I Am A Wizard Who Can Travel Between Earth And The Other World-Chapter 5 - The Forgotten Mages

Harnessing his magical prowess, Gin refined a method born of relentless study and experimentation with neural waves.

Though the theory was crude at first, countless trials had polished it into a functional, battle-ready technique.

He could currently split his mind into three parallel streams of thought—his limit for now. With this ability, he could simultaneously cast three spells.

Any attempt to exceed that would require breaching a metaphysical wall, one he had yet to conquer.

Now, the threads of his magic wove a delicate arcane design in the air, etching an intricate spell array. As he poured his intent into the pattern, the magic ignited.

Whoosh.

His body lifted from the ground, buoyed by an unseen force, and surged upward at a remarkable speed.

Within seconds, he reached the rooftop of the five-story building. Anyone monitoring the CCTV feeds would have struggled to notice; the distortion spells cloaking him rendered his movements near imperceptible in the dim light.

The rooftop was sparse, save for a few air conditioning units and perimeter-mounted CCTV cameras.

There wasn't even the telltale signs of casual smokers or maintenance staff. Perhaps this building was rarely used.

Gin approached the rooftop door, gloved hand reaching for the handle. Precautions came naturally to him—leaving fingerprints was never an option. The door was locked, but that posed no challenge. His magic flowed effortlessly into the keyhole, coiling with precision.

Click.

The door yielded as if unlocked with a key. Gin slipped inside, greeted by a dark, silent stairwell. He descended cautiously, one step at a time, his movements a shadow within the gloom. Normally, motion sensors would have triggered the lights, but the distortion spell he had cast disrupted their function.

Stopping on the fifth floor, he pressed his ear to the entrance door.

His enhanced senses, sharpened by years of magical discipline, tuned into the faintest vibrations.

To a mage like Gin, such acuity was second nature; his core magic not only fortified his body but heightened every sensory faculty.

A subtle application of magic amplified his hearing even further.

Voices reached him—a chaotic symphony of overlapping conversations.

The resonance of sound suggested a large, open space. Gin's mind pieced together a mental image: a hollowed interior with open, interconnected levels.

Carefully, he cracked the door open and slipped inside, lowering himself close to the floor.

His instincts were right.

The building's interior was a vast, open atrium, its core empty save for railings lining the edges of each floor.

Narrow walkways traced the perimeter of the hollow structure, offering limited space to traverse.

Groups of people gathered on the upper levels, leaning over the railings, their murmured voices echoing faintly.

Gin crawled forward, every movement calculated and silent, until he could peer over the edge.

His breath caught in his throat.

On the ground floor, a glowing portal shimmered—a massive oval radiating a soft, ethereal blue light. It pulsed gently, exuding an otherworldly energy that seemed to resonate with the very air around it.

Gin's instincts roared to life.

That's it. That's why this place drew me in.

The portal was the source of the unease, the inexplicable pull that had gnawed at him. It was unlike anything he had encountered before, its presence a beacon of untapped magic.

His heart pounded as the realization settled in—this was no ordinary discovery. This was the threshold to something far greater.

Gin pressed himself flat against the cold floor, his breathing silent and measured as he focused intently on the voices below. He needed more information—every detail could be vital.

Near the glowing blue portal, the group that had entered the building earlier was busy making preparations. At the center of the discussions were Michael and Alberta.

"This place is just too far and inconvenient. It's a real hassle," Michael grumbled, his irritation clear. The others nodded in agreement, sharing his sentiment.

"There's nothing we can do about it," Alberta replied matter-of-factly. "Portals like this only appear in isolated, deserted locations."

This was an immutable truth: the gateways to the "Otherworld" only emerged in places untouched by human activity. At least, that had always been the case. Perhaps portals existed within the city as well, but no one had found them yet.

"There's bound to be a portal somewhere in Korea," Michael speculated. "Maybe near the Han River or in some abandoned construction site."

"It's possible," Alberta agreed. "That's why we're still searching. If it's such a dream of yours, maybe you should bring back a detector from the Otherworld."

Michael scowled. "You think I wouldn't if I could? Do you know how much money one of those detectors is worth? Enough to change your life forever! But if I found one, do you think I'd ever go back to the Otherworld?"

Alberta smirked knowingly. "Would you really be able to resist?"

Michael fell silent, unable to answer. The truth was, he wasn't sure. The Otherworld offered unimaginable power—an intoxicating rush of strength and freedom that was impossible to forget once experienced. It wasn't something you could simply walk away from.

"At least once a portal appears, it doesn't disappear," one of the others pointed out.

"That's a small mercy."

"Agreed," Alberta said. Without that stability, accessing the Otherworld regularly would be far more difficult, and competition over the portals would be fierce. Even now, countless groups vied for control of these gateways.

Organizations without access to a portal far outnumbered those that did.

"And aren't we lucky the destination is limited to a single city? Imagine if it dropped us into random locations each time. At least we're connected to Korea. You've heard about Angel's portal, right? It's linked to Busan."

The group nodded fervently, thankful for their relative convenience. Traveling between cities after returning from the Otherworld would have been an exhausting ordeal.

Alberta turned to her companions. "You all brought money, right? We can't afford another incident like last time when someone forgot their cash and had to sprint back to the hideout."

The group muttered their acknowledgments, though Michael avoided Alberta's pointed gaze.

She persisted, her eyes locking onto him. "You did check, didn't you?"

"Fine, fine. Here!" he snapped, pulling out his wallet and flipping it open to reveal crisp, white bills tucked neatly inside.

The currency of the Otherworld mirrored that of this world—bills, coins, and even credit cards. Yet, without valid identities, these mages couldn't use credit cards in this world.

They existed as outsiders, unable to own property or establish legitimate identities. Even their hideout was a rented space obtained through illegal means.

Despite their lack of status, they operated effectively. The Otherworld, surprisingly, was full of people without identities—outcasts and criminals, mostly. Still, their circumstances demanded vigilance.

"Remember," Alberta warned, "this money comes from the guild.

Don't waste it. And watch out for pickpockets."

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Their hideout's location was rife with crime, and each of them had learned to be careful. Alberta glanced at the group. "Now, do a final equipment check. We move out after this."

Moments later, one by one, the mages began stepping into the portal. Gin remained motionless, watching them intently. He replayed their conversation in his mind, piecing together what he had learned.

The portal was a gateway to another world, and anyone who passed through would find themselves dropped randomly within the connected city.

The Otherworld wasn't entirely different from Earth—it had its own currency, rapid transportation, and familiar societal structures. However, magic seemed more prevalent there. The mages' goal appeared to be gathering resources unique to that world, which they could transport freely back to Earth.