The Calamity-Class Artifacts in Ghost Stories Are Obsessed with Me - Chapter 35

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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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Calamity-Class Artifacts in Urban Legends: Chapter 35
The curse bounced away so lightly it appeared weak, yet it was in fact a devastating power that could not be ignored.
An ordinary human might waste away and collapse within days under such a force.
Which is why no one present escaped without some shock at the sight.
Joo Baek, in particular, who had judged it difficult to block the curse rising from the floor instantly and was preparing a countermeasure, had moved well beyond surprise into outright alarm.
Only Hwa Ryeon maintained an expression of resigned understanding—’as expected’—calm as still water.
“Phew. Of all people, it had to be that one.”
She exhaled another plume of smoke, wrapping everyone nearby in its veil.
Ujoo might have blocked it easily enough, but the rest would have been a different story.
And then, immediately after.
Splooooosh—!
The black liquid that had bounced away began to writhe and coil before being sucked back down into the floor.
A universal property of all Curses had activated.
A failed Curse returns to its caster—in other words, it began flowing backward toward the one who had hurled it.
No matter how skilled a Curse practitioner, a failed Curse cannot be stopped as it rebounds.
Or more precisely, the more skilled the practitioner, the more perilous the Curse becomes when it fails.
Because such a dangerous Curse circles back to the one who cast it.
—AAAAAAAAARGH!
As expected.
A scream erupted from the writhing black mist before it began to scatter in all directions.
The caster’s concentration had wavered, unraveling the Sorcery.
Yet the mist could not vanish completely beneath the smoke wrapping the room—remnants still lingered.
“Wait.”
Joo Baek approached and drew a Glass Vial from his robes, muttering a brief incantation.
The remaining mist dregs were sucked into it.
“I have some idea who they are, but analyzing this should yield more intel.”
“Right. I’m counting on you.”
Hwa Ryeon nodded and turned her gaze to the man lying abandoned on the chair.
“So the Sorcery has completely worn off?”
“Yes. Not a trace remains. The Sorcery itself must have shattered.”
“Understood.”
After that exchange, Hwa Ryeon tucked her long-stemmed pipe away and approached Ujoo.
“The urgent matter is settled for now. There won’t be any more attacks, so should we talk?”
“Sure.”
Ujoo nodded without hesitation—he had questions aplenty.
Not that they went somewhere private to converse.
Hwa Ryeon dragged a nearby chair over, offered it to Ujoo, and began.
“No perfect conclusions yet—much of this is still conjecture on my part—but it appears that person was after the Necronomicon.”
Ujoo nodded. He’d already heard that much.
“The critical part comes next. If someone could pinpoint the exact owner of the Necronomicon and execute a plan of this scale, they’d have to be a major player. And among those, if we narrow it to someone who specializes in Curses, the field shrinks considerably.”
Hwa Ryeon held up three fingers.
“Japan. Britain. Germany.”
“Japan, Britain, and Germany?”
“More precisely: Tengu from Japan. Master Rowendle from Britain. And that mad librarian Joseph from Germany. These three.”
Naturally, all three names were unfamiliar.
“Of course you’ve never heard of them—there’s no reason the company training curriculum would cover them. All three are major figures, obsessed with Grimoires, possess considerable skill, and have expertise in Curses.”
Hwa Ryeon finished speaking, then rummaged in her pocket and placed a cigarette between her lips.
“Among these three… Tengu is the least likely candidate. That one showed up in China a few days ago, and his Curse style is somewhat different anyway.”
“So the probability points to one of the remaining two.”
“Right. Rowendle and Joseph. Both are completely unhinged, vexing pieces of work.”
She frowned.
“For now, both are under close watch by the European Council, so I’ll file a report immediately and coordinate with them. We might even gain their support.”
“Exactly how are they vexing?”
“Both fundamentally refuse to see humans as human. They care only for themselves.”
Themselves as human. Everything else as insects, or worse—mere refuse.
“That’s the ideology they share. That’s why the Council has effectively marked them as enemies of state.”
“Rotten characters, then.”
“Exactly. Which is the problem. They’ll stop at nothing to seize the Necronomicon. But there is one bright spot.”
“A bright spot?”
“Yes. Both are so consumed by greed that they haven’t mentioned the Necronomicon to anyone else.”
“That works out well.”
Keeping information exclusive was naturally better than spreading rumors all over town.
“Then what should I do?”
Hwa Ryeon answered Ujoo’s question simply.
“Whatever you try, it’ll take a few days. So for now, stay at the company dormitory. It’s just as nice as any hotel, so you won’t find it too bad.”
“Understood.”
He nodded without much deliberation.
Besides, he’d never been fond of his cramped rental in the first place, and he was already thinking about moving once he saved enough money.
Staying at the company would cut his commute time—wasn’t that a win?
