Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Wolf with Many Worries
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Those who had tried to manipulate the Korean Hunter Association from the shadows.
Their true identity was none other than monsters.
Monsters that disguised themselves as humans, thought like humans, and possessed intelligence far surpassing that of ordinary people.
They were different from dungeon owners or boss monsters.
Like the very will of the dungeons themselves, they roamed far and wide, emerging throughout history and leaving countless sacrifices in their wake as they plotted to break out onto the surface.
Hunters had taken to calling them this.
'Demons.'
According to Saintess Sohee, the demons' hideout was in the highest-grade dungeon that hadn't yet appeared on the surface—a yet-unopened zone over 90 floors deep.
"So... that means we can't track them right away?"
"Yes. In Hunter Jeon Suji's memories, I saw them entering a black portal. But beyond that was a dungeon of extreme difficulty... not directly connected to Earth, so I couldn't pursue any further."
We had uncovered their identity.
But there was nothing we could do about it right now.
The silver lining was that demons had always come out of the dungeons to cause trouble.
They were bound to surface again someday.
This time, too, the Korean Peninsula's south end seemed to be their first target for emerging on land, which was why they'd tried to spy on the Hunter Association in advance.
And they'd likely kidnapped me—a counselor handling mental health sessions for A-Rank and higher hunters—to extract internal association intel.
In the end, there was only one answer.
Before their influence reached out again, we had to bolster the Korean Hunter Association's strength.
Once the conclusion was reached, Branch Chief Yoo Geumhui sank into deep thought—far more profound than her childlike appearance suggested—before patting us on the shoulders as if to say we'd done well and sending us off.
But a heavy shadow still lingered on her face.
As we turned to leave, the branch chief called out to me.
"When war with the demons breaks out, S-Rank hunters like Yunhwa or Narae will stand at the forefront. Prepare your heart for that time, too."
"...Yes! Understood."
I'm no warrior.
But I could be the counselor supporting them so they could fight.
As a member of the Hunter Association, doing my utmost from my position.
That was my battle.
"Of course. As a counselor for the Korean Hunter Association, I'll do my very best."
"Good! Reliable as ever. Then, help out our granddaughter right away. She seems to be struggling lately."
"......Pardon?"
Out of nowhere?
According to the branch chief recently, Narae had hit a complete growth plateau starting from some trigger point.
After our 'nude walk' therapy session, she'd shaken off some stress and managed to return to dungeons for a bit, but hadn't progressed beyond that.
It was like a door was right there in front of her, just a hand's reach away, yet her feet were stuck at the threshold—a stifling stagnation.
The infamous wall that most A-Rank hunters faced right before S-Rank.
Just one more step, but a stubborn slump that clung viciously to her ankles.
"Narae's... in a slump?"
"That's right. I thought she'd grow more after parting ways with Counselor Kim Seungbin and tackling dungeons solo... but starting around last week, she just sighs that she can't see the path ahead anymore."
I'm not a hunter, so I couldn't grasp exactly what their 'dimensional wall' entailed.
But according to the branch chief, hunter growth wasn't like mindlessly stacking experience points in a game—it was like climbing stairs, surging upward all at once at certain moments.
Hunters called that moment 'awakening,' and an A-Rank hunter needed to awaken again to join the scant hundred or so S-Ranks worldwide.
Having reached S-Rank herself, the branch chief said that while physical strength mattered for awakening, mental fortitude was even more crucial.
"...So it's my turn to step up, then."
Coincidentally, Narae's session was scheduled for this week anyway.
But after hearing about the demons, I felt an even greater sense of responsibility—as her counselor and as a member of the Korean Hunter Association.
I decided not to wait for the appointment and visit her directly at the mansion, where she'd been stuck training indoors instead of hitting dungeons due to her recent slump.
And so, arriving at the mansion after a long while.
"Ah, Master! You're here?"
"...Narae?"
"Aw~ Not 'Narae.' I'm the 'bitch' you keep, remember? Woof!"
...Wait, isn't it broad daylight right now?
The mansion was as grand as ever.
I'd always assumed pressing the front gate bell would summon a line of maids to greet me.
But today was different.
