Under the Bridge (12)
“Today’s request is canceled. Got a problem with that?”
As expected, Ayoung’s plan to tackle a Wolha Association request together after her part-time shift went up in smoke.
“No…. Thank you. *Cough.*”
It was because Ayoung had taken a kick to the ribs from the werewolf and cracked a few bones. No matter how much of a hard worker she was—holding down both day and night jobs—she wasn’t about to push herself in this condition.
Serpina laid Ayoung down on the bed inside the cardboard house and said,
“When you’re first learning how to fight, you’re supposed to break a few bones and get knocked around. That’s how you improve. You know that, right?”
“Ugh… Senior, the way you talk is so… old-fashioned. Like some geezer.”
“You wanna get hit?”
“Hehe… *cough, cough*… heh.”
Ayoung gave a weak, hazy smile. She trusted that even though Serpina talked like that, she wouldn’t actually hit someone who was already injured.
“Ugh.”
Just as expected, Serpina let out a long sigh and lowered her raised fist. That didn’t mean she’d forgiven her, though.
“Once you’re healed, we’re doing dodge training too. And I’ll make sure getting hit hurts, so brace yourself.”
“Eep.”
After a bit of light banter, the conversation turned slightly more serious.
“That guy earlier—he seemed pretty desperate, didn’t he?”
“Yeah. It was weird too. I mean, he’s always been hot-headed, but… he wasn’t the type to completely ignore the Association’s rules and go on a rampage.”
“Right? No matter how you look at it, getting embarrassed once isn’t enough reason to throw your whole life away and charge in like that.”
It was like someone cutting in line, getting called out once, then tracking the person down and burning their house to the ground.
A narrow-minded person might hold a grudge, but it definitely wasn’t the kind of thing that would make someone choose a lifetime behind bars. Not unless they were mentally ill.
So what was it, then? Serpina figured there had to be another reason.
“Someone must’ve pushed him into it.”
He’d already been backed into a corner, and that small humiliation had been the final trigger. Or maybe the events of that day had been like a snowball rolling downhill. Either way, something had clearly happened somewhere Serpina and Ayoung didn’t know about.
“Ugh… Just who is targeting us like this…?”
Ayoung muttered anxiously. As a Rank 5 mage—one of the most common and least remarkable—she had never drawn this kind of attention, whether good or bad.
“Doesn’t matter who it is. How dare they waltz into my territory without permission. Next time, instead of using them as teaching materials, I’ll play with them nice and slow.”
Serpina was mildly irritated. She considered the area under this bridge her domain, after all. A primal sense of displeasure crept up her spine.
- Excuse me~?
Just then, a voice called out from outside, addressing both Serpina and Ayoung. Since the alarm magic hadn’t reacted, it clearly wasn’t an enemy.
Serpina stepped out of the cardboard house. She’d just complained about people barging into her territory without permission, but a guest who showed proper etiquette was an entirely different story.
Outside the house, a man and a woman stood waiting at a respectful distance.
“Who are you?”
The woman stepped forward and explained their purpose.
“Ah. You’re here. We’re from the Association. You’re the one who requested the cleanup service, correct?”
“Cleanup service?”
The recent fight between the werewolf and Ayoung (which Serpina didn’t even consider a real fight on her end), the Association, and cleanup.
She could roughly guess what it meant. They erased the traces of battles and such. But the part about her having requested it was confusing.
“Ugh… I-I called them. I thought we might need it.”
Ayoung emerged from the cardboard house, still clutching her aching side. When she saw the pair, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Dongseok? Goeun? Why are you two here?”
At the names, Serpina also recalled who they were. On the day they’d visited the Association, these were the people who had approached Ayoung before she got tangled up with that man and told her to hide behind them. So many things had happened afterward that they’d completely slipped her mind.
“Ayoung? So you were here. That means you’re the one who requested the service?”
“Yeah. It’s just that…”
“Wait, hold on. Why is your face so pale? Are you hurt?”
Goeun immediately moved to Ayoung’s side and checked her condition. She carefully pressed on the sore ribs, then fussed over her while making her drink a healing potion.
Once Goeun latched onto Ayoung, the remaining man naturally turned to Serpina. He bowed politely.
“I’m Han Donghyun. Ayoung and I joined the same circle at the same time. I’m currently working for the Association.”
Ah. A circle is what they call a group that’s too small to be officially recognized as a guild. Donghyun added the explanation.
