Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Rainy Days Mean War
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* * *
“Not at all.”
Seonal cut her off flatly.
She was already swamped with complaints work—what need was there for police duty?
The police didn’t even recognize mages in the first place. That’s why she’d have to retake the exam, and if she’d had any interest in that, she’d be hitting the gym instead.
“You’re being awfully blunt about it.”
Centra fiddled with the ends of her hair, her disappointment plain to see.
“Rejections have to be firm.”
“I’m truly sorry to hear that.”
“Before you feel sorry, how about beating our team leader first?”
“…The team leader.”
Centra paused to think it over, then recoiled in shock, her tail going straight up.
She pawed at the ground anxiously, her eyes darting this way and that.
‘Her reaction’s a bit much?’
Seonal felt a twinge of doubt. She’d only tossed it out casually, but the response was intense.
“By any chance… is your name Edinal Ross?”
Centra asked cautiously, and Seonal nodded.
“That’s right.”
“…Ha.”
Centra squeezed her eyes shut.
“I’m really sorry, but truly sorry—no, incredibly sorry—but please pretend you didn’t hear what I just said.”
“Why?”
“Why? It’s Edinal Ross.”
“So?”
Seonal slowly closed her drowsy eyes, then opened them again.
Centra clamped her mouth shut at the sight of her seeming utterly clueless.
“I… didn’t say anything. Please put in a good word with the team leader.”
“I’ll try.”
“Thank you. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other, so let’s get along.”
“You too. So, anyway.”
Seonal eyed the hand Centra suddenly thrust out.
“Yes.”
Centra dropped her hand and replied.
“If anything comes up from investigating this case, please report it back to Complaints Division right away. It’s extremely important to us there.”
“Of course. I’ll handle the report personally to make sure it gets through quickly.”
“And about that Mages’ Association incident.”
“The one we’re investigating now… oh, you’re the Complaints Division guy who went after the Mages’ Association, right, Seonal?”
“Yes. That’s me.”
“Thanks to you, we nailed one. We’re thrilled. Anyway, go on.”
Centra’s gaze, which had cooled for a moment, now brimmed with curiosity.
She was dying to know what Seonal would say next.
“Soon, the Mages’ Association will request me during the investigation.”
“Well, no reason not to call you. You can come as a witness.”
“They’ll threaten me.”
“So you want someone with you? Easy enough. We can spare a person…”
“No. I might cause even more chaos, so I want to know how far I can go without getting charged with assault.”
“…….”
Centra wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her and gave them a light tap.
“I know that as a mage, self-defense applies even in mage-on-mage fights, but since I’d be going to a police station, it worries me a bit.”
Centra couldn’t hold back the laugh bubbling up at Seonal’s serious expression.
“Hahaha!”
It was a hearty, booming laugh.
Soon, a sound like hooves clopping came from her front legs as she paced a little around Seonal, clutching her belly in huge guffaws.
Seonal’s right eyebrow twitched.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing! I just thought it was hilarious.”
“So, will you tell me the answer? It might not apply, but you never know.”
“I’ll pull some strings. I personally can’t stand the place. See you.”
“One more thing before you go.”
Seonal handed over six vials from her bag, each infused with the power of enchantment.
Centra shot her a questioning look, and Seonal explained.
“They had these. They’re full of enchanting power, so handle them carefully.”
“I’ll track down where they got them too. Thanks for the cooperation.”
Centra dipped her head lightly, then turned away.
Seonal could tell from her swishing tail that she was pretty pleased.
Whatever the reason for her joy, it was clear Centra hated the Mages’ Association.
Most people didn’t like the Mages’ Association as much as one might think.
Sure, their monopoly led to shoddy service, but after dealing with mages and their signature arrogance, even more people ended up hating them.
Plip.
A raindrop splattered on her glasses, and Seonal slowly curved her lips upward.
‘Rain’s coming, huh?’
Harpy species mostly flew through the skies, but when it rained, only those in logistics braved the air. The rest were grounded.
It was a law made to prevent risks like getting swept away by storms or botched landings, but she hadn’t expected to benefit from it today.
‘Café time.’
Seonal dragged her languid body around, scanning her surroundings.
The police were still checking phones and such—the investigation dragged on, making it the perfect time to slip away.
She pulled a hat and sunglasses from her bag, prepped for noisy situations.
She swapped her current glasses for the shades, pulled the hat low.
She wove quietly through the crowd, turning toward a café—when her phone buzzed.
Vrrr.
“……Ha.”
Seonal let out a long sigh.
No way, she thought, checking the phone.
[Team Leader: Seonal. Don’t wander off just cuz it’s raining. You HAVE to check that spot the complainant mentioned. Might not resolve it today, but Monday will be different. Traces could vanish, right?]
The spot was where the complainant—a slime—had been struck by a falling object from a harpy and plummeted from a building wall. The perp was harpy species.
“…Ha.”
Seonal stared at the long message, exasperated.
[Did you plant CCTV or something?]
[Team Leader: Nah, as if.]
A grinning rabbit emoticon followed.
[Team Leader: I’ll fill you in on the second complaint when you’re back at Complaints Division, so at least dip a toe in the third one, okay?]
[Team Leader: Oh. Eat lunch properly. See ya later, Seonal.]
Seonal sent a carrot-waving emoticon, then turned toward the black taxi.
A quick glance at her watch: nearly 2 p.m. already.
Taxi ride plus resolution time would fly by in a flash—what could she do?
‘My fate.’
Seonal exhaled deeply, glancing at the overcast sky.
It perfectly mirrored her mood.
* * *
Whoosh.
Rain poured in earnest as she stepped out of the eatery.
‘Shouldn’t they say to head back to the community center and skip fieldwork when it rains?’
She’d been waiting, but no messages came through.
