121.
An office inside the Hwain Group headquarters building.
“Deputy Chief Choi Jeong-sook.”
“… what?”
There, Choi Jeong-sook did not even look at a woman who came to her seat, and asked annoyedly.
It was because I was on high alert because of a recent incident.
However, despite that rude response, the other woman continued talking nonchalantly.
“This is a call from the managing director.”
At those words that followed, Choi Jeong-suk turned her head away, feeling sorry for her.
When he called himself the deputy manager, of course he thought he was a subordinate with a lower rank.
Looking back, it was Jin Yu-na and Dae-ri who came to see her.
Of course, Jeongsuk Choi is older than Yuna Jin, and has a higher rank in the company than Yuna Jin.
But even so, there was not a single employee in this company who could easily deal with Jin Yuna.
Everyone knew that she was the personal secretary of Lee Hyun-ah, the general manager of the gallery.
So, Choi Jeong-suk’s voice that followed was very soft, unlike a moment ago.
“You said the manager called me?”
“Yes, come with me.”
Yuna Jin spoke in a tone that showed no emotion.
Choi Jeong-suk nodded and immediately stood up.
what happened all of a sudden
Choi Jeong-sook had worked at the gallery for a long time, but she had never had a private meeting with the managing director.
It was because she wasn’t a very good exorcist.
The position of deputy director is only recognized for his long service experience.
People around him even whispered that his ability was not suitable for being a conductor.
However, Choi Jeong-suk was always dissatisfied with that.
what am i lacking
So she became more obsessed with her rank and struggled to get promoted.
Is it because of that?
the way to the office.
She felt uneasy at first.
So Choi Jeong-suk cautiously asked Jin Yuna.
“But what did the Executive Director do to me… ”
“You will know when you go.”
But the answer that came back was concise.
In response, Jeongsuk Choi looked at Yuna Jin’s mood.
However, I couldn’t guess what that robot-like secretary was thinking just by looking at his tone or expression.
“… … ”
So Jeongsuk Choi clicked her tongue inwardly.
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Jin Yuna’s arrogant attitude made me dissatisfied with it.
But she held back her displeasure and moved on in silence.
In front of the executive office that came like that.
“Executive Director, I am Choi Jeong-sook, the deputy manager.”
“… Come on in.”
The brown door that had only seemed large opened slowly, and Choi Jeong-suk entered it as if possessed.
Yuna Jin, who came with her, also entered the office and stood at the door like a security guard.
At the large desk inside the executive office was the owner of the room, Lee Hyun-ah.
“Welcome, Choi Jeong-sook.”
Lee Hyun-ah smiled softly and greeted her.
Hearing that voice, Choi Jeong-suk lowered his head in a gasp.
“Ah, hello, Mr. Manager.”
“is it so. Were you surprised by the sudden call?”
Lee Hyun-ah, who was younger than her, treated her naturally, but Choi Jeong-suk was not in a bad mood.
Lee Hyun-ah is the granddaughter of the chairman of the Hwain Group and the de facto owner of the foreign institution’s gallery.
That overwhelming gap was enough to suppress Choi Jeong-sook’s inferiority complex about her abilities.
“no. It’s an honor to meet you, Mr.
So Choi Jeong-suk continued talking without raising his head.
It was as if a commoner met the king in the Joseon Dynasty.
However, Lee Hyun-ah only nodded once.
“Today, I called because I wanted to confirm the experience of Deputy Director Choi Jeong-sook.”
“My experience… What?”
“Have you been working for our company for quite some time?”
“yes. It’s been about 10 years.”
Until then, Choi Jeong-sook was at the LB Academy, a regular institution.
There, he accumulated experience, exorcism knowledge, and years of experience, and moved to Hwarang.
“Bring that.”
At Lee Hyun-ah’s words, Jin Yuna brought a small box and handed it to Choi Jeong-suk.
When Choi Jeong-suk opened it, there was a black bracelet inside.
“This… ”
“It’s amazing.”
“Are you excited?”
“I want you to wear it today and take care of one business.”
Choi Jeong-sook opened her eyes wide.
It is often the case that the company provides a sacred weapon, but I have never heard of a case where Lee Hyun-ah directly gave it to him.
Doing business while wearing this.
Choi Jeong-sook, who rolled her head in a short time, soon grasped the intention.
“This… Is it a test?”
“test? that’s right. It’s a test.”
Lee Hyun-ah answered like that without hiding anything.
I knew it.
With that answer, a brighter possibility immediately came to Choi Jeong-suk’s head.
“For promotion… ?”
At this, Lee Hyun-ah just smiled softly.
However, to Choi Jeong-suk, it only seemed to have a positive meaning.
Otherwise, there is no reason for the managing director to call a deputy manager one-on-one and even hand over the shoes.
“Then just go. Jinyu or assistant manager will guide you.”
At Lee Hyun-ah’s order to celebrate, Choi Jeong-suk bowed her head deeply once again and left the executive office.
Have you ever been recognized for your worth?
She thought as she looked at the bracelet on her right hand.
I didn’t know the efficacy of this sacred item yet, but it was an item with an absurdly luxurious luster.
