Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Good Girl Seol Yu-wol
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"Hoo..."
Jin Sea really must have been hot, because she casually shrugged off the thin cardigan draped over her shoulders and tossed it onto the back of her chair.
Then, saying she wanted to breathe in the cool night air, she flung open the room's large window.
Thanks to that, there was suddenly nowhere for my eyes to land.
All that was left was an off-shoulder knit top that fully exposed her deeply carved collarbone.
This girl is really oblivious.
Shouldn't she hold back a little on stripping down like this in front of a guy?
I shook my head and gulped down some water...
- Gulp.
Jin Sea was chugging ice-cold draft beer.
After taking a sip, she licked her lips lightly with her red tongue, looking satisfied.
"Feels better now. Want a drink?"
Jin Sea held out her beer glass to me casually.
"I'm good. It'll get me drunk."
I smiled and replied.
Top-tier Hunters like Jin Sea actually can't get properly drunk even if they want to.
Their bodies classify alcohol as a toxin and break it down immediately upon consumption.
That's how it actually works for them.
Of course, I'm a Hunter too, but I get drunk like anyone else.
So drinking with Jin Sea would just mean I'd be the one disarmed unilaterally.
I wouldn't last long before passing out.
"Aw, too bad."
As we chatted, the food arrived.
The server seemed startled upon seeing Jin Sea's face but, with solid professionalism, placed the food down quietly without making a fuss and left.
We started chatting casually about what lay ahead.
Jin Sea was the first to ask.
"So... when do you think the counseling office will reopen?"
"As early as next Monday. At latest... that Friday?"
That seemed about right.
No particular reason.
In fact, I could open the counseling office right now without any issues.
If there was any reason for delay, it was Seol Yu-wol.
Not that she was a problem—she was an Otherworlder I was fully responsible for from start to finish.
While I was out cold without a word, her Hunter rank and aptitude test results must have come in.
A message had arrived too. Evaluation complete.
Now, my job was to find the best path for her based on those results.
What her Hunter rank was, and which guilds were making offers accordingly.
As her assigned counselor, I had to guide Seol Yu-wol in the most ideal direction, not just as staff.
If any unexpected issues arose in that process, it could delay reopening.
She might be pretty upset right now.
I'd promised to visit as soon as results came in, then slept for days straight.
I sighed inwardly. I planned to visit tomorrow or Sunday with an apology gift.
"I see..."
Jin Sea nodded quietly at my answer.
I picked up my glass to take a sip of water.
Right then, Jin Sea dropped a bombshell in a nonchalant tone.
"I'm thinking of quitting Haetae."
"Pfft-!"
I nearly spat out the water in my mouth. I barely swallowed, but it went down the wrong way, making me cough violently.
"Why, why?"
I genuinely had no idea, so I asked.
She's the queen at Haetae.
Sure, she'd be a queen anywhere, but isn't staying where you are better?
At the same time, I quickly scanned her inner thoughts.
Since the regular system couldn't read her mind, I used PIN.
She'd seemed annoyed earlier.
That was the reason.
If this was her real reason, my advice was simple. No need to hesitate.
"Quit."
My firm answer made Jin Sea's eyes widen.
"For real?"
"Yeah."
I fished out a tender chicken leg from the hot pot with my chopsticks.
As I disassembled it, I said matter-of-factly,
"I get why the guild wants you—they see how pretty you are and how popular. But if you hate it, that's not okay."
Ads and shows ultimately depend on the Hunter's will.
She was worth her salary just existing, but looks aside, forcing her against her wishes was greed on Haetae's part.
I dipped the soft leg meat in the rich sauce and held it to her mouth.
"You can quit."
Jin Sea stared blankly at the meat...
"Nom."
And took it.
"Of course... talk it out first."
Worth having a conversation.
Jin Sea wasn't great at voicing opinions, so Haetae might think she actually wanted to do shows.
"Got it."
I was ready to support whatever choice she made.
Then, Jin Sea propped her chin on both hands, leaned across the table, and looked at me.
"But... Seon-woo, am I pretty?"
Pretty or not? Obviously the former.
Anyone with eyes could see.
"You're pretty."
I said it straight.
"Heehee."
My instant reply made her giggle like a kid.
Looking satisfied, she nodded with her chin still propped.
"Hold on."
"Yeah?"
Then Jin Sea added,
"Mary or me? Who's prettier? I've been hearing a lot lately. Just curious."
I'd seen it plenty on Hunter Gallery too.
As faces of their guilds' S-rank Hunters, there were tons of so-called "gal-cup" debates.
Seemed like prime bait.
Opinions clashed sharply.
Jin Sea's expression was the same, but the vibe felt... off.
I pondered.
Who's prettier?
Not a hobby judging faces, but if pressed, both were cat-level beauties.
Mary had a sharper, more Western impression overall, while Sea softened when smiling.
Hard to pick objectively.
But saying here,
"Taste difference."
Wouldn't fly.
Answer was one from the start.
"Think you're prettier."
In front of Sea, after all...
