The Imperial Hunter

Chapter 2: Triangle Flight (2)

Suyeon, who had been gently stroking her lips, asked again.

“Is it because of people?”

I shook my head.

“No. It’s because of all living things.”

This answer seemed to surprise both Suyeon and Kyung-tae, who had been listening intently. They might now be starting to grasp the enormity of the changes I was anticipating.

“Magic wasn’t exclusively for humans, was it?”

“Yeah. More accurately, it was primitive magic.”

“Primitive magic?”

“Something closer to specialized superpowers in appearance. Most of the awakening will likely manifest as enhanced life itself and other peripheral abilities.”

Implementing magic required a circuit to convert magic power into magic circuits engraved in the soul. In environments rich in magic, the circuit naturally formed as the soul connected to magic.

‘However, I can’t have such a sophisticated circuit as my own…’

Having too much magic was also a problem. In this vast and turbulent flow, creating highly integrated circuits was an impossible task.

So, primitive circuits could potentially surpass me in terms of the total amount of flowing energy, but they might suffer from leakage, wastage, and reduced complexity in utilizing that energy. I suspect that they might only effectively utilize energy at a rate that didn’t even reach 1%.

There exists an insurmountable gap between those who were mages before and those who were newly awakening.

I explained all of this to the two of them, slowly, calmly, and in an organized manner.

As we spoke, the soft glow of twilight filled the inside of the glass, casting a beautiful light even in my extraordinary field of vision.

Kyung-tae, who had been looking at my glass absentmindedly, scratched his head.

“Ah, I sort of get it, but it’s hard to imagine. People, but also, what was it, like wild boars, are becoming much more dangerous than they are now, right?”

I tilted my head.

“Why wild boars, of all things?”

“They’re the first thing that comes to mind. They often come down to residential areas. You hear news about them rushing into convenience stores or ramming cars. So, imagine that, like superpowered wild boars? I mean, a lot of people could get hurt or killed, right? Haha.”

Hmm.

“True, but when considering the total amount of damage, there are creatures that could be more troublesome. I’m talking about species with a direct motive to attack humans.”

“Like?”

“For example…”

I thought of the animal that kills the most humans in the world.

“Mosquitoes.”

“Uh, mosquitoes?”

“Yes.”

I picked up a piece of rock candy, swallowed it, and continued.

“It’s a rather extreme example, but imagine a world where even insecticides struggle to work, and mosquitoes with sheer strength tear through mosquito nets to get in. It would be incredibly extreme, wouldn’t it?”

“Huh?”

Kyung-tae protested.

“You mean, those creatures might appear in swarms?”

“I said it’s an extreme example.”

“So…?”

“The likelihood of awakening, as well as the strength of abilities, will be proportional to the creature’s body mass and the time it has lived. There will also be differences depending on the species.”

Mosquitoes had small souls. With a small soul in a small body, the exposed surface area to magic, and thus the size of the circuit that could be created, would also be small.

However.

‘The problem lies in numbers.’

Perhaps because I had a sip of champagne while pondering, my contemplation temporarily drifted in a less productive direction. How many mosquitoes were there in this world?

I should calculate this using Fermi estimation.

Since mosquitoes exist even in deserts, except for polar regions, we should assume that mosquitoes were distributed globally, with varying population densities. The approximate area would be about 13 million square kilometers, maybe?

Let’s roughly estimate that there was one mosquito per 5 square meters in places like deserts, swamps, and grasslands…

260 billion mosquitoes.

Even if the probability of awakening was one in ten thousand, it meant that right now, there were 260 million super mosquitoes ready to emerge. Moreover, this probability was repeated with every generation. In reality, it would feel like many more.

Although this was an imprecise estimate, it implied something significant. If the proliferation of magic power was not resolved early, humanity would have to live in such a world. Starting with tiny creatures like mosquitoes, all living environments would become unfamiliar and hostile.

Kyung-tae splashed some water on his face.

“I might have to sell my stocks…”

Suyeon, who was taking notes, narrowed her eyes.

“Why are you suddenly talking about stocks?”

“I think the uncertainty in the future global economy might worsen.”

“…”

He was quite consistent.

“What did you buy?”

Kyung-tae answered when asked.

“Cell X Leone.”

“Any profit?”

