Exorcism Specialist Company: Ghost Soul Trading - Chapter 43

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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 43

“Kim Tae-woo!”
“Kim Manager. Are you alright?”
Yerim and Moon So-ryeong approached Tae-woo and asked.
“Where were you? We thought you were dead.”
Tae-woo rubbed his arms with a disgruntled expression.
“There aren’t many employees who can engage in close-quarters combat against a Muk-jin Ghost like that. As you can see, we’re all ranged dealers.”
Yerim spoke with her brow furrowed.
“Ranged dealers. Ha ha. Yes, that’s true.”
Tae-woo nodded with a hearty laugh.
“That’s impressive. The Muk-jin Ghost we just faced was far stronger than the one we encountered earlier—a completely different caliber.”
“Really?”
Moon So-ryeong spoke, and Tae-woo asked in return.
“Absolutely. Look at its size and form. Wasn’t it stronger than any ghost we’ve encountered so far?”
“It did seem that way. It was enormous and incredibly aggressive. But why did it take such a grotesque form?”
“As I mentioned, Muk-jin Ghosts have the ability to absorb other spirits and amplify their own power. When so many ghosts gather in one place like this, they merge into such a bizarre shape. When you cut into it earlier and saw faces inside—that’s what it represents.”
“If I encounter a few more creatures like this, I think I’ll lose my mind.”
“You’ll meet plenty more like this as you continue working for the company.”
Moon So-ryeong patted Tae-woo’s shoulder as she spoke.
Then a sudden question occurred to Tae-woo.
“But if such a powerful ghost capable of destroying the surrounding environment is here, isn’t that incredibly dangerous for people? I mean, our job is to eliminate ghosts that harm people, but this is…”
He wondered what would happen if an ordinary hiker or regular soldier encountered that massive arm—they’d be torn to shreds instantly.
Moon So-ryeong answered without concern.
“We came here to eliminate them. Of course they’ll go berserk.”
With that, she moved forward.
“Pardon?”
Tae-woo tilted his head in confusion, and she stopped with an exasperated expression before elaborating.
“Ghosts react sensitively to people who possess spiritual sight or spiritual intuition. That’s why shamans and exorcists can see them more clearly. It’s the same principle here.”
In other words, Tae-woo’s group not only possessed spiritual sight and intuition but had come to eliminate these spirits, which is why the ghosts reacted so violently.
Tae-woo nodded belatedly and followed Moon So-ryeong ahead, whispering a question to Yerim.
“So what happens if ordinary people pass through here and encounter a ghost instead of us?”
“Well, various reactions can occur. They might see hallucinations and flee, hear phantom voices, or even be killed by the ghost. But what’s certain is that a fight like this wouldn’t have happened.”
“What if a shaman came?”
“It depends on the spirit the shaman serves, but against a Grade 5 Muk-jin Ghost like this, most would probably say ‘This isn’t a spirit I can handle’ and run away, wouldn’t they?”
Yerim answered.
Tae-woo pouted his lips and nodded.
From Moon So-ryeong’s and Yerim’s reactions, he vaguely sensed that he’d defeated a formidable ghost, but he couldn’t truly grasp the magnitude of what he’d accomplished.

* * *

The mountain trek continued.
Walking along the overgrown Mountain Path, where weeds obscured the way entirely, proved to be grueling work.
The only means of confirming we were on the right path were the occasional tire steps visible along the Mountain Path and the rusted metal signposts indicating the direction of the shooting range.
Following the Mountain Path past several shooting ranges, we came upon a vast Open Field.
Kim Tae-woo, Ye-rim, and Moon So-ryeong stopped before the enormous Open Field.
“What is this place?”
At her question, Kim Tae-woo stepped forward and surveyed the surroundings.
Here too, weeds grew so densely that I couldn’t precisely determine what the shooting range had been used for.
But the small shade structures made of slate and steel reinforcement scattered about, and the metal signposts densely covered with text everywhere—
And judging by the earthen mounds at the far end of the Open Field, it appeared to be a 25-meter zeroing range.
The structure had targets set up toward the mounds, with positions for the prone shooting stance arranged by fire lane.
Kim Tae-woo shone the flashlight attached to his smart glasses on the signpost.

