Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Let's Not Do This, It's Making Me Late for Work (2)
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* * *
“…W-Wait a minute! You can’t run here.”
As Seonal started sprinting, a staff member tried to stop him.
Seonal flashed the ID badge hanging around his neck.
“It’s urgent. I’d appreciate your cooperation.”
By the time the staffer froze in place, Seonal was already bounding up the stairs two at a time.
His poor stamina hit him hard—even just one flight left his legs burning.
*This is exactly why I need to start exercising.*
He always meant to, but now that he was actually pushing his body, the reality slapped him in the face.
Sure, it varied by mage, but he knew he was on the weaker side when it came to endurance.
He could’ve used magic to make this way easier, so why climb stairs on foot?
*I figured three floors would be a piece of cake.*
Seonal gripped the stair railing and paused to catch his breath.
―…Look, I don’t know how this’ll sound, but honestly, I had no idea until things blew up like this.
The director’s words suddenly popped into his head, drawing an immediate scoff from Seonal.
If the director didn’t know the hospital’s situation, who would?
―Patients started flooding in out of nowhere… That’s when I realized. In the middle of all the chaos, we checked with the detectors, but it never once exceeded the limits. It was enough to make a ghost cry. And with so few succubi doctors, we checked everyone, but we still don’t know who’s responsible.
Seonal had some sympathy as he recalled the director’s complaints.
Truth be told, what could a non-mage do when the detectors failed?
The Mage Association had probably refused to help, too.
*…So who the hell did this?*
The question lingered in Seonal’s mind.
Hoo.
With a deep exhale, Seonal shook his head, gripped the railing tighter, and hauled his upper body upright.
*No. Whoever the culprit is, that’s for the police to handle—not me.*
He worked in Complaints.
His focus wasn’t on unmasking the perpetrator; it was resolving the incident and reintegrating the affected other races into society. That was Complaints’ main goal.
*…Still, I can’t help being curious about the culprit.*
He couldn’t shake the desire to know what motive turned the hospital upside down, but Seonal pushed the regret aside and pressed on.
* * *
“What’s wrong?”
When the nurse beside him asked, the doctor adjusted his round glasses and replied.
“Nothing. Look up there.”
He pointed at the ceiling.
Something white—not a bug, exactly—was clinging to it.
“Eek!”
The nurse recoiled in shock, and the doctor gazed at her fondly while clenching his fist.
“Don’t worry. I’ll catch it for you.”
Something sprouted from a small hole near the doctor’s back.
It had a black, bat-like wing shape, patterned with butterfly-like markings.
Before it could flap up to the high ceiling, a voice reached its ear. The startled body wobbled slightly but didn’t fall.
“Hello.”
A winded voice followed.
The man wore glasses, had a cool yet languid face, and was wiping sweat despite the late autumn chill.
Other races came in all varieties, so wild hair colors weren’t uncommon, but this man’s stood out anew.
Nearly silver-white.
“Hello.”
The doctor chimed in with a greeting. His mask hid his lower face, so he smiled deeply with his eyes.
“Um, are you okay? Maybe catch your breath first?”
“Thank you.”
Seonal took a moment to recover, then eyed the succubus he’d glimpsed earlier on the CCTV.
Even after causing this mess at the hospital, her face showed utter ignorance.
*Is she acting, or for real?*
Seonal sharpened his suspicions but spoke crisply.
“I’m Seonal Ha from the Special Complaints Resolution Division.”
“Uh… so, Complaints, right?”
The doctor flapped his wings and smiled softly with his eyes.
“That’s right. Sorry to impose, but I’ll need a moment of your time.”
“My time? Oh, you mean me?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry, but I have to check on other patients right now. The hospital’s short-staffed… it’s hectic.”
“Yeah, our doctor’s swamped. Can you schedule later?”
The nearby nurse clutched the doctor’s coat hem, her body trembling.
Scales on her face marked her as a mermaid.
Her gaze kept flicking to the ceiling. *Hurry and catch that bug already.*
“We’ve received complaints that a charm effect is spreading through the hospital—even outside. We want to resolve this before it worsens for succubi, so please cooperate.”
Seonal watched her succubus features stiffen at his words.
But he lowered his gaze to the name tag on her doctor’s coat instead.
“So… Maeve Trian.”
“Sorry, but we’ve checked multiple times already?”
Maeve’s gentle tone suddenly sharpened.
Her face soured with weary familiarity, like this was routine.
“No, seriously—how many more charm checks do we need? We did it nonstop yesterday. Just yesterday? How long are you going to suspect us?”
Her voice lunged with raw irritation, reminding Seonal of typical succubus behavior.
‣Succubi react sensitively to mentions of charm effects due to stereotypes.
He got it.
But he didn’t like those sharpened barbs suddenly aimed at him.
“I wouldn’t know. This is my first time here.”
*First.*
Maeve flinched at the word.
*Am I just lashing out at the wrong person?*
“If you’re a doctor, shouldn’t you want to check for charm effects yesterday—hell, today—for your patients’ sake? Why get mad about that?”
Seonal figured she stood here as a doctor, just like he did as a civil servant.
The files noted sensitivity, so caution was wise—but didn’t that depend on context?
He had zero interest in indulging her bratty attitude.
“Don’t you know better than me how dangerous charm effects are?”
Her eyes began to waver under his cool, annoyed gaze.
“Still mad?”
Something about those piercing words turned Maeve’s ears slowly red.
