Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Why is Friday the Busiest?
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* * *
The only thought keeping him going was that he had to get home.
Seonal dragged his exhausted body along, walking slowly. He arrived at his apartment, took the elevator, unlocked the keypad with magic, opened the door, and went inside.
His body felt heavy, as if he might collapse, but unlike his usual leisurely pace, Seonal ran straight to the bathroom.
“…Urk.”
Seonal finally let out the vomit he’d been holding back.
He didn’t know how many times he heaved. Only after emptying his stomach did he stagger to his feet.
It might have been from the medicine he’d swallowed for the first time in ages, or perhaps this persistent trauma, or maybe the aftermath of using magic that had stimulated his damaged circulation paths too much.
If it was the last reason.
‘…That’s not a bad thing.’
Just as wounds healed into stronger flesh, the circulation paths were the same.
No matter what, he’d had to stimulate them even more intensely than during the dream demon incident last time.
He just wasn’t ready yet.
‘…Actually, this is a good thing.’
Ever since that day, he’d been afraid to use magic that would make his circulation paths go wild.
But he’d used it reflexively today, so wasn’t that for the best?
When he swallowed this aftermath, his circulation paths would grow.
Growth—that word had always been his favorite, back when he was Rinell and even now.
Seonal flushed the toilet and went to the sink, wiping the corners of his mouth over and over.
The water rushed down.
“…Haa.”
Seonal let out a long breath as he stared blankly at the falling water.
Rinell.
Seonal.
Failure.
A jumble of words and thoughts connected in his mind, but they stopped abruptly the moment he turned off the faucet, like ghosts vanishing.
He collapsed onto the sofa as if dead to the world and stared blankly at the TV.
His reflection showed in the black screen.
After gazing at it for a long while, Seonal placed a hand on his stomach.
‘…I’m hungry.’
Seonal used magic to bring his bag and egg bread from in front of the shoe cabinet.
He took out one egg bread and bit into it.
The lingering fishy taste at the corners of his mouth mixed in, soon spreading into a soft flavor.
‘Tasty.’
Seonal closed his eyes tightly, then opened them.
He decided to think only of good things. The doctor had told him to do that.
‘The egg bread is tasty, and I got off work early today, right?’
He shook his legs a couple of times and let out a deep breath, slumping his shoulders all the way down.
He glanced at his wristwatch.
With the egg bread still in his mouth, Seonal picked up the game controller rolling on the floor.
‘Let’s play some games.’
The most surprising thing since coming to this new world was undoubtedly games.
Turning on the TV and starting the console, the screen that appeared washed away all his hardships.
Games after work—this had to be his greatest happiness.
* * *
“…I thought hard about the interview yesterday.”
Edinal said.
“Have you already reached a conclusion?”
Ilang spoke up, briefly taking in Seonal with his eyes.
Seonal’s hazy eyes from the morning slowly closed, then opened.
Had he not slept well?
‘He was a bit off yesterday. And this morning too.’
He’d had to place documents on the magic scanner, but Seonal had activated it while holding them in his hand.
When he’d propped his chin on top, causing a ‘beep’ error sound, he’d finally snapped out of it, and Ilang had barely held back a laugh.
“We’re always short-staffed, right? I thought it’d be better to decide quickly. Even if someone else applies, we can just make room. Honestly, the space we’ve been assigned is pretty big, isn’t it?”
“You’re right. It’s spacious enough for five more—no, ten more people.”
Terisha nodded, gripping the small pen in her hand tightly.
Soon, her eyes gently closed.
“It would be great if a lot of people came.”
At those words, Edinal stood up and gently grasped Terisha’s small hand with his fingers.
As if afraid it might break, he applied only light pressure while gazing at Terisha lovingly.
How could every word she said be so cute?
“I’ll try harder, Terisha. Even if Seonal leaves, I’ll grab his pant leg and beg.”
Edinal stared intently at Seonal, and Terisha followed his gaze.
For a moment, doubt swirled in Terisha’s eyes, but as if she’d made up her mind, she spoke.
“Seonal.”
When Terisha called him, he responded about two seconds late.
