Black Mage's Ordinary Daily Life - Lower Part
There were still quite a few live monsters amid the work, but even they were dealt with during the process of dragging up the other corpses—the pressure was that intense. Things proceeded smoothly, and once nearly every specimen had been hauled up and loaded onto the prepared trucks, Go Yu-jin approached and asked,
"What're you thinking for food?"
"Even after squeezing them that hard, there's no helping how filthy it gets, is there?"
Go Yu-jin let out a light laugh at my words. But when I began to emit mana, she cried out urgently.
"Don't! I'll do it!"
"Clean is a simple spell, so why not?"
"Sigh... I can cast spells at that level too. I'm just not that skilled at it!"
"Then isn't it easier if I handle it for you?"
"No? Not at all!"
I couldn't fathom what her deal was. But since she was refusing so vehemently, I had no choice but to withdraw my mana. We finished the remaining work and left the site, only to find people staring at us in surprise.
"They giving up?"
Jeong Sang-hu and the others were coordinating with the government officials regarding the gate. Go Yu-jin glared at Jeong Sang-hu and replied,
"We're all done. You buried most of the monsters and didn't even hunt them. Pretty much we took them all down, so feel the shame."
"Ha, what nonsense is that?"
Jeong Sang-hu wore an incredulous expression, radiating displeasure, and some of his team members shot hostile glares our way. I slipped in casually,
"If you lack the skill, why not handle smaller gates?"
"What'd you say, punk?"
"I don't think we're close enough for you to call me 'punk.' Best to mind your manners, no?"
Jeong Sang-hu growled without averting his gaze. That was when it happened.
"Let's go. And they can figure out cause of death from the corpses' condition—the government's got that covered, right?"
"Go Yu-jin, how long you gonna think you're some big-shot Awakener?"
"Forever. Stronger than you could ever dream of being, even at my toes."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Jeong Sang-hu lunged. Awakeners are often likened to walking bombs—potent with power but prone to flying off the handle, unable to rein in their emotions, causing constant social headaches. But when a 1st gen like him lost it, that was no small matter.
I raised my hand, swiftly forming the pattern for mana emission, and unleashed a curse toward Jeong Sang-hu.
Deep Paralyze
The mana shaped in an instant enveloped Jeong Sang-hu, piercing his resistance effortlessly and burrowing into his body. His movements slowed in a flash, then he stiffened completely.
"Guh... urgh!"
He couldn't even open his mouth. His lackeys panicked at how easily he'd been subdued.
"Anyone else wanna make a fuss? I'll play."
They flinched at my words, glancing around nervously. Just then, Go Yu-jin spoke up.
"Enough. Too many eyes watching."
Black magic stirs revulsion in many due to its 'black mana.' Some black mages treated like villains have caused real civilian harm, so folks tend to look at us like pests or plagues. Countless stares poured in even now. I wanted to say it was a misunderstanding, but black magic incidents spreading collateral damage were all too common. No excuse could brush off the frequent tragedies.
I snapped my fingers, swiftly dispelling Deep Paralyze, and mana drained from Jeong Sang-hu's body. He'd feel no small agony in the process, though.
"Grr... damn black mage scum..."
"If you show manners, we've no reason to clash with the likes of you. Respect others to earn respect in turn—especially as leader of your group."
I lectured him in an old-man tone, and his face twisted savagely. Had I harbored malice, he'd have dropped dead the moment he was subdued.
"M-maybe call it quits?"
The government official who'd been watching piped up, and Jeong Sang-hu backed off a step. I yielded at Go Yu-jin's urging and said to her,
"I said I'd buy a round today. Shall we?"
"Wasn't it just drinks?"
"It was. But I'll cover it. Mood's good now."
She gave an awkward smile at my grinning face. We left, ignoring the death glares boring into our backs.
"You didn't overdo the mana, right?"
"Deep Paralyze is memorized, so low cost."
