Chapter 59

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 59

Chapter Title: New Goal

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"Hold on a moment, Yu-wol..."

It was quite bewildering.

Of course, as a counselor, it was extremely common for the client in front of me to shed tears.

Crying was the most natural way to release pent-up emotions.

However, this was no ordinary session—she burst into tears the moment she saw me, wailing as if the world had ended...

This was definitely a first.

I stood there gripping the doorknob, staring blankly at her as she wept pitifully.

First, I needed to soothe her in my own way.

Then get inside right away—that seemed crucial.

But just then.

He nodded at her stance.

She was truly grateful that I'd come, but at the same time, she thought it was because of her that I'd made the trip, so her complex emotions had all come spilling out.

It was something born from Seol Yu-wol's kind nature.

But the real issue was the choices that appeared below it.

'...'

You wanna die?

That was obvious meddling.

Bring out the hidden one.

Now that's normal.

Not bad, but...

Standing out here in the hallway like this isn't great.

"Waaahhh..."

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gently took her shoulders and led her into the room.

Standing in the corridor any longer wouldn't be good for either of us.

Click.

The door closed.

I naturally guided the sniffling girl to the sofa and sat her down.

I gave her a little more time to cry it out.

After a bit of time passed, every time her back trembled, I patted her gently.

"It's okay to cry."

I pulled a clean handkerchief from my pocket and dabbed at the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"...Ugh."

She didn't resist my touch.

Her sobs gradually subsided.

Honestly, it wasn't the best direction.

What I was doing right now would only deepen her dependence on me.

But stopping her tears came first, so I didn't worry about it.

Finally, Seol Yu-wol, who had been hiccupping and breathing raggedly, spoke up.

Her voice was soaked with moisture.

"I'm... sorry... Doctor..."

She bowed her head deeply.

"You must be so exhausted... and because of me... you had to come all this way..."

"That's not true."

I immediately denied her assumption.

I lowered my head to meet her teary eyes directly.

"If I were truly worn out, I wouldn't have come."

I replied firmly.

"I know my own limits well, and I don't do foolish things like forcing myself to meet clients. That would be disrespectful to you too."

To ease her guilt, I added,

"And... to be honest."

I spoke to her with the most sincere voice and smile I could muster.

"I wanted to see you too, Yu-wol."

Watching a client improve bit by bit through my counseling and treatment.

That was the greatest joy I could have as a counselor.

If I took the day off because of yesterday's awful incident,

I might miss that small change I could witness ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠today.

That would be a tremendous loss.

I didn't want double the damage.

So I wanted to see Seol Yu-wol.

How much she'd changed.

And how much more she would change.

That was my honest feeling.

Whether she sensed the sincerity in my words, her blue eyes shook greatly.

"Really...?"

"Of course."

At my affirmation, Seol Yu-wol lowered her head slightly and pondered for a moment.

Then she opened her mouth.

"...Doctor..."

"Yes."

"I told you last time. My... new goal is to start a family..."

"Yes, I remember. It was a wonderful goal."

She had indeed said that.

To build a harmonious family.

Have children and live happily.

I told her she could achieve that dream.

I supported her dream.

Her mother, Yi Seo-ryeong, did too.

"...But now there's another one."

"Really?"

I asked in a delighted voice.

I'd thought her dependence had deepened, but it seemed like unfounded worry.

She was steadily trying to carve out her own life.

Seol Yu-wol clenched her small fist.

It trembled visibly from how tightly she gripped it.

"Yesterday, I heard you were kidnapped, Doctor."

Seol Yu-wol's blue eyes blazed.

"At that time, I couldn't do anything. All I could do was wait helplessly in this room."

"I don't want to live like that anymore."

She looked straight up at me.

"After losing my mother... I clung to martial arts that wouldn't improve, waiting on the cold cave floor for her to return."

"I don't want to live that powerless life anymore."

The child who had teetered and shed tears was gone.

In her place stood a martial artist of the central plains.

"I'll grow stronger. Strong enough to protect someone."