She knew the reason, but her heart didn’t agree. Rain and complaints were separate matters.
Even if she griped about the unfairness after just being attacked, with focus on complaint resolution, nothing would change.
She was Complaints Division, after all.
Call it hazard pay under the fancy name of “special.”
‘…I wanna clock out.’
Seonal traced a circle with mana and cast the spell. Free arms would let her respond better.
[Become an umbrella against the rain.]
A quick glance up: mana shaped like an ‘S’ shimmered like starlight.
Seonal stepped boldly out.
Whoosh.
Rain roared from both sides, but not a drop touched her.
She pulled up navigation on her phone.
‘Location… left.’
Walking umbrella-less, untouched by rain, with her already flashy hair color, people stole repeated glances at Seonal.
But she ignored them. They’d look once and forget.
‘Not many slimes around here?’
She’d hoped to chat with any if she spotted them on the way, but not a single one.
By the time she reached the nav point, a slow unease crept in.
Slimes loved sticking to surfaces everywhere—this absence felt off, weird.
Especially in the rain now. Sun and rain lovers not out? Didn’t add up.
‘……What to do.’
Seonal’s eyes flicked left to right amid the rain’s patter.
Just ordinary buildings, alleys between, and oddly few people passing—only her standing there.
Building heights varied; the complainant slime had been on the tallest.
Rainy now, but sunny? It’d get max sunlight.
‘And the most visible spot.’
Yet no slime.
Not like the petition talk of a harpy just dropping something. Seemed graver than thought.
Seonal rubbed her chin, checked her watch.
3:39 p.m.
Teetering between overtime and quitting time.
‘…If I have to handle it anyway.’
Seonal squeezed her eyes shut and cast.
[Search.]
Fwoosh.
Traces of passersby nearby appeared; she staggered like caught in a gale.
Too much info flooding in. She gritted through, erasing traces one by one.
Focused on fast-falling mana from building to ground, picked sky mana traces then.
‘Higher up, mana traces fade fast, so it’s iffy…….’
Higher altitude, less mana—traces vanished quicker than below.
If yesterday, clearer, but days had passed, they said.
Seonal sifted sky mana, imprinted.
[Imprint.]
Several manas locked in.
Seonal stepped back two paces, stomped hard, and cast.
[Fly.]
She launched skyward.
Just enough mana to reach the roof—no more, no less.
Pre-landing, mana-wrapped legs for a light touchdown.
Up top, the imprinted trace sharpened.
Where from, where to—branches everywhere. Seonal pondered.
‘Other days, maybe, but post-rain, traces fade more.’
But was rainy-day pursuit necessary? She sighed deeply.
Exhausted.
‘…Narrowed to five traces.’
Seonal’s face went slack as she picked a direction inwardly—the color with most lingering mana trace.
[Track.]
Red, yellow, blue, purple, green. From the many, she chose hers.
Purple.
Vision grayscale, purple vivid.
[Wind, cling tight.]
Seonal wound strong wind around her legs.
Then bolted.
One step between buildings, wind whistling past ears.
One building.
Three.
Five.
Mid-stride, sights blurring in and out fast—she halted abruptly.
Hair whipped forward.
For an instant, purple mana streaked past her side. Clear as day.
‘…Found you!’
Seonal spun.
A flying harpy in sight.
Seonal veered, pursuing.
Watching her glide free on winds, Seonal bellowed.
“Stop!”
Mana in voice for quicker notice.
Voice hit like shockwave; harpy banked hard, hovered flapping, staring at Seonal.
In that brief gap, Seonal reached the nearest roof to her.
“…Whoa.”
She cried out in awe.
“You just hopped roofs like a rabbit?”
Rain-soaked, yet her hair looked fairly dry.
Rain gear for flight was the only soggy bit.
“Pardon the intrusion. Could you land for a moment?”
“That’s easy… Wait, why’s no rain around you? It’s pouring! How?!”
Mid-machine-gun chatter, she gasped, then continued.
“B-but more importantly, how’d you call me? I was flying! Even slow in rain, how’d you spot and follow? No way…….”
Seonal calmly showed her red earring; the harpy, mid-freakout, grinned wide.
“Ah. A mage. Figures. Almost thought stalker.”
She landed on the roof with big steps, eyes going round at Seonal. Whatever amazed her, Seonal introduced herself.
“I’m Seonal from the Special Division for Resolving Other-Race Petitions.”
“…Huh.”
She thought a sec, then eyes rounded again.
“Other-race… petitions, uh, sorry, what?”
“Special Division for Resolving Other-Race Petitions. Complaints Division for short.”
“Right! Complaints Division! I’ve heard… Eek!”
She flapped back suddenly.
Smaller than average harpy, gave a skittish vibe.
‘Something just flew back there?’
Seonal’s eyebrow twitched.
Saw something zip back as she flapped.
Imagination?
“Why’s Complaints Division coming to me? B-b-because I’m flying in rain? Th-there’s a reason! Late for part-time job! I’m sorry! So sorry!”
Stammering into confession, she hid her face with wings.
“Flying in rain’s wrong, but I’d appreciate your cooperation first.”
“Cooperation?”
Her round eyes peeked through wing gaps, tail end drawn out.
“Y-you’re not arresting me for flying in rain……?”
“Normally yes, but cooperate and it’s different. Please.”
“…What kind?”
Curiosity peeked through feathers as she blinked.
Wings down now. Head bobbed with each blink.
Front feet—bird-like with poking talons between shoes—kept reaching out, hesitating.
Her fidgety moves screamed harpy trait.
‣Way too fidgety.
“Seen any harpies around here knocking slimes off walls?”
Her head swiveled side to side—then wings spread wide.
Black outer, white inner.
Flapping them, she yelled most indignantly.
“…Wasn’t me!”