chapter 11
11 – 011. Yewon Ji (5)
There is no magic in this world. However, the power of magic existed.
mana.
It is the energy contained in the magic stone at the center of the monster, the power that all superhumans have in their bodies, and the resource consumed to use superpowers.
The superhuman’s superior physical abilities and the use of mysterious superpowers that cannot be explained by science are all thanks to this magical power.
However, mankind at the present time did not know the concept of magical power at all.
The front-line scientists who study psychic powers have barely made an outline.
It was after the middle of the original work that the existence of magical power became known to the public in earnest.
However, only Ryu Tae-hyeon, the protagonist of the original work, had a vague idea of the concept of magic from the beginning of the story. It was because the ability contained in his talisman was the ability to directly manipulate magic.
‘A psychic ability that allows unlimited use of psychic powers.’
The essence of this ability was to absorb and refine the magical energy spread in the air through Talisman, allowing it to be used like internal magical energy.
Simply put, it could be called ‘magic absorption’.
Thanks to having such an ability, the main character was able to sense the presence of magical power, albeit vaguely. Thanks to this, he used to show a superior aspect in the sensory part than other superhumans.
The ability itself is fraudulent, but with such an additional effect, it was only natural that the main character was on a winning streak in the early story.
‘But why is it here?’
The problem was that for some reason, only Talisman was with Ji Ye-won, not the main character.
It seems that something is wrong. It’s also very tight.
‘Let’s think about it calmly.’
As I calmed down my confused heart, I quickly skimmed through the original story.
‘How did the main character get this talisman? Okay. It seems like the related content came out in about episode 300 or so-.’
Ah.
The moment I thought about it, a flash of inspiration hit my brain.
The winter right before the main character enters the academy. Sunday night. A mysterious woman who entrusted Talisman to the protagonist.
In my head, the pieces of the puzzle came together quickly. Soon after, her head naturally turned to Ji Ye-won.
In that moment, I was able to guess what the whole incident was.
‘I wonder why Ji Ye-won, who didn’t even appear in the original work, is the main character.’
It was a mistake. Ji Ye-won did not appear in the original work. Although her role is only in a minor role, she definitely plays a key role in the original film.
‘The woman who handed over the Talisman to the protagonist. She must have been Ji Ye-won.’
Ji Ye-won of the original work, who did not meet with the guards, would have headed to the abandoned building tomorrow to find Talisman, and there she would have met the Assassin of the Dawning Corps and fought to the death.
And after somehow running away, he happened to meet the main character who was jogging and handed over the talisman to him so that he wouldn’t be taken away.
Since he never showed up again, he was probably killed by an assassin from the Dawning.
Yes. Just as described in the original.
If you think about it that way, the front and back are clearly aligned.
It fit, but.
‘Damn it.’
In a twisted situation, I tore my hair out.
I was aware of all types of skills and acquisition procedures revealed in the series. To monopolize all those opportunities, as long as the minimum ability is supported, for me it was a piece of cake to lie down on.
However, I had no intention of depriving the main character of the chance he would receive.
The main character is the core of the story. No matter how strong I become, if the main character becomes weak, trouble will surely arise somewhere. All events will revolve around the main character.
‘Heavenly Demon, this bastard is really… ….’
I made that promise, but what kind of trick is this fate?
Since I accidentally intercepted Talisman, the most important opportunity for the main character.
‘No, it would be better if I intercepted it. If we keep going like this, it’s obvious that the guards will retrieve it without fail.’
Is there any way I can somehow steal the talisman and hand it over to the main character, or at least use it myself?
While I was thinking about that, Ji Ye-won and Ja-yeon Choi finished their preparations to go out.
“What are you doing? Not go out.”
“…… Okay.”
I left the studio at the urging of the two. The three of us got into the car of the vegetable-yeon and headed to the abandoned building where Talisman was hidden.
“…… Why did you look like that from earlier?”
Ji Ye-won asked with a worried face. In addition to the stockings I bought her, she was wearing her extra defensive coat.
“Nothing.”
“What is nothing? Your face has been swollen ever since I talked about Talisman earlier.”
