I faced a tough decision, torn between denying my wizardry despite the government’s claims or coming clean.
If I went with the former, I would need to constantly prove my innocence, but the government already seemed convinced and had evidence. Even if I denied it, they would continue to surveil me.
My life had been turned upside down since I became a suspect, and I’d have to pretend to be an ordinary citizen, concealing my magical abilities even in a troublesome situation.
But what if I chose the latter option? At this point, it might be best. I needed to vanish using my magic, as they’d never stop believing I was a wizard. I was prepared to give up my identity as Yoon Min-joon.
It was frustrating, but I thought the latter choice was wiser. And just as I contemplated this, I could feel the mana in my fingertips vibrating.
Darn it. I cursed silently as the gentle resonance of mana started humming low.
The only ones sensing this phenomenon were Maek–Dream Eater–and the fox, both concealed by stealth magic. However, the man and woman in suits were visibly perturbed as I extended my hand. It was the first time they’d shown such intense reactions since their arrival.
“Well, um… Sir, do you need anything?”
The young man, whom they believed was unmistakably a wizard, raised his palms into the air – a gesture that needed no translation. It was almost comical, watching the government official feign ignorance about what was coming. His voice quivered with tension.
“Before we dive into this fully,” I said, letting out a small sigh, “how many people knew about this situation right now?”
The man’s face darkened. He couldn’t respond immediately, caught in hesitation.
I shifted my gaze towards the middle-aged woman next to him. The more I looked at her, the more convinced I became. This had to be intentional.
No matter how long I stared, she resembled my mother so closely. It was almost unnerving.
Was this some twisted form of psychological warfare? Did they expect me to hesitate, seeing someone who bore such a striking resemblance to my mother?
“Are other countries aware of this situation?” I pressed further.
The woman, who had captured my gaze, eventually lost her composure. She shot a tearful glance towards the man, as if unsure of how to respond.
When it came to maintaining a poker face, the woman fell far short of the man’s expertise. She might not have been an ordinary civilian, perhaps had a somewhat related occupation, but she lacked the same negotiating and bargaining skills as the man. Was her selection primarily based on her appearance?
Then, the man finally spoke. “The reason our government took an interest in you is known to very few. Even within the government, I’d estimate it’s about fifty people.”
Contrary to his earlier hesitation, his words flowed smoothly. I couldn’t help but notice his ears. Maybe he was equipped with an invisible communication device. They seemed to be monitoring this situation somewhere in real-time, issuing instructions on how to handle delicate questions.
But fifty? That seems like too many, damn it! Honestly, I was not entirely certain if that was true to begin with.
As if he’d read my mind, the man continued, “Everything about you is strictly classified. There’s a high risk that exposing this information could lead to uncontrollable public sentiment.”
If this information leaked, everyone would blame me for the Busan incident, as though I had intentionally caused it. Public opinion would ignite, and there would be a clamor to capture and execute me.
“So, you’re saying you wanted to avoid such a scenario, right?” I asked.
He nodded quietly. “We don’t want to have a hostile relationship with you. Of course, I would have to ask you to explain the situation in Busan to make sure but I don’t think it’s something we can discuss right now,” he said, trying to convey goodwill.
Their reluctance to use force after seeing what I did in Busan indicated that they weren’t willing to confront me head-on. Instead, they were choosing persuasive words over immediate responsibility.
“Let me repeat the question, do governments in other countries know about this?”
“Of course, they don’t. We are also taking extra care not to leak information to foreign governments,” he assured me.
It made sense; they intended to keep information about me under wraps. What determined their attitude toward me, it seemed, was a mix of greed and fear.
Then, something they never expected happened. The mana vibration in my hand grew even louder.
“Ah…!” everyone exclaimed, their mouths agape.
As I concentrated Mana in my hand, visible anomalies occurred. The man broke into a cold sweat as he stared at my palm shimmering with white light. The woman was on the verge of fainting.
In this way, I admitted that I was indeed a wizard.
