[Translator – Aren]
January 7th, 6:47 PM.
The moment came for me to part ways with Lieutenant Shin Hangi and the driver.
They handed me some basic toiletries and a towel before offering awkward smiles.
"Once things calm down a little, you’ll probably be able to go back to your old apartment and gather your belongings. So just think of this as a temporary stay.”
"Tsk. Got it.”
Well, he did feed me Richam, so I decided to let it slide.
Thinking that, I opened the door and stepped inside. Judging by the faint smell of bleach lingering in the air, the room had probably been used as a storage space before. It made me realize once again just how valuable the military considered wizards.
Normally they would’ve crammed 10 people into a room like this, but instead they’d only put four of us together with plenty of space.
A staff sergeant with a buzz-cut was already sitting near the outlet with his charger plugged in and glanced my way, then looked at my luggage and spoke."You got dragged here too?”
"What about you?”
"I was already just waiting to get discharged after I was rejected for long-term service, so I’m honestly feeling pretty great.”
Looking at his nametag, his name seemed to be Staff Sergeant Lee Sejun.
Apparently, after failing to secure a long-term service position, he’d become one of those untouchable time bombs in the unit counting down the days until discharge. But the moment they figured out he could use magic, the military had immediately discharged him like clockwork.
"Come to think of it, everyone here’s an Alteration-type wizard, huh?”
Now that I looked around, all four of us were users of Alteration-type magic rather than Dogma-type magic.
And despite the fact that we were technically civilians now, the Alteration-types had all been grouped together in one room. That struck me as odd, considering what Shin Hangi had told me earlier.
Wasn’t the military supposedly delaying introductions to prevent us from comparing notes and contaminating the information or whatever?
Wearing a mildly puzzled expression, I tossed my towel onto an empty mattress. Right then, a languid-looking guy lounging nearby with earphones in and his head bobbing lazily spoke up.
"Judging by your face, you seem weirded out that they grouped us together.”
"Well..."
"Power struggles. From the religious folks’ perspective, we’re a bit of a nuisance.”
That only made me more curious.
I set my things down, lay across the mattress, propped my chin up crookedly, and started with introductions.
"Baek Jemin. 28 years old. 8th year reservist.”
"28 and already an 8th-year reservist? Did you at least manage to graduate high school?”
"I passed the GED."
"Damn, you’ve lived a busy life.”
If my parents heard that, they’d probably get an aneurysm instantly, heading straight for thecolumbarium. Fortunately, the only one present here was I, Baek Jemin. A polite member of society.
The sleepy-looking guy with the earphones tapped his name tag and grinned.
"Shin Nain. 26 years old. Same as you, a reservist. Though I got mobilized from active duty. You said you awakened Eyes, right?”
Shin Nain tapped his earphones, then flashed a smug smile.
"I’m Ears. Want me to guess what your inner voice is saying right now, Baek Jemin-ssi?”
"Oh. Seriously?”
"You’re thinking that this whole situation is fucking bullshit.”
Honestly, I figured about 99% of everyone still left in Korea was probably thinking the same thing, but I nodded along anyway.
At that moment, as Shin Nain fiddled with his earphones, a tiny bit of music leaked out and reached my ears.
It was the kind of melody you’d miss entirely unless you listened carefully.
However, the lyrics were so distinctive that once you heard them, you could never forget them.
[Forward~ soldiers of Jesus Christ~.]
So he was that Classical Music Pooper bastard.
I immediately found myself frowning, unable to suppress my bewilderment. How had a guy who sat on the toilet listening to songs like that while everyone outside cursed at him awakened an Alteration-type magic instead of a Dogma-type magic?
Even that sly-looking Pastor Park Yohan didn’t seem like the sort who’d listen to hymns inside a bathroom stall.
Of course, being the considerate man I was, I decided not to poke at what was obviously a sensitive topic.
The buzz-cut corporal with drooping eyelids that made his eyes look half-closed seemed to think otherwise.
He had already hung his combat jacket from a nail sticking out of the wall and was sitting around in just his undershirt. Judging by the atmosphere, something clearly irritated him.
His name tag was crumpled but still readable.
His name seemed to be Park Sehyeok.
"If the Jesus freak’s gonna stay here, he should at least clean up after himself.”
"......"
The atmosphere instantly turned icy. Park Sehyeok acted like he was muttering to himself, yet somehow spoke loud enough for everyone to hear perfectly clearly.
