Chapter 319 – #71_Gehenna’s Host Bar (2)

#317

One.
After a late vacation, the time has come to achieve the intended purpose of coming to Gehenna.

Siu was searching through Trinity Academy’s library.
Originally, outsiders could not enter at will, but with the full cooperation of the administrative staff, they were able to get a pass and go in and out as if they were on their own.

Force field magic knowledge essential for interpreting the red branch.
I have collected all the books related to it.
It didn’t take very long.
In the first place, when Siu was a slave, the official work assigned to him was the maintenance and management of the library, so you can know where a book is located just like reading the palm of your hand.

“Even if it’s roughly gathered, it’s a lot….”

Let’s roughly collect books related to station field magic. Books piled up on the table.
Each volume is equivalent to a phone book, and the number of volumes alone exceeds 100.

Of course, these weren’t all advanced materials.
Such books can be found at places such as the Secretariat in Lenormand Town or the Truth and Truth Conference.
Through auctions, individual witches sometimes trade with each other.

Anyway, the academy’s library was full of very old books, and due to the nature of magic that advances over time, ‘old’ means that it is somewhat out of date.

“But even when I saw that, I couldn’t understand…. Rather good.”

Siwoo, who has little knowledge of force field magic, can’t understand even looking at such advanced materials.
It would be better to study with a book that focuses on the basic concepts.
According to the Sua branch manager, I heard that it will take at least 10 years to properly utilize the red eggplant.
All that remains is time.
Don’t go in a hurry

“Hmm… Shall we see this first?”

After a long time, I opened the book and started playing with the pen.

Force field magic is quite different from other magic.
For example, if the magic that Siu has been researching so far is a method of drawing and coloring a rough sketch and completing it step by step.
The force field magic is a ‘way to complete the whole thing at once’.

Mana is a fairly ambiguous force.
Substance exists but does not exist, obeys the laws of physics but does not follow them.
‘Force field magic’, which spreads magic power widely to induce specific effects, is a battle of how well you can control the ambiguity and irregularity of magic power.

Paradoxically, therefore, force field magic begins by denying the nature of magical power.
This is because it is close to impossible with human power to unfold the force field while considering all the variables individually from the beginning.

‘Magic power is regular under the control of the magician, and follows normal physical laws’.
In this way, freely constructing the image the caster wants in an arbitrary force field.
This is the first stage of force field magic in the ‘imaginary world’.

However, strictly speaking, what happens in an artificially set force field cannot be called ‘magic’.
It is no different from the limitless imagination of a child who excludes all principles and concepts.

Conceptualizing that imagination and materializing it based on laws and rules.
Limiting imaginings that cannot happen and leading their expression into the real world.
This is the second stage of force field magic unfolding in the ‘symbolic world’.

If you’ve come this far, you’re in trouble.
The magic imagined in the imaginary world cannot exist because it does not conform to the laws and principles of the world.
The magic imaged in the symbolic world is refracted far from imagination according to the world’s logic and laws.

Finding the middle point and implementing it in the ‘real world’ can be said to be the completion of force field magic.
It is to follow the reason and the law in reality, but to follow the image in the imagination.

“… It’s easy to say.”

It is magic that neither the process nor the result can be confirmed until it is perfectly implemented….
To put it simply, it felt similar to cooking with the lights off and without seasoning.
It was nothing short of a miracle that Siwoo alone succeeded in research on ‘shielding to some extent’ the distortion field of the red branch.
More than any other type of magic, there will be no magic that has reached the realm of the senses like this.

After repeating the pain alone like that, it was already past lunchtime.

“It’s still better than doing it alone.”

My throat was sore and there were still many roads to go, but I felt as if I had at least a sense in a state where I had no materials at all.

That’s all for today.
It was impossible to bring branches that were no different from dangerous substances to the academy, so he kept them in the Zemanai family’s annex.
I plan to go back home, extract a sample of mana, analyze the force field, and apply the newly acquired concept today.

“Shall we go see Takasho?”

The twins and Sharon must be studying in the middle of the day anyway.
To solve the previously unsolved roundabout, I used the coordinate movement formula to move to the Malkut Gallery in Lenormand Town.

“Ugh.”

After all, it’s time, so there are more people than the last time I came.
Siu crouched down in fear of reaching the witch’s eyes, and quickly opened the door to Takasho’s host bar.

“Welcome!”

At the same time, 12 handsome men lined up in groups of 6 on each side welcome you with bright smiles.
The hospitality of different handsome men dressed in neat suits was a truly gory scene.
It seems that if you open the door and come in, they will welcome you in this way….

“Uh? Siwoo Shin.”

While Siwoo was flustered, he saw a familiar face among them.
When he first came to the host bar, he was a blonde named Paul who had shown Takasho.

“I’m sorry I’m not a guest. I came to see Takasho, is it time?”

