Chapter 8 · 12 min

Chapter 8

8. Artifact (2)

Some time later from then.

Today became the day decided to do the joint request.

He took the bus and headed to Incheon.

On the way, to gather information as well, he looked around ‘Mage Net’.

Because this is a site mainly used by active mages.

[Title: Is that 10th Rank real?]

[Content: According to the message, doesn’t it mean it was learned in Korea? It wasn’t clearly written as the word ‘10th Rank’, but the content is exactly like that?]

└There is a possibilityㅇㅇ

└But even that message was strange. Did we all get hallucinated as a group?

└They say the World Magic Society is also turned upside down right nowㅇㅇ

[Title: Did a magic genius appear in Koreaㅋㅋㅋ]

[Content: Is 10th Rank a name that comes out at a sashimi restaurant somewhere? 10th Rank is something not even one person in history has learnedㅇㅇ

Of course if talking about amazing, the ancient magic series that only one person can learn is more crazy... actually 10th Rank is also something only one person can learn, right?

└This is really ambiguous. Is 10th Rank crazy or is ancient magic crazy?

└Of course 10th Rank?

└10th Rank: Know the method, and if conditions are met teaching is also possible / Ancient magic: If someone learns it that magic absolutely cannot be learned by others. Isn’t ancient magic a bit better?

└└Because that method and conditions aren’t met, there is no person who learned 10th Rank even after 100 years?

└└Ah so what are that method and conditionsㅋㅋ

Recently it was noisy with the appearance of a mage who learned 10th Rank. News and articles were all in an uproar.

‘···Is this really 10th Rank?’

Coincidentally that message was sent by him.

No, precisely not him.

Because magic is automatically cast without him knowing.

He doesn’t understand why at all.

‘If Legendary grade is really 10th Rank···.’

Thump, thump.

Suddenly his heart raced.

A rank that no one in history has ever learned.

···But he just learns it with a click!?

There is no cheat like this cheat.

But even so, saying “I learned 10th Rank!” is also difficult.

Really he is still in a state of knowing nothing.

First, shouldn’t he grasp this ability himself?

‘Is it here?’

Like that, while thinking this and that, he arrived at the destination.

Current location is Incheon Jung-gu Sinpo-dong.

An alley right next to Chinatown.

「萬物商會 All Things Trading Company」

A sign mixed with Chinese characters and Hangul.

Quite old as some letters had fallen off.

“Huh?”

Someone was standing at the entrance of such a shop.

Height that looked about 180cm and a muscular body that looked solid just by looking.

The face was also quite handsome, and the hair was also a short hair style cut neatly.

The man looked at him and spoke.

“By any chance, did you come because you have business at this shop?”

“Yes.”

“If you have business at this shop there is only one thing? By any chance the one who took the joint request this time···?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“Oh.”

Swoosh.

The man held out his hand to him.

“Nice to meet you. I also took the joint request.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

It was a quite kind image.

It was also an image that looked gentle.

“But what kind of magic···?”

“Ah, right now I handle about [Fireball] and [Flame Spear].”

He didn’t deliberately say everything.

From the start it was a first meeting, and there was no need to tell that he uses multiple elements.

“Yes?”

At that moment, the man’s expression twisted.

As he did, he also yanked away the hand he had held.

“Ah, [Fireball] and [Flame Spear]. Just a fire-type mage who has just become about 2nd Rank? It wasn’t a big deal.”

“······.”

Then he just entered the shop.

This bastard doesn’t even tell what he is.

‘···They said originally there are many unlucky bastards among mages.’

Ding—.

He also entered the shop with the lights off.

Old wooden floor to the point creaking sounds were heard.

‘It seems like a quite old shop.’

The outside also looked like that, but the inside looked more so.

Things were packed on the shelves, and most looked like old magic books or artifacts with dust piled up.

“Boss! I came!”

He sat dangling on the chair he entered first and shouted.

Then the owner who appeared from inside after passing through the curtain.

Half-gray slicked-back style, round gold-rimmed glasses. He was the request office owner.

“Jaewon came? And you are?”

“Ah, I came through Mr. Sangcheol’s introduction.”

“I see. I’m called Jangwon. Sit.”

The boss who introduced himself as Jangwon had a quite calm way of speaking.

Gestures and actions also looked calm.

Pour.

The boss poured tea for him and spoke.

“Since both came, let’s talk about the work right away.”

“Ah, boss. Wait a minute. Before I came I briefly talked with that person, is this right?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, you know. I am a person who even went right up to becoming a certified mage once, but it’s almost at the level of freeloading on me. Is this right? The level was quite low?”

