Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Trouble at the Interview (3)
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* * *
"For starters, I'll say you pass," Edinal said, her eyes crinkling softly.
"I'm on the fence. He's diligent, sure, but... well, it's not discrimination against spirit beast kin, but I think there'd be a lot of difficulties with computer work or fieldwork."
Irang pointed out the practical issues.
Regardless of the power spirit beast kin possessed, their outward appearance presented clear limitations.
Their numbers were few, facilities weren't tailored to them, and above all, he lacked the ability to handle things independently.
The promotion department had discriminated against Dodo, but she couldn't help wondering if there was truly no reason at all.
"I think he passes. His sincerity was so genuine—it really touched me. In my opinion, the most important thing for this job is authenticity."
Terisha smiled, recalling Dodo's earnest desperation.
Civil complaints work involved deeper interactions with people, so it couldn't be judged solely on giving one's all to the tasks.
More than that, skills like quick calculations or paperwork proficiency were utterly useless in the job.
"Now it's just you left, Seonnal. What do you think?"
Edinal looked at Seonnal. His subtle expression drew everyone's gaze.
"I..."
Seonnal thought it over slowly.
Irang had a point, and so did Terisha.
As the only race capable of animal form, spirit beast kin inevitably faced more challenges in the workplace than others.
This wasn't discrimination; it was simply one of the differences among the diverse heteroraces.
But.
"I say he passes."
Seonnal judged coolly.
The work environment could be shaped through his own or others' efforts, so what mattered most was sincerity.
Frankly, he'd been a bit surprised by the unexpected aspect.
Dodo had at least researched what civil complaints work entailed, but to come challenge for it...
—I know you think he looks different and won't be able to do the job properly, so you're worried. But Dodo met all the conditions to join Civil Complaints! Dodo wants to change that perception!
Seeing that bold declaration felt like glimpsing a shadow of his past self.
The self who had declared that magic was broken and needed to be remade anew.
It left a strange feeling. For a moment, nausea welled up inside him.
That's why he wanted to keep Dodo nearby. Maybe he could witness a different outcome from his own failure. The thought crossed his mind suddenly.
"Any shortcomings in his skills, I can cover. You'll see once he starts working in Civil Complaints, but the real challenge lies elsewhere."
Even as endless overtime flickered in his mind, Seonnal set it aside and spoke of what he'd felt in his time there.
"It's realizing just how much discrimination exists in the world. It preys perfectly on doubts like 'Can I even fix this?' Without sincerity, you'd fall even easier into that trap where you can't accomplish anything."
Emotions from his Special Task Force days blended in naturally, and the mood grew a touch heavier—though everyone could relate, at least somewhat.
They understood. What he'd said, rephrased, was "powerlessness."
"So maybe that's exactly why Civil Complaints needs his kind. To show that it's truly a place free of racial discrimination. Isn't showing it what matters?"
Seonnal's gaze turned to Irang.
Irang nodded, but voiced a sudden doubt.
"You're not just saying to keep him as a mascot like in Promotion, right?"
There was no malice, only concern.
Whose concern it was for, Seonnal wasn't sure, but he replied with a genuinely weary face.
"I don't know if I'm in a position to care. I'm discriminated against too, you know."
"...Huh? Who's discriminating against you, Seonnal?"
Terisha, who had been nodding slightly, startled and stared at him with wide eyes.
It was pure surprise.
'Why is she surprised?'
Seonnal couldn't comprehend it at all.
In a world full of heteroraces, it was natural he'd face discrimination too, yet they looked at him like it didn't suit him at all.
Even Irang's curious gaze felt burdensome.
Figuring he'd run into wizards often through collaborations anyway, Seonnal brought it up preemptively.
"The damn Wizard Association. They slapped a restraint on me."
"...What?"
Irang freaked out, then scanned Seonnal up and down.
A restraint would be obvious. A thick ash-gray line like a wristband etched around his wrist.
Seonnal adjusted his glasses, his face screaming he wanted to faceplant on the desk right then.
"I broke the restraint."
"You... broke the restraint? It can be broken?"
Even as Irang stammered, Seonnal answered nonchalantly.
Explaining would take too long.
"Anyway, just know I'm discriminated against too."
Those still pointing fingers over past events would surely drag his name back into Wizard Association circles because of the Rihiridong incident.
"Seonnal. Um, if my question was too sharp..."
"It's fine. I know there's no malice."
Seonnal accepted Irang's apology readily.
If anything, her ability to ask such pointed questions made her look better.
It showed genuine worry for Dodo, not lip service.
"Team Leader."
Seonnal looked at Edinal.
"Yeah?"
"Can I head out now?"
A soft smile bloomed with his words.
The interview was over.
Hiring or not was up to Edinal.
"Right. Good work, everyone. Let's call it a day."
Edinal grinned broadly too.
The choice was hers now; they had no more to agonize over.
As Edinal rose and sat at her desk, Seonnal asked,
"Not heading out?"
"Gotta make the call. Rest up, see you tomorrow."
Edinal waved, and Terisha bowed politely.
"See you tomorrow."
"Bye."
Irang waved, and Seonnal slipped out with a smirk.
Edinal stared at the door after everyone left.
'...Is Seonnal okay?'
He looked pale. As a vampire, she had an uncanny eye for complexions.
