Giving the School Bully a Real Lesson (1)
Originally, I planned to create a throwaway account, upload the video there, and approach her pretending I'd found her after watching it. But thanks to someone else uploading it for me, I could move the plan along even faster.
"This is who I am."
I hand Park Sojin my business card.
Lightning Comprehensive Streamer
'Mirinae Channel'
Exorcism Broadcast Lead
'Baek Seorin'
"Mirinae? Exorcism Broadcast?"
"Yeah, let's skip the details—they're not important right now. What matters isn't who I am... it's your current state, isn't it?"
"Y-yeah."
I can sense her trust in me dipping a little from the look in her eyes.
"You don't seem to believe me?"
"N-no! I b-believe you. I do!"
"Heh, it's fine. It's natural to doubt. Especially since I'm not some famous shaman—just an internet streamer claiming to do exorcisms. Anyone would suspect a scam."
I pull out my phone and open NewTube, navigating to the Mirinae Channel.
"Watch this, and your doubts should fade a bit."
Park Sojin tilts her head curiously at first, but soon her eyes widen as she watches Episode 2. The abandoned kindergarten incident and the Gwiam Reservoir case. Sure, some still claim it's all fake, but they're a tiny minority now. It's too raw to be staged—the blurry smoke effects feel brutally real.
She must feel the impact from the videos too, because after finishing them, the look in her eyes has completely changed.
"C-can you... really perform an exorcism for me?"
"Yes. Trust me."
"...Thank you. Thank you so much!"
She must have been mentally worn down from yesterday's events, because the moment I say I can fix it, tears stream down her face as she pours out her gratitude.
But... who knows how long that'll last.
"P-please, exorcise me now! Money... I'll pay anything I can! I don't have much right now, but I'll rob a bank if I have to—just give me time to pay it back...!"
"Relax. I don't need money. But for the exorcism to succeed, you must follow my instructions exactly. Got it?"
"Yes! Anything—anything!"
"Good. Then first—"
I flash a grin.
"—go on a live broadcast where lots of people can see you, and sincerely apologize to the spirit of the girl you bullied to death."
"...Pardon?"
"Then head to the police station and confess everything you've done. That'll break the curse binding you."
"...."
Park Sojin stares at me blankly for a moment, then her face flushes beet red, veins bulging like she's about to explode.
"You fucking bitch!!"
Her true colors show—no change there—as she swings a fist at me right away. I dodge it effortlessly.
"You goddamn cunt!!"
Whoosh!
"Think it's funny messing with people!!"
Whoosh!
"Do you even get how much pain I'm in right now!!"
Do I need to care? Knowing how much she's suffering doesn't benefit me anyway.
And besides... out of everyone, shouldn't you know better than to say that?
Memories I absorbed from Lee Seola flash back.
Thwack! Thud!
'Kyaack! Stop, please stop...!'
'Fuck, that's what you get for not paying up your friend debt of 100,000 won on time? Seyeon, what do you think? Should we hit her more?'
'Hmm, she doesn't seem sorry yet.'
'Got it! Hey, Lee Seola. Belly out.'
Splat!
'Aaaahhh!'
She didn't give a damn about others' pain herself, so why's she bitching at me?
"And... why the hell should I apologize!?"
"Oh? You really mean that?"
"Of course!"
Park Sojin appeals with teary eyes, utterly convinced she's the wronged victim, bold as brass.
"Fuck, it was just some 'pranks'! If she killed herself over that, it's her problem! Did I push her into it or something?"
Whoa...
A sigh escapes me involuntarily.
Is this what they call a psychopath?
Thud!
"Fuck! Hey, let go!"
I grab her hand as it swings toward my face. She's got some muscle from working out, but she's still just a middle school girl. The type who's tough on the weak and cowers before the strong.
"Hey."
I speak casually in a low voice, and Park Sojin freezes mid-curse.
See? She folds the second you push back a little. It pisses me off.
"What makes you think you can mouth off to your elder like that? You murdered someone—why so cocky?"
"Uh, uhh...."
"What? Thought I'd keep indulging your tantrum? You moron."
Crack!
I fling her arm away. She stumbles back a few steps, glancing at me nervously, too scared to do anything.
"Tch. Thought I'd help out of pity, but whatever. You hate confessing that much?"
"...Th-that's... even so, it's too much...! It's not just my fault Lee Seola died. If my face gets out there, how am I supposed to face people from now on?!"
