Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 022
Chapter Title: Ghostbuster (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Far from the bustling city center.
Even for just a short weekend, a place to escape one's complicated life.
A space where one could play shepherd and indulge in the fantasy of returning to farm life.
Sparkling sunlight, shining meadows.
Gazing at the pastoral scenery of a peaceful farm, where flocks of relaxed sheep bleated "Meeeh~" as they wandered about.
'The sheep are cute.'
Yohan thought to himself.
He didn't have any particular fantasies about rural life.
Of course, city living was far more convenient and pleasant.
But this leisurely, quiet atmosphere wasn't half bad.
Of course, that was purely from a tourist's perspective.
Actual ranchers had to rise at dawn, had tons of work, and had to clean up animal waste—it had to be grueling.
At that moment, a ranch staff member opened the sheep pen gate and announced,
"Everyone, feel free to come inside for a closer look. You can check out the other animals too."
"So cute~ Oppa, let's go over there."
"Sure, got it."
"I wanna live somewhere like this when I get old."
The ten or so participants in the ranch experience—including Yohan—scattered at the staff's guidance to explore.
The reason he'd gone out of his way to reserve and pay for this Weekend Farm.
This place uniquely offered a program where, for a fee, you could buy livestock and slaughter it under expert supervision.
Well, sure, it was marketed legally as a "medieval slaughter experience—meat isn't made easily, feel the weight of life," and so on, wrapped in suitably lofty descriptions.
Anyway, apart from hunting for the wizard black market.
He couldn't just sit around twiddling his thumbs, so he'd joined to score some sheepskin—or metal—for crafting pentagrams.
Wondering which sheep would make the best parchment,
"Meeeh~."
he knelt on one knee and fiddled with a suitably grown one, mentally reviewing the process for magical parchment.
First step of medieval magical parchment making.
Take the prepared knife and, while chanting, skin the dead beast.
Second. Clench salt in your hand and chant.
Afterward, rub the salt thoroughly into the hide and leave it in the sun for a day.
Third. Now it's just standard parchment production.
Soak the hide in a vat of water and lime for three days, then pull it out and scrape off the clinging lime.
Secure the parchment so it won't curl, and dry it in the shade for three days.
Finally, add the prepared magical incense to a brazier.
Dry the parchment in the rising smoke, and voilà—magical parchment complete.
Yohan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Haa..."
A sigh slipped out on its own.
Skinnning an animal wasn't child's play...
It seemed simple enough in theory, but practice would drag on forever and be a pain.
He'd have to take care not to damage the hide.
Since he needed it, he'd muddle through the trial and error eventually.
But man, he really wished there was a market for magic reagents.
As Yohan surveyed the sheep with those thoughts,
"············!"
From behind, calm eyes widened inwardly—without showing a hint on her face—warily fixed on Yohan.
It was Response Special Task Force Team 3 Leader Shin Sion.
'Kim Yohan...!? What the hell is he doing here?'
She'd disguised herself as a regular customer to investigate this ranch, potentially a wizard's workshop.
Never imagined running into Yohan here.
"·········."
She quietly steadied her pounding heart.
Thank goodness her face rarely betrayed emotion.
Sion casually pretended to admire the sheep as she shifted position.
Observing Yohan from a blind angle.
Paranoid, maybe... but unusual behavior screamed suspicion.
For instance, if someone who always had pork cutlet for lunch picked a different dish that day.
'Eh, just craving something else.'- Easy to brush off.
But there was always a reason, however minor.
Some motive for wanting variety that day.
Background checks showed Yohan wasn't the type to shell out for feel-good farm fantasies.
Yet here he was. Wasteful cash for a student on break after quitting his part-time gig.
Yet he'd paid up. Why?
She hadn't spoken to him directly, so she could be off-base.
But her read on Yohan from the investigation: rational guy.
Avoided waste in everything he did.
Yet he'd come to a ranch totally unrelated to his major or hobbies.
...A reason to visit? Something to gain?
Then why Weekend Farm? What set it apart from other ranch experiences? ...The programs?
Did he know it was another wizard's workshop...?
Sion pondered, lightly pressing her clenched fist to her lips.
Then a ranch staffer approached with a grin.
"Haha! No need to look so scared, ma'am. Our sheep are real docile."
"Ah... yeah. Animals kinda freak me out."
Sion instantly softened her expression into an awkward smile.
For now, focus on the farm probe.
She tore her gaze from Yohan.
No fingerprints or traces left behind, but the bodies told how victims died.
If Yohan truly was the university killer.
That meant he commanded an "invisible familiar" capable of effortlessly hoisting adult men and snapping their necks in one twist.
Sion gazed at the folks chatting peacefully, enjoying their holiday.
"·········."
Post-university incident, he'd gone quiet and reclusive—no rash moves likely.
