Risk Level <4>: Girl
Rather, I was grateful that the Field Team Leader had risen from her seat first. If she hadn’t, I might have been facing three opponents instead of two right now.
“Experience plays a significant role in shaping the self. This containment subject still retains memories of those who were captivated by her and collapsed, dying one after another.”
“That may be true, but if there are no accompanying emotions with those experiences—”
“That is also true. However, if she still feels nothing when recalling those experiences even now, that would be abnormal. I’m not asking for guilt, but this containment subject’s current state is far too stable. What will you do if everything up until now has been an act to escape from this place?”
“…I don’t believe that’s possible.”
Even I was losing confidence under the Team Leader’s words, so perhaps I really had been dealing with three people all along.
“If this containment subject suddenly turns violent after being released to the surface, it would be nothing short of a disaster. It wouldn’t end with simply writing a single report admitting a misjudgment.”
“…”
The Team Leader’s mask twitched more irritably than ever as she listed every reason for her opposition. Yerin hadn’t even started speaking yet, and if I stayed silent like this…
A gentle squeeze from Rav’s hand wrapped around mine, as if trying to ease my tension. When I interlaced our fingers in response to her slender ones fidgeting, she happily tightened her grip even more. That warmth steadied me and gave me conviction.
“But…”
“Hmm?”
“But that would make Rav feel wronged.”
“And what exactly would she feel wronged about?”
The Team Leader crossed her legs with interest, leaning back against the chair as if inviting me to speak.
“…Even I would feel the same. Let’s suppose you, Team Leader, were actually a serial killer who lost her memories after an accident. You return to what you’re told is your home, only to find a diary filled with detailed accounts of every person you’ve killed written in your own handwriting.”
“So?”
“Would you feel guilt first? Toward victims whose faces you can’t even remember right now?”
The Team Leader tilted her head out of habit at my question, then stopped abruptly and switched the leg she had crossed. I understood that my example was heavily biased and lacked any respect for the victims, but…
“An interesting example. In that situation, one might indeed feel bewilderment, anxiety, and a sense of injustice before guilt.”
“Rav is the same. She’s only just beginning to understand herself. Forcing her to dwell on past incidents at such a crucial moment would clearly be an unnecessary burden.”
“Is that your professional opinion as a counselor?”
“…Yes, it is.”
I was here because I was Rav’s assigned counselor. I had to think and act from the perspective of the containment subjects I counseled. Rav had already given me that certainty.
“Rather than debating right and wrong or assigning responsibility for an irreversible past, I believe we should prioritize counseling with her, as she can still change for the better.”
“…Huhu.”
Clap. Clap. Clap.
“…?”
The Team Leader, who had seemed to be pondering my words, uncrossed her legs, straightened her posture, and lightly applauded with a soft laugh.
“Hahaha… You spoke quite well, Woong-ssi.”
“Umm…”
“As you said, it seems I’ve placed an inappropriate burden on this containment subject. There’s little merit in bringing up responsibility now, either.”
“Then?”
At the positive response, I unconsciously squeezed Rav’s hand, but the Team Leader raised her palm toward me in a “not yet” gesture.
“However,”
“…!”
“…That’s right. Ultimately, what I’m worried about is the troublesome situation where the memories of that amnesiac killer gradually return later, causing two conflicting selves to clash.”
The Team Leader acknowledged that her view of the current Rav being different from her past self wasn’t wrong. That was why she was concerned about the possibility of Rav’s instincts manifesting as a threat in some way later, repeating the previous disaster. In the worst-case scenario, she even suspected that Rav’s very self might be another fabrication she had created.
“Right now, Woong-ssi is acting as a limiter to suppress her instincts and prioritize her self’s desires, but…”
“I’m confident!”
“Confident that you can satisfy her desires without leaving anything wanting?”
I wanted to fulfill all of Rav’s wishes as much as possible. But if doing so would harm others, I would be the first to stop her.
“As long as the Team Leader permits it, I’ll do anything. For the parts that still can’t be filled that way, we can make up for them with other efforts. Rav and I are both still lacking, so we need to understand and help each other while seeking a better direction.”
