Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Awkward
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* * *
* * *
“…Ah. So, yesterday, the resident suddenly woke up to this huge noise and went to the construction site to complain about it, mentioning that they were of the centaur race.”
“No. Emphasizing. They emphasized like crazy that I was a centaur. Damn it!”
The man corrected Seonal’s words with a twisted face and kicked the table with his foot.
‘…I knew this would happen.’
Seonal smiled brightly, but her mouth twitched from the overwhelming fatigue.
She had thought there was some minor disturbance near her apartment yesterday.
It sounded like something collapsing, but after work, her body felt heavy, and she wondered if it was really something she needed to handle personally.
Of course, she had considered that there might be a lot of complaints today.
But it was more chaotic than she had imagined. The issue wasn’t right by her apartment but at a construction site a bit further away, and already, by morning, this was the 39th complainant for this case.
She had no idea what exactly had happened there, but with centaurs, harpies, skeletons, mermaids, and various other races all claiming they had been insulted, it was clear something major had blown up.
“No!”
Thud.
The centaur kicked the table roughly again. She knew this level of noise meant he was holding back for a centaur, but she worried the table’s legs, with their immense strength, might shatter.
“Sir, please don’t kick here.”
“I’m sorry! But I’m just so angry!”
Seonal eyed the man, who seemed ready to throw a tantrum, debating whether to spray him.
“Not all of our race is sensitive. I can sleep fine without earplugs—no, even if someone upstairs stomps around.”
“…Wow, that’s impressive.”
Seonal’s words carried genuine admiration.
Interfloor noise.
It was an issue that could make any race sensitive, so sleeping through it was truly remarkable.
“I’m that insensitive, but yesterday I woke up. The noise was no joke, so I went to check, and it just happened to be right by my place—next to the apartment construction site. Isn’t it reasonable to ask about something like that?”
“Yes. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask.”
“There must’ve been an accident during apartment construction, right? I don’t know what happened, but they could use magic. I just asked like that.”
“Well, magic might feel like a cure-all, but I’m not sure it can be used anytime.”
Seonal held back a sneer that threatened to emerge.
In principle, noise-reduction magic was standard during building construction.
It was typically implemented in two ways.
One was purchasing and attaching noise-reduction magic tools.
The other was formally hiring a mage from the Mage Association to cast spells until construction ended.
‘Either way, it’s just for that one moment.’
Officials were required to visit construction sites and measure noise formally during building erection.
Those methods existed solely to pass that single moment.
“What do you mean? Is there anything as versatile as magic?”
The man looked puzzled at Seonal’s words instead.
Seonal smiled quietly, as she often felt the gap between herself and ordinary people most acutely in moments like this.
“Anyway, the noise was already bothering me usually, so I said I wanted to check what was going on inside to cause such a huge racket, and the site manager looked at me like I was trash.”
The man grimaced again.
The humiliation from that moment felt vivid, so Seonal didn’t doubt his story.
“There was a small mountain between the apartments, and when they said they were bulldozing it for a new apartment complex, everyone opposed it. I knew this would happen. I knew something like this would blow up……”
The man muttered as if his anger hadn’t subsided.
Whether they bulldozed a mountain or whatever, Seonal waited for him to stop talking.
Ha.
The man took a deep breath and spoke more firmly.
“Please handle this complaint properly. Measure the noise accurately and check if there was an accident inside. Someone could’ve died during construction.”
‘…What? Did they all rehearse this?’
Seonal felt a sense of déjà vu.
The previous complainant had asked something similar.
‘Noise measurement won’t help. They’re probably cracking down hard since there was an accident.’
Seonal glanced sideways briefly.
Terisha and Irang’s expressions weren’t good either.
This situation, where it felt like they had all agreed to flood the complaints office today, didn’t look great.
Honestly, this could’ve been handed to another department.
But the complaints office had more pull, so they probably came here knowing that.
‘That manager guy. I really want to punch his mouth.’
If he hadn’t run his mouth, the complaints office might not have taken it on.
“And there’s evidence they attempted illegal construction, so you can put some effort into this, right?”
Seonal was stunned by the man’s statement.
No one else had mentioned this.
“…Illegal construction attempt?”
“Yes, yes. I have proof.”
The man glanced around and pulled out his cellphone to play a video.
It clearly showed construction happening at night with lights dimmed as much as possible.
The location matched what previous complainants had described, and the footage was sharp.