“Ah… well, sir. Would it be okay to ask what it is in your hand?” the man inquired, his fear evident.
For those unfamiliar with magic spells, they couldn’t discern whether this was a prelude to a destructive lightning strike or the preparation for an illuminating magical effect to light up the cabin. Of course, it was neither.
“Don’t mind this. I’m thinking about a clause, so it’s going to take a little more time like this,” I reassured them.
“Pardon?”
“I’m still putting the spell together. Why didn’t you bring the wizards on your way here?” I asked, a touch of nagging in my tone.
“Ah… haha. There are some internal circumstances,” he replied.
It was clear; they only had one usable wizard at their disposal, Kim Kyung-hwan. But they hadn’t brought him, fearing I might eliminate him entirely.
Even if they attempted to use Hwang Soo-rim, the raccoon who was currently transforming at her home would likely act as instructed, feigning madness and causing a scene.
“Did you mention there were around fifty?” I inquired, my voice tense.
“Yes, that’s correct,” he confirmed.
I estimated the odds. Was there a realistic way to identify and eliminate all fifty of them or erase their memories of me completely? The risks were significant. Without a list, missing even one person would lead to failure, triggering an immediate war against the nation.
Moreover, humanity possessed a storage medium surpassing the brain. What if the information was encrypted on an intranet or a similar platform? There would be no way to trace it and wipe out the data.
Blowing up the Blue House was an alternative, but it should be reserved as a last resort. Assassination was effective when my identity was concealed, but it became a murky option once my identity was known. To ensure their silence when my identity was exposed to a state agency, I’d have to slaughter them, not just assassinate them.
And then, there were issues with my family. I needed to maintain as much control as possible.
“I believe all you want is a conversation, right?” I asked the man.
“Yes, that’s right, sir!” He replied, his expression relaxing, his eyes shining.
“As you mentioned earlier, I doubt you’re suggesting we have a long conversation here,” I pointed out.
“Yes, there’s a place set up ahead. It’s a tranquil residence near this airfield,” he clarified.
Indeed. I hadn’t expected them to take me to the Blue House immediately. Making a scene in the heart of the city, at the core of the nation’s power, would have had dire consequences.
However, I voiced my discontent. “No matter how much I think about it, today feels incredibly sudden.”
After confirming that the people on board were nervously studying my expressions, I continued, “I hope I don’t get approached this way again. I can’t believe you turned the plane.”
“Ah, well. I apologize for that part. We do take various factors into account! If you need transportation to get to your house–!” the man started to explain, but I interrupted him.
“I’m currently not in a position to engage in lengthy conversations,” I replied.
In truth, I needed to ensure my family’s safety quickly. And I had to go to an isolated place to spread out over a thousand maggots–I meant dragons– from my backpack.
Moreover, I didn’t need to surrender control just because they’d approached me suddenly. I had no obligation to meet on their terms. Not to mention, when I gave up on playing as an ordinary person.
“This’s good enough,” I declared, feeling the magic in my hand complete. I pulled a piece of magic paper from my bag and activated the premade spell. “I’ll give you something.”
“Ah, this is?!” the man exclaimed as a piece of paper floated in the air according to my hand gesture. A cluster of white light, like a starry constellation, condensed and began inscribing letters onto it.
Since both parties could speak Korean, the language was convenient. I swiftly filled a section of the contract with sentences. Originally, they were lengthy, exceeding the paper’s size, but as if scrolling, the letters gathered in one space, creating blank areas where additional sentences were recorded.
Once finished, I held out the magic paper to the man. “If you’d like to continue our conversation, please sign here and return it. It should be signed by someone responsible for the decision.”
“What is this?” the man asked, bewildered.
I responded with a wry smile. “It’s a contract.”
“...Contract?”
“Only after signing this contract will I start the conversation. Ask me questions from then on.” As I handed the paper over, I added a brief explanation. “This contract doesn’t rely on human societal laws; it operates on the ’soul’ of the individuals involved. You’ll find out the details when you read it. And as for how far its effects reach and the implications of signing. Oh, and if you doubt whether what’s written can come true…”
I purposely trailed off my words before going on. “Ask any wizard around you. I’m sure they know very well.”