Out popped Narae, her red fox ears twitching happily, as if she'd been waiting.
The problem was her outfit.
Calling it an outfit was generous.
Just a skimpy black lingerie set from the morning. And a dog collar to boot.
"Narae! How can you come outside dressed like that?! What if someone sees—"
I frantically scanned the surroundings and dragged her inside.
One passerby spotting us would've ended my Hunter Association counseling career on the spot.
But even inside, she stayed utterly nonchalant. Instead, right in the middle of the garden, leashed by the collar, she rubbed up against me, panting with heavy breaths.
"See? I'm Master's pet bitch. Woof~!"
Her red eyes shimmered in heart shapes.
Like the role-play therapy had already kicked off, she openly whimpered, gauging my reaction.
"... ."
I was momentarily speechless.
A brief conflict flickered between my duty as a psychiatrist and the dog collar the 'patient' before me was offering.
Then, right at that moment.
"Master..."
She whispered.
"Your bitch... has been worrying about something nonstop. That's why... I was waiting for you."
"...!"
What would've normally started calmly in the counseling room.
But Narae had come out to the front gate in broad daylight, in her underwear no less.
This wasn't a joke.
It was proof the patient desperately wanted treatment.
In the end, I had no choice but to grip the collar she offered.
Because the moment a patient seeks out their doctor is the most critical turning point.
'She's said to be in a dilemma as a hunter too... probably related.'
I steadied my breath and looked at the patient before me.
And quickly realized.
Right now, Narae wanted to be treated like a beast.
Approaching her humanely would break her immersion and erode trust.
As her lead therapist, I couldn't hesitate.
Grip.
As strength entered my hand on the leash, my lips pressed into a firm line.
Time to remind this bitch—who'd been rubbing her chest and thighs against me vulgarly on two legs—of her place.
"Since when did a mere dog get to stand at eye level with people?"
"...! S-Sorry, woof!"
Narae dropped to all fours, her red fox tail swishing playfully.
As if to say, 'This is the look I wanted to show you.'
Panties as her only cover, she led the way in a low crawl that exposed her plump rear.
My eyes kept getting drawn every time her soft cheeks jiggled between the fabric.
"Master, morning walkies? Woof!"
"Shall we, my bitch?"
As doctor and man, I took a deep breath.
Even seeing this scene every time, suppressing the tension building below wasn't easy.
Still, I had to praise her.
Her putting on the collar herself and preparing in underwear showed real commitment to the therapy.
The issue... was the finale.
Halfway to the garden terrace, I frowned.
Because people who definitely shouldn't be around for therapy were visible inside and out the mansion.
'?! Didn't send them home...?'
The maids who appeared to be cleaning from afar were sneaking peeks our way, and flushed faces whispering behind windows caught my eye.
Wait, so Narae... knew the maids were working and still ran to the front gate in underwear with a collar?
My hand trembled on the leash as I growled lowly.
"Bitch... the maids are around today. Did you deliberately not send them off?"
Respecting patient privacy is psychiatric doctor 101.
Yet here was the patient herself throwing her dignity to the beasts.
Narae stuck out her tongue innocently.
"Well... wouldn't it be weirder if humans cleared out just for walking a bitch? Hehe."
"So... you wanted to go for a walk with the maids still here on purpose?"
"Hehe, yep! Some of them even run around the garden on all fours with me!"
"...What?"
I choked.
Some of those maids watching us from the windows... were 'exhibitionistic patients' like Narae, collared and crawling?
'This isn't a cold—mental illness doesn't spread like that... does it?'
As I debated intervening as her doctor, she continued.
"Thanks to that, I've made lots of good bitch 'friends'!"
"...!"
"It's all... because Master trained me so well. Thank you, Master."
I was at a loss for words.
Until now, she'd lived isolated by misanthropy and social phobia.
Her only 'friends' had been Branch Chief Yoo Geumhui and me by her side... but now she was bonding with the mansion maids in this shared world?
I suppressed my bewilderment and gazed down at her red eyes.
Crawling between my legs on all fours, panting up at me—it looked like a lonely wolf had finally found her pack.
'Should I... praise her?'
This won't turn the mansion into a petting zoo, will it?