Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Two Choices?
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Union Guild's top-floor lounge, reserved exclusively for hunters.
Luxurious leather sofas and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the cityscape.
Just as the Union Guild lived up to its name, hunters of all sorts of appearances were engaged in lively conversation.
"I just can't figure out why the coffee here tastes so damn bitter. No matter how much time passes, I can't get used to it... I miss the Lucia beans from back in the Empire."
Viktor, son of an Empire viscount, clad in ornate battle attire, grumbled his complaint.
Gathered around him were others of similar ilk—former nobles now branded as Otherworlders.
They carried on their conversation laced with subtle contempt, insisting that nothing on this Earth suited their refined tastes.
Even after spending considerable time on Earth, their arrogance hadn't diminished in the slightest.
"Speaking of which, that irreverent beast seems to be absent today. The guild's prized face is nowhere to be seen, leaving things feeling rather empty."
The others burst into mocking laughter at Viktor's jab.
The "rabbit" they referred to was Luna, Union Guild's star hunter—and to them, an eternal outsider.
At that moment, a man with particularly delicate features spoke up quietly.
Lian, second son of an Empire earl.
"So, the beastkin has the day off today?"
Viktor caught the underlying interest in his voice and clicked his tongue in retort.
"What does it matter to you, Lian? It's all for the better if that vulgar rabbit wench doesn't show."
"...Quite right. I was merely saying it's good she's not here."
Lian elegantly swirled the wine glass in his hand, countering without a change in expression.
But as if mocking his words, a figure buried in the opposite sofa muttered softly.
"Idiot, you just miss looking at her, don't you?"
The nobles' conversation fell silent at the black rabbit's blunt remark.
Viktor recovered first, glaring at her with a face flushed in rage.
"You dare... spewing such lowly filth in front of us..."
"Hng~"
Elise showed no sign of intimidation, instead twitching her perky ash-gray ears as if amused.
She slowly rose from the sofa, flashing a smile laced with contempt and mockery toward them.
And as she did, she extended her hand toward Viktor, who was pointing accusingly at her.
Then, with utmost elegance.
She extended only her long, slender middle finger.
Even as an Otherworlder, Viktor knew exactly what that gesture meant.
"...!"
Viktor's face twisted in shock.
"You still think this is the Empire, huh? And the moron next to you drools over a plump rabbit but pretends not to notice. You think we don't see through it?"
Viktor and Lian's faces burned red with humiliation.
As Viktor's hand drifted toward the decorative sword at his waist, Elise shifted into a low stance, stepping forward slightly with her right leg.
The lounge's atmosphere swelled taut, on the verge of explosion—right then.
- Creeeak.
The lounge door opened, and a woman stepped inside.
Snow-white hair with a striking red streak running through it.
Luna.
She took in the hair-trigger standoff before her and faintly furrowed her brow.
But as if utterly disinterested, she gave a light nod toward the nobles' gathering.
Then she headed straight for Elise.
"You've got a dispatch to the center this afternoon. Don't be rude, and no slacking off. Got it?"
Her tone was that of an older sister scolding a wayward sibling.
With that, she turned on her heel toward the door, as if she'd said all she needed to.
"...? You came all the way here just to tell me that?"
Elise asked incredulously. She'd said she was heading to counseling today.
Luna gripped the door handle without turning back.
"Yeah. You weren't planning to go."
Elise flinched.
She'd hit the nail on the head.
"Fine, I'll go. Don't cause a scene."
- Click.
"Tch."
Elise plopped back down on the sofa, fuming.
Don't cause a scene.
Because her big sister Luna had said so.
The next morning, I opened the counseling room door with a touch of fatigue.
It was from diving into old research papers late into the night.
As I brewed coffee and reviewed today's schedule—that very moment.
What greeted me upon arrival wasn't the rabbit or any clients.
"Pardon the intrusion."
- Thud!
The counseling room door swung wide, and several burly men in black suits barged in without permission, hauling a massive wooden crate.
Their movements were precise, their aura far from ordinary deliverymen.
The enormous crate barely squeezed through the doorway.
- Thump!
The crate hit the counseling room lobby floor with a boom.
A bizarre emblem was stamped on top.
"What... is this?"
At my question, the man seemingly leading them approached and bowed politely.
"A gift from the Supreme One. She said to convey it's compensation for damaging your property last time."
Compensation from Jahwa-yeon?
