Chapter 18

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 18

Chapter Title: Union Guild S-Rank Black-White Duo

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[Luna]

[Main Stance]

Not bad at all.

At least I've cleared the first hurdle.

The self-loathing and self-deprecating Luna—pumping up her self-esteem had been a success, more or less.

And I'd even planted the seed.

It hadn't been easy.

Her abilities were acting up more than usual today, too.

Sure, it had happened a few times in the past, but with my skill level improving and the system maturing, I'd thought those issues had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠naturally faded away.

Guess not.

Anyway, my throat felt parched, so I chugged the Americano in front of me.

The bitter liquid cooled my head.

Now what?

It was a perfect timing to wrap up the session. If I ended it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here, she could leave with a positive experience.

However... honestly, letting her go just like this felt a bit off.

As the system message said, that freshly sprouted pride was far too delicate.

It could easily be crushed by the cold stares from the Empire folks in her guild or even a minor stress.

And once a sprout is broken, it'll take far more effort to make it bloom again.

At the very least, I needed to build her a small greenhouse to shield it from the wind and rain.

In the end, the ultimate goal of my counseling session with Luna was simple.

To guide her two conflicting identities into becoming one unified whole.

So, for the first identity.

How about reinforcing her sense of being a member of the Empire?

'Nah, that's not it...'

I immediately scrapped the idea from my mind. It was a bad plan.

No matter how much she acted like an Empire noble and tried to follow their codes, they would never truly accept someone they scorned as a mongrel. It would just be a cruel path, chasing an unattainable goal.

More importantly, becoming an Empire noble didn't seem like a good fit for Luna either.

By their ways, she'd have to disdain martial arts as lowly and abandon it, clinging only to magic.

But Luna's prowess as a hunter emerged from the perfect blend of martial arts and magic.

Abandoning martial arts would be a huge loss.

In other words, awakening her Empire identity was a poor choice all around.

What about... guiding her toward embracing her beastkin identity?

"......"

Honestly, it was hard to find any downsides.

In this world, beastkin weren't shunned—they were adored and popular.

Alright, let's go with that.

As soon as I solidified my resolve, a window popped up right in front of me, like it had been waiting.

What the sudden question?

It wasn't the usual imperative tone like "Do it this way~."

Maybe it felt like coaxing because I'd been ignoring the options. Probably just my imagination.

Honestly, my thoughts aligned with it anyway.

I met her red eyes and opened my mouth.

"Luna."

At my call, her shoulders twitched faintly.

Her dazed gaze slowly focused on me.

"Yes... Teacher."

So, what methods were there to instill pride as a beastkin?

The answer was simple: make her recognize the strengths of her race.

Not as the curse of a mongrel, but as the blessings of being a beastkin.

"You know, the beastkin race seems truly exceptional. At least, that's how it looks to an ordinary human like me."

"Yes?!"

Luna's eyes widened in complete surprise.

"You said the Empire despises beastkin instincts as lowly. But here, those instincts are called super-senses—they detect enemy killing intent and predict allies' dangers. It's an ability coveted by all, possessed only by a select few hunters."

This wasn't forced praise. It was my genuine thought after recently studying beastkin. Super-senses weren't something you could gain through effort alone.

"Th-that's..."

Luna's pale cheeks began to flush red. I didn't give her a chance to retort and continued.

"And that's not all. The beastkin physical strength and leg power, which the Empire calls barbaric, are the pinnacle of bodily abilities that every hunter envies and admires."

"No... that's not..."

Under my barrage of compliments, Luna just shook her head, at a loss.

Her cheeks were red as ripe apples.

And finally.

Now she needed decisive proof she could see with her own eyes.

"Moreover."

I picked up the tablet and played a video I'd found last night.

[Title: Elise the Hunter Does Fan Service After Gate Clear]

It was a video that had recently set the community ablaze and become huge news.

On screen was her twin sister Elise, who shared Luna's face but exuded a completely different aura.

Unlike Luna, she proudly displayed her long gray ears and fluffy tail, surrounded by fans right after the gate subjugation.

Her popularity rivaled that of any idol.

Elise smiled happily and started fan service by hoisting a little girl onto her shoulders for a piggyback ride.

But the real reason this video blew up was the very next moment.

The kid on the piggyback, out of pure curiosity, reached her small hand toward Elise's perky ears.

But Elise, without even looking, instinctively sensed the touch.

- Twitch, twitch.

Her gray ears danced lightly up and down, dodging the child's hand.

As the kid giggled and reached again, this time the ears folded forward playfully, evading.

Twitch left, twitch right.

The innocent, adorable scene sent the fans in the video—and everyone watching—into a frenzy.

I scrolled through the comments below the video while watching Luna, who couldn't tear her eyes from the screen.

Most were positive and friendly toward Elise.

I'd show them all. To turn her positive emotions into conviction.

"See, Luna? This is how the people of this world truly see you and beastkin."

I displayed the most popular comments so she could see them clearly.

But the moment her gaze shifted to the comments, her face turned a shade redder than ever before. Her red eyes spun dizzily, and she promptly bowed her head.

She couldn't even look at the tablet screen or my face, just fidgeting with her hands in her lap.

"Te... Teacher..."

She called me in a pitiful, trembling, flustered voice.

'What...?'

This wasn't the face of someone moved.

Puzzled by her odd reaction, I quickly checked the comments she was seeing.

What the actual fuck.

I paled and instinctively snatched the tablet, turning off the screen.

Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

"......"

"......"

Silence filled the counseling room.

I wanted to turn back time. It was a perfect buildup, and I ruined it myself.

Should've checked what community it was from first.

Then—

This bastard?

The system mocked the current situation right in front of me.

As if to say it happened because I didn't follow its lead.

It's really going all the way today.

What's so funny? I'm dying here.

But along with the raucous laughter, Luna's current status appeared again.

[Luna]

[Main Stance]

'...Wow.'

Is this for real?

Luna's more open-minded than she seems.

Still... what a relief.

Their crude sincerity seems to have reached her.

Sexual harassment as their way of showing interest...? Nah, probably not.

Anyway, time to apologize.

"Sorry. I should've checked properly."

"...No, it's fine."

The reply came immediately. Luna waved her hand, her face still ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flushed.

After a brief silence.

"Um... I have a promise with my sister today... so... I'll see you next time, Teacher..."

Unable to meet my eyes anymore, Luna spoke in a near-whisper and slightly lifted her hips from the seat.

"Ah, sure. Good job with today's session. See you... next..."

Before I could finish, she shot up from her chair and bolted toward the door.

Her flushed face bowed low, she fumbled with the doorknob before hurriedly fleeing the room.

"......"

I watched her dramatic exit with a wry smile.

'PIN.'

I double-checked the fleeing rabbit's status.

"......"

What the hell is Hunter Gallery even...

Is she planning legal action or something?

Will Luna even come back?

Honestly, considering what I did today, I'd have no grounds to complain if she sued me before going after Hunter Gallery.

Regardless of the outcome... Luna's first counseling session was over.

Now, what remained was...

"Hey."

I spoke into the empty counseling room air with a low, chilling voice.

"Why'd you suddenly act up today? I thought you stopped that after maturing."

No response.

"Don't play dumb. I know you're there."

At my warning, a translucent system window finally appeared.

Defiance.

I furrowed my brow and scolded it like a child.

"You're in trouble for real."

Apologizing with those emoticons again—it melted away my anger from moments ago, leaving only pity.

Well, looking back... its suggestions never led to bad results.

"...Let's do better from now on."

The system window glowed brightly and displayed one final message.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing at that cheerful emoticon.