A small parking lot lay behind the club.
Shin Ian stood in the designated smoking area beside the parking lot, a cigarette between his fingers, his gaze drifting upwards to the moon hanging in the sky.
He wasn’t lost in contemplation, merely noting that the moon had long since reached its zenith, yet the vampire hunters had yet to make an appearance.
“……Hoo.”
As he exhaled a plume of smoke, he retrieved his phone, verifying the details within the message.
The location itself was undeniably correct: a sizable club nestled in southern Gyeonggi Province. It was renowned among regulars for its high standards of entry, making it a place with a desirable, if somewhat exclusive, crowd.
Shin Ian, having never set foot in a club, was unfamiliar with the inner workings of such establishments. Yet, he harbored no illusions of pristine cleanliness; after all, if the place were truly spotless, vampires wouldn’t have sought refuge within its walls.
Regardless.
He had arrived at the designated location approximately ten minutes prior, with precisely five minutes remaining until the agreed-upon time. Though it was high time for their appearance, the hunters remained conspicuously absent.
‘They wouldn’t have fled, would they?’
The thought flickered through his mind, but Shin Ian silently dismissed it with a shake of his head.
These were individuals who carried the moniker of ‘Vampire Hunter.’ Regardless of any reservations, they couldn’t possibly be foolish enough to flee in the face of vampires.
Given that the Cartel had vouched for them, a baseline of trustworthiness was assured.
‘If they fail to show, then I’ll simply proceed alone.’
The remuneration set for this task amounted to a staggering seven million won. Such a lucrative opportunity was not one he intended to let slip away.
As Shin Ian lowered his head to extinguish his cigarette, the door to the smoking area abruptly swung open, admitting two men whose faces were obscured by the brims of their deeply pulled-down hats.
“…….”
“…….”
An uncomfortable silence permeated the smoking area.
The two men fixed their gazes upon Shin Ian for a brief moment before each produced a cigar from within their coats, deftly biting off the tip and igniting it with a soft hiss.
“Sssup…… Hoo…….”
Billowing clouds of cigar smoke streamed from their mouths and nostrils. Shin Ian, having disposed of his own finished cigarette in the ashtray, settled heavily onto a nearby chair.
“You’ve arrived precisely on schedule.”
Heeding Lee Seoa’s counsel, Shin Ian adopted an arrogant demeanor, eschewing polite formalities in his address.
As if anticipating such a response, they exchanged a knowing glance, a smirk playing on their lips as they held their cigars between their fingers.
“So you’re the mage assigned to this vampire hunt? You look rather like a milksop.”
“Do you possess a plan?”
Rather than prolonging the exchange, Shin Ian immediately cut to the chase.
Seemingly pleased by his bluntness, the older vampire hunter began to speak.
“There are fifteen vampires concealed within the club. Only one possesses the ability to mimic human form. The remainder are primal creatures, driven solely by instinct rather than reason.”
They were, in essence, mere beasts. Shin Ian, lighting another cigarette, listened intently to the man’s explanation.
“First, we infiltrate the club and pinpoint the vampires’ hiding spots. Afterward, we’ll deliberately create a commotion to evacuate the civilians. Only then will we engage the vampires. That is the entirety of the plan.”
“That sounds remarkably straightforward. Who will be responsible for locating them?”
“You will. We expect you to employ your magic to ascertain their positions. That should be within your capabilities, correct?”
The old man’s sharp gaze pierced Shin Ian, scrutinizing him. Shin Ian met his stare unflinchingly, pondering for a moment before offering a slow nod. The spell for pinpointing mystical entities was, indeed, inscribed within his grimoire.
“I will cast the spell within the restroom.”
“Very well. We, too, will move through the club, discerning their positions by our own means. Exercise extreme caution as you proceed. Should you be bitten by one of them, you’ll transform into their kind before you can even react.”
The younger man beside the elder spoke, revealing a pistol holstered within his inner coat pocket, a wide, unsettling grin spreading across his face as he displayed it to Shin Ian.
“We’d prefer not to have to put a highway through your skull.”
“……You seem to possess an abundance of superfluous worries.”
“If you are confident, then that suffices. Now, take this.”
The young man tossed a pistol and a pair of sunglasses toward Shin Ian. Shin Ian frowned, feeling the unexpected weight of the firearm, and turned his gaze back to the youth.
Chewing on a clove of peeled garlic, the young man elaborated.
“This weapon is loaded with silver bullets. While our encounter may be thanks to the Cartel, for this moment, at least, we are brothers united by a common purpose. Use it to protect yourself.”
“……Hoo. I shall not decline. I accept it with gratitude.”
Despite the unexpected acquisition of a live firearm, Shin Ian calmly verified the round count in the magazine and cycled the slide.
Fortunately, the pistol appeared to be in proper working order. While he had yet to pull the trigger, he surmised it would not falter at a crucial juncture.
He slipped the pistol into his inner coat pocket, adjusted his attire, and rose from his seat.
“Let us depart. We are not, after all, merely here to smoke cigarettes.”
“Indeed, indeed. Let us proceed. Before we do, how shall I address you?”
The old man inquired. Shin Ian paused in thought for a moment before offering a straightforward designation.
“Refer to me as ‘Mage.’”
“Very well. Then you may call me Alpha, and him, Beta.”
“So be it.”
With that, their introductions were concluded. The trio proceeded to the club’s main entrance, joining the queue for admission.
A short while later, their turn arrived. The club guard first scrutinized Shin Ian’s face, granting him immediate entry. Beta, after an ambiguous glance, grudgingly permitted his passage.
To their surprise, the guard waved Alpha through the moment he saw his face. Beta narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased, but Alpha merely offered a faint chuckle, uttering not a single word.
“Haa……”
Thus, to the accompaniment of Beta’s sigh, they stepped inside the club.
