Chapter 119

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 119

Chapter Title: Ability Awakening (2)

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Lee Seo-ryeong watched the subtle war of nerves between the two for a moment…

Then she naturally took a step back.

Mary's position was that of a superior at work.

She judged it wouldn't look good for her to butt in here and take her daughter's side.

'She'll do fine.'

From here on, it was her daughter Seol Yu-wol's story.

Whose daughter is she, anyway.

Yoo Seon-woo felt the same.

"You two should talk it out…"

Though he'd counseled her, Seol Yu-wol was a full-fledged hunter and Otherworlder now.

He figured this was something for those two to sort out.

So he tried to slip away naturally too, but…

- Squeeze…

Seol Yu-wol gripped his hand tightly and looked up at him, shaking her head.

Her blue eyes pleaded with him not to go.

'Oh no.'

How could he leave after seeing that?

Yoo Seon-woo had a particular soft spot for Seol Yu-wol.

No other reason.

She was an Otherworlder he'd personally cared for from start to finish, so it was only natural he'd grown attached.

Just how these things go.

And Seol Yu-wol was aware of it, consciously or not.

"How about some tea together…?"

Yoo Seon-woo smiled awkwardly and invited Mary.

"Mm…"

Mary, who'd watched the whole exchange from start to finish, furrowed her brow slightly.

She held out a hand toward Yoo Seon-woo as if telling him to hold on, then stared straight at Seol Yu-wol.

"Yu-wol."

Seol Yu-wol had subtly hidden behind him to avoid Mary's gaze.

"Yes?"

Mary seemed irked by the sight. She crossed her arms and took a step toward her, opening her mouth.

"Seon-woo's your 'protected' now, right? I don't think he's someone you should cling to and depend on like that anymore."

Her voice was soft… no.

Objectively, it was just cold.

"I get that you had a counselor-client relationship, but wasn't that officially over?"

"From the looks of it, you haven't even separated work and personal properly yet. How can you handle bodyguard duty like…"

Mary hammered in the fundamentals so Seol couldn't argue back.

But nothing she said was wrong. Perfectly natural advice from a superior or senior.

'She's right, but it's still a work in progress.'

Yoo Seon-woo thought the same, but saw it a bit differently.

Of course she needed time to adjust.

Just as he opened his mouth to defend her, right then—

- Squeeze.

Seol Yu-wol, who'd been holding his hand, gripped it even tighter.

Yoo Seon-woo turned to look at her.

"It's okay…"

She whispered softly, then stepped out from behind him.

She faced Mary head-on and bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry…"

Mary's eyes widened at the unexpectedly meek apology, but…

"Ha."

She didn't miss the sly upward curl at the corner of Seol Yu-wol's lowered mouth.

She couldn't hide it… or rather, was she showing it off?

Cleverly out of Seon-woo's view.

Yoo Seon-woo, meanwhile, looked proud, like she'd grown up, seeing her step out and apologize boldly.

And Seol Yu-wol knew that all too well.

What Seol wanted was a clean end to the counselor-client relationship.

And the establishment of… a new one.

Not 'Doctor'… but Seon-woo.

Or even brother-sister would be nice.

Everything that came with it—person-to-person exchanges and affection.

She was steadily advancing with her clever mind.

In that brief moment, Mary naturally reconfirmed Seol Yu-wol's feelings for Yoo Seon-woo.

She'd been half-certain already, but this sealed it.

Seol Yu-wol liked Yoo Seon-woo.

But it wasn't simple liking—her actions weren't those of a mere child.

She'd noticed it back when Seol made sure no extra bodyguards could be hired without his knowledge…

Insidious. Shady.

Mary nodded.

Anyway, on the surface, a newbie subordinate apologized, and the superior just had to accept it.

No reason to refuse Yoo Seon-woo's tea suggestion anymore.

"Sure, let's have some."

Mary turned, glancing at Seol Yu-wol and the beamingly proud Seon-woo—who knew nothing.

The world she'd come from allowed polygamy.

A strong male taking multiple fe… women was natural.

So Earth would be the same.

But.

Even so.

That didn't mean she wouldn't fend off other females eyeing what was hers.

We had tea.

I mean.

I had a question.

Doesn't "having tea" usually mean…

'Let's chat casually over tea.'

Even if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not super chatty…

At least basics like "Please take care of me" or "What are you good at?" Some personnel check.

That's what I thought.

But nope.

We literally just drank tea.

- Clink.

Not even making eye contact, just tea.

Both of them only spoke to me.

What do I do?

"That was good."

Mary finished her cup first.

She stood, winking only at me.

"See you tomorrow?"

She glanced at Seol Yu-wol, then turned and left coolly.

