Becoming a Mage of the Special Unit in Another World

Chapter 11 – Last Night’s Chicken Was Pretty Bad (2)

Sunal felt a slight furrowing of his brow as a sharp pain spread through his upper abdomen.
‘Strange… Did the chicken I ate last night go bad?’
No way.
Isn’t chicken the most delicious after a grueling night shift? Freshly delivered, hot chicken couldn’t have gone bad.
Then why did his upper abdomen hurt?
“…Sunal? Are you feeling unwell?”
His colleague, Terisha, a fairy, glanced over and asked.
With her small frame barely reaching past the bend of her elbow, her figure remained hidden behind the partition.
“Yes,” Sunal replied bluntly.
He was, in fact, very uncomfortable. The seat, the paperwork, coming to work, even breathing—it all felt bothersome.
“Really? Are you in pain?”
As he noticed the dragon horn-like decoration peeking over the partition, Terisha leaned her face forward, asking again.
Her elegant wings swayed in sync with her curious gaze.
Suppressing a smile that almost crept up his lips, Sunal managed to keep his expression in check.
“It’s one of those days. I should just use my leave.”
With a victorious grin, Sunal stood up from his seat.
Lee Rang, a goblin sitting nearby, watched Sunal’s brave stance, curious to see the outcome.
Lee Rang made eye contact with Terisha and shook his head. Terisha nodded back in agreement.
Failure?
Yep.
Understanding the silent exchange, Lee Rang shook his cup slightly.
Coffee?
Terisha nodded.
Nothing kicked off the morning quite like a cup of coffee.

“…I’ll have to refuse,” Edina stated firmly.
“Well, then I’ll have to refuse your refusal.”
“Then I’ll refuse your refusal of my refusal.”
Sunal, though he had initiated the childish back-and-forth, began to feel a rising irritation.
“Why not? You told me I could take leave if I ever felt sick!”
“The thing is, you don’t look sick at all. I hope it’s not just my intuition, but it feels like Sunal just wants to go home and came here with that excuse.”
“My upper abdomen. No, my stomach feels a bit upset.”
“…Really?”
Edina’s expression changed entirely.
“How bad is it? Does it hurt a lot?”
“…Why are you acting like this?”
Sunal had already taken two steps back by then.
Why was Edina suddenly being unusually kind just because he said he was in pain?
“What do you mean? As the team leader, isn’t it natural for me to worry when our precious youngest in the Interethnic Grievance Resolution Special Unit says he’s not feeling well?”
“I’d like to return the ‘youngest’ title, if I may. There’s still an open spot, isn’t there?”
Feeling goosebumps, Sunal rubbed his arms.
‘Youngest.’
Just hearing it made him want to leave the room immediately.
“You’re still the youngest. For now.”
Edina smiled sweetly, resting her chin in both hands.
“I’ll find time later… and go to the hospital.”
“You’re not taking leave?”
“No. A worrisome thought crossed my mind.”
He could already imagine Edina pestering him with countless “Are you okay?” questions all day because of that “youngest” title.
In a way, wouldn’t that be a form of torture?
“I think you’re right. I really like calling you ‘youngest.’”
Sunal adjusted his glasses, preparing to return to his seat as he glanced at Edina’s smile.
“Team Leader.”
“Yes, what is it, youngest Sunal?”
Sunal’s brow furrowed slightly, and Edina silently chuckled at his reaction.
“Team Leader.”
“I’m listening.”
“Is that vampire being properly investigated, free from external pressure?”
Yesterday, in the slums of Rivendong, he had encountered a pureblood vampire who had been driven out simply for being a wizard.
Pureblood vampires were far more difficult to come across than he had imagined. They lived such secluded lives that he never expected to get involved with one in any way.
But after yesterday’s events, he reconsidered. It wasn’t that there had never been any entanglements; rather, even if there were, they always managed to escape by force.
Faced with Sunal’s heavy question, Edina hesitated before speaking.
“Yes. I swear it on my name.”
Hearing this kind of response always made Sunal curious about Edina. Just how powerful was her family?
Even that pureblood vampire had been driven to such an extent that they were forced into the slums.
But Sunal didn’t ask. He figured there must be a reason Edina had chosen to become a public servant.
“Hmm. Sunal.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll take this opportunity to give you a warning.”
“A warning?”
“Even though I’m doing my best to contain it, I don’t think this situation will wrap up neatly. I don’t know when, but I have a feeling an uninvited guest might come looking for you. In a very personal way.”
“An uninvited guest… Are you saying someone might try to kidnap me?”
“It’s possible.”
Edina’s seriousness made Sunal feel awkward.
“…I was joking.”
“But I’m not. Still, don’t worry.”
“Because I can use magic to escape on my own?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“You don’t have to worry about anything, Sunal. Just remember who you helped yesterday.”
Sunal blinked at Edina’s cryptic words, then slightly lowered his head.
‘Who did I help? Keron and Loren.’
The fraternal twin vampires.
He remembered how he hadn’t even had the chance to say goodbye before they left.
“Well then, Sunal, let me know when you’re heading to the hospital. Oh, and no need to take a half-day leave.”
“Understood. I’ll go when I get a chance.”
“Our youngest…”
Sunal, who usually moved at a tortoise’s pace, left the room faster than anyone else the moment he heard those words.
Click.
As the door closed, Edina blinked and soon smiled.
Kkal-kal.
Teasing Sunal was so much fun that she could probably spend the entire day doing it.
‘…Well, it’s not wrong, anyway.’
Sunal was extremely important to her team. The Wizards’ Association might have called him a cursed one, but what did she care?
She had gone through a lot to bring him on board.
No one.
Absolutely no one would be forgiven for messing with her team.
Edina made a phone call.
“Get rid of the pests hovering around Sunal. He’s sharp, so don’t use mana; he might notice.”
Edina gave the order smoothly, a grin forming on her lips.

