Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: All Magic is Equal. But My Magic is a Bit More Equal - 2
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I'd always thought of myself as a merciful, laid-back kind of guy.
That's why I didn't snap at the staffer who was seriously bringing up ghosts by saying something stupid like, "Ghosts? In this day and age?"
"Ooh... You're so kind. Everyone else got really mad."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes. Mages are a bit special, you know. They have that chosen-people vibe. Plenty of them get angry when you even bring up stuff like this."
Is that so?
From what I'd seen in the gallery, the idiots posting crap didn't seem all that elitist.
"Anyway, tell me more about this ghost business."
"There's not much to tell. Ghosts just show up at that hospital at night."
"Ghosts, huh... Do they hurt people?"
"Yeah. Some patients have passed out after spotting one, and a few guards quit after being tormented by them for real."
"Why leave a dangerous place like that alone? Can't they just move somewhere else?"
"We'd love to, but the healers say no. They need the ley line's power to treat injuries from rifts, and that spot's right on a ley line nexus."
Ha.
This was a headache.
"Even if I go, it's not like the ghosts will vanish..."
"Just stay a few days. Once we treat the patient there now, we're closing the hospital."
"Who's the patient?"
The chatty staffer suddenly clammed up.
Classified info?
Whatever.
"If you'd prefer another mission..."
"Nah, this one's fine."
No one else seemed eager to take it.
Succeed here, and even more people would worship me, right?
"Really?! Wow! Thank you!"
The staffer happily spread the word.
The other association folks looked relieved too.
"Take this with you."
"Thank you so much!"
"Hunter Yoo Wol-young! Good things are coming your way!"
"Here's a thank-you gift!"
"Take some of this too!"
They started piling stuff on me from everywhere.
Thank-you gifts, my ass—some were pretty decent gear.
Haha.
This felt good.
With the staff hyping me up, the other hunters in the association eyed me curiously.
Those gazes...
Thrilling.
The mission site was a hospital in Gangnam.
Gangnam Station used to boast insane land prices.
After the rift there, values plummeted, turning it into a near-slum where the target hospital, Ma-jeon Hospital, now sat.
"Who goes there?!"
"Do you even know what this place is?!"
"Damn it! Look at that guy's size! He might be here to smash us!"
"He even brought a huge club! Everyone, grab your weapons!"
The guards out front scrambled.
Tsk tsk.
All of them had livers the size of peanuts.
"Hello. I'm new hunter Yoo Wol-young."
I flashed my fresh hunter ID and mission papers.
"I'll be handling security here for a few days..."
"...For real?"
They finally relaxed.
But worry crept in.
"Uh... Not the best call, if you ask me."
"Why not?"
"A few hunters stayed before. None lasted a full day before bolting."
"Oh..."
"We don't even go inside casually."
"Got it."
"Head to the third floor. The person in charge is there."
I followed the private guards inside.
The outside was a mess, but indoors was surprisingly clean.
"How can I help you?"
"From the Hunter Association."
"I see. Mage Yoo Wol-young... sir?"
What? Why? What?
"Ah, no offense. Just... first time seeing a buff mage like you. Anyway, head upstairs."
I took the guard's advice and went to the third floor.
Unlike the first and second floors with civilians, it was quiet here.
Not empty, though.
At the end of the hall.
I approached the fanciest room's entrance, and the woman sitting there looked up.
"Hm? Who...?"
"From the Hunter Association. Mage Yoo Wol-young."
"A mage?"
"You're Archer Hunter Jang Yoon-jeong, right?"
"Uh. Yeah. Yes."
There sat Jang Yoon-jeong.
A famous archer hunter—I knew of her.
Tower record: 41st floor. Big contributions in rifts too.
But why was she here?
"Heard the association sent a mage. Not sure it'll help. Last few mages didn't do much."
"Maybe. So, what's my job?"
"Guard this place at night."
"Who's the patient?"
"Do you need to know?"
"Not really, but can I check inside?"
"...Why?"
"Gotta see the situation, right?"
Jang Yoon-jeong stared at me.
But only for a moment.
She went in and cracked the door.
"...Whoa."
I saw him.
A middle-aged man asleep, hooked to all sorts of gear, surrounded by healers.
"Pour in more mana!"
"Recovery's too low!"
"Damn it! Pulse is dropping! Potion, now!"
It was total chaos.
"That's our guild leader."
"Ah... I see. But why's he like this...?"
"Got badly hurt in a rift. Borrowing ley line power for treatment. He was almost recovered, but..."
"But?"
"Since the ghost started showing up, he's gotten worse."
Worse after the ghost appeared.
Was the ghost affecting him somehow?
"Understood. Where should I post up?"