I saw it very well. However, I can’t tell you the situation right away. As I remained silent, Ji Ye-Won turned her head as if she had given up.
I looked out the window at the fast passing light and organized my thoughts.
‘For now, let’s focus on the quest in front of us.’
Processing can be done later. Now, the priority was to retrieve the Talisman and secure Ji Ye-won’s safety.
-Kik.
Then the car stopped at the intersection signal.
As if it went well just in time, Chae-yeon turned to me and Ji Ye-won, who were sitting in the back seat, and said.
“Once we retrieve the Talisman, we will go straight to the safe house. If a battle breaks out between them…….”
Moxibustion for a while.
Meanwhile, as her signal changed, Chae-yeon turned her head forward and said as if passing by.
“Because I will buy you time. Ahn Su-ho, you take responsibility and take Ji Ye-won with you.”
“Buying time? You?”
Isn’t it better to fight together? I asked back, but the vegetable-yeon smiled at my words.
“I told you. I don’t know anything else, but I’m good at fighting.”
I thought it would be okay based on the image I’ve shown so far, but seeing how confident I am, there must be a corner to believe.
“…… I have some insurance.”
Chae So-yeon’s murmurs were scattered in the air.
About 30 minutes after that. Wary of tailing, we deliberately moved around and finally arrived at the abandoned building where Talisman was hidden.
“Let’s hurry up.”
Ji Ye-won led the way into the building, followed by me and Chae-yeon. After passing the bleak lobby, we headed straight to the roof of the building.
-Rumble.
When we opened the rusty door and went out, the rooftop of a dreary night greeted us.
“Are you here?”
Ji Ye-won nodded her head at Chae-yeon’s question. As she rolled up her sleeves, the key-shaped tattoo on the inside of her arm began to glow.
She slowly made her way up the roof. Accordingly, the light of the tattoo gradually brightened.
When she finally reached the center of the roof.
“Open.”
As I recited a short starter word, a white gap was drawn in the empty air.
‘Oh.’
I naturally lost my gaze at that strange sight. It was like looking at CG graphics. When Ji Ye-won stretched out her tattooed hand, a gap drawn in the air opened to the left and right.
She put her hand through the gap, and when her hand came out, it was holding a small ring case in it.
I swallowed dry saliva in tension.
A talisman containing the ability of ‘magic absorption’ that should have been passed on to the main character.
I naturally clenched my fists at the fact that Talisman was right in front of me.
Ji Yewon opened her ring case to see what was inside. She nodded her head slightly as she told us.
“There is nothing wrong with the contents.”
“Let’s move right away.”
Ji Ye-won and Chae-yeon turned their steps. I also tried to follow them to the rooftop stairs.
But at that moment.
Suddenly, a system message appeared before my eyes.
-Titling!
—–
[ Quest information is updated. ]
[ The progress of the case has deviated greatly from the original development! Due to uncertainties, the time remaining until the incident occurs will fluctuate! ]
[ Remaining time until the incident occurred: 0 hours 0 minutes 5 seconds. ]
—–
In an instant, the accident stopped.
About 2 seconds to understand the content of the message.
Without time to think about anything. I immediately ran towards Ji Ye-won, who was ahead of me.
“Ji Ye-won!”
3 Seconds remaining. Ji Ye-won turned her head at my shout.
2 Seconds. Looking back belatedly, Chae-yeon’s expression raised doubts.
One second. A small light flashed in the corner of my vision.
0 Seconds. The moment Chae-yeon tried to tell me something, as if she had an ominous feeling.
– Puck!
With a dull sound. Chae-yeon’s body flew away and fell to pieces.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
-Taang……
Me and Yewon Ji’s exclamation overlapped, and belatedly, a heavy gunshot rang out from afar.
‘Snipe!’
The moment she made that decision, Yewon Ji was already hiding herself in the shade of a building.
“Quickly, this way!”
As she ran to Yewon Ji, her head naturally turned. The place where the gaze was headed was the direction where the pure white flash had burst out a while ago.
As soon as I came to my senses, I was stretching my right arm in that direction.
-Fuhuaaak!
