Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Management Bureau Gyeonggi Branch
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A few days had passed since the cruise ship incident wrapped up. Fortunately, no new troubles had cropped up in the meantime. Just a string of peaceful days.
Nonstop exposure to the extraordinary must have shifted my perspective. The ordinary routine that used to feel so dull now tasted sweeter than candy. Simply lying in bed brought a sense of calm, clearing my mind like nothing else.
And that was just lounging at home. Imagine how refreshed I'd feel on a proper vacation.
Did I even need to debate going or not?
Ian packed his bags on the spot and booked a night at a swanky five-star hotel, holing up in the room without budging for the entire day.
The kind of stay people called a "hotcation." The service exceeded expectations, and with a bathtub offering a clear view of the Seoul skyline, it wasn't half bad. It felt like all the fatigue was melting away.
"Hoo..."
Ian savored the essence of a successful life while snapping a photo of the glittering Seoul nightscape beyond the window with his phone. He then posted it straight to the community.
[Hawa and Baby Marbled Cat are finally on a real vacation after so long~]
[Yeah right]
(Seoul nightscape photo)
Gazing at this beautiful night view and sipping wine sounds divine~
[Upvotes: 0][Downvotes: 4]
[Comments]
-Deep Sea Angler: This concept is gross. What's with the sudden change?
ㄴYeah right: Don't say mean things to Hawa like that~
ㄴDeep Sea Angler: Did hanging out with that smoothie turn you into a similar creep?
ㄴYeah right: Don't cross the line.
ㄴStrawberry Yogurt Smoothie: ?
-Taming Master: Why crawl into a hotel like an idiot. You'll get tangled with an Anomaly and trapped.
ㄴDeletePlz: That's too extreme. By that logic, nowhere's safe.
ㄴTaming Master: Eek! Bald freak! Get lost!
ㄴDeletePlz: Hey, you shitty bastard.
Ian ignored the familiar barrage of comments and flopped back onto the bed. The hotel bedding enveloped his body in its uniquely plush yet slightly firm embrace. Not a bad sensation.
"Hoo..."
He craved a smoke, but the smoking area was too far. He had a portable ashtray, but with guests on the floor above, lighting up by the window or in the bathroom would just stir up pointless drama.
"Maybe I should stretch this vacation out longer.'
Just a few weeks ago, Ian had taken a break after the library commission, planning a few days off. But that devolved into getting dragged to the hospital with the Heresy Inquisitor and tangled in Management Bureau affairs. Hardly what anyone would call proper rest.
His condition hadn't been bad enough to skip the cruise gig, but now that it was over, both body and mind felt pretty battered.
What he thought was a simple job turned out to involve a deranged cult and Outer Gods straight out of Cthulhu mythos. No wonder. Even for Ian, he couldn't just grin and bulldoze through it. If that were possible, he'd have been rampaging freely long ago.
'Magic isn't some invincible power.'
Take the Eight-Foot Ghost, the first anomaly he'd faced. Running into it again now wouldn't let him crush it with overwhelming force. He'd still have to dodge attacks and land solid hits, same as before.
Sure, he had more tools at his disposal, but the approach hadn't changed. Opening a Grimoire and commanding it to "split in half and die" wouldn't make it obey.
Anyway.
Even with growing familiarity with magic and plenty of experience under his belt, there was no need to push the schedule recklessly. Time to focus on rest for a while.
Ian was midway through chugging a glass of ice water when his phone buzzed briefly on the nightstand.
He picked it up without much thought and checked the message.
[Kim I-seo: Are you free to talk now?]
Ian's face hardened slightly upon reading it.
Kim I-seo.
The Management Bureau agent he'd encountered at the theme park and the hospital.
They'd already exchanged names and signed the contract, so a call wasn't exactly out of the blue.
It wasn't too late either—just as the sun dipped below the horizon and streetlights flickered on. Too early for bed, too late for errands. Ian pondered briefly before dialing the number.
The ringtone barely chimed twice before she picked up.
[Wizard.]
A notably low voice for a woman flowed through the speaker. Ian settled onto the sofa and replied.
"You're calling pretty late."
[Something urgent came up at the Bureau. It's stabilized now.]
"Urgent?"
[One of the Grimms' Cruel Fairy Tales showed up in the provinces. A mashup of Red Shoes and Cinderella, with quite a few victims. Took time to contain. Sorry.]
