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If the public safety in the Republic of Korea stabilizes, then Iserin will probably be able to advance in acquiring armed forces with a bit more leeway.

In that case, perhaps I could receive assistance in finding magic, divine objects, or ruins.

‘No way.’

Jinseong briefly entertained that thought but quickly erased it from his mind.

There was no way that the transcendent beings would allow a contractor to approach matters of magic or divine objects.

To those transcendent beings, magic is something that steals, twists, and grotesquely alters human lives.

Of course, they don’t detest or reject it outright due to the essence of humanity within it, but…

That doesn’t mean they find it appealing.

Letting their precious contractor get involved with such things?

That’s simply out of the question.

Especially when considering the peculiar nature of magic.

Magic is the easiest special ability to use.

As long as you know the right method, even a three-year-old child can wield it.

Even the difficulty of this ‘method’ varies greatly.

Some might require building a mountain-high altar for a ritual, others may need specific timings and locations to perform the sacrificial rites, and some even demand offering special materials through very intricate processes. Often, one might even have to recite incantations that sound almost like animal noises without making a single mistake.

No, maybe it’s actually fortunate if it’s just that.

Some spells could require skinning off part of oneself to make an instrument to play, while others might necessitate cutting open one’s own abdomen and enduring the pain to offer internal organs as a sacrifice. Moreover, there were truly wicked deeds that could be required as well.

But conversely, there are many spells that can be used quite easily.

A spell that merely requires drawing certain characters and symbols while pronouncing their sounds correctly, a spell that allows you to utilize psychokinetic powers by reciting invocations mentally after strengthening your spirit, and a spell that can briefly open your spirit vision simply by eating certain foods and reciting an invocation, among others…

Indeed, there are plenty of easy-to-use spells.

Some ancient spells even allow for usage merely by drumming on a rhythm while in a trance and shouting slogans, while some spells only require you to throw a spear while holding an item made from specific materials while thinking of using magic.

It’s not a metaphor; it’s genuinely the case that if you know how, even a three-year-old can use magic.

When it comes to accessibility, no other special ability can even come close.

However… despite this stunning accessibility, the costs are terrifyingly severe.

Like an easily enterable snare, magic easily pushes the curious to their deaths.

It demands sacrifices of internal organs and twists the mind.

It destroys health and shortens lifespans.

It leaves holes in bones and melts muscles away.

It subjects you to countless afflictions and unknown torments that defy imagination.

It distorts flesh, breaks the mind, and twists the soul.

The cost of magic, even with its easy access, is exactly what keeps people from touching it.

Magic harbors cruelty and horrors that are proportional to its mysteries.

And this horror appears as something entirely different to the transcendent beings.

The perspectives and thoughts of transcendent beings are indeed far from those of ordinary people.

However, if we were to draw a comparison, it wouldn’t be very different from viewing cute animals.

Using magic can inflict wounds and disabilities on that cute animal.

Its eyes go blind, its skin rots, flies swarm around it, and its limbs get crushed and disappear.

It might grotesquely transform as if born deformed, becoming a sight rarely seen.

And it’s not limited to just the realm of flesh; it extends into the spirit and soul as well.

That form would hardly be a welcome sight for transcendent beings.

The very thought that such a fate could befall their precious contractor would make it even worse.

Therefore…

‘It’s certain that just like before the rewind, Iserin will have no thorough involvement with magic.’

Before the rewind, Iserin showed little interest in magic.

She was interested in Jinseong, but that was merely curiosity about an individual named Park Jinseong.

It was far from wanting to know more about magic, to use it, or to learn about shamans.

Even when witnessing the use of magic, she might feel curious about its abilities, history, or costs, yet she never bothered to wonder how to use it herself or what would happen if she did.

Just like looking at something curious, her interest ended there.

This attitude must have been significantly influenced by the involvement of Grimoire… but perhaps it’s also because Iserin herself simply wasn’t interested in magic.

