Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Awkward (2)
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* * *
“…What did you just say?”
Terisha set down her personal small chopsticks in a flash and stared at Edinal.
Edinal spoke again with delight, meeting the eyes of Terisha, who awaited his answer.
“An application came in.”
“You’re joking, right?”
Seonal chuckled.
It was the funniest joke he’d heard lately. It washed away all his fatigue.
“It’s not a joke, Mr. Seonal.”
“Who in their right mind would apply here?”
“…Well, you’re not wrong.”
Edinal couldn’t bring himself to argue.
There were only two special divisions, and one was the Complaints Division.
As the name suggested, the conditions were extremely strict, and it was infamous for having hardly any applicants.
“But we have an applicant? Aren’t you happy?”
Edinal looked at Terisha, Irang, and Seonal.
Seonal’s usual annoyed expression was one thing, but Terisha and Irang didn’t look pleased either.
This wasn’t the reaction he’d expected.
“To be honest… I’m mostly worried they’ll just leave again.”
Irang hesitated, glancing at Seonal.
It felt too soon to celebrate a new hire when Seonal still hadn’t settled in.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Seonal caught the glance. There was a hint of guilt in her eyes.
“If it’s okay with you, Mr. Seonal, can I speak frankly?”
“Uh… do whatever.”
“Do you perhaps want to quit here?”
Terisha’s gaze followed at Irang’s words.
Even though Seonal hadn’t brought it up, Terisha looked at him earnestly.
‘…This feels familiar.’
There had been a time when he’d mentioned a ‘crisis.’
It wasn’t a real crisis—just something Toon had brought up from before Seonal joined Complaints—but their reaction had been intense.
“Well, yeah, I’ve thought about it.”
A heavy silence fell as Seonal answered honestly.
The atmosphere felt like he’d done something wrong, so Seonal raised an eyebrow.
“But doesn’t everyone feel that way?”
“Not me.”
Edinal shook his head firmly, his expression unusually stern.
“Me neither. There’s no reason to leave.”
Irang replied with a slight smile gone from her face, and even Terisha showed a resolute gaze.
“I have no intention of leaving here either. I like this place.”
“…Wow.”
Seonal’s chopsticks slipped from his hand at their sincere words.
‘That much affection? Why?’
Seonal sniffled, feeling oddly embarrassed.
He sensed a subtle line between himself and them.
“I always carry resignation in my heart and am just trying to tough it out for now. So, Team Leader, maybe cut back on the work a bit…”
“Seonal. I really didn’t want to say this, but… this is already reduced.”
Seonal lost his appetite as Edinal squeezed out the words with eyes tightly shut.
After a long silence and swallowing dryly, Seonal finally asked.
“…You’re serious?”
“Of course. You deserve the most credit here, Seonal.”
Edinal slid a plate of meat toward Seonal, and Terisha pushed over some mixed sausage to express her gratitude.
“That’s right. The work’s become so much more efficient thanks to your magic. Just the magic scanner alone—no, even just the improved security is amazing. Complaints get resolved faster too.”
As Irang tried to push over a side dish, Seonal spoke up.
What was this, like kids? As if meat would sway him.
“No. I said I’ll stick it out for now.”
“Good thinking. Honestly, no place pays like this.”
Irang smiled, but Seonal dismissed it easily.
“Not necessarily. So, Team Leader, when does the applicant start?”
“Soon.”
Edinal replied with eager anticipation.
‘How amazing must this newbie be?’
Seonal neatly placed the Woo Samgyeopsal in front of him over his rice.
‘Doesn’t matter as long as they’re good at the job.’
That was enough.
As he lifted his spoon, the fluffy rice and perfectly seasoned Woo Samgyeopsal spread through his mouth.
* * *
‘…Damn it. I said no drinks last night.’
Seonal stared out the window, nursing the ache in his upper stomach.
Irang glanced at him.
His face was blank—dazed or sleepy?—staring out the window.
Vroom.
The only sound in the taxi was the wheels turning.
‘Awkward.’
The silence was unbearably uncomfortable for Irang.
Truth be told, they weren’t close. They’d only exchanged a few words now and then.
She glanced again. He looked so fierce.
“…S-Seonal. This is our first time collaborating, right?”
Unable to bear the continued silence, Irang finally spoke. It was probably the most suffocating moment she’d ever had.
Seonal sniffled, gazing out the window.
“You heard earlier.”
“Do you… hate collaborating?”
“No. I’ve done it plenty.”
“Then maybe we should start by getting to know each other…”
“Fine. Ask away. Oh, but let me ask one thing first.”
“Go ahead.”
Irang felt slightly pushed back.
She hadn’t noticed when sitting side by side, but this close, his intense aura was palpable.
His features looked sharper, and his hollow eyes a bit scary.
“You don’t like me, do you?”
“…Pardon?”
Irang was caught off guard by Seonal’s question. Seeing his slightly upturned lip, she hurriedly replied.
“H-How could I? You’re the savior of Complaints.”
“Weird. From the first time we met, you’ve kept a wall up. I thought you hated me.”
Seonal’s gaze sharpened subtly.
Not long after joining Complaints, he’d been surprised by how welcoming everyone was—no hazing.
Grateful, he’d passed out drinks, but Irang had shut it down cold.
—I’m not close enough to accept drinks as a gift.
“…That was a misunderstanding. I’m shy. A little—no, a lot.”
Irang averted her eyes, fiddling with her talisman.
‘Really shy?’
Seonal was suspicious but surprised.
Goblins had one common trait.
‣High affinity.
Watching Irang handle complainants sometimes, she was sly yet friendly like a goblin, so he hadn’t realized she was shy.
No wonder he’d concluded she disliked him.
‘Every gesture felt subtly off, like high wariness… something ambiguous.’
