Chapter 335: What the Hell is Going On? (2)
Chapter 335: What the Hell is Going On? (2)
“Is that intel reliable? The investigation team has reported that there are no records matching that specific magic.”
Hmm. So they don’t have any information on it either.
“It’s certain. I saw that magic during a spar not too long ago. But it’s unregistered? That’s strange. I definitely saw that guy using it.”
Answering Hyun-seok, I tilted my head to wedge the phone between my shoulder and ear.
Whoosh.
I swung The Hammer just like that.
The Hammer sliced through the air with a refreshing sound, colliding with the barrier positioned right in front of my nose.
Heavy.
The funnel-shaped barrier that caught my hammer tried to block my attack by reflecting my own strength back at me.
Creak. Screeeech.
Not long after the contest of strength began, the pressure on The Hammer started to weaken, accompanied by a sound like something cracking.
I didn't miss that moment and poured more power into The Hammer.
Pop.
With a sound like a balloon bursting, part of the barrier that had been holding The Hammer disappeared.
As I thought.
It’s a well-constructed spell, and the amount of reflected force is immense, but the Magic Circle itself has a limit to its durability. With my strength, I can pierce through the barrier.
It might take some time since there are quite a few barriers, but if I keep repeating this…
Just as I thought that and tried to extend the swing of my hammer further—
Vrrr.
I felt the flow of mana intertwining in a complex pattern.
“Holy shit.”
At the same time, I couldn't believe what appeared before my eyes. I cursed and quickly pulled back my hammer.
“…What the hell is that?”
After examining it closely, those were the only words that could escape my mouth in disbelief.
“What’s wrong?”
Ah, right. I was on the phone.
I was so shocked that I’d forgotten I was even in the middle of a call.
“No, I just did a little test because I thought I could break through the barrier…”
I shifted my gaze slightly toward the spot I had just struck.
“…But it looks like it’s going to be difficult.”
In that spot, countless cones had sprouted.
They were densely packed cones that had moved rapidly from the surrounding area to the point of impact.
The moment the barrier broke, its fragments had regenerated into new cones—smaller than before, but vastly increased in number.
The sight of those numerous cones clustered together like barnacles triggered an instinctive sense of revulsion. At the same time, it sparked another thought.
If I had actually smashed that spot with my hammer… would I have been able to break through?
I pondered for a moment.
It didn't take long to reach an answer.
I probably could have. My strength was just that great.
However, I had no idea how many more layers of barriers lay ahead, and the recoil from breaking through would be massive. Was it wise to expend that much energy right before a battle with a Public Enemy?
I was worried about the situation inside where the Public Enemy Designation had been issued, but there were countless skilled mages in there. They should be able to hold out for a bit.
In that case, what I needed to do now was…
“Hyun-seok.”
“What is it? Is there no way out?”
“No, there’s a way out. By the way, were you guys able to break through that thing?”
I asked just in case the barrier was only reacting excessively to me.
“We haven't used any extreme measures yet, so I can't say for sure, but no reports of a successful breakthrough have come in yet.”
That meant they had experimented with magic and superpowers as well.
However, judging by his tone… there hadn't been any casualties yet. I should probably offer a piece of advice.
“You’ve probably realized if you’ve tested it, but that barrier has a property that reflects force. It has a limit, but…”
As I spoke, I moved my feet toward a wall that wasn't in contact with the barrier.
“…That limit is absurdly high right now. So, if you’re going to keep trying to break through, make sure to use people who can definitely defend against their own reflected attacks.”
That was enough advice for now.
Tap. Tap.
I tapped The Wall with my finger to check its density. Unlike its appearance as a simple wall, an unexpected sensation returned, as if it were made of metal.
It’s sturdier than I thought.
Still, it shouldn't be a big problem to break through.
After making that assessment, I poured mana into The Hammer in my hand.
Clank. Clank.
Following my will, The Hammer rapidly transformed into a drill.
A perfectly converted hammer with a rapidly rotating drill attached. I pressed this strangely versatile hammer against The Wall.
Grinddddd.
The drill began to create a hole in The Wall with a roar and a shower of sparks.
“…What are you doing, Lee Ha-ram? I hear a strange noise.”
From the other end of the phone, Hyun-seok’s voice, filled with suspicion, drifted through. He had been listening quietly until now.
“What do you think? I can’t stay stuck underground forever, so I’m heading out. Oh, what’s this? It’s not just one layer of steel plate? It’s okay if I break all of this, right?”
“…Just stay put, Lee Ha-ram. We are quickly sourcing a spatial esper, so you can join up with that Hero later, move to the EU branch, and then act together with the Public Enemy response team…”
While I was busy digging through the ground, Hyun-seok passionately explained the detailed future plans, but his words went in one ear and out the other.
Using Hyun-seok’s voice as background music, I wondered how much time had passed since I started digging.
“…Are you listening, Lee Ha-ram?”
Had he finally realized I wasn't listening?
Hyun-seok stopped his boringly rhythmic speech and threw a single question at me.
To answer that question, I organized my thoughts while drilling through some mechanical facility that looked important.
…Let’s see.
“So, basically, you’re saying don’t break anything, sit still and wait, then join the Public Enemy cleanup crew and follow their orders, right?”
“It feels like you’ve left out a lot of crucial details, but in short, yes.”
“How long will that take?”
Bang.
Oh, something exploded.
Probably wasn't anything important.
“I know what you’re worried about. You’re worried about wasting time. But fortunately, this Public Enemy alert is for the Geneva Branch, which is packed with mages. It won’t fall that easily. The Bureau leadership expects the same…”
Park Hyun-seok’s voice suddenly seemed to become talkative.
