Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Mother and Daughter
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What I heard was the story buried deep in her heart.
The true situation surrounding Seol Yu-wol.
Lee Seo-ryeong was not her birth mother, and Seol Yu-wol was her adopted daughter.
It was astonishing, but I didn't show any agitation.
And I replied calmly.
"In this world, there are things called research papers. Documents that delve deeply into a specific subject or phenomenon, analyze its essence, and record it."
To make it easier for her to understand, I added an explanation using terms from the Central Plains.
"In Central Plains terms... it would be something like an observation record."
Seol Yu-wol nodded slightly.
"There was one study. It recorded whether there's a meaningful difference in the amount of love parents feel for their biological children versus their adopted ones."
Seol Yu-wol's pupils trembled with anxiety.
She was afraid.
I met her gaze slowly and continued.
"The results were surprising..."
"No meaningful difference was found in the love directed toward the two children."
That was the actual result of the study.
No significant difference in love between adopted and biological children.
That was the conclusion.
"Parents, universally, don't need to prove the value of their love for their children."
The emptiness in Seol Yu-wol's eyes shook even more than before.
I spoke to her gently.
I leaned forward, whispering in a low voice just loud enough for her to hear.
"So why does Yu-wol need to prove her value?"
Her pupils shook helplessly, unable to find an answer.
"Why should a child have to prove something to receive love from their parent?"
I posed a fundamental question about the thoughts in her heart.
"......"
Seol Yu-wol wore a dazed expression, as if the common sense in her head was being denied.
[Seol Yu-wol]
[Main Stance]
To repay the grace of the mother who took in and raised someone who isn't even her biological child, she must prove her value. She's flustered by the mere involvement of something inefficient like love.
[Satisfaction Fit Rate 80%]
I'll ask once more. What is it that Yu-wol really wants to do?
[Make sure to corner her perfectly, with no room to escape!]
[It's okay if she cries. Like a strict dad educating his beloved daughter...]
Step aside.
[(｡•́︿•̀｡)]
The system left a sad emoticon behind and quietly vanished.
"Yu-wol. I'll ask once more. What is it that you really want to do?"
But her answer was the same. She replied instantly, spitting out the programmed information.
"To become... the Martial Alliance Leader."
I nodded.
But now, that answer was no longer correct.
"However, the Martial Alliance doesn't exist in this world."
I drew a little closer, looking into her trembling eyes.
"So what goal should Yu-wol have now?"
Her one and only path, her goal, had vanished.
Facing the fact she hadn't even acknowledged, Seol Yu-wol's expression hardened.
I cast the final stone into those lake-like empty eyes.
"What does Yu-wol want to do?"
I added slowly.
"Even a small dream from childhood is fine, or something new you want to do from now on."
And without realizing it, my hand moved.
My hand crossed the air and settled atop her small, cold, faintly trembling one.
And.
- Squeeze.
I slowly enveloped that small hand in mine.
It was an impulsive action.
Was it my instinct as a counselor to catch her as she precariously crumbled without her goal?
At my touch, Seol Yu-wol's empty eyes looked down at our joined hands.
Then, very slowly, they turned back to me.
[ ฅ(՞៸៸> ᗜ < ៸៸՞)ฅ ]
As always, I didn't avoid her gaze.
And I whispered the most important word of today to her once more.
"Freely."
Seol Yu-wol herself.
"Not anyone else's thoughts or expectations, but purely Yu-wol herself. From now on, think freely."
It didn't have to be through therapeutic dependence.
She didn't need another object of dependence.
She just needed a very small foothold to rise on her own power.
Once more.
"What does Yu-wol want to do?"
I just had to be that foothold.
"......"
The physician had left.
Seol Yu-wol sat blankly on the soft bedding like a doll.
His final words swirled like a storm in her mind.
'The Martial Alliance doesn't exist in this world.'
'What does Yu-wol want to do now?'
'Freely.'
In truth, she had known.
That the Martial Alliance she aimed for and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult no longer existed here in their former forms.
But acknowledging that fact was tantamount to denying her entire life.
And.
- Twitch.
Her fingers slowly brushed the back of her opposite hand.
She hadn't noticed it at the time.
But that contact earlier...
It was the first in her life.
Her mother had always kept all contact with men separate.
So this was the first time she had allowed contact from an outsider man.
It was different.
From Dang Hee-ran's or other female martial artists' touches...
The firm, large sensation when he enveloped her hand.
It was strange.
The physician before her was so weak she could subdue him with a single finger if she wanted.
By her standards as a martial artist, he seemed infinitely fragile.
