Please...
“Could you... say that again?”
The woman asked, hesitating.
She must have misheard him. It had to be.
“The talisman in your pocket. I said you need to throw it away.”
Noel repeated himself.
“You speak the truth. That is no talisman. To think someone would resort to such a filthy trick...”
Asin expressed deep disgust.
“That’s yucky! Super yucky!”
Kkamang-i mimed burying something in the sand with its front paws.
Even Kkamang-i is reacting like this, let alone Asin?
Noel looked at Kkamang-i in slight surprise.
Perhaps it was because of the crucifix engraved on its head by the power of the holy relic.
“What business is it of yours to say that to a stranger? I don't believe in any of that spiritual nonsense, so you've got the wrong person!”
Throw away the talisman.
The woman overreacted to those words.
If they kept talking, it looked like her face would turn bright red.
Wow, she's a true believer. Just as I thought.
Noel chuckled inwardly.
He knew that trying to persuade a blind believer was pointless; even a basic conversation would lead nowhere.
That's why I brought a shill with me.
Noel glanced at Hae-in.
“It looks like you were suffering from a curse until recently...”
Hae-in spoke, her voice trailing off as she scanned the woman up and down.
Her gaze was sharp, and with a highly loaded expression, she took a deep breath through her teeth, making a sharp tssk sound.
“What do you know about me to—”
“You're not doing well right now either, are you?”
Hae-in abruptly dropped her honorifics, staring intently at the woman to seize the upper hand.
Her eyes looked remarkably hollow.
She played her expressions so well that it made one want to ask questions immediately, causing the woman to flinch.
As expected of an experienced professional. Scamming really isn't for amateurs.
Arin's associate, Kim Jeong-in.
Noel had given Hae-in information regarding this woman, and now she was utilizing it flawlessly.
Noel watched Hae-in closely.
This was something he needed to learn.
“You must still be suffering from auditory and visual hallucinations. My Baby Immortal Deity says your fate is truly pitiful. She's practically shedding tears. Your insides are completely rotten and decayed.”
At Hae-in's sharp, probing words, Jeong-in's eyes shook violently.
How did she know?
“Ah, this friend and I are shamans. We heard there was an evil spirit nearby, so we just finished sending it off and were on our way back.”
Noel chimed in smoothly, his eyes curving into a smile.
Her state is... a total mess.
Hae-in observed Jeong-in.
She looked like the typical person deeply obsessed with shamanism.
The regulars who used to visit her shop were exactly like this.
They seemed great because their unshakeable faith made them easy to handle, but the moment that faith shattered, they would be the first to turn on you and try to ruin you. That was why they were always on her special watch list.
But she figured it didn't matter anymore.
Now that everything was over.
“How did you know... I had a talisman? Did you see it?”
To Jeong-in's question, Hae-in gave a clean, concise answer.
“I can feel an ominous energy radiating from it.”
“That... that can't be. This is...”
“You transferred the curse to someone else, didn't you?”
Noel threw the question like a sudden ambush.
As if struck on the head, Jeong-in stammered in utter bewilderment.
How on earth did he know?
Did Teacher Arin...?
No.
She kept glancing at them, but they seemed to have no connection to her.
Though she had paused for a moment, she was still tripping over thin air just as before.
If it wasn't Arin, then what else could it be?
Did they... actually see it? Really?
Jeong-in took a step back, swallowing hard.
She was confused.
She felt like she was going crazy.
“They told you that if you transferred the curse to someone else, you'd be fine, right?”
At Noel's question, Jeong-in's breathing quickened.
He was right.
It was absolutely true.
They said she would be fine.
And indeed, she had been fine.
...Wait, am I really fine?
Jeong-in habitually looked down at her ankles.
Still.
No, even now, it felt as if someone was constantly grabbing her ankles.
Was she just losing her mind?
She had thought so, but perhaps that wasn't the case.
“But you must have been constantly anxious anyway. You probably couldn't even sleep.”
Hae-in stepped in smoothly.
With an expression of genuine distress, she stood up and looked at Jeong-in.
Then, she slowly approached her.
“How heartbreaking it must have been. Constantly worrying... what if, just what if, the curse comes back?”
Hae-in's words quietly and naturally wormed their way into Jeong-in's heart.
“That's why that wretched scoundrel offered you the talisman in your inner pocket.”
As she spoke, Hae-in pointed her finger directly at the spot where the talisman was hidden.
Jeong-in's gaze dropped.
She gasped as the exact location was pointed out.
