Chapter 22

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 21

Chapter Title: A Slightly Unusual Office

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Raising a pet takes a lot of time and money in many ways.

Every meal requires feeding, playtime, vaccinations, and regular baths.

It was much the same with raising a car as a pet.

Fuel needed frequent top-ups, tires checked regularly, engine oil maintained, and the interior and exterior cleaned periodically.

You even had to take it on walks—er, drives. There were plenty of hassles, but it came with clear advantages.

"Can't beat self-driving."

The 'Ownerless Car' could actually drive itself.

Not some mechanical sensor-based system, but true autonomous driving where it saw for itself and avoided other vehicles, making it incredibly safe.

After fully taming it, the name, danger level, and classification had all changed slightly.

The name shifted from Ownerless Car to Car Whose Owner Was Found, the danger level dropped from Accident Class to Alert Class, and it was reclassified from Murder Ghost to Pet Anomaly.

It was my first time seeing a description window change like this—it was fascinating. Since only this one's window had transformed so drastically, it was probably a special case.

"Good boy. Well done."

I stroked the hood in wonder at the updated description, and it let out a pleased exhaust rumble.

It really acted like a dog—kind of cute, actually.

I followed the taming method: maintained it whenever I had time, washed it frequently, and took it out for drives in between. Before I knew it, affinity had risen considerably.

Since it was a car without a gender, high affinity didn't mean it was in love with me, but it clearly recognized me as its owner.

"Namu Amida Butsu, Kwanseum Bosal. Greetings, Fixer."

"Ah, you've arrived."

The weather was nice, so I'd been petting my pet car at the building entrance when Hye-ryeong Monk approached, arms full of paper bags.

He seemed to have come to express gratitude for the Cursed Mountain Lodge raid and Woo-hyeon Monk's rescue—but he'd caught me petting the car.

"Uh, that thing..."

"Ah, my pet car."

"Pardon? Pet car?"

"Yeah. It's tame now, so it's fine."

"N-No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that's not the issue. Isn't this an anomaly?"

"Hahaha... I tamed it a few weeks ago. Want to take it for a spin? It does self-driving."

"W-Well... Um..."

Hye-ryeong Monk stared back and forth between me and the pet car, utterly baffled.

I wasn't sure how to explain it properly, so I just insisted it was my pet car. If he took it seriously and tried to exterminate it, that'd be trouble.

After a few days of care, I'd grown fond of it—I couldn't just let it be killed. I could raise it properly. Its violent and aggressive anomaly traits had mostly vanished.

"It's ambiguous to call it a living being, but if it recognizes and obeys its owner, then this too is a form of karmic bond."

Hye-ryeong Monk let the pet car matter slide.

Thank goodness he was reasonable. Someone inflexible would have made an issue of it.

"Does this child have a name?"

"Not yet. I just call it my pet car."

"I'm no expert in shamanism or yin-yang arts, but I understand that naming a tamed anomaly is advisable."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Anomalies are 'undefined somethings.' Assigning a name asserts ownership or control. It also signifies taking responsibility for that anomaly."

"Naming it must be pretty important, then."

"Precisely. Though it requires the anomaly's acceptance, in my humble view, naming this one would make it safer to handle."

Just as Hye-ryeong Monk said, naming seemed like a significant act.

After naming the White-Faced Bride Sowol, our bond deepened instantly. I should give my pet car a fitting name too.

"Alright. From today, you're Vroomy."

Upon naming it, Vroomy honked happily.

No bond-deepening notification this time. Probably because affinity was only at 70%.

It seemed naming at 90%+ affinity triggered the bond effect—but without meeting that threshold, no special trait activated.

"It looks pleased. Glad to hear it."

"Yeah. Thanks to you, Monk, I feel closer to Vroomy. Shall we head up?"

I led the smiling monk into the office.

Upon arrival, Hye-ryeong Monk unpacked the paper bags.

"As thanks for your help, I've brought incense specially ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠made at the White Lotus Order headquarters."

"Oh..."

The box he handed over contained long stick incense and a holder.

Like the Lotus Sect handmade hangwa from before, this was another non-commercial item unobtainable for money.

Made at White Lotus Order headquarters, its effects were surely exceptional. Designed for purifying malevolence, it should work well on anomalies too.

"And this is payment for the commission."

"Feels hefty."

"As thanks for rescuing Woo-hyeon Monk."

The envelope was stuffed with 50,000-won bills.

How much did they pack in? It included extra reward for successfully rescuing Woo-hyeon Monk.

"And this is a gift from Woo-hyeon Monk himself."

"Aren't these prayer beads?"

"Yes. Crafted by Woo-hyeon Monk at the Cursed Mountain Lodge—imbued with considerable Buddhist power. It's irreplaceable, so please cherish it."

Just as Hye-ryeong Monk said, these prayer beads were unobtainable through normal means.

Even sealed in the wooden box, the prayer beads emanated strong energy.

Too potent for mere personal training—most anomalies wouldn't dare approach. They could even serve as a weapon.

"Is it okay for me to accept this? I'm not even on the Buddhist path."

"It's fine. Woo-hyeon Monk insisted. The association approved the transfer too."

"Ah..."

Korean Buddhism had permitted giving me these prayer beads.

Despite being an outsider, my contributions were so great they felt apologetic for not giving more.

"Then, I'll take my leave. Need to visit the hospital."

"Thank you for coming, Monk."

"No, thank you. Om Mani Padme Hum. Until next time."

The monk bowed and departed.

As Hye-ryeong Monk left the building, Sowol popped out from my ring in a hurry.

"Got a ton of gifts without meaning to."

"Yeah... But hubby... that incense... it's a bit strong. Makes my stomach churn..."

