Chapter 3. The Complete Jerk
“Burkin, are you really leaving?”
“Yes, it turns out I am.”
Burkin began packing the items she had used on her desk for years into a box. It had only been a week since her transfer notice was issued.
“Dang, I was finally going to get the chance to work with you. What a shame.”
I bet you’re heartbroken.
The one talking was Helene, who sat diagonally across from Burkin. Now officially Burkin’s superior, Helene kept peeking over at her desk as it was being cleared and kept spouting insincere words.
“But I hear Deepdale has great air! Your skin’s already great, but it’s probably going to get even better over there!”
At those words, Burkin’s hand froze mid-motion as she picked up a calendar.
Knowing Helene’s personality—who loved to boast—there was no way she meant that kindly. Burkin resumed packing, inwardly praising her own decision to transfer to the Deepdale branch.
At least I won’t have to see her face anymore.
If she had stayed and continued watching Helene as her boss, her already stressed stomach would’ve given out. Instead of replying, Burkin quickened her packing.
Realizing she was getting no reaction, Helene soon lost interest and returned to her seat. Around the time Burkin had nearly finished packing—
“Um… Vice Redfield?”
“Yes, Ailee?”
At the sound of someone calling her surname, Burkin glanced over. Ailee, a new hire, stood there with her head slightly bowed.
“Before you leave… could we talk?”
From the way Ailee glanced around nervously, it wasn’t something she wanted to say in front of everyone. Burkin nodded once and stepped outside the office first.
The Service Division Team 1 office was near the break room. Since it was still early morning, the place was relatively empty. As Burkin pulled out two paper cups, she asked:
“What’s on your mind?”
“Are you really leaving?”
“Yes, really.”
“You really are…”
She filled the cups with hot water and placed them on the shelf. A teaspoon floated into the air, scooping coffee powder into the cups and stirring them. It was a self-stirring magical coffee item sold by the tower.
Once the two cups of warm coffee were ready, Burkin handed one to Ailee, who accepted it with both hands and stood quietly.
Burkin was wondering if that was the end of the conversation, when—
“Vice Redfield, um… what kind of person is Chief Kendal?”
The moment she heard that name, Burkin understood exactly why Ailee had pulled her aside.
Kendal, the senior chief, had apparently crossed a line.
“Tell him no, clearly and firmly.”
“W-What?”
“That guy pretends to be normal to keep that position. If you say no without ambiguity, he won’t push it. But if you’re vague, he’ll just think you’re playing hard to get.”
Ailee’s eyes widened in shock, but Burkin wasn’t done. She held up a finger.
“Oh, and if you stop being his favorite, well, tough luck. You get it, right? Your work is—”
“—Your responsibility.”
“Exactly. You learned well under me.”
Honestly, Ailee wasn’t all that competent at her job. Both Burkin and Ailee herself knew it. She’d never needed to be, thanks to all the favoritism from Chief Kendal.
From here on, everything would depend on Ailee’s choices. Would she continue being petted and protected, or would she cut ties and grow?
After saying her piece, Burkin felt a little guilty. She knew better than anyone how hard it was for a new hire like Ailee.
“Burkin’s coffee is the best. Coffee just tastes better when a woman makes it.”
“Another client request for Burkin? Must be nice being pretty.”
Though she never became a mage or magi-tech engineer at the Magic Academy, she had been a top student. That’s how she’d even gotten into this highly selective magic tower.
Yet the way she’d been treated here? Just as a coffee girl.
She remembered crying in the bathroom for the first three months after joining. Between Kendal’s games, harassment from the then-vice, and Helene’s envy as a peer…
She’d endured it all and rose to become Vice. Staring quietly at Ailee’s face, Burkin was reminded of her younger self and gave a bitter smile.
“Ailee.”
“Yes?”
“There’s not a single trustworthy bastard in this tower. So remember what I said—handle your business yourself.”
Ailee nodded firmly. She looked like a timid rabbit, and Burkin wasn’t convinced, but she figured she’d done all she could.
“Hearing that Vice Redfield is leaving… sigh. Honestly, I still can’t believe it.”
“It’s not like anything will change just because I go.”
“It’s going to change a lot…”
Burkin smiled at the flattery. She knew Ailee just wanted to stay in her good graces, but still, it felt nice to hear someone would miss her.
“In the end, we’re all just cogs in a machine. Once a new gear fits in, no one will even remember me.”
“I kind of hope that’s not true…”
As the conversation wound down, Burkin stood first. She waved once at Ailee and left the break room.
Ailee, strangely forlorn, stayed in the break room a little longer even after Burkin left.
Soon, through the glass window, she saw Burkin carrying a large box and stepping into the magical transport lift. As her familiar figure—always in neat trousers—disappeared from view, Ailee let out a long sigh.
Time to get back.
She still had a backlog of client requests and reports to process. Honestly, only Burkin Redfield could manage the Service Division’s workload and handle designated client requests.
“Ugh, I really don’t want to work…”
Ailee muttered in the empty break room and stood up.
And then—
Through the glass, she saw a tall man entering Team 1’s office.
Could it be… a replacement already? Was someone new filling Vice Redfield’s position?
