An Exorcist Magical Girl!

When we first arrived, the ghost’s spatial mimicry was so convincing that even we exorcists couldn’t tell the difference.

 

Now, however, we can properly distinguish between the real world and its mimicry.

 

The internal wounds inflicted by Seo Jun’s amulet had caused the ghost to contort and rampage.

 

The ghost still took on the appearance of space, and its writhing meant that a particular space seemed to be distorted and warped.

 

What had looked like perfectly real railroad tracks when they’d just come out of it was now grotesquely distorted.

 Kyung—

A bizarre light, like two spaces superimposed.

 

Beyond it, I glimpsed the real tracks of the real world but one of them was clearly a fake.

 Kkkkrrrreeeee!! 

The fake writhed, spewing black smoke from a wound in its belly.

 

The entire length of the railroad track writhing and writhing, like a giant snake on the loose.

 

Seo Jun and I slowly retreated back to the escalator at the back, our eyes locked on the sight.

 

Just like the straw doll ghost I hunted on the first day of school, this ghost is not its true form.

 

My

“simple clairvoyance”

meant I couldn’t locate the core.

 

Swinging a staff at it would be a pointless exercise. So what could Seo Jun do?

 “Seo Jun, can you find the core?” “Umm…, even the pros can’t do that.” 

I thought I couldn’t do it because I was a newbie and had a basic clairvoyance skill, but maybe it’s supposed to be hard.

 “So is there any way to turn that thing back into its true form?”  

Seo Jun tried suggesting,

“You can physically attack it. Think back to the straw doll. You were about to punch it in the back of its head, so it unmasked and revealed its true form.”  “Oh, was that it?”

I was just pissed off at the time, and I’d pulled the trigger without realizing it. 

“But isn’t that thing physically attacked right now? Why doesn’t it change back?” 

The ghost had maintained its spatial mimicry even as it rampaged.

 

Even though its belly was obviously being punctured and its insides were burning brightly, why doesn’t it reveal its true form?

 

Seo Jun had a surprisingly simple answer.

“It’s because it’s so strong that an attack of that magnitude can’t break its transformation.” “Oh… ”

That means I’d have to beat the shapeshifter until it collapsed.

 

Given its size, that was impossible.

 

Two high school kids are supposed to deliver a punch to a ghost bigger than a subway car that’s big enough to even reveal its true form.

 “I’d rather see us get knocked out than see that bastard’s face.” “So would you… ?”

Seo Jun tried to ask.

 “Then let’s get out of here.” 

Worst case scenario, we’d get eaten again.

 

So we started running.

 

It was a strategic retreat.

 

But there was one problem,

 Bang! Bam! Clang! 

A loud screech signaled that the ghost was on our tail.

 

The ugly distorted space followed closely behind.

 

***

 “Look at that freakin’ thing.” 

The ghost was chasing us, constantly mimicking the space around it.

 

As we jumped onto an escalator, the escalator behind us warped and opened its gaping maw, and as we sprinted down a transit shaft, the passing shaft behind us wriggled furiously in pursuit.

 

The precarious maneuvering continued, like running on a crumbling bridge.

 

It felt like space itself was chasing us.

 

Wait a minute. Space itself?

 

Suddenly, something clicked.

 “Seo Jun, this way!” 

Once we had some distance between us and the ghost, I yanked Seo Jun around the corner.

 

Instead of protesting on the sudden action, Seo Jun’s eyes lit up.

 “You look like you’re onto something.” “Yeah. If that ghost is going to mimic space to the end, we have a chance.” “Explain.” “We need to turn that thing back to its true form before we can destroy the core, right?” “That’s right.” “And we have to beat it back into shape.” “Yeah.” “Well, how about this? We’re not gonna be able to get a hit right now. He’s too big. Well, why don’t we just make him smaller?” Bang! Bam! Clang! 

I was out of breath, but I didn’t stop running.

 

The space, even more distorted than before, chased us with its arms wide open.

 

The game of trickery continued, with internal injuries.

 

Of course I’m at my limit.

 

So, I’m going to get caught.

 

I deliberately cranked up the ghost.

 

When I thought I was closing the distance, I’d run away; when I thought I was a little farther away, I’d pretend I’d fall into its clutches.

 

If I thought I was really going to get caught, I’d flail my staff to distance myself again.

 

I ran, scattering the ghost’s sanity, until I reached my target.

 “There!” 

Just as I was about to reach my limit, I saw my target in front of me.

 

I clutched it tightly with my left hand and hurled it toward the ghost.

 

A light sound that didn’t match the force with which it flew in a parabolic arc.

 

LOL. Not towards me, but towards it, which landed on the

“target”

.

 

I immediately half-rolled, falling sideways, as the ghost lunged at me, flying all over the place.

 

“That’s it! Die!!!!”

 

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

 Whip-! 

I kicked off the ground, leaped up, and slammed the staff straight down toward the

“target”

.

 

Or, more accurately, at the ghosts’ ear that mimics the target.

 

Once again, I slammed the twisted trash can.

 

This time from the bottom up.

 Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!!! 

I gave it a good poultice, making sure not to miss a single spot.

