Chapter 17

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 17

Chapter Title: Teacher Seems Fine Too

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I racked my brains hard for a short while.

Right in front of me sat a rabbit whose heart had only just begun to soften.

So, the conclusion I'd reached for now.

Let's take the standard counselor's path.

Unless the satisfaction rate was higher, there didn't seem to be much reason to pick the other option.

No need to take risks.

I locked in the first option in my mind.

It was right then.

'What the hell.'

It had been a while since I'd seen a system confirmation message like this.

Back in the old days, when I was still clumsy with my ability, dealing with Jin Sea—it would pop up occasionally then.

It felt like it was tempting me, probing: 'There's an easier, faster path, but you're really going to take the hard road?'

But what am I supposed to do if the satisfaction rate is higher...

'Yeah, I'll do it.'

The system window vanished cleanly once it confirmed my resolve.

I focused on Luna in front of me.

Gazing softly into her red eyes, I spoke up.

"No matter what it is, feel free to tell me. It doesn't matter what happened."

In response to my words, Luna didn't reply.

Instead, she fell into a long silence.

She wrapped both hands around the latte cup on the table.

Then, very slowly, she took a sip.

Sweet milk foam clung white to her lips.

For a moment, Jahwa-yeon flashed in my mind, and I felt an impulse to reach out and wipe it away without thinking.

I suppressed the urge with effort, gripping my teacup tightly.

She set the cup down and gazed quietly out the window at the distant scenery.

Her voice, when it came, was remarkably calm and composed.

"In the Empire... there are three things they despise and scorn."

Luna continued in a low voice, as if reading from a picture book.

"The first are those vulgar martial artists who rely solely on brute strength and physical power instead of noble magic."

"......"

"The second are beasts or livestock that can't speak and exist only to serve their masters."

Her voice seemed to tremble ever so slightly, then quickly regained its calm.

She drew in a tiny breath to utter the final words.

"And... the last..."

Luna's gaze shifted from the empty space outside the window to finally land on me.

"...are beastkin like us, who possess both of those traits."

Her voice was hollow and detached.

That was the first story she had laid bare about herself.

I simply met her gaze without a word.

"······."

But as time passed, Luna couldn't continue.

She hung her head, fidgeting with her fingers, hesitating.

Guiding the client to open up is also part of the counselor's role.

I decided to clear a small path for her to walk into it on her own.

"I've heard that in the Empire, using magic is proof of bloodline and nobility."

Luna nodded cautiously, a self-deprecating smile on her lips.

"Yes. In the Empire, using magic means you have noble blood."

She carefully lifted her hand from the table.

And spread her palm open.

- Pfsh!

Particles of light began gathering in the air above her palm.

They intertwined and tangled, forming a small, cute magic circle.

Luna whispered down at the magic circle on her palm with sad eyes.

"This power... I was never supposed to be able to use it."

A beastkin with the power of nobility.

It was the greatest contradiction I'd never been able to resolve, even after poring over research papers.

How on earth...?

"But even as a beastkin, I can use magic."

With that, Luna made the magic ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠circle fade away gently, and began confessing all the reasons.

"...Because I'm not a pure beastkin."

Not a pure beastkin?

I looked into her red eyes.

"My father... no, the Count was a proud scion of an Imperial count family. And my mother was his favorite rabbit beastkin maid."

In that split second when she called him father, then hurriedly corrected to Count.

I caught a glimpse of the long torment she must have endured.

"We... that is, my twin sister Elise and I..."

She paused for a moment.

"...were mongrels born between the Count and his maid."

"So... we were beings that should never have been born in the Empire."

That was the first story Luna had shared about herself.

She sat motionless, head bowed, like a prisoner awaiting judgment after her confession.

I responded swiftly.

"No."

"No way."

I pulled up the corner of my mouth and quickly grabbed the tablet nearby.

To play a certain video.

It was unofficial footage I'd pulled from the association's database last night for counseling.

This video captured the raw, on-site records in full.

