Even in Death, I'll See This Through (3)
"This scene is remarkably similar to the film I watched yesterday."
Asin snorted.
"Ah-shin, is that how you deliver your prophecies?" Tam-rang asked.
Asin glanced at him sideways.
"It is merely a coincidence."
Merely a coincidence?
Noel was skeptical.
Perhaps she possessed a prophetic ability she herself was unaware of.
"Were you also watching that film? Was it not quite entertaining?" Asin's eyes crinkled slightly as she looked at Tam-rang.
"...Well, it was not bad. The world has truly become a kaleidoscope. So many strange things have come into existence."
"I shall introduce you to more when we return home. The companion with whom I used to watch has departed for a better place, and I have been feeling rather lonely."
Asin briefly thought of Yeong-hyeon.
He was said to be doing well.
What a relief that was.
"Ah-shin! You said I couldn't! Why does Tam-rang get to?"
Kkamangi flicked its tail up and down, thumping it against the ground in clear discontent.
"Kkamangi is not yet ready. You are too young. Instead, let us watch something else together. I have selected something special just for you."
"Really? Really?"
"Of course."
Its mood instantly brightening, Kkamangi let itself be scooped up by Asin, who cooed and stroked its fur. A soft purring sound echoed.
"By the way, Father." Noel called out to Han-gyeol.
"Yes, brother?" Han-gyeol crossed himself before replying.
"Why are you leaving all this useless junk lying around?" Noel pointed at the pile of garbage masquerading as exorcism tools scattered in front of the house.
"It was the best measure I could take to prevent the evil spirit from escaping."
"You certainly put a lot of effort into it, but it's completely useless. Hanging your own crucifix would have been much more effective."
Those items held no power whatsoever, whereas Han-gyeol's crucifix possessed a faint trace of divine energy.
This was not their fault.
The divine power was anchored to the Holy Cathedral itself, meaning the further one traveled from it, the faster that power dissipated.
Perhaps there was simply no one who could see it, or they were entirely unaware of this limitation.
"Please wait a moment."
Noel placed his hand on the door.
Just as black smoke began to rise, a scream echoed from inside.
"Aaaaargh!"
Noel almost burst out laughing.
My, aren't they sensitive?
He wondered what on earth was going on inside to elicit such a reaction.
Regardless of the screaming, Noel paid it no mind and shaped the black smoke into characters, completing the barrier.
The evil spirit would not be able to escape.
It was a very simple, concise barrier.
"It's done."
Han-gyeol looked back and forth between the door and Noel. He had no idea what Noel had just done. He had merely touched the door.
"Is it finished?" Han-gyeol asked, half-skeptical.
"Of course. We're temporary partners right now, aren't we? Trust me."
"I can... feel some kind of power."
Dong-ha placed his hand on the door. It felt like a tickling sensation on his palm. He didn't feel even a shred of danger from it.
"A barrier has indeed been established. Though I still cannot decipher these characters, it seems harmless to anyone who is not an evil spirit."
Once Asin confirmed it, Dong-ha whispered his thanks.
"Father. I'll go in first. Come inside once I knock on the door."
At Noel's casual remark, Han-gyeol grabbed his arm.
"Brother. Would you please wait a moment?"
"Yes?"
"What lies inside is extremely dangerous. Despite all the precautions I took, it managed to escape and seemingly killed Father Dong-ha. We must go in together. This is absolutely not something you can handle alone."
...There is no evil spirit I cannot handle, though.
Noel looked at Han-gyeol's unnecessarily solemn expression, waiting for the right moment to speak.
"Or perhaps... can you hear its voice? Is it whispering for you to come alone?"
Han-gyeol acted as if he was ready to take drastic measures.
"Father, I thought you said you couldn't hear the whispers of ghosts. Can you hear evil spirits?"
"I can. I do not hear its voice right now, but once we step inside, it will undoubtedly attempt to tempt us. Since you are far more sensitive than I am, I assumed the voice of Satan would sound painfully clear to you."
"I always hear the voices of evil spirits when I encounter them. But they've never sounded like... temptation. If that's the case, shouldn't you be the one who needs to be more careful, Father?"