 

After beating it for a long time, the loser, the garbage can, revealed its true form.

 

Eight long arms attached to a round, spider-like body and a head the size of its torso.

 

The ghost reverted to its true form, twisting and turning grotesquely.

 “That’s smart.”

Seo Jun, who had been watching, spoke up.

 “I didn’t think it would work either. It was all or nothing.” ““Space” it down. Brilliant idea.” 

The ghost mimics the shape of the space around it.

 

If the space around it is narrow, it will be narrow, if it is wide, it will be wide.

 

And space is up to you to define.

 

From a sprawling park to a box you can hold in one hand.

 

It’s all space.

 

This operation started with that idea.

 

The idea that the inside of a trash can can also be considered

“space”

.

 

It was also possible because of Seo Jun’s talismanic skills.

 

Seo Jun improvised a simple

“clone”

using my hair in a wad of paper and an amulet that hid the traces of my body.

 

I tossed the wad of paper into the trash, and the ghost, who had been driven insane by the constant internal torment and maneuvering, lunged for it with gusto.

 

And, as expected, it turned to the trash can to devour my clone.

 

A trash can, just the right size for a punch.

 

The mission must have been a pleasant success, now all that remained was to dispose of this thing.

 

《Skill: “Simple Clairvoyance” activated.》

 

The ghost’s core was in its short neck, between its head and body.

 

I was about to deliver the final blow when Seo Jun stopped me.

 “Wait.” “Why?” “There’s something I want to find out, so don’t kill it completely.” “Okay.” 

I quickly closed the distance. Then I plunged my staff into the ghost’s torso.

 

It pierced right through the center of its torso with a crunch.

 

I pinned the other end of the staff firmly against the vending machine’s skull.

 

It looked like a spider stuffed into a wall.

 “The rest is up to you.” 

Seo Jun nodded with a look of approval.

 “Rest.” 

With that, I lay back and relaxed.

 

***

 

It was hard to hear what Seo Jun was saying over the ghost’s thrashing and horrific screams.

 

After what seemed like an eternity, Seo Jun called me.

“Come here.” “What? Why?” “You want me to take care of this?”

Seo Jun asked, pointing at the

“trash can”

ghost.

 “Yes. You picked this mission, so I’ll leave the finishing touches to you.” “Thanks.” 

There was a loud, powerful sound, and the ghost dissipated into dust.

 “Let’s get out of here. Get ready.”

Seo Jun said.

 “Why do I need to get ready to go out?” “Now that the ghost is gone, there’s probably a whole bunch of other ghosts who’ve sensed it and are scrambling. Be prepared to deal with them.” “Oh.” 

I patted my bottom and stood up, then held up my hand to Seo Jun.

 

Seo Jun stared at it for a moment, puzzled, and then slapped my hand lightly.

 

We did a quick victory high-five.

 “We’re not done yet, but good job.”

Seo Jun said. It was still a sterile tone, but somehow it sounded warm.

 “You too.”

I smiled.

 

Soon, the surroundings grew increasingly tumultuous with the noises of non-humans.

 

The ghosts had begun to show themselves.

 “We can’t deal with all of them, so let’s just take out the ones that have no fear.” “Okay.” 

It took us an hour to get out of the station.

 “Are they all crazy? Why do they keep coming at us?”

I shouted, exhaustion was clear in my voice.

 “They’re not intelligent.”

Seo Jun winced.

“Ugh, I’m tired.” 

The staff of the exorcism association, who had received our call, were waiting outside the exit. As we stepped outside, they moved into the station to clean up and tidy up.

 

We left a message for the director that we had completed our mission safely and called a taxi for ourselves.

 

Of course, the association pays for the taxi. If they don’t, they’re an asshole.

 

While waiting for the taxi, I called up the status window. From exorcizing a giant cannibalistic ghost to cleaning up dozens of ghosts. I was pretty good today, so my skill total should have gone up.

 

The status window flashed to life and brought up the talent screen.

 【Talent: Exorcist (Aspiring)】【Name: Baek Iri】【Rank: S】【Skill Total: 66】【Title: – 】【Skill: “A Craftsman’s Wears No Tools” 】 

Interestingly enough, I’m up to 66, which is the skill total I was aiming for before the mission.

 

The last time I checked, I was at 54, so that’s a 12-point increase in a few hours during the mission.

 

This was the first time I’d seen my skill total increase by more than 10 points in less than a day since the day of the practical assessment.

 

Furthermore, my embodiment of “A Craftsman’s Wears No Tools”  went from 70% to 95%.

 

I was laughing so hard that Seo Jun slapped me on the arm.

 

After all, practice makes perfect.

 “I’m going.”

The taxi Seo Jun had called arrived first.

 “You’re going first. I’m jealous.” “You’ll be home soon enough.”

Seo Jun gave me a quick pint, then paused.

“…Would you like to be on the same team for the next mission?” 

I nodded vigorously, not really thinking twice.

“Of course.” 

Seo Jun, who I’d been on missions with, was not what I’d heard about.

 

I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and not be swayed by the rumors.

 

I decided to trust the Seo Jun that I saw with my own eyes. Seo Jun smiled pleasantly.