Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Abandoned Library
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[A mage's workshop requires several conditions.]
[First, it must be completely separate from living quarters.]
[Second, it must be a space dedicated solely to magic.]
[Third, fill the interior with ether by placing objects for magic. This process requires at least a week.]
[Fourth, the final and most important condition: never make windows that allow viewing inside. If windows already exist, cover them all.]
“Hmm.”
Ian sat in the officetel chair and peered into the grimoire.
“Getting a room isn’t the end of it.”
The conditions were trickier than expected. He already knew it had to be separate from living space, but there were all sorts of additional requirements piled on. It looked like he wouldn’t be using the workshop for a while.
More importantly, objects for magic.
Ian groaned and pulled out the alchemy materials and finished products from his bag onto the table.
The cube-shaped materials harvested from the Monkey Dream were almost gone. He’d gotten a few ghost spirits by wandering the officetel, but not in great quantity. Repeating magic and alchemy would deplete them quickly.
Buying from the Cartel was out too—the prices were insanely high. He had just over three million won in the bank. Buying materials that cost hundreds of thousands each willy-nilly was a burden.
‘Wonder if there’s a cluster of anomalies nearby.’
He knew it was best not to run into any, but he couldn’t help hoping a little.
His mind must already be that of a mage.
Ian gave a wry smile and neatly stacked the finished products in the officetel storage.
He hung the enchanted coat on the rack and placed the Reverse Aim and Sound-Eating Flame neatly. Just in case, he also set a few more Primate Slayer Knives nearby that he’d remade.
‘But Primate Slayer Knife is such a weird name in itself. Stabbing a primate with a knife kills it anyway.’
Lost in trivial thoughts, he closed the grimoire and set it on the table. He sat on the sofa, pulled out his phone, and posted on the community.
[Title: Got a room to turn into a workshop]
[Anon]
Got an officetel room and turning it into a workshop.
Anyone with a workshop already, tips please.
The post got comments pouring in almost immediately.
[Comments]
-Taming Master: ? You already got a room? You rich bastard?
ㄴSerious Magic Addict: Seems like they’ve cleared a lot of requests. Definitely not a rich bastard.
ㄴAnon: Bro.
-Deep Sea Angler: To optimize a workshop for you, first shape the environment to match your magic’s nature. For example, if you do doll magic, fill the room with dolls.
ㄴ(3-line summary con)
ㄴDeep Sea Angler: Wasn’t talking to you.
“Environment matching the nature, huh…”
Ian understood why Lee Seo-ah’s workshop had so many necromancy-related objects.
Even non-magical occult items seemed to help with the environment.
Unlike necromancy, which had a clear theme, alchemy didn’t have specific occult items. The Philosopher’s Stone maybe, but that was unobtainable. Since it was Outer God alchemy, alchemy tools like distillers, flasks, or beakers probably wouldn’t help.
“No helping it.”
After agonizing, he decided to leave it as is. No good means available, so set up the environment later.
He’d crafted items smoothly in Lee Seo-ah’s workshop too. No need to rush.
Ian checked the time with that thought.
Just past noon. Outside was dark, the moon high in the sky.
Time to head to the convenience store for his shift. The double life felt strange.
‘Gotta quit soon.’
He couldn’t stay tied to the store forever. For steady funds and life, focus more on the supernatural than the mundane. Right move until life stabilized. Time to go freelance.
Ian drew all the officetel curtains, put on his padding, and headed out. A security ghost walking the hall spotted him and bowed.
At the elevator, a waiting ghost pressed 1 and vanished. Ian rode down, caught a taxi, and went to the store.
He arrived shortly. Inside, the manager was on duty. Ian bowed to her right away.
“Long time no see, Manager.”
“Oh, Ian?”
The young manager wiped sweat from her forehead as she saw him. She’d just stocked shelves—items neatly lined the displays.
“Been a while since I saw your face. Doing well?”
“Yeah, I’m good. But why are you working my shift? Where’s the part-timer?”
“They quit. Said they didn’t want to work anymore.”