Ding-dong.
As the previous client left, a new number appeared on the display.

A man in a neat suit walked in, accompanied by someone else.
Even from a distance, his appearance drew everyone’s attention, and people had already been sneaking glances at him since he entered.
But Sunal, for a moment, stared blankly into space.
‘It feels like there are even more people than yesterday. Should I have just left earlier?’
It was just past lunchtime, and already 59 people had come through.
―You should go now. It’ll be harder to step away later.
Terisha’s usually calm face flashed in his memory, though her voice had been filled with concern.
―That’s right. I did a quick reading this morning, and it showed that a lot of people would show up today.
When Lee Rang had mentioned doing a reading, Sunal had inwardly scoffed, but now he was starting to think Lee Rang might be more impressive than he’d first thought.
‘If I’m going to the hospital, I still think it’d be best to go right before the end of the day.’
He hated working overtime, after all.
“Hello.”
Sunal swallowed his regret and offered the two men a professional smile.
Both were wearing suits, but one man, after pulling out a chair for the other, stepped aside and folded his hands politely.
Only someone of high status would bring along a personal assistant like that.
Sunal turned his attention to the man who had sat down.
Despite looking at most in his early forties, the man radiated an air of distinction. He exuded a strong sense of dominance, as if asserting his authority over the surroundings, and his pale complexion was impossible to miss.
“What brings you here today?” Sunal asked.
A deep voice rolled out from the man.
“I’ve been swindled by wizards because they think all vampires are wealthy.”
“I’m sorry, but that issue falls outside our jurisdiction. Wouldn’t it be quicker to go to the police?”
“Let me rephrase. There’s a presumption that all vampires are wealthy. Not every vampire holds great wealth, but the wizards think we do. So they sold me the same product at an inflated price.”
Sunal couldn’t help but feel suspicion at those words.
It didn’t sound like he was talking about someone else’s situation.
“Could you clarify exactly what kind of complaint you’re here to file?”
Click.
As the door closed, Edina blinked and soon smiled.
Kkal-kal.
Teasing Sunal was so much fun that she could probably spend the entire day doing it.
‘…Well, it’s not wrong, anyway.’
Sunal was extremely important to her team. The Wizards’ Association might have called him a cursed one, but what did she care?
She had gone through a lot to bring him on board.
No one.
Absolutely no one would be forgiven for messing with her team.
Edina made a phone call.
“Get rid of the pests hovering around Sunal. He’s sharp, so don’t use mana; he might notice.”
Edina gave the order smoothly, a grin forming on her lips.

