Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Instinct Manifestation Phase
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Originally, the first afternoon session was Luna's turn in the schedule.
However, looking at the two names floating on my tablet, I fell into brief contemplation.
Elise was inscrutable on the inside, but at least no obvious issues showed on the surface.
Her session probably wouldn't take long.
In contrast, my counseling with Luna was likely to drag on.
Switching their order seemed like the better choice. It would be more convenient for Elise than waiting around.
I pressed the intercom button.
"Could you tell the next client... Hunter Elise, to come in?"
- Knock knock.
Less than a minute later, a light knock echoed from the door.
"Coming in~!"
Without waiting for my reply, the door swung wide open with a cheerful voice.
Dark gray hair contrasting sharply with Luna's, streaked with a vivid red bridge.
And atop it, a pair of perky rabbit ears standing straight up.
It was Elise.
She glided in with soundless steps. Both Luna and Elise walked with muffled footfalls, a racial trait of rabbit beastkin, it seemed.
Elise plopped naturally into the chair opposite me.
Then, as if she'd spotted something fascinating, she stared at me with intrigued eyes.
"......"
Elise's lips curved slightly upward, her red eyes wide open.
Meeting her blatant gaze, I quietly activated my ability.
Elise
After witnessing the massive change in her sister yesterday, she's come to you—the cause—burning with intense curiosity. In fact, she can legally skip that annoying afternoon mission, making it a 1+1 bonus. Even better.
Suitable Response [Satisfaction Fit Rate 90%]
At least for courtesy's sake, ask why she's here.
I stifled a laugh at the latter suggestion.
It wasn't wrong—since she had no real issues, just asking was fine.
I nodded and met Elise's eyes.
Her red irises sparkled like rubies under the light.
"What brings you here for counseling today, Hunter Elise? Any troubles on your mind?"
I asked with genuine courtesy, my voice soft and gentle.
At my question, Elise tilted her head briefly, then nodded as if remembering, 'Oh right, this is a counseling office.'
"Ahh..."
She let out a deep, long sigh, propping her chin on the desk.
Her perky ears drooped sadly, as if steeped in sorrow.
"Actually... it's me..."
"Yes."
I pulled out a notepad and pen, pretending to take notes.
But her next words were...
"Lately... I'm in my instinct manifestation phase..."
"......"
- Crack.
The sound of my pen snapping reverberated through the counseling room.
I froze, pen still in hand.
I knew what "instinct manifestation phase" meant.
Slowly, I raised my head to meet her eyes.
The sorrowful expression, as if bearing the world's burdens, had vanished.
Elise smirked seductively, clearly delighted by my reaction.
I silently set the pen down.
Though flustered, I had no intention of letting her lead the pace.
Whatever her true nature, Elise was my client right now.
Being dragged along by a client was an unforgivable mistake for a counselor—one that could cost your qualifications.
The first lesson in counseling was always a warning about clients' "transference" like this.
I immediately cleared my personal feelings, nodded calmly, and responded professionally.
"I see. Instinct manifestation phase. That must have been tough for you."
"Yes...? Ah... yes..."
Elise's eyes wavered at my unexpectedly composed reaction.
I pressed on with diagnostic questions, unperturbed.
"When did the symptoms start?"
"S-Since... I was born..."
She tried maintaining her provocative pose, but her voice trembled more than before.
"I see."
What a ridiculous rabbit.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and tossed the next question.
"During that period, do you notice any changes in your psychological state or mood?"
"...Yes, my mood... gets really good..."
She barely managed a reply, but I followed up without pause.
"What about specific symptoms?"
"...Yes...?"
Clear panic colored her flustered echo.
She'd thrown bait expecting play, but I was dissecting it like a scalpel on a lab table—naturally, she'd panic instead.
I readjusted my pen grip and elaborated kindly, professionally.
"The symptoms. Beyond 'mood getting really good,' what specific parts of daily life does the instinct manifestation phase make difficult? I'm not very experienced with beastkin instinct phases, so the more details you provide, the better I can help."
At my words, the seductive smile finally vanished from Elise's lips.
"Ah... uh... yes... w-well, you see..."
She averted her gaze, racking her brains desperately.
"You see... my ears... perk up... cheeks flush red... and my belly inside tingles... zing zing..."
Her voice grew smaller with each word.
Finally, she bowed her head deeply.
Her once-perky ash-gray ears sagged like wet paper.
"Sorry..."
Surrender at last.
"Why tell such a lie...?"
"Just... curious..."
Elise
She's unwittingly spilled all the traits of her race's instinct manifestation phase. Any more pranks, and she might put herself in real danger.
Hold on.
So those garbled symptoms she blurted out were actual rabbit beastkin traits?
Feels like I just learned a secret I shouldn't have.
Elise was a handful, but an honest rabbit at heart.
And the ability presented the next options.
Suitable Response [Satisfaction Fit Rate 100%]
Go get your sister.
