LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 20 - Help Me Find My House! (2)
Chapter 20 – Help Me Find My House! (2)
“Do you remember? Did Tutoon really exist?”
When Sunal asked, Edina tried to brush her hair back but ended up twisting it nervously.
“I’m not sure about that, but I definitely heard that a slime lives there. And… who was it again? I heard someone drove it out….”
Edina, trying to recall, stood up from her seat.
“I’ll look into this. Sunal, you just chat or do whatever you can to buy time with the client. Terisha and Lee Rang, let’s keep working.”
“I’m great at chatting.”
When Sunal welcomed the suggestion, Edina rolled her eyes for a brief moment.
“No, Sunal.”
“What do you mean, no? I’m serious. I’m good at chatting.”
“Tutoon probably needs a house, but the kind of house we know isn’t what he needs, right?”
Edina’s eyes were unusually bright.
“That’s right. If it’s a slime, they would claim that any place they rest—be it a building wall, a tree, or even on top of a statue—is their home. Of course, while they’re in their amorphous state.”
Lee Rang scratched the mask he wore slanted across his head.
He seemed to have experienced this before, as his once-bright smile dimmed a little while talking.
“Sunal, most of the time the police handle enforcement, but if you’re going to find a home for a slime, you’ll likely encounter slimes dangling everywhere. And you can’t just leave them hanging there, so you might have a tough time.”
“I already get that. The first and only time I dealt with an enforcement case resulted in this.”
Sunal tapped the table with his finger.
Tap.
The slime that had been apprehended attached itself to him since the morning.
“Of course, I don’t mean the slime is trying to harm us. They’re just a little clingy, which can be a bit… overwhelming.”
Noticing the slightly cold look in Sunal’s eyes, Lee Rang quickly clarified, worried about being misunderstood.
“I know. But the slime I’m in charge of went beyond being clingy and even drank my coffee.”
Sunal’s tone was serious enough that Edina reached for her phone.
If someone drank Sunal’s coffee and he was upset, she should buy him some coffee.
Yes.
“Oh, that happened to me too….”
“And then, it sat in the mug, drinking the coffee while waiting for me.”
Sunal cut off Lee Rang’s words, and Lee Rang shut his mouth. Edina quietly put her phone down.
“Do other slimes usually act like this?”
At Sunal’s calm question, Lee Rang, Terisha, and Edina answered in succession.
“No.”
“Nope.”
“No way.”
“Oh. So that’s not normal. You don’t expect me to go somewhere with that thing, do you?”
Sunal’s eyes narrowed. His naturally cold expression made him look even more intimidating.
“That’s right, Sunal.”
Edina smiled nonchalantly, and Sunal was left speechless.
“…Are you serious?”
“There’s something we need to take care of outside anyway. It’s all light stuff, so you can think of it as a change of pace. Besides, even if you stay here handling complaints, you’ll keep thinking about Tutoon.”
“I suppose I would.”
Suspicion lingered in Sunal’s narrowed eyes as he looked at Edina.
Tutoon certainly was someone who could stay on his mind.
He was already anxious about losing his coffee again.
“But is it just me, or does this feel like you’re slyly dumping work on me, Team Leader?”
“That’s all in your head.”
Edina laughed. How could she keep her expression so unchanged?
Sunal stared at Edina, expressionless, while she spoke casually.
“I’m not that harsh. You know that, right, Sunal?”
“Does everyone else know that?”
Sunal tossed her comment to Terisha and Lee Rang.
“Hmm….”
Terisha hesitated for a moment, and Lee Rang, after glancing at both Edina and Sunal, spoke up.
“I’ve known for a while. I know how much the team leader goes through for us. Compared to other complaint departments, this place is heaven.”
‘Is he serious…?’
Sunal was momentarily confused, wondering if Lee Rang’s words were flattery or genuine.
“Oh, that’s true.”
Even Terisha, who had been deep in thought, spoke up.
The look in her eyes as she gazed at Edina was filled with respect.
“The team leader really handles a lot for us.”
“See, Sunal?”
Edina waved her phone, backing up her words with support from the others.
Bzzzz.
[Team Leader: A precious gift from your Team Leader has arrived.]
“And you can enjoy something delicious from the café.”
Edina’s smile grew wider.
“Shall we head out, Sunal?”
“Are you serious?”
Sunal frowned. He wasn’t a child who could be swayed by a snack, and he wasn’t about to fall for Edina’s bait without even knowing what the job was.