I replied plainly while sipping broth.
Sea beamed with joy.
"Good boy."
She picked the biggest, most appetizing piece from the pot with her chopsticks and placed it on my side plate.
Seems...
I gave the right answer.
"This won't do..."
I was picking out a gift for Seol Yu-wol at Lunafield—the mall.
Asking Jin Sea yesterday what apology gift would suit had backfired.
"What gift for the Otherworlder I'm handling?"
"Asking me 'cause she's a girl?"
"Yeah."
"Then this."
Jin Sea showed me some flashy push-up lingerie set on her phone.
You know... the kind that accentuates and boosts your figure.
No way.
Especially not as a counselor gift.
Besides, Seol Yu-wol didn't need it.
Her physique was already... excellent.
I gave a wry smile and moved to another section.
Food I could just make later anyway.
And she wasn't materially lacking...
Tricky indeed.
Turning a clothing corner, my eyes met a clerk's.
"Oh."
It was the one who'd helped pick Seol Yu-wol's clothes last time.
She recognized me too—her eyes widened in surprise.
And before I knew it...
"......"
My hands were full of shopping bags big and small.
Insane sales skills.
I bought everything without thinking.
She even remembered Seol Yu-wol's sizes by chance...
"This blouse goes perfectly with the skirt you bought last time."
"Oh... yeah."
"And this cardigan is ideal for weather like this. The color suits your girlfriend's skin so..."
"Ah... sure."
I nodded like I was hypnotized.
Well, Seol Yu-wol would like it...
I filed a quick report with the Association, then headed to see Seol Yu-wol.
Apparently, they were running an Otherworlder experience program in the quarantine hall right now. Hands full of bags, I went straight there.
It was a full-on lecture in the auditorium.
The instructor on stage droned into the mic with a bored look.
"Outside, it's Saturday, so you all—and I—should be enjoying the weekend... but here we are, lecturing today."
Content was basically that.
You guys are super strong, you know?
Be careful, fulfill your Hunter duties.
I scanned the back of the auditorium for Seol Yu-wol while listening.
"Found her."
Cookie and cream.
Her white hair-back was unmistakably Seol Yu-wol.
Despite the dull lecture, she sat ramrod straight, staring at the stage.
Good girl.
I crept quietly to the seat beside her.
Sat down carefully so she wouldn't notice.
Pinched my nose to change my voice.
"Lecture's boring, huh?"
"...Yes."
Seol Yu-wol answered politely, eyes fixed ahead.
"Then why watch?"
"......Because you said... to listen well and work hard..."
"......"
Me?
I didn't remember saying anything forceful.
Suddenly feeling guilty, I released my nose.
Whispered softly in my real voice near her ear.
"Wanna ditch and slack off?"
"?!"
The moment she recognized my voice, she whipped her head around.
Her blue eyes shook violently upon confirming it was me.
Then, clear tears welled up in her big, clear eyes.
What the...
Panicking, I grabbed her wrist.
"Sorry, sorry. Don't cry. Come on, let's go."
I led her out quietly, unnoticed, and sat her on the remotest bench in the quarantine courtyard.
"Why... what's wrong, Yu-wol?"
I asked flustered.
Instead of answering, she hiccuped, holding back sobs.
Had something tough happened while I was gone?
"Counselor... you see..."
"Yeah, yeah. Take it slow."
Seol Yu-wol continued haltingly in her teary voice.
"I... attended all classes diligently..."
"Yes, good job."
"Did the tests... hard too... greeted strangers nicely... ate well..."
"...?"
Like a kid awaiting praise, she listed how good she'd been.
Seeing my face, she added desperately.
"You said... you'd come soon if I did well... so I really tried hard... hic...!"
Oh?
Ah.
No way.
That comment earlier... was this.
I'd misunderstood big time.
She'd taken my joking parting words super seriously.
"Do well and I'll come soon."
Which meant?
"Do bad and I won't come soon???"
So she'd been extra good.
But...
"I was a bit late."
She did well, but I was late.
I was late.
From her view, her insides must have been burning.
Anxious too.
Was it my fault?
Whipping herself with anxiety every moment.
What to do...
She'd suffered more deeply than I thought.
Right then, a choice flashed before my eyes.
[Satisfaction Fit ???%]
How about soothing your upset, struggling client Seol Yu-wol with a gentle hug?
[※ Purely parental encouragement hug! No other meaning! ※]
[ ၄(cʸ„òᴗóﾘ၃ ]
"......"
Yeah, this was clearly my fault.
Not huge, but...
I lacked consideration.
To calm her deep anxiety, no matter how I thought... that seemed the only way now.
Sometimes one action beats a hundred words.
I softly called her name.
"Yu-wol."
And lightly hugged her trembling shoulders.
Felt her small body stiffen, but I ignored it.
- Tap tap.
I patted her back slowly, rhythmically, like soothing a child.
"Sorry."
Hearing that, her small shoulders quivered faintly, then sobs burst out.
"Waaah..."
Finally, she broke down crying.
It was all my fault.
