Chapter 96…
So This Is What Exorcism Really Is
“…Damn.”
So that’s why my body wasn’t moving — not because I got beaten too hard, but because they put something in the water.
My head was foggy, my brain lagging like it had buffering issues, and my limbs were paying the price.
[Hey, kid! Snap out of it! You should’ve run to the door!]
Ah… Mr. Chul-sung.
He’s been worrying since earlier — kinda nice to see him again like this.
Even the dead worrying about the living…
My mind’s fading.
My body hurts.
Is this really the end? Like this?
Trying to send someone else off to Nirvana, and now it’s my turn, huh.
But then…
I saw Mr. Chul-sung looking determined.
Even before, I could tell — the man’s no lightweight.
If that’s the case… maybe I should make one last desperate move.
“C-come on… come on…”
[You talkin’ to me?]
He looked at me, confused.
Ah, my mouth keeps tripping up.
Yeah, it’s you, mister.
I mustered all my remaining strength, nodding toward him.
No idea if this’ll work, but…
“H-hurry up and come…”
Come on, man. Hurry.
My vision started going dark.
Damn it… is this really how I die?
[This feels weird.]
Uh… what?
[You can hear me?]
‘Y-yeah… thank God…’
This time, everything felt a little hazy.
But I could still hear his voice clearly inside my head.
Time to make my wish.
Chul-sung the Genie! Grant me my wish!
‘Beat those bastards up…’
[That’s my wish, too.]
Then I felt my head lift up — his doing.
“…Sang-soo.”
Ohh, even though it’s my voice, it sounds badass.
“What?”
Director Jang’s face twisted in surprise.
What, thought I was dead or something?
“Look at you… you’ve gotten old.”
A calm, cutting remark.
‘Whoa, Mister, you’re oozing cool right now.’
[Stop running your mouth. It’s distracting.]
‘Yes, sir.’
Chul-sung slowly stood, rolling his shoulders and stretching his limbs.
“You push your boys into the fire just so your own hands stay clean — still the same coward.”
“You… what kind of stunt are you pulling?”
Director Jang stared hard at him.
Of course, he still saw Woo Soo-han’s body… but the presence was unmistakable.
“You eat your fill and think it’s your birthday, huh?”
“What…?”
Chul-sung smirked.
It was the same line he used to say to punks chasing empty dreams — especially to Jang Sang-soo back in the day.
Judging by that stiff face, the man still remembered.
“You… you knew Chul-sung?”
“So you do remember.”
“Everything you’ve done to me… was it all because of Chul-sung…?”
“I gave you a little trust and you stabbed me in the back. Now you’re calling my name like we’re friends?”
“Y-you bastard…”
“Now you’re getting it.”
Jang’s face went pale. He stumbled back, shouting in panic.
“What are you waiting for?!”
At that, his confused henchmen rushed in.
“Guilty. No need for words.”
Chul-sung murmured softly, then his body shot forward.
“Holy shit!”
Maybe they thought Woo Soo-han had gone insane, talking in some strange dialect — their punches flew wildly.
Chul-sung ducked easily, slamming the heel of his palm up into one man’s face.
Crack!
Like a fastball pitch — a short, clean motion.
The man’s nose flattened, his jaw dislocated, and he crumpled forward.
“Ugh!”
Even Director Jang and Chief Koo gasped.
The next two swung metal pipes.
But a quick kick knocked one’s hand up, turning his own swing into a clumsy golf shot.
Chul-sung stepped in and drove his elbow deep into the man’s ribs.
Crunch!
His ribcage visibly caved in.
“Keheuk!”
Foam spewed from his mouth as he collapsed.
Without pause, Chul-sung pulled his foot back and launched forward —
The next target had just drawn a knife.
“U-ugh!”
Before the man could react, Chul-sung’s punch slammed into his chest — heart-level.
The man froze, then toppled backward like a log.
Three down in seconds.
Chul-sung turned toward Jang and Chief Koo, his expression calm.
“You didn’t even feed these boys? They’re dropping like flies.”
“W-what the…”
Chief Koo stumbled back, pale as a ghost.
“You used to be a wild colt in the ring. What’s with all the backing away? Scared?”
“C-Chul-sung… b-big bro…?”
Koo Bong-han couldn’t believe his eyes.
It was Woo Soo-han’s body, but the movements — the terrifying, precise combat style — were identical to the Chul-sung he’d admired long ago.
Crack!
Another henchman lunged, only for his knee to be stomped sideways.
