NOVEL WEB Chapter 20
I left the hotel around evening after spending a whole day. Contrary to my sisters’ worries, I didn’t see a single strand of the principal’s hair.
As I pulled the hood low and hunched my head in the setting sun, I could definitely feel my gaze diminish. I should have done this sooner, shouldn’t I?
It might be difficult to walk around like this every day, but a little outing now and then might be okay.
The principal had suggested that I could have a tour guide if I wanted, but I had already declined that offer. More importantly, I had things to do.
Following the directions given by the hotel manager, I ambled down the road, and indeed, I began to catch glimpses of the park from a distance.
Even though the sun was setting, the number of people was still considerable.
Here and there, I spotted artificial lakes and stone fountains, while some people by the walking path scattered feed to the flying birds.
In a corner, elderly men were seen lighting colorful fireworks and small firecrackers in a small theater. Every time a magical firework popped with a soft bang, the children around clapped their hands and burst into laughter.
I recall hearing somewhere that such unremarkable aged wizards, whose magical abilities had diminished with age, made a living that way.
Turning my head to check the park’s name across from the small theater, I confirmed it as T15 Masada City Natural Park. This was the park I was searching for. And the day of the week was Friday.
Following the manual, I scanned the area for any familiar faces. Before long, I spotted an elderly man sitting on a quiet bench, reading a newspaper, dressed in a gray fedora and a red checkered shirt.
Approaching from behind like I was a stranger, I took a seat on the bench. As the sounds of people diminished, I spoke to the old man.
“It’s late spring, and the weather is quite chilly, isn’t it?”
At the sound of my voice, the old man glanced at me briefly. He then looked away, clearing his throat as he replied with a dry voice.
“There’s still a winter smell mixed in with the spring breeze. For an old man, this season is hard to endure.”
“When a person ages, all sorts of ailments come along. Like arthritis, for instance.”
“Young man, your teeth don’t seem great at your age either. You should be careful when biting into apples.”
“I always cut up apples before I eat them. Biting into one whole gives me toothaches.”
The old man nodded slightly at my reply. Folding his newspaper and placing it on his lap, he pulled out a cigarette case.
Lighting up and exhaling a puff of smoke, the old man spoke.
“There’s a decent bar around here. It’s called ‘Silver Moonlight.’ The Old Fashioned there is simply excellent. You’ll definitely like it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the old man’s presence vanished in an instant. When I looked around, there wasn’t even a shadow of a person nearby.
All that remained in his place was a small folded note. I opened the note to memorize the map, swallowed it, and set off immediately.
The bar he mentioned was situated in a quiet alley a couple of blocks from the park. I had turned the winding paths several times, so without the map, finding it would have been quite a hassle.
When I opened the door, I was greeted by clean and vintage decorations. I was the only patron.
I walked in, sat at the far end of the counter, and a middle-aged bartender approached me, cleaning a glass with a rag.
“First time here? What would you like to order?”
“Hmm… What would be good on a day like today?”
“The spritz is not bad. The sweet sidecar is also nice.”
“Sounds good. But I think an Old Fashioned might be even better.”
Hearing my answer, the bartender paused for a moment, then continued.
“…But the weather has been quite capricious lately, hasn’t it? It’s spring, yet it’s still chilly outside.”
“It’s the perfect weather for catching a cold. My friend has been sick for three days now.”
“Oh dear, that’s unfortunate. I heard that the red medicine works quite well for a cold?”
“Is that so? My friend is taking orange capsules instead.”
After our exchange, the bartender nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Then, suddenly, his face began to melt and change.
Moments later, a robust-looking man with a thick beard appeared in front of me.
“Long time no see, kid. You’ve memorized the riddles excellently. I was just throwing some extra lines at you on purpose. You could join our Information Bureau at this rate!”
The man flashed a wide grin at me.
