I Obtained a Divine Artifact
A ripple spread out, like tossing a stone into a calm lake surface.
At that moment, Zhuque suddenly spoke up.
I stuck my hand in. It slid right in smoothly. I groped around inside, but nothing stood out.
"Is this some kind of subspace?"
"Yeah, I should."
Curiosity about the unknown realm outweighed any worries about it being a trap. After my arm, I stuck my face in next.
"What the...?"
Even with my eyes open, I couldn't see a thing ahead. The space clearly existed, but it was like no light could enter at all.
Zhuque had mentioned something about space-time—maybe it knew?
"Zhuque. Any idea what this space is?"
I asked as I slipped the Sealed Sword into the mirror too.
"A passage?"
"What? For real?"
I doubted my ears. What Zhuque was saying meant...
"So it's spatial transfer or something?"
"Got it."
I grinned with delight. Handing over something this good—Cromwell the Department Head might actually be a decent guy. It must mean he had high expectations for the military factory and me.
"By the way, Zhuque. You know a lot about human artifacts too?"
"I see."
Looks like I could count on its help with more items like this in the future.
Then Angelica spoke up.
"...Yeah, probably."
My excitement faded fast. Angelica's point killed the mood. A usage limit was one thing, but not knowing how many uses were left was the real problem. Cromwell hadn't mentioned it, so he probably didn't know either.
"Still, gotta test how it works."
I climbed onto the sink.
"Up we go."
It was a typical half-body bathroom mirror, so squeezing my whole body in was a hassle.
"Gotta get a full-length mirror in my room."
Finally, I slipped fully into the mirror's space.
Hm, where to?
Picturing a desired location had clear limits. Only places I'd seen before.
"...Huh?"
On a whim, I tried picturing my real room in Seoul—not the employee dorm at Hunter Stock Company 17th Branch. Nothing happened after waiting.
Figures. Cromwell would've tested it already. If it worked like that, he wouldn't have given me the key. I wouldn't either.
I pictured my dorm bathroom mirror. Nothing. So...
Where to go? I thought of somewhere in the company I wanted to check. A mirror like the bathroom one appeared before me.
"Hm."
Definitely a passage, as Zhuque said. I peeked into the new mirror.
No way anyone's here now, right?
"Phew."
Looking around, it was a bathroom like mine, but bigger and fancier. No one seemed to be around—relief mixed with a twinge of regret.
"What's up?"
I took a deep breath. Faint blood scent mixed with a sweet aroma.
"Shh."
Come to think of it, this place looked familiar...
Click-clack, click-clack.
Familiar footsteps approached. Meeting the owner here would spell big trouble. I yanked my head back and returned to the dorm bathroom.
I felt wronged. Plenty of mirrors in the company, but closed spaces? Only bathrooms came to mind. Couldn't just pop out in a crowd of employees yelling "Ta-da!"
The target was risky, but I had to test it.
"Hm... Now I get why Cromwell gave this to me."
The function was top-notch, no doubt. But the restrictions on use were huge. Used right, I could roam the company freely—but that limit nagged at me.
"Shut up."
Musing, I muttered Angelica's words.
"Other people's bathrooms..."
An idea hit me. Employee dorm bathrooms all had mirrors. So Jo In-ho's too—if he was Regular Employee or higher. Lower ranks used communal ones.
I didn't know Jo In-ho's exact rank at this point. He hadn't shown for promotion judging today, so probably below Regular.
Wait for his promotion? I wanted to kill him now, but couldn't. Kim Hansu died for defying Madric Blood; killing a random employee was different.
Finding his rank was easy—ask HR with a good excuse. Lacking one, I'd ask Seon Ga-hee personally.
Pondering what to do meanwhile, I sat on the bed and closed my eyes.
"Time to run some Blood Cycle."
Cromwell would handle reporting to Madric Blood Director.
Bzzz.
