Exorcism (3)
I'm sorry...!
Seol-hwa and San found the whole thing rather strange. The moment the vengeful spirit saw them, it immediately started apologizing, leaving them both wondering what on earth was going on.
"Hey, is this thing really a vengeful spirit?"
"Can't you tell just by looking?"
"I mean, why does it seem so lucid?"
"Beats me."
San looked equally baffled. Seol-hwa furrowed her brow for a moment before addressing the spirit that was still desperately begging for mercy.
"Do you even know what you did wrong?"
"I... I intruded on a place where living people reside...?"
"That's it?"
When the spirit merely swallowed dryly and refused to tell the truth, Seol-hwa let out a dry laugh and held up her phone.
"This post is yours, right?"
"Huh...!"
"Why were you groping a sleeping girl's legs like that?"
"I-I'm sorry!"
The spirit apologized exactly as Seol-hwa scolded it. Something about the situation felt incredibly off and alien. Given the unusually powerful aura it carried, its resentment clearly ran deep. Yet its behavior was far removed from that of a typical vengeful spirit.
Most spirits consumed by resentment lost their sanity. Even if their opponent was a powerful yokai, they would usually charge in without thinking if they saw them as an obstacle. But this one was different. It still possessed its reason. A vengeful spirit that could acknowledge its own wrongdoing? It was a truly bizarre sight.
"You."
"Yes?"
"Why did you become a vengeful spirit?"
San, overflowing with curiosity, asked directly.
"How is it that you became a vengeful spirit but still kept your sanity? What kind of resentment are you carrying, anyway? And trying to touch a girl's legs like that... did you never even hold hands with a girl while you were alive?"
"Um... well..."
The spirit scratched its head awkwardly before answering in a flat tone.
"Actually... before that, there's something I'm curious about. Can I ask one question first?"
"What are you curious about?"
"Am I... a vengeful spirit?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Ah, no. I don't mean anything weird by it. You've both been calling me a vengeful spirit this whole time, so..."
Both San and Seol-hwa stared at it with shocked expressions. San spoke with clear disbelief in her eyes.
"You... you didn't even know you were a vengeful spirit?"
Even strange spiritual entities usually recognized what they were. Just like how people generally understood what kind of person they were. But this one didn't even realize it had become a vengeful spirit. As they were thinking how incredibly odd that was, the spirit continued.
"Yes...? Um, yes. Isn't the Ghost Gallery not for vengeful spirits? After seeing that post, I thought... I can post on the gallery too, so I had no idea."
What the spirit said was common knowledge among most users. However, it was also one of the pieces of information many gallery users had gotten wrong. Seol-hwa, who had been there since the gallery's early days, shook her head at the spirit's words.
"No, that doesn't matter. The Ghost Gallery's principle is to welcome any kind of supernatural being."
"But I've never seen a vengeful spirit on the gallery before?"
"The reason it's treated like common sense is because vengeful spirits usually don't have any sanity left. How could spirits consumed by resentment to the point of losing their minds have the presence of mind to use the gallery?"
"Ah..."
It wasn't that vengeful spirits were barred from accessing the gallery. After all, even man-eating yokai could log in. There was no reason to block evil souls. The truth was simply that most vengeful spirits weren't mentally sound enough to use it.
"Just what kind of resentment does it carry that it doesn't even know it's become a vengeful spirit?"
"I've never even heard of a case like this before..."
San said, "Should we ask Se-hwan about this?"
"Would he even know?"
"He's an exorcist, so he'd probably know more about this stuff than we do."
"You think so?"
"Before that, let's make one thing clear."
San released her full spiritual energy. It was the kind of aura that could be fatal to a vengeful spirit with even the slightest contact. The spirit immediately shrank back, trembling violently. Thanks to that, Seol-hwa, who was standing nearby, had no choice but to quietly step back as well.
"C-could you tone it down a bit? I feel like I'm going to disappear too."
"Oh my, would you like to disappear?"
"...What?"
"Just kidding~."