Ironically, the man himself seemed convinced he was whispering quietly because he kept staring at the wall and mumbling.
"The existence of monsters like those proves God? If you Jesus freaks are gonna go insane, at least do it quietly.”
I quietly decided to roll over and face the other direction.
Apparently this wasn’t the kind of atmosphere where people sat around bonding and chatting warmly together.
Shin Nain’s expression had gone completely cold. For the first time, I felt like I truly understood what it must have felt like to be a Muslim civilian surrounded by Crusaders.
I focused on something else in the middle of this utterly ruined atmosphere instead.
Shin Nain’s faith seemed stronger than the average person’s, at least. So why had he awakened Alteration-type magic instead of Dogma-type magic?
Unable to hide my dubious expression, I decided to just go to sleep for now.
Thinking about it, I hadn’t slept a single minute since the moment Han Myungwoon clung to that monster like chewed gum.
* * *
After the Localized Invasive Structural Alteration Civilian Advisory Group officially launched, everything turned into a ceaseless circle of research.
While everyone else remained buried in chaos and frantic work, only us Operators, most people simply called us wizards, looked relatively relaxed.
The wizards were each given independent spaces so we wouldn’t interfere with one another’s research. Not that the space was anything special. It was literally just a study cafe cubicle.
The military had practically requisitioned a private study hall near City Hall and converted it into a space for us wizards.
The small business owner protested fiercely with tears streaming down his face, but civilian resistance meant absolutely nothing in front of a military operation under mobilization orders.
"What about my business?!”
"We’ll compensate you withGyeonggi regional currency.”
"No, I need to evacuate too!”
"Then evacuate. We’ll guide you.”
Knowing that Gyeonggi Province was already on the verge of transitioning into a wartime economy made the whole thing feel even more pitiful.
Still, I had my own problems to worry about.
Attempts to learn new Alteration-type magic were proving to be anything but easy.
"Uweeeegh..."
These crooked, distorted letters only revealed their true form inside the fog.
Once you properly learned one, merely looking at it afterward no longer caused vomiting or dizziness. The problem was that learning it the first time was absurdly difficult.
Simply opening the Magic Crash Course booklet and flipping to a page made it feel as though someone was grabbing your stomach with both hands and violently wringing it around.
There was no way to suppress this urge to vomit. And that was despite the fact I’d deliberately skipped meals.
After emptying my stomach three separate times, my vision started turning yellow, and I physically couldn’t keep reading the booklet anymore.
"Ugh, fuck."
Muttering to myself, I glanced around. The other Alteration-type wizards didn’t seem to be doing much better.
Staff Sergeant Lee Sejun had completely given up and was simply resting his chin in his hand while tapping at his phone with an uninterested expression. Shin Nain, meanwhile, had tears streaming down his face. Wondering what he was doing, I came to the realization that he was painstakingly copying passages from the Bible while mumbling incomprehensible nonsense under his breath.
It was probably that ‘speaking in tongues’ thing or whatever it was. I quietly looked away.
That was when I accidentally made eye contact with Corporal Park Sehyeok. He immediately scowled hard and whipped his head away.
"Did this bastard come here just to stare at people or what…?”
The whole citation was a complete disaster.
Eventually I stood up and wandered toward where I could hear people talking. The Dogma-types had all clustered together in groups or were quietly scribbling notes while conducting their own research.
"These things have twisted souls. That monster called the Amalgam torments even the human spirit itself. As though melting it down slowly!”
"If the boundary between self and other is forcibly destroyed like that, then this must serve as proof that such a result cannot lead to enlightenment.”
Bosal Geulmun and Monk Cheonghwi were busy discussing religious philosophy together.
"Hey, Father. You’re really just leaving that Muslim guy alone?”
"Pastor, if you’re not going to help examine shamanistic and grain-worship faiths, then please step aside.”
"It’s because Catholicism keeps acting so lukewarm that the Lord abandoned you!”
Pastor Park Yoan and Father Jeong Yonghwan, on the other hand, had apparently started an impromptu religious war.
"Can I still get an Americano here? Korean style, please.”
And Hamza was busily taking full advantage of the free facilities like a man determined to squeeze every bit of service out of them.
Religious people definitely seemed to accept magic differently than us Alteration-types. Quietly returning to my seat, I fiddled with the Magic Crash Course booklet and my phone while thinking things over.
Dogma-type magic and Alteration-type magic.
