"Interrogation happens to criminals, and we are not criminals."
"Yes you are," Stan snapped with sarcasm . "In just two days—or should I say one day in normal-people time—you two robbed me of my whole, peaceful, I-might-finally-get-a-promotion kind of life!"
"Ohhh, is this about your promotion?" Sunfield leaned back. "Honey, let me break it down for you—your age? It collides with the heirs of rich, powerful, old-money dudes. They want their precious baby in that position. Translation? No slot for you. Not now. Not for four years. Enjoy the wait!"
"A person who tries never loses!" Stan shot back with the determination of a man quoting motivational posters.
"Sure. Give yourself all the sympathy you can. Collect it. Save it in a jar. You'll need it when reality hits harder than rent day." Sunfield tossed in, smugly.
Meanwhile, Nito sat there like a confused NPC who skipped the tutorial. Silent. Invisible. Very much regretting showing up for this boss battle.
"You'll see! I will get that promotion!" Stan said, mostly to himself, with the conviction of belive.
"Who said you won't?" Sunfield said innocently. "Just... in four years. Oops! Did I say the quiet part out loud?"
Stan blinked rapidly, trying to stop the emotional dam from bursting.
Nito, summoning every shred of courage .finally spoke up: "Uh... I was just gonna say—"
"Did you say something?" Sunfield whipped her head around with the speed of a mom warning his son.
---
"Wait—our topic was the weird chaos in my life, and now we're stuck talking about my doomed promotion!" Stan interrupted, trying to steer the trainwreck back onto the rails.
"You brought up the promotion!" Sunfield instantly deflected.
Stan exhaled deeply, the weight of the nonsense finally settling.
"Okay. The gigongomos and the demon—did they come for you two, or are they just crashing this town for kicks?" he asked, voice low now, more serious.
Sunfield took a moment. Then slowly nodded.
"For us."
"For us," Nito echoed, a bit more grimly.
"So when are you two leaving this town?" Stan asked, already anticipating another sarcastic answer.
"Soon. Possibly tomorrow. But first... I've got something to finish here," Sunfield replied, voice clear and composed now.
"You asked me something... yesterday morning? Or—wait. This morning? Ugh. This time-reversal thing is seriously messing with my head," Stan muttered.
Sunfield's tone shifted, more resolute now. "As you've seen, demons have started attacking. And it won't be long before a full-scale war erupts. That's why I'm putting together a team. Not just any team—but people with rare power, unique abilities. People who can fight for humanity and change the course of this war."
She paused. Then added:
"And I'm looking for someone. Someone no one knows. Someone who, 11 years ago... annihilated an entire town."
"Or slaughtered," Nito added, grimly.
---
"In the past, during the Unholy Civil War, there were many towns that were annihilated… or…"
Stan paused, looking for a less gruesome word.
"…slaughtered. Any reason to think this might be the work of some unknown powerful person… not the Unholy?"
His voice carried doubt and sarcasm.
Sunfield and Nito went silent.
A heavy stillness fell between them. Nito shifted awkwardly like someone who suddenly realized they were part of a very serious moment they didn't sign up for.
Finally, Sunfield broke the silence.
"The Kingdom Library has records of every… purification done during that war."
Her voice was low, firm.
"That town isn't there. It doesn't exist in the archives."
Stan squinted.
"I don't know anything about this town. Never heard of it."
Then his tone sharpened.
"But can I ask—why is a Holy Maiden—an elf—traveling with an Unholy?"
He didn't disguise the venom in his words. And frankly, he wasn't trying to. His glare carried years of bitterness. Rage and scars.
Sunfield opened her mouth, then hesitated.
"Your town also…"
Nito suddenly stepped forward.
"Miss Sunfield is not like the others!! She didn't—she doesn't differentiate!"
Stan didn't shout. But his words struck like thrown knives.
"I'm not putting blame. I know there are good people out there… like the Red Maiden, AURELIA."
He turned away, voice tight with memory.
"Thanks to her, that meaningless civil war ended. But beware—"
He looked back at Nito.
"Not everyone is like her… or HER."
He picked up his coat, stood, and turned toward the door.
"Good luck with your investigation… folks."
The word 'folks' was dipped in dry sarcasm as he took a step.
"Stop!" Sunfield's voice cracked through the room.
Stan paused, hand on the doorknob.
"You have unique powers, too," she said softly but firmly. "Will you join my team? If you're with us… you won't have to hide anymore. You'll be free."
Stan stood frozen.
He didn't reply. But his thoughts were loud enough to narrate their own story.
> Being in a team with a Holy Maiden... I won't have to hide anymore?
It's like a direct double... no—
TRIPLE promotion.
---
In a small town… inside a small house…
"Mom…" a young voice spoke.
"Speak, Stan."
His mother gave him permission while sitting at a small round table, folding clothes and scribbling on a notepad, multitasking like only a mother could.
Little Stan, barely taller than the table itself, stood on his toes to peek at what she was doing.
"What are you writing, Mom?"
His voice was light, curious, and innocent.
His mother chuckled, warm like morning sunlight.
"Your father got a promotion. So I'm managing our purchases and savings—seeing what good-good things we can buy for you to eat."
Little Stan's eyes sparkled. But his brows furrowed with a sudden flash of thought.
"I heard Papa saying he could earn more with another job. Why doesn't he take that job? Then you can bring me even more delicious things to eat!"
His mom stopped folding. She placed a hand gently on his head.
"Little Stan… your papa worked so hard to get where he is. He put everything into getting that promotion."
Her eyes softened.
"A lot of people rely on your papa. He can't just leave them. And besides…"
She smiled.
"We must not be greedy."
---
Back to the Present.
Stan stood in front of Sunfield and Nito like a soldier rejecting destiny.
He took a deep breath and declared with over-the-top drama:
"Sorry, Miss Sunfield… but so many people rely on me here. I can't leave them."
He turned toward the door.
"Yeah… if this job wasn't here, then maybe… maybe the scene would've been different."
The door creaked behind him as he made his exit.
---
Next Day.
Stan strutted into the office like a man on a mission. Coffee in hand. He looked confident. Bold. Dangerous.
His inner monologue?
> I turned down destiny for duty. I'm a man of honor. Responsibility. No regrets.
That was right before he heard—
"Stan, you're fired."
"WHAT THE F—"
---
Twenty Minutes Later.
Stan stood outside the office building, holding a cardboard box.
Inside it?
One dusty cactus
Three cup noodles
His holy stapler
Three photo of him giving the copier a thumbs-up (which he got from being the best employee of the year)
He looked at the sky like a man at the end of an epic anime episode.
"Guess I'm… spiritually unemployed now."
---
Evening — Sunfield's Inn.
Stan stood at the doorway, same box, same face, but with 70% more humility and 30% more desperation.
"Soooo… about that offer…"
He cleared his throat.
"…still open?"
Sunfield raised a brow. " Yeah"
---
And just like that…
A man who turned down destiny…
Got fired by reality…
And was now ready to answer the call.
*Stan the Unemployed Hero was born.*
---