“WAAAAAAAH!!”
Upon entering, they were immediately assaulted by a cacophony of deafening cheers and pulsating music, a sound so immense it threatened to rupture their eardrums.
From every direction, scantily clad men and women pressed against one another, locked in fervent embraces. Within the dim, cavernous space, only faint, scattered lights offered a meager glimmer.
“Let us move.”
Alpha commanded. Shin Ian nodded in acknowledgment and immediately set off towards the restroom.
“Oh, *Oppa* (TL Note: A Korean term of address used by a female towards an older male, often a brother, friend, or romantic interest), I haven’t seen your face around. Is this your first visit here, perhaps?”
Shin Ian offered a gentle smile and a confirming nod.
“Indeed, it is.”
“I knew it! There’s simply no way I would have overlooked such a handsome man! Darling, why don’t we slip away for a moment and chat alone? I’ll buy you a drink.”
“Ah, that sounds delightful. However, I find myself in urgent need of the restroom. I shall merely make a quick stop and return promptly.”
“Alright! Come to table number three!”
The woman planted a swift kiss on Shin Ian’s cheek, then sashayed away, her hips swaying enticingly until she vanished from sight.
Shin Ian maintained his pleasant smile until she was well out of view. The instant she disappeared, however, his brow furrowed, and he vigorously wiped the lipstick from his cheek.
He had endeavored to respond as gently as possible, wishing to avoid any undue commotion. Yet, had he foreseen this outcome, he would have opted for a far more forceful approach.
With a sigh, Shin Ian proceeded into the restroom.
The restroom was a chaotic tableau of humanity, with individuals in various states of disarray and intoxication.
Ignoring the scene, he stepped into an unoccupied stall and secured the lock.
‘Summon.’
The grimoire materialized in his hand the instant the thought formed in his mind. Without hesitation, he began to perform the spell precisely as it was inscribed within the ancient text.
[Mystic Trace]
[Detects the location of mystical entities within a 20-meter radius.]
[Components: Flesh of a *Gwoei* (TL Note: A Korean term referring to a strange or mysterious entity, often a monster or supernatural being), Aether.]
Matching the spell’s straightforward effect, its components were equally uncomplicated. Shin Ian promptly retrieved a cube from his pocket and, using a pen, began to meticulously draw a magic circle upon the stall wall.
As he placed the cube upon it, the object, rather than falling, adhered firmly to the magic circle, radiating a faint, diffused light.
With this, the preparations were complete. Shin Ian immediately began to chant the incantation.
“Seek them out. He who shall punish them stands here now.”
The magic circle pulsed with a single vibration, and the cube dissolved into nothingness. In that instant, a complete understanding of the *gwoei*’s locations flooded Shin Ian’s mind.
It was less a sensory perception and more akin to the sudden recollection of long-forgotten knowledge.
A peculiar sensation, as if he had possessed this knowledge from the very beginning.
‘Three in the basement. Five within the main club area, all huddled in crates. Four are concealed within the ceiling pipes, and two are holding their breath in the staff lounge. This area has already been cleared of prey.’
The most crucial entity, the vampire mimicking human form, was directly in front of the DJ who was currently spinning tracks. Shin Ian nodded, tucking the grimoire behind the toilet.
[Wooong!]
The grimoire vibrated, seemingly in protest.
Shin Ian offered a wry smile, gently stroking its cover.
“My apologies. Please remain here for a brief while. I shall summon you again shortly.”
Perhaps his sincerity resonated, for the grimoire promptly ceased its vibrations. He stroked its cover a few more times before unlatching the restroom door and stepping back into the club.
He navigated through the still-teeming club interior, making his way towards Alpha.
The old man stood leaning against the railing on the second floor, sipping whiskey. As Shin Ian approached, Alpha immediately inquired,
“Their locations?”
“Three in the basement. Five in the main club area. Four in the ceiling pipes, and two in the staff lounge. The one mimicking human form is directly in front of the DJ.”
“Hmm. The one in human form is likely that blonde woman standing over there.”
“Your basis?”
“The scent of blood.”
Alpha chuckled faintly, pulling a bandana from his coat pocket and covering his face.
“No matter how well they conceal themselves, the distinct, repulsive odor of a vampire can never truly be erased.”
“…….”
“Put on the sunglasses.”
Alpha instructed. Shin Ian stood with a momentarily bewildered expression before, with a sense of resignation, he donned the sunglasses.
The world dimmed slightly, but the change caused him no significant impediment. Shin Ian watched as Alpha began to pull his hat down low, then asked,
“When do we cause the disturbance?”
“Now.”
Before Shin Ian could even respond, a small sphere suddenly dropped from the second floor to the first.
It was a smoke bomb.
A smoke bomb infused with the scent of garlic.
*FWOOOSH!!!*
The smoke bomb detonated, erupting in a cloud of yellowish smoke that rapidly spread in every direction.
Shin Ian let out a hollow laugh as he spotted Beta through the diffusing smoke, tossing more smoke bombs into various corners of the club.
“What, what the hell?!”
“AAAAAHH!! Terrorists! Everyone out!”
The sudden chaos plunged the club into pandemonium. The packed crowd, without a moment’s hesitation, began to flee down the stairs. Even the club guards, who initially tried to manage the situation, cursed under their breath and scrambled out as the smoke intensified.
Consequently, the only occupants remaining within the club were a single mage, two vampire hunters, and—
*CRASH!!*
“GYAAAAAAH!!!”
—fifteen vampires.
“Hoo……”
Shin Ian summoned his grimoire, gripping the pistol in his other hand, and glared at the vampire that had just dropped from the ceiling.
The exhilarating EDM beat, characteristic of the club, thumped like a relentless bass drum, mirroring the frantic pounding of his own heart.
