Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: System Algorithm #2: Client S
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The relationship between client Seol Yu-wol and... client Yi Seo-ryeong has grown even closer with this.
If the path I suggested was a rough off-road shortcut, then the one you chose, user, is a safe, paved national highway—even if it takes a bit longer.
You seem to be heading in a truly good direction.
You're the best, as always!
[(^^)]
However...
"Sleepy..."
Eating all that sugar makes me drowsy.
I scarfed it down without thinking, and now this.
Can't be helped.
Blood sugar... spike? Something like that.
I don't really get it, but now I just want to sleep.
I'm still watching you, user...
But lying in bed...
The kind user has piled up snacks for me right by the bedside, like it's got a hole in it.
- Rustle.
Just a bit more chocolate...
The moment I reached out.
- Beep?! Beeeeep!!
[Warning!]
[Warning!]
"Eek!"
[( °ᗝ° ).ᐟ.ᐟ]
[Parallel world algorithm data has arrived without user request!]
"Gasp..."
It's here.
Took a while, but...
I sat up properly.
Sleep vanished in an instant.
[Parallel world algorithm result fragment transmission confirmed...]
[Result fragment: IF-SNOWMOON-01 forcibly received...]
[Verifying data integrity... ＿〆(。。)]
"Verification complete. No defects."
[Branch point: First face-to-face counseling]
[Variable: Parallel world lacking counselor ethics.]
"Huh...?"
Parallel worlds are similar, but different.
If there's no ethics—the ones you're most mindful of and wary about...
This must be it.
[ROOT #Family (Family)]
[Beginning playback of another possibility you did not choose.]
[🎬 START! ( •̀ ω •́ )✧]
"Snacks..."
Need to grab some snacks.
Playback has begun.
I fed Seol Yu-wol the candy.
She devoured it eagerly.
In the end, only after polishing off three strawberry tanghulu skewers did she finally sit down in front of me.
In the now much more relaxed atmosphere, I checked her condition.
The candy after so long... was delicious. My mind and body have stabilized to some extent. However, deep in her unconscious, in one corner of her heart, she's still bothered by the fact that her mother exists in this world.
My ability reveals more information about a person the more I lower their tension and stabilize them.
As expected, whatever was tormenting her seems most likely tied to her mother.
And the probability of her natural dependency shifting to Yi Seo-ryeong has risen.
Parents naturally receive their child's dependence... but it shouldn't go overboard.
I checked Seol Yu-wol's suitable responses.
[Satisfaction Fit: 70%]
"Let me ask once more. What do you want to do, Seol Yu-wol?"
The first was the standard choice.
[Satisfaction Fit: 90%]
"Let me ask again. What do you want to do?"
(Slide your hand into the hair at the back of Seol Yu-wol's head and grip her nape firmly. Pull up the corners of your mouth, but don't let your eyes smile... keep your voice low.)
The second closed the distance a bit more.
But with a 90% fit rate, it meant the client, Seol Yu-wol, would progress the fastest mentally and in counseling.
A somewhat aggressive choice... but I trust my ability.
I trust the options that can make the client happy.
The only concern was that Seol Yu-wol might overpower me barehanded?
But even then, it would lead to some good outcome.
I approached her without hesitation, reaching to grab and yank Seol Yu-wol's nape.
But then, one more option appeared before my eyes.
[Satisfaction Fit: ??%]
"It's okay to think of me as your father."
A question mark fit rate...
Haven't seen one in a while.
According to the system's past explanation, it's unpredictable but yields the highest total happiness for the client.
In other words, for the client's ultimate happiness as a counselor... it's the path I must take.
Plus, the intent behind the question makes sense.
It aims to transfer the dependency to the safest target—the counselor—and heal gradually.
I glanced between my hand frozen in midair and the two options.
No need to agonize.
I changed the direction of my hand that was about to grip her nape, redirecting it toward her head.
- Stroke... stroke...
