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Translator: uly
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: I Was Supposed to Get Possessed But Ended Up Possessing (1)
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A shaman's fate is something you're born with.
Like the infamous Ghost Gate Killer that's known far and wide.
Or someone loved by the gods.
Or those with exceptional spiritual senses.
There are many others besides.
And in my case, I was born with all of them at once.
A fate where I couldn't survive without becoming a shaman.
That's probably why, whenever I walk down the street, these kinds of questions come pouring in unusually often.
Just like right now.
"Do you believe in the Tao?"
"Get lost."
Faint eyebrows and drooping mouth corners.
His yellowish eyes screamed con artist at first glance.
These questions don't come out of nowhere.
They're all connected because I'm deeply tied to the world of shamanism.
"Ha.... Fucking fate...."
This damn body of mine attracts all these things in a row.
The senses honed from 23 years of living were sharply warning me.
That the moment I turn that street corner, another question would come.
And sure enough, as I turned the corner, an auntie approached me.
"Um.... Your energy is incredibly pure..."
"I know."
If my energy isn't pure, whose is?
"You've accumulated a tremendous amount of merit..."
"I know."
Merit?
Just from listening to the endless stories ghosts babble while alive, I've already piled up more than enough.
Most were ghosts who died lonely.
Just listening and playing with them was enough to resolve their grudges and let them pass on....
"The elders really like you, young man..."
"I told you, I know."
Unlike the previous Taoism guy, this auntie seemed to have some real insight.
Though still not a real deal.
A quick scan confirmed it.
How do I know?
"Auntie."
"Yes?"
"That's a stray ghost."
".....Pardon?"
I could tell just by looking at the ghost clinging to her shoulder.
A lump of resentment with not a trace of divine energy.
A vengeful spirit that scammed people in life and continued the same in death.
"Tsk...."
No way she'd understand a warning.
Nine out of ten react the same.
Like this.
"You... you... rotten bastard, where did you...!"
Who wouldn't get mad if told their worshipped spirit is a stray ghost?
And those fake shamans who got mad at me all met the same end.
Struck by the gods' wrath or hit by all sorts of calamities.
Because that stray ghost dared to harbor impure thoughts toward me.
Seeing the ghost on her shoulder flee in panic, something was about to happen soon.
"Auntie, watch out for cars."
"Hah, pretending to be a disciple..."
She scoffed at me disbelievingly and turned to cross the street.
I immediately reached out and yanked her by the nape.
"Ugh...! What the hell...!"
Before she could finish, a motorcycle came speeding from the direction she was heading.
Vroom -
"Wha...? Huh...?"
Realizing she nearly got hit by the motorcycle, she stared at me blankly.
"Told you to be careful."
"Uh... uh..."
Still dazed, staring at me.
I reached out and patted her shoulders.
Brushing off the calamity, in my own way.
"You're half-baked, Auntie."
The other shoulder too.
Pat pat.
"Keep a pure heart and help people. That's how the spirits will visit you."
You might ask why advise someone who snapped at me, but that's the life of a shaman.
Straightening those on the wrong path and making them happy.
If I left her alone, that ghost would come back.
Scamming innocents for money, piling up bad karma.
"Don't live thinking of gains; live thinking of losses."
"...Pardon...?"
"Tsk... Go on."
".....Y-yes..."
At least she seemed to recognize what kind of person I was, half-convinced.
Submissive under my presence.
I turned away from the auntie sneaking glances as she left and resumed walking.
Probably, if I kept going, some windfall would come.
This isn't just luck falling into my lap.
Merit once for helping the auntie.
Merit once for the motorcyclist who nearly got into an accident because of her.
I helped two people from serious injury, so this is the reward.
"Wonder what luck it'll be."
As I walked toward a big road.
A wind blew.
Whoosh.
Leaves rolled on the ground with the wind, rustling.
Rustle-
"....Huh?"
A yellowish paper visible among the leaves.
"No way....?"
I quickly picked it up before anyone saw; numbers were written on it.
A beautiful 50,000.
It looked like it rolled from afar; the 50,000 won bill was slightly wet and dirty.
But who cares.
It's 50,000 won.
"See, living kindly makes money roll in li..."
The joy was short-lived; I smacked my lips.
