An Exorcist Magical Girl!

“Yin Charang, don’t get me wrong, it’s not me, I didn’t do it!” “I-I know because I saw it!”

 

Yin Charang cackled loudly and gently stomped on the man with her foot.

 

“Oh wow, I think he’s really dead.”

 

That piece of wood looks exactly like the piece of wood that the ghost was sealed in during my first class with Senior Shin Wook.

 

Did this thing not only seal ghosts, but it could also seal the souls of living people?

 

I mean, I can kill people with my exorcism skill, so why would a piece of wood be any different?

 

When we dropped the stones in such a loud manner, the people from the association below and the director came up the stairs.

 

When they saw the pieces of wood rolling around on the floor, they scratched their heads, saying they knew it was coming.

 

“So, it was as we suspected.” “Yes, the students probably got hit by it too.” “I’m glad it’s nothing bigger, though, really.” “It shouldn’t be too hard to disassemble, we’ll just have to retrieve the pieces and head straight to the students’ rooms.” 

From the sounds of it, that’s what happened to Yeo Seon-yeo and Hwang Hanju.

 

The reason we didn’t find them in the math academy earlier was because their spirits weren’t in a normal ghostly state but were possessed by that little piece of wood.

 

I was relieved to hear that it was possible to separate their souls from the piece again.

 

“Students, can you direct me to the final location where you arrived with the amulet?”

 

A fairly young-looking association employee asked us politely.

 

He had slightly long black hair neatly tied back and wore glasses.

 

Yin Charang and I led the way to the Fruits of Growth Scholastic Academy, and the rest is history.

 

We searched the inside of the school and found the pieces of wood in the desk drawer of the right-center classroom with the blue door.

 “Good work, students. Well, it’s the same everywhere, but there are only a few S-rank exorcists in the Association, so it’s hard for us to send them out right away. They’re all out in the field. With the help of Baek Iri and Yin Charang, they quickly located the location, so kudos to them.”

 

The bespectacled employee thanked us on behalf of the company then he regained his composure and looked at the man in black being led away.

 

“And thanks to you, we got him.”

 

He gave us each a business card and told us to save his number, that he would be in touch with us later to explain the case.

 

“Shin Ji Woon.”

 

That was the name on the business card.

 

***

 

 

Later, in the director’s car as we drove to the hospital where Seon-yeo and Hanju were hospitalized, we were told that the

“soul-sucking power”

of the piece of wood had been suppressed by the symbols painted on its surface.

 

But when the man fell, the sigil on the piece of wood shattered, and the soul of the man closest to him was caught in the suddenly unleashed power.

 

Oh, and the man in black must have gotten in through a window in the back of the building, where there was no surveillance.

 

“You throw that at the ghost to seal it, right?”,

Yin Charang asked abruptly.

 

“That’s right, you know.”,

the director nodded.

 

“Well, sir, I had heard that there was a newbie with an S-rank who came in while I was on break, but I didn’t expect you to actually call her to the scene. You really surprised me!”

In the passenger seat, Yin Charang chatted incessantly.

 

It’s funny to ask a newcomer who’s been in the industry for three weeks to find people.

 

I don’t mind that kind of thing, but if it was anyone else, I’d be like,

“What? Me?”

and backpedaling.

 

“I feel bad for them. You know it’s hard to call an Association S-rank, they’re all people who live in the field.” “Well…, I’m fine.” “Oh, right, you’re a big boy!!! Is the mission period over yet?” “Yes. Except for Lee Li’s team, Seon-yeo and Hanju’s team were the first to start the mission.” “Why did you leave out Irine’s team?” “Oh, we left a week earlier. We had a family emergency.” “Ha, I see!”

Yin Charang said excitedly.

 

“Don’t you have any missions left? Since I’m back so early, I’d like to go on this one! If you don’t have a team, please give me one!”

 

Dude, it’s not hero sickness, it’s just the mental age of a newbie, right?

