Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Daughter of the Tiger (1)
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Another five days had passed.
Three days ago, I'd decided to stay cooped up in the house for a while, but I'd ended up going out pretty often over those five days.
I'd even managed to head out during the daytime for the first time in ages, and while my sleep schedule wasn't fully normal yet, I'd adjusted it quite a bit.
It was all thanks to the Mirror of the Elder God, which had truly warded off the nightmares that had been tormenting me.
"Nothing beats a good night's sleep."
Of course, it was evening now, and I was lying in bed just like before...
No, not exactly like before. This time, I was doing something else while lying down.
*Shurra-lak—*
Still flat on my back, I watched as a few books, a notebook, scraps of paper, pens, and ink floated through the air wherever my gaze fell.
A few gestures flipped the pages of the books.
Another gesture sent the ink droplets, drifting like they were in zero gravity, flying to the notebook to form letters. It was like taking notes, but a full page of memos and checkmarks completed at printer speed.
"What's that spell again...?"
My Health stat was still at 7, but after improving my sleep, there had been quite a few changes.
The fog in my head had lifted, bringing back a refreshing clarity, and my brain was working properly now, not just in frantic life-or-death situations.
Once I had some physical and mental leeway, I threw myself into translating and interpreting the [Mongri Mundomil Mang Sutra].
I'd only been using it for magic before, so I hadn't really felt its effects in everyday life. But once I started using my head in a practical way, I could truly appreciate how amazing a 30 Intelligence stat was.
The book I needed to interpret was in Tibetan, written in the 16th century—not modern, but an ancient grimoire. Off-the-shelf references weren't much help.
Yet with just a dictionary from the library and a few reference materials, I could understand what some mad monk in 16th-century Tibet had written.
It wasn't perfect, though. The author of the Mongri Mundomil Mang Sutra had completed the book based on experiences from meditation or near-death? Not sure if I translated that right—but some kind of trance state, anyway.
That's why the logic jumps around strangely, with utterly absurd sections and vague ramblings that sound like a lunatic's ravings. It'll take a lot of time to fully grasp the content and use the information inside.
But there are clearly helpful parts.
It's an outdated system from before the 16th century, but the rituals and spells in this book are real.
"Got it."
[System: Your understanding of the Mongri Mundomil Mang Sutra has increased. You have acquired the unique spell 'Soul Absorption (吸情)'.]
Powerful, primal unique spells that the [Spell Mastery] trait couldn't provide. In this short week, I'd managed to learn some of them.
The deeper my interpretation and understanding, the more spells I'd be able to use.
"Think that's enough for today?"
*Shurra-larak—*
The books, notebook, and paper scraps flew toward the desk.
'Just set them down neatly on the desk... but there's still no room.'
The already cramped room had gotten even messier in just three days. The desk was piled with broken junk, and the floor around it was littered with scorch-marked wooden scraps like trash.
I pushed myself up with a bit of effort, extended both hands toward the desk, and focused my mind.
The size, shape, and weight of the piled items registered quickly. Thanks to the spatial awareness I'd gained as a byproduct of my magic talent, I envisioned the optimal arrangement and repositioned everything on the desk.
*Srrrr... tak, ching, ching-ching!*
"Hmm, much better now."
But if I let my guard down again, it'd turn into a hellhole in no time. Sorting it wasn't hard, so I kept making a mess.
As I started to get up, a strange noise came from the corner of the room.
*Drurrrr—*
What was that, the phone?
I walked slowly toward the fridge, and my smartphone flew over on its own, pressing against my ear. No need to strain the body when mana overflows.
No need to check who it was. Only two people had my number, and only one would call at this hour.
—Honey, how is it? Did I call too late?
It was Tudor.
"Nah, I was just about to eat."
I said that as I opened the fridge. Over the past few days, the number of flesh chunks stored inside had exploded. Traces of practicing life-creation magic. There were also tons of glass jars filled with my specially prepared preservative solution.
I'd need a separate storage space for these soon, or there'd be no room left for food.
—Eating at this hour? Then I don't have to feel bad for calling late.
"This time doesn't matter."
—Yeah, figured you were nocturnal.
Tudor giggled happily for a bit before continuing slowly.
—Dinner... so after you eat, can you swing by Basilissa? I don't know where you live, but if it's far, I can send an orb to pick you up.
"What? Something urgent?"