As the screen lit up, a devastated cityscape appeared—half-destroyed by a rampaging gate.

Flames, smoke, people's screams.

And slicing through that hellish scene like a flash: a white figure and a black figure.

Luna and Elise.

The Luna in the video was a different being from the one I knew.

Without hesitation, she moved with ruthless efficiency, cutting down monsters and rescuing a child from collapsing building debris.

The scene shifted to the rescued child, sniffling in their parents' arms during an interview.

The video even included unpublicized interviews the association had prepared for press releases.

The child in the video was smiling the happiest smile in the world, even through tears.

Luna stared at the screen as if she'd forgotten to breathe, her red eyes shaking wildly.

Without a word, I scrolled down.

There were endless videos.

Luna was the diligent hunter who always arrived first at rescue sites, even if she didn't realize it herself.

Next video.

Next video too.

Every video expressed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heartfelt gratitude toward her.

"To them, your very existence was a blessing."

Hundreds, thousands of voices called her a hero.

"...Is this... real... really...?"

Finally, a tiny, trembling voice barely audible leaked from her lips.

"Yes, of course. It's all real."

As I answered, the video ended, and her dazed face reflected on the darkened tablet screen.

"First time... seeing something like this... I never even thought to look..."

"I figured as much."

"Of course... I thought everyone here hated me too. Like in the Empire... calling me a beast... irreverent... so that's why I..."

Her words dissolved into bursting sobs, no longer forming sentences.

Does that mean Luna's counseling is simply resolved?

No.

She'd only just exposed the festering wound.

Considering Luna's habits that I'd observed so far, her opening up about her inner self.

Was far from commonplace.

Just getting her to that point was the counseling process itself—and today's achievement.

And of course, it wasn't over.

Her fundamental issue remained unresolved.

The counseling would probably drag on.

To check her status, I activated the system.

'?'

What the hell is that all of a sudden.

The mood was so delicate and nice, why...

But looking closely at the status window, something was different from usual.

Beneath the first option, like static noise, a line of text flickered and folded in.

I focused my mind on that odd part.

'Open.'

The folded option unfolded smoothly, revealing the hidden content.

Yeah, that's it. That's the right answer.

But before I could finish reading the sentence.

- Crackle.

The normal option that had just appeared burned away like embers.

And in my vision, the first bizarre option reappeared, altered.

I had to do something for Luna soon. I couldn't just wait for her sobs to subside forever.

The option floating before my eyes was now the only one.

All other paths had been erased.

At least... my ability had never led me wrong before, so I had no choice but to trust it.

There must be some reason...

I rationalized it to myself and steeled my resolve.

Cautiously, I reached out to her.

My hands touched her shoulders, trembling faintly with her sobs.

That instant.

Am I actually insane?

I'm feeling a bit off today.

Luna's shoulders stiffened and flinched in my grasp, trembling.

She looked up at me cautiously with red eyes wet with tears, startled.

I met her gaze head-on, unflinching.

"Luna..."

Locking eyes with her, I continued.

"Aren't you undervaluing yourself too much?"

With those words, I gave a light smile.

All her reactions froze at my actions.

No more sobs, no trembling shoulders.

She just looked up at me blankly, like a rabbit caught by the ears in my hands.

After a long silence, her lips twitched faintly.

"Counselor... teacher... um..."

She fumbled for words, then asked in a small voice.

"What should I call you...?"

The client was asking the counselor how she should address him.

Nicknames are generally up to the client.

The fact that she was even asking showed just how considerate she was.

I was about to smile lightly and give her the choice.

'......'

Now it's micromanaging even the nickname.

And that last option...

Everything's just off today.

I picked the one with the highest satisfaction rate.

"Call me whatever feels comfortable..."

I paused, meeting her eyes.

"Teacher. That seems fine too."

Luna looked up at me and ever so cautiously lifted the corners of her mouth.

The muscles on her perpetually tense face seemed to finally remember their purpose after so long.

It was the first time I'd seen her smile.

"Yes... Teacher..."

Luna murmured softly.