The person they could inquire of was likely Kim Kyung-hwan. He was well-versed in the Soul Contract due to being part of a similar agreement. If they wondered how he knew, he could simply say he learned it in training camp, leaving it at that.
After wrapping up our conversation, I cloaked myself with stealth magic.
“S-sir!” The diplomat called out anxiously.
I got out of the plane, leaving the bewildered group behind. Garam and Mrs. Pearl, who were still concealed, followed me. I took the pink maggots, including Hwang Soo-rim inside the miniaturized container, before we soared through the sky.
We flew at low altitudes to stay off radar. Once we were far enough from the airport to be out of sight, I settled on the ground and let out my frustration.
“Oh, damn cell phone!” I cursed, tossing it into my backpack. There was no chance the signal would reach the subspace. Then I glanced at the group and instructed the next move. “Let’s head to Seoul and part ways.”
“Yes,” everyone answered.
“It’s a major mess. Those people are pretty much the upper crust, right?” Mrs. Pearl’s voice carried a somber tone.
“Well, it’s close enough,” I said as I reviewed my plan. First, I needed to ensure my family’s safety. If they didn’t cooperate, I’d have to incapacitate them and move them elsewhere. My current home had to be abandoned; I had to relocate everything and establish a barrier impervious to government intrusion.
I doubted they’d already gone after my family, given their desire to maintain a working relationship with me. But what if I was wrong? What if they’d made a move?
I briefly entertained the idea, my frustration mounting. If they had endangered my family, I would seek revenge.
Yeah, I will seek revenge. I repeated the words again and again. My thoughts came to a sudden halt, like an unenthusiastic theater actor stumbling through lines.
Seeking revenge—it was an instinctual, common-sense reaction for me. Yet, despite these thoughts, my emotions remained as calm as a serene lake. Why do I only feel annoyed when I assume this situation, instead of getting angry?
It was Mrs. Pearl that broke my thoughts.
Mrs. Pearl’s voice interrupted my reverie. “Will they sign the contract?”
I cleared my mind and replied, “The president probably won’t. They’re not that reckless.”
No matter how much Kim Kyung-hwan vouched for it, the president wouldn’t recklessly sign an unknown magical contract beyond the scope of human civilization. What if it concealed a mind-control curse? Of course, I couldn’t use such magic. It meant they had a lot of room for imagination.
“I’ve been clear that anyone who wants to have a conversation with me in the future has to sign that contract upfront. If even one government official goes for it, that’s a win,” I added. That way, the minimum safety measure was in place. “I’ve got a lot of work ahead.”
Everything was in disarray. I needed to establish a new identity for future use and further conceal myself.
Why hadn’t I done this earlier? I hadn’t known how, and I hadn’t felt the need. But circumstances had changed.
First things first, the government must have found out about Lee Seo-rin, the owner of my current place. Sooner or later, I’d have to find a new contractor to handle economic, administrative, and real estate matters.
“Darn it,” I swore silently. In the current situation where my identity was exposed, there was no benefit in continuing exchanges with the government. So why had I issued the contract?
I thought about it; I wanted to maintain some influence on the government’s side, just in case. They feared my existence but also coveted it internally.
The government would likely persist in dialogue attempts with me, and someone would eventually sign the contract. That was sufficient. It mattered that even one government member signed it. There was no mind-control curse on the contract, but I’d injected a bit of humor into it.
“Oh, but just thinking about it makes me furious.” I wasn’t a revolutionary rebel, yet now I had to keep the government in check. Oh, this corrupt, foolish, double-faced bunch!
With a sigh of frustration, I resumed my plans. The bait had been cast on the government’s side, and I mentally mapped out my priorities.
+
The taste of bitterness lingered. From now on, Yoon Min-joon’s social persona had met its end.
