Chapter 1

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 1

Chapter Title: 1. Hunter Counselor

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"I admit it."

It didn't take long to accept the fact that I had no talent.

I was just an ordinary citizen.

But when I opened my eyes, I'd crossed over into a world teeming with hunters who blocked rampaging monsters of all kinds.

A phenomenon where people crossed over from other dimensions for unknown reasons.

They called it Dimensional Transfer.

And those who crossed were called Otherworlders in this world.

The first ability granted to me as an Otherworlder was... counselor.

That was it. Just words.

My magic power was average, my stamina average. All I had going for me was... running, I guess.

Well, to correct myself, my short bursts of speed were decent enough.

The problem was, that was all I had.

One go, and my mana was depleted. I turned into a burden who needed my teammates' protection until the battle ended.

For a hunter who had to protect the world and humanity, it was hopelessly inadequate.

"Seon-woo, how about being a hunter counselor? You're an Otherworlder, and you've been an active hunter, so you can get certified in no time. All hunters these days have some kind of mental issue, right? It's a job for life, man."

So, counselor it was.

"I can even introduce you to some clients."

It sounded ridiculous, but reality pointed that way.

Otherworlders tended to be exceptionally strong or possess unique abilities.

From the guilds' perspective, they were valuable assets.

Scouting competitions were fierce to secure even one more.

And the man sitting in front of me now, Wi Jae-wan.

He was the one who'd recruited me that way.

Of course, at this point... even as my first ability, it had to be called a failure.

I accepted it.

I was sick of this crap anyway. Being a burden was exhausting.

Above all, there was no reason to keep enduring.

"Yes, hyungnim. I'll give ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up and look for another path."

"Good... you've worked hard."

Wi Jae-wan patted my shoulder with a relieved laugh.

From that moment, Act 3 of my life quietly began.

Once I decided to retire, everything fell into place smoothly.

Otherworlder.

Active hunter.

And a guild recommendation letter.

With all three qualifications, obtaining the certification for the newly created profession of 'Hunter Counselor' was just a matter of time.

The interview wasn't hard either.

My ability was counselor, after all.

Honestly, it was the perfect talent for the job.

Though... whether the patients actually got healed was another story.

It didn't take long before I became Korea's—precisely, this world's Korea's—first Hunter Counselor.

Hope my ass.

I finished reading the article and prepared to meet my first patient.

"Come in."

A small, quiet office.

Today was my first counseling session.

I hoped my first patient would be... a gentle hero who was easy to talk to.

The reason the Hunter Mental Counselor profession was created in the first place was because regular counselors couldn't handle the erratic behavior of mentally ill hunters.

- BAM!

The door flew open as if it would shatter.

Literally—the door slammed into the wall.

"?"

And from beyond the door, a woman appeared.

A woman in black robes darker than shadows.

Jet-black hair cascading to her waist, and eyes peeking through that revealed a gaze hardly human.

No matter how I looked at her, she screamed Otherworlder hunter from the Central Plains.

Behind her stood a burly man holding her back.

But even that giant struggled to suppress her presence.

"So you're the fool who dares peer into my abyss."

"......"

I shut my mouth.

Speaking skills were useless right now.

Somehow...

I felt like I was properly screwed.

The name definitely rang a bell.

Heavenly Demon.

It wasn't uncommon for Otherworlders from the Central Plains to cross over and build forces here.

I'd even heard about the Azure Heaven Alliance, a massive faction claiming to be the righteous path.

Not sure on the details, but it existed.

The opposing martial forces were tiny compared to the Azure Heaven Alliance, though.

They banded together, but felt more like a gang.

Then, one day.

Everything changed.

All because of a single Otherworlder.

Astonishing martial prowess, overwhelming legitimacy.

The Demonic Cult rallied under her once more.

That person was the Heavenly Demon before my eyes, Jahwa-yeon.

"Why aren't you saying a word?"

I didn't meet her eyes.

It felt like the right thing to do.

Instead, I fixed my gaze around her neckline.

Not avoiding the confrontation, but not challenging her either.

A delicate balancing act—non-provocative, yet not servile.

"An 'Otherworlder heart-child,' yet no different."

The killing intent laced in her words began to subside.

The air, which had felt like my head would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠roll any second, cooled bit by bit.

Now was the time.

As my words continued, a glint appeared in her eyes.

"To even hear of that darkness, one must have the qualifications... if I may be so bold, the one standing behind you does not seem to."

A clear dismissal of the entourage.

"Get out," basically.

At that moment, the Heavenly Demon's lips curved up.

I nearly touched my head on instinct, wondering if she'd actually split me in two.

Fortunately, it was still attached, so my response hadn't been entirely wrong.

"Does that mean you have the qualifications to peer into that abyss?"

No separate options appeared.

After years of using the ability and conversing, I could handle this much on my own.

A sort of expertise had developed.

"Not at all."

Only then did I slowly raise my head and continue.

"Merely... isn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠poison the Tang Clan's domain, and information the Hao Sect's? To handle the abyss, one must at least have walked its borders. I dare not claim to match Your Supremity's abyss... but I can approach the gate."

"Poison to the Tang Clan, information to the Hao Sect...? Hahaha! To hear those wretched names here of all places."

She snorted derisively.

"Indeed, petty tricks like poison suit the Tang cowards, and for information, who better than the filthy, prying Hao Sect scum who poke into others' backsides!"

'...?'

I was momentarily taken aback but hid my expression.

Fortunately, she seemed unexpectedly pleased.

It was something I'd heard somewhere, from a wuxia novel maybe.

The idea was medicines to pharmacists, treatment to doctors.

Anyway, good reaction.

"Very well."

She slowly, yet imposingly, pulled a chair and sat.

The hem of her black robe swept the floor as she gripped the armrests like a throne.

She propped one hand under her chin, tapping the armrest with the fingers of the other.

Then she turned to her silent guard behind her.

"Geumgang. Withdraw."

A short command, but heavy with irrefutable weight, even to me.

"This one has stirred interest in me, so he deserves treatment befitting it. It's been ages since I've felt such an emotion."

The man called Geumgang bowed wordlessly.

Without hesitation, he turned, closed the open door quietly, and left.

Silence filled the office.

The real counseling was about to begin.

Her Main Stance had changed without me noticing.

Better than before. At least now, there was a chance if I played it right.

From here on, it was truly an 'interest-based conversation.'

"Do your worst."

She gestured lightly.

"And drop the Supremity nonsense. That's old news. Call me Heavenly Demon."

"Yes, Heavenly Demon."

Now it was Hunter Counselor Yoo Seon-woo's time.

"Hmph."

She glanced sideways, then scoffed lightly.

"Absurd. This Seat's heart, qi, and body are flawless and invincible. No room for worries."

Hmm, I see.

Yeah, figured as much.

Then why come here?

From the first question, I sensed it wouldn't be easy.