“Come to think of it, moving altogether might not be a bad idea. My address is probably known by now anyway.”
“True enough. Though we should wait until after this is over to actually move.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, and as soon as we get back to the office today, we need to implement protective measures for the Necronomicon. I had preparations in place already, but I should have pushed harder on it.”
Hwa Ryeon frowned as she spoke.
“I’m betting he was tracking the Necronomicon from the start. It doesn’t make sense otherwise.”
“Right—I never owned it to begin with, after all.”
Ujoo continued talking with Hwa Ryeon a while longer, then brought the conversation to a close at a natural point.
They needed to head back to the office.
“Let’s get moving.”
“Yeah.”
“Got it.”
After finishing their talk, Hwa Ryeon stepped into the living room and told the others to withdraw. Ujoo followed her toward the vehicle parked near the safe house.
The moment he climbed into Hwa Ryeon’s car.
She started the engine and spoke offhandedly.
“The information about the Necronomicon might have leaked from the Inspection Bureau.”
“What?”
“Either someone did it on purpose, or those two could have kidnapped a staff member to extract the information.”
As she said this, Hwa Ryeon let out a short sigh.
“Either way, I’m sorry about all this. I should have strengthened security measures.”
“No, I was careless too, to be honest.”
He knew well enough that the Necronomicon was no ordinary book.
He’d heard Hwa Ryeon warn him countless times never to use it in crowded places.
And even apart from the Necronomicon, he’d been told that rare Artifacts drew a lot of attention.
Since Ujoo was the owner, it was ultimately his responsibility to be cautious—at least, that’s how he saw it.
The Inspection Bureau was his workplace, not a guardian service.
‘There’s no guarantee I’ll work here my whole life.’
If he left the Inspection Bureau someday, what then? He couldn’t think that way—assuming he’d just manage somehow.
‘I need to figure out more solid ways to protect myself.’
Ujoo turned his gaze toward the windshield, lost in thought.
The dark cityscape blurred past. He watched it in silence for a long time.
* * *
When Ujoo arrived at the employee dormitory inside the Inspection Bureau, he found that Hwa Ryeon hadn’t exaggerated in the slightest.
“Wow, this really does look like a hotel.”
The dormitory was immaculate and elegant, yet equipped with everything one might need.
Hwa Ryeon responded to his reaction.
“It’s actually used more for protecting VIPs than for regular staff housing. I’ve stayed here a few times myself, and it’s quite nice. Though I suppose it can’t be as comfortable as home.”
“Not at all. It’s better than home.”
His family house aside, this was far superior to his rental.
At Ujoo’s response, Hwa Ryeon smiled with relief and said,
“Good then. You must be exhausted—get some proper rest. You can take tomorrow morning off and start work in the afternoon.”
“Really? Is that allowed?”
“It is.”
“Thank you.”
Since it was already late, Hwa Ryeon prepared to leave right away.
“Take care on your way.”
“Will do. Oh, and just in case—keep an Iron Pipe by your bed tonight. Though I doubt you’ll need it.”
Hwa Ryeon left after that cryptic remark.
Ujoo saw her off at the door, then closed it and looked around the room.
“Feels like a nice little getaway.”
Ujoo muttered the thought to himself with a nod, then walked to one side and collapsed onto a chair.
Then he began pulling out items from the bag. More precisely, Artifacts.
The Seal Disc and the Necronomicon, the Iron Pipe.
Along with the Bracelet on his wrist and the Leather Jacket he was wearing.
These five were the Artifacts that Ujoo currently possessed.
Ujoo examined the Iron Pipe slowly.
At first, he’d wondered what kind of Artifact it could possibly be, but now he understood.
“Heracles’ Club.”
Of course, Heracles’ Club wasn’t actually something like an iron pipe.
The equipment team had explained it simply.
‘It’s disguised in a different form.’
For a superior Artifact, that was no trouble at all.
Beyond its outward appearance, it displayed nearly all the characteristics you’d expect from Heracles’ Club.
Superhuman strength. Courage bordering on recklessness. Bold judgment.
These were the traits now visible in Ujoo, the current owner of this Iron Pipe.
‘And Heracles himself bore those same characteristics.’
Originally, Heracles’ Club had been nothing more than a cudgel carved from olive wood.
But because Heracles wielded it and earned fame through the many trials he accomplished with it, it became legendary.
Artifacts, in truth, grow powerful and gain renown—but they also grow powerful because they have gained renown.
Perhaps this Heracles’ Club had followed the same path.
‘Heracles likely wasn’t strengthened by the Club itself, but now that it has become an Artifact through time, wielding Heracles’ power through it is possible.’
Among all his various Artifacts, it was undoubtedly the one he favored most and the most formidable.
His gaze then shifted to the Leather Jacket beside him.
