Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Return
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The two of them hurried to the hospital room where Kim So-yeon was staying without further conversation.
They rode the elevator, and even up to the moment they opened the door to the room, they didn't let their guard down, half-expecting something to go wrong. Fortunately, nothing transferred over. Relieved, they stepped inside.
The four-bed room held an elderly person in two of the beds, a young man in another, and a child in the last. Ian and Cecilia headed straight for the child.
“……Huh? Who are you, big sis and big bro?”
On the bed with the nameplate reading Kim So-yeon, the girl with casts on her arms and legs eyed them warily. Ian handed her snacks, chocolate, drinks, and the like that he'd bought on the way, flashing a bright smile.
“The nun sent us. You're So-yeon, right?”
Cecilia blinked in confusion at Ian's completely different demeanor from what she'd seen before, but he paid it no mind.
“Here, gifts. I didn't know what you liked, so I got a bit of everything. Dig in.”
“Wow……! These are my favorite snacks and drinks! Can I really eat them? The nun said not to take food from strangers!”
“Our So-yeon's learned well, huh? Want me to call the nun so you can talk to her?”
“Um…… No, it's okay!”
Kim So-yeon grinned and tore open a bag of potato chips.
“I'll trust you, big bro! You don't look like someone who'd do bad things!”
Ian burst out laughing at the child's innocent words. He ruffled her hair, then sat in a nearby chair to wait for the doctor. Cecilia hesitated a moment before pulling out the guardian bed and sitting on it.
“But who are you, big sis?”
“Ah…… I'm Cecilia. A nun…….”
So-yeon mumbled around a mouthful of chips as she asked, and Cecilia answered awkwardly. Her stiff tone made it obvious she wasn't used to dealing with kids. Ian watched them briefly, then pulled out his phone to check the time.
3 p.m.
Considering they'd entered the hospital at 2, not much time had passed—less than expected.
Proof that spatial anomalies had a fuzzy sense of time. Whether theme parks or hospitals, time flowed agonizingly slow compared to reality.
The library, on the other hand, had seemed a bit faster. Even though he hadn't been inside long, it had been night when he emerged. So not all spatial anomalies slowed things down. Ian sighed and pocketed his phone.
‘If time flows extremely fast or slow compared to reality, that'd be a real headache.’
No wonder the Cartel had so many requests involving spatial anomalies. Even setting aside their inherent difficulty, messing with time made them tricky…… No mage could manipulate time itself.
‘I could, though…….’
Alchemy from the Hand of Recreation: [Pocket Watch of Eons].
A one-use device that rewound to any desired point when turned. But its insane power demanded equally insane materials. Flesh of a great one like the [Finger of God], which kneaded reality at will, plus shards of time, a golden hourglass, and more alchemy items.
Something he couldn't make now—or maybe ever.
Outer God grimoires were full of gems like that: incredible on paper, useless in practice. The Hand of Recreation, Deep Sea Chronicles…… They screamed “I'm amazing!” but couldn't be used. Alchemy was impossible to craft, and summoned beasts' aftereffects were uncontrollable……
True double-edged swords. Ian leaned back with a heavy sigh.
A few minutes later, the doctor arrived to update them on So-yeon's condition.
“No lingering aftereffects expected. We'll monitor for another week and decide on discharge then.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
The doctor nodded to Ian, chatted with So-yeon, and left.
Ian relayed the info to the nun and waited for her arrival. Cecilia had dozed off from exhaustion.
Ian was tired too, but without her level of exertion, he could manage.
He coughed at the soreness in his throat and stared blankly out the window. He answered So-yeon's occasional questions and fiddled with the cigarette pack in his pocket. As evening neared, the nun returned.
She entered quietly, smiled warmly at the sleeping Cecilia, then at So-yeon, who had nodded off too. Only Ian greeted her.
“Ah, Sister. How'd the event go?”
“Good, thanks to you. Thank you.”
The nun pressed three 50,000-won bills into his hand. Ian smiled awkwardly and tried to give them back.
“No need for this.”
“Take it. It puts my mind at ease. Otherwise, I might have to drag you to confession.”
“…….”
Unable to resist her not-quite-threat, Ian surrendered. He gave a wry smile and pocketed the neatly folded bills.
Not a huge sum for him with his overflowing bank account, but the giver's intent mattered. No need to make a fuss.
“Then I'll accept. Thank you.”
“Good, good. You worked hard. So, what's next for you?”
“Heading home. Pretty wiped out.”
The nun nodded.
“I see. See you next time, then. Thanks again today.”
“No problem. Call if you need anything.”
Ian chatted with her a bit more before leaving the room. He caught a glimpse of the peacefully sleeping Cecilia but turned away and exited the hospital.
Night had fallen.
Ian entered the dimly lit hospital smoking area and lit a cigarette with practiced ease.
Chik.
The lighter sparked a faint glow at the tip. He sat, exhaled smoke into the air, and sorted his thoughts.
