Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Exorcism
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Seojun crouched down.
It was a pit.
Inside the pit, nearly three meters deep, was a boy covered in dirt, his eyes closed. One of the boy's legs was bent at an odd angle.
As Seojun craned his neck to get a better look, Kim Heesang quickly covered his eyes. Was he dead? He bit his lip.
“Seojun, that boy is…”
“Hyung, his stomach is moving. Only his leg is hurt.”
Seojun had seen the boy's chest rising and falling as he breathed. At his words, Kim Heesang let out a sigh of relief.
“Call 119!”
“Right, just a second.”
Urged on by Seojun, Kim Heesang quickly took out his phone, called 119, and then immediately called the assistant director. The assistant director picked up before the second ring.
“Ah, Assistant Director. A child had an accident here. No, it’s not Seojun. I think he’s a village kid, he fell into a pit… He seems to have fainted. One of his legs is broken. We need to call the villagers and an ambulance right away. As for where we are, it's… further into the woods from the path behind the village shrine…”
While Kim Heesang gave directions, Seojun covered the boy, whose lips had turned blue, with the goblin's energy as if it were a blanket.
With the remaining energy, he formed a lid over the pit to keep the cold wind out. This should keep him from getting cold.
As a bit of warmth returned, the boy's complexion improved. If only I had more power, I could have done so much more. Feeling a pang of regret, he couldn't take his eyes off the boy.
“Seojun, you’re going to fall in too.”
Kim Heesang quickly scooped Seojun up as he got closer to the edge of the pit, almost toppling over.
Before long, Director Choi Daeman appeared with a group of people. They all stared down at the boy in the pit.
“We have to get in there and pull him out!”
“If we move him carelessly, we could cause more damage and make things worse!”
“E-Excuse me. I’m a doctor.”
Everyone's attention turned to a visitor who was panting and struggling to catch his breath. He had rushed over when he heard about the accident, but his lack of stamina had made it difficult.
“He's the son of the hanok owner. He came to watch the filming.”
At the assistant director's words, Director Choi Daeman and the others quickly asked for his help. With the doctor's assistance, the boy was safely rescued and transported to a nearby hospital.
After the commotion died down, the film crew resumed shooting. Seojun had another night scene, so he took a nap, woke up, had dinner, and headed to the set.
“Today might be a little tough.”
“If it’s too much, we’ll split it between today and tomorrow.”
The assistant director nodded at Choi Daeman's words.
“Ah, here they come. The actors.”
Lee Jiseok and Seojun appeared on set in their makeup and costumes. The assistant director and Director Choi Daeman welcomed the two actors.
The exorcism scene, the grand finale of ‘The Evil Spirit,’ was being filmed in the courtyard of the hanok. Equipment meant to showcase the power of the baby shaman and the evil spirit was being set up.
Director Choi Daeman took the two actors aside and carefully explained the equipment and the order in which it would operate. A wind machine. A device for creating fire. It was fascinating to see the things described in the script brought to life with all sorts of contraptions, and Seojun asked questions enthusiastically.
The staff members checking the talisman-shaped devices that would light up were talking quietly amongst themselves.
“It must be a little weird to act in a place like this.”
“True, even in *Redborne 1*, they act with green screens everywhere and sensors on their clothes. Most of the attacks are CG, so they just extend their arms. It’s amazing they can act so naturally in that kind of situation.”
“I’ll give you that.”
The battle between an evil spirit and a god.
The staff setting up the equipment thought that, unlike in a flashy CG-heavy movie, the two actors’ performances without any effects might feel a bit awkward.
“It might feel strange while you're acting, but with the CG and editing, it will look amazing. Please act as naturally as possible. Alright, let’s start with a full shot.”
As everyone moved to their positions, Director Choi Daeman called Seojun over.
“Seojun, when you deliver your lines, you need to leave enough of a pause for the ‘inner god’s’ lines to be added.”
“Okay!”
Seojun nodded at Director Choi Daeman’s words and went to his spot.
He could see the cameras and lights, and Lee Jiseok as well. Seojun whispered softly.
“Kim Seobang, let’s play.”
[Bell Goblin's Teasing Kim Seobang has been activated.]
The energy inside his body stirred gently. A human-shaped wisp of energy, unable to contain its mischievousness, danced and swayed.
“Ready…”
It was time to unleash this energy with all his might. Just like when he teased Kim Seobang!
“Action!”
The wind began to blow.
The baby shaman’s bright red robes fluttered, and the shaman’s bell in his hand swayed silently.
*Jingle, jingle.*
The baby shaman knew that this would be the last day.
