Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Meeting
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Morning.
Ian slowly rose from the bed, shaking out his tousled hair.
His condition... wasn't bad. It seemed that obtaining the second grimoire didn't immediately drive his mind off the rails. They'd said the Hand of Recreation had high compatibility and wouldn't make him go mad, but the Deep Sea Chronicles had no such note.
He might find something by flipping through the pages, but today was a busy morning right from the start. He gulped down some cold water to shake off his drowsiness, showered, and headed out.
He pulled out his phone to check the address of the animal hospital he'd looked up yesterday.
It wasn't close in a straight-line distance, but it was the nearest branch around. Ian hailed a taxi and made his way to the animal hospital.
He arrived before long.
The hospital, smaller than he'd expected, was bustling with preparations for opening. Nurses setting things up and a doctor stretching in his gown were all visible through the window.
"Hmm."
Ian cleared his throat once, then flung open the hospital door.
"Huh?"
Ding-a-ling. With the chime of the street bell, the staff's gazes turned toward Ian. One nurse, who had been setting out animal feed, stared at him with a troubled expression.
"Ah, sir. We're not open yet. Could you come back in about thirty minutes?"
Instead of replying, Ian thrust the Cartel app in her face.
In that instant, the expression drained from the nurse's face. She bowed at the waist and spoke in a polite tone.
"My apologies. We'll guide you inside. Please follow me."
"The whole hospital's staffed by Cartel employees, huh."
"Yes. Nothing special about it."
He followed her lead into the depths of the hospital. The other staff didn't spare him a single glance.
She opened the door to the basement and led him down the stairs into the basement room.
The basement pulsed with blinking blue lights. Vaults lined the walls, and bizarre-looking animals cowered silently in their cages. The nurse guided Ian to a sofa and smoothly offered him a cup of black tea.
"May I know which request you resolved?"
"Abandoned Library. Wizard-only request."
"Confirmed. Please show me the rulebook you created."
He did so.
The nurse quickly inspected the rulebook Ian handed her and nodded.
"Fifteen rules in total. Base fee of 100 million, plus 150 million additional. Grand total of 250 million. Quite the sum."
"A lot even from the Cartel's view?"
"For non-wizards, yes. Of course, it's only right to pay this much for sending a Wizard into the unknown. But I've never seen anyone write this many rules before. Especially ones that don't look easy at all. How'd you manage it?"
Ian smiled as he downed the black tea.
"It just worked out that way. Deposit it to my account."
"Understood. To an account in the Wizard's name? Or a Cartel account?"
"There's a Cartel account?"
Ian set down his teacup as he asked. The nurse nodded.
"It's an account with no transaction records, and it comes with discounts at Cartel shops. If you don't have one, I recommend opening it today. They provide a card too."
"No records means no chance of tracking, right?"
"Exactly. That's why so many people use them."
"Opening fee?"
"100 million total, including the card and account. Plus, Indemnity use is free for the first three months after opening."
Better terms than expected. 100 million was a hefty sum, but the free safe travel service alone would cut his request resolution costs in half.
The unlimited discounts were tempting enough, but the untraceability was the real draw.
In a world where everything ended up in some database, making tracking all too easy. His phone was safe thanks to Grandmother, but other things still weren't reliable.
Ian knew he was being paranoid. The Management Bureau probably didn't give a damn—he was likely just shadowboxing on his own.
Still, better safe than sorry. He met the nurse's eyes and nodded.
"Open one. Deposit straight into it."
"Understood. Congratulations on your new account. Purchases with the linked card get about ten percent off Cartel items, and spending over 20 million gets you one item worth five million or less for free. Benefit usable once only."
"Nice. Any catches?"
"You must spend at least five million per month. Fail to do so, and we'll extract an organ of equivalent value from your body."
"...Shouldn't you lead with that?"
"Sorry. I'm still new. If you'd prefer not, we can cancel the opening. Your call?"
The nurse bowed her head. Ian pondered briefly before answering.
"Nah, go ahead with it."
Spending five million a month wasn't nothing, but he couldn't pass up the other perks for that.
He might've balked before, but now with steady income after just over a month as a mage, he had nearly 200 million in the bank.
Assuming he kept working, five million wasn't a real burden. He could cover it.
'Worst case, buy some purified anomaly products.'
Byproducts netting hundreds per unit with ease. Buying those would fill the requirement no problem.
"Understood. Proceeding with the opening. It takes three hours total, and the card will be delivered to your home. Or you can pick it up here."
"Pick up. I'll be nearby—contact me when it's done."
"Via the app?"
"Yeah."
"Confirmed. Exit through the rear door. See you in two hours."
