Chapter 33 · 15 min

Chapter 33

33. Specter (2)

US Embassy.

Two people met.

“The negotiation conditions are clear. In exchange for transferring our magic technology to Japan, Japan sufficiently secures the mana stones needed for project drive.”

US Magic Department vice minister, William Carter extended the document on the table.

[Magic Technology Transfer Agreement].

Japan Magic Department minister Kurosawa Shinji pulled the document toward himself.

“Of course.”

Shinji answered while making a smile containing conviction.

Actually the amount of mana stones Japan possesses was a bit insufficient.

The amount of mana stones that have to enter this contract was enormous.

But that problem will soon be resolved.

If only the Korean mana vein matter is processed well, he can proceed without problem.

‘···If possible he wants to contract after becoming certain.’

Shinji smiled on the outside, but worried inside.

‘But if waiting for that the opportunity will fly.’

No choice.

Because the contract deadline with the US is not much left.

Accordingly trying to drive a wedge in advance.

According to the received report it was also said it would proceed without problem.

“As you know, to proceed this an enormous amount of mana stones is needed. Even if the contract proceeded if this level of mana stones is not prepared···.”

In an instant, Carter’s voice cooled.

“Of course the project overturning, and our damage due to this is also large. The penalty and responsibility according to that matter Japan will have to bear all.”

“······.”

Cold sweat flowed on Shinji’s back.

Although a moment, because he thought of the case if failed.

‘···Such a thing shouldn’t happen.’

The penalty would naturally be enormous, and afterward problems also arise in the trust relationship with the US.

Currently what kind of country is the US?

The world’s strongest magic great power.

Magic level, facilities, whatever.

To the point no country in the whole world can catch up to the US.

There should be no matter of getting on bad terms with such a US.

“Don’t worry, Vice Minister Carter. Mana stones are already in the securing stage. Haha.”

Shinji said while making a good person smile.

* * *

He returned home.

He immediately looked up about ‘Specter’.

The first place he looked was ‘Mage Net’.

[Is there a person who actually saw Specter?] Occasionally Specter stories are heard? But is there a person who actually saw?

└If everyone is dead out of nowhere? Then the probability Specter was involved increases oo └Our team also went to a Specter suspected scene and it was really fierce. Such a cruel scene was the first. └If actually seeing is that Specter lol

[Is there a person who saw Specter and survived?] Suddenly curious so asking.

A little while ago I heard a story about Specter. The reason information is insufficient is because there are no survivors?

└oo right. └Well, even if there is there is also a rumor that they hush. └Because of that there is also a word that it might be an inflated rumor.

A few came out.

However, still uncertain information.

‘Hmm.’

He wants to know something a bit.

Just in case he also called Seo Jaewon who he tried a few requests together.

This guy secretly knows a lot of this and that.

-Uh? What’s up?

“No, I have something to ask. You know Specter? By any chance is there some information on this?”

-Specter? Why are you suddenly asking about Specter?

The guy having doubts at the out of the blue question.

He roughly explained about this request.

-···Wow, you are really amazing. But things like that mostly when actually going there are many cases there isn’t. Perhaps with that excuse only the compensation amount rose so it might be a benefit.

“But something curious. They say until now there is no person who faced and returned alive. Estimating that it is what Specter did is with what?”

-That is traces remain at the scene. Actually most if using magic tracking is difficult, but those guys are quite unique.

“Unique?”

-Yeah. Not ordinary traces. Once guys who made a name a bit are bizarre guys but different from ordinary traces. But at places Specter came out always traces of such existences remain so inferring.

Now he knows.

Because of the traces of the ones called Specter.

Because so famous can’t not know?

-Usually traces of mad mages who made the world noisy or mages who hit the top in some field and died or people who were praised as heroes so can’t not know. So more goosebumps. Does it make sense that there are traces of a dead person.

It seems like hearing some ghost story.

To think traces of a dead person are discovered···.

-So there was also such a word. Isn’t it someone imitating the traces of such mages. But this also doesn’t make sense, that those are not people of a level someone can imitate.

Jaewon recited the story he knows in a string.

As expected a guy who knows a lot.

-But just in case do it firmly in advance. If conviction that the guy is involved somehow forms, immediately run away from that spot. I know you are amazing, but even so those guys are not. Got it?

“Yeah, thanks for telling this and that.”

-Hmm, yeah. If it helped then it helped. Let’s eat once next time.

The image is clearly different from the first.

