< 115. Shock and Terror (13) >
It was said that the mage had not taken any commissions since his discharge. Therefore, the police assumed that he was focusing on his recovery.
That was until today.
Kim Cheol-soo, who searched the mage's residence, delivered some bad news.
"The house he used to live in, in Hannam-dong, was completely empty."
Although Lakefield was also commissioned to find him, the spirit could not locate anyone with the same appearance.
However, there was not a total lack of clues.
"Tracking his phone signal, the last place he stayed was a pension on the outskirts of Seoul. The owner is a ghost company that exists only on paper."
Of course, he could be recuperating. He might have gone out of town to rest and turned off his phone.
But...
"He hasn't used his credit card once since his discharge, and he's kept his phone off since the signal was picked up at the pension."
Min-jun considered a more attractive hypothesis than simply avoiding the mundane.
"He might be using that place as a base."
Min-jun decided to move against the place.
Initially planning to act alone, Kim Cheol-soo urgently requested to conduct a joint operation with the police.
"Sir! Even if that's the case, I can't let you go there alone! Please let us help!"
To Kim Cheol-soo, Min-jun still seemed like a soft-hearted teacher who couldn't even catch a single dog. Even his decades of work with the immigration bureau hadn't changed this perception.
Eventually, Min-jun agreed under one condition.
"Then I'll lead the operation, and the police should just provide support. If you can't accept that, I'll just go alone. Kim, you know that a single phone call can make it happen my way."
Kim Cheol-soo reluctantly agreed.
Min-jun, along with the mage investigation unit and the police special forces led by Kim Cheol-soo, arrived near the pension in the deep of the night. Police cars arrived, positioned far enough from the building to avoid making noise.
Min-jun approached right up to the front of the pension, cloaked in stealth magic. Kim Cheol-soo waited anxiously behind.
Receiving the gaze of the others, Min-jun thought.
'Quite an elaborate barrier.'
To be honest, it was the best barrier he had seen among the non-draconic barriers recently. Considering it wasn't touched by a dragon, it was worthy of being called a masterpiece.
So much so that even Min-jun could not assess the situation inside.
'That mage wasn't supposed to be that skilled.'
Such a barrier couldn't be bought even with money from the witch cooperative.
'Could the Ego Sword have a deep understanding of magic as well?'
Could it be a barrier constructed by the mage under the sword's control?
The answer would come soon.
Min-jun raised his hand. It was too high-level to disable quietly. Such a thing could only be destroyed.
The agent gathered magical power in his hand.
The assassin, Erik, was extremely anxious.
He was a partner-level killer in the Abrams Helper Service, which had dominated the global assassination market in recent years.
Not only did he share commissions with the company, but he also owned shares and received a substantial company dividend in addition to the commission. Such privileges came with responsibilities. As a shareholder and part of the management team, an assassin who suddenly went rogue was a significant headache.
'Blade killed a colleague.'
Erik knew that Blade occasionally controlled others to kill targets instead of doing it himself.
He was curious about the nature of this ability, but he didn't ask due to industry norms. There was never an opportunity to casually discuss such matters. They had never even met in person, and they exchanged opinions only through encrypted documents.
Moreover, it was natural to handle only one's own tasks and not interfere with unnecessary matters, and Blade was an exceptionally efficient killer.
Thus, Erik was deeply shocked when Blade killed a troll stationed at the Seoul branch and responsible for communicating with the headquarters.
'Has he gone insane? Or is he senile?'
No one knew Blade's age. However, rumors in the industry had been circulating for decades, so he could be an elderly man.
Had he perhaps developed dementia? It would be impossible for a sane person to sacrifice a company-affiliated killer.
'We need to deal with Blade.'
Allowing a traitor to remain would destabilize the organization and erode the trust among its members.
Partner-level killers exchanged opinions and unanimously decided to eliminate Blade.
To assassinate a legend in the assassination industry, partner-level killer Erik and his subordinates were dispatched. They found Blade's traces in Korea.
But their pursuit soon led them into a maze.
'We also failed to abduct Choi Seon-ah.'
Blade's irrational behavior had begun with Choi Seon-ah. Erik still couldn't understand why he showed interest in such a mundane woman.
Moreover, after being dispatched to Korea, Blade dragged out the killing of Gwak Do-chul instead of doing it immediately. What had Blade been engrossed in during those few days in Korea? The time precisely matched the period when Choi Seon-ah had disappeared.
