Chapter 46: Immigration Bureau
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Chapter 46: Immigration Bureau
[Tangled Identity]
The second-order magic of stealing anothers face requires a medium like a piece of leather to cover the face for use, but Im already wearing a mask anyway.
Uuung-
As the sound of the air vibrating around my face reached my ears, the strange shape held by the mask of Carcosa began to twist, and a new face formed over it.
Creating the face was one thing, but the challenge lies in deceiving the person who was looking at me from close range. So I had to erase any sense of alienation in that brief moment.
[Hazy Presence]
[Kind Whisper]
So I hurried to layer on other spells. I subtly diluted the presence of the morphed face to make it less conspicuous and infused my voice with magical charm and a forced familiarity.
Whats wrong?
U-uh Thats
Why did I think this person was suspicious? The officer had that kind of expression on his face.
Human cognitive abilities are more flawed than one might think. Despite having clearly seen a bizarre figure wearing a mask with four eyes just moments before, a simple trick and the right amount of deception made him forget what he had previously seen.
Thats why mages can make a living.
No, nothing. My apologies.
The police officer continued to examine my face with a puzzled expression on his face.
I just added a three-dimensional illusion over the mask, so unless he physically touched my face, he wouldnt be able to detect anything amiss.
Even more, since I had artificially diminished my presence, no matter how closely he examined my face, it would be difficult to find any distinct personality or features.
The police officer felt slightly embarrassed and slightly confused as he seemed to have forgotten what he was supposed to do next.
Well, then
There was nothing to be gained by prolonging this encounter. It was best to get out of his sight as quickly as possible.
What are you doing? Arent you going to check his ID?
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut in from behind the police officer.
Did you not understand me? Check his ID.
At the same moment, a message window popped up.
[System: Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]
Why didnt you pop up earlier you bastard. If it had appeared sooner, I would have just run away.
Ah, um Yes!
The police officer who came to his senses belatedly looked very nervous.
Whats going on?
Looking over the police officers shoulder towards the source of the voice, I saw a few people approaching.
There were two police officers and a woman dressed in a suit.
That woman
What a pain in the a**. The space around her seemed almost warped by the heavy magic I could feel emanating from her.
At this point, a few police officers were the least of my concerns.
It would be ideal to resolve this through talking, but the likelihood of dialogue succeeding was extremely low.
The opponent was just as dangerous and crazy.
Look! We are in a very dangerous and dark time! How can we ensure the safety of our citizens if you act so carelessly in such a situation?
A young woman with a sharp demeanor was shouting at the rough and unruly police officers of Paju.
Even at first glance, she had a fierce appearance and voice that suggested that she had a fierce personality.
She gave off the impression of being a swordsman belonging to an organization, and moreover
A pistol inside the suit shes wearing. Knives on her wrists and waistband? Or perhaps batons? And a few more items besides that.
It was difficult to identify exactly what those items were, but they were certainly not ordinary weapons.
The objects exuded a more intense magical power than the magical power emanating from her body. Well, they were discernible beneath her clothes by their shapes.
Moreover, at this moment, getting into a conflict with this woman would serve no good purpose. I decided to endure it a bit longer and I simply kept my mouth shut.
Do you know that its currently a period of intensified crackdown on illegal residents? If you happen to notice anyone acting suspiciously, please contact us.
After saying this, she handed me a pamphlet that mentioned something about emergency reporting.
The old-fashioned design and font typical of promotional material produced by a government office stood out.
Most of its content resembled guidelines for identifying spies from the 70s, but it also included some utterly bizarre statements. These were warnings that seemed relevant only in a world where surreal incidents occur.
[1. If a door suddenly appears on a previously blank wall, do not open it under any circumstances and report it to the authorities immediately.
Do not touch the door or put your ear against it to listen for sounds from the other side.
2. If a group of people with whom you have no social or age commonality offers you a chance for a better life, suggests enhancing your intelligence, or proposes immortality, life extension, or a cure for incurable diseases, ignore their offers and report them to the authorities right away.
3. On a rainy day, if a person (often a woman) who is not wearing an umbrella or raincoat suggests walking together, never respond. Facing them or making eye contact can also be dangerous.
