An Exorcist Magical Girl!

The Director gave us a choice.

 “I can switch you to another mission if you want, but since you haven’t even finished your preparation period and you’ve just increased your risk, I’d honestly recommend switching.” “No. We’ll stick with it.”

Seo Jun cut him off with a snap.

 

It was funny how she just spat it out and looked at my expression.

 

It was a confident way to look at me and a cautious way to shamelessly insist.

 “Okay, I’ll just do it then.” 

Once I was clear, Seo Jun suddenly didn’t seem so guilty.

 

I was used to her screaming at the top of her lungs, as she did when we first met.

 

I laughed because I realized that she was so consistent.

 

Maybe she’s a bloodthirsty maniac like Seon-yeo said, and that’s why she’s willing to go on a dangerous mission.

 

But that look in her eyes clearly showed concern for me.

 

It was as if she was embarrassed that she had lost before she had a chance to think about it.

 

In other words, it was a look that made me want to believe.

 “What, you’re trying to tell me is obvious.” “I don’t see it.” 

I joked, and Seo Jun twitched unnecessarily.

 

Well, I owed it to her in the first place, so I would have gone along with her choice whether I could trust her or not.

 

Thus, I was fully immersed in a situation that could never be called smooth.

 “Ugh! That’s still a bummer. If we’d stayed on schedule, we could have gotten my skill total up to 66 before the mission. I’m at 54.” 

I muttered as I walked out of the ledger room, and Seo Jun blinked lazily in response.

 “You’ve exceeded my expectations, if that helps.” “Huh?”

I was shocked.

 “I didn’t think you’d actually make it this far. I’m surprised.”

Seo Jun’s voice was tinged with admiration.

 

Yeah, to be honest, I was surprised, too, because I hadn’t imagined such a high skill total in such a short period of time as a magical girl.

 

I guess it was the power of talent after all.

 “We have to go out tomorrow, do you have any last minute preparations?” 

Seo Jun looked thoughtful for a moment.

 “Clear your head, you’re going to get lost if you talk about this stuff all the time.” “I can’t think of anything other than…” “Hey!” “I got the talisman and you got your staff. That’s it.” “That’s true, but when you say it like that, it makes me feel like I have nothing to offer.” 

With the ability to turn anything wrapped in energy into a metal club, it was beneficial to carry something as light as possible, as long as it was long enough.

 

That way, I could maximize the damage while minimizing my stamina.

 

***

 “You said you’d watch the CCTV footage.” “That’s right, I did.” 

I agreed with Seo Jun, remembering the shock I’d felt when I’d first seen the CCTV footage of the Rapid Transit Station.

 

The people followed the arrows on the exit signs to exit 9 and then they disappeared without a trace.

 

Like tiny fish lured by the light of a lantern anglerfish and thrown into its mouth.

 

In total, three people disappeared.

 

The video quality was poor, and the angles were limited.

 

It was impossible to tell from the CCTV footage what was at the end of the arrow pointing to the non-existent exit 9.

 

With nothing certain, Seo Jun had only one thing to say.

 

“All the missing people are dead.”

 

That was the only thing she was sure of.

 

The next day, we arrived at the Rapid Transit Station late, after all the last trains had left.

 

The station attendant, who had been arranged by the exorcism association in advance, let us into the station.

 

It was raining, which hadn’t been forecast.

 

It was a perfect night for an exorcism.

 

We decided to start at the platform where the last missing person had gotten off.

 “What’s the status?” “I left it open to 85%.” 

We both opened the doors as far as we could and looked around.

 

We needed to be alert and react to the smallest detail.

 

The station was quieter than I’d expected in the middle of the night with no passengers.

 

The only sound was our footsteps, echoing in all directions.

 “Not a single bug in sight.”

Seo Jun muttered.

 

“

Whatever caused the disappearances must be strong.” 

It was the same reason why ragtag demons didn’t venture into the territory of powerful demons.

 

In other words, they were being watched.

 

I felt like I was walking into a tiger’s den, and it gave me chills.

 

I wonder how long we walked.

 

We arrived at the spot where the last missing person had found a sign that said Exit 9.

 

But there was only a sign pointing to another exit, not the one we saw in the video.

 

I didn’t think it would be easy to find.

 

In fact, it was the location for all three missing persons. We’re just here to check for traces. 

 

Seo Jun had suggested we come here first, thinking that there might be traces of something spiritual that hadn’t been captured on CCTV.

 

There wasn’t much to see, though I wasn’t expecting any bloodstains or anything.

 “No… “

Seo Jun muttered quietly, a subtle note of panic in his voice.

“…This is unexpected.” 

Apparently, she’d expected to find a clue.

 “Shall we go?” 

Seo Jun crouched down and searched the floor until she finally gave up and stood up.

 “What did you think you’d find?”

I asked.

 “Twisted marks, a chill, something.”

she replied.

 “Does it usually have any of those left?” “Usually.” “I see.” “Why don’t we try the amulet?”

Seo Jun pulled a yellow piece of paper out of her bag.

 

It was the talisman she had prepared in advance.

 

In all three disappearances, the sign for exit 9 looked real.