After teasing Seol-hwa for a moment, San gave a light laugh and turned back to the spirit. The moment she took a single step forward, the trembling spirit shouted in panic.
"H-hik! I-I'm sorry!! I won't do it again!"
"I'll only hurt you if you don't answer my questions."
"R-really...?"
"Of course. Even if we accept that you didn't know you were a vengeful spirit, you must know what lingering attachment kept you in this world, right? That's why you reached out to touch a human like that."
Spirits without a purpose didn't usually interfere with humans. The fact that it had touched Se-a meant it had done so with clear intent.
"What kind of attachment makes you grope a sleeping girl's calf?"
"T-that is..."
"Yes, go on."
The spirit glanced around nervously for a moment before slowly opening its mouth.
"In my life... I... I've never dated a girl before..."
"...Huh?"
"Hmmm?"
Both Seol-hwa and San narrowed their eyes. At first, they thought it was joking even in this situation. But after seeing how genuinely embarrassed the spirit looked, they realized it was telling the truth.
"...That's your lingering attachment?"
"Ugh..."
However, Seol-hwa, who got embarrassed just thinking about dating someone, couldn't fully understand the spirit's feelings. San gently cautioned her after Seol-hwa's somewhat indifferent remark.
"Don't provoke it unnecessarily. It's still a vengeful spirit, so there's no need to poke at it while it's being docile."
"Huh? Was I provoking it? Sorry..."
After hearing about the spirit's attachment, San withdrew her spiritual energy.
"Now that we know what its lingering attachment is, let's go to Se-hwan and..."
"Yeah, let's ask him and figure out what's going on."
"You understood right away for once?"
"You've been treating me like an idiot lately..."
A thousand-year-old yokai and the owner of the highest mountain on the Korean peninsula, a sacred spiritual beast. It was a combination that should have made it nearly impossible for any vengeful spirit to pose a threat.
"...But I'm really glad."
"Huh?"
However, vengeful spirits had one very peculiar characteristic. Depending on the nature of their resentment, they could exert an overwhelmingly powerful force against targets who possessed the means to resolve their grudges.
"With you two, it should be more than enough..."
"What did you just say? I didn't quite catch that. Could you speak up a little...?"
This was the manifestation of a spirit's will, born solely from the desire to resolve its own lingering attachment, settle the strongest regret from its life, and finally leave this world. It could be considered the most powerful force a vengeful spirit could wield, an intent that transcended reason itself.
That power was more than enough to subdue people who had let their guard down.
The spirit's aura instantly engulfed the two women.
The vengeful spirit's malevolent energy surged forth without warning, binding Baek Seol-hwa and Jang San completely. Their bodies went rigid as the dark aura overwhelmed them.
"Is everything going okay...?"
Se-a, waiting outside the door, felt puzzled as Seol-hwa and San still hadn't come out. That's when it happened.
Rumble rumble rumble──!
The locked door suddenly began shaking violently. Se-a jumped back in surprise, but the door continued to rattle as if something trapped inside was desperately trying to break free.
"W-what the...?"
However, the door that San had sealed with a talisman before entering only shook fiercely and refused to open. She didn't understand the principle, but that talisman seemed to be playing a crucial role. Then even the doorknob started rattling and turning.
Watching this, Se-a wondered if Seol-hwa and San inside were asking her to open it for them.
"Should I open it...?"
She hesitated, wondering whether she should remove the talisman and open the door. But then she remembered what San had told her right before entering the room.
"She specifically asked me not to let anyone take it off..."
Which meant she absolutely shouldn't open the door. After thinking it over, Se-a removed her hand from the talisman and left it exactly where it was. The violently shaking doorknob and door gradually fell still.
And then.
Crash───!
The sound of a window shattering rang out. Wondering what on earth was happening, Se-a quickly tore off the talisman with a startled expression and opened the door.
"...Seol-hwa?"
There was no one inside the room. All she could see was the wind blowing in through the broken window and a few scattered shards of glass. Seol-hwa and San had vanished without a trace.