No real need for apologies, but knowing it was just protocol, Ian didn't react. Kim I-seo seemed unfazed too, continuing in her even tone.
[The reason for the call is to confirm the contract's finalized and schedule a visit to the Management Bureau headquarters. Any good times for you?]
"A visit? Is that necessary?"
He'd signed on for cooperation, but that didn't mean blind trust.
The Bureau wouldn't straight-up stab him in the back unless they'd lost their minds, but the potential was overflowing.
Could be overthinking it. Maybe they meant nothing by it, and he was shadowboxing alone. But if paranoia kept his head on his shoulders, no reason to drop his guard. Better safe than sorry—always.
Same reason made stepping into their building a poor choice.
Bureau agents generally disliked Mages.
If you polled them on like or dislike, dislikes would dominate. More harbored grudges than indifference, making it like walking into a thornbush.
Ian got their feelings. Human spontaneous combustion and the confinement room cursed doll incidents had tanked Mage favorability—he'd heard.
But understanding didn't mean acceptance.
Why take heat for things he didn't even do? There were limits to unfairness. Unfortunately, Ian wasn't saintly enough to smile and bear it.
'Better to stick to commissions than risk trouble by going.'
As Ian hardened his expression, Kim I-seo rustled some papers—or typed—before responding.
[I understand your concerns. But no need to worry.]
"Confident tone."
[Because it's certain. No reason to feel intimidated.]
Her voice softened a touch.
[Agents aren't idiots. They won't provoke a cooperating Mage and start trouble. Provoking or insulting a contracted Mage draws heavy penalties. Severe cases mean memory wipe and termination.]
"......"
[It's partly to protect you, but mostly to safeguard agents. Clash with a Mage who wrangles Anomalies firsthand, and it's obvious who dies.]
Ian gave a wry smile at her matter-of-fact delivery.
Bureau agents were impressive, but most were powerless civilians. Pitting them against a Mage who'd tangle directly with Anomalies? No contest whose head rolls first.
[So rest easy. What you're worried about won't happen. Also, other Mages drop by the Bureau when bored. Not all, but about two-thirds hang at the Bureau cafe for coffee now and then.]
"Eccentrics."
[If fellow Mages see it that way, probably so.]
Kim I-seo added after a pause.
[No bag checks at the Bureau building. Bring your Grimoire comfortably.]
With reassurances like that, Ian saw no point refusing.
No pressing schedule anyway. With safety guaranteed, spending a day on Bureau business wasn't bad.
Worst case, summon Outer Sea critters. Twist the building's layout with Hand of Recreation, unleash a few Messengers, and the Bureau would hit crisis mode.
Better if it never came to that, but he ran the sim anyway. Then spoke.
"Planning to rest awhile, so no commissions. Just the visit."
[...Understood.]
A hint of irrepressible disappointment colored her voice.
Ian had no intention of retracting.
*
The next day, after a leisurely hotel rest.
Ian roared through central Seoul on his bike. It handled speed and turns automatically, following the inputted address.
'Somewhere around here.'
Ian flipped up his helmet visor and scanned the surroundings without dismounting.
Nothing but skyscrapers piercing the sky.
Quintessential Seoul. Yet somewhere in that forest of towers hid the Management Bureau Gyeonggi Branch.
Hide a tree in a forest, they say. The Bureau building blended into the urban jungle. Obvious camouflage, but effective. Better than a lone monolith in some empty valley.
"Hm."
Ian gripped the handlebars and followed the phone nav. Moments later, he pulled up before a massive building.
From outside, it screamed ordinary corporation. Suited folks bustling past windows, employees dashing corridors with files or coffee.
Pure illusion. Perception blocks and distortions warped the view. The real interior was far from corporate normalcy.
Forewarned, Ian wasn't fazed. He parked in a nearby lot, shrank his helmet into his bag, and stuffed his gloves in haphazardly.
"......"
Straightening his wind-tousled coat, he strode toward the Bureau building.
Just as he reached the entrance.
"Ah, there you are."
A black-haired woman on a nearby bench muttered upon spotting him. Ian halted, and she met his gaze with a faint smile.
"Handsome but scary face. Must be you. Nice to meet you."
She tossed her cocoa cup in the trash and approached, extending a hand.
"I'm Kim Yul. A Mage like you.