Endless Grimoire Reading
Last night was unpleasant in every way. It felt like I'd let a buzzing mosquito larva slip right past my nose. Having danced to the enemy's tune left me in a foul mood.
"Already morning?"
The sun was already high in the sky outside. With work time approaching, I placed Go-seo on my desk and headed to the main hall. For the record, I'd pulled an all-nighter. To find magic that could protect my acquaintances, I'd reread the grimoire from cover to cover. Unfortunately, I still hadn't found anything.
The grimoire wasn't that thick, but the knowledge inside was too vast for my brain to handle. It'd probably take days to find what I needed.
"Good morning, Shin-nim."
[....]
In the middle of the main hall sat a sofa and TV. On the sofa, the stone slab was propped up on a pillow, watching a variety show. When I slept, it sneaked into my bed, but since I'd been up all night, it must've killed time with TV.
[Install Netflix]
'I'll give you my account and password.'
[Oh yeah lol]
Shin-nim's life of leisure was just getting started. She'd probably get her own phone soon.
"I'm sick of sandwiches."
After a quick shower, I grabbed one from the kitchen. Sitting next to the stone slab, I unwrapped it and took a bite. The past few days, all my meals had been sandwiches. No nutrition issues with a monster's body, but my taste buds were in full revolt.
"I'm off."
[Wavy wave~]
With breakfast done, I changed clothes and got ready for work. I adjusted my shoes, cast a perception-distortion spell, then jumped—channeling Spider-Man, scaling buildings to the office.
"Hmm... there's magic like this too, huh?"
I didn't let go of Go-seo the whole time. Even commute time had to be used wisely. Intense cardio or not, my specs and senses made it effortless.
"Made it."
About ten minutes later, the company came into view. I slowed down, released the spell in a nearby alley, and tucked Go-seo into my bag.
"Stick close."
[Hum hum~]
Just in case, I warned her. If it got dropped by mistake and someone picked it up, catastrophe was guaranteed—not for me or Go-seo, but for the finder. Head exploding, turning into an idiot, tentacles sprouting everywhere? Something like that.
"Good morning."
"G'mornin'."
"Don't shorten it like that. It's not MZ at all—it's just shitty."
"Gotcha."
Office arrival. Greetings with colleagues. As always, the odd Nam Bu-jang and...
"Manager Kim... do you like reading...?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious..."
...the suspicious Kim Gwa-jang. And Yeon Yu-hwa, who'd been tangled up with me lately, occupying 90% of my worries.
"Good morning, Team Leader Lee!"
"Sigh..."
"Hey, what's with that reaction?! I'm hurt!"
Quick hellos all around, then into the grind. Fingers flying over the keyboard in a zen state. Even fighting the Cheon-do Association wasn't this torturous. This job pushed my mind to the brink and tested my stamina limits.
"Fuck... save me..."
"Heh heh! Heh heh!"
"Send me home send me home send me home."
I was better off than the three of them. Unlike the two normals and one ambiguous case, my monster body let me type near 700 strokes per minute. Work flew by.
"Ughhh..."
Brain fatigue hit just as hard, but finishing early gave me free time. While others slaved away, I handled personal business.
"Hmm..."
[Hum hum]
I opened Go-seo under the desk and read. So much to cover, I had to squeeze in time like this. Scanning with my magic eyes, processing info slowly in my head.
'No useful spells at all.'
Despite reading plenty, nothing practical turned up. The grimoire held deep-sea magic and insect magic—both hyper-aggressive. Protective spells? Nonexistent.
'This is tough.'
Some spells weren't useless, but maintenance costs, side effects, and complexity nixed them all. Even finishing the book probably wouldn't yield anything suitable. Was there no other way? I brooded.
"Whatcha doing...?"
"Gah?!"
Deep in reading, a voice from behind startled me. I slammed Go-seo shut and whipped around.
"Manager Kim?"
"It's me~"
Familiar face: deep dark circles, pale skin, creepy smile. Kim Gwa-jang loomed over my shoulder, peeking.
"Please make some noise next time."
"Heh heh! I'll try..."
I calmed my racing heart and spoke, but his thrilled grin said this prank would repeat.
'I'm doomed.'
Normally, pranks didn't land. My senses caught most movements pre-emptively. But Kim Gwa-jang was different—weirdly low presence for a human. Like an inanimate object. So I fell for it every time.
"Hmm...?"
Then it hit me. Had he seen Go-seo? It was visible from his angle.
"...Manager. Did you see it?"
"Hmm..."
Doubt crept in. Reading under the desk, him right there—yeah, he could've glimpsed it. If so, action was needed, for his sake.
"What do you mean...? I have no idea..."
"Good enough."
Relief—he hadn't. As I sighed and stashed Go-seo, he added, eyeing it:
"Do you like books...?"
"Not like I hate them."
"Cool... intellectual guy..."
Didn't thrill me hearing that from a guy. I wanted to snap back, but his tone was too suspicious.
"You really didn't see?"
"Saw nothing, anything..."
Suspicious, but no proof. Peeking should've driven him mad or worse—no signs. If only he stayed fine, no big deal. But no more office reading. Close call.
"So why'd you come?"
"Saw you focused, got curious..."
"That's it?"
"That's it..."
Chat over. Everyone wrapped up, we grabbed bags and clocked out. Outside was dark. I raced home at top speed.
"I'm home."
[.....]
Opening the door, the stone slab rolled on the floor. Spotting me, tentacles waved hello. I waved back, shed my outer clothes, and sat beside it.
"...."
[Hum hum~]
[.....]
On the sofa, TV droning in the background, I read Go-seo. Overkill effort? Maybe, but no choice. People's safety on the line. Fix this quick to relax properly.
'I'll find it.'
The mighty deep-sea grimoire had to have defense magic. I'd find it, no matter what. Vowing that, I pulled another all-nighter.
Another all-nighter. The next day, same. Days blurred—five gone.
Results? "What the fuck..."
Zero. Nada. Finished the whole thing, no useful spells.
"Too damn aggressive."
Two types: deep-sea and insect magic. Both offensive as hell. No protection spells.
"What now."
Not entirely hopeless. Two options: unlock the "bait" spell, or feed Go-seo another grimoire.
"Problem is how..."
Neither easy. No clue on bait method. No idea where another grimoire was. Shin-nim might know bait, but...
Like this. Like that. There! Try it]
'You're kidding?'
Not kidding... for real...]
Shin-nim didn't get human limits. Makes sense— like explaining breathing to a human. 'Someone ghostwrote it.' Preamble said only me and Shin-nim could read it. Third-party author, despite her magic.
"Hmm..."
No help from her now. Up to me. Weekend, plenty of time. Pick one path and dig in...
"Hm?"
Ding ding!
Mid-brood, a chat notification. Yeon Yu-hwa? No—Kim Gwa-jang.
"What's up."
He never messaged first. Curious, I opened it: unfamiliar library address, one-line message.
Books, huh. Perfect timing. Library invite—coincidence or intent? Unclear.
More questions, more mysteries. Go? I pondered, recalled his personality—shady but not bad. Probably had a reason. Go-seo done, nothing else to do. I geared up, left for the library.