Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: A Light Stroll (2)
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* * *
“Yes. This time, it’s about the Mages’ Association.”
“…W-W-Wait a second!”
The mage grew frantic at Seonal’s words.
If that was true, he had to stop her somehow—that was the only thought in his mind.
The Mages’ Association was obsessed with its public image.
No matter what the man was thinking, Seonal continued without pause.
“We’ve identified a situation where a mage affiliated with the Mages’ Association used magic on an animal. The police are on their way, so please come to the station near the community center.”
[Understood. We’ll head out shortly.]
After the brief call with Cusman ended, Seonal met the gaze of the man staring at her.
Or was it?
It just felt that way.
“What’s not right? What I said? Or the call?”
Seonal asked flatly as she sent a quick message to Edinal.
She summarized it roughly and sent it off. Her phone buzzed immediately with a ‘vrrr’.
As the call came in, Seonal gave an awkward smile toward the dullahan, who was struggling to part his lips.
“Excuse me for a moment. I’m sorry for catching you off guard like that without explaining.”
“…No, I’m fine. Answer it.”
The dullahan found Seonal’s actions unsettling.
It was bizarre how relaxed she was in a situation where the identified suspect could bolt at any moment, without even keeping watch on him.
But recalling the terror from moments ago when his head had vanished, he was satisfied with her swift handling of the incident.
[Seonal? What’s going on?]
Edinal sounded shocked as soon as Seonal picked up.
“Just as I sent in the message.”
[No way. It’s the weekend—why are you working? You hate work during hours and especially after hours. You’re not sick or anything, are you?]
“It’s definitely not because I wanted to work, Team Leader. I came to check out the riverbank, and this guy was loitering right in front of me.”
[Pffft-haha!]
Edinal finally burst into laughter at the sheer irritation packed into Seonal’s voice.
Seonal’s brow twitched for a moment.
[Ah, that’s hilarious. You’re killing me. But Seonal, on a fun day like today, couldn’t you have just let it slide?]
“No. I might overlook other things, but not this.”
Even if it was minor, if it involved the Mages’ Association, Seonal had no intention of letting it go—her eyes sharpened slightly at the corners.
[Got it. I understand how you feel. Since you’re working so hard even on the weekend, I’ll pull some strings. It’s clearly a violation of the law, right?]
“Yes. Thank you. Sorry for calling on the weekend.”
[No problem. Do what you want. Just give me a call later when you’re done. Dodo’s with you, right?]
“Yes. I’ll call later.”
Seonal ended the call and beckoned to Dodo.
“Dodo.”
“Yesss?”
Dodo looked up as she answered.
“You called the police, right?”
“Yesss! Dodo did!”
“Good job. Now then… shall we hear his side slowly before they arrive?”
Seonal’s gaze turned to the man as her lips curved up.
“Oh, but first, you owe an apology. Because of you, this gentleman’s head nearly drowned.”
Seonal politely indicated the dullahan with her palm as she looked at the man.
But the man moved his eyes busily, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
Thump thump.
His heart pounded wildly.
‘She actually reported it?’
For real?
Really?
His mind went blank in an instant.
It was true that he’d used magic on an animal.
At first, he’d felt a pang of guilt, but as instructed, it was far more thrilling and intriguing than on a scarecrow. The thrill that followed was considerable too.
But shortly after casting on the duck, the commotion started.
Had he been caught?
That single thought filled his head, so he’d peeked over.
Who knew it would spiral like this.
‘I have to… run.’
If he got dragged to the Mages’ Association like this, it was truly over.
That place had no mercy.
With trembling hands, the man pulled a pen from his pocket.
‘Run…!’
Vwooom!
The magic embedded in the pen activated, summoning a magic circle, and compressed air burst out all at once.
How powerful was it?
‘Don’t know.’
Non-lethal, right?
‘Don’t know!’
The man just ran.
He had no reason left to look back.
“Huff! Heuk!”
He ran until his throat burned.
Wee-oo wee-oo.
The sound of a patrol car deploying made him stumble mid-stride and crash forward.
By the time his face, knees, and hands were scraped raw, a hand reached out along with a voice.