Now, just me and Seol Yu-wol.

I stared at Mary's empty teacup, then stood with an awkward cough.

I needed to show her around my workspace.

Space awareness is priority one for protection.

We walked side by side.

As soon as we entered the counseling area, Seol started showing she'd studied protection.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Said she needed to map the routes.

I watched her back as she scanned surroundings practically face-to-ground, and thought.

Will she and Mary ever get along…?

Mary's kind… ish.

But sharp.

A bit more sly than Sea, maybe.

But that doesn't mean outright friendly.

Though Seol's so soft, maybe it'll work out…

No. Whatever. Their problem. Stop worrying. As protectee, just provide info.

"Now to the counseling room!"

My tangled thoughts cut off at Seol Yu-wol's subtly excited voice.

I smiled at her and led to the elevator.

"First time. Always heard about it…"

"Yeah."

She murmured excitedly the whole hall way.

Thinking about it, yeah.

Always talked counseling room this, that, but never visited.

Outside world via outings, sure.

But not my office.

This space was new to her.

- Beep.

I swiped the security card and opened the counseling room door.

"Come in."

"Wow…"

Seol gasped at the glimpse through the door.

She stepped in carefully, slowly exploring.

Her eyes darted everywhere.

"This is where… Doctor works…"

She murmured dazedly, looking around.

"Not here."

I smiled and opened the inner counseling room door.

This was more like a waiting area for clients.

"This is my workspace."

I showed her the room where I spent most time.

Seol entered like drawn in.

- Sniff sniff…

Then suddenly started sniffing.

"Smells like Doctor."

"…Is there a smell?"

Bean aroma, maybe.

Anyway.

I shrugged with a wry smile.

She took in the whole room for a while.

Finally sat carefully on the sofa before me.

"Um… uh…"

Seol fidgeted like she had something to say, then bowed her head.

I waited calmly.

She clenched both fists on her knees till they paled white.

Wanted to tell her relax, but.

She seemed deep in her own thoughts.

Then.

"Now!"

Whoa.

She snapped her head up.

Her eyes trembled.

"Yes."

"I… don't want to call you Doctor anymore."

"Pardon?"

I nodded.

"Sure, call me whatever's comfy. Counselor or sir's fine…"

"No!"

She cut in urgently before I finished.

Intense energy.

I tilted my head.

"We're not counselor-Otherworlder anymore…"

"Bodyguard-protectee now… just acquaintances…"

Seol kept mumbling.

"Wanted to call you… Seon-woo…"

"Yes."

I waited quietly for more.

"You're older than me…"

"Yes."

Seol looked up cautiously.

Her blue eyes shook desperately.

"Oppa… feels a bit old-fashioned…"

Oppa?

"So… so…"

Finally, she squeezed her eyes shut and blurted it.

"Seon-woo… oppa…?"

"……."

She peeked with half-lidded eyes, gauging my reaction.

"Can I… call you that…?"

Her face turned tanghulu red.

Too shy for eye contact.

But not that big a deal.

"Go ahead."

I chuckled.

"Huh?"

"Call me whatever you like."

Getting stuck on Doctor was weird anyway.

I'm not really one.

I'd planned to tweak titles, but she brought it up first.

Whatever she wants.

Hunters in the Association are casual mostly, I hear.

Not that I am one.

"Eh…?"

Seol seemed thrown by my easy okay.

She hesitated, then softly tested.

"Seon-woo… oppa…?"

"Yes."

I smiled back.

Wait.

If she calls me oppa, calling her Miss Yu-wol feels off.

Banmal it is.

"Can I drop formal too?"

"Yes! Of course!!"

She nodded eagerly, like she'd waited forever.

I smiled and called her name.

"Alright, Yu-wol."

"…Yes!"

Our relationship fully renewed.

I grinned, adding,

"Congrats on graduating, one more—"

Then.

"……?"

Fireworks emojis burst before my eyes, and a massive system window popped up behind Seol Yu-wol.

[Unlocking... 50%... 80%... 100%!]

['Counselor' special ability fully unlocked.]

[Upgrading existing functions...]

[Reconstructing entire system…]

Crazy system windows flooded my view; I didn't know where to look.

[Tutorial deemed complete.]

[Removing basic ethics filter! No more filtering provided!]

[Access to all functions now possible.]

And soon.

The word defining my ability before my eyes—[Counselor]—shattered like glass with a crackle.

Its fragments reformed into a new word.

[Counselor V.2]

With that final window.

Seol Yu-wol's status—who'd been smiling brightly moments ago—updated without my input.

And more below.

What… is this?

I stared blankly at the new reality unfolding before me.

Today, I awakened a new ability.