I simply gazed at Seol Yu-wol without a word.

I wanted to clap wildly.

But the atmosphere wasn't right, so I held back.

In other words, Seol Yu-wol had finally resolved to move forward on her own.

What a beautiful change.

I suppressed my pride.

Resisting the urge to ruffle her hair wildly, I slowly nodded.

It was the greatest show of support and respect I could give as her counselor.

"That's admirable."

And I smiled a little.

"Honestly... it's even a bit cool."

That was sincere too.

At that, Seol Yu-wol nodded and her lips curved up.

Hard to believe this was the same girl bawling her eyes out moments ago.

"Then..."

To keep her flame from flickering out, I quickly added more fuel.

That was the counselor's role.

"For that wonderful goal, there's something you need to do first."

I gestured to our cozy yet prison-like lodging.

"From now on, you have to decide for yourself what kind of life you'll lead once you leave here, and how you'll live it."

"You could join a guild and return to the warrior's path. Or become an ordinary office worker."

"So today, we'll go touring together so you can see all those possibilities with your own eyes and choose."

It was the second field trip I'd planned for her.

Within the association's grounds was a small city just for Otherworlders.

Here, before fully integrating into society, Otherworlders explored and decided their futures.

Like a space for finding career paths before release... or discharge.

So we'd go there today.

Numerous guilds sent scouts to discover new talent.

And for those wanting ordinary lives, there were spaces to experience hundreds of jobs firsthand.

"Shall we go?"

I asked her softly.

Seol Yu-wol hesitated briefly... then extended her hand slightly.

"Hold... my hand... please..."

It was the first time she'd dropped the formal speech.

I smiled and wrapped her hand in mine.

"Of course."

Looking into her blue eyes, I added,

"And ending with 'yo' does sound much more comfortable."

At my words, a faint blush colored Seol Yu-wol's cheeks.

"I see..."

Hand in hand, we were about to step out the door.

Right then.

"Ah."

Seol Yu-wol caught sight of herself in the hallway mirror and froze in place.

She startled, let go of my hand, and dashed back to her room.

"?"

I stood there, clueless.

A moment later, the door cracked open just a sliver.

Only her flushed cheek and blue eye peeked out.

In a tiny voice, she said,

"Um... could I change into the clothes you bought me last time... before we go...?"

I burst out laughing at that.

Of course I'd planned to have her change first.

"...Hmm."

Feeling playful, I pretended to think it over.

"I'll make a special exception."

I nodded with a smile.

"Thank you..."

The moment permission was granted, Seol Yu-wol shut the door and vanished inside again.

Rustling sounds of her hurriedly changing clothes came from the room.

Somehow, today was shaping up to be longer than expected.

Mornings in the Azure Heaven Alliance began more quietly than anywhere else.

Yi Seo-ryeong sat before a mirror, eyes closed, feeling her maids comb through her long hair.

"Alliance Leader."

One of the maids entered for a report and spoke softly.

"The doctor left this morning as scheduled to meet young lady Seol Yu-wol."

"I see."

Yi Seo-ryeong nodded.

The man who, after yesterday's horrific ordeal, took not even a single day off and carried on with his duties.

He truly... wasn't ordinary.

She found him more attractive by the day.

A soft smile graced Yi Seo-ryeong's red lips.

Just then, a young maid helping with her attire sniffed the air and asked brightly,

"Alliance Leader! Where's that delicious smell coming from? Is breakfast something special today?"

Yi Seo-ryeong finally opened her eyes.

"...It's chicken oyakodon and shellfish soup."

Eggs and chicken simmered in secret soy sauce, served over hot rice.

And to soothe the throat, a clear soup packed with fresh shellfish.

The perfect food for a packed lunch.

"Wow! Sounds delicious!"

"...I'm glad you like it."

- ♪~ ♩~

"He'll enjoy it, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hope."

A little hum escaped Yi Seo-ryeong's lips.

The maids exchanged glances and tilted their heads.

It had been ages since the Alliance Leader looked this happy.

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