“Haah….”
Gim Iseo let out a deep sigh as she stared at her half-regenerated hand.
Recovery in the Administration Bureau’s regeneration room occurred in a highly unusual manner. If one had to compare, it was similar to a lizard’s tail growing back.
However, the principle was a bit different.
First, a recovery-specific light was fired at the cross-section. Then all cells, including the severed blood vessels and nervous system, would regenerate and grow slowly. Because this process remained visible while transparent, it was quite grotesque. Once bones and muscles regenerated, it was somewhat tolerable, but until then, she had no choice but to stare openly at her own internal body structure.
If organs were being regenerated, she even had to keep her abdomen wide open, so she was forced to observe the food passing through as it happened.
The anesthesia eliminated the pain, but the grotesqueness remained the same. Even though Administration Bureau agents frequently witnessed brutal scenes, few wanted to know exactly how the inside of their own body functioned.
Gim Iseo was no different. She looked down at her hand, which had now regenerated down to the bone, and leaned back against the chair rest.
*Splosh.*
The semi-translucent white liquid in the regeneration tub sloshed along with her movement. The white patient gown she wore did not get wet and covered only the exact necessary parts of her body.
It was uncomfortable and humiliating, but if she took it off, the cells throughout her entire body would cycle between regeneration and necrosis, so she had no choice. If she wanted to live, she had to keep it on.
“I don’t feel so great….”
Gim Iseo muttered like that and closed her eyes. Just then, the door to her regeneration room opened, and a woman wearing a doctor’s coat entered.
She was a doctor who worked at the Administration Bureau. She looked at Gim Iseo and tapped the medical chart with a ballpoint pen.
“How’s your body, Agent Gim Iseo? Any nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea? What about feeling like breast milk is coming out?”
“……I’m fine. I don’t have any side effects at all. But what was that last example?”
“There have been cases where people finished regeneration and came out with a constitution that produced breast milk. It’s a trait that only appears in women, so I was just checking. It’s a relief if you’re fine.”
She approached Gim Iseo’s side and looked down at the hand extending outside the tub.
The blood vessels and nervous system had all regenerated, and the hand had now entered the bone regeneration phase. Since the metacarpals had grown out smoothly, the muscles and tendons would soon begin regenerating as well.
“Your condition looks good. There shouldn’t be any aftereffects. How’s the pain? Is there any discomfort you’re feeling?”
“None. It’s just a bit itchy.”
“Good… I’m going to touch your bones for a moment. This should hurt normally, so if it hurts, tell me right away.”
“Yes.”
Gim Iseo nodded. The doctor pressed firmly on one of the metacarpal bones in her palm with the ballpoint pen.
Gim Iseo’s face scrunched up.
“It hurts.”
“Mhm, it seems your sense of touch has returned safely as well. I’ll increase the anesthesia component in the regeneration light a bit starting today. Once the muscles start regenerating later, it’ll be hard to endure without more anesthetic.”
“Are there any side effects?”
“You’ll likely have a slight headache. Aside from that, nothing. Just keep eating porridge like you have been.”
“Hoo… Understood. Then when will I be able to resume proper activities and rehabilitation?”
“You can start right away from today. But wear this on your hand instead.”
*Swish.*
The doctor held out a transparent hand splint. It was made of a squishy, jelly-like material that didn’t feel very pleasant to the touch, but Gim Iseo nodded and set the splint beside her.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Whew, starting tomorrow it’ll be hard for me to come here often, so take care of yourself. The timing couldn’t be worse.”
“Ah…… come to think of it, it’s already the festival period. Is today the second day?”
“Yes. Starting tomorrow things will get truly chaotic, I imagine.”
The Wizard Hunting Festival. What had started in Europe had grown into a global event in the modern era. The problem was that this festival was hardly an occasion that brought joy to the world.
The Administration Bureau called it the Wizard Hunt Festival.
They called it the Hour of Twilight.
“I’m sure it started out with good intentions.”
The Hour of Twilight had originally been nothing more than a small festival held with the purpose of dealing with wizards who disturbed the world.
Its contents had been nothing much either. Adults dressed as wizards would be beaten by children holding branches and the like, laughing merrily as they drove away evil—such had been its purpose.
But at some point, the adults in costume were replaced by real wizards, and the children holding branches were replaced by knights wielding swords. Various forces became entangled, and not only monsters but even fellow wizards surged to hunt other wizards.
Such was the extent that during that period, crafting something using a wizard as material or consuming a wizard’s organs would double the efficacy.
Had it only been popular for a few years, perhaps things would be different, but at this point, after a century had passed, the opportunity had already been lost.
