Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Can't Go
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‘Six minutes is plenty.’
It was more than enough time to cast several spells.
Seonnal glanced at his wristwatch again, then briefly removed his glasses and tossed them into his bag.
He spread the mana gathered in his hand over his eyes.
The mana gradually took shape, forming round glasses, and once fully formed, his vision changed.
He could see farther, more clearly.
Turning his head left and right to check, he spotted a flock of harpies heading this way.
Judging by the distance and speed, they’d arrive in three or four minutes.
Seonnal pulled out his smartphone and replayed the video Saetbyul had sent just moments ago. A group of harpies moved across the screen.
A quiet smile tugged at the corner of Seonnal’s mouth.
‘That’s them, all right.’
When he looked up again, he saw them pausing their wingbeats, conversing with someone standing on the rooftop.
‘…Who’s he talking to?’
He could see far, but unfortunately, he couldn’t hear a thing.
No wings, so definitely not a harpy.
The hood pulled low over a cap hid the face completely, leaving far too many possible races to guess.
Human, werewolf, mermaid, vampire, goblin, medusa, and so on.
‘…This isn’t a simple matter?’
Their expressions suggested a serious conversation, stirring that peculiar instinct honed in the Special Task Force.
It felt like the kind of hunch that signaled involvement in something bigger.
Such feelings didn’t always prove true, but if this seemingly trivial prank had been orchestrated by someone’s hand, maybe it was worth viewing the incident from a different angle.
‘If it escalates into a major case, it’d probably involve the harpies and slimes…’
Seonnal paused his thoughts for a moment.
He swallowed dryly, a slow furrow forming between his brows.
The unidentified figure was looking right at him.
‘No way…’
Did it make sense for someone at this distance to detect his magic?
But as if mocking Seonnal’s doubt, the figure—half its face obscured by hood and cap—lifted the corners of its mouth silently.
Day.
See you?
The lips moved slowly, forming words Seonnal could read.
‘He… saw me?’
Seonnal bit his lip at the implication.
‘He sensed my mana from this far away.’
Among races sensitive enough to mana to detect his spell, vampires were prime suspects.
But there was another possibility besides vampires.
The figure moved toward the rooftop door, flashing a wide grin toward Seonnal, as if to say “see you later.”
Seonnal uttered aloud the race that sprang to mind amid that inexplicable composure.
The pinnacle of all races, the mighty ruler who halted the interspecies wars and brought peace.
“…Dragon.”
In that instant, Seonnal clamped his hand over his mouth.
‘…No way.’
A dragon would have horns, which were absent.
Seonnal suppressed the rising unease, dispelled the spell, and put his glasses back on.
His right hand suddenly trembled violently, forcing him to take a deep breath.
“…Hah.”
A pain surged as if reopening the old wound from that dragon encounter, and Seonnal steadied his breathing several times to calm himself.
It was phantom pain. The wound had long healed into a scar.
After exhaling repeatedly, he slowly opened his eyes. His eyelashes still fluttered faintly, but Seonnal drew another deep breath and checked his wristwatch.
10:57 a.m.
He shook his right hand several times, clenched it into a tight fist, and only then gripped his smartphone.
[Team leader. I’ll send the location. Could you call the police? It’s harpies, seven of them.]
After sending the location, Seonnal prepared to welcome the incoming harpies into his birdcage.
No matter who that person was, catching these guys first would reveal answers.
Seonnal waited quietly.
Until all seven entered the birdcage.
“Did you see that earlier? You saw it, right?”
Like immature kids, they giggled and laughed.
“Saw it. It was hilarious. Epic. Did you hear the splat when it hit the ground?”
“I did! I did! Plooosh. Total plooosh.”
The woman burst into loud laughter again, mimicking “ploosh.”
“You like slimes that much?”
At the other man’s question, the woman who’d been making plooosh sounds shook her head vigorously.
“Ew, gross? They’re not even real creatures. No blood when you stab ’em, just monsters. What’s to like?”
“Disgusting things. No idea why they stick to buildings like that. Flying around, glancing down for the view, and boom—claustrophobia from all those clumps huddled together.”
Another woman snorted, and someone chimed in.
“Yeah, exactly.”
Seonnal eyed his body cam as he listened.
‘Hope it’s recording well.’
Sound quality was impeccable, at least.
Once the last one entered the birdcage, Seonnal commanded.
“Close.”
Click.
Something shut with a sound, and a faint purple light in a square shape flickered into view.