Noel turned the warning back on Han-gyeol.
Evil spirits always spouted utter nonsense anyway. If those words sounded like temptation or if one fell for them, the likelihood of falling into the spirit's clutches was high. In other words, possession or bewitchment.
The moment one was bewitched, they would become the spirit's next target, and their end could mirror Dong-ha's.
Perhaps Dong-ha had already shown signs of being tormented by the evil spirit multiple times. Back then, it would have been wiser for him to simply remain at the cathedral to stay out of the spirit's sight.
"Father Dong-ha." Noel called out to Dong-ha just in case.
"Yes?"
"You had nightmares, didn't you? And strange things happened in your room as well?"
"Indeed. I also felt as though someone was constantly following me."
At Dong-ha's reply, Noel looked back at Han-gyeol.
"Father Han-gyeol. Have you ever had nightmares during your exorcisms? How often have strange things happened to you?"
"Not as often as you might think."
"That's a relief."
Putting faith aside, it meant that Han-gyeol at least had a higher resistance to the attacks of evil spirits than Dong-ha did.
Just as Han-gyeol's expression began to soften, Noel spoke firmly.
"Still, wait until I knock on the door before you enter. It's dangerous."
"Brother!" Han-gyeol's voice rose slightly.
"I have two gods on my side. You only have one god, right? So I have the advantage."
"Brother, this is no time for such jokes."
"Father, I'm not joking either. Father Dong-ha is dead. Beyond the sheer danger, I don't think we're dealing with just one evil spirit."
Han-gyeol's eyes widened slightly at those words.
"...That certainly makes sense. I was chasing a single entity, yet I ended up crushed to death by a signboard."
Dong-ha seriously retraced the circumstances of his death. Though his memories weren't perfectly clear, as Noel had suggested, it was a situation that a single spirit could hardly have orchestrated alone.
"I'm asking you to watch my back. I'm the one who's relatively safer right now, aren't I? Like I said, I have two gods right here."
Noel smiled reassuringly.
Han-gyeol stared at him, hesitated, and then began to pray.
"May the Lord keep you from all evil and preserve your life. Whatever you do, whatever you see, whatever you encounter, may He watch over you."
A warm sensation washed over Noel, but that was the extent of it. This prayer alone could not banish an evil spirit. Even so, he was grateful that someone was praying for him.
In return, Noel clasped Dong-ha's hands with both of his.
"Thank you."
As Noel offered his thanks, black smoke coiled around Dong-ha's spiritual body. It would protect him at least once.
"I'm going in. Come when I knock." Noel emphasized once more as he opened the door.
As a heavy wave of corruption rushed out, Noel blocked Kkamangi, who was trying to follow him inside.
"Why?"
"Kkamangi, I'm going to entrust you with the most important task."
"What is it?" Kkamangi's interest was instantly piqued.
"Make sure no evil spirits escape from here. This is extremely important, okay?"
"Uh-huh! I can do it!"
Noel patted Kkamangi on the head and shut the door behind him.
Whew.
White condensation escaped his lips. It felt as though the space ahead was filled with a thick, murky fog.
"How foul. As you said, there is more than one."
Asin drew her sword. The fog instantly parted before her, revealing the shoe rack in the entryway.
"Three of them."
Noel accurately perceived the number of evil spirits. No wonder the corruption was so damn thick.
The three of them must have had a grand old time running amok.
By killing Dong-ha, they had committed the ultimate sin an evil spirit could perpetrate. How much stronger must they have become because of it?
Let's spend exactly fifty thousand won.
Noel rummaged through his pockets and pulled out some cash. It was best to burn away this corruption as quickly as possible.
"What would you have me do?" Tam-rang asked. After all, he was the one who had been treated as an entity far more dreadful than any mere evil spirit.
"Seize the evil spirits. Surely you are capable of that much?"
Tam-rang snorted at Asin's remark.
"Of course I can. How could such trivial impurities ever affect me?"
He was a Calamity Deity. An entity of pure pestilence who could spread all manner of diseases with a single breath. Tam-rang sauntered forward with slow, deliberate steps.