 

When he blurted out that he didn’t know why they had to call a newbie, it wasn’t a protest against the absurdity of being a loudmouth. He just wanted to do it all by himself, and the fact that they called me hurt his pride. The way he said it was so condescending.

 

Aww, dude.

 

“Are you sure you’re okay, Charang?” “Yes, yes, of course! I can’t wait to go on the mission.”

 

After listening to Charang’s nonstop mouth teasing, they arrived at the hospital.

 

He hurried up to the hospital room where the two were lying.

 

The first exorcist to arrive was just about to separate the soul from the piece of wood.

 

“Ah, you’re just in time,”

he said,

“the students can use this as a study.”

 

The exorcist concentrated his energy on his fingertips and bounced Hwang Hanju’s soul off the piece of wood.

 

“Wow, it feels like a slap.”

, Yin Charang exclaimed in wonder.

 

The scene of the spirit falling off the piece of wood was reminiscent of the time I beat the corpse of the bugs with a mop to bounce off the demons inside.

 

Instead of mentioning such an unpleasant story, I asked something else.

 

“What’s the principle?” “There’s not much of a principle. You hit the part that connects the spirit to the object. In this case, right here, these wood grains that seem to be tied together, is the link.”

 

The exorcist pointed to the part of the piece of wood that still contained the student’s spirit.

 

I could see where the grains had deviated from their natural flow and were unnaturally intertwined.

 

I must have struck a lucky blow at the ghosts’ link.

 

What that link looks like…, I don’t really care to know.

 

After the exorcist finished explaining, he bounced Yeo’s spirit out of the wood.

 

Finally free, Hanju and Seon-yeo’s spirits returned to their original bodies.

 

Yeo Seon-yeo’s eyes fluttered open, followed by Hwang Hanju, who yawned and raised her upper body.

 

“Uhhhh…” “If you can’t move, just lie down, Ms. Yeo.”

the exorcist advised.

 “Ouch, I’m sore…”,

Hanju exclaimed.

 “Ms. Hwang, you should lie down.”

 

The director rushed out of the room, saying he would call for a doctor and the students’ parents.

 

Yeo Seon-yeo rolled her eyes and closed them again in exhaustion, while Hwang Hanju stretched up with a frown on her face.

 

Then she spotted Yin Charang and was furiously surprised.

 

“Hey, Yin Charang?! What are you— you’re back already?” “My friend said you were in danger, of course I came running!”,

Charang blurted out.

 “You’re that newbie Baek Iri, right? Why are you two here?”

Hanju asked.

 

Hwang Hanju looked at us alternately with questioning eyes, then slapped his forehead when he realized what had happened.

 

“I see, you guys saved us!” “Hanju, do you remember what happened?” “I remember exorcizing the ghost on the stairs, and then I blacked out and… Anyway, you guys saved me and the girl, right?”

 

The association exorcist nodded and explained.

 

“They were very helpful in locating where your souls were.” “Wow… Thank you guys so much. We’re so lucky that you both are in our training center, ah, no, I should say “so fortunate”, I’ll address you with extreme respect from now on, Yin Charang and Baek Iri!” “Hahahaha, Hwang Hanju, you’re being overbearing again.” 

Yin Charang naturally accepted Hwang Hanju’s gratitude.

 

At that moment, Yeo Seon-yeo, who was sleeping, crawled in and muttered in a low voice.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

I answered.

“Oh, no. I’m glad you’re okay.” “… I mean it, thank you.”

She said that and pulled the bed sheet over her head.

 

I smiled then I turned to Yin Charang.

“Hey, Yin Charang. Let’s go. They need to rest.”  “Eh, eh, we’re leaving already?”

Charang wanted to protest but…

 “Seon-Yeo and Hanju have regained consciousness, so they’ll probably be discharged right away. There’s nothing wrong with their bodies.”

The association exorcist explained.

 “You hear him? Unless you’re going to live here alone, let’s go.”

I urged.

 “I’ll explain the incident to you after you’ve recovered enough, then I’ll see you later.”