‘What was that purpose Cecilia mentioned at the motel?’
Too late to ask now, but another chance remained. She wasn't dead, so they'd talk soon enough.
He'd prefer avoiding Vatican ties, but he was already entangled. Face-to-face was the only way out.
And the Management Bureau.
He'd dodged them so far, but not this time. His face was known now, intentionally or not.
“…….”
He'd expected it eventually. Long tails get stepped on. Long or short, exposure was inevitable. No point comparing to other mages.
“Fuu…….”
He tilted his head back and blew out smoke.
Outer God grimoires were flashy as their danger. No wonder Yu-na had freaked at first sight. Unless she was blind, she'd sensed the hospital summoning wasn't ordinary.
‘The key is their reaction. They weren't hostile in the hospital, but reality's different.’
Summoning a hospital director-level monstrosity right in front of them. Impressive or reckless, depending on the view—it screamed dangerous element.
No regrets, though; it got them out. He'd weather the backlash.
Chiiik.
He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and tossed it.
Outside, winter's chill wind whipped around him. Ian zipped his coat fully and brushed scabs from its hem.
Other clothes could be ditched, but not this coat. Too many spells woven in. A shame to discard.
“Haa…….”
Breath fogged the air as he walked. White vapor rose against gravity, scattering in the moonlight.
No Bureau agents at the exit meant they woke up at the entry point. Gave him prep time.
They'd come soon, though.
Best prepare alchemy items in case of hostility. Coat's defensive spells were intact—could handle ambushes. Reverse targeting on it had a few uses left.
No fear of dying at least. Ian shivered in the bone-chilling cold, hailed a taxi, and went home.
*
The Management Bureau agents reported mission success and immediately got an urgent summons from the Branch Director. Response Team 3 members and Park Hee-su headed straight to her office.
“Branch Director.”
“Come in.”
Just calling her name got permission. Yeoul swallowed hard and opened the door, the others following.
The Branch Director waited on the sofa, smiling as she gestured to the seats opposite.
“Have a seat. Lots to discuss. Oh, you like cake and tea, right?”
“……Yes, we do. Thank you.”
Yeoul answered awkwardly, tension plain. The others were the same.
Understandable.
A rare mental-type esper in the Bureau. Solo-slayer of a spatial anomaly, with a mad career from desk job to support, recon, and response.
Management Bureau Capital and Gyeonggi Branch Director, Kim Bom.
No accident she helmed Korea's most critical branch. Her unique global credentials and skills put her there.
Other directors weren't weaker, but none could beat her. Force meant little against her.
She could erase “fight” from your mind. Hence nicknames like Click Beetle, Gandhi, Pacifist—from other directors.
But her temperament wasn't that peaceful.
Gentle usually, but wildly bipolar once set off.
Many agents dreaded one-on-ones. Generous to her own, but still a time bomb. No one wanted trouble.
Yeoul felt the same but had no choice with the direct summons. She steadied her trembling hands and sipped the pre-poured tea.
“So, you met a mage?”
Kim Bom asked. Park Hee-su answered.
“Yes, a total badass.”
“Oh, oppa!”
“Main magic seems summoning-based.”
Ignoring Park Min-ah's shock, he continued.
“As in the report you read, he controlled the situation with his summoned beast, tying up the hospital director. Let us escape.”
“…….”
“Don't know the beast's exact nature. Demon, fairy, spirit? Definitely not ordinary.”
“……An Outer God, maybe?”
“No encounters with those, so unsure. But when it appeared, reality twisted around my very existence.”
“Got it.”
She listened intently, sighed, and clasped her hands.
“No name on the mage?”
“No. But we have his face.”
“Good. I'll flag him priority one in the database. As for handling…….”
“Assassination's an option.”
Yeoul interjected seriously, recalling the scene, lips moving.
“A mage who faces anomaly owners head-on. Leave him be and he goes rogue or mad? Irreversible.”
“What about failure risk?”
“Can't fail. Failure means all-out war for the Bureau. Don't attempt if failure's possible. Assassinating a mage needs utmost caution.”
Yeoul paused, then bowed slightly.
“Assassination's one way, but low success odds. Last resort.”
“Hm…… Any other ideas?”
Kim Bom asked, and Kim I-seo jumped in, pink hair swaying.
“I say recruit him.”
“Recruit?”
“Yes. Ally or partner like that? Invaluable asset. Could clear anomalies we can't.”
“We'd have to bow pretty low for a mage that strong.”
“Worth the cost, I think.”
Opposite Yeoul's view. But she didn't argue.
Agents had differing opinions always. No need for fights over it.
Just differences, not wrongs. Superiors decided.
“Other opinions?”
“…….”
“None? Good, those were my thoughts too. And the one that helps the Bureau and humanity…….”
Kim Bom paused as if finalizing, then spoke gravely.
“This is it.”