—The request you mentioned last time just came in, matching your conditions perfectly. But unlike the usual jobs, this one's on a tight deadline.
"Not too far, so no need for the orb. Basilissa... "
I pulled a carton of milk from between the flesh chunks in the fridge. Guess I'd grab some cereal and head out.
"...I'll be there in 30 minutes."
* * *
The stuff I was keeping covered and stored at home was getting too valuable. The number of security spells on the house had reached a burdensome level.
This was getting annoying, so I needed to think of better security options.
After finishing the security spells, I looped around the back alleys of Geumchon-dong to kill time before heading to Basilissa.
Tudor was trustworthy, but I couldn't trust the random fixers hanging around Basilissa. The moment she saw my face—no, my mask—she skipped greetings and dragged me straight to her office.
"You said 30 minutes, and you arrived right on time."
"Like I said, I live close."
"Hmm, I see. How's your condition? You've been holed up again these past few days—ready to start right away?"
"Right away how right away?"
"Tonight, or tomorrow daytime?"
"Is it that urgent? Like the Munsan apartment last time?"
"Pfft, urgent? Not for me. The client's the one who's desperate."
Isn't that what makes it urgent? Seeing her joke around made me think it wasn't that serious.
As I paused, Tudor flashed a sly smile and continued.
"Separate from the urgency, there's stuff that needs explaining, so hear me out."
"What is it? I'm listening."
"It's Three Heads Society business."
"Three Heads Society?"
The name evoked the famous Chinese triad, but it wasn't related.
Narrowly, they dominated Paju's back alleys; broadly, they wielded massive influence in Korea's underworld... your typical gangsters, in other words.
Of course, in [Cthulhu World], where they could exploit otherworldly monsters, mutants, and espers as manpower, their brand of harm was on another level from the real world.
"First big corps, now gangsters?"
"This one's even bigger. Nail it, and you'll have some solid connections."
"You're being cryptic. What's the job?"
"I don't know how much you know about the Three Heads Society, but it's run by three leaders."
The conversation was circling. Pretending to be clueless about Paju's power dynamics was strategic, but it caused issues like this.
Tudor seemed eager to convey how big a deal this was, leading to all the grand buildup.
"I know that much. Even their names: Red Head, Black King, Blue Tiger."
"Ah, yeah, you've been in Paju about two months now..."
"Right. So no need for the Three Heads intro."
"Fine. Straight to the point, then. One of the three heads, Blue Tiger's daughter, got kidnapped."
"Daughter?"
"Yeah. Some gutsy, skilled psycho broke into the home of the underworld's top dog and snatched his daughter. The request is to catch the guy."
Twenty years ago.
After it leaked that monster corpses from North Korea yielded magistones more valuable than gold, Paju, Gangwon, and northern Gyeonggi swarmed with all sorts.
Naturally, criminal orgs flying the gangster flag were among them... and three major ones allied to form the Three Heads Society.
Pre-Collapse Korea with its tight policing might've reined them in, but right after the Great Collapse, the country was too busy fending off Cthulhu mythos monsters to bother with gangs.
So the Three Heads Society gobbled up the abnormal, madness-tinged interests flashing through Paju and Korea's shadows, growing into a massive crime org that couldn't exist in the real Korea.
As such, they were a major faction in [Cthulhu World].
'Out of all the possible ruin endings, about 20% involve them directly or indirectly...'
A personal favor for one of their three heads. Tudor said she'd been planning to pass due to lack of suitable fixers, but she clearly hoped I'd take it.
Quest processing went smoothly, and soon a quest acceptance message appeared above my head.
[Quest accepted!
[Search Quest: Daughter of the Tiger]
Blue Tiger, one of the Three Heads Society's three leaders, has had his daughter kidnapped. Locate Jeong Hyeon-ah and ensure her safety.
! Time Limit: Jeong Hyeon-ah dies in (2) hours. !
Rewards: 450,000 XP + Blue Tiger's Trust + 300,000,000 won + Bonuses based on mission performance
Failure: Hostile relations with the Three Heads Society.]
Pay was 300 million won.
Push for max bonuses, and it could hit 548 million, I recalled.
But more important than extra cash was Blue Tiger's trust—he held 30% stake in the Three Heads Society.
Secure that, and I'd gain access to black markets and restricted infrastructure like Thousand Gold Hall for serious grimoires.
'It'll take some luck, but if it goes well, no more racking my brain over medieval Tibetan.'