4. If a person who was long presumed missing or dead suddenly shows up without any prior contact and knocks on your door]
In the end, I couldnt hold back and ended up speaking out.
It reminds me of a collection of urban legends that used to be popular back in the day
Even after hearing what I said, Yang Seo-ho didnt make any kind of reaction. In fact, she adopted a more serious demeanor.
The illegal residents these days are far more dangerous than that.
Its something I couldnt say to others, but this woman seems quite off her rocker.
Anyway, take care.
Yes, I hope we dont meet again in any strange circumstances.
Her words were polite but her tone implied a threat, as if encountering her again under unusual conditions would have dire consequences.
She didnt wait for my response and continued speaking.
I didnt bring my equipment today, but usually I carry much more with me.
Yang Seo-hos gaze was cold and detached as she scanned my face.
It was an obsessive and persistent look as if she was trying to etch my face into her memory.
It seemed she had noticed I used some kind of magic but was frustrated not knowing what it was.
Go ahead; memorize this face well.
The presence of this unremarkable face was fleeting; even if someone committed it to memory, changing it would be simple.
I turned around and checked the consumption of magical power and concentration, as well as other factors.
Considering it was a spur-of-the-moment attempt, the performance was quite satisfactory.
If it could deceive someone as skilled as Yang Seo-ho, it was unlikely anyone other than a fellow mage would notice the illusion cast over my face.
This should allow me to maintain my appearance without hindrance, even during combat or other complex activities.
There was no need to show a false face to those who already knew me by the mask, but it seemed I could finally abandon the lifestyle of only moving about unseen at night.
I realized I hadnt wandered outside during daylight for almost two months. For the sake of my physical and mental well-being, it would be beneficial to see the sun occasionally.
Haah But I doubt Ill manage to get up during the day.
Now that the tension was easing, hunger set in. I glanced at the fully darkened sky for a moment before making up my mind. Id deal with Vasilisa first, then head in to eat something.
I got on my skateboard once again.
To avoid the possibility of Yang Seo-ho tracking me, I chose not to use magic and instead moved stealthily, rolling my feet quietly as I traveled. I intentionally took the longer route, meandering through the complex back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood to buy time.
After about 20 minutes of skulking in the shadows, once I was confident I wasnt being followed, I finally dispelled the magic on my mask.
Now, I was no longer the person with an unremarkable fake face, but Kim Shin-hwa the remarkable masked man.
Im a little worried that my attachment to the mask is getting stronger
I started wondering if there was a way to cure my obsession with masks as I leaped over several buildings, making my way to the alley where Vasilisa was located.
Huh?
Something about the atmosphere around Vasilisa was off.
A great deal of magical power was pulsating inside. The magical power was moving as if a great commotion was taking place inside. This wasnt a normal situation.
[System: Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 46: Immigration Bureau
[Tangled Identity]
The second-order magic of stealing anothers face requires a medium like a piece of leather to cover the face for use, but Im already wearing a mask anyway.
Uuung-
As the sound of the air vibrating around my face reached my ears, the strange shape held by the mask of Carcosa began to twist, and a new face formed over it.
Creating the face was one thing, but the challenge lies in deceiving the person who was looking at me from close range. So I had to erase any sense of alienation in that brief moment.
[Hazy Presence]
[Kind Whisper]
So I hurried to layer on other spells. I subtly diluted the presence of the morphed face to make it less conspicuous and infused my voice with magical charm and a forced familiarity.
Whats wrong?
U-uh Thats
Why did I think this person was suspicious? The officer had that kind of expression on his face.
Human cognitive abilities are more flawed than one might think. Despite having clearly seen a bizarre figure wearing a mask with four eyes just moments before, a simple trick and the right amount of deception made him forget what he had previously seen.
Thats why mages can make a living.
No, nothing. My apologies.
The police officer continued to examine my face with a puzzled expression on his face.
I just added a three-dimensional illusion over the mask, so unless he physically touched my face, he wouldnt be able to detect anything amiss.
Even more, since I had artificially diminished my presence, no matter how closely he examined my face, it would be difficult to find any distinct personality or features.
