Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Monster Tale Specialist Office: The Cursed Video (3)
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Tap, tap, tap.
As soon as Sia returned, she took the tablet and quickly scanned it. She tapped the app a few times and turned the device this way and that.
In the meantime, Taeju gave a brief rundown of the situation.
Sia nodded along as she listened, then pressed the video play button once more.
“It won’t show up now, right? I already smashed it—no, tapped it completely once.”
“I heard that. I just want to see how strong the curse is. Hmm, this is really a peculiar item.”
Sia set the pad down on the desk without a change in her expression.
“You said you don’t know who the curse came from?”
“M-Me?”
Seonwoo blurted out in surprise.
To Seonwoo, still a student, Sia in her black suit looked like an incredible professional.
She seemed a bit more trustworthy than Taeju, who appeared young and affable.
“Yes! Can’t you figure it out here somehow?”
“Of course we can figure it out here. But it’ll take some time. So, one more question.”
Sia locked eyes with Seonwoo and asked.
“Have you ever done anything in your daily life that would warrant a curse?”
“Y-Yes?? Of course not! Neither I nor that guy did!”
Seonwoo jumped up, vehemently denying it. Sia told him to calm down.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. I just wanted confirmation upfront.”
Ignoring Seonwoo’s indignant expression, Sia continued her explanation.
“For a curse to take hold, two things are needed: the one casting it and the one it’s cast on.”
Seonwoo blinked, as if wondering why she was stating the obvious.
“But while the caster must be definite, the target doesn’t always have to be specified. That’s why curses fall into two main categories: targeted curses and untargeted ones. It’d help if I had an example. Does anything come to mind when you think of curses?”
Seonwoo rolled his eyes. He looked puzzled about why she was asking him, but answered anyway.
“Uh... stabbing a talisman or doll? That’s the famous one.”
Sia nodded.
“That’s the common image. In reality, those methods are minor, but they do work. And they’re easy to block or lift because the target is specified. They’re so straightforward.”
Seonwoo nodded eagerly, as if mesmerized by Sia’s explanation.
Sia kept going, and Seonwoo hung on every word, clearly fascinated by the new information.
Meanwhile, Taeju sat beside them, stifling yawns. He’d heard it all too many times before.
Woli must have sensed this and slipped away early. Smart girl, Taeju thought to himself.
“On the flip side, there are curses cast with a ‘whoever it hits is fine’ mindset. The Pharaoh’s curse is a classic example. These usually have activation conditions.”
Touching a Pharaoh’s sarcophagus or robbing a pyramid. But curses that potent aren’t easy to catch even if you tried.
“However, they’re trickier to resolve. They’re generally powerful, and without knowing the conditions, you can’t lift them.”
Hard to trigger, but devastating once they hit.
Seonwoo’s face hardened at Sia’s words.
“Then, could this be...?”
Sia smiled reassuringly.
“Rest easy. It might look similar on the surface, but probably not. They’re hard to inflict on someone specific, and if no one meets the conditions, the curse just fizzles out. So they’re rarely attempted in the first place.”
There were probably more unknown curses in the world than one might think.
Her throat dry from the long explanation, Sia snatched Taeju’s cup from beside her and took a sip of the cold coffee. Taeju grimaced but didn’t stop her.
“So, what kind of curse is this?”
Sia posed the question. Seonwoo blinked, as if to say how should he know.
“For now, I’m leaning toward the targeted type. The tablet’s pricey, sure, but not worth cursing someone over to protect it. And the video’s too shoddy to be that important.”
“Shoddy?”
Seonwoo latched onto Sia’s slip.
“The video’s a bootleg movie.”
Even the pad was valuable, but not that valuable.
“Either way, it’s not an item grand enough for a complex curse. But that raises a question: why did you get cursed just from playing this video? Especially when you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Seonwoo’s expression stiffened again at Sia’s query.
In the end, the video’s true nature remained a mystery.
“If you can’t figure it out, then why the long explanation?”
“There’s a big difference between ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I can’t tell right now for certain reasons.’”
Not wrong. Seonwoo probably would’ve stormed out if she’d just said she didn’t know.
“Plus, hearing this might jog something for you.”
But Seonwoo didn’t seem to have any guesses about the curse’s type either.
Ultimately, the only option left was legwork investigation.
Regretful, but Taeju picked up Sia’s thread without showing it.
“If nothing comes to mind, we’ll analyze this for now. And it’d be great if you could bring Suhyeon here. We need to hear her side too.”
At Taeju’s words, Seonwoo’s eyes trembled, his voice dropping to a whisper.
“He... probably won’t come.”
Seonwoo seemed uneasy about calling his friend Suhyeon.
“Why not?”
They were close enough to lend a tablet, so Taeju couldn’t understand the hesitation.
Seonwoo hemmed and hawed before answering Taeju’s question.
“If I say it’s because of a ghost, won’t he think I’m crazy?”
“Use another excuse. Say you found a great cafe.”
Once he showed up, they could steer the conversation however needed.
But even suggesting that embarrassed Seonwoo, his face flushing red.
Taeju couldn’t make sense of it.
