Episode 9
As soon as I came out of the storage room and turned the corner, I saw purple hair swaying.
Right after, a high-pitched voice rang through the hallway.
“Oh my! Carl Suilen?”
“Karen.”
When I responded, she let out a cheerful voice full of excitement.
“What’s going on? It’s morning! And that’s a magic tool in your hands? You’re not going to work at this hour… wait, are you stealing it?”
I sighed, already tired as if I were dealing with Jin again.
“Do you really think I would?”
“I’m kidding.”
Even after such a rude joke, Karen laughed brightly.
“But Suilen, isn’t it dangerous to carry a magic tool like that? What if you drop it—”
“Good thing I didn’t. Go on inside.”
I cut her off. Karen just laughed again and opened the door to the purification room.
As I followed inside, her clear voice rang out.
“I’m here!”
“Good morning, Karen.”
“Yes, Jin. The weather is nice, isn’t it?”
Karen exchanged greetings with the few people around and then walked straight to Hayden.
“Don’t you have a seat to go to?”
“That’s how you greet me? I woke up early just to see Sir Hayden.”
“You’ve seen me. Now go.”
Even though Hayden pushed her away with a blank face, Karen just giggled happily.
I went to my desk and started arranging the magic tool and purification instruments—
until I suddenly heard my name being mentioned from Hayden’s side.
“Sir Hayden, isn’t that the artifact Suilen just brought in for appraisal?”
I raised my eyebrows and looked toward Karen—
but the one my eyes met was Hayden instead.
“You brought it properly.”
“Really? I thought it wasn’t. She was swinging it around like a toy. Weren’t you, Suilen? How did you carry it here?”
I stared at Karen in disbelief. Was she crazy?
“Hmm. Not sure. Maybe I was juggling it?”
“Not juggling, but you were holding it with one hand and swinging it around like this—”
Karen swung her fist like a staff, exaggerating the motion.
Jin burst into laughter at her silly imitation.
I too chuckled and shook my head.
“Do I look like a toy to you, walking around like that?”
Right after I said that, I sharply opened the small box’s lid.
Pretending to adjust my glasses, I ignored her. Karen’s face fell, looking hurt.
Well, who told you to copy me so exactly?
On the way here I had practiced swinging my staff because I missed my chance to hit Blier with a spell.
Since I wasn’t reacting the way she wanted, Karen went back to cling to Hayden.
“Sir Hayden, what do you think of this coat? I bought it yesterday.”
“Looks hot.”
“Should I take it off, then?”
Hayden didn’t even reply.
Karen tossed the coat near Jin and swayed over to Hayden again. This time she was holding a paper that looked completely blank.
“Sir Hayden, I have a question!”
Hayden stayed silent.
Leaning back, I watched Karen’s busy movements. Her short purple hair swayed above her thin neck, just like her short skirt swayed above her knees.
Karen’s family used to be proper nobility, managing a viscount’s estate three generations ago. But after falling into ruin, they sold their lands and title to merchants. Now she herself was nearly sold off as the second wife of an old baron.
“Sir Hayden, what are you doing this evening?”
“Probably finishing the work that you and the others failed to do this morning.”
“Then if I finish my work quickly, we can spend the evening together, right?”
“Doesn’t seem possible.”
“No, no. If you help me, I can finish fast! I just don’t know how to do this part…”
Hayden glared at her in annoyance, but since she was technically working, he reluctantly held out his hand. Karen quickly gave him the paper.
But before she could even ask, Hayden threw it onto the desk with force.
“You’re asking me to teach you how to write a report?”
“No, I just don’t know some purification terms…”
“That’s the same thing—damn it.”
Hayden angrily slammed her papers back down.
I watched with a hum. So before Blier, there was Karen.
She was so far below Blier that I had completely forgotten she existed.
When exactly did that woman get kicked out of the Kyan Knight Order again?
Even while I frowned and picked up my pen, their bickering didn’t stop.
“There are too many types of purification tools to memorize!”
“I’ve already explained twice.”
“But I’ve only been here a week.”
“Everyone else memorizes them in a day. Just go and study.”
Am I supposed to see this circus every day now?
At that moment, Jin, who was watching from behind, let out a muffled laugh.
“Look at that, Suilen. Like a rat caught in a trap.”
“?”
I looked at Hayden, then back at Jin.
What? A commoner mocking a noble in front of me? Was everyone here insane?
This was something I must have experienced in the past, but right now, I couldn’t understand it at all.
“Karen. Final warning. Go back to your seat.”
“Just five more minutes! Sir Hayden, want some coffee?”
“No.”
“Oh no… that means when I sit down in five minutes, our break is over too. I wish I could stay stuck to you longer!”
“……”
On Hayden’s side, Karen was clinging relentlessly.
On my side, Jin wouldn’t stop talking.
I reluctantly answered him.
“Isn’t she just a nuisance?”
“Nuisance! That’s good. Then Hayden must be like a young prisoner caught by her.”
Jin snickered again.
My half-stiff expression turned completely cold.
“Hayden? Where did the honorifics go?”
How dare a commoner call a noble by name?
When I glared at him, Jin forced a crooked smile and turned to the person sitting beside me.
“Uh… Mei. Don’t you think it’s funny too?”
But Mei didn’t play along with his joke.
“Not really. To me, Sir Hayden just looks troubled…”
“That’s it, Mei! You’re new here, so you don’t get it yet. This is the funny part. We just laugh.”
“Hmm…”
Mei glanced at me awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.
Watching their faces, I suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Could it be… that I had been the one who encouraged this atmosphere before?
I didn’t even need to think hard. The memories came flooding in until my head hurt.
“Suilen? Are you sick?”
“No. Just… feels suffocating. Maybe guilt.”
I grabbed my head and lay back down. Mei rummaged through the drawers.
“You look pale. Wait, I’ll make you an ice pack.”
“That’s fine, but do you have earplugs instead?”
“I’m a water mage… you don’t mean ice earplugs, right?”
“Ugh.”
While Mei made a cold pad, Jin quietly held out a small pair of earplugs.
“Here, Suilen. I always wear these before submitting reports. Want some?”
“……”
“You probably don’t know since it’s your first morning here, but Karen won’t leave Hayden’s desk until ten o’clock.”
“Then give me.”
I took them from Jin. Mei leaned over nervously.
“Um… could I get some too? Listening to that woman for thirty minutes is… rough.”
“Of course. Here you go.”
Jin generously gave her another pair.
Just as Jin had said, Karen finally left Hayden’s desk after ten.
Apparently, it wasn’t her own rule but the limit Hayden had allowed.
“Everyone, gather around.”
Hayden, looking especially worn out, stood at the head of the table. Karen immediately rushed to his right side. Mei reluctantly stood to his left. That left Jin and me pushed down to the far end.
“Sir Hayden, aren’t you curious what I brought?”
“A music box.”
“Oh my, you remembered!”
“I’m not a chicken. How could I forget something I heard ten minutes ago? Now bring the materials. Unless you plan to create a music box out of thin air.”
Hayden shook her off with a tired face, and Karen skipped back to her seat.
I knew the Kyan Knights were relaxed, but this was beyond what I expected.
Karen’s flirting made Hayden shiver with annoyance, but he couldn’t tell her to leave or ask anyone else to switch seats.
The sight was almost amusing.
“This place is a mess.”
Where do I even begin fixing it?
Part of me thought of leaving it all alone… but every time Hayden got ignored, Jin smirked at me as if I were ignored too.
With a sigh, I moved toward the seat Karen had just left.