However, his words didn't carry much emotion. In fact, in terms of word count alone, he had been even more talkative when he was telling me about the future plans earlier.
It wasn't the word count that had changed.
“You know what, Hyun-seok?”
“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“When you’re lying or making excuses, your sentences get longer and your breathing gets uneven.”
I think I told him that once a long time ago…
Then again, a habit like that isn't something you can just fix even if you try.
Regardless of my thoughts, it seemed my words had hit home. I caught the sound of Hyun-seok taking a sharp, short breath over the phone.
“So cut the excuses. How long do you think it’ll take, including the time to gather the special team and the actual breach?”
In response to my question, a short sigh traveled through the line and into my ear.
“The leadership expects twenty-four hours at the earliest. Forty-eight hours at the latest.”
Too slow.
No, thinking about it, it wasn't actually slow. Even during the Gray Eater incident, which was a global Public Enemy Designation, didn't it take about twenty-four hours to mobilize?
For a smaller-scale Public Enemy Designation where the facts hadn't even been fully verified, that speed wasn't actually slow.
However…
“So, assuming the team gathers as planned, what’s the method for breaking through that barrier?”
“Based on the information you provided, you will take the lead, and the rest will form a formation to block the reflected force…”
Yeah, that would work.
In such a formation, I wouldn't need to block the reflected force myself, so my energy consumption would be much lower.
However, I knew a faster and simpler way.
“Tell the rest of them to breach like that. It doesn't have to be me in the lead, right? I’ll breach through a different route.”
“…A different route?”
Sincere confusion mixed into Hyun-seok’s voice. It was as if he couldn't fathom any other possible route.
“Yeah. A different route. So just give me the permit.”
“What permit are you talking about?”
What else?
I was talking about the one I applied for ages ago that still hasn't been approved. What’s the point of giving me a residence access permit if I can’t even meet him?
“A visitation permit for the Yellow King. I’m going to use The Yellow King’s Play.”
Bang.
Ah, something else exploded.
* * *
I had various conversations while digging my way out.
Hyun-seok tried to persuade me to follow the Management Bureau leadership’s plan as much as possible.
But I didn't budge, telling him that if I was going to meet the Yellow King anyway, it was better to go now. I also shared my opinion that with The Yellow King’s Play, I could easily pass through that barrier.
The debate was short but intense.
Hyun-seok presented the benefits of following the Bureau’s standard procedures.
I presented the benefits of borrowing the Yellow King’s power.
Hyun-seok opposed it, saying the demerits outweighed the merits, but in the end, he couldn't break my stubbornness.
After obtaining the visitation permit from Hyun-seok, I moved my legs busily and reached my destination.
A place near Europe, but geographically belonging to Asia.
The residence of the Yellow King.
Arriving at that secret location, I presented my access permit and visitation permit to the official in charge.
“Confirmed. Hero Lee Ha-ram. Are you familiar with the rules?”
The official skimmed through them and spoke.
It was incredibly lax security, unbecoming of a Grade 5 Classified Area—the highest level of Bureau secrecy.
All that was there was a rusty wire fence surrounding the property and a tiny guard post with a single, half-dozing official.
There weren't even any sentries on guard duty, which are common in such places.
Even a Grade 4 Classified Area would show an immense state of alert at first glance, but this place made one wonder if it wasn't even Grade 2, let alone Grade 5.
…Or so ordinary people would think.
I gave a bitter smile at that thought and spoke to the official.
“I know the rules well. You’re working hard.”
It was a very strange way to speak to a staff member.
To that, the official replied, “It’s just a job, after all.”
The staff member calmly returned my Hero ID without any particular reaction.
Taking the ID, I stared intently at the official.
…As I thought.
After confirming my suspicion was correct, I walked into the property without saying goodbye.
The residence of the Yellow King, located inside the rusty wire fence. Nothing existed in that place.
To be more precise, it was easier to perceive it as an abandoned plain rather than an empty space.
It was a desolate place where buildings had collapsed from neglect and nature had grown wild.
I glanced at those things.
Ignoring the numerous wary gazes fixed on me, I walked quickly toward the center of the residence.
The wild nature and crumbling ruins flowed rapidly behind me.
The gazes following me continued to track my movements.
In that situation, it wasn't long before a small house in the distance came into view.
It was an unremarkable, small family home that didn't suit this place at all.
However, I wasn't flustered by that strange house. I stopped in front of it and knocked lightly on the door.
Knock. Knock.
“Yellow King. You in there? It’s Lee Ha-ram. I’m coming in.”
It was a casual knock and greeting, as if I were visiting a friend’s house.
After finishing that, I opened the door and stepped inside without waiting for an answer.
An utterly ordinary sight unfolded before my eyes.
Beyond the entryway where several pairs of shoes were placed, there was a common living room.
Modern furniture like a sofa and a small dining table were positioned there. On one wall, a television was broadcasting the news, and a digital clock hung nearby.
On the floor, power cords for home appliances were scattered about.
In that ordinary place, an extraordinary being was sitting on the sofa, watching the news.
A being with gray hair, wearing martial arts robes with a Hwando at his waist.
With a very familiar face, he turned his head to look at me, frowned, and spoke.
“Lee Ha-ram, you rascal. It has been a long time, yet you are still as ill-mannered as ever. Where on earth have you thrown away all my teachings?”
The Heavenly Demon Sword God, with a face so familiar despite the time passed, scolded me in a voice that was just as familiar.