Open Sesame and the Frog Curse
Before entering the castle, we ran into one obstacle.
"The door won't open."
The middle-aged mage stroked his chin as he analyzed the massive castle gate. The other mages beside him pushed with all their might to open it, but it didn't budge an inch.
How do I handle this?
Should I just smash it?
I fiddled with the talisman in my hand, pondering for a moment. But before I could step up, Juharin shoved the mages standing in front of the door with her staff.
"Out of the way. You're in the way."
Once the mages trying to force it open had stepped aside, Juharin extended her hand toward the door.
"Open sesame."
The moment she chanted the spell, I watched as a massive, translucent hand emanating from her forcibly pried open the locked castle gate. With the door swung wide, Juharin beckoned me over.
"What was that just now?"
"A door-opening spell. It can force open any door."
I approached and asked; she naturally sidled up to me, explaining kindly.
"I see."
"Yeah. I told you my magic, so tell me yours."
"Don't have one yet."
"Liar!"
"Believe it or not."
Juharin shot me a sharp glance before speaking in a sulky voice.
"Hmph, you're gonna keep it secret to the end, huh?"
"Not really."
"Well, fine. Men with lots of secrets are attractive anyway."
Juharin looked up at me with a smug face. A face I wanted to smack.
I didn't hold back.
Bonk.
"Kyaa! What the hell! Did you just hit me?"
"Nah, you were so cute I went to pat you and missed."
"What? For real? Hmph! Fine, I forgive you then!"
Easy. Too easy.
I'd already mastered teasing this naive girl who knew nothing of the world. And we'd only met less than an hour ago. Must mean she was raised sheltered.
"Hey, so you'll pat me again, right?"
"Nah, time to work now."
As we passed through the gate and walked into the castle grounds, we soon reached the main keep. My chat with Juharin had eased my tension. Too much contrast wasn't good.
But from here on, I couldn't let my guard down.
"The door's open."
Unlike the firmly shut outer wall gate, the main keep's door was flung wide, as if welcoming us. There were surely traps inside. The Necromancer had to know we were coming.
"Let's hurry in."
But Juharin, unphased by any traps, dashed inside ahead of me. I followed slowly behind. As I moved, the hesitant mages started following too.
Thud—!
The moment we entered the main keep, the wide-open door slammed shut. The startled mages rushed to open it.
"Damn it! It won't budge!"
"Are we trapped?"
I glanced at Juharin. She ignored the closed door, walking forward without a care. With the magic she'd shown earlier, it wouldn't be an issue.
I followed behind her, ignoring the sudden door closure, but of course staying alert to my surroundings. I kept my eyes scanning, watching for enemies.
A high ceiling with an old chandelier, walls adorned with luxurious decorations. A worn red carpet that must have once been expensive. It didn't match the grotesque castle exterior.
Did a castle like this exist in Korea? Even I, who didn't know much history, knew there were no massive European-style buildings like this here. Probably the Necromancer's doing.
I was starting to understand that magic denied what I thought was common sense. Even if everything I saw was created by magic, it wouldn't be strange.
We kept walking, tension high.
Rumble—
A massive vibration shook the building.
Earthquake? No way at this timing. More logical to think it was the Necromancer. I gripped my talisman, glaring down the front corridor. The only place for enemies was straight ahead.
But contrary to my expectation, the ghouls emerged from the walls. Ghouls poured out from the walls adorned with ornate decorations. Once they'd all spilled from the sides, ignoring front and rear, something unidentified peeked from the ceiling.
"Greetings."
With only its head out, long hair hanging down, it was a hollow-eyed man hanging upside down, staring at us. Matched the face from the request sheet. That was the Necromancer.
"Nice, saves me the search."
Juharin grinned confidently at him.
"Funny. You think a brat like you can take me?"
"Siwoo. Restaurant after we're done, got it?"
Ignoring the Necromancer and saying what she wanted, she aimed her staff at the ghouls.
"I'll finish quick."
Vrrrrm—
The air vibrated. Purple haze rose from Juharin's body. Her eyes, glowing violet, swept over the ghouls.
"Rana Vertie."
She chanted, and the purple haze turned to waves, brushing past the ghouls blocking front and back. But the ghouls showed no change. They approached us slowly, intact.
Yet the Necromancer's face darkened.
"A Witch.... So that's why my prepared curses failed."
"Hmm... As expected of a Necromancer? You blocked my curse?"
"Not enough to lose to a fledgling mage."
"Doesn't matter. Your ghouls are all neutralized anyway."
Their exchange confused me a bit. Neutralized the ghouls?
I looked back and forth. The ghouls were still approaching slowly.
Should I step in?
The moment I started channeling energy into my talisman—
[Grrrrr....]
[Screech! Screech! Screech!]
[Grraaak!!]
The ghouls' bodies began twisting grotesquely. Their forms, decayed yet humanoid, had every body part morphing into reptilian features.
Small human eyes bulged huge and ugly; rotten skin turned moist green hide; five thin fingers became three short, thick stubs.
[Ribbit....]
[Grr... Ribbit.]
[Ribbit ribbit ribbit.]
