Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Residents' Meeting
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I had a dream.
It was a dream where Eun Ha-eun, dragged off to the underground of the Pollution Investigation Bureau, ran into Mr. Kim Hyun-su.
The man who at first threw a fit upon spotting a vampire, but then clocked Eun Ha-eun's outfit and realized they were long-lost family—dancing up a storm.
I clapped and shed tears in front of him, only for someone to creep up from behind and start choking me awake.
The last face I saw was Meow's.
"...Fuck."
What kind of bullshit dream was that?
Still half-asleep, I propped myself up on my elbows.
Meow, who'd been perched on my torso, tumbled right off.
"Meow!"
The little guy let out a protesting yowl.
But I had my own gripes.
"Hey, you woke me up too."
"Meow?"
"Said I dreamed about you."
"Meow."
Rustle.
Then Meow started rubbing its face all over my chest.
What the...?
Was it actually happy about what I'd just said?
Honestly, it didn't make a lick of sense to me.
If anything, hearing you'd been the nightmare should bring up bad memories, right?
Why would it be thrilled to star as the villain in my bad dream?
'Guess that's constellations for you—thinking on a whole other wavelength.'
Yeah, it checked out.
You could tell just from that midnight stroll the other night.
Seemed like Meow's hobby was dishing out nightmares to lost runaway kids and blackout drunks stumbling home.
Me dreaming one up probably stirred up those old gloomy pastimes.
'...Whatever.'
Enough nonsense.
I set Meow down from on top of me and shook the sleep off.
Today marked exactly one week since I'd busted out of that vampire mansion.
Nothing much had happened in the meantime.
Whatever went down in the mansion, the outside world stayed peaceful.
And I hadn't poked my nose into any pollution zones since.
The Pollution Investigation Bureau had called once, but even that was just about the reward money.
'Five million won.'
That was my payout for slaying not some monster, but a bloodsucking vampire.
Honestly, it felt a bit off.
Not chump change compared to your average office worker's salary, but for offing a man-eater? Felt cheap.
But hey, this was the Bureau.
The same clowns who could've paid me off in five hundred egg breads for vampire hunting.
Counting my blessings they shelled out five mil at all.
Korea's stingy with payouts like this anyway.
No wonder construction firms hold mock exorcisms, sobbing as they bite officials whenever relics pop up on-site.
Anyway.
I got up to fix breakfast.
As I prepped the usual three portions—for me, Meow, and Ro Boss—a random thought flashed through my head.
'Oh, right.'
The Hunters gig, the vampire one this time.
I'd gotten paid both times, but never actually spent a dime.
'Maybe invite Ro Boss over for a casual dinner party tonight.'
You know, like how friends treat each other to meals after their first paychecks.
The idea popped up out of nowhere, but it didn't sound half bad.
Especially since it meant hanging with Ro Boss.
I grabbed the finished food and headed straight next door.
"Mr. Han-sik?"
"Morning, Boss. Brought breakfast."
"Oh, thanks. Appreciate it every day."
Ro Boss bowed her head and carefully took the container from my hands.
I saw it as paying rent in kind, so no skin off my back.
Still, the thanks felt nice.
Had me grinning ear-to-ear as I spilled the beans on my plan.
"Say, Boss, you free tonight?"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing big. Got some cash rolling in lately, so thought I'd throw a little party. Figured I'd repay some of what I owe you."
My own pitch, but damn if it didn't make me nervous.
First time in my life asking a woman out to eat.
If she shot me down, I'd forget I was a badass vampire slayer and bawl under the covers.
"If you've got other plans, no worries..."
"No, I'll come. I want to. I've got something to talk about too."
But Ro Boss brushed off my fears like they were nothing.
Mood lifted instantly.
"Great, then. See you tonight. Sleep well!"
"Yeah... Keeps feeling weird saying it, but I'll dig in. Thanks."
With that bright send-off, I headed home whistling.
Ro Boss's smile was packed with HP restore, immune boost, diet aid, hair loss prevention, and skin glow-up effects. No doubt.
'Oh, right.'
She mentioned having something to say too.
Hmm.
Wonder what.
Curiosity was killing me, but I'd wait till evening.
Better to hear it straight from her later.
After that, I finished my meal and stepped out.
Saturday today, but I had plans.
Headed to the café we'd set up, and there was a guy waiting solo—total odd man out in the vibe.
"Here, Boss."
"Yeah, hey, Han-sik."
None other than So Boss.
Grabbed an iced Americano and plopped down across from him.
His bored mug perked up as he spoke.
"You said you had something to talk about?"
"Yeah."
"Spit it out."
"Well..."
I laid out what had bugged me in the vampire mansion for So Boss.
You know, staring at Kang Cheol-ho's magic tool, wanting a clearer read on my abilities.
Truth was, this was why I'd asked to meet him today.
Time to pin down what made me special.
Not an easy call, mind you.
Even after escaping the mansion, I'd waffled on telling him a hundred times over.
But the conclusion never changed.
If I was sticking with the exorcist gig, better to get a real diagnosis than fly blind on gut feel.
"So, if you know anything, fill me in. You're the expert here, right?"
"Hm."
But even after hearing me out, So Boss stayed mum for a beat.
Frustrating as hell, so I prodded like a nag.
"Quit stalling and speak up. Your tip-off didn't match what I saw in there—nearly got me killed."
"Hey, that's why I'm out here on a weekend, ain't it? Think I want to see your mug?"
"What's wrong with my face? Total heartthrob—always a treat."
Cold hard fact, certified by Ro Boss this morning.
Else she wouldn't have said yes to my dinner bash.
Heh, thinking about it had me hyped for tonight already.
"Heh, what a lunatic."