Ailee rushed to the office. When she saw the man’s face through the door, her jaw dropped.
What the hell… is he even real?
He was unbelievably handsome—like something divine. Was there ever a Vice that good-looking in the tower?
Almost entranced, she pushed the door open.
“…I told you, there’s no one like that!”
“There is.”
“Seriously, what—! That person doesn’t exist!”
It clearly wasn’t the new vice. Helene, usually all smiles in public, was now yelling with a twisted expression. Just as Ailee wondered if the man was a client—
“I said she exists.”
“――!”
The man looked lazily down at Helene, who, despite the arrogant gaze, couldn’t say a word.
A strange silence had fallen over the office.
It was a 4-circle spell—Silence.
Ailee tried to speak but could only make choking noises. Everyone else seemed the same.
Wait, to cast Silence over the whole office—was this even just a 4-circle spell?
In the dead silence, the man murmured with the same languid expression. With not even wind rustling, everyone could hear him clearly.
“Three weeks ago. The woman who recharged my mana.”
“……”
“Burkin Redfield. Where is she?”
Every tower employee probably had the same thought at that moment:
You need to lift the Silence spell before anyone can answer, you idiot!
Realizing this, the man gave a small smirk and snapped his fingers.
Ailee, staring blankly, thought:
He’s insane. Completely, beautifully insane.
The absurdly pretty man was, without a doubt, a total piece of work.
* * *
Swaaash—
Waves crashed against the shore as seagulls cried in the distance. Burkin set her bag down beside the waist-high fence and looked around.
The port city of Deepdale.
Though some called it a fishing village, it wasn’t that rural. After all, there was no way the magic tower would set up shop in some backwater. Deepdale was also a famous trading port.
“Seeing the ocean every morning isn’t bad.”
Though I’m sure I’ll get sick of it eventually.
Today was her first day reporting to the Deepdale branch. The notice had come five days ago, but the official start was today. Burkin had arrived in town just yesterday.
Feeling the sea breeze on her face, she made her way to the tower. With its mix of dark purple and black spires, the tall structure was unmistakably the magic tower.
“Hello.”
“You’re a new face.”
“Yes, I’ve been assigned to Deepdale starting today. Nice to meet you.”
The guards at the entrance—both middle-aged men—greeted her warmly. When she held her ID card to the door lock, it swung open.
From the outside, the tower looked narrow. But inside, it opened into a vast hall. She had entered through the staff-only entrance, far from the customer entryway.
She headed straight to the reception desk in one corner.
“Hello, I’m Burkin Redfield, newly assigned to Deepdale as of today.”
“Ah, yes. Just a moment, please.”
The tower employee hurriedly flipped through some floating parchments.
“Ah! Burkin Redfield! You’ll be going to the 8th floor.”
“The 8th floor?”
Usually, service departments were located on lower floors for easier client access. The 8th floor was unexpected. Curious, but not wanting to pry, she moved to the magical transport lift.
When she held her ID to the lift’s wall, her name, “Burkin Redfield,” appeared in midair. With a low hum, the lift began moving on its own.
Burkin mentally went over her to-do list.
First, greet the chief… Wait, what was the chief’s name again?
While she was trying to remember, the lift stopped.
She assumed the layout would be familiar—find the chief’s office at the far end.
But when the doors opened, she was met with something strange.
The 8th floor was one massive hall. No hallways.
There were tables, beds, and rows of glass cases. Papers and magical tools littered the desks as if someone had been mid-research.
Burkin was reminded of the magi-tech labs she’d visited during her academy years.
While she stood there dazed, someone approached.
“Hey, are you the new recruit from HQ?”
“Ah, yes! Nice to meet you, I’m Burkin Redfie—”
“Yeah, yeah. Come carry this. The Item Development Department is swamped.”
“…Excuse me? Item Development?”
A balding man waved her over irritably. As she followed, she asked again:
“Did you say… Item Development Department?”
“Of course! What, did you think this was the Research Division? Tch. We asked for a recruit with muscle. You’re so skinny, can you even carry anything?”
“But I’m supposed to be in the Service Division…!”
“Obviously, you were Deputy-level there. Spending three years here will be a great opportunity for you.”
A chill ran down her spine.
She suddenly remembered what Chief Kendal had said.
“Deputy level.”
Why hadn’t she realized how suspicious that sounded?
In the Item Development Department, even regular staff received deputy-level pay. It was made up of elite magi-tech engineers.
“Damn it, where’d Liam go after dumping all this work on us?”
“Aren’t we better off without him?”
“Fair enough.”
Pointless chatter followed—about rabid dogs, business trips to HQ, even someone who allegedly bit people.
But none of it registered in Burkin’s ears.
All she could think was: Item Development Department.
Then, one researcher glanced at her and said:
“Oh right, the one who got bitten this time was a woman.”
“What?”
“Yeah, someone from HQ, I think.”
From HQ?
Everyone slowly turned to look at her.
Startled by their sudden gazes, Burkin flinched.
And just then, from between her thick red hair—
—a strand of white hair poked out.
💬 Magic Tower Life Pro Tip!
Deepdale Tower has 10 floors. For reference, HQ is an 88-story building, and Burkin has only ever seen the first 10 of them.
