Chapter 1: The Mages' Terror, A New Life
Mages were the heroes who saved the nation, but they were also murderers who spilled rivers of blood. Korea's miraculous high growth in the 1980s was achieved through their power. Yet those who committed illegal human experiments and all sorts of crimes under the shield of immunity were also them. This was the true face of the heroes called the "miracle generation."
So it shouldn't have been strange that someone like me, a Mage Hunter, was born in the cracks between their barbarism and violence.
"Ptoo."
I spat as I raced through the forest. Blood mixed with the saliva.
The two mages chasing me weren't falling behind.
'Just two in this pursuit team, huh...'
"The end of the Abyss is near! There's nowhere left to run!"
"Murderer! Face the judgment of the era!"
I clicked my tongue at the two shouting noisily behind me. It was absurd to waste such extremely rare high-level—5-level or above—mages like this.
"Foolish idiots. You should be conquering the Abyss instead of wasting effort on a mere Mage Hunter."
I stopped in a sudden clearing and prepared an ambush.
3-level Projection
Wind Cutter
I dodged the flying translucent blades, closed the distance, and thrust my dagger in. Sparks flew off the silver barrier, and the middle-aged mage smirked triumphantly. But his face soon twisted in panic.
Kang San Style Special
Reverse Flow
Ether flowed backward, shredding the barrier, and the mage's veins burst from the backlash.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Wasting resources chasing me like this... what a joke. Kekeke..."
The female mage stepped between me and her fallen comrade, as if to protect him.
"You've already killed over thirty mages, Mage Hunter! Why do you do this? Don't you have any patriotism or morals? You ugly old monster! Freak! Traitor!"
"You mages know better than anyone why I do this..."
"Soyeon! Don't listen to him!"
Only then did I realize I'd never seen this mage called Soyeon before. Her baby-faced youthfulness suggested she was barely an adult, cheeks still chubby with baby fat.
'Freshly minted 5-level rookie, huh.'
I smirked and gripped my dagger tighter.
"You know the magic towers are built on piles of human bones, right?"
"That's just a rumor. Don't think you can fool me with lies."
"Tens of thousands have died in human experiments by the towers in Korea alone, kid. Miracle generation, heroes—it's all a facade. They're just murderers."
I continued, eyeing the familiar male mage. Han Bi-hyung, definitely the guy with two counts of human experimentation and murder.
"Take the guy right behind you. He's linked to two murder cases."
"What? Lies... that's..."
As the shocked woman turned, the man grimaced.
"Senior Bi-hyung...?"
"It's not true. Don't fall for his lies."
I grinned at the lying bastard.
"Look up Cheonsung Tower's classified file F-032. You'll see plenty of familiar names. Keuheheh."
He gnashed his teeth at my words.
"...That's what kept this country alive. I didn't enjoy it."
The man recovered quickly and glared at me.
"Doesn't it sadden you? Parents who lost their daughter poured their life savings into a hit on your senior, little mage."
"No... way..."
"Don't listen, Soyeon. He's just a lunatic who kills mages."
The woman called Soyeon blinked in shock.
"Killing people...? Human experiments? Isn't that something China or North Korea does?"
"Mages who survived the barbaric era are all tangled in at least one or two murders, kiddo."
I readjusted my dagger and deflected the incoming ether shots.
"Ain't that right, oh noble hero?"
A white-haired man emerged from the forest shadows.
"Senior Lee Han?"
Lee Han smiled faintly at the woman's words and gestured for them to fall back.
"Everyone, withdraw. I'll handle this."
"Y-yes, sir..."
"Staying too long in the Abyss is dangerous. He might end up as twisted as the older generation mages."
The two mages bowed their heads and retreated into the distance.
"It's been a while since we faced off, Mage Hunter."
"......"
I'd missed my chance to run, too busy toying with the rookie Soyeon.
'No, more than that...'
"You've gotten weaker in your old age, Lee Han."
I sensed ether so faint it barely registered.
Mages were always like that.
'Just when you think they've gotten stronger... they end up like this.'
Eking out days addicted to ether until an early grave. That was the karma for twisting reality with borrowed power.
"...Did you come before me in that state because you want to die?"
