Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: I Can't Go (3)
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* * *
“…This is the place.”
As Saetbyeol clenched her fists and shook them, the feathers trembled.
The spot she pointed to was a shopping district.
It wasn’t particularly tall buildings, but shops spread out on both sides of a wide sidewalk like a four-lane road.
There were alleys branching off here and there, but Seonal took a broad view first.
“This is where I filmed that video. Me! I did it!”
She shook her fists in front of her chest, brimming with determination.
‘The Harpies appeared here and attacked the Slimes?’
It was a shopping area to begin with, so there was quite a bit of foot traffic. The building where they’d caught the Rakkan group earlier was a tall skyscraper that might not have been visible, but this place was different. It felt like they’d stirred up the incident right out in the open.
‘These guys really were trying to start a conflict.’
He had no idea what they stood to gain from strife between the Slime race and the Harpy race.
“Dodo.”
“Yes?”
“If you see any Slimes, let me know.”
People were less interested in others’ business than he’d thought, and since the only race sticking around one spot was the Slimes, their testimony would be the most reliable.
“Yes!”
Dodo answered energetically and immediately started scanning with her eyes.
“There! Right ahead. I mean, not in the alley, but the shop on the main street! It’s being held by someone?”
As Saetbyeol waved one hand, the feathers connected to it fluttered along.
‣Best eyesight among the sub-races.
Seonal recalled the Harpy race’s traits and was convinced she’d seen it right.
“I’ll fly right over there now… Eek!”
Suddenly, Saetbyeol yelped and pulled out her cellphone. It looked like a call was coming in. The name ‘Manager’ caught his eye.
“What’s wrong?”
When Seonal asked, Saetbyeol looked at him with shaky eyes.
“I… I got my shift time wrong. I might be late!”
“It’s fine. Go on ahead. Thank you for guiding us here.”
“Really… I can go? You don’t need my help anymore?”
“Just as I have my job to do first, don’t you have your part-time shift?”
“You’re right. But…”
Saetbyeol trailed off, her eyes darting around. Whatever was making her hesitate, just then Dodo spoke up energetically.
“Dodo thinks part-time comes first too!”
“Then there’s no helping it. If Uri says so, Saetbyeol’s mission is complete! Alright, I’ll head out first. Good luck with what you want to achieve.”
Saetbyeol grinned at Dodo, then spread her arms wide and soared into the sky.
Whoosh.
After the sound of wind faded, Seonal turned to Dodo, leaving behind Saetbyeol—who was oddly distracting even as she left.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes!”
They headed toward the spot Saetbyeol had indicated.
Even as they walked briskly, scanning the shops split along both sides of the road, it was hard to spot any trace of a Slime.
‘How far did she even see from?’
After about seven minutes of sticking to the main road, Seonal came to a halt.
For starters, the Slime Saetbyeol had seen was one being held by someone.
In the arms of that Giant race member, something soft and squishy caught Seonal’s eye in the corner.
‘A Slime… maybe, or maybe not.’
“What’s up?”
Dodo stopped too, looked where Seonal was staring, spotted the Slime, and pointed with her paw.
“Oh! It’s a Slime! It was hard to see hugged like that, but it’s them! Can you see it?”
‘…I knew Harpies had good eyes, but spotting that Slime all the way over there, held by a Giant?’
Seonal marveled inwardly.
Only now could he clearly see the Slime wriggling in the Giant’s arms. The Giant was patting it soothingly, wasn’t she?
As they drew closer, children hidden behind the Giant came into view.
Seonal paused briefly, the scene feeling oddly off, giving him pause.
‘…Students?’
If so, that Giant was probably their teacher. Why were they here in the first place?
Why did they all look so anxious, like they were being chased?
Seonal decided to approach and ask.
“Hello…”
“Seonal!”
The moment a familiar voice rang out, all the children’s eyes snapped to him.
Lauren—the younger fraternal twin Vampire boy among the kids—beamed widely.
“Lo… Lauren?”
Seonal stammered as he called the boy’s name.
No, how was he running into Lauren here of all places.
“…Seonal?”
Keron emerged gracefully from the shop, spotted Seonal, and gave a faint smile.
“Long time no see, Seonal.”
“…Hold on, Lauren, Keron. Who might you be?”
The teacher startled and held back Lauren and Keron. Her face, once plain and honest for a Giant, twisted into something ferocious as she glared at Seonal.
Her already massive build made the glare all the more intimidating.
Keron tugged at her pants leg and shook his head.
“Seonal is fine. You can relax.”
“But…”
“Are you their teacher? Pardon the intrusion. I’m Seonal from the Sub-race Complaint Resolution Special Division.”
Seonal smiled more warmly than usual and flashed his civil servant badge.
“I’m Dodo.”
Dodo beamed beside him, and the children—who’d looked glum—slowly brightened as they saw her.
‣A power that inspires goodwill flows around her.
Seonal recalled the spirit beast race’s trait and relaxed.
Kids were always tricky.
“Ah… Sorry. Something startling happened, so I got a bit on edge without realizing.”
The teacher patted the Slime in her arms, bowed her head, and apologized.