[Shooting Range Safety Rules]
1. The muzzle is directed toward the sky or the target.
2. After bolt retraction, position the safety lever to ‘safe’.
3. Aiming at persons or objects other than targets is prohibited.
4. Ammunition is distributed and loaded only upon the Controller’s command.
5. Live fire exercises are conducted only after a control instructor is stationed.
6. Running is prohibited within the shooting range.
7. Unauthorized movement forward of the firing line is prohibited.
8. Carrying another’s firearm or lending firearms is prohibited.
9. Anyone may cease fire upon discovering a hazard.
10. Chamber inspection is conducted thoroughly after shooting.
11. All actions within the shooting range are performed only upon the Controller’s instruction.

It was the very safety protocol I’d often seen posted in military shooting ranges.
“So this is a military shooting range. Interesting.”
Ye-rim glanced around with curiosity, taking in the surroundings.
Behind the center of the eight firing lanes stood a low steel observation tower where a controller would typically stand.
“What can we catch here?”
Moon So-ryeong asked then.
I nodded slowly.
Looking at the Ghost Raider display, blue dots were appearing in this area as well.
To be precise, several blue dots were glimmering around the controller tower, each firing lane, and the mound where targets would have been positioned.
But with the naked eye, I couldn’t see anything.
“I can’t see anything. But the radar’s picking something up.”
I muttered while surveying the surroundings.
“I can’t see anything either… but it feels like something’s there.”
Ye-rim added her thoughts.
Moon So-ryeong looked around with an arrow nocked on her bowstring, then nodded slowly.
“There seems to be quite a powerful ghost here too. The yin energy and ghost energy are strangely intermingled.”
She spoke quietly, then extended her hand toward Ye-rim.
Catching the gesture, Ye-rim immediately pulled out a smoke grenade and handed it to Moon So-ryeong.
“Come on out. Let me see your face.”
She removed the clip and pin from the smoke grenade, then tossed it into the center of the shooting range.
Hisssss—whiiiiiiiiiing—
White smoke rapidly spread outward in all directions.
At the same time, visibility across the entire shooting range was momentarily obscured.
I drew my sword as if ready to strike down a ghost at any moment, swallowing hard.
“….”
But even as the smoke grenade dispersed, the blue dots didn’t swarm toward us.
‘What’s happening this time.’
For some reason, I sensed that something different from before was about to unfold.
That was when it happened.

Saaaaaaaa—

As the wind carried the scent from the smoke grenade, my vision gradually cleared.
And then—I witnessed a peculiar phenomenon.
Unlike before when nothing was visible, soldiers in strange uniforms suddenly came into view.
Atop the Controller Ghost’s watchtower stood a short-haired soldier, a steel helmet pressed firmly on his head, motionless like a mannequin.
Not only that, but soldiers in unfamiliar uniforms lay prone in firing positions along each embankment, while blindfolded ghosts stood on the mound where targets were placed, their arms bound behind their backs as if they were human targets instead of wooden boards.
It was as if people had been set up as targets in place of wooden planks.
“What is this now.”
Moon So-ryeong furrowed her brow.
Meanwhile, I examined the Controller Ghost’s face carefully.
Pale skin with narrowly opened eyes.
Only the whites showed—the pupils were completely invisible.
The lips were a bloodless dark purple, making it look almost corpse-like.
“What are those things?”
Ye-rim asked, her finger on the trigger.
“Who cares what they are. Just shoot.”
Moon So-ryeong spoke quietly, then immediately fired an arrow toward the Controller Ghost.
Ping—Thunk—
The arrow flew swiftly and struck the Controller Ghost’s temple with perfect accuracy.
That was the moment.
Whoooooooosh—
Black smoke swirled violently around the watchtower, obscuring my vision.
Simultaneously, my smart glasses went haywire, the UI flickering chaotically.
Moreover, I felt as though my ears had gone numb, as if I’d plunged into deep water.
I was confident this phenomenon would disappear shortly and waited.
But no matter how long I waited, the black smoke refused to dissipate.
Furthermore, I could no longer sense Ye-rim or Moon So-ryeong’s presence.
“Manager. Chief.”
I called out, scanning my surroundings.
But no answer came.
“Manager! Chief!”
I called again, but received no response.
Shhhhhhhhh—
That was when it happened.
The black smoke suddenly receded like a wave, revealing a hermitage nestled in the mountains.
The moment I saw it—I understood.
This hermitage was where Grandfather used to pray when I was young.
A place from my distant childhood memories now lay before my eyes.
Thanks to this, I quickly realized this was an illusion.
The Ghost Raider continued to flicker, unable to function properly.