 

The number 9 and an arrow were naturally written together on a sign with other exit directions, and if you followed the arrow, you would find the real exit 9.

 

So the first step was to find the number 9 on the sign.

 

However, We couldn’t just wander around looking for exit signs.

 

The station itself was huge, as it was the intersection of three lines.

 

So we decided to use Seo Jun’s amulet.

 

Seo Jun told us that she specializes in amulets and can make just about anything.

 

This one worked by telling us where the target was.

 “Baek Iri, the ghost map!” “Do you want to call it the ghost map because you’ve been calling it that since before you were a kid, and it’s still there?” 

Seo Jun ran her index finger along the tip of the stiff talisman.

 

A red line formed on her finger where the paper had been cut.

 

The yellow paper turned red at the edges.

 “When I take on a case of this magnitude, I must use blood. Otherwise, the talisman paper won’t hold up.” 

Seo Jun frowned slightly and dusted her hands off.

 

Well, that was a very healthy response for a bloodthirsty maniac.

 “That must hurt.” “It’s okay.” 

The blood from her finger touched the symbol on the amulet.

 

In an instant, the red lines turned pitch-black.

 “What? what?” “It’s the way it’s supposed to be. It’s working.” “Thank goodness.” 

Phew, I thought we were screwed.

 

Seo Jun gave me a pathetic look when I openly expressed my relief.

 “You don’t believe me?” “No, of course not, I believe you.” 

Not only the talisman, but the yellow background turned black.

 

Once the amulet was completely black, it began to slowly burn from one corner.

 

Seo Jun pointed in the direction of the flames and walked ahead.

 “This way. Let’s go.” 

And so we moved, watching the flames.

 

For a long time, without saying a word.

 

My nerves were on edge, and the smell of burning paper seemed unnecessarily pungent.

 

I hadn’t realized it because the station was lit up, but the shuttered shops in the station made me realize the time of day we were in.

 

I never realized how big the station was.

 

I’m used to riding the subway during rush hour, so it’s hard to get used to the quietness.

 

***

 

When the amulet was three-quarters of the way burned, the flames died down.

 “It must be around here.” “Ah, there.” 

In front of the turnstile, on the sign that marked the direction of the exit, the number

‘9’

was clearly etched.

 

The number

‘9’

.

 

What was there where the arrow pointed? Where have the people gone? What was it we were supposed to catch?

 

It was time to find out.

 【Talent: Exorcist (Aspiring)】【Status: Utilized】【Ties Opened …85%】【Skill: – 】 

The gate was still as open as I could get it.

 

We moved cautiously, following the arrows that led us to Exit 9.

 

We don’t know what it is or what it looks like.

 

We don’t know where or when it will jump out at us.

 

So it made sense to be cautious and careful.

 

Eventually, we arrived at a staircase labeled Exit 9.

 “Don’t rush up there.” “I know.” 

The people in the CCTV went further, never to return.

 

The first victim walked down the narrow passageway labeled Exit 9, the second victim went around the corner labeled Exit 9, and the third victim went up the escalator labeled Exit 9.

 

I also compared the CCTV footage from the day of the disappearance to the CCTV footage from normal days, which showed that the passageway, corner, and escalator were all normal areas of foot traffic.

 

Only on the days when there was a sign in front of it labeled

“Exit 9”

did people disappear.

 “It’s funny I should ask now, but what do you think is up ahead?” 

I asked now, a question I could have delved deeper into if I’d had more time to train.

 

In training last week, I’d speculated that something like a ghost or a demon was out there, waiting for them to snatch it up.

 

Seo Jun had nodded that it might be.

 

It was a nod, but she didn’t voice her opinion.

 

It was only now that I wondered about it.

 “Seo Jun, what do you think lies beyond the Exit 9 sign?” 

But instead of answering my question, Seo Jun chose to ask it back.

 “Let me change the question. What do you think Exit 9 is?” “I don’t know. You said all the missing people are dead, so I guess it’s like a door to the afterlife?” “…I think so, too.” 

I was expecting a laugh, but to my surprise, the response was not funny.

 

I didn’t expect her to agree with me.

 

Without further ado, Seo Jun turned to look around the stairwell.

 

Then she muttered.

“This can’t be happening.” 

Seo Jun looked confused.

 

I stuck my head out to see if there was anything unusual on the stairs.

 

I couldn’t see all the way to the top because the staircase turned halfway up, but for now it looked like a normal staircase.

 

Maybe I should go up there and see what I can find out.

 

As I turned my head to look up, I made eye contact with Seo Jun.

 

That look…, I’m sure. She’s thinking the same thing I am right now.

 “Shall we go up?” “Let’s go up.” 

I wrapped a black aura around the staff in my right hand, and Seo Jun pulled a handful of amulets from her bag.

 

《Skill: “A Craftsman’s Wears No Tools” activated》

 

Better to go up and fight whatever it is that’s coming than to spend our time down here waiting in vain.

 

But it wasn’t us who moved.

 

The stairs, and the walls and surrounding ceilings, lurched forward.

 

And just like that, we were swallowed up.