Chapter 98
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Photoshoot Preparation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Take this as encouragement for your courage.
However.
In truth, it might be a little lewd. But does that matter?
It's fine, right?
To cut to the chase, it's absolutely not fine.
Honestly, the aftermath of the Baek Si-eun incident hasn't even been resolved yet.
I was reacting hypersensitively to even the slightest stimuli, regardless of my own will.
So I'd been avoiding contact with all media as much as possible.
But to personally receive provocative pictorial photos from a client...
Setting aside ethics, it could lead to something that disqualifies me as a human being.
I think I need to decline her offer.
I checked her status.
[Luna]
[Main Stance]
"I really hope Teacher accepts the photos. If you don't..."
[Suitable Response] [Satisfaction Rate 0%]
"Luna... I'm sorry. Due to counselor ethics, it might be difficult to personally accept your pictorial photos."
[Suitable Response] [Satisfaction Rate ???%]
"Sure, I'll make good use of them."
Both options are extreme.
It was inevitable from the start.
Decline or accept—those are the only two choices.
But in all my life, I'd never even considered picking a 0% option.
How many people would choose the one screaming "disaster ahead"?
Even so, this might be the perfect moment to pick 0%.
What would happen if I did?
I didn't know, but our friend would.
'Friend.'
In less than a second, I finished deliberating and quickly asked in my mind.
Prioritizing rejection first, and what would happen if I did.
[Yes!]
[(`Д´)]
'What happens if I pick the first one?'
There must be a reason for such an extreme 0% rating.
[Hmm... Deriving predicted results via algorithm.]
[Simulation starting...]
The system window flickered briefly before displaying future possibilities in text.
[1. Client Luna will superficially accept your polite rejection.]
[2. However, deep down, she'll feel self-loathing for having her courage labeled as wrong.]
[3. The session ends there. Convinced she's caused you major trouble, Luna will never return to the counseling office, and the pictorial shoot will be scrapped on the spot.]
Hold on.
Stop right there.
[4. Luna will live on with even deeper self-loathing and lower self-esteem than before counseling. She'll never affirm her ears or her identity again.]
[5. Ultimately, her self-esteem plummets lower than before, and treatment ends in complete failure.]
[]
[Thus, the total happiness of all involved converges to negative... but since this system can't display below 0%, it shows as 0%!]
[So sad. User ]
[(｡•́︿•̀｡)]
This is driving me crazy...
Ethics as a counselor versus the client's total abandonment—if forced to choose, I'd ditch the former without hesitation.
I couldn't bear to watch one person's treatment go down the drain for my flimsy professional pride.
I'll adjust.
Just... accept it and keep it. No need to look.
Maybe just a blurry glimpse of her face...
"Understood."
I nodded, meeting Luna's eyes.
"I'll gratefully accept. Because it's your courageous act, Luna."
Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Hoo..."
Then she opened them again.
"Thank you... Teacher..."
She clasped one of my hands preciously with both of hers.
And smiled radiantly.
- Hop, hop.
After her acceptance, Luna hopped out of the counseling room like a rabbit.
I watched her retreating figure until it vanished, then greeted the next clients.
The morning sessions flew by in a blur, and lunchtime arrived.
Though it was lunch, I didn't go out to eat.
I sat at the table, pondering Luna for a bit.
"......"
For now, I'd taken the name of the pictorial company.
Pure curiosity about what it was.
I searched the company name she'd mentioned.
[Lulu KOREA]
Moments later, their official homepage and signature works appeared on screen.
I browsed their portfolio.
"......"
Didn't she say it wasn't lewd?
It's not.
Not at all.
There wasn't even a single non-lewd concept.
Elise's swimsuit was the most tame and wholesome in the portfolio.
Probably the agency's maximum consideration for an S-rank hunter like her...
I hope they show Luna ten times more consideration.
I quickly closed the screen.
Something was coming over me.
My head hurt either way.
"Elise."
"Hm?"
Elise, engrossed in her game, finally looked up at the warmth on her shoulder.
Luna had snuck up to the sofa behind her and placed a hand there, without a sound.
"Our shoot... it's tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, it is? Whaa?"
Elise giggled as she asked.
"Why, getting cold feet all of a sudden?"
In truth, Luna's pictorial shoot was tomorrow.
She'd had several options.
If Teacher had refused today... she'd planned to plead that the shoot was tomorrow anyway.
A bit forced and lame, but she really wanted to show him the photos.
Fortunately, it worked out without that desperate measure.
"No... just."
Luna sat on the sofa and slowly stroked her game-obsessed little sister's head.
Her fingers trailed lazily down her hair to gently trace her jawline.
Elise shivered involuntarily at the strange, sensual touch.
It was a sticky caress her usual sister would never do.
"You scared me... What's up with you, sis?"
"Hm? Nothing?"
Elise quit the game and turned, but Luna just tilted her head with a smile.
"You were just like Lily for a sec."
Fox beastkin Lily.
"A compliment?"
At Luna's innocent question, Elise pondered briefly...
"Yeah. A compliment."
She replied.
Luna stroked her sister's head again at the praise.
For some reason, it felt good.
"What's the concept for this shoot?"
"S-rank hunter's school life, I think."
"Aha."
"They're trying wholesome pictorials for once. They were super grateful."
The agency seemed to be seizing the opportunity with their own considerations.
With Luna there, test fresh, youthful outfits.
Not for public release, but Luna and Elise were their ideal subjects.
"Hm..."
But Luna let out a disappointed sound.
Having her courage acknowledged by Teacher was great.
Great, but...
If the shoot ended up this wholesome, wouldn't the courage he felt be halved?
She'd even said it might be lewd, but if the results were tame... it might leak steam.
She didn't want that.
She wanted to properly show how much she'd changed, her resolve.
Luna's lips unwittingly pouted.
"It's school uniforms, apparently like Empire Academy ones."
"...Yeah."
Not interested.
The academy uniform just reminded her of a past of discrimination.
"You always wanted to go back then. The academy? Perfect, right."
That was true.
As a beastkin, Luna couldn't attend the academy, and it was a lingering wound.
Wearing uniforms like normal students, hanging with friends.
That everyday normalcy was denied her.
"A designer from the Empire made them personally?"
"......Huh?"
Not uniforms?
Luna's head snapped up.
Come to think of it, the Empire Academy wasn't for minors.
Only adult nobles could enroll.
Uniforms were one thing... but regalia? That changed everything.
Didn't that mean the concept didn't have to be purely wholesome?
Luna subtly asked Elise.
"...Any plans for bonus shots?"
Elise pulled out her lollipop and replied.
"Of course. I already agreed."
"Concept...?"
"After school, secret tutoring with Teacher."
"Gasp..."
Luna covered her mouth.
Her face flushed bright red instantly.
After school?
Teacher?
Secret tutoring??
"You too, sis..."
Elise giggled, about to drive it home—though she knew she wouldn't anyway.
"Hello?"
"......?"
Elise stopped and tilted her head.
Luna, who'd been beside her moments ago, was already at the window.
"Ah... yes, about the shoot... I'd like to add a few more..."
"Whoa..."
Luna was already on the phone somewhere.
"It's real..."
Elise finally realized.
Lily was right.
Luna.
Her big sister...
Was definitely entering estrus.