Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Why Won't It Work? (3)
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* * *
* * *
“…Wow. This feels like a party.”
While Toon grinned brightly, the camera shutter sounded aggressively loud.
Edinal held up her smartphone, snapping away at the meticulously plated food.
Click.
Sernal, chopsticks in hand, stared intently at Edinal, while Toon kicked his legs and placed a hand on his belly, gazing at the food.
Saliva nearly dripped, but he clamped his mouth shut.
“Team Leader.”
“Just a sec. Hold on, Sermal.”
Click.
“It’s the jjajangmyeon without onions……”
“Sernal. Three seconds.”
Edinal stared intently at Sermal.
“Go ahead and take it.”
Her gaze sharpened oddly, so Sermal smiled back, though his eyes stayed fixed on the jjajangmyeon.
It wasn’t even for SNS—why go so hard?
Jjajangmyeon tasted best right when it arrived.
“Sernal.”
Toon spoke up, and Sermal fiddled with his chopsticks before replying.
“Yeah?”
“Can I really get my house back?”
The hope in Toon’s eyes was overwhelming.
Nothing like the defeated look he’d worn while wandering in search of his home.
Vitality overflowed, luster practically spilling across his face.
“Yes.”
Sernal smiled too, thrilled himself.
After all that hardship, how infuriating would it have been if nothing got resolved?
Solving a complaint was always welcome.
“Do you remember us checking your ID earlier?”
“I dooo.”
Toon nodded. His slightly blurred fingers wiggled.
“Thanks to your cooperation, we confirmed the land you own. It’s about three pyeong right in front of the community center.”
While Sermal had been dealing with the succubus Nella outside, Edinal had tracked it down.
Borrowing her words, the werewolf—a mid-level official—puppeted by Nella had tried to erase even those traces, but someone in the know had helped.
Sernal didn’t pry further.
With the land ownership documents secured, everything was settled.
Toon’s story had been true.
“…Nooo. It’s not my cooperation. It’s that Sermal believed me.”
Toon beamed, floral patterns blooming on his cheeks.
(❁´▽`❁).
“Only Sermal believed meee.”
Toon knew.
How icy the stares were, just for being a slime.
“No one else… believed me.”
He’d told the police too, but no one bought it.
Not a soul.
“When I said I owned land, they all laughed.”
Toon let himself feel a touch glum. But today was the joyous day he reclaimed his home.
If only he’d met Sermal sooner.
“No. Everyone in our Complaints Division believed you.”
Toon looked up at Sermal’s quiet, resonant voice.
“Soon, that chair on your land will be gone, and we’ll plant a new tree. What kind would you like?”
“I don’t have moneyyy.”
“No money needed.”
Edinal lowered her phone and chimed in.
“Finally done……”
“This happened at the community center, so we’ll cover any compensation. Don’t worry about the cost.”
Edinal cut Sermal off with a smile toward Toon.
She looked like she was gazing at an adorable child.
“Anything’s fineee. But a flowering tree would be even betterrr.”
“Got it. A flowering tree it is. What kind of flowers?”
At Edinal’s question, Toon glanced at Sermal.
Sernal was still solemnly eyeing the jjajangmyeon, toying with his chopsticks.
Muttering something about how ordering jjampong would’ve been a disaster, Toon chuckled.
“Sernal.”
“Yeah?”
“What flowers do you likeee?”
“Red plum blossoms. But why this……”
“Red plum blossoms it isss.”
Toon stared fixedly at Edinal, who turned away to stifle a laugh.
“Anything works, so can we eat now? Please.”
As Sermal’s eyebrow twitched, Edinal rubbed her shoulder with an awkward smile.
The jjajangmyeon looked like it might burn up.
“If Sermal uses magic……”
“That’s rude.”
“Then, uh, shall we eat, Sermal?”
“…Let’s eat.”
Sernal adjusted his glasses and finally moved his chopsticks.
Edinal’s gaze followed suit.
‘Wow. Even black bean noodles from a delivery place taste this damn good.’
Sernal chewed blissfully, happier than he’d ever been.
* * *
With permission for Toon to linger briefly around the community center trees to pick his new home, Sermal prepared to clock out and reported what he’d uncovered to Edinal.
“That succubus’s mana went berserk.”
“…You mean Nella?”
Edinal froze mid-packaging her files.
This was info even the police hadn’t shared.
“Yes. Looks like a power overload incident.”
Sernal’s eyes narrowed briefly.
“Team Leader. I think we should press the police for more details on this case. I did a lot of the work.”
Power overload incident.
He’d once wanted to handle them himself, but after switching departments, that wasn’t an option anymore.
Now, he was just curious. Why did these things happen?
“Honestly, I’m wondering why that succubus caused the hospital incident. Even if the answer’s just ‘impulsive,’ I want to know.”
“Same here. Super curious, right?”
Edinal voiced agreement, flashing a confident smile.
“Don’t worry. From what I hear, the case you solved connects to one the police were already working.”
“…They figured that out already?”
“Info’s everything in this line of work.”
Edinal grinned slyly.
That smile alone suggested she had plants in the precinct.
‘…Nah, no way.’
Vampires could turn minions, sure, but it was illegal now.
‘Team Leader’s just well-connected.’
Sernal snorted.
“Good job, Sermal. This gives us leverage to push the police harder!”
‘And?’
Sernal waited expectantly.
Toon’s issue resolved, Mestus Hospital sorted, and even the recent cases from the police wrapped up—what came next?
“I’ll snag you some vacation and a bonus. Of course, you know no more than two days, right?”
“Obviously. Thank you so much.”
