Transfer (2)
I didn't hide my discomfort and asked back.
“What kind of servant is this? Do I have to write my name in red? Isn't it going to be recorded on the life-and-death book?”
Most Koreans would naturally feel a sense of repulsion at writing their name in red.
Byeol-ui wasn't Korean, of course, but he seemed to understand the feeling I had.
“Other record keepers also show similar reactions when they first hear this story. It's not the first time someone hesitates like you, citing specific examples from the life-and-death book. If it bothers you, you don't have to write it. But I recommend that you do it anyway.”
What's this thing that forces people to use it like this?
Jak-su's words echoed in my mind. It's not like writing your name there would mean you have to swear loyalty to the Murim Alliance or die or something.
“This is a kind of Pihwabu. It will save you from an incoming disaster once or twice.”
“Eh, does it take the hit for me instead?”
As I rolled around in the martial world, an innate instinct buried in my body immediately answered. If I could avoid having my neck cut off with just one talisman, writing my name in red would be worth a hundred times more.
“It depends on the situation!”
“Oh!”
“But it can't block a normal demonic cult gang's knife wounds.”
“Oh...”
Byeol-ui's tone was blatantly powerless, and he chuckled.
“Instead, I can turn the anomaly's gaze on you once in a while!”
Byeol-ui explained the role of the talisman.
Given the name Management Records Bureau, their work might seem somewhat literary.
The basic rank assigned to martial artists affiliated with the Management Records Bureau is 'Records Keeper,' which also contributes to this impression.
One might think that being a Records Keeper means meeting people, asking questions, and recording reactions — that's the whole job, right?
But it couldn't be that all the work of the Management Records Bureau was just that.
After all, the Murim Alliance wasn't an organization wealthy enough to dispatch elite martial artists to handle something that could be done by sending a couple of talented scholars to finish it.
The Records Keeper is a specially selected martial artist who has passed the strict standards of the Management Records Bureau —
“Wait a minute.”
I stopped Byeol-ui's explanation.
“What?”
Even though I still vividly remembered the moment when Byeol-ui had scolded me, saying something like 'A Second-class like you daring to be envious?' I had been selected as a Records Keeper, hadn't I?
Byeol-ui satisfied me with a short and solemn sentence.
“Special recruitment.”
It was a parachute hiring that I had never experienced before in my life. If I had been a beneficiary of parachute hiring on Earth instead of here, it would have been great.
“It's a joke. While the level of martial arts is important, adaptability to anomalies is also an important evaluation criterion. You are special in that aspect.”
Byeol-ui looked at me with a suspicious gaze at the end of his sentence. He was wondering where this kid had picked up an anomaly from.
“I really don't have any such hobbies.”
“I didn't say anything, did I? Hmph, let's get back to the main point!”
The mission where elite martial artists are dispatched is anomaly investigation. Anomalies that have strayed from the human path bring enormous mental shock just by being witnessed, and the Records Keepers.
Attacks by anomalies made during times when their cultivation is shaken are very suitable for causing people to die screaming.
“They have quite the skill in cutting off people's life spans. This talisman is a measure to take one such attack.”
“To take it?”
Byeol-ui shrugged and explained. He himself didn't know the principle in detail, but it's said to be a masterpiece created by the combined efforts of the Taoist sects and the Demon Mountain Sect's Taoists.
“Those who have become demons see the world with a somewhat twisted perspective. Just like those who have fallen into the demon path experience some hallucinations.”
“Even though it's not in their right mind, their techniques are incredibly refined, huh?”
“Even that twisted perception is infinitely sharp. Beasts may lack wisdom compared to humans, but they're not bad at hunting.”
Byeol-ui seemed to like the analogy of the beast and continued the story. A beast kills people as easily as pulling something out of its pocket, but humans can drive them into traps, right?
“This talisman is such a trap. From the anomaly's perspective, the position where this talisman is placed doesn't feel like a vital point of a person.”
Although one must have sufficiently circulated internal energy to exert supernatural powers, it meant that one could guide the anomaly to the point it would target first.
“Usually, we put it in places like the hem of a robe or something to make the anomaly miss its attack.”
I recalled my confrontation with the shadow. If I could guide the guy's attacks to the desired position, I could have... without pulling up True Origin Qi.