I faced a tough decision, torn between denying my wizardry despite the government’s claims or coming clean.
If I went with the former, I would need to constantly prove my innocence, but the government already seemed convinced and had evidence. Even if I denied it, they would continue to surveil me.
My life had been turned upside down since I became a suspect, and I’d have to pretend to be an ordinary citizen, concealing my magical abilities even in a troublesome situation.
But what if I chose the latter option? At this point, it might be best. I needed to vanish using my magic, as they’d never stop believing I was a wizard. I was prepared to give up my identity as Yoon Min-joon.
It was frustrating, but I thought the latter choice was wiser. And just as I contemplated this, I could feel the mana in my fingertips vibrating.
Darn it. I cursed silently as the gentle resonance of mana started humming low.
The only ones sensing this phenomenon were Maek–Dream Eater–and the fox, both concealed by stealth magic. However, the man and woman in suits were visibly perturbed as I extended my hand. It was the first time they’d shown such intense reactions since their arrival.
“Well, um… Sir, do you need anything?”
The young man, whom they believed was unmistakably a wizard, raised his palms into the air – a gesture that needed no translation. It was almost comical, watching the government official feign ignorance about what was coming. His voice quivered with tension.
“Before we dive into this fully,” I said, letting out a small sigh, “how many people knew about this situation right now?”
The man’s face darkened. He couldn’t respond immediately, caught in hesitation.
I shifted my gaze towards the middle-aged woman next to him. The more I looked at her, the more convinced I became. This had to be intentional.
No matter how long I stared, she resembled my mother so closely. It was almost unnerving.
Was this some twisted form of psychological warfare? Did they expect me to hesitate, seeing someone who bore such a striking resemblance to my mother?
“Are other countries aware of this situation?” I pressed further.
The woman, who had captured my gaze, eventually lost her composure. She shot a tearful glance towards the man, as if unsure of how to respond.
When it came to maintaining a poker face, the woman fell far short of the man’s expertise. She might not have been an ordinary civilian, perhaps had a somewhat related occupation, but she lacked the same negotiating and bargaining skills as the man. Was her selection primarily based on her appearance?
Then, the man finally spoke. “The reason our government took an interest in you is known to very few. Even within the government, I’d estimate it’s about fifty people.”
Contrary to his earlier hesitation, his words flowed smoothly. I couldn’t help but notice his ears. Maybe he was equipped with an invisible communication device. They seemed to be monitoring this situation somewhere in real-time, issuing instructions on how to handle delicate questions.
But fifty? That seems like too many, damn it! Honestly, I was not entirely certain if that was true to begin with.
As if he’d read my mind, the man continued, “Everything about you is strictly classified. There’s a high risk that exposing this information could lead to uncontrollable public sentiment.”
If this information leaked, everyone would blame me for the Busan incident, as though I had intentionally caused it. Public opinion would ignite, and there would be a clamor to capture and execute me.
“So, you’re saying you wanted to avoid such a scenario, right?” I asked.
He nodded quietly. “We don’t want to have a hostile relationship with you. Of course, I would have to ask you to explain the situation in Busan to make sure but I don’t think it’s something we can discuss right now,” he said, trying to convey goodwill.
Their reluctance to use force after seeing what I did in Busan indicated that they weren’t willing to confront me head-on. Instead, they were choosing persuasive words over immediate responsibility.
“Let me repeat the question, do governments in other countries know about this?”
“Of course, they don’t. We are also taking extra care not to leak information to foreign governments,” he assured me.
It made sense; they intended to keep information about me under wraps. What determined their attitude toward me, it seemed, was a mix of greed and fear.
Then, something they never expected happened. The mana vibration in my hand grew even louder.
“Ah…!” everyone exclaimed, their mouths agape.
As I concentrated Mana in my hand, visible anomalies occurred. The man broke into a cold sweat as he stared at my palm shimmering with white light. The woman was on the verge of fainting.
In this way, I admitted that I was indeed a wizard.
