Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Valuable Gift
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It's a good morning.
Actually, it's not really morning—more like afternoon.
I headed straight to the Association from early in the morning.
I could have gone right to the isolation ward, but today was the final day.
I needed to return the materials I'd borrowed from the Association.
Once today's counseling session wrapped up, the Otherworlder would essentially graduate.
The Association lobby was far busier than usual as I entered through the main doors. Young men and women in crisp suits paced around, their tension plain as day.
The reason was...
Today was the practical exam for Hunter Counselor certification.
I gave them a wry smile as I passed by.
Then I went to my assigned department and turned in Seol Yu-wol's final evaluation report and related documents.
"Today's your last session, right?"
The staff member asked me.
"I hope so."
I replied with a smile.
It was a textbook answer.
Barring any issues, it would be the last one.
With that, I headed to the isolation ward.
The entrance to the isolation ward was packed with representatives from various guilds and organizations.
The Otherworlders' official profiles had already been released.
The one drawing the most attention was, naturally, Seol Yu-wol.
The guilds were clamoring for more information.
All because she was a once-in-a-generation S-rank Hunter.
The Association was teasing them by doling out bits of info.
The problem was that the star herself, Seol Yu-wol, was already half-spoken for by the Association.
That's when, as I was crossing the Association building, someone called out to me.
"Um... hello?"
I turned to look.
It was a very familiar face. Not someone I'd met personally, but I'd seen her plenty in the media.
Dang Hee-ran, an Otherworlder from the Central Plains and a current A-rank Hunter.
She was the one from the training video for Central Plains Otherworlders.
Seol Yu-wol had owed her a debt back then.
She looked at me with clear eyes and bowed her head.
"I'm Dang Hee-ran, A-rank Hunter under the Hyun Lord's command."
Her voice was clear and bright. I nodded, returning her greeting.
She seemed to have fully adapted to this world's culture, giving off a refined vibe different from Yi Seo-ryeong or Seol Yu-wol.
"I've seen you passing by a few times. You're Yu-wol's counselor, right...?"
Her clothes and speech were already modern.
I nodded. Apparently, she and Seol Yu-wol were acquaintances, to some degree.
I wasn't sure how close they were, but Seol Yu-wol had mentioned running into her a few times during training.
'Probably...'
The reason she'd approached me was likely related to recruiting Seol Yu-wol.
I was Association staff, so I had to avoid private talks about recruitment with outside guilds.
I planned to politely decline and send her on her way, so I opened my mouth courteously.
"Yes, that's me, but if this is about Hunter Seol Yu-wol, please go through official channels..."
"Ahem... I figured as much..."
But Dang Hee-ran didn't seem to be listening.
She cut me off lightly and scanned me up and down with an intrigued expression.
"You're quite the looker."
"...Pardon?"
My prepared lines flew out the window at the unexpected comment.
"Do you know what Yu-wol's old nickname was?"
She changed the subject abruptly.
I found myself curious despite myself.
"What was it?"
"Heartless Flower... because she never showed any emotion."
Thinking back to our first meeting, it wasn't a nickname that felt off.
"But now she's a completely different person. Much softer, with actual expressions."
Her gaze shifted back to my face.
"Truth be told, my guild sent me to pry some info out of you..."
Dang Hee-ran shrugged and turned away.
"But I have no intention of doing that."
She walked a few steps, then glanced back.
"They say late learners don't know when to quit stealing... Please take good care of Yu-wol."
With those cryptic words, she vanished silently into the crowd.
I mulled over what she'd left behind.
Late learners stealing?
Seol Yu-wol was late to a lot of things, in many ways.
Knowledge of this world, everyday life as a normal person.
Above all, experiencing the countless pleasures and joys out there.
That must have been what Dang Hee-ran meant.
I got the intent, but that was Seol Yu-wol's burden now.
Not mine to discuss.
In any case, I put my brief encounter with Dang Hee-ran behind me and headed to Seol Yu-wol.
This was the last counseling session, and I felt it best to refrain from intruding needlessly into her life from here on out.
So, I figured the final interview should be inside the Otherworlder dome.
She'd be here for her last training session anyway.
We could just chat simply at a nearby café or terrace—no need to go elsewhere.
I arrived at the auditorium a bit early.
I settled into the plush lobby sofa and waited patiently for her.
How much time passed?
Through the glass doors, I spotted someone approaching from afar.
Seol Yu-wol.
I slowly stood up.
She usually wore the sky-blue dress or neat one-piece I'd bought her.
But today's outfit was different.
A white off-shoulder crop top and hot pants.
Very trendy, in many ways.
'Where'd she get clothes like that...'
Well, clothes can be bought anywhere...
Seol Yu-wol spotted me and waved with a bright smile as she approached.
Straight-backed and confident.