When she looked up, her face was back to its honest kindness, full of regret.
Seonal glanced down at the Slime.
Sniffle.
The Slime in her arms couldn’t hold its shape, sobbing pitifully as if deeply hurt.
“Seonal, Seonal. What’s up? Here to see me?”
Lauren clutched his backpack tight and asked. His eyes sparkled with such high hopes that Seonal averted his gaze slightly.
“I sensed something off while handling a complaint. Could you tell me what happened?”
For one, the kids huddled in front of the shop was strange, and the atmosphere was weird. They looked scared, didn’t they?
“My friend was attacked. I cannot forgive it.”
Keron furrowed his brow, seeming to relive the moment with clear frustration.
Following Keron’s gaze, Seonal saw not just the Slime in the teacher’s arms, but others mixed among the students.
No way.
Seonal bit the inside of his cheek briefly.
“The one who was attacked… was it a Slime?”
“You are correct. We were on a field trip, but the reserved restaurant canceled due to their circumstances, so under the teacher’s guidance, the children were looking for a lunch spot. Then suddenly Harpies came and dropped things. Stones, and even a beat-up old TV.”
Finishing, Keron pointed proudly at the teacher.
“The teacher protected us.”
“Teacher, could you tell me more details?”
Seonal didn’t think Keron was exaggerating, but he wanted a more objective account.
“Just as Keron said, the reserved restaurant canceled, so we were all moving together to find another lunch spot for the kids. I thought it was actually good practice for respecting each other and adapting to society.”
But they shouldn’t have.
The teacher’s face mixed regret as she continued.
“We’d agreed on a place the majority liked, stopped by just briefly—very briefly—to check if they could seat us, when a loud noise came from outside. …The incident had already happened.”
Mid-sentence, the teacher closed her eyes briefly. Her lips trembled slightly, still scared of that moment.
“A few minutes before the incident, the Harpy kids and Slime kids were playing together. Tag, they said, but I didn’t know and was talking to the shop owner.”
“…Sorryyy.”
Listening along, the Harpy child finally burst into the tears she’d been holding back.
“Sorry. We shouldn’t have played around… Shouldn’t have run off like that. Our friends… our friends almost got hurt because of us. Waaah.”
“Everyone’s safe, so it’s okay.”
The teacher smiled brightly, stroking the Harpy child’s head with a finger, and continued.
“When I found the kids, suddenly something like a microwave came flying from the sky. Luckily it hit the railing and stopped. I looked up, and a group of Harpies was dropping more stuff as they flew off. …They were laughing. Our kids almost got hurt, and they were laughing.”
“You know, Seonal. The teacher was super cool then? She swatted it all away with her hands. Whoosh, whoosh.”
As the teacher’s face started to twist, Lauren mimicked swinging his arms, and she looked a bit embarrassed.
Just in case, Seonal pulled out his phone and showed the video of the Rakkan group.
“Was it these people by any chan…”
“Yes! That’s them! That jerk—no, those people!”
The teacher, bending low with squinted eyes to peer at the phone, shot her head up and answered loudly.
Her face still burned with unresolved anger.
“Seonal.”
Keron spoke up. As Seonal looked, Keron pointed at the shop with a small hand.
“We all hid thanks to this shop uncle. I heard him say just now they’re the group that showed up recently.”
‘…They might be the first and last.’
Good news.
But lastly, he needed to check with the complainant who’d started this whole complaint.
Fatigue rippled through him, but Seonal didn’t forget to say what he had to.
“Thank you, Keron.”
“No need. Did it help you, Seonal?”
“It helped a lot.”
“I’m glad.”
Keron grinned broadly, then covered his mouth with his hand and cleared his throat, ‘Ahem.’
“Dodo, don’t touch the tail!”
Suddenly Dodo’s voice cut through the children’s chatter.
As Seonal approached, Dodo was buried among the kids, her tail straight up.
“…Can’t touch it?”
One child asked, startled.
“Dodo’s not a pet. Dodo’s a person too.”
She said it firmly enough, but Dodo’s usual appearance undercut the force.
“But you look like an animal?”
Even without malice, Dodo couldn’t hide her crumbling expression.
“You could think that. But how about thinking a bit more if it’s really an animal?”
Before the teacher could speak, Seonal cut in.
His forcibly upturned lips twitched briefly.
“We all look different. So which race gets to be called ‘people’?”
The kids clustered near Dodo looked flustered at Seonal’s question.
Wasn’t it too hard?
“‘People’ is a really complicated definition to begin with. They have to be able to think.”
“I can think!”
Lauren raised his hand and waved it big.
“Not just barking, but using language to record and speak.”
“I’m using it now.”
One kid grinned and spoke up, and Seonal nodded.
“Whether it’s cellphones or computers or whatever tools they can use, or making something light like blocks or toys, and following the laws everyone made while living in society like this—that’s what it means.”
“…Animals? But I’m not an animal.”
The Centaur child looked down at his legs glumly.
“I’m not a horse…”
“That’s why we call ourselves ‘people’ separately. In this world where diverse sub-races live, we must acknowledge each other’s differences. And what’s needed for that is consideration.”
