Chapter 82 - Battle City (2)

A beacon flared spectacularly over the evening streets of Seoul, where the sun had just set.

The starting signal for the race to claim the bounty on the master of the grimoire <Mysteries of the Worm>.

The magicians and mercenaries gathered in the area turned their eyes to the sky.

Among them, Hard, a muscular, black-haired man with Northern European features, laughed as he looked up at the murky smoke.

"Haha! Let's go, boys."

He set off, calling to his mercenaries. They pulled firearms from the travel bags and guitar cases they carried, armed themselves right there on the street, and followed.

"... Are those real? They aren't, right?"

Foreign mercenaries armed with modern firearms. At the surreal sight, passersby widened their eyes and backed away. A few cautiously called the police.

... But that didn't matter.

He didn't know who had taken the lead, but if they were making such a spectacular show of it, he would do things the ancient way too.

Loot fast and get out fast, before the government agencies intervened.

Hard led the way with a savage grin.

"Time to pillage."

* * *

One of those seeking the grimoire <Mysteries of the Worm> was Sua's father, Namgung Su. As he listened to his secretary's report, he asked,

"The man named Yohan who helped Sua is a magician?"

Not long ago, that man had reportedly been injured helping Sua against Chairman Kim's men, who had tried to abduct her. At Sua's request, Namgung Su had even sent a doctor to the hotel.

"Yes. There is a strong likelihood that he is a magician."

The secretary nodded at his question.

"We had his coat cleaned at your daughter's request. Apparently, magical symbols were inscribed on the inside."

Photographs of the inside of the coat were attached to the documents.

"... A magician."

Namgung Su studied a photograph of Yohan with Sua.

There was no conclusive evidence; it was only a deduction... But if Yohan was a magician, a few odd details fell into place.

The dead bodyguards being found in a van parked near Chairman Kim's building. Sua seeming to want to let the incident pass quietly.

Namgung Su furrowed his brow.

"..."

Perhaps Sua hadn't nearly been abducted. She had been abducted. Then this man named Yohan had stormed the building and rescued her with some kind of magic.

His gaze shifted to the report on his desk.

The mass disappearance at Chairman Kim's building.

The result had been a bizarre incident on an enormous scale, one the government was still struggling to figure out how to clean up. It was not something even a magician could easily cause. But... it might be possible for a powerful magician with a grimoire.

"Hmm..."

A magician who might possess a grimoire, appearing at a time like this.

'The master of <Mysteries of the Worm>.'

... Surely things couldn't be that convenient. Rumor had it that a grimoire called <Lemegeton> had also appeared in Korea. Perhaps he was its master instead.

Namgung Su sighed and leaned back in his chair.

Honestly, something else bothered him more.

'... Why did he save Sua?'

If money had been his goal, it was strange that he hadn't contacted Namgung Su afterward.

His tired eyes darkened.

"..."

To question the man's motives before feeling grateful to his daughter's savior.

"Whew..."

He let out a self-mocking sigh.

Sua's actions had also helped conceal Yohan's identity... And they had reportedly met amid the danger at the campground.

Had he simply saved her because they knew each other and he wanted to help?

"... We'll keep an eye on him for now."

The moment Namgung Su said that, an urgent knock sounded at the office door, and a bodyguard entered.

"We have a serious problem! Chairman Kim's remaining men and the magicians gathering here are making alarming moves!"

"What?"

Namgung Su's eyes widened at the bodyguard's report.

It was a selfish, hypocritical sentiment for someone seeking to turn back time and erase everything in the present. Still, Namgung Su had no intention of ever forgiving Chairman Kim for targeting his daughter.

He never wanted to feel the grief of losing family again.

That was why he had been separately monitoring the remnants of Chairman Kim's faction to find traces of him. Now they had finally picked up his trail.

Though calling it a faction was generous: it consisted only of a few subordinates who had been outside during the building incident, and those assigned to his mistress.

... But the other magicians were moving too?

A chill ran up Namgung Su's spine. He sprang from his chair.

If Chairman Kim, who had gone into hiding after losing his faction, was gathering his remaining men and resurfacing, and the magicians who had come seeking <Mysteries of the Worm> were running wild, there could be only one reason.

"... Have they found him?"

They had located the grimoire's master.

Jumping into the fray now was dangerous, but he couldn't just sit around doing nothing.

So Namgung Su decided to deploy the private army he had taken in and built up out of the government's sight for just such an occasion, investing an enormous sum immediately after helplessly losing his wife.

"Send the Sword Brotherhood."

Longing flickered in his tired, clouded eyes.

* * *

The director's office at the Bureau of Anomalous Phenomena Countermeasures.

At the urgent report, Shin Doryong scowled and clenched his teeth.

"What? Gunfights in plain sight? Sword fights? Have these magician bastards lost their minds?"

He sprang to his feet and issued orders to the operatives.

"They're really bringing out my temper. Deploy everyone. Cordon off the area and cast people-repelling spells to keep as many civilians away as possible."

