Chapter 7. Beware of Dogs
“Red… What? I’m sorry, but I don’t know anyone like that…”
Burkin was the first to be shocked by the realization that the man was the same “certified jerk” she knew.
Wait—he wasn’t a customer? But she was sure he had purchased something through HQ…
Could he be part of the Deepdale branch?
She unconsciously shook her head. Please, anything but that.
Burkin instinctively knew that nothing good would come from getting involved with that man.
And to think someone from the Tower had made such an outrageous, targeted inquiry?
She couldn’t even begin to imagine just how insane he might be.
Burkin quickly backed away from the scene and left.
“Um, c-can we go now…?”
Liam looked down at the group in front of him, expressionless.
They gasped lightly, glanced at him once, then quickly picked up their trays and scurried forward.
…No one?
Just as he was thinking that, Liam caught a familiar whiff of soap in the air and snapped his head up.
In the distance, he spotted someone.
A head of deep crimson hair was quickly exiting the cafeteria. Liam’s eyes narrowed.
Since everyone had to go through Liam’s inspection to get their lunch today, a male tower member standing by awkwardly called out to him.
“Uh… if you’re done, can we… go now…?”
“Go.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Liam tilted his neck to one side and rubbed the back of it with his opposite hand.
Before he realized it, a faint smile had formed on his lips.
* * *
“Vice! Did you enjoy your meal?”
“Wasn’t the troll blood juice amazing today? I wanted a second helping!”
Chirp chirp.
Burkin had to leave the famous Deepdale branch cafeteria without even getting a glance at it.
Having missed lunch, she’d grabbed a goblin sandwich from a shop near the Tower.
But if she told the chicks that, they’d only chirp louder. With just 10 minutes left in lunch, it was time to shut their beaks.
“…It was delicious. Not inferior to HQ at all.”
“HQ…! That sounds amazing! I want to be transferred there someday!”
“I think you could, Sophia. If you work hard starting now?”
“I want to go too!”
“Of course, Doxon, you too.”
Hehe…
Their minds were so transparent you could almost see the delusions they were having.
Burkin answered them absentmindedly while gathering the parchment she had written on today.
Then, suddenly, Chick No. 2, Doxon, snapped back to his senses and asked,
“But did you see him?”
“See who?”
“The guy who was checking every person in the lunch line today!”
Although Doxon had asked Burkin, Sophia was the one who answered.
“I know him! He’s super famous, from the Item Development Department…”
“The Mad Dog?”
“Yeah, the Mad Dog!”
Sophia and Doxon high-fived like they were perfectly in sync.
Burkin tilted her head as she watched them. Mad Dog? Not Certified Jerk?
“Mad… Dog?”
“Once he bites, he never lets go. Grrrr!”
“…What?”
Doxon added animal growls for flair, making Sophia burst into laughter.
She waved her hands as she laughed and elaborated.
“He’s the Mad Dog even the Chief of the Item Development Department gave up on. He’s famous. They say there’s a total psycho in the Tower.”
“A psycho… why?”
“But who was that Mad Dog looking for today? I heard he’s trying to find some woman who gave him mana and ran away…”
Gave him mana and ran away—a woman?
Burkin was about to ask more about it when a loud crash—KWAANG!—echoed nearby.
It didn’t come from Team 3’s office, but it was definitely close.
Even Herrion, who had been quietly working, lifted his head at the loud noise.
The two chicks looked at each other in alarm.
Doxon was the first to move. Unable to contain his curiosity, he peeked outside the 3rd team office.
Soon, he returned, pale.
“V-Vice… That Mad Dog is out there…”
“What?”
“H-he says he’s looking for someone! He said he smells soap or something… W-what if he’s looking for me?!”
Sophia calmly consoled the panicking Doxon.
“It’s okay. If you die here, the Tower gives a nice death benefit.”
“I don’t want to die!”
Even the chicks’ cute antics couldn’t make Burkin smile.
She was growing increasingly sure who the Mad Dog was looking for.
Hurriedly, she grabbed her outer coat and stood up.
“Where are you going, Vice?”
“Ah, I just remembered—I need to go see the Chief to get my watch. Could you all continue working until I return?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Having expertly soothed the flustered chicks, Burkin bolted from the office with her coat in hand.
She glanced briefly to the left—
KWOONG, THUD!
“I told you, where is she?”
“There’s no such person!”
“Oh yeah?”
…Weird noises kept coming from that direction.
Startled, Burkin sprinted in the opposite direction—toward Chief Ed’s office.
Knock knock.
Even in a panic, manners came first.
When Burkin knocked, a calm voice called from inside, “Come in.”
This was it. Burkin had found her refuge.
“Hello, Chief Ed. Sorry to drop in again so soon after this morning.”