“Can you stand?”
The man staggered to his feet, following the hand helping him up.
“Thank… you…”
Swoosh.
Before he could finish, chills ran down his spine.
It was a familiar voice.
He slowly turned his head.
With his back to the sun, the shadowed face revealed only killing intent.
He’d only heard of it before, but now the man understood.
Killing intent was the force that made you think you might actually die.
Tremble.
“You’d be dead if not for me.”
The low voice made the man shake even more.
Seonal helped the man up, then removed her hat and straightened her slightly tousled hair.
Only then did the red earring on Seonal’s ear become visible.
The man’s eyes widened, and Seonal smiled quietly.
Terrified by the smile, the man instinctively drew a wooden stick and pointed it at Seonal. It was another magic-infused stick he carried for self-defense.
As the man puzzled over Seonal’s lack of resistance, he turned to where she was looking.
His mouth slowly fell open.
The police were coming.
“But thank you. Your little struggle made it easy to send you off for good.”
Seonal whispered softly, lowering her voice.
With this, there’d be no escape. The police had body cams too.
Seonal silently raised both hands in a surrendering gesture.
Boom!
The giant-race officer charged in one leap and pinned the man down with his hand.
“Gahk!”
As the scream escaped the man, Seonal said casually.
“Easy does it. He’s human.”
Right. Gotta go easy.
A precious body for screwing over that damn Mages’ Association.
“…H-Human?”
The giant-race officer looked genuinely shocked as he asked Seonal.
“Yes. Human.”
Physically, one of the weakest races.
“S-Sorry about that. You okay? Anything broken?”
The giant gave the man an apologetic look.
‣Pacifists.
Unlike their size, they loved peace over conflict, so even against a criminal, they’d apologize first like this.
“S-Sorry about that.”
A man with a gruff voice ambled over from behind.
The mask on his head marked him as goblin race.
“Humans and werewolves look kinda similar, y’know.”
The goblin casually pulled out handcuffs and slapped them on leisurely.
“They do.”
When Seonal backed him up, the goblin—who’d been reciting Miranda rights—glanced her way.
Then the giant’s gaze followed, and Seonal knew what they’d say.
She waited calmly.
“We get it—you’re the victim—but sometimes investigations reveal excessive self-defense.”
The giant opened cautiously, eyeing the suspect rolling on the ground, looking injured.
“It’s fine. I didn’t do anything. He just tripped on his own.”
Seonal replied evenly, pulling her ID from her coat pocket.
“Civil Complaints Division. I got involved because this could spark interspecies conflict. That’s only natural for our division, right?”
“…C-Civil Complaints?”
The mage’s eyes widened in that instant.
“Civil… Complaints?”
The man struggling under the giant’s grip let out his voice again, incredulous.
Just like the cops said, it could turn out to be excessive defense in the investigation.
That might mean mutual disposition—and a chance to hit back at that annoying bastard.
He smirked inwardly, but that glee vanished.
With “Civil Complaints” as the reason, she’d justified her involvement perfectly.
‘…Fine. You’re the one in deep shit now.’
Seonal smiled at the man’s despairing expression.
She had justification, did nothing wrong, and caught a fleeing suspect—who could complain?
She kindly answered for the criminal’s sake.
“Yes. Civil Complaints Division.”
“Ah, from Civil Complaints. Then that one…”
The goblin’s gaze shifted to the dullahan and Dodo behind Seonal.
“The spirit beast there is from Civil Complaints like me. And that gentleman is the victim.”
“The one whose head got taken by the duck that was hit with magic, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Good. Suspect, we just witnessed you attempting to use magic.”
The goblin lightly tapped his body cam, and Seonal, mindful of it, spoke up.
“Not just once.”
“Not just once?”
“The explosion earlier was him too. There should be strong traces. Call the Mages’ Association. Or should I prove it right here?”
Seonal showed her red earring, revealing herself as a mage.
‘Come on, say it loud and clear.’
Magic incidents were hard to prove on-site, which was why police hated them most. But not now. Her word as a mage, her status, was backing the goblin.
“Suspect.”