The police officer felt slightly embarrassed and slightly confused as he seemed to have forgotten what he was supposed to do next.
Well, then
There was nothing to be gained by prolonging this encounter. It was best to get out of his sight as quickly as possible.
What are you doing? Arent you going to check his ID?
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut in from behind the police officer.
Did you not understand me? Check his ID.
At the same moment, a message window popped up.
[System: Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]
Why didnt you pop up earlier you bastard. If it had appeared sooner, I would have just run away.
Ah, um Yes!
The police officer who came to his senses belatedly looked very nervous.
Whats going on?
Looking over the police officers shoulder towards the source of the voice, I saw a few people approaching.
There were two police officers and a woman dressed in a suit.
That woman
What a pain in the a**. The space around her seemed almost warped by the heavy magic I could feel emanating from her.
At this point, a few police officers were the least of my concerns.
It would be ideal to resolve this through talking, but the likelihood of dialogue succeeding was extremely low.
The opponent was just as dangerous and crazy.
Look! We are in a very dangerous and dark time! How can we ensure the safety of our citizens if you act so carelessly in such a situation?
A young woman with a sharp demeanor was shouting at the rough and unruly police officers of Paju.
Even at first glance, she had a fierce appearance and voice that suggested that she had a fierce personality.
She gave off the impression of being a swordsman belonging to an organization, and moreover
A pistol inside the suit shes wearing. Knives on her wrists and waistband? Or perhaps batons? And a few more items besides that.
It was difficult to identify exactly what those items were, but they were certainly not ordinary weapons.
The objects exuded a more intense magical power than the magical power emanating from her body. Well, they were discernible beneath her clothes by their shapes.
Moreover, at this moment, getting into a conflict with this woman would serve no good purpose. I decided to endure it a bit longer and I simply kept my mouth shut.
Do you know that its currently a period of intensified crackdown on illegal residents? If you happen to notice anyone acting suspiciously, please contact us.
After saying this, she handed me a pamphlet that mentioned something about emergency reporting.
The old-fashioned design and font typical of promotional material produced by a government office stood out.
Most of its content resembled guidelines for identifying spies from the 70s, but it also included some utterly bizarre statements. These were warnings that seemed relevant only in a world where surreal incidents occur.
[1. If a door suddenly appears on a previously blank wall, do not open it under any circumstances and report it to the authorities immediately.
Do not touch the door or put your ear against it to listen for sounds from the other side.
2. If a group of people with whom you have no social or age commonality offers you a chance for a better life, suggests enhancing your intelligence, or proposes immortality, life extension, or a cure for incurable diseases, ignore their offers and report them to the authorities right away.
3. On a rainy day, if a person (often a woman) who is not wearing an umbrella or raincoat suggests walking together, never respond. Facing them or making eye contact can also be dangerous.
4. If a person who was long presumed missing or dead suddenly shows up without any prior contact and knocks on your door]
In the end, I couldnt hold back and ended up speaking out.
It reminds me of a collection of urban legends that used to be popular back in the day
Even after hearing what I said, Yang Seo-ho didnt make any kind of reaction. In fact, she adopted a more serious demeanor.
The illegal residents these days are far more dangerous than that.
Its something I couldnt say to others, but this woman seems quite off her rocker.
Anyway, take care.
Yes, I hope we dont meet again in any strange circumstances.
Her words were polite but her tone implied a threat, as if encountering her again under unusual conditions would have dire consequences.
She didnt wait for my response and continued speaking.
I didnt bring my equipment today, but usually I carry much more with me.
Yang Seo-hos gaze was cold and detached as she scanned my face.
It was an obsessive and persistent look as if she was trying to etch my face into her memory.
It seemed she had noticed I used some kind of magic but was frustrated not knowing what it was.
Go ahead; memorize this face well.
The presence of this unremarkable face was fleeting; even if someone committed it to memory, changing it would be simple.
I turned around and checked the consumption of magical power and concentration, as well as other factors.
Considering it was a spur-of-the-moment attempt, the performance was quite satisfactory.
If it could deceive someone as skilled as Yang Seo-ho, it was unlikely anyone other than a fellow mage would notice the illusion cast over my face.
