Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Taxi Driver Jang Hyun-deok
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[Carcosa's Mask (L-grade Accessory): A mask used by the Great Old One, the Unspeakable One, the mighty [Yellow Ruler]. Those not of sufficient level cannot fully draw forth its power.
Yellow Sign: The mighty [Yellow Ruler] takes an interest in you.]
He hadn't been watching me all this time. He'd been eyeing my mask.
This mask was an artifact with decent performance, but more importantly, it was an object tied to a mythical being. Some items like this could tempt or mentally manipulate those around them, harming the owner or even replacing the master.
With that in mind, I channeled my mana and replied.
"A mage's belongings... showing unnecessary interest won't do you any good...?"
The surging mana created an overwhelming pressure and killing intent, enough to make the steadily running car shake noticeably.
The driver turned pale as a ghost and stammered.
"Uwaaaah... Th-that's not it! That's not what I meant! I just saw something that looked exactly like that once! Please spare me!"
I realized I'd misread the situation.
"Where?"
"Huh? Huuuuh??"
Terrified out of his wits, the driver let out a dumb noise.
"Where, when, and how did you see this mask?"
I enunciated each word carefully. My fully channeled mana made a low rumble echo around me.
If he'd seen it at Geumchon-dong Market or a pawnshop alley, that could make sense. It would mean he'd spotted it before I bought it.
"Uh, well... In Tan-hyeon!"
"Tan-hyeon?"
"Yeah, Tan-hyeon! You know Tan-hyeon, right? I saw it at some weird ruins there! It was just recently, so... it's probably still there!"
What kind of twist is this...?
* * *
The incident at the Yeonam Construction apartment complex had left a rare, major aftereffect on my body.
I hadn't been directly attacked or injured.
It was just the backlash from running around late into the night casting spells, plus sustaining combat where my life hung by a 0.1-second thread.
"Ugh... I'm beat..."
Damn. This is just fatigue.
I could slap on artifacts to match a normal person's strength and health, but that was fake stats—only active while wearing them.
The ring providing strength could stay on 24/7 somehow, but the gloves for health? No way.
I tried to wear them as long as possible, but they were bike gloves reinforced at the knuckles and palms. Can't wear those all the time.
What am I getting at?
Three days after that night's quest, I was still lying in bed.
Rotting away... This sucks.
I'd spent the last two days doing nothing but lying here for today, but my body still wouldn't move right.
I barely turned my head toward the window.
It wasn't so bad I couldn't hold my head up, but mentally, it felt awful.
What time is it now... roughly...?
[Invisible Hand]
Too drained to move, I used mana to fetch my smartphone.
"Sigh, damn. Already 7 o'clock?"
Not 7 a.m.—p.m.
I'd just woken up a bit ago, and it was definitely 3, but I'd already wasted four hours doing nothing. Time to grab some food.
Hold on. There was a confirmation alert on the bland default screen of my smartphone.
No apps like KakaoTalk or whatever—too annoying. If someone wanted to contact me, they could call or text.
My messages were full of ones from Tudor.
- Here's the personal info you requested on Lee Seon-bin. Details in the attachment.
I'd asked about it over the phone yesterday or so. Nice, a reply in one day.
I opened the attachment and skimmed it.
As expected: Rank 2 mage. Freelancer in name only, mostly worked with Yeonam Group. Became Yeonam's official future strategy advisor when Moon Seung-hee transferred to Yeonam Construction.
Nothing special except a note at the bottom: 'Close personal friendship with Moon Seung-hee; presumed inner circle.'
- She's at Paju Central Hospital now. Just admitted, so hard to get specifics, but looks like psych ward. Condition's real bad—visiting banned for now~.
- Checked it out: Right after admission, she had multiple breakdowns. She's a mage, right? Guess there was a magic accident.
Magic accident... The kind of disaster that never happened in the reality I lived in. It literally meant incidents caused by a crazy mage spamming spells indiscriminately.
- Yeonam Construction seems to like her a lot. If you wanna meet Lee Seon-bin, lemme know. I can set it up anytime. No guarantees, though. Visiting's banned, after all.
- I'd never risk visiting a mage with a mental breakdown.
"Probably fine, since I'm even crazier."
That said, no plans to meet Lee Seon-bin right away.
I did want to check on that nonsense she muttered last time, but today had its own schedule.
"No idea what event's waiting, but it'd be nice if I leveled up."
Tudor would probably start handing out real quests soon.
To prepare, I wanted to hit level 20 before the next one.
