Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Newbie! (3)
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* * *
The moment sharp fangs peeked from the corners of his mouth, Sernal tried to cast a spell but held back.
Keron glared at Loren. It looked like she was about to use the power inherent to vampires.
Vampires were a matter of family culture.
Unless it was a situation that couldn't be resolved otherwise, the family as a whole viewed any member's misdeed as a collective shame, so they didn't interfere.
"Loren! Control your bloodlust."
In an instant, Keron's pupils turned crimson, and red light shaped like bats rose from her feet, spreading around her.
This was the vampire race's power, 'Blood Dignity.'
It was a force that imposed dignity not just on vampires but on all opponents.
As Loren's narrowing pupils returned to normal, the child immediately bowed her head.
"...Ah! Sorry!"
"No, I'm fine."
Sernal stepped back further.
‣They sometimes feel bloodlust upon seeing blood. The younger the child, the harder it is for them to suppress it on their own.
Understanding the traits of vampires, Sernal could sympathize with what had happened to Loren.
The only ways to curb this impulse were to overwhelm it with Blood Dignity, like just now, or to regulate it with medication.
"S-Sis, are you okay? Sernal's blood smelled so sweet, I messed up."
Loren trembled violently, clutching her own hands tightly as she looked at Keron.
"Loren. You mustn't say things like that out loud. I told you people might find it unpleasant."
"...Sorry, Sis."
Loren whispered softly and stepped away from the table.
Keron gently stroked Loren's head, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Sernal."
Keron also seemed to feel the bloodlust, her sharpened fangs visible between her lips.
Sernal wondered if he should sprinkle some sedative.
It wasn't the first time his blood had triggered bloodlust in vampires, but he hadn't expected it from a kid.
"It's not a good time today. Bloodlust is dangerous if it flares up. I'll come back later, so tell me who bullied you."
Sernal stared blankly at the child, forgetting the comforting words he'd meant to say in response to Keron's sudden advance.
"No. I mean, no one bullied me..."
"Bow your head forward, Mr. Sernal."
Terisha cut in as she arrived, and Sernal let out a long breath through his mouth, his shoulders slumping.
'Nobody listens to me at all...'
A wave of fatigue washed over him.
He understood, though. The image of mages affiliated with the Magic Association was pretty intimidating, so compared to them, he must look like a flimsy scrap of paper fluttering in the wind.
'Whatever, fine.'
Sernal glanced around and lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.
"Thank you."
Just their concern alone was something to be grateful for.
* * *
4:50 PM.
The light on the license plate number turned off.
'...Insane.'
Sernal's heart raced at the irrefutable fact.
How long had it been since he'd felt this exhilaration?
'Is this really happening?'
Sernal could hardly believe it.
No matter how many times he checked his wristwatch or the clocks in the Complaints Department, he couldn't trust his own eyes.
4:50 PM.
Was this even possible?
"Mr. Sernal?"
Terisha, finishing her preparations to leave, quietly called out to Sernal, who was trembling in his seat.
Hadn't he had a nosebleed earlier? Was he unwell again?
He'd spoken quite a bit this week, but it wasn't a lie that Sernal was the treasure of the Complaints Department.
He really was like a ray of light descending upon them.
Compared to those grueling days when work piled up until his mind was exhausted, now they even had some breathing room.
"Ms. Terisha."
"...Yes."
Terisha paused and looked at Sernal.
Had he ever been this bright?
He always looked so drained, like he might submit a resignation any second, but seeing that smile just now made her even more anxious.
'No... probably not?'
Countless people had come and gone from the Complaints Department, and there was one expression everyone wore before leaving: a beaming smile just like this.
Since it was undeniably his first bright face she'd seen, Terisha asked cautiously.
"...Are you okay, Mr. Sernal?"
"I'm fine. I feel really refreshed right now."
As Sernal's eyes curved softly, Terisha got goosebumps all over.