Ding-dong.
As the previous client left, a new number appeared on the display.

A man in a neat suit walked in, accompanied by someone else.
Even from a distance, his appearance drew everyone’s attention, and people had already been sneaking glances at him since he entered.
But Sunal, for a moment, stared blankly into space.
‘It feels like there are even more people than yesterday. Should I have just left earlier?’
It was just past lunchtime, and already 59 people had come through.
―You should go now. It’ll be harder to step away later.
Terisha’s usually calm face flashed in his memory, though her voice had been filled with concern.
―That’s right. I did a quick reading this morning, and it showed that a lot of people would show up today.
When Lee Rang had mentioned doing a reading, Sunal had inwardly scoffed, but now he was starting to think Lee Rang might be more impressive than he’d first thought.
‘If I’m going to the hospital, I still think it’d be best to go right before the end of the day.’
He hated working overtime, after all.
“Hello.”
Sunal swallowed his regret and offered the two men a professional smile.
Both were wearing suits, but one man, after pulling out a chair for the other, stepped aside and folded his hands politely.
Only someone of high status would bring along a personal assistant like that.
Sunal turned his attention to the man who had sat down.
Despite looking at most in his early forties, the man radiated an air of distinction. He exuded a strong sense of dominance, as if asserting his authority over the surroundings, and his pale complexion was impossible to miss.
“What brings you here today?” Sunal asked.
A deep voice rolled out from the man.
“I’ve been swindled by wizards because they think all vampires are wealthy.”
“I’m sorry, but that issue falls outside our jurisdiction. Wouldn’t it be quicker to go to the police?”
“Let me rephrase. There’s a presumption that all vampires are wealthy. Not every vampire holds great wealth, but the wizards think we do. So they sold me the same product at an inflated price.”
Sunal couldn’t help but feel suspicion at those words.
It didn’t sound like he was talking about someone else’s situation.
“Could you clarify exactly what kind of complaint you’re here to file?”
Sunal asked, pointing to the information board placed where the client could easily see it:
“Please let us know the exact nature of the grievance you’re filing.”
The board read:
• Only requests related to interspecies grievances will be accepted. Please be aware that filing false or prank grievances may result in penalties based on the validity of the case.
The man opened his mouth again.
“Don’t you think the criteria are a bit vague?”
“What criteria are you referring to?”
“Isn’t what I just described discrimination? The wizards swindled me simply because I’m a vampire, assuming all vampires are wealthy.”
“Was this an issue that happened to you directly?”
“No.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t accept proxy grievances.”
“Then let me ask you this: Is what I described discrimination or not?”
“If someone looks wealthy, like you do with your entourage, and the price was arbitrarily raised because of that, then yes, that’s discrimination. However, the rest is unclear. We’d need to confirm whether the wizard specifically targeted vampires or if they raised the price for everyone. Honestly, it’d help a lot if you had a receipt to prove it.”
Sunal explained the various scenarios to the man. The situation the man described was nothing more than words, with no evidence to support it, and since the man wasn’t the direct party involved, it was difficult to accept the complaint.
“So, you’re saying you only deal with clear-cut cases here?” the man asked.
“That’s correct. I was simply guiding you because your situation would be handled more quickly at the police station.”
“Then why did you help my grandchildren?”
Keron and Loren.
The moment the man mentioned his grandchildren, the names of the two popped into Sunal’s mind.
“Was it just because they were children?”
At the man’s question, Sunal realized who he was. He didn’t look it, but this man must be Keron and Loren’s grandfather.
“It wasn’t just because they were children. There was urgency in their situation, enough evidence to suggest the case might be real, a valid reason to investigate, and most importantly, they were the direct parties involved.”
“What if that evidence turned out to be nothing more than a child’s prank?”
The man’s persistent questioning felt like a police interrogation, but Sunal answered casually.
“In that case, I would’ve been relieved.”
“Relieved…?”
“Isn’t it better for it not to be true? While I was on my way, I kept hoping that what happened to those kids wasn’t real.”
How traumatizing that incident must have been for the children, having it staged like some kind of stalking incident.
Sunal had already crossed the line as a public official, so he decided to push a bit further.
“I know it’s presumptuous of me to say, but as their guardian, please take proper care of them. The fact that they had to find a stranger and ask for help is something that perhaps you should reflect on.”
Sunal had expected the man to get angry, but instead, his expression softened slightly.
“Thank you.”
The man bowed his head. Sunal’s lips twitched briefly.
‘What kind of behavior is this now?’
“I’m ashamed that I’ve been looking outward and not paying attention to what’s within.”
“Then you should start looking now.”
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.
“I’m a public servant.”
“It’s a letter from my grandchildren. They skipped school yesterday without permission, so I was scolding them on my way here.”
‘…Of course.’
That finally explained the mystery of why Keron and Loren had been casually sitting there with a number ticket. Sunal felt a sense of relief.
“They deserved it. Kids should attend school properly. Did they cry?”
“I expected them to shed tears, but they smiled instead.”
A faint smile briefly crossed the man’s lips before vanishing.
“I forgot to introduce myself. Nice to meet you. I am Dwen Tichia.”
‘…Tichia?’
The name sounded familiar.
‘Where have I heard that before?’
As Sunal tried to remember, he extended his public servant ID hanging around his neck.
“Sunal Ha.”
“They say people gossip about how cold you are, but I see it’s true.”
Dwen stood up, looking at Sunal with deep gratitude in his eyes.
“But my grandchildren… they are my life. The Tichia family will help its benefactor with anything. If you ever need assistance, just mention your name.”
With those words, Dwen turned and walked away, leading his assistant.
Sunal watched Dwen leave, then looked down at the letter.
―Thank you so much. I’m okay. I’m really okay, so if you get a chance, please come visit again. Next time, let’s eat something delicious together.
The letter reminded him of Keron’s way of speaking.
―Hi! Hiiiii! Sunal, let’s play again. Promise me. You have to promise! And thank you. Thank youuu! Thank you so much!
It was unmistakably from Loren.

