15. Icarus (3)
I got the full rundown over the phone.
Han Myung-hun's funeral as deputy director had been held in strict secrecy, with only a handful of attendees. Even Baek Seol-yeon hadn't been allowed inside the funeral home.
She'd been able to stay with him up until they rushed him to the ER, but after that, she never saw her mentor's face again.
Suits from the government, the Magic Association, and the Hunter Association had all shown up to block her path.
What power did she have, anyway? She'd just been shoved into the director's seat herself.
Regrettably, all she could do was watch from afar as her mentor's body was carried away. Afterward, she had to sit for an interview with the Magic Association chairman.
It was called an interview, but it was basically an interrogation. Her trademark steel resolve had at least kept things from escalating.
They hadn't asked much.
Whether Han Myung-hun had shown any unusual precursors right before death.
What she'd sensed while watching him die.
Baek Seol-yeon didn't answer their questions. Recalling her words, her attitude toward them had been something like this:
'I have no obligation to tell you shit, and I don't want to anyway. Who the hell do you pointy-eared bastards think you are?'
Hearing that as one of those pointy-eared bastards felt kinda weird, but knowing the temperament of the elves in the Magic Association made it understandable enough.
And during that interview, Han Myung-hun—coffin lid popping open—had risen, saturated with immense spatial mana. He'd committed the ultimate taboo at a funeral home.
Just standing there, he was distorting the space around him with that intense spatial mana.
The resurrected Han Myung-hun was, surprisingly, now in the Elf Management Bureau's temporary lodging. Back from the dead, he hadn't done anything—just headed straight to room 610.
No one could stop him. The government officials, caught completely off guard, were scrambling in the chaos to figure out what happened.
I looked at the photo she'd sent.
"…Kaiser."
Front and center among the 'government officials' Baek Seol-yeon mentioned was my old disciple, Kaiser. I had no idea what his real intentions were, but his connection to this incident seemed clear from Han Myung-hun's records.
Her voice came through the smartphone. Unlike usual, she was stuttering, voice trembling. I naturally accepted the request.
'Resurrection… So that's the final conclusion, the answer for that mage Han Myung-hun.'
Had he achieved the transcendence of his species as he'd wished? Had he succeeded where even Charlotte had failed? I'd only know for sure once I met him.
Finally, the last key to the mystery was coming into view.
Honestly, up to that point, I had no clue what she was planning. But apparently, the director of a national agency doesn't get that position for nothing.
Thud-thud-thud-thud—
She sent us a helicopter. It landed in the field, waiting for us, and the kids came swarming out in awe.
Thanks to that, we had to push through the crowd of children to reach it. A man who looked like the pilot came out to greet us.
"Please board. The director is waiting."
Huh Song-hyeok couldn't come because of his car, but he didn't seem eager to stick with us anymore anyway.
For some reason, it felt like we'd cross paths again, so we exchanged casual goodbyes and parted. Chen Zuiyuan came with me. As he climbed aboard, he muttered,
"Might as well see it through to the end since we're in it together."
Without him, I never would've found that clue in the cyber war. Baek Seol-yeon said he couldn't enter the temporary lodging—not just anti-Chinese sentiment, but national secrets.
"I still want to go."
Even so, Chen Zuiyuan stuck with me. He boarded the helicopter.
The chopper carrying us flew toward Seoul. Even from the skies near the city, I could sense intense spatial mana near the Elf Management Bureau.
Innumerable people had gathered around the temporary lodging and the Bureau. They buzzed like bees, trying to head toward it, but heavy police presence held them back.
Fools. Ordinary people exposed to that mana could turn into vegetables in seconds.
Still, they couldn't contain their curiosity about the bizarre event unfolding in central Seoul. Plenty of witnesses had seen the revived Han Myung-hun walk there under his own power.
"We're here."
The helicopter touched down on the Bureau building's rooftop. The temporary lodging connected directly to it, just like my first visit.
No sunlight, gloomy, achromatic concrete giving off a sinister vibe. They probably skimped on budget since no one stays over three months, but that oppressive atmosphere was off-putting.
As soon as we stepped off, Baek Seol-yeon came to meet us, flanked by two aides.
"You've arrived."