 

With those last words, the exorcist left the hospital room.

 

He said a few more words of goodbye to me and Yin Charang, telling us to get some rest and that he’d see us at the training center, and then left.

 

Yeo Seon-yeo and Hwang Hanju are left alone while their parents go through the discharge process.

 

***

 

 

“Hey, you’re so strong, aren’t you?”  

Seon-yeo’s voice was somehow pointed as she asked Hwang Hanju.

 “Oh, why? Is it because you’re grateful? Because your life is saved?” “You’re so condescending. Don’t you have any self-respect?” “Self-respect? No. Why would I have any?” “Hey!”

Seon-Yeo jumped out of her seat as Hanju continued to be a jerk.

 

“Wow, what a surprise.” “Hwang, you’re an A-rank.” “So what?!”  “There’s not much of a difference between you and them but you don’t have any pride.”

she retorted.

 “Oh, don’t be such an A-class jerk to an S-rank. What’s her name, that newbie? ah, whatever her name is. Anyway, she’s not just an S-rank, she’s an S+-rank.”

Hwang replied.

 “Come on, Baek Iri? She’s an S⁺-rank who’s only been learning exorcism for three weeks.” 

Hwang was confused.

“Aren’t you grateful that an S⁺-ranked newcomer came in three weeks ago?” “Huh?” “You should be grateful.”

He advised.

 “Oh, fuck yeah, I’m fucking grateful they saved my life! Who says I’m not grateful? I’m grateful, and I’m going to thank them again when I see them later, and then I’m going to bash their heads in!”

I blurted out

of frustration.

 “So, what’s wrong?” “… I’ve been doing exorcisms for six years.”

I mumbled.

 “Hmm? I’ve been doing it for five or six years.”

Hwang Hanju scratched his head and began counting the days on his fingers.

 

Seon-yeo turned her head.

 

It had already been six years since she had blossomed her B-grade exorcist talent and started learning exorcism in earnest.

 

It wasn’t a great talent, but it wasn’t an ugly one either.

 

It was a talent that was nothing to be proud of, but nothing to be ashamed of.

 

Besides, after six years of studying exorcism, she should be proud of herself.

 

That’s what she thought.

 

Even when rumors of a new S⁺-rank newcomer entering the training center spread, she didn’t get too upset.

 

She’s just starting out, and I have all this time to build up.

 

Even an S⁺-rank genius is an inexperienced novice, and as long as she’s called a

“newcomer”

, she should have an advantage over her.

 

That’s what she thought.

 

So, when I found out that the newcomer was going on a mission with Seo Jun, I went out of my way to tell her to be careful.

 

I was just worried and wanted to help. She didn’t really seem to know anything.

 

I was embarrassed. Who was trying to help whom?

 

The next thing I knew, I had been saved by Baek Iri.

 

“Yes Hanju, you were right.” “Huh? Right about what?” “You’re an A-rank boy rubbing up against an S-rank girl.” “Oh, that’s nothing new, the S-rank are the ones up there. Hey, what happened to our mission? Since we exorcized the staircase ghost, does it count as a mission success anyway?” “Yes, you should fucking…” “Oh, right. Are you going back to the training center tomorrow? I’m going to use today’s incident as an excuse to skip training.” “I don’t know. I’ll think about it tomorrow.” “Hey, you don’t get many chances like this, you should take advantage of them while you can.” “Yeah, you can take next week off. Tomorrow’s Saturday anyway, and I only have a morning class.” “Sure. I’ll take it easy until next week.” “Hwang Hanju, you asshole.”

 

 

***

 

 

It’s Wednesday afternoon, five days later.

 

In a lavishly decorated cafe, four students and an adult sit across from each other.

 

As drinks and desserts were spread out on the table, the association exorcist got down to business.

 

“First things first, just to keep things simple, it is unknown who added the mission chosen by the lead student and Hanju to the list of missions at the Academy, and…”

 

The four students’ eyes flickered uneasily.

 

“The man who was caught at the scene is dead”