Chapter 49
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Monster Tale Specialist Office: The Cursed Video (11)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Taeju's attitude toward Suhyeon right now wasn't that of dealing with a customer.
Right now, Suhyeon was the origin of the curse.
If Suhyeon hadn't harbored that self-loathing, none of this would have happened.
“Do you know what the most important thing about a curse is?”
Taeju tried his best to stay calm as he spoke. Suhyeon didn't respond.
“It's hatred. In fact, no matter how much we've talked about it, the method of cursing doesn't really matter. A curse takes hold with strong enough will alone. You don't even need a ritualistic interpretation.”
That was exactly what Taeju had asked Sia, and what she had affirmed as obvious.
No elaborate curse is needed to kill a person. Simply revealing malice outright is enough to kill someone.
Insidious bullying and ostracism, petty malice from an unspecified crowd, denial and condemnation of a person's very character.
That alone is enough to kill a person.
In the end, those are all primitive forms of curses. Humans are surprisingly resilient, yet surprisingly fragile—they can be wounded and killed by the mind alone.
“That's what a curse is. Without hatred, no matter how perfect the form, it won't become a proper curse. Conversely, no matter how flawed the process, if the hatred is strong enough, the curse is complete. You hated yourself that much. Enough to flesh out that shoddy video to such an extent.”
As the name implies, a curse belongs to the realm of witchcraft. And spells of that kind pour everything into achieving their goal before vanishing.
Because maintaining themselves isn't their purpose. They have no fixed form, and in the end, only the result remains.
That's why, for curses, it's not the miscellaneous methods that matter—it's the mindset.
“I get it. Why you ended up with those feelings.”
An old ghost story, an ancient video tape, a chain of coincidences leading to misfortune.
In the midst of it all, what Suhyeon must have felt was self-reproach and anger toward herself. Taeju found it regrettable, and it angered him.
“Of course, I still don't know much about you. There are probably things I'll never fully understand. But I get it to some extent. Why this happened.”
After hearing Suhyeon's story, anger kept welling up inside Taeju. And now, he couldn't hold it back any longer.
He couldn't just stand by and watch her devour herself. If there were wounds, he wanted to help her heal them. If there was someone to resent, he could even help her with that.
“Shall I guess what you were probably thinking?”
But not like this. Taeju continued without waiting for a reply.
“You couldn't understand why this was only happening to you, and it hurt so much you couldn't even eat. After living like that for a while, the sadness would dilute bit by bit. Then suddenly, you'd be shocked. Your family died, yet here you are laughing. Even in the middle of laughing, tears would come unexpectedly. You'd think you don't deserve this happiness.”
“How...?”
It was very similar to what Suhyeon had thought. That's why she froze stiff.
“How did I know?”
Taeju concealed his trembling voice and continued. He was certain.
“That's just how it is.”
Being able to laugh again isn't because you're no longer sad, or because the grief has lessened—it's the process of hardening. Taeju was convinced of that.
“Your family's deaths weren't your fault. It was just misfortune—nothing more, not your doing.”
As she listened to Taeju, Suhyeon felt tears welling up. Because his words brought back the time when her family died.
“No. It was my fault. It has to be.”
Suhyeon said through her tears. Finally voicing the thoughts buried deep inside. Even as she spoke and cried, she glared at Taeju. He didn't look away.
“If it wasn't me, then my family really died for no reason at all. How is that fair for my mom and dad? It's my fault. I can't be happy...”
Suhyeon wept bitterly.
“Your parents were probably worried about you coming home alone at night, so they went to pick you up, right?”
Taeju said that, then spoke slowly and firmly.
“That worry can't be called a mistake. And in the same way, it can't be called your fault.”
Suhyeon listened blankly to Taeju's words, tears streaming down her face. Taeju didn't know what kind of people Suhyeon's family were. But he understood that grief. And that's why it saddened him even more.
“When something terrible happens, people try to find a reason. And blaming someone is the easiest way. Blaming others, or like you, blaming yourself.”
People often say self-blame is better than blaming others, but sometimes an irrational blame on others is preferable.
“Self-blame like yours doesn't help at all. It just eats away at you. You need to learn to accept facts as they are.”
Suhyeon looked at Taeju with reddened eyes. Tears still flowed from them.
“Accept what has already passed. Over time, you'll grow numb to it. Then you can laugh when something's funny and cry when it's sad.”
Suhyeon didn't sob out loud as she listened to Taeju, but tears kept streaming from the corners of her eyes.
“What you were doing was just slow suicide. You couldn't bring yourself to end it with your own hands, so you endlessly resented yourself. That's why the curse took the form most shocking to you. And unless you resolve that feeling, you'll end up creating another curse.”
Taeju said that and handed Suhyeon the tissues from nearby.
“It's time to stop now.”
No one had told her this. That made Taeju a little angry.
“You don't need to give up on yourself.”
She didn't need to keep giving pieces of herself to others anymore. If that had led her to someone who could help, it would have been fortunate, but no one was by Suhyeon's side.
Well, there had been one, but Suhyeon had pushed them away.
“There's nothing wrong with you still loving movies.”
