Chapter 47: Hunter Crime (2)
“Huh?”
The F-Class Hunter, who was thought to be a poor sacrifice, was actually an Awakener disguised with a low Awakening level.
Because of that guy, the Invisible Man test was finished.
Kim Gi-ryeo had proven his abilities at the Magic Tower.
Of all times, it had to be now.
“I see. Why didn’t I realize it until now? Right, he’s that F-Class Appraiser who passed through the maze…”
An inexplicable sense of unease rose from within.
It felt like an intangible noose was tightening around his neck.
This mysterious man was unnaturally deeply involved in their matters.
Could it all just be a coincidence?
“What a lucky guy~ If things had gone differently, he might’ve been sold off, but it seems he escaped thanks to Kang Chang-ho wreaking havoc in the organization?”
“Who knows.”
Now that he thought about it, the fact that this guy’s affiliation was blank was highly suspicious.
If he had an analysis skill, finding a job at a guild shouldn’t be difficult.
‘This feels like he’s from the same industry after all.’
Could it be that the collapse of the human trafficking group was a kind of turf war?
Pyo Na-gil suddenly had that thought.
In fact, he had also looked down upon that emerging organization.
‘I went through the trouble of establishing trade routes for illegal item distribution, and shamelessly, they just jumped in.’
They were the kind of guys who operated that way, so there must have definitely been opposing forces.
“Hey, everyone, look at this bastard’s eyes. Do you think he’s going to work in bright places? I bet he’s killed before.”
Pyo Na-gil poked Kim Gi-ryeo’s black-and-white printed ID photo.
Of course, no one laughed at the joke.
It seemed like a pretty plausible story to just let slide.
“Why is everyone so serious? Cheer up. If you think about it, this is a good situation.”
“Yeah?”
“The only Hunter who caught the Invisible Man isn’t affiliated with the Magic Tower Guild yet.”
He jumped up from the chair he was sitting on.
“That means I can take initiative before Esther does something foolish.”
The man walked over to a mirror hanging in the corner of the warehouse and fixed his hair.
*
Stop! Please, just stop!
How far are you planning to go?
Was being a Great Mage at such a young age not enough?
You, of all people, have to master even the field of effort…!
“Somehow, it’s a fact I occasionally forget since being reincarnated.”
Kim Gi-ryeo’s Studio.
In front of the bathroom mirror.
“Ha, indeed, I’m a genius.”
I stuck my tongue out at the sight before me.
Actually, this week, I was holed up in my room contemplating how to regain my magic.
As you know, there was a significant environmental difference between Earth and my hometown.
The ecosystems were very different.
So in order to use the magic I used in my hometown here, major modifications to the incantations were needed.
“This is too easy. I guess it’s because it’s the magic I used most frequently?”
In just a few days, I successfully cast one intermediate spell.
Cheep cheep!
“Mm, perfect.”
A little brown rat was doing a salute on the white sink.
That small creature, according to my will, shook its right hand, left hand, and then left leg in turn.
In other words, this was the content of this update.
[Change Log 1.1.0]
●Corpse Manipulation Magic now usable.
I added another line to my research notes.
Cheep cheep cheep~
But I shouldn’t be satisfied here.
There were still mountains of things to verify.
I needed to handle even larger mammals at least once.
I should cross-verify if the magic works smoothly with birds and insects as well.
‘My ultimate goal is to control people, but it seems obtaining a fresh corpse will be a challenge.’
I briefly remembered the raccoon carcass I had picked up last time.
For the record, it was too damaged to use.
So, following Earth’s funeral laws, I buried it in a sunny spot. That’s ethics for you.
‘I need a sample.’
Thud.
As the magic duration ended, the rat collapsed limply.
I prepared to send it back to the freezer and finished getting ready to go out.
To an Earthling, this might be a disgusting scene… but, well, I had no other choice.
‘Let’s see.’
Anyway, I personally think Korea is a good country.
You can see mountains just by turning your gaze a little.
‘Such a natural environment is surely nice.’
I decided to head out to the nearby mountain to obtain a new cadaver for my magic experiment.
Since there happened to be a park on the way, I took a slow walk to enjoy the scenery.
‘Interesting.’
Rich air.
Oddly-shaped gray clouds.
Structures of the city tinted in various colors.
Coming outside, I truly felt as if I were in another world.
If the situation hadn’t been like this, I would’ve been absorbed in planetary observation by now.
‘Reincarnated as the weakest Awakened on Earth, kidnapped for my scarce skills, and targeted by a dangerous lunatic named Kang Chang-ho.’
Huh? Why on earth did I reincarnate?
Urgh, this damn F-Class shell! Why do I have to be struggling like this as a Great Mage…!
My eyes misted up.
Maybe that’s why the scenery looked blurry since a while ago.
“…”
Wait a minute, this isn’t just ordinary mist.
Hmm?
I stopped walking and stared straight ahead.
At a glance, it looked like an ordinary park scene.
However, to me, I clearly felt the flow of magic cutting through it.
“Hmm.”
It was a familiar discomfort.
Someone invisible was covering their hands over my eyes.
No matter how much I tried to dodge, their palm stubbornly stuck there, and I couldn’t ignore it.
“What are you doing?”
I asked into the empty space.
The Invisible Man answered.
“So you can really see me.”
Already annoying. Maybe I should’ve just clenched my teeth and pretended not to see him.
While I was organizing my thoughts, the Invisible Man canceled his spell and spoke.
“Haha, was I really that bothersome? Chill out. It was just a little prank.”