Tae-woo—
Tae-woo—
Tae-woo—

From within the Hermitage, Grandfather’s voice echoed out.
I gripped the Ghost-Slaying Blade tightly and advanced slowly toward the Hermitage.

Tae-woo— Tae-woo—

The voice emanating from the Hermitage grew progressively louder.
I approached the Hermitage one step at a time.
Even so, I kept my grip firm on the blade, ready to swing the Ghost-Slaying Blade at any moment.
I knew that spirits ranked Grade 2 Obedient Ghost and above possessed the ability to conjure illusions—and I also knew that this very moment was an illusion, so whatever emerged, I was resolved to cleave it in a single stroke.

Tae-woo— Tae-woo—

I approached the Hermitage without lowering my guard, moving with deliberate slowness.
That was when it happened.

“My son. Tae-woo.”

A middle-aged woman’s voice came from behind.
The moment I turned around—my heart plummeted into my stomach.
Standing at a distance of roughly ten meters were my parents, whom I had mostly seen in photographs.
Simultaneously, a subtle fragrance reached me—the scent of my mother’s cosmetics, preserved in the faintest corner of my memory.

“Tae-woo. Come here. You mustn’t go there.”

Mother spoke.
I alternated my gaze between the Hermitage, from which Grandfather’s voice still emanated, and Mother, who stood before me in vivid form.
No matter how illusory this was—I couldn’t make sense of the situation.
I had certainly heard before that in dreams, when a ghost appears, one must never follow it.
Then what was I supposed to do in this moment?
Was I to cut down everything before my eyes?
I gripped the Ghost-Slaying Blade even more tightly.

“Bring that object here. You shouldn’t have it. It’s far too dangerous. Bring it here.”

Mother spoke in a gentle voice.
I turned my gaze away from her toward the Hermitage.

Kim Tae-woo— Kim Tae-woo—

Grandfather’s voice still echoed from within the Hermitage.
I stared at the Hermitage for a moment before turning back around.
In an instant, I saw my parents had closed the distance, now just a couple of steps away.
Startled, I faltered backward.

“Kim Tae-woo! Snap out of it!”

That was the moment!
Grandfather’s thunderous voice boomed from within the Hermitage.
Startled, I whipped my head toward the Hermitage.
At the same instant, an icy hand seized my wrist—the one holding the Guichal Blade—and wrenched it away.
I spun around in alarm.
Before me stood not my parents, but the Controller Ghost I had glimpsed moments before, its eyes rolled back to show only the whites as it thrust its face toward me and spoke.

“Did I not command you to obey the Controller?”

The Controller Ghost’s voice fractured into dozens of overlapping tones, like sound tearing from a broken speaker.
In shock, I drew the Hyeolsu Blade from my waist and drove it straight through the Controller Ghost’s neck.

Guihon Trading Company – Exorcism Specialists Chapter 43

Author
Chau Renz
Publisher
Daon Creative
Planning / Editing / Production
Yun Tae-ri
Cover Art
Lee Chi

UCI
G720:N+A036-20260318158.0043

ⓒ2026, Chau Renz

※ This e-book is protected under the copyright law of the Republic of Korea.
No part or all of this work may be reproduced or modified in any form without permission from the author and publisher.

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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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