Gehenna is certainly uncomfortable with this.
In the present world, I would have just sent a text message or phone call and asked.
Seeing that it was open for a while, I thought it might be a waste of time.

Of course, if that happens, I plan to wait a little until the business is over.
No promises otherwise.

“Yes, that’s fine. He is in the office right now.”

Contrary to expectations, Paul coolly let Siwoo inside.
After passing through the main gate and through the middle gate, I saw the inside of the bar decorated like a salon.
It’s not open time, so it’s not messy, and the wooden boxes that were scattered are neatly organized.

The well-organized shop and the romantic atmosphere, as if it were nighttime, made me think, “It’s really well made.”
But there was one thing that was strangest….
Seeing Siwoo tilting his head, he must have noticed that Paul spoke first with a wry smile.

“Aren’t there any guests?”

Yes.
The reason why Shi-woo was puzzled was that there was not a single customer in sight in this large store and the host bar, which only had 12 people standing at the entrance.

The current time is 3 o’clock.
Well, it’s an inappropriate time to run a bar.
But that’s a business targeting ordinary people, and this is Gehenna. The main customers of this host bar are witches.

Most witches do not have proper jobs, nor are they in a position to strictly adhere to commuting hours.
Afternoon with such good weather is a golden time in its own way when nearby cafes and bars are filled with witches.
But it’s not just one or two people sitting there, it’s completely empty….

“Isn’t there anything special today?”
“Actually, it’s almost always like this. Even though it has been over a month since the temporary opening.”
“Yes?”

Siu was surprised.
The last time I saw Takasho, I just thought it was a success.
It is said that he succeeded in becoming a self-made man by making use of his good talent and adaptability.

However, as a result of asking for details, it was found that he had borrowed money from Count Takasho Adonai to run the business, and he was trying to make a profit.
By the way, the newly opened business has been like this for over a month?

“Tell me in detail.”

She guessed it wasn’t something to be taken lightly.
It wasn’t just the success of the business, it was the matter of Takasho’s life.
Why hadn’t he told the truth before and asked for it?
Paul hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth cautiously.

“Actually, we are all grateful to Takasho-hyung. Although they are called public slaves, they paid for the life that was almost wasted after being caught in a place like this. Do your own education… Aren’t warm meals, lodging, and a certain amount of freedom guaranteed?”
“I guess so.”
“By the way… In fact, the store is not generating any sales at all. Rather, the deficit is only increasing every week. Since there are no customers, you can’t sell alcohol, but maintenance costs come out as maintenance costs, and even the price of alcohol that you promised to purchase in quantity every week is piling up.
We also go out to the arcade at night to do chores and don’t get paid, but we tighten our belts…. How long can I last like this….”

Siu scanned the inside of the bar with his eyes once again.
From the sake on display in the showcase, from the furniture to the carpet.
All of them are luxury items, perhaps because they were planned to sell to witches.
Even if the employees of the host bar collected all the profits they earned from doing chores, it was unlikely that they would be able to afford that one picture.

“Hey, Siwoo. Are you here?”

Takasho, who came to meet him as if he had heard the story beforehand, is waving his hand with a bright face.
However, when he saw Siwoo with a serious expression on his face, the laughter went away.
He takes a deep breath and comes down.

“Actress, Yamma Paul. Did you say something useless to this friend?”
“Sorry. Older brother… Didn’t you say that this person was close to the witches? They say that if our business goes bankrupt, we can return to our original place of work… Isn’t that your brother?”
“It’s okay, bastard, go back and look at your work.”

Takasho tapped the back of Paul’s head and smacked his lips.
With a bitter expression, he strokes his beard and looks at Siwoo.

“Haa, I didn’t want to show you this kind of flirtatious thing.”
“Really?”
“What.”
“You say sales are very difficult?”

After pondering for a while, Takasho sat down on the sofa and admitted.
He puts a cigarette in his mouth and lights it.

“… Write, whoa….”

Takasho, who was silent as he smoked a cigarette up to the filter with Shiu sitting in front of him, scratched his head.

“What is it. Actually things aren’t that good. I can’t say it’s difficult, but it’s not. It’s difficult, and quite a bit.”

It’s not easy to be honest with someone, no matter how close your friend is.
In addition, it is somewhat reluctant to have to reveal your grievances while showing a shiny appearance on the outside.

“I thought it was still in the preliminary opening stage, so I tried to manage it well….”
“…….”
“The world’s affairs just didn’t work out that well.”

Takasho laughed as if it was not a big deal, but Siwoo felt uncomfortable.
A friend I’ve known for 5 years.
It’s only natural that he wants to be well.

“What exactly is the matter? I might be able to help.”
“Shall we move for a moment? Kids can hear it here.”
“Okay.”

Siu followed Takasho in a fancy suit and headed to the president’s office.