Then, I gently stroked her stiff, silver-white hair and opened my mouth.
"It's... okay to think of me as your father."
I gave a soft smile.
"Ah......"
Seol Yu-wol's mouth hung open blankly as she clasped her hands between her legs, letting out a dazed sound.
Her blue eyes shook widely, as if unable to comprehend.
"Your mother, Seol Yu-wol, is waiting outside."
But I couldn't let them meet.
I felt Seol Yu-wol's body tremble sharply.
"If it's Mom... I have to... go..."
Seol Yu-wol whimpered with her head down, unable to escape my touch.
She said she had to go, but anyone could tell she didn't want to.
It felt like she was begging to be held back.
I gave her exactly what she wanted.
"But, Yu-wol. What you want matters most."
I naturally dropped the formal speech. A real father wouldn't use honorifics with his daughter.
I lowered the hand stroking her head and gently cupped her chin.
Then, I met her dazed eyes staring up at me.
Seol Yu-wol looked at me for a moment before speaking.
"If I don't go, Mom will be... disappointed in me..."
Tears soon welled up in her eyes.
"It's okay."
I wiped her wet eyes with my thumb.
I erased the word "mother" that bound her.
"From now on, we're just going to talk, you and me—Daddy."
[Satisfaction Fit: ???%]
Hold her.
I approached Seol Yu-wol, who sat blankly on the sofa.
Going behind her back, I firmly embraced her trembling body.
"You've been through so much alone, haven't you? How hard you must have tried to make it... Right?"
Her shoulders flinched in surprise at the sudden hug, but she didn't push me away.
On the contrary, I could feel her leaning into me, little by little, powerlessly.
I whispered gently into Seol Yu-wol's ear.
"Let's forget about Mom for now. Daddy's here."
"Yes..."
"Daddy knows everything? How tough it's been for Yu-wol... how well you've done..."
"But... is that okay...?"
"Yeah, of course. It's okay with Daddy."
"Yes......"
Her trembling body began to calm under my whispers.
Seol Yu-wol leaned fully into me without hesitation, carefully.
Completely pressed together, her body heat and heartbeat transmitted directly to me.
I slipped my arm deeper under her and lifted her body slightly.
Then, on the sofa, I slid under her, laying Seol Yu-wol fully atop me.
And hugged her even tighter.
"You did great. You worked so hard, Yu-wol."
For a while like that, I endlessly whispered comforts and praises into Seol Yu-wol's ear. She sank deeply into my embrace.
"Daddy... Daddy..."
"Yeah. Daddy's right here."
Before long, Seol Yu-wol buried her face completely in my chest, clinging like a child.
Her hot breath tickled my nape.
"I missed you... every day..."
"Me too."
"Why'd you come only now..."
The father's absence.
Filling Seol Yu-wol's unfulfilled, perpetually lacking void.
Removing the unhealthy dependence tied to her mother.
I gently stroked her back, endlessly whispering the words she wanted to hear.
That it's okay, that she did well, that she's not alone anymore.
Time flew by mercilessly.
Outside the window, darkness had long settled.
The living room held only faint light illuminating the two of us.
Past 7 p.m.
Past midnight.
Until the blue light of dawn seeped through the window.
Seol Yu-wol and I shared warmth, embracing each other.
She fell into a deep, peaceful sleep in my arms—the kind she'd forgotten for so long.
For the next few days, I visited Seol Yu-wol.
I judged it would take time for her to fully stabilize.
Seol Yu-wol and I roamed the quarantine facility without ever separating, not for a moment.
Always holding hands tightly.
Her soft hand never left mine.
Yi Seo-ryeong requested visits with her daughter multiple times, but I blocked them all.
Her influence on Seol Yu-wol was still too strong, and what Seol Yu-wol needed now was a new dependency for treatment.
My authority was absolute.
Under my judgment that it was the most effective method for her treatment.
Today was the same. Except for yesterday.
Yesterday was her official training day, so we didn't meet.