Her eyes looked even more haggard than last time. Beyond mere fatigue—she seemed mentally drained from dealing with Han Myung-hun.
The aides said nothing, standing like statues to guard her while eyeing us.
"Let's go in."
At her word, the aides took their positions. I thought it was overkill, but entering the Bureau made it understandable.
"Whoa…"
The inside was total chaos. People in all sorts of outfits rushed about. Some looked like Magic Association or Hunter Association reps, others doctors and scientists in white coats.
The aides shoved obstacles aside, clearing a path. Without traffic control, collisions seemed imminent—everyone was that frantic.
Some stood frozen, hammering away at laptops or phones, scribbling furiously on paper.
Honestly, I had no idea what they thought they knew to be so busy, but they probably had their reasons.
Anyway, we reached the entrance to the temporary lodging, guarded by soldiers. Sadly, that's where Chen Zuiyuan and I had to split.
Clack—
Stepping into the corridor toward the lodging, the air shifted. Musty mold and dust assaulted my nose.
Along with it, an intense pulse of spatial mana.
"Hoo."
Even breathing looked tough for Baek Seol-yeon, but she pushed on with me. Impressive willpower. Past the corridor, familiar rooms appeared—ones I'd stayed in once.
But they felt different now.
The rooms were packed.
Originally for elves in Korea on admin processing, staying a few months with plenty of vacancies. Now, three per room, overflowing with elves.
Every one had glazed eyes, likely suffering dimensional transfer backlash.
Some stared into full-length mirrors, like me—bodies altered.
Oddly, most had barely any mana. No real mages among them.
"Were there always this many elves?"
"It's spiked recently. With the massive Gates, the Incheon incident—elves pouring in."
I nodded at her words. Something felt off. Han Myung-hun's research flashed in my mind.
'The importance of environment.'
He'd stressed exceeding the threshold of spatial mana for evolved species birth, but early on, environment was key too.
Mega Gates, Incheon crisis, Han Myung-hun's revival, mass elf transfers.
For some reason, none of it felt like isolated events anymore.
"…"
Lost in thought, I walked the corridor. Room 610 was far. No elevators in the lodging—had to climb six floors on foot.
Higher we went, fewer elves, less activity from rooms. Spatial mana intensified. Spray disinfectants and deodorizers everywhere.
Hiss!
Baek Seol-yeon periodically grabbed sprays, misting around. Harsh chemical stench mixed with faint corpse odor permeated the hall.
Thud.
Reaching the sixth floor, dead silence. Nothing inside the lodging. Only room 610 at the far end pulsed with presence.
Above it, traces of those who'd tried contacting the revived man: vomit stains, lingering elemental mana from mages drifting in the air.
But clustered near the stairwell. Room 610 at the hall's end—no traces reached it.
I paused, eyed them, then stepped forward with Baek Seol-yeon.
Boom!
The step unleashed a shockwave slamming into us—like the blob encounter. 610's occupant wanted no more visitors.
"Hah, hah."
Baek Seol-yeon couldn't go farther. Legs shaking violently.
Step.
I left her slumped on the floor, advancing toward 610 step by step. Shockwaves battered me with each stride, but oddly, they did nothing.
Boom! Boom!
Closer to 610, waves intensified in frequency and power. Mana so fierce it cracked surrounding space.
Grab.
I gripped the door handle amid the onslaught. Unlocked. The door to 610 slid open limply.
Creeeak—
It opened with a chilling groan.
Lodging narrow side-to-side, shoe rack gave full view inside.
Something sat at the room's center desk, head bowed, savaging paper with a pen.
"…Han Myung-hun."
I called the name of what had once been that man. Face gone, but unmistakably him.
No response. No reaction. My gaze shifted to the paper he scribbled on.
Name: Han Myung-hun
Species: Elf
Origin World: Earth (Korea)
Transfer Reason: [Scribbled mess—Spatial mana overload / Self-transcendence]
Special Notes: [Ink-smeared frenzy—Resurrection confirmed / Spatial mana saturation]
"…Did you want to become an elf?"
I lifted my head, eyeing the mutated Han Myung-hun anew. Flesh and limbs mashed into monstrous grotesquery, but one feature stood out starkly.
Pointy ears.