The initials engraved on the bracelet are T.
I don’t know what that means, but it must have great features.
“at las… ”
When she came to her senses, she was already in the vehicle Jin Yuna was driving.
But even then, Jeongsuk Choi was still trembling with excitement.
Even she, who has worked for a long time, has never heard of this kind of test.
What kind of position did he go this far to entrust himself with?
Are you trying to give up an entire exorcism department?
Then you could have at least a director title.
But now it’s so out of the blue.
I hate to admit it, but in the past 10 years, I haven’t had any significant results.
If not, what is it?
foreign branch?
“ah… !”
Choi Jung-suk, who had thought that far, hit her knee.
And Bonnie recently heard that Hwarang is actively investing after being certified as an exorcism organization in India, South America, and Eastern Europe.
Besides, didn’t Lee Hyun-ah say she wanted to confirm her experience?
Then there is nothing to think about.
He must have been thinking of sending himself as the head of a foreign branch.
At that conclusion, Choi Jeong-suk unknowingly raised the corners of her mouth.
I think Eastern Europe would be better.
Then, she suddenly looked out the car window and realized that the car was leaving Seoul.
“however… Where are you going?”
Short words flowed out of Choi Jeong-suk’s mouth as if it were natural.
The executive director’s secretary, who had looked so great earlier, seemed insignificant before he knew it.
“It will take a few hours.”
“Where is your destination?”
“I cannot tell you.”
Choi Jung-sook clicked her tongue in response to the firm answer.
I know it’s a test, but isn’t the destination okay?
Isn’t that kind of flexible?
“… … ”
The car continued to run while she built up that dissatisfaction inside.
How long did you run on the road covered in darkness like that?
“… what.”
Suddenly, Choi Jeong-suk got the impression that the surrounding scenery was somehow familiar.
And soon, I barely remembered where this place was.
This was her hometown.
It’s just a rural village with nothing to offer.
As a child and even now, she hated this place so much.
The building of the high school she once attended passes by the car window.
In response, Jeongsuk Choi asked Yuna Jin in a sharp voice.
“Where are you going?”
“We are almost there.”
“Then where are you going!”
“Wait a little.”
Choi Jung-suk repeated the same question several times, but Jin Yuna’s answer was consistent.
By the time Choi Jeong-suk finally can’t hold back his anger.
The vehicle they rode approached near a reservoir.
Then, Choi Jeong-suk’s momentum subsided in an instant.
“… … ”
Choi Jeong-suk, who suddenly became quiet, looked at the road with an uneasy gaze.
In a dark night, even with the bright lights of the car, you can’t see very far ahead.
The sparsely installed streetlights flicker and shake as if they will turn off at any moment.
In that state, in front of my eyes, I could see the sharp curve section of the reservoir.
“Go a little slower.”
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Jeongsook Choi said.
The vehicle then slowed down significantly.
That moment.
“It is on the left.”
The navigation, who hadn’t said anything until now, said so.
At this, Choi Jeong-sook’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
“Don’t listen to me!”
Choi Jeong-suk shouted.
Although the vehicle was barely moving, Jeongsuk Choi continued to shout as if having a seizure.
And the words of the navigation continued.
“It is on the left.”
Still, the navigation only repeated the same words.
But the moment the third voice is repeated.
“left-“
bang! The voice of the navigation was cut off by the noise.
Yuna Jin, who was driving, hit the navigation with her hand.
“The navigation seems to be broken.”
“… … ”
And Yuna Jin said casually.
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Jeongsuk Choi looked at the navigation system, which had been distorted from above and completely blacked out, with a bewildered gaze.
“It arrived than that. Get off.”
Choi Jung-suk frowned at Jin Yuna’s words.
“here?”
“yes.”
“It’s in the middle of a road with nothing on it.”
“This is the right place. Come on, get off.”
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Jin Yuna glared at Choi Jeong-suk with a hard gaze.
Seeing that gaze that seemed to urge her on, Choi Jeong-sook slowly got out of the car with a reluctant attitude.
OK,
“Ah, now you are here.”
Someone walked by the side of the road.
that… They were the first two cops I had ever seen.
* * *
“Choi Jeong-sook, are you sure?”
I said looking at the woman who got out of the car with Yuna Jin.
A curly-looking woman in her late 40s.
The level above his head was also in his 40s.
Then she reacted sharply, just like that first impression.
“What are you?”
“This is Inspector Kang Jin-woo from the special edition. And this is Naha-cho’s police officer.”
At those words, Choi Jeong-suk passed me and glanced at Na Ha-jeong, who was standing behind me.
Is it because of the word righteous?
It didn’t look very good.
“so?”
“You know this reservoir well, right? He lived in that town until he was in high school.”
“what… ?”
Choi Jung-sook’s expression stiffened, probably sensing that the atmosphere was strange in response to my question.
She turned her head away from me and looked at Yuna Jin.
“What are we going to do with this?”
“There was an instruction from the executive director to answer questions honestly.”
Choi Jeong-sook bit her lip at Jin Yuna’s words.
But that’s for a while.
Choi Jeong-suk frowned, and slowly opened her mouth.
“… yes, that’s right I lived here.”
