A woman with long straight hair and somewhat sharp eyes, and a man with bleached bangs. They were Yuha, a shaman of the National Exorcism Agency, and Dojun, her spiritual brother.

“This is why we shouldn’t associate with those Yeouido bastards.”

The story behind this incident had to go back a week. It was a February when the cold wind was retreating and spring was approaching. With the first full moon of the lunar year approaching, it was also a time when private shrines were worn down by visitors.

-A personal request for a ritual ceremony?

One week before the first full moon- an unofficial request came down from the higher-ups of the National Exorcism Agency, a public institution. They wanted a ritual ceremony performed for Jang Kyungjun, the ruling party’s next presidential candidate.

-Why should I perform some personal ritual when it’s not even a national event?

It was a clear overreach of authority and abuse of public power. What was even more absurd was the demand that one of the National Shamanic Hall’s disciples had to oversee the ritual.

-If they tell you to do it, you have to do it. The presidential candidate personally requested it.

-Then get someone else to do it. I’m already busy to death with the water ghost case. I’ll report this straight to the Labor Department.

Yuha, who was already suffering from heavy workload, clearly refused.

However,

There was no winning against power.

Clang-! Clang-!

The sounds of instruments like gongs, drums, flutes, cymbals, and janggu filled the ritual site. The presidential candidate with a gold badge prominently displayed stood with a tense expression alongside his aide.

Unlike his high-handed attitude when pushing through the work, he seemed completely uninterested in the ritual itself. At the end of his anxious gaze, as if being chased by something, there was only a bundle of hemp cloth.

Inside the hemp cloth placed beneath the splendid altar was the most important protective scarecrow for this ritual. Added to that were the client’s underwear, nail clippings, hair, and even a Hundred Death Talisman to eliminate bad luck.

Everything was bundled together and wrapped in the hemp cloth.

“Eoheoyi! Block the misfortune that comes in the first month at last year’s Jeseok ceremony, and block the misfortune that comes in the second month with the first day moon viewing of the first month.”

Neat white shaman robes and a ritual hat. Yuha held a large fan and chanted scriptures to the ritual music. She swayed her body joyfully as if possessed by divine spirits and spun around the ritual site.

“May bad luck, evil spirits, triple disasters, and eight calamities, official troubles and disputes be extinguished in the empty void of nine thousand ri…”

It was when the ritual was reaching its climax. Suddenly her body trembled uncontrollably as an ominous feeling washed over her. Something terribly alien was rapidly approaching the ritual site.

“You bastard!”

Soon after, a thunderous cry burst from her mouth. The highest deity in heaven and her patron god. It was the wrath of the Heavenly General.

[ψυχήῆςμεταλλάσσωδεῦροοἰκουμένη]

Then an incomprehensible language pierced her ears. At the whisper of something evil, Yuha whipped her head back.

“Kuh, huk…!”

Her long, slender neck snapped back completely. It felt as if someone was wrapping a rope around her neck from behind and pulling.

In an instant, Yuha’s neck was strangled and she gasped for breath. Her toes gradually lifted off the ground and her body began floating in the air.

“Keh, ek…! Kek…!”

Yuha clutched her neck and struggled, shaking her entire body. Everyone panicked at the unexpected event, stamping their feet in confusion.

However, Dojun quickly regained his composure and took charge of directing people. The shamans chanted scriptures to drive away evil, and the musicians played ritual music.

But even so, the situation showed no signs of improving. Eventually, Yuha’s breathing stopped and her eyes rolled back halfway.

-…Come.

Those were the words she heard at the end of her life. Even that she couldn’t hear properly as her consciousness faded.

“Uh, urk…!”

Her body went limp and everything went black.

***

‘Ah… my head.’

Yuha, half-conscious, grimaced and groaned. It felt like someone was pounding her head with a laundry paddle. Presidential candidate. Ritual ceremony. Sudden death. Her thoughts weren’t connecting properly and kept breaking off.

“Carry the young lady to the bedroom. Quickly!”

Her body was lifted into the air along with an unfamiliar voice. When she forced her heavy eyelids open, she saw tall spires and red and blue flames through her blurry vision.

‘…Scorching Hell?’

One of the eight great hells, a land of flames where sinners who committed murder go. Surely not. Her vision spun at the unbelievable sight.

The thick scent of herbs and medicinal materials brushed her nose. Her drowsy senses gradually awakened to the intense fragrance.

Yuha wrinkled her nose and wiggled her fingers slightly. She tried to raise her hand to cover her nose, but she had no strength to put force into her body.

“…wounds on the abdomen. …seems she attempted suicide.”

People’s voices gradually reached her muffled ears.

“…unable to handle one small girl and causing this mess.”

A woman in a blue dress spoke after a moment of silence. Her name was Sela Belloir. She was the second wife of Duke Valus.