My thoughts drifting from today's appointment to future quests finally got me motivated to get up. I reactivated the telekinesis I'd set earlier, tossed my smartphone aside, and levitated the gloves I'd stripped off haphazardly under the bed.
Slipping them on, I felt vitality flood back into my body.
"Whew... What a difference."
Other artifacts were great, but few handed out +2 Health no questions asked like this.
I dragged myself up, tidied the room a bit, then yanked three frozen pork mandoo from the fridge and microwaved them.
Ding!
The steaming buns emerged, white vapor billowing. I'd dampened them a little before heating, but the surfaces were still a tad tough. From tomorrow, gotta eat properly, even if it's a hassle.
I lifted the mask slightly off my face and shoved a bun in.
Reheated from frozen, it wasn't perfect, but still tasty enough. Hot hot... This place really knows its stuff.
While munching, I scanned the room and activated a few security spells.
[Warning Circle], [Thorn Trap], [Ganotodoa's Severance], [Ra's Golden Sands], [Realm of Darkness].
Shimmering haze rose around the windows.
Anyone opening the door without permission? I'd sense it instantly, plus they'd get silenced—cut off from sight, sound, and speech.
Then dozens of magical blades would pierce their body, and they'd fall into inescapable sleep.
Good enough? Yeah, throw in a few lightning spells too.
"Alright, ready to head out."
In the mirror by the shoe rack, a mad mage in a hoodie instead of a black robe stared back, grotesque mask and all.
Is that really me? It's been over a month since I last saw my face. Maybe under the mask, Kim Shin-hwa's mug is gone, replaced by some unimaginable monster.
Whatever. Got an appointment today.
The security taxi driver I'd met three days ago.
Time to meet him again.
I grabbed my skateboard and backpack, slung them on, and headed out.
As always, not to the first floor—to the rooftop.
The day was darkening.
Now 8 p.m.
From the roof, Geumchon-dong's rundown buildings glowed an ominous purple.
Far off, unrealistic skyscrapers pierced the sky at insane heights. In one corner of my view, a massive bronze Buddha statue loomed over Hakryeong Mountain Forest Park.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's a bizarre sight..."
A landscape unique to [Cthulhu World]'s Paju—one that didn't exist in reality.
The time for upright, law-abiding Paju citizens was ending. The hour of madness-soaked criminals was beginning.
I hopped on my skateboard and cast a spell.
[Leap]
A flashy magic circle bloomed across my black hoodie, launching the board skyward.
Wind whistled past my ears, the scenery blurring and shifting in instants.
Leap after leap, skipping several buildings, I finally touched down by the roadside.
Far enough from home—no more overt magic needed.
I rolled along leisurely toward the meetup spot.
"Yo, hey!"
A cheerful greeting.
I looked toward the voice—the same one from three days ago.
He'd arrived first and was waiting.
The thug... no, handsome guy in his early twenties stubbed out his cigarette casually.
About 185 cm? Half a head taller than me, solidly muscled.
He looked more like a slacker than a hard worker, but his perfectly balanced features gave off an oddly approachable vibe.
Charm stat's gotta be 19 at least. Not Tudor's transcendent level, but drop him on the street in rags, and he'd survive on looks alone.
"Whoa, still rocking that mask today?"
"Cursed to wear it everywhere."
"Ugh, a curse?"
"Not contagious. Don't worry."
"Hmm... For real?"
"For real."
This young errand boy's name was Jang Hyun-deok.
First met in person three days ago, but not a total stranger NPC.
Back when I played [Cthulhu World] as a game, I'd ridden in his cab a few times.
That was it.
Jang Hyun-deok wasn't an NPC with meaningful quests or special flags. Not worth remembering the name.
If not for my freakishly high Intelligence stat now, I never would've recalled him.
Anyway, for a generic mob NPC, his design was flashy... Turns out there was a hidden event.
"Forget my mask. You got what you said you'd bring?"
"Oh, of course. But..."
Jang Hyun-deok shrank back a bit, glancing around dramatically, then whispered theatrically.
"Wouldn't wanna show it here. Let's go to the car."
He jerked a thumb over his shoulder.
There sat his ride: a big white SUV van.
Three days ago, Jang Hyun-deok claimed he'd seen masks identical to mine, and he had proof.
I wanted to check right then, but this was uncharted territory—no game experience—so I waited till I recovered some stamina.
Hence, meeting him again today, three days later.
I sighed lightly and climbed into the car with him.
"Come on, show it. If you pull some bullshit now, I'll be really disappointed."
And to vent that disappointment, I might make bystanders uncomfortable. But no need for unspoken threats.
What Jang Hyun-deok proudly pulled out definitely lived up to expectations.