Of course, she wouldn't accept it right away even if he said this. That's why Taeju said it forcefully.
“To put it bluntly, the thoughts you're having right now are completely wrong. I'll show you.”
Suhyeon took the tissue in a daze and stared blankly at Taeju.
“I'll step out first, so compose yourself and come out. We'll end this curse completely today. You might even see something fun.”
Taeju slowly walked toward the door. He felt uneasy, wondering if he'd been too harsh. Then a question came from behind.
“Why are you saying all this to me?”
It was Suhyeon's question. Taeju paused. He thought about not answering, but remembering this was the first proper question she'd asked without being prickly, he gave the most fitting response he could think of.
“It just happened that way.”
Leaving those words, Taeju stepped out the door.
If misfortune comes knocking unexpectedly, then it's fine for help to arrive unexpectedly too, without reason.
At least, that's what Taeju thought.
* * *
“Oh, look at you, acting all cool.”
The moment Taeju stepped out, he ran into Woli. She seemed to have overheard some of the conversation from outside the door and immediately started teasing him.
“Damn, you were planning to tease me right away.”
Taeju scratched the back of his head as he spoke. He felt embarrassed recalling how heated he'd gotten and said some harsh things.
“Yeah~ It just happened~”
Woli teased him in an exaggerated whiny voice. Taeju clicked his tongue softly.
“But I'm really touched.”
On the other hand, Hanseol's eyes were even glistening with tears. Honestly, this was trickier. Teasing like Woli was more comfortable.
Taeju had no idea how to react to someone elevating his heated, embarrassing outburst into something touching.
“Please, can you stop? I'm embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed~ No can do~”
“I'm holding back because you have a lot to do this time. For real.”
Taeju closed his eyes quietly and said.
“Hey, you talk like you could do whatever to me if I didn't hold back normally.”
Woli replied teasingly to Taeju's words. Taeju had nothing to say and shut his mouth.
“Well, still, you did well.”
Woli said that and briskly walked ahead.
“Where are you going?”
“Just prepping a bit early. Nothing major, but there's stuff to prepare. What time should I come down?”
“After 3:30. Prep and then come down. Don't come down too early.”
“Okay-.”
With that, Woli went up to the upper floor.
“Um, what should I do?”
Hanseol asked anxiously. She felt uneasy being the only one without a task. But in truth, there really wasn't anything for Hanseol to do. Especially in a case like this.
“Hmm. Honestly, not much this time. Just watch and learn? Stay back and observe well. Probably starting next time... or maybe the one after, you'll have things to do.”
Taeju headed straight to the cafe area. As expected, Sia was waiting there.
“Did you finish talking?”
“Yeah.”
Sia didn't ask many questions. She believed Taeju was better at dealing with people than her, so she trusted he'd handled it well.
“Preparations are almost done? Is this the end?”
“Almost? It's done. The rest starts when people arrive anyway.”
Taeju didn't ask Sia many questions either. If Sia could do it, then she had. At least for anything ritual-related.
The two waited in silence for a bit. They planned to start as soon as Seonwoo arrived and Suhyeon composed herself and came out.
Sia naturally pulled out an e-cigarette from her pocket. She opened the cap and took a natural puff.
“That smells like peach?”
Taeju caught the peach scent. Not real peaches, more like peach gum. It was cheap-smelling, but not unpleasant. Far better than real cigarettes.
“No way. It has no taste. Makes you a bit languid, I guess.”
Sia inhaled deeply and exhaled white vapor.
“Don't do stuff like this.”
“Was that a joke?”
Taeju chuckled at Sia's words. Sia, embarrassed after throwing out the line herself, had red ear tips.
Silence fell again.
Sia inhaled and exhaled deeply again to prepare for the ritual, while Taeju did the same just to smell the peaches. Hanseol quietly watched it all, not missing a thing.
How long until Suhyeon came out? She probably couldn't fully sort her feelings in just one go. What came after was something they couldn't resolve for her. But Seonwoo might be able to help.
“Sometimes, I feel a bit awkward about starting this job.”
“Why?”
Sia let out a sigh along with white vapor.
“Just... I'm nothing special myself, so it feels embarrassing to talk like I'm teaching others sometimes.”
“Eh, that's how everything in the world is. But if it helps, isn't that good? At least it's not empty talk.”
“What about you, Noona?”
At Taeju's question, Sia paused with the e-cigarette at her lips.
“That's why I quit being a shaman.”
Taeju chuckled at Sia's words.
Ding-a-ling. The bell rang. Seonwoo must have arrived earlier than planned.
“Did I come too early?”
Seonwoo looked at Taeju and said as soon as he entered. Taeju smiled faintly.
“A little.”
“Ah, should I go back out?”
Taeju laughed at Seonwoo's flustered expression.
“No. You can stay here. Might be a bit boring, though.”
“You said it starts at three? I'll wait.”
“Sounds good. Want some coffee?”
Seonwoo shook his head, saying no thanks today.
“Well, on a day like this, coffee's no good. Cola and popcorn would be better.”
“What's that mean?”
“You should see it for yourself. It's not something you get to see easily, catching ghosts.”