Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Hole to Crawl Out Of Is Neatly Sealed
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kim Tae-jin opened his eyes in an unfamiliar bed. Unlike others, he wasn't lost in thoughts of What the hell is going on?
The shock had been so profound that the mage's face immediately sprang vividly to mind the moment he regained consciousness.
Until today's incident, Tae-jin had believed there was no chance he wouldn't make it back home.
It was only natural. Why would the government abandon one of its citizens just because he'd become a mage?
But today, Tae-jin started considering the worst-case scenario.
If public opinion sours because of this mage incident, they might just leave me stranded on the other side of the Gate.
Tae-jin buried his face between his knees and thought it over. If opinion turned so bad that he couldn't return to Korea right away, how long would it be before he could go home?
The answer was simple. The day science fully unraveled everything about magic and Korea welcomed mages back. Only then could Tae-jin return home.
I miss Mom...
Tae-jin rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a letter envelope. Though it had arrived less than a month ago, the edges were already frayed.
Inside the plump envelope were letters filled with handwritten script.
She could have written as many sheets as she wanted, but Mom had crammed in every possible character on even the smallest stationery, as if desperate to fit more. The end of the first letter had her passport photo taped on.
Tae-jin pulled out the next sheet and gazed at it.
Just like the first, it was packed with tiny writing, and on the back, a Polaroid photo with the edges neatly trimmed to fit. Mom must have carefully cut the borders to make it slide perfectly onto the paper. The next one, and the last one, were the same.
Yeah. When you think about it, it's not that bad, right?
The gloom lifted as Tae-jin drew strength from his mom's letters. He wasn't like some cliché novel protagonist, abandoned alone in a barren otherworld with nothing.
He couldn't go home, but the people he knew could come visit him. And if things didn't pan out, they could at least exchange letters like now.
Someday, Mom would cross the Gate to see him too. It wasn't permanent separation. That thought alone filled him with energy.
Tae-jin's mind spiraled toward positivity. On second thought, his current situation wasn't much different from a trip to some rural village.
Plus, a mage? It looked badass just hearing it. Mages and knights had always been the icons of heroes across generations, the twin pillars of protagonist status.
He was Korea's first, Earth's very first mage. Not some nobody—multiple mages had praised his talent to the skies.
Tae-jin thought seriously.
Maybe being Earth's first mage beats being a college student with tanked grades?
If he took his time training in magic, the truth of it would be revealed, and the day to go home would come.
When that day arrived, the perks of being the world's first mage would far outshine those of a 2.9 GPA student. No doubt.
Tae-jin knew exactly how grand a welcome Earth's first elf had received.
The first mage wouldn't be treated much differently.
Then maybe I should be grateful to the old man who made me a mage?
The deliberation was brief. No way.
He might have felt a smidge of gratitude if the old man hadn't botched crossing the Gate. Then Tae-jin could have returned to Earth as the first mage with the title intact.
He could've transcended barroom party tricks to become a TV superstar.
But the mage had snuck across the Gate, got caught, and now Tae-jin couldn't go home until research wrapped up.
Hot rage surged in Tae-jin's heart.
Somehow, I gotta land at least one solid punch before anything else.
Just then, someone knocked from outside. It was the researcher who'd entered the lab with him.
"Hey, what was with passing out like that?"
"I was so pissed I couldn't stay conscious."
"Yeah? Oh... right. From your perspective, him crossing the Gate was that big a deal."
"Nah, that's one thing. The main thing is, he's the one who turned me into a mage in the first place. My head spun the second I saw his face."
The researcher closed his eyes and pinched his brow.
"Man, things got twisted in the weirdest way. So, you two gonna talk again?"
"Hyung, just to check—no chance of a visit without the partition?"
"Nope. Now that you know the situation, even less. But we could do another lab visit right now if you want."
Tae-jin nodded immediately.
Tae-jin stared at the mage's nose. It looked like it had been broken once, sharply crooked. Guess he hadn't misseen it that dark night.
If I'd been the one to break that nose, it'd be perfect.
The mage had no clue what Tae-jin was thinking and just seemed glad to see him.
"What happened earlier? You yelled and flopped like a frog."
Tae-jin took a slow deep breath before spilling the story.
After hearing it all, the mage apologized gravely.
