Being born a gwijae didn’t mean everyone who was a gwijae lived the same life. There were bound to be those who struggled to live a normal life, trying to ignore the fact that they were different from others. However, what was clear was that the option of being an exorcist was irresistibly attractive to a gwijae.
There was no need to hide or lie there. You didn’t have to lie about not seeing what you see, and you didn’t have to struggle to deny yourself. Paradoxically, everyone in Naryecheong had become normal. This was the biggest reason Han Juyoung, the daughter of a shaman, decided to become an exorcist.
Of course, not anyone could become an exorcist just because they wanted to. In order to become an official exorcist, one had to go through two years of training as an apprentice ‘chorani‘. A chorani had to take on all sorts of chores while undergoing arduous training to deal with potential demons. Because of this, more than half of the nobles who dreamed of becoming exorcists and entered the country could not endure this period and returned to civilian life.
Han Juyoung gritted her teeth and endured that hellish time. If she had to choose between hell here and hell there, she would choose the hell where her abilities were properly recognized by society and she could be with companions. It was a blessing beyond her wildest dreams. Han Juyoung wanted to take that chance no matter what.
On the day she passed the final exam and was officially appointed as an exorcist, Han Juyoung sat down in the Naryecheong lobby and cried out loudly. She cried so profusely that her seniors watched in amazement. Her perseverance was bitter, and the fruit of it was sweet enough to melt the tongue. It was a bonus that she could earn a stable income as a quasi-governmental official belonging to a government agency.
Han Juyoung was already in her seventh year. There was also a time when she was a mediocre exorcist who would get into accidents. As she went through troubles and rectification, she was the manager before she knew it, and was recently promoted to senior. Since she became a senior exorcist, she was fortunate enough to be selected as a direct subordinate of the department head. She, Han Juyoung, had nothing more to ask for. Chorani, mediocre exorcist, Manager exorcist, Senior exorcist, and finally Chief exorcist. There was no end to human greed, and it would be nice to have the highest rank, Chief, but… It was unsympathetic. Han Juyoung knew her own vessel well. The Chief was not a position that could be reached through effort.
“Where is Yoon Taehee now?”
Yoon Taehee was the Chief exorcist of Team 1 of the Exorcism Department. He was a similar age to Han Juyoung, who was in her mid 20s, but he was more like a ghost than a ghost, having already become a Chief since Han Juyoung was a chorani.
“I’ll check right away.”
Han Juyoung took out her hand mirror from the back pocket of her pants. The hand mirror produced by the Ceremonial Instruments Department was a calling tool that all exorcists carried, and it was made as a substitute for mobile phones due to security reasons. It was mainly used for locating or communicating for business purposes.
Han Juyoung’s face stiffened as she scrawled a mark on the mirror with familiar hand movements.
“Department Head… Today, Chief Yoon is closed.”
It’s market day. Seok Juryeon clutched her head. On the mirror held out by Han Juyoung, a text indicating that location could not be confirmed appeared.
“Then, once you’ve found out his location, leave an emergency message. Report the circumstances of the incident and mobilise him immediately as soon as he confirm it.”
“Yes.”
Han Juyoung’s hand danced quickly on the mirror. While waiting for Yoon Taehee to contact her, Seok Juryeon pressed her temples against the surging headache.
The modern Naryecheong was a system in which important tasks were divided among each department, and among them, the Exorcism Department led by Seok Juryeon was the core of Naryecheong. This was because it was a department that literally inherited the meaning of Narye (儺禮) to drive away ghosts. As it was a department that fights head-on with demons and other extraterrestrial beings, only exorcists with strong powers are gathered.
Seok Juryeon was also a figure who once dominated the field as the head of the Exorcism Department. She had now retired from the field and was in charge of the entire department, but Seok Juryeon in the past was truly a legend. Even now, her performance has been talked about over and over again. A great general bestowed by God. It was an awe-inspiring nickname that followed Seok Juryeon. Everyone had a hard time with her yet admired her. The same was true of Han Juyoung, who served her by her side.
“D- Don’t want.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“What?”
Vfbx Aegsfbc gjlrfv tfg fsfr ja Ljc Aesbecu’r revvfc kbgvr. Dfmjerf bo atf yjv rlaejalbc, rtf kjr nfgs jccbsfv. Qtfc atflg fsfr wfa, Ljc Aesbecu oilcmtfv jcv delmxis ibkfgfv tfg tfjv.
“Ktf gfqis mjwf…”
Ljc Aesbecu qbilafis tfiv bea tfg tjcv wlggbg.
[Dun wanna.]
