Chapter 8

Chapter 8

High-Rank Ability User

“What the, just now? What did we just see?”

People gathered and buzzed. Even though Katerina had left, the shocking situation from a moment ago wouldn't leave my head.

When my wrist was first grabbed, I thought it was the end. The Deputy General Manager was a noble's son so he somewhat pulled his punches, yet things still went wrong.

Right up until she smiled at me, I thought, ‘Is she the type who smiles before killing someone?’

While thinking that, I was hugged. Her face was next to mine. A fragrant scent wafted into my nose. Her long ears slightly pressed against my cheek, transmitting her body heat.

I couldn't answer her question ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠asking if I needed anything else. The current situation was so sudden that I couldn't guess what was happening. Imperial Family, hug, house, phone—just these filled my head.

An Elf I had only seen cosplayed on the internet. Is a real one, not a fake, this different? I felt not even a bit of repulsion toward the long ears. Rather, they just felt cute.

Is it because she's too pretty? No. When I saw an incredibly pretty cosplayer wearing fake long ears, it wasn't that great. I think it's because she's a real person.

The General Manager ran up to me with a shocked expression.

“What is your relationship?”

I don't know either.

“Um... Uh~”

I don't know how to answer the General Manager's question, who is using honorifics unlike before.

“No. I apologize for asking something unnecessary!”

“Ah, yes.”

The General Manager accepted it on his own. It's not that I didn't want to tell you. I want to know too.

“Th-that... about telling you not to open your mouth earlier.... I am truly sorry!”

“I don't mind. Rather than that, can I continue working here?”

“Yes! Thank you! Please do whatever you wish!”

The General Manager's honorifics became uncomfortable, so I went to work. I need to find out about the Imperial Family. Why is an Imperial Family member suddenly acting like that to me?

***

Serin was still standing there frozen with her jaw dropped.

Ring ring~ At the sound of a text message, she looked at the screen and it was Katerina.

“The number written separately on the back must be her personal number, right?”

Serin only knew the business card number.

Checking the content of the text, Serin's mouth, which was closing, dropped open again with a thud.

“Even after giving a house worth billions, she intends to do more....”

***

(Deleted post.)

As soon as it was lunchtime, Sois without smartphones ran to the computer room. They had dropped a bomb in ‘The King Has Donkey Ears Gallery’ right now.

Stories about Katerina were immediately plastered over the gallery and exploding, but in the head of the Head Manager of The King Has Donkey Ears, commonly called ‘ImDanggwi Gall’, only countless question marks floated.

Although there was content in the notice to keep the line, it was confusing.

“There are claims of actually seeing it, so at this level, does it mean it's real?”

The line had a clear standard. Only sexual remarks, stating false facts, and profanity were cut, and a 1-year ban was imposed.

However, this one didn't fall anywhere.

‘I want to date an Imperial Family member.’ This statement is possible, but

‘An Imperial Family member is dating!’ Is this not allowed?

Posts crying out for the Head Manager were being plastered, but even while watching that, the Head Manager didn't know what to do.

Head Manager. She was an Elf directly appointed by the Imperial Castle.

It was the Emperor's intention to listen to the thoughts of general Imperial citizens without filtering as much as possible through the ImDanggwi Gall.

The current situation was not for the Head Manager to judge alone. She went to report this matter to a superior.

***

“So you don't have to live here? What are you going to do from now on?”

Serin came to find me at lunchtime.

“As expected~! You weren't a normal person!”

“Little brother Saklasi. No, should I call you little brother-nim now?”

“Reserve Manager Saklasi~ Will my dream come true~?”

When Serin spoke to me, the girls from yesterday also came to find me as if they had been waiting for this time. One green-haired Soi man also walked this way.

“Did you come to swagger?”

Ah, how do I explain? At those words, other nearby Sois also seemed to prick up their ears at my words.

Turns out to be an ability user. Turns out to be an acquaintance of the Imperial Family. Turns out to be rich. From an orphan incompetent Soi, it seems he's everything except a Soi.

Ah, even I would misunderstand.

“Little brother Saklasi! I think I know who you are?”

What is it? She seems to know a ‘me’ that even I don't know!