“Oh, come on. It’s really nothing, Sunal.”
Edina tried to reassure him.
This time, she meant it. No matter how it had been interpreted earlier, Sunal’s earlier mention of a ‘crisis’ had startled her.
She often said there were no newcomers, but the truth was, before Sunal arrived, there had been rookies.
But none of them made it past the real work that began after the so-called ‘hellish four weeks’ of the adaptation period.
She called it ‘hell’s four weeks’ for a reason. Every one of them had quit before the period ended, so the name seemed fitting.
Sunal had just survived the first week of that hell.
“Why do we have to go? Tell me the reason first.”
When Sunal asked, Edina readily opened her mouth.
“Well, first of all, it might be better for Tutoon since it’s going to get noisy inside. Also, we need to catch up on some work.”
“Hmm. I’ll listen to the rest and decide if it’s really nothing.”
“That’s a great idea, Sunal. First, issue a warning to the slime blocking the passage, make sure it clears the way, and then take a verification photo.”
Since Sunal had read about that complaint in a report, he waited for a moment.
It was a complaint about slimes blocking the road, and if people tried to pass through, the slimes would accuse them of discrimination, using their vulnerable status as a defense.
“Is that all?”
Sunal turned his head and asked when Edina didn’t elaborate further, showing doubt.
The complaint Edina just mentioned seemed far too easy compared to the tasks they’d been dealing with throughout the week.
“No.”
‘Of course, it’s not.’
Sunal snorted and crossed his arms. The coffee in the paper cup he was holding shook lightly.
“You also need to help the skeleton who lost a shinbone after bumping into a centaur.”
Sunal had read about this complaint as well.
The Skeleton species, due to their nature, are entirely made of bones. Although most bones are strong, some individuals tend to lose bones more easily.
This particular complaint involved a skeleton losing a bone after bumping into a centaur. When they tried to resolve it through dialogue, the centaur made some discriminatory remarks, escalating the situation into a fight.
The centaur’s discriminatory remarks and actions were captured on nearby CCTV footage, and there were even witnesses, so the case was currently under police investigation. However, they hadn’t yet found the missing bone.
“And finally, while I track down the one who kicked Tutoon out, you’ll need to humor him and keep him engaged. How about that? Simple enough, right?”
“…Is that really all?”
Sunal’s eyes narrowed.
“Of course. Whether it’s finding things or people, you’re the best at it, Sunal. Once I figure out the root of the Tutoon problem, I’ll handle it.”
Even though Edina nodded and smiled brightly, Sunal remained suspicious, but he stood up nonetheless.
He was somewhat satisfied, given that Edina would handle the most challenging issue—Tutoon. He also trusted her abilities in gathering information.
‘Could it be… I’ll actually get off work on time?’
It felt as though the nagging pain that had been poking at him with hope finally subsided.
“…I won’t interfere!”
Tutoon grinned widely.
^ㅇ^.
Seeing him so happy, Sunal regretted his decision for a brief moment.
“And you can’t get involved by force in whatever I do.”
“Got it! I like peace. I’m good at watching. I’ll just watch.”
“And don’t dissolve into your formless state.”
At Sunal’s particularly firm words, Tutoon paused as if to respond but instead stared at himself.
“Will I get scolded?”
“Getting scolded isn’t the main issue. If you go too far, you might end up in jail.”
“I don’t want to live in a jailhouse. Got it! I won’t dissolve.”
Tutoon smiled again.
His previously excited expression now showed a hint of curiosity.
“But, Sunal?”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to find me a home?”
“We’re going to look around and try to find a realistic solution. Of course, we might not be able to find a home.”
“That’s fine! I’m just really happy. If I knew this, I would have come here a long time ago.”
“Why didn’t you come?”
“…I was scared.”
Tutoon wiggled his fingers.
His form slightly melted, as if he was hesitant to say more.
“People always… ignore us slimes.”
“I’ve never done that. All I think about is how I want to leave work.”
Sunal adjusted his glasses, which had slipped down, and looked at Tutoon with a lethargic expression.
He knew.
There was a subtle hierarchy among the different species.
Of course, it wasn’t something the government officially acknowledged or turned a blind eye to.
If they had, the Interethnic Grievance Resolution Special Unit wouldn’t have been established in the first place.
“That’s why it surprised me when you looked straight at me, Sunal!”
Tutoon’s voice was filled with joy, despite its lazy tone.
