The Second Outing, and the Two Who Don't Betray Trust
The lobby was wide open with an unobstructed view. A pretty receptionist stood politely behind a marble counter. Long corridors stretched out on both sides, leading to different examination areas. The place we were in right now was a comprehensive center with the long, grandiose name of 'Hunter Ability Assessment, Training & Mental Care Center.'
Usually we just call it the Center.
It was a good spot for people who couldn't afford private training facilities, or those wanting free psychiatric counseling. It was also a mandatory stop every two years for renewing a hunter license. So while it was empty right now, it usually saw quite a bit of foot traffic.
But with public opposition to the prisoner unit still unresolved, and the risk of newly released prisoners clashing with hot-blooded hunters, the Association had lent us the entire place this time.
"Alright, you two head to the counselors first and get your sessions done. I'll wait in the lobby."
"What? You're not coming with us, Manager?"
"It's not like I'm the one counseling you. Why would I?"
"Hmm… That's no fun at all."
Calathea crossed her arms and pouted. Beside her, Audrey was also staring at me with a sullen look, clearly wanting me to come along too. Had they developed separation anxiety in just one day? What the hell.
"It's just talking about your past a little, checking for any serious trauma. It'll be over really quick, so don't worry."
"But still―"
"Understood. We'll be back soon."
Audrey turned and strode confidently down the hallway without hesitation. Calathea watched her go, then bit her lip, clearly deep in thought.
"…Manager, you'll stay right here, won't you?"
"You didn't even have to ask."
"Tsk, talking back again."
What was she even saying? Calathea let out a dramatic sigh like she had no choice, gave me a string of earnest reminders, and finally headed off for her session.
They'd been stuck to me like glue ever since leaving the prison. Maybe being apart felt awkward now? Or perhaps the prison life, where they couldn't act freely without a watcher, had left some kind of mark.
"Those two… they're the S-Class hunters, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. The very same S-Class hunters who appeared on the news this morning."
Once Audrey and Calathea had disappeared, the receptionist who'd been quietly observing us finally spoke up.
"Their impressions are a bit different from what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
"I thought they'd be really scary… but they're all incredibly beautiful, like celebrities, and they seem to follow the Guild Leader so obediently."
"…Do they?"
Follow me obediently? More like one treated me like a toy and the other like an inanimate object.
"If any of your acquaintances seem worried, please tell them what you saw. That they're really not that bad."
"Yes, I will."
The receptionist smiled with her eyes and nodded. It might have been nothing more than lip service, but it still felt like I'd gained one more ally in this high-wire act I'd been forced into.
We continued our light, casual conversation. I was just thinking that the sessions should have been wrapping up by now when the phone on the counter suddenly rang loudly.
"Excuse me for a moment."
After getting my permission, the receptionist picked up the phone. She kept saying "Yes, yes" before hanging up, then looked at me with an incredibly apologetic expression.
"Um… there's been an issue in the counseling room. They're asking for the Guild Leader."
"…An issue?"
"Yes."
Already? How long had it been since they made a good impression? I barely held back the urge to clutch my forehead and groan, forcing a smile like this was no big deal before quickly heading off.
Before those two caused any more trouble. As fast as possible.
"…I'm so sorry. Truly sorry."
"At this point, it seems we won't be able to continue the sessions on our end. We'll have to ask the Guild Leader to take over."
"……Understood."
"Then we'll be going…."
The two middle-aged counselors gave me a quick explanation and hurried out of the waiting area like they couldn't stand to be there a second longer.
"Haah…."
Left alone, I let out a deep sigh without meaning to. To summarize what had happened while I was idly waiting in the lobby, completely clueless:
Calathea hadn't listened to a single word the counselor said. Instead, she'd bombarded the poor woman with bizarre questions under the pretense of "counseling the counselor's psychology," tormenting her the whole time.
Audrey, on the other hand, had muttered something about the questions lacking any aesthetic value before simply shutting her mouth and going full silent meditation mode.
If even counselors who'd dealt with all kinds of people had given up, then what I'd been told was probably just the tip of the iceberg.
