The Cursed Wizard: A Game Made Real

The moment Leo ended Taylor Evans' life, a faint commotion rippled through the air.

Leo didn't miss it. Waves of magical power pulsed in sync with the disturbance, as though someone had been caught off guard.

"Found it."

The disturbance revealed the sniper's position. Roughly 600 meters away, Leo calculated, close enough to avoid detection yet far enough to remain hidden. His suspicion that the sniper was using some special method to evade his senses seemed correct.

With the target's location pinned down, Leo gathered his magical power, letting it swirl around his right hand.

Woohoo!!

A strange sensation followed as the magic inverted and surged through him, propelling him into the sky.

This was his first time attempting this spell in the real world. Among the common magics, it was a powerful applied magic, a signature of the lightning series.

[Thunder Calling].

As the bright blue light flashed in the air, a bolt of lightning descended from the cloudless sky, striking the ground where Leo's target should be.

Kwaaaaang!!

The ground trembled under the force, the blue light flickering with the delayed sound of thunder.

Leo watched the scene unfold with quiet fascination. Seeing it realized like this was far more impressive than in the game, where such spells were a mere spectacle. In reality, the sheer power of lightning was awe-inspiring.

But was the sniper dead?

If the sniper didn't flee the moment Leo channelled his magic, there was no way they could have avoided the strike. Yet, as Leo approached the impact site, all he found was a two-meter-wide crater. No body, no signs of the target.

"Did they escape right as I cast the spell?" Leo muttered.

He considered pursuing further but decided against it. The display of power should serve as a sufficient warning to anyone watching. The name Ban, the lightning magician, would soon spread in these circles.

Leo wasn't interested in unnecessary obstacles or interference. If this show of force prevented future interruptions, that would suffice.

Of course, if he kept up such flashy displays, more people might start paying attention. But wasn't that the reason for the new face?

He trusted in the talent he had honed at the cost of his lifespan. No matter how formidable the wizards of this world were, his skills were not to be underestimated.

Suppressing the faint anxiety gnawing at him, Leo gathered Taylor's body, placing it into a bag he had prepared. His strength held out thanks to the cigarettes he had smoked earlier, though he knew the subsequent muscle pain would be a reminder of his body's fragility.

Magic was his ultimate weapon, reserved for critical moments. He would not squander it.

Returning to District 49

Leo retraced his steps back to District 49, the bag occasionally dripping blood. But in this area, no one paid enough attention to care.

Upon arriving at Jenny's bar, he found the shutters down. He knocked firmly on the metal.

A gruff voice answered from inside. "Business hours start at 8 p.m."

"I've got Taylor Evans," Leo replied calmly.

A brief silence followed before the old voice sighed. "...There's a back door. Come in that way."

Leo circled to the rear, finding the small door and stepping inside. The bar's backroom was similar yet distinct from the front, with an old man behind a counter encased in glass.

The old man gave Leo a long look. "From now on, when discussing work, use this entrance. We should have mentioned it earlier, but it slipped our minds."

"Let's check this first," Leo said, placing the bag on the table with a heavy thud.

"This is Taylor Evans."

The old man donned gloves and examined the contents of the bag, his expression unchanging even as he handled the body.

"Gunshot wound to the head. Dead less than an hour. Signs of ear injury prior, and he hasn't eaten in days. No significant changes in his magical power. Yeah, this is him."

Leo marveled at the old man's keen observation. "Were you a coroner?"

"Something similar. Do you want the reward now?"

Leo nodded. The old man promptly placed 2.7 million cells on the counter, explaining the 10% fee deducted.

"What other payment options are there?" Leo asked, curious.

"Fictitious accounts, money laundering, bonds, stocks—you name it."

Leo stored this information away as someone emerged from the curtains behind the old man.

"You're back already?" Jenny yawned, her hair tousled. "I figured you were desperate for money, but this is fast."

Leo shrugged. "I did it because I could."

Jenny smirked. "Talented, aren't you? Most bounties take longer to find than to kill. How'd you catch him so quickly?"

"Luck," Leo replied curtly.

Jenny chuckled. "Well, if you can produce results this fast, we'll continue working with you."

"I'm ready for more work."

Jenny shook her head. "No rush. I need to report this to Achilles and monitor Scavenger's movements. Patience, Mr. Ban."

"Fine," Leo agreed, pocketing the cash.

As he turned to leave, he pulled out a cigarette. "I need a place to buy more of these."

Jenny and the old man exchanged a glance before she examined the cigarette closely.

"Not some new drug," she sighed, relieved. "Just a cheap mix of Melodis and Alpinia leaves with vegetable oil. For a wizard, you're picking trash. Try Plumber's Orchard. They'll have what you need."

Leo thanked her for the tip, noting the location.

Unexpected Information

After Leo left, the old man, Jordan, cleaned up Taylor's body, preparing it for delivery to Achilles' broker.

Jenny watched lazily. "Isn't it odd, a wizard looking for narcotic cigarettes and health food?"

Jordan, focused on his work, responded. "Scavenger's network had something interesting on him. Found traces of the magic he used. Might be a better client than we thought."

Jenny leaned in, intrigued. "Show me."

Jordan accessed the data, pulling up information that made Jenny's eyes widen.