Ayoung, who was being looked after by Goeun, listened to Donghyun and asked,
“Now that I think about it, why are you two working for the Association? What about the circle?”
“You’re asking us that? After you publicly demolished a senior in front of everyone, did you really think we’d get off scot-free?”
“No way… First of all, I wasn’t the one who demolished anyone, and you two had even less to do with it than I did.”
“If we’re being technical, that means it wasn’t our circle’s problem either.”
“I guess that’s true.”
Ayoung nodded without hesitation at Goeun’s words. It was a firm, unshakable distrust toward the circle they had once belonged to.
“Anyway, we were in a really tough spot because of that. Right around then, the Association made us a scouting offer, so we jumped ship.”
“Hmm, if it was around that time, then probably…”
Ayoung glanced toward Serpina. Goeun shrugged and nodded.
“Well. It’s probably thanks to her. Since you’re always with Lady Serpina, they figured they could use us—your close friends—to build some kind of bridge.”
At first they had refused. Even if they couldn’t help their friend, they didn’t want to become a burden. But after the Association’s earnest persuasion and explanations made it clear they weren’t trying to use Serpina, they changed their minds. Becoming direct employees of the Association was an incredible opportunity for Rank 5 mages.
“That worked out well.”
That was all Ayoung said. Goeun quietly nodded in agreement. The two of them understood the struggles of bottom-tier Rank 5 mages all too well.
While the two women talked, Serpina listened to Donghyun explain the cleanup service.
“Erasing bloodstains is basic, and for an extra fee they’ll take care of other things too?”
From soot and debris to holes in the ground, electronic records, and even altering eyewitness memories. As long as you paid, they truly handled every last trace with perfect cleanliness.
“Per the vice branch manager’s orders, this is free of charge for Lady Serpina.”
“Really? Then go ahead.”
Serpina accepted the special treatment without batting an eye. In her mind, it was only natural for a dragon to receive treatment befitting her lofty status. Thanks to that, the vice branch manager’s scheme to win her favor by showering her with privileges ended up having almost no effect.
“Vice branch manager, huh? Sounds like that one actually knows a bit about etiquette.”
Or maybe it hadn’t completely failed after all.
…….
The next day, Serpina visited the Association together with Ayoung.
“Are you really sure you’re okay?”
“Yes! I drank the potion too! Something like this heals after a good night’s rest!”
“You said it was a witch’s potion? Must be pretty effective.”
“Are you interested? Would you like to visit the shop the witches run later?”
“Later.”
As the two walked along chatting, eyes from all around gathered on them. People pretended not to look while sneaking glances.
One person finally mustered the courage to speak.
“Um, excuse me…”
“Get lost.”
“Ah. Well, um… yes…”
Serpina shut him down firmly before he could even state his business. He tried to speak again, but when Serpina merely turned her eyes and glared, he flinched and backed away.
“Senior. Wasn’t that a little… harsh?”
Ayoung asked with a reluctant expression. No matter what, rejecting someone without even hearing them out seemed too much. Especially when she hadn’t just refused—she’d been downright rude.
“Harsh? No. If I’d given him even one word, hundreds more would’ve followed.”
Serpina jerked her chin toward the crowd gathered around them. If even half of those people each tried to say something, they’d be stuck here for ages.
“Hmm…”
Ayoung let out a small groan. Even though she understood Serpina’s reasoning, it still left her a bit uncomfortable.
“You’re not used to it yet. You’ll get used to it soon.”
Serpina comforted her as they walked. By completely ignoring everyone around them, they reached the Association in no time.
“The request office is this way. Please follow me!”
By then Ayoung had fully regained her energy. She led the way with familiar ease.
Someone stepped in front of them, blocking their path. It was a young girl who still had a somewhat youthful, innocent look.
“Hello. Could I speak with you for a moment?”
“……”
Serpina stopped walking. This girl felt different from the others who had approached out of cheap curiosity or greed. It seemed worth hearing her out, at least for a little while.
“Ah. Thank you. Then I should introduce myself before we begin.”
The girl pulled a hat from her pocket and placed it on her head.
⟨ Witch of Rotation ⟩
“Nice to meet you. I’m Negin, a witch affiliated with Hexennacht.”
She smiled brightly.
“I also serve as the vice branch manager of the Shinsi branch of the Wolha Association.”
