Chapter 4 – The Cursed Smile Mask
Gideon Black didn't rush to check the reward. Instead, he approached the middle-aged man.
This man had already been teetering on the edge of emotional collapse. Now, after being possessed by a malevolent spirit, his condition was even worse.
Gideon placed one hand over the man's head, the other clutching the cross hanging from his chest.
"You've carried the weight of your parents' expectations… provided for your family… You've suffered enough."
The man froze, trembling. Slowly, he looked up—tears were already streaming down his face.
"By the mercy of the Lord, I grant you a moment of peace."
As Gideon spoke, the man felt a warmth rising within him, a lightness of being that gently swept away the darkness festering in his heart.
"Thank you," the man choked out. "It's been so long since I felt this... peace."
He gripped Gideon's hand tightly, reluctant to let go.
Before parting, he handed Gideon a flyer.
It turned out he worked for a local community group, which would soon host a small expo focused on exorcist artifacts and occult tools—an event aimed at horror fans and professionals alike.
Unfortunately, it was an incredibly niche field, and his promotional efforts had been largely ignored. That persistent sense of failure had created the crack the spirit used to slip in.
Gideon had comforted him not just out of compassion—but also because of something else.
Anyone recently possessed would still carry a lingering trace of malevolent energy—like a flickering beacon in the dark.
To other spirits, that person would seem like fresh prey.
If left untreated, they'd only attract more trouble.
---
[Psychological Counseling +1]
[Current Progress: Tier 0 (14/100)]
---
As the notification flashed before his eyes, Gideon finally relaxed. This job was done.
"Father Gideon, that was amazing!"
A voice called out behind him.
Turning, Gideon saw Jarl and Judy sprinting over from the woods.
They'd witnessed everything from start to finish.
Even though Jarl couldn't see the spirit, he could feel the terrifying pressure in the air.
Judy, on the other hand, had inherited a touch of her mother's clairvoyant ability. She saw glimpses of the battle—and it shook her to the core.
She had always believed that when faced with such monsters, running was the only option.
But Gideon had not only stood his ground—he had fought back and won.
Her admiration deepened. Her eyes, once uncertain, now shimmered with something close to awe.
"C-Can I... learn exorcism from you?" Jarl asked nervously, mustering all his courage.
Judy nodded beside him, her expression equally hopeful.
Gideon instantly tensed.
His mind flashed with horrifying possibilities:
Being chased down to feed them lunch every day...
Getting sued by angry parents for abducting minors...
Rumors in the church accusing him of having 'unholy hobbies'...
---
All of this boiled down to one word—trouble.
So Gideon Black had a flash of inspiration.
"Ah, what a shame. To become an exorcist, you have to be at least eighteen. Otherwise, you risk spiritual corruption from lingering dark energy."
He sighed dramatically, as if mourning the loss of two talented prodigies.
Jarl's face instantly fell—he still had years to go before he turned eighteen.
Judy, on the other hand, looked skeptical. Her mom had never mentioned anything like that. She made a mental note to investigate when she got home.
Seeing that his ruse worked, Gideon crouched slightly and smiled kindly.
"Now, get home before it gets dark. If you're still out in a few hours, I'll start spreading rumors that you two snuck out on a date."
Jarl immediately stiffened and snuck a glance at Judy.
She couldn't help but laugh, showing a row of neat white teeth.
"Also," Gideon added, "let's keep what happened today between us."
He held out his hand.
The three of them stacked their hands together, sealing the secret with a quiet vow.
Once they were properly hoodwinked, Gideon briskly escorted the kids to the bus station. He watched until they boarded, then turned and walked off quickly—just in case they changed their minds.
---
At the Church
Outside the chapel, Gideon checked the hair-trap in the keyhole and the bells around the perimeter. Everything was undisturbed.
Only then did he unlock the door and go inside.
He dropped his travel bag and pulled out his newly acquired reward.
It was a thin, brown membrane—like a flexible mask—with a twisted, eerie grin painted on the surface.
At the same time, a set of information materialized in his mind:
[Cursed Smile Mask]
Effect: Strengthens the link between soul and body. Grants clarity to those lost in darkness.
Side Effect: While worn, the user's personality may be subtly altered.
Note: Its origin is unknown.
Gideon rubbed his chin—a subconscious habit when deep in thought.
Judging by the description, this seemed like a protective-type item, probably worn over the face.
But that last line… made him uneasy.
"A change in personality, huh…"
A thought struck him.
He left the church and returned a few minutes later, carrying a small iron cage—with a white rabbit inside.
"Better safe than sorry. I need to test this thing before I slap it on myself."
He also grabbed the wooden jar that had been used to seal the malevolent spirit earlier.
Then, he made his way to a side room on the first floor of the church.
Gideon lit an oil lamp, illuminating the room.
It was mostly bare, save for the walls—which were covered in hand-drawn seals and holy scripts, all soaked in at least two years' worth of holy water.
In the center of the room lay a metal hatch, sealed with a heavy lock and paper talismans.
His expression turned solemn.
He began prepping the ritual space: placing small bells around the hatch in a hexagram pattern, positioning a miniature saint statue at the door, and laying out his holy water and crucifix.
He sprinkled holy water around the hatch's edges and swept the crucifix over the top.
Once everything was in place, Gideon unlocked the hatch.
A gust of cold air rushed upward, raising goosebumps on his arms.
Below the hatch was a wooden ladder.
Before descending, he grabbed a mirror and angled it downward—just in case.
Seeing no anomalies, he cautiously made his way down.
---
The Purification Cellar
The cellar was dim and compact, filled with rows of metal shelves stacked with identical wooden jars—empty now.
In one corner stood six large saint statues, each with a bell attached.
In the center was a shallow pool of blessed water.
This was Gideon's purification chamber, meticulously prepared. Even if something went wrong, the layered protections would keep the evil contained.
He set the iron cage down and placed the sealed wooden jar into the water.
Then, he retrieved a thick scripture from one of the shelves and began reading aloud:
"In the name of the Lord, I cast away all wickedness from this world…"
His voice echoed through the underground chamber.
The water began to bubble. The jar trembled violently, guttural growls escaping from within.
But the surrounding statues, the trap seals, and the talisman-lined walls suppressed the force completely.
A few minutes later, a hiss of white smoke rose from the water. The jar stilled.
The purification was complete.
[Scripture Reading +1]
[Current Progress: Tier 0 (98/100)]
*Your devotion deepens your understanding of sacred righteousness.
This particular scripture was from an official exorcist's manual—only licensed exorcists recognized by the Holy See were supposed to have access to it.
Most clergy couldn't channel its full effect.
But Gideon was not most clergy.
Through daily discipline, constant study, and the unique skill [Scripture Reading], he was different.
After placing the now-empty jar back on the shelf, he turned to the second task.
He lowered the iron cage into the pool, submerging the white rabbit—except for its head.
The creature panicked, splashing around in distress.
Next, Gideon carefully wrapped the cage in strips of talisman-paper soaked in holy water—leaving only the door exposed.
He laid out his crucifix, the Exorcist Bible, and several more protective charms—taking every precaution.
Then, with the utmost care, he opened the cage and gently placed the Cursed Smile Mask onto the rabbit's face.
He immediately stepped back, eyes locked on the cage.
One second…
Two seconds…
Nothing happened.
And then—the rabbit suddenly froze.