Hehehe.
Laughter echoed from the shadows ahead. What incredibly arrogant spirits.
Tam-rang's steps were slow, but each one carried an immense weight. In an instant, he reached out and snatched something as if seizing prey. A slender neck was caught in his grasp.
Tam-rang's hair whipped in all directions as thick, dark spores scattered, completely dispelling the fog. An evil spirit hung suspended in Tam-rang's grip, its face twisted in sheer horror.
"Do you fail to recognize a god simply because you managed to slay a single human? A mere mortal?"
Tam-rang's whispered words pierced the spirit's ears, and his mocking downward gaze froze the entity to its very core. Deep terror welled in the spirit's eyes. It couldn't even squeeze out a plea for mercy.
"I am the very entity you wretches worship as a malevolent god. Do you recognize me now?"
As Tam-rang's grin widened, the whites of his eyes were slowly consumed by a pitch-black darkness. A simple squeeze of his hand would easily erase such a trivial thing from existence.
"Tam-rang."
At the sound of Noel's voice cutting through, Tam-rang slightly loosened his grip. Looking up, he saw purple flames swirling nearby. The whites of Tam-rang's eyes returned to normal.
He turned his head to find Noel standing there. A purple flame, blooming like a flower, danced upon Noel's palm. It was a truly beautiful sight.
Noel pointed upward with his splinted hand.
"Don't you see that spider-like thing up there?"
"...Ha."
Tam-rang was utterly dumbfounded. Yet, still clutching the first evil spirit, he leaped and stood upside down on the ceiling.
...Whoa, you look more like an evil spirit than they do.
With his long, jet-black hair hanging down, Tam-rang truly looked like the epitome of a malevolent entity. Noel pressed his lips together.
Suspended from the ceiling, Tam-rang looked down at the second evil spirit staring up at him.
"Do you have something to say?"
"I..."
Tam-rang kicked the spirit without hesitation. As it fell, he stomped down hard on its waist.
"I asked if you had something to say, not for you to actually speak."
Tam-rang snorted.
Clap, clap.
Noel clapped his hands.
"Good job, Tam-rang. Keep holding onto them just like that."
Noel turned to knock on the door, only to spot Dong-ha standing behind Asin.
"Did you see that, Father?"
"......Yes."
Dong-ha's jaw remained slack. It was utterly overwhelming. Even as a spectator, terror washed over him, making his teeth chatter. Those vicious evil spirits had been captured with such ridiculous ease.
Knock, knock.
Noel knocked on the door and immediately headed toward the location of the final evil spirit.
Click.
The door wouldn't open.
Nobody mentioned it was locked.
"Step aside. An evil spirit is holding it shut."
Asin slammed the hilt of her sword directly into the door.
Thud!
The door burst open with a shockwave, revealing a woman with her hands and feet bound inside the room, and an evil spirit that had been knocked backward. The evil spirit sneered at them and immediately slipped into the woman's body.
"The priest is dead, yet more strange pests have crawled in?"
The evil spirit spoke through the woman's mouth. Though it wore a grin, it was far from a pleasant expression. It looked incredibly grotesque.
"Pfft, hahaha!"
Noel wasn't flustered in the slightest, even as the evil spirit mocked him.
"In such a state, one merely needs to pierce the possessing spirit. If you stab them mercilessly, they are bound to come out. I excel at cutting, so you may leave this to me."
Noel chuckled at Asin's suggestion.
"I know. That method is incredibly simple and easy."
"Do you not care what happens to this woman?!"
When the evil spirit shrieked, Noel gave it a frigid stare.
"If you're so worried, why don't you just come out? Cut the crap. You have no intention of leaving, so stop pretending to care."
"Ha! Hahaha! Has the cathedral finally lost its mind?"
The evil spirit laughed as if finding this highly amusing. It continued to babble, but Noel was waiting for someone. Hearing footsteps, he stepped out of the room.
"Ah, you're here?"
Seeing Han-gyeol, who would serve as his witness, Noel offered a bright, welcoming smile.
"Somehow... the air around here feels lighter."
