Uninvited Guest (2)
"Hmm, so what do we do with the kids now?"
Here's the problem.
01. What is the appropriate action for an elementary school student to take upon discovering kidnapped children?
① Contact the parents and demand ransom.
② Report it to the police.
③ Ask nearby people for help.
④ Getting involved is a hassle. This is adults' business—leave them be and walk away.
Whatever. My outward appearance limited my options. Stirring up trouble out of nosiness could turn into a massive headache if things went south.
How could I slip away without getting tangled up?
"The answer's obviously 1."
Who among these kids had a phone? You need the other party's contact to even negotiate. These days, it was practically the unwritten rule: Galaxy phones in kindergarten, Apple phones from elementary school on. To avoid unwanted bullying, every kid carried a smartphone. Finding one among the sleeping children was a breeze.
"No password... gotcha!"
Just as I was about to make the call—
Footsteps shattered the chilly silence, and a new figure entered the now-quiet factory interior.
Thud—thud—
"Hmm, I sensed the aura of an evil spirit and came to investigate. So it's a familiar with an owner. And its power is quite impressive."
His appearance didn't fit the surroundings at all. I blinked twice. Slicked-back hair with pomade, sharp eyes, tall stature, impeccable suit—everything about this middle-aged white guy screamed cinematic sophistication.
Whoa—talk about style. Who the hell is he?
The man exuded an otherworldly vibe, so with my awkward English, I asked who he was.
"Who are you?"
Hye-sun, who'd been toying with the kidnappers like toys, blocked my path and cautiously sized him up. Clearly not an ordinary guy.
"Greetings. I'm Wilhelm Enbidar from Germany. And like you, I'm a wizard."
Natural Korean flowed from the suspicious man's mouth. I tilted my head at his introduction.
"...A wizard?"
Well, with yokai, shamans, and ghosts out there, wizards probably existed too—but his sudden entrance felt out of left field.
"Indeed. Those born with innate sensitivity, communing with mystery, wielding supernatural abilities and miracles—noble beings."
Wilhelm eyed me closely and asked,
"Hmm, judging by your reaction, not pureblood from a lineage or a half-blood. Another case of atavism?"
What? Atavism?
Wilhelm muttered to himself without waiting for a reply.
"My grimoire keeps whispering... It says you harbor extremely dangerous power and must be killed now. And... ho, besides Nephilim, there's an unknown bloodline..."
"Pardon?"
Suddenly? How casually does this guy talk about killing a hairless kid? Is this Europe's Hearts of Iron?
Stroking his beard, Wilhelm stared at me appraisingly like I was merchandise, then nodded as if deciding something.
"But I can't do that. These are the twilight times as light fades. If it's talent worth Sephira's vigilance, it'll be a great pillar in this era of upheaval. Provided we guide it right."
He'd threatened to kill me to my face, then started babbling in German—what the hell was he on about?
"Excuse me?"
"Ah, my apologies. Young man, do you need any help?"
"Help?"
"Yes. Looks like you're in a bit of a bind. Worried about the cleanup, right?"
"Well, yeah? A kidnapping isn't exactly everyday stuff."
"That's not the issue, is it? Anyway, I'll handle the aftermath for you. Ensure no harm comes to you."
"Hmm..."
I hesitated at the offer from this stranger.
"Thanks, but..."
He smiled gently at my wary look.
"Think of it as a small courtesy to a young kin."
From his entrance to now, Wilhelm hadn't spared a single glance at the sprawled corpses. A boy standing amid pools of blood should have been jarring, yet he approached as if it were natural. To him, humans were swarming slave ants; the boy who'd wrought this carnage was precious young kin to cherish.
"Well then... until we meet again."
Wilhelm saw off the boy glancing back as he left.
The world’s mystery waned, wizards walked the path of decline. Bloodlines muddied, the blue blood in veins lost its luster—like a drop falling into a river.
As time passed, more humans inherited wizards' blood, yet fewer awakened power. Even those who miraculously did were swans among chickens—what could they achieve?
Wilhelm had witnessed countless kin self-destruct in rampages or stagnate into halfwits.
Even if mystery returns, diluted blood won't thicken.
He recalled an old friend's face.
"Found exceptional talent— that'll thrill that friend."
The Red Archduke—lurking in shadows, tied to countless crimes. Too dangerous even for America to assault; monitored as a special level 5 meta-human.
Sighting him domestically was like a live nuke rolling through the city—unpredictable explosion risk.
Couldn't confront rashly; could only hope he vanished quietly. Agents cautiously tracked to an old port logistics complex.
"Shit, this is insane!"
Spotting countless bodies via drone's x-ray cam, the agent spat a despairing curse. One wrong move, everyone here dead. Damage unpredictable.
"Calm down. Looks like simple friction. Kids nearby—human trafficking ring?"
"I know. But if those idiots pissed him off, we're fucked."
"Red Archduke isn't emotional. Coldly rational. Records show he sticks to plans, avoids needless kills. This won't escalate."
As the two bickered amid tense vibes, Jung Ha-yeon coolly analyzed the warehouse feed.
Not direct shaman sight—less accurate—but the unenchanted rundown walls were transparent as glass.
Bodies strewn everywhere, failed escape traces, kids collapsed aside—unharmed, just asleep. Center: elderly foreigner sat calmly by the kids.
Is that the Red Archduke?
As the lens caught his face, Ha-yeon felt their eyes meet.
No illusion.
"Don't just watch—come here. No intent to harm; waited for business. If not calling you, you'd never know I existed."
The resonance conveyed meaning beyond words. Ha-yeon's body jolted at the alien voice in her mind.
"Hye-gwang-sim-eo?"
The term slipped out. Not mere message magic—this evoked legendary realms. She tensed further.
Don't jump. Wizards' powers vary wildly by individual. Could be telepathy unrelated to realm.
With the team watching, she steadied as leader.
Still...
She reaffirmed level 5's weight.
"He's requesting talk. Everyone stand by."
"Yes, be careful."
They held the disadvantage. With positions clear, dragging or refusing over danger was worst.
Stepping through the open door, Wilhelm rose.
"Lucky day. No detour needed."
His vibe wasn't hostile.
"Impressive—the might of those once dreaming transcendence. Mystery reopened mere years ago, yet this caliber. Pleased to meet, heirs of the volcano. I'm Wilhelm."