“No, I’m in the red. I’ve been holding onto it since the end of the year before last, around 200,000, as Kim-ajussi in Yeouido advised me… I should have sold it when it hit 300,000, but I got greedy watching it go up…”

“You made a mistake.”

“I know I did.”

Kyung-tae looked sulky. Kim-ssi in Yeouido was the executive in charge of my domestic asset management, and it seemed he also shared investment advice with Kyung-tae.

“Don’t rush.”

“What?”

“All the things we’ve discussed so far are about what could happen if the magic power proliferation becomes a long-term issue.”

If this phenomenon ended in the short term… Although it might not evaporate all at once, there likely wouldn’t be such severe chaos. In a bear market, it might even be the right time to buy. It would stabilize soon.

Of course, it was just a prediction.

“So you’re saying that we’ll have to wait and see a bit more.”

“That’s right.”

I refilled their glasses until they were full. Now the bottle was empty. Kyung-tae, upon seeing the champagne overflowing as if it would spill over any moment, exclaimed and sucked it down. He was the one encouraging me to drink more. Not to mention Suyeon.

What’s the big deal? It’s just alcohol even if it’s expensive.

The rich flavor of lemon and butter in the madeleine paired wonderfully with the champagne. The oily softness of the madeleine, when paired with the champagne’s cold crispness, was a delightful combination.

Suyeon, who had been watching me drink with a steady gaze, carefully spoke up.

“It seems like you, Hyungnim, aren’t exactly pleased with this situation.”

She had good observation skills. I admitted my concerns openly.

“That’s correct.”

“I can’t believe… Huh? Why?”

Kyung-tae, a beat late, wore a puzzled expression.

“Hyungnim, shouldn’t you be able to use your abilities without sacrificing those who should die now?”

“Soon, it’ll come to that.”

“Huh? ‘Soon’? Not right away?”

“Even with a lot of magic power, it’s too much.”

To harness my potential, I needed to adjust my circuits according to the changing environment. Before doing so, running the circuits at full capacity would result in cellular-level collapse or turning into a vegetable, just like an electronic circuit frying due to overvoltage. In fact, even now, while I was sitting still, a light load was being applied.

Kyung-tae couldn’t hide his confusion.

“Anyway, if you become much stronger than before, is there a problem?”

“Of course. The stronger I become, the stronger those in London will become.”

By those in London, I meant the former associates of my master.

Beside Kyung-tae, Suyeon nodded thoughtfully.

“I didn’t… consider it that far. You once mentioned that they were people who would live quietly in the world’s shadows, right?”

“That was the case then. All that remained for those imperialists was their past glory.”

But now it was different. Struggling with a shortage of magic power, London’s mages were about to obtain tremendous power and influence. They’d looted knowledge and artifacts from all over the world during the time when the sun never set on their empire.

I muttered with a slight irritation.

“My former master, that damned white-haired bastard, has done things that can’t be undone by him or me… So the clash between me and London is almost certain. It’s going to be a long, dangerous, and exhausting fight.”

The “Eye of the Golden Age,” as they call it, was originally the most precious relic of the London imperialists. I didn’t have the option of pulling it out and returning it to save my life. The moment I pulled it out, I’d die from circuit rupture.

Thinking of my former master, memories of the tasteless alcohol from my days in the orphanage resurfaced.

Sigh. What a despicable guy.

Suyeon asked.

“Is it impossible to hide and live, avoiding the prying eyes of that ‘London’?”

I responded decisively.

“Even if it’s possible, it’s a matter of luck.”

“…”

“I don’t want that. Rather than living a fugitive’s life in fear for the rest of my life, I’d rather fight with everything I’ve got.”

Until one side or the other is completely finished.

In the memories left by my former master, there were the abhorrent values and atrocities of the London imperialists. Just as it was with my master, to the fanatics, I was just an impersonator, a decoy. There was no negotiating or coexisting with them; they had no redeeming qualities or value.

“And I guarantee you, it’ll be beneficial for everyone, including you, when those guys disappear from the Earth. They’re just cancer cells that would otherwise devour this world.”

After finishing my statement, I controlled my emotions. Somehow, my tone had become more rough. I usually refrained from revealing too much emotion, but when it came to my master and the imperialist bastards, it was difficult not to.

A moment of silence settled on the table. The music playing at the bar and the indistinct voices in the surroundings made for a chaotic backdrop.

