Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Just Charge In (2)
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* * *
“…Sernal?”
Irang grabbed Ser nal.
“Take a deep breath.”
“I am.”
“Calm down.”
“I am, I tell you.”
“No. Why are you being so extreme? Making the incident bigger will just make things harder for you.”
“For me…?”
The corner of Ser nal’s mouth twitched up reflexively.
He was already exhausted—what could be more tiring?
“It’ll be harder for you, Irang, not me. I’ve already got one big case on my plate. Adding more won’t make much difference; I’ll be tired either way.”
Just recently, he’d raided a branch of the Mages’ Association.
Even now, he was quietly sorting through matters related to discrimination against other races at that branch, figuring the police might come calling for cooperation on their investigation any day now.
*Good talk about cooperation, my ass. If I go, there’ll be someone from Mages’ Association HQ there. They’ll suggest settling it quietly.*
Sernal glanced at Irang, who averted his eyes slightly, and spoke in a kindly tone.
“Let’s get moving, Irang. The more time we give them, the more they’ll slither away like eels.”
He figured no one wanted to go home more than he did right now.
“Oh, the back entrance this time.”
* * *
“…You can’t go in!”
The moment they stepped out of the taxi, Ser nal’s eyes were drawn not to the towering construction company skyscraper that could snap his neck just looking up at it, but to the commotion at the front door.
“Please, just let me see him for a moment. It’ll be quick. Really quick.”
A lizardman and a giant in suits were blocking a man’s path, and he couldn’t push past the giant’s massive frame.
*…Where have I seen that before.*
Unable to shake the familiar sight from his mind, Ser nal walked forward.
“Looks like trouble here too. You think he’s digging into this incident?”
At Irang’s comment, Ser nal started to shrug, then paused.
He remembered.
*That’s the guy.*
The Medusa who’d come as a complainant. And a reporter.
*What was his name again.*
Sernal changed direction. A good idea was forming.
“Sernal, this building is huge. My neck hurts just looking at it.”
Overwhelmed by the gleaming glass facade, Irang stared endlessly until he noticed the footsteps beside him had stopped. He turned.
Sernal was gone.
“Sernal…?”
*What, is he a kid? Always wandering off somewhere.*
Irang spotted Ser nal right away and approached.
“Not that way.”
Irang said with irritation.
“I know.”
“Then what is it this time?”
“A good idea popped up.”
“What kind?”
“Who do you think the higher-ups hate most in a situation like this?”
“…Reporters?”
As Irang asked incredulously, Ser nal’s languid face broke into a smile.
“Sernal.”
Irang grabbed him again. Ser nal looked mildly annoyed.
“Why are you doing that again?”
“Have you always handled things this way?”
“I don’t know what ‘this way’ means exactly, but my methods don’t really run afoul of the law.”
“No. It’s dangerous. Making enemies won’t do you any good. The longer you do this job, the more people you’ll meet, the more complaints you’ll get. You can’t do this every time—it’ll wear you out.”
This wasn’t just advice; it was worry. A lesson from someone who’d spent years in complaints.
“Thanks.”
Sernal accepted Irang’s concern.
“But Irang. Didn’t you say you have a social condition that keeps you from talking to the big shots?”
“I did…”
“So I’ll handle it. This is what I’m best at.”
He knew best how the powerless lash out at the powerful.
Wasn’t that exactly what he was doing now?
Irang stared at Ser nal, then let go of his arm.
“…Then I’ll back you up.”
Sernal gave him a light smile and headed toward the reporter arguing with the company security.
“Excuse me. Is something wrong?”
The lizardman guard turned at Ser nal’s voice, spotted the civil servant ID around his neck, and hesitated.
Tap tap.
He smacked the giant beside him. The giant paused blocking the reporter and looked at the lizardman with an apologetic expression.
“What’s up?”
“…He’s here.”
At that, the giant lowered his hand immediately.
His massive bulk blocked out the sunlight, but his face was innocently boyish.
A typical trait of giants.
“…Well, this gentleman’s banned from entry, but he keeps trying to get in, so we were just stopping him. No violence or anything like that, absolutely not.”
The lizardman gave an awkward smile as he looked at Ser nal.
Sernal spoke kindly to calm the guards.
“I’m on official duty, but I just came because of the disturbance—no need to tense up.”
“Thank you for hel…….”
The reporter bowed his head to Ser nal, then looked up and froze in shock.
No one could meet Ser nal once and forget him—he was that striking.
Like glimpsing the sun in brief darkness, hope swelled in the reporter’s chest.
“S-Sernal. Do you remember me?”
“Of course, Mr. Cursman Lal.”
Sernal recalled the name on the Medusa’s business card and answered warmly.
As the lizardman and giant’s gazes darted back and forth, Ser nal asked Cursman a favor.
“Would you come with me for a moment?”
“But I…”
“Is it okay if I take him with me?”
Sernal cut him off and asked the guards.
“Y-Yes. Please, just keep him away from here.”
The lizardman sighed, lowering his tail and lightly thumping the ground.
“Shall we go?”
Sernal suggested to Cursman, putting some distance between them.
Cursman followed, unable to shake his puzzlement.
*Why?*
The question swirled in his head. But he wasn’t tense.
His reporter’s instinct told him this wouldn’t turn against him.
Then Ser nal’s voice brushed his ear.
“Mind if I guess why you’re here, Mr. Cursman?”
