A hunter-exclusive lounge located on the top floor of the Union Guild.
Luxurious leather sofas and floor-to-ceiling glass offering a panoramic city view. True to the Guild’s name, hunters of various appearances were engaged in conversation.
“I cannot understand why the coffee here tastes so bitter. No matter how long I stay, I just can’t get used to it… I miss the Lukiak beans I used to drink in the Empire.”
Victor, the son of an imperial count dressed in flamboyant battle attire, complained. Around him were others of a similar ilk, once referred to as nobles.
They continued their conversation laced with subtle disdain, asserting that everything on this Earth did not match their refined tastes.
Even after spending quite a bit of time on Earth, their arrogance had not changed in the slightest.
“By the way, I wonder why that irreverent beast isn’t here today. It feels quite empty without the face of the illustrious guild.”
At Victor’s mockery, others let out scornful laughter. The “rabbit” they were speaking of was Luna, the flagship hunter of the Union and forever an outsider to them.
At that moment, a particularly handsome man quietly spoke up. It was Lian, the second son of an imperial count.
“So, is that beast off duty today?”
Victor, sensing the subtle interest in Lian’s voice, clicked his tongue and retorted.
“What do you care, Lian? It’s better if that common rabbit doesn’t show up.”
“…Indeed. I was merely expressing that I too prefer not seeing her.”
Lian elegantly countered while twirling a wine glass in his hand, without changing his expression. However, unperturbed laughter came from a figure buried on the sofa across the lounge.
“Don’t be ridiculous, aren’t you just dying to see her?”
At the direct remark of the black rabbit, silence fell over the nobles’ conversation. The first to regain composure, Victor glared at her, his face flushed with anger.
“How dare you… speak so lowly in front of me….”
“Hmm~”
Unfazed, Ellice perked her pointed gray ears as if finding this amusing. Slowly rising from the sofa, she offered them a smile that blended contempt and mockery.
Then she reached out her hand, mirroring Victor’s pointing gesture toward herself.
And, very elegantly.
She extended just her long and slender middle finger.
Victor was an outsider, but he knew very well what that gesture meant.
“…!”
Victor’s face turned pale with shock.
“Do you still think this is the Empire? That idiot by your side can’t do anything but drool over a chubby rabbit. Do you think it’s unnoticed?”
Victor and Lian’s faces flushed red with humiliation.
As Victor’s hand moved toward the decorative sword at his waist, Ellice slightly stepped forward with her right leg, lowering her stance. It was just at that moment when the air in the lounge felt tense, almost ready to burst.
– Creak.
The lounge door swung open, and a woman stepped inside.
With white hair and a distinctive bridge across her face, it was Luna.
Upon witnessing the imminent situation laid out before her, she furrowed her brows slightly.
But soon, feigning indifference, she gave a light nod toward the group of nobles.
Then she headed straight for Ellice.
“You have a center dispatch mission this afternoon. Don’t behave rudely and don’t slack off. Got it?”
The tone of an authoritative sister scolding a careless younger sibling. After finishing her words, without turning back, she headed toward the door.
“…? Did you come all the way here just to tell me that?”
Ellice asked incredulously, as Luna had mentioned consulting that day. Grabbing the doorknob, Luna replied without even looking back.
“Yep. You weren’t going to go, were you?”
Ellice flinched. She felt struck at the core.
“I’ll go. Please don’t make a scene.”
– Click.
“Tsk.”
Ellice slumped down as if all her energy had depleted.
Don’t make a scene.
Since that’s what Luna said.
***
The following morning, I opened the consulting room door with a slight fatigue.
It was due to the old papers I had been poring over until late at night. Just as I was brewing coffee and organizing today’s schedule, I was not met by the rabbit or my clients.
“Excuse me.”
– Clunk!
The consulting room door burst open, and several men in black suits entered without my permission, carrying a huge wooden box. Their movements were swift, and the aura they exuded was far from that of ordinary delivery personnel.
The large wooden box barely managed to fit through the entrance.
– Thud!
The box lay flat in the lobby of the consulting room. Bizarre patterns were carved on its surface.
“What is… this?”
As I inquired, a man who seemed to be commanding them approached and bowed politely.
“It is an item sent by the Lord. Please inform them that this is compensation for the damage inflicted upon the Senator’s belongings last time.”
Compensation for what Jiaohuan gave?
Compensation for the assembled table worth 50,000 won that she smashed to pieces?
While I was stunned, they began to disassemble the box. As it opened, a huge table wrapped in black silk appeared inside.
It was a table.
It was a table but…
It was a table made entirely from pitch-black black jade. Golden decorations of dragons and phoenixes adorned the legs of the table.
And they didn’t stop there. From the soft pile of silk inside the box, they pulled out a massive nameplate glistening in black.
[神醫 유선우]
Divine Physician.
That’s a title that is genuinely burdensome.
“W-wait a moment.”
