Chapter 45. If I Could Be Invisible for Just One Day
CCTV, crime scene investigation skills, DNA.
The era when criminals could barely make a living has arrived.
A society has come where it’s impossible to create ‘gaps in conduct’ due to the advancement of science.
But then, one day.
A thing called a Gate appeared in the world.
And from then on, many dynamics changed.
The concept born alongside the monsters from the other world.
Awakening Ability. It has created holes in the safety net humanity has built over many years.
“Auuuuh, I’m exhausted. Since dawn, we’ve been in chaos trying to catch that trash serial killer.”
Korean Magic Tower Headquarters. Representative’s office.
A hunter sitting on the top floor of the tall building stretched his arms and yawned.
“If you’ve awakened, why not quietly do your hunter job? Why bother ordinary civilians and cause a ruckus?”
Esther’s complaints went on for a while.
Today’s society was a sea of instability and chaos.
Due to the power of Awakening, all sorts of bizarre incidents transpired.
Among them, the crimes of high-ranking awakened individuals were particularly unmanageable.
The investigation agencies were struggling with serious manpower shortages, making the capture process arduous.
Even if they managed to catch the criminals safely, there weren’t enough facilities to punish or rehabilitate them…
In simple terms, Korea had already experienced several escapes by A-Class awakened criminals.
Using items could potentially result in a death sentence, but how long has it been since this country’s death penalty system became obsolete?
“Representative, are you still drafting the report?”
“Hmm, there were a few things missing in the text I sent yesterday.”
Thus, the government made a deal with an S-Class Hunter.
Until the system stabilizes, they would secretly eliminate the heinous criminals using that S-Class Hunter.
This was something Esther herself had very willingly accepted.
“We can’t let the perception of awakened individuals worsen than it already is. If that happens, advertising proposals will dry up.”
“Hahaha.”
“Sigh, these serial killers destroy our image quickly.”
Of course, despite saying that, Esther’s primary goal was to protect the citizens.
She had always been a righteous person who hated evildoers and stood on the side of the weak.
However, that tendency had become quite extreme since she grasped the sword’s hilt.
“I need a break.”
Esther reclined on the sofa and turned on her tablet to Y-Tube.
Soon, a news alert popped up.
[‘Invisible Man’ Advisory……. Theft rates surge in department stores.]
“Invisible man?”
She definitely turned it on to take a break, but somehow she felt more tired than before.
‘What now?’
Esther leaned in to listen to the announcer’s voice for a moment.
Listening closely, it seemed some stealth awakened individual had been indulging in theft lately.
Being an ordinary criminal, it wasn’t her job to handle it, but Esther couldn’t hide her displeasure.
‘Another awakened individual is the culprit?’
Moreover, it was a troublesome crime.
Who would have imagined that an invisible man would show up in modern society?
Oh boy.
Esther felt a headache coming on and turned off the news.
It needed to be resolved quickly…
*
Meanwhile, at the same time.
[…Based on the stolen items list, the police estimate the thief to be an adult male.
The affected △△ Department Store has decided to install a magic detection device in that location, but small merchants are left helpless, unable to find adequate countermeasures…]
The clear voice of the announcer resonated in Kim Gi-ryeo’s studio.
“Slurp.”
I was only half-listening to the news while concentrating on my meal.
In the meantime, the ramen was cooking away.
[We have brought in an expert. Hello, Professor ○○○. What do you think about this invisible man case?]
[Ah… The culprit is very meticulous. No DNA was detected at the scene. Perhaps they have been planning the crime for quite a while.]
[Then, what technology would be needed to catch this invisible man? I suspect analysis-type hunters might play a role here.]
[That would be quite difficult. For analysis skills, recognizing the target is crucial, so understanding concealment wouldn’t be suitable.]
[So even hiring an appraiser wouldn’t be of much use.]
[Yes. Therefore, in order to prevent such thefts… ]
Clatter.
After finishing my meal, I turned off my phone and stood up immediately.
‘If I’m not careful, I’ll be late. Damn, if I had known this would happen, I should’ve just starved.’
Washing dishes, brushing my teeth, changing clothes.
I was a bit scattered getting ready to go outside, but fortunately, I wasn’t late for my appointment.
A little while later.
I arrived at a fountain near the Hunter Association.
After waiting for about five minutes, a familiar face approached.
“Hyung! Huh, you were out here first! I can’t believe I made you wait! I truly committed a grave sin…”
“Uh, yeah. Calm down.”
What day is it today?
It’s good news. Finally, that huge appraisal fee has been deposited.
Hahaha! I can’t believe they appraised that junk sword for ten million won!
An amount I’ve never touched before just appeared in my bank account.
What’s the point of just holding on to it?
Am I going to take it with me when I die? Obviously not.
I need to spend it!
Having been caught up in gate terror, kidnapped, and through all sorts of troubles since coming to this planet, I can confidently say that what I need most right now is a magic tool.
As long as I’m alive, I can do anything.
Even if I get criticized for relying on items, that’s fine.
For a shabby F-Class reincarnate, I have no other option left…
“The path is kept so clean. Is that entire building a shopping center?”
