Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 008
Chapter Title: Learning Magic (5)
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Response Special Task Force break room. The task force members were slumped over, resting from exhaustion.
It was because they'd worked through the night on the mass-produced haunted building incident.
Unlike places where ghosts naturally spawned—abandoned buildings, damp spots, or houses with tragic histories—this was a criminal scheme where ghosts were deliberately unleashed into commercial buildings to cause hauntings, drive down property values, and snap them up on the cheap.
It was originally a case the task force had been investigating before the university incident.
Compared to a murder in the middle of campus where people were dying, the danger level was lower, but it was still risky.
Park Team Leader of the Response Special Task Force's 5th Division rubbed his tired shoulders and scowled.
"The professor murder's already giving me a headache... and now these damn ghost peddlers."
The youngest female agent from 3rd Division looked up at his words and asked,
"Ghost... merchants?"
Screeech—
And then Shin Sion entered the break room and answered in his place.
"A mage operating in Europe. The owner of the grimoire Heptameron."
"A magic abuser who traps ghosts in jars like canned goods and sells them as products."
Shin Sion set drinks and some documents on the table.
"Good work, everyone. Let's take a break with some coffee first."
Park Team Leader grabbed a coffee and took a sip.
"Thanks, I'll enjoy it. So, how's the cleanup going?"
"We caught the organization smuggling the ghost cans, but they've already spread some out... We'll have to track down the buildings and purify them for safety."
Irritation laced Park Team Leader's voice.
"Just let 'em use the places as haunted houses!"
"It's like wanting to see a tiger but not one that's escaped its cage."
Shin Sion picked up a coffee and handed it to the youngest agent, looking after her.
"You did great."
"Ah...! Thank you. You too, Team Leader Sion. What's the material you brought?"
Shin Sion glanced down at the documents and said,
"This is a simple rundown of the students who were in the classroom during the time the professor was killed."
Park Team Leader sipped his coffee and said,
"You think the killer's one of them?"
"...Just my delusion. We'll investigate them one by one to check."
Shin Sion spoke her thoughts in a calm voice.
"Both the first murder of the man and the second professor case. No matter how traceless it was, they happened right in front of people's eyes."
"The first could be a rampage, but for the second, I thought they were drunk on power or couldn't control the grimoire. But there hasn't been a third incident."
"...And it's been quiet ever since. Don't you think it's too cautious for someone who's gotten such great power?"
Park Team Leader rubbed his chin and replied,
"Maybe they're just a coward or super careful type?"
"If the grimoire's owner is that cautious, it contradicts the second incident. If they wanted to kill, they'd have done it quietly somewhere without people, not in a classroom. They have the ability."
"So what's your conclusion?"
"The second incident was also an unexpected grimoire rampage by the owner. After that, they've started controlling it and hiding themselves."
Shin Sion pressed her fist to her lips and calmly summed up her delusion.
"Maybe the reason the owner—who we might already have in custody without realizing—is being cautious is some incidental evidence from the two incidents that could reveal their identity."
Park Team Leader nodded at that, and the youngest female agent's eyes sparkled.
"No sharp leads right now anyway, so if we catch 'em, great."
"I-I'll do my best too!"
Shin Sion gave a light smile.
"Thanks."
She took a sip of coffee and read off the names on the documents.
Kim Kisoo, Kim Seon-ah, Kim Yohan...
Was the grimoire's owner among them?
If so, what were they doing now? How deeply had they delved into the grimoire's knowledge? How much had they grown?
The reason for their caution... Was it not just evidence, but anticipating the task force's existence too?
Shin Sion read the documents intently with calm eyes.
Kim Yohan got paid for his security gig that day, shopped to his satisfaction, and arrived home.
Maybe the scare-the-ghost bonus was included in the pay. It was decent for a day's work.
Though sitting in that chair so long made his body ache more than the ghosts did.
And at the end of the shift, Cheolmin kept asking if anything weird happened, if he saw anything—super annoying.
People always want a story they can buy into.
Even if he said he saw nothing after already being haunted, they wouldn't believe him.
Especially after seeing the prayer beads on Cheolmin's wrist.
He'd bullshitted that a monk told him as a kid they had strong protective energy, great yang qi.
Obviously a lie—he'd never even been near a temple.
Anyway, after sorting the groceries, feeding Grizzly, I ate a simple meal and thought about future plans.
'...Should I just become an exorcist?'
The saltwater holy water's effect was better than expected.
Among things I could do now, it seemed the easiest way to make money.
Go to a building rumored to be haunted, swing the holy water bottle, splash droplets—done.
The only worry was...
The secret government organization that might be tracking me.
They hadn't investigated me yet, but if they did later.
A normal guy suddenly turning exorcist right after the professor murder? Suspicious.
"·········."
I cradled my forehead in my hand and sighed.
Having my actions restricted was more frustrating than I'd thought.
A shadowy government group handling bizarre cases I'd never heard of.
'...I'm shadowboxing like crazy here.'
I gathered my thoughts.
No, me finding out about them means they've shown up in front of me.
That they'd consider me a suspect.
At least for now, that meant I had some leeway.
This was the time to learn more magic.
I took a short nap to shake off the fatigue, then opened the grimoire.
Next after holy water: incense.
Magic incense to assist in spellcasting, used to drive away or summon spirits.
"Let's see, ingredients first... Dried aloe, nutmeg, styrax, musk?"
Musk? I'd heard the word... but what was it exactly?
'Help me out, Google!'
I searched online and was shocked.
Musk – An incense extracted from the musk pod near the genitals of the musk deer. A representative animal-derived incense like dragon's blood or civet.
Not shocked it came from a musk deer, obviously. The price.
'Powder, this gram... 330,000 won?'
I knew 330,000 wasn't insanely expensive.
But considering my wallet, it was pricey.
"·········."
Of course I could buy it, but rent, Grizzly's food—headache.
Made me sorry for calling holy water just salt water earlier.
Great value magic water, efficiency-wise.
But what could I do? I'd have to buy it.
If I wasn't saving for funeral money, and planned to keep learning magic, better to invest.
...And positively, it's an investment.
It'd pay off later anyway.
I tapped the grimoire's iron cover and said,
"...Hope so."