Making Money (4)
Making Money (4)
About ten minutes had passed since we started exploring the sewers.
"Are you sure ghouls actually exist?"
Not a single ghoul in sight. Clutching the talismans Se-chan had handed me in both hands, I followed closely behind him. Se-chan, who had been grinning the whole time, turned his head to look at me.
"No idea."
"Then what's with that smug-ass smile?"
"Sorry, but I just smile all the time."
Now that I thought about it, I'd never seen him frown. Considering how long we'd known each other, it might actually be true.
"You seriously smile every single day? How?"
"What do you mean 'how'? I just do."
No, that wasn't what I meant. What I wanted to know was the secret to smiling every day while grinding through backbreaking labor.
When I asked him directly, he flashed that same smug grin and answered.
"No idea."
Then why the hell did he look so confident?
"Right..."
I turned away. Pointless question. This was the same guy who, despite coming from a well-off family, worked manual labor just to fund his occult hobbies.
Trying to understand the mindset of a madman was a fool's errand.
Anyway, to quickly change the subject, I asked something that had been on my mind.
"So how do these talismans work?"
I looked down at the yellow talismans in my hands.
The eerie yellow paper was inscribed with red ink characters. They looked impressive, but what mattered was their effect. If they didn't work when I needed them, what was the point?
"Just focus your intent and throw them. That's what I was told."
"What the hell does that even mean?"
Focus my intent? That was way too abstract. At least if he'd said something like "channel your energy," I could've tried, but what the hell was "focus your intent" supposed to mean?
"Tsk tsk. Just give it a shot."
"Cut the bullshit. Let's just swap weapons."
When I eyed the baseball bat in Se-chan's hands, he hugged it protectively and explained.
"No can do. I've got zero talent for talisman magic."
"How do you know that?"
"Oh, that?" Se-chan scratched his head and answered nonchalantly.
"Because even when I focused my intent, the talismans wouldn't fly."
"No shit, because that's not how you use them!"
Suddenly, I hated myself for not bringing anything. What the hell was I thinking, trusting this guy and leaving the house empty-handed? At the very least, I should've grabbed a kitchen knife.
As I glared at him, Se-chan raised his hands defensively.
"Whoa, chill. I might not have the talent, but I believe in you."
"Did you get scammed again?"
"'Again'? I don't get scammed that often. Besides, these talismans came from the same guy who made those cursed dolls. No need to worry."
Hearing his weak excuse calmed me down slightly. If they were from the same person who made those straw dolls—which I knew were real—then I could reluctantly accept it.
"Did the creator at least explain how to use them?"
"Nope."
Should we turn back now? Just as I was seriously considering it, footsteps echoed from ahead.
"Ghoul."
Se-chan, who had been grinning, suddenly spoke in a low, serious voice—though it didn't last long before his usual smirk returned. He pointed at himself with his thumb and declared boldly.
"Perfect target to practice your talismans on. I'll hold it down—give it a shot."
"Huh? Hey, wait—!"
Before I could stop him, he lunged forward and delivered a dropkick to the ghoul, which had been shuffling along, oblivious.
"HYAH!"
THUD!
[Grrrrk...!]
The ghoul collapsed with a weak groan after taking the dropkick straight to the chest.
"Get ready!"
Se-chan didn't waste a second. He quickly moved behind the ghoul, wrapped his bat around its neck, and locked it in a chokehold.
"Now!"
Se-chan had it pinned perfectly. Despite its sluggish appearance, the ghoul thrashed wildly, its arms flailing at terrifying speed as it tried to break free.
"Ugh, it looks disgusting."
"Heh. Yeah, it's kinda fucked up."
I gripped a single talisman in my right hand.
Focus my intent... focus...
I poured my desire to burn this thing to ashes into the talisman. The limp paper suddenly stiffened, standing upright in my palm.
Feeling the talisman harden like a blade, I immediately hurled it at the ghoul.
[Grrrrrl...!]
SWOOSH—!
The sharp talisman embedded itself deep in the ghoul's chest. It stopped struggling momentarily, staring dumbly at the talisman lodged in its body—before letting out an unearthly shriek.
