episode_0007

The freelance exorcist was confident about this job.

‘Just catching a random spirit in an abandoned building? This’ll be a piece of cake.’

His confidence wasn’t unfounded.

He’d taken on similar jobs multiple times before.

And he’d handled all of them to great acclaim.

“Please take care of things today.”

“Yeah, it’s an easy job, so let’s wrap it up quick.”

Just in case, he even hired a part-timer to help carry his gear.

The guy had a pleasant personality and worked well, so he was pretty likable.

His face was also just his type, so he was even willing to buy him a drink afterward.

Everything should’ve been wrapped up neatly, but…

‘Damn it! Nobody said anything about this!’

The female spirit he’d been hired to deal with was taken care of easily.

The problem was the male spirit that appeared afterward.

A monster with considerable spiritual power and strength.

Maybe he could’ve handled it if he’d stayed calm.

But he let his guard down and got hit right from the start.

“Ugh… Grk…!”

Even at full strength, he wasn’t sure he could win against this thing.

With no time to recover from his injuries, his body went limp as the spirit tightened its grip on his throat.

‘If the part-timer runs and calls for backup…’

No, that was hopeless too.

No exorcist would rush to a place like this on short notice.

Even if someone came, few could take down a spirit this strong.

[Hehe… A woman… A woman…]

The worst part? This thing was one of the rare spirits that lusted after women.

He wasn’t just going to die—he was going to die in the most humiliating way possible.

‘Fuck…’

Despair welled up as the grotesque hands tore at his clothes.

No, his mind was too foggy from lack of oxygen to even think straight.

Am I really going to die like this? So pointlessly?

Just as he resigned himself to death, tears in his eyes—

“Die.”

Thud!

Suddenly, the spirit collapsed to the ground.

“Cough! Cough!”

Freed from its grip, the exorcist gasped for air.

After catching his breath, he took in the scene.

‘…What the hell just happened?’

The spirit had died out of nowhere.

That was the only way to describe what he’d just seen.

‘But there’s nothing here that could’ve taken it down…’

Had his attack somehow worked?

No, the spear he’d swung wildly hadn’t even landed properly.

“Are you okay?”

Then, the part-timer approached from the side.

Oh, right. He’d forgotten about this guy.

‘I thought for sure he’d run…’

Why had he stayed like an idiot even after seeing the exorcist get overpowered?

As he pondered, a possibility struck him.

“Wait… Did you do this?”

“Uh… Yeah, I guess?”

It was hard to believe.

This wasn’t some weakling spirit—it was a powerful evil ghost.

Impossible for anyone but a trained exorcist to defeat.

‘And I didn’t sense any spiritual energy from him at all.’

There hadn’t even been any physical impact when the spirit fell.

Meaning it had been taken down by spiritual power—overwhelming yet perfectly concentrated.

Only a true master could pull that off.

‘But he doesn’t seem like he’s lying…’

Who would even lie about something like this?

He’d be exposed immediately.

That left only one possibility.

“Um… Were you hiding your power?”

The honorifics slipped out naturally—this had to be an exorcist stronger than him.

The man made an unreadable face, then nodded.

“…You’re right! I was trying to hide it, but I guess I got caught.”

“I knew it.”

Logically, that was the only explanation.

An exorcist of that caliber couldn’t possibly have no detectable energy.

“But why hide your power and work as a part-timer?”

“…Why do you think?”

The man answered the question with another, his expression calm.

Seeing that, the exorcist immediately understood.

“Wait… Were you testing me? To see how I handle the job?”

“…Correct. You’ve got sharp judgment.”

“No, anyone would think that in this situation.”

There was no other reason for a skilled exorcist to pose as a part-timer and stick around.

“So you’re a scout from another company, then? Here to evaluate me?”

“…Exactly.”

Some exorcism firms did this occasionally.

Observing potential recruits in the field before scouting them.

After all, the industry was full of frauds and people hiding their true abilities.

“Mind if I ask where you’re from?”

“…Cheonjihae.”

“No way! Cheonjihae is scouting… me?”

Cheonjihae was one of the top exorcism corporations in the country!

For them to send someone to scout him—unbelievable!

‘No wonder I didn’t notice… That’s Cheonjihae for you.’

Knowing he was from Cheonjihae explained both his skill and how well he’d hidden it.

That place was rumored to be full of absolute monsters.

