Chapter 2
Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 002
Chapter Title: Becoming a Magician (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I slowly opened my eyes from within the blankets.
"Mm..."
Suddenly, a demon popping out in my dream to strike up a conversation, or the corpse of a brutally murdered man emphasizing my unconscious guilt—no nightmare like that. I just closed my eyes like always and opened them to morning.
It was such a peaceful morning that I picked up my smartphone to check internet news and such.
[○○ University District Tragedy... Bizarre Phenomenon...]
A sigh escaped me automatically. Even though last night's events weren't a dream.
I muttered to myself for no reason.
"...What do you mean 'drunk on sound sleep,' me."
I'd never thought of myself as someone with a big heart, but apparently, I was bigger than I thought.
Of course, that was sarcastic bullshit.
On the contrary, my mind had been so chaotic that I'd passed out like the dead.
As if sensing that I was awake,
"Grrr~."
The 'Transparent Vampire,' huddled under the bed, raised its body and let out a beastly growl.
I knew it didn't make sense to describe an invisible being as if it were visible, but...
Since I was its 'master,' I could sense its presence, I guess?
I could feel how it was moving.
"Gyaat?"
Sensing my gaze, it tilted its head.
"........."
I desperately ignored it and headed to the kitchen.
Though in this tiny studio, it was right in front of me as soon as I got out of bed.
First things first: food. Breakfast.
My brain doesn't work well on an empty stomach.
I'd come home last night, skipped dinner, and crashed like a fugitive, so I was starving.
I poured water into a pot, added a bit of salt, and took out the pasta I'd bought to boil it.
Bubble- bubble-
Pasta has an image as fancy food, but surprisingly, it's cheap, filling, and tasty as dorm cooking.
Of course, only when you don't use expensive ingredients.
While the pasta boiled, it'd be nice to put olive oil in a frying pan, but since I didn't have any, I used cooking oil instead. It still tastes decent enough.
Then, into the frying pan with sliced garlic and peperoncino.
You could slice dried chilies instead of peperoncino, but long-term, it's cheaper to just buy a jar from the mart.
Sizzle-
Normally, you'd add bacon here, but since I had none, I dumped in a can of tuna after draining the oil.
The high sodium from the canning is a downside, but it provides protein in place of meat, so it's good.
Of course, unlike bacon, tuna leaves it feeling a bit lacking.
I added oyster sauce and stir-fried it with the pasta.
Depending on my mood, I might add more salt or oyster sauce, but this was fine for today.
Oyster sauce tuna pasta, complete.
It ended up more like stir-fried noodles than pasta, but I like stir-fried noodles anyway.
I could eat it like this, but for nutritional balance,
I pulled out pre-sliced cabbage and three cherry tomatoes from the fridge to make a salad.
No dressing. I'm eating it for health, and while I don't skimp on food spending, it's all relative to my wallet.
Vegetables are already a stretch; buying dressing too would be pure luxury.
And finally, a glass of milk.
Milk isn't an essential nutrient or anything, but what does an uneducated orphan kid know?
I have this vague idea that it's a healthy food, so I make sure to drink one a day.
I set the pasta, salad, and milk on the stand.
It was originally a spare table for stacking stuff next to my desk,
but using the bed instead of a chair makes the height perfect for a dining table, so that's what I use it for.
Munch- munch-. Chomp- chomp-.
No "thanks for the meal" or anything. I just shut up and focus on eating.
Chewing and swallowing, filling my empty stomach.
"Ah... good meal."
With my belly full and my mind clearing, I could finally make an objective judgment on my current situation.
Right now, I was fiercely avoiding reality.
'Is now the time to leisurely make pasta...'
Like a student who hasn't studied at all the day before an exam, cleaning the room or fussing over other things to avoid the looming issue right in front of me.
"Haaaaah..."
To reduce my stress and headache even a little, I cupped my face with both hands and rubbed it like a massage.
No. Meals are important.
I rationalized it a bit.
Everything requires energy, and sleep and food replenish that.
I'd slept, and now I'd eaten.
My gaze naturally drifted to the strange book on the desk—the dark steel-covered tome called Mysteries of Insects.
"......Fuck."
I really didn't want to, but now with my energy restored, it was time to focus on the problem at hand.
I checked the clock; there was still time before my first class.