"Fine, forget it then."
"Huh?"
I turn and walk away without hesitation, making it clear I couldn't care less if she follows through or not.
"But remember this. You chose this."
Whatever happens next is on you.
With that, I walk away from Park Sojin. She just stares after me, frozen, unable to act.
<...Pfft!>
As I walk, Lee Seola's spirit suddenly bursts out laughing beside me.
"What's so funny?"
that walk all over me.>
"...Disappointed?"
myself. Why didn't I ever fight back? Why'd I just take it?>
Lee Seola gives a bitter smile.
"...Maybe. Or maybe not."
"No talent for that. Besides, we already agreed to the contract, right? Whether I comfort you or not, you'll end up as my servant spirit either way—no need to rack my brain over it."
<...You're really cold. Sigh, feels like I got stuck with a ruthless boss.>
"Nah, I'm the one who got stuck."
I shoot a glare at Lee Seola, walking beside me.
"Never seen a spirit turn down an offer to block turning into an evil spirit and get their grudge resolved. What if I wrecked everything in a fit of pique from being rejected?"
"Not scared of turning evil?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
"...Yeah, I get how you'd hesitate."
Fair enough. Still, she chose the lesser evil.
one thing?>
"What?"
"You asking that?"
How's a kid this gutsy end up suicidal... wait, maybe dying changed her. Or nearly becoming an evil spirit from the curse did.
"Forcing a contract is possible. But there's a fatal flaw: it 'weakens' them."
Think about it logically. Same company, same pay and treatment.
A worker who joined willingly vs. one dragged in and forced to work—which performs better?
Someone might argue necromancy's different, but the principle's similar. Plus, forcing it strains the spirit, so voluntary from Seola is best.
"And contracting in their strong state lets them handle potential evil spirits later."
At Gwiam Reservoir, I made a critical mistake. Fighting the evil spirit, I couldn't protect my friend.
I saved her, but no guarantee it won't happen again. I've only got one body.
That's why I'm raising servant spirits—to guard against it.
If an evil spirit targets my friends or family while I'm busy, I can ask them to protect.
"One more reason: snatching the spirit they tried to use and putting it to good use is revenge in itself."
And on top of that.
"She's decently kind, realistic, strengthened by sorcery but not yet evil—easy to control."
<...You say that right in front of her?>
"So what? What can you do about it?"
I chat idly with Lee Seola's spirit as we walk. A truly peaceful day.
※ Five days later.
Five days have passed since Park Sojin met Baek Seorin. At first, she trembled in terror, but once home and the fear subsided, rage boiled over.
'Don't make me laugh!'
Publicly admit what she did to Lee Seola? Then confess at the police?
Either one's impossible. Absolutely impossible.
"If I do that, my life's over."
Why'd it come to this? She just wanted to impress her friend Yoo Seyeon.
Prettier, cooler personality, rich family. Picking on weak kids who wouldn't fight back made Seyeon happy, so she got a thrill from hitting, splashing water, doodling on bodies, snapping nudes—
—just harmless 'kid stuff'!
Never dreamed one would actually kill herself over it!
"I'll tough it out."
Yeah, what can a dead ghost do to the living? If it's bad, find a shaman for talismans or whatever.
Resolved, Park Sojin crumples Baek Seorin's business card and tosses it in the trash.
Thus, five days pass.
Bang!
"Seyeon!"
She enters the classroom beaming, greeted warmly by everyone.
"Hey, Sojin."
"Heard you were sick? Feeling better?"
"So, yesterday something crazy happened—"
Park Sojin enjoys her peaceful life. Sure, she slipped up once before, but it was forgotten. Everyone likes her now.
"Oh, Sojin."
Her favorite friend, Yoo Seyeon, smiles and calls her over.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Got a question. Answer honestly?"
"Of course! Anything for you, Seyeon!"
"Good. Then—
"
"...Huh?"
Empty classroom. The friends' laughter from moments ago feels like an illusion as heavy silence descends.
"Wh-what... huh?"
Forgot? Then... want me to remind you?
"Ah, aaah, AAAAAHHHH!!"
She bolts upright. Cold sweat drips from her forehead, heart pounding like it'll burst. She dazedly scans around.
Park Sojin's bedroom.
She checks her phone on reflex. 1:23 AM. She's only been asleep less than an hour.
Giggle.
A familiar laugh echoes in Park Sojin's ear—the same one from the nightmares repeating for five nights straight.