Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: #2 I'll Do Whatever Turns Me On
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Exorcising yokai.
That's an exorcist's job. So it's not strange at all for someone to commission Gyeol Ryeong, an exorcist, to handle it.
But it is strange that the client is this man. More than that, the ones making the commission are probably the very enemies she should be exorcising.
"It's a win-win, right? You came here to do something about this fog that's making people outside go missing, didn't you, Exorcist? You haven't forgotten that already, have you?"
"As if I could forget."
She remembers everything—the reason she came to this fog-shrouded city, her objectives. ...They might be memories tampered with by hypnosis, but at least right now, nothing about them feels off.
'Lee Ji-hye's commission. Payment is an artifact to lift the Succubus Curse. Objectives: locate and rescue the missing Association members and civilians, eliminate the fog anomaly. And serve as the Chairman's personal fucktoy for sexual relief. Plus, public cumdump training in the streets... Yeah, nothing weird about any of that.'
Once she'd sorted her thoughts, she looked back at the Chairman, who smiled in satisfaction, as if ready to continue.
"I've been investigating whenever I had the chance this past month. And I've figured it out. I'm not connected to the fog surrounding this city at all. The cause, the culprit, the core—it's all elsewhere. I'm just sticking my spoon in and taking a little share."
"So you're saying you'll eat someone else's cooking for free, you sneaky bastard."
"Call it wise. Anyway, survival's on the line for us too. Even if it's a bit sneaky, that's just life's wisdom, a survival tactic."
Whatever. With that, he continued.
"There are others like me. This fog city is full of yokai acting as rulers over their domains. What I want is for you to take them out, Exorcist. I guarantee it—you'll achieve your goals in the process."
This fog city is divided into seven districts, each ruled by yokai overlords.
They lure people in from outside the fog in their own ways, then make them live under their control—living only to be exploited by the yokai that dominate them.
Some yokai roam their domains solo. Others team up with lesser yokai. Sometimes they even raise grab-yokai as livestock, using contracts to extract tribute from the residents through them.
The methods of domination vary wildly by district, but you can't know the details until you see them for yourself.
Some domains are wide open, others completely sealed off from the outside. Information on them is just as varied.
Incidentally, the hilltop where this mansion stands is one of those seven districts.
It used to be the territory of an imugi, but since its goal was just stockpiling power for shedding its skin, it never aggressively gathered people.
That's why the place was empty—nothing there, no one. Just the faint, terrifying presence of a mighty being that only yokai could sense.
And in that empty void, the Chairman had boldly hidden away and played lord of the manor.
"First up, take out the yokai in the adjacent district. It's gathering people under the guise of a religion, directing them to mass-produce lustful energy, and growing fast. Can't leave it be."
A hazy holographic map floated in the air.
The Chairman pointed to one district on the image conjured by yokai spells.
That must be the target. Not far from the hill where the mansion sat.
'Seven...'
The map color-coded each area.
A near-circular city space, sliced into seven wedges. What stood out was the one in the dead center—the only one claiming the middle, noticeably larger than the rest.
That had to be the most likely spot to find a way to resolve the fog anomaly.
Noticing her gaze, the Chairman cut in.
"You're so predictable. I know exactly what you're thinking."
"...What."
"The central district? It's blatantly dangerous. Shove your head in without prep or intel, and you'll end up in a world of hurt."
Who does he think she's fooling? Still, she'd prepare thoroughly.
More importantly, he didn't deny it was the core, the source. Could be misdirection, but it had potential.
"I've only scouted two of the remaining six districts and secured ways in. One's off-limits right now due to circumstances. So your target's the one I mentioned. Got it?"
"Circumstances? What kind?"
"No need to tell you. If you must know, someone asked me not to."
That didn't make sense or satisfy her.
But he clearly had no intention of convincing her, offering no further explanation.
Dom, sitting beside her, kept groping and caressing her body with sticky hands.
Suppressing the urge to flip her switch and lose herself, Gyeol Ryeong glared at the Chairman.
"...So you're commissioning me to exorcise the overlord yokai in that front district?"
"Exactly. Good summary. People freed from yokai rule? I'll send them out of the fog. I swear on my name."
"Payment?"
"Straight to the point—love that pro attitude. Smart to prioritize the reward. For payment, I'll double the imugi bounty. One per overlord yokai you take down. Complete all my commissions, and I'll throw in five more on top."
The reward from the imugi subjugation. Those gold bars and jewels were eye-poppingly valuable.
She'd checked if they were fakes from yokai, but they were genuine as far as she could tell.
To be safe, she'd even cut off a chunk of gold bar and used it as a medium for a spell that required real gold.
Since the spell worked perfectly, no illusions or fakes.
She needed money. A ton of it.
She'd wondered if she'd ever scrape it together, but taking all his payments would blow past her goal. Overflowing, even.
"Plus, I've got juicy intel. Accept, and it's yours. I'll cover expenses and provide backup for the jobs, no skimping."
He tilted his chin up, as if to say, Well? Deal?
Undeniably generous. His offer made it hard to find a reason to refuse.
It involved exorcising yokai that harmed people, and she'd likely uncover new info on the fog city along the way.
To search for her comrades, she'd need to hit populated areas anyway—his help there would be welcome.
And above all, that massive payout. Impossible to ignore. She'd do it even if it meant licking yokai feet.
"Made up your mind, Exorcist? I get it's hard emotionally. But we're civilized. Let's pick the rational, smart choice."
But even so.
"...Your goal."
"Hm?"
"What's yours? Why target the other districts' yokai?"
The Chairman fell silent for a moment.
But as if expecting the question, he grinned and answered.
"To restore this place to its original state—a paradise."
His answer, his face—it sealed her decision.
"I refuse."
That was Gyeol Ryeong's answer.
The Chairman grinned ear to ear despite the rejection.
"Why? You could solve the fog city's issues, save people, get paid."
"You even have to ask? Believe a yokai and his yokai buddy? I'd rather die."
She flipped him off. Eat this.
"I'll handle the investigation and solutions myself. Save people myself. Rewards? No issue. I'll just beat it out of you directly."
Human laws don't apply to yokai.
Torture away. Interrogating yokai was child's play for a veteran expert genius like Gyeol Ryeong.
Even the Chairman looked dumbfounded at her bold claim that everything they had was hers. His smug facade cracked a bit.
Dom, meanwhile, swooned again. "Kyaa~☆ So cool~☆ So cute☆" She clapped and squealed.
The Chairman crossed his arms, stared at the ceiling, then the floor, sighed softly, and smiled at Gyeol Ryeong again.
But the vibe, the emotion—it felt different now.
"Well... Honestly, I didn't think talk would work."
He picked up a bell from the desk.
Gyeol Ryeong didn't know what it meant, but unease stirred.
She bolted up to stop him, shoving Dom aside—but too late.
Ding-a-ling— The bell rang.
Mid-motion, Gyeol Ryeong froze awkwardly.
Light faded from her eyes. Her consciousness plunged into darkness.