Ian nodded and climbed the stairs, exiting through the back door. He lit a cigarette in the smoking area by the parking lot and pulled out his phone.
'What's around here.'
Three hours was an awkward span—not enough time to head home or to the workshop. Side requests were out too. Looked like he'd kill time at a nearby cafe or PC bang.
Fortunately, there was a PC bang close by. Ian stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and walked over. It had been a while, but the vibe felt familiar.
He signed up and logged in as usual, then idly played a video while checking the community on his phone.
[Hey, how many years you got as mages? I'm at 3 for now.]
[Unicorn Lover Dog]
Found my grimoire about a month back. What about you guys?
[Recs 0][Downs 0]
[Comments]
-Serious Magic Addict: 8 years here. Pretty long run.
-Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie: Just 6 months for me. Eek.
ㄴUnicorn Lover Dog: Holy shit noob. But that mouth of yours?
ㄴStrawberry Yogurt Smoothie: Hehe, I'm a total bitch! Gonna blow you up!
-★Grandmother: 10 years for me.
ㄴUnicorn Lover Dog: Fucking vet lololol
ㄴ★Grandmother: ?
ㄴAnon(112.415): Ah fuck, my bad. Unblock me.
ㄴ★Grandmother: (mage thumbs up)
[Experience, bragging. How cute~]
[Sweet Grandpa]
Me, already on year 40!
[Recs 3][Downs 3]
[Comments]
-Grandpa, ain't it time to croak?
ㄴSweet Grandpa: Still prime of life, you punk!
ㄴCraving some braised gizzard.
ㄴSweet Grandpa: Hey now, punk!! You're my disciple!
ㄴOops.
Shitposts everywhere as always, with a few info threads mixed in. Ian sat quietly browsing them before posting one of his own.
[Guys, picked up another grimoire.]
[Anon]
One just popped up outta nowhere and forced me into it.
Any other mage dumbfucks like me? Or historical precedents?
He posted it and surfed the net for used bikes or cars while waiting for comments.
He had the free Indemnity pass, but he couldn't rely on public transit for every request. For absurd distances he'd take planes or trains, but otherwise driving himself was way better. Taxi fares added up.
Not that it was a huge strain. Still, now that he had money, getting his own ride made sense.
"Hmm."
He skipped the pricier stuff.
Hundreds of millions in the bank sounded nice, but between management fees, rent, living expenses, magic item buys, and so on, it vanished quick. Moving out of his one-room came first, so he couldn't dump big cash into transport.
'Personally leaning bike. No stuff to carry, quick to move.'
But bikes were risky—cars safer overall. Unless there was a safe-driving spell. Otherwise, cars won on safety.
Trade-offs either way. Ian tapped the table, letting out a groan.
A while later, the ramen he'd ordered for lunch arrived.
He filled his moderately hungry stomach with it while checking the comments on his post.
[Comments]
-Grimoire x2? What a lunatic fuck.
-Mages with two aren't unheard of, but super rare. Far as I know, the Clock Tower owner has two.
-Fuck me! Couldn't find shit, why you only!!!!
ㄴStrawberry Yogurt Smoothie: Grimoires are picky about faces. Teehee.
ㄴWhere you live you fucker.
-Deep Sea Angler: Grimoire x2? Perfect target bait for other mages.
-Taming Master: Don't blab that shit. From history to now, fewer than three mages ever held two or more.
-Clock Tower owner said the grimoires' pissing contest is brutal—if you can't handle it, you die instead? Nice boat ending lol ㅇㅇ
ㄴ(share rec)
-ZI Zone Super Strong: Only the Clock Tower owner has two in modern times. Not inherently dangerous, but gotta manage their relationship. Like the comment above—if you can't control the beef, you die.
ㄴZI Zone Super Strong: Grimoires are eternal friends and treasures, sure. But not benevolent saints. If they think another'll steal their owner, it's mutual destruction mode.
ㄴ(thought it was saint mode? rec)
ㄴNah this is peak yandere menhera. All grimoires landmine girls?
ㄴZI Zone Super Strong: Eyes open now. Head to Bookworm Gal.
"...."
Ian eyed the bag beside him after reading the comments.
He could feel the two grimoires inside, still vibrating as if brawling.
Less vicious than childish as hell. They didn't feel threatening at all—just like kids throwing a tantrum. And these could kill him?
"...Tsk."
Ian cracked open the bag and lightly stroked the two grimoires pressed tight together. They immediately calmed, rubbing against his hand.
"...Doesn't look like it no matter how I see it."
He let out a hollow chuckle and gently scratched their covers.
[Humm....]
[Hummm....]
The two opposing books vibrated as if pleased.