An Exorcist Magical Girl! Chapter 126

One by one, the spirits freed from the spell’s bonds stretched their limbs, straightened their hunched backs, and lifted their heads.

 

The room quickly collapsed as the spirits left their seats.

 

After about two minutes, the market alley became an empty space.

 

“Where is Choi Hee-young…, ah.”

 

Choi Hee-young was lying on the sandy ground with the ghosts. She didn’t seem to have any intention of getting up, and I didn’t have the heart to help her up, so I just left her on the ground. I blindfolded her so she couldn’t escape.

 

After a few hours, the streetlights were as bright as the midday sun.

 

‘I finally see the light of day.’

 

After being in the dark for so long, I was almost glad to see the light.

 

And there, a few meters away from the light, was Seo Jun.

 

I realized with a start that my friend was alive and well, alive and breathing.

 

I went over to Seo Jun, who was standing still in the middle of the sand, drawing a bunch of stuff, and handed her the spell I’d ripped from the core.

 

“Here. This is the spell you told me about.”

 

“I knew you could do it. Thank you, in more ways than one.”

 

That was enough greeting.

 

Seo Jun took the red cloth from me and examined it carefully.

 

“Do you need this as well?”

 

I held out my other hand to show her the core of the merged demons and she shook her head.

 

“You can just get rid of that.”

 

I smashed the cores as soon as I heard Seo Jun’s answer.

 

Poor souls. Bound by a spell, deprived of a chance for a new life, torn apart without hope.

 

The only comfort I could offer these souls, who had lost all sense of self, was to return them to the normal cycle as quickly as possible. 

 

When the ghost was gone and the gourd was empty, she put it back into her bag.

 

Seo Jun was drawing on the floor again.

 

I watched, not sure if I should speak, but Seo Jun spoke first.

 

“I’m putting a condition on the spell.”

 

“Conditions? What are they?”

 

“To be cast immediately on anyone who approaches me with the intention to kill.”

 

“And what happens then?”

 

“They will be trapped.”

 

With that, Seo Jun pointed to the square drawn at her feet.

 

“In a square this size.”

 

So this was what she meant by protecting herself.

 

“With this, I’ll be safe even without your protection. There you go.”

 

Seo Jun folded the red cloth tightly and crushed the drawing in the sand with her foot.

 

“You’re looking at me like you’re saying, “How nice it would be if we could make something like this from scratch so we could be comfortable with each other,” but I couldn’t do that unless I could get my hands on a “ready-made spell,” because while it’s easy to add conditions to an already made spell, it’s difficult and time-consuming to make a spell of this quality from scratch.”

 

“Aha, I see, not… when have I ever looked at you with those eyes?”

 

“Your eyes were wide open.”

 

“Oh, me? I did that?”

 

“I’m kidding.”

 

Seo Jun covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled softly.

 

“Oh, by the way, how do I know this thing is working properly…”

 

“Get out of here, you bastards!”

 

 I almost didn’t have to wonder if the spell worked.

 

Choi Hee-young, who had untied the rope before I could finish my sentence, rushed over. 

 

Her fingers and wrists were swollen and bruised from her struggle to free herself.

 

“Holy shit, I tied you up so tight, you can’t…!”

 

Seo Jun stopped me as I jumped forward in surprise.

 

“……?”

 

“Just look.”

 

“You assholes, I’m going to kill you all!”

 

Choi Hee Young, who had lost her cool, lunged forward.

 

 BANG!

 

Her outstretched arm was about to grab Seo Jun’s throat when it was blocked by a wall that appeared out of nowhere.

 

The black wall immediately surrounded her on all sides.

 

“Aaaahhh! Fuck!”

 

*Punch, punch, punch, punch!*

 

“Open it, you crazy bastards! Open it!”

 

Choi screamed, pounding on the walls and ceiling, but the black box holding her didn’t budge.

 

“What do you think?”

 

“Oh, great. I didn’t have to worry.”

 

“Right?”

 

Seo Jun grinned.

 

“This thing won’t even let the Grim Reaper escape.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. The only way to defeat this defense is to stop killing altogether, and even then, the creator of this spell would have to come and destroy the spell himself.”

 

There is no way to break this defense, Seo Jun said, unless the master of this room appears before her.

 

“What if he really comes…?”

 

“He’ll have to kill me.”

 

 Seo Jun smiled.

 

“I hope not, because I was wondering what kind of face you have.”

 

“It’s…”

 

“I’m kidding. As far as I know, the owner of this room never sets foot in the real world. It’s never happened, not even once.”

 

True. If he did, when he had the chance to kill Seo Jun for sure on the evaluation day in June, he would have come and settled the score himself instead of sending a puppet.

 

I nodded and agreed with Seo Jun.

 

Seo Jun said that the defense had a range of about 50 meters, which meant that anyone who tried to set the house on fire would be caught as soon as he lit the lighter.

 

“That’s really reassuring. Thank God.”

 

“I’m afraid we can’t pack up right away, but can we hang out for a few more days?”

 

“Of course. Let’s make some dumplings for dinner.”

