Even in the Sunlight, There Are Shadows (1)
A week had passed since that day.
"Next."
"Grade 3. Take your meds and get plenty of rest."
"Next."
"Grade 5. Clear for return."
An endless stream of mechanical tasks. At some point, he started sorting patients just by glancing at the app, investing barely twenty minutes per session—
And like that, the beautiful number 'Waiting Patients: 0' appeared on the monitor screen.
Peaceful.
Honestly, he'd been shaking for the first few days. The morning after, he'd half-expected the police or military police to burst in yelling, "Sex offender Jeong Ji-un, you're under arrest!" Or maybe Min Seo-yu would show up out of nowhere and smash his face in.
I still don't get it. Why'd she let it slide so easily?
That's how people are. Without knowing the reason, the suspicion and worry never end. Thanks to that, he could focus purely on work without any annoying fallout...
Still, after a full week, he finally started to relax a bit.
Work just enough, rest just enough. When Chae Yu-bin swung by on patrol, sneaking in secretly, he'd buy her snacks from the vending machine and chat idly.
If I can just hold out until the mobilization ends, I'll be good.
There was just one annoying thing—Min Seo-yu had started bothering him, but in a completely different way.
"Oh, hey. Thought about my offer?"
"What offer?"
"Don't play dumb. I mean coming to the front lines."
Crazy bitch.
"Your talent's too good to waste here. Join my unit, and I'll give you special treatment. Full-time mental care for my team."
"No thanks."
"Why? Hazard pay's huge, and the achievements here don't even compare."
"I've only got one life."
She'd urge him to come to the front lines, invite him to her team.
At least she's not blackmailing me...
The front lines! Who even calls that an invitation?
That kind of "favor" was just as exhausting. He'd prefer if she treated him like trash and ignored him, but at some point, she'd started overvaluing his abilities.
Crazy American mindset. Cool as fuck. Scouting the guy who smacked her ass and came on her face?
If that wasn't impressive, what was?
"Counselor Jeong."
Now another voice. He turned to see Team Leader Lee Se-yeon sipping coffee, watching him.
"Yes, ma'am."
"You're popular. Even the B-grade deputy leader personally scouting you. Total change from a week ago."
"...Just banter."
"Seemed pretty serious for banter. Personal counseling, maybe?"
Lee Se-yeon's dead-fish eyes scanned him blankly. The gaze felt sticky, like it was licking him all over. Unsettling.
She couldn't know anything.
"No way. Just cleared up a misunderstanding from before."
Lately, she'd been talking to him more often.
Stopping by his desk on work excuses to peek at his monitor, or sitting next to him during overtime to eat cup ramen.
Especially today, something was off—
"Oh, right... Counselor Jeong. Got a minute later?"
"Sure. Yeah."
"Come to my office during break time, then."
Calling him for some unexplained meeting.
What the hell?
A chill ran down his spine. He quickly scanned the past week's actions in his head.
Attendance? No tardies. Consultations? Mechanical, but zero complaints.
...It's gotta be the Min Seo-yu thing.
That was the only reason she'd take interest. She'd even probed with vague words.
Did Min Seo-yu slip up? No. That woman's tight-lipped. For her own pride, she'd never spill.
He steadied his nerves and followed her.
"Come in."
A tidy desk, humming air purifier, faint coffee scent. It suited the ever-expressionless, composed Team Leader Lee Se-yeon.
"Sit."
"Yes."
Lee Se-yeon gestured to the chair without looking away from her monitor.
Silence fell. Tap, tap, tap. Only the sound of her keyboard filled the room.
He glanced at her sidelong.
Who but him would know that behind those dry, lifeless eyes lurked a perverse desire to peep into others' private lives?
"Coffee?"
"No thanks. Just had some."
"Okay." She finished up with a firm enter, spun her chair, and faced him.
"I called you to give you some praise."
"Praise?"
"Yeah. Weekly results are out."
She slid a single sheet of paper across the desk toward him.
