The Sacred Manager Life - Chapter 75

[The gift of Spirit Discernment reacted automatically. That smoke is only visible to you, Master.]

It resembled the black smoke I'd seen emanating from the fanatics of the Jin Cult.

‘Is the director a cultist too?’

[No. The purpose of Spirit Discernment isn’t to detect false beliefs. It can distinguish all things that deceive humans—wicked influences, Satan’s temptations, evil energies, anything that distorts divine will and disrupts the world.]

The scope of this gift was no joke.

[That’s a corrupt energy that deceives and destroys humans.]

‘But all I see is black smoke?’

[You’ll learn to differentiate with experience. Your proficiency with passive gifts is still lacking, Master.]

‘How much experience do I need?’

[Hmm… Around the level of the 12 Apostles?]

That’s impossible.

[This is bad. The spirit of suicide is attached to him.]

‘Suicide?’

I was startled.

[When this spirit latches on, the person experiences intense suicidal urges regardless of their will. That man has been fighting those impulses, which is why his body and mind are so worn down. His will to live is truly remarkable.]

Now wasn’t the time to admire the director’s resilience.

‘Why is that thing attached to him?’

[Satan constantly creates negative spirits to corrupt humans. Spirits of envy, hatred, sloth, addiction—when life is worn down by these, the spirit of suicide attaches itself and leads them to death. Despairing, abandoning hope, and taking their own life… It’s the death Satan relishes most.]

Whatever the case, the director was on the verge of suicide.

Now that I knew, I couldn’t just stand by.

How could anyone be forced into suicide against their will?

I approached and bowed politely.

“Hello, Director. I’m from Fine Entertain—”

“Gahhh!”

The moment he saw me, his face twisted in terror as he stumbled backward.

He spun around and bolted in the opposite direction.

[As expected. He sensed your gift and is afraid. He realized you have the power to exorcise him.]

‘I have an exorcism gift?’

[Of course. The Son of God descended to earth and healed many possessed people. That thing isn’t even worth being called a demon—just a pitiful spirit.]

So now I’m a Ghostbuster too.

“He’s changed. He used to be sharp, but now…”

Team Leader Park muttered, watching the director flee.

“Team Leader, would it be okay if I greet Producer Shin Dong-ho before we leave? Since we’re already at KBC, it feels rude to just go.”

I needed an excuse to separate from Team Leader Park.

“Sure. I’ll head out first, so catch up after.”

“Thank you.”

Once Team Leader Park left, I called Producer Hyun.

“Hello, Producer. This is Seo Joo-won, who greeted you earlier. There’s something I’d like to discuss—do you have a moment? Ah, yes. I’ll be right there.”

I returned to the meeting room and met with Producer Hyun.

“I saw the director passing by in the hallway earlier. Like you said, he seemed… off.”

“Right? He’s functional at work, but the rest of the time, he looks like a wreck.”

[The spirit of suicide is cunning—it leaves just enough sanity to torment him. If he completely lost his mind, he wouldn’t even feel the urge. It keeps him barely functional while relentlessly torturing him, pushing him to the brink of suicide.]

“That’s why I wanted to ask—could you tell me more about the director?”

“Why him?”

He glanced around and lowered his voice, as if sharing a major secret.

“My aunt is a renowned shaman. Celebrities and politicians pay fortunes to see her. Some even call her the Fairy Goddess because of her divine power.”

“A shaman? Fairy?”

He looked skeptical but still leaned in curiously.

“I’ve inherited ‘a bit’ of her sensitivity to negative energies. When the director passed by earlier, I smelled something burning and felt this oppressive dread. My aunt would’ve said he’s possessed.”

People in broadcasting were surprisingly open to superstitions.

It was common to hold rituals before drama shoots for high ratings, and some producers and actors even carried talismans in their shoes.

“His condition isn’t just poor health. There’s something else—something invisible.”

I spoke with the grave tone of someone sharing a horror story.

It must’ve worked—Producer Hyun gulped.

“I can’t fix it, but my aunt definitely can. I could introduce you, but first, I need to know more about him.”