"Security room on this floor. Wait there and come out at night."
"Got it."
Still time till night.
Better prep.
"Cool Grimoire Summon."
Last level-up let me summon one more grimoire.
Secrets of Light and Shadow wasn't bad.
But I was curious about others.
"Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."
-Vmmm!!
As I opened Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio to read, Secrets of Light and Shadow started vibrating.
What? Jealous I'm reading another book?
-Vmmm...!!
The moment I reached for Secrets of Light and Shadow—
-Fwoosh!!
Huh?
What the—
Strange Tales flipped open on its own and stopped at one page.
[Yangsaeng Gui]
[Ghosts (鬼) belong to darkness. Thus, they always envy those of light.
Yangsaeng Gui are such creatures, feeding on the vitality of the living.
Among them, Yangsaeng Gui frequently haunt patients under treatment, especially the prominent ones, sucking in their recovering vitality to strengthen themselves.]
"So the thing haunting here is a Yangsaeng Gui?"
No answer.
It just flipped through pages, showing ways to deal with Yangsaeng Gui.
"Oho. Nice."
More useful than I thought.
I headed outside.
Jang Yoon-jeong sat there, looking grave.
"Something wrong?"
"Need you to fetch some stuff."
"What?"
"Peach branch with leaves, mugwort, fresh chicken blood. Laurel, cinnamon, ginger too. Oh, and salt—rock salt if possible."
"...Are you some shaman? If so, don't bother. Shamans and priests claiming powers came and found nothing."
"C'mon, let's try."
"Sigh..."
Not hard to get—why hesitate?
"Fine."
Association mission or not, I was a mage here out of goodwill.
She nodded politely enough.
Free supplies. Score.
Now for Secrets of Light and Shadow's methods?
-Vmmm...!!
Back in the room, it wouldn't open.
Did it sulk because I peeked at Strange Tales?
"Ha. Petty thing."
-Vmmm!!
"Hey, if that's not petty, what is? Mad I looked at another book?"
-Vrrrrrm!!
"Sure, you're my first grimoire, but this is work-related."
-Vmmm!!
"That's no way to get by in society. You know how small this world is?"
-Vmm...
"No need to make a big deal. Just talk it out."
-Vmmm...!!
"You know it was lame too, right? It's okay."
-Vmm...
"Like, Guan Yu got prideful with Zhuge Liang but became a great general. Pride isn't bad."
It resisted a bit but opened for me soon after.
"Good. After this, let's grab soju and chat about the future. You too, Strange Tales."
-Rustle!!
"Cool? Great. Let's do well together."
I patted both books.
Felt like soothing stubborn kids at the orphanage.
-Flip...
Secrets of Light and Shadow opened on its own.
It showed ways to banish evil spirits.
Heh.
Jealous, huh?
Rivaling Strange Tales? Found useful spells here too.
While prepping, Jang Yoon-jeong brought the materials.
"Peach branch was toughest."
"Thanks for the trouble."
"But what's it for?"
"Hold on."
I went inside with her.
Healers slumped everywhere, exhausted. I eyed the guild leader on the bed.
Drained of vitality, just like the Yangsaeng Gui victim in Strange Tales.
"Let's see..."
I drew a circle on the floor with fresh chicken blood, per the book, centered on him.
Everyone stared like I'd lost it.
Part-timers?
"Block this, or I'm out."
"Urgh..."
I shredded the peach leaves and scattered them around.
Sprinkled red beans everywhere, then salt in door and window cracks.
"What's that?"
"Holy water."
Finally, dipped fingers in holy water and drew a cross on the guild leader's forehead.
"...What are you? Cleric? Shaman?"
"Mage."
"This is magic...?"
Tell me about it.
My magic's a bit different from other magic.
Anyway, done.
Now wait—and gallery time.
It was a pretty infamous mission—everyone seemed to know what I'd taken.
Lots sympathizing, saying I drew the short straw.
Didn't feel that way to me.
"Sun's setting."
Deep in gallery browsing, Jang Yoon-jeong's voice snapped me back.
Sunset past, sky darkening.
Prime time for ghosts.
"What about us?"
"Stay put here."
I pointed to the salt-bean-holy water barrier.
"It won't cross unless desperate."
"No clue if that helps."
"Quit the pointless stuff."
"What is this...? You're a mage. Why no spells, just weird crap?"
Sneers.
Scorn.
Doubt.
Not friendly stares.
"Ah, whatever. I'm clocking out..."
A healer ignored me and headed for the door—
-GyaAAAAAHH!!
A grotesque, pained shriek from beyond the closed door.
Then—
-Bang bang bang bang!!
Furious pounding.
"See? Can't get through."
All eyes turned to me.