Yet when his firm hand enveloped hers, her body froze without any resistance.
It wasn't a matter of strength. It was like... something imprinted in her body...
And the faint warmth he left behind.
That warmth slowly fading in the cold room bothered her strangely.
Seol Yu-wol wished, for the first time in her life, that it wouldn't disappear.
She wasn't even aware of this fact herself.
Right then.
A thought flashed through her mind.
Ah.
Mooncakes.
The snacks he had baked for her himself.
The physician had put them in a bag. He said to eat them anytime.
Maybe some warmth still lingered.
Seol Yu-wol practically rolled off the bed and hurried to the living room.
She grabbed the white paper bag on the dining table with trembling hands.
She cautiously touched the outside of the bag. Through the paper, she felt the round cakes at her fingertips.
"......"
But the expected warmth was nowhere.
The bag in her hand was as cold as the room air, as her hands.
She stood blankly in the middle of the empty living room, clutching the cold bag.
And whispered in a very small voice.
"...Cold."
The fingertips where warmth had lingered.
The mooncakes before her eyes.
And.
Herself as well.
Today's session went quite well.
I confirmed Seol Yu-wol's background.
And checked her inner self.
I guided her to think of a new goal herself.
And that was also the homework I gave her.
Conveniently, tomorrow was a holiday.
I hoped she would think it through properly on her own during the holiday.
Honestly, at first, I was very worried.
If she was a severe case where normal therapy wouldn't work.
I wondered if I'd have to resort to transferring the object of dependence for treatment...
Fortunately, it didn't seem necessary to go that far.
"Thank you for your hard work. See you again on Monday."
I gave a light bow to the team leader seeing me off.
It was still too early to go home.
My next destination was my counseling office.
I'd left the office empty for too long.
I needed to pick up the keys Elise had watched yesterday and tidy up a bit.
Time to return to my space.
I stood in front of the counseling office door.
As instructed to Elise, I reached under the doorstep, and my hand grasped the cold keyring.
- Creak.
The moment I opened the door, a ticklish, unfamiliar scent assaulted my nose.
"......?"
Someone had sprayed lilac air freshener.
Elise?
The window was slightly open, probably for ventilation, but the scent lingered stubbornly in the room air.
And on the work desk, a small potted plant.
It looked like lavender.
I stood before the small pot. The soil was moist, as if freshly watered.
And I spotted a small wooden stick poking out of the soil.
A tiny note was rolled and tied to the stick.
I pulled out the stick.
Paper was wrapped around it.
I carefully unrolled the note.
Inside was neat, round handwriting, written densely with care.
Teacher! The cake was so good Leaving a little potted plant as thanks.
P.S. I'm Luna!! Elise was busy, so I came instead. ₍ᐢ ›_‹ ᐢ₎
This emoticon—is it a rabbit?
"Pffft."
It suits her.
I chuckled and carefully tucked the note she left into a drawer.
I was glad Luna's condition had improved a lot.
It's proof she's coming out into the world. I hope someday she can show her true self to everyone.
Everyone would love it.
I pulled up a chair and sat down. My space, returned to after two days.
"......?"
But something felt missing.
My white coat, always hung on the chair back, was gone.
"...Where'd it go?"
I tilted my head for a moment.
Lately, things had been so hectic.
I'd only catnapped at home, with so much on my mind.
'Maybe I left it at home.'
I probably laundered it and forgot.
Probably from fatigue.
I didn't think much of it and turned on the computer.
Forgetting about the missing coat, I focused on the screen.
Mountainous piles of papers and records.
Before I knew it, time flew as I immersed myself.
"......"
When I looked up, the sun had already set outside.
"Already this late..."
As I rolled my stiff shoulders, thinking it was time to head home, right then—
- Knock knock.
Someone quietly rapped on the door of the silent counseling room.
I looked up.
The office was closed today.
And it was too late for visitors.
Who could it be?
I stood and opened the counseling office door.
"......"
The moment I opened it, a subtle orchid scent wafted into my nose.
And right there, before me, stood a woman.
"Hello, Physician."
Her jade silk robe flowed softly along her curves under the dim light.
The hairpin in her hair sparkled.
Unlike her aura, her height was similar to Seol Yu-wol's. Just a bit short of my chest.
Azure Heaven Alliance Leader, Lee Seo-ryeong.
She wore her usual gentle smile.
Lee Seo-ryeong slowly opened her mouth.
"At this late hour, forgive my rudeness in seeking a conversation with you...?"
I looked at her for a moment, then nodded expressionlessly.
"Come in."
It was exactly what I had hoped for.