272 – Seo Ye-rim Experiences Common Life #3
“Kim Dan, how did the thing I entrusted you with go?”
Kim Dan was my peer from the first batch and an Awakened equipment creator.
He was a promising B Rank Awakened, but after losing an arm, he stepped back from active duty to focus on making various pieces of equipment.
I had heard that his skills were outstanding and that he earned more money than most active Awakened.
“If it’s the unusual tail you entrusted me with?”
Kim Dan pulled out a rod slightly shorter than my height from a long case.
It was very black and as thick as a pole, with a gloss that almost felt like it was made of shiny rubber.
The end part was pointed and triangular, resembling a spear at first glance.
However, the identity of this material was a part of a living creature.
“I wondered where you got such a material, but it turns out it’s the tail of the Demon Lord Barbatos? It’s truly an amazing material. I don’t even need to process it separately; its magical conductivity is close to 150 percent.”
“Is that impressive?”
I asked.
Kim Dan nodded seriously.
“It is impressive. When superconductors came out, why did people go crazy? Because it was a material that could convey energy without loss, right?”
This was Kim Dan’s explanation.
Since the equipment used by Awakened operates based on the mana they emit, no matter how well it is made, there will inevitably be mana loss during use.
However, the tail of the Demon Lord Barbatos actually amplifies mana rather than losing it, by about 1.5 times.
It seemed that the tails of Imps really did make excellent magical tools.
“But there’s a problem. Look. This is the issue.”
Swoosh.
Kim Dan pointed to the Demon Lord’s tail that was wrapped around his hand with his other hand.
The tail was coiling tightly around Kim Dan’s hand and arm like a snake.
Crack—
If one of Kim Dan’s hands hadn’t been a mechanical arm, it wouldn’t have been strange for his bones to break or fracture.
What was happening?
“This tail is a special material that can’t be used by just anyone. The tail itself is like a living being, so it can’t just be handled carelessly. That’s why I couldn’t process it.”
Living weapon.
The tail of the Demon Lord Barbatos seemed to be a weapon that moved on its own.
Lee Jin-A, who had been listening beside us, said:
“It’s like Kkungkkungi.”
Is that so?
Thinking about it, it did sound like that.
Kkungkkungi is also a living peanut and almond destroyer.
It devours any visible strawberries in sight.
“A tail like Kkungkkungi. It certainly seems like it won’t be easy to handle.”
Swoosh.
I accepted the tail from Kim Dan.
Whirr!
Then, I felt the tail of the Demon Lord Barbatos wrap around my arm like a snake with will.
What I sensed was a form of malice that could be called its own.
—I will take your whole arm!
It was as if the tail was saying just that.
It felt as though it did not accept me as its master.
“So, this is your magic staff.”
I returned to the well house and presented the tail of the Demon Lord Barbatos to Seo Ye-rim.
This tail had been acquired by Inoi, but in fact, it was something the Demon Lord had dropped when fleeing like a lizard while Seo Ye-rim was burning him.
In retrospect, it was indeed something Seo Ye-rim should have acquired originally.
“I don’t really like using tools. I didn’t even use the Kalilnoi feather fan you gave me at that time. I thought it wouldn’t be worth burning. I didn’t have many tools that could withstand my firepower.”
Seo Ye-rim accepted the Demon Lord’s tail from me.
While it thrashed around like a cat that had just been bathed in cold water when held by me, it became docile in Seo Ye-rim’s hands.
How interesting.
Seeing that, Illinois said:
“It’s a very peculiar tail, but it must be memorizing the moment it was handled by Core Ye-rim…! That must be why it has calmed down…!”
Is that so?
Honestly, I wasn’t sure.
Seo Ye-rim held the tail like a wizard gripping a staff and aimed it around.
“So, this is such an impressive staff? It feels nice in the hand. A magic staff. A wand…. I used to have a few in the past too. Haildo, thank you.”
I never expected to hear a thank you from Seo Ye-rim.
Life really is full of surprises.
“Inoi…! Look at this…! Autumn flowers have bloomed in the land where the Nymph sisters live…! This Coris doesn’t know the name of this flower…!”
“Oh! This is called the red fairy flower…! It’s said to bloom in the land where fairies dwell, and it’s rumored to be very delicious when eaten…!”
“Then let’s pick and eat it together!”
The nymphs began to pluck the red flowers and eat them raw.
It was a very surreal scene, and it reminded me that Inoi had quite a bit of knowledge about various spells and herbs among the nymphs.
After all, it was Inoi who had lifted my curse.
What if Inoi could teach Seo Ye-rim about spells or magic?
“Inoi, can you teach Seo Ye-rim magic?”
“The magic this Inoi learned is for nymphs…! So even if Core Ye-rim learns it, it will surely be useless…!”
Is that so?
At that moment, Inoi stretched out its chest and shoulders.
“However, I happen to know someone who could be a teacher for Core Ye-rim…! It’s a witch named Daleto that I met recently in the distant land of Midland!”
Oh.
I know Daleto.
She was a skilled and talented witch.
She’s from Midland, the world where heroes and sorcerers exist, right?