What exactly was the difference between the two? Why was it that one side awakened Dogma-type magic simply by entering the fog, while the other had to practically bore holes into their skulls staring at these messed-up symbols just to learn a single spell?
If Dogma-type magic came from having faith while Alteration-types came from lacking it, there was one glaring contradiction.
I slowly shifted my eyes back toward Shin Nain.
"Hoshanashorabakaniya..."
What would you think if you heard something like that?
I got goosebumps.
Shin Nain was mumbling bizarre nonsense whose meaning I couldn’t even begin to comprehend, all while sobbing his eyes out as if overwhelmed by both sorrow and joy. Honestly, if it weren’t for the cross drawn on the Bible in front of him, I would’ve assumed he was some lunatic worshipping Cthulhu and reported him on the spot.
And yet even a guy like that hadn't awakened Dogma-type magic. It was only after seeing the magical symbol that he awakened to Alteration-type magic—specifically the Ears branch.
So then, did possessing Dogma-type magic prevent someone from learning Alteration-type magic?
That question was finally answered on January 9th, at 1:11 PM, inside the conference room.
Under the supervision of Captain Kim Howoon and Lieutenant Shin Hangi, the wizards of southern Gyeonggi gathered together for the very first seminar to exchange research results.
And during that seminar, Father Jeong Yonghwan boldly declared,
"Dogma-type magic and Alteration-type magic are not mutually exclusive. I successfully awakened both Dogma-type magic and Alteration-type magic. Specifically, the branch known as Eyes.”
Captain Kim Howoon visibly brightened at those words and beckoned with a finger.
"If it’s not too much to ask, Father, what kind of ability do you possess?”
"My Eyes-type magic allows me to visualize and detect pulse and body heat.”
As he spoke, Father Jeong Yonghwan began revealing the conclusion of his own investigation and research.
"As a Catholic priest, I have also studied various existing religions and belief systems. They are disciplines with strongly heretical characteristics, yes, but such studies are nevertheless indispensable for understanding and supplementing doctrine. Just as the Lord commonly known as Jehovah, or Yahweh, merged with Korea’s preexisting heavenly deity traditions and thus came to be calledHaneunim orCheonju within Korea, faith itself is fluid rather than absolute. That is a historical truth regardless of whether one believes in salvation and the Lord’s existence.”
"Look at that. Turns out the priest was actually a full-blown heretic.”
Pastor Park Yohan glared fiercely, but Father Jeong Yonghwan ignored him and continued.
"If these Dogma-type magics are not miracles granted by the true Lord but merely random phenomena perhaps produced by an enemy or by some unknown princess, then rather than seeking divinity within the phenomena themselves, we must continue seeking holiness within our own actions and hearts. For if these truly were miracles granted by the one true God, then surely he would not validate the existence of other gods by bestowing miracles even upon the clergy of foreign religions…”
"They’re temptations scattered by Satan and his demons! What other interpretation could there possibly be?!”
The one who calmed the rapidly escalating atmosphere was Captain Kim Howoon. Rubbing at his exhausted eyes, he spoke.
"Alright, everyone, calm down. So, Father, what you're saying is that Dogma-type magic may not necessarily originate from some divine being, is that correct?”
"Not quite. However, just as users of Dogma-type magic are capable of learning Alteration-type magic, users of Alteration-type magic should likewise be capable of learning Dogma-type magic. But… the reaction I experienced while learning through the letters was accompanied by overwhelming revulsion, chills, fever, and body aches. The backlash was far more severe than what’s currently understood.”
"That’s strange. Even among established religions, people capable of using Dogma-type magic are exceedingly rare. So users of Dogma-type magic can learn Alteration-types, but suffer even stronger backlash reactions than ordinary people?”
The instant Captain Kim Howoon asked that, something suddenly clicked in my head after silently listening.
Dogma and Alteration-type magic were not mutually exclusive. That meant both could theoretically be learned. Yet users of Alteration-type magic couldn't use the Dogma-type magic wielded by traditional religious figures.
And if one thought about it logically, Dogma-type magic, which didn’t require staring at magic symbols until one vomited one's guts out, should’ve had a much higher awakening rate. But reality was the complete opposite.
Out of all those countless religious believers, only a tiny handful who entered the fog awakened Dogma-type magic. And Hamza, who is a Muslim, was a guy who devoured pork belly and gochujang while guzzling soju without a shred of hesitation.
