Victim of School Bullying (2)
"Seol-ah!!"
Seo Hanul shouted the girl's name and lunged forward, reaching out desperately.
But.
Before he could even get close, the ethereal figure scattered like an illusion. In the end, what he clutched in his hand wasn't the girl named Seol-ah—it was a teddy bear.
He stared blankly down at the stuffed animal in his grip, then whipped his head toward me.
"W-what the hell is this...?"
"You can see it, can't you?"
I dropped to one knee to meet Seo Hanul's gaze.
And delivered the truth.
"It's the evil spirit you created."
"An evil spirit? Me? I turned Seol-ah into an evil spirit...?"
"More precisely, she's on the verge of becoming one. Once that curse is complete, that girl will turn into an evil spirit."
I tapped the teddy bear with my finger.
"Doomed to wander eternally, harming people without even the mercy of reincarnation?"
"—No!!"
Bam!
Seo Hanul, trembling like a leaf in the wind, slammed his fist into the ground and screamed.
"No way! There's no way! I just... I just wanted to kill the trash who killed Seol-ah!!"
"...Hah."
"'That person' told me! That Seol-ah was wandering the nine hells out of resentment! That if I helped her exact her vengeance with her own hands, she could finally pass on to the afterlife in peace!!"
Suddenly, Seo Hanul jerked his head up. His eyes bloodshot, he charged at me and grabbed my collar.
"You're lying!!"
"..."
"Hey, hey! Seo Hanul, calm down!"
Seo Joon grabbed his friend's hand, trying to pull him off, but it was clenched so tight his arm wouldn't budge.
"Liar! Tell me it's a lie! Hurry up!!"
Seo Hanul's hand shook, his breathing ragged. Deep down, he knew.
He knew, but he couldn't admit it.
"...Hey, think about it."
I quietly gripped the hand clutching my collar.
"Do you really think a soul that killed someone could let go of its regrets and pass on peacefully? Or would it rampage in rage, killing even more?"
"..."
"You know the answer."
Thud.
I gave his hand a slight squeeze, and it fell limp.
"You ruined her."
"Ah...!"
Thump.
His legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground, face pale as a corpse, breaths coming in short gasps.
"What the hell have I done...?"
"So, tell me."
I placed a hand on his shoulder and glared down at him.
"Where's that bastard who taught you this spell?"
This was the tail end of the ones who'd come sniffing around by chance.
And I had zero intention of ignoring it.
※
"The Spirit Pacification Salvation Society... that's what they called it."
On the bus ride over, Seo Hanul mumbled with his head hung low in the seat next to me.
"...I just wanted to confess it all to someone, anyone."
Typical cult recruitment tactics.
Mentally broken and desperate, Seo Hanul had stumbled across an online ad for a free counseling center while searching the web. Craving someone—anyone—to hear him out and offer comfort, he went in for a session.
And that's where they introduced him to the "Spirit Pacification Salvation Society."
At first, he thought he'd wandered into some shady cult, but as he talked with the priest from the society, the tears just wouldn't stop flowing.
"He told me they had a sacred mission: to avenge the poor souls unable to leave this world due to their grudges and guide them to the afterlife."
"And you bought that just like that?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
The priest's words were irresistibly appealing to Seo Hanul at the time.
Fallen for the hook, he performed the ritual exactly as instructed.
"The priest said to wrap Seol-ah's hair around her favorite possession, place it on the magic circle he taught me, and pray every night at 2 a.m."
Seo Hanul believed.
Believed it would be salvation—for Seol-ah, for himself. That true redemption was coming.
"I got played like an idiot."
"Hey, chin up. It wasn't your fault. You fell for their slick cult tricks."
"...Thanks. That means a lot."
Seo Joon patted his friend's shoulder in encouragement, but it didn't seem to help much.
"This stop is Asin Station East Square, Asin Station East Square."
"Ah, we're here."
"Yeah? Let's go then."
"Okay, sis."
We got off at the stop and followed Seo Hanul's lead to our destination.
Soon, a desolate alley with no signs of life came into view.
And there, an old, rundown building.
A gaudy sign reading Spirit Pacification Salvation Society loomed right out front.
For a cult, hanging up a sign like that so brazenly was just... pathetic.
"Stick to the plan."
Before going in, I briefed Seo Hanul and Seo Joon.
"Seo Joon and I are prospective converts interested in joining. You're the one who brought us, Hanul. The priest will look favorably on you that way—no cult turns away new believers. Then, when he's off guard, ask about the spell you learned. Got it?"
"...Yes."
"Um... sis."
Seo Hanul nodded, but Seo Joon looked hesitant.
"What?"
"Do we really have to go in? What if it gets dangerous?"
