Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 020
Chapter Title: Ghostbuster (4)
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Minjun eyed the Yohan in front of him cautiously.
His girlfriend's friend's friend's acquaintance had worked as a housekeeper in some famous painter's mansion. She'd told him about meeting a truly amazing exorcist and given him the contact info to call.
Black hair, calm demeanor, but an impression that seemed too ordinary for an exorcist.
A ridiculous business card calling himself a Ghostbuster, like some kid's game.
'...Is this guy for real?'
Minjun had been anxious, but the exorcist said he'd need the full story to help properly, so he'd spilled everything—including the drug use—and now he was worried.
In response to Minjun's uneasy gaze, I spoke in a calm voice.
"Don't worry. Client info I learn on the job is obviously confidential."
I tossed in a light joke.
"Besides, getting tangled up with the cops would be trouble for me too."
After a few exorcism gigs, I'd realized it was key to look like a pro who didn't flinch at this stuff.
In the end, it was kind of like being a counselor—a service job where you had to instill a sense of security.
And honestly, I didn't care if Minjun did drugs or whatever.
Drug investigations were the police's job, not mine.
My job was—
Minjun spoke cautiously.
"Um... you said you're a Ghostbuster?"
"Just call me an exorcist. Same thing."
—exorcisms.
"So, as an exorcist... am I in danger right now?"
Was that even a question?
He knew better, and he'd heard all the warnings.
Like walking into a minefield and doing tap-dance moves, then asking, 'I'm screwed, right?'
For now, I checked the important thing.
"After the weird stuff started at home, did you smash or toss the altar?"
"...No. I was too scared, so I left it alone."
"Good thing. You did the right call."
Okay, not the worst-case scenario.
He'd done everything I told him not to, but since Minjun was still alive, that merciful Loa bit must be true.
I stared quietly at Minjun.
Plus, there wasn't any ominous, creepy vibe coming from him.
Minjun himself wasn't cursed by Erzulie Freda.
"Could you tell me more about what happened after that day?"
"Furniture moving on its own, feeling like someone's watching, nightmares... and just everything I try to do going wrong, bad stuff happening."
I got the picture. This wasn't my lane.
"Hear me out without misunderstanding. There's nothing I can do to help."
"What!? M-money's no issue! I'll pay anything!?"
I chuckled inwardly at Minjun's panicked outburst.
Anything he could pay...
Classic line from people who talk big going into the bathroom but change their tune coming out.
I wasn't taking the job anyway, so it didn't matter,
but with weird cases like this, it's natural to not price them right. Still, it's good if they state their budget upfront—high or low—so you can negotiate before starting.
"It's not about money. This isn't something an exorcist or shaman can fix."
I looked at Minjun and said,
"Only you, Minjun, can solve this yourself."
"Me?"
"If an evil spirit possessed you, I'd exorcise it. If it was an unholy deal with a demon, I'd help cut ties."
But this wasn't that kind of irrational mess.
It was more like a fair contract... no, 'contract' didn't fit. Yeah, sponsorship.
So I couldn't interfere.
I explained Minjun's situation.
To put it bluntly: Minjun (pseudo-romance streamer), Erzulie Freda (viewer).
Fancy terms? Like a constellation from those constellation novels.
It's easy to think offering dresses, jewels, desserts brings luck, like a transaction. But it's not.
When you give your girlfriend a gift (offering), the goddess gets happy and looks after your lover.
Isn't it natural for lovers to look after each other?
No contract or anything.
"Your relationship with Erzulie Freda is like a romance— you're lovers."
That's why me butting in would be absolutely wrong.
"What Erzulie Freda is doing now isn't a curse. She's openly cheating. It's payback against a lover who insulted her."
Just look at how Minjun wasn't dead yet. She's just signaling she's pissed.
That's the Loa's way, not human.
"And what you do with a boyfriend who's cheating and an angry girlfriend isn't bring in some random guy."
I shrugged.
"You're not having him say, 'I don't need you anymore, so fuck off, bitch,' on your behalf."
"..............."
Minjun sat there, fingers interlocked in silence, then spoke in a trembling voice.
"...So what do I do?"
"You said you'd pay anything earlier. I'm not telling you to sell the house. Take every penny in your bank account, buy luxury bags, clothes, perfume—whatever—and offer it all at Erzulie Freda's altar. Beg for forgiveness."
"E-everything!?"
I spoke calmly to Minjun, whose pupils shook in shock.
"That money didn't come without your hard work, right? You must've put in effort. But."
I gave him a gentle reprimand.
"Didn't that inexplicable luck scare you even more now?"
"...That's!"
Minjun started to say something, then shut his mouth. After a moment, he spoke cautiously.
"If I do that, will things go back to normal?"
"No, of course not."
Erzulie Freda had already seen Minjun's human girlfriend.
Would a faithful lover and a cheating one be treated the same...?
I said flatly,
"If you're forgiven, you have two choices."
"One: If you want to keep things with Erzulie Freda, break up with your girlfriend."
"Two: If you want to stay with your girlfriend, tell Erzulie Freda, 'I'm not worthy of you,' and end it cleanly."
Minjun fell silent again. I had nothing more to say.
As I stood to leave,
Minjun snapped out of it.
"Ah... what about the fee...?"
"Forget it. I didn't do anything. Consultation fee's covered by the coffee."
This trip hadn't even covered cab fare.
...Still, coffee money's coffee money. I'd done what I was paid for.
Finally, I told Minjun,
"One last thing: don't let any other exorcists or shamans into your house."
In the motel, Minjun lay in bed with his pretty model girlfriend, who gazed at his face and asked,
"Oppa, what're you thinking about?"
"Ah... well... I met that exorcist you told me about."
Minjun hesitated, then recounted his talk with Yohan.
"He said I have to use all my money to appease the ghost."
His girlfriend looked baffled.
"What? Isn't that a scammer? Did he even come inside to check for ghosts?"
"...No."
"He says that without looking? I could say the same thing."
She fiddled with her phone, checked contacts, and said,
"Oppa, forget that. My mom's friend's acquaintance is a powerful shaman. Let's have her check it out."
Minjun recalled his talk with Yohan for a moment. Then he looked at his pretty model girlfriend's naked body.
...Yeah, no matter what, blowing all his money and dumping his girlfriend was too much.
Maybe it was a scammer spouting plausible bullshit to hide being fake.
No, definitely a scammer.
‧
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Yohan's tiny one-room apartment.
Yohan sat at his desk reading the Grimoire when—
Bzzz—
His phone vibrated with a call. The number was Minjun.
"Yes, Kim Yohan speaking."
He picked up, and—
"Aaaagh! Aaaa— h-help, to the house! I was wrongwrongwrongwrong! Stop! Please— aaaahhhh!"
Along with bizarre screams, Minjun's voice rang out.
I could guess what happened.
'Haa... he really did everything I told him not to. You're hopeless, just die already.'
—I didn't say the mean stuff out loud.
No point being nasty to someone I'd never see again.
Eh, I get it.
People love stories where clever humans outsmart dumber demons, saving their souls and getting gold.
I like those too.
Just... if you fail, that's on you.
I quietly ended the call.
No second call came.
As I set the phone down,
Grizzly, who'd been curled up, came over and rubbed his head against my hand.
"Gyaah~."
Treat time.
I smiled faintly and stroked Grizzly's head.
"Want a snack?"
"Gyaah~!"
Grizzly cried happily.