The Cult (1)
After escaping the elevator anomaly, Yeon Dae-ri and I parted ways and headed home separately.
"—Let's talk for a bit."
"I've got someone waiting at home. See ya!"
"Manager Kim? Manager Kim!!"
Someone was calling out to me, chasing after me with ferocious intensity—or so it felt. But it was probably just my imagination.
"Sorry about that."
[.....]
"I'll make sure not to be late next time."
Anyway. The moment I got home, I bowed my head at the entrance.
I apologized to the stone slab floating in midair, dangling its mysterious tentacles.
"But I really feel wronged here."
[....]
"It's not like I wanted to be late. What was I supposed to do when the anomaly kidnapped me?!"
But I was the aggrieved party too. It wasn't like I'd chosen to be late. I was a victim of the anomaly, plain and simple.
Given that this had happened a few times before at work, Shin-nim graciously understood this time as well.
"...What are you doing?"
[....]
Of course, it was 3 a.m.—absurdly late—so she couldn't just let it slide.
The stone slab floated toward the bed.
Plop!
Our bed was pretty big, but there was a pillow next to my usual one—god knows where she'd gotten it.
And the stone slab landed right on top of it, looking utterly entitled, like she was saying, Lie down next to me.
"Good night."
[....]
It was ridiculous, but a criminal doesn't complain to the warden.
I obediently lay down next to the stone slab and tried to sleep.
That night, I had a nightmare where I was crushed under a massive whale, suffering all through the dark hours.
Since the incident had happened on Friday, today was a golden holiday.
"Hmm..."
Until now, I'd been plagued by all sorts of problems even on weekends, not to mention weekdays.
This was the first truly peaceful holiday I could remember.
Normally, I'd go fishing or just relax at home, but I had other business today.
"Spoils of war, huh..."
During yesterday's elevator fiasco, the shaman from the third world had told me about the importance of these spoils.
Something about how they'd help with the blue calamity soon to come.
"Completely forgot about them."
My memories had gotten fuzzy during my hospital stay, and after that, I'd been too busy studying magic.
Still, I'd managed not to lose them somehow.
I glanced down at the smartphone and book on my desk.
I picked up the book first.
"A grimoire?"
The incantation master I'd met before—he was the greatest threat I'd faced so far.
If Shin-nim hadn't helped directly, I'd probably be dead.
"It radiates an extraordinary aura."
Coming from such a powerful mage, this book had to be something special.
High chance it was a grimoire.
For now, I'd read it and explore the magic inside...
Thud, thud.
"Hm?"
Just as I was about to open it, I heard something moving on its own.
I was home alone. Had another yokai broken in?
I turned, puzzled—and was met with a bewildering sight.
"...Go-seo?"
[....]
My magic teacher, the grimoire containing otherworldly knowledge penned by Shin-nim herself.
The book, which had always stayed perfectly still, was moving on its own for some reason.
It had slithered down from the shelf, opening and closing like a snake crawling toward me.
"...."
Boing!
As I stared in bewilderment, Go-seo sprang up like a spring onto the desk.
She eyed me for a moment, then turned to the book in my hand.
Nomf!
"What."
She swallowed the entire book whole.
A book eating another book. Absurd phrasing, even by my standards—but it was real.
Go-seo chewed it bit by bit, opening and closing, then let out a little burp and sprawled out on the desk like nothing happened.
"...You were alive too?"
[....]
I'd thought only the stone slab was alive.
Turns out Go-seo was too.
"Wait, I need to read that book..."
[....]
Well, her being alive wasn't a big deal.
Living books and demon-possessed grimoires were famous worldwide.
Totally plausible.
But she'd eaten the grimoire I needed to read.
"Now what."
I pondered, staring at her.
Go-seo's magic was plenty useful—unbelievably powerful, even.
But I'd wanted some weaker spells.
I'm tired of being all anemic and wheezing every time.
Every spell in Go-seo required my blood as material.
Better than mountain sacrifices or rare gems, sure.
But it was a hassle every time. I'd bleed out in a fight and die alone.
So I'd wanted some low-level magic this time...
