Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Big Sister
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Today is an important day.
A pretty meaningful one, too.
For me.
And probably for her, as well.
I got out of bed and checked the morning news briefly.
As I scanned the screen with eyes still heavy from sleep, I suddenly froze in place.
The entire Hunter world is abuzz with the news of the Azure Heaven Alliance and Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's merger, announced late last night.
Wiping away past grudges to protect the rights of Hunters from the Central Plains and...
The screen showed a photo of the two women I'd met yesterday standing side by side, shaking hands.
Yi Seo-ryeong wore a gentle smile, but Jahwa-yeon looked oddly pouty.
"You did it."
They ended up joining forces after all.
I nodded and turned off the TV.
This massive group called the New Central Plains would probably shake up the whole landscape.
I got dressed while continuing my thoughts.
Today, I wasn't heading to the counseling office.
It was Seol Yu-wol's graduation day.
A day to celebrate her new beginning wholeheartedly.
"How do I look? Passable?"
I gave my outfit one last check in the mirror, then spoke toward the hole in the wall by the bed.
[...You nailed it completely.]
"...Huh?"
[The outfit you chose today isn't just any outfit... It's resounding like a declaration...]
Why was it acting like this all of a sudden?
As I stood there blankly, it responded.
[Just kidding... You look amazing, User!]
"Yeah. Thanks."
I smiled and turned to leave the room.
But then, something crawled out from the hole.
- Wiggle wiggle.
[👍]
A hearty thumbs-up.
"Heh."
I gently patted the thumbs-up once before heading out.
The area in front of the Association was incredibly crowded.
Otherworlders go through several stages, basically.
After arriving in this unfamiliar world, completing identity verification and basic aptitude tests, the Association shows them a list of earlier arrivals from the same world.
It arranges meetings if they know someone, helping them adapt faster.
The list started sparse, but as more worlds transferred and Otherworlder numbers grew, connections increased.
Even indirect acquaintances are better than total strangers.
So days like today were especially hectic.
It was graduation day for this batch of Otherworlders.
Family and folks from home welcoming those emerging from isolation after training.
And Guild staff desperately scouting promising talents.
I wove through the crowd.
They couldn't meet until after, but I could go inside.
Heading to the dorms...
'Would be pointless.'
They'd be leaving after graduation anyway, bags already packed.
Probably waiting in the auditorium or a nearby lounge.
I paused and stopped by the item storage near the entrance.
Seol Yu-wol's graduation gift was here.
I'd bought and stored it earlier.
I punched in the locker number and opened the door to retrieve it.
That was when...
"Counselor! There you are!"
"?"
A familiar voice called out.
I turned to see the Association team leader in charge of Seol Yu-wol approaching, slightly sweaty.
"What's up?"
He must be swamped with graduation prep...
"Oh, just something I need to tell you. Got a minute?"
He seemed subtly urgent.
I needed to see Seol Yu-wol, but...
No helping it.
I followed him.
He led me to a reception room.
His hurried demeanor suggested important business, so I went along.
The gift wasn't big, so I carried the bag as is.
The team leader opened the reception room door.
"Huh?"
But an unexpected figure sat inside.
A familiar silhouette on the window sofa, legs crossed, gazing outside.
Purple hair cascading over a soft white dress.
It was Mary.
"Mary?"
She turned slowly at my voice.
Smiling softly as if she'd expected me, she stood.
"Hey, Seon-woo. Long time no see?"
She greeted me casually.
"Yeah, been a while."
Not that long, really, but I was glad anyway.
Wait a sec.
At this timing.
While Stove League was still ongoing.
In the Association reception room.
Her, the missing S-Rank FA mega-prospect?
Naturally, that led to...
She signed with the Association?
"No way, you...?"
I grinned in disbelief and asked.
Mary chuckled and nodded.
"That's how it went."
Her eyes curved up slightly.
"Looking forward to working with you... Senior?"
Teasing tone as she offered her hand.
I rushed over and gripped it firmly without hesitation.
- Squeeze!