[KRRRAAAAAA—!]
Blue flames erupted from the talisman, engulfing the ghoul in an instant.
[KEEEEEEEE—!]
"Whoa! Knew you could do it!"
Se-chan, who had wisely backed off before the flames spread, stood beside me, impressed.
"Wait, that actually worked?"
Ever since Se-chan showed me that palm-sized will-o'-the-wisp in the alley behind the barbecue place, I'd stopped doubting the existence of magic and supernatural creatures. But believing in them and believing I could use magic were two different things.
"I just used magic..."
As I marveled at myself, Se-chan chimed in.
"Oh, by the way, that wasn't magic. That was talisman sorcery."
"Huh? That wasn't magic?"
"Magic is way more incredible and flashy. That was just something a flamethrower could replicate."
More incredible than this? I looked down at the ghoul's corpse, still burning on the ground.
WHOOSH—
Even though it had stopped moving, the blue flames showed no sign of dying out. Ghouls were supposed to be tough, supernatural beings. And something even stronger than this could take them down?
"Then how do you use magic? Wait, what even is magic? Like, Fireball? Hellfire? That kind of thing?"
"Nah, not like that. To put it simply, magic is something... more mystical."
Se-chan's face twisted into an eerie grin, as if possessed. He spread his arms unnaturally wide, as if embracing the air itself, and tilted his head back.
His radiant hair defied gravity, cascading behind him like a waterfall.
Then, locking eyes with me, he spoke in a voice that seemed to rise from the depths of his soul.
"Magic! The supreme mystery beyond all sorcery! A sacred privilege granted only to those born as mages—the chosen ones! You and I... we are the chosen!"
"Why the hell are you screaming all of a sudden?"
What was this sudden outburst? Did my question trigger something? No clue. And honestly, I didn't want to know.
I looked into his eyes.
They were gone.
SMACK!
"OW! What the hell?!"
"Snap out of it and open your damn eyes properly. Anyway, so magic is something only born mages can use? Then where do you learn it?"
Rubbing the back of his head, Se-chan answered. His eyes were back to normal.
"Ah, sorry. My mood swings have been wild lately... Maybe it's menopause?"
"Stop talking nonsense."
Ahem. "Right, let me explain. People are born with magic already inside them. So no mage ever learns magic from someone else. They just... awaken to it naturally."
"Then how am I a mage if I don't know any magic?"
"No, you are a mage."
"How the hell do you know that? And don't give me some vague 'talent' crap."
"Magic... the primordial mystery is truly profound and elusive..."
This bastard's eyes were glazing over again.
SMACK!
"OW! STOP!"
I glared at him as he returned to normal. Every time magic came up, he seemed to lose his mind.
"So how are you so sure I'm a mage?"
"Mages can recognize other mages at a glance... Wait! Put your hand down! It hurts!"
"Stop spewing nonsense and talk straight. You wanna get hit again?"
"I'm serious! Mages can sense other mages! You just haven't awakened to your Unique Magic yet!"
Unique Magic? I think I'd heard that term on the forum yesterday.
"Then you're a mage too, right? So you've got a Unique Magic?"
"Yep. Mine is..."
Just then, uninvited guests arrived.
Maybe we'd been too loud. Two more ghouls had found us.
[Grrrrrl...]
[Grrrrrnnn...]
We cut our conversation short and faced the newcomers.
"Okay, let's each take one—"
"No, stay back."
I pushed Se-chan aside as he readied his bat, stepping forward instead. My aim wasn't great yet, and I didn't want to risk hitting him.
Focusing on the talismans in each hand, I willed them to life. The limp papers stiffened, standing at attention. I hurled them at the ghouls.
[KRRRAAAA—!]
[KEEEEEE—!]
And just like that, three ghouls down.
"Oho! You're getting good!"
"Easier than I thought."
"That's 'cause you've got talent! I told you—you've got what it takes to be a Grand Mage!"
"Enough with the flattery. Can we head back now?"
Once we got back, I'd have to hear the rest of his explanation.
Honestly, this job was easier than I expected. I glanced at the two ghoul corpses still burning on the ground. Even in death, they were disgusting.