"Hm?"
As I stood there flustered, Go-seo suddenly opened herself up, displaying her contents.
Was she telling me to read?
I read the page curiously—and was stunned.
"This is the incantation master's magic?"
The page Go-seo had opened to detailed the bug-handling spells the incantation master had used.
Obviously, this page hadn't been in Go-seo before.
Had she devoured the grimoire and made its contents her own?
Very much like Shin-nim's grimoire.
"Nice."
If Go-seo could do this, it was convenient for me.
Several books merging into one—easier to read and all.
I explored the new magic and learned a few useful spells.
A few hours of magic study later, it was evening, the sunset twinkling outside.
I stretched and caught my breath, then picked up the other spoil on the desk.
"Hmm..."
A smartphone. Essential for any modern person.
But owned by a terrifying mage? Suspicious.
Of course, since I'd drowned its owner, it wasn't that scary.
"Password, huh."
It had a lock screen, naturally.
Should I take it to a shop to unlock? Or find a spell?
As I pondered and tried a few codes, it suddenly unlocked.
"No way."
The code I'd just tried was 1234.
The incantation master must've had zero security sense despite his magic skills.
Jackpot for me, though.
I leisurely poked around the phone, digging into the incantation master's private life.
"You kept up with the news a lot, huh?"
Search history first—tons of news searches.
He'd been collecting sacrifices while controlling the killer yokai, so probably checking progress.
"Not much in storage."
Photos and videos in storage? Nothing noteworthy.
Just a few pics of weird places.
"Anomalies?"
Monster murals on walls, benches submerged in puddles, phone booths in storm centers.
Clearly anomaly-related.
Wonder if these'd come in handy later? Who knows.
The real fun started now.
"Hmm...?"
Texts and call logs—interesting stuff.
Messages setting meetups, mind games with mystery contacts, constant mentions of some shady "item."
"Suspicious."
As expected from half-yokai bastards.
Short convos, but suspicion poured off them.
Were these guys onto something?
As I mulled over the texts, the phone suddenly rang.
"Heh."
A call at this exact timing. Like someone scripted it.
But if it didn't hurt me, riding the flow might be fine.
I answered.
"Come to Handam Factory by 4 a.m."
"...."
Before I could reply, they hung up.
The dark screen reflected my face.
I set the phone down and thought.
"What to do."
Ignoring it wouldn't be a big deal.
They didn't know who I was, or even that the incantation master was dead.
Better to ignore and stay safe than stir trouble.
That would've been the smart choice.
"Hmm..."
But for some reason, I wanted to go there.
Why? I'd just come back from an anomaly yesterday—why dive into danger again?
Not like me.
But it felt more me than ever.
"Pride?"
To ordinary people, anomalies are disasters.
Impossible to resist—you just beg for your life.
Humans tied to anomalies are threats too.
Deadlier than guns, with malice beyond imagination.
If I were normal, I wouldn't tangle with them.
But I'm different.
I'm different.
Not like those story-spawned things or the monkeys exploiting them.
Companion of a god.
Husband of the great one.
Ruler of the sixth sea.
Anomalies targeting me, humans bothering me—it grated.
Like mosquitoes sucking blood, dogs biting their master.
"Annoying. Infuriating."
Emotions swirled in my head.
I couldn't control them.
Mana churned inside, whipping up a gale in the room.
And with it, a small voice.
Shin-nim?
Shin-nim had appeared, whispering in my ear.
....
Like a demon tempting a pure maiden.
Like Mara obstructing Buddha's enlightenment.
Her voice burrowed deep into my chest, her will shaking my values.
I was changing in real time.
But I didn't resist her touch.
I knew it was all for me.
"If you insist that much."
"Fine, let's do it."
I threw on a coat with big pockets and tucked Go-seo inside without creasing her.
Then I left the house and walked the night streets.
Thick clouds hinted at rain, and a faint fishy smell hung in the air.
Feeling Shin-nim's gaze trailing behind me, I muttered softly.
"Won't have to take beatings anymore."
From now on, anomalies wouldn't fear me—no.
I'd make anomalies fear me.