“To think you bought this when you don't even have money. How desperate you must have been. It must have cost at least several thousand dollars.”
As Hae-in nailed yet another detail, Jeong-in's hands began to tremble violently.
Wow, I heard really expensive talismans can cost tens of thousands of dollars. I guess it's true.
When Noel first heard about this from Kkamang-i, he had wondered if anyone would actually pay that much for a talisman promising things even a god couldn't grant. But it was real.
Noel watched the scene with great interest.
“If you keep holding onto that talisman, you're going to face serious trouble.”
Hae-in spoke firmly.
To be honest, she had no idea what the talisman actually was or why she was saying this.
She was just playing along and improvising.
“W-Wait a moment.”
Jeong-in hurriedly pulled out the talisman.
She was shaking all over.
“What on earth... kind of talisman is this?”
“Even if you find out what it is and go back to your shaman, it won't do you any good.”
Still seated, Noel curled his lips into a smirk.
“Why...?”
“Because they won't be able to clean up the mess.”
“Then what is it? Please, just tell me what it is!”
Jeong-in pleaded desperately.
“I told you, it’s bad!”
Kkamang-i poked its head out from behind Asin's back and chimed in.
Noel pointed a finger.
“When they gave you that talisman, the shaman must have told you this: even if the curse returns, it won't be able to find you.”
Jeong-in clutched her arms as goosebumps erupted all over her skin.
He was exactly right.
Word for word, it was identical.
“Did they ever explain why?”
At Noel's question, Jeong-in shook her head.
“They told me not to ask.”
“Of course they did. That thing makes the spiritual world recognize you as a dead person.”
“What...?”
“Curses target the living, not the dead. But what do you think it means for a living person to masquerade as a corpse?”
“.......”
Both Jeong-in and Hae-in were struck with shock.
Hae-in managed to keep her poker face, but Jeong-in was completely transparent.
“If you're curious, open it up and see what's inside.”
Noel suggested.
It was obvious.
There would be a dead person's hair inside.
“Asin, I don’t understand what Noel means.”
Kkamang-i stared blankly up at Asin.
“Simply put, since a living soul is masquerading as a corpse, it is akin to inviting the heavens to make her a true corpse by any means necessary.”
“...That’s scary.”
Kkamang-i clung to Asin.
It sounded terrifying.
“Shall we move somewhere else?”
Noel suggested naturally.
Jeong-in nodded blankly.
“...Is that really true?”
Hae-in whispered while Jeong-in went to order their coffee.
Even though they were in a corner, she was still cautious.
“Not a talisman, but making her look like a dead person?”
“Yes, that.”
“Of course it's true. Why would I lie about that?”
“...That's absolutely insane.”
Hae-in grimaced in disgust.
How could anyone practice such a wicked form of dark magic?
“Do you handle cases like this often?”
“Why do you ask?”
Noel stared at her.
“...Just because it's fascinating. It feels like a completely different world. Anyway, I wanted to say thank you.”
He could have easily kept her in the dark, but he had shared the truth about her situation.
She was grateful for that.
She probably had a lot of things to resolve from now on.
Would she end up in prison?
“You said you wanted to ask me a few things, but I'll introduce you to another shaman instead. A real one, not a fraud like me. They've helped me a lot. As for me... I'm washing my hands of this business.”
“Whatever you choose is up to you, Ms. Seo Hae-in. Just make sure you give me a proper introduction.”
Hae-in let out a dry chuckle at Noel's response.
He didn't judge her, didn't say whether she was right or wrong.
The lack of judgment actually made her feel lighter.
“Please don't exorcise the ghost attached to me.”
“Why not?”
“Just because.”
“Well then, dear client, feel free to contact me anytime regarding spiritual matters.”
“This introduction will be the last of it. The absolute last.”
Hae-in drew a firm line.
Just then, Jeong-in returned after placing the order.
She sat down with a heavy sigh.
She looked at Noel and Hae-in, then let out another long sigh.
“...I'm sorry.”
Jeong-in apologized for her continuous sighing.
“It's fine. Now, open it up and see what's inside. You should check it with your own eyes.”
Noel urged her.
She needed to see what they had stuffed inside that so-called talisman.
“...Okay.”
Jeong-in pulled out the talisman with trembling hands.
A small talisman pouch emerged.
She had touched it countless times before, but today, it sent an unprecedented chill down her spine.
She hesitated to open it, clutching the pouch tightly as she asked.
She looked on the verge of tears.
“...What if the curse comes back?”
“The curse isn't your main problem right now. I'm telling you, if you keep holding onto that thing, you're going to die.”