“Of course.”
Cursman reflexively fiddled with the ring he’d received while Ser nal resolved his complaint.
Rubbing it soothed the agitated mana fluctuations, or so they said. Beyond that, it comforted him.
“It’s about what happened yesterday at Hanul Construction’s site, right?”
“…Has a complaint been filed?”
“I can’t disclose complaint details. I’m a civil servant, after all.”
Sernal grinned.
“Though I don’t mind listening. It’s my job.”
At that, Cursman knew Ser nal was pursuing the same story.
Unlike him, chased off because of the heavy name “Hanul,” Ser nal’s status as a civil servant—no, the shield of the Complaints Division—would carry him to the top.
*Is this really okay?*
That’s what Cursman wanted to ask.
Pulling in a reporter like him meant no good end.
But seeing Ser nal waiting patiently, Cursman pushed aside his hesitation and spoke.
“What happened yesterday wasn’t sudden at all. It’s because of this monster newbie, Agent Sindel, sent from HQ.”
*That skeleton race is the monster newbie?*
The arrogance that oozed around Sindel—because everyone just clapped along?
Sernal swallowed a laugh threatening to escape.
“Agent Sindel’s expendable anytime. I kept requesting interviews on him, but they refused.”
“What exactly did this Agent Sindel do?”
As if unable to hold back curiosity sparked by Cursman’s words, Ser nal prompted him.
Cursman’s expression grew more serious. Anger flickered in his eyes behind his glasses.
“He discriminated against other races.”
Sernal held back at the weight of those words. He needed to hear more.
“He stirred up discrimination among site workers, picking targets and rigging the system so it always landed on the worst performers. Mostly giants as victims. If a target tried to quit, he’d threaten them using Hanul’s name. ‘Think anyone else will take you if Hanul blacklists you?’”
“What kind of…….”
Irang, listening, finally snapped, raising his voice before gritting his teeth. Cursman wasn’t done.
“He cultivated fear so complaints never reached him, then used his system to burn through manpower. Result? Maximized efficiency, shortened the whole project timeline. Huge win for Hanul Construction, right? It’s… so unfair.”
“Thank you for sharing.”
Sernal bowed slightly to Cursman.
A mere agent couldn’t handle all this.
Not a surprise from what he’d seen at the site, but hearing it from a brave reporter made it even more outrageous.
*Damn bastards piling on more work.*
Sernal felt weary.
No telling how it’d play out, but another big case had landed in his lap.
“Sernal.”
Before Ser nal could move, Cursman called him.
His former complainant.
Meeting outside felt oddly fresh.
Maybe like running into the twin vampires, Keron and Loren, out in the world.
“What is it?”
“I’ll wait here until you come out.”
“Just stand there quietly?”
“Yes.”
“No telling if you’ll get what you want.”
Sernal didn’t know what choice he’d make inside.
He could topple it like the Mages’ Association, or let it simmer before striking big.
“It’s fine. I’ll wait.”
“Got it.”
Sernal left Cursman behind and entered the building.
“Sernal.”
“Don’t try to stop me.”
“Not stopping you.”
“Then what?”
“I’ve got this feeling I’m getting promoted soon. My fortune said today’s luck was good.”
Irang’s face was genuinely happy.
Smiling in this situation.
Sernal couldn’t comprehend and asked.
“You that into promotions?”
“Of course. Higher up means more you can do.”
“Higher rank means more work, more responsibility, though?”
“Our department’s special—rank up or not, it’s the same. Team leader’s too high up. Can’t catch him.”
“Sounds too easy.”
“Not alone. Got a rock-solid teammate.”
Determination burned in Irang’s dark eyes.
A mage who’d gotten his combat certification (magic) in over a decade—what was there to fear?
“You think just ‘cause I was in Special Task Force, I’ll solve it with some special trick?”
Sernal, spotting the reception desk, gripped his ID and asked casually.
“Look at your current teammate, not my past.”
Irang, looking ahead, glanced sideways. A mage overflowing with utter annoyance strode by.
As if he’d made a mistake, Irang’s steps slowed.
Sernal forced a smile and addressed the desk staff.
“Hello. From the Special Division for Other-Race Complaint Resolution. We should have an appointment.”
The staff blinked at Ser nal’s fluid words, then spoke in a slow drawl.
“Plea…se wait.”
One picked up a phone, and soon they all stood.
“This way. We’ll escort you.”
“Where are you taking us?”
Sernal asked. The staff hesitated.
Depending on the rank they met, he’d know how the company viewed this—Sernal was eager for the answer.
“To the Executive Director.”
*…Whoa. Way up high. Bold move—I like it.*
Sernal was pleased.
Executive Director—right below vice president?
Probably thanks to Edinal that they’d reached this far.
“…Gulp.”
Sernal kept his expression steady despite hearing Irang swallow hard behind him.
*Executive Director…? Executive Director?*
Irang couldn’t believe it. Way too high for a mere civil servant.
Irang stared at Ser nal in silent scream.
Even after years in complaints, he’d never touched a shadow of this—and Ser nal did it this fast.
*…Who was it bragging about quick promotions?*
Irang felt how arrogant his words had been.
At this rate, he’d get demoted before promoting.
* * *
“…Hello.”
As Ser nal and Irang entered, the seated Executive Director stood to greet them.
His unnaturally plump, jiggly form told Ser nal he was a slime.