Chapter 26: Alteration-type Magic System

[Translator – Aren]

My thoughts on MPC, the newly revamped Gyeonggi regional currency introduced in 2028 when the fog started encroaching, were lukewarm at best.

As far as I was concerned, all it would take was the military printing more of them and the whole thing would fall apart.

I’d earned 70 MPC for completing a single mission as a civilian Operator. Inflation didn’t seem far off.

So naturally, I figured I should squeeze as much value out of them as possible while I still could. Turns out, that wasn’t easy.

Whoever designed this MPC economy had clearly put some serious thought into controlling inflation. They were remarkably good at pulling currency back out of circulation. I should first mention the civilians, I suppose. Standing by a first-floor window, I casually glanced outside.

Trucks loaded with boxed supplies were parked out front, looking like those legendary “Golden Wagons" people said existed in the old military. Military police armed with rifles watched the crowd with menacing glares, while a logistics officer stood in the center flipping through paperwork.

A whiteboard menu had been set up nearby.

People lined up holding tickets, MPC, with the rank, name, signature, and seal of an approving officer. They’d hand them over to the logistics officer, who would then order soldiers to retrieve and distribute the corresponding goods.

As far as I understood it, the MPC economy worked like this:

Ordinary civilians received an average of 2 MPC per day for labor that benefited the military. A base daily supply package could be purchased for 1 MPC.

The package contained two 2l bottles of water, 5 packs of ramen, and 3 instant rice bowls. If you brought dependents and could prove they were under your care, you’d receive an additional 100g packet of convenience store kimchi, one more bottle of water, and another bowl of rice. 

A container of kimchi from the side-dish store cost 3 MPC. A set of basic remedies, such as cold medicine, cost 1 MPC. Two shirts cost 1 MPC. A pair of jeans cost 1 MPC. Things essential for daily life had been given relatively cheap prices… Or reasonable prices at least, I guess?

The masterstroke, however, was cigarettes and alcohol.

Regardless of brand, a pack of cigarettes cost 1 MPC. A bottle of soju or a can of beer also cost 1 MPC. Anyone who smoked or drank was absolutely doomed in times like these.

The most expensive item, though, was evacuation priority.

The Gyeonggi region, which had been designated the 2nd blockade line, was currently using Suwon and Gapyeong as major supply hubs. Military units had begun controlling logistics and supplies by blocking key roads to prevent people from fleeing into Gangwon Province or Chungcheong Province. Attempting to cross the perimeter without military authorization resulted in immediate classification as a potential Amalgam, leading to summary execution.

They called it "evacuation priority," when, in reality, it was actually an "evacuation permit."

And the permit cost 100 MPC per person. According to Lieutenant Shin hangi, there was a reason for that price.

'You need people to maintain infrastructure, help with military logistics and supplies, and keep potentially infected refugees under control. Order matters. Sure…it might rub people the wrong way, but it’s better than having no system at all, right? At least the criteria are clear…’

In short, the crime committed by the people of Gyeonggi Province was that they were living in Gyeonggi Province.

Just as the crime of those poor people in Seoul was living in Seoul while currently cuddling up to Amalgams and going on dates with Predator Spines. And fuck, the crime of being Korean was being born in Korea and becoming humanity’s first target when these goddamned monsters showed up.

In this ruthless MPC economy, this wartime economy, even civilian Operators couldn’t escape the cold logic of capitalism.

Sighing, I turned away from the world beyond the glass, away from the people hauling boxes with drooping shoulders, and headed for the cafeteria. The entrance wasn’t much different.

The supply officer sat lazily behind a desk and chair set up, yawning. The moment he saw me, he held out his hand.

"Operator Baek Jemin. 1 MPC for a three-meal cafeteria pass.”

"I risked my life earning these MPC. The food’s good today, right?”

"That depends entirely on how good the cook is…”

Civilian Operators earned MPC far faster than ordinary civilians. And that presented a problem for the Combined Korea-US Command. The military went to great lengths to encourage Operators to participate in missions. They received priority access to supplies and resources. But wouldn’t it be infuriating if Operators just hit the jackpot once and then spent their days loafing around?