Unknowingly, the psychic power was activated and a black smoke screen exploded from the right hand. A smoke screen that spread in an instant covered my body.
Immediately.
-f*ck!
-Taang……
A gunshot rang out again, and concrete shards splattered at the spot where I was a moment ago. While the smoke screen obscured the sniper’s view, I quickly joined Jiyewon’s side.
“To the southwest! A distance of at least 500 meters! It’s not tailing. You knew this place from the beginning and were waiting for us!”
Ji Ye-won’s words felt distant. My heart was pounding and my breathing quickened in an instant.
I turned my gaze to the side while holding on to my beating heart.
Far away. Chae-yeon was face down on the floor with her head turned.
There was a huge hole in her chest. In an instant, blood gushing out soaked the floor.
“Vegetable smoke?”
Chae So-yeon did not answer.
As she collapsed, she didn’t even move.
An anxious premonition crosses my mind.
Dead.
Did he die?
No, it can’t be.
Really dead? On one foot?
My brain couldn’t accept the sudden change in situation. My heart was beating like crazy and I couldn’t breathe properly. Her mouth was dry and retching came up.
– Jjaak!
A sharp pain felt on the cheek at that moment.
“Calm down!”
She turned her head at the call. Apparently Ji Ye-won slapped me.
“Don’t be fooled! Because if you get lost and hesitate, you and I are all dead! Okay?!”
Ji Ye-won’s resolute line. Her mind clears up a little bit from the tingling pain that came along with him.
“What was that smoke screen? Did you use a smoke grenade?”
“No, it’s my ability.”
“Can I use that ability again?”
I nodded her head and she pointed her chin at her rooftop steps.
“If you signal, smoke as hard as you can. Fortunately, there are many other buildings around, so if you can get down to the rooftop, you won’t be shot anymore.”
“Okay. I’ll give it a try.”
It was a psychic power that I wasn’t used to handling yet, but it was possible enough.
“How do you make vegetable smoke?”
“…… Let’s take Because it might still be alive. I’ll do the transfer. Instead, you-“
“Driving is for me to do, right? Because now only I know where the safe house is.”
“Yes. Activate the ability on the count of three. One… ….”
With Yewon Ji’s countdown, we prepared to activate her abilities.
‘Wait. Something’s wrong.’
A sense of incongruity suddenly passed at that moment.
The sniper knew we were coming and was waiting from afar.
However, as Ji Ye-won said, there are many buildings around, so the moment we go down to the rooftop, the sniper will lose us in sight.
The strange thing was that.
‘Why did you choose an uncertain sniping?’
I’m sure he knows that the surrounding buildings will obstruct his view. Still, why did you choose to shoot?
Because you thought Yewon Ji would be alone? Because one person can finish it in one blow?
It wasn’t clear to me to think that way. A guy whose name is an assassin of the Dawning Corps can’t handle his work so sloppy…….
“…… Three!”
While I was thinking about it, the countdown ended. I immediately sprayed smoke as hard as I could in the direction of the sniper.
‘I think about it later. First, get out of the rooftop to avoid the snipers.’
While Ji Ye-won went to pick up the vegetable-yeon, I headed for the rooftop stairs first.
And the next moment, I was able to understand the identity of the sense of incongruity.
‘There’s no guarantee that there’s just one assassin.’
A man ascends the stairs as if he had been waiting.
I immediately drew my taser and pointed it at him.
I tried.
-f*ck!
The next moment, my body flew through the air with a blunt impact.
“Keuugh!”
After flying several meters, the body mercilessly rolled down the concrete floor. The air in my lungs escaped all at once, and I couldn’t breathe for a moment.
“Cuck! Omg!”
As I managed to catch my breath, I looked straight ahead.
“What else is this guy? Have you made friends again?”
The man who attacked me showed up.
A young man with an overall rough impression. His hair was dyed bright yellow, his clothes were littered with anachronistic accessories, and a black-edged ax was clutched in his hand.
“Ahn Soo-ho!”
A beat late for that cry, the man found Ji Ye-won. A deep smile appeared on her face as the man turned her gaze to her.
“Nice to meet you traitor. I came to get the goods.”