"Oh no...!"
Se-a immediately thought she needed to tell Se-hwan and closed the door, pressing the elevator button. But contrary to her thoughts, she didn't need to inform him herself.
"Why is that thing outside...?"
Se-hwan, who had been waiting outside, had been watching everything in real time. He had even seen the exact moment the vengeful spirit overpowered Seol-hwa and San and took them away.
"Seriously..."
He had left the matter to them, only for them to end up captured by the spirit. Se-hwan let out a deep sigh.
"Haah... They clearly let their guard down, these two."
The pair were powerful enough to be considered Great Yokai, a mountain yokai and an extremely sacred spiritual beast. For them to be taken down by a mere vengeful spirit meant carelessness was the biggest culprit. They had most likely been caught off guard in an unprepared state.
The vengeful spirit seemed to be taking the two women somewhere. He didn't know its purpose, but he knew he couldn't just let it happen. Se-hwan quickly assessed the surrounding situation.
The sight of Seol-hwa and San captured in the spirit's grasp was invisible to ordinary people. Because spiritual interference had already taken place, they were half-departed from this world. To others, it would simply look like a dormitory window had been broken.
In this situation, if he took out a talisman and began an exorcism ritual, it would naturally look extremely suspicious. There was no telling what kind of interference might occur, so doing it here was impossible.
"...No choice then."
He had to let it go for now. Let it go, then track the vengeful spirit's trail and perform the exorcism before dawn. Se-hwan memorized the direction the spirit was heading by watching it closely. He thought about what lay in that direction and mentally mapped out a suitable location for the exorcism.
"Se-hwan!!"
He spoke to Se-a, who came running out of the dormitory in a panic.
"It's okay."
"Huh?"
"Baek Seol-hwa and Jang... I mean, Baek San. You're surprised because they disappeared, right?"
"How did you know?"
To the bewildered Se-a, Se-hwan spoke as if telling her not to worry.
"I'll bring them back."
"Huh? Where are you going?"
"That thing from your room took both of them. It seems to be a pretty powerful vengeful spirit. Since it's come to this, I have to go get them myself."
Se-hwan said this and patted Se-a's shoulder a couple of times. It was as if to say everything would be fine, that she should wait without worrying.
"Stay here."
"...You said it's a strong vengeful spirit. And you're going after it alone?"
"What else can I do?"
"Then I'm coming with you."
"What?"
Se-hwan looked at her as if she were talking nonsense. But Se-a's determination looked quite resolute and firm. It didn't seem like her stubbornness would be easily broken.
"What if you get hurt again?"
"...I won't get hurt, dummy."
"Did you know you were going to get hurt last time? How can I believe you?"
"......"
After thinking for a moment, Se-hwan let out a deep sigh. Looking slightly annoyed, as if he really didn't want to say this, he spoke.
"Anyway, even if you come, you won't be any help. It'll just mean more people I have to protect..."
Se-hwan, who had been about to speak rather harshly, closed his mouth.
"Is there really nothing I can do to help...?"
It wasn't because Se-a had muttered dejectedly. Se-hwan wasn't the type to let something like that cloud his judgment.
"Ah, no. Never mind."
"...Huh?"
"Jeong Se-a, you're coming with me, right?"
"Is that okay?"
The reason Se-hwan had changed his mind was none other than...
"Then I have one favor to ask."
"A favor?"
"There's something only you can do."
"Really? I can actually help?"
"Yeah. Only you can do it."
"Just tell me anything! I'll do whatever it takes!"
"Then..."
It was because he thought she could be helpful in catching the vengeful spirit.
"I always thought I lived a pretty unlucky life... but becoming a spirit seems to have improved my luck quite a bit."
The vengeful spirit, Seong Ji-tae, let out a low chuckle. Just looking at the two women he had captured made him smile involuntarily. It was San and Seol-hwa. They were completely wrapped in his malevolent energy, unable to move a muscle. The power even interfered with their consciousness, preventing them from properly opening their eyes.