My modest consulting room could not accommodate such imperial furniture and titles. However, my protests seemed unheard by them.
They perfectly positioned the table in the center of the consulting room and only then did they pause their movements.
“Well then, we will take our leave.”
The men bowed once more, as if their task was complete, and collected the remnants of the box without a trace. Just as the man about to exit seemed to remember something, he turned back.
“Oh, and a message from the Lord.”
In a monotone voice, he relayed it as if reciting a prophecy.
“Will visit soon. Remember that.”
With those final words, they vanished without a sound. I pressed my temples and sighed deeply.
“Ah… my head.”
I could just process the broken table with the amount provided by the association.
There was no need for this to happen….
Still, it looked like quite a luxurious piece of furniture given its appearance. Moreover, the gold lettering inscribed on the nameplate.
Could it be real gold…?
I paused my thoughts for the moment. The time was 8 o’clock. It was about time to get up and get ready.
I had a client’s appointment right at 9.
I entered the small kitchen, preheated the oven, and took out the prepared dough.
The sweet smell of melting butter and sugar filled the consulting room. I carefully spread freshly whipped white cream over the warm cookies I had just baked.
And finally, I placed a single strawberry on top.
I set the cookies on a small plate in the center of the table gifted by Jiaohuan.
‘… That doesn’t match.’
Cute cookies on a black table….
As I gazed at the strange scene created by two objects that didn’t complement each other, the door to the consulting room creaked open precisely at 9 o’clock.
And someone stepped inside.
It was Luna.
She looked the same as she did when coming to the consulting room, dressed no differently than while going to work. She could have dressed a bit more comfortably.
“Hello?”
I stood from my chair, smiling slightly as I welcomed her.
“Hello….”
Luna hesitated and bowed slightly while entering. Her red eyes widened in surprise upon seeing the black table and massive nameplate occupying the center of the room.
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. It seems there was a delivery mix-up.”
I should at least clear the nameplate away.
“In any case… I’m glad you came.”
At my words, her shoulders slightly flinched.
“To be honest, I was a bit worried. I was wondering if you might have come to dislike me.”
I laughed as if finding it troublesome, bringing forth all the awkward incidents that had occurred between us. I attributed all the causes to myself.
“It wasn’t intentional. My ability rudely…”
“Ah… Yes….”
Then I slowly checked Luna’s state.
[Luna]
[Main Stance]
[She came here with the mindset of grasping at straws.]
[Appropriate Response] [Satisfaction Appropriateness 100%]
[First, offer her the drinks and snacks you prepared for her.]
Her status seemed stable. There were no signs of hostility or anxiety.
Now, it was time to slowly move to the next step.
I gestured toward the table. On it were two prepared teacups and a small white plate.
“Choose what you’d like to drink.”
I pushed the two cups toward her. One was a bitter Americano, and the other was a sweet latte. Not knowing what she would prefer, I prepared both.
Her choice was the latte.
As I took my share of the Americano, I gently slid the small white plate on the table toward her.
“And this is… the strawberry I promised.”
I spoke with a smile.
Upon hearing my words, Luna glanced down at the plate.
There lay a cookie topped with a red and plump strawberry.
And… after what seemed like a long moment of hesitation, she finally reached out carefully.
Just before she picked up the cookie, I added a final comment.
“I’m not sure if it will suit your taste. I’ve heard that beastfolk don’t particularly enjoy sweet things.”
“Ah… I like them.”
With her reply, she took a bite of the cookie, resembling a small bird.
At that moment, her red eyes widened in surprise.
It probably didn’t compare to what she had received yesterday.
Unlike the one she had taken home, which had been wrapped up cold and old, this cookie had come out of the oven less than five minutes ago.
The texture that filled her mouth, the richness of the butter, the softness of the whipped cream, and the refreshing taste of the strawberry.
I could feel the tension slowly easing from her shoulders.
Indeed, this was the method I preferred most.
When it comes to breaking the ice, nothing is as certain as a well-made dessert.
Now… it was truly time to start the consultation.
[Luna]
[Main Stance]
[A counselor who knows all her shortcomings. She would rather want to lay everything bare.]
[Appropriate Response] [Satisfaction Appropriateness 80%]
[Can you share anything with me? Anything at all is fine.]
[Appropriate Response] [Satisfaction Appropriateness 69%]
[But could you show me your ears? I thought they were pretty when I saw them. (in a low voice with an authoritative tone)]
‘……?’
I understood the first appropriate response.
It’s a very standard approach of a counselor. The high satisfaction rate of 80% proves that.
But what on earth is the second one?
I had thought it would score low, but surprisingly it was quite high.
And even with an authoritative tone?
Generally, my ability highlights the right answers and clear wrong ones.
However, this meant that both were not bad options at all.
I looked at Luna, still chewing on the cookie, and quickly analyzed the implications of both choices.
It seemed that the direction of the upcoming consultation would be determined by my next response.
‘What to do…’
I was engulfed in deep contemplation.