“Ah… well, sir. Would it be okay to ask what it is in your hand?” the man inquired, his fear evident.
For those unfamiliar with magic spells, they couldn’t discern whether this was a prelude to a destructive lightning strike or the preparation for an illuminating magical effect to light up the cabin. Of course, it was neither.
“Don’t mind this. I’m thinking about a clause, so it’s going to take a little more time like this,” I reassured them.
“Pardon?”
“I’m still putting the spell together. Why didn’t you bring the wizards on your way here?” I asked, a touch of nagging in my tone.
“Ah… haha. There are some internal circumstances,” he replied.
It was clear; they only had one usable wizard at their disposal, Kim Kyung-hwan. But they hadn’t brought him, fearing I might eliminate him entirely.
Even if they attempted to use Hwang Soo-rim, the raccoon who was currently transforming at her home would likely act as instructed, feigning madness and causing a scene.
“Did you mention there were around fifty?” I inquired, my voice tense.
“Yes, that’s correct,” he confirmed.
I estimated the odds. Was there a realistic way to identify and eliminate all fifty of them or erase their memories of me completely? The risks were significant. Without a list, missing even one person would lead to failure, triggering an immediate war against the nation.
Moreover, humanity possessed a storage medium surpassing the brain. What if the information was encrypted on an intranet or a similar platform? There would be no way to trace it and wipe out the data.
Blowing up the Blue House was an alternative, but it should be reserved as a last resort. Assassination was effective when my identity was concealed, but it became a murky option once my identity was known. To ensure their silence when my identity was exposed to a state agency, I’d have to slaughter them, not just assassinate them.
And then, there were issues with my family. I needed to maintain as much control as possible.
“I believe all you want is a conversation, right?” I asked the man.
“Yes, that’s right, sir!” He replied, his expression relaxing, his eyes shining.
“As you mentioned earlier, I doubt you’re suggesting we have a long conversation here,” I pointed out.
“Yes, there’s a place set up ahead. It’s a tranquil residence near this airfield,” he clarified.
Indeed. I hadn’t expected them to take me to the Blue House immediately. Making a scene in the heart of the city, at the core of the nation’s power, would have had dire consequences.
However, I voiced my discontent. “No matter how much I think about it, today feels incredibly sudden.”
After confirming that the people on board were nervously studying my expressions, I continued, “I hope I don’t get approached this way again. I can’t believe you turned the plane.”
“Ah, well. I apologize for that part. We do take various factors into account! If you need transportation to get to your house–!” the man started to explain, but I interrupted him.
“I’m currently not in a position to engage in lengthy conversations,” I replied.
In truth, I needed to ensure my family’s safety quickly. And I had to go to an isolated place to spread out over a thousand maggots–I meant dragons– from my backpack.
Moreover, I didn’t need to surrender control just because they’d approached me suddenly. I had no obligation to meet on their terms. Not to mention, when I gave up on playing as an ordinary person.
“This’s good enough,” I declared, feeling the magic in my hand complete. I pulled a piece of magic paper from my bag and activated the premade spell. “I’ll give you something.”
“Ah, this is?!” the man exclaimed as a piece of paper floated in the air according to my hand gesture. A cluster of white light, like a starry constellation, condensed and began inscribing letters onto it.
Since both parties could speak Korean, the language was convenient. I swiftly filled a section of the contract with sentences. Originally, they were lengthy, exceeding the paper’s size, but as if scrolling, the letters gathered in one space, creating blank areas where additional sentences were recorded.
Once finished, I held out the magic paper to the man. “If you’d like to continue our conversation, please sign here and return it. It should be signed by someone responsible for the decision.”
“What is this?” the man asked, bewildered.
I responded with a wry smile. “It’s a contract.”
“...Contract?”
“Only after signing this contract will I start the conversation. Ask me questions from then on.” As I handed the paper over, I added a brief explanation. “This contract doesn’t rely on human societal laws; it operates on the ’soul’ of the individuals involved. You’ll find out the details when you read it. And as for how far its effects reach and the implications of signing. Oh, and if you doubt whether what’s written can come true…”
I purposely trailed off my words before going on. “Ask any wizard around you. I’m sure they know very well.”