“…Yes?”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No. I just… stayed up late.”
Seonal smiled lightly.
He’d started gaming to distract himself, but it gained momentum, making it hard to stop.
Part of it was the satisfying feel of the Soulslike genre, but the biggest relief was knowing tomorrow was Friday.
Seonal pushed up his glasses and rubbed his eyes. When a yawn came out, Ilang’s lips curved up.
“Seonal, looks like you made a mistake too? Honestly, doesn’t knowing tomorrow—no, today—is Friday make your heart race for no reason?”
“You seem fine, Ilang.”
Seonal scanned Ilang’s face with his eyes.
There was no sign of fatigue. No—if anything, he looked more energetic than yesterday.
Ilang rummaged confidently in his pocket and pulled out a small pill case that fit in his palm.
He took out one small pill and offered it to Seonal.
“It’s all thanks to this.”
“…Ilang?”
Terisha, who knew what it was, called him in slight surprise.
But Seonal, unaware, asked.
“What is it?”
“Just think of it as an awakening agent. Burning today for tomorrow. Of course, I made it myself.”
Ilang puffed up with pride holding the pill. Terisha shook her head slightly and approached Seonal, whispering softly.
“If you take that, you might not remember the next day.”
Seonal couldn’t hear what Terisha said, but Ilang read her expression and declared confidently.
“I was planning to burn it off with sleep tomorrow anyway, so I just took it.”
‘She told me not to be extreme, but Ilang’s the real extreme one.’
Seonal realized from Ilang’s smile that the pill was dangerous.
It looked utterly wicked and ruthless.
“Then I’m good. I have something worth living for tomorrow.”
Seonal refused firmly, and Ilang pocketed it with a slightly disappointed look.
“Alright, enough chit-chat. I like Dodo. That spirit shook my heart—it’s been ages. And the cute looks are a bonus.”
Edinal grinned, recalling Dodo.
The advantages of the spirit beast race had mostly turned into disadvantages after the war ended.
Power gave way to money, and the era of needing hands over paws arrived.
Even if pencils or ballpoint pens were made for various races, almost none existed for spirit beasts.
They had originally lived in mountains devoid of human warmth, not cities like this.
How much effort must that spirit beast have put into mingling with people, studying, and passing exams?
‘And what Seonal said really resonated.’
—On the contrary, isn’t it the race we need most in Complaints? It really shows Complaints doesn’t discriminate by race. That’s important to demonstrate, right?
‘Showing it. It’s hugely important.’
Edinal’s smile widened.
It could end up as mere show, as Ilang had worried then, but he had no intention of that.
Having grown up as mere decoration for others, he understood that feeling better than anyone.
Neither he nor Dodo were just ornaments for someone else.
“So, we’re hiring Dodo.”
Edinal rubbed his chin with the back of his hand and looked at the others.
“Any objections?”
At the question, Ilang immediately raised his hand.
“Right, Ilang. What’s worrying you? Tell us.”
“As I said then, I’m not sure she can perform the duties properly.”
“That’s where…”
Seonal had been about to sip his coffee but choked at Edinal’s deep gaze.
“…Cough, cough!”
Terisha quickly patted his back and gave him water with sparkling powder. Only after drinking could Seonal speak.
He vaguely heard the sound of work piling up, and his expression hardened slightly.
“Wait. Why are you looking at me?”
“But it’s unavoidable. You’re the only one here who can properly use magic, Seonal. And back then, our Complaints treasure Seonal said this.”
Edinal finished, cleared his throat, and put on the most serious face.
“‘I can cover any shortcomings in duties.’”
As Edinal’s lips slowly curved up, Seonal squeezed his eyes shut.
‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
“I really benefited a lot.”
Terisha looked at Seonal with her hands neatly clasped.
The gratitude in her eyes was so deep that Seonal had to look away.
“…It must have been inconvenient.”
“Come on, Ilang. You know internal tasks change completely with Seonal’s touch, right?”
Edinal drew a confident smile.
Terisha herself had just mentioned it, but she was the one who’d gained the most from Seonal.
Computer, desk, chair—everything had been remade by his magic.