“I have nothing to say even with ten mouths.”

The head butler bowed his head deeply, saying he was ashamed.

“If things had gone wrong and this girl’s life had been lost!”

Sela, unable to hide her anger, raised her voice to scold the head butler. Since the empire allowed polygamy, power struggles between in-laws were severe.

And today- the power balance between competing in-laws had almost been cracked.

“All members of House Valus must undergo the Fire Ritual. Only that one thing! That’s the only iron rule of the family!”

A ducal family event to determine whether one was born with House Valus’s unique ability of Fire Magic. There were no exceptions, including direct descendants, collateral branches, and illegitimate children.

But today the family’s iron rule was almost broken, and a young Valus nearly lost her life before even undergoing the ritual.

And this happened while Sela herself had sent the duke’s daughter to the Castle of Ash in the Warga Desert. It was truly a coincidental affair. A single carelessly spoken word or step could overturn the entire situation.

“…You’re not unaware of how the family head might react. I will definitely hold the Castle of Ash responsible for this matter.”

Sela, barely suppressing her agitated emotions, spoke coldly. After catching her breath, she turned her gaze to Yuha lying on the sickbed.

Rustle-

Sela slowly stepped toward the sickbed. Her dress embroidered with silver thread trailed long on the floor.

“Calisia.”

Sela gently caressed the cheek of the girl drenched in cold sweat. Her unusually white skin and mysterious silver-violet hair caught her eye. A color that reminded her of Calisia’s mother, who had once been her maid-.

Sela’s eyes grew murky. It was because old resentment had surfaced.

A lowly wench who, despite being just a maid, stole the family head’s affection and trampled on her pride-.

Sela bit her lips tightly.

“…Child. This Sela Belloir has never once spared anything that stands in my way. No matter who it might be.”

“…”

“There’s an old saying. All members of House Valus are born from fire and return to fire. So Calisia, if you’re going to end that worm-like life of yours, die in burning flames.”

Sela lowered her voice and whispered in Yuha’s ear.

“Don’t you dare think of blocking my path.”

“Uh, uh…”

Yuha made groaning sounds and tossed about. The buzzing voices grew quieter then louder, making her stomach churn constantly.

“Uh, mm…”

Yuha barely lifted her heavy eyelids. Thick golden hair like sunlight and blue-green coral-colored eyes. A beauty who could have stepped out of a European classical painting was looking down at her.

“An angel?”

Yuha mumbled with half-closed eyes. She had thought it was hell, but it seemed to be heaven after all.

Though her expression was somewhat venomous, seeing an angel standing there so brazenly confirmed it. Hallelujah, amen-.

“…?”

But why was she in heaven instead of the Buddhist paradise or utopia? She was clearly a Buddhist.

“Ha-! They say a person can become an idiot after dying and coming back to life. That seems to be the case.”

Sela, showing her displeasure, stepped back as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

“No matter what happens, keep her breathing. I don’t care if she becomes disabled or an idiot.”

She left the room with a cold expression.

***

Yuha’s eyes trembled as she woke from sleep. She wheezed with shallow breaths. Whether from medicine or drowsiness, her limbs felt as heavy as wet cotton.

“Uh, uh…”

Yuha struggled to raise her hand and pressed firmly against her temple. She repeatedly forced her eyes wide open and shut, trying to regain her senses. Her mind was still not clear from the shock of being struck by the vital point.

Slap! Slap!

After striking her own cheeks a couple of times, Yuha rolled her eyes to survey her surroundings. The first thing that caught her eye was a chandelier blooming like a flower and wallpaper with ornate patterns.

Behind that, antique furniture and accessories with an elegant atmosphere lined up, flaunting their presence. Yuha, who had risen from the bed, unconsciously let out a groan.

It was due to the excruciating pain she felt in her abdomen. With urgent hands clutching her stomach, she bent her waist deeply. Dark red blood seeped through the thin silk dress.

“…Ugh, ugh.”

Yuha bit her lips tightly to maintain consciousness and lifted her head stiffly. In her vision that swayed like waves, the figure of an unfamiliar girl briefly passed by.

Snow-white skin, red eyes, and silver-tinged purple hair. Her appearance was mysteriously captivating.

“Who is that?”

Yuha focused her eyes and stared intently at her. The red-eyed girl also met that burning gaze without backing down. The two women’s gazes remained on each other for quite a long time.

“…!”

It was Yuha who noticed something strange. She moved forward with limping steps.

“…What the.”

A neat mirror with a gold-decorated frame. The beautiful girl with silver-purple hair was moving her mouth inside it.

“Ah, ugh!”

Before she could even be surprised, her vision instantly turned black. It was an agonizing pain as if her eyes were being gouged out while still alive.

About a minute passed.

[Listen]

A single character floated before her eyes. Like a divine painting, a vision shown by God.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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