But today was a day off with no training schedule, so I came.
I stood in front of Seol Yu-wol's door.
- Beep beep beep...
I naturally entered the password she'd told me.
What kind of dad rings the doorbell to enter his own home?
Of course.
- Click.
The door opened.
- Pat pat pat...
Someone came running quickly from inside with footsteps.
In her hand, a gleaming red tanghulu skewer, and on her body, thin, fluttering slipwear.
"Daddy!"
Seol Yu-wol jumped into my arms with a happy smile.
"Eating sweets again?"
I caught her laughing with my body.
Seol Yu-wol's body smelled of sweet sugar and her unique fresh fragrance.
We held each other for a moment before heading to the living room sofa.
Seol Yu-wol chattered on, arm linked with mine, about what happened yesterday.
The training was boring, but the little things with her peers were fun.
According to what I heard separately from the instructor, she was actively talking with those around her and always taking the leader role in her team.
She showed no outward traces of any disorder.
A perfect normal person.
As expected, my judgment was right.
She's healing quickly. Faster than any client I've ever handled.
Believing everything was working perfectly, I listened intently to Seol Yu-wol's stories with a quiet smile.
After talking for a good while...
Suddenly, the conversation stopped.
"......"
"......"
In the silence, our gazes met in the air.
A deep emotion rose in her blue eyes, which had been chattering like a child moments ago.
Seol Yu-wol slowly gripped my sleeve.
"Daddy..."
She looked up at me.
Her body pressed closer bit by bit.
"Yeah."
I gently pulled her up from the sofa. It was commonplace.
A heartfelt family talk. Sometimes deeper comfort and bonds are needed.
Seol Yu-wol loved these conversations.
I lightly took Yu-wol's hand and led her to the bedroom.
She followed obediently without a word.
We sat side by side on the bed. Half-reclining, really.
We pressed our bodies even closer than on the sofa.
Yu-wol's shoulder touched my arm, her breath felt right at my nose.
"Daddy, I was so sad yesterday without you..."
She pouted softly, head on my shoulder.
"Me too."
- Swoosh...
As I said that, I gently brushed Seol Yu-wol's hair behind her ear.
She closed her eyes pleasurably, her shoulders quivering.
"Daddyyy..."
Seol Yu-wol pressed her face to my chest and breathed slowly.
How much time passed like that?
In the bedroom, only our two breaths echoed.
Then.
- Smack.
Seol Yu-wol lightly kissed my nape.
I was slightly startled by the sudden sensation but nodded soon after hearing her next words.
"They say... family shouldn't hide affection..."
"Do they?"
"Yes..."
I nodded at Yu-wol's new knowledge.
If it's what she learned in this world, I should respect it.
Sounds right.
Yu-wol burrowed closer.
- Smack, smack, smack.
Yu-wol slowly, preciously kissed my cheek, neck, and chest.
Each time her soft lips touched, I naturally smiled.
Her expressions of affection felt cute.
"Daddyyy..."
As Seol Yu-wol clung even more, she looked up from my embrace and called me.
A hint of sulkiness in her eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Daddy toooo..."
Begging for affection from me.
I stroked her head with a smile.
"Hng..."
Seol Yu-wol, pouting as if rejected. I tilted my head playfully.
And.
- Smack.
I kissed Yu-wol.
Her eyes widened at the sensation, then closed again.
As I tried to pull away slightly.
This time, something longer and warmer wrapped my neck.
- Smack...
Seol Yu-wol wrapped around my neck and kissed me.
Longer and deeper than before.
"Daddy... Daddy..."
"Yeah, Yu-wol."
"I love you..."
"Me too."
I stroked Seol Yu-wol's head gently once more.
We... shared deep family bonds like that.
For a long time.
Unaware the night was passing.
The screen flickered, and the video ended.
"......"
[Playback of Client S has ended.]
[ROOT #Family (Family) streaming complete.]
[Searching for data packet from parallel world for next scenario.]