Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Residents' Meeting
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She must have seen the look on my face that clearly screamed for an explanation, because Kiki flashed a devastating smile and added more.
"Do you know the difference between a magic engineer and a mage?"
"Of course not. I only learned about my own status today. Aren't they both just people who use magic?"
"Half right. But it matters who wields the magic. A mage can use it on their own, while a magic engineer is someone who commands a grimoire."
To sum up what Kiki said next:
Mages are humans who handle mysteries directly.
Kiki herself—or, in a broader sense, the Lee siblings I'd met—could be considered mages.
But magic engineers were a much narrower category.
There are these bizarre objects in the world called grimoires, filled with magic. People who draw out the power inside them are called magic engineers.
"Like a firearms expert and a soldier?"
"Heh heh, something like that. You don't need to know how guns are made or exactly how people die from them to be a soldier."
As she said that, Kiki looked me straight in the eye.
"And Han-sik, I think you have the perfect qualities to become a very capable magic engineer."
"Pardon?"
"Better to show you than explain."
Right then, Kiki pulled a thick book from the nearby bookshelf.
I realized what it was—the book from before, written in that squiggly script.
Mysteries of the World Beyond.
'Didn't I leave that outside?'
The thought crossed my mind, but before I could dwell on it, Kiki handed me the Mysteries of the World Beyond.
"Want to read it?"
"I, uh, don't know foreign languages well."
"You should be able to now."
What did that mean? I flipped open the first page.
The red letters inside wriggled and changed to Korean on their own.
"Kyaa! Shit!"
The sight was so shocking I screamed and dropped the book without thinking. No joke, I thought red worms were crawling around on their own. I hurriedly looked at Kiki.
"Wh-what is this?"
"It likes you, that's why. Of course a book wants to be read by people."
"It talks?"
"You said you can't perceive mysteries!"
"Strictly speaking, you still can't. The book just changed its own letters. The key did the same, remember?"
What was she saying?
So the universal key opening the door was the same as the book rewriting its own content?
No matter how I thought about it, this seemed a hundred times more mysterious, but her explanation made it sound that way.
In the end, I picked up the dropped book and opened the first page again.
"Whew, alright, I get it. Should I read it then?"
"Yes. Oh, if possible, could you read from over there?"
"Sure. Ahem."
I cleared my throat and read from the spot Kiki pointed to. My voice came out husky, probably from the weird scream earlier.
"There are worlds beyond our world. Know that a greater world exists, and that ours is but dust within it."
What the hell kind of vague nonsense was this...
Bang!
It happened in that instant.
A sudden gust like a storm hit, accompanied by thunderous roar. I flinched and scanned for the source of the noise.
The Iron Maiden from before had shrunk like it was crushed from all sides by hydraulic presses.
My jaw dropped. I couldn't comprehend what I was seeing.
But Kiki calmly spoke up.
"That's the first spell embedded in that book."
"...Pardon?"
What?
So...
"That happened because I just read from the book?"
"Yes. More precisely, you released the power sealed in the grimoire by reading it."
Kiki added some theoretical explanation to the demonstration.
I couldn't grasp it all, but I could summarize.
In essence, reading a grimoire was like pressing a missile launch button.
Especially since you didn't need any special ability to handle mysteries—just press it, and you get the same effect.
That explanation sparked one thought in me.
"Isn't being a magic engineer too easy?"
From what I'd heard, mages spent all day researching magic or pulling off all sorts of antics to get something from their patron constellations.
A magic engineer just had to read a book. Done.
I wondered if it was just the difference between theory and practice, but Kiki denied it.
"Heh heh, it's not that simple. Han-sik, do you feel anything strange right now?"
"No, just a bit startled, but otherwise fine."
"That's because it's you."
"Pardon?"
"Normally, chanting that spell once would drive you mad or shrink you down too."
"... "
What the hell was this woman doing to me right now!
I was certain in that moment. Kiki was insane.
If not, no one would tell a person they just met today to press a suicide button, even if they knew it'd be fine.
The kind of person who thinks, This might work? and tries it themselves is usually crazy.
And Kiki was that kind of person.
"High-level grimoires are like that. That's why proper magic engineers are usually proper mages too. They have to protect their minds from the madness the grimoire emits and find ways to shield themselves from the magical backlash. But you?"
Meeting her gaze, I realized why she'd said I had the qualities of a capable magic engineer.
Because I didn't need any of that.
The madness or backlash from the grimoire had zero effect on me.
I didn't know about the physical results of what the grimoire caused, but the magical mysteries themselves did nothing to me.
So all I had to do was press the red button.
Irresponsible pleasure, for real.
That's why she'd suggested I become a magic engineer. Now I felt like I could press buttons all day even without the 100,000 won.
Ah, but...
"Listening to all this made me curious about something."
"What?"