From now on, I plan to explore a place called the Hunter Market.
But since I didn’t know much about Earth’s culture, I had previously asked Ahn Yoon-seung for help.
“Yes! From the 5th floor above to the 2nd underground, all items are available. The auction house is across the street.”
And maybe it’s just my impression, but.
Ahn Yoon-seung seems to be getting kinder day by day.
Shopping center guidance. To be honest, he could find it annoying, right? So why is he smiling and being so accommodating?
I might’ve almost been ripped off, but now we’re practically square.
There are some confusing parts, but I decided to let it slide.
Good, I must be an easy target.
If he’s willingly helping, why refuse?
“By the way, I’ve never seen someone who hasn’t used the Hunter Market before. You must not have been in Korea for long?”
“Uh, yeah! So I’m still adjusting to the time difference.”
I casually made an excuse and stepped into the building.
As soon as I entered, the wide view of the shopping mall caught my sight.
Looks like Kim Gi-ryeo hasn’t been to the market before either. I can’t recall a single memory of the past owner.
Everything seems spacious.
Let’s see, the first floor appears to sell lower-value monster products.
“From the second floor, you need to show your hunter license to enter?”
“They sell weapons there. And the 5th floor is the VIP floor, where I have entry rights.”
“Oh~”
There truly are many fascinating items.
Coats made of reptilian monster leather.
A lamp that never goes out.
A potion for becoming a halfling.
What kind of principle is that made from?
If only I had enough money, I’d buy one of everything for research purposes!
The soul of a magic scholar weeps. I swallowed my sorrow and picked out survival items with effort.
[Ice Bomb]
[Effect: A powerful bomb that freezes enemies nearby.]
Okay. This should be usable as a weapon.
Great, now the price is…
“Pfft!”
Ahn Yoon-seung’s lemonade that he bought during shopping splattered into the air.
“Huh! Did you spill it?!”
While I was frozen in place, Yoon-seung hurriedly fetched tissues and began to wipe my clothes, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the product catalog.
They sell this kind of effect at this kind of price?!
What a total robbery!
The price for disposable ice magic exceeded my bank account balance.
I couldn’t believe the reality and moved on to the next floor of the shopping center, but the result was the same.
[Black Mamba]
[Effect: Poison the opponent upon hitting with an attack.]
This too!
[Shield Capsule]
[Effect: A disposable shield is created when you break the capsule. Defense strength limited to B-Class and below.]
This one too!
[High-Class Mana Potion]
[Effect: Restores magic power when consumed.]
No way, a clear water potion that restores mana just a nail’s length at this price?
I can’t buy a single thing!
Is this that… whatever hyperinflation I saw glimpses of on the internet?
The prices of magic tools on Earth are simply beyond imagination.
“Wow, hyung, you’ve got a keen eye! You’ve only been looking at ridiculously expensive items since earlier…”
In a way, Yoon-seung is right.
This was a problem born from having too high expectations.
My hometown was a leading country in magic studies, so it’s only natural for me to find things like this a bit lacking.
“Huh? You don’t like the potion?”
In the end, I ended up leaving the store empty-handed again.
Yoon Seung-ah.
It’s not that I don’t like it; I simply don’t have the money to buy them.
“Huh.”
If I had known this would happen, I should’ve just stayed home and conserved my energy.
I slumped into a chair in the corridor and blankly stared at the wall.
I felt drained.
“Let’s take a break.”
“Ah! Understood, hyung! If you’re hungry, I can get you a snack or something…!”
“You sit down too.”
“Yes.”
When my mission fee got deposited, I felt like a billionaire.
But realizing I couldn’t afford anything made a certain emptiness wash over me.
See, I must’ve been so shocked that the blank wall started to waver before my eyes.
Now my vision is getting weird…
Huh?
While chewing on the straw from my finished lemonade, I sensed something unusual and froze my actions.
What’s that?
An unusual flow of magic swirled in front of the weapon shop.
I instantly realized it was a distortion caused by light magic.
In a shopping center overflowing with awakened individuals, how could no one catch that?
“Hm.”
Seeing Ahn Yoon-seung’s silence, it seems like this is a surprisingly high-class concealment technique.
What on earth is going on?
I became curious about the identity of the mage.
I narrowed my eyes and concentrated on his magic.
Gradually, the distortion lifted, and I began to feel the outline of the awakened individual.
A male adult in his 20s or 30s.
He was holding a large bag, and poking out from it was that leather coat item I saw on the first floor.
“……”
This scene is oddly familiar.
“Yoon Seung-ah, did you see the news today?”
“What news?”
“The invisible man thief.”
“Oh! I saw it on social media.”
Even if they’re just a petty thief, a mage is still a mage.
Charging at them with an F-Class body would only end in disaster.
That’s why I decided to give up on capturing that criminal.
I won’t do it.
“It seems I found that invisible man… Should I catch him after all?”
“Uh?”
“Yoon Seung-ah, want to use a ranged skill on anything in front of that weapon shop?”
Ah, by the way, there’s a really fun game on Earth.
“Go for it.”
“Okay?”
Is it something like Pokémon?
