Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 010
Chapter Title: Boogey Boogey Boogey (2)
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To sum up what Cheolmin had said:
There was a problem with the house where a wealthy painter named Smith lived with his granddaughter. He wanted me to somehow resolve it using the good Buddhist energy I supposedly possessed.
One of my eyes twitched involuntarily.
'Did this guy eat something bad? What's this about Buddha power?'
I had no idea what kind of spice he'd rubbed on this old man named Smith.
He said he'd offer a token of gratitude once the granddaughter's issue was resolved, but...
Walking into a creepy mansion for money felt straight out of the opening scene of a horror flick.
And a rich guy like that must have already tried everything.
If it had come to me, it definitely wasn't anything legitimate.
It might even be beyond my current abilities.
The most important way to avoid danger was to not go anywhere dangerous in the first place.
This was a world where you could screw up just by breathing. Did I really need to crawl in headfirst?
So I picked some polite words to turn it down.
'I'm grateful that you think so highly of the temple, but I'm not an exorcist. For Smith and his granddaughter's sake, it might be best to leave this to the professionals.'
"Teacher Yohan, the reward is thirty million won! Thirty million!"
—Those words made it too much money to pass up. At least by my standards.
With that cash, I could quit my part-time job and focus more on magic.
For a split second, I imagined slapping the comic bookstore owner with bundles of bills, but since we weren't on bad terms, I let it go.
"...I see. That's truly unfortunate after hearing the story."
I spoke in the calm, professional tone of an expert from the movies.
"I'm not sure if I can help Mr. Smith, but I can't just stand by in the face of such injustice."
Kim Yohan, the man who couldn't tolerate injustice.
Currently linked to a case with two deaths. Cover-up in progress. Claims it was an accident.
Anyway, after hanging up.
I sat in my chair, tapping the grimoire's iron cover with my finger as I thought it over.
First and foremost, my top priority was always myself.
I didn't care if Smith died or his granddaughter bit it.
If my life was in danger, I'd summon Grizzly and bolt, even if it meant blowing his cover.
Hoarding him and dying would be the ultimate fool's move.
And while I had to consider that Smith was loaded...
Thirty million. Was this what exorcists pulled in for a single gig?
This was mage-level side hustle territory. You'd be an idiot not to do it.
'Hit some ghosts, dude. Money flows.' Yeah, that was it.
I knew there were risks, but passing up the opportunity felt like a waste.
"...Ha!"
A hollow laugh escaped me. In the end, I'd fallen into the classic horror movie cliché.
I stood up with a self-deprecating grin, feeling oddly pleased.
I pulled meat and milk from the fridge to prep Grizzly's food and said,
"Grizzly, eat up. I'm heading out on a trip."
"Gyaah~."
I packed a change of clothes into a large backpack.
Grimoire, holy water brush and vial of holy water, white coat.
I neatly stowed my magic items.
The small incense pouch I had would probably come in handy.
I also didn't forget to store Grizzly's nutritious snacks—meat and milk—in the icebox.
Just in case I ended up having to source meat locally...
Anyway, trip prep complete.
After a few bus transfers, I checked the address on my phone and arrived at the base of the mountain road. A driver was waiting.
"Are you Teacher Kim Yohan?"
"Yes, that's me. Though I'm hardly worthy of being called 'teacher.'"
I got in the car and climbed the mountain road, gazing at the lush green scenery.
It was fine in good weather, but I'd have to be careful if there was heavy snow or rain.
Something about his granddaughter's health... They lived in quite an isolated spot.
I wasn't into art, so I hadn't known.
On the way, I'd searched Smith on my phone from the bus, and he turned out to be even more impressive than I'd thought.
Soon enough, the car pulled to a stop.
I stepped out and took in the elegant Western-style mansion with its pretty garden.
So this was where the painter who sold pictures for three billion lived. Impressive.
Suddenly, a line from The Little Prince popped into my head.
It went something like this:
Grown-ups can't appreciate a house if you call it a charming brick house; they only marvel if you say it's expensive.