"If just reading works, why not record it? Turn on a recorder whenever you need it, go outside, and you're good, right?"
The so-called mecha-magic engineer plan.
But Kiki shook her head.
"Clever idea. But not easy. A well-tamed grimoire might work, but most have their own will and won't respond that way."
In other words, ego items.
Suddenly, images of Excalibur and stuff from my childhood dreams flashed in my head. Dreams coming true like this.
"Ah, then. The reason this book likes me..."
"It really does like you. Especially Mysteries of the World Beyond—almost no one can read it. Honestly, I can only get through half myself. Did you think that was just sales talk?"
"Yeah, honestly, I did."
"What? Han-sik, that's too harsh."
Not the words I wanted to hear from the person who'd just made me press a suicide button.
Well, I survived, so fine.
And after hearing all of Kiki's story, a destructive fantasy started bubbling up.
A grimoire in a loose t-shirt, lifting it up shyly, begging me to press it or it couldn't go on. A red button on its navel, and every press elicited a strange moan.
'Sewing machine.'
Bring the damn sewing machine.
No, wait—I didn't even need that now.
I'd just become the human sewing machine.
Thinking that, I poked the book's cover firmly. Sadly, no moans.
As I was doing that, Kiki asked the same question again.
"So, will you try being a magic engineer?"
"Yes."
I answered without hesitation.
Truth was, even without this, I'd been thinking I needed some firepower boost to keep doing exorcist work.
A telescoping baton was great for training, but its limits were clear.
Even against someone at Eun-ha's level, I could only chokehold for tens of seconds. Against anything more dangerous, physical fights would leave me outmatched, mysteries or not. I couldn't die before saving up 3 billion in my account.
So I needed supplements, physical or magical. But it was harder than it sounded.
Magic was out for me, and Korea made it tough to get physical power beyond a baton.
You needed permits for swords, guns were still illegal. Best I could hope for was a fire axe—not exactly reliable.
"In this situation, no reason to refuse a grimoire. Feels like something I absolutely need."
Of course, there was one awkward point.
The firepower seemed way too strong.
I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, but turning the Iron Maiden into a baby version proved it.
'And it seems to have some nasty side effects normally.'
Still, if I used it carefully, it'd be fine.
Objects aren't at fault—it's the user.
Kiki nodded at my thoughts.
"I see. Good thinking. If you were living a normal life, maybe, but otherwise, you can't fear growth. But exorcist? From now on, introduce yourself as a purifier."
"Pardon? Purifier?"
"Yes. Lots of constellations hate the word exorcist. Or just say magic engineer from now on."
Ah, right.
There were demons and even Heavenly Demons among constellations, from what I'd heard.
Saying exorcist to them would be like picking a fight.
After settling even the terminology, we returned to the shop.
After she finished explaining grimoire usage precautions and regular check-ups, right before I left...
"Truth is, I really like you, Han-sik. I'd love to take you as an apprentice and keep you by my side all day."
Kiki said that with a wistful expression.
It was clearly a compliment, but it gave me chills for some reason.
"But I can't, right? Kiki's a good witch."
Why?
In that moment, I felt like she had some massive constraint binding her.
Especially her suddenly referring to herself in third person—it terrified me.
Like Kiki's good, but Mega Kiki isn't, and she'd use me as a guinea pig.
But nothing like that happened.
"...I'll visit often."
"Yes, I've been waiting for you to say that."
Kiki smiled and held out her hand at my farewell.
Damn. After all the weird talk today, my sense of reality was shot.
I reached out to shake it.
But she gently pushed my hand away and said:
"Mysteries of the World Beyond. 2 million won."
No.
Pay up.
Looking back, her line was just the mage version of Come again.
I'd said that, but of course I paid Kiki properly.
The consultation wasn't something you could get anywhere, and for a real grimoire, the price was reasonable.
Sure, for a normal person without magical aptitude like me, there were minor downsides like getting crushed or going mad, but the magic inside was real.
'Good thing I prepaid my account limit last time.'
Otherwise, in that mood, I might've had to leave the book and come back tomorrow.
Anyway, after my first class change from newbie to magic engineer, I got back near home—it was already evening.
I wandered around and bought some food and a few bottles of mart wine.
"Heh heh."
Despite everything, just reaching home turf made me grin.
Because a home party with Ro Boss was waiting for me.
Who cares if I was underpatched or suddenly a magic engineer out of nowhere?
Partying alone with a rich, cute girl—that's happiness.
Thinking that, I returned to the apartment and opened my door.
Pop! Pop!
Small fireworks went off.
"?"
Wondering what it was, I looked up.
There was...
"W-welcome back!"
Ro Boss, wearing a little party hat and popping birthday fireworks.
"I-I heard party, so I prepared... B-but was it lame?"
"... "
"Han-sik?"
An intense impulse I'd never felt before swept over me.