Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Elise
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“Thanks for all your hard work today, Counselor~”
“Thank you.”
Feeling worn out from the aftermath of the session, Yoo Seon-woo pressed a hand to his throbbing head as he packed up and stepped outside.
Behind him, a Beastkin staff member responsible for cleaning up the temporary counseling room bowed politely.
The Union Guild, like this, not only employed Hunters but also hired civilians who were Otherworlders with ambiguous positions due to their lacking abilities, utilizing their unique traits as staff.
“♩~♬~”
Confirming that Yoo Seon-woo had left, the Beastkin hummed a tune and stepped lightly into the counseling room to tidy up the teacups.
But it was right at that moment, as she opened the door and entered.
“Hup…!”
A stench so thick and pungent that no human could possibly detect it came rushing in like a storm to the tip of her nose.
Overwhelmed by the pheromones of an utterly dominant hierarchy, the staff member instinctively collapsed to the spot in the primal fear felt by a lower-class creature.
Her tail, which had been swishing just moments ago, curled completely between her legs, and her legs began trembling like aspen leaves.
“Wh-what…?”
That was all she could mutter.
***
As a counselor, the most rewarding moments are undoubtedly when you can witness with your own eyes a client's tightly shut heart slowly opening up to the world, even if just a little.
Though I haven't been a counselor for long.
Even back when I was at the Haetae Guild, I often listened to my colleagues' troubles.
And the responses were always quite positive.
Of course, at that time, I had no idea I'd end up becoming such a professional...
'Professional...?'
...licensed Hunter Counselor.
Lost in such thoughts, I snapped back to reality at the cashier's voice.
“Ah, no receipt needed.”
I smiled softly and took the items I'd just paid for.
A plump box of strawberries freshly bought from the department store's food hall right in front of the counseling center.
Preparations for tomorrow's final house call at the Union Guild on Friday.
I figured it was a reward for Luna's courage.
A cake... strawberry shortcake with fresh cream should do nicely.
I returned to the counseling room before 9 a.m.
From what I'd checked last night, there were no official appointments today. It looked like I'd be handling walk-ins only.
With such random turnout, it was impossible to predict how many would show up on the day.
The counseling room was already filled with the sweet, nutty aroma of cookies I'd baked myself early that morning.
I gazed at the warm cookies cooling on the rack.
Well, I'd made plenty...
And if any were left over, that was fine too.
There were ways to handle it.
I sat down, took a sip of freshly brewed coffee, and prepared for the day's sessions.
The quiet counseling room.
The sweet scent of cookies mingled with the bitter aroma of coffee.
It was time to welcome the clients who would come.
- Ding-a-ling.
Right at 9 a.m., the small bell on the door rang cheerily.
The first client of the day had arrived.
“Please, come in.”
The first session started smoothly.
I thought today would be another busy day...
And then, in the afternoon.
“......”
What was this?
I muttered as I alternated glances between the empty waiting room and the cookie basket that hadn't diminished at all.
“Guess it happens sometimes.”
After one visitor at 9 a.m., no one else knocked on the counseling center's door. Thanks to that, I enjoyed a rare leisurely afternoon.
In the end, a ton of the cookies I'd baked that morning were left over.
Looking at them, instead of a troubled expression, a faint smile crossed my face.
I began packing the remaining cookies into small plastic bags, tying each one with a pretty ribbon.
Once all were wrapped, I placed them in a large box.
Leaving the red sunset outside the window behind, I stepped out of the counseling center.
My destination was neither a glamorous guild nor a bustling street.
[Eden Orphanage]
It was an old but tidy orphanage with slightly peeling paint on the sign.
The phenomenon known as Dimensional Transfer is profoundly unfair.
Some Otherworlders arrive with exceptional abilities, reborn as new heroes of this world.
But, most unfortunately, powerless children with no abilities at all are also helplessly pulled into this unfamiliar world.
Just imagine the feelings of those kids, thrown alone into this strange place, having lost their parents, friends, and everything they knew...
I'd wager it's no easy thing.
That's why I make treats like this for them.
And the reason I always bake more cookies and snacks than needed... is exactly that.
I always hoped fewer clients would come, leaving a whole lot of cookies behind.
I quietly opened the orphanage door, box in hand.
“...Huh?”
But the moment I stepped inside, the interior was completely different from what I knew.
No director nun to greet me, and the entrance hall was empty.
Instead, from the inner courtyard came the children’s clear, high-pitched laughter.
I cautiously headed toward the courtyard.
There, a black rabbit Beastkin was giving the kids piggyback rides.
“Sis! Me too! Me next!”
“Got it~ Just a little slower~”
Her face held none of the seductive, provocative smiles I'd seen in the counseling room.
Only a pure, warm, genuine smile bloomed there.
It was Elise.
The kids here usually took a while to warm up to strangers.
But she was already perfectly close with them.
I stared blankly at the scene.
And then, our eyes met precisely in midair.
The warm smile on Elise's face froze in surprise.
She looked utterly baffled as to why I was here.
'Tired?'
There were faint dark circles under Elise's eyes.
And that awkward silence was broken by the children's shouts.
“Hey! It's big bro!”
The kids spotted me and came rushing over, tumbling off Elise.
I immediately smiled, knelt down to their eye level, and opened the box, handing out the bagged cookies one by one.
“Make sure to tell the nun and only eat one each, okay?”
“Yes!”
Hearing their lively replies, I suddenly felt a gaze and looked up.
Elise had snuck up beside me.
I held out a cookie bag to her.
“Want one?”
At my words, Elise startled and waved her hands.
“Ah, no... I'm fine.... J-just, give them to the kids...”
So she knows how to refuse, huh.