[It’s been a while, little one.]
The man—no, the evil spirit—spoke.
[To think you’ve grown so delectable. I should have eaten you back then.]
The evil spirit possessing the man’s body cackled. The power inherited from his father and mother was so strong that the baby shaman had been prey for all sorts of ghosts since birth. His mother and father were the ones who had protected him from them.
The baby shaman recalled their faces from his hazy memories. The two, who were always smiling, had fallen to the evil spirit’s power and departed forever.
[But what is that thing inside you!]
A gust of wind swept through. A single phrase from the evil spirit was enough to make the baby shaman's robes whip about violently. The evil spirit raged.
[That was what I was after! I was waiting for you to become even more delicious!]
The baby shaman’s bell shook violently, letting out a sharp, clanging sound.
[Who is that bastard that took you before I could!!]
The evil spirit shrieked, its mouth stretching wide. But the baby shaman remained still. He simply waited for the right moment. The god within him whispered. *A little longer. A little longer. A little longer.*
*Not yet.*
The baby shaman thought so too.
The evil spirit thrashed about. It knew it had to make the child open his mouth and use his power. The evil spirit thought. *If I can't do it…*
“Gah!”
*You will!*
“K-huh-huk!”
As the evil spirit withdrew its power, Soohyuk regained control of his own body. The body, which had been manipulated by the spirit, collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. As Soohyuk barely managed to breathe, the evil spirit whispered to him.
[Only that child can get rid of me. Beg him! Beg and beg again! Beg him to destroy me now!]
Soohyuk slowly steadied his breathing.
The baby shaman looked at Soohyuk with a blank face, but his eyes held a hint of pity.
This man, like his mother and father, was suffering at the hands of the evil spirit. The god spoke.
*Wait. You must wait.*
But… that man is hurt. I have to help him.
*You are too soft-hearted. That is why I chose you, though.*
The god smiled. The reason the baby shaman had quickly shut the door when he first saw Soohyuk was because he knew if he looked any longer, he would reach out to help without thinking.
*Still, wait.*
The hesitant baby shaman nodded at the firm words of the god, who had cared for him like a child after his parents passed away.
Soohyuk looked at the baby shaman. His body was in agony and his soul was in torment, but he did not open his mouth. He simply gazed at the baby shaman with pitiful eyes.
[Beg, I said, beg! That child is soft, so if you just ask, he will grant you peace! Like this!]
For a moment, a sense of comfort washed over Soohyuk’s body. Yes. This was how his body felt before he was possessed by the evil spirit.
[You want to be at ease, don’t you? You want to go back to how you were?!]
The evil spirit shouted.
[Then beg!]
In the fierce, storm-like wind, the shaman’s bell in the baby shaman’s hand shook madly, ringing out.
The sharp clanging of the bell was almost deafening, but no one covered their ears.
Soohyuk chuckled. Unable to hold it in any longer, he let out a cackle and then spoke.
“Kid.”
At Soohyuk’s call, the baby shaman’s mouth opened and closed. Soohyuk looked at the baby shaman. His gaze, so much like his father’s, made the baby shaman’s eyes waver slightly.
“Do what you have to do.”
*Now is the time.*
The god whispered.
*The moon has risen.*
The baby shaman looked up at the sky. A bright yellow full moon looked down upon the courtyard like the eye of a beast.
*It’s a full moon.*
The baby shaman lowered his gaze to Soohyuk and the evil spirit within him. The god spoke.
*And it’s your birthday.*
Three years ago today, his mother and father died.
The baby shaman raised his hands. In his right hand was the golden shaman’s bell his mother had used, and in his left, the talisman with red script his father had used. Objects imbued with the energy of both his parents.
*You’ve worked hard, observing your vow of silence all this time.*
[Nooo!]
At the same moment as the god’s words, the evil spirit, which had once again taken over Soohyuk’s body, screamed. Soohyuk’s soul held back the body as it tried to lunge at the baby shaman. Even though it felt like his entire body was being torn apart.
“Damn it! That kid hasn’t been able to speak, or cry, or laugh for three years! He’s only seven years old! A kid whose job it is to laugh and cry!”
[Get lost, human!!]
“If you’re going, you’ll have to kill me first! You bastard!”
*Jingle.*
The wind blew. It blew with incredible force, powered by the evil spirit. But the baby shaman’s bell rang softly, briefly.
*Jingle.*
With the god’s help, the baby shaman poured the power he had gathered for three years into the talisman and the bell.
A massive aura formed behind the baby shaman. The god’s power, resembling the yellow moonlight, erupted explosively from the baby shaman’s body.