Going to university lectures in this situation felt ridiculous, but missing attendance by a hair could cost me my scholarship, which was scary enough, so I had to go.
I could get a doctor's note from the hospital, but I hated wasting money when I wasn't actually sick.
"...Alright, time to go."
Muttering to myself for self-encouragement, I got up, washed, and prepared to head out.
First, swing by the used bookstore before class.
I planned to ask about this Mysteries of Insects grimoire.
Where it came from, who sold it... The owner sold it without a second thought, so it probably wouldn't help much, but still, rather than dealing with this alone...
I didn't want to handle that monster by myself.
"Gyaaat!? Gyaat!"
The Transparent Vampire was fascinated by the fridge, opening and closing the door repeatedly.
Slam- thud. Slam- thud. Slam- thud.
"Giaat!"
Its silhouette showed it enjoying the cold air blasting its face when the fridge opened.
But just the scene of the fridge door opening and closing on its own was pretty horror-movie-esque.
If it broke the fridge like that, it'd be a disaster, so I cautiously said,
"Stop it."
From a bit of experimenting last night, it understood my words and obeyed pretty well.
"...Giii."
The Transparent Vampire closed the fridge door at its master's command.
I stared at the Transparent Vampire, pondering.
Obviously, I'd have to take it with me. But how?
It's about three meters tall when fully extended, but it huddled up to sleep on this cramped studio floor, so maybe it can shrink its body somewhat...
And that worry resolved more easily than expected.
Sensing I was getting ready to go out,
the Transparent Vampire's body dissolved into mist and flowed into the grimoire in my hand.
"...Should I be glad?"
I sneered down at the heavy iron grimoire, then shoved it into my bag.
This bag I'm carrying right now has a monster sleeping inside. Insane.
Luckily, no issues arose while walking to my destination.
However, my plan to gather info on the grimoire at the used bookstore hit a snag.
"........."
I stood there blankly for a moment, watching the workers neatly loading used books and items onto a truck as they cleared out the shop. Then I approached and asked,
"Excuse me. The old man who ran this place until yesterday... What happened?"
"You know the old timer? Regular customer?"
"Yeah, I stopped by occasionally."
Not really a regular, but I went with that.
Whether he knew the owner personally or not, the worker clicked his tongue and spoke in a bitter tone.
"Heard he passed away in his sleep last night."
"What?"
"He was up in years anyway... Going peacefully in his sleep is a good death."
"........."
"He has kids, but this was just a hobby shop for him, so they asked us to clear it all out."
Like its role was finally over, the shop—with 'Closed' plastered on it—was being dismantled by the workers. I stared blankly for a moment before turning away.
No point dwelling on what's already happened. Time waste.
Yeah, think positive. On second thought,
going to the used bookstore where I luckily got the grimoire and telling the owner, 'This book I bought here is actually a real grimoire!?'—that was a truly idiotic plan.
...I wouldn't have thought like this normally. Am I worn out?
To convince the owner—even without spilling everything—I'd have to mention how unusual the grimoire was.
And explaining that would lead to describing the incident that made it seem unusual.
[○○ University District Tragedy... Bizarre Phenomenon...]
I gazed at the street near the university, cordoned off by police.
The spot where an unnamed pretty boy was killed by the Transparent Vampire last night.
It wasn't my fault at all, no responsibility on my part.
Still, someone died in society.
Someone had to take responsibility for social order, no matter who.
And if the 'Transparent Vampire's' existence came to light, the most suitable person to pin it on would be me.
If I had to pick a charge, maybe negligent manslaughter due to poor pet management?
Depending on the circumstances, up to two years in prison and a fine around seven million won.
Of course, it wouldn't end there.
"...This is nuts."
A low mutter slipped from my lips.
Who could've predicted a monster sleeping in a book I bought for fun would kill some dude who messed with the owner?
No matter how I thought about it, it wasn't my fault.
Just rotten luck...
Think of it like getting hit by a meteor on the street.
If I'd known his name, I might've gone for pork soup out of passing acquaintance sympathy. Bitter.
I briefly mourned the pretty boy
and glanced at the spot still managed by police where the body had lain until yesterday, then turned to head to my university lecture.
The grimoire was a headache, but reality was an even bigger one. Classes for grades, part-time job, rent—headaches galore.