Blood-red energy coursed through my meridians. Blood Cycle was great overall, but circulation raised my body temp, making me sweat and skin flush—a minor flaw.
Negligible compared to benefits. With Peak enlightenment, internal energy built faster than usual. Danjeon tingled, nearly making me chuckle. Knowing it expanded my danjeon with enlightenment turned it to pleasure.
As Gwak Do-cheol said, a day or two like this should do it.
"..."
I opened my eyes to evening. My body was drenched like post-shower.
"Nice."
The [My Information] window now had an upward arrow after the old 128 cap. Nothing more straightforward to show I'd broken through the wall.
After circulation, Angelica hit me with an out-of-left-field question.
"Huh? Of course not."
"You saying it's dangerous?"
"But you sensed something in the Blood Cycle, so you're saying that?"
"Hm..."
I didn't mind the color change. Murim masters often transformed physically from martial arts—color shifts were common.
"Nah."
"Sure."
She grumbled usually, but cared subtly in fights or now—like a prickly girlfriend. Such a good girl, Angelica.
"Eh, that's a bit much."
Power-hungry or not, I didn't want the demonic path.
I stood and headed to the bathroom.
Shhh!
After showering, I went to the company cafeteria. Familiar faces plus new interns in varied clothes from their worlds. Among them, a familiar tights-clad figure.
"Sasaki?"
"Eek!"
She yelped while getting her tray.
"Wh-what?!"
"Why so jumpy?"
"Don't sneak up from behind."
"Isn't that your specialty?"
"Th... Hitting where it hurts is unfair."
She turned.
"More importantly, why call me? Thought of what you want as my prize?"
"My demand?"
Kasumi seemed eager to settle our bet. Uncomfortable with the debt, probably. Have her watch Jo In-ho? She was stealth expert.
"If no business, move. Starved—skipped lunch."
Oh right, me too. Hunger hit hard. Food smells from her tray worsened it.
...No, not food.
I stared at her pale nape.
"What I want is..."
Blue veins under white skin. Red blood trickling down? Heavenly. Sweet taste. Sink fangs, suck deep.
A fierce urge overwhelmed me.
Sensing danger, Kasumi flushed to her ears, flustered.
"N-not here..."
"Damn it."
"Wha—? Where you going?! Even outside..."
Recalling the ugly urge, nausea rose. Appetite vanished.
Had to see Madric Blood Director now. Pray she knew a fix.
Knowing she showered after dinner, I waited by her dorm.
Soon after.
"Early today."
"Director."
"What's got you so urgent? Like a puppy needing to pee."
"That obvious?"
"Of course. Come in."
I entered her room. The sweet scent hit stronger—no blood tang, masked by it.
Meant to ask if she'd skipped blood, but shut up. Trash bin overflowed with more blood packs.
So this sweetness was...
"Hm, I see. You've developed bloodlust too."
True progenitor—she spotted it instantly.
I nodded.
"Seems so. Started today..."
"And you want a solution?"
"Yes."
"Simple. Drink. As much as you want."
"..."
"Tell Health and Welfare—they'll provide."
Maybe, but I shook my head.
"I want to stay human."
She chuckled softly.
"What? Why not tell me sooner?"
"..."
"B-but..."
No rebuttal. Live like this forever? Suppress this massive urge? The price of my power?
Staring blankly, she said:
Madric Blood Director leaned in close.
"Hah."
Pierce.
"Hngh?!"
Sharp twin pricks pierced my nape.
Slurp.
Blood gushed from my neck. Gulp, gulp. Her throat bobbed.
I tried resisting, but her arms locked me tight. No strength anyway.
Desperate, I drew internal energy—still not enough.
Not dying from full drain, right? Or turning vampire?
Maybe better that way—no more suppressing thirst.
Madric Blood and Angelica wanted me vampirized, it seemed.
Ugh, sleepy. Eyes heavy.
Sudden affection for her welled up.
"Haa..."
She pulled away, licking two blood trails from my nape. Then stroked my head.