Chapter 7

From the moment he escaped the factory, Renock had been continuously thinking about the funds he possessed. He had managed to snatch some money from the supervisors, but it was impossible to survive on that alone. Eventually, he would have to find a place where he could get more money. However, with no knowledge of this world and a weak body, Renock had few options. The only thing he could rely on was his magical talent.

Finding a decent job in the open was impossible for someone like Renock, who had no status. In the end, the only choice he had was to return to Sector 49, where the dark magic power flowed. 'I should have listened to that man in preparation for something like this,' he thought. Recalling the directions he had heard from the man he had saved from the thugs, he wound his way through the alleys and headed for the shabby underground casino. There, a small bar with a faint glow was still open even at dawn.

As Renock entered the bar, his face had transformed into that of a lethargic young man. It was around the time when the night was ending and the dawn was breaking, so there were fewer than three customers left. In the middle of the bar, an elderly man was slowly mixing drinks.

Renock sat down slightly away from the old man and ordered a cocktail. Without listening, the old man mixed something and placed it in front of him. After the old man put down the glass, Renock spoke.

"I'm looking for a job suitable for a mage."

The underground employment agency. This was the place the man had told him about, where he could find the kind of work he was looking for. The old man, who had given a suitable job to the elderly man beaten up by thugs, would likely not be too dangerous for Renock either.

The old man hesitated for a moment after hearing Renock's words, then silently tapped the glass four times. A moment of silence passed, and someone yawned and walked out from the back of the bar.

"Ha... What is it? Business hours are over. I was just about to go to sleep."

A woman with a sharp face, her hair damp and disheveled, glared at Renock. She wore a loose shirt and black leather pants, exuding a lethargic yet menacing aura. She didn't seem to fit in as a bar employee.

The old man, who had been standing next to her, spoke for the first time.

"You're a mage."

"....Are you a mage?"

From Renock's experience, mages were generally treated well in this world. Her expression changed from annoyance to curiosity.

"Hmm, you look more like a patient... You're not an experiment subject who escaped from a lab, are you?"

Under the dim lighting, Renock's complexion didn't look good. When he didn't respond, she seemed to accept it and sat down on the other side of the bar.

"Alright, that's not important. Talented mages are always in short supply. I'm Jenny. What's your name?"

He couldn't use his real name. Renock had planned to create a new identity to use while working here, along with the face he had created with magic. After some thought, he used the name of the man who had first spoken to him in the factory.

"......Fan."

"Alright, Fan. I don't know who told you, but it's not a big secret that our bar arranges various jobs. You're looking for a job suitable for a mage, right?"

"Right."

Renock kept his answers short. He judged it risky to give information before understanding who Jenny was. Her eyes narrowed sharply at his response.

"Then I need to know what level of mage you are. That way, we can find a job that matches your abilities."

"Level?"

"Well, you don't have to reveal your specific magical system, but we need to know what type of magic you specialize in."

"......"

Interpreting his silence differently, Jenny's expression turned menacing.

"Unless... you're just a common mage claiming to be a mage, which would be boring."

Renock put down the glass he had been holding and spread his fingers. He summoned a strong image and channeled his magic power.

A bright magical light illuminated the faces of the three people, and Renock's magic was realized.

Crack!

"....You're an electric mage. My apologies."

Jenny, seeing the blue current between Renock's palms, said sheepishly. Elemental magic is known for its powerful and intuitive effects, but it is also difficult to master and apply, making it a high-difficulty skill. Renock had just used magic without any incantation or hand signs, a feat only a seasoned mage with years of experience could accomplish.

Even the old man standing next to her nodded quietly, but Renock wasn't done yet. While he didn't want to reveal all his abilities, he needed to prove his exceptional skills among the many workers who frequented this bar.

He focused his mind and moved the magic power flowing in his hands smoothly. The moment Renock twitched his fingers, the old man and Jenny's expressions changed dramatically.

"......!!!"

