Chapter 99
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Desire
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Elise was now certain.
Well, she had been pretty sure already...
She just wanted to confirm it, to drive the point home.
In truth, for beastkin, "heat" wasn't exactly... something embarrassing. It was just a natural physiological phenomenon.
So there was probably no need to be ashamed...
She had no idea what Luna thought about it, though.
With that, Elise turned to Luna, who had just ended her call.
"How'd it go?"
"Huh? Oh... She actually seemed pleased. What a relief..."
"......"
"She said there'd be no leaks to the outside, but she really wanted to take some shots."
"...But sis, what got into you all of a sudden?"
Luna flinched.
Her body, which had been gazing out the window, froze for a moment.
"W-Well? I've been wanting to go to the academy so badly lately... So I just wanted to get some really pretty photos..."
Elise wasn't buying that excuse either.
Did Luna seriously think that flimsy lie would work on her, who'd known her for the past twenty years?
"Sis."
"...Yeah?"
Elise tossed her game console onto the sofa and stood up.
She strode over and peered right into Luna's face.
Luna's cheeks were slightly flushed, her pupils subtly dilated.
Her breath carried... that faint, sweet scent only rabbit beastkin like them could detect.
Chomp!
"Eek!"
With a mischievous grin, Elise grabbed Luna's cheeks like they were chewy rice cakes.
Luna shrieked at the sudden sensation, hunching her shoulders.
"Be honest..."
"Wh-What..."
"You're in heat, aren't you?"
"......"
Luna's eyes widened at Elise's words.
Then... she made a troubled face...
Swish.
In the end, Luna slowly shook her head, slipping out of her grasp.
"I'm not..."
Luna mumbled with her back turned.
That was the best resistance she could muster.
Today's consultations were over.
Vacation was done, but there weren't as many clients as expected.
Maybe they hadn't heard I was back yet.
No reason to celebrate.
Things would get busy again soon enough.
Sadly, hunters developing mental issues... was a growing trend.
As I prepared to leave, I asked the air.
"There really weren't... any other options?"
Yes, that's correct.
Only Reject or Accept! No other choices existed
Right...
The system had explained what would happen if I'd rejected the photo request.
And the reason why.
The reason was simple in the end.
The me who had affirmed her.
In other words, the teacher—the only one Luna thought had affirmed her—
Rejecting the photo would be taken as denying her.
So she'd lock her heart even tighter than before...
That's what the system said.
"......Ah, whatever."
Lately, it felt like the boundaries I had to maintain as a counselor were vanishing entirely.
Like the Seol Yu-wol bodyguard gig not long ago.
And today's photoshoot with Luna.
It felt like I was drifting further away under the excuse of "no choice."
I'd steeled myself to some extent, but it was still hard.
Whether this was the right path... even now, walking it, and probably in the future, it wouldn't be easy to know.
I had no choice but to trust my decisions.
That at the end of those choices lay the happiness of the clients the system described.
I could only... hope earnestly.
Counseling...
At its core,
I saw it as wanting clients to find happiness.
"Anyway... you did great too, after such a long break."
I encouraged my partner, who'd worked non-stop with me lately.
No, not at all!
You worked so hard too, User!
I smiled at the reply and finished tidying up.
Then checked tomorrow's schedule, memoed on my phone.
...A bit packed.
Morning was the usual consultations with scheduled clients.
Afternoon... I'd need to review the list of guilds requesting house calls.
I could start whenever, but sooner was better.
Plus, a meeting with Seol Yu-wol, right before graduation, about her upcoming bodyguard duties.
In a way, she'd be my new partner.
"Tomorrow's gonna be tougher, huh?"
I let out a hollow chuckle, turned off the counseling room lights, and headed out.
User has clocked out.
But I haven't yet.
It's too hot... but I changed clothes at least.
There's a saying.
Earth's humans always acted to seize something.
Historically, too, apparently.
Well... seems true for any world.
Desire exists.
Fulfill it, and satisfaction follows.
This utterly simple, primal process... stimulated most efficiently by this little devil right in front of me.
"Whoa... that rabbit girl's pretty intense..."
"What do you think? Impressions and analysis, please."
Since that day, I'd stored Devil in some archive.
She stood in her cell, arms crossed, staring at the massive monitor floating beside me.
The screen played footage of client Luna.
Specifically...
Luna's recent behavior was getting unusual.
Her heat approaching was already analyzed, but controlling any outbursts from it was key too.
What I showed Devil were simulation videos, based on data from parallel worlds, of likely actions from Luna.
"But isn't this video a bit too risqué...?"
"Shh. The analysis?"
Devil scratched her head at my firm response and began.
"Hmm... In my view, it's a bit late already. Once a beastkin's desire threshold breaks... it's way stronger than regular humans, so..."
"No effective method except taming her with overwhelming pleasure like in the first video."
"As expected, huh?"
Seems like backlash from not picking that '???' option back then.
Might need a more complex process.
But no choice. I have to do my best.
Ensure User's choices lead to the best outcomes.
Then, Devil hesitated before speaking.
"...So, what are you exactly? I sense no desire from you at all. Never seen anything like you."
"...Really? Thanks for the compliment."
I circled the cell, observing her.
Truth is, devils' methods are... somewhat similar.
Reading emotions, giving the most desired response... just like User's ability.
So I was researching if referencing them could improve things.
Of course, their ways are crude, one-dimensional.
Tempt with instant pleasure, fail and deliver despair.
But human hearts aren't that simple.
User's way is far more elegant, superior.
However...
She'll react stronger to pleasure...
That much I understood clearly. Very intriguing data.
Time to devise a tailored strategy.
Today's research ends here.
Time for me to follow User home too.
"Great work~"
I turned from the cell.
Now to head home where User is, sit in my chair.
But.
Hmm...
Hold on.
Feels a bit... unfair, maybe.
"Oh, right."
I turned back, approached Devil again.
"You said I seem to have no desire?"
"...Yeah."
The devil replied curtly, as if it were obvious.
I smirked, turned my head...
Slowly met her eyes properly.
And released the usual mental interference filter.
Now, the real thing would show.
"Wanna take another look?"
Devil, half-doubting, looked again.
And then.
"......!?"
Her pupils dilated, shook, mouth slowly opening.
"Wh-What... You... So intense..."
What did Devil see?
Hmm, who knows.
I smiled brightly.
And lightly... licked the candy in my hand.
Lick.
"No desire? No way."
Couldn't be...
"Think not?"
None there?