The Cursed Wizard: A Game Made Real

Insomnia that won't go away. A body that's exhausted every day. The sleeping pills and cigarettes Leo takes will eventually lose their effectiveness, leading him to seek stronger alternatives. Yet, his expression remains calm, as if accepting the inevitability of his situation.

Another day passes like this.

In the great city of Balkan, this was the day Leo first started earning money.

Time flies.

After confirming that the side effects of the new cigarette were much less severe than the old one, Leo rested for several days. There was plenty he could do while resting. With his ability to control magical powers improving, he continued to study magic even while lying in bed. His talent for magic was growing daily, allowing him to cast spells faster and apply them in more versatile ways.

The joy of creating new magic by combining known lightning spells was something Leo had never experienced in the games he played. Immersed in this discovery, he dedicated himself to magic, letting his body recover.

Once he felt energized, he would stop resting and return to work. The routine of visiting Jenny's bar and choosing bounty targets was efficient. Perhaps Jenny had chosen this work to test his abilities, but it suited Leo perfectly, as he was focused on saving every cell.

Tracking down wanted criminals was not difficult, especially with blood traces to guide him. Subduing them was even easier. Though the bounties varied, they still provided a decent day's pay. By the time he captured his third criminal, Jenny seemed ready to offer him other jobs, but Leo continued focusing on bounty hunting.

His strategy was simple: work hard, earn money, rest, and repeat. Through this method, Leo soon amassed nearly ten million cells. While "Ban" was gaining some recognition in District 49, Leo wasn't concerned. A reputation as a skilled bounty hunter might not be a bad thing.

One day, a month after he began this lifestyle, Leo woke up to sunlight streaming through the cracks in the window. Grabbing his head, he sat up, still feeling the aftereffects of the two cigarettes he had smoked while chasing his last target.

He drank water from the fountain and washed his sweaty body. This routine was second nature now. After his shower, his gaze landed on the stack of money in the corner of his room—ten million cells in cash.

Leaving money like that was impractical, but it was safer than letting anyone else clean the room and discover his stash.

"I guess I'll have to open a bank account…" Leo muttered. However, without a proper identity, using a commercial bank was out of the question. Anonymous banks in District 49 charged exorbitant fees, which Leo wanted to avoid.

The solution was clear: buy a fake identity. The cost for a reliable identity was twenty million cells. Thanks to Jenny's connections, Leo could secure it for ten million.

Having understood how inconvenient it was to lack official documentation, Leo planned to create a new identity as soon as possible.

After half a day of rest to recover from the lingering effects of the cigarette, Leo got dressed and left the hotel. Even without a cigarette, walking in the sun made him sweat profusely, and extended walks gave him headaches. The simple act of leaving the hotel was arduous.

He headed to a local market near a residential area. Despite the midday heat, the market was bustling, filled with people selling fresh produce. The prices were lower than at stores, making it ideal for Leo's budget.

"Two onions, five scallions, six bell peppers," Leo said, ordering familiar ingredients. His shopping routine was down to a science. While the produce looked different from Earth's, Leo had learned their names and uses.

"It's 34,000 cells," the vendor said. Leo looked up to see a short-haired woman, unfamiliar from his previous visits. She explained that the regular vendor had hired her.

"You must be wealthy to grow this much produce as a hobby," Leo commented, eyeing the vegetables.

"Yeah, I make a lot of money," she replied nonchalantly.

Leo paid and was about to leave when she said something that made his heart race.

"What a peculiar magical power," she remarked. "Why is a wizard like you in a place like this?"

Her words sent a chill down Leo's spine. Not only had she noticed his magic, but she also spoke of his magical patterns as if they were obvious. Leo quickly deduced that his habitual casting of a permanent barrier spell must have revealed his patterns to her.

Remaining calm, Leo placed a hand near his cigarettes. "That's right. I haven't been here long."

She tilted her head, as if losing interest. "Oh, don't mind me. That's just something I notice."

The conversation ended as abruptly as it had begun, and she resumed selling produce. Leo, unsettled, left the market.

"Phew…" he exhaled, realizing how precarious his situation was. He needed to be more careful with his magic.

Back at the hotel, Leo set about washing and storing his groceries. He then prepared a meal, following a recipe from a library book he'd borrowed. Cooking had become part of his strategy to maintain his fragile health. Despite the limitations of his body, Leo knew that staying in good health was critical.

As he sliced vegetables, Leo thought about his next steps. He needed to create a stable identity and a safe place to store his money. Each action needed to be calculated and deliberate. The environment around him was still unfamiliar and dangerous.

The third vegetable was just as misshapen as the others, but Leo continued without concern. He knew survival required careful planning, and he was ready for it.

Later, back at Jenny's bar in District 49, Leo prepared for another day's work.