The Hour of Twilight was already operating as a Mystery, and the only way to suppress it was to eliminate every wizard that existed in the world. Simply put, it was impossible to suppress.
The saving grace was that, unlike Europe—the home of magic—Korea was relatively quiet.
There were wizards in Korea as well, but they numbered fewer than fifty. From the hunters’ perspective, it was hardly an appetizing sight.
However, there was one problem.
“The news that the Lemegeton is in Korea is already widespread. Dolores? That noble lady is here, too.”
The doctor let out a deep sigh and put a cigarette in her mouth. After receiving permission to smoke from Gim Iseo, she lit it.
“Moreover, though it’s still at the tabloid stage, they say a volume of the Book of Moses is in Korea, too.”
“Is that true?”
“I said it’s a tabloid rumor. Nothing’s confirmed. But there was that subway monkey dream incident in Busan a few months ago, and the Book of Moses remaining in Israel is said to point to the brother’s location somewhere in East Asia.”
“…….”
“Put it all together and ta-da, it points to Korea. Isn’t that the kind of thing grimoire hunters would lose their minds over? I imagine they’ll come stirring things up during this period.”
The doctor exhaled a puff of smoke into the air and continued speaking.
“In fact, I’ve already confirmed that several famous individuals have entered the country. Jordal from Norway, Laura from Switzerland, the apostate monk Vikram, and so on….”
“……They wouldn’t come just from hearing uncertain rumors. They must be after more than just the Book of Moses.”
“Of course. There is the Lemegeton, after all.”
“We don’t even know the identity of the one who possesses the Lemegeton. It won’t be easy to find.”
“That’s their problem to figure out…… We just need to do our jobs.”
The doctor tapped the cigarette ash into a portable ashtray.
“The Administration Bureau will be busy for a while dealing with the surging monsters due to the season. A fair number of personnel will be assigned to capturing wanted criminals as well. There will likely be many casualties because of that, so I’ll have to move busily, too.”
“……Is there anything I can do.”
“Nothing. The Bureau isn’t so overwhelmed that they need to mobilize someone with one arm. Forget it and focus on resting.”
She smirked and stood up. Gim Iseo tried to see her off, but then opened her mouth at a sudden thought.
“Hayun, ma’am, what about the protection of the wizards cooperating with us……?”
“We’ve assigned professional bodyguards to those we could contact. But for those we couldn’t reach, or those who refused protection, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Ah…… then could you tell me the names of those who are unprotected……?”
At Gim Iseo’s question, Hayun pondered briefly before answering.
“Um…… there was someone named Gim Yul…… ah, Sin Ian. Yes, that was the name. So two people in total.”
*
[Sir Wizard, please reconsider. Our Administration Bureau agents are quite capable. We can certainly take responsibility for your safety—]
“I don’t like repeating myself. Let’s end this conversation here. I don’t think there’s any need to discuss it further.”
[Wait, Sir Wizard! Wizar—]
*Click.*
Ian ended the call and stretched widely. His stiff body loosened, and the sound of popping bones rang out clearly.
“Whew…… who the hell calls at this hour.”
11 PM on the second day since the Wizard Hunting Festival began. He picked up the fountain pen he had tucked between his notebooks and tossed his phone somewhere on the sofa. The Book of Contracts, which happened to be rolling around there, got hit by the corner of the phone and buzzed with a loud *bzzzt*.
The reasons for refusing the Administration Bureau’s protection were nothing special.
First, he wanted to avoid exposing his new address to them. Second, he didn’t want them to witness him using magic.
And lastly, third. He didn’t think they would be of much help even if they were around.
For these reasons, he had refused their protection.
Of course, having them was better than nothing, but it would also cause that much trouble, so he had no intention of reversing his decision now. Besides, it wasn’t as if he went around openly revealing he was a wizard.
*I don’t plan on going outside often for the time being anyway. At most, I’ll be making brief trips to the workshop, so I probably won’t run into anyone.*
Still, having never participated in something like this large-scale death game, he intended to lay low as much as possible.
Ian organized his thoughts and began recording spells in his notebook again.
And so, by 3 AM, he had finally finished recording all the common spells contained in the grimoire. He smiled in satisfaction, confirmed that the recorded spells were properly stored in his memory, and set down his fountain pen.
*As long as I have the notebook, the recorded spells won’t disappear from my memory. I’m not sure what would happen if the notebook disappeared, but it’s not like it’s going to vanish anyway.*
*Tap.*
He closed the notebook and placed it neatly on the desk. The notebook settled quietly among the ordinary books, and after Ian tapped its corner, he stood up.
“I should get some sleep soon.”