“I've heard of it. That strength. Secret Defender! Right?”

What is that?

Serin looked at the girl who said that with a dumbfounded expression. And then she looks at me just like that.

No, I didn't say that. I think she just spouted nonsense. I don't even know what a Defender does.

“I seee~! Not a Reserve Manager, but a Secret Defender~”

“Seeing you can't answer, it must be true! Other kids don't pry anymore either. It's a mission that must be kept secret. And you earlier, swaggering? What kind of talk is that!”

The Soi boy who asked if I came to swagger shrank back and returned to his seat.

Hmm, I don't know what it is, but let's go with that!

I didn't say I was a Secret Defender or whatever? It's exercising the right to remain silent!

***

Lunchtime passed quickly. Serin started working again without even being able to ask Saklasi what she wanted to ask. Holding a truly absurd feeling.

The Secret Defender was Serin. She was the one who received a direct order from Imperial Princess Katerina to infiltrate as an incompetent Soi and ferret out demons.

Above all, if he were the same Secret Defender, he would have told Serin even for the sake of coordination. Saklasi is probably not a Secret Defender.

Honestly, she wondered what kind of Defender a Water Ability User would be, but she couldn't say that to his face. She couldn't grasp the relationship between Her Highness Imperial Princess Katerina and Saklasi. She shouldn't do anything to fall out of Her Highness's favor by saying something unnecessary.

No matter how much of a Lieutenant-Rank Ability User close to High-Rank he is, he wouldn't even be able to kill a demon with Water. Especially if he's a Soi with poor physical abilities.

Come to think of it, she remembered he was fine even after being hit with full force by the Deputy General Manager, but thinking he endured the pain with the unique recovery power of the Water Ability, Serin passed it over as insignificant.

***

As soon as the work time, which was now just boring, ended, the General Manager came to find me.

He told me to do as I wish, whether continuing dormitory life or continuing to work. I decided to go see my house first for now.

“Are you living over there starting today?”

It was Serin. She accepted my apology, then got angry again, it was a bit like that on the first day, but she lent me a sword too, so anyway, she's a person I'm grateful to.

“Yeah. Sorry that only I'm getting out.”

“It doesn't matter. You got the conditions to live well, so you should live like that. Anyway, what do you want to do from now on? You're an ability user and have an expensive house too.”

“Becoming a noble right now?”

“Hmm~mm? You dream big. Looks like a Lieutenant-Rank Water Ability. If you were an Elf, you could have become a doctor. But still, you can't become a noble. Doctors aren't nobles either.”

“Then is there anything I can do right now?”

“Um~ Depending on the Lieutenant-Rank level, I think working as a firefighter would be good? Can you generate 3 large water masses?”

“That's easy.”

I purposely generated large water masses slowly. Without forgetting the content of the Gallery, slowly.

Because they said water is slow in nature so even a Lieutenant-Rank Water Ability User takes 1 minute to make it. Actually, I shouldn't be caught that I'm High-Rank, probably Saint-Rank.

“Uh!? This, crazy!”

Serin suddenly drew her sword.

“No, what's wrong? Why the sword?”

Why is she doing this again!

“No, it's nothing. A bug suddenly flew towards my face. Hahahaha.”

“Are you okay? But, killing a bug with a sword?”

“Uh, yeah. No, I was too surprised! ...Anyway, I saw it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠well. I'll also look for what kind of work you can do. You're coming to work tomorrow too, right?”

“I intend to do it for a while until I find another job.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

Serin ran away with a somewhat flustered face.

***

Serin intended to check roughly what level Saklasi was even within Lieutenant-Rank. Is about 3 large water masses at once possible? If so, High-Rank was right around the corner. At that level, he might be able to receive a title even if not suitable for combat.

The generation of large water masses requested like that was shocking.

He had already created them before Serin even handed over the sword.

Generating large water masses without a sword?

It was certain he was a High-Rank Ability User.

A Soi is a High-Rank Ability User at twenty. And a Water Ability User at that?

Is it a bug?

Serin, having come here, put ferreting out demons on the back burner ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and was writing only about Saklasi all over the report again today without realizing it.