Maybe it had nothing to do with devoutness in the first place. Religious people probably assumed devotion itself was the deciding factor, though.
But based on everything I’d seen so far, Dogma-type magic wasn’t granted simply because someone was devout or believed hard enough.
Meanwhile, Alteration-type magic could be awakened by anyone capable of reading the magical symbols. If anything, that seemed a lot more universal.
That was when something rang sharply inside my mind.
"Faith."
"Baek Jemin-ssi?”
"Faith is the lens. Belief is the core. Belief itself proves reality.”
Even while feeling burdened by all the eyes turning toward me, I desperately forced myself to keep speaking before the inspiration slipping through my mind vanished.
"If Dogma-type magic truly manifests according to faith alone, then logically speaking, Protestant pastors should also be able to use [Reception of the Eucharist], right…? I mean, both Catholics and Protestants perform communion as far as I know. But instead [Reception of the Eucharist] went specifically to Catholic priests, while pastors received the magic called [Redemptive Conviction]. Though I’ve got no idea who came up with those names.”
After swallowing once, I continued.
"Back when I was young, I vaguely remember learning about the Protestant Reformation in world history class. I heard there was a man namedCalvin who proposed a predestined view of salvation. As I understand it, the idea was that who would be saved had already been decided and that people merely proved to themselves they were among the saved through good deeds and devotion to the church. And considering how Korean Protestantism was heavily influenced by Calvin and thePuritans, I think this thing called [Redemptive Conviction], the belief that salvation is guaranteed so long as you preach ‘Believe in Jesus and enter Heaven, reject Him and fall to Hell,' might originate from there. I think it changes depending on what the individual considers the most important belief.”
At those words, the expressions of the religious figures became somewhat complicated.
Even Pastor Park Yohan, though clearly displeased as if he couldn’t fully agree, merely pursed his lips while falling deep into thought.
Only Captain Kim Howoon exchanged glances with Lieutenant Shin Hangi before turning back toward me.
"So your theory is that Dogma-type magic is less a miracle bestowed by divine beings and more an individual’s belief exerting influence upon reality, Baek Jemin-ssi.”
"Instead of relying on magical symbols, it originates from beliefs closer to one’s own faith itself. That’s probably why its applications are more restricted and why the effects are relatively standardized according to each religion. Much more so than Alteration-type magic, where even abilities of the same branch can differ wildly.”
On the other hand, because Dogma-type magic wasn’t awakened forcibly through an outside factor like magical symbols, it at least didn’t seem to induce dizziness or vomiting.
Meanwhile, established religious believers capable of using Dogma-type magic experienced even greater pain than Alteration-type users when attempting to learn Alteration-type magic through the external medium called magical symbols.
Because it was no different from shaking the very worldview firmly rooted inside themselves, the inner self built upon their beliefs. Or that was my theory, anyway.
And Father Jeong Yonghwan, perhaps finding much to contemplate himself, merely turned away and adjusted his cassock.
After that, conversation largely died down.
Which was why Captain Kim Howoon eventually clapped his hands together to shift the atmosphere.
"Excellent. There’s a lot to think about here. I’m pleased the members of the Civilian Advisory Group are giving this their all. Let’s conclude today’s seminar here.”
* * *
When I returned to the lodging, unlike Shin Nain’s sulky expression, Staff Sergeant Lee Sejun looked at me with visible surprise.
"You said you graduated through the GED, but you’re smarter than I expected.”
"I graduated from university.”
Even people who graduated through GEDs knew how to get into college.
Park Sehyeok, the buzz-cut corporal, was still holed up in the corner muttering to himself.
But it definitely seemed like I’d gained Staff Sergeant Lee Sejun’s favor.
He subtly flashed the cigarette pack tucked into his chest pocket and asked,
"You smoke? Dunhill?”
"I don’t smoke.”
"Then I’ve got nothing to give you. I’ll trade you information instead.”
"Information?”
"One of my buddies was assigned under the Capital Defense Command. He’s on the blockade line right now.”
Tapping the cigarette pack before slipping it away, Lee Sejun spoke.
"They say the atmosphere in Seoul’s getting ugly. Apparently armed clashes aren’t far off with people trying to break through the blockade. You should prepare yourself.”
Prepare myself for what?
A hollow laugh escaped me, and I picked up my phone to check the group chat for the first time in a while.
"In a world where monsters are pouring out everywhere, what else is left to prepare for?”
The group chat was deathly quiet.