Barely visible unless you looked closely, so Seonnal narrowed the height of the sky-spanning birdcage to prevent flight.
Waiting until they landed on the rooftop, Seonnal stepped out slowly.
Their continued giggling among themselves made him sick.
Adults, like Kim Cheol-im.
Full-grown adults.
‘Pathetic.’
Seonnal gripped his ID badge.
He approached silently and observed them. Setting down his bag, they pulled out pebbles, rusty dumbbells, broken gadgets—who knew from where.
“Confirmed this is the spot. I’ll go first.”
One harpy grabbed a rusty dumbbell with its talons like it was routine, then tried to take off.
Thud.
But it collided with something and crashed to the ground mid-wingbeat.
The harpy blinked.
Still clueless about what happened.
“…?”
“Pfft-hahaha! What’re you doing?”
The man beside burst into laughter. They all laughed it off as a light prank, but the fallen harpy didn’t join in.
“…Something’s there.”
“What’re you talking about? You drunk last night?”
“No. I’m serious! I hit something!”
How to describe that sensation? The fallen harpy rose slowly, gazing fearfully at the sky.
“What’s this idiot saying? Scared? Then don’t do it.”
“No, really! There was something! You guys try flying!”
His shout, stripped of playfulness, made them exchange awkward glances and chuckles one by one. At this point, it wasn’t a joke, but they didn’t want to admit it.
“Hey, come on…”
“There is something there.”
Seonnal spoke, startling them all. An unfamiliar voice.
“Hello.”
The calm voice made the harpies turn slowly, cautiously.
A man with nearly white hair stood there.
When did he…?
“I’m Ha Seonnal from the Non-Human Complaint Resolution Special Division.”
Flashing his ID, Seonnal smiled widely. The body cam would have captured them perfectly as the culprits.
“I confirm that everyone here has violated the Non-Human Discrimination Prohibition Act, and even shown intent to deliberately attack slime citizens. Police are on the way, so please cooperate.”
A brief silence fell. What was going on?
But one snorted soon after. Now knowing he was human, what was there to fear?
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Executing official duties.”
“You tailing us?”
“Tracking for complaint resolution. I assure you, it’s not illegal stalking.”
“No, we were just messing around among ourselves. What’s this nonsense?”
Seonnal shot an annoyed glance at the absurd claim, then eyed their bags.
He itched to deal with their smug attitudes first.
Pretending to ponder, fiddling with his ID unnecessarily, enduring their “what’s this idiot doing” stares, Seonnal slipped one hand behind his back to prepare a spell.
“Hey, you deaf or what?”
As the frustrated man pressed, Seonnal twisted his body slightly left to unleash the completed spell.
The harpies turned at the sudden gust.
Whoooosh.
A bag flew up, flipped, spilling rusty dumbbells, speakers, tools in a cascade. They all screamed.
“Arghhh!”
Their panic was hilarious, but Seonnal held it in.
Thud.
Seonnal spoke calmly as they flinched away, twisting directions oddly.
“I told you, official duties. …Must be the rooftop; the wind’s fierce. Isn’t it?”
Thick silence flowed.
They hadn’t expected their own trash to rain down, threatening their lives.
“Yeah, you did that, didn’t you?”
The man who’d just stepped forward smoothed his mussed hair—probably waxed to hell—and approached. Unpleasant to look at.
“No idea.”
Seonnal played dumb.
“It’s you, isn’t it! Know who my father is?”
The man jabbed Seonnal’s shoulder angrily. Why jab a person? Seonnal found it infuriating.
“Threatening me?”
“Threat? No. We…”
The man glanced down at the ID, held back his anger once.
“Mr. Ha Seonnal seems clueless about society, so let me enlighten you. Connections and power rule this world.”
“So, who is he?”
“Heard of Siren Law Firm? That’s my dad. Act like a proper civil servant and back off!”
‘…Harpies named Siren? Feels like they stole it from the mermaids.’
Seonnal was more intrigued by the name than the firm’s prestige.
Inter-species prejudice had faded from the past, but lingered enough that naming after another race was rare.
‘One of the few enlightened souls in this harsh world? Or someone with the same shitty blood as this jerk?’
Seonnal entertained mutually exclusive hopes.
If the former, quite admirable.
As Seonnal said nothing, the man swaggered. Clearly intimidated.
“Right? Nice and polite suits you. So, forget today, officer.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Seonnal swatted away the man’s hand as it jabbed again, brushing his shoulder like chasing a bug.
“Film him! Now!”