“······.”

The guy said while glancing at him.

The owner quietly looked at such a guy.

“You. Have you seen me doing work carelessly?”

“No. I haven’t seen that. That’s why I trust and receive requests.”

“Yeah. The request office owner who introduced that friend is a person I’ve known since childhood. That friend is also not a friend who works carelessly. That friend introduced him, is there a problem?”

“Sigh, yeah. I get it.”

Whirl.

The guy sat with his back completely turned.

Huh, this is a bit unexpected.

He thought he would refute and argue a lot, but he can’t even make a sound at the owner’s words.

‘Is this person that great?’

“Good, then let’s talk. The goal of this work is one. There is a group that periodically attacks the facility, and according to the information the request applicant found out, they said the guys are planning to enter the main building in the evening today.”

“Who is the opponent?”

The guy asked roughly while picking his ear.

He didn’t seem to have much interest in the briefing.

“It seems to be a gangster group that inhabits the neighborhood. What the guys want is seen as completely smashing the data of the products made at this factory.”

“···What? Gangsters? No, why are those guys harassing the factory?”

“It seems they received a commission from another factory. Among them there also seems to be an uncertified mage mixed in.”

“If gangster bastards are involved we’ll see some blood. Conversely we might also suffer a dirty sight. You have to distinguish where to meddle and where not to, really···.”

The guy said while glancing at him.

Where to meddle and where not to? Is he talking about me?

The guy continued to mutter, mutter something.

“Anyway. Before starting, let’s accurately organize about the compensation again. Jaewon you chose compensation as money so I’ll give cash matching that, and you want an artifact. Right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Good. If successful, let’s organize the compensation like this. If you move this way the boss will inform about the scene again so go.”

The owner handed them a note with the address written.

* * *

They came to the scene.

A factory that makes mana circuit boards and change parts.

Three production buildings and a 2nd floor main building.

The boss explained while looking around the factory.

“There have been three intrusions so far, and the guys didn’t even glance at the production buildings and came straight to the main building. Until now the number of intruders wasn’t that many so we dealt with the employees, but this time it will be different they said.”

“I heard there is also a mage mixed among the guys, is that guy not coming?”

“Ah, yes. Mostly it was like that. But there is talk that he will come today. So we are asking you.”

“Most are small fry is what you’re saying··· let me ask just one. Where did you get the information that the guys are coming?”

“···It’s absurd, but that group openly contacted us.”

“The guys themselves?”

They inform in advance that they will attack?

Absurd.

It’s not even a declaration of war···.

“Yes. There is a competitor called ‘Inha Parts’ that makes the same thing as us, and we recently won in the supply competition. But according to their words, a contact came from there asking them to delete the data.”

“It’s also ridiculous but understandable. Isn’t this field originally like that?”

“Yes. If they erase our data we won’t even be able to supply so those guys benefit. But here those guys proposed. Isn’t it unfair if only we suffer? If we give them money, they will make those guys the same too, they said.”

“Ha, they’re trying to eat money double? So how much did those people demand?”

“···They say they won’t do it if given 1 billion.”

What they demanded from this side is 1 billion.

Then the commissioning side also roughly received about that.

What is this, one stone two birds?

“···Anyway, please take care of the guys. Employees will also guard the main building together, but unlike you they don’t know how to use magic.”

Nod, nod.

Jaewon nodded with both hands on his waist.

“Well. This is the kind of work we do. First I understand. And you, let’s talk a bit with me.”

The guy spoke after separating from the boss.

“Looking at it, they openly declared war, so quite a lot will probably gather. Just looking, the routes they will enter seem exactly three places. Gate 1, Gate 2, back gate. I Gate 1, you Gate 2. Employees the back gate. Okay?”

“······.”

“And I hate freeloading the most when working with someone. If you act blankly, your share is also mine is what I’m saying.”

The guy gave orders as if he had become a superior.

But he also agreed with that plan.

Yeah, you receive as much as you do.

He spoke unluckily, but he understood.

But···.

‘What magic does this bastard use?’

He still didn’t know this guy’s ability either.

If he asked first he should also inform his own ability.

Damn bastard···.

“Okay.”

“What okay. If I say do it, you do it. At the topic of freeloading.”

···This bastard really.

* * *

That night.

They watched the situation from the main building.

Crackle.

-These bastards aren’t coming because they’re scared?

Seo Jaewon who was waiting at Gate 1 radioed.

-Ah, no. They will definitely come. The guys said they would come exactly at eleven.

-Would guys like this keep the appointment time.

Vroooom.

At that moment.