“Good to see you, Branch Chief. It’s been a while…”
“Branch Chief, my foot! Call me hyung! By the way, I feel like I haven’t seen you for a while, and you’ve grown so manly in that time! Hmm?”
He interrupted my words, laughing heartily and patting my shoulder.
This man was Mok Jinwoo, a classmate from the Cradle and currently the Branch Chief of the Information Bureau in Masada.
He had helped me clean up my information through various channels, so I had some degree of familiarity with him. He was one of the few people who knew my original identity, alongside the captain and my sisters.
“How’s it going? Now that you’re an adult, have you learned to drink? Or should I call a lady for you? Or maybe…?”
“…I’ll pass…”
He’s a nice guy, but his only flaw was his excessive fondness for women and alcohol.
After I let him ramble about nonsense for a while, I finally got a word in.
“Right, I heard the news that you’re enrolling in the Cradle. Was the first thing you did after arriving at Masada to have a secret talk with the principal?”
“…You already knew?”
“Pretty much everything that happens in the capital is under our palm. But don’t worry, I don’t know the details of your conversation. Haewolhwa’s greenhouse is one of the few places off-limits to the Information Bureau. Anyway, what’s on your mind? Need any dirt on someone?”
“It’s not exactly dirt… but something similar. Do you know anything about the ‘Curse of the Spirit Master’ that’s been passed down in the Jeokhwa family?”
“The Curse of the Spirit Master? I know a thing or two. Ah ha… so that’s why the principal sought you out…”
Nodding as if he had just pieced things together, Mok Jinwoo suddenly wore a peculiar smile.
Even though I hadn’t mentioned the conversation with the principal, he seemed to have inferred the situation from just that bit of information.
“…Anyway, I need some intel on that subject. But I can’t seem to find anything on my own…”
“Probably because of that. Most information related to spirits is monopolized by the Jeokhwa family. Furthermore, sensitive details that could be their weak spots are even more secure. For outsiders to obtain related information is nearly impossible. Coming to me was a smart choice.”
Mok Jinwoo nodded in agreement.
“Hmmm… Well, I can give you a rough idea right now, but it’s better to know it properly. All right, when you’re back, I’ll send a message through the appropriate channels at the right time.”
“Thank you. And, um…”
“Hmm?”
*
Having finished my business, I exited the bar, and it was already well into the darkness outside.
But even though the sun had set, the city emitted its own light. Countless red and blue lanterns illuminated the distant streets.
The scenery felt utterly unfamiliar to me. It was the second day, so I had adapted somewhat, but yesterday had been such a novelty. In the outskirts, night and darkness meant the same thing, but here, that equation didn’t hold.
I made my way back to the hotel, recalling the conversation I had with Mok Jinwoo.
When I asked him not to inform the captain and my sisters about my current situation, he had eagerly nodded, brimming with amusement.
It’s fortunate that he has a cheerful personality that doesn’t quite match his position. Anyway, now that my business was done, I could just return to my place and lay down like a log…
BOOM!
As I turned back onto the main road after navigating several alleys, a loud explosion erupted from deep within the alley. Soon, shouts and cries of people filled the air.
“… P-Please don’t do this…!”
“Block them!”
“What kind of steps are those…!”
I heard a woman’s voice filled with distress. Alongside a chorus of angry men…
Something seemed to have gone wrong. The capital isn’t perfect in its security after all…
The noisy footsteps drew closer to where I was standing.
If I didn’t step aside, I’d definitely be caught up in some annoying trouble within a minute.
With that thought in mind, I tried to escape the alley, but suddenly, an idea tugged at my feet.
My mother wouldn’t like it if I left someone in a predicament behind.
Moreover, I too had barely survived thanks to the kindness of the captain and my sisters.
It wouldn’t do for someone like me to disregard another in need.
“…”
It didn’t take me long to reach a conclusion. I changed my direction and headed toward the source of the commotion. Through the labyrinthine back alleys of the city, I turned here and there.
The presence of those in distress was growing closer to me. I could now make out the sound of someone heavily panting and the slapping of footsteps trailing behind.