Han-gyeol looked around the hallway. His breath no longer condensed in the air.
"We've caught two of the evil spirits. Only one left."
"You've caught them already?"
"Well, I always make sure to get the job done right."
Listening to Noel, Han-gyeol set down the bag he had brought with him.
"Pfft-hahaha! 'Get the job done right'! Ahahaha!"
A bizarre voice echoed from inside the room. The evil spirit had indeed hidden inside the woman's body. That was a troublesome development.
"Father. Pause for a second and just watch what I do, okay?"
Noel stopped Han-gyeol, who was about to rush in.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I know a way to expel a possessing spirit. It's not even that difficult."
"...What?"
Without answering, Noel stepped back into the room.
"What are you planning to do this time? Splash some water on me?"
Ignoring the spirit's taunts, Noel scanned the room and grabbed several nearby objects. He infused them one by one with his purple flame.
"...What is that?"
The evil spirit reacted instantly. The moment Noel drew close, the spirit shrieked.
"Aaaaargh!"
Paying no heed to the screams, Noel placed the infused items right next to the possessed woman.
"Scream louder. Is that the best you can do?"
"This woman... Argh! Do you want this woman to die?!"
"Your limbs are about to melt away, so I have no idea what you think you can accomplish. Keep screaming. It might be your last."
Noel placed down yet another object imbued with his purple flame. Since they had tormented others, it was only fair that the evil spirit suffered in kind. For a spirit drenched in corruption, the process of purification was bound to be excruciating. They had killed Dong-ha; did they really expect to get off scot-free?
As more and more items carrying the purple flame surrounded it, the evil spirit began to howl in agony, spewing profanity.
"Fuck! You crazy bastard! Are you really trying to kill this woman?!"
"Hurts, doesn't it? Honestly, I'd love to torment you a bit longer, but I should stop here. The lady's wrists must be hurting."
Noel wrapped black smoke around his hand. Without a moment's hesitation, he thrust his hand straight toward the woman's throat.
"Brother...!"
Han-gyeol lunged forward in shock. He tried to stop Noel and looked at the woman, but there was no blood.
...Huh?
Han-gyeol's eyes trembled. He had clearly seen Noel stab her.
Noel brushed Han-gyeol aside and pulled back his hand. The evil spirit was dragged right out of the woman's body.
"Just what on earth are you..."
"Stab it!"
At Noel's command, Asin pierced the evil spirit's neck and pinned it all the way against the far wall.
"...Cough!"
"Did you find enjoyment in tormenting a pitiful child all this time?"
Faced with Asin's quiet fury, the evil spirit trembled violently. An overwhelming urge to fall to its knees dominated its mind.
"...T-This is impossible."
"What do you mean, impossible?"
Noel forged a sword out of black smoke. He gave Asin a nod, and she withdrew her blade from the wall. Thinking it saw an opportunity, the evil spirit bolted. It lunged toward Han-gyeol, but was instead repelled backward by an unknown force. As the spirit brushed past Han-gyeol in its panic, the priest's eyes widened.
"It's escaping!"
"I will not let you escape!"
Dong-ha immediately gave chase, hot on the evil spirit's heels. This creature had ruthlessly tormented an innocent woman.
"Let me go! Let go of me!"
The evil spirit thrashed wildly, but Dong-ha refused to let go.
"Father. You can let go."
"I cannot! This Satan has dragged a human being's life into ruin! I must deal with it! Though I am dead, I must still take it down with me!"
That was the duty of an exorcist.
"You don't have to do that. It can't escape anyway."
Noel dashed forward, sword in hand.
"Let go!"
At Noel's command, Dong-ha reflexively released his grip, and Noel's sword sliced clean through the evil spirit's head.
Slash.
Dong-ha's eyes widened. He had severed the soul itself.
Gurgle...
With a wet, bubbling sound, both the head and body of the evil spirit dissolved into scattering ash. Though he didn't understand the exact mechanics of what he was witnessing, one thing was absolutely clear. The soul was being completely obliterated.
"Good thing you let go, right? Otherwise, you would've been sliced in half along with it."
Noel offered a warm smile to Dong-ha.