The person they could inquire of was likely Kim Kyung-hwan. He was well-versed in the Soul Contract due to being part of a similar agreement. If they wondered how he knew, he could simply say he learned it in training camp, leaving it at that.
After wrapping up our conversation, I cloaked myself with stealth magic.
“S-sir!” The diplomat called out anxiously.
I got out of the plane, leaving the bewildered group behind. Garam and Mrs. Pearl, who were still concealed, followed me. I took the pink maggots, including Hwang Soo-rim inside the miniaturized container, before we soared through the sky.
We flew at low altitudes to stay off radar. Once we were far enough from the airport to be out of sight, I settled on the ground and let out my frustration.
“Oh, damn cell phone!” I cursed, tossing it into my backpack. There was no chance the signal would reach the subspace. Then I glanced at the group and instructed the next move. “Let’s head to Seoul and part ways.”
“Yes,” everyone answered.
“It’s a major mess. Those people are pretty much the upper crust, right?” Mrs. Pearl’s voice carried a somber tone.
“Well, it’s close enough,” I said as I reviewed my plan. First, I needed to ensure my family’s safety. If they didn’t cooperate, I’d have to incapacitate them and move them elsewhere. My current home had to be abandoned; I had to relocate everything and establish a barrier impervious to government intrusion.
I doubted they’d already gone after my family, given their desire to maintain a working relationship with me. But what if I was wrong? What if they’d made a move?
I briefly entertained the idea, my frustration mounting. If they had endangered my family, I would seek revenge.
Yeah, I will seek revenge. I repeated the words again and again. My thoughts came to a sudden halt, like an unenthusiastic theater actor stumbling through lines.
Seeking revenge—it was an instinctual, common-sense reaction for me. Yet, despite these thoughts, my emotions remained as calm as a serene lake. Why do I only feel annoyed when I assume this situation, instead of getting angry?
It was Mrs. Pearl that broke my thoughts.
Mrs. Pearl’s voice interrupted my reverie. “Will they sign the contract?”
I cleared my mind and replied, “The president probably won’t. They’re not that reckless.”
No matter how much Kim Kyung-hwan vouched for it, the president wouldn’t recklessly sign an unknown magical contract beyond the scope of human civilization. What if it concealed a mind-control curse? Of course, I couldn’t use such magic. It meant they had a lot of room for imagination.
“I’ve been clear that anyone who wants to have a conversation with me in the future has to sign that contract upfront. If even one government official goes for it, that’s a win,” I added. That way, the minimum safety measure was in place. “I’ve got a lot of work ahead.”
Everything was in disarray. I needed to establish a new identity for future use and further conceal myself.
Why hadn’t I done this earlier? I hadn’t known how, and I hadn’t felt the need. But circumstances had changed.
First things first, the government must have found out about Lee Seo-rin, the owner of my current place. Sooner or later, I’d have to find a new contractor to handle economic, administrative, and real estate matters.
“Darn it,” I swore silently. In the current situation where my identity was exposed, there was no benefit in continuing exchanges with the government. So why had I issued the contract?
I thought about it; I wanted to maintain some influence on the government’s side, just in case. They feared my existence but also coveted it internally.
The government would likely persist in dialogue attempts with me, and someone would eventually sign the contract. That was sufficient. It mattered that even one government member signed it. There was no mind-control curse on the contract, but I’d injected a bit of humor into it.
“Oh, but just thinking about it makes me furious.” I wasn’t a revolutionary rebel, yet now I had to keep the government in check. Oh, this corrupt, foolish, double-faced bunch!
With a sigh of frustration, I resumed my plans. The bait had been cast on the government’s side, and I mentally mapped out my priorities.
+
The taste of bitterness lingered. From now on, Yoon Min-joon’s social persona had met its end.