"I know you won't kill me. You only go after the wicked. Guys like you would rather die than break your convictions."
"Heh heh, nonsense. This old monster's just gone mad hating mages."
As I moved to neutralize him, suffocating ether gathered around us. Incredibly fast ether capture, unpredictable.
5-level Projection
Lux Perfodiens
"......!"
I dodged the beam of light, but it pierced my left shoulder, spraying blood.
"How are you this fast?! Weren't you weakened?"
His ether waves had clearly been feeble, but now they pulsed at peak strength.
"I'm retiring soon, but I'm not weak yet. This is the one move I've prepared for you all these years."
"Tch..."
As I searched for an opening to escape, massive light poured down on my head.
5-level Control
Lux Pressans
Something crushed me into the ground.
"......?"
'Light magic can't do this.'
The spell ignored physics entirely, choking me. Lee Han approached leisurely.
"Sorry, I kept you alive as a necessary evil, but that's over today. As you saw, the barbaric era is gone."
"......"
'Was that why he brought along a rookie like Soyeon...'
"There are still remnants of the era, filthy mages..."
"I know. We'll cleanse the rest ourselves, so rest easy, Mage Hunter."
As he began casting his final spell—
Gurgle-gurgle—
A humanoid abyssal entity in red armor appeared with a phlegm-rattling growl.
"Named abyssal? Why now of all times...?"
The crushing magic released me.
"Puhah...!"
I gasped for air and assessed quickly. Before me was the grade-6 named abyssal Abator.
'Even Lee Han can't finish an Abator easily.'
It was named for its masterful swordsmanship.
'This is my only chance to escape.'
"No hit on you means you're always a headache when we meet, hero Lee Han."
"Wait—!"
"Keh heh, looks like the old monster gets more time. We'll part here today."
As I activated my portal generator to exit the Abyss, Abator's sword cleaved toward Lee Han—splitting him in half. Or rather, I foresaw that future.
"......?!"
In shock, I gripped my dagger and lunged forward. I couldn't say exactly why. Because he was the great mage bearing Korea's future? The one mage who remained righteously pure through the barbaric era? Or just an instinct to save a life? All those tangled emotions moved my body.
Kakang—
Sparks flew as my dagger blocked Abator's red blade, but my left shoulder collapsed, powerless from Lee Han's earlier spell.
My guard crumbled in an instant, and the sword swung toward me. A beat later, Lee Han's magic flew in.
7-level Special
Lumen Mortiferum
The flashing light struck Abator's head, crumbling it. But everything played out in monochrome.
I sensed death closing in.
"Mage Hunter! Pull yourself together! Haa... Never thought I'd owe my life to one."
Blood stained Lee Han's lips. He'd damaged himself forcing that spell.
"Good. If the barbaric era's truly over as you say... Cough. Maybe this country bumpkin should fade away too..."
Lee Han's light swept over me. Warmth enveloped my body, but my mind faded.
Lee Han went silent, then clutched his forehead.
"You... were a mage?"
"...Never cast a spell in my life."
"No, this... How does someone with this talent become a Mage Hunter?!"
"......"
Suddenly, a starry night sky came to mind.
"Come to think of it, someone once urged me to become a mage... wielding a metal staff... what a strange fellow..."
As I mumbled blankly, Lee Han shouted something. But my drifting consciousness couldn't grasp his words, which echoed into the void like smoke.
Beep-beep-beep—
A sharp, short electronic alarm jolted me awake.
"......"
I silenced the irritating noise and rubbed my forehead.
"What was that? A dream...?"
I remembered fleeing pursuers into the Abyss, but the details were hazy.
"Is this my safehouse?"
One of the hideouts I'd set up nationwide.
"Guess it was all a dream then..."
Sweeping back my still-hot hair, I felt an uncanny smoothness. No wrinkled forehead, no sparse strands.
"......?"
Sensing something off, I brought my hands to my face.
"...Huh?"
Panicking, I rushed to the bathroom. In the mirror stood a seven-year-old girl. I raised my hand; the girl mirrored me. It was unmistakably me.
Astounded, I stammered.
"Wh-what... the heck?!"