Seonnal snorted at the smartphones they pulled out, then snapped his fingers.
Crackle.
This was his domain. His will easily manifested as magic here.
‘Can’t let them film me.’
The phones sparked and died in unison, eliciting their panic.
“Whoa, my phone’s dead?”
“Suddenly busted. No signal.”
The man who’d glanced back twisted his face and demanded of Seonnal.
“That… you?”
Seonnal shrugged casually.
“You okay? Suspecting people recklessly isn’t healthy, I hear. For example…”
“Shut up! You’re pushing it, huh? You’ll regret this.”
“Who regrets what remains to be seen, but if your father’s in law, he’d know better. Any precedents of escaping clear violation of the Non-Human Discrimination Prohibition Act? Go on, ask.”
The current government desperately sought interspecies peace.
In such times, would they let slide someone overlooking that law?
“Tell your father everything.”
Grit.
The man ground his teeth at Seonnal’s provocative words. He looked ready to snap, but suddenly glanced back.
The harpies behind were already terrified or on the verge of betrayal. The mood had fully shifted to Seonnal’s side—obvious to all.
Then, someone with a confident face stepped forward.
Maybe why the Siren son had looked back.
Hidden at the rear before, but up close, an even more ordinary face.
“Everyone, calm down.”
Unlike the previous man, his voice was thinner, wings more vibrant.
“I’m Rakan, officer.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you.”
Seonnal noted the other man’s odd hesitation at Rakan’s appearance.
‘Rakan’s the real boss here?’
Seonnal forced a smile, fighting exhaustion. Police were coming anyway; time to wait.
“We admit we were wrong.”
“Yes.”
Seonnal replied flatly to Rakan. As if admission changed anything.
“As you see, we were just collecting trash.”
Rakan turned casually, stating it innocently. Seonnal countered just as innocently.
“And planning to drop it.”
“Just a harmless prank. Look below; hardly anyone around this hour.”
“Doesn’t make dropping objects okay.”
“True, it was wrong. But there’s some injustice here. Come see, and I’ll show you. Might ease your mind.”
In that moment, Seonnal caught the eerie smile blooming on Rakan’s face.
He’d seen that smile plenty in the Special Task Force.
A smile hiding intent, revealing attack readiness, naturally arising from anticipated thrill.
How fun it must feel right now.
“Fine.”
Seonnal played along. His domain, body cam on—perfect chance to rack up another charge.
Seonnal followed Rakan to the railing.
Rakan walked the edge deliberately, signaling safety.
Seonnal mirrored, glancing down briefly.
Police cars had arrived.
‘They’re heading up.’
Rakan must’ve seen but feigned ignorance; Seonnal scanned the others.
They just watched Rakan’s moves.
Odd, but Seonnal ignored it.
Just tired, hoping police hurried.
“See there? No-entry zone, no people. Look down; you’ll see.”
Rakan smiled reassuringly, laced with grievance, then subtly stepped aside.
Seonnal leaned on the railing, smiling.
Obvious road.
‘Ah, I get it now.’
Before feeling the strong push on his back, Seonnal deliberately leaned forward.
With his other hand, he gripped the body cam ID, snapping a photo of smiling Rakan.
“…Wha-what?!”
Amid the screamed curse behind, Seonnal softly landed on his own spell below, crouched, then stood.
Pat pat.
Brushing dust off his clothes, he released the ID.
“You… you… what the hell?”
Rakan’s beaming face twisted instantly.
“How are you flying without wings?!”
He shrieked in fury.
Denying this impossible reality.
No wings, yet Seonnal hovered midair.
Unbelievable no matter how many times seen.
“Had your fun?”
Seonnal figured self-defense was justified now. They’d tried shoving him off.
Wind blew, whipping Seonnal’s hair.
Even spotting the red earring, Rakan and the harpies couldn’t comprehend.
Seonnal vaulted the railing, preparing a spell.
Grabbing frozen Rakan’s collar in one motion, he tripped him.
Before Rakan hit the ground, Seonnal cast.
[Gravity 2x.]
Boom!
Doubled weight amplified the impact pain manifold.
“…Gahhh!”
Rakan wailed in agony.
Seonnal exhaled lightly, eyeing the harpies.
“Will you cooperate now?”
Terror. Anxiety. Despair.
Emotions swirled in their eyes.
One backed away quietly, flapped, and flew skyward.
Bang.
But crashed into something, falling. The harpies felt viscerally that something was wrong.
“Can’t go.”
Seonnal smiled.
He ruled this land.
“No one.”