Thus, in exchange for all that autonomy, independence, preferential treatment, and extra MPC, the military made sure to extract it out of us efficiently.

At least my situation was a little better.

Carrying my tray, I went through the buffet line and picked up spicy stir-fried pork, diced radish kimchi, and seasoned bean sprouts. After ladling myself a bowl of radish soup, I sat down and pulled out my secret weapon.

It was leftover Richam from yesterday. I scooped out a spoonful, placed it on top of my rice, broke it apart a little, then carefully sealed the can again.

A single can of Richam or Spam cost 1 MPC.

Thank goodness the nameless colonel was fond of me and had arranged for me to receive 2 cans a week free of charge. As I was quietly appreciating my good fortune, a familiar friend in a turban appeared beside me.

"Baek Jemin-ssi. May I have a spoonful of Spam?”

"......”

"I…really miss Spam…"

At that moment, I became convinced that Hamza’s supposed Dogma-type magic, Angel’s Intuition, was absolutely real.

I immediately gave him a spoonful of Richam.

A deep sense of respect welled up inside me for this man who took even an offhand remark seriously. Thinking back on it, this guy never seemed to show up anywhere genuinely dangerous.

Sure, I could’ve argued that since it wasn’t technically Spam, the request was invalid. But picking a fight with someone who possessed such an absurdly useful ability would be foolish.

Thus, though the sacred bond of a single spoonful of Richam, our friendship deepened.

"Hamza-ssi. Don’t you sense anything from me?”

"I’m not sure if I should say this…”

"Go ahead. I’m not a petty person.”

"You're dangerous, Baek Jemin-ssi. When you go to collect MPC, my instincts tell me it’s safer if I don’t go with you.”

"What? Why? Maybe your angel’s giving you bad advice?”

"No. This feeling…It’s definitely guidance from the Angel. You’re not a bad person, Baek Jemin-ssi, but the message is clear. If I spend too much time around you, something dangerous will happen.”

At least from that conversation, I learned one thing. Hamza’s Angel’s Intuition wasn’t perfect either.

Eventually, after finishing our meals and returning our trays, Hamza and I parted ways.

As I wandered down the hallway, I pulled out my cracked phone to check the time and calculate how I’d been spending my MPC.

February 22, 2028, 12:52 PM.

I had used 10 MPC on cafeteria meals over the last 10 days. If I wanted to keep eating here regularly, I’d better reserve about 20 MPC as emergency funds. That left 40 MPC to work with. As I walked, I started organizing a shopping list of items I could purchase with that.

I was about 10 MPC short of buying an AR-15. After some discussion among the higher-ups, the final price had been set at 50 MPC. Even if I somehow came up with the extra 10, buying an AR-15 instead of sticking with the much more familiar K2 felt questionable.

However, according to people who had already bought gear, pistols were relatively affordable…

By the time I’d finished pondering the matter, I had arrived at what used to be the social welfare office and was now functioning as the military quartermaster store. Lieutenant Shin Hangi greeted me with a yawn.

"Oh, Operator.”

"I came to check pistol prices.”

"Hmm. Having a side arm isn’t a bad thing, but…a rifle would probably serve you better, right?”

"A pistol’s cheaper though, right?”

"Haha..."

Lieutenant Shin Hangi led me over to a weapons rack and began demonstrating various firearms. He mimed loading magazines, along with the clicking sound it would produce, checked chambers, and explained various details. The conclusion was quite shocking.

"Even a pistol costs 40 MPC?!”

"Well, the military isn’t exactly thrilled about firearms becoming too widespread. There were concerns that Operators might smuggle weapons around, so the entry price ended up being a little steep. But!”

"But?”

"If you purchase a reliable handgun like aGlock 19, the Korean Army-standardK5, or aSIG, you’ll receive a promotional package. One box of fiftyFMJ rounds in the appropriate caliber, plus one box of 25JHP rounds suitable for actual combat use. A complementary gift.”