“I’m from Complaints. I can assure you there’ll be no baseless suspicions.”
Seonal flashed his ID again to reassure her.
“I don’t know what you’ve been through before, but if you’ve faced injustice, come find me at the Special Other-Race Complaints Division. I’ll help however I can.”
Maeve’s head dipped involuntarily under his honest gaze.
She felt ashamed for jumping to conclusions.
*What must he think of me now?*
Seonal lowered his hand from the ID as she bit her lip and trembled wordlessly.
“So, can we talk now? There’s something important I need to say.”
At his slightly softened tone, Maeve murmured a quiet “Yes.”
* * *
“…Ugh.”
Maeve crumpled the paper cup, fiddling with it as she spoke.
“…Sorry.”
She mumbled, head bowed, chewing on the cup.
The earlier shame made her want to bang her head on the table.
Her curly, fluffy hair cascaded down to brush the tabletop.
Her ears still burned red.
“No, no. If misunderstandings like this happen often, it’s natural you’d react that way. Don’t feel bad. Perceptions don’t change overnight—I sometimes feel like a bum myself.”
It was oddly straightforward, almost alien. Maeve looked up.
He was a civil servant, after all. From Complaints, no less.
They usually oozed “we’re doing our best” vibes. This was unusual.
“You’re not just saying what I want to hear?”
Maeve clapped a hand over her mouth, stunned by her own words.
Built-up frustration from past incidents had spilled out unbidden.
It had to sound sarcastic.
“S-Sorry!”
“No need to apologize.”
Seonal chuckled lightly.
As Maeve stared in lingering surprise, he continued.
“I get why you’re angry. I can’t stop those things from happening, but if they do, I’m working to resolve them properly. Especially today.”
“…Really?”
His words sounded rehearsed, but something about them hooked her. Maybe because she sensed he was different.
“Of course.”
Seonal smiled, though faint fatigue shadowed his face.
*Is he sick?* Maeve studied his complexion.
“I won’t take much of your time, Maeve. You’re busy.”
“…Yeah.”
“The charm effect has spread outside the building.”
“But the detectors still show levels within limits. I’ve heard that line plenty.”
Maeve calmly spoke while slightly crushing the cup.
No more embarrassments, thanks.
“Maeve.”
“Yes.”
“Listen calmly.”
At Seonal’s words, Maeve eyed him tensely.
“The primary cause is you.”
Her eyes widened.
*Primary cause. Me again?*
Her shoulders slumped. *Thought he was different.*
As disappointment and inexplicable frustration surged, Seonal rummaged in his bag and pulled out a spray bottle.
“I don’t know what meds you’re on, but stop them for now and apply this spray regularly to your body. It’ll sharply reduce the charm effect.”
“…Pardon?”
“Here’s the ingredients list. The components are similar to commercial anti-charm sprays, but the magic’s different. I made it myself.”
Seonal slid over the paper with the details.
“…You’re a mage?”
Maeve’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took the paper.
A mage who was a civil servant? Rare indeed.
“I’ll use magic now. Don’t be startled.”
“Okay. I won’t.”
Her wings fluttered. *What kind of magic?*
She wasn’t big on magic, but a civil servant casting it? Her curiosity overflowed.
Seonal’s Path of Circulation stirred.
[Scan.]
His left eye blazed red at the simple command.
[Analyze.]
Light beams rose from Maeve’s body, startling her into jumping up—it was a sight she’d never seen.
The magic didn’t stop; it spread like graph paper, grazing her form.
As Maeve examined herself, Seonal’s eye twitched.
“Th-This… this is magic?”
Seonal brushed off her stammered question—used to such reactions.
He’d said not to be startled, but that was unlikely anyway.
“Maeve, have you ever passed through an area with lots of mages—or while they were casting?”
“Why… do you ask?”
Despite the sharp gaze, Maeve’s mind replayed the magic as she pondered his intent.
“I confirmed your charm effect’s flow has changed.”
Seonal had spotted traces of someone tampering with her.
All races, humans included, had mana to some degree, and it could be manipulated.
For non-mages, exposure to ambient mana without correction twisted flows over time—called “interference.”
Magic attacks, grudges twisting mana slowly—many possibilities. Seonal didn’t speculate.
“…What? My charm effect changed? Is that even possible…?”
“Very possible, and reasons abound. I can’t pinpoint ‘this is the cause.’”
Precise ID required deep mana analysis, but even then, tracing the exact influence was impossible.
It’d rely on Maeve’s memory—and she seemed oblivious to the change.
Just in case, Seonal asked.
“You’re still taking meds to suppress your charm effect, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Even on meds, ever notice anything off from usual? Or just… a feeling something changed?”
Maeve froze. She knew what he meant without him spelling it out.
“N-No, nothing like that?”
Her eyes shook violently, ears reddening again.
She truly hadn’t noticed. A stronger charm should’ve shown signs—this ignorance mortified her.
“Got it.”
She was probably used to drawing stares regardless.
*This makes tracing the mana flow change even harder.*
Seonal rummaged in his bag with a neutral expression as Maeve hesitated, then spoke.
“B-But succubi are born with it. It comes naturally.”
Popularity.
Attention.
Countless gazes.
“It’s not just me. All succubi are like this.”
Maeve felt unjustly accused. What could she do about her race’s nature?
Seonal blinked at her words.
She’d misunderstood.
He didn’t care whether she’d always been popular.