A guy who was unlucky, but knowing he is okay.

‘Specter···.’

Anyway.

He looked up this and that but there was no big harvest.

First no choice but to bump into.

* * *

The next day, evening.

He headed to the appointment place.

‘They said a place a bit away near the destination.’

The place he headed was a place about 3km away from the destination.

But why is the atmosphere here like this?

‘He knew it was a new city zone where development stopped but···.’

A place that almost had a new city enter once.

But the developer went bankrupt. Thanks to that the ongoing construction also all stopped.

So it seems like coming to some ghost city.

Streets with not one light and half-built buildings also plenty.

It seems not for nothing the guys took a place in that building. Few people too, not one light, like a ghost city. Exactly very.

‘Here.’

Like that he rode SB around the nearby and entered the empty commercial building where he decided to meet the rest.

There two people had come first.

Quite tall height that looks over 190cm and a sturdy physique. All black suit and a greatsword on the shoulder. And earphones plugged in the ears.

“Hello.”

“······.”

The man had no answer.

Then he lightly looked at him.

“···By any chance request?”

He took out the earphones and showed his face.

‘Wow, handsome.’

Even looking as the same man quite a handsome face. Moreover look at the hair too. Slicked back and tied a ponytail. Quite an impressive face.

“I’m Kim Dongwook.”

“Dojin.”

“Yeah, nice to meet.”

He plugged the earphones again and only tapped his foot.

“···Hello.”

After greeting the first person, a very small voice crawling in as if all dead from somewhere was heard.

A woman of quite small height and thin body. A large hoodie covering the head almost at the same time tightly hugging a laptop.

“···Hacker.”

“Ah, nice to meet.”

“···Yes.”

Whoosh.

After a short greeting the woman turning her back as is.

He doesn’t know the name either. Well, that is not important.

“Then now if preparing is it fine?”

“······.”

“···Yes.”

The guy called Dongwook seems not to have heard again.

He tapped the shoulder and said again.

“Ah, let’s go.”

···Communication is a bit difficult.

But the woman didn’t move.

“Not going together?”

“···I, hacker.”

“Ah, ah. Then will you help us from here?”

Nod, nod.

The woman only quickly nodded her head while tightly hugging the laptop.

By the way hacker.

This is the first time with a mage like this.

Anyway since hacker she wouldn’t be a combatant.

Uncle Jangwon also said combat has to be done by him and the one called Dongwon two.

But doesn’t he have to establish some plan?

Dongwook naturally went out and came out but···.

Spot!

“Huh?”

At that time.

Some hologram window floated in his eyes.

[Choi Yunji: (emoticon waving hand quickly)]

[Choi Yunji: Everyone nice to meet!] [Tall Handsome Man: ···What?]

Suddenly some chat window floated.

What is this?

[Choi Yunji: From what I grasped there are quite many bastards at the destination. Roughly it would be about a hundred.] [Tall Handsome Man: ···By any chance hacker?] [Choi Yunji: Ah of course me. Did you think it was a private chat lol why no words from the late person? lol By any chance don’t know how? Since I already invited if just ‘thinking’ of writing here it will automatically input.] [Me: U-uh?]

Oh, what is this.

Really just thinking and it works?

[Choi Yunji: Now, again. I will support you guys from here. Drawings, location, whatever. First our plan is we have to go to the 3rd floor first? There it comes out as the place the guys stored the hacked data. If plugging the USB I gave to the handsome man a little while ago I will proceed.]

But what.

Why does this one speak so well.

‘A little while ago like an awkward person couldn’t even speak properly···.’

Moreover what is that name.

The person herself floats as a simple name, but Kim Dongwook is Tall Handsome Man.

‘That nickname also seems the person made.’

Then what is his nickname as?

He lightly checked the nickname.

[Pastor]

“······.”

This.

[Choi Yunji: Then who will pull the aggro?] [Tall Handsome Man: ···Aggro?] [Choi Yunji: Right. If someone makes a big commotion and pulls the guys’ gaze, someone goes to the 3rd floor as is plugs the USB and guards until complete] [Me: Ah, the one making a commotion I will do.]

That he is confident.

Looking it seems Tall Handsome Man, no. Kim Dongwook seems to be a close-range mage unlike him.

[Choi Yunji: Okay! Then start!] [Choi Yunji: (fighting emoticon)] [Choi Yunji: (thump thump emoticon) Looking forward to how to pull aggro!]