She rubbed her arms briefly and stepped back a little.
"Ms. Terisha."
Rather than answering, Terisha followed Sernal's gaze. He kept staring at his wristwatch.
'...Ah.'
Come to think of it, this might be his first on-time clock-out.
No wonder he was thrilled.
"Yes."
With the misunderstanding cleared, Terisha responded with more energy than before.
"We're really clocking out on time today, right? You can manage it?"
"Yes. We should be able to today. The interviews will likely wrap up early."
There were three applicants this time.
A number unimaginable just a few years ago.
The newly created Complaints Department and Special Operations Unit under government initiative—there was no way they wouldn't be popular.
"Let's go, Mr. Sernal."
"But how do the Complaints Department interviews work?"
"Before that, if it wouldn't be rude, could I ask first? How do the Special Operations Unit interviews...?"
"Wait a sec, Ms. Terisha."
Irang spoke up urgently. She was halfway out of her seat, buttocks lifted.
"Yes?"
"How did you know Mr. Sernal came from Special Operations?"
"Because he told me at the welcome party, of course? I was honestly shocked. It's hard enough to meet Special Operations folks, and then Mr. Sernal turns out to be one."
"......?"
Irang froze and covered her mouth.
Terisha chuckled lightly.
"You were so drunk that night, Ms. Irang. Mr. Sernal showed up, and you were thrilled. I gave you some hangover relief meds then—did you not take them, by any chance?"
"...Guess not."
Irang felt burdened by Sernal's steady gaze and hurried off to Edinal's office first, like she was fleeing.
'See? I told you.'
Sernal snorted softly.
What was so weird about coming from Special Operations that she'd hide it?
Of course, he was the only one who'd transferred from Special Operations to Complaints.
"May I continue with my earlier question?"
Terisha asked carefully.
"Of course."
"Could you tell me how Special Operations interviews work? I've been curious."
"Basically, you just fight. It wasn't any different when I was there. They'd pit people against my magic, whatever it took."
"How many did they pit?"
"None."
Sernal grabbed the office door handle with a flat voice.
Terisha's wingbeats slowed for a moment.
"...None?"
It was odd.
Special Operations, where Sernal had served, had staggering achievements.
Yet no one had been assigned?
"So I had to handle everything myself."
Sernal let out a short laugh. As he opened the door, a sense of relief shimmered in the eye contact they shared briefly.
Terisha grew curious about what kind of relief it was.
"Then, Ms. Terisha. What do Complaints Department interviews look at?"
"Conversation. We've already checked combat skills beforehand, so it's about seeing what kind of person they are."
'...Conversation.'
Sernal dialed back his expectations a bit.
He'd thought since it was one of the two 'special' departments, it might be something unique.
* * *
"...The slime said it was disgusting for the vampire to drink blood. So the angry vampire retorted that slimes were pathetic creatures that could only stick to walls. Who do you think was more at fault?"
Edinal asked.
She was her usual self, so Sernal thought the atmosphere wasn't bad.
Of course, he was watching the first interviewee, a giant race member. Tension was evident again from the sudden question.
His name was Dongha.
"Take your time thinking, Mr. Dongha, then answer."
Terisha smiled gently as she spoke.
Everyone there knew that despite efforts to keep things relaxed, it wouldn't work.
"In my view, both acted wrongly."
Sernal raised an eyebrow slightly at Dongha's response.
'Fail.'
He glanced at Edinal, who adjusted her glasses with a languid expression.
He sensed a subtle shift in her face.
The answer Edinal wanted—or rather, the one that should come from there—was singular.
It seemed focused on hypothetical A and B, but the scenario itself wasn't perfect.
What Dongha should have asked Edinal was, 'Is that really the whole situation?'
That would test situational awareness, clearly.
"Of course, the slime who made the discriminatory remark first bears more weight, but I see the vampire who responded in kind out of anger as equally guilty."