This should allow me to maintain my appearance without hindrance, even during combat or other complex activities.
There was no need to show a false face to those who already knew me by the mask, but it seemed I could finally abandon the lifestyle of only moving about unseen at night.
I realized I hadnt wandered outside during daylight for almost two months. For the sake of my physical and mental well-being, it would be beneficial to see the sun occasionally.
Haah But I doubt Ill manage to get up during the day.
Now that the tension was easing, hunger set in. I glanced at the fully darkened sky for a moment before making up my mind. Id deal with Vasilisa first, then head in to eat something.
I got on my skateboard once again.
To avoid the possibility of Yang Seo-ho tracking me, I chose not to use magic and instead moved stealthily, rolling my feet quietly as I traveled. I intentionally took the longer route, meandering through the complex back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood to buy time.
After about 20 minutes of skulking in the shadows, once I was confident I wasnt being followed, I finally dispelled the magic on my mask.
Now, I was no longer the person with an unremarkable fake face, but Kim Shin-hwa the remarkable masked man.
Im a little worried that my attachment to the mask is getting stronger
I started wondering if there was a way to cure my obsession with masks as I leaped over several buildings, making my way to the alley where Vasilisa was located.
Huh?
Something about the atmosphere around Vasilisa was off.
A great deal of magical power was pulsating inside. The magical power was moving as if a great commotion was taking place inside. This wasnt a normal situation.
[System: Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.]
Chapter 46: Immigration BureauTangled IdentityThe second-order magic of stealing anothers face requires a medium like a piece of leather to cover the face for use, but Im already wearing a mask anyway.Uuung-As the sound of the air vibrating around my face reached my ears, the strange shape held by the mask of Carcosa began to twist, and a new face formed over it.Creating the face was one thing, but the challenge lies in deceiving the person who was looking at me from close range. So I had to erase any sense of alienation in that brief moment.Hazy PresenceKind WhisperSo I hurried to layer on other spells. I subtly diluted the presence of the morphed face to make it less conspicuous and infused my voice with magical charm and a forced familiarity.Whats wrong?U-uh ThatsWhy did I think this person was suspicious? The officer had that kind of expression on his face.Human cognitive abilities are more flawed than one might think. Despite having clearly seen a bizarre figure wearing a mask with four eyes just moments before, a simple trick and the right amount of deception made him forget what he had previously seen.Thats why mages can make a living.No, nothing. My apologies.The police officer continued to examine my face with a puzzled expression on his face.I just added a three-dimensional illusion over the mask, so unless he physically touched my face, he wouldnt be able to detect anything amiss.Even more, since I had artificially diminished my presence, no matter how closely he examined my face, it would be difficult to find any distinct personality or features.The police officer felt slightly embarrassed and slightly confused as he seemed to have forgotten what he was supposed to do next.Well, thenThere was nothing to be gained by prolonging this encounter. It was best to get out of his sight as quickly as possible.What are you doing? Arent you going to check his ID?Suddenly, a sharp voice cut in from behind the police officer.Did you not understand me? Check his ID.At the same moment, a message window popped up.System: Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.Why didnt you pop up earlier you bastard. If it had appeared sooner, I would have just run away.Ah, um Yes!The police officer who came to his senses belatedly looked very nervous.Whats going on?Looking over the police officers shoulder towards the source of the voice, I saw a few people approaching.There were two police officers and a woman dressed in a suit.That womanWhat a pain in the a**. The space around her seemed almost warped by the heavy magic I could feel emanating from her.At this point, a few police officers were the least of my concerns.It would be ideal to resolve this through talking, but the likelihood of dialogue succeeding was extremely low.The opponent was just as dangerous and crazy.Look! We are in a very dangerous and dark time! How can we ensure the safety of our citizens if you act so carelessly in such a situation?A young woman with a sharp demeanor was shouting at the rough and unruly police officers of Paju.Even at first glance, she had a fierce appearance and voice that suggested that she had a fierce personality.She gave off the impression of being a swordsman belonging to an organization, and moreoverA pistol inside the suit shes wearing. Knives on her wrists and waistband? Or