Weekly Consultation Processing Status
1st: Jeong Ji-un (422 cases)
2nd: XXX (189 cases)
...
About 60 cases a day. Yeah, that sounded right.
"...Do we normally rank like this?"
"Isn't it fun?"
With that icy expression? Not even a little.
"Most civilian counselors struggle with 30 a day, but you're doing double. Impressive. What's the secret?"
"No secret. Just... clicked with the patients, I guess."
"Clicked? Average consult time's under three minutes. Done before cup ramen even softens."
"Well..."
He racked his brain for an excuse, but Lee Se-yeon let out a small laugh. Eyes unmoving, just the corner of her mouth twitched.
"Relax. It's genuine praise."
"Oh, uh, thanks..."
"Thanks to you, our center's turnover is number one in all of Sector 4. Upper management's thrilled. More supplies coming down. So, headquarters sent down instructions."
"Instructions?"
"Yeah. Since we process fast, they're routing waiting patients from nearby clinics here."
"...What?"
He doubted his ears.
"Patients from other sectors too?"
"Yes. Their waits are backed up bad. They're grateful—thanks to you, they can breathe. Of course, if you're pulled to the front lines, that's another story."
Butterfly effect hits hard.
He'd just sped up to make his own life easier, finish quick and chill. Now he was branded the "hard worker" and getting more work dumped on him.
Fucking civil servant life.
"Team leader, either way, it's tough for me."
"Hmm? Why?"
"I'm not a machine. It's already pushing it. More patients without more staff means quality drops..."
He pleaded with his most pitiful face. But Lee Se-yeon remained impassive.
"Don't worry. You can handle it."
"No... I appreciate the faith, but."
"Helps my eval, boosts your rep. Win-win, right?"
You win, I lose. He seethed inside but couldn't show it to a superior.
"Got it... I'll do my best."
"Good. I expect great things."
Lee Se-yeon took a sip of coffee. Time to go, he thought, starting to stand.
"Oh, one more thing."
She set down her cup, calling him back. Her tone had shifted subtly.
"About Deputy Leader Min Seo-yu."
"Something with her?"
"She's been coming down a lot lately. Looking for you."
"Yeah, for counseling."
"Counseling?"
Her eyes narrowed. Those dead eyes scanned every inch of his face, like X-raying his soul.
"She's not the type."
"..."
It wasn't her usual dry, businesslike smile. Cheeks faintly flushed, lips parted, hot breath escaping.
"She's... rare."
Her voice trembled an octave higher.
"B-grades, especially combat types, have huge egos. Hate showing weakness, especially to a male counselor. But... she's mellowed in a week, even scouting you. What'd you talk about? What counseling?"
Gulp. Her throat bobbed audibly.
Chills crawled up his spine.
Way too different from usual!
Danger. Danger. Danger. Alarms blared in his head.
Sure enough, she was a patient gripped by destruction desire.
Lee Se-yeon licked her lips, leaning back. Her flushed face cooled instantly.
"...Anyway, got it. You took good care of her. Take these."
"What's this?"
"Not much as a reward... but she's gunning to drag you to the front. Can't lose my top performer without incentive."
She offered two things: a worn keycard and a USB with a sticky note.
"What's this?"
"One's the master key for the second-floor clinic."
"Master key?"
"Yeah. Opens every door up there. Empty consult rooms, back storage... Sometimes you need meds mid-session. Seen your skills, so granting access."
Sounds like it'll go beyond just checking corruption grades...
"And this. Access key for 'The Counseling', one of the international magical girl private databases."
"Why me...?"
"Where therapists worldwide share cases. Usually by seniority referral, but I'm recommending you."
She slid the note over. ID and password scribbled.
"Log consult journals here, counts as official experience. Association gives merit points. Helps rank-ups later."
Lee Se-yeon propped her chin, staring.
"Tip: Detail the journals. More thorough, better score."
"Ah, yes."
"Especially Min Seo-yu cases... unique ones. What you talked about, patient's reactions, any physical contact."
Her tongue wet her lips.
"Very detailed."