Their bloated bodies couldn't adapt to the short, stout forms; they crawled on the ground. Green slime oozed from their new moist skin, reeking.
...Impressive.
I stared at Juharin with wide eyes.
Witch
Her magic cursed foes into frogs. Turning this many ghouls combat-ineffective with one spell. I couldn't help but be awed by the sheer power.
That was true magic....
I finally understood why it outclassed sorcery. Not the weak spells of other mages, but high-level magic from a talented, arrogant one. The scene made my heart race.
And it built anticipation.
What was my magic?
What mysteries could my unique magic unleash?
"Hand over your neck nicely. I know these are all the ghouls you have."
"Hmm... Neutralizing my high-resistance ghouls with one curse. Not bad for a fledgling."
"Ha! You must've worked hard gathering so many. Too bad? All that effort hiding from the Management Bureau, gone in a flash."
"Cheap taunts don't work."
"Not a taunt. I'm serious."
Thud.
Juharin stabbed her broom into the ground.
Whoosh—!!
Black thorns erupted from the floor, impaling the frog-ghouls.
"You're next."
Her cruel gaze turned to the Necromancer.
"No choice then."
The guy with just his head out slowly emerged from the ceiling.
"If curses, ghouls, and ambushes fail, only one option left...."
"Ambush? Keeek! With those slow-ass ghouls?"
"That leisure ends now."
Once fully out, he hovered in midair without falling.
"I invite you to the past. Open."
He formed a hand seal, and the world flipped.
Crackcraaack—!
In a blink, rotten trees enveloped us. We were trapped in a spherical wooden cage. As I went to throw my talisman, Juharin chanted.
"Open sesame."
The giant hand forcibly tore apart the surrounding trees.
"A domain? No, he's not that level."
Forcing an exit, Juharin muttered to herself before stepping out, face pale.
"Whatever. Just a delay. He still dies."
"What happened?"
I approached her, now composed, and asked.
"He ran. But not far. We can catch him today."
"Not that."
I stared seriously across the broken wood.
Beyond was the corridor. The same place we'd fought the ghouls. But different.
Worn wallpaper gleamed new; decorations regained luster. The faded red carpet looked pristine.
Like seeing the corridor's past self.
"Just a barrier. You see it too, right?"
"...Then those moving armors?"
"Dunno. Don't look friendly."
I eyed the armors clanking toward us from the dark end of the hall. No human visible through the helmets.
"I'll handle them."
I stepped forward. The armors drew swords and charged. I flung several talismans at them.
Kabooom—!!
A massive explosion erupted. Blue flames engulfed the armors, melting them. The ghost fire obeyed my will, sparing the building and consuming only the armors.
"Other forces besides ghouls?"
I pondered the burning armor piles on the floor. Info was too scarce. No clue how many cards the Necromancer had.
Nothing for it. This was only my second job. High pay meant high risk—I knew that. Good thing I wasn't alone, with experienced folks.
I turned back to the group.
"Then we need to find the Necromancer quick...."
My words caught in my throat.
Everyone who'd been behind me was gone.
"...."
Cold sweat trickled down.
I turned back to the dark end of the long corridor.
Voooong—
An eerie wind howled.
I didn't know where they'd gone, but one thing was clear.
...I'd have to navigate this darkness alone, no help.
"Where is this...?"
Juharin scanned her surroundings warily. The moment Siwoo stepped up to handle the approaching armors, some unidentified force had dragged her here.
"Fuck... what the hell?"
"Huh? This isn't where we were."
"We're screwed...."
Ignoring the muttering mages, Juharin stood.
Everyone except Siwoo had been moved here. Like someone forcibly separating us from him.
Coincidental. And full of questions.
Could a mere Necromancer teleport a high-level mage like her? Why bring her and these lowlifes to this dim space?
"I'll scout around."
Then the Transformation mage stepped up. His eyes glowed fluorescent. Likely enhanced to pierce the dark.
"How's it look? What is this place?"
"No traps so far..."
She listened silently.
"A vast space...? Like a king's audience chamber from a movie.... Grand, beautiful...."
"Skip the commentary. Any exits?"
"Wait... Yeah, big door back there. If we go—huh?"
"What?"
"Something crouched on the huge throne.... Freakishly long, thin limbs... Not human."
"Ignore it, get out first."
"Hold on, lemme check...."
The fluorescent eyes approached the throne cautiously, then stopped with a small gasp.
"Whoa... look at that plate."
Then, a sinister gleam flashed from the throne. The gaze piercing the dark locked onto the intruder's face.
Sensing something wrong from the malice-filled eyes, Juharin tensed.
[Kwaaaaaa————!!!!]
"Wh-what the fuck! It's staring at me!! Shit! That mouth's huge!!"
Kaboom—!!
"Gaaah!! It's on me! Jom, help!!"
Crunch crunch.
"Gaaaaah—!! My arm!! It ate my fucking arm, you bitch!!! Somebody save me!!"
Splurt—!
"Kyaaaaaaa!!! Mom!!!! MOM!!!!! MOOOM—————!!!!"
With the sound of guts being ripped, the mage's screams and the monster's roar cut off. Yet Juharin and the others couldn't move an inch.
[.........]
The chilling gaze glared from the darkness.