Was this what the American spirit felt like?

Unable to find words, I covered my mouth and stared blankly while Lieutenant Shin Hangi returned the pistol to its rack.

"Haha, a bit steep, isn’t it? Still, at least we’re not charging in foreign currency. Of course, we also offer plenty of products and services that are genuinely useful.”

"Let’s hear them.”

"First, upgrading the standard 20-round K2 magazine to a 30-round magazine costs 5 MPC. 2 grenades cost 5 MPC. Ammunition refills can be provided pre-loaded instead of boxed through our loading service for 3 MPC per visit. Chemical decontamination kits cost 3 MPC each. Medical first-aid kits cost 3 MPC each…”

-Swish.

I raised my hand and shook my head firmly.

Was this really Korea? Still, MPC were meaningless if I never spent them. After a brief moment of thought, I folded my fingers and raised a single one.

"Fine. Upgrade to 30-round magazines, 6 grenades, 1 decontamination kit, and 1 medical kit.”

"26 MPC. Excellent. Would you also like a gas mask and replacement filters? You’ll receive standard issues anyway, but if you spend credits, you’ll get a much better model.”

"How much?”

"A K-5 mask costs 10 MPC. Filters are 2 each.”

"Then 1 gas mask and 2 filters. That makes…”

-Clap, clap, clap, clap…

Lieutenant Shin Hangi tucked his folder under one arm and applauded with visible delight.

"40 MPC exactly. We’ll have everything delivered to your quarters.”

"..."

"Don’t worry. We won’t charge MPC for shipping. I’ll have some soldiers bring it over by tomorrow.”

Seeing my expression, Lieutenant Shin Hangi tapped his folder and offered a wry smile.

"We already provide the basics. Standard Korean Army 5.56mm ammunition is supplied free of charge. The loading service only costs MPC if you’re too lazy to load magazines yourself.”

"Couldn’t you just give us those as well?”

"Operator Baek Jemin, think about it for a moment. Suppose we gave Operators these American firearms and all the ammunition they wanted completely free. What’s stopping them from claiming they lost it and asking for more? The military doesn’t want firearms flooding civilian hands. Who says every Operator is going to be as honest as you are?”

"Ugh."

"And you’re civilian Operators, after all. If the military starts handing out guns and military equipment to civilians for free, people will have a lot to say about that. You’re not soldiers. Because of that, you enjoy freedom and a level of autonomy soldiers don’t have. The fact that you’re even allowed access to military equipment and purchasing rights is already a significant privilege. Of course, there is a way to receive 100% free equipment and supplies.”

"There is?”

"If you volunteer for specialist duty on the front lines at the Seoul blockade line…”

"Yeah, fuck this, I’m going.”

"Take care."

Leaving the brightly smiling Lieutenant Shin Hangi, behind, I walked away.

As I passed a room where the sound of prayer echoed through the hallway, I spotted Pastor Park Yohan and Monk Cheonghwi sitting across from one another, engaged in what appeared to be a very serious discussion.

"What are you doing, Pastor?”

"Oh, Baek Jemin-ssi. Came to study again, huh? Perfect timing. Monk Cheonghwi is here too.”

"I’m relieved to see you’re in good health, benefactor.”

It was truly a remarkable sight.

Who would’ve thought the day would come when a pastor who called even Dangun a false idol would be sitting face-to-face with a Buddhist monk? That was how thoroughly messed up the world had become. Pulling over a chair, I sat down at the table they were sharing and looked over the pile of strange symbols, diagrams, and patterns scattered across it.

"Are you guys obsessing over those weird number theories again?”

"It’s called numerology, you brat. Sure, it’s dubious, heretical, and full of nonsense, but what if the Lord left clues in it?”

"Regardless of whether it’s nonsense, assigning meaning to numbers is something all people have in common.”

Anyone paying attention would immediately realize what was happening.