'The guy sent to abduct Choi Seon-ah has also gone dark. It would be fortunate if he succeeded in suicide, but what if he was captured?'
The only fortunate thing was that he was a low-ranking killer. Therefore, he didn't know any critical information, nor did he know Erik's current hiding place.
'I need to act quickly. The longer I stay here, the greater the opportunity cost...'
Lost in thought, he was suddenly jolted.
Boom!
His hidden secret refuge shook violently. A deafening noise struck his ears.
Instead of screaming in panic, the seasoned killer grabbed his weapon.
The weapon master's treasured sword glowed with a blue aura. The killers who had been staying with him also descended to the first floor and stared at the entrance. Their faces were filled with hostility and tension.
'How did the barrier get breached?!'
He guessed the identity of the intruder.
'Could it be... Blade?! Has he come to counter us knowing we're after him?'
The night wind from the forest beyond the broken door swept in. A man standing firm in the rectangular darkness looked inside and spoke in disbelief.
"...What? Where did the mage go, and why are there so many of these wrongdoers?"
Min-jun, having breached the barrier, was dumbfounded.
Expecting to find a hidden refuge of the mage enchanted by the Ego Sword, what he found inside was...
Men exuding a mix of hostility and shock.
Some were openly revealed, while others were hiding in various parts of the pension. He mentally marked their positions.
Bang!
The attackers moved first.
There were no signals or warnings.
Erik, leading the charge, and the assassins launched their assault.
'I don't think these guys are all enchanted by Blade.'
Min-jun thought as he dodged the fierce storm targeting his life.
'They have a similar feel to the one I saw yesterday.'
Even though their goal of severing his life was the same, there were distinct characteristics in their methods.
The attack carried a stale smell of blood. It was different from the distinctive rancid odor of dark mages. These individuals didn't exchange blood for magic; they exchanged blood for gold.
'Assassins.'
He had dealt with assassinations for centuries. He had killed criminals and special targets designated by committees. The number was countless.
Such a sense couldn't be deceived. They were all from that industry. At this moment, the group that came to mind was one.
'Abrams?'
He communicated this situation to the police outside while simultaneously considering.
Could these guys have already subdued the mage? Is that why the phone signal was lost here?
Min-jun soon erased all the various assumptions from his mind.
Given the complexity of the situation, there was no need to overthink it. Min-jun's life was already complicated enough.
So Min-jun decided to simplify the problem.
'For now, just smash and beat them, and the answer will come!'
Shadows surged from the agent's back.
Kyaaaah!
Min-jun turned his long-held conviction into action. Having too many tongues doesn't necessarily mean good things.
He had no intention of sparing all these assassins. A black flash struck the face of an assassin charging with bloodshot eyes. It was the arm of the shadow monster.
Thud!
"Ugh!"
Min-jun clicked his tongue.
'Oh? Not dead in one blow?'
The most suitable abilities for assassins are magic or weapon mastery. Most of these seemed to fall into the latter category. They possessed bodies far exceeding the limits of their kind.
The monster that had risen above Min-jun's shoulder retrieved its fist and then struck twice more.
Thud! Thud!
The second strike shattered the nose and cheekbones, and the third completely crushed them.
As Min-jun shattered one of their heads, he took his next step.
Swish!
The shadow whipped around like a flail, slashing in all directions. It cut through the assassins' flesh. The enemies tumbled and bled, spilling their guts. Contractors ran past the corpses. The aura danced in the air. Darkness seemed to merge with it, then devoured it mercilessly.
It was then that the police arrived for support. Kim Cheol-soo, leading them, shouted.
"Everyone, protect Teacher Ye... Huh?!"
He couldn't finish his sentence. He barely stifled a pale scream.
'Dark magic?!'
He couldn't believe his eyes.
Min-jun surged through the assassins like a storm. But his methods were entirely different from Kim Cheol-soo's expectations.
The monstrous shadow above his mentor's shoulder hovered, slaughtering enemies. They all fell helplessly, torn apart and dying.
'Teacher Ye is using dark magic?!'
The shadow flowing down his back formed a tail and snatched one assassin. It wrapped around his neck. The killer struggled, but soon fell limp with a thud.
Kim Cheol-soo felt a chill running down his spine. Was this noble person really using dark magic? Was this truly Teacher Ye, who had just used a monster to snap a person's neck?
