Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Rabbit Beastkin
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"Don't look!!"
A scream close to a wail burst from Luna's mouth.
"Yes, yes. I understand. Just calm down for now..."
I reflexively squeezed my eyes shut right away.
I tried to soothe her as gently as possible, keeping my voice tone as low as I could.
Even with my eyes closed, those white bunny ears lingered in my mind.
So fluffy...
For now, I shoved all those thoughts out of my head.
"You're not peeking, are you?! You're not looking, right?!"
"No, I'm not."
I turned my back slightly, using my whole body to prove that I posed no threat to her at all.
At my actions, her ragged breathing began to slow, just a little, very little by little.
And in that moment, perhaps the thread of tension snapped.
"Hic..."
A tiny sob reached my ears.
"It happened again... Sniff."
Her voice grew more and more pitiful.
Then, right in front of my closed eyes—in the darkness—a familiar message appeared.
[Warning: Compound Magic (B-Grade) is trying to detach from you.]
It was a notification that Luna was trying to use an escape magic.
I could feel mana swirling intensely beneath her feet.
And the next message was completely different from before.
[Would you like to cancel the Compound Magic (Rabbit Burrow)? (Y/N)]
This time, the system was asking for my input.
You should've asked earlier, too.
Rabbit Burrow, huh?
It seemed to be Luna's movement skill.
A technique that suited her appearance well... but not a perception-lowering spell, and I could cancel even this?
'......'
Luna seemed a bit sloppy when it came to magic.
From what I knew, Otherworlders from the Empire were all extremely proficient with magic.
The awakeners of this world could handle magic too, but their development and level were far behind the Empire's, so they received a lot of help from Otherworlders.
Yet an S-Rank Hunter from the Empire was getting her spells canceled by me...
In the end, I decided not to cancel it this time.
Forcing her to stay right now would be the worst possible move.
It was better to let a terrified rabbit dig her own burrow and escape rather than cornering her.
I selected N in my mind.
[Rabbit Burrow (B) cancellation refused. The user is detaching from you.]
- Pop!
I slowly opened my eyes at the sound.
No one was in front of me. Only a faint strawberry scent lingered.
I stared at the empty chair for a moment before quietly pressing the button on the intercom provided in the counseling room.
"Team Leader, could you come back in?"
Less than a minute later, the door nearly burst open as the HR team leader came rushing in.
His face was a mix of worry—'Did something happen with Luna?'—and anticipation—'Is the session over already?'
"Counselor! Did something... Huh? Where's Luna...?"
He looked around the empty room in confusion.
I gestured for him to sit here.
And I pushed the still-warm cup of tea I'd just prepared toward him.
"Have a cup first."
My calm demeanor only made the team leader more fidgety.
I lifted my teacup, savored its aroma once, then got to the point.
Keeping my gaze fixed on his eyes.
"Team Leader. How much do you know about Luna?"
My question was less out of genuine curiosity and more like a test.
The information she was desperately trying to hide—that she was a Beastkin.
If even Union Guild didn't know, I'd have to go in the direction of keeping her secret.
I needed to confirm.
"Pardon?... What do you mean..."
As expected, the team leader's eyes wavered in panic.
Good. You know.
I met his eyes and spoke softly.
"What I'm asking about is related to Luna's origins."
At that, the team leader let out a deep sigh.
"Haa... You've already figured it out."
With a weary expression, he finally admitted everything.
"It took us a whole year just to find out..."
I gave a slight smile and shook my head.
"What should we do, Counselor?"
His voice carried a desperate plea for help.
I answered calmly.
"I'll handle it from here on out."
I paused to choose my words, then laid out my future plans.
"First, we'll see Luna last today. If she doesn't show up even then... we'll catch her later."
"Pardon? But she's the most urgent..."
The team leader tried to add something in confusion.
"She's in an extremely sensitive state right now. Our meeting probably wasn't pleasant for her."
Not just this morning, but even including last week, it hadn't been pleasant at all.
I added inwardly and continued.
"Instead of forcing it, let's give her some time."
At my explanation, the team leader nodded.
"In exchange, I have one request."
I looked at him and said.
"Could you prepare the guild's organizational chart? Including origins and such."
"The org chart...? Yes, of course. I'll get it ready right away!"
The team leader jumped up and hurried out.
I gazed at the empty chair across from me.
I was still busy.
There were plenty of clients even without Luna.
Several more counseling sessions followed.
Most were about mild identity confusion from being Otherworlders or light stress after battles.
The kind that could be brushed off appropriately.
"Thank you, physician. Your words have made my path forward much clearer."
"No problem. Come back anytime."
The one who had just finished counseling was a ronin from the Central Plains.
He had despaired over his position, belonging to neither the Orthodox Factions nor the Demonic Cult.
I had presented him with a new perspective: that not belonging anywhere was the true way of a ronin.
He left the counseling room with a relieved expression.
I turned on the tablet PC to check the next in line.
A dwarf from the Empire. A blacksmith suffering from creative torment lately.
Hoping to glean some info on Luna as well, I called toward the door.
"Next, please come in."
- Creak.
The door opened, and the next client entered.
But there stood a single gray rabbit.
Long, bushy hair framed ears that stood tall and perky, their tips dyed black.
Her outfit was incredibly bold—a full-body legging-style battle suit that exposed every curve without shame.
She approached with light steps, perched her hip on the edge of my desk, and leaned in deeply.
"Whoa~ Teacher, you're super handsome, huh?"
She scanned me with red eyes, then lightly licked her lips with her tongue.
'Who is this? Did the order change?'
Hiding my bewilderment, I quickly glanced at the guild member list on the tablet PC.
It contained the org chart.
The profile of the woman before me popped up on the screen.
The client's name was Elise.
From the Empire like Luna... and a Beastkin.
It explicitly said Beastkin. In her profile photo, she proudly displayed her ears.
She seemed the type to flaunt her identity openly.
My ability had already finished analyzing the moment I recognized her name.
[Suitable Response] [Satisfaction Suitability 100%]
[Fulfill her wish.]
'...?'
Who decided that?
I had no intention of granting it.
But... what was this?
No matter how I looked, she didn't seem mentally troubled.
There was no trace of worry or trauma in her Main Stance—only primal desire filled it.
Hard to see her as a client.
Which meant Elise was probably...
I formed a hypothesis and waited for her next move.
"Teaaacher~"
She leaned even closer toward me. Gray hair cascaded along her face.
"Whatcha doing after we're done today?"
"Probably... heading straight home if nothing comes up."
I answered calmly.
"Mmm. Really? Wanna grab a meal with me then?"
She tossed out the next offer without giving up.
And she began staring piercingly at my face with unabashed eyes.
Scanning my eyes, nose, lips in order.
A satisfied smile crept onto her lips.
"Hmm... Nah. The more I look, the more you're my type. Wanna just sleep with me?"
Elise dropped the bombshell casually.
Without giving me time to respond, she hammered it in.
"Even though I'm a rabbit Beastkin, I don't do this with just anyone, you know? For real. Seriously."
I wasn't particularly surprised.
This was the image of Beastkin I'd known from media and rumors.
Luna was just the unusual case.
I gave the textbook response.
"I'm sorry, Elise, but due to professional ethics, I don't form personal relationships with clients."
At my reply, Elise's smile deepened further.
"Mmm... I see?"
She drew a handspan closer and whispered in a sweet voice.
"But, I'm not a client, am I?"
I figured as much.
She looked perfectly healthy, after all.
I replied nonchalantly.
"Yeah, I thought so."
"Ooh~ Then?"
Elise's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"I'll pass."
For the first time, Elise's smile faltered.