Dongha looked at Edinal confidently as he answered firmly.
Edinal asked another question without changing expression.
"Then let me ask: If both came as complainants, what would you do? Which side would you take, Mr. Dongha?"
"Do I have to take... a side?"
"Of course. They're complainants, so you have to resolve it. You're not planning to just say 'both are wrong' to a complainant, are you?"
"Then I'd side with the vampire."
'Definitely a fail?'
Sernal itched to speak.
If two incidents overlapped, you had to stay neutral, investigate, and judge.
Complaints Department cases were more complex than they seemed; you couldn't rely solely on hearsay.
"Yes. Thank you for your answer. Any questions from your side?"
Edinal smiled at Dongha's response, then looked at Terisha, Irang, and Sernal in turn.
"I have a question."
Terisha raised both hands, and Edinal nodded with an eye smile, urging her on.
"With so many other departments, why apply to Complaints?"
"Because the Heterorace Complaints Resolution Special Department is the unique conflict resolution group."
"There's also the Heterorace Special Operations Unit."
As Sernal interjected bluntly, Dongha responded with a slightly shaky voice.
"The unique one—the group that resolves conflicts peacefully."
But at that answer, Sernal could only let out a long sigh.
Peacefully?
Sernal was a bit disappointed at the lack of basic knowledge about Complaints.
'It does look that way on the surface.'
At least until consulting inside Complaints, it was peace itself.
Sernal shot back.
"Do you really think Complaints looks peaceful, Mr. Dongha?"
"I've handled many complaints myself, so it's relative, but at least to me, it looks peaceful."
As Sernal's eyes narrowed, Irang asked Dongha seriously.
"Are you aware that Complaints is infamous for tons of overtime?"
For a split second, Dongha's eyes widened slightly.
"...Yes."
"Overtime from Monday to Friday without end, and that can go on for over a month. Do you have the passion to endure it?"
'This is basically telling them not to come?'
Sernal nearly laughed at Irang's follow-up.
But despite expecting intervention, no one stopped her.
'Did the team leader ask me stuff like this when scouting me?'
Sernal couldn't quite remember how it had been.
He'd been pretty broken down by then.
"I'll... do my best."
Sernal could feel the tremor in Dongha's voice.
'He's given up.'
Watching the interview firsthand, Sernal understood. Edinal only hired those who could truly help Complaints.
If it were just about filling headcount, she wouldn't have mentioned the department's situation.
'This is the right way, actually.'
For efficiency, better to inform them upfront and let the unfit leave early.
Imagine training them fully only for them to bail when they can't handle the work—how much manpower wasted each time?
"Thanks for coming today."
Edinal wrapped up the interview.
It had lasted at least ten minutes, more or less.
"Thank you."
Dongha seemed to anticipate the result, bowing without lingering before heading out.
A brief silence fell, and Edinal looked at Sernal.
[Silence descends.]
As Sernal moved his fingers, starlight-like glow descended, filling the office with a thin barrier.
"He's out. Doesn't know our department well."
Edinal said, and Irang nodded too.
"I felt the same, so fail."
"...We can say it right away?"
As Sernal voiced his doubt, Edinal twirled her pen and replied.
"Yeah. We share our impressions from the interview. Helps me stay objective—pretty great, right? What about you, Mr. Sernal?"
"Not great."
What else was there to say?
"Then I'll bring in the next one."
Terisha, seated at her desk, stood immediately and reached toward the door.
Sparkling powder flew out, turning the doorknob.
It was the fairy race's glitter dust.
Close to telekinesis from the movies—no need to touch; with this powder, they could open things or smash them.
The door opened, and Terisha met eyes with a fox staring at her intently.
White and fluffy, red lines like makeup around the fox's eyes, a unique pattern on her forehead, and an abundance of tails.
The fox tilted her head, and the tips of her deep pink tails swayed along.
"Ah! Is it Dodo's turn already?"
The fox beamed.