Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 040
Chapter Title: Yohan's Bizarre Vacation (8)
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Like in horror movie endings, whether zombies show up or monsters, anyway, after the whole incident wraps up.
Isn't there that scene where the protagonist gazes out the window of a speeding bus or car with weary eyes?
Personally, I wanted to throw on a decent blanket.
'Hiiing... Too much has happened. I don't want to talk about it.'
Something like that, bullshitting my way through it.
Climb into the vehicle the government agency prepared, slap on a tired expression, and call it a day...
"You've really been through a lot this time. Good work, Special Task Force's Kim Yohan."
...Of course, it didn't go down like that. I turned my head slightly at the voice from behind.
I looked at the calm beauty with black hair who had come up to the rooftop.
The real Special Task Force member, Shin Sion.
I'd spotted her coming from the rooftop and our eyes had met, so I figured she'd show up. But damn, she got here fast.
"Long time no see. Sorry for impersonating you."
I spun around, putting on a polite expression as I spoke.
"I don't like it, but... there's this thing called a white lie in the world."
Yeah, I lied a bit to prevent chaos.
Sion shook her head slightly.
"No, I wasn't blaming you at all. I was trying to make a joke in my own way... Sorry if it came off as sarcastic."
"I think it was a good call to prevent confusion."
She continued in her steady voice.
"That said, I heard you even drew your gun."
"........."
Those survivors... I went out of my way to spare them, and their mouths run fast.
Yeah, I half-expected it.
Government officials asking about specifics? No reason to hold back.
Plus, in that situation, it was necessary to survive, and it was fun.
But spraying bullets at zombies? No way to hide that.
Even if I denied it now, they'd find the casings during the site investigation.
So what I needed to do right now was—
Sion held out her palm to me slightly, and I pulled the pistol from my coat, handing it over with shameless confidence.
"Cut me some slack, just this once."
—Be appropriately honest. Beg for mercy once. Let it slide.
I knew it wasn't a proper solution or excuse.
But the alternative was killing everyone here and going on the run.
Might be possible, but the risks were too high.
So, I'd test the waters.
"Sorry for not mentioning it. I picked one up in the ranch basement last time. World's a dangerous place, you know."
I flicked my eyes toward the zombie corpses scattered across the rooftop.
What to say? Gun possession is a crime, but against a zombie horde, it feels kinda small-scale, right?
Sion took the gun Yohan handed over so readily and thought.
'...What could he be thinking?'
Her eyes scanned Yohan at his frank confession and the gun.
Just her hunch, but the real owner of the national disaster-level Grimoire.
Not confirmed, but if possible, she couldn't ignore it.
'...Admitting a crime unrelated to the Grimoire so cleanly. Cutting off a tail?'
Yohan's and Sion's dark, steady eyes met.
Sion thought as she watched Yohan.
Unlike her, who rarely showed emotion, his face held a calm but appropriately tense expression for the situation.
...Was it genuine? Or acting? No way to tell.
Honestly, just standing in front of Yohan like this made her tense and a bit scared.
I thought as I watched Sion's face.
Hard to read her expression with that calm face. Ice-cold vibe.
But her eyes were serious, somehow... Yeah, fixed only on me. Like peering into my soul. Unsettling.
Her head was probably filled with 'Yohan, suspicion, eliminate.' Scary woman.
".............."
For a very brief moment, the two sized each other up in silence.
It was like two hedgehogs prodding at each other with quills.
Pointless. Both cautious. Little info.
Staring like this wouldn't resolve anything.
Sion decided to confiscate the gun first and probe Yohan.
"...I can understand. You seem to go through dangerous stuff often."
"I can handle the gun issue at my level."
Sion said carefully.
"But for that, there's something you need to tell me, Yohan. For the paperwork later."
Of course, if cornered, Yohan might summon the Transparent Vampire...
Maybe it was already summoned and lurking behind her...
She had to check procedurally after the survivors' testimonies.
"I heard you drew a magic circle, chanted a spell... and turned the zombie horde to dust."
Investigators don't run just because they're scared.
Scary is scary, but they don't run.
"Be honest."
Sion's steady black eyes turned to Yohan.
"Are you a wizard, Yohan?"
"........."
Just a question in words, but basically 'You're a wizard, aren't you?'
I paused deliberately, pretending to think about Sion's question.
Then nodded.
"...Wizard. Yeah, I guess so."