“W-We’re kinda distant right now...”
“You fought?”
“Not exactly...”
Seonwoo bit his lip, trailing off.
“We didn’t fight.”
Taeju could tell they weren’t on great terms now, so he dropped the probing.
“Got it. We’ll invite her here ourselves then.”
Seonwoo nodded.
“Um... I think I’ve told you everything. Anything else?”
Taeju and Sia shook their heads at Seonwoo’s question.
“You can head home for now.”
Better if there was nothing more.
At Sia’s words, Seonwoo looked anxious again.
“If I go home, will I be safe? In the movie, it popped up on other screens too.”
“Yes, as long as we keep the item here. Ask me if you have more questions.”
Sia handed the tablet to Taeju as she spoke.
“Take this upstairs and handle it. You know what to do, right?”
“Of course.”
Taeju replied dryly, taking the pad and standing.
Seonwoo eyed it anxiously for a moment, then turned to Sia.
“Um... I have a few more questions.”
“Ask away.”
As Taeju left, Sia shifted closer to answer.
Taeju gave Seonwoo a slight nod, then opened the door to the stairs.
“How’d it go?”
“Eek!! You scared me!”
A gray head poked out suddenly, followed by a black-haired one hiding behind.
“Jeez, what the hell. You startled me. Weren’t you upstairs? Why are you lurking here?”
“We were curious how it went!”
“Sorry. Did we scare you bad?”
It was bold Woli and fidgety Hanseol.
“Nah, I’m fine. Just warn me next time. But why’s she here pretending to go up?”
Taeju admitted he’d been more startled than by any ghost.
“I told you. We’re curious.”
“Me too...”
It was rare for Woli to be this proactive. If she was curious enough to eavesdrop on the stairs, she could’ve just joined. Taeju found it odd.
But he guessed the reason quickly.
“She goes to your school? That’s why?”
Woli’s eyes widened as if to say how’d you know, and she nodded. Hanseol nodded hurriedly too.
“Woli knows her! Right, Woli?”
“Yeah, sure?”
Taeju looked at Woli.
“Not close, but she’s kinda famous. She didn’t recognize me, but I did! Figured it’d be awkward, so I ducked out early.”
Woli puffed up proudly, wanting praise for her thoughtfulness. Taeju gave her a vague “good job” and started up the stairs, then paused.
“Oh, perfect timing! I needed info on her anyway.”
Taeju turned and grinned at Woli, who backed away, sensing trouble.
“Hey, we’re not close, okay? Right?”
Woli glanced at Hanseol, but she wasn’t fully on Woli’s side.
“But what info do you need?”
“Hey! Hanseol! Don’t ask! It’s definitely a headache!”
Woli yelled and bolted. It was just the basement parking lot, after all.
“Ugh... Hey, does running away make the work disappear?!”
* * *
With no choice, Woli—who’d been half-forced to return—answered Taeju’s questions sullenly.
“What’s her rep at school usually?”
“She’s got a strong personality, but her image is good. Smart too, so teachers like her.”
“Then do you know a Suhyeon?”
“Nope. First I’ve heard of her. Same grade?”
Hanseol wouldn’t know, having just started yesterday. Woli didn’t seem familiar with Suhyeon either.
Woli had transferred half a year ago, so if they weren’t classmates or Suhyeon wasn’t notable, it made sense, Taeju figured.
“Oh, she’s the tablet’s real owner. Probably the curse’s original target. Gotta meet her to confirm.”
Woli tilted her head.
“What’s that mean? That Seonwoo took the curse meant for Suhyeon?”
Taeju nodded at Woli’s words.
“Not certain, but yeah. So we need to investigate her. You go to the same school—mind helping?”
“Ugh, what kinda investigation?”
“Everything. All the gossip. Oh, and if you can bring Suhyeon, that’d be great.”
Taeju poked at the tablet as he spoke. He’d checked before, but there wasn’t much to see. It hadn’t been used much to begin with. He skimmed through in under five minutes.
All it told him was the pad was barely used.
“We need to meet her to learn more.”
Woli nodded, saying she’d handle it.
“I’ll drag her here somehow. But who’s the bad guy? Is Suhyeon?”
Taeju chuckled at Woli’s question.
“Dunno. That’s why I’m tasking you two.”
“Ugh, such a pain.”
Woli sighed deeply. It didn’t suit her style. But no one else could do it.
An active high schooler was the only one who could snoop around school without suspicion. Woli nodded reluctantly.
“Fine. I know someone good for asking.”
“Cool. It’s all yours then.”
“What about me?”
Hanseol raised her hand, eager to help.
“Stick with Woli, listen in, ask if something piques your interest.”
“More work...”
Woli grumbled, but didn’t seem too upset.
It was her first time as the senior here, and she looked a bit excited. Taeju saw through it and smiled faintly.
“Rest up today, both of you. Think about tomorrow’s plan. Do a good job, and I’ll make whatever you want.”
Woli’s lips twitched upward reluctantly, while Hanseol grinned openly.
“Yes!”
“Got it~.”
The two headed to their rooms, murmuring brightly and softly.