Respecting her wish, I distributed the rest to the children.
Then the two of us sat on the bench under the large tree in the courtyard.
We silently watched the kids excitedly munching snacks next to the director nun.
A peaceful scene.
Elise broke the silence first.
“...You're the teacher, huh.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lately, the nun's been mentioning someone she's really grateful for. Someone who brings tons of snacks for the kids...”
“No need to be that thankful...”
I gave an awkward smile and opened the last leftover cookie bag.
I picked one up, then set it back down.
“So, what brings you here, Elise?”
Today was the first time I'd seen Elise here.
I used to come often, but paused for counselor training and only recently resumed, so she'd probably started visiting during that gap.
“Ah... I just... come sometimes for guild volunteer work.”
She gave a short answer, eyes still on the kids.
Naturally, I asked,
“You seem to like kids.”
Elise fell silent at my question.
Then, with a bitter smile, she replied.
“Nah. I hate 'em.”
“......”
I looked at her, caught off guard by the unexpected answer.
Trying to reconcile her words with the tender gaze she had on the children.
That was when.
“Sis!”
A little girl came running over with a large flower crown clumsily woven from clovers and dandelions.
“Here, for you, sis!”
Panting, she proudly held it out to Elise.
“Made it for you starting a week ago!”
The bitter smile vanished from Elise's face.
She closed her eyes slightly, then bowed to the girl's level with the gentlest smile in the world.
The girl fumbled for a while, unsure how to place the crown over Elise's two large gray ears sticking up from her head. But Elise didn't rush her or give hints.
She just silently waited for the girl to figure it out herself.
Finally, the girl successfully draped the crown over both perked-up ears.
She looked up at Elise wearing it with sparkling eyes and whispered,
“You look like a princess...”
At those words, Elise quietly stroked the girl's head.
Then the director nun called the girl, who trudged back reluctantly.
Silence returned to the courtyard.
Her actions just now only deepened my questions. They were so warm and kind, the kind only someone who adores kids would do.
I looked at Elise quietly, my face showing my confusion.
Seeing that, she sighed deeply once more and said,
“...I can't do anything else.”
Elise gave a bitter smile.
“They'd just... bug me all day...”
“......”
“If it weren't for volunteer work, I wouldn't bother coming all the way here...”
Silently, I picked up the cookie I'd set down earlier and offered it to her.
“Here, eat.”
“For the... kids...”
Before she could finish refusing, I pressed the cookie to her lips.
- Sniff sniff
“...!”
Her red eyes widened as she instinctively sniffed it.
“Vanilla...? How'd you know it's my favorite lately...?”
“I have a good sense for these things.”
Elise hesitated a moment, then bit into the cookie in my hand like a child.
“Nom nom...”
Watching her, I drifted into thought.
I like kids.
Back when I first came to this world, everything unfamiliar, I suffered severe depression because of my ability.
'Everyone's facade and true self are totally different.'
Smiling outwardly, but behind the system window, cursing, jealous, despising the other person.
That was the raw face of humanity I faced every day.
It was all so obvious, but I was too inexperienced back then to handle those naked emotions.
Above all, the hardest part was having to smile and act normally even toward those who hated me intensely.
Floundering, unsure what to do... I found this place.
Through a chance volunteer event at the guild.
And soon, I felt at ease.
Because I realized the smiles and kindness from children held no calculations or expectations.
Like a clear stream, their outward appearance matched the feelings inside perfectly.
In a world full of lies, those kids were the sole sanctuary in my life.
I recalled the transparent gaze Elise had watching the children.
Her eyes probably weren't much different from mine when I used to watch them.
I said softly,
“Me too, sort of.”
At my out-of-the-blue remark, Elise stopped munching and looked up at me.
Her eyes held a questioning 'What?'
I popped a cookie into my mouth too.
Feeling the sweet vanilla spread, I slowly added,
“Elise.”
At my call, her eyes widened.
She loves children so much that it's hard to focus on what she must do. Even so, when tough things happen, she comes here. However, she can't let anyone see or discover this side of her. Elise is an S-Rank Hunter. The kids could be taken hostage.
[Right now, she feels anxiety that her greatest secret and weakness might be discovered.]
Speaking to the loneliness hidden behind her mask, clear as a stream on the surface.
“People like you, Elise... who can't confide their inner stories to anyone.”
I, who could see people's inner worlds, had to live pretending I didn't know.
In her position as an S-Rank Hunter, she couldn't show any fondness for something that might become a weakness.
And to ease her anxiety, as a counselor and as someone bearing the same secret, I promised,
“Don't worry too much. I'll keep it secret.”
My words left Elise frozen.
“Hah.”
A deflating sound leaked from between her lips.
Soon, with a 'pfft,' laughter burst out.
Unable to hold it back, she shook with clear, pure laughter.
At the end of that laugh, a small teardrop glistened.
Elise wiped her eyes with her reddened sleeve and looked at me.
No mask remained there now.
“...Busted, huh?”
She spoke in a somehow relieved voice.
“It's my job.”
I replied gently.
“Then... was that a confession earlier?”
“Nope.”
At my firm denial, Elise's smile bloomed even brighter.
“Hmm... Then, Teacher.”
“Yes.”
“Can I ask just one thing?”
I nodded affirmatively.
“Ah~ I shouldn't, but~”
Elise muttered to herself, then adjusted the flower crown and looked at me shyly.
“Did I... really look like a princess?”
At her pure, un-Elise-like question, I couldn't help but chuckle.
“...Yeah.”
And slowly nodded.
Elise stared at me blankly for a moment.
“Ahahaha!”
Finally unable to hold back, she burst into childlike giggles.
It had been a while since I'd heard such transparent laughter.