“You looked right at me! And later, you let me down, right?”
“That’s because you were stuck to a wall, and it was dangerous.”
“Did someone say I was dirty?”
“Who said that nonsense?”
“There were too many, I don’t remember.”
Sunal, still watching Tutoon’s beaming face, rummaged through his bag.
“Hold out your hand.”
“Why?”
Tutoon blinked his eyes but extended his hand nonetheless.
Several candies tumbled into Tutoon’s palm.
“Candy!”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it!”
“If you behave and follow me quietly, I’ll give you more.”
After making sure he had his medicine, Sunal checked his phone and started moving toward the closest location where he could resolve the complaint.
‘…I feel like I’ve been tricked somehow.’
However, for the first time, he had a chance to aim for it.
Getting off work on time.
Just the thought of it was utterly beautiful.
After Sunal left, a little while later, the door to the Interethnic Grievance Resolution Special Unit opened.
A pair of fraternal twins, both strikingly beautiful, entered while holding hands.
They had school backpacks on their backs.
“…Sis, Sunal isn’t here.”
Loren looked at Sunal’s empty seat with disappointment, then turned to Keron.
“Wait here. I’ll ask.”
Keron didn’t get discouraged and walked calmly.
To her left was a fairy, and to her right, a goblin, each standing before someone. She approached the side where the person in front left faster.
Keron reached Lee Rang before the number on the panel lit up.
“…I haven’t pressed the button yet,” Lee Rang said, pointing at the number panel with his finger as Keron briskly approached.
“I have a question.”
“Ask away.”
Lee Rang smiled brightly.
“Where has Sunal gone?”
“Oh, are you looking for Sunal?”
Lee Rang’s smile was sharp, causing Keron to frown slightly.
“That’s right.”
At Keron’s response, Lee Rang finally realized that this child was one of the twin vampires Sunal was in charge of.
“What should I do? Sunal has gone out to the field right now.”
“When will he return? I have plenty of time.”
“Me too, me too.”
Loren ran over, pressing herself against the table, looking up earnestly.
“Loren, this is a public place. I’ve told you not to run in public places, haven’t I?”
“…Oh, I’m sorry. I did wrong.”
Loren quickly covered her mouth and bowed her head to Lee Rang.
“Please tell us when Sunal will be back.”
Keron stroked Loren’s head and asked Lee Rang again.
“Hmm… That, I’m not sure. When he’s out in the field, it really depends on the situation, so I can’t give you an exact time.”
After he finished speaking, Lee Rang fiddled with his mask, thinking he might have said something too complicated.
But the twin’s gazes were too earnest.
Looking around for something, Lee Rang spotted two lollipops on Sunal’s desk.
They were clearly left out intentionally for someone.
‘Should I give them or not?’
Lee Rang hesitated for a moment. Maybe it was overstepping his boundaries. But the two lollipops sitting on the neatly organized desk looked suspicious.
“Oh, Sunal left these here, asking me to give them to you if you came by.”
Lee Rang stood up and handed the two lollipops to them from Sunal’s desk.
Loren and Keron’s faces brightened instantly.
Seeing their innocent smiles, Lee Rang couldn’t help but smile as well.
“Then, when Sunal returns, please let him know we were here,” Keron requested with a bright face.
“I will.”
“Thank you.”
Keron nodded and turned around, while Loren waved her hand.
“Goodbye! Goodbye!”
‘Are they really that happy?’
Lee Rang waved back but slowly let his smile fade as he watched Loren follow Keron.
It was just a small interaction between a public servant and the clients.
‘I shouldn’t consider this special.’
That was for Sunal to handle.
Lee Rang gathered his documents.
Tap tap.
“…The wind is so beautiful, the sunlight is beautiful, and the building is so beautiful.”
Tutoon’s mouth watered slightly as he gazed at the building.
Just imagining how happy he would be if he could sleep in that building filled him with joy.
The moon and stars would sparkle, the sun would shine bright, and if it rained, the sound of the raindrops would be so soothing.
“That’s not allowed. Let’s resolve one complaint first, and then we’ll ask the building owner or shopkeeper about it.”
When Sunal cut in sharply while checking his phone, Tutoon immediately pouted.
“Sunal is so strict.”
“Well then, you’re free to wait at the community center.”
Tutoon quickly covered his mouth with his hand and shook his head.
‘If I turn right here.’
Sunal checked his phone screen again.
Thanks to the navigation, they were only three minutes away from the destination.