He left his office with narrowed eyes.

"I'll kill every last one of those fuckers."

<Muyedobotongji> floated up and followed him.

Meanwhile, after receiving orders to deploy, Sion called Yohan, but...

BUZZ...

Yohan didn't answer, and her eyes narrowed of their own accord.

"..."

Unease crept over her.

* * *

A child who had been lost sniffled in her mother's arms, then turned her head.

"... Thank you for helping me find Mommy."

The child's mother bowed too.

"Thank you so much."

And the beautiful silver-haired girl replied,

"Hehe~ It's all right."

Elsie, the Finnish saint of the Order of the Holy Maidens, planted a hand on her hip, puffed out her chest, and declared triumphantly,

"I'm a saint, after all!"

The mother had no idea what to make of that abrupt declaration.

"Oh... Yes..."

Still, she bowed several more times in thanks. The child held her mother's hand as they left, waving at Elsie.

"Bye-bye~!"

"It's dangerous today, so hold your mommy's hand and go home early~!"

Elsie waved back at the departing child.

Then the white book in her hand sent her a signal.

[Elsie]

It was <The Book of the Angel Raziel>.

Elsie raised her head, and her sparkling blue eyes detected something.

WHOOSH!

Shadows moved from rooftop to rooftop. Figures in black, with swords at their waists or on their backs, raced toward the rising murky smoke, vaulting across the buildings.

"Th-those are—"

Elsie's eyes quivered and her lips trembled. She shouted,

"Joseon ninjas?!"

Of course they weren't. They were Namgung Su's private army, the Sword Brotherhood.

"Lord Raziel! Look! They're real Joseon ninjas!"

At Elsie's excited words, a gentle, bewildered voice emerged from <The Book of the Angel Raziel>.

[... Elsie, doesn't 'ninja' mean a Japanese spy, or a character belonging to a particular group?]

"It does! But apparently ninjas originally came from Hwanguk too! They say it's documented in the Goguryeo Subak Illustrations!"

Elsie spoke with a curious look.

"... Though I've never actually seen the Goguryeo Subak Illustrations myself."

Her lovely eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Since I'm in Seoul, I'd love to visit a museum and see the Goguryeo Subak Illustrations too!"

[Elsie, sightseeing is all well and good... but the damage will only grow at this rate. Let's go too.]

Light flowed from <The Book of the Angel Raziel>.

"Yes!"

Elsie answered energetically and set off toward the heart of the commotion.

* * *

The passersby's eyes converged on one spot.

Not on the murky smoke rising into the sky, but on a beautiful red-haired girl in a school uniform that looked like something out of a comic.

"... Cosplay?"

Her air was gentle, yet unapproachable. People glanced at her as they passed.

And the red-haired girl with the ample bust murmured,

"... So that's where you were."

Gremory stood still, gazing only at the source of the smoke, and smiled seductively.

* * *

The tails of my white coat fluttered as I hurried around a corner in the alley. The moment I turned, bullets slammed into the wall.

RATATATAT!

I ran down the alley, listening to the torrent of gunfire.

Should I call this lucky? Thankfully, I hadn't been shot dead yet. Grizzly, following behind me, blocked the dangerous shots for me.

"Gyaa!"

Right, I'd nearly been blown up along with the building while just sitting there breathing... but this was lucky.

All sorts of thoughts churned through my confused mind.

Why were they after me?

Well, that was obvious. They wanted a grimoire. I had three now, so I didn't know which one they were after... Or maybe they just wanted all of them.

I'd fled immediately and hadn't gotten a proper look, but my burning, blasted secret workshop came to mind.

My eyes narrowed involuntarily as irritation rose inside me.

The Hand of Glory I'd spent all that time curing in salt and pepper. It had been just about ready.

Before I could even use it, it had gone from the Pickled Hand to the Flame-Grilled Hand.

... Though that was a minor problem in my current situation.

I took a deep breath, steadied my breathing, and gathered my thoughts.

I'd sort out the situation later.

My eyes narrowed as I ran. For now, I would think only about what I needed.

Staying in a gunfight with the vampires like this wasn't a good idea, so I left the alley and emerged onto the main road.

Granted, there weren't many people around... But these guys had blown up an entire building. I hadn't expected them to settle down just because people appeared.

BANG!

A bullet immediately zipped past me and struck nearby. I hastily twisted aside.

"...?"

"Aaaaaah!"

Among the people fleeing in alarm, I saw a blond man in a black coat with a sword on his back. He stood calmly, watching me as though he'd been waiting there for me all along.

When our eyes met, he smiled, revealing pointed fangs.

My eyes narrowed on their own.

'Fuck...'

I wasn't certain, but I had a rough idea from instinct.

He was probably the leader of the vampires.

He was dangerous.

After the briefest of standoffs, I moved immediately. I drew the Glock 17 from inside my coat and pulled the trigger.

BANG!