Sernal grinned at the words vacation and bonus.
Time off and cash were always right.
“And Sermal, time for a promotion. We’ve got prime ammo this time—the Mage Association stuff and this case. Keep it up, and promotion’s a breeze! Oh, the Mage Association thing needs a bit more time.”
“They’re huge, so I get it, but already? I just switched departments.”
“Why not? That’s what team leaders are for. Gotta climb so no one looks down on our Sermal.”
Edinal puffed up proudly at him.
But Sermal didn’t find it obnoxious at all.
A mage becoming a civil servant had been huge news, buzzing everywhere.
Of course, he’d magicked his face unrecognizable in photos.
He wasn’t the only mage civil servant, but the fuss stemmed from one thing.
Combat certification (magic).
He was the sole public servant with it.
It wasn’t made to be earned in the first place.
“Thanks, Team Leader.”
“Of course, it’s not automatic from this. You know that, right?”
“Naturally.”
He was currently 9th grade out of 12 in the civil service ranks.
Starting from 1st grade with zodiac animal names like ‘Rat Ox Tiger’ followed by ‘-sa-nim,’ but where he’d worked before, it barely mattered.
Same in Complaints—called by name, not rank, so it felt trivial.
He’d bounced around civil service for about four years, cutting the usual 15-year climb to three.
Just grinding like a madman.
“Honestly… I’m not chasing promotions hard anymore.”
Sernal looked wearier than before.
Bad memories bubbled up.
“Stumbling into it unexpectedly is even better, right? And you earned this one. Case closed fast, victims minimized—thanks to you.”
Edinal patted his shoulder lightly.
“Have some confidence, Sermal.”
Bzzz.
His phone buzzed. Edinal pulled back, nodding.
Answer it.
[Maeve Trian: Sorry to bother you late, Sermal. But results are in……]
Sernal glanced at his phone.
“It’s Maeve Trian. Y’know, the succubus who spread the charm at Mestus Hospital.”
“Oh. The one checking if the werewolf charmed in the twin vampire case ties to this?”
“Yes.”
Sernal read the message.
[Maeve Trian: Sorry to bother you late, Sermal. But results are in, so I’m letting you know. Short version: no match. Different charm powers.]
[Really?]
[Maeve Trian: That reply was fa—]
[Maeve Trian: Wait, did this help?]
[Absolutely.]
[Maeve Trian: Then come to the hospital tomorrow. Please.]
‘……Huh?’
Sernal’s mind blanked for a second.
[Maeve Trian: Have a good evening.]
“What? Major incident?”
Edinal eyed his stiff expression. Didn’t look good.
“No link to this case.”
“That’s great then. Not the same perp… Speaking of, why haven’t they ID’d the dream demon who possessed that werewolf yet? Time’s passed. I’ll ask tomorrow.”
“…And I have to go to the hospital tomorrow.”
Sernal glanced at the trash can.
A small beer can was crushed.
“Busted. I told you not to drink, Sermal?”
Heh heh.
Edinal burst out laughing.
“…Heading home.”
Sernal trudged out weakly, startling at the hollow-eyed Irang standing there three seconds late.
“Overtime… again?”
Irang forced a tired smile.
“Yeah. Three days straight.”
Just saying it pissed him off.
When would he escape this overtime hell? Sermal nearly sighed.
‘Anyone. Reinforcements to Complaints.’
He knew why no one applied, but the staffing shortage still grated.
He couldn’t forget how desperately they’d welcomed him—like hanging a wreath around his neck.
“Three days…?”
“Yeah.”
Irang’s eyes flickered, then pitied him.
“Well, tomorrow’ll be different for sure, Sermal. No—weekend’s coming soon.”
‘…What? Weird reaction.’
As Sermal’s brow furrowed to speak, Irang cut in.
“Team Leader still inside? Gotta submit this report.”
Her earlier vibe nagged him, but he wasn’t swamped uniquely.
Morning reports showed it: big ones to him, rest to Terisha and Irang—four or five piling up daily.
“Grab her quick. Looks like she’s prepping to sneak out.”
Sernal turned; Edinal, half-melded into shadows, flashed a cheeky grin.
Not magic—just vampire racial trait.
‣Vampire race can blend into darkness.
“…Sernal?”
Edinal bit her lip.
“Heading out. Good night, Team Leader, Irang.”
Sernal waved cheerfully.
The one clocking out was the true winner.
He strode off proudly.
* * *
‘…Yeah. Took my meds, so it should’ve cleared up.’
Sernal stepped from the taxi, walking to his apartment.
Everything felt tedious after work.
Even breathing was a chore.
‘Ha. Look at that moonlight. Insane.’
Somehow, post-shift, the world looked beautiful.
Sernal paused, glancing back.
‘No one today?’
Lately, someone had been watching him.
Right after resolving the twin vampires’ complaint.
—Sometime, uninvited guests might drop by unexpectedly. Purely personal, y’know.
Edinal had warned him, so he wasn’t fully off-guard. Just didn’t expect it so soon.
They only watched, never acted, so he wouldn’t strike first.
Back as Rinell, mages stood above law—but times changed. Justified self-defense now.
‘Peace is best.’
Edinal probably helped. How nice.
A few steps on, a massive crash from behind made him peek.
KABOOM.
Not his apartment— a bit farther.
Fight? Takedown? Something broke, for sure.
Old days, he’d rush in. Not now.
He was off-duty, craving sofa fusion.
‘Eh. Gets noisy sometimes.’
Sernal popped in wireless earbuds, snorted.
Hate Mondays. Hate Tuesdays. Wednesdays suck. Hate going to work.
The song played softly.