Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Yi Seo-ryeong
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When Otherworlders transfer into this world, the procedures to greet them are clearly established.
Generally speaking, the relatively mild-mannered ones.
In other words, those classified as 'Safe' rating are moved to a facility prepared by the Association.
There, they receive various education needed for adaptation, interact with other Otherworlders in the same situation, and prepare to live their new lives.
However.
If they display hostility immediately after transfer or refuse the Association's control—'Caution' rating—the story changes.
Hunters on standby at the scene immediately subdue the target with force and transport them to the Association's isolation zone.
If there's potential for reform through subsequent conversations, they undergo separate adaptation procedures.
Then, what about the final category, 'Danger' rating?
If subduable, they follow a similar procedure to 'Caution'.
However, if deemed impossible to subdue...
They are executed on the spot.
That was the social pact made by the Hunters and people of this world for its sake.
Therefore, Seol Yu-wol would first be transported to an isolation room prepared by the Association.
I watched as she was loaded into the transport vehicle, unconscious.
At that moment, an Association staff member approached me and handed over a card key.
"Here's your access card."
"Thank you."
I took the silver card.
"You might need to come and go quite often from now on."
The staff member's words carried a hint of pity.
If she'd been deemed Safe, occasional visits would suffice, but...
As a Caution rating, I would be the one to assess her potential for reform and take responsibility for the entire process.
Before heading to my separate vehicle, I thanked my temporary bodyguard team members.
"Elise, thank you for your hard work."
I'd received a lot of help from her.
Elise waved her hand casually and replied calmly.
"No big deal. Wasn't that hard."
Then I turned my gaze to Jahwa-yeon.
She was surrounded by Association staff, undergoing a kind of investigation.
Where the hell did she come from?
Why did she pop out like that? Something along those lines.
"Well, this one knows her."
Irritation and annoyance began to seep into her voice.
"That's right. She really seemed to know her."
I rescued her from that awkward situation.
With a bit of added explanation, the Association staff nodded and backed off.
I also expressed my thanks to Jahwa-yeon.
Her involvement had been surprising in many ways, but it had definitely helped.
"Thank you for today, Heavenly Demon."
"No big deal. I was just curious and followed along."
Jahwa-yeon replied with a smirk curling her lips.
Then she looked deeply into my eyes and said.
"Physician."
"Yes."
"You will surely meet the Azure Heaven Alliance Leader."
"I see."
I answered calmly.
"I trust you won't judge by appearances alone."
"Pardon?"
Her words puzzled me, but I soon lifted the corner of my mouth slightly.
"Do I strike you as the type who would, Heavenly Demon?"
"Hahaha!"
My confident retort drew laughter from Jahwa-yeon.
"My physician wouldn't be the type."
She nodded in satisfaction at the response, then turned away.
And left coolly.
"I'll come again once things are sorted."
I wanted to clock out with Jahwa-yeon too, but strictly speaking, my work was just beginning.
"......"
Overtime, obviously.
The problem was my fridge held fluffy breads waiting for their owner.
Cakes I'd made early that morning, before dawn, and stashed in the fridge before heading out.
Hand-delivering them myself would be tough.
Freshly made desserts are best eaten soon.
I approached Elise and spoke.
"Elise, if you're okay, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
Elise perked up her ears and asked.
"If you go to my counseling office, there's a kitchen next to the reception room. Inside the fridge there, you'll find two cake boxes."
I gestured as I explained the location.
"One's strawberry cake, the other's vanilla. Could you deliver the strawberry one to Luna? And... the vanilla next to it is for you, Elise."
They're already packaged, so no issue.
At my words, Elise's red eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn't expected me to prepare one just for her, even if not for Luna.
"For me... really...?"
Her voice carried pure bewilderment.
"Yes. You can search the office location. And here's the key."
I pulled the office key from my pocket and placed it in her hand.
Elise took the key with a joyful expression.
That smile resembled the one she wore while watching the kids at the orphanage.
"...I'll eat it well."
She shyly said that one line and turned away.
"......"
I turned away too.
Time to get to real work.
I moved to the Association facility via vehicle.
The building screamed high-tech from its exterior.
Yet despite its massive scale, it wasn't far from downtown.
I sat in the Association's isolation facility conference room, talking with the team leader in charge.
"Is she that dangerous?"
"Not particularly. There seemed to be reason behind the attack. And the Heavenly Demon was there at the time..."
"Ah... right, yeah..."
The team leader nodded over his coffee at my words.
I don't know much about the ecosystem of that Murim world, but judging by this world's context, anyone showing hostility to the Heavenly Demon was likely from the righteous faction.
"Still, we'll classify her as Caution for now."
"Yes, that sounds good."
I had no intention of objecting.
"Team leader...!"
Then the conference room door burst open as a staff member rushed in.
"The Azure Heaven Alliance Leader is here personally...!"