Seonal smiled naturally at last as he saw the kids listening raptly.
Even Dodo, who’d been upset, lowered her tail and gazed at him.
“Touching someone without permission is wrong—it throws consideration out the window. No matter who it is. Now do you get why Dodo was mad?”
The child who’d called Dodo an ‘animal’ hung his head, fiddling with his fingers.
“…Sorry. I was wrong.”
“No, it’s fine. Dodo’s okay. Thanks for apologizing.”
Dodo perked her ears and wagged her hips happily.
Was she that thrilled to get an apology?
“Thanks for explaining it so gently that the kids could understand.”
The teacher lowered her voice to express her gratitude to Seonal.
“No, just doing my job as Complaint Division staff. My words might’ve been tough, but they understood—must be thanks to you, Teacher.”
“You speak so beautifully. Next time, if there’s a chance, could I invite you?”
“…Invite me?”
Seonal sensed he was getting dragged into something tedious.
It didn’t feel good.
“We do occasional lectures at school on sub-race equality. We invite outside speakers. It just hit me—the Complaint Division is perfect for it.”
“Good idea.”
Keron agreed emphatically with the teacher.
“Then, then, you’re coming to our school, Seonal?”
Lauren’s cheeks puffed with excitement, flashing his fangs.
“…Later. We’ll see.”
Seonal put it off, but the teacher didn’t let the opportunity slip.
“Then I’ll contact the Complaint Division directly.”
“Uh…”
Seonal couldn’t refuse outright with Lauren, Keron, and all the kids’ eyes on him like that.
Fatigue crashed over him. Swallowing a sigh that nearly escaped, he turned his head away and opened his mouth.
“The Harpy group you saw earlier was arrested by the police. You can relax now and continue your field trip.”
“Really? Thank you for letting me know. I’d already asked the police for help, but hadn’t heard if it was safe to move yet—perfect timing.”
“I’ll let them know, so enjoy the rest of your field trip.”
“Thank you. Alright, everyone, let’s go?”
The teacher thanked Seonal again, then spoke kindly to the kids.
“Yes!”
“Yesss!”
As the children answered energetically, Lauren waved.
“Bye, Seonal. See you at school next time! I’ll show you around.”
“Thanks for helping. Today was honestly scary. I’m so grateful you came…”
Keron briefly cracked the adult shell he’d forced on, revealing a child’s eyes for the first time.
Eyes terrified, needing anyone’s help.
Seonal smiled gently at the sight.
“It’s okay to say you were scared.”
“…I was scared.”
“Yeah, yeah. You held up well.”
Seonal bent his knees slightly and held out his palm.
Keron stared, then carefully slapped it.
Smack.
A quiet sound.
But light flickered in Keron’s eyes briefly, cheeks puffing high.
“…Not scared at all now.”
Keron pulled a string from his pocket. Seonal raised one eyebrow—it looked familiar.
“Actually, this string kept me from being scared.”
“This… the string from that lollipop packaging?”
Keron and Lauren had said they’d come back, so who knew when, but he’d wrapped them himself and left them on the desk.
He recalled I-rang delivering lollipops to Keron and Lauren.
Keron nodded, smiling shyly.
“Thanks… for the candy.”
Keron tucked the string back in his pocket and turned away. Lauren was approaching.
“Me too, me too. Can I?”
Lauren raised his fists to his chest and shook them.
Seonal held out his palm, and Lauren slapped it hard.
Smack!
“Yesss!”
Lauren shouted triumphantly. The volume drew the kids’ attention.
“Can I do it too?”
“Me too!”
“Me three!”
As they piped up one by one, Seonal’s eyes widened in dismay.
This wasn’t the plan.
Please.
Faced with their sparkling eyes, Seonal extended his palm with weary, fatigued eyes.
Smack.
Seonal listlessly high-fived them one by one, soul drained. He had no will left to ask about the string on Dodo.
* * *
“…That’s him! I mean, that person!”
The complainant who’d filed about the Harpy incident jumped up and down, pointing repeatedly at the video.
‘Good.’
Seonal finally relaxed. It was the same group. The Rakkans.
But just in case, he still planned full cooperation with the special task force’s request.
“Thank you for cooperating.”
Seonal bowed, then straightened and explained.
“The Harpy group in the video has all been arrested. You can rest easy now.”
“Really?”
The Slime beamed bouncily.
“Yes. Then I’ll be off.”
“Thank you! Really, thank you!”
As the Slime waved, Seonal spoke one last time before leaving.
“Oh, before I go, just to check—do you have permission to be in this park?”
“Yes. I work here.”
“Thanks for clarifying.”
Seonal noted the clean answer, walked out of the park, and checked his watch.
Just past lunchtime.
1:05 p.m.
“Good work, Dodo.”
“No, Dodo didn’t do anything.”
“Just walking around like this is tough. Let’s eat now. Take it slow. What sounds good?”
“Dodo likes meat!”
Grinning, her tiny teeth showed, and her tails wagged happily.
“Meat it is.”
She’d have a tough road ahead, so meat was the least he could do. And he wanted to delay heading back to the community center as long as possible.
Seonal smiled at Dodo, lost in other thoughts.