Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: My Wallet
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"Once, I pursued justice."
Yeah. Sure did. Whenever the teacher asked who I admired, I always named that person.
The one who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Dad, Yi Sun-sin, King Sejong.
"Not listening, are you?"
Just as I was thinking, This guy's half-baked— I suddenly felt my face heat up and opened my [Inventory].
Normally, this is when Raphael or Lachesis would pop out and chew me out to knock it off.
But one's asleep, the other's away. No one's stopping me, so I go off the rails.
I'm dying of embarrassment here. Magic killer? What the hell. With my inhibitor gone, my mouth's seal is broken.
So damn humiliating.
At least the silver lining is I knocked the guy out before he could react to my words.
I needed to extract info and knock him out anyway, so what can you do? I was embarrassed.
Still, I got the info I wanted from knocking him out. Meaningless in hindsight, but whatever.
Ends justify the means. The world runs on results.
"........."
This would've been prime time for a Lachesis quip. Damn cat—annoys me when she's around, feels off without her.
I picked up the damn cat still snoring on the floor and scanned the surroundings.
He's out cold. If he came alone, the magic circle would vanish.
If not, it'd stay.
"Hm."
And the answer's obvious. Who'd send a guy who's already failed once by himself?
Probably sent an executive-level goon. Target's obviously...
Isia.
I eyed the still-present magic circle, then headed to the unconscious Park Shin-woo.
Pulled a [Rune-Etched Post-it] from my open [Inventory] and plastered it all over his body.
Then, with a snap of my fingers, shadows burst out and coiled around him.
"That should keep him down even if he wakes."
Park Shin-woo's follow-up handled. The corpses scattered around are a mountain anyway, and the rampaging chimeras fled from me.
"About five, huh."
Five in total for this incident, but not precise. As always, if Lachesis were awake, it'd be [Five meow.]
"Really inconvenient."
Have I gotten too soft from easy living? No matter how much I knead this soundly sleeping cat, she won't wake.
"Such a hassle. So annoying."
Irritating.
I slowly stood, gathering the knocked-out teammates in one spot. Placed a few runes and crows to fend off any returning chimeras.
Then rose.
The world has priorities. Ranking what needs doing.
Right now, I need to set mine. Chase the bastard behind this?
Or hunt the escaped chimeras?
"What a pain."
Of course, Isia's first. Honestly, even same class, I barely know these guys.
But Isia's my maid. They say you can't weigh lives, but I disagree.
If you think a stranger's life equals someone you know, see a doctor. Seriously.
However.
"Her dying would stir up a mess."
Headache. Back then, I'd ignore a classmate dying.
Now that I see this world's real, I can't just let it slide.
So what to do? Simple answer.
When you can't prioritize...
"Do both."
Just handle both.
I flicked the robe over my shoulders. A flock of crows erupted from the darkness.
Dozens croaking ominous cries. Sounds that'd drive you mad just hearing them.
And the crows blanketed the sky.
"What the hell is this?"
Shin Chae-yeon, the blue-haired swordswoman, sensed something off as she walked. Too quiet. Unnaturally so.
Truth is, she'd felt weird for a while. That's why she was here to begin with.
Now that unease had doubled.
They'd been moving. Her team en route, vanguard her spotting the hologram on the request board and dashing off.
Everyone fell asleep. Looked wrong no matter how you sliced it; called teachers, radio silence.
So she wandered seeking help, but even that was nowhere.
Dozens of students milling in the district, yet no sign of life.
No hologram monsters causing chaos, no request board regulars.
'System down.'
Or something else. Leaning toward the latter, she proceeded cautiously.
Then bumped into it. A monster sprinting madly. No hologram.
Justia holograms are high-fidelity. Could fool you at a glance.
But no mistaking real. The pressure, killing intent, vital signs, sounds—no machine replicates that.
Shin Chae-yeon, always frontline against monsters, knew. That thing was alive.