Far in the darkness, a procession of vehicles shining lights lined up long.

It seems they are gangsters who keep appointments well.

-Hey, boss. This is somehow strange? Why are there so many of those guys?

-W-well··· until now there weren’t that many numbers.

The problem was the number.

The vehicle procession continued long to the point the end wasn’t visible.

‘At this level it’s dozens as basic, and it might be more than that···.’

Are they thinking of completely smashing the factory.

They are really coming in a complete horde.

-These bastards’ boss seems to have predicted that we would take the request. Yeah, for mere gangsters to deal with a mage like me, that much is needed.

Jaewon kept saying unlucky things, but it was also right.

Screech! Screech!

“Now, let’s go smash!”

“These bastards rejected our proposal? Kekeke.”

“They lost their sense of fear, knowing who we are.”

Soon sounds were heard from beyond the wall.

Very high-spirited sounds.

“Uwaaaaaah!!”

This place had walls lined long, and a structure with Gate 1 and Gate 2. Each gate was a quite high iron gate. Of course, that gate looked quite solid.

Rattle, rattle!

Clang! Claaang!

As expected it seems they are excitedly knocking on the door, but it wasn’t a door that would be breached that easily.

Then where will they come.

-They’re coming.

At the same time as Jaewon’s radio was heard, silhouettes were visible above the wall.

‘Just looking at the people trying to come over now, it will be about ten.’

Iron pipes, wooden sticks, whatever.

The guys started climbing the wall.

Crackle, crackle crackle!!

At that moment.

Sparks flew from the body of Jaewon who was waiting below the wall and current flowed.

And in an instant···.

Whoosh────.

Crackle crackle crackle crackle!!

“Kyaaaaaak!”

He couldn’t follow with his eyes.

He only momentarily passed between the guys who had just crossed the wall, but that was enough.

Because ones burned pitch black poured out.

That wasn’t all.

“This son of a bitch!”

Whoosh───.

Thud!

“U-uh?”

Jaewon quickly approached one guy who had come over and wrapped the shoulder with both hands.

Then.

Crackle crackle!!

Crunch!

“······!”

Current flowed in the hand that grabbed the shoulder, and it burst the opponent’s body as is.

···What magic is that?

Movement itself becomes a weapon.

In an instant over thirty organization members burned.

Crackle!

-Did you see now, boss?

Moreover the leisure to even boast.

···What magic group is it?

‘Looking at the fast movement it seems like body-type magic, but he uses lightning there too.’

It seems lightning + body.

The body itself became lightning.

As unlucky as he is, he seems to have skill too.

“Keep going! Keep going!”

But the guys were only the beginning now.

They revealed themselves from various places on the long wall, and even additional vehicles continued to arrive.

Then.

‘I should eliminate from there.’

He has to stick one strong hit.

Someone said that.

Fighting is momentum.

But the problem is mana premature.

Who to get mana from···.

Crackle, crackle crackle!!

“Today let’s get thoroughly cooked!”

A bastard who was excitedly stirring around was visible.

Yeah, at that level the level is certainly quite high.

Then mana would also be plentiful.

Swoosh.

He quietly raised his hand.

And aimed at that guy.

Wooooong—!!

As expected he had a lot of mana.

At the same time as mana entered steadily, the guy’s shout was heard.

“This fuck bastard! Did you just take my mana! Do you want to die!”

Where is your mana my mana.

If it comes into me that’s my mana.

He ignored without replying.

‘Let’s blast it.’

Rub, rub.

He quietly rubbed his fingers.

The more he rubbed, sparks jumping at the fingertips.

The amount gradually grew larger.

‘This level should be enough.’

He imagined the image in his head.

Sound comes from the dark sky.

Kugugung—.

Sparks jump noisily between the clouds.

Crackle, crackle!!

In an instant the surroundings brighten as if lights were turned on.

Flash────.

‘And lightning falls.’

Bang!

Soon a lightning stem wriggling like a snake slammed the floor.

Kwaaaaaaaaaang!!

Vehicles exploded and jumped up.

That explosion transferred chain-like to the side, to the side.

Some jumped up over the wall as is and came over.

Screams and explosion sounds ran rampant around.

But this was not the end.

As lightning struck, circular lightning spread in all directions like waves.

Crackle crackle crackle!

“Guuuuuh!!”

The smell of burning vibrated here and there.

And no more human sounds came.

It seemed the effect was maximized because the vehicles were clustered.

Soon the guy’s voice was heard from the radio.

-You said you were a Fireball bug fuck··· but you use this crazy [Lightning Strike]···?

It seems a bit obedient somehow.