An Exorcist Magical Girl!

“Okay. Well, thanks for letting me know.” 

In the midst of my confusion, I started by thanking her for the information.

 

Then it was time to state my commitment.

 “But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m going out with Seo Jun on this mission.” “What have you been told?!”

Seon-yeo asked, not believing what she’s hearing from me.

 “I understand that going on the mission with Seo Jun could put me in danger, but I have my own reasons. I’ve gotten some help from her.” “Hahaha. Seo Jun helped you…”

Seon-yeo let out a weak laugh.

 “Don’t worry. I’m not one of those idiots who gets dragged along by others. If I think it’s going to be dangerous, I’ll either jump out or quit. Thanks for the warning, though.” 

Most people don’t care if a random person ruins their life.

 

I was grateful that she called me out and warned me.

 

‘I don’t completely believe you, Seon-yeo.’

 

It didn’t sound like she was just trying to get my attention, but it was hard to tell where she was exaggerating and where she was telling the truth.

 

In times like this, it’s best to filter what you hear and judge for yourself.

 

Besides, if she’s telling the truth, it’s more dangerous for us to just take out the team right here and now.

 

There’s nothing more dangerous than not settling a debt to a bloodthirsty maniac.

 “If Seo Jun is truly someone I shouldn’t be involved with, then I can slowly distance myself from her after this mission.” 

And after a day of training, it looks like there’s a lot to be gained if I’m good at guarding my own life.

 

My skill total went up quickly because I was on a tight roll, and the mission was said to be challenging, so I’m sure I’ll learn something in practice.

 “She’s steadfast. I’m afraid you’ve fallen in love.” 

Her tone was sarcastic, and I returned her smile without a word.

 

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to believe Seo Jun.

 

Or maybe I should say, I’ve gotten to know her.

 “I think I’ve got the gist of it, so I’ll leave you to it. Mark my words.” 

She realized that I wouldn’t change my mind if she said anything more, so she ended the conversation.

 “Be careful, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember, left arm.” 

I waved, and she turned around to drive the wedge in one more time.

 

***

 

“Good morning.”

 

“Mm, good morning.”

 

The next morning at school, Seo Jun didn’t say much more than good morning.

 

She didn’t even seem curious, even though it was obvious that I had mentioned her yesterday.

 

It was funny that I didn’t have the courage to bring it up, so I kept quiet.

 

It was an unspoken agreement to leave it at that.

 

It was easy for me. I didn’t care if what I heard yesterday was true or not, We are still going to proceed with the first mission.

 

Besides, I checked her left arm, and it was fine.

 

Oh, and it wasn’t one of those

“Oh, my God, it’s already so hot, why don’t you roll up your sleeves?”

kind of fumbles, and it wasn’t like I was staring at her left arm like,

“Left arm, let me see your left arm!”

or something.

 

She was just rolling up her sleeves in the bathroom and happened to see the bare skin of her left arm.

 

It was really nothing. It was just an arm.

 

This was the moment when the scales in my mind tipped toward

‘bullshit epilepsy’

as I weighed the credibility of what Seon-yeo said yesterday.

 

Once I got that out of my mind, I was able to focus on the task at hand.

 

‘Progress on the defense.’

 

As a test, I hunted a ghost or two lying around the subway station on my way to school, but my progress rate didn’t increase.

 

I’m pretty sure there’s a condition of being in an all-girls school.

 

I’ll just have to kill all the ghosts that roam this school, right?

 

I was almost itching to get started, but my opportunity came quickly.

 “What’s the next period?”

I asked Seo Jun.

 “Art.”

she answered with her usual bored-tone.

 

Fifth period, right after lunch, was the once-a-week art period.

 “Where is art taught? Is there a separate art room?”

I asked again.

 “Yeah, it’s in the art room. Let’s go.” 

An art room?

 

What’s not to love about an all-girls high school art room that’s famously haunted?

 

Ghosts crawl out of portraits, plaster statues make this face, and other famous things!

 

So I purposely nudged Seo Jun to come early. Seo Jun looked annoyed, but she couldn’t help but be drawn to me, I didn’t lead her, she led me. I didn’t know where the art room was.

 

When we got there, it was as dark and dingy as I expected.

 

We were the only ones in there because we came up right after lunch.

 “Oh, nice facilities!”

I exclaimed.

 

 I could see Seo Jun next to me wondering.

 

For the record, I’m 100% serious about the facilities.

 

This rainy day crisis will have you looking forward to exorcisms!

 

A facility optimized for exorcism!

 

I was eager to quickly fulfill the progression requirements for the defense task, so the art room seemed more welcoming.

 

It was also a chance to put my newly acquired skill

“A Craftsman Wears No Tools”

to good use.

 

The account was already 70% open.

 “What’s with the look on your face?” “I’m excited.” “I’m surprised. Do you like art?” “No.” 

Seo Jun looked at me like I was crazy, but I didn’t care. I scanned the art room with glee.

 

There were no portraits, but six plaster statues lined up on one shelf.

 

Contrary to my expectations, however, the statues were intact and not haunted.

 

Instead, a single severed head rested on the edge of the shelf, pretending to be a statue.

 

Hmm, maybe I was expecting something too classic.

 

《Skill ‘Simple Clairvoyance’ is active》

 

I could see the core glowing in the center of the skull’s forehead.

 

I’ll have to exorcise that one, too, alas.

 

I debated between the broken easel leg and the 50-centimeter ruler in my hands, and finally settled on the ruler.

 

I wondered what would happen to a lightweight, flimsy plastic ruler if it was

‘protected by the magic’

.

 

“What, exorcise it?”

 

“Yes.” I replied, and Seo Jun, watching, gave a small laugh.