Thanks to Producer Hyun’s cooperation, I learned a few things about Director Jang Tae-ho:

- A prodigy who became the youngest director in the company’s history.
- Hot-tempered but well-regarded.
- His wife is in the U.S. assisting their soon-to-be-born daughter, leaving him alone.
- His condition worsened after suffering from insomnia for months.

I also found out where he lived.

A broadcasting director wouldn’t meet with a mere agency manager.

I’d have to confront him directly.

I staked out his place from after work until past midnight, when the living room light finally turned on.

‘Open the door.’

I passed through the apartment lobby and went up to his floor.

When I entered, the director was standing motionless in the kitchen—

With a kitchen knife in hand.

“Director! Drop the knife!”

He turned, saw me, and collapsed in terror, teeth chattering.

“Wh-what are you? How did you get in?!”

｢One… who bears… the gift… Why… interfere?｣

His voice alternated between his own and a grating metallic tone—his mind was slipping.

[Don’t answer when the spirit speaks. It’s looking for an opening to tempt you. Humans are easily swayed.]

Including me, apparently.

Not that I’d fall for that creepy voice, but I followed the spirit’s advice.

Better safe than sorry.

“We met at the broadcasting station earlier. You seemed startled by me.”

Finally, he looked at me properly.

I stepped closer so he could recognize me.

“D-don’t come near me!”

｢Why… won’t you… answer me?｣

“But how did you… find my home?”

“That’s not important. Listen carefully—lately, something’s been telling you to die, right?”

His eyes widened.

How do you know? his expression said.

“That it’s noble for humans to choose death, that glorious eternal life awaits, that suicide is foolish because it denies you that joy… It keeps saying that, doesn’t it?”

The spirit had taught me—the spirit of suicide always gaslights the same way.

I parroted its words to seize control of the conversation.

“H-how do you…?”

｢Don’t… believe him… That human… deceives you.｣

The spirit grew frantic, interrupting, but I kept persuading the director.

“That’s a demon. You’ve seen them in movies, right? It’s a demon trying to make you kill yourself.”

“It’s robbing you of peace. You haven’t slept properly in over a month. It’s making you think death is better.”

“Your daughter’s about to be born, right? Don’t you want to be a grandfather? What about your wife, left alone? How irresponsible would that be as the head of the family?”

I kept talking, whether he listened or not.

The spirit said sincerity was key—my words carried weight.

[Pity comes from the head—you feel sorry and move on. But mercy comes from the body—it drives action. You’re not just talking; you’re offering real help. That’s why your words resonate.]

｢Don’t… believe… that human!｣

The spirit raged, but the director wasn’t shaking anymore.

“Then what do I do? The times when I’m not myself keep growing. I can’t even control myself—what am I supposed to do?”

“If I can help, will you trust me?”

“You? How?”

“Come tomorrow at the same time. If you’re willing to accept my help, leave the door open and wait for me. I’ll drive out whatever’s tormenting you.”

｢Keh keh… A human… thinks they can… banish me?｣

Ignoring the spirit, I stepped outside.

Before leaving, I gave the director one last warning:

“Before we meet tomorrow, it’ll tempt you harder. Stay sharp. Fight to survive—think of your family.”

‘Why not save him now?’

I asked the spirit as I left the apartment.

[There’s an order to these things.]

‘What order?’

[Demons can be cast out in the name of God. But would that man believe in God when he doesn’t even believe in you? He’s clinging to the last shreds of his will. Only when that’s gone will he turn to God. Since you’re acting in His stead, he must turn to you.]

Like how healing gifts only work if they believe in me.

‘What if the spirit harms him before tomorrow? Then it’s all for nothing.’

[Evil spirits can’t directly harm humans. They can only tempt by playing on emotions. And we won’t even need to wait until night—it’ll be over by morning.]

‘Really?’

[Telling him to leave the door open at night was a ruse. That thing’s desperate—it’ll act by tomorrow morning. The gift of Prophecy already showed you.]

Ah.

That’s why it showed me the vision of him jumping off the roof.

[The gift of Waymarking will reveal the location, and I’ll wake you in time. We have the tools, but we need one more thing.]

‘What?’

[It’s at your place. I’ll tell you when we get there.]