“This area is full of apartment complexes, so we agreed no nighttime construction. So, working at night is illegal, right?”
“No. If there are residents nearby, it’s fine with their consent. But not in this case, anyway.”
“I’ll hand over the data, so use it as you like.”
Already prepared, the man handed over a USB drive.
Seonal stared at the USB briefly.
Should she take this? Was this really her department’s complaint?
Such thoughts flickered, but she watched the screen as the man swiped.
He played a recorded audio file.
[…No. Accidents happen during construction. If you come complaining over every little falling noise, it’s a problem for us.]
The person—probably the manager the man mentioned—sounded irritated from the voice alone.
[Seriously, acting all sensitive like they’re a centaur or something. Annoying.]
He muttered under his breath at the small noise, but it came through clearly to Seonal’s ears.
‘I have to take this one.’
Seonal judged that with all the prior complaints plus this recording, they had every reason to act.
But she had to separate the issues.
[What? I didn’t say anything. Anyway, please leave now.]
The recording ended there.
“I put both on the USB. What now?”
“First, illegal construction isn’t our department. Go to the Environmental Management office on the first floor.”
“Then what will you handle?”
“The interspecies discrimination part. If you agree, fill out this form.”
Seonal handed the centaur the necessary paperwork.
The man glared at the form, seemingly lost in thought.
‘…Maybe I should’ve just gone to check what happened yesterday?’
Seonal thought quietly.
If she had swung by to calm things down and resolve the grievances at once, these people might not have come.
But she kept forcing a smile.
‘No. Even if I had handled it, they’d still come. Just accept it.’
While the man filled out the form, Seonal gazed out the window with a languid expression.
She just wanted to see the face of that manager who caused this mess soon.
‘Feels like something I’d do…….’
Seonal stopped her thoughts. Her eyes met Tutoon’s, who was peering at her with sparkling eyes from outside the window.
Seonal instinctively looked at her mug.
It held cold coffee.
‘…Whoa, for a second, I thought it was a horror movie.’
The thrill of Tutoon stealing her coffee still lingered as terror.
When she looked up again, Tutoon was waving.
* * *
“…Today was so hectic.”
Irang showed his exhaustion while eyeing the delivered food.
Steam rose invitingly, but his appetite wouldn’t spark.
Seonal was about to reach for the food with her chopsticks when Edinal set down her documents.
“…It was all this complaint today?”
As Edinal furrowed her brow, Seonal lowered her chopsticks.
She didn’t look angry. Better to play it safe in times like this.
Terisha, who had been sipping water, quietly set down her personal cup and spoke calmly.
“Not all of them, Team Leader. There were others. But most were this one. Like they all planned it together.”
“Seonal.”
Edinal called Seonal, who looked at her while reaching for chopsticks again.
“Yes?”
“The site was near your place. Know what happened?”
“It did.”
Seonal picked up a piece of meat and placed it on her rice.
“On my way home yesterday, there was this ‘boom’ sound.”
“What happened then?”
“I went home, showered, melted into the sofa, dozed off, shuffled to bed, and crashed.”
Edinal’s eyes widened at the casual remark.
“…You slept?”
“What, should I have rushed over without sleeping? That would’ve been ideal, but I didn’t see the need.”
Seonal chewed her rice and asked.
Fatigue, drowsiness, and a hint of irritation showed in his eyes.
Edinal felt the others’ gazes on her too and took a needless sip of water.
‘…My mouth’s itching.’
It supposedly took an average of 15 years to rise from Grade 12 to Grade 9.
Except for those aiming high from the start with exams for Grade 9, 7, etc., it was practically impossible.
Seonal, the monster rookie who broke through in just 3 years, was that exception.
Edinal had glimpsed Seonal back then, briefly.
When they formally met, the discrepancy between that image, the documents, and the real Seonal had shocked her.
“No. You should rest after work.”
“Team Leader.”
Seonal adjusted her glasses and called Edinal.
“What’s up, Seonal?”
“That place is a construction company, right?”
“Yeah. It’s a subsidiary of ‘Hanul’ Group, the biggest conglomerate in our country.”
“And they violate building codes and look down on people? Oh, right, because they’re the biggest.”
Seonal voiced her doubt, then recalled the Mage Association in her mind.
If even the smug association acted superior, why wouldn’t a conglomerate?
“Team Leader.”
Irang emphasized slightly under his eyes.
“Yes, Irang.”