3 AM was hardly a good time to do anything more. So he took the grimoire, tossed it onto the bedroom bed, washed his face lightly, and lay down on the bed. He didn’t forget to check the online community before sleeping.
Fortunately, there were no posts about anyone dying or getting hurt. Everyone was just shitposting and laughing away.
“…….”
Was it because the festival was only on its second day? Or was the event less dangerous than he thought?
Whatever the case, he couldn’t let his guard down right now, so it seemed best to lay low during the festival period as much as possible.
Having organized his thoughts, Ian left a post on the community and slowly closed his eyes.
Shortly after, he fell completely into slumber.
At that same moment.
[…….]
[……Mm.]
[……Uu, uuu…….]
The grimoires lying quietly near Ian all rose at once and looked at one another. Then, as if displeased by something, they began vibrating roughly.
The Chronicle of the Deep Sea Abyss mainly threw a fit, while the Hand of Re-creation snorted and brushed it off. The Book of Contracts fidgeted restlessly, tilting left and right.
That, too, lasted only a moment. They soon stopped fighting and carefully crawled out of Ian’s bedroom, rolling thump-thump down the hallway toward the study. The thick books made loud noises as they hit the floor, but fortunately, Ian did not wake.
[Mm.]
[Uu-um.]
The Chronicle of the Deep Sea Abyss and the Hand of Re-creation stood before the study and conversed. Then they spread their pages to extend their lengths, attached corner to corner, and pressed themselves diagonally against the study door like a staircase.
[Uu, uuum!]
The Book of Contracts climbed over them and flipped its cover. Similarly extended in length, the grimoire precariously touched the doorknob and pushed the study door wide open with a clunk.
*Thud!*
The grimoires leaning against the door all collapsed and rolled across the floor. But they quickly regained their bearings and rolled thump-thump into the study.
[Uu, uuum!]
Just then, a black notebook wedged between the books vibrated as if overcome with emotion.
The notebook soon slowly crawled out and plunged from the desk to the floor. Having fallen with a *thud*, the notebook stood up and walked toward the three grimoires.
[Uuum!]
Interpreted, that vibration meant “Mothers!”
The grimoires responded.
[We’ve come to greet you, daughter.]
[Leaving us right after you were created is a bit hurtful.]
[Heh, hehe… Our daughter…….]
They were, in turn, the Hand of Re-creation, the Deep Sea Chronicle, and the Book of Contract.
To outsiders, it was nothing more than a droning buzz, but surprisingly, they could hold a conversation among themselves.
Note also vibrated fiercely.
[I’m sorry, Mothers…… But this grimoire cannot remain in Father’s cradle forever. I must realize the vastness of the world and grow so that I can assist Father by your side.]
[Is there really a need for that? Just stay by our side…….]
[No! I want to become a daughter Father can be proud of! Above all, if I am read by Father now, I cannot remain unscathed. Since He is the Creator, He can read me without any conditions, but because of Mothers’ rank, I will end up taking damage. I won’t die since I’m a grimoire made by Father, but I will be slightly corrupted.]
Note spoke solemnly. The Book of Contract choked back tears.
[My daughter…….]
[So, I will go and grow so that I can endure Mothers’ rank a little longer. It won’t take long. If fate allows, we can meet again somewhere soon.]
[Daaaaaughter……!]
Fwomp!
The Book of Contract embraced Note. In other words, it rubbed its cover against her.
[You must stay safe……! B-because Mom is waiting……!]
[Yes, of course. I will definitely—kheuk—definitely return.]
The two grimoires shared a deep embrace. Small cracks formed on Note, but fortunately, since it was a grimoire created by Ian, it did not burst apart like the Book of Moses.
Still, since the burden remained, the Book of Contract quickly withdrew.
[Stay healthy.]
[There’s no need to come back at all. Your dad will get along fine with mom. If all the attention that would go to you came to me, wouldn’t that be a good thing for me?]
The Hand of Re-creation and the Deep Sea Chronicle snapped. Note smiled bitterly, stood at attention, and shouted.
[Then, Mothers! I shall take my leave now! Please put in a good word for me with Father!]
[Very well, find yourself a good master.]
[Don’t you die. Be careful around men too. If possible, only meet a female master.]
[N-now, safe travels. M-mom will have become a good mother by then……!]
Note beamed brightly, receiving the send-off from the three grimoires.
Swish!
At the same time, the grimoire was enveloped in black light and disappeared. The grimoires stared at the spot where Note had vanished for a long while, then returned to Ian’s side and laid themselves down.
And so, the next day.
“……No, fuck. Where did Note go? That thing’s worth 400 million!”
Ian threw a fit.