'No, that's an exaggeration.'
It was obvious that the shadow guy would have fixed his balance before I could strike back at the broken posture.
Still, in the fight after pulling up True Origin Qi, it would have definitely helped me seize the advantage. Instead of a dangerous frontal brawl, I could cut off his breath with one attack.
How big an advantage is it for a martial artist to be able to predictably guide the opponent's attack to a certain point even once?
“Indeed, it's amazing.”
“Yeah. So the distribution of this comes out once per quarter. If something happens in the Taoist sects' factions, the supply point gets blocked again.”
“Eh?”
“After using this talisman once, it won't be distributed for three months. Be careful not to lose it.”
At this point, one fact I realized was that secret organizations don't have much budget.
Instead, there are corners where it's hard to get budget allocated because it's treated as secret externally....
“You can use the 3rd floor of the Rituals Department dormitory.”
“Eh, is that okay?”
“Administratively, that side is for the Formation Research Department dormitory. In reality, most of us use it.”
I pondered why the martial artists of the Formation Research Department refuse the free dormitory provided, and eventually found the answer.
“Wow, the family is really good, huh.”
The Murim Alliance's Formation Research Department mostly hires personnel from one family.
The Gaejeol Family.
Whenever they send envoys to the court, it's members of the Five Great Sects, renowned in both civil and military, who would use the Murim Alliance's shabby public dormitory?
Byeol-ui smiled slyly and handed me a brush and a book. Even though it was a brush, it was a fine pen, so it was as easy to carry around as a modern ballpoint pen.
“Here, receiving the Records Keeper's public equipment is complete.”
Talisman, book, and fine pen.
It was too simple, too simple. I hurriedly opened the book. Hoping it was written with the new Records Keeper's action guidelines or something.
This is the Management Records Bureau, right?
Since there are Murim Alliance's etiquette guidelines, the handover for new Records Keepers should be well-organized for readability....
“It's empty?”
The book had no writing on the pages. It was a book bound with high-quality paper, the cover white and fine.
“What is this?”
“That? It's the book given to write a will.”
Byeol-ui, who received my cold gaze, laughed heartily, saying it was a joke. Throwing such things as jokes.
Anyway, this guy, I think I should call him the anomaly instead of Byeol-ui.
“It's just a tool given to write down what you find at the scene. From now on, make recording a habit of life.”
“Isn't there a separate guidelines for business handover? I won't know what to do here from now on.”
“Are you an anomaly? How do you find work right after arriving?”
The anomaly threw another weird joke and laughed alone.
“You don't have to worry yet. There's no way they're going to send a person who just woke up from bed straight to the field.”
It was a rather commonsensical measure. After all, the strangeness of the Murim world and the anomalies that left dramatic memories in a short time seemed to have stirred my head.
“Don't eat lunch tomorrow. Come to the Records Bureau. To stamp my eyes on the director or other record keepers, there's a new recruit welcome party. After that, you'll be educated by the senior and dispatched to the field together, building your capacity as a Records Keeper.”
I nodded at Byeol-ui's words. He added one more line as if it was a passing remark.
“I won't be coming out because I have something to do tomorrow, but the four of us including the director will welcome you, so it will be a lively farewell party.”
That day, I had a dream.
“Huh?”
An old man in a red robe nodded his head. Wherever his gaze reached, the ground was dug up and wind blew.
The old man who had cut open the earth and looked inside his body stroked his beard.
“Which scoundrel destroyed my villa like this?”
It was strange. The old man's villa was a smart guy who could discern strength and weakness.
He doesn't bite at prey he can't eat.
“How did such a cautious guy end up in such a dangerous situation.”
It was soon the Manghon Villa. Gwigok-ja was happily waiting for the newborn baby from that guy.
But since both mother and child were dead, Gwigok-ja couldn't hold back his grief.
He expressed condolences to the poor children and regretted the scattered souls.
“Where did the soul go to the sky, and where did the white go to the ground? What a huge loss. Ah...”
After lamenting for a while, Gwigok-ja quietly muttered.
“I have to find the murderer. That guy who ate my little lamb.”
His gaze burned like ghost fire.
I woke up with a start from the eerie premonition, realized it was just a dream, and immediately fell back asleep.
And the next day. The promised new recruit welcome party.
There were five people gathered.