The current flowing through his fingers split into five strands and began to draw a small pentagram gracefully. This feat, requiring precise control of magic power at the centimeter level, was impossible without extensive practice. The two of them quickly changed their gaze towards Renock.

Finally, Renock cut off the magic power and picked up the glass again.

"As you can see, I'm confident in my skills. I'd like you to introduce me to a good job."

"....Not bad for someone who came in at this hour. I like you."

Jenny smiled and replied.

"But we can't immediately give you an important job. We need to work together a few times to build trust before we can connect you with good clients. For now, there are specific jobs you can do. Is that okay?"

"Understood."

"Great. Let's write up a contract then."

The agreement was quickly made. After drafting a nominal employment contract that didn't bind either party, Jenny brought out a thick file from behind the bar.

"Shall we start? Since you've come this far, I believe you won't be picky."

"Unless it involves civilians."

He wanted to avoid attracting the attention of the police or the military by harming innocent people.

Jenny shook her head as if it were out of the question.

"Don't worry, it's rare for that to happen. First, take a look at this."

She opened the file and pushed the documents towards Renock. Various papers with profiles and dozens of photos of people of all ages were attached, each with a large, unknown number.

After a while, Renock realized the meaning of those numbers.

"....A bounty?"

"It has the advantages of easy access, clear results, and immediate payment. Bounty hunters exist for a reason."

Jenny said this while pulling out a document and handing it to Renock.

"It's a great way to weed out the mediocre. Are you interested?"

"I've only been in the city for a short time... I can't afford to be picky."

Renock said this while carefully examining the face in the photo. A young man with dry skin and a nervous expression, his faded brown hair cut asymmetrically, was smoking a cigarette.

"Name: Taylor Evans. He's a scavenger and is suspected of attempting to steal security equipment from Achilles' 31st sector port four days ago."

"Did he get away?"

"There's no way a piece of trash from the slums could break Achilles' security. The other scavengers involved in the plan were all killed, and this one managed to escape. Achilles has since withdrawn and left the cleanup to us."

From her words, it seemed there was a significant power gap between the company Achilles and the scavenger organization.

"His scavenger branch has already cut ties, so even if you get rough, it shouldn't be a problem."

"Hmm...."

"The bounty is 3 million cells. It's not a large amount, but it's not bad for catching a rat. What do you think?"

3 million. To Renock, who had been struggling with a few thousand cells a week ago, it was an absurdly large amount, but he hesitated to accept it immediately.

'Too vague.'

After a week in the city, Renock had a rough idea of how vast and diverse it was. Even just Sector 49, where the entertainment district was located, was a completely different world from the bustling area with the library. Finding someone with just a photo seemed like a daunting task. While rummaging through the file, Renock found something and pointed it out.

"Here, it says they took a blood sample."

"Huh? Well, we do have it."

"Can I have it?"

"Sure, but it won't be very useful."

Jenny, with a dubious expression, had the old man fetch the sample from behind the bar.

A piece of torn, bloodstained cloth. Renock put it in his pocket and stood up, and she asked,

"What are you going to do with it?"

"It will be helpful."

"Think twice before seeking out a blood mage. They charge over 5 million cells per job and you won't even break even. Otherwise, the sample is only useful for identity verification."

Ignoring Jenny's shoulder shrug, Renock walked out of the bar. Although she had mentioned blood mages, Renock had no intention of seeking their help. He knew a bit about blood magic, a powerful but highly reactive type of magic that shortened the user's lifespan. While it wasn't a problem in the game, it was a different story in reality. Given that blood mages used life force as a cost, it was understandable why they were so expensive. However, there was no need to seek their help just to catch a thief.

Finding a secluded spot away from prying eyes, Renock crouched down and placed the torn cloth on the ground.

".....[Bloody Chase]."

As he poured his will and magic power, a magic circle about a meter in diameter began to form around the cloth.

Hum!!