'Get your sister' was casual speech.
But the 100% next to it halted my hesitation.
This was a sure thing.
Still, it didn't fit my style to say it bluntly.
I'd rephrase it my way.
"Would you mind going to fetch your sister?"
Smiling, I pulled a small macaron box from my bag as I asked.
Handmade macarons from the city's most famous patisserie, bought yesterday for Luna.
I thanked my past self for inexplicably grabbing two.
I opened the box. Inside lay a red strawberry macaron and a pure white vanilla one side by side.
Without hesitation, I picked up the thickly creamed vanilla macaron and held it before Elise's eyes.
That instant, my ability cheered.
!! That is an even more excellent choice!!
Thanks.
Elise's red eyes locked onto the macaron at my offer.
Her ash-gray ears perked up involuntarily.
"Yesss..."
She murmured softly, reaching for the macaron.
I assumed she'd take it and go fetch Luna as promised.
But.
"......"
- Rustle.
"......?"
- Rustle... sniff sniff...
Elise took the macaron, tore open the wrapper, and started sniffing it.
- Crunch.
Then she bit into it.
"Nom nom."
"...?"
Why isn't she leaving?
Elise sat there, munching happily, savoring the flavor.
Only after devouring half did she exhale in satisfaction.
Her drooping ears now stood perky and full of vigor.
Feeling better, she swung her legs playfully before speaking.
"Mmm... Gotta pay for the macaron, right, Counselor?"
"No need. It's fine."
Undeterred, she leaned forward with another seductive smile.
"Since you'll be dealing with my naive sister from now on, I'll give you a key tip about beastkin."
This piqued my interest...
Barring the source being Elise, it sounded worth hearing.
Wary of her true intent, I asked.
"...What is it?"
"We beastkin have a special praise... a really feel-good greeting we only do among ourselves."
With that, Elise ducked her head, offering her long, perky ash-gray ear instead of her face.
Her white nape exposed vulnerably.
- Twitch, twitch.
Her ear wiggled lightly, as if tempting me.
"The right side... from your view, Counselor, the outer right ear... stroke it like this... smooth... and that's our feel-good beastkin greeting."
Hmm...
I immediately checked her status.
Couldn't trust her otherwise.
Elise
She wants to inform you that in beastkin society, this act is commonly used as ■praise and a ■ly pleasurable greeting. She hopes you'll use it on Luna.
What the...
Some characters glitched out like static noise.
But overall—praise, feel-good greeting, wants me to use on Luna—it felt positive.
"Got it. Thanks."
Still...
- Smooth.
Had to verify.
To confirm her words, I gently stroked the outer right side of Elise's ear with my palm.
Perfect test subject right in front of me—why not?
Luna was delicate; everything needed testing first.
Whoa...
Incredibly soft, warm texture at my fingertips.
Quite addictive.
"!"
That instant, Elise's body jolted like an electric shock and stiffened.
Her cheeks flushed faintly... then she nodded.
"Yes... like that. You're... good at it?"
Her voice was slightly elated, unlike before.
Checking her expression, she didn't look upset. Seemed like real info.
"Thanks. Very useful. But... first things first, getting Luna to show her ears in front of me."
She nodded at that.
"Oh? R-Right... Then, good luck..."
Elise hurriedly snatched the half-eaten macaron, clutched her lower belly awkwardly, and bolted from the room.
Entered on her whim, left on her whim.
I gave a wry smile, gazed at the door after her, then picked up the intercom.
"Hunter Luna. You're next—could you let her know?"
In the end, the main client was Luna.
"Haa... haa..."
Elise burst from the counseling room and leaned against the cold hallway wall, panting heavily.
She clutched her lower belly. The dizzying, thrilling sensation rising from deep inside when his broad palm grazed her ear lingered.
Raising her head slightly, her flushed face stared back from the hallway glass—bright red.
And her perky ears trembled beyond her control.
"......No way he'd actually do it to me..."
She hadn't expected it.
Yet he stroked her ear without hesitation.
She'd barely held back.
Almost lost it right there. Tremendous self-control not to make weird noises.
Good thing she fled quickly.
But then.
"Elise, what're you doing?"
A calm voice from the corner, accompanied by the white rabbit Luna.
"Huh? Oh, nothing... sudden stomachache..."
Elise flashed a wry smile, quickly resuming her usual laid-back expression.
But Luna wasn't fooled. Her red eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"You didn't trouble the counselor, did you?"
Luna grilled her.
"No way. Absolutely not."
'I troubled myself.'
Elise shook her head.
Luna's gaze shifted to the half-eaten vanilla macaron clutched in Elise's hand.
"Is that... from the counselor?"
"Yeah. Tasty, right?"
At that, Luna's lips curved ever so slightly upward.
She nodded faintly, passed Elise, and headed to the counseling room.
Her steps now light and bouncy.
'Macarons today...?'
Macarons were one of Luna's favorite desserts.
Luna's mood lifted another notch.