Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Rights
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Friday morning, early.
I had arrived at the counseling office earlier than usual.
Because I needed to bake a cake.
The blue dawn light before sunrise filtered through the windows of the quiet counseling office.
- Clink.
The only sound filling the silent space was the careful clatter of me moving the bowls.
"After baking..."
I checked the oven's preheating status and gazed at the two square cake pans lined up side by side.
Contrary to my original plan, I was baking two cakes. They weren't large, but they were enough to fill the oven.
One was a sweet strawberry cake prepared as a reward for Luna's courage.
And the other... a soft vanilla cake that hadn't been in my plans at all until yesterday.
The image of Elise I'd seen at the orphanage yesterday kept flickering before my eyes.
I even felt a strange sense of kinship with her.
Maybe that's why.
I wanted to offer her a small comfort, too.
Baking one more wasn't that hard.
I carefully slid the two cake batters into the oven.
Soon, a sweet aroma began to fill the counseling office.
And it was that silence that was broken by the cheerful tinkling of the small bell on the door.
- Ding-a-ling.
'At this hour?'
It wasn't even 6 a.m. yet.
Feeling puzzled, I stepped out of the kitchen and checked toward the entrance.
And upon seeing who was standing there, I couldn't help but smile, a mix of delight and surprise.
The Heavenly Demon, Jahwa-yeon, dressed in pitch-black martial robes, stood silently at the door, her back to the dawning light.
I rose from my seat and greeted her properly.
"It's been a while, Heavenly Demon. What brings you here at this early hour?"
I said with a smile.
"...Hmph."
But to my greeting, Jahwa-yeon only let out a huff—whether a snort or a reply, I couldn't tell—and said nothing more.
Unlike usual, she didn't even look me straight in the eye, just glanced sideways as she entered.
Then she plopped down on the chair in front of the massive black jade table she'd sent me, like a sulky child.
Jahwa-yeon's cheeks were just a tiny bit... puffed out in a pout.
Why was our Supreme One sulking?
I chuckled inwardly and activated my ability to check her status.
"..."
Oh dear.
She came by the day before yesterday.
Well, I'd told her to come anytime.
I had no choice but to be away for a house call, but from her perspective, having trusted my words implicitly and come all this way, it was understandable she'd be miffed.
Still, I knew how to soothe the Heavenly Demon Jahwa-yeon without needing the system's suitable response.
I immediately went to the kitchen and brought out a sweet latte topped with fluffy milk foam in the prettiest teacup.
"I'm sorry, Heavenly Demon. I was away on important business the day before yesterday."
I smiled warmly as I carefully set the latte down on the massive black jade table before her.
"First, please have some tea."
Then I went to my counseling desk and opened the deepest drawer.
It was huge and dignified.
I'd been keeping her gift tucked away so clients wouldn't feel out of place.
- Flash.
The massive black jade nameplate caught the office lights, making the golden letters engraved on it shine brightly.
I lifted it carefully with both hands, like a treasure, and placed it on the desk.
"It's far too grand and precious for someone like me, so to keep even a speck of dust from it, I always store it safely in this safe-like drawer before heading home."
And I made the proudest expression in the world.
"And whenever clients visit, I proudly display this glory bestowed upon me by the Supreme One."
'I'm treating the Heavenly Demon's gift like royalty.'
At my white lie born of goodwill, Jahwa-yeon's pursed red lips twitched.
She seemed to be desperately pressing down on the corners of her mouth that wanted to curl up.
The cold glint in her eyes had softened a bit, too.
"Hmph."
She cleared her throat awkwardly and turned her head away.
And in a very small voice, like a child, she said,
"...Fine. I'll forgive you just this once."
With that, she picked up the warm latte I'd brought.
Once she drinks that, it's over.
I smiled inwardly. Sure enough.
- Slurp.
Jahwa-yeon brought the latte to her red lips and took a small sip.
And the pout she'd been desperately holding onto completely crumbled.
Jahwa-yeon's eyes went wide.
White milk foam clung cutely to her upper lip.
Confirming her mood had fully lifted, I got to the point.
"By the way, is something troubling you? Coming here in person at this hour suggests important business."
At my question, the happy expression on Jahwa-yeon's face froze blankly.
She stared at me in panic, latte cup still at her lips.
"Business? What busi..."
She averted her gaze, fumbling for some plausible excuse for her visit.
I just watched her with a gentle smile.
'Ah, nothing much, huh.'
It seemed that way for real.
But that's fine. A counselor's basic stance is to see meaning even in visits that seem pointless on the surface.
It's okay if they don't say outright, 'I came because of this problem.'
The very act of repeatedly seeking out the counselor.
That alone could mean there's some unresolved emotional need deep inside them.
Then, as if she'd finally thought of something worth saying.
"!"
Jahwa-yeon smacked her fist into her palm.
She took another sip, swallowed, and opened her mouth energetically.
"Lately, the righteous faction's attitude has been suspicious."
Her voice shifted to a chilling tone befitting a sovereign.
"To think... the Martial Alliance Leader before coming to this world was at least someone I could reason with. Who knew she'd revert to that stubborn, close-minded old monster..."
Old monster...?
I tilted my head at the term.
It was so different from the image of the Martial Alliance Leader I knew.
Here on Earth, she was more famous for her beauty than her power.
