Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Owl
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Dolores led the group into an alley near Seoul Station.
The alley, bathed in slanting sunlight, was thick with yin energy. Invisible, formless qi swam through the air like mist. Ian crushed a ghostly hand crawling up from the shadows underfoot as he scanned the surroundings.
Nothing particularly special stood out. Just walls on either side and heavy, cold air pressing down. No obvious entrance anywhere.
"Hee hee hee..."
But Dolores moved forward without hesitation, as if certain this was the right path. Her bright, cheerful demeanor inspired more trust than uncertainty would have.
Ian wedged a cigarette from his pocket between his fingers and spun it idly while staring at the back of her head. He mentally sorted through the items he needed to buy.
First off, a female goat's heart, thread spun by a virgin, and a plant grown soaking in a virgin's blood—those were must-buys since Grandmother had asked for them. Price wasn't an issue; he could just bill her later.
Personally, he wanted more cigarettes. He planned to stock up on a few more packs of the purifying tobacco made by the Alchemist school.
He had plenty now, but who knew when he'd run out.
Normally, he went through one every two or three days... but work stress often led to chain-smoking. Better to stock up while he had the chance.
Beyond that, a prisoner's wrist, a silver candlestick, a falling meteorite, a monstrous insect's corpse—plenty of alchemy ingredients to browse.
He'd pick up anything useful.
"We're here."
As he pondered, Dolores stopped in front of a used bookstore. Ian halted and turned to look.
It wasn't large. Just big enough for four people to squeeze in comfortably. Wooden shelves overflowed with old books, emanating their musty scent as they waited to be picked. A faint dusty aroma wafted through the air.
But no customers in sight. Only an elderly man who looked foreign sat at the counter, flipping through a book. He must be the owner.
The lack of patrons was obvious. The location was poor, but more importantly, every book was in its original language.
Incredibly, not a single Korean book on the shelves of a shop in Korea. Being foreign-owned probably meant no appeal to local tastes.
"Bonjour, Eric."
Ding-a-ling.
Dolores opened the door and stepped inside. The man called Eric spoke without looking up.
"Get lost, Dolores."
"Oh ho, don't be so sharp, Eric. I thought us fellow foreigners should stick together nicely!"
"You came willingly. I'm here on business. Damn bitch."
They conversed in French. Naturally, Ian, Ari, and Yuna couldn't join in. Instead, they browsed the shop while the talk wrapped up.
Ignoring them, Dolores ran a finger along the dusty shelves with a beaming smile.
"Reason doesn't matter—we're both outsiders here. No need to act so cold."
"Why not? Back at the Clock Tower, you humiliated me in front of everyone."
"Family business, you know. Anyway, enough about the past. I want to enter the Owl."
Dolores dragged over a nearby chair and sat across from Eric.
"What's the entry condition this time?"
"...Tch, nothing much. Just prove you can use magic."
Thud.
Eric closed his book and donned his glasses from beside it. His brown eyes glimmered faintly. The ceiling light flickered.
"Prove magic?"
"Just cast a spell in front of the door. You've done it plenty, right? Standard procedure every time at the Clock Tower."
"Ah, that."
Dolores tapped her lips with a finger.
"But this girl didn't bring a mannequin. No doll either."
"Carry one, you idiot bitch."
"It's too bulky—how?"
"Make a small one."
"But that's not pretty! Mother always said a lady should only use elegant, beautiful tools."
"Fuck off. Shut up and prepare your proof. You can at least handle your family's basic spells."
Eric glanced at the others wandering the shop.
"They mages too?"
"Yes. All her companions."
"Eastern mages. First time seeing any in person."
Interest flickered in Eric's eyes.
"I didn't build the Owl in this backwater for Eastern mages. It was for the other wizards who come to Korea."
"I know. It's for people like me, right?"
"...Infuriating, but not wrong. Eastern mages rarely visit anyway. Never part of the Clock Tower—makes sense."
Eric chuckled dryly and stood.
"Good chance to see what wizards born outside the magic heartland can do."
"Hilarious, coming from a nobody who lost to this girl! I think it's not your place to say!"
"Shut it, you lunatic bitch."
Eric snapped at Dolores and called the rest.
"Everyone, gather up. I'll explain the entry procedure."
Fluent Korean flowed from Eric's mouth.
Ian found it absurd he'd used French despite knowing Korean, but he set down his book and approached. Yuna and Ari followed.
Eric explained the Owl entry ritual to the three.
A magic demonstration. Not too hard. Ian nodded and drew his grimoire. The pristine white tome settled in his grip.
"Where do we do it?"
"Follow me."
Eric led them past the counter without a glance at the grimoire, his tone indifferent.
Creeeak...
The door revealed stairs descending underground. Eric went first, Dolores close behind. Ian tapped his grimoire thoughtfully, humming.
The stairs were dim overall. Owl-shaped torches on the walls provided light, but barely enough. Heavy dampness weighed on their shoulders; dripping water echoed sharply.
"Ugh... s-so gloomy..."
Yuna muttered. She'd already pulled her staff from its guitar case. Eric eyed it and let out a short whistle.
"Staff from hundred-year sacred wood. Glass orb at the tip?"
"Uh... s-sorry, but don't talk to me like we're buddies... it's creepy..."
Yuna shut him down instantly. Her words could sound like a challenge to some, but Eric just nodded curtly.
"Psycho kid. Got it."
"Y-yeah..."
Comfortable silence returned. Eric focused solely on descending, ignoring the group.
"Three steps left from here, then five right."
"..."
"Then back three, forward five. Door'll appear."
"Ritual magic? Odd conditions."
"Basic for the Owl. I'll guide first time, but come back alone later. Follow exactly now."
They did.
Stepping slowly as instructed on the pitch-black stairs like an abyss, a new path opened below. A long corridor stretched out, ending in a massive door.
Eric let the group go first, then spoke from behind.
"Stand before the door and cast. It'll open. One at a time."
"Then I'll go first!"
Dolores stepped up. She sauntered to the door, long hair swaying.
Brick door, no decorations—heavy and plain. As she approached, it vibrated briefly, speaking.
A dual voice, man and woman overlapping. Dolores covered her mouth, laughing, and extended one foot forward.
"Oh ho ho ho! Very well, I'll prove my qualifications!"
"Grace redder than blood! Beauty deeper than grace! By your name I swear—grant me elegance!"
Her English incantation. Her red high heel shuddered; she bent her leg, then kicked the door hard.
Boom!
A solid thud echoed. The door stood unscathed, as if the impact were a lie, and swung open smoothly.
Grrrind...!
The sealed door scraped open. Dolores flashed a satisfied smile and turned to the group.
"Phew...! I'll head in first, ladies! Hurry up!"
She stepped through. Once inside, the door shut again.
"Next, me...!"
The rest went smoothly. Ari stood before it and summoned light; Yuna touched her staff to the door and cast. Both passed without issue.
Ian was last. He stretched his stiff body and approached with grimoire in hand.
The now-familiar phrase emanated from the door. Ian placed a hand on it wordlessly.
That was when it happened.
"...?"
The door spasmed before he even chanted.
"What the fuck."
Ian sensed something off and backed away. Eric squinted and approached.
"Hey, what did you—"
Crunch!
Eric's words drowned in a massive roar. Both whipped toward the sound.
"..."
"..."
Awkward silence hung between them.
"...Ah."
The source.
The massive door, once reaching the ceiling, now lay crumpled and pathetic on the floor.
No, he hadn't even cast yet?