“I’ll admit it.”
It didn’t take long for me to accept the fact that I lacked talent.
I was an ordinary citizen.
But then, I found myself in a world where hunters stood ready to fend off all sorts of monsters and rampaging beasts. It was a phenomenon where people crossed over from another dimension without knowing the reason.
They called it transference.
And such individuals were referred to as foreigners in this world. My first ability granted to me as a foreigner was… a counselor.
[I can see the answers the target wants.]
It was just words.
My magical power was ordinary, my stamina was ordinary. All I had was… the ability to run. No, let me correct that, my performance was decent in short bursts.
The problem was, that was all there was. One use, and my mana was depleted, leaving me a burden needing protection from my companions until the battle ended.
As a hunter who had to protect the world and humanity, my abilities were woefully lacking.
“How about being a hunter counselor, Sunwoo? You’re a foreigner and have experience as an active hunter, so you’ll be able to get your certification quickly. They say all the hunters these days have at least one mental illness. It’s a lifetime job, really.”
So, that was counseling for me.
“I can also introduce clients.”
It sounded ridiculous, but that was the reality.
Foreigners often turned out to be quite strong or possessed special abilities.
From the perspective of guilds, they were likely to become valuable assets. The competition to scout such individuals was fierce.
And now, the man sitting before me, Lee Jaewan.
He was the one who had brought me here in the first place.
Of course, now it seems… even if it’s my first ability, I have to consider it a failure.
[Lee Jaewan]
[Main Stance]
[You want to give up being a hero.]
[True Intent]
[Let’s stop, Sunwoo. You’ve done enough. I feel pressured to support you more.]
[Suitable Answer] [Satisfaction Compatibility 95%]
[“Yes, hyung, I’ll give up and look for another path.”]
I accepted it.
I was tired of this. Being a burden was exhausting. Above all, there was no longer any reason to endure.
“Yes, hyung, I’ll give up and look for another path.”
“Okay… you’ve worked hard.”
[The target is satisfied.]
Lee Jaewan smiled and patted my shoulder as if relieved.
From that moment on, my life’s Act 3 quietly began.
After deciding to retire, everything went smoothly.
Foreigner.
Active hunter.
And even a guild recommendation.
With all three of these conditions, acquiring the just-established certification for the job ‘hunter counselor’ was just a matter of time.
The interview was also not difficult.
My ability was that of a counselor. To be honest, I had a perfect talent suited for the job.
Well… I wasn’t sure if it would effectively help patients.
Before long, I became the first hunter counselor in South Korea, or rather, in this world’s South Korea.
[Birth of South Korea’s first hunter counselor! Could they become hope for hunters suffering from mental illness?]
Hope, what hope. As I read the article, I prepared to greet my first patient.
“Please come in.”
A small, quiet office. Today was the first counseling day.
I hoped my first patient would be a soft-spoken and understanding hero.
After all, the very reason the role of a hunter mental counselor was created was that ordinary counselors couldn’t handle the unpredictable behavior of mentally unstable hunters.
– Crash!
The door burst open as if it was about to break. Literally, the door swung and hit the wall.
“What?”
And a woman appeared beyond that door.
A woman clad in a robe darker than shadows. Her long, flowing black hair cascaded down to her waist, and the gaze visible through it was far from what one would consider human.
No matter how I looked at her, she seemed to be a foreign hunter from the ‘Central Plains.’
Behind her stood a large man, gripping her arm.
Yet even that huge figure looked incredibly difficult to suppress her aura.
“You! You are the foolish one who dared to look into my abyss.”
[Self-Reflection] [Heavenly Demon]
[Main Stance]
[I regard you as trivial; the moment you utter a word, I shall split you in half.]
[Suitable Answer] [Satisfaction Compatibility 100%]
[(Keep your mouth shut.)]
“……”
I closed my mouth. The ability to speak was of no use at that moment.
Somehow.
I felt I was in serious trouble.
***
Surely, I had heard the name before.
Heavenly Demon.
It wasn’t uncommon for foreigners from the Central Plains to cross over and establish their own forces in this world.
I had heard rumors about a giant force calling themselves the ‘Heavenly Alliance.’
It wasn’t precise, but it certainly existed.
However, the opposing forces were much smaller compared to the Heavenly Alliance. Although they had gathered, it felt more like a thuggish crowd.
But then, one day.
Everything changed.