It'd only been a few days since we'd last met...
She felt like a whole new person.
Dazzling change, maybe?
I'd half-planned to tease her about applying for bodyguard services without consulting me first.
But her vibrant energy was so refreshing, I missed my chance.
The only thing that bugged me was the bandages stuck all over her hands.
"Doctor!"
She ran up to me, caught her breath a little, and beamed.
Her lively, healthy vibe left me momentarily speechless...
Then I found myself smiling back unconsciously.
"You look like you're in great spirits."
"Ah... you can tell?"
"But what's with your hands?"
"Oh... it's nothing. Just a little scrape..."
"I see."
She blushed like a kid who'd been praised, rubbing her neck sheepishly.
"Last session today—are you prepared?"
I asked gently. Truth be told, I'd already made up my mind.
If her actions and emotions weren't an act...
There was no reason to continue counseling.
She seemed no different from the confident Dang Hee-ran I'd just seen in the lobby.
[Seol Yu-wol]
Thrilled at the thought of wrapping up her 'last' counseling session with the doctor.
No problems there.
"Have you eaten? If not, let's grab a meal first..."
"Not yet."
Then we'd eat at a nearby restaurant and talk at a café...
"Nearby restaurant..."
"Let's go home."
She cut me off.
Were all Central Plains women like this?
Except Yi Seo-ryeong...
And she added as if it were obvious.
"Doctor. Let's eat at home. I'll cook for you."
I couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"You'll cook?"
Seol Yu-wol wouldn't know modern kitchen tools, let alone distinguish spices.
She'd only ever eaten meals prepared by others, willingly or not. The idea of her cooking struck me as amusing.
She caught the meaning of my laugh, her cheeks flushing slightly.
But then she smiled meaningfully and grabbed my wrist.
"Want to... take the bait and see?"
The sudden touch didn't faze me; I naturally pulled away and nodded.
Her bold invitation felt like proof of her growth. Admirable.
If that was her reason, it wasn't an unnecessary visit.
"Sure, I'll bite."
I smiled and let her lead the way.
"What's on the menu?"
We chatted as we headed to the Otherworlder dome exit.
"Mm... it's a secret."
She grinned playfully.
We walked the halls back to her dorm.
So much had changed since the first time we'd gone back and forth.
All her movements were natural now.
Just weeks ago, everything from entering doors to her gait screamed self-consciousness around me.
Not anymore.
This felt less like counseling... more like heading home with a friend.
- Beep...
We arrived at the dorm.
I opened the door, and she dashed inside first, then flung it wide to welcome me.
"Come on in, Doctor."
I smiled and stepped inside. She followed, closing the door behind us.
Seol Yu-wol quickly tied an apron around her waist over her clothes.
She headed to the kitchen and washed her hands thoroughly.
"Let's get started."
With resolute determination, she solemnly opened the fridge door.
What dish would she make?
The best home-cooked meal from a woman was Yi Seo-ryeong's.
The worst... Jin Sea's ramen on a guild trip.
What would Seol Yu-wol's be like?
Anticipation building—
- Whoosh.
The fridge door opened slowly...
But I couldn't hide my surprise at what was inside.
All the vegetables and ingredients were prepped in containers.
Neatly, too.
"You prepped everything...?"
Garlic all minced, ingredients uniformly chopped.
Not the work of a beginner.
And that's when I noticed the bandages on every joint of her fingers again.
"Ah..."
Practice...
She'd done it.
Those bandages covered cuts from clumsy knife work.
She'd practiced cooking alone.
Intensively, by the looks of it.
She noticed my gaze on her hands and hurriedly hid them behind her back in surprise.
Then, head down in embarrassment, she slowly began to speak.
"It might sound strange, but you've been like a father to me—the first one I've ever had."
"I've learned almost everything about this world from you..."
She looked up slightly, meeting my eyes.
"I've always thought... I've only ever received from you. So I wanted to give you a gift."
"But I had nothing to offer. And getting something material with Mother's help felt... meaningless."
Seol Yu-wol continued softly.
"So... just as you made me delicious treats."
"For the finale, I wanted to cook you something delicious with my own hands."
She said, cheeks flushing shyly.
Then she brought her hidden hands forward again.
Those small, pale hands bore the marks of her efforts.
"So... Father—no, Doctor... this is... my..."
She paused, took a deep breath.
And whispered like she was confessing a secret.
"Last gift..."
Seol Yu-wol had prepared a gift for our final session, filled with gratitude.
And it doubled as proof of her graduation from client status.
A client overcoming their pain.
Healing through it.
And giving back what they'd gained in the process.
Such gifts would always be worth more than any expensive clothes or luxury item.
Far more.
Watching a client stand on their own two feet after tough times...
That was one reason I did this job.