 

No, it was more of a whimpering sound that I’m not sure I’d call a laugh.

 

It was one of the few emotional expressions I’ve ever seen, so I’ll call it a laugh.

 

I tapped one side of the plastic ruler with the index finger of my right hand.

 

A black energy flowed from his fingertips and extended out, enveloping the plastic ruler.

 

《Skill: A Craftsman Wears No Tools has been activated. 》

 

The black energy thickened on the transparent plastic, forming a solid form that was incomparable to the previous exorcism.

 “Wow, this is really…” 

It’s like the wand I used back then.

 

I swallowed my retort and brushed my hair out of my face.

 

I could see shimmering patterns superimposed on the black silhouette.

 

It was then.

 Tong, Tong, Tong 

The head began to bounce in place as if lifting me off the ground. Blood pooled at the base of the decapitated neck, and droplets of it splashed everywhere.

 Tong, Tong, Tong 

No, I don’t know if I’m allowed to use the word

“gory”

to describe that horrific sight.

 

The head leaped at me with its mouth open.

 

I didn’t have time to think about such details.

 

I grabbed the ruler with both hands like a baseball bat,

 Bang! 

I swung.

 

It was a loud bang that I couldn’t believe was coming from a thin, plastic ruler.

 

At the same time, its head snapped in half.

 

I thought I was going to hit it like a baseball and fly away, but it was more like a gourd popping.

 

Like colored liquor spilling out of a broken gourd, red globs of blood dripped down the back of its head and disappeared.

 

***

 

I laughed out loud. I couldn’t contain my laughter.

 

This is what they call a thrill.

 

The cool feeling of the blow, the exploding head, and that loud

“bang”

.

 

For reference, when I was a magical girl, no matter how hard you hit, it was

‘powlolong’

.

 

I used to punch monsters and it would make a popping sound.

 “So this was a skill.” 

Seo Jun’s muttering finally brought me back to my senses.

 

Neither I nor Seo Jun had ever seen this skill used on a ghost before.

 

Oh, right, we were trying to see if it would work.

 

I gently tugged at the corners of my mouth, wondering if I’d laughed too hard and forgotten my purpose.

 

I quickly ran down the list of things that had changed since I’d gotten the skill.

 

Without this skill, when I tried to energize objects, the black energy would not hold its shape and would scatter or drip.

 

But now, no matter how hard I swing it, the black energy doesn’t lose its shape. Not only its form, but also its durability has become as strong as a real iron club.

 

As a result, unlike before when I had to strike the demon’s core ten times, now I could destroy it with a single blow.

 “I wonder if this is what God’s favor meant.” 

The status window popped up one popup after another.

 

I saw a popup telling me that my health had increased due to skill grinding, followed by a popup about the progress of my defense work, as expected.

 

However, the content was a little-or rather, a lot-different from what I expected.

 

《【Talent: Exorcist (Aspiring)】 Defense against Deletion Crisis is 0.05% complete》

《Defense work progress totaled 4.55%! 》

You’re only giving me 0.05 points for dealing with that head?

 

The progress was bumped up to a barely noticeable level.

 

What are these stupid numbers?

 

I tried using the skill “A Craftsman’s Wears No Tools” on a ghost that was watching from the hallway.

 

It exploded in a flash, and another progress pop-up appeared.

 

《【Talent: Exorcist (Aspiring)】 0.05% progress on defense against deletion crisis》

《Defense work progress totaled 4.6%!》

What the hell.

 

My face was rotting in real time in disbelief.

 

I patted Seo Jun beside me.

 “Hey, Seo Jun.” “What?” “What’s the difference between the exorcism I did yesterday and the one I just did?” “Why do you suddenly want to know that?” 

Yeah, you might think that’s a stupid question for someone who doesn’t know what’s going on.

 

In that case, I can pretend I’m a good student with one minute left in class.

 “Hahaha, I thought it would be good to analyze it since I don’t have a lot of hands-on experience. I was wondering if you noticed anything different besides the skills I used.” “Well… different.” 

My eagerness and curiosity worked, and Seo Jun began to give me serious consideration.

 “Well, actually, there’s not much difference between the straw doll ghost  or those ghosts we just saw and a moderately sized bogeyman. I mean, you’ve got the skill, but it doesn’t change the way you exorcise.” 

Seo Jun muttered quietly, then blinked as if she realized something.

 “What is it?” “Well, I guess the difference is whether or not it’s “commissioned”.” “A commision?” “A transaction of sorts. Yesterday’s exorcism was technically a “request” on my part, you know? And I bought you some bread for lunch in return. Yesterday’s exorcism followed the form and procedure of a “request”, albeit on a very modest scale.” 

I nodded, taking Seo Jun’s explanation to heart.

 

The details of the defense operation were now somewhat clearer.

   

While only the first condition could be fulfilled, it was important to fulfill both conditions in order to complete the defense work quickly.

 

I had a vague idea of what I needed to do in the future at this school.

 

With a clear answer to a question that had been clouding my mind, I was able to relax for the rest of the day.

 

After that, the next two weeks flew by as I focused on honing my skills and preparing for the mission.

 

My skill total rose steadily, eventually reaching 54 points.

 

I didn’t gain any other new skills, but I did increase my

“Craftsman’s Tool”

to 7.0%.

 

Unlike basic skills, it’s harder to increase the level of the additional skills you gain.

 

Getting it to 70% means that it’s a great save.

 

I didn’t get to do it right away because I was focused on the mission, but I managed to finish my

“school work”

plan.

 

All was well.

 

Yes, it was smooth.

 “Baek Iri, wait up. I’m sorry, but I need you on the mission tomorrow.” 

That is because our mission was pushed back about a week when another missing person was reported at the Rapid Transit Station.