But provoke him carelessly, and worst case, everyone here could get swept up and slaughtered.
...And Yohan as suspect was still just a hunch.
Sion thought that over while scrutinizing the staff.
Smiling at customers, sure.
But an undercurrent of mockery too. Yeah, something off.
Common thread among the farm's missing persons: all came solo.
Hence, Sion had Response Special Task Force agents on standby outside.
Ordered a raid if her periodic signals cut off—came alone as bait.
Planning to draw them out herself.
Except this time was different.
"Everyone~ Lunch is served. Come grab some."
The staffer gestured to the outdoor table laden with grilled meat, veggies, and soup, ushering folks over.
"All grown right here on our farm."
And naturally, dosed with sedatives.
After they ate.
"·········."
As people slumped face-first onto the table, the staff moved with practiced efficiency—separating luggage, loading the unconscious onto stretchers.
"Taking the whole batch today. Kinda risky, no?"
"Intel says task force raiding soon. Lady wants to wrap everything up today."
"Ah~ Might as well turn 'em all into magic reagents while we're at it. Tough break."
"Luggage to the lady like always? Her hobbies are twisted."
"Shut it... or you'll get eaten."
And there on the table, Yohan and Sion each pondered in silence.
'Grimoire buzzed in my bag—pretended to eat. Total bastards... Task force? Magic reagents?'
Play his cards right, and he might meet other wizards sooner than expected.
Sion, overhearing, was convinced: wizard workshop confirmed. And...
'Sure enough, someone's leaking info inside the task force.'
Might even score details on the mole.
Thus, Yohan and Sion got quietly, amicably stretchered off.
Down to the wizard's workshop in the villa basement.
Yohan fretted a bit over his confiscated Grimoire bag, but no sweat.
Grizzly's mealtime was imminent.
It'd wake from the Grimoire and head his way.
A woman with a slender, beautiful face.
Kim Mireh checked the belongings of the latest "meat" haul from her control room, overseeing the workshop via central CCTV.
Like a hunter appraising her kill, she sized up the spoils.
Killing people. Taking their flesh and gear. One of Kim Mireh's hobbies.
All pretty underwhelming stuff, though.
"As expected, normie trash carries the same crap. Nothing fun."
It was all about that superiority rush anyway—no big loss.
Mireh smirked, rifling through other bags.
"What's this? Cooler? Meat's whatever, but milk?"
Figuring it belonged to some weirdo, she checked his other bag.
"·········?"
The instant she grabbed it, a heavy, ominous weight hit her—wrongness.
No, specialness.
A peculiar book with a dark iron cover peeked from inside.
"...Eh?"
Instinct screamed: real Grimoire.
Her eyes bulged. Trembling hands lifted the cold iron-bound tome.
Too thrilled to notice.
The title etched on the Grimoire's cover writhed unpleasantly, as if displeased, flickering into something sinister.
Mireh flipped it open right away.
'Latin... the original?!'
Voice quivering with excitement, she read slowly. Latin wasn't her forte, but she could parse bits.
"This book's master... Transparent... Vampire's owner? Haha!"
She couldn't contain her glee—burst out laughing.
"Ha—hahahahaha! It's real! A real Grimoire!"
Word was, Grimoires sought owners on their own.
No mistake. It came to her as rightful spoils.
Mireh cackled like a maniac.
...Then thud—the Grimoire hit the floor.
"Eh?"
Overjoyed till her grip failed? Unforgivable to drop such treasure.
She reached to retrieve it—but.
Gone. Her hands—gone.
"Eh? Huh? Eh? Huh? Aaaaaah!"
Her arms, moments ago clutching the Grimoire, vanished. Bone and flesh exposed, blood gushing crimson.
"Aaaah! Wh-what the heeeeell!?"
Simple: she wasn't the master.
Crunch-crunch-
Chewing noises echoed.
Mireh's trembling gaze darted there.
...Nothing. But it was there, for sure.
Something transparent and invisible!
"Ah... Aah!"
Gasping through agony and terror, she staggered back and fell.
"Haa! Haa! N-no. This can't be!"
The Transparent Vampire.
Grizzly scanned the room.
"Giii..."
Owner. No Yohan. Still—.
Grizzly eyed Mireh.
-Looks like he left dinner.
Mireh's pupils jittered wildly, teeth clacking.
If she'd never glimpsed it, fine. But her half-awakened third eye.
It sensed the transparent horror.
"D-don't come... Don't come! Don't cooooome!"
"Haaa...!"
Her jaws gaped, revealing the monster's razor fangs.
She shrieked at the unseen thing closing in—but.
Crunch-!
Her head sheared clean off. She crumpled.
Crunch-crunch-
Skull shattering. Brains pulping. The room filled with the sounds.