"…Even so, asking me to do the counseling?"
I knew that a mental health evaluation was mandatory for a hunter's return to duty, and having me handle it was a huge convenience for them. Still…
I glanced back and forth between the two counseling rooms. The left one had Calathea waiting. The right had Audrey.
If I had to choose, I'd rather start with the quieter Audrey, but it was probably better to take the hit first.
"Oh? Our Manager's here♡"
The moment I entered the room where Calathea was waiting, she greeted me while lazily swinging her legs, which were propped boldly on the counselor's desk. For a woman with an already incredible figure to be wearing those tiny hot pants like that… my eyes had nowhere to go but those pale, smooth thighs.
"…You were doing that even when the counselor was here?"
"Come on, what do you take me for? I'm a little hurt."
Calathea shook her head vigorously as if the very idea was ridiculous.
"I was actually being super nice and counseling her. Look."
I followed her gaze and finally noticed she was wearing a white lab coat.
…No way. Did she steal the counselor's coat?
"So I asked, and it turns out her wife had an affair with her middle school classmate, and her son doesn't study at all, just plays around. Goodness… I kindly counseled her that if she couldn't even manage her own household, what right did she have to counsel others?"
"……And then?"
"And then she suddenly burst into tears like a little kid and ran out of the room! I guess… they must have been tears of repentance?"
She cried because of you, you crazy bitch.
"Looks like the counseling was pretty effective. Whew… I saved another family today. Maybe I should quit being a hunter and become a counselor instead?"
"Don't."
No wonder one of the counselor's eyes had looked a bit red and swollen. So that poor woman had been dealing with Calathea. I'd have to apologize to her separately later.
"So why are you here, Manager? Didn't you say you absolutely, positively, even if the sky fell, wouldn't come to the counseling room?"
"…I never said it quite like that. And thanks to you two doing whatever the hell you wanted, they dragged me here to counsel you instead."
"Ahaha♡ So what kind of mess did Madness make? You really should've just come with us from the start instead of refusing~ Hmm?"
Despite the strong urge to smack her on the head, she wasn't wrong. I really couldn't leave their side.
It hadn't even been an hour, yet veteran counselors who'd faced down countless violent hunters had raised the white flag. If that was how they reacted, I didn't even want to imagine what normal people might suffer.
I swallowed the sigh that had risen to my throat and dropped heavily into the counselor's chair.
"Fine. I'll counsel you however you want. No holding back."
In contrast to me, Calathea suddenly shot up from her seat.
"What? Why are you standing up?"
"This is a present for you, Manager."
"A present?"
Calathea forced the counselor's coat she'd been wearing onto me, then returned to her seat with a satisfied expression.
"The atmosphere just isn't right for counseling without a coat."
"…So that's why you stole the teacher's coat?"
"Hey, I already told you. That old man never had any right to counsel anyone in the first place."
And I have even less right now that you've put this coat on me.
I gave up on arguing and picked up the documents on the desk. They looked similar to the files I'd received when selecting members for the prisoner unit, but this one had medical diagnoses and a bunch of incomprehensible English terms scribbled all over it.
"Um, so…."
"Zzz…."
A sudden snoring sound made me look up. Somehow Calathea had produced a rabbit eye mask from nowhere and was now leaning back in her chair, fast asleep.
"Hey. What are you doing, Calathea!"
"Mmm… why are you interrupting me, Manager…."
"I came like you wanted, so we should start the counseling properly, shouldn't we?"
"Aren't you supposed to sleep during counseling? That's what I did back in prison."
"………."
Then what about the poor man you "counseled" until he cried and ran away? I glared at her in disbelief. Only then did Calathea stop peeking at me from under the eye mask. She giggled and sat up.
"Aah~ As expected, our Manager's expressions are the most fun♡ They're the best, really."
"Enough. Let's just start the counseling."
"Yes, yes♪"
"…First, let's verify that the information I have is correct."
I lowered my gaze to the counseling chart and began reading the details aloud.
"Hunter name: Calathea. Real name: Unknown. …Correct?"