After all, I'd used flashy magic right out in the open. Expected the question.
"I'll tell you because I trust you, Sion. Not like with others."
"...Still, keep it under wraps as much as possible."
I didn't trust her at all. Just mind games.
I pulled the Grimoire from my bag and showed it to Sion.
One way to protect a secret that must stay hidden: reveal a bigger one to cover it.
Sion's pupils shook violently at the unexpected Grimoire.
"—!?"
Not 'Sakura~' or anything. Total shock.
Her reaction was like a necromancer seeing that.
I'd noticed it when I met the necromancer earlier.
He'd been too focused on the pentacle magic, even after getting hit hard by it.
As if assuming I had no other attack spells.
He hadn't anticipated other Grimoires at all.
I'd half-expected it.
I'd picked it up at a used bookstore or bazaar, but Grimoires are apparently super rare.
No one expects one person to have two.
So I'd use that. Framing Kim Mireh last time apparently wasn't enough.
Officially, I'm not the owner of that one.
I'm the owner of this Grimoire. Never killed with it.
"I got this book by chance and got tangled in weird stuff. Sure, the spells in it helped me survive, but..."
I said to Sion with a serious expression.
"In the sense that I used magic... like you said, yeah, 'wizard' fits."
Wizards after Grimoires might keep showing up like this.
If I get dragged into more incidents, I'll need magic to survive. Hiding forever's tough.
So I'd leak that I'm a Grimoire owner.
See how Special Task Force's Sion acts.
Sion's pupils trembled at the Grimoire's cover, then steadied.
"...Sorry. Didn't expect this book."
"No, it's fine."
A cold wind brushed past them. Sion spoke.
"Thank you for telling me."
Usually, one Grimoire per person. Not a rule, but except special cases.
If so, her suspicion was wrong—Yohan owns this one, not the university murder culprit?
...Unless he's a special case? Needed time to think.
"Yohan, for now, I'll file the gun as a Special Task Force civilian collaborator loan."
Sion said, looking at him.
"But that means cooperating on some cases at our request. Okay with that?"
I thought about Sion's offer.
Best not to get tangled with Special Task Force... but I keep getting pulled in.
Partly my fault, but in this situation, being a collaborator to snoop internal info isn't bad.
Rationalize for mental health.
I answered as freelance exorcist Ghostbuster.
Smiled faintly at Sion.
"As long as it's not unpaid."
I'm a good wizard. I'll prove I'm not a bad one.
Though 'good wizard' might not stick.
Sion nodded slightly.
"Of course, compensation's included. I'll prepare the paperwork then."
Our eyes met.
Sion wrapped up in her calm tone.
"You've been through a lot today. Sorry for holding you so long."
"Bus is waiting downstairs. Go rest."
Seemed we both needed time to think for now.
"We'll hear more details on the Grimoire and incidents later. Thanks for cooperating."
"No, thank you for letting the gun slide."
Didn't expect her to actually let it go. Though she has motives.
As I passed Sion and reached the rooftop stairs.
Her voice came from behind.
"Meat and milk."
"...Pardon?"
"Checked the bus. You brought meat and milk in the cooler again."
I stopped, turning my head slightly. Sion's words echoed.
"Just curious. Sorry."
I turned back to the stairs. Eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, well, I like meat and milk."
Casual tone, then descended.
Thud- Thud- Thud-
And...
Grizzly, reading his master's intent, removed his hand from above Sion's head.
And scattered back into the Grimoire.
Boarding the bus prepared by Special Task Force.
The other survivors sat scattered in their seats.
Ellie and the orphans, Sua too.
I was last. Ellie spotted me.
"Yohan...!"
Looked like she wanted to say something, but others were exhausted, tension gone, slumped over.
She bowed in thanks and tended to the kids.
I sat in an empty seat. Suddenly Sua stood and plopped next to me.
"Talking on the roof? Got chewed out for impersonating? Not that I said anything."
"Didn't get chewed out."
I replied casually, gazing out the window. Bus started moving.
'Hmm... So this is the wrap-up, huh?'
I stared out at the moving scenery with tired eyes.
...Then Sua gazed wistfully out the window with weary eyes and said.
"Mister, so it's all over now, right?"
My eyes narrowed.
Damn... She stole my line.
No one behind, so I reclined the seat.
"Dunno, kid."
"Ugh, what?!"
The bus left the camp and moved forward.