Hehe, expecting something like this.

By the way the guys’ number is quite many more than thought.

Then how should he pull the aggro.

‘Aggro is the law that it is attracted if noisy.’

Swoosh.

Far away the destination building was visible.

Let’s see, 10th floor···.

Eyes naturally went to SB.

* * *

Arrived in front of the building.

Together with Tall Handsome Man he tilted his head back and looked up.

The 10-story high building was clearly visible.

‘···There is nothing felt.’

He immediately unfolded [All Phenomena Response].

Because he has to check if ‘that guy’ is there.

But particularly large energy is not particularly felt.

At the highest place several mana containers a bit larger compared to other people were felt, but not to the reputation of ‘Specter’.

It seems there is no Specter.

[Tall Handsome Man: Can I ask one thing?]

[Choi Yunji: Huh? What? Tell!] [Tall Handsome Man: Anyway since we have to pull aggro, I want you to play a song a bit.] [Choi Yunji:...Song? Possible. What shall I play?]

At that time.

Tall Handsome Man demands BGM.

He must really like songs a lot.

[Tall Handsome Man: I want The Weekend’s Blinding Lights.] [Choi Yunji: lolol do you know how to listen to songs? Okay!]

This request is somehow unique.

Something like this is also possible?

Thump thump, thump thump!

At that time.

Synth sound poured from inside the building.

And that from the whole building!

80s style synth-pop racing.

Beat pounding the heart.

“Ha, done.”

Tall Handsome Man, Kim Dongwook shook his body with both eyes closed.

···This bastard is a bit scary.

‘Aggro will certainly be pulled.’

Out of nowhere pop flowing from the whole building.

He has no sense what, how he touched but one is certain.

“Hmmm.”

Shake, shake—.

That he also gets excited on his own.

“···Then please the aggro.”

The guy said while shaking his foot tap tap.

Our plan was like this.

He from above, the guy from below appropriately pulling aggro.

Then he has to go up.

Vroom, vroom!

He started SB.

The mana circuit lit and the blue mana line of the body flowed like blood vessels.

And ran as is.

Screeeech! Vrooooooom───!!

He ran riding SB.

No, precisely went up riding the building’s wall.

The mana wheels kicked the vertical concrete wall as if gripping and rushed against gravity.

Vrooooooom───!!

4th floor, 5th floor, 6th floor.

Windows quickly flowed down.

A motorcycle running riding the building’s wall, six [Floating Daggers] quickly chasing such him, enormous beat pouring from inside.

The synth sound vomiting from inside the building perfectly meshed with the speed going up the wall.

The situation made him excited on its own.

Like that some 8th floor he came up.

He slightly floated SB in the air.

The body that was running vertically floated in the air as if briefly stopped at window height.

“???”

Beyond the glass window, the guys’ appearances were visible.

Faces blankly looking up while holding guns.

Not Korean, Southeast Asian appearance.

The word Cambodian organization was true.

Then, shall he start.

He immediately cast magic.

Precisely [Wind Pressure Cannon] cast.

Whiiiiiiing!!

An enormous gust of wind raged from behind.

The gust compressed then pushed his back as if bursting, and the head of SB leaning forward charged while breaking the 8th floor window.

Bang! Crash────!!

The glass window shattered and thousands of fragments sparkled and scattered in the air.

He moved the gust raging without hesitation with his finger.

This is precisely the [Magic Residue] effect of [Wind Pressure Cannon].

Being able to control the wind as he wants.

Whiiiing.

Using the gust he carefully gathered the broken glass fragments.

And whoosh! The finger flicking.

The gust holding sharp glass fragments rushed forward without hesitation.

Whiiiiiiiiiiik!! Pabababababuk!

“Guk!”

“Kuek.”

“Kyaaaak!”

Fragments that flew becoming glass buckshot.

The fragments dug into the guys’ flesh without even time to scream.

Thanks to that the guys became porcupines with glass pieces stuck all over the body, and collapsed flop flop covered in blood.

Screeeech!

SB entered inside the building as if slipping.

But he didn’t knock all down.

Tududududu!!

Guys firing guns while hiding behind pillars.

The light of the muzzle flashed in the dark indoor.

Crack! Spot!

Immediately [Teleport] cast.

The guys’ bullets bounced from the place he was.

At the same time the [Floating Daggers] following him spun and scattered in all directions.

Whiiiik. Thud thud thud thud!!

“Guk.”