"Sorry. Old grudges just keep dragging on..."
Go Yu-jin sighed. As a 1st gen black mage Awakener, she'd shone on the frontlines. Had she not stepped back, most current 'heroes' would be seen as frauds thanks to her feats—and every hero knew her prowess, none daring dismiss it.
But they hounded her for supposedly fleeing the battlefield like a coward.
"Why put up with it?"
"Gotta. Can't just kill 'em all, can I?"
I pondered briefly.
"If they're worse than beasts, don't they deserve death?"
"Don't you feel the change since awakening to black magic?"
"Impulsive, hot-blooded—yeah, I know. No aversion to killing either. But that's common for most Awakeners, no?"
Emotions dulled was more accurate. All feeling skewed toward 'joy' and 'delight' in the spectrum of emotions. Though 'rage' could spike too—Jeong Sang-hu seemed the type. Quick to flare, emotional. That's why he'd charged without thinking.
'Moth to a flame, seeking his end?'
Prepared mages are disasters enough, but black mages even more so—and yet he charged one. Reckless, we call it.
"I hated losing myself like that. Slaughtering monsters on the battlefield felt like pure ecstasy, a high so immense I'd forget who I was—or not care."
"So you didn't leave the frontlines for that, surely?"
Her reason for quitting wasn't mere impulse. She looked at me seriously and asked,
"Then tell me why you left the battlefield, Seong-chan."
"Hm..."
I thought it over. My reason was trivial, pathetic even.
"Mana shortage. Couldn't hack it."
"Pardon?"
Her face screamed disbelief. I explained flatly,
"Can't cast full spells five times—how to shine there?"
"Well..."
She eyed me awkwardly. When I asked why the face, she sighed.
"Seems you're the only one who doesn't know. How many black mages can cast All Meister spells five times?"
"...Seen plenty."
"Frontliners with full support and mana amp artifacts barely manage five or six. No aids, like you? None!"
"You're hyping me up again. Anyway, that's why I bailed. Unbearable."
She looked like she wanted to drop it. Then,
"Tell me now?"
Go Yu-jin grinned mischievously.
"Secret."
"...Gotta say that?"
Beaming, she strode ahead. I followed, prodding for the secret, but she wouldn't budge.
Back at the office, I asked An So-mi, deep in work,
"Joining for drinks?"
"Busy. Later—date without me."
She hammered away at documents, ignoring us. So Go Yu-jin and I headed out alone to a nearby bar.
We settled in, and as TV news droned, Go Yu-jin remarked,
"Gates feel scarcer lately."
"Big ones definitely down. Awakeners whining about lost livelihoods echoes everywhere."
It was a hot social issue. Gate biz boomed, monster byproducts now everyday staples with massive influence. World frets as gates dwindle.
"Ours too."
"Even cut off, we've got lifetime cash."
Frontline earnings were insane—rights to our kills secured fortunes 1st and 2nd gens could never burn through. From 3rd gen, government tightened reins post-breather, denying us most perks.
Awakeners still make bank, though. Joke goes you earn a lifetime's worth stepping onto the field...
Drinks and appetizers arrived—monster meat dish. I gazed down.
"Pork or beef's rarer than stars now."
"No helping it. Edible meat everywhere—no need to raise livestock. Like our own obsolescence."
Beef and pork available, but preferences shifted. Superior monster meats in taste and texture, side-effect free, nutritionally supreme—traditional meats fading naturally.
"Cheers!"
Go Yu-jin had poured lightning-fast. I cautioned gently,
"Just half bottle, yeah?"
"Worried I'll get smashed?"
"Nah, pass out."
"Not that much of a lightweight!"
She was, chronically. Awakeners barely get drunk, so her low tolerance was 'blessed.' Same for me—chug a bottle, just bloated.
"Cheers!"
Her sunny smile tilted the glass; I followed suit. Finishing work with drinks? I rather enjoyed it.