Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Beastkin? Count Me In
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That idyllic dream Yoo Narae had longed for so desperately.
A nude stroll together with her long-imagined "Master."
But that grand curtain wasn't about to rise just yet.
"First, to treat your anthropophobia, we'll start with some 'exposure therapy'—walking through the city with me, your primary counselor, and mingling naturally with people."
"Eeeek?!"
Anthropophobia.
Social deficiency.
And the deep trauma of loathing stemming from her beastkin heritage.
Addressing these tangled issues one by one, ultimately guiding Yoo Narae to become a "normal member of society."
That was my ultimate goal as her therapist.
Of course, she seemed to dream only of tossing everything aside and living solely as a "devoted bitch."
But my role was strictly that of a doctor, focused on treatment.
So, as she pleaded with those sultry eyes for some naked playtime, I gently stroked her head, and we found our compromise right there.
Under the guise of an "extension of therapy," we struck a deal in a rather unconventional way.
"If you cooperate well with treatment going forward, I'll reward you with walks. And then, it won't be as your doctor... but as your Master. Got it?"
"Uuu... Got it... Guess I have no choice then..."
The next day, after trading our "desires for duties" like that, I revisited Branch Chief Yoo Geumhui's grand mansion. There, a wolf girl dressed for going out waited, escorted by the maids.
In truth, my original world back home had neither hunters nor beastkin.
Maybe that's why?
To others' eyes, beastkin dressing up and walking around looked like animals aping humans—utterly repulsive. But to me, she just looked pretty.
Those perky ears, that swishing tail, the shy innocence layered over her wildness—it was strangely endearing... Honestly, pretty damn hot.
And Narae was a rare beauty even among beastkin.
Her wolf ears perked up, tail wagging between the hem of her skirt as she blushed—it made my lower half uncomfortably stiff in the most embarrassing way.
...But no room for complacency.
I was her counselor, and she was my patient, nothing more.
"Shall we head out, then?"
"Yeah...!"
Unlike her tough wolf beastkin exterior, she approached cautiously, blushing and linking arms with me. Hand in hand, we stepped out into the city.
"Is this your first time out in the city in two months?"
"No... actually longer. Even before I holed up in my room two months ago, I avoided the city as much as possible. And for good reason... Look over there."
As we walked through the streets, to gauge the state just before she fully shut herself away—right on the cusp of total isolation—I asked.
But she shook her head and clung tightly to my arm, like a wounded animal seeking solace.
She nodded carefully toward something in her line of sight.
In that direction: gazes of contempt and mockery.
Whispers.
"Hey, check it out... It's a beastkin."
"Whoa... First real one I've seen. Why's it acting like that? Not quite beast, not quite human..."
"Looks so gross... How's something like that hanging with a guy like him?"
"Like a pearl necklace on a pig. No, even worse?"
This country, South Korea, was a "clean nation" even by global standards—virtually free of racial discrimination issues.
No terrorism against foreigners over skin color or nationality.
Incidents of foreigner hate were so rare they made big news.
But even in that "Korea," hatred and contempt toward beastkin spread as if it were the most natural thing.
Despite being able to communicate, registered as society members, they treated Yoo Narae like a "beast among us."
"Doctor... Disappointed?"
Leaning slightly against my arm, she asked in a voice that trembled faintly without her realizing.
"Heh, hehe... Funny, right? I didn't choose to be born like this... Abandoned near the Yanbian streets by Busan Port from birth, living my whole life under stares like that."
"Narae..."
"Weird... Same old glares as always... But with you here, Doctor? If I cry... can you just pretend not to notice? I'd be so embarrassed... Hehe."
Today, she was completely different from yesterday.
The wild wolf hyped for nude walks was gone. Now beside me stood a small, fragile beastkin, emotionally stripped bare, clutching her naked heart as she walked.
No mention of "Master" today; calling me "Doctor" so cautiously—probably for that reason.
Instead of boldly clinging like yesterday, each step felt laced with fear I'd leave her behind.
Somehow... it made her even more endearing.
A nuance of preemptive distance, lest she disappoint me or I turn away like the others.
But unfortunately for her fears, I had zero prejudice against beastkin.
If anything, I leaned toward this world's "pervy doctor" type—finding those features cute, even a bit sexy.
