I took a break over the weekend.
I thought quitting being a Hunter would be comfortable, but that was nonsense. At least the workload this week was several times greater than during my Hunter days.
The problem is that my salary isn’t several times greater.
[Luna] [PINNED]
[Current status: Engaging in stress-induced binge eating. Experiencing psychological instability. However, no immediate dangers detected.]
[Main stance: Afraid the weekend is coming to an end.]
Of course, it wasn’t just lying on the sofa and resting. I was closely monitoring the condition of Luna, the outsider of the Union Guild.
Her psychological state was unstable, and if any issues arose, I had to take immediate action. You might argue that it’s none of my business, but I can’t help it.
This is a form of occupational hazard. No, let me correct that. It’s more like an ability-induced ailment.
Anyway, it seems Luna is eating everything in sight. I hope she eats a lot and gets plenty of rest.
“Ugh…”
In the end, rest is merely a continuation of preparing to perform the next task.
I obtained a certification as a Hunter Counselor and successfully completed my first counseling session, but… I know. Fundamentally, my knowledge and experience as a counselor are lacking.
I am relying on various aspects of my abilities.
So, I collected papers written by authorities in the field of psychology and piled them up in my lodging. Some were obtained directly from the association, while others were printed from scholarly journals I gathered from the Internet overnight.
These are papers written by experts in this world’s psychology regarding outsiders and Hunters.
Still… I’ve read quite a bit. I believe I’m sufficiently aware and diligently practicing.
I reached for the stack of papers at the bottom, the one I had yet to touch.
– Ssssss…
“Uh…!”
The precariously balanced stack of papers lost its center of gravity the moment I pulled one out. The mountain of papers came crashing down.
“Goodness.”
I sighed and started organizing the papers. However, during that process, something caught my eye among the pristine white sheets—a single paper that had yellowed with fingerprints and whose edges were frayed, seemingly out of place.
‘What’s this?’
It appeared to have been skillfully wedged among the official stack of papers from the association.
[Consideration of the Psychological Risks Faced by Outsiders and Awakened Clients]
The title of the paper is quite threatening. I don’t recall receiving anything like this from the association.
But right now, I’m not in a position to be picky. I started reading the old document as if mesmerized.
[Before the paper, all processes are based on the author’s personal interest in informal records…]
The paper chiefly deals with cases of failed rapport formation between clients and counselors. The pages filled with underlines and highlights contain a case study involving an outsider from an empire.
[Case 1-A: Analysis of the PTSD Progression in an Outsider from the Empire]
[The client (presumed Class A, former deputy head of the imperial knight order) expressed extreme hostility from the beginning of counseling.]
The counseling content is recorded in the form of verbatim transcripts, without a single error. Basically, the contents of counseling cannot be disclosed under any circumstances.
So… how was this possible?
[Excerpt from the first session transcript]
[Counselor]: Let’s talk together about the various emotional issues you’re currently experiencing….
[Client]: Shut up! I’m not going to fall for your sweet nothings!
Written below was what looked like a hasty comment written in red ink.
[The client regards all questions from the counselor as interrogations from an enemy due to past war prisoner trauma. Regular approaches only reinforce his delusions of victimization, rendering them meaningless.]
I turned the page. The record of the second session was even more astonishing.
[Second session]
[Counselor]: I regret the sense of loss that you’ve experienced….
[Client]: (Sound of slamming the table) Loss? How dare you speak of loss? I may have been defeated, but I have never lost my pride as a knight!
[Empathetic approaches are perceived as direct attacks on the client’s psych, resulting in a failure to establish rapport. The client’s hostility amplifies to dangerous levels.]
Laughing at all the counselor’s efforts, the client’s resistance grew increasingly violent. Finally, I reached the last page.
[Excerpt from the third session transcript]
[Counselor]: A, this is a new world and you must accept it. Defeat is not the end; overcoming that experience…
[Client]: … Defeat?! Kyle!!! You!!!
(Sound of a chair being dragged)
[Counselor]: I want to help you, A! Just a moment… calm down… aaah!!
(Sound of a scream and something breaking, followed by degraded recording quality)
[Recording ended. The client completely mistook the counselor for an enemy officer who had tortured him, breaking both of his arms.]
[Incident status: Client A is currently detained in the Hunter Association’s prison.]
“…….”
What the… is this? I quickly turned to the front of the paper. There was no name listed.
Is this for real?
I swallowed hard and flipped to the next page with trembling hands.
As I turned the page, a different kind of warning appeared.
‘Beware of transference?’
[Awakened individuals and outsiders often experience heightened emotional amplification due to unstable magical flows.]