“Kuek!”

“Keek.”

Processing the guys who were hiding behind pillars complete.

While briefly catching his breath he examined the surroundings.

The 8th floor inside with only the framework standing.

An empty space with nothing entered the eyes.

Beep!

At that time.

Something is visible beyond that wall?

A small arrow mark pointing below.

The mark that floated out of nowhere moved here and there.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep!

Such marks continuously appeared.

Most arrow-shaped marks.

But a few other marks were also visible.

Green triangles, orange circles etc.

[Choi Yunji: Mark marks on the map complete! Arrows are small fries. Small fries who can’t use magic. Be careful of triangles! These use magic! And circles even more careful! These are a bit strong? Ah, Pastor! Ten small fries are going that way!]

The hacker sent a message.

It seems he marked the guys according to level.

···There was also some bizarre magic.

Dadadadada!!

With a sound shouting something a sound running from the hallway was heard.

It seems he really marked the guys.

‘Hacker-type mage. Novel in various ways?’

Although non-combatant even this level is a big help. Even it seemed this was not the end.

A team composition of this combination.

Somehow novel and a new feeling.

Moreover BGM is also laid now.

"គេនៅទីនោះ!" (There!)

"បាញ់! បាញ់ទៅ!" (Shoot! Shoot!)

Cambodian organization members charging at the same time with a completely unknown language.

Several people squeezed into the narrow entrance.

Swoosh, he lightly looked at the ceiling above the entrance.

A concrete slab placed shabbily.

‘That will do.’

Kwaaaaaang!!

He cast magic while looking at the ceiling.

[Flame Explosion].

Magic that immediately causes an explosion at a desired position with flame-type magic.

Warrrrr!!

Concrete lumps poured down following the cracks.

“Kueeeek!”

“Kyaak!”

Guys buried under the debris pile as is.

Naturally the entrance was also properly blocked.

[Choi Yunji: (beep beep, beep beep emoticon)] [Choi Yunji: Aggro is insufficient! Is there nothing? The guys aren’t moving as much as thought!]

The hacker sent a message.

Ah, it was still quiet.

Then.

Swoosh.

He stretched his hand toward the floor.

Hmm, using all is difficult.

‘Let’s use only 10%.’

Wooong, wooong, wooong—.

Red mana gradually gathered in front of the palm.

Whoong. Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!!

In an instant, the surrounding air rippled as if warping.

At the same time a flash stretching long.

A red light stem poured vertically toward the floor.

Pierced the floor, and stretched while piercing again.

The 8th floor floor pierced, the 7th floor ceiling pierced.

Again 6th floor, 5th floor···.

Concrete was pierced in succession like paper.

“K-kyaaaaaa!”

“Kyaaaa!”

Screams of the guys endlessly echoed like an echo from the pierced floor.

[Choi Yunji:...] [Choi Yunji: Insane, you... Piercing a hole in the building floor? Impossible...] [Choi Yunji: (trembling emoticon)]

You said the aggro is insufficient.

* * *

Sillim-dong underground, mana vein.

The Japanese were in the middle of working.

“Hmmm, with this the barrier is complete.”

An Onmyo-type mage approached the team leader, Goro and whispered.

“Then is it certain that when the mana of the mana vein is absorbed by surrounding people it doesn’t work in this region?”

Goro was cautious.

For some reason the mana vein consumed most of the mana at the first mana eruption.

In other words, sucked enormously from here.

He can’t know what reason.

But he must not proceed like existing.

Accordingly he tried a new attempt through an Onmyo-type mage.

“Yes, that’s right. Due to the barrier there will be no mana eruption to the surroundings here, and it will escape toward that passage left open now. That passage is a place close from here and the most few people. I connected to the location you informed.”

“Gyeonggi-do and a place that became a ghost city because new city work stopped. Right?”

Nod, nod.

Goro confirming again.

The Onmyo-type mage nodding.

When confirmation was done Goro made a faint smile.

‘He drew the eruption of the mana vein to a place with few people. He did this difficult matter thanks to the Onmyo-type mage coming. With this even a once in a lifetime matter that occurred here was perfectly removed.’

Perfect.

Very perfect!

“Then I will proceed. The minister seems somehow urgent. Now! Everyone prepare! When mana fills immediately start the work!”

“““Yes!!”””

Crack!

Goro broke the relic held in his hand.

Then all the mana inside started to permeate into the vein.

The blue color of the vein gradually deepened.