Sword drawn instinctively. The one bought from Lee Seong-hoon, honed sharp by her family forge.
Kiiing—!!!!!
Blade screamed out. She assumed stance naturally—
Eyes met. Felt it instantly.
'Scared?'
That monster? Why? Looks plenty strong. Not the last one, but student-chewing level.
As if answering her question, something flew from the sky.
Black something. Feathers cloaked in ominous aura—
"Ugh?!"
Crows.
Crow assaulting her face drew a weird yelp; she shook it off.
This pattern feels familiar.
Ah, knew it. Familiar voice clicked everything into place for Shin Chae-yeon.
Why the monster fled scared, what the crows were, what to do.
Experience-honed insight.
"Chase that down? It's already way ahead."
"Don't want to, fine."
"Got it. I can take 'em?"
"Then sure. Explain everything later."
"Won't count this as debt. Gotta do it. But."
"Come to my place this weekend. Sis is bummed."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Too opportunistic? Opportunities must be seized. Rationalizing thus, she headed for the monster, then paused with a question.
"Where you off to anyway?"
Nod.
One nod, crow raises wings. Thinks it's cool, but nah.
What the...? After pondering—
"Off to solve the incident?"
Shin Chae-yeon unlocked Lee Seong-hoon Translator.
A bit removed from Park Shin-woo's sleep spell range, outskirts. Fierce battle raged in a ruined building.
Or had. It ended. Intense fight, one side crushed.
"That was close."
The robed woman muttered. Face masked, gloved hands.
Body fully covered. No skin visible.
Such woman levitated one via magic.
Long black straight hair, black eyes, battered body telling of the brutal fight.
"Really close. You've gotten this strong. As expected of the archmage's daughter?"
Glancing around. Battle scars everywhere. Building wrecked, craters dotting ground.
Firing chantless spells making those craters? Impressive she won.
Archmage bloodline, awe flickered. But victor was her.
Whatever factors, win's a win.
"If just Park Shin-woo, I'd have lost. Thank that silver-hair kid. Thanks to her, I won."
Eyed the collapsed silver-hair. Face-planted, unconscious.
These two were polar opposites. Fighting together, zero synergy.
No support, just mutual attacks—spells canceled on allies. Self-sabotage.
Even mastering Chant Discard at 17, transcending human limits with chantless barrages—
"Self-destruct means nothing."
"...."
"Anyway. Time to go. Don't worry. We don't harm hostages. Know our goal? Magic's liberation. What you do binds and monopolizes magic. Evil orgs like that gotta go, right?"
Forcing ideals sucks, but she didn't stop.
Things too easy, good mood. Monitoring teachers snared by Sleep, neutralized.
Park Shin-woo off clearing obstacles, Isia in hand.
Take Isia, threaten Association Head, crumble Magic Association itself.
Thrilled, she kept talking. Ignored old wisdom: suspect easy wins.
Didn't stop.
"Mana has will. You bind it as mana circuits— Huh?"
Too late when she realized.
Something in bound Isia's hand. Yellow paper. Post-it note.
Torn in half, fluttering down.
Instant. Crows erupted from the tear.
'Crows?'
Chill hit her. No 'what's this?' thoughts.
One dominated her mind.
Ancient lore surged. Crows symbolize ill omens since forever. Harbingers of disaster.
Why this? As if answering—
Crow caws echoed. Like reverberations. Endless.
Head turned unconsciously toward the spreading cries.
Why? Had to. Instinct? No.
Assimilated. Synced with surging ambient mana, turned unwittingly.
Thud—
Footsteps echoed. One step, like right beside her ear.
Thud—
Figure appeared. Black robe. Pure white scythe.
Black hair whipping. White mask hid face, identity unknown.
Thud—
Blue glow flickered through mask slits. Trailed dreamy arcs on move.
Thud—
"Hey."
Mouth opened. Couldn't reply. Crushing pressure sealed her throat.
"That's my wallet. Put it down."