"Dangerous how?"
"Like, what if they lock us up or kidnap us...? I saw stuff like that on NewTube about cults."
He had a point. If we were just ordinary humans—three kids, minors at that—against an organized group of adults... yeah, it could get risky.
"Don't worry."
I pulled something from my pocket and handed it to Seo Joon.
He stared blankly at it, then at me, alternating.
"...What's this?"
"Can't you tell? It's a knife."
"Sis, are you nuts!?"
Nuts? How could my little brother say something so harsh?
"Just for show. Don't actually stab anyone. You'd get sued."
"C-can we just... not go in...?"
"If you don't wanna, stay here. Hanul, let's go."
"Ah, okay... yeah!"
I pushed Seo Hanul's back, guiding him inside. Seo Joon hurriedly pocketed the knife and followed.
"Damn it, wait up!"
And so, the three of us stepped into the Spirit Pacification Salvation Society building side by side.
For a cult hideout, the interior was surprisingly clean.
Thud. Thud.
As the sound of our footsteps echoed up the stairs,
"...Huh? Oh, Hanul! It's you!"
A middle-aged man smoking outside spotted Seo Hanul and lit up with joy.
"Who's that?"
I whispered. Seo Hanul whispered back.
"The counselor from the psych center who introduced me to the society."
"Ah, got it."
So that's how it was.
"What brings you here? Has your wish already come true?"
"Haha, hi. Not yet. These are—my friend and his big sis. They've been through something like me lately, struggling a lot, so I wanted to introduce them to the society."
"I see. Good on you. Real noble. Helping others when you're hurting yourself... God will surely grant salvation to our Hanul."
The counselor chuckled, slapping Seo Hanul's back before eyeing me and Seo Joon up and down.
For a split second.
A slimy sensation crawled over my skin like snakes, goosebumps rising.
His gaze on Seo Joon was mere curiosity, but the moment it landed on me, it turned viscous, lecherous.
"Heh heh..."
This pervert...
Was he seriously lusting after me? A guy who'd lived twice as long as this body?
I wanted to kick him square in the crotch right then, but I held back.
Info first.
"Um, is the priest inside?"
"Yeah, he is. Go on in. He's on break right now."
"Thanks."
We brushed past the counselor and stepped further in, taking in the society's inner sanctum.
"Huh. Unexpected."
"What is?"
"Looks like a normal church. Thought cults would have magic circles, goat heads, inverted crosses or something."
"What cults do that these days? Gotta look normal to lure in the naive."
Fair point. I reflected that I'd been too prejudiced.
"Oh! Hanul, it's been a while!"
"How have you been, Priest?"
"Heh heh, I'm always fine. Come to tell me your wish came true? Quicker than I expected."
"Ah, no, not yet. Today—"
"Brought two new converts, eh? Heh heh, your faith is truly admirable."
I stopped sightseeing the decor and turned to the society's priest.
"Ho."
But my prejudices reared right back up.
Yeah, that's more like it for a cultist.
"Priest, actually, I wanted to talk about that spell."
While I sized him up, Seo Hanul cautiously broached the subject.
"The spell? What's with it? Some problem?"
"Yeah, well... I'm a bit worried."
Seo Hanul feigned maximum concern as he continued.
"Heh heh, wondering if it'll work? No need to fret. That spell came straight from the bishop's teachings, proven effective."
"So others have used it too?"
"Indeed. And those who avenged their grudges with it all went to heaven in peace."
The priest smiled, gripping Seo Hanul's shoulders with both hands.
"Your girlfriend—Miss Seol-ah—can go to heaven too. Once the spell's complete."
"Priest..."
"School bullying—what barbaric, outdated savagery. Immature kids driving another to death... Truly lamentable! Oh, Lord! Grant salvation to poor Seol-ah!"
The priest flung his arms wide like a theater actor, gazing heavenward.
Seo Hanul stared at him, face twisted in turmoil.
Instinctively, he knew. The priest's words were lies through and through.
But he wanted to believe. Curse and kill her tormentors, send her to heaven too? If only.
"Hanul! Worry not. Those who bullied your girlfriend to death have fallen to hell! You and her souls will ascend to heaven as reward for smiting evil in God's stead! Yours included!"
"..."
Even knowing the truth, he looked ready to fall for it again. I sighed and stepped forward.
"That heaven."
"Hm?"
"You mean the one up in the sky we all imagine?"
The priest lowered his gaze, locking eyes with me.
"...Who are you?"
"Or."
I stared back—into his soul, reflected in his eyes.
"Is it the 'heaven' inside you?"
Within the priest's soul.
Five vengeful spirits screamed in agony.
His face hardened.