Considering that aspect, it was hard to see how Iserin would provide much help to Jinseong now.

‘Ruins, ruins…’

Jinseong recalled a companion who gave him information about ruins before the rewind.

The witch with the nickname Danbi, Anastasia.

She had truly assisted Jinseong immensely in exploring the ruins.

And now that time had warped, that witch had formed a bond with Iserin.

Thinking about this altered reality…

‘Hmm. Since events have changed, the future could also change.’

Yes.

I might be able to get Iserin’s help concerning the ruins.

Perhaps Iserin and Anastasia could synergize to uncover a deeply hidden ruin.

If that were to happen…

It would truly indicate a positively altered direction for the future.

Squeak.

As he thought that, Jinseong entered the mansion.

Upon entering the mansion, he was greeted by a somewhat unfamiliar sight.

The interior had been completely renovated under the direction of the Great Witch, looking neat and elegant.

It was a stark contrast to the chaotic and cluttered scenery of the past.

In this changed landscape, the household staff were diligently at work.

They were cleaning the windows and floors, and meticulously maintaining the wooden furniture.

They were also tending to the flowers placed at regular intervals, and transporting goods.

“Oh?”

Among that scene, a woman who had been part of it widened her eyes upon seeing Jinseong and Iarin.

“You’ve come.”

“Yes. I happened to pass by and stopped in since I had business nearby.”

She was one of the wives of Lee Yang-hoon, who had visited Jinseong during his illness.

With a somewhat awkward demeanor, she was clearly expressing friendliness by welcoming Jinseong’s visit. However, the moment her gaze shifted to Iarin, who was clinging closely to Jinseong, that warmth disappeared entirely.

“Hey! What’s with that outfit?”

She frowned slightly as she scolded Iarin.

“Ah~ What’s wrong with my outfit?”

“What do you mean, is there nothing wrong? Do you think it’s fine to wear that?”

“It’s just sportswear.”

“Oh dear. Even if you’re calling someone your brother, don’t you feel any shame wearing that?”

Iarin looked at her outfit in response to her mother’s nagging.

And then, tilting her head as if she couldn’t understand.

“What’s wrong with it? It’s damp with sweat and rolled up to show my belly button, and the pants are short….”

“Come on, don’t be so dramatic….”

Iarin shrugged off her comments, thinking what’s the big deal since it was just Jinseong, not someone else. Then, to escape her mother’s scolding, she exclaimed, “I’m going to take a shower!” and dashed off to her room.

And after Iarin vanished, maybe due to the awkward atmosphere?

Her mother also disappeared somewhere, saying that the room is still there so she can rest easily.

Without saying anything particular.

Jinseong felt a slight oddness in that sight.

‘Hmm… It must be about time to catch a fever, right?’

The reactions were too calm.

Moreover, it wasn’t just her.

The household staff and the overall atmosphere of the mansion felt the same way….

It was too peaceful.

Even though Lee Yang-hoon was sick, the strong bonds between family members and the decent relations with the staff shouldn’t create such an atmosphere like this…

‘Strange.’

The talisman wasn’t malfunctioning. Jinseong had surely made it properly and given it away.

So why this ambiance?

‘Hmm. With the curse that makes it return to me even if it’s lost, it can’t be that it was misplaced…’

There were few reasons why the atmosphere in the mansion could be this peaceful.

Either the ownership of that talisman, which he had impressed upon them to keep, was handed over to someone else, the talisman was damaged, or the talisman’s effect was weakened or nullified by another divine object or artifact…

Jinseong pondered what might have happened to the talisman he had given.

* * *

“Talisman? Ah, that….”

Facing Lee Yang-hoon, Jinseong inquired about the talisman’s whereabouts.

“Haha, a strange bird shining with rainbow colors gulped that talisman down.”

…He was able to hear that the talisman had been eaten by the Gaming Owl.

 

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