In fact, there was no corner of Complaints untouched by Seonal.
The moment Seonal started working in Complaints, he’d overhauled the whole place, changing everything.
The title “Complaints treasure” wasn’t for nothing.
“That… I know.”
Ilang nodded. He too had received help from Seonal.
“And Ilang, don’t worry about fieldwork. Why do you think we’re called ‘Special Division’? Don’t forget we have something truly special.”
“…Ah.”
Seonal realized what Edinal meant.
Civil servants, unlike private companies, had a probation period called ‘trainee time’ beyond the initial trial.
Though slightly different, the ‘apprentice’ label was the same.
Other departments didn’t attach ‘apprentice’ outside probation, but Complaints and Special Task were different.
Whether transferring or new, they always got the ‘apprentice’ tag.
In return, transfers had only about two months compared to new hires.
‘Ah… right. I was an apprentice too.’
Seonal finally realized his position.
Actually, he quite liked the label. It felt like a fresh start.
“Dodo starts next week. Take good care of her, everyone. And remember where we’re heading for fieldwork today?”
At ‘fieldwork,’ Seonal already pushed up his glasses with a displeased expression.
“Meeting’s over. Oh, Seonal. Come see me a sec.”
Edinal ended the morning meeting and cautiously suggested to Seonal.
Watching everyone hurry out, Seonal asked her.
“…What’s up? Why so careful?”
It wasn’t like her.
She clearly had something for him, but normally she’d be giggling by now.
Seonal’s eyes slowly followed her exhaled breath.
“…Did Special Task request cooperation?”
“Yeah.”
Edinal looked at Seonal with a slightly apologetic expression.
“Special Task specifically requested you.”
“Why?”
He’d met someone from Special Task recently.
A mermaid race member, name Park Nam-woo, he remembered.
He’d seemed bewildered, so Seonal thought he was a newbie.
It was rare, but sometimes civilians or other departments caught fugitives Special Task was chasing, like him back then. They hated losing key moments.
So, fearing a scolding, he’d said to cooperate with fellow ‘Special’ Complaints or name-drop him.
Beyond districts, many in Special Task disliked him, so irritation would likely turn his way.
“Hmm… I thought it was weird too, so I looked into it.”
Edinal glanced at Seonal’s eyes, and he furrowed his brow.
She was acting out of character multiple times already, so Seonal tensed in preparation for her words.
“Apparently, it’s a new cross-assignment. So, our district’s Special Task people go to your old place, and the ones from your old Special Task come here.”
“…Wait, is that even possible?”
Seonal felt something off.
Special Task swapping with Special Task.
Even when he was in Special Task, this never happened. No, it was close to nonsense. Usually, it’d be just a dispatch.
“Honestly, first time for me too. Probably for everyone? It’s that unprecedented.”
Edinal shrugged.
She fiddled with her ear with a finger and tilted her face slightly.
“…Hmm. Criminals—or troublemakers—have surged in this district, it seems. So, for performance and efficiency, they’re swapping, and the government approved. No idea what’s going on yet.”
‘Then the Park Nam-woo I saw… was a new hire after I left?’
Seonal rubbed his eyebrow.
He’d come to a far place because his exit hadn’t been amicable.
‘Kinda petty.’
Now he understood why they’d singled him out.
Just to see his face, obviously.
“When do I go?”
“Next week Tuesday?”
“Just checking, can I refuse?”
“If you want, absolutely. You know I have the pull for that, right?”
Edinal’s lips curved up fully.
“If they knew how much Special Task raged after I took you and how I blocked it, they might cry.”
“Can I ask what case?”
Seonal cut in naturally, and Edinal looked a bit disappointed.
She’d hoped for a different question, apparently.
But Seonal was more curious about the case.
He figured even knowing he’d refuse, Edinal called him because of why Special Task requested cooperation.
“During the twin vampire case, there was that werewolf controlled by the charm power, right?”
“Yes. Separate from the charm incident at Mestos Hospital.”
“The dream demon controlling the werewolf was killed. Brutally murdered, they say. Like… a warning to someone.”