Just as I turned around a narrow passage, I finally spotted the identity of the person being chased.
Emerging from the shadows was a girl, her face a mix of tears and fear.
Dressed in shabby and simple clothing, she looked about my age…
It seemed like a girl, naïve to the ways of the city, had taken a wrong turn and found herself in trouble.
“Hey! A person! There’s someone over there! Help me…!”
The girl’s face lit up, as if she had seen a savior upon spotting me. She rushed over and grabbed onto me, pleading desperately.
But I reflexively dodged her.
Even with a mask, my body recoiled instinctively from an unexpected contact, unprepared for the situation.
Plus, she wasn’t someone familiar like my sisters…
“Please… I’m begging you, help me… sniff… I took a wrong turn and there are scary guys…!”
Thinking my actions rejected her plea, tears began to pool in the girl’s eyes.
And now, I could hear the voices of her pursuers closing in.
“We’re almost there…!”
“You won’t escape since this is a dead end!”
“We were just going to have a taste… so just take your turn…”
The conversation among them, all so crude, made it clear they were the source of the commotion.
I put my finger to my lips, signaling the girl to be quiet. Seemingly understanding, she clamped her hands over her mouth with all her strength.
“… gasp.”
They still hadn’t noticed my presence. That means an ambush was the way to go.
I hid in a corner, waiting for the right moment. And the instant I felt their presence directly in front of me, I sprang out and slammed my fist into the lead guy!
THWACK!
My strike landed squarely on his temple. There was no need to strengthen my body with magic; the solid impact from my fist made him stiff and he collapsed without a sound.
THUD!
“What the hell?!”
“Where did this guy come from?!”
The fallen man’s companions cried out in shock and rage. I immediately chose my next target. Grabbing the wrist of the guy who was about to pull out a sharp weapon, I twisted his arm in the opposite direction and broke it.
CRACK!
“AAARGH!”
A scream of agony erupted as he clutched his broken arm, writhing on the ground like a shrimp.
THWACK! THUD!
“Guh… Guh… n-no… stop…”
I aimed a kick at his face. I heard the sickening sound of his nose crunching, feeling several teeth break under the force.
The man who had been pleading soon slumped to the floor, motionless, as if he had lost consciousness.
The last remaining goon attempted to kick me from behind, but I caught his ankle and twisted hard, breaking it in the process.
SNAP!
“GAAAH!”
The sound of muscle and joints cracking filled the air as his ankle contorted grotesquely.
I then stomped down on the opposite knee, a few times. With both legs incapacitated, he dropped to the ground, groaning in agony.
“P-Please… spare me…!”
I grabbed him by the collar as he tried to drag himself away. Then, I clenched my fist and pounded his abdomen several times.
“Ugh… Guh…!”
Before long, he spewed a mix of blood and spit from his mouth and lost consciousness. I threw him down onto the dirt, which was already soaked with blood and groans.
“Phew…”
I let out a breath I had been holding in.
I didn’t find them pitiful at all. If anything, they should be grateful to me for allowing them to keep their lives. I wasn’t here to make trouble; I only wanted to spare their lives in this capital right from the start.
Still, they wouldn’t be able to function as people any longer.
“Th-thank you… sniff…!”
The girl who had been about to express her gratitude suddenly widened her eyes in shock, backing away. I only then realized my hood had fallen, revealing my face.
“…”
Given the situation, anyone would react like that upon seeing someone in such a strange disguise.
I had no intention of seeking attention. After all, I probably wouldn’t meet this person again.
I quickly flipped my hood back over my head and left the scene.
“E-excuse me… um… wait…!”
From behind, I could hear the girl’s voice fading away. Now that she was back to her senses, she could find her way home by herself.
All I had left to do was hide away peacefully in the hotel until Monday morning when I’d head to the Cradle.
That’s what I thought.
*
“You…! You’re that person from last time!!”