I felt proud of myself for becoming such a fine adult.
As I entered the mansion, a maid who looked to be in her early to mid-twenties greeted me.
"Ah, welcome! Please follow me this way."
She led me to a lounge-like space filled with sofas and chairs.
The eyes of the other guests already there turned to me.
I sized them up in turn.
Excluding me, there were four guests: two men and two women.
A middle-aged man wearing a cross necklace clicked his tongue at the sight of me.
"An icebox? This isn't a vacation, tsk tsk."
Why the attitude out of nowhere? I thought, but ignored him.
Apparently, Smith hadn't just called me; he'd summoned a variety of exorcism pros.
To him, I was probably a rival competing for that thirty million.
Fine by me. I wasn't backing down. Bring it.
Middle-aged man with cross necklace, woman with heavy eye makeup, young man in fine clothes looking displeased.
...And a young nun. A nun?
Was she really a nun?
My eyes narrowed slightly. No veil, but the habit was unmistakable.
Long, sleek black hair, porcelain skin, a youthful yet gentle and pretty face. She sat primly.
Sensing my gaze, the nun gave a polite bow from her seat.
I'd only looked because she stood out; no reason to chat.
I returned the nod and took a seat nearby.
Not long after.
I must have been the last invitee, because the mansion's owner, Mr. Smith, entered the lounge.
"Thank you all for coming at my request. Emily, come here, dear."
And following behind him.
"Yes... Grandfather..."
A pale-skinned blonde girl, Emily, entered supported by the maid.
Smith brought Emily around to greet each guest.
"Pastor Juwon, thank you for coming."
The middle-aged man with the cross, Pastor Go Juwon, replied with a sorrowful expression.
"Why would something like this happen to a good man like Teacher Smith... You should have told me sooner. Next time, bring your granddaughter to our church. I'll take a closer look."
"...Thank you, Pastor."
Emily responded weakly, and next was the woman with heavy eye makeup, shaman Park Minhee.
"She's overflowing with yin energy. A very dangerous state."
I could tell that much just from her pale face.
The young man in fine clothes, Smith's disciple Kim Suhyun, said with a reluctant face.
"Teacher, why resort to something so irrational...? No, I'm just worried her health might worsen."
"...Thanks for coming. More people is better. Thank you for worrying about Emily."
In front of the nun, Smith's demeanor shifted from businesslike to genuinely warm; his deep worry lightened as he spoke.
"Ellie, thank you so much for coming. You'll be a great help to Emily."
"No, I'm sorry. Mother couldn't make it, so I felt I had to come instead."
She seemed to have some prior connection with the Smith family.
Now it was my turn.
"Yohan, thank you for coming on such short notice."
"No, it's fine. I'm not sure if I can help, but I'll do my best..."
The moment I reached to shake Smith's hand.
"...Urk!? Hack! Urrgh!!"
Suddenly, Emily, standing beside Smith, convulsed and dry-heaved.
She clamped her hand over her mouth and nose, staggering away from me.
"Urk... S-sorry. The s-smell is too much... Urrgh!"
What the hell is with this girl? Rude for a first meeting.
Kidding aside, puzzled, I just watched Emily.
'Smell?'
Emily fled the lounge, supported by the maid.
The people who'd been fine sitting near me moments ago edged away.
".........."
Smith seemed worried about Emily and ended the greetings to leave.
"...You must be tired from the trip. We've prepared a meal. Shall we head to the dining room?"
I lifted my arm to my nose and sniffed.
I'd sweated a bit on the bus, but nothing vomit-inducing.
...And when I glanced to the side.
The unusual nun without a veil.
Ellie had come closer, tilting her head and sniffing curiously.
"Hm? Hmm—hmm?"
Then, noticing my gaze, she flustered.
"Ah! Th-they say there's a smell, but I don't smell anything. Actually, an incense scent? It smells nice."
My eyes narrowed.
'Incense scent, huh.'
Good, my nose wasn't the problem.
"Thanks."
I replied curtly and followed Smith and the others out of the lounge.