"Oh, sorry. I'll seal it right away."

Sowol pinched her nose at the White Lotus Order handmade stick incense.

The hangwa—more a healing item—was tolerable, but this overt purification tool triggered rejection.

It must really work on anomalies. Even a Disaster-Class like Sowol recoiling proved its efficacy.

"Sealed it for now. Better?"

"Yes... Much better now, hubby. Thank you..."

I returned the incense and holder to the box, scrawling the Seal character on the lid with a ballpoint pen. The leaking energy stopped, and Sowol stopped complaining.

The Seal·Bind·Open characters from the Nameless Chronicle could be used like this.

"Looks like another guest."

"A guest?"

"Yeah. Someone entered the building."

Building management privileges let me detect unauthorized anomalies or espers entering.

Two presences: one familiar, one new. Human, not anomaly.

"Hi, mister."

"Pleased to meet you, Fixer."

The Fixer Office visitors were Nam Yu-ha and a sharp-featured ghostly woman.

Nam Yu-ha wore her school uniform under a colorful jeogori today. Beside her stood the ghostly woman in everyday hanbok topped with a pitch-black dopot jeogori.

Unlike Nam Yu-ha, she looked more 'Taoist' than shaman.

"I'm Moon Seon-woo, Yu-ha's spiritual mother."

The sharp-faced woman bowed slightly in introduction.

A woman of considerable Taoist power.

She sensed Disaster-Class Sowol yet showed no reaction—proof of her strength.

"I heard you saved our child's life. I had to come express my thanks in person. Hope it's not an inconvenience?"

"Not at all. Please, come in. You too, Yu-ha."

"Yes. Thank you, mister."

I ushered them into the office.

Thousand-Hand Taoist Moon Seon-woo glanced around before sitting naturally.

Yu-ha stood silently behind her, hands demurely clasped.

Age gap aside, Moon Seon-woo—having performed Yu-ha's Five Flower Bell Spirit descent ritual as her spiritual mother—clearly held hierarchical authority.

"First, a token of gratitude. A modest gift from Lunar Blossom Sect."

"No need, I didn't do it for that..."

"Please accept it."

Moon Seon-woo handed me a small envelope.

Inside: modest payment for saving Nam Yu-ha, plus two talismans.

"Not knowing what you'd need, I brought these hoping they'd help—but honestly, they probably won't mean much to you."

"These are..."

"Useful for suppressing entities you'll face soon, but you already seem versed in such arts."

The talismans bore Seal Demon and Expel effects.

Both for exorcising evil spirits or demons possessing humans.

How much had she seen through?

She knew I'd soon meet the possessed bride and that I wielded Seal·Bind·Open characters.

Thousand-Hand Taoist indeed—impossible to gauge her insight.

"I'd love to assist personally, but relations with the church are poor, and a tiger anomaly emerged in Jangsan—I must hurry there. Can't stay long, unfortunately."

A tiger in Jangsan?

A monster had emerged.

"No worries, your visit alone is appreciated amid your busy schedule."

"Thank you for understanding. And you're nicer and more straightforward than I imagined—quite likable. I can entrust Yu-ha to you."

"Pardon? Yu-ha?"

"Yes. Wandering the eight provinces, I need someone to look after her temporarily. Too many in Lunar Blossom Sect would exploit her."

"So you're asking me?"

"Don't panic. Not dumping her entirely on you, Fixer. Just bring her along on suitable jobs. She lacks field experience."

The taoist glanced at my ring housing Sowol while calling it 'lack of field experience.'

I got the message.

A hassle, but a request from a taoist this caliber? Worth considering—especially with compensation likely.

"I understand."

"Hee-hee-hee. Quick on the uptake—perfect. Yu-ha, I've rented a nearby one-room. After school, follow the Fixer."

"Understood, Mother."

"Not 'mother' outside—call me 'sister.'"

"Ah... Yes, Sister."

Not biological, but spiritual mother-daughter from the descent ritual—their titles were set as such.

"Then, I'll head out. Oh, my business card. Call if anything arises."

Moon Seon-woo handed me her card.

Infused with Taoist power, it would deter Alert-Class anomalies.

She slipped me another, heavier envelope too—far more than the rescue fee.

"Yu-ha's training fees. Please take good care of our Yu-ha, Fixer."

"Of course. Yu-ha's so talented she'll manage fine, but I'll do my utmost for her field experience. And I'd welcome building ties with Lunar Blossom Sect's taoist."

"Hee-hee-hee. Never said I was a taoist. Sharp eyes indeed."

Moon Seon-woo soon vanished, leaving Yu-ha behind.

Her form blinked out instantly—the strongest in this field I'd met.

"Uh, mister? What should I do now?"

"Yeah, she dumped you on me out of nowhere. Hungry? Let's grab food if you're okay with it. Great Chinese place nearby—my treat. Even tangsuyuk."

"Ooh! Awesome. Jjampong for me!"

"Sure, sure. One more person wants to join—mind if I call her?"

"Ah, that one..."

As I reached for Sowol, Yu-ha panicked—and the Five Flower Bell Spirit hiding behind her trembled.

No helping it. This was training too.

Sowol emerged from the ring.

Yu-ha averted her eyes desperately; the Five Flower Bell Spirit quivered.

This was real field training.

Rare chance to face a Disaster-Class anomaly up close for so long.

Probably why Moon Seon-woo entrusted Yu-ha to me.

Staying near me allowed safe, prolonged exposure to a powerful anomaly—true cultivation.

Couldn't bring Yu-ha to the nun's job in two days, but I'd have her bond with Sowol meantime.

That alone would greatly aid Yu-ha's growth.