"That's awesome, for real."
She beamed at my thrilled reaction.
"Didn't expect you'd be this happy."
Her cheeks even flushed a bit.
Only then did I realize and loosen my grip slightly.
"Well, I heard you were struggling over at Haetae."
I'd half-expected her to go elsewhere.
But the Association? Perfect.
No downsides.
Anyway, I pulled her to the sofa and sat.
The team leader joined naturally.
"So, how'd it happen?"
I couldn't resist the Stove League scoop.
"...It actually involves you, too."
At Mary's loaded words, as I tilted my head, the team leader beside us spoke cautiously.
"May I explain from here?"
"Sure? Yeah, go ahead."
Made sense why he'd brought me here.
"You're aware that after Otherworlders graduate, Guilds assign additional trainers."
"Yes."
I'd been trained by one at Haetae.
And assigned some myself.
Association probably same.
"So, for this round's trainer."
"Seol Yu-wol Hunter's instructor."
"Yes."
"We've decided on Mary Hunter as her dedicated technical advisor and master."
"What?"
Master? Advisor?
Matching levels for training was ideal, but...
An S-Rank training another S-Rank? Impractical.
Labor costs, opportunity costs.
Assigning such talent to one newbie wasn't simple.
Especially for the Association without S-Rank firepower.
I looked back and forth between Mary and the team leader in shock.
"Just~"
Mary drawled lazily, leaning on the sofa back.
"I wanted to join the Association, and she's the Otherworlder you handled, right? So I figured I'd teach her 'specially' and 'well'."
"..."
So, for my sake?
Because she's my former charge.
She joined the Association partly to mentor her properly as an S-Rank.
Touching.
Her Association move might stem from Guild fatigue, as she said.
But volunteering for Seol Yu-wol's training? Totally different.
No group would waste her on training anyway.
S-Ranks don't apprentice.
Yet she stepped up.
For my Otherworlder.
"Thanks."
That was all I could say.
"Really."
The team leader had quietly slipped out.
Probably to give us space.
Mary stood, sat beside me.
Her sweet scent wafted close.
"But... I'm worried about something."
"What?"
"We're pretty tight, right?"
"Yeah."
Mary and I were close.
Even closer after the curse incident.
"But you're her bodyguard now, and she's the guardee? Plus, she was your client."
She tapped her chin, face complicated.
"Kinda worried... if I get a bit strict as her master, it might... strain things with her, and affect you."
I got it.
Our tangled ties might make her strictness rub Seol Yu-wol wrong, rebounding to me.
"She's young, so she might feel a bit hurt. That's what I'm pondering."
Thoughtful of her, but...
Seol Yu-wol wouldn't badmouth me over criticism.
She'd blame herself, work harder.
Especially with my connection to Mary.
Less sulky youth, more cautious kid.
No need to worry.
"Don't worry... It'll be fine."
I dismissed it confidently.
I knew for sure.
"...You sound super sure. You trust her a lot, huh."
Her tone shifted subtly at my certainty.
Then she eyed the small shopping bag on the sofa arm to my right.
"Yeah, she's still young. And sweet."
Very sweet.
"...What's that?"
"Oh, graduation gift for the Otherworlder. Prepared it separately."
My first Otherworlder client memento, too.
"...Jealous."
"Jealous of what."
She could buy pricier easy.
"How young is she?"
Mary asked about Seol Yu-wol's details.
Tricky.
Central Plains age vs. modern differ.
Anyway, convert to modern...
I calculated mentally.
Birthday recent, so pre-transfer, legally minor.
Now exactly twenty. Fresh adult.
"Just turned twenty."
"...Really young."
Mary tilted her head, staring at my bag.
Then I spoke.
"Guess that makes you the big sister, Mary."
Younger than me.
Older than Seol Yu-wol.
'Just teach her well as big sis.'
I kept that thought internal. Felt off saying it.
But purely hoped she'd be a great mentor and sister.
"..."
Mary stared at me.
"...Yeah."
A moment later, she replied with a slight lip curl.