I didn’t want her to become spoiled, nor did I have the authority or position to grant her every wish. All I could do was try. Even so, I could confidently say that my small conviction was firmer than anyone else’s.
“Lastly, I’d like to ask. Why do you trust this containment subject so much? From my perspective, having dealt with countless dangerous subjects, that’s undoubtedly a shortcut to a short life.”
“…Ugh.”
“As I said before, I need to confirm the sincerity of the containment subject, not you.”
But there was no way. Her former self had been capable of immersing herself in lies enough to deceive even the voice in her heart, and only now could I understand the emotions her self felt through my ability. Yet this was only possible between her and me—it couldn’t be shown to others. In reality, I was the only one who could feel her emotions through my ability. Of course, the Team Leader’s distrustful claim was that even this might be nothing more than me being captivated by her.
“If you’re asking why I can trust Rav… it’s because I’m a counselor.”
“…”
“If I don’t believe, don’t try to believe, and don’t even listen to their story, how could I possibly counsel them properly?”
I was still a rookie whose probation period hadn’t even ended, but I already knew what I had to do.
“I’m here to believe in them. I must always stand closer to them than to the facility, exchanging trust. If I turn away just because it’s dangerous… then I have no qualification to work here as a counselor.”
“…”
The Team Leader’s slightly prolonged silence made the air heavy and my throat dry. Since I couldn’t hear her voice through the block, I had no choice but to welcome the unpleasant, scraping metallic voice that finally emerged.
“So that’s how it is. What do you think, Response Team Leader?”
“…It’s not wrong. After all, it was the President who decided we needed psychological counselors for the containment subjects and hired one. And it’s true that Counselor-ssi has achieved results in his own way, even though he’s still on probation.”
Thank you, Yerin-ssi…!
“Is that so? I think he’s caused quite a few incidents as well, though.”
Flinch.
“But if it’s a story that goes beyond the very reason for the existence of the counselor position… then, for the sake of the counselor’s dignity, it would be better to yield a step here.”
“…Ah!”
This flow…
“Very well. Since the profile modification requires four votes in favor and three or more conditions, we’ll proceed as is.”
Finally, one step forward… Wait, hold on.
“…Four votes in favor?”
“Yes. Myself, the Response Team Leader, and the Field Team Leader have also agreed. And Woong-ssi, as the recording counselor, naturally holds the decision-making authority regarding profile modifications.”
“Naturally…?”
Then that meant the Field Team Leader had already agreed from the beginning, so even if the Team Leader opposed, all we needed was Yerin-ssi’s agreement?
“Still, I saw you in a new light. Even as a counselor, you’re technically under management… I didn’t expect you to have the courage to openly refute me, the Team Leader.”
“…! No, that’s not it. That was only because—!”
“And that wasn’t even an irresponsible plea for me to simply trust Woong-ssi? Well, if something does happen, the first to die would probably be Woong-ssi, so maybe it wasn’t that irresponsible after all.”
“…”
As expected of the Team Leader… Haah, if the day ever comes when I can get my revenge, I swear I won’t miss it. …Though I’ve already made this resolution who knows how many times.
“Let’s end things here for today. We’ll monitor the counseling progress and revisit the first outing evaluation later.”
“…Yes.”
Everyone stood up, but I couldn’t seem to rise—my body had no strength left. No… maybe my body was drained because Rav had been squeezing it. Or perhaps it was because the tension had finally released.
“Woong-ssi…”
“Hm?”
Rav leaned in close and called me softly, almost whispering in my ear. As she drew near, I caught that pleasant floral scent she’d given off after her shower earlier, and somehow I felt a bit energized…
“…Thank you. For my sake.”
“Yeah, it’s nothing. This is just what I’m supposed to do.”
Right. This much was only natural…
“Is that why…?”
“?”
“Seeing you try so hard for me from the side… you looked incredibly cool and dependable…”
Our interlaced hands were pulled downward somewhere, and then—
Swish…
“Rav, you?”
Along with the sensation of her dress hem brushing against the back of my hand, I felt hot, heated air around my hand as it slipped somewhere.
Could this be…
“Stop… It’s all wet down there now…♡”