"I figured they were strong yokai, but I guess getting caught off guard by something you've never seen before is the same for everyone."
Even Seong Ji-tae himself didn't understand why he had become a vengeful spirit while retaining his sanity. He couldn't help but wonder how others would react upon seeing such an incomprehensible version of himself. Naturally, they would be even more flustered. Seong Ji-tae was a vengeful spirit who fully utilized this unique trait of his.
Because he still had his reason, he could think and act more intelligently when deceiving others. And each time, he would present this unusual characteristic that others had never seen before. He actively took advantage of the fact that he was a different kind of being from ordinary vengeful spirits.
When people approached him thinking he was a typical vengeful spirit, his clumsy words gained more credibility... and they fell for it more easily. Even Seol-hwa and San had only tried to figure out what was going on. They never suspected that Seong Ji-tae was deceiving them.
"It's a shame they're not human, but... well, this should be satisfying enough."
The biggest difference between vengeful spirits and regular spirits was that even after resolving their lingering attachments, they didn't leave this world. While regular spirits would depart once their attachment was resolved, vengeful spirits wouldn't be satisfied even after resolving theirs and would seek out even more.
For example, even if a spirit that had become a vengeful spirit out of a desire for revenge succeeded in its revenge, the soul that had already turned into a vengeful spirit wouldn't be satisfied with that and would wander in search of completely unrelated victims. Seong Ji-tae was the same. He had already created several victims according to his desires, but he still wasn't satisfied and continued reaching out to young women.
"Even if they're not human, they're still pretty..."
This time, his target had been Jeong Se-a. The current situation was a slight deviation from Seong Ji-tae's original plan, but he was quite pleased with how things had turned out.
"Once I drain these women's spiritual energy, most things won't even be able to touch me."
As soon as dawn arrived, the most efficient time for absorbing spiritual energy, Seong Ji-tae planned to devour Seol-hwa and San's life force. He smiled viciously and said,
"Don't resent me, okay? This is all because you two stuck your noses where they didn't belong."
Once dawn came, Seong Ji-tae's power would clearly become incomparably stronger than it was now. He might even be able to rise to the position of a malevolent spirit. Imagining that, Seong Ji-tae let out another low chuckle.
"...Hmm?"
At that moment, Seong Ji-tae felt a strange sensation. He sensed a somewhat familiar spiritual presence that shouldn't have been detectable in this place. It was the exact spiritual energy of Jeong Se-a, who had been his original target this time.
"Oh ho? Did she really come all the way here alone to find these two?"
It was certainly possible. Not many people could simply ignore it if someone who had been trying to help them got captured.
"What incredible courage."
But it was also a stupid choice. After all, what could a single human possibly do? Seong Ji-tae followed her energy for a moment before suddenly sensing another presence and realizing something.
"Aha, so she's not alone. She brought a friend."
It seemed she hadn't come by herself. But since the one she brought was just another human, it was a meaningless gesture. She would have been better off bringing a yokai like the two women he had captured if she wanted any chance at all.
"Should I go have some fun and bring her back too?"
That way, he could achieve his original goal as well. Seong Ji-tae smiled faintly and started heading toward where he sensed Jeong Se-a's energy, but then he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Now that I think about it..."
Seong Ji-tae looked at Seol-hwa, who was still unconscious.
"The post that woman showed me was definitely the one I was chatting with 100.100 about, right?"
Something felt off. After he had told 100.100 that he was at Pusan National University, Seol-hwa and San had come looking for him. That would mean one of them was 100.100.
'But that can't be right. There's no way.'
In truth, Seong Ji-tae wasn't ignorant about 100.100. After two major incidents, that person had become quite famous. There was no way Seong Ji-tae, who frequently visited the Ghost Gallery, wouldn't know about him. The reason he had pretended not to know in the comments was mostly to test the waters and see if 100.100 would actually come find him.
From the series of events, it had more or less become an established fact that 100.100 was male. Yet both people who had come to find him were women. As he was thinking how strange that was, Seong Ji-tae once again examined the spiritual energy of the human accompanying Jeong Se-a.