“Ah… So I failed, then.”

He’d let his guard down before the job was even over.

Almost got himself killed by the spirit, too.

If not for this scout, he’d have been done for.

Surviving at all was a miracle.

He wasn’t shameless enough to expect a pass after that.

“…You do have talent. Don’t give up—just be more careful from now on.”

“Ah, yes! Thank you!”

He’d heard Cheonjihae was full of terrifying people.

But this man was kind enough to comfort someone like him.

‘Now that I look closer, he’s even more handsome than I thought.’

Realizing the ordeal was over, he finally let out a sigh.

‘I blew my one chance to get into Cheonjihae.’

Though, even if he had been scouted, he might’ve refused.

Just look at the skill it took to kill that spirit in one shot.

He couldn’t even begin to guess how strong this man really was.

‘Someone like me can’t even sense his energy…’

And a company like Cheonjihae had him working as a mere scout?

The exorcist shuddered at the thought of their true power.

‘Phew! That was close! Almost got exposed.’

Following the exorcist, I sighed in relief.

I thought for sure my one-hit kill ability would be found out.

Luckily, he’d mistaken me for some incredible spiritual master.

‘Well, I did take down that spirit in one hit. Hard not to misunderstand.’

In reality, I was just a one-trick pony with a once-a-day insta-kill.

I also managed to bluff my way through why someone like me was working part-time.

By pretending to be a scout from Cheonjihae.

‘Well, I just went along with it when he jumped to that conclusion.’

I didn’t have a better excuse anyway.

Honestly, it was the most plausible cover story.

‘At least I don’t have to reveal my ability’s true nature.’

I planned to keep my insta-kill a secret as long as possible.

For obvious reasons.

This ability was way too dangerous.

‘I can kill someone just by thinking about it, as long as I can see them.’

Think about it.

Say I’m some incredibly powerful, influential figure.

And some rookie over there could kill me just by thinking about it?

Would I let that slide?

‘No way. I’d have them eliminated.’

Someone who could kill you anytime, anywhere.

Whether they’re a famous exorcist or a legendary villain.

They’d be too dangerous to leave alive.

No one wants to live in constant fear of being killed on a whim.

‘And right now, I can’t even defend myself.’

What good is a once-a-day insta-kill for survival?

At best, it’s useful for unexpected situations like this.

If two people came for me, I’d be done for.

‘That’s why I have to keep this ability hidden.’

Of course, I can’t avoid using it entirely—it’s my only power.

But the fact that it’s an insta-kill, and its exact conditions, must never be revealed.

‘This time, I had no choice…’

If I hadn’t stepped in, that exorcist would’ve died.

And I’d have been the spirit’s next target.

Since the spirit had to be taken down anyway, doing it while the exorcist was still alive was the right call.

‘Still, I need to be careful. This excuse won’t work forever.’

I’ll save my insta-kill for absolute emergencies.

It’s my lifeline, and I only get one shot per day.

“Hey…”

Once we were at a safe distance, the exorcist spoke up.

“I know it’s late, but… thank you. You saved my life.”

“Don’t mention it. Just doing my job as an exorcist.”

“Cheonjihae’s exorcists really are on another level. These days, most wouldn’t lift a finger without payment.”

Wait, there are really that many scumbags in this field?

This world really is a jungle.

“Mind if I ask your name? You’re my savior, so I’d like to at least know that much.”

“Ah, my name.”

Cold sweat ran down my back.

This exorcist thought I was from Cheonjihae.

If it ever got out that I’d impersonated them…

‘Cheonjihae would come after me.’

Their name carried weight in the exorcism world.

Getting caught misusing it would mean serious trouble.

“Sorry. I can’t disclose that.”

“Ah! My bad. Of course you’d keep your identity hidden. Stupid question.”

Whew!

Another close call, but I managed to bluff my way through.

‘This is working surprisingly well.’

Well, I did just save his life.

So he firmly believed I was from Cheonjihae.

No matter what I said, he’d rationalize it as ‘Cheonjihae must have their reasons.’

“Then, will you at least take the payment for this job?”

“The payment?”

“Yeah. I know money wasn’t your goal, but… The one who took down the spirit should get the reward.”

“Ah…”

Wow. He’s offering to split the payment?

I can’t just take money someone else risked their life for…

“I’d appreciate that.”

…But I’m too broke to refuse.