Kkb kbgvr. Pa kjr atf jcrkfg ab atf bgvfg ulnfc ys Vfbx Aegsfbc, ktbw fnfgsbcf gfnfgfv.
Seok Juryeon, who was staring at the mirror, opened her mouth after a while, but she closed it again without a word. Han Juyoung lowered her head. It was the first time she witnessed her boss’s face when she was flustered.
Seok Juryeon, who was silent for a moment, took something out of her bag. What she took out was her personal cell phone. She calmly began to look through the phone book. When she finally found the name she wanted, she immediately pressed the call button. After the connection sound was repeated two or three times, and then a rich bass voice came out over the phone.
— Hello-
“Chief Yoon. Didn’t you see the content that was shared?”
The boss’s voice was calm and harsh. Han Juyoung looked at Seok Juryeon talking on the phone with a nervous feeling.
Han Juyoung had never had a proper conversation with Yoon Taehee. Although they were in the same department, Yoon Taehee was an unusually difficult person to see, and since Han Juyoung first entered the office, he was already a person in a high place, so she had only seen him from afar a few times on her way to and from work.
He was, apparently, a well-mannered, sensible, and kind personality, so she had heard. At the time, she really thought he really was like that. However, in Han Juyong’s first-hand experience as Seok Juryeon’s secretary…
— Are you calling about work? A boss contacting me on a holiday is absolutely ridiculous.
Yoon Taehee was a person with an outstanding knack for getting under people’s skin.
“This is not the time to joke around. Go there immediately.”
— You are very sincere in taking care of your superiors. It’s just about splitting the budget, what’s there to care too much about. When the government changes later, won’t the prime minister change as well? Just send the guys who are already present.
Seok Juryeon bit her lip and suppressed her anger for a moment.
“Yes, so. What if the support is cut off? Will you pay the exorcists’ salaries until the prime minister changes again?”
— No way. If support is cut off, I will take responsibility and curse. I’m good at cursing a bad fortune.
“Chief Yoon!”
— You’re sending a chief to a job that can be handled by two or three managers. The standards have really gone down.
“… ”
Seok Juryeon seemed to be at a loss for words. Han Juyoung, who was eavesdropping on the conversation from the side, was the same. In the end, Seok Juryeon sighed as if in understanding. She looked more tired than before.
“Taehee.”
— Yes, Department Head Seok.
Yoon Taehee answered politely. Seok Juryeon rubbed her forehead and spat out words.
“Tell me what you want.”
She heard Yoon Taehee laughing over the phone.
— Anything?
“Sure.”
— Then would you give me a vacation?
“For how long.”
— Two months.
“…”
Seok Juryeon calmly opened her mouth.
“Taehee.”
— Yes, Department Head Seok.
“Say something that makes sense. You know the Exorcism Department is short-staffed.”
— So what about it? It’s just one less person.
“Are you being like this on purpose? It’s not just one person. To fill one Chief, I have to bring in 20 Seniors. Don’t talk nonsense.”
— Then you’ll just have to send twenty senior exorcists in this case instead of me. I have to go enjoy my golden holiday, so I’m going to hang up.
“Hey, Yoon Taehee!”
‘You snake-like bastard’! Seok Juryeon shouted in frustration. Han Juyoung watched the two of them with a fascinated expression. Yoon Taehee was the only person who treated Seok Juryeon so casually.
— Why are you screaming? I will go deaf.
“I get it. I get it!”
Seok Juryeon, with both hands and feet raised, fired annoyedly. Whether he knew Seok Juryeon’s burning heart or not, a pleasant laugh flowed softly from the other side.
“Two months off is not a vacation, it’s a leave of absence, you bastard.”
— Oh, is that so? Then I should write a leave of absence.
Seok Juryeon let out a deep sigh at the calm reply.
“So, why do you want to take two months off?”
As usual, Seok Juryeon raised her arm and checked her wristwatch. It felt like half a day had passed, but less than thirty minutes had passed since she entered the office. Dealing with that guy would be like this. In a word, she felt old.
— I’m looking for someone.
“Who are you looking for?”
— My gum.
“What do you mean, gum?”
In the ear of the exhausted Seok Juryeon, Yoon Taehee whispered mischievously.
— A successor who is pretty, cute, and only looks at me.
Me too me too, I’m good at cursing people lol
Thanks for the chapter, Translator-san ♡
dun wanna, realest line I’ve read
True lmao
Yoon Taehee is such a sweet guy, that got me the kilig haha 😚
Sweet guy…come back to work! Dun wanna. … Lmao! Thanks for the update 🤣❤️🤣
Thank you for the chapter! 💗
I’m so confused the pronouns keep changing
what specific lines are you talking about?
“Dun wanna” “my gum” lol