Chapter 113
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: A Gentleman's Farewell
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"You've been through a lot."
I exchanged greetings with the client sitting before me.
He was someone who had been coming steadily ever since I first opened this counseling office, right up to today.
Having wandered lost in the depths of trauma, he had finally overcome it all and was now ready to stand on his own two feet.
"Thank you... so much... Counselor..."
His shoulders trembled as tears streamed down his face right in front of me.
I silently pulled a few tissues from the box on the table and handed them to him.
"I didn't do much."
That's what I truly believed.
We shared our final farewell.
And with that, he opened the door to the counseling room and stepped out into a new world.
- Thud.
The door closed, leaving the counseling room in quiet stillness once more.
I gazed for a moment at the now-empty seat, then turned my eyes to the window.
He had found his own path and set off.
That was enough.
It was a joyful thing.
[User!]
"Yeah?"
The system called out to me as I was lost in a bit of reverie.
I fiddled with my empty teacup, waiting for what it would say next.
[♥]
"What the... Heh heh."
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the system's sudden heart emoji.
It seemed to have picked up on the faint melancholy I was trying to hide.
The reason... wasn't anything major.
I was happy he was healed. It was a good thing. As a counselor, I hoped never to see him again.
But at the same time, it meant the end of one relationship.
I liked my connections with people. I couldn't deny it.
Yet I couldn't shake off the loneliness.
[Cheer up!]
[(^^)]
As if reading my mind, it followed up with an encouraging emoji.
I chuckled again at the cute comfort and rose from my seat.
"I guess counseling really isn't for me, huh?"
I asked with a slight smile.
[No!]
Without a second's hesitation, it shot down my self-deprecating question head-on.
[Just keep the relationship going like with client Seol Yu-wol!]
[( •̀ .̫ •́ )]
"Give it a rest, you."
I let out a hollow laugh at its brazen response.
Then I pulled a mint chocolate from the fridge, unwrapped it, and popped it in my mouth.
[Lick]
"...Don't lick it like that after taking a bite."
[Lick lick]
"......"
Dimension-piercing tech, and all it does is lick my chocolate.
Maybe I should grab its tongue or something.
Anyway, my afternoon session today was with Yi Seo-ryeong.
She was my last client, after which I could close up shop.
Now it was time to head to our meeting spot, Moon Flower Pavilion.
I left the counseling room and headed down to the street.
"Huh?"
No sooner had I stepped out than a sleek black sedan sat quietly waiting right in front of me.
As I stood staring at it for a moment, a sharply dressed man emerged from the driver's seat and approached me.
"Are you Counselor Yoo Seon-woo?"
"Yes. But..."
"The Alliance Leader instructed me to escort you."
He bowed deeply and opened the rear door for me.
A bit dazed, I climbed into the car.
The vehicle glided silently toward Moon Flower Pavilion.
[Aren't you being kidnapped?]
[(O_O)]
'Who knows.'
I gave a wry smile and gazed out the window at the passing scenery.
But contrary to the worries, the car pulled into the underground parking lot of Moon Flower Pavilion.
As it stopped, the door opened smoothly on its own.
The manager was already waiting in front of the private elevator.
"The reservation name is..."
Just as the manager started to ask me,
- Ding!
The elevator doors slid wide open.
And from within, Yi Seo-ryeong came rushing out.
- Tototot...
Forgetting all decorum as Alliance Leader, she ran straight toward me.
"Counselor!"
It looked like she had come down to greet me personally.
Yi Seo-ryeong came to a halt just in front of me, caught her breath a little, and flashed a bright smile.
"Shall we head up?"
She had clearly been waiting for me.
"You didn't have to come down yourself..."
"No, no. It's only natural."
She spoke as if it were a given and courteously guided me into the elevator.
- Ding.
The elevator ascended smoothly and silently.
It seemed to go quite high. In the confined space, just the two of us were left alone. An awkward silence settled in.
I was about to break the quiet when Yi Seo-ryeong spoke first.
"I hope your trip here was comfortable?"
As if there could have been any discomfort.
I'd gone straight from the counseling office entrance into the car, then right into the elevator.
I'd probably walked less today coming to the session than I had pacing around inside the office.
"Not at all. Thanks to you, it was very convenient."
"Hee hee. I'm glad."
She nodded with a gentle smile.
- Ding.
Right then, the doors opened—not into a hallway, but directly into a room.
It was a private space bathed in warm lighting and the faint scent of orchids.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation."
Yi Seo-ryeong stepped inside and lit a small incense candle.
The orchid fragrance mingled softly with the candle's aroma.
I took the seat she indicated.
Soon, a course of Chinese cuisine was laid out on the table.
It felt like overly lavish treatment.
I'd imagined something simple, like tea and conversation.
This was the kind of restaurant where Jahwa-yeon sitting in my place wouldn't seem out of place at all.
"Please, eat first."
I nodded but didn't pick up my chopsticks right away.