"...!?"
And surprisingly, this time he sensed the two spiritual presences coming from a very close location. Exactly from the front. The two people were approaching the place where Seong Ji-tae was.
"What the? Why are they so fast...?"
He was slightly surprised that they had gotten this close already when suddenly—
"Formula."
A voice came from behind Seong Ji-tae. Along with a short clap.
The moment the startled Seong Ji-tae turned around.
Crackle crackle crackle crackle!!!
The lightning beast slammed into Seong Ji-tae. His entire body instantly went rigid as if paralyzed. A large weasel-like creature had already sunk its teeth into his arm. The moment Seong Ji-tae barely managed to roll his eyes to look at it, another powerful surge of electricity engulfed his body.
Crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle!!!
"Aaaaargh!!!"
The electricity generated by the lightning beast neutralized the evil energy Seong Ji-tae possessed. Naturally, the malevolent energy binding Seol-hwa and San also dissipated. The two women fell to the ground with a thud and were finally able to open their eyes.
"Ugh..."
"Oww... my head..."
They hadn't fully regained their senses yet, but Seol-hwa and San looked up with complicated expressions. Two pairs of eyes filled with a mix of pity, gratitude, and apology turned toward the 'human' who had come to rescue them.
"Feeling a bit better?"
"Yeah... I'm okay. Thanks for saving us..."
"Sorry, Se-hwan... I messed up..."
It was none other than Yoo Se-hwan. He looked down for a moment at the two women who had collapsed, completely drained of strength. Then, as if it were nothing, without any anger in his voice, he said,
"It's fine. Just don't make the same mistake next time."
Instead, as if acknowledging their hard work, he lightly patted both Seol-hwa and San on the head before stepping forward. His attitude made both women widen their eyes slightly in surprise.
"Ah..."
Seong Ji-tae, whose movements had been momentarily sealed by the lightning beast, ground his teeth.
"You... how the hell did you..."
"You sensed two human energies coming from the front, so why did I appear from behind?"
Se-hwan spoke as if he had predicted exactly what Seong Ji-tae was thinking. He held up what looked like a paper doll cut from white paper and said,
"I just used a little trick."
"...!"
The trick was none other than transferring a small part of his own soul into an empty shikigami shell that had yet to house any divine beast, illusory beast, or spiritual beast. Detaching and transferring part of a living human's soul was an extremely dangerous act that could result in the permanent loss of a portion of one's spiritual essence. But Se-hwan had taken the gamble to ensure a perfect surprise attack.
And his gamble had paid off beautifully. Seong Ji-tae had thought Se-a and Se-hwan were approaching from the front following his trail, but in reality, Se-hwan had been approaching from behind.
Se-hwan spoke with a tone of genuine interest.
"By the way, a vengeful spirit that still has its sanity is really rare. And it can even use the gallery. I'm seeing all sorts of things today."
Upon hearing those words, Seong Ji-tae realized something on his own. And the questions he had about Seol-hwa and San from earlier suddenly made sense. With that realization, he shouted,
"You... you're 100.100...!"
"You figured that out too? Looks like you've got a decent head on your shoulders."
Seong Ji-tae knew very well. He knew about the special type of human who could summon shikigami and see spiritual beings with their own eyes. The yellow piece of paper he was now pulling from his pocket revealed his identity.
"You bastard, are you an exorcist?! Damn it... how the hell is an exorcist on the Ghost Gallery?!"
Se-hwan noticed the clear emotion in Seong Ji-tae's voice and smiled lightly. It was obvious the spirit was thinking about running away right now, which made the situation rather amusing.
"Give it up."
"...What?"
"You can't run away."
Se-hwan showed Seong Ji-tae the characters written on the talisman he was holding. In the center of the talisman, written in red, was none other than the character for thunder, .
Facing Seong Ji-tae, whose expression had turned to pure horror, Se-hwan spoke in an almost mocking tone.
"When have you ever seen an exorcist let a vengeful spirit go?"