The magic circle, glowing red, absorbed the bloodstains and began to vibrate gently. It then transformed into a thin red thread that slithered across the ground like a snake. Renock, watching this, stood up and followed the thread.

This common magic was often used by hunter-type professions, mainly to track lost prey or for pursuit. Although it had a short duration and was ineffective if the blood trail was mixed, it only provided a general direction rather than a precise location, making it easy to counter with simple interference magic. However, it seemed the target didn't have such means.

After walking for a while, the crowd thinned, and the air became thinner. At a nameless construction site, a closed-off railway area came into view. On the rusted tracks, people wrapped in shabby blankets were lying. None of them looked healthy, and the strange smell of urine and feces permeated the air, even through his mask. It seemed to be a place where the city's outcasts, unwelcome in both the light and the shadows, sought refuge.

Among them, the thread led to a man leaning against a wall. Renock slowly approached him.

"Taylor Evans?"

"........."

Looking down at the man, who remained motionless like a corpse, Renock sighed. Maintaining a safe distance, he took out the cutting tool he had stolen from the thugs. It was a modified product from Dyke, he recalled. Pressing the two buttons on the handle simultaneously, a pale blue light source protruded from the cutter.

"Oh, this is....."

It looked like a small lightsaber.

Renock, marveling at it, aimed the light at the man's thigh and prepared to stab it. But at that moment—

The man, who had been motionless until now, suddenly rolled to the side and started running like a madman.

"........"

Watching Taylor flee without looking back, Renock shook his head. He had been prepared to counter any attack, but he hadn't expected him to run without resistance. Despite his emaciated appearance, his speed was quite fast, and he seemed about to disappear from view.

Renock's mind raced in the short moment. He had complete control of the situation and several options. He could chase after him, or use a Silence spell and shoot, as he used to. However, he would need the help of a stimulant to run, and he wasn't sure he could hit the target at that distance.

Therefore, Renock chose the third option.

He summoned his magic power, causing it to surge, and swung his hand at the air. A clear thought and strong will extended from his left hand, creating a hazy wave.

[Sound Wave]

Bang!!

With Renock's incantation, an invisible shockwave spread through the air like a wave.

The speed at which it traveled through the air was the speed of sound. The invisible shockwave, moving with terrifying force, quickly caught up to the fleeing man.

Thud!

It took less than three seconds for the running Taylor to lose his balance and fall.

Renock slowly walked towards where he had fallen. After walking for a long time from Jenny's bar, his stamina was starting to wane. He needed to regulate his breathing to avoid relying on stimulants again. After inhaling so much smoke while researching magic, he had only a few cigarettes left.

He would need to ask Jenny for a way to get such items after finishing the job.

Taylor Evans was trembling, his hands covering his ears. Blood was streaming from between his fingers.

The common magic [Sound Wave] is used to detect objects in the environment through sound waves, but at a higher output, it can produce this kind of effect. As a mage, Renock could achieve this by simply visualizing the magic clearly, something he couldn't do as a novice.

Taylor's eardrums and cochlea were likely shattered. He wouldn't be able to hear or walk properly.

"Hmm."

Looking down at the completely subdued and trembling Taylor, Renock fell into thought. After completing his research on common magic, the first thing he considered was protecting himself. He knew how important it was to protect himself from various threats, not just physical attacks.

If he didn't properly protect his senses, he could end up like Taylor. His frail body couldn't withstand even a single such attack.

While thinking this, he turned Taylor's ankle and—

Bang!!

A gunshot rang out, and a barrier of magic power around Renock shattered. The barrier magic he had prepared in advance had reacted to the bullet from somewhere.

It was a barrier that could be maintained continuously after a single casting, but it was fragile enough to be broken by a single bullet.

However, it gave Renock enough time to react to the attack. The moment the barrier shattered, Renock's thoughts and magic power moved simultaneously, weaving a new barrier. The time it took to create a barrier dozens of times stronger than the previous one was instantaneous.

