11. Don’t Contact Me After Work
Tick number 6:06:06.
Burkin frowned when she saw it. Her own tick number was unusual too, but 6:06:06 was downright bizarre.
Who would deliberately choose the devil’s number as their tick number?
All members of the Magic Tower had to register a tick number, and the Tower ensured that no two were the same, so the person must’ve picked that number intentionally.
She suddenly recalled the day she first joined the Magic Tower and chose her own tick number.
She’d been delighted that her favorite number was still available—but the happiness didn’t last.
As a newcomer with no connections, she hadn’t known that having an easily reachable number only meant being assigned unnecessary tasks.
That’s why no one used numbers like 7:07:07 or 6:06:06. Many people chose such flashy numbers at first, then later changed them once they realized the downside.
Burkin had also wanted to change hers, but by the time she’d realized it, she was already receiving a steady stream of designated inquiries.
Unless someone was in a special position like her, there was no reason to keep such a number.
Burkin tapped the watch face twice and brought her wrist to her lips.
“…This is Vice Burkin Redfield, Team 3, Service Division, Deepdale Branch of the Magic Tower. Who’s this?”
Burkin cautiously introduced herself, suspecting the caller was from the Magic Tower. It didn’t hurt to be careful.
But there was no reply. She glanced at her watch again.
“Who is this?”
Definitely strange. It was around the end of work hours, so any calls at this time should be urgent and to the point.
But this caller seemed in no rush.
Maybe this was one of those weird pranks trending in the Tower again?
“If you have no business, I’m hanging up.”
—“…Hungry.”
What?
The reply came so fast and unexpectedly that Burkin missed the voice completely. She frowned and asked again.
“Who did you say you were?”
—“It’s Liam.”
“Liam? Who… oh, that jerk—”
Boss?
She nearly said “boss” out of habit but stopped herself.
Liam… That was the name of the man who asked her for mana in the break room earlier today.
She’d forgotten because so much had happened since. She’d been busy helping a rookie sibling team handle general inquiries alone for the first time.
She tried to hide her recognition and responded calmly.
“Ah, Mr. Liam Moore. What’s the matter?”
—“I’m hungry.”
“Well, the Magic Tower doesn’t provide dinner. I recommend heading home and eating soon.”
As she hurried back to the office—because she really didn’t want to work late on her first day—Burkin thought she was getting used to this man’s bizarre tone.
While gathering her things with one hand, still holding the watch near her lips, the man’s low voice came again.
—“Let’s eat together.”
“…Excuse me? What did you say?”
—“Dinner.”
Did he just ask her to meet up after work with a Magic Tower colleague?
Burkin hesitated. Should she pretend the voice wasn’t coming through clearly, or say she’d already gone home?
She went with the second option.
“Sorry, but I’ve already left the Tower. I’m almost home…”
—“You live at the Tower?”
“What?”
Alone in the office, Burkin suddenly got goosebumps.
His voice had dropped to an unsettling tone.
The sunset that had once faintly shone through the window now stained the entire office in deep orange. She looked out toward the sea in the distance.
“…No, I don’t live at the Tower.”
—“I’m at the Tower.”
“I’m at the Tower.”
It sounded just like earlier that afternoon, when she’d received Herion’s tick number. That time, Herion had been right beside her, speaking directly into his watch, which made the voice echo.
But this guy wasn’t standing next to her… so why did she hear it twice?
Trying to calm her racing heart, she looked away from the window.
Just then, the sun disappeared behind the clouds, and the room was instantly darkened.
“You said you didn’t live at the Tower, Burkin.”
The man was standing beside the door, staring at her with that same blank expression.
Burkin instinctively clutched her stomach.
A familiar pain returned.
Gastritis from stress.
Liam stepped into the office.
Burkin swallowed and spoke.
“What… brings you here?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Oh, right. But, um, I already ate.”
Surely he didn’t know whether she’d had dinner or not.
Burkin, who didn’t want to get involved with coworkers after hours, tried to get out of the situation.
She had to get off work. That was the only answer.
“I don’t really want to eat anymore.”
“…What? Didn’t you say you were hungry?”
“Come on. I’ll walk you home.”
Liam’s words, spoken with eerie calm, were strange.
First, he calls her out of nowhere, says he’s hungry, asks her to eat with him—and now says he’s not hungry?
Burkin wanted to say something more, but he had already turned and left the office.
When she didn’t follow, he paused and glanced back.
Unable to find a way to refuse, she grabbed her bag and followed.
Liam subtly slowed his pace to match hers.
His striking looks, golden eyes, and long lashes made him hard to even glance at.
Trying to keep her eyes forward, she said:
“You want me to move to the Item Development Division?”
“What would I even do there? I don’t know magic engineering.”
Magic engineering was one of Burkin’s most painful memories.
She’d grown up in a small town, praised as a genius.
But at the magic academy, all the truly gifted kids from across the country were there.
After the first day of learning magic engineering basics, she returned to the dorm and vomited.
The advanced students and indifferent teachers didn’t help.
She’d never felt scared to learn before, but that fear grew until it made her physically ill.
…Lost in thought, she shook her head.
Even if she went back, she still wouldn’t be able to face magic engineering.
“Still, we could work together.”
“…And I do nothing?”
“I’ll teach you.”
He sounded serious.
If they worked together, he’d naturally get more chances to receive her mana.
But Burkin didn’t even consider it.
“I like the Service Division. There’s a lot I can do there.”
“…That’s a shame.”
“Still, I appreciate the offer…”
“I could’ve received your mana freely.”
His voice was oddly bitter, and she sensed he was genuinely disappointed.
She had assumed his interest was out of personal affection. She froze in place.
“Mana, you say.”
“Yeah. If I could receive your mana, I could teach you all the magic engineering you want.”
“…Right, I did mention I couldn’t give you mana because of my department.”
“I belong to the Service Division and handle item repairs, so I can’t give out mana recklessly.”
“My mana exists to recharge items.”
Remembering her own words, Burkin sighed quietly.
She felt foolish for having pitied Liam, thinking he was like her.
He only wanted her mana.
That was all.
Burkin realized it clearly.
She decided she would no longer be swayed by Liam Moore.
He was someone in a completely different position, and there was no reason for her to sympathize with him.
Since she lived not far from the Magic Tower, it didn’t take long to arrive.
As soon as they stepped out the main gate, Burkin stopped walking.
Liam looked at her, confused.
“Mr. Liam Moore.”
“Yeah?”
“Hand.”
Burkin reached out her hand. Her quiet voice held a hint of anger—only Liam didn’t realize it.
No more words passed between them.
Burkin stood like that for about 10 minutes.
“Think that’ll last a month?”
“…A month?”
“Or maybe a week?”
She pulled her hand back and flexed her fingers.
Even though it had only been ten minutes, the amount of mana transferred left her hand sore.
“It should last at least a week. You were probably running on even less before.”
“Burkin, what do you mean?”
“Let’s meet again in a week. Or maybe a month, if I’m busy.”
Before Liam could say anything, she added:
“So let’s not contact each other personally.
We met for work, didn’t we?”
It might’ve sounded harsh for coworkers, but she didn’t care. She was off the clock.
And once work ends, the best thing is no contact with colleagues.