Kyung-tae, who had been playing with the half-empty champagne glass, downed it and shrugged.

“But, Hyungnim, it’s not going to change anything, is it? When you say ‘kill,’ we kill, and when you say ‘die,’ we die, right?”

At that moment, I instinctively scanned Kyung-tae’s brain. There were no signs of any falsehood in his frontal cortex or amygdala. (+)^[1]TLN: Amygdala is a small part of your brain, but it has a big job. It’s a major processing center for emotions. 

This guy was always like a tail-wagging dog. It was not an insult; he was genuinely loyal, like a dog. Sometimes, he seemed like a lunatic though.

That’s why I didn’t mind spending 16 million on champagne.

“By the way, Hyungnim.”

Kyung-tae asked.

“We still have a lot of side dishes left. Can I order another bottle of champagne that isn’t so outrageously expensive?”

“Do as you please.”

“Thank you!”

He immediately ordered a new bottle of champagne.

The guy, who had been flipping through the menu, pointed to a page.

“How about this one?”

“What is it?”

“It’s a 2000 vintage Krug ‘Sir Winston Churchill.'”

“…”

Krug is a champagne brand that Winston Churchill reportedly enjoyed. They still sold products with his name on them. However, Churchill, while not directly related to London’s mages, was morally a detestable imperialist scoundrel.

Suyeon and I looked at him in disbelief, and Kyung-tae laughed heartily.

“Feeling a bit better now?”

I clicked my tongue lightly.

“…Alcohol isn’t a sin.”

“Hehehe! Thank you very much, Hyungnim!”

He promptly ordered a new bottle of champagne.

The champagne bearing the name of an imperialist was far superior to the ‘American Taste’ that had been rescued from the shipwreck a hundred years ago. However, the design was absurd. Churchill’s face, pasted in gold leaf on the deep green bottle, sparkled in the light.

Amidst all this, Kyung-tae turned his head and murmured as quietly as possible.

He looked like he was trying to suppress a chuckle.

This guy could be quite the character.

Afterward, we focused on eating and drinking quietly. It was partly a conscious effort on my part. Thanks to Suyeon’s steady consumption of the spread of dishes, we didn’t need a third bottle of champagne.

Kyung-tae looked at the empty plates and made a suggestion.

“Wouldn’t it be better to leave here and go out? I think they might be setting up a night market like Lau Pa Sat around here soon.

At first, he was ambitious, but once the expensive champagne entered the equation, it seemed his desires were somewhat satisfied.

The manager, who had been subtly keeping an eye on our table, finally relaxed after the bill was settled. He escorted us to the door with a request to come back, along with his farewell.

As we walked side by side toward the night market, Kyung-tae asked Suyeon.

“By the way, Noonim.”

“What?”

“I’ve been curious for a while. You’re a girl, so why do you call him ‘Hyungnim’?”

“Because I want to.”

“I see.”

Kyung-tae, who was acting all sophisticated, turned the tables and asked Suyeon.

“Then should I call him ‘oppa’?”

Kyung-tae hesitated for a moment, scratching his head.

“Um, that might not be quite right.”

The conversation, which had paused briefly here, soon shifted to a mundane topic.

Walking at a leisurely pace, we arrived at the famous Lau Pa Sat night market in the city after about 40 minutes. Apart from barricading the street and setting up tables, there was nothing particularly special about the place. However, once we were seated, Kyung-tae, who had been ordering beer, seemed thoroughly delighted. Suyeon, on the other hand, maintained her quiet eating habits even here.

Well…

Even such ordinary scenes might become increasingly rare in the future, so they had their own significance.

After eating their fill and having their share of drinks, the two of them returned to the hotel. It was around 11 o’clock.

“Rest well, Hyungnim.”

“May you have a comfortable night!”

Suyeon was in front, and Kyung-tae was in the back, joking around. It was a mood lightened by alcohol.

“Yeah. Sleep well, both of you.”

As I entered my room, separated from them in the hallway, I looked at the dimly lit bed and let out a heavy sigh.

• 1. TLN: Amygdala is a small part of your brain, but it has a big job. It’s a major processing center for emotions. 

Disclaimer:

This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.

Also, if you find some error in translation please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to translate. But I'll try my best to make it at least readable :)

Enjoy reading~!