“Then do you know the name Lee Seong-hwa?”
“I don’t know.”
Without hesitating for a second, she denied my question.
I nodded.
“okay. Do you know Kim Hee-eun?”
At that, Choi Jung-sook responded by wriggling her eyebrows.
I spoke.
“Actually, Seonghwa Lee’s body was recently found in this reservoir. And Kim Hee-eun confessed that she and some of her friends killed her.”
“… … ”
“By the way, among my friends in that neighborhood, there was Choi Jeong-sook’s name.”
“It’s something I don’t know.”
As expected, Choi Jeong-suk denied the charges.
So I spoke.
“Then how did you open your eyes to the devil? Officially submitted documents say that he was involved in his uncle’s accidental death, but upon investigation, it turns out that the uncle passed away from heart failure due to a chronic disease-”
“stop!”
Choi Jeong-suk shouted.
As if she didn’t want to hear it anymore, she turned away from me and approached Yuna Jin.
“Did you bring me here for this?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you just believe me and bring me here to treat me like a murderer! Is this all you mean? Are you telling me to drive away such an innocent person without any evidence?”
Choi Jeong-suk said that as if he was sincerely sorry.
In response, Yuna Jin shook her head without changing her expression.
“no. The executive director trusted Choi Jeong-sook until the end.”
“But why-”
“That’s why you gave me that bracelet.”
“bracelet… ?”
Choi Jeong-suk looked at the bracelet she wore on her right arm.
Although it was black, the bracelet itself emitted a subtle purple color.
Rare-class god.
And the name displayed in the item window…
“It’s Tisiphone’s shackles, a sacred weapon containing Tisiphone’s traditions.”
Tisiphone is one of the three goddesses of vengeance in Greek mythology.
Among them, Tisiphone is responsible for the holy vengeance of the murderer.
Tisiphone, whose name means a woman who avenges murder, is known to oversee and execute revenge for all murders.
“That’s why the bracelet is a precious instrument that grants powerful power when used by the victim’s survivors when dealing with spirits and monsters that have killed people. but… ”
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Jin Yuna’s explanation continued in silence.
In the meantime, Choi Jeong-sook put her hand on the bracelet.
Then I tried desperately to remove the bracelet, but it wouldn’t budge.
“If you do the opposite, you will see the opposite effect. For example, if a murderer were to deal with the resentment or anima of the human he had killed, all abilities would be taken away from the wearer.”
“What, why don’t you fall for this!”
“So, Vice-Chief Choi, please… Please repay the trust of the Executive Director.”
“what… ?”
It was at that moment when Choi Jeong-suk asked with a dumbfounded expression.
Yuna Jin rushed at Jeongsuk Choi.
As if she had learned self-defense, she skillfully lifted Choi Jeong-suk and threw it straight into the reservoir.
“What are you doing?”
Choi Jeong-suk, unable to respond in any way, just screamed and fell to the black water surface.
And at the bottom of the reservoir Choi Jeong-sook looked at with astonishment,
“… … ”
There was one Jibak-ryeong who was smiling silently and smiling.
Choi Jeong-suk fell into the reservoir with a loud splash.
However, if you think about it calmly, there was really nothing dangerous.
The earthly spirit’s level was at most around 20.
In comparison, Choi Jeong-suk, an exorcist, is over 40 years old.
Even if you are a water ghost with an earthly spirit, you cannot easily overcome the level difference that is more than twice as high.
So if Choi Jeong-suk is really an innocent exorcist.
He was supposed to exorcise the Jibak Spirit without incident and walk out on his own.
of course…
“It can’t be.”
I muttered like that.
As he said, Choi Jeong-suk, who was dragged into the water by Ji Park-ryeong, never returned.
It’s been such a long time.
“… … ”
The only thing that reappeared on the surface was the earthly spirit from earlier.
Now, Choi Jeong-suk is nowhere to be found, not even the level indicator that used to indicate her existence.
Only a huge amount of blood spilled out from somewhere, suggesting that the revenge was already over.
Is that why?
“… … ”
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Ji Park-ryeong, who came out of the water, her domain, stood on the surface and stared at me.
In her hand was Tisiphone’s shackles.
Did you bring something valuable to you on purpose?
“I will bring that.”
I bit Jin Yuna, who tried to move, and jumped down the reservoir.
Then, I approached Ji Park-ryeong and took over the bracelet he gave me.
I threw it at Yuna Jin, and then took out the sword.
If Jibakryeong remained like this, the resentment he possessed would only change.
In the end, it won’t be long before it becomes a real evil spirit whose existence itself is harmful.
And do you know such a future?
“… … ”
Even after seeing my sword, Jibak-ryeong didn’t move.
He seems to be saying that now that his revenge is over, it’s time for him to disappear too.
And as you hoped,
chain fluid!
With a clear sound, my sword cut through the spiritual body.
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Ji Park-ryeong did not move until the moment the sword touched her and entrusted herself to the sword.
A bizarrely distorted figure is scattered like dust.
“… It’s over.”
I nodded my head at Na Ha-jung’s words.
So, finally, a calm silence came to the reservoir covered with darkness.