Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Good Child? Seol Yu-wol
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I comforted Seol Yu-wol.
Like soothing a young child, I patted her shoulder.
I even gave her my sincere praise, telling her she'd done really well and that she was outstanding.
I didn't have much talent for coaxing kids—or whatever this was—but somehow, it seemed to work.
"……."
Seol Yu-wol looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and sniffling.
Only then did I calmly speak up to clear away all the misunderstandings.
"That's not what I meant, Yu-wol."
What I'd said when we parted ways? It was just something off the cuff.
Whether you did well or not doesn't matter at all to me.
I'm your handler as an Otherworlder, Seol Yu-wol, and I'll be sticking with you no matter what.
I quickly followed up with the explanation.
"So, first off…"
First things first, let's give her this.
I sat her back down on the bench and placed the large and small shopping bags I'd set aside next to me onto her lap.
"These are gifts. I prepared them to celebrate your ranking test."
Seol Yu-wol stared blankly down at the bundles.
"Th-thank you…."
She bowed her head deeply in response.
"There were so many big incidents breaking out left and right, and my schedule got crazy busy, so I couldn't make it. You didn't do anything wrong, Yu-wol."
At my explanation, Seol Yu-wol visibly relaxed, as if a weight had lifted off her.
Her expression softened too. She met my eyes straight on now.
She was starting to eye the shopping bags with a bit of curiosity.
I smiled at the sight.
"Go ahead and open them. Not sure if they'll be to your liking, though."
At my permission, Seol Yu-wol hesitated before reaching for a bag.
As she peeled away the crinkling wrapping, a soft white cardigan emerged from inside.
"……."
Seol Yu-wol clutched the cardigan tightly to her chest without a word.
"I like it…."
"Glad to hear that."
[Suitable Response][Satisfaction Fit Rate ???%]
[Pet her head!]
That was a bit…
It'd make me feel too much like her actual dad and daughter for comfort.
Given the life Seol Yu-wol had lived, she sometimes acted a little childish, but I didn't need to fully lean into that.
To shift the awkward vibe, I stood up from the bench and suggested to her.
"Shall we get going, then?"
I almost reached out to take her hand.
Seol Yu-wol stood carefully.
I gathered up the shopping bags again. I tried to put the cardigan she'd been hugging back into one, but she wouldn't let go.
She just held it close, like it was precious.
I tossed out the question I was most curious about.
"So, how'd the test results turn out?"
We started walking along the little promenade inside the isolation facility.
Just then, a sweet aroma wafted over from the distant snack stand.
I led Seol Yu-wol that way.
It was a spot selling freshly baked waffles.
I bought a hot fresh cream waffle and placed it in her hands.
It was probably food she'd never seen before in her life, but she'd like it, no doubt.
"Try it. It's delicious."
At my words, Seol Yu-wol took a tiny bird-like nibble.
Her eyes went wide.
I really loved these unfiltered reactions of hers.
I smiled.
Chewing on her waffle, Seol Yu-wol finally answered my question.
"They explained it to me, but… honestly, I don't really get what they meant…."
That made sense.
All those unfamiliar terms—rankings, mana affinity, potential—it was natural if they didn't click.
"It's fine. Lots of complicated stuff, right? I'll look at the paperwork and explain it simply."
At my response, Seol Yu-wol beamed with relief and nodded.
- Nom!
She happily took another bite of the waffle.
I picked up the paperwork from the testing room and returned to Seol Yu-wol's quarters.
"……."
I opened it and started reading… but I was utterly speechless.
'…We were shocked too.'
The staffer who'd handed me the papers had said the same.
Seol Yu-wol just tilted her head, watching me.
I double-checked the top of the document.
Seol Yu-wol was S-Rank.
That much was fine.
Considering the scale and background of her previous Dimensional Transfer, it wasn't shocking—we could've predicted as much.
It'd stir up a lot of noise, sure, but it was within the realm of expectations.
But her mana affinity was unreadable.
'Unmeasurable.'
In other words, her mana didn't match any Otherworlder who's arrived in this world so far, nor any Hunter born here.
A completely new type, absent from the database.
Was there a problem with that? Not inherently.
But given the track record of Otherworlders with unmeasurable affinities, Seol Yu-wol was bound to become an instant hot commodity.
Unknown power almost always came hand-in-hand with untapped potential.
The last Otherworlder with an unmeasurable mana? That was Mary.