...She probably thought I was older than her.
And she was the host here, so I waited for her to start...
But Yi Seo-ryeong didn't move a muscle.
She just gazed at me steadily from across the table.
Feeling the weight of her stare, I cleared my throat awkwardly and picked up my chopsticks first.
Exactly five seconds later, upon seeing that, Yi Seo-ryeong silently lifted hers.
"Feel free to talk while eating."
I said that. At this rate, we'd be talking into the wee hours after the meal.
She hesitated at first but eventually nodded.
"Understood..."
She set down her chopsticks and took a sip from her teacup to wet her lips.
Then she brought up the first item on the agenda.
"First... there's something I didn't mention to you in advance, Counselor."
Yi Seo-ryeong's voice was calm.
"Though my daughter has taken on your protection, Yu-wol still lacks experience."
"......"
"So after discussions with the Association, we've arranged for the Azure Heaven Alliance to cover any gaps in her protection."
She stated it matter-of-factly.
Then she bowed her head deeply to me.
"I'm sorry for proceeding without consulting you first. If you'd like us to withdraw at any time, just say the word..."
Caught off guard with my spoon in hand, I fumbled.
"Pardon? No, what do you mean..."
The Azure Heaven Alliance—one of the top ten guilds—having my back?
There was no reason to dislike that...
"Alliance Leader, I'm the one who should be grateful. No need to apologize."
I bowed back in flustered thanks.
Yi Seo-ryeong nodded repeatedly at my reaction.
"I'm truly relieved..."
She visibly relaxed and lifted her teacup.
Then she continued slowly.
"Oh, and one more thing. Per the contract, when Yu-wol steps away, we're to provide personnel of equal caliber."
I already knew this from Seol Yu-wol's contract, so I nodded quietly.
"However, hunters on Yu-wol's level are rare even in our guild."
"I see."
Rare... more like nonexistent.
Aside from the person sitting across from me right now.
Yi Seo-ryeong paused and gazed at me intently.
"So I've decided to take on that duty personally."
This much I already knew.
I nodded calmly.
There was no reason for me to refuse.
That was when it happened.
"However..."
Yi Seo-ryeong suddenly pulled a small silk pouch from her bosom.
From it, she drew out several photos and fanned them out before me like a hand of cards.
"......?"
Each photo featured a stunning female hunter.
I recognized them all from TV or the internet.
Judging by their Chinese-style attire, they were all disciples of the Azure Heaven Alliance.
Why these photos all of a sudden...? As I stared at her in confusion,
"These girls are ones I hold quite dear."
"Yes."
I see.
"On second thought, having a woman my age... guarding your side might be inconvenient in many ways. It would require formality, and it wouldn't be much fun."
She gave me a wistful smile.
"So how about having one of them instead? Wouldn't you prefer a younger, prettier girl tending to you over me?"
"......"
"They would consider it the highest honor to serve you."
The dongpo pork I'd just eaten felt lodged in my throat.
I was thoroughly flustered.
For starters, even if she was older than me, the difference was negligible.
If anything, Yi Seo-ryeong was closer to my age.
But before that, another possibility occurred to me.
She was the Alliance Leader of the Azure Heaven Alliance, head of a top ten guild, on the cusp of a massive joint operation with the orthodox sects.
For someone like her to spend time as a mere bodyguard for a counselor would be a huge loss for the guild.
Maybe she was politely trying to back out due to a busy schedule.
If so, insisting would make me seem oblivious.
So I checked her true intentions first.
It seemed genuine.
Not some Kyoto-style rhetoric or an excuse.
She truly believed I found her burdensome.
I looked at her wistful smile...
- Tap.
...and gathered up all the photos from the table.
At that gesture, Yi Seo-ryeong closed her eyes and nodded silently.
But then.
- Swipe.
I closed them back up and held them out to her.
She tilted her head at the covered photos, then made an "oh" face as if realizing something.
"Ah... If none of these girls appeal to you... I can show you others..."
She was still misunderstanding.
I didn't want to drag this out seriously.
The mood felt off.
So I decided to lighten things up playfully.
"Shall I be honest?"
"...Y-yes, please do..."
Yi Seo-ryeong straightened up to listen intently.
"These three are pretty, of course... but..."
It was my honest impression.
"The Alliance Leader is even more beautiful."
I stood and extended my hand for a shake.
"So... instead of them, I'd like you to take the role personally."
I added with a grin.
"Looking forward to working with you from now on, Alliance Leader."
Yi Seo-ryeong's pupils shook at my words.
She lost her voice for a moment, blankly alternating between my hand and face.
Her porcelain skin flushed bright red all the way to her ears.
She hurriedly bowed her head.
And in a small, trembling voice, she finally managed a reply.
"...Y-yes. If that's what you wish, Counselor..."
At last, she reached out her trembling hand and clasped mine.
The warmth from Yi Seo-ryeong's palm...
...was just a little scalding.