This level of protection could withstand even an anti-tank rocket for a moment.

With the assurance of safety, Renock bit a cigarette and quickly spread his magic power to detect any movement.

The fatigue that had been accumulating in his body was forgotten, and he felt lighter. Despite being shot at, his mind remained calm. The worries about his future and daily life, which had been complex, were now cold and clear in the face of a life-threatening situation. Emotions and fear were pushed aside, and the rationality and mental strength of a mage filled him.

'Nothing.'

He had used his increased magic power to scan a 1-kilometer radius, but he detected nothing except for the vagrants. Either the shooter was at a greater distance or had used a method to hide their presence that couldn't be detected by simple magic.

Either way, it was a difficult situation.

But was this man worth such an effort?

Renock's eyes, which had been circling around the fallen Taylor, suddenly fixed on his head.

'The shot was aimed at the lower part of the barrier. At first, I thought it was just to subdue me, but...'

What if it was precisely aimed at the head of someone lying on the ground?

A reasonable assumption led to a quick deduction. The conclusion was immediate.

'They wanted to silence Taylor Evans.'

It was probably the scavengers. There must be something in his head that shouldn't reach Achilles' ears. That's why the sniper attacked after Renock found Taylor.

Most bounty hunters would take the target as proof of their success. If the target was eliminated, the information the scavengers wanted to hide would be buried.

But Renock had no intention of letting the sniper, who had openly shot at him, go.

Once he took on a job, he handled it decisively and ruthlessly. At least, he intended to make 'Fan' known as a ruthless and cold person. The fewer people who interfered with his earnings, the better.

With this resolve, Renock took out a pistol and shot Taylor in the head.

Bang!!

With a loud gunshot, the trembling Taylor died instantly.

Jenny had said she preferred to capture targets alive, but it also meant they didn't necessarily need to be alive. Of course, the 'story' in Taylor's head would be buried forever, but Renock didn't care about such secrets. What mattered to him now was finding and punishing the sniper who had aimed a gun at him.

This was all part of the process to achieve that.

'Found it.'

The moment Renock killed Taylor, a faint disturbance occurred. He didn't miss the ripple of magic power that followed.

The distance was about 600 meters. His guess that the sniper was using a special method to avoid detection, rather than maintaining a distance of over 1 kilometer, was correct.

The moment he pinpointed the location, Renock summoned his magic power and rotated his right hand.

Hum!!

A strange sensation of the magic power flipping, and it shot through the air, piercing the sky.

It was a common magic known for its powerful effect in one hand, a symbol of the electric magic school.

[Thunder Calling]

The moment he felt a bright blue magic light flash in the sky, a bolt of lightning descended from the barren sky, striking directly.

Thunder (落雷).

Boom!!

The ground shook, and a green light flashed with a delayed thunderclap. Renock watched the scene with interest. While he had seen other mages use this in the game, seeing it in reality was a different experience. It exceeded his expectations. Using electric magic in this way seemed more than sufficient.

Was the sniper dead?

If he hadn't run the moment he realized, there was no way to avoid it.

Renock immediately headed to where the lightning had struck, but found no trace of a body, only a crater about 2 meters in diameter. The sniper must have fled the moment Renock summoned his magic power.

Renock considered continuing the pursuit but decided against it. This should be enough of a warning to anyone secretly watching the area. The name of the electric mage 'Fan' should be known.

He didn't expect much. As long as there was no unnecessary interference or hindrance in the jobs he took, it was enough. Of course, more people would start investigating him as he acted this way, but that was why he had created a new identity.

Renock believed in his magical talent, a talent he had created by trading his lifespan. No matter how excellent the mages in this world were, his talent would not be lacking.

Without this belief, he couldn't do anything.

Suppressing a faint sense of unease with firm rationality, Renock collected Taylor's body, placed it in a sack, and slung it over his shoulder. He wasn't too exhausted, probably due to the stimulant