"What? Why?"
Confusion flickered across the team leader's face.
Why would the head of one of the massive factions balancing Otherworlders visit this isolation facility without warning?
"The Otherworlder who transferred today, Seol Yu-wol... her mother, or guardian, is requesting a visit at the main gate right now..."
Otherworlders sometimes get lucky and have acquaintances already settled in this world.
The Association calls them guardians and actively facilitates meetings for initial adaptation.
Nothing speeds reform like someone already adapted explaining this world directly to a new Otherworlder.
At those words, a bright smile bloomed on the team leader's stiffened face.
"Really? Bring her in right away!"
I inwardly sighed in relief and nodded.
Good news.
Turns out it's a mother-daughter relationship.
Very fortunate.
Moments later, the conference room door opened quietly, and a woman entered.
A youthful face paired with a seductive aura— a beautiful woman.
The Azure Heaven Alliance Leader.
Her gaze ignored the other Association staff entirely, locking straight onto me.
I stood and bowed politely.
"Pleased to meet you, Alliance Leader. I'm Counselor Yoo Seon-woo."
"Yes, I've heard much about you. Divine Physician."
Her voice was disarmingly gentle and kind, belying her status as Alliance Leader.
"Azure Heaven Alliance Leader, Yi Seo-ryeong."
Her eyes curved softly.
Yi Seo-ryeong launched into her story urgently, as if time was of the essence.
"Yu-wol was my only daughter."
Her voice trembled faintly.
"When I left her in Murim and came to this unfamiliar world..."
Her words cut off momentarily. Then continued slowly.
"Seeing Yu-wol in the footage... I was so moved, tears welled up..."
Yi Seo-ryeong bit her lip hard, swallowing back surging emotions.
I said nothing.
I simply quietly slid a tissue box from the table toward her.
I listened with a slight furrow in my brow.
Moved by her sadness?
No.
[Yi Seo-ryeong]
[Main Stance]
Judged that showing vulnerability as a fiercely maternal mother, rather than dignified authority as Azure Heaven Alliance Leader, is suitable for achieving her goals by evoking sympathy.
Two-faced.
The type I hated most—outwardly one thing, inwardly another.
I couldn't hide my expression.
She glanced at the tissues I'd pushed over, then quietly replied.
"Thank you..."
She pulled one out, dabbed her eyes, and cautiously asked.
"When can I see my Yu-wol...?"
She'd been addressing me throughout.
It seemed like she was speaking to everyone in the room, but ultimately, all decisions rested with me.
The Association staff were present, yet she knew.
She seemed aware from the start that I held the key to controlling this situation.
I answered calmly.
"First, I need to check the Otherworlder's condition directly, so visitation will be possible a bit later."
"Could we... just go in together? Even just a glimpse, I want to see her face..."
What to do.
Normally, I'd agree readily. Hesitating here might even seem odd.
Yet...
Why.
I felt an inexplicable aversion.
"It won't take long."
I refused her request.
"I see..."
Yi Seo-ryeong bowed her head in disappointment.
Then she lifted it again and pleaded once more, her voice laced with far more desperation than before.
"Still, is there really no way at all?"
"No..."
Huh?
[Suggestion (A-rank) is disrupting you.]
Suggestion?
So that pitiful plea of hers just now contained a suggestion?
"Counselor."
Then someone grabbed my shoulder.
"How about letting her in together?"
It was the Association team leader.
His eyes brimmed with excessive sympathy over rational judgment.
He'd already fallen to her suggestion.
[Abnormal Status: Suggestion (A-rank) recognized. Attempting forced release.]
[Incorporating prior user feedback... Presenting countermeasures.]
[A) Counter: Shatter her mental attack publicly, proving your resistance to the skill.]
[B) Defend: Silently neutralize her mental attack, leaving her unaware even that it failed.]
[C) Rampage: Grab her by the collar, shake her around, and yell about what the hell she's doing.]
'Nice.'
You've improved a lot.
Except C, of course.
I selected B immediately.
At the same time, the unpleasant fog clouding my mind vanished.
And I immediately scowled.
"Ah... I really want to, but..."
I looked back and forth between Yi Seo-ryeong and the team leader, wearing a genuinely regretful and apologetic expression.
"There's nothing we can do. It's the rules..."
As if truly helpless.
- BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!
Right then.
A shrill alarm blared from the main monitor between me and the team leader.
At the sound, rationality returned to the dazed team leader's eyes.
"... The Otherworlder has regained consciousness. Counselor!"
"Yes."
I stood quickly.
And brushed past Yi Seo-ryeong as I left.
I needed to find out the reason for this inexplicable aversion from Seol Yu-wol.
And as I exited the room, I saw it.
Her face reflected in the conference room glass.
Our eyes met.
Yi Seo-ryeong's lips curved faintly upward.