A post I'd seen on some gallery came to mind.
[Azure Heaven Alliance Leader's Tits Save the World]
"..."
For some unknowable reason, looking at Jahwa-yeon right now felt irreverent.
But she apparently took my prolonged silence another way.
"...What is it? Why aren't you answering?"
A hint of irritation crept into her voice.
"Counselor, don't tell me even you think that old monster is some peerless beauty worth lusting after..."
Ah.
Please.
I hate the Hunter galleries.
It was right then.
- WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
A deafening siren shattered the air, shaking the city.
"...!"
This wasn't just a fire alarm or drill.
Anyone living in this world knew what it meant.
Mana disaster alert.
A high-grade gate opening... or a new dimensional transfer.
And hearing it this close meant the disaster was nearby.
- Ring ring ring!
Then my smartphone vibrated.
I quickly answered.
It was from the Hunter Association.
"This is Yoo Seon-woo."
A frantic staff member's voice came through.
- Counselor, it's a dimensional transfer. An Otherworlder from the designated world, the Central Plains.
I looked out the window.
The cityscape, just starting to wake, was plunged into chaos.
- Initial wave measurement... S-rank or higher. You need to prepare to head to the scene immediately...
"Of course."
I replied calmly.
Yeah.
It was something I had to do eventually.
This was one of the main reasons the Hunter Mental Counselor profession even existed.
- Got it! Also, Union Guild, currently handling house calls, will provide your escort with their on-standby hunters right away...
When a guild is assigned house calls for the week, they handle all emergencies involving the counselor during that period.
And this week's house call guild was Union.
Meaning Union Guild would handle my protection.
Union was reliable enough.
I hung up.
I checked the site coordinates just sent to my phone.
Not too far...
I looked up to explain the sudden situation.
"Heavenly Demon."
But I stopped short.
"Huh...?"
Jahwa-yeon... was already gone.
Friday morning, early.
Today was Union Guild's last day of house calls.
Luna took even longer than usual getting ready in the rabbit burrow.
She was just meeting her teacher, so why...?
She didn't quite know the reason herself yet. She just wanted to.
Early that morning, Luna sat on the innermost sofa in the hunter-exclusive lounge, waiting for him.
She pretended to be absorbed in the TV, acting nonchalant.
But she reacted to every tiny creak of the door.
That was when it happened.
"Hm?"
Lily, the fox beastkin who had just returned to the lounge after a long, tedious provincial assignment, tilted her head at the odd scent tickling her nose.
It was a scent she hadn't smelled in ages... the aroma of instinct awakening.
Sweet like a flower just blooming, yet immature and intense, an uncontrolled female pheromone spilling everywhere.
'Oh my... Who's that? Was there such a cute one in the guild?'
Lily grinned mischievously and began sniffing out the source like a fox.
And surprisingly, the scent was emanating from a single white rabbit in the farthest corner of the lounge.
"...Uh...?"
Lily's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Luna...?"
The pure, rigid, straitlaced rabbit who was too innocent to even tease for fun?
Not Elise, but Luna emitting this dizzying scent?
Unbelievable.
Lily's eyes sparkled.
"Luna~"
She flashed a seductive smile and plopped down next to Luna oh-so-naturally.
"Lily? Long time no see. How was the assignment?"
"Yeah, about that. Hey, Luna."
Lily gently stroked Luna's cheek with a finger, launching her not-quite-interrogation.
Peering right into Luna's face, she asked with curved eyes and a sly smile.
"Got yourself a male yet?"
"W-What?! N-No...!"
Luna shook her head frantically, her face flushing beet red.
At her vehement denial, Lily's smile grew even more convinced.
"Really? Then what's this? Why's our little white bunny reeking of sweetness?"
I-It’s just...! Maybe because I've been resting well lately...?
At Luna's clumsy excuse, Lily finally burst out laughing.
"Is that sooo~? Then rest up today, too. Counseling's canceled anyway. Not like you're off-duty, right?"
But at those words, Luna's expression hardened in an instant.
Her cheeks, red just moments ago, cooled to ice.
"What...? What do you mean? Counseling... canceled...?"
This time, Lily blinked in surprise.
"Huh? You didn't hear? A dimensional transfer hit this morning. They say the counselor headed straight to the scene."
Lily added,
- Spring!
Luna shot up from her seat like a coiled spring.
"Then I'll...!"
The guild on house call duty handles all aspects of the counselor's safety.
So as an S-rank hunter, she should personally guard her teacher.
"Huh? No~ Luna's off today. Don't worry. Elise probably already went."
But her resolute words were casually cut off by Lily's yawn-mixed reply.
"...Elise?"
At that single name, Luna's burning resolve crumbled to ash and scattered.
All expression slowly drained from her face.
No counseling today.
She couldn't see her teacher.
Off-duty meant nothing then.
Her teacher had opened her eyes to the species that hated her.
He'd given her the courage to face the wounds she'd carried her whole life.
Luna's eyes began to redden slowly.
But her teacher seemed infinitely fragile compared to her in terms of raw power.
So if a physical crisis befell such a teacher.
The one to protect him in crisis, to be his strength... should be her. Luna, who'd received the most help from him.
That was right and proper.
That was Luna's right.
So why?
Why...
Elise?
"......"
Luna was swept up in anxiety.