"Good grief, what are the odds? Not my intention, but I'm sorry all the same."
Sincerity rang true in his words, and Tae-jin felt a corner of his hardened heart soften just a bit.
"I wanted to deck you at first, but your apology kinda kills the urge. Not that I could anyway with the reinforced glass."
"Sorry. It was my first time in this city, so I didn't know mages couldn't cross the Gate. No idea sneaking across would loop back to harm you."
No malice, just good intentions and curiosity. Tae-jin was speechless at the sheer coincidence.
Deflated, Tae-jin tossed out a throwaway line and stood.
"Anyway, be more careful from now on. Can't tell when another victim like me pops up."
The mage hesitated, then called after Tae-jin heading out.
"What's your name?"
"Me? Kim Tae-jin."
"Kim Tae-jin... I didn't mean to, but I harmed you. Any way I can make it right?"
"Make it right? Stuck in there, what could you even offer?"
"Fair point. Still leaves a bad taste."
The mage eyed Tae-jin quietly before speaking.
"Learned much magic since then?"
"Nope. Deliberately avoided it. What if getting good meant I couldn't go home?"
Unspoken: Though now it feels half-screwed anyway. The mage seemed to get it.
"Well, if you ever want to learn, come find me. I'm not the type to get called skill-less anywhere."
"Got nothing like that in cash form? Money's the cleanest compensation."
"Not sitting on any right now."
Tae-jin pondered. Even caught off-guard, breaching top kingdom mages to reach the Gate meant real skill. And they hadn't even noticed.
Still feels iffy to start learning magic yet.
He needed to check how Gate-side opinion had flipped first.
Separate from the old man's screw-up, there was still a slim chance Earth would accept him.
If opinion tanks hard, I might be stuck here for months or a year till magic's figured out.
Once time passed and magic was analyzed, knowing it wouldn't bar him from home.
In fact, strong magic skills would make life easier then.
Mind made up neatly. Learn magic if Korea's mood was dire; hold out if hope lingered.
Tae-jin addressed the old man.
"What's your name, sir?"
"Call me Richer."
"Got it, Richer. If I decide, I'll come. Don't run off—wait nicely."
The next morning, Tae-jin was poking around near the Gate. Not planning to sneak across—impossible anyway.
Captain Hwang always brought Korean news on this day, so he was just hovering to hear it sooner.
Every step Tae-jin took closer made the protesting mages in the corner widen their eyes.
Water ghosts, ready to beg a ride if he crossed for any reason.
Maybe they're why they won't let me go home, just to keep an eye on those guys.
Then the Gate rippled faintly, and a familiar face emerged: Captain Hwang.
He carried his usual plastic file case, but fidgeted upon spotting Tae-jin.
"Hello."
"Yes, hello, sir. What brings you to the Gate today?"
"Hoping to snag the scrap materials a bit early."
Captain Hwang hemmed and hawed.
"You might wanna skip this week's batch."
As expected, opinion in ruins. But after mental prep overnight, Tae-jin took it in stride.
"It's fine. Saw the bad reaction coming. You brought the files—let's see 'em."
Captain Hwang handed them over gingerly.
Tae-jin scanned the article headlines slowly.
'Mage Threat: Can We Afford to Let This Slide?'
'Lax Gate Security. Nothing Stops Another Breach.'
'Deport the Mage. Public Fury at Slap-on-the-Wrist Response.'
No mention of Tae-jin's name anywhere. The tone fiercer than he'd feared.
Tae-jin grinned at Captain Hwang.
"Laws passing or whatever, looks all shot to hell, right?"
Captain Hwang hesitated soldier-straight before replying.
"I'm no politician, but... yeah."
"Got it. No need for more scrap unless something big changes."
"Understood. Must be disheartening. Sorry to bring bad news."
"Not your fault, Captain. Just shitty luck aligning perfectly."
Tae-jin bowed to Captain Hwang, then headed to the lab.
Until magic was unraveled, he'd learn from Richer at leisure.
By year's end or next, once figured out, back to Korea to strut as a mage.
Yeah. Frustrating, but not the worst.
Tae-jin went to Richer.
"Uh, teach me magic? Won't be long, so quick and flashy stuff mainly."
Richer nodded.
"Alright. Let's learn fast."
And in Earth time, Tae-jin wouldn't cross the Gate even after five years.