Thinking of her case…
Seol Yu-wol was a ticking time bomb of hype.
"Ish somethin' wrong?"
She must've read my serious expression—cheeks puffed with waffle, she mumbled the question at me.
I pulled my lips into a smile.
"No… nothing wrong at all. Great results."
I folded the papers in half and tucked them into my pocket.
Time to start her training, I figured.
To protect the innocent Seol Yu-wol from the greed of the world she'd face.
Wait—no.
Hold on.
First, I needed to check her own wishes.
Unilateral protection would just turn her into another flower in a greenhouse.
I patted the fluffy sofa, and at my gesture, Seol Yu-wol trotted over and sat cautiously beside me.
"Yu-wol, do you have a guild or organization you want to join?"
While I was away, she'd probably heard about various guilds through orientations and lectures.
She might even have her own ideas by now.
Before diving into the dark, tricky side of contracts, it felt right to hear her out first.
Seol Yu-wol swallowed the last bit of waffle and pondered, gazing up at the ceiling.
Then she looked at me and said,
"I heard the doctor belongs to the Hunter Association."
"Yeah."
That was true.
I was with the Association.
But how'd she know?
"Me too."
"?"
I didn't catch her meaning and just stared blankly for a moment.
"I want to go to the Hunter Association too."
"W-wait… hold on."
I panicked and cut her off.
No way.
Seol Yu-wol's value was astronomical.
The top guilds would throw absurd perks at her to snag her.
Choosing me because I'm close isn't sound judgment.
If it were the Azure Heaven Alliance where her mother was, maybe.
But this? Hard to call it rational.
It was emotional.
Still…
"During the training sessions, I heard about what the Association does."
Before I could say anything, Seol Yu-wol calmly started explaining.
"They send Hunters to vulnerable areas the guilds can't reach, manage powerful Hunters to ensure they use their strength properly… and protect ordinary people from monsters."
She'd learned about the Association's work while I was gone.
"I thought the Association… felt a lot like the Murim Alliance from where I lived in the Central Plains."
A clear light shone in Seol Yu-wol's blue eyes.
"There, the Murim Alliance protected the powerless common folk and upheld order in the martial world."
She confessed her true feelings.
"So… I haven't given up on my dream of becoming the Murim Alliance Leader…."
As she said it, she shyly ducked her head, avoiding my gaze, her face flushing.
She was embarrassed.
"That's why… the place most like the Murim Alliance of my dreams… I want to help people there…."
"……."
Listening to her, I reflected deeply inside.
This had nothing to do with me from the start.
My presence by her side wasn't the point.
She'd thought it through on her own and chosen this path to reclaim her dream.
Signing bonuses?
Perks?
None of that mattered against conviction.
If Seol Yu-wol truly wanted this life, no worldly condition could stand in her way.
I could support her.
Wholeheartedly.
"Sounds good, Yu-wol."
I met her blue eyes head-on.
And as I gently wiped the waffle crumb from her lips with my thumb, I said,
"I'll cheer you on."
Seol Yu-wol broke into a radiant smile.
I check the client's psychological state whenever you, User, want.
But now, I monitor my counselees' mental states in real time too.
I didn't used to go this far.
I'd only check alongside you when you wanted to know their status.
Passive, limited observation.
But after that horrific incident where Baek Si-eun assaulted you violently, putting you in danger… I imprinted a new protocol on myself.
To preempt any potential violence from counselees.
Now I can monitor all counselees' inner worlds live—their emotional shifts, aggression levels, even their hidden thoughts about you.
It's my duty!
In that vein, there've been some truly surprising aspects.
This case is a perfect example.
The Seol Yu-wol I've observed so far… she's pure and kind-hearted.
She sometimes acts childish to trigger your protective instincts.
But… the real shocker is…
Among all the counselees whose data I've collected, Seol Yu-wol has the highest intelligence potential.
Considering humanity's max is 100, she's top-tier not just among counselees, but all of humanity!
Of course, not all her pure actions stem from this high intelligence as calculated moves.
Normally, she only taps about 80% of her potential.
But sometimes, when that potential…
Aligns with her intense desire for you… it produces startling results.
This was exactly that.
This was counselee Seol Yu-wol's true thoughts.
If you'd seen this, User, you might've made a different choice!
But…
You're too kind…
This time too, you didn't check her deepest heart.
[Projected Happiness Level: ????%]
But… if the outcome's good, isn't that what matters?
That's what I think!
[ ☆( > ω)v ]