Seonal couldn’t pinpoint it exactly.
It was just subtle.
“Not all goblins have that… high affinity to get close to strangers.”
“That makes sense. But your earlier words bothered me.”
“What did I say? Was it a mistake?”
Irang’s voice rose a bit. It wasn’t just curiosity—there was tension.
“Saying it would make me seem petty. Oh, already petty?”
“No. It’s fine, so you’re not petty.”
Irang shook her head vigorously.
“You said you weren’t close enough for gifts like drinks. That’s bothersome enou—”
Slap.
As soon as Seonal finished, Irang slapped her own cheek.
In that moment, her eyes filled with deep despair, rippling with emptiness.
‘Why… is she doing this?’
Startled by her sudden action and hearing her mutter, Seonal scooted away slightly before listening.
‘…I said I wouldn’t. Is that what you’re saying?’
Seonal called out, sensing growing unease.
“Irang.”
“……”
Her stiff shoulders slowly relaxed, and she smiled as usual.
“It’s a… habit. Sorry if I startled you.”
“That’s fine, but wasn’t that too hard?”
Seonal eyed her reddened cheek. Her smile seemed forced, but he didn’t press.
Irang looked down at her fingers.
“It’s okay. And what I said to you, um, probably meant: we’re not that close, so is it okay for me to accept this?”
‘Why?’
Seonal didn’t get it.
If not close, wasn’t the drink meant to bridge that?
“It’s because… goblins all have that trait, you know.”
Irang spoke with some frustration.
Goblins had an innate trait. Everyone had it without exception.
‣They place great importance on relationships in life.
Seonal nodded, recalling goblin traits.
“So, I said that to avoid misinterpreting on my own.”
“Misinterpreting?”
Seonal blinked.
What misunderstanding?
“You wanting to be friends with me. It might lead to thinking we’re already friends, getting ahead of myself. My thought process is like that, so my words came out… weird trying to suppress it.”
“…Ah. I get it now.”
Seonal chuckled lightly.
In social life, ‘friends’ often just extended work, and only the sincere one got hurt.
Goblins must struggle more with that.
‘Not all goblins act like friends after one chat or greeting—it’s not universal.’
Seonal leaned back, feeling a bit relieved, and extended a hand slightly.
“I’ll try to get appropriately friendly. Don’t get hurt if I draw lines.”
“Thanks for understanding. Actually, that’s a relief.”
“Looks like we’re almost there. Ask what you’re curious about. We’re outside Complaints, so relax.”
Irang couldn’t hold back her curiosity and blurted questions without breathing.
“I’ve always wondered where you were before transferring—can I ask?”
“Didn’t I… tell you?”
“No.”
“I could’ve sworn I mentioned it at the welcome party…”
Screech!
The taxi stopped abruptly.
Seonal shielded everyone inside before they could react.
[Protect.]
Light enveloped everyone, including Seonal.
The suddenly braking driver and Irang beside Seonal freaked out at the light.
“What happened?”
Seonal asked calmly.
“…Ahead. Someone cut in suddenly!”
Clatter.
The driver’s eerie voice came with chattering teeth.
Knock knock knock!
Someone urgently tapped the window outside.
“That’s him!”
At the driver’s words, Seonal stepped out without hesitation.
“W-Wait, Seonal!”
Irang fumbled with her seatbelt. Panicking, it wouldn’t unbuckle.
“…A-Are you okay?”
Outside stood a flustered man. Mermaid kin? Scales on his face glinted in the sun.
Seonal exhaled long and eyed the ID on the man’s neck.
“…Special Action Division for Other Races, Park Namwoo.”
A familiar name.
Special Action Division for Other Races—including Other Races Complaints Resolution Special Division—was the only one with ‘Special’ in the name.
While Complaints handled consultations to resolve discrimination and conflicts, Special Action—aka Special Ops—dealt with serious crimes causing them.
Like a police major crimes unit.
“On duty, Namwoo?”
Seonal asked, looking elsewhere, and Namwoo nodded, overwhelmed by the aura around him.
“Sorry. Chasing a perp, didn’t watch the side.”
“Newbie?”
Seonal smiled lightly and cast magic. A line shot from his hand like a snake toward the front.
“……!”
Namwoo stared, speechless at the scene.
What was that? How? A racial trait?
His mind reeled.
Seonal yanked hard as the line tugged.
Big one.
Someone flew toward him, hooked on the line Seonal made.
“That the guy?”
Seonal asked casually. Namwoo confirmed it was the perp and finally looked at Seonal.
He calmly read the ID.
Other Races Complaints Resolution Special Division, Ha Seonal.
‘…Ha Seonal?’
Namwoo felt the name was familiar.
“We’re cooperating. Complaints and Special Ops. Like this.”
“Y-Yes……?”
“Nothing special. I caught your perp. Just beat him up moderately and take him.”
“No, that’s……”
“Didn’t Special Ops tell you to hide your ID on duty? Perps run when they see it.”
Beep beep.
Police sirens approached.
“Be careful jumping into traffic next time. Getting hit hurts.”
Seonal dusted Namwoo’s clothes.
“No……”
Namwoo started to speak but reflexively subdued the perp who landed lightly before him.
“If your boss chews you out, name-drop me. They’ll gripe at someone else.”
Seonal looked at Irang, who’d gotten out.
“You okay, Seonal?”
“Let’s get back in.”
“Huh……?”
“It happened during duty.”
“During duty……?”
“I’ll explain on the way. We need to wrap this up quick too. Backlogged afternoon work… ha.”
“W-Wait.”
Seonal shoved Irang into the taxi and got in himself. The wheels started again.
Namwoo stared blankly at the departing taxi.
“…Hey, Park Namwoo. You catch the perp?”
Then, with a casual voice, an incubus folded his wings and landed.