The three greatest minds and most accomplished individuals among the Supreme Archmages were independently researching the possibility that the Alteration-type magic system was some kind of occult, ritualistic arcane tradition.

* * *

It wasn’t as though I’d spent the period between February 12th and February 22nd doing nothing but eating and cursing out the MPC economy.

Under the leadership of Pastor Park Yohan, who had returned from Pyeongtaek carrying knowledge of every ‘primitive’ occult practice imaginable, and the level-headed Mong Cheonghwi, who was capable of rational judgment, we’d been studying the mysteries of magic. And since I currently possessed the greatest practical experience with Alteration-type magic, I served as their advisor.

February 22nd marked the first day the three of us had managed to set aside time to meet up like this.

There was no way I was going to miss an opportunity to exchange magical knowledge, debate theories, and construct increasingly convincing hypotheses.

The problem was that, contrary to my expectations, half the discussion sounded like complete nonsense.

“Pastor, I shot up my left hand because I’m right-handed. Let’s not read too much into it, okay?”

"You ignorant fool. Omens, revelations, and signs are never obvious. Interpretation is what matters. Of course, if you had unwavering faith in the Lord, none of this would be necessary. But you don’t!”

Pastor Park Yohan repeatedly jabbed a finger against the table as he vented his frustration.

Meanwhile, Monk Cheonghwi calmly intervened and offered an example.

"While one might be able to dismiss this as mere coincidence, you said that what you learned is of the Hand-branch, correct? And you also stated that it symbolizes human intelligence.”

"Yes. That’s correct.”

"Hey, why are you always so polite to the monk?”

Pastor Park Yohan’s sulky complaint finally pushed me over the edge.

"Maybe try managing Shin Nain first.”

"That guy isn’t even part of my church! What management? Pastors aren’t dictators! We’re no different from ordinary believers!”

"Tsk. He says he wants to join. What’s wrong with recruiting a talented young man who wants to lead the youth group?”

Ignoring the fuming pastor, I turned back to Monk Cheonghwi. The monk offered a helpless smile before demonstrating a hand gesture.

"In Buddhism, hand positions and postures are known asmudras and carry significant meaning. This gesture of raising one's right hand to shoulder height with the palm facing outward is called theAbhaya Mudra, the Gesture of Fearlessness. It represents the dispelling of fear and anxiety among sentient beings. The left-hand gesture commonly paired with it is called theVarada Mudra, the Gesture of Granting Wishes. It signifies the Buddha’s willingness to fulfill the aspirations of others.”

After demonstrating both gestures, he returned his hands to a prayer position and slowly nodded.

"In Buddhist tradition, the right hand is often associated with skillful means, salvation, and action, while the left hand is associated with wisdom, meditation, and cultivation. And this is not unique to Buddhism. Followers of Brahma,Devas, and numerous other traditions frequently assign separate meanings to the right and left hands. Considering these examples, the fact that the Stage 1 Hand-branch spell you awakened harmed monsters through blood shed from your right hand appears to suggest a meaningful causal relationship.”

Only then did I nod and pull out my notebook. In this miserable MPC economy, pens and notebooks were among the few things I’d successfully petitioned to receive for free. I immediately began scribbling down some notes.

-Buddhism: The right hand is often associated with salvation and action. The left hand is frequently associated with meditation and wisdom.

"Christianity also places significant meaning on the right side and the right hand. Even in the Lord’s Prayer, there’s a phrase about being at the Lord’s right side. The right hand often symbolizes God's authority and divine order. You can see it in all the stories of healing. It represents His blessings and power. On the other hand, the left side tends to carry negative connotations. Take Matthew 25:41, which speaks of Judgement Day: ‘Then He will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."' Because of things like that, the left hand naturally ended up with more negative symbolism.”

-Scribble, scribble…

-Crazystianity: Often uses the right hand to symbolize the Lord’s authority and divine order. The left hand doesn’t have much going for it, except for the implication that the people standing on the left side on Judgement Day get tossed into hellfire. 