Loren’s liveliness seemed to come to life in front of Sunal’s eyes.
Sunal smiled briefly as he looked at the letter, then tucked it away into his bag.
‘Alright, let’s get motivated.’
Ding-dong.
The number on the display changed to 60.
Sunal, reorganizing the papers that still needed processing, lifted his head in sync with the sound of footsteps.
A Dullahan in a suit approached, holding his head in one hand while cautiously scanning the surroundings as he walked forward.
From his neck, dark smoke billowed, faintly connecting to the edges of his face. Despite the fedora on his head and the formal attire giving him the appearance of an elderly gentleman, he looked younger than expected.
Sunal wasn’t sure why the man seemed so careful or why he was walking so slowly, but thanks to the uplifting effect of the letter, Sunal’s smile felt a bit more genuine than usual.
“Hello.”
“Greet… ings,” the Dullahan responded hesitantly.
He glanced around again before carefully sitting down in the chair.
“What brings you here today?” Sunal asked.
The Dullahan placed his head on the desk.
It was always fascinating to see.
Sometimes Sunal found himself wondering what was inside the smoke rising from the Dullahan’s neck.
But he didn’t stare any longer—doing so would be disrespectful to the Dullahan race.
The head resting on the desk moved its chin slightly.
“Please… come closer.”
At the Dullahan’s request, Sunal leaned forward.
“What seems to be the problem?”
Up close, Sunal noticed the Dullahan’s eyes held a depth of experience.
“The thing is…”
“Yes?”
“I was passing by the hospital…”
At the mention of the hospital, Sunal paused, almost reaching for the guidebook on his desk.
“I see. You were near the hospital.”
“And there…”
The Dullahan’s eyes wavered.
“My chest…”
Sunal’s eyebrows rose.
Should he pick up the guidebook after all?
“My chest… started pounding.”
Sunal felt all the motivation that had filled him moments ago evaporate instantly at those words.