“This… is it okay? Complaints are overflowing, but it’s a huge corporation. Isn’t it risky?”
“True, they say big corporations can down even flying birds.”
Edinal rubbed her chin lightly.
She seemed thoughtful, but to Seonal, she looked more annoyed than troubled.
Irang was the scared one. He licked his dry lips and spoke again.
“And honestly, maybe it’s just me, but I think they came to complaints on purpose. We have more power than other departments. While we handle this, other complainants……”
“Irang. Are you scared?”
Edinal asked Irang with a slight smirk.
“…Yeah.”
Irang nodded, his face saying he wanted out of this complaint.
“Terisha too?”
“No. Even a big corporation has to tangle with others. They’ll be the ones in a bind. A big corp’s weakness is another’s opportunity.”
Edinal beamed at Terisha’s calm response.
“That’s it, Terisha. Hear that, Irang? No need to be scared anymore.”
“…Team Leader? You’re kidding, right?”
Feeling targeted, Irang looked at Edinal pleadingly.
“I’ll assign a brave one. We need to for this.”
Edinal glanced at Seonal.
Seonal, fearless before anyone, was the epitome of brave.
“…I’m saved.”
Irang sighed in relief, and Seonal scoffed.
“Jokes like that aren’t funny. Eat.”
Edinal loved that reaction. She always wanted to tease.
“I’m not joking, Seonal.”
“Me neither.”
“Our complaints office does a lot of team collaborations anyway, so it’d be good to sync up this time.”
Seonal looked at Terisha at Edinal’s continued words.
If asked who was the most serious here, everyone would point to Terisha.
“Seonal, as Team Leader said, internal team collaborations happen more than you’d think.”
“But isn’t it inefficient?”
Seonal pondered and asked.
It meant two seats empty. Complaints didn’t have the manpower.
‘Team Leader filling in?’
Edinal smiled faintly at Seonal’s gaze.
“Right. I’ll go.”
Seonal tried not to show it, but her heart raced at Edinal’s words.
Her intuition was too sharp.
“This way, the office won’t be empty, right?”
“True, but moving in pairs still feels off.”
Seonal glanced at Irang, who seemed deep in thought, rolling his head.
He soon extended his hand slightly.
“Then Seonal and Terisha are perfect. High-ups make my heart race.”
“……?”
Seonal stopped chopsticks and stared at Irang.
“Right now……”
“I’ll handle all the miscellaneous paperwork instead of you, Seonal. For two days.”
“Three.”
“Three’s good.”
‘Not a bad deal.’
As Seonal smiled contentedly, Irang offered his hand.
Just as she reached for it, Edinal’s voice cut in.
“No. You two have to go. Absolutely.”
“We just need to handle the complaint? Does it need two people?”
Seonal raised an eyebrow.
“It needs two because it’s not just that. Our Seonal gets heated sometimes and needs someone to hold her back, and our Irang is cautious enough to do it well.”
“…Cough, cough.”
Irang choked mid-bite and coughed.
Seonal calmly asked as Terisha passed him a cup of water.
“Why not mention Terisha?”
“Well……”
“That part was always mine. But with Seonal here, trying collaboration makes sense. I might not be at my desk if I go to sites.”
Terisha set down her chopsticks and answered upright in Edinal’s stead.
“Above all, working with me on a big corp case would tire you two. Crowds would gather, it might get noisier than expected. Reporters could show up unexpectedly and cause havoc, which you might find stressful. So, at least for big corp matters, skipping collaboration with me is best for you both.”
Her words came neither fast nor slow, leaving Irang and Seonal puzzled.
But Terisha’s dignified posture stopped them from asking why.
Edinal’s mouth itched, but she quietly eyed Terisha’s headband.
‘…Wearing that headband and not thinking anything of it.’
It’s a dragon’s horn. No one can wear a dragon’s ornament without permission.
Edinal held back a laugh inwardly.
It’d be fun seeing their shock later.
And now, she had something to tell everyone. She was curious about their faces.
“Anyway, no collaborations since Seonal joined, and you haven’t seen any. Simple reason: manpower. Sending Seonal, who hasn’t even adapted, to sites urgently shows it, right?”
“…Ha.”
Seonal sighed at the manpower issue. With the mood heavyening instantly, Terisha and Irang had clearly worried about it long before.
When would reinforcements come?
“So I prepared!”
Edinal spoke up, drawing all eyes.
“Support applications finally came in.”
Edinal smiled delightedly.