This is something I know. It’s one of the many reasons I have for being.
The text continued.
[Especially when deep rapport is formed, clients may display “transference” by projecting all their positive emotions or desires onto the counselor. If this develops into an affectionate relationship, the counselor may be put in danger.]
The paper presented this as a special case appearing only in awakened individuals and outsiders experiencing emotional amplification. It was termed transference heterosexuality.
The case was quite shocking.
[Case 4-C: Incident of Counselor Abduction and Confinement due to Transference Heterosexuality]
[Client (Class B, Awakened) began to view the assigned counselor (male, 12 years of experience) as a target of twisted affection, exhibiting chronic affection deficit and possessiveness.]
[Excerpt from the 7th session transcript]
[Client]: Teacher… you are the only light in my life. You saved me. After you ■■ me, I ■■■■ and then I ■■…
[Counselor]: B, calm down. That is likely not true love. It is likely just respect for the counselor…
[Client]: (Voice growing cold) Lies. You said you understood me. Then why… why…
The textbook response to the client’s extreme confession of affection was rejected by the client, who began to exhibit intense anxiety and paranoid thoughts at the idea that the counselor might “leave him.”
Then, the next transcript horrified me.
[9th session, final transcript]
[Counselor]: This is a measure for you, B. I can no longer take on your counseling.
[Client]: Well. It can’t be helped. Thank you for everything until now.
[Counselor]: I wish you a future filled with luck, B. (Sound of a chair being dragged)
(A dull sound as if struck with a blunt object)
(Sound of a body collapsing)
[Client]: Let’s go home, teacher.
[Client]: Don’t look for us. Understood?
[Forced recording termination by the client]
[The client succeeded in abducting the counselor after knocking him unconscious.]
[Incident status: Unknown. Both the client and counselor are currently missing.]
This is insane.
The content was even more chilling than before.
I checked the last page of the paper to verify the source. There’s no way this crazy content could be real.
And there it was, stamped with the association’s red seal.
[Evidence Unavailable, Scheduled for Disposal]
The moment I saw that, I let out a deep sigh. As the tension released, I leaned back heavily in my chair.
What a relief.
This couldn’t be real.
It probably mashed together some well-known, significant incidents into a gruesome urban legend.
The reason I could be so sure was simple. There exists one absolute proposition that encompasses everything.
‘The contents of counseling cannot be disclosed under any circumstances.’
A document with transcripts circulating openly, disregarding this ironclad rule, could never be a paper from the association.
I let out a hollow laugh and tossed the old stack of paper I was holding onto the corner of the desk.
“Well done.”
I almost broke into a cold sweat.
Even if… just in the unlikely event that those horrific records were all real, I have an ability that sets me apart from other counselors.
‘Main stance.’
If emotions escalate to dangerous levels, it would be a matter of reporting to the association in advance and taking action. Perfectly, without any signs.
Wait a minute.
At that moment, a chilling thought crossed my mind.
What if there are Hunters or Outsiders like Jin Se-ah, whose abilities don’t work on them? My head suddenly ached.
Ah, abilities.
What about a newly awakened ability from a while ago? Abilities generally exhibit higher compatibility than regular powers. So maybe, there won’t be any noise?
I imagined Jin Se-ah, who is probably enjoying the peaceful end of her weekend by now.
‘Sorry.’
The only one generating clear noise around me was Jin Se-ah.
This might be a matter of my own safety. Jin Se-ah might allow it too.
To confirm, I decided to intrude just this once. I closed my eyes and designated her in my mind, activating the pin.
[Jin ■■■] [■I■NED?]
[Current status: Preparing for ■■■■?…?…]
[Main stance: ■■■ ■■■ ■■]
[???!?!!?!????]
As expected, the system window was filled with indecipherable characters and broken symbols. Some letters even moved erratically.
I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Even with abilities, is Jin Se-ah beyond reach?
Just as I was beginning to feel troubled, there was a crackling sound!
With a loud noise, akin to tuning a radio frequency, the noise surrounding Jin Se-ah’s status disappeared. The symbols transformed into sentences in the blink of an eye.
[Jin Se-ah] [PINNED]
[Current status: Resting! Psychologically completely at peace, extremely safe, and absolutely harmless state!]
[Main stance: Doesn’t want the weekend to end!]
“Oh.”
A short gasp escaped me unknowingly. It works for Jin Se-ah too.
The ability is indeed remarkable.
As soon as I finished my confirmation, I immediately released the pin I had activated on her. I wanted to check, not to spy on her.
After all, Jin Se-ah wasn’t my client.