"Hey! Why the hell did you write Christianity like that?!”

There was a minor incident, but regardless, some common threads were beginning to emerge.

Both Buddhism and Christianity shared a connection to action. Whether it was divine authority or the act of salvation. And salvation itself was an active concept, so if you twisted the logic just hard enough, the pieces fit together.

The biggest problem, however, was how to actually verify the effects of the Stage 1 Hand-branch spell.

Thanks to the nameless colonel’s protection, I’d avoided being immediately locked in a laboratory or turned into a walking blood bag for the sake of the front lines. On the other hand, drawing too much attention to myself would almost certainly result in unwanted surveillance.

Therefore, I decided not to start supplying the military with blood from my right hand.

Thankfully, Monk Cheonghwi quietly nodded in support of my decision.

"If one cannot even govern oneself yet seeks good deeds regardless, then one is not pursuing salvation but misguided vanity. It is not cultivation but attachment. This humble monk respects your judgment, benefactor.”

"And what if there’s some kind of duration limit? What if soldiers start relying on your blood, charge monsters thinking they’re safe, and then the effect wears off halfway through? What did they do to deserve getting devoured?”

The problem was that there wasn't any visual effect. It didn’t glow, nor did it sparkle. It looked exactly like ordinary blood. It didn’t have a special scent either. Just to be sure, I pricked my finger with a needle in front of the pastor and monk.

"It’s really just blood. It doesn’t glow blue or neon green. Just plain dark-red blood.”

"Hmm..."

Neither of them noticed anything unusual either.

In other words, the only way to test it was by confronting monsters directly. Which was, naturally, bordering insanity.

"Hold on. That blood-vessel monster dug into your skin and tried to connect to your veins? And you just let it?”

"Well, that was the only way to grab it and get my blood on it.”

"My God, you really are insane.”

"And yet it was a one-turn kill, right?”

"Baek Jemin-ssi, when the moment comes, there’ll be far more people willing to pull a grenade pin and blow themselves up than there will be people willing to offer their hand to a monster.”

"Namu Amita Bul…”

Despite the pastor and the monk making a huge fuss, we continued discussing and analyzing the incident.

After much debate, we were able to make various conjectures.

1. Since grabbing the blood vessel strands with my blood-soaked right hand damaged the entire network spread across the ceiling, it appears that direct contract inflicts damage throughout the monster’s entire body.

2. However, because the monster didn’t die instantly, we suspect the effect functions as a form ofDoT. The fact that it was still in the process of dying by the time Lieutenant Baek Hansung reviewed the action-cam footage suggests that the amount of damage may vary depending on how much exposure occurs or how heavily the creature relies on its bodily fluids to function.

3. It’s unknown whether simply splattering blood onto a target is sufficient. However, assuming the effect weakens once the blood dries out seems like the safer approach from a survival standpoint.

4. It’s unknown whether the effect persists under refrigeration. However, from both ritualistic and religious perspectives, blood is often associated with life itself. Therefore, once it loses its warmth and becomes cold, it may be treated symbolically as a corpse, or death, and its effectiveness would likely be severely reduced or disappear altogether.

After considering the practical combat applications, the discussion shifted to the Hand-branch magic symbol. The one composed of two sets of five lines crossing vertically and horizontally.

Since simply recognizing it as a magic symbol was enough to make someone nauseous, we couldn’t exactly sketch it out and debate it properly. Instead, we all relied on imagination.

Fortunately, imagining it seemed harmless. Unlike looking at the real thing, both the pastor and the monk were perfectly fine as they looked over at me.

"It sounds like some kind of grid.”

"Two sets of five lines, crossing vertically and horizontally…”

Although none of us drew it, we all seemed to be able to picture roughly the same shape.

Eventually, the pastor, who had apparently returned from Pyeongtaek armed with all sorts of heretical knowledge, began flipping through his notebook.

Despite wearing those narrow-framed glasses that made him look rather sly, his eyesight must’ve been failing him. He kept bringing the notebook closer to his face, licking his thumb and turning the pages one by one.

