Elevator (1)
Rain or snow, it didn't matter. Even if I'd pulled an all-nighter the night before, I still had to drag myself to the office.
"Yawn..."
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I waited at the bus stop. Plenty of other people were there waiting too, just like me. Some were playing phone games, others finishing up their makeup. An everyday scene. Nothing strange about it at all.
"..."
But my changed vision let me see things ordinary people—and perps—couldn't.
Two figures were overlapping right there. One was a man checking his watch, looking anxious. The other was a female ghost.
"..."
A mad, unhinged voice whispered right in my ear. They say if your eyes meet a ghost's in moments like this, it'll drag you straight to the afterlife. Best to just ignore it, right?
Of course, that didn't apply to me.
Hierarchies exist even among anomalies. In that sense, that scrap ghost and I were worlds apart. It was just a grudge wandering the living world, unwilling to pass on. Me? Half-human, half-monster, with knowledge from another realm—a full-fledged mage.
One word from me, and it cowered, slinking off to a corner of the bus stop.
I rubbed my eyelids for a moment, deactivating my magic eyes to return to normal vision.
"Much better."
Now my view was clear again. Right on cue, the bus pulled up. I boarded and, luckily, snagged a seat.
"..."
Staring blankly out the window, I watched the cityscape roll by. People in all sorts of clothes, each on their own errands. And mixed in among them... incongruous shapes.
They were all anomalies, every last one.
It's kinda wild.
Lately, I'd been diving into magic studies every night. At first, it was to get stronger and handle anomalies better. But once I started, the sheer mystique hooked me.
Day by day, learning spells... the world I saw was nothing like what normals perceived.
The extraordinary hiding in plain sight.
I channeled mana into one eye, piercing through the anomalies. Lost souls unaware they'd died. Goblins pulling pranks and cackling. Even sprouts of new anomalies born from people's readings and memories.
Fascinating creatures. A bit creepy too.
"..."
I turned off my magic eyes and closed them both. They stung, a faint pain lingering.
Before, my control was sloppy—I could only spot stronger anomalies. Now? I saw them all.
Which meant...
"As long as I'm careful, no danger."
No more Hope Bridge disasters. I smiled in satisfaction, then noticed my stop and hurriedly called out to the driver.
"Hold on! I'm getting off!"
Almost late.
Once at the office, I dove into my usual work. Performance? Flawless, as always. Maybe a promotion soon? A guy could hope.
But office life isn't that easy. Still a long way off.
"Soon enough. You're joining me for the joint project."
"That's not funny."
"..."
"Section Chief?"
...Yeah, a long way.
Anyway, non-work stuff was going smoothly too. Evaluations were solid. Getting along(?) with colleagues.
"Section Chief, ever heard of the Anomaly Gallery?"
"What's that?"
"It's great. Heh heh..."
Kim Gwa-jang had been getting a bit creepy lately, but I brushed it off with excuses each time. Wouldn't work forever, though. I'd deal with that later.
"..."
"Yeon Dae-ri? What're you thinking?"
"Oh, nothing!"
One thing bugged me, though. Yeon Dae-ri seemed... off lately.
What was it? Like she'd done something wrong, hadn't been caught, relieved but guilty?
"Lately, I've been feeling extra blah."
She flinched!
"Had a car accident on the way in. Gotta take the subway home..."
Fl-inch!
"Heard our partner company went bust? More work incoming..."
Fl-inch! Fl-inch! Fl-inch!
For example, whenever office folks said anything these days, she'd jolt like a cat stepping on its tail, breaking into cold sweats.
Why, though? I pondered, but nothing came to mind.
Wonder what.
I rolled the talisman she'd given me in my palm, watching her. I knew she was hiding something. Faint traces of mana lingered in it, after all.
Not a big deal, though.
She'd done me a solid with good intentions. I'd trust her back and help if needed. I remembered the talisman—and my warning—clearly.
"Lee Section Chief. Yeon Dae-ri."
"Yes."
"Yep!"
"Field work. Get ready."
Anyway, sudden field assignment. Yeon Dae-ri and I left the office during work hours, walking the streets.
"Business meeting, right?"
"Yep. Remember that company on the mountain?"
"Ugh..."
The place we were headed? Weird spot—a company midway up a damn mountain. Not even selling local specialties or anything.
No wonder Yeon Dae-ri grimaced. Forced hike on company time? Hate that.
"Still, nice to be out during work hours."
"Like skipping class?"
"Exactly! Spot on!"
Chatting away, we reached the city outskirts. Beyond the intersection, a middling mountain loomed.
Name was... Daegok Mountain?
Partner company was midway up, so...
"Let's go."
"Okaay."
We crossed, entering the mountain base. Scattered trees, well-kept trail leading up. Breathing in that rare city phytoncide scent, we climbed leisurely.
"Kinda chilly."
"Winter's coming."
"Hot pack?"
"Hand one over."
With my body changed, I hadn't noticed, but yeah—getting cold. Leaves falling, trees prepping for winter. Snow soon, maybe.
"..."
"La la la~"
Climbing along, Yeon Dae-ri suddenly stopped ahead.
Something there? Peering over her shoulder...
A ghost leaning on a tree, groping its gutted belly.
Deep grudge on this one.
The morning scrap ghost? No real grudge—just clinging to life.
This one? Visible without magic eyes. Serious power and resentment.
"..."
"Yeon Dae-ri? Something ahead?"
"Nah, nothing!"
She'd spotted it too. I saw it, but neither mentioned ghosts.
We both had secrets, so we passed by like it was invisible.
Then, a voice from behind.
"..."
"..."
We didn't turn, but we both heard it clear.
Something up top.
Whatever killed that ghost was higher up. Wanted to bail, but no excuse ready.
"We're here."
"Yeah..."
No choice but to climb. Reached mid-mountain, company in sight.
"Hm."
Exterior? Normal. Bit worn, but maintained. No abandoned vibe, no haunt feel.
Magic eyes? No anomalies.
We'll see inside.
Ghost pranking? Or something invisible even to me? Had to enter to know.
"No biggie, right? Hope not..."
"What're you doing? Let's go."
"R-Right!"
I headed to the entrance first. Yeon Dae-ri muttered something, then hurried after when I urged.
We opened the door. Surprisingly...
No issues. Entered smooth.
"Huh?"
"..."
Yeon Dae-ri looked puzzled. I rubbed my neck, hiding my own surprise.
Really nothing? Thought something'd pop off the second we opened.
Totally normal.
Inside? Super ordinary. No shady spots, no damage. Employees passing? Regular folks.
"From Han-seol Tech?"
"That's us."
"We've been waiting. This way."
Staring blankly, an employee approached, guiding us to the meeting room.
"Nice to meet you. Lee Jin-seok, section chief from Han-seol Tech."
"Han Woo-jun, section chief. Pleased."
Met the guy? Normal. No neck-snapping lunge, no grimoire spell-slinging.
Straight business. Compromised where needed, sealed a win-win deal.
"Good work."
"Safe travels."
Meeting over. Yeon Dae-ri and I wandered the hall in a daze.
That's it?
Really ending without a hitch? All that tension for nothing. Felt deflated.
Gonna chuck a rock at that ghost on the way down.
Thinking that, we stepped into the elevator.
"..."
"Hm?"
Hit 1F. Watching it descend...
Yeon Dae-ri suddenly frowned.
"Wait. Something's off..."
Her face hardened, grabbing my hand.
I glanced, then checked the floor display again.
"We're screwed."
Freaky announcement blared. Lights out. A snap, a jolt...
The elevator plunged.