With a golden wind, the baby shaman’s robes fluttered. Something enormous enveloped the baby shaman.
The immense divine power was painful, but at the same time, it was warm.
The baby shaman held up the talisman. The talisman, which had been fluttering limply in the wind, now stood rigid.
The red incantation written on the talisman shimmered. For the first time, the baby shaman uttered the chant the god had taught him, the one he had only mumbled to himself for three years.
“I pray to the gods of heaven and earth.”
[Nooo!]
“I told you, you’re not going anywhere!”
Soohyuk’s body thrashed about on its own. It would take a step forward with the evil spirit’s power, only to be thrown to the ground by Soohyuk’s will.
In that gap, Soohyuk, who controlled the right eye, looked at the baby shaman, who was slowly shedding tears. Soohyuk’s gaze was warm.
“A humble being beseeches you.”
[[email protected]^&%&@!!!!]
*Now, for the last part.*
The god whispered.
Because a god who knew everything had entered his body, the baby shaman knew everything as well.
The baby shaman watched Soohyuk become covered in wounds as he fought off the evil spirit. Tears blurred his vision.
If Soohyuk had begged as the evil spirit wanted, the baby shaman would have granted his request and been devoured. But Soohyuk did not.
If the baby shaman defeated the evil spirit, Soohyuk would die too. Soohyuk was a good person. He shouldn't die like this.
*You really are too soft.*
Sighing, the god showed the baby shaman a different future. The baby shaman’s eyes, blurry with tears, began to sparkle.
*How about it?*
I love it!
*Even if I disappear?*
Even if I can’t see you, you’ll still be by my side!
The god threw up his hands. *I really can’t win against you.*
An otherworldly voice intertwined with the baby shaman’s.
“Let that great spirit descend upon this body.”
The talisman in the baby shaman’s left hand flew out and wrapped around the evil spirit. Then, it burst into flames. The baby shaman gripped the bell with both hands.
[!#$^#!!!!!]
“You did well.”
Perhaps Soohyuk had anticipated his own death. The baby shaman shook the bell with all his might.
*CLANG!*
“The power to burn away ignorant evil!”
The golden aura, bathed in moonlight, lunged at the evil spirit like a golden beast. As if burning in golden flames, Soohyuk’s body writhed within the inferno.
The evil spirit screamed. It shrieked. Soohyuk, too, screamed in agony as his soul was consumed by the scorching flames.
*CLANG!*
“The power to extinguish its very source!”
The fire, which looked as if it were made of solid gold, grew more intense. Its power fading, the black evil spirit struggled to escape Soohyuk’s body. Soohyuk’s soul snatched the fleeing spirit.
“Thanks to you, I think I’ve learned a thing or two about controlling a soul!”
[!#%#$&@!!!!]
Unable to escape from the hands of either the god or Soohyuk, the evil spirit shrieked until it faded away.
The golden flames, finding no more evil to burn, circled Soohyuk like a predator searching for prey before quietly subsiding.
The courtyard, once filled with screams, fell silent.
In the end,
it was gone.
As the pain ended, Soohyuk collapsed to the ground, and the baby shaman crumpled down as well. He stared at the fallen Soohyuk with eyes full of tears.
“Cut, OK!”
With Director Choi Daeman’s voice, he snapped back to reality.
Seojun looked at his own hands. He had gripped the handle of the bell so tightly that a red mark remained. He felt he had been more immersed than when he had practiced at home.
Seojun carefully placed a hand on his chest. His heart was pounding.
[Smiling Face Mushroom's Illusion] activated automatically, so he could use it without worry even when lost in his acting.
But this time was different. Unlike the first shoot where he just had to hold the energy inside him, this time he had to emit it with his entire body and then make it disappear. He had to act out the goblin’s energy as well.
Because of that, Seojun had been worried he would get so immersed in his method acting that he’d forget to use [Bell Goblin's Teasing Kim Seobang]. So, he had practiced releasing the goblin’s energy until it became second nature.
“But it went better than I thought.”
Seojun giggled.
“Hah!”
Lee Jiseok, who had been lying on the ground, gasped for air. Then, he slowly sat up.
*Oops.* Seojun noticed Lee Jiseok, now covered in dirt. Jiseok-hyung acted incredibly well, too. He really seemed like he was possessed by an evil spirit.
Just as Seojun was about to approach Lee Jiseok to ask if he was okay,
*Clap—*
*Clap clap—*
*Clap clap clap!*
“Woooow!”
Applause erupted from the staff. Director Choi Daeman and the assistant director also gave the two actors a round of applause, filled with admiration.
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