But if we got ten million won for taking out three of these things... Was this why hazardous jobs paid so well?
Without hesitation, I asked Se-chan, but his answer surprised me.
"The mission we took is a 3rd-Class Request. Ghouls might look slow, but they're fast, strong, and worst of all—they have Mystic Resistance."
Mystic Resistance—apparently, it made them resistant to magic and sorcery. What a needlessly fancy term. Couldn't they just call it "magic resistance"?
Come to think of it, what even was sorcery? Was talisman magic considered sorcery?
Whatever. I'd look it up later—maybe ask on the forum with a burner account. For now, let's just get paid and go home. I'd buy something nice for Noona and visit the hospital too.
The thrill of easily completing a ten-million-won job and uncovering the world's mysteries had me feeling great.
Which was probably why I didn't notice the ground above me shaking.
CRASH!
The sewer ceiling collapsed, burying me under a pile of dirt—and dozens of ghouls.
By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. I tried to throw talismans.
'Gotta take out the closest ones first—!'
But before I could, Se-chan shoved me out of the way.
CRASH!!
Thanks to him, I escaped the falling debris and ghouls. But he got buried instead.
"SE-CHAN!!"
Did he hear my shout? His head popped out from the dirt pile.
Relief washed over me—but only for a second. A ghoul's head emerged beside him and bit down on his neck.
"GAAAAAH—!!"
"Hang on! I'll save you!"
I raised a talisman, ready to throw it at the ghoul biting Se-chan. But my trembling hands refused to let go.
With only his head sticking out, aiming was impossible. If I missed, I'd hit him. As I hesitated, more ghouls emerged and sank their teeth into him.
"GAAAAAAAAH—!"
This was bad. In seconds, a dozen ghouls were tearing into Se-chan. His agonized screams filled the sewer—then suddenly stopped.
"...Fuck."
My hesitation had killed him.
The ghouls ripped into his limbs, devouring his corpse as they dragged it from the rubble.
RIP. TEAR.
[Grrrrrl...]
[KRRRAAA—]
[KEEEEEE—]
His stomach split open, steaming blood gushing out. With his flesh torn away, his intestines spilled free. The ghouls abandoned the meat, slurping up his guts like noodles.
SQUELCH—!
My hands clenched involuntarily. The talisman in my grip trembled violently.
This was my fault. I got careless because the job seemed easy.
A harsh reminder.
The hidden side of this world wasn't so forgiving.
"I'm sorry..."
Blue flames ignited on the shaking talisman. I hurled it at the ghouls. Midair, it exploded violently.
BOOOOM—!
Ghoul body parts flew everywhere. As blue flames engulfed the area, I turned to Se-chan's head, lying on the ground.
...If he hadn't pushed me, that would've been me.
Guilt and gratitude churned in my gut. But I couldn't stop here. The only thing I could do was learn from this.
Never let my guard down again.
That was my vow.
"...Let's go."
Before leaving, I took one last look at Se-chan's head. His eyes seemed to stare right at me.
"I won't forget what you did today. No matter what, I'll repay your family."
I made that promise, staring into his lifeless eyes.
"What the hell are you talking about? Quit screwing around and help me."
"Huh?"
The head talked. I stared in disbelief at Se-chan's disembodied head on the ground. His eyes were locked onto mine—full of life.
Se-chan wasn't dead.
How?! How was he alive as just a head? Unless...
"You're wondering how I'm alive, right? Bet you've already guessed."
Magic.
"My Unique Magic is Immortality. I can't die."
Just like he'd said earlier.
Magic wasn't something as trivial as fireballs.
It was deeper.
Grander.
A profound, unfathomable mystery.
"Magic..."
"Yeah. This is real magic."
Hearing that, my chest burned with excitement.
I stared blankly at Se-chan. His grinning head spoke again.
"You're hooked now, aren't you? By the mystery of magic."
I nodded.
It was like falling in love at first sight.
A headless man talking should've been horrifying.
But somehow, in that moment, I felt like a middle-schooler experiencing his first crush.
I had fallen—completely and utterly—for the mystery of magic.