A young man, probably around college age, revealed himself.
He looked well-groomed all in all.
“By the way, where are you headed, Kim Gi-ryeo?”
But right now, someone’s impression wasn’t important. Wait a minute, what did you just say? Kim Gi-ryeo?
‘This guy knows the host of the body!’
A casual prank. A gentle expression.
Plus, with the precise name drop.
The only guess forming in my head was one: This guy is an acquaintance of Kim Gi-ryeo.
“I’m heading to the mountain…”
“Hiking? Buddy, are you already taking care of your health?”
The lighthearted tone of his remark gradually supported my inference.
But the problem was that, even though I faced a person I supposedly knew, I couldn’t recall a single memory.
Let’s just observe the situation for now.
I tensed up and engaged in conversation as though I had bumped into a classmate whose name I forgot.
“Can I ask you something before heading up?”
“What is it?”
“Uh, I heard from somewhere that you were the first to clear the Korean Magic Tower maze.”
“Hmm.”
“Are you close with Esther?”
“Close, you say?”
“If you cleared the maze, you must have seen the Guild Master’s face.”
But where on earth did such rumors spread?
Would a representative of a guild and an S-Class Awakener be close friends with me?
I slowly shook my head.
“Is that so? Then, are you currently in any contracts or working as a mercenary?”
As I shook my head repeatedly, he visibly looked happy.
“Seems like you aren’t deeply tied to the guild after all.”
Since we progressed in the conversation to this point, I wanted to casually find out who this mysterious human was.
“But you, though…”
He scrutinized my face closely.
Then, tilting his head slightly, he widened his eyes like he saw something interesting and began to ask.
“Why are you so good at answering questions from a stranger?”
This bastard…
What the hell is he doing?
A cold sweat suddenly trickled down my back, like melted ice sliding down.
In fact, we didn’t know each other at all. Then how did he know my name, and why was he acting all friendly…?
“This is interesting. You’re not showing any signs of being flustered in this situation. You look just like a well-trained agent.”
I should have just stayed at home today.
“I wish my kids had such courage.”
I’m scared to death!
“Since we’ve broken the ice, I’ll ask you one more thing. To be honest, this is what I’m most curious about: how do you see through this invisibility skill?”
“…”
“Is it a skill, or is it a tool?”
At first, I thought he was someone close to Kim Gi-ryeo who showed up invisibly.
But now it appeared this guy was completely testing my abilities.
Ah, damn it.
Should’ve just pretended not to see him till the end!
What should I make up? I can’t tell the truth about this.
The headache that surged in overwhelmed me, and unconsciously, I rubbed my nose.
That seemed to be Kim Gi-ryeo’s old habit.
“Don’t want to say? That’s fine.”
But just then.
As an unexpected silence lengthened, the person who had been staring at me intently said something surprising.
“I thought maybe you’d get scared if I intimidated you a bit, but now that I see you, I think that’ll be difficult…”
I don’t need to reveal the secret of seeing through the Invisible Man.
Then that means this conversation is over, right?
“Can I go now?”
My impatience leaked through my words.
Hearing this, the young Earthling waved his hands in surprise.
“No, no, no. You need to hear the main point first. Kim Gi-ryeo, you’re surprisingly impatient, aren’t you?”
“Where did you find out my name?”
“Are you serious? Is that what’s bothering you? Then let’s be fair! I’m Park Jun-tae. Park Jun-tae.”
The man who introduced himself as Park Jun-tae extended his right hand for a handshake.
But I didn’t take his hand.
I couldn’t.
“…Are you seeing something again?”
Park Jun-tae.
He looked at me quietly, a cold sneer on his lips.
Damn it, why do I always have to go through this kind of trial.
He’s not a light attribute mage.
This was the first time I faced such an aggressive ability since being reincarnated.
This Awakener seemed to have a power that could sever whatever he touched with his hands.
It was a narrow range but a highly dangerous magic, but on the flip side, its power must’ve been tremendous.
If that hand touches me, I’ll die.
For an F-Class like Kim Gi-ryeo, it would be diced up in 0.5 seconds.
At this point, it was almost like he was threatening me with a knife.
I couldn’t even lift a finger.
“Hey, smile a little. I’m just trying to suggest something today.”
“Yeah?”
“Why don’t you work with me for a job?”
As I stayed frozen, he continued to speak on his own.
“Actually, your ability conflicts with the business we’re going to do in the future.”
Business?
“But upon reflection, it’s just too wasteful. A person with your level of Awakening should be in the team instead!”
I wasn’t clumsy with the Earth language.
At least this hunk of a body hadn’t forgotten its native language.
So I could also understand the hidden intention in this sentence.
“Anyway, I personally want to recruit you. Whatever you’ve been getting paid, I will double it. What do you think?”
This guy must be thinking of killing me if I refuse the offer.
In broad daylight, no less, in a park full of people?
He must have come with this intention from the start.
I don’t know the details, but since I’m a hindrance to his work, he needs to kill me, but on the other hand, he wants my skills.
So he’s making an offer like it would be good if it worked out, and if it doesn’t, so be it…
“What’s wrong? Do you hate the idea?”
It seemed Park Jun-tae had no intention of waiting long for my reply.
I could feel his magic sharpening ominously. It felt deadly.
“You’re offering to double it?”
I feigned interest in the proposal as I scanned my surroundings.
Unfortunately, the sunny park background offered me no favors.
Damn it!
On a weekday morning, in gloomy weather, a long walkway.
The odds stacked against me. There were currently no people within the vicinity.