 

Finally, the ease of high school age began to permeate the conversation.

 

As the tension eased, we shared what had happened to each of us during those few hours.

 

“So you put it in a pumpkin? Ah, so that’s why there’s a “thin spot” on the wall.”

 

“I can’t believe that a ghost form can go in there. You really scared me.

 

“It wouldn’t let me in as a human. It kept closing.”

 

“What do you mean, ‘humanized’? Don’t say that.”

 

“You’re right.”

 

“It is.”

 

As the conversation drifted into a stream of consciousness, we came back to the point.

 

“So, what are we going to do with Choi Hee-young? If we leave her here, she’ll be picked up in the room…”

 

“Leave her.”

 

Seo Jun patted the black box and replied nonchalantly.

 

“If she comes to kill me again, the result will be the same.”

 

Then her eyes brightened with anticipation.

 

“If she’s good, maybe I can get some information out of her. I hope she comes back often.”

 

“Are you kidding?”

 

“No, I’m serious.”

 

“…Yes, of course.”

 

It wasn’t a bad idea. Choi Hee-young is the best person to get information out of, as Seo Jun said, because she’ll talk about anything at the slightest scratch.

 

I’m not sure if I want her to come back often.

 

“Anyway, thanks for your work today, Seo Jun.”

 

“You too.”

 

Midnight had come and gone long ago, but our long day was just coming to an end.

 

We drove home, leaving the black box behind.

 

 

* * *

 

 

We didn’t get to eat the dumpling ramen.

 

We both vomited as soon as we got home.

 

When we woke up, it was noon.

 

“Ah, why is it so sunny?”

 

The room was bright with sunlight, as if the fluorescent lights were on.

 

It’s too early for school…

 

I thought about lying down again, but I just stood up. I slept a lot and it was hot.

 

I wondered if Choi Hee-young was still there.

 

The deadline was midnight tonight, but if they found that the bus she used was completely destroyed, they might pick her up earlier.

 

 That spell, it was said to be a high-level spell that was made with great care… It’s not enough that Choi Hee-young failed to fulfill her purpose, she’s also responsible for blackmailing the spell. Aww, let’s flirt.

 

In truth, I was the one who stole the spell and destroyed the room, but it was unlikely that the owner of the room would blame me for indulging her without realizing it.

 

The arrow of his anger would surely be aimed at Choi Hee-young for not stopping me.

 

Oh, maybe Choi Hee-young will be cut off from the room.

 

She said that there was no one else who could do the job, but if the damage she caused was greater than the uncertainty and hassle of finding another killer, he would definitely cut her loose.

 

Yes, if he decides not to get her out of this room, I’ll put her in a jail cell where she can eat, sleep, and survive.

 

When that time comes, she’ll thank me for not leaving her in a box to starve to death.

 

I decided to check the box containing Choi Hee-young once on my way to school around five o’clock, and again on my way to school tomorrow morning if it hadn’t been retrieved by then.

 

By the way, Seo Jun, she really is an unusual child.

 

I didn’t doubt that she was good with talismans, spells, and glyphs, but to be able to summon such a powerful defense in an instant was truly remarkable.

 

To be able to accurately analyze such high-level spells and adapt them to her needs on the fly.

 

I had heard of such things before. Seo Jun’s melee skills are mediocre for a talent rank of A⁺, but when it comes to her specialty, amulets and the like, she’s better than most professionals. 

 

With her skills, she shouldn’t have to worry about finding a job. I’m sure they’ll want to hire her here and there.

 

I feel a little sorry for Seo Jun when I think about what makes her so good at what she does, but for now, my awe overrides my smug pity.

 

Seo Jun was still asleep.

 

“If she’s not up by two, I’ll wake her up.”

 

I washed my face and left the bathroom, my eyes falling on the note I had taped to the fridge.

 

“Wow, that seems like years ago, even though it’s only been a day.”

 

Last night had been too long and too soon.

 

‘Ah, the fridge…’

 

As I stared at the paper taped to the refrigerator door, yesterday’s memories seemed to overlap in front of my eyes.

 

The certificate Choi Hee-young received on the day she graduated from elementary school.

 

And the praise tree.

 

I couldn’t believe that a moment in the past that was so vivid in my memory was appearing as a ghost.

 

Thanks for reminding me, you bastards.

 

“Whoa…”

 

I leaned back in my chair at an angle and let out an exhale that was more like a sigh.

 

“I commend Baek Iri. Because she’s brave and kind.”

 

The two sentences were written in tiny, cute handwriting.

 

There was no name of the writer, but I knew who wrote those two sentences as soon as I read them.

 

“Baek Yoo-ri.”

 

I’m not sure if the clear voice in my head that recited those two sentences was Baek Yoo-ri’s anymore.

 

When I wasn’t sure why Hee-young Choi and I were related, I tried to find the common denominator between us, the reason we were sisters.

 

There were only two things I could find in common with Hee-young Choi.

 

One, we both have the gift of exorcism.

 

And second.

 

We both lost loved ones at the gates of City Hall Station.