Because an old man stood next to the nearby fish-shaped pastry shop.
Dressed in fine hanbok.
Smack....
An old man in hanbok in the middle of Seoul?
Yes.
He had already passed away.
Next to him, an uncle and a little girl were talking.
"Daddy! I want fish pastries!"
"Fi... fish pastries?"
The man called daddy looked troubled, rummaging his pockets.
His troubled expression turned bitter, eyes filling with sadness.
"Eunseo... Fish pastries aren't good for you, let's get it next time."
"Why?"
Probably no money.
The old man watching them sadly was probably the girl's grandfather.
I looked down at the bill in my hand.
From how dirty it was, I could guess the situation.
The old man rolled it from afar to buy his granddaughter fish pastries.
"Sigh... Well... It wasn't my money after all."
No reason to hesitate.
I quickly walked over and called the uncle.
"Excuse me, Uncle."
Smoothly.
Holding the bill, I bent down pretending to pick something up.
"Yes?"
"You dropped some money."
He looked like he'd refuse saying it wasn't his, so I shoved the bill into his hand and walked away quickly.
Without giving him a chance to speak.
I was away from the father and daughter in seconds.
"Oh, right."
From a distance, I bowed to the father and daughter.
"Good grandfather."
The old man responded with a bright smile and a bow.
That family will probably become harmonious soon.
"The ancestors are good people."
Doing good warmed my heart.
My steps even lighter.
"Wait... Then what about the lucky windfall?"
My senses told me the luck aura was gone.
"Damn... This fate... Giving it all away."
Not even officially a shaman yet, and already like this....
I could see the path of hardship ahead.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Wake up!! We're here! Get up!!"
"F-five... more minutes..."
A palm slapped my thigh immediately.
Smack-
"Eek...! Hiss...."
The one watching me rub my thigh is my Master.
In this context, like a divine mother.
The one passing down the shaman arts.
A famous Great Shaman, unmatched in authority and skill.
"Ah... I told you not to hit me...!!!"
"Where's the punk who comes for the Initiation Ritual and sleeps sprawled out?"
"Ah... Okay..."
Initiation Ritual.
The sacred ceremony to receive the spirits and become an official shaman.
Today is the day I officially become a shaman.
"Grab your stuff."
"Y-yes..."
Opening the car door, I saw trees.
"We came far."
This is Gyeryong Mountain.
Famous for its pure and clear energy.
Where shamans and Taoists gather.
My new life begins on this spiritually potent mountain.
"Ha.... Fuck..."
Never lived a normal life, but thinking of truly leaving it behind, curses came first.
And punishment came immediately.
To the back of my head.
Whack-!
"Pay for your sins with beatings!"
"Hey, stop hitting! I'm gonna die of grievance here..."
I did good deeds, why keep getting hit?
Merit and all that is futile.
Anyway, following Master for a while, we reached the ritual site.
"Let's begin."
A shaman ritual isn't done alone.
Need drummers for the puk, janggu, jing.
Probably no ritual this elaborate.
Because she handpicked the best shamans from everywhere.
Master is incredibly intimidating.
Summoning them with one phone call.
Clang-
The ritual began with the jing sound.
Loud puk and janggu sounds echoed, and Master's voice chasing stray ghosts.
"Huo-ei! Begone!! Huo-ei!"
I stood at the center of the ritual ground.
A strange feeling.
Excitement?
Or thrill?
This must be what it feels like when the spirits descend.
Amid the noise, my mind calmed.
As the main ritual started, a clear rattle sound rang out.
Ting -
Ting -
Strange.
No rattle anywhere, no one shaking it.
Ting -
The rattle sound was clear and distinct.
And it started from my empty hands.
"Huh?"
Normally, you follow the sound to find the real rattle to use.
Hidden somewhere here.
But now it felt like it was already in my hands?
Clearly empty, yet the sensation of gripping something was vivid.
My hands were actually clenched as if holding something.
"....!!!"
The moment I realized, heat surged from deep in my chest.
The spirits descended.
My hands.
No, the rattle wanted to shake.
The moment my hands rose to the sky, shaking the rattle.
From the clear sky, a blue lightning bolt struck.
Toward me.
Flash-!
Krarararung ----
And in an instant, my vision went dark.
Along with the rattle sound.
Ting -