Another’s wrist was caught mid-stab, spun around, and smashed in the face with an elbow.
All exactly like Chul-sung.
“H-hyungnim… who is that guy? You said he’s just an actor!”
“Ugh…”
The two remaining thugs were panicking, but Koo could barely hear them — he was too transfixed by the ghostly sight.
“Guess you’ve been eating well, huh? Got all fat, like a pig.”
“This… this can’t be happening!”
Koo roared and charged, grabbing Woo Soo-han’s collar —
“I told you, didn’t I?”
Thud!
A coiled punch drilled into his armpit like a spike.
He didn’t need to look — he knew that pain.
Strength drained from his arm, and he staggered back, clutching his side.
“Never rush in just ‘cause you’re big.”
Thump!
A sudden uppercut — then his world tilted sideways.
Crash!
Watching from the side, Jang Sang-soo shoved his last two men forward.
“What are you idiots waiting for?!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
They rushed in — but Chul-sung moved like the wind.
He kicked one in the neck, yanked the other’s hair mid-swing, and drove his knee into his temple.
Both went down instantly.
“Guess I’ll need replacements.”
He brushed the torn hair from his hand and started walking toward Jang.
“M-madness…”
Jang could only stare, his mind numb.
The face might’ve been different, but the man — it was Chul-sung.
The same man he betrayed long ago.
“Is it really you, Brother Chul-sung…?”
“Cut it out. You don’t get to call me that now.”
“It is you…”
“I’ve been waiting for this day.”
Jang laughed hollowly at the absurdity.
“Heh… heheheh…”
“Not funny.”
Thwack!
His laughter cut short — his face snapped back from the punch.
‘Nice shot, Mister!’
Damn, that was awesome.
They didn’t call him the “Second Sirasoni” (legendary Korean brawler) for nothing.
I could never compare.
Then the Mister staggered.
Uh-oh… what’s happening?
[Kid, this isn’t good.]
‘Huh?’
Then I saw it — a faint, white mist flowing from my body toward Jang Sang-soo, who was wobbling from the hits.
That mist… it was Chul-sung’s spirit.
When I stepped back, it stopped.
Right. Evil spirits absorb other souls.
That’s why Chul-sung always kept his distance from this bastard.
Guess “fusion form” isn’t invincible after all.
[I really wanted to finish him myself…]
His voice was heavy with regret.
‘I’ll take over then.’
[You sure?]
‘We’ve got no choice anyway.’
[Sorry, kid.]
‘You saved my ass, Mister. Don’t say that.’
[Then give it your all.]
With that, his spirit left my body — I felt heavy again, the drug’s haze returning.
Still, I could move better than before.
“Let’s go!”
I lunged forward and kicked Jang in the gut.
Thud!
“Gah!”
Whoa — the black aura around him rippled from where I hit.
“Oh… is this exorcism?”
“What the hell are you—”
“From now on, this is an exorcism, you bastard!”
I slammed a low kick into his knee — Jang stumbled sideways, the black energy puffing away in clouds.
It worked.
So this is all an exorcism is — keep hitting until the evil spirit flies out.
Encouraged, I charged again with a flurry of blows.
“Yatatatatatatat!”
Right now, I was possessed — by the spirit of some old pirate manga hero from a faded bootleg copy.
Forget One Piece or One Punch Man — this was the good stuff.
Powpowpowpowpow!
“Gahhhhhh!”
The black mist burst off him like dust clouds.
I stepped back, panting.
“Ugh…”
“Hooh…”
And then, I said the line I’d been dying to try:
“You’re already dead.”
“W-what…?”
“Just wanted to say it.”
Jang’s eyes went wide as I sprang forward —
I spun midair and drove a side kick into his stomach.
Bam!
“Waaaaah!”
Yeah, I’m part of the modern generation, but what can I say — my pop-culture references are stuck in the ‘80s.
Still, that move looked damn cool.
“Ughhh…”
As I brushed my nose with my thumb in victory, dizziness hit me again.
Maybe I overdid it — the drugs were kicking back in.
But it worked.
The black aura was scattering, vanishing like a banshee’s wail.
Even the other ghosts watching in the warehouse looked shocked.
“Y-you… son of a…”
Jang, eyes bloodshot, grabbed a knife from the floor.
Uh oh — that’s not good.
I looked at Chul-sung and smiled.
“Mister, tag in!”
[Been waiting for that, kid.]
A human–ghost tag team.
Chul-sung grabbed my outstretched hand — and descended into my body once again.