The goblin’s voice gained force. His eyes on the criminal held conviction.
“You’ve clearly violated mage law. Come with us to the station.”
‘That’s it.’
Seonal cheered inwardly, while the man just ground his teeth.
No escape in sight.
“Officer.”
Seonal spoke quietly.
“Yes?”
“If the Mages’ Association calls, could you put me on for a sec?”
Gotta tell them I called the press. Wonder how fast and frantically they’ll come.
* * *
“…Like last time, thank you again this time.”
Having finished his statement, the dullahan approached Seonal and Dodo, who were waiting their turn, and smiled warmly as he spoke.
“No, I was worried I’d troubled you instead.”
Seonal shook her head.
They’d had to come to the station together for the investigation, which could feel quite bothersome.
“I rather enjoyed it. When do I get to visit a station at my age? Plus, it’s clear you helped me, so hold your head high.”
“Really okay? I’ll escort you home as soon as the investigation wraps. By taxi, of course.”
After such a big incident, legs often gave out even on the way home.
Despite his appearance, his age was advanced—he’d noted it on the complaint form—so Seonal worried for the dullahan.
“Dodo can do it too. No license, but I’ll stay awake with eyes open.”
“I’m fine. Someone’s coming to pick me up.”
The dullahan covered his face with his hat using his free hand, the one not holding his head.
“Meeting you a second time like this makes me so glad, young Seonal. Thanks to you, I’ve seen Mestus Hospital operating smoothly.”
‘He remembered my name?’
Seonal was surprised.
She hadn’t mentioned it today, so she hadn’t expected him to recall.
It’d been about a week ago, so his memory was sharp.
“I’m Abion Trop.”
Abion extended his hand.
“Seonal.”
Abion then offered his hand to Dodo.
“I’m Dodo.”
“I owe you both greatly.”
Abion lowered his head-holding hand and met Dodo’s eyes.
Just then, urgent footsteps approached.
“H-Here you are?”
A group in black suits poured in, and Seonal watched warily.
Abion let out a long sigh and turned away.
“I said I was going out—what’s the commotion?”
“Well…”
“That was me, Chairman.”
A man in black sunglasses stepped forward heavily from the suits.
‘…Chairman?’
“Chairman…?”
Seonal and Dodo’s eyes widened simultaneously.
“It’s dangerous for you to go alone. Didn’t something just happen recently? So many people are after you…”
“Enough, Manager.”
Abion stopped his security chief and looked at the still-flustered Seonal and Dodo, calming them first.
“I just run a humble little company. No need to be on guard.”
Abion waved it off nonchalantly, then tilted his head-holding hand.
“This won’t backfire on you, so don’t worry. I greatly admire young folks working for the world. Well then, I’ll be off.”
‘…Wow.’
Seonal felt like she’d met royalty at Abion’s impeccable farewell.
The security detail bowed late and vanished.
“…Wooow. Dodo just met a chairman for the first time!”
Dodo’s eyes sparkled.
“Me too.”
Relieved now that the chairman had appeared separately, fatigue washed over her.
Seonal exhaled with a drowsy expression, then pulled out her phone and searched the name.
Abion Trop.
Just the name brought up a flood of impressive info.
What especially caught Seonal’s eye was this.
Chairman of Bren Co., Ltd.
‘Bren? The phone company?’
Suddenly, Seonal recalled a meme online.
Magic masks and cosmetics: Tichia.
Sundries: Hanul.
Phones: Bren.
Seonal flipped her phone over.
Bren’s brand logo stared back.
‘…Have I already met all three CEOs?’
“Seonal. Dodo.”
An officer approached, and Dodo answered energetically.
“Yesss!”
“Sorry for the wait. Follow me.”
“Yesss!”
Dodo hopped off her chair first and trailed the officer.
Seonal strolled leisurely, then entered upon seeing “Waiting Room” on the door.
Her lips curved up at the sight of the man already seated.
Red earring.
Anyone could tell he was from the Mages’ Association.
Wonder how fast he scurried here after hearing about the press.
‘This is one fun weekend.’
She’d taken out a two-bit mage, summoned the Mages’ Association to the station—no better day.