Noel laid out the priorities clearly.
While the original curse directed at Jeong-in was indeed filled with deep resentment, death wasn't necessarily an immediate outcome.
However, the item the shaman had given her practically guaranteed death as a default.
Just moments ago, there had been no scent of death around Jeong-in, but now it was suddenly surging upward.
The dark magic was highly effective.
I'm actually curious to see what kind of bastard did this.
He wanted to ask if they had done it knowingly or not.
Noel cut off his train of thought and urged Jeong-in once more.
“If you don't completely eliminate a curse in the first place, it will follow you forever.”
“But they told me it was impossible to destroy. If I don't have this, what's going to happen to me...?”
The trembling that started at her fingertips had spread to her entire body, making her shudder.
“I can erase it.”
Noel spoke with absolute certainty.
Hae-in was so shocked by his claim that her composed expression slipped.
...What?
That was possible?
A curse wasn't something that could be erased so easily.
You either deflected it, constantly prayed to appease the cursing spirit, or created a scapegoat to take the hit.
There were various other methods, but they only existed because completely destroying a curse was so incredibly difficult.
Even if you're hosting an incredibly powerful deity, this isn't something a novice can just pull off. What are you planning to do?
Hae-in stared intently at Noel.
But Noel didn't spare her a glance.
“...Is that really possible?”
Jeong-in asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
If erasing the curse had been an option, why would she have gone to such extreme lengths in the first place?
“Of course.”
At Noel's casual reply, Hae-in nudged his leg under the table.
Her eyes practically screamed, Are you serious right now?
Noel gave a light chuckle.
He only said things were possible when they actually were.
He never claimed to do the impossible.
In his previous world, making such empty boasts was a quick way to get killed.
“Since it's possible, I'm offering. Right here... actually, doing it in the cafe would cause a scene. I saw a park on our way here, so I'll get rid of it for you right there.”
Jeong-in wavered at Noel's sheer confidence.
He sounded so certain that she couldn't tell if he was telling the truth or not.
Was it real?
Or was it a scam?
She stood at a crossroads.
“You don't have to decide right this second. I'll give you some time to think it over. But don't forget how dangerous your situation is.”
Hae-in smoothly chimed in.
She offered an escape route by telling her she could think about it later, but by emphasizing the danger, she effectively reminded her that she had no other choice.
“Shall we discuss the price first? Just so you know, I only take payment upfront.”
Noel widened his eyes innocently.
Since she was going to think about it anyway, she might as well factor in the cost.
“I can't do more than twenty thousand dollars! I really can't...”
Before Noel could even name a price, Jeong-in squeezed her eyes shut and clasped her hands tightly.
Her face was contorted, looking as if she might burst into tears at any second.
Twenty thousand...?
Noel doubted his ears for a moment.
According to what Kkamang-i had gathered, a standard exorcism ritual cost at least three to five thousand dollars.
It varied depending on the type of ritual, but anything involving dark magic like curses usually started at ten thousand.
The reason it cost so much was due to the price of various ritual offerings, like fruits, and the labor costs of the people mobilized to assist.
Noel glanced at Hae-in.
She, too, had a look that said, Yeah, that's way too much.
So Kkamang-i's information was accurate.
But in his case, he didn't need to perform a grand ritual in the first place.
He didn't need any materials, and as for labor costs, he was a one-man show.
It wouldn't even take much time.
To be honest, this particular curse was only difficult because it was on the stronger side; anything else could literally be wiped away with a snap of his fingers.
Even so, his power was highly valuable. He had racked his brain trying to find a reasonable price point that wouldn't undervalue his skills, but...
“...Wait, they charged you over twenty thousand dollars for doing such a terrible job?”
Noel was utterly dumbfounded.
They had transferred the curse to an innocent bystander and essentially cursed their own client, Jeong-in, to die—yet they had the audacity to pocket over twenty thousand dollars.
And twenty thousand was likely just the baseline; they probably squeezed even more out of her.
“They really took over twenty thousand dollars...?”
“Yes...”
At Jeong-in's confirmation, Hae-in's face hardened, and Noel was left speechless once again.
Is this a case of a scammer getting out-scammed by a master swindler?
As Noel shook his head in disbelief, his eyes suddenly widened.
But wait... why is that shaman perfectly fine?
A crucial realization struck Noel.
Even for a much weaker curse than this, hadn't a god personally intervened to empty a corrupt shaman's bank account for charity?
An offense of this magnitude should have triggered a severe divine punishment.
Something was definitely off.