Apparently not to this guy.
So Boss let out a dry chuckle, sighed, and finally spoke.
"Listen, Han-sik. One question before I answer."
"Shoot."
"How long you planning to keep dipping into this crap?"
His tone was off—serious question incoming.
If this were a dating sim, choice prompts would've popped up.
Say "just once or twice" and bam:
'That your resolve for joining our world? Scram, kid.'
Normal ending unlocked.
But mine was different.
"Least a few years. Gotta stack enough to coast till I croak."
When was it?
Saw somewhere a grade-9 civil servant's lifetime earnings hit mid-10 billion won.
So for peace of mind, I needed 20-30 bil in the bank.
Exorcism ain't a steady gig—socially, you're just a bum.
Cash flow dries up? No clue what hell awaits.
Hate to imagine.
Only those who've been broke and jobless know the score.
"No thoughts on investing or whatever? Didn't you major in econ?"
"Not like I haven't considered it, but c'mon—ain't easy."
Not a lack of confidence—just reality.
Wall Street's crawling with folks backed by John Bogle or JP Morgan as patrons.
Even they scrape 20-30% returns—if I jumped in with my 200 mil, I'd just be chum for those Wall Street sharks.
In this day and age, investing without a constellation? For crazies only.
'Except SPY and VOO.'
But seriously.
Humans dead less than a century shouldn't qualify as constellations, right?
Dudes who kicked it just years back ascending and still fleecing us? Overkill.
Whined all I wanted—nothing changed.
What could ya do?
World's brutal to latecomers.
With the convo there, So Boss finally nodded like it clicked.
"Alright, got it. Can't be helped. Half my fault you waded into this mess anyway."
"Heh, damn right. All started 'cause you spilled the beans on 'that thing'."
"...This guy's mouth."
Why?
What's wrong with my tone?
He hooked me up with the first job—every word spot-on.
But So Boss gritted his teeth like he was swallowing rage, then fished a business card from his pocket.
[Witch & Magic]
"What's this?"
"Pay 'em a visit. Friend runs it—way more expert than me. I could guess, but I'm iffy on some bits myself."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Figured you just had strong pollution resistance."
"Not?"
"Kinda murky. Sounds like your perception's wired different altogether. Better chat with someone who knows better. Drop my name."
"Thanks!"
I pocketed the card with a grateful nod.
Figures.
Acts all coy when he was gonna spill anyway.
"Oh, and just to check—no one else heard this from you?"
"Course not. Even hesitated with you."
Not the kinda thing you blab to randos anyway.
Only folks I trusted that much? The two bosses.
"Good. Keep it that way. Don't go yapping to others. That woman... unavoidable, I guess."
"You say unavoidable, but why the face?"
"Eh. Gal running the shop's got a weird personality. Obsesses hard over stuff that grabs her interest."
"Like a prof spotting a star student?"
"Heh, not wrong. Won't blab client deets though, so don't sweat it."
Gotcha.
I nodded and eyed the card.
'[Witch & Magic]: Magic item shop run by a real wizard.'
Ten years back, it'd scream scam—no one stepping foot.
These days? Different story.
Wizards went public ages ago with the constellations.
Big names got treated like old-school profs or celebs.
'Heard overseas they've got magic academies straight-up run by constellations.'
Whatever—ain't ever going.
Wasn't Hogwarts, that was sure.
'Anyway.'
If So Boss recommended it personally, bet it was legit wizard turf.
Made me wonder how he knew all these spots.
"Oh yeah, Boss."
"What."
"Kinda random, but what's your name?"
Curiosity hit—blurted it out.
Been calling him So Boss for convenience, but I didn't know his real name.
From day one, he'd insisted on "just Boss."
Even "So Boss" came from the shop name: Sauce Ne.
But couldn't drag that forever.
He'd hooked me up with jobs and wizard contacts—time for a name.
No matter how mysterious the vibe, this much goodwill...
"Stick to So Boss."
"Roger."
No dice, huh.
Getting a guy's name felt harder than a one-on-one home party with a girl.
Name or no, business end was fine.
I stashed the card, slurped the rest of my Americano.
Wrapped chit-chat and stood to go—
"Excuse me."
"Um, are you a model? Swear I've seen you somewhere."
Two women I'd never met approached, eyeing him.
Obviously not here for me.
Whoa, shit.
First time seeing a chick hit on in person.
So Boss shut 'em down cold, of course.
No eye contact, just "sorry" on repeat—like ChatGPT dodging hate speech.
Zero human empathy in that steel wall.
Guy calls me crazy daily, but moments like this? He's the unhinged one.
Anyway, post-café, I made for the address on the card.
Pretty far—took nearly an hour swapping public transit.
Landed in a dark alley that screamed "not Seoul."
Grimy, damp vibes you wouldn't believe—tower-like building stabbed right in the middle.
'What the hell is that?'
Fantasy mage tower vibes, straight out of a novel.
Back in the day, tourist trap goldmine.
I ignored it and pushed deeper into the street.
Towers were popping up everywhere these days anyway.
That Linne Mart joint looked like one to outsiders too.
A bit further, and there it was—the shop sign matching the card.
'Witch & Magic.'
Straightforward name—loved it.
Screamed "witch hawking magic gear."
Hang a sign like that and sell supplements or ginseng sticks? Crime.
If they did, Fair Trade Commission'd get an overhyping report pronto.
"Anyone here?"
Stepped in with that thought—
Thud.
"Ow, shit."
Something dropped on my head like an April Fool's chalkboard eraser prank.
A book?
Scribbled in some curly alien script.
"Mysteries from Beyond the World."
"Huh?"
"That's the book's name, dear. Seems you like it."
I looked up at the decadent, oozing voice.