'His face soured the moment Dodo spoke, didn't it?'
Edinal propped her chin on her hand, tapping near her ear quietly.
She didn't know everything about Seonnal, but she knew plenty. That's why her mind wouldn't settle.
After staring at the door a while, Edinal glanced down at her computer and sighed deeply.
A cooperation request had come in during the interview.
'No way—they knew today was interviews and we couldn't handle work. How urgent is this?'
As she read on, Edinal swept her hair back from her forehead.
Her expression darkened gradually.
'...Hmm.'
The request wasn't from the police. Nor for tomorrow.
'Seonnal's really... not gonna like this.'
The cooperation date: next Tuesday.
From Seonnal's old department, the Heterace Special Task Force—requesting him specifically.
* * *
Seonnal stared at the egg bread bag clutched to his chest the moment he stepped out of the taxi.
The bread's ticklish scent lightened his heart.
'...Why?'
—Seonnal, wait a sec.
Terisha had called out to him suddenly.
Even as the sun set, her wings sparkled like stars, her hair tousled from flying hard.
—Take this home and eat it. Best egg bread around here. ...Oh, rude of me—I should've asked about egg allergies first.
'...She gave it to me?'
Seonnal touched his face.
Was he pale?
Did it show?
Unprovoked kindness weighed on him.
Kindness, as he'd felt since Rinell, was akin to poison. The most miserable feeling came when someone's kindness vanished.
—For me? Thanks!
If he hadn't shared several with chubby Tutu, who was munching leaves atop a tree on his way to the taxi, his heart might not feel this heavy now.
Seonnal stood still, exhaling long. His chest felt tight.
Perhaps Dodo's striking resemblance to his past self had stirred ripples, causing this stuffiness.
'Trauma button, huh. Pathetic.'
He'd been fine for a while, but the surging kindness felt alien, tightening his chest more with each step.
Thoughts swirled in his head.
Special Task Force.
Wizard Association.
Everything related spun dizzily, then sudden tinnitus rang.
Eeeeeeeee.
Like a signal of anxiety.
Thump.
One step, and his heart pounded.
Thump.
Fingertips trembled.
Second step, nausea rose.
Seonnal bit his lip hard.
'...Damn it.'
As the world warped unbearably around him, Seonnal rummaged in his bag hastily.
The sensation was unfamiliar lately, yet still intimate.
He hadn't escaped his past; he swam endless seas. No one knew when he'd surface.
Seonnal tore open the pill packet and shoved them in his mouth.
Even off meds, his body remembered—down they went without water.
"...Hah."
Seonnal breathed deeply, then exhaled late.
Tremors lingered in his hands, but he took another step.
'What a day for every damn thing.'
He wiped sweat from his nape, glaring ahead irritably. The pills barely suppressed the trauma, but the mana circuit shook harder, churning his gut worse.
Seonnal trudged toward home, then slumped his shoulders midway.
Sometimes misfortune or fortune struck in chains once it started—that weird phenomenon was surely today.
Relentlessly exhausting crap piled on.
"Got something to say to me?"
Seonnal asked as he walked forward.
"Here to warn you to quit while you can."
A voice replied.
"Quit what?"
"Messing with the Wizard Association."
"I don't get why you're so pissed about legitimate civil service. If you've got a grievance, don't come privately—file a formal complaint with Civil Complaints. Or work hard on a petition."
"Settle it quietly. You'll hear from them in a few days."
Seonnal ignored it, stowing Terisha's egg bread in his bag.
'Talk about deaf.'
Turning, he reached out—iron chains of his unique magic surged toward the voice.
Binding and dragging the guy before him took under five seconds.
Seonnal gripped his throat in one swift motion, eyes fierce.
Slippery lizardman skin.
"...Gahk!"
"Pity. Looks like today's events didn't register as a warning."
Sure, he'd scared them with nightmares, but they were mere grunts. Without higher-ups orchestrating, they couldn't grasp the torment.
As odd runes appeared on the lizardman's tail, Seonnal's eyebrow twitched up.
"Just 'cause you can destroy magic doesn't mean you can kill a wizard. It's your last desperate flail anyway."
Clink.
Chains materialized in midair at his will, tips sharpening to blades.
‣Tail destroys magic (amps innate resistance to extremes, shattering spells. Backlash massively damages or severs tail.)
The lizardman's power was pure death throes.
Evolved for efficient wizard-killing via high resistance.
But that wouldn't overturn this. It was a one-shot anyway.
"My magic is beyond your breaking."
Swoosh.
Seonnal flicked a finger; chains severed the tail.
Thud.
It fell.
"If you don't wanna vanish quietly, go tell your master."
Seonnal drew mana; something lunged at his throat, terror writhing in the man's eyes like it'd rip his nape.
"File a formal complaint if you've got issues. Got it?"
The man shook his head frantically; Seonnal released him.
Pale-faced, he hacked repeatedly.
Whatever, a lizardman's skin shrugged off six-story falls—handprints remained clear.
"No more threats. Honestly, you shouldn't even try."
Seonnal turned away, gaze dripping true contempt at the wizard.
Whoosh.
The severed tail ignited.
"...After owing a debt you can't repay."
He pulled out the egg bread again.
Warmth-preservation spell kept it piping hot.
Cozy scent wafted with rising steam, soothing his weary body.
'Home time.'