perhaps batons? And a few more items besides that.It was difficult to identify exactly what those items were, but they were certainly not ordinary weapons.The objects exuded a more intense magical power than the magical power emanating from her body. Well, they were discernible beneath her clothes by their shapes.Moreover, at this moment, getting into a conflict with this woman would serve no good purpose. I decided to endure it a bit longer and I simply kept my mouth shut.Do you know that its currently a period of intensified crackdown on illegal residents? If you happen to notice anyone acting suspiciously, please contact us.After saying this, she handed me a pamphlet that mentioned something about emergency reporting.The old-fashioned design and font typical of promotional material produced by a government office stood out.Most of its content resembled guidelines for identifying spies from the 70s, but it also included some utterly bizarre statements. These were warnings that seemed relevant only in a world where surreal incidents occur.1. If a door suddenly appears on a previously blank wall, do not open it under any circumstances and report it to the authorities immediately.Do not touch the door or put your ear against it to listen for sounds from the other side.2. If a group of people with whom you have no social or age commonality offers you a chance for a better life, suggests enhancing your intelligence, or proposes immortality, life extension, or a cure for incurable diseases, ignore their offers and report them to the authorities right away.3. On a rainy day, if a person often a woman who is not wearing an umbrella or raincoat suggests walking together, never respond. Facing them or making eye contact can also be dangerous.4. If a person who was long presumed missing or dead suddenly shows up without any prior contact and knocks on your doorIn the end, I couldnt hold back and ended up speaking out.It reminds me of a collection of urban legends that used to be popular back in the dayEven after hearing what I said, Yang Seo-ho didnt make any kind of reaction. In fact, she adopted a more serious demeanor.The illegal residents these days are far more dangerous than that.Its something I couldnt say to others, but this woman seems quite off her rocker.Anyway, take care.Yes, I hope we dont meet again in any strange circumstances.Her words were polite but her tone implied a threat, as if encountering her again under unusual conditions would have dire consequences.She didnt wait for my response and continued speaking.I didnt bring my equipment today, but usually I carry much more with me.Yang Seo-hos gaze was cold and detached as she scanned my face.It was an obsessive and persistent look as if she was trying to etch my face into her memory.It seemed she had noticed I used some kind of magic but was frustrated not knowing what it was.Go ahead; memorize this face well.The presence of this unremarkable face was fleeting; even if someone committed it to memory, changing it would be simple.I turned around and checked the consumption of magical power and concentration, as well as other factors.Considering it was a spur-of-the-moment attempt, the performance was quite satisfactory.If it could deceive someone as skilled as Yang Seo-ho, it was unlikely anyone other than a fellow mage would notice the illusion cast over my face.This should allow me to maintain my appearance without hindrance, even during combat or other complex activities.There was no need to show a false face to those who already knew me by the mask, but it seemed I could finally abandon the lifestyle of only moving about unseen at night.I realized I hadnt wandered outside during daylight for almost two months. For the sake of my physical and mental well-being, it would be beneficial to see the sun occasionally.Haah But I doubt Ill manage to get up during the day.Now that the tension was easing, hunger set in. I glanced at the fully darkened sky for a moment before making up my mind. Id deal with Vasilisa first, then head in to eat something.I got on my skateboard once again.To avoid the possibility of Yang Seo-ho tracking me, I chose not to use magic and instead moved stealthily, rolling my feet quietly as I traveled. I intentionally took the longer route, meandering through the complex back alleys of the Geumchon neighborhood to buy time.After about 20 minutes of skulking in the shadows, once I was confident I wasnt being followed, I finally dispelled the magic on my mask.Now, I was no longer the person with an unremarkable fake face, but Kim Shin-hwa the remarkable masked man.Im a little worried that my attachment to the mask is getting strongerI started wondering if there was a way to cure my obsession with masks as I leaped over several buildings, making my way to the alley where Vasilisa was located.Huh?Something about the atmosphere around Vasilisa was off.A great deal of magical power was pulsating inside. The magical power was moving as if a great commotion was taking place inside. This wasnt a normal situation.System: Enhanced Vigilance trait has been activated.