But there was no time for panic. The mage commanded his subordinates and chanted. Flames undulated from his hands like a serpent's tail. The spell cut off the escape routes for the assassins, preventing them from fleeing.
Attacked in the middle of the night, they couldn't understand the situation.
'Why are those guys here?!'
'Korean police? How did they find our location?'
'Who is that absurd dark magician?!'
The situation was dire. Erik ultimately made a decision.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Min-jun sneered.
"Retreat where?!"
Min-jun's movements grew even more frenzied, like a wild beast. The slaughter continued unabated. The assassins' hideout quickly turned into a hell of blood, flesh, and severed limbs.
Erik stood in his way.
"Stop, you demon!"
His greatsword, wrapped in aura, shone brightly. He exerted all his strength as if fighting desperately. Min-jun thought as he deflected the blow with shadows.
'At least this guy is the most decent. He's the head. I shouldn't kill him.'
He tried to cut off one of Erik's limbs, but the movement was quite nimble. Min-jun changed the target area for his attack.
'Need to incapacitate him.'
For such a skilled weapon master, the physical strength should be considered more like a golem than a living being. To neutralize this guy without killing him...
'Ah, right.'
At that moment, Min-jun's thoughts converged on one idea.
'Before killing him, let's do a performance test.'
It was a light-hearted thought.
Min-jun, who had entrusted the attack completely to the shadow monster, was now fiddling with his own two hands. His right hand touched the air and pulled out something from the empty space.
"······?!"
Seeing that, Erik hurriedly tried to move. But even at that moment, the monster's assault continued, and he couldn't respond in time.
Min-jun targeted the opening.
At this moment, Min-jun's arms were almost like four. He held a newly acquired weapon in his empty right hand. It was a dazzling silver mace. The heavy metal mass reflected in Erik's astonished eyes.
'A frying pan...?'
That was Erik's last thought.
Crack!
Min-jun swung with all his might, intending to strike Erik's temple and knock him out.
But he failed.
"······?!"
Min-jun adjusted the impact on the enemy's skull and then predicted the trajectory of the frying pan bouncing back.
That expectation was cleanly betrayed. Min-jun's right hand completed a large horizontal swing. It was a clean trajectory.
After that, nothing remained on Erik's neck.
Thud!
Min-jun slightly turned his head. On the living room wall of the pension, something resembling crushed grapes was stuck. It was Erik's head.
That wasn't what I intended...?
Summoning the shadow monster and absorbing some of it does indeed enhance the summoner's strength.
However, Min-jun was well-versed in such adjustments. He clearly intended to knock Erik out, but the head was blown off, like a bottle cap flicked with a finger.
He looked down at the old-fashioned frying pan. It was smeared with blood and bone fragments on the edge, emitting a strange vibration. It was a resonance Min-jun did not intend.
'Del... what on earth did I do here?'
Meanwhile, the assassins began to be subdued. Min-jun was careful not to kill anyone from that point on. Given the circumstances, he could not tell who might have more information.
Thus, the four surviving assassins knelt, subdued. Measures were taken to prevent them from committing suicide.
"Th-the teacher?"
Kim Cheol-soo approached with a dazed expression. His eyes were filled with anguish. He looked as if he didn't know what to ask first.
Min-jun raised his hand.
"Hold on, let's interrogate these guys first."
"Pardon? Here?"
Min-jun did not respond and put the silver frying pan into his spatial storage. He then touched the air again. This time, what he held was a pitch-black frying pan in stark contrast to the one seen before.
He approached the assassins with it. Kim Cheol-soo, horrified, intervened.
"Teacher, if you blow their heads off like before!"
"Don't worry, Kim."
Contrary to the mage's fears, Min-jun did not repeat the same action.
Instead.
Crack!
He crushed the assassin's jawbone. Then he flipped the black frying pan and shoved the handle into the assassin's mouth.
"······."
Everyone, including Kim Cheol-soo, was left speechless.
They could not understand the meaning of that action and were afraid to ask about it.
The old mage was troubled. How did Teacher Ye end up like this? How harsh must the years have been to change such a delicate person so drastically?
"Teacher..."
Kim Cheol-soo's voice trembled.
"What on earth has happened?"
Min-jun thought it was too bothersome to come up with a plausible lie. It was better to gloss over it. So instead of a detailed explanation, he gazed into the air with the look of a man with many stories and said:
"...Don't ask anything, Kim."
< 115. Shock and Terror (13) > End