Wizard Gallery (5)
A woman I'd bumped into in the elevator just recently. Her outfit had been pretty provocative at our first meeting, but that wasn't what mattered right now. The real issue was that she was a magician.
Dangerous.
I was currently at odds with the Ma Tower. This woman in front of me was affiliated with them, so naturally, she'd see me as an enemy. And yet, here was the kicker—she knew my real face and my workplace.
If she reported that to the Tower, my everyday life would crumble in an instant.
I absolutely cannot let her find out.
No matter what, she could never discover that I was a magician. It wasn't that hard, though. I could hide my mana easily enough, and the deep-sea aura wouldn't leak out unless I bled. As long as I didn't use any magic, there'd be no problem.
...But something feels off.
An inexplicable sense of foreboding hung over me, but there was nothing I could do about it right now. I kept a straight poker face and played dumb, pretending I knew nothing.
"Ahem, sorry about that. I just remembered something work-related."
"Happens to the best of us. No worries."
I'd messed up from the first greeting, but she didn't seem to care. From her perspective, there was no reason to be surprised by me. I was just some guy she'd seen recently, nothing more.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Lee Jin-seok, section chief at Han-seol Tech."
"I'm Yu Hana, section chief at Han-seong Appliances."
We wrapped up the greetings since we needed to get the meeting started. From there, we dove into business talk.
"We should revise this part a bit..."
"We'll consider it positively..."
The meeting went smoothly enough. We fixed what needed fixing in the contract, added what was missing. No clashes between sides—we steered it toward mutual benefit.
But there was more to discuss than expected, so time dragged on.
"It's getting late."
"Shall we call it here for today?"
Couldn't push further tonight; we'd need another session soon. A bit annoying, but what could I do? Couldn't rush a major contract like this.
"I'll head out then."
"Take care."
I stood with Kim Gwa-jang, and with Yu Hana seeing us off, we left the conference room. That wrapped up today's work. Just head back to the dorm and rest.
"You handled all the talking for me in there. Thanks..."
"Don't mention it."
"I'll buy you a meal as thanks..."
"Looking forward to it."
As usual, we chatted idly while walking the corridor. It was pretty maze-like, but retracing our steps should be fine.
"..."
"..."
Neither Kim Gwa-jang nor I were big talkers, so conversation died out after a bit. Not awkward silence—just power-saving mode, conserving energy.
We kept walking like that, and when I snapped out of it, ten minutes had passed.
"You noticed it too, right, Section Chief Lee...?"
"Obviously."
I nodded at Kim Gwa-jang's question. Even in a massive corporate building, how does ten minutes of straight walking not hit a single corner make sense? Looked like we were trapped in an endless corridor.
Let's check it out.
I activated my mana eyes first to scan around. Needed to figure if this was an anomaly or magic. Tracing the mana flow, I spotted the core of the infinite corridor.
"Magic, huh..."
Would've preferred an anomaly. The endless hallway was built on magic. Someone had cast a spell on the building, trapping people in here.
Not aimed at me...
I'd wondered if it was a Ma Tower magician, but shook my head. I hadn't used magic once today, and the Tower wouldn't drag civilians into it.
So who, and why? The answer came quick.
WHOOOOSH!!
"Ugh, it's cold..."
Water suddenly poured from the ceiling sprinklers. No fire, obviously. Given the corridor's state, this was deliberate.
SPLASH, SPLASH.
"..."
The sprinkler water quickly turned the corridor into a flood. Up to our ankles now. A fishy smell from the water, and a faint salty tang.
Is it...?
It's seawater lol.
My hunch was right. The rising water was seawater, turning the corridor into a shallow sea. Soon it'd be fully submerged—a tiny ocean.
"What now?"
"Keep moving for now..."
No end no matter how far we went. But staying put meant drowning. I wouldn't drown, but Kim Gwa-jang sure would. Dead or dinner, we had to push forward.
Worst case, smash it.
The corridor's magic was sturdy, but breakable if I tried. That'd expose my secret to Kim Gwa-jang, but...
So what?
It was Kim Gwa-jang—not like it mattered. Felt less resistant than with Yu-hwa, even.
"..."
"..."
Anyway, we pressed on. Sprinklers kept dumping seawater; ankle-deep became knee-deep. Clothes heavy and soaked. No big deal for me, but Kim Gwa-jang looked burdened, his stamina low.
"How about ditching the jacket at least?"
"No way..."
"Just us guys."
"Absolutely not..."
I'd already shed my outer layer, but Kim Gwa-jang stubbornly refused. No idea why—tied to his secret? Pride? Whatever.
If it gets dicey, I'll carry him.
I'd respect his choice either way. Conserving stamina was dumb here, but with me around, it'd be fine. I'd protect or evac him if needed.
"Something up ahead...?"
"Stay behind me for now."
About knee-deep when we spotted it. Two doors in the distance—men's and women's restrooms, from the signs.
"Let's check it out."
"..."
No other options. First room in nearly thirty minutes—we had to hope for something.
I left Kim Gwa-jang in the hall and entered the men's room first.
"Ugh...!"
A brutal fishy stench hit me; I pinched my nose. I'd smelled it walking, but inside? Next level.
"..."
The restroom came into view. Mossy ceiling and floor first, then sinks and toilets spewing seawater. Weird, but not wildly different from the hall.
One blatant oddity: the mirror over the sink.
"A passage?"
The mirror rippled like water. Hand touched—no resistance, sank right in. Acting as a portal...
Trap.
Could pass for an exit at a glance, but no—this was a trap. Massive mana pulsed beyond. The culprit magician's prepared space, for sure.
Even for me, diving in unprepared felt iffy.
"Find anything...?"
"Yeah, this is a trap—"
Voice from behind; I turned. Words died.
Tentacles from the women's restroom, wrapping Kim Gwa-jang.
"Save meeeee..."
SHRRRRLK!
He got yanked in mid-sentence. Trailing scream; I rushed out—heading into the women's mirror.
"No!"
Lunged, hand outstretched, but tentacle faster. Vanished into the mirror, Kim Gwa-jang gone beyond.
"Damn it."
Even caught off guard, losing him right in front sucked. Defensive magic would hold for now, but time mattered.
"No choice."
Hated poking the trap, but come on. Bond with Kim Gwa-jang too deep. For a friend, I'd risk big.
"Hup!"
Decision made, I leaped through the mirror. Vision shook wildly. Dozens of scenes flashed by like photos, then darkness—light.
"Where...?"
Surveyed the bizarre space. Vast cavern ringed by dozens of pillars. Circular pit at the bottom, tiered seats above—like an arena.
"You foolish wench! Embrace death willingly!"
"Die yourself, you damn black mage!"
In the center, a fight raged. One side: grotesque man sprouting tentacles everywhere. Other: our third-encounter Yu Hana the magician.
BOOM!
KABOOM!
Their clash was fierce; they ignored me ripping through space. Same for another who'd come via mirror.
"Ooh, intriguing..."
"..."
Across the way, Kim Gwa-jang bound by tentacles. Eyes sparkling—he was glued to the show...
"What the hell is going on?"
I couldn't even grasp the situation.