More than that, if a doctor shunned a patient just because others hated beastkin, that'd be grounds for losing my license.
So wordlessly, I gently stroked her ear.
The quivering ear twitched at my touch, then settled calmly.
"I don't care about that stuff. More importantly... I'm thirsty. Wanna hit a café?"
"...! Oh, yeah! S-sure!"
Her downcast, flushed eyes narrowed at my words, lips curving up just a bit.
That awkward smile, hiding surging emotions—it was honestly a little hot.
Her tail twitching as she rubbed against me felt like a wolf's instinct, distinct from her catlike rubs before.
But I was her therapist.
I wouldn't waver at behaviors that seemed like seduction precursors, analyzing them all as aspects of her psyche.
Less than an hour into our outing, I intuitively understood why she feared people so much.
It wasn't mere social deficiency—it was the result of a life where rejection was the norm.
She shrank at a single word, wounded by a mere glance.
So, having vowed to shoulder that pain with her...
Before tears welled in her eyes, as her doctor soothing a patient's heart, I stroked that little ear once more.
And said,
"This calls for something sweet. Best mood-lifter ever."
Kim Seungbin, counselor.
The rare title of male psychiatrist bestowed by my grandma... honestly sparked more worry than excitement.
And for good reason—I was neither fully human, monster, nor beast... but something in-between: a beastkin.
Beastkin were rare mutations born mostly between human parents.
Even two humans could produce one, like dungeon miasma leaking out—once in a blue moon, needle-in-a-haystack odds.
But being born wasn't winning the lottery.
More like striking out.
Most were abandoned without knowing their parents, dying or turning to crime to survive.
In my case, around Busan Port's Yanbian streets, I was leveraging beastkin physical prowess to dominate the area, just dipping into crime when...
"Aigoo... Who'd abandon such a pretty little puppy?"
"Pretty... puppy?"
That moment, my savior grandma scooped me up.
Thanks to her, I slipped into the hunter ranks—humanity's servants—and somehow became a hunter... But beastkin were still beastkin.
Hero? Forget it. To people, we were just monsters.
Beings forever outside society's lines, unfit for heroism.
And those stares persisted even in today's café.
A pretty, Instagram-worthy café.
A dream spot I'd only glimpsed on my phone.
Now, I sat there across from an impossibly handsome guy.
Sure, just doctor-patient business... but this seat felt too happy.
'Me... a beastkin... Can I even be here...? No, I can't leave. Just a bit longer... I wanna stay like this!'
Yeah.
Deep down, I was just a girl who loved pretty, sweet things.
In that brief moment, the thrill erased all worries, all stares.
Until.
"Here's your parfait, ma'am."
Splat.
Like a reminder to know her place.
The parfait poured straight onto my head, which had been smiling happily moments ago.
"Oh, sorry. Hand slipped and it fell on the 'beast.' No biggie, right?"
That tone.
That expression.
No apology—just blatant mockery.
Followed by murmurs.
"Beast ears on a human head...?"
"So gross..."
"Why'd the guy bring something like that?"
"Yeah... Is he being blackmailed or something?!"
No, not at all...
My head drooped automatically.
I had to at least fake a smile.
Because this much was still manageable... I thought.
I didn't want to ruin his face—the one who'd carved out time for me.
...And I knew it.
This seat was beyond me, really.
So I smiled like an idiot.
Tried to brush it off like nothing happened.
But then.
"Excuse me."
"Yes, sir?"
"Call your manager."
"......Pardon?"
"......Master?"
My whole body froze.
Veins bulging on his forehead, furrowed brow, clenched jaw.
The usually gentle doctor looked entirely different now.
His eyes guarding me held something more primal than anger.
Like a male wolf baring fangs at the pack when his female was insulted—a dominant's glare.
The instant that gaze hit me, a "sensation" trembled below my navel.
"You lot... touch my woman (patient) and think you can just walk away?"
Zzzt—!
Heat surged from my gut, somewhere aching faintly electric.
My tail, frozen till now, wagged on its own; my crotch itched strangely.
'Wh-what's this feeling... My belly's throbbing so bad... Haah, gonna lose it... Nngh♡'
His declaration: my bitch belongs to him alone—a perfect male's claim.
With those words, a quiet heat already pooled at Yoo Narae's feet.