She sighed deeply and handed him the store vest. Ian took it and shed his padding.
“Why?”
“Dunno. Said they’re going on a soul-searching trip and just left. So I’ll cover for a bit.”
“Hmm… Could you find a new part-timer for my shift then?”
The manager froze at his question. She creaked her neck to stare at him.
“…Why?”
“Got a job. Can’t keep part-timing.”
Not wrong. He’d switched from civilian to mage—basically employed.
“…Congrats?”
She smiled awkwardly and patted his shoulder. Then sighed again.
“But you can keep working till I find a replacement? Won’t take long.”
“Yeah. Fine till year-end.”
“Good. Sigh… Gotta post a job ad soon as I get home. Anyway, congrats on the job. Hope it all goes well.”
“Thanks.”
Ian bowed, the manager paid for a bottle of soju, and left the store.
The dawn convenience store was quiet as always. Blurry moonlight filtered through the windows, late pedestrians under streetlights. Ian gazed out briefly, then started work.
*
Lucky or unlucky? Ian worked over a week at the store without encountering anomalies. Not at the store, home, or daily life—no mysteries crossed his path.
Normal, of course. If anomalies were that common, the population would be half, society collapsed.
But Ian was a mage, not normal. Higher chance of anomalies, as proven before… yet lately, dead quiet.
He’d hoped for Santa at Christmas, but childhood whimsy betrayed. Even Santa skips mages.
Anyway, his long part-time gig ended. The day a replacement started his shift, he quit and ate with the manager—a farewell meal.
After, they chatted at a nearby café and parted. Ian smoked in the smoking area, gazing at the clear sky.
“…Whew.”
No more tied to part-time or odd jobs. Long workplace, odd feeling, but he shook it off.
Had to quit upon “employment” anyway. Just came sooner.
Ian stubbed his cigarette and walked the street.
New Year two days old. Greetings sent to contacts, workshop nearly done. One or two more days, complete.
Short break after theme park request over.
Time to return to work.
He’d already picked requests. Home, he opened the Cartel app and checked his pre-selected one.
[Abandoned Library Exploration]
[No info from Cartel sources. Known only that civilian entry strictly forbidden, access granted solely to mages and psychics. Rather than expend valuable Cartel mage/psychic manpower, we seek explorers for hire.]
[Goal: Record library safety rules and information.]
[Reward: Base 100 million won. Additional 10 million per rule or info.]
Huge reward in hundreds of millions. Generous bonuses.
Not because super hard, but mage/psychic labor costs a fortune.
From encounters, they prioritized profit over morals. High difficulty but civilian-accessible spots didn’t get such pay. Theme park example.
Library: No civilian access via official routes, interior unknown.
Must send precious mages/psychics to extract rules. Had to offer tempting pay, or no takers.
Ian didn’t care. More money? Great. No reason to refuse.
Looked way easier than theme park. Probably nothing harder soon.
No complacency, though. Anomalies not to underestimate.
Completing workshop first for safety gear. Better prepared.
Overconfidence no moth-to-flame. Die stupidly otherwise.
Always prepare minimally first. That wouldn’t change.
*
After a week studying Korean in the Vatican, Cecilia finally set foot on unfamiliar Asian soil. Long flight sleep left her refreshed, but jet lag needed more time.
“…”
Dragging a specially treated carrier packed with guns, weapons, holy water, knives, and clothes, she exited the airport. No issues at security.
“…Ugh, cold.”
Korea’s winter lived up to its infamous bite. Cecilia half-hid her face in her scarf, pouted at the Italian-written note.
‘Go to nearest cathedral from airport… Anyplace with a cross should do.’
Gripping her cross necklace, she searched for holy aura.
Found nearby churches and cathedrals.
Realized there were overwhelmingly many, her face fell in bewilderment.
‘Why… why so many churches and cathedrals…?’
Korea, with more churches than convenience stores, became a maze to the lifelong Vatican dweller.
“…Wah.”
Cecilia wanted to cry.