Chapter 111

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 111

Chapter Title: Yeon-i

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'Why is she suddenly acting like this?'

She was demanding that I call her "Yeon-i."

Generally speaking, counselors aren't supposed to use casual or overly familiar terms when addressing clients.

Even if the client requests it, it could turn into a kind of role-playing.

Sure, I'd called her "Hwa-yeon" earlier, but that was half-joking before the session really started.

If we were seriously deciding on a form of address, "Yeon-i" was a bit much.

Maybe "Hwa-yeon-ssi," like with Yoo-wol... no, Seol Yoo-wol.

Truth be told, if you stripped away Jahwa-yeon's position as the Heavenly Demon and her terrifying power... she kind of felt like a little sister.

Her physical traits played into it, and the way her mood lifted with a single hot chocolate or how she hid her dolls—it all added up.

But right now, the look in Jahwa-yeon's eyes as she pressed her hand to my chest was anything but normal.

She was smiling, too.

Her moods shifted so abruptly sometimes; it was hard to keep up.

For now, I checked her status.

Her outward demeanor matched her inner thoughts perfectly.

What was I supposed to do?

First things first, push her away.

"As much as I'd like to..."

I pulled back slightly from her and opened my mouth politely.

"Due to the nature of my profession, I can't address clients with overly personal terms."

Unless our sessions were completely over, anyway.

I couldn't do it in the middle of one like this.

'Even if it's an order from the Heavenly Demon.'

That was the implication.

She seemed to pick up on my meaning right away.

"Hmm..."

She removed her hand from my chest and nodded.

Her dark eyes stared straight at me for a moment.

"You're right. It wouldn't do for a lord to impose her position on her subject... that could be difficult."

It was a perfectly reasonable statement.

I'd thought she might not listen to reason, but maybe she was a more rational ruler than I'd given her credit for?

I felt a sigh of relief coming on.

As expected of the Heavenly Demon.

"However."

Jahwa-yeon placed her hand back on my chest.

This time, she even pressed her body closer to mine.

"Difficult doesn't mean impossible, does it?"

"?"

"Doctor, try calling me Yeon."

Nothing had changed.

I sensed the situation turning serious.

How was I supposed to push her away? Physically, it was impossible.

System, help me out here.

In response to my urgent call, the system began explaining a new analysis.

Desire for protection?

I tried to wrap my head around the system's explanation.

Protective desire...

The term itself was unfamiliar.

Normally, wouldn't that mean wanting to protect others?

So, she's a hunter.

She wields mana.

On the surface, she perfectly fulfilled her role as ruler, but deep down, her heart was that of a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠girl.

Her mood swings were already intense, amplified even more by the mana.

And I'd hit that exact nerve, leaving her unable to control it now.

That was it, right?

This was bad.

My rapid thinking time ended, and I reached a conclusion.

I requested the Suitable Response options.

The answer was set, but I needed to avoid anything that might get me split in half.

This felt just like when we first met.

The system accepted my request and quickly displayed the options.

"Hurry up."

Jahwa-yeon urged me on.

Before our Heavenly Demon's patience ran out.

Quickly.

Make that hot chocolate worth it!!

But the system seemed flustered for a moment before displaying the suitable responses.

I'd been flustered the first time I saw something like this.

No matter what I chose, the satisfaction rate was '??'%.

But soon, I felt a twinge of doubt.

According to the system, '??'% meant unpredictable but implying an extremely high 'total happiness'.

So the first option.

'I'd appreciate it if you could consider my position...'

This was a clear refusal.

A very defensive choice.

Didn't that mean I wouldn't get split in half even if I picked it?

And it would even boost her happiness?

'Really?'

I quickly requested a cross-verification.

It was ambiguous, but I had my answer.

I immediately met the gaze of her red eyes looking up at me from against my chest.

"Heavenly Demon, even so... I'm a counselor. I'd appreciate it if you could consider my position."

I said it while holding her gaze, looking troubled.

"......"

At my response, Jahwa-yeon stared at me silently for a moment before pulling away.

"Hmph."

Then she smiled.

"I wasn't expecting much anyway."

Liar.

"I know well how steadfast you are in your professional ethics."

She pretended not to care, lifting her hot chocolate to savor the aroma.

"Patience makes the reward all the sweeter, doesn't it?"

Of all things, savoring the scent of hot chocolate—not herbal tea or black tea.

- Tremble tremble...

Her hand holding the cup seemed to shake faintly.

My refusal must have hit her hard.

In the end, even when her emotions peaked, Jahwa-yeon was a good person.

She didn't force me just because things weren't going her way.

She set down the cup and stood, apparently preparing to leave.

I thought that was it; she'd just go.

But as she brushed past me, she paused.

And in a voice so soft even I could barely hear it, laced with shy embarrassment, she whispered,

".........Still, Doctor."

"Someday, call me Yeon-i. Please."

- Whoosh

With that, without waiting for my reply, she opened the counseling room door and vanished.

"Thanks for listening today, too."

I was left alone, watching her retreating figure...

Yeah.

Tell me about it.

Her back looked so pitiful in so many ways...

Seeing it like that...

"Ha..."

I dashed after her.

Before she could fully disappear into the hallway after opening the door.

And called out to her retreating figure.

"Yeon-i."

I said it in the end.

"!"

Her footsteps halted abruptly in the middle of the corridor.

Jahwa-yeon whipped her head around to look at me.

"......Today's session is over, after all."

I mumbled as an addendum.

I'd gone and done it.

I couldn't help it.

I'd realized the weight she carried on her jade throne was far heavier than I'd imagined.

And that the name "Yeon" ()—fate, connection—seemed to mean something deeply important to her.

I couldn't just let her walk away lonely like that, right before such a crucial event like the Righteous-Demonic Alliance.

After declaring I'd be her one and only ally, abandoning her now would be inconsistent.

So in the end.

I called her Yeon-i.

Even though it was a refusal, maybe that '???' satisfaction rating had predicted this exact outcome.

If so, that'd be pretty scary.

At my words, Jahwa-yeon stared blankly at me for a moment.

And after a beat.

She bowed her head, covering her mouth with her hand.

Her small shoulders trembled.

"Hee hee."

Jahwa-yeon covered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her mouth and began laughing like a girl.

"Thank you."

Unable to meet my eyes, she whispered in a tiny voice.

Her face flushed, she disappeared down the corridor.

I lingered, savoring the sound of her laughter.