“Ah, Vice Redfield. What brings you here?”
“You can call me Burkin. Please feel free to use my first name.”
“Alright then, Miss Burkin.”
Despite the sudden visit, Ed didn’t look the least bit surprised. She gently set down the parchment she was holding.
Even that graceful gesture almost made Burkin forget herself and blurt out her admiration.
But she quickly pulled herself together and got to the point.
“I’m still adjusting to the work, but it’s hard to manage information without a watch.
Would it be alright if I asked when I might receive one?”
“Haha, Burkin, you haven’t even been in Deepdale that long and you’re already asking for a watch?
I’m grateful that you’re so diligent, but no need to overdo it.”
Just then, a loud thud came from behind Burkin—the door to Ed’s office.
Ed tilted her head, having heard it too.
Burkin, now desperate, spoke quickly.
“Outside, is something… I mean, without a watch, it’s hard to stay in contact with my team.
If you have any spare temporary watches, may I borrow one?”
“Hmm… I don’t have a spare, but oh—right. Do you still have the watch from HQ?”
Burkin quickly nodded.
Chief Ed smiled warmly and beckoned her closer.
As Burkin hesitated and approached, Ed gently took her wrist.
Then she placed her palm over Burkin’s watch.
Green light radiated from under her hand.
“There, that should do it.”
As the light faded, Burkin checked the watch.
It had finally started ticking again—it had been frozen all morning.
Even the department and team indicators had changed to match the Deepdale branch.
All of it was done through Ed’s magic.
“Um… Chief Ed, may I ask—how many Circles are you?”
“Me? Haha, it’s a little embarrassing… I’m Fifth Circle.”
That kind of talent—in the Service Department?!
Burkin couldn’t understand it.
Joining the elite Magic Research Division required a minimum of Fourth Circle.
If she had reached Fourth Circle, she’d have transferred there immediately.
No matter how brilliant she was here, she’d never rise above “Chief” in the Service Department, whereas there was no such cap in the Research Division.
Not to mention—it was directly tied to Burkin’s lifelong dream: a raise.
“…That’s amazing.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. In the Item Development Department, there’s even a Nine-Circle mo— I mean, genius.”
Did she just almost say “monster”…?
Burkin, sharp as ever, caught it—but pretended not to hear.
Still… Nine Circle?
That was a legendary Archmage, like a unicorn in imperial history.
She vaguely recalled hearing a rumor when she first joined the Tower:
Some child prodigy had reached the Ninth Circle at a very young age. The name was… Ri…?
Ri…?
She hadn’t cared enough to remember. Someone unrelated to her world.
Unable to recall the name, Burkin gave up and asked something else.
“That kind of genius… why are they in Deepdale?
Oh, I don’t mean to insult Deepdale! Just that…”
“Haha, I get what you mean. Deepdale is a great city, but compared to the capital, Turfmoor, it’s a bit smaller.
And the main HQ always offers the best perks for R&D staff.”
Burkin nodded in agreement.
Though each branch had its own departments, everyone fought tooth and nail to get to HQ.
At HQ, the Magic Research and Item Development Departments gave private rooms and full research grants to every mage and magitech engineer.
Being able to freely pursue your own research—that was everything.
“But Burkin, did you know when the port city Deepdale became a trade hub?”
“To my limited knowledge, less than ten years ago…?”
“Exactly. Originally a large city, it’s grown even more since becoming a trade port.
The reason it couldn’t become one earlier? One reason: monsters.”
“Excuse me?”
Monsters.
Burkin, born and raised in the capital, Turfmoor, couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard that word.
In the capital, monsters were rarer than stars. She had almost forgotten they existed.
“There are more terrifying things in the sea than we imagine. That’s why Deepdale branch is so famous—
They’ve developed countless high-level anti-monster items and spells.”
“I see…”
“And that Nine-Circle mo—genius? The empire tasked them with cleaning out the ocean monsters.”
Hearing that, Burkin accidentally spoke her mind.
“…That’s basically a demotion, isn’t it?”
“Haha! You’re so honest, Burkin. Yes, a demotion. There were… circumstances.”
THUD!
Another loud crash came from outside.
Chief Ed, moving swiftly, headed toward her door.
Burkin assumed she was going out and didn’t dare stop her—she simply watched.
But instead of opening it, Ed peeked through the gap… then gently, click, locked it.
“…Chief?”
“Burkin, how about we have a little more tea and chat?
Sounds like a mangy mutt’s prowling the halls.
Beware of dogs—that’s our branch’s unspoken motto.
What kind of tea do you like?”
A-anything is fine…
Still stunned, Burkin took the offered teacup and moved to the sofa.
💬 Wise Tower Life TIP!
Burkin actually prefers coffee over tea.