It started with a single foreigner crossing over.
Remarkable strength, overwhelming legitimacy. The demonic sect reassembled under her command.
That person was none other than the Heavenly Demon, Juhwa Yeon, standing before me.
“Why do you not speak a word?”
I did not meet her gaze. It felt like the right thing to do.
Instead, I fixed my gaze somewhere below her neck.
I didn’t shy away from the confrontation, but I wouldn’t presume too much.
Balancing between not provoking her and yet not being subservient.
“You are not different just because you are from a foreign land.”
The malice laced in her words began to gradually dissipate. The oppressive atmosphere that had seemed to threaten my life just a moment ago cooled down bit by bit.
Now was the time.
[Suitable Answer] [Satisfaction Compatibility 80%]
“How dare a mere nobody like me discuss that deep abyss which should be concealed high in the heavens? There are truths that must be hidden in the sky, and secrets that cannot be spoken of on the earth.”
As my words continued, surprise flashed in her eyes.
“Surely, to speak of that darkness one must possess qualifications… I daresay it does not seem like the one standing behind you.”
A clear dismissal.
The man behind her was to leave, she implied.
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon lifted the corners of her mouth.
I almost instinctively touched my head. I wondered if I had been split in half for real.
Fortunately, seeing that I was still intact meant my response was not completely wrong.
“So you are saying that you possess the qualifications to gaze into that abyss?”
No alternatives sprang to mind. Having gained my powers over a long time and engaging in conversation led me to feel that much was within my capability.
It felt like I had gained a kind of know-how.
“That is not the case.”
Only then did I slowly raise my head to continue speaking.
“However… we speak of poison to the family, and information to the Hao-mun, do we not? To handle the abyss, one must at least have tread upon its border. While I dare not reach the depths of your abyss… I can surely approach the entrance, can I not?”
“Poison to the family, information to the Hao-mun…? Hahaha! Who would have thought I’d hear the names of those wretched fellows in this place again?”
She burst into a laugh mixed with derision.
“Right, that’s true. Poisonous tactics are for the cowardly from the family, and as for information, the filthy and sordid Hao-mun is certainly adept at poking around behind others!”
‘…?’
I was momentarily taken aback, but I concealed my expression. Fortunately, it seemed she liked it unexpectedly.
I recalled where I had heard that saying before, perhaps from a martial arts novel.
It meant that medicine belongs to the pharmacist, and treatment belongs to the doctor, in essence.
In any case, I was relieved that the reaction was favorable.
“Good.”
She slowly, yet authoritatively, pulled the chair closer and sat down. The edges of her black robe swept the floor as she gripped the armrest like sitting on a throne.
With one hand resting on her chin, she tapped the armrest softly with her fingers. Then she turned her head toward her silent guardian standing behind her.
“Geumgang. Step back.”
It was a brief command but carried an undeniable weight that I could feel was difficult to defy.
“This one has evoked a sense of interest in me, so I must afford them the treatment commensurate with that feeling. It has been quite a long time since I’ve felt such emotion.”
The man named Geumgang bowed his head without a word. Without a hint of hesitation, he turned away and quietly closed the door behind him.
Silence began to flow in the office.
The real counseling was about to begin.
[Self-Reflection] [Heavenly Demon]
[Main Stance]
[I regard you as trivial, yet I have discovered something more interesting than I anticipated. She has not felt the emotion of interest in quite some time. If she decides you are not interesting, she may quickly revert to hostility.]
Without realizing when, her main stance had changed. It was better than before. It signified that there was now a chance of passing if I handled this well.
From now on, it was a true ‘conversation driven by interest.’
“Go ahead, ask anything.”
She gestured lightly.
“Oh, and drop the titles of ‘Your Excellency’ and such. When was the last time anyone referred to me with those? Just call me Heavenly Demon.”
“Yes, Heavenly Demon.”
From now on, it was time for the counselor Yoo Seonwoo.
[Suitable Answer] [Satisfaction Compatibility 70%]
“Then… do you have any worries that have been on your mind lately, or perhaps thoughts that keep recurring?”
“Hmm.”
She slightly lowered her gaze and then chuckled softly.
“That’s nonsense. I am invincible; my heart, energy, and body are all in perfect balance. There can be no worries.”
Hmm, I see.
That makes sense.
Then why did she come here?
I sensed from the very first question that it would not be easy.