It looked like it would take a while. I was pressing down on the finger I’d pricked with the needle to stop the bleeding when…

"Oh, I found it. Numerology. In the end, isn’t what you’re describing basically a 5x5 grid, Baek Jemin-ssi?”

"Yes. Right.”

"Looking at this, I think your intuition about the Hand-branch magic symbol representing human intelligence might actually be on the right track. The meaning behind the Hand-branch magic symbol doesn’t seem ordinary. In numerology, the number 5 represents dynamism, change…and humanity itself. Then 5 times 5 equals 25, and…let’s see. What does 25 represent…”

I frowned. Should I really be taking this kind of nonsense seriously? Then I let out a resigned sigh.

Yeah, fuck it.

At a time when Seoul was buried beneath fog and things like Amalgams, Predator Spines, and unnamed ceiling-dwelling blood-vessel-net monsters existed, maybe this number stuff would actually turn out to be right.

If I wanted to study magic, dismissing possibilities just because they seemed out-of-pocket would be foolish.

I, Baek Jemin, decided to become a more open-minded person.

It was at that moment that Monk Cheonghwi spoke up.

"In Buddhism, the number 5 also carries significance. We speak of the 5 Aggregates. The form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness that together construe a human being. Furthermore, the number 25 appears in the concept of the25 Realms of Existence, which divides the3 Worlds into 25 domains inhabited by sentient beings. If the Hand-branch’s magic symbol truly points toward both 5 and 25, then such a connection cannot simply be ignored.”

"The bald monk…actually has a point.”

The pastor replied reluctantly, eyes still glued to his notebook.

"In numerology, 25 is called the number of the seeker. The number 2 often represents relationships and intuition. Add 2 and 5 together and you get 7. These people praise 7 as the most complete number because it’s the Trinity’s 3 combined with 4, the 4 elements or 4 directions, the perfect union of spirit and flesh. Using the Holy Trinity for this kind of nonsense is seriously outrageous, but…Anyway!”

At this point, even I was starting to wonder if there might actually be something there.

The three of us exchanged glances. After a moment of thought, I decided to contribute my own observations regarding the Eye-branch magic symbol.

"The Eye-branch magic symbol was a distorted square crammed inside a triangle, right? That’s why you started calling it the ‘Squangle’ or ‘Seven-cornered shape’ Honestly, it sounds insane but…”

"I suspect some form of intuition was involved. In Buddhism, the number 7 can refer to the 7 steps the Buddha took immediately after birth, as well as the7 Factors of Enligthenment...”

"And if humanity’s number is 5, then multiplying 5 by another 5 gives 25. Then splitting 25 into 2 plus 5 gives 7, the number representing Buddhahood or completeness.”

The three of us looked at one another, wetting our dry lips with our tongues.

Nobody said it out loud, but by this point, it felt like there definitely was something there.

Still, the first person to actually state a conclusion was me.

"Based on a numerological interpretation of the Hand-branch magic symbol, the Alteration-type Magic System might be some sort of esoteric framework designed to complete the 5 components that make up a human being. A preparation process leading toward perfection.”

"Eyes, Ears, Hand, Heart…and likely one more undiscovered attribute.”

"If that’s true, then there’s a high chance the system consists of 5 stages as well. With numbers this deliberately arranged, it’s difficult to imagine there being anything beyond that.”

It was still only a hypothesis. But at the very least, one thing seemed certain. The Alteration-type Magic System was somehow connected to humanity itself.

And though a combination of logical leaps and numerological coincidences, we were able to glimpse how it might be structured.

5 Branches. 5 Stages.

As the outline of the system began to reveal itself, my heart started pounding furiously.

A thrilling excitement coursed through me, making the corners of my mouth twitch upward. Was this what it felt like to pursue the mysteries of the world? Even with civilization collapsing around us, was this the joy of moving one step closer to omnipotence?

Because I still had…

22 more spells left to learn!