“You seem… pretty friendly with the Iron Pipe?”
Anyone watching would think him mad, speaking to clothing, but there was a genuine response.
Both the Iron Pipe and the Leather Jacket began vibrating simultaneously.
Rather than nodding in agreement, the response felt more like, ‘Me, paired with that?’—but wasn’t that exactly how friends would react?
That was precisely the kind of response you’d expect from companions.
Ujoo looked down at the Leather Jacket and spoke.
“Nemean Lion Hide.”
The Leather Jacket vibrated warmly in response.
Yes, this was undoubtedly the famed Nemean Lion Hide.
The very beast that Heracles pounded for thirty days with his fists and club without leaving a mark, until finally he strangled it to death.
That Nemean Lion.
‘So durable and tough that they say he used its own claws to fashion it.’
The Leather Jacket certainly demonstrated the kind of power its reputation warranted.
Not only had it stopped bullets fired at close range, it had effortlessly deflected even powerful Curses.
‘The Bracelet… I’ll get to see its power eventually.’
Ujoo looked at the Bracelet on his wrist.
Somehow it seemed to be sulking, but well, at least nothing went wrong—wasn’t that a good thing?
Besides, the Bracelet was supposed to be damaged after only a few uses anyway.
“Hmm.”
Finally, he looked at the Necronomicon and the Seal Disc.
The Seal Disc had proven useful from time to time.
Its ability to veil itself from the eyes of aberrations had turned out to be remarkably practical.
However, it couldn’t be used in every situation. Powerful as it was, its conditions were somewhat exacting.
But compared to the Necronomicon, such limitations were minor.
“As for you…”
Ujoo murmured, gazing at the Necronomicon.
The Necronomicon.
Powerful. And dangerous.
It required careful handling when used, and this incident had proven that its very existence posed a threat.
The Necronomicon seemed to protest at his scrutinizing gaze, as if wounded by the judgment, but danger was danger nonetheless.
Yet that didn’t mean he would discard it or anything of the sort.
‘Precisely because it’s dangerous, I need to keep it close.’
If someone else were to obtain the Necronomicon and use it against him, wouldn’t that be far more perilous?
Of course, such a worry might be excessive. But having now directly experienced the Necronomicon’s power, he found it impossible not to dwell on it.
‘Rather than distance myself, it would be better to gradually learn how to use it properly.’
Until now, he’d only used it in dangerous moments, managing each crisis as it came.
But if he truly meant to become the master of the Necronomicon, he ought to prepare himself through study.
Naturally, it would be perilous.
But isn’t there a difference between danger you’re unaware of and danger you know exists?
Truth be told, I’d grown careless relying too heavily on the Iron Pipe.
“All right.”
Having settled his thoughts, Ujoo carefully organized the Artifacts once more.
The hour was late, and sleep seemed like a good idea.
Ujoo headed straight to the bathroom, washed up, and lay down in bed, drifting off immediately.
Darkness.
That was Ujoo’s first sensation.
Surrounded by thick darkness, Ujoo slowly surveyed his surroundings.
‘Where is this?’
He couldn’t tell.
But then.
—You are a Usurper.
A voice echoed from somewhere.
Within the oppressive darkness that hung like a curtain, a colossal presence emerged into view.
Its form was imprecise, yet its aura burned with intensity.
It reached out toward Ujoo.
A dream.
A place where spiritual power grew stronger, seeking to harm him.
“So that’s what this is.”
Only then did Ujoo recall what Hwa Ryeon had told him—that he should sleep with the Iron Pipe by his side.
Beyond that, she’d also said he had nothing to worry about.
The reason was simple.
The Artifacts loved Ujoo.
An ordinary human could never draw the attention of so many Artifacts—least of all ones as powerful as these.
In short, Ujoo was no ordinary person.
A brilliant light blazed forth—
His soul shone brighter and more radiant than any other.
Powerful enough to crush a mere spiritual Curse that crept into his dreams.
—This, this can’t be!
The shadow cried out in shock at the overwhelming presence it had not anticipated.
Rather than answer, Ujoo raised one hand.
In it, he gripped a club the size of a mountain.
“Die.”
He brought it down.
The shadow was crushed before it could react, and in that same instant, it hurtled back toward whence it came.
Whoever the entity was, it would suffer nightmares for days to come.
Meanwhile, Ujoo slept in perfect peace.
Continued in the next episode ▶
Calamity-Grade Artifacts from Urban Legends Become Obsessed
Author
Lee Se-gye-sa-jang
Publisher
Kim Seok-hwan, Choi Se-ra
Published by
Grae Publishing
Inquiries
[email protected]
Publication Date
May 26, 2026
UCI
G720:N+A327-20260410110
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※ Pentagram welcomes your precious manuscripts.

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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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