For the $50 prefab table she'd smashed with her fist?
While I stood stunned, they began dismantling the crate.
Inside, wrapped in black silk, emerged a massive table.
A table.
Yes, a table... but.
It was carved from a single block of obsidian-black jade.
The legs featured gold dragon and phoenix ornaments.
And their hands didn't stop there.
From the soft silk bedding inside the emptied crate, they pulled out a gleaming black nameplate.
[Divine Physician Yoo Seon-woo]
Divine Physician.
A title that's way too burdensome, seriously.
"W-Wait a minute."
My modest counseling room can't handle imperial furniture and titles like this.
But my protests fell on deaf ears.
They positioned the table perfectly in the center of the room, placed the nameplate atop it, and only then stopped.
"We'll take our leave then."
Like men who'd completed their mission, they bowed deeply once more, gathered every scrap of the crate remnants, and departed.
As the leader turned to leave, he paused as if remembering something.
"Ah, and a message from the Supreme One."
He relayed it in a flat tone, like an oracle.
"She will visit soon. Be prepared."
With that, they vanished silently.
I pressed my temples and let out a deep sigh.
"Ah... my head."
The broken table could've been handled with the association's reimbursement anyway.
No need for this...
Still, it looked like genuinely luxurious furniture.
And the gold lettering on the nameplate.
This couldn't actually be real gold, could it...?
I stopped thinking for now.
It was 8 a.m. Time to get ready.
Today's first appointment was at 9 sharp.
I headed to the small kitchen, preheated the oven, and pulled out prepped dough.
The sweet aroma of melting butter and sugar filled the counseling room.
I carefully spread freshly whipped white cream over the hot-out-of-the-oven cookies.
And topped each with a single strawberry.
I placed the cookie on a small plate in the center of Jahwa-yeon's gifted table.
'...Doesn't match.'
A cute cookie on a black table...
As I stared at the odd scene created by the mismatched items.
- Creeeak.
Exactly at 9 a.m.
The counseling room door opened cautiously.
And someone entered.
Luna.
Her outfit was the same as when she came for sessions—no different from work attire.
She could dress more comfortably.
"Hello?"
I stood from my chair, smiling faintly as I greeted her.
"Hello..."
Luna bowed in return and hesitantly stepped inside.
Her red eyes widened in surprise at the black table dominating the room's center and the massive nameplate.
"Oh, don't mind it. Must be a delivery mix-up."
I'll at least tuck the nameplate away.
"Anyway... glad you came."
Her shoulders twitched slightly at my words.
"Honestly, I was a bit worried. Wondered if you might have come to dislike me."
I smiled awkwardly, bringing all the awkward incidents between us to the surface.
And pinned the blame on myself.
"It wasn't intentional. My ability acted on its own and was rude..."
"Ah... I see..."
I slowly checked Luna's status.
Status window looks good.
No hostility or anxiety.
Now, time to move to the next step slowly.
I gestured toward the table.
Two teacups and a small white plate sat ready.
"Have whichever you'd like."
I slid both cups toward her.
One bitter Americano, the other sweet latte.
Not sure of her preference, so I prepared both.
She chose the latte.
As I fetched my Americano, I gently pushed the small white plate toward her.
"And this... is the strawberry I promised."
I said with a smile.
Luna looked down at the plate.
A cookie topped with a plump, red strawberry.
And... after a long hesitation, she finally reached out tentatively.
Just before she picked it up, I added one last comment.
"Not sure if it'll suit your taste. I hear beastkin don't care much for sweets."
"Ah... I like them."
With her reply, she nibbled the cookie like a little bird.
Her red eyes widened round in surprise.
Nothing like what she'd had yesterday, which had gone stale in packaging.
This was fresh out of the oven, less than five minutes ago.
The texture melting in her mouth, buttery richness, soft cream, tangy strawberry.
I could feel the tension easing from her stiffened shoulders.
This is my favorite method, after all.
Nothing breaks the ice like a well-made dessert.
Now... time for the real counseling.
'...?'
The first suitable response makes sense.
A textbook counselor approach. The 80% satisfaction proves it.
But what's with the second one?
I expected it to be low, but surprisingly high.
Forced tone, even?
My ability usually shows clear right and wrong answers.
But these both seemed like decent options.
I analyzed what the two choices meant while watching Luna munch her cookie.
No matter how I looked, the next response would set the counseling's direction.
'What to do.'
I fell deep into thought.