# # #
“Hello, brave ones.”
Witch Daleto arrived in a black sedan and parked in the yard.
With her black suit, sunglasses, and handbag on her shoulder, she looked more like a fashion model from England than someone from the fantastical world of Midland.
Isn’t her adaptation to the 21st century a bit too quick?
Witch Daleto checked the time on her smartphone and said to us:
“What’s the reason you called me? Someone wants to become an apprentice witch? Becoming a witch isn’t something anyone can do. I don’t take just anyone as an apprentice. Witches’ spells are only available to those with talent.”
“This is Seo Ye-rim, the person I mentioned. She’s been struggling ever since she lost her flame and shadow. If you could teach her some useful magic, would she be able to handle it?”
“Losing her shadow…?”
Daleto frowned as if something was bothering her.
Soon after, she muttered, “I think I’ve heard of an old dark magic that steals one’s shadow…” but it seemed she didn’t remember well.
Anyway.
Current ‘Witch’ Daleto readily agreed to teach Seo Ye-rim about magic.
“You have more than enough talent. You’re probably already a better witch than I am. It’s a pity you don’t know any spells. The spell I can teach you is called ‘Search.'”
Swoosh.
Witch Daleto took out a glass orb from her car trunk.
I had seen that glass orb before.
“Place it against this orb and think strongly about what or who you want to see or find, and say the command.”
What did she just say?
What was that command again?
It sounded strange to me.
“Commands are concepts and ideas. Maybe it sounded strange to people in this world. Seo Ye-rim. How did it sound to you?”
“Valegreto?”
“Oh, that’s similar. You really are talented. Shall we get right to the practice? Seo Ye-rim, think of what you want to see and cast the spell on this glass orb.”
“What I want to see? I need to find out where that Gumihee girl is and what she’s doing! If I can find it out with a spell, then I’ve got to locate her right away!”
Swoosh.
Seo Ye-rim placed her hand on the glass orb and chanted the spell.
“Valegreto.”
I don’t know what it means, but it was a mysterious spell.
Then, the glass orb emitted a pop of light.
“She succeeded on the first try? Impressive.”
As Witch Daleto admired it, the light from the glass orb gradually dimmed, revealing something small and boy-like.
When everyone frowned at what it could be, I could recognize its identity.
“That’s my kindergarten graduation picture. It’s stored in an album in my mom’s drawer.”
Wasn’t Seo Ye-rim trying to find Gumihee’s current location?
Why was my kindergarten graduation photo appearing in the glass orb?
Soon, Witch Daleto chuckled.
“Well, magic always comes with variables and errors. The better the witch, the fewer variables there are. You did well for your first try. Now, as a return for the lesson, I’ll need a payment.”
Swoosh.
Daleto handed a glass vial she took from her pocket to Seo Ye-rim.
“Just gather a drop of saliva here. Even a drop is enough. The saliva of a talented witch is an excellent magical material. For a witch of Seo Ye-rim’s caliber, it will be as valuable as an Imp’s tail.”
Seo Ye-rim’s saliva is a fantastic magical material like an Imp’s tail?
That was surprising in many ways.
“Is there an attack spell you could teach me since you’re at it? Some powerful attack magic.”
Seo Ye-rim seemed more interested in aggressive magic than colorful spells.
Daleto frowned for a moment and crossed her arms as she nodded.
“Attack magic is a bit pricey. If you could give me some of the clothes you’re wearing, socks, or a handful of hair, I could certainly teach you.”
“Alright. That’s better than asking for money.”
Seo Ye-rim took off her sneakers, yanked her socks off, and quickly handed them to Witch Daleto.
After receiving Seo Ye-rim’s socks, Daleto muttered something unintelligible, “This will become a splendid artifact,” and added a few more words.
“With the color spell I taught you, try to find the ‘Book of Solomon.’ I think it’s somewhere in this world. It should contain all the attack magic as well. And about the dark magic that steals shadows…? Perhaps…?”
# # #
Seo Ye-rim received a business card and a gift of a glass orb from Witch Daleto.
Witch Daleto suggested, “In this 21st century, there are more witches than you’d expect, from elves to grown nymphs. I’m considering creating a witches’ group called Walpurgis, so contact me if you’re interested.”
However, Seo Ye-rim wasn’t really interested in any witches’ groups.
After learning the magical incantation from Daleto, she had a rough idea of how to use her ‘power.’
It was something that could be considered Seo Ye-rim’s innate talent and sense.
Swoosh.
Seo Ye-rim shut herself in her room, drew the curtains, and dimmed the lights as much as possible.
Then she spoke to the glass orb.
“Show me Haildo’s childhood photos.”
Swoosh.
The glass orb displayed photos of Haildo during his boyhood from an album.
Seo Ye-rim thought that the magic she learned was very fascinating and marvelous.
Was this thrill coming from the fact that she achieved such a powerful magic quickly due to her brilliant talent?
With that momentum, Seo Ye-rim decided to try out the application of her magic.
“Hmm, who is Haildo’s favorite girl?”
Swoosh.
As she projected the ‘concept’ made of mana toward the glass orb, it began to glow brightly.
