[Luna]
[Main Stance]
[A small sense of pride has emerged regarding the existence known as ‘Hunter’ Luna. However, it is still a budding pride, akin to a sprout. It needs to be nurtured gently, coaxed, watered, and cherished as it grows.]
This is good enough.
It seems I’ve managed to get through the first task well. The work of boosting Luna’s self-esteem, which was filled with self-loathing and self-deprecation, has succeeded to some extent.
I’ve planted the seeds.
It wasn’t easy. Her abilities have been rather capricious today. Although this has happened a few times in the past, I had thought that my proficiency had increased enough and that the system had matured to the point that such issues would naturally disappear.
But was that not the case?
Anyway, I felt parched and took a sip of the Americano in front of me. The bitter liquid cooled my head.
What should I do now?
It’s a good time to conclude the session. If I end it here, she can go back with a positive experience.
However… to be honest, it felt a bit ambiguous to just send her off like this.
As the system’s phrasing suggests, the freshly bloomed sprouts of pride are incredibly fragile. They could easily be crushed by the cold gazes of the imperialists within the guild or by even minor stress.
And once a sprout is crushed, it will take significantly more effort to grow again. At the very least, I need to create a small greenhouse to shield it from the minimum winds and rain.
Ultimately, the main task I must accomplish in my counseling with Luna is simple. I need to guide her dual identities into becoming one complete identity.
In that case, what about strengthening her identity as a member of the empire?
‘This isn’t really…’
I immediately wiped that thought from my mind. It’s close to the lower-tier option.
No matter how much she tries to act like an aristocrat of the empire or adheres to their laws, there’s no way they would truly accept her, whom they disdain as a hybrid. It’s a cruel path that makes her chase after an unreachable goal.
Above all, becoming an aristocrat of the empire doesn’t seem like a good method for Luna either.
If she follows their ways, she would distance herself from martial arts, which she considers beneath her, and would have to cling solely to magic.
However, Luna’s competencies as a Hunter arise only when martial arts and magic intricately intertwine. Abandoning the path of martial arts would be a significant loss.
In other words, awakening her identity as a member of the empire from many angles is a lower-tier option. Then… what about guiding her to solidify her identity as a beastman?
“…….”
To be honest, it was challenging to find any downsides. In this world, beastmen are seen more as objects of affection and popularity rather than something to be avoided.
Then let’s go with that.
As I resolved in my heart, a choice appeared before me.
[Suitable Response] [Satisfaction Suitability Rate 79%]
[How about enhancing her pride as a beastman?]
Suddenly, what’s this question?
It wasn’t an imperative tone like usual.
It feels like I’m being coaxed, perhaps because I keep ignoring the options.
In fact, I had a similar thought.
I opened my mouth as I met her red eyes.
“Luna.”
At my call, her shoulders trembled slightly. The focus that she had been absent-mindedly lacking gradually shifted toward me.
“Yes… Teacher.”
What could be the ways to enhance her pride as a beastman? The answer lies in making her aware of the advantages of her race. Not the curse of being a hybrid, but the blessings of being a beastman.
“However, the beastman race truly seems excellent. At least from the perspective of an ordinary human like me.”
“What?!”
Luna’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting this.
“You mentioned that the empire despises the instincts of beastmen as base. However, here, that instinct is called a super-sensitivity, which detects the killing intent of enemies and predicts the danger to allies. It’s a coveted ability that only a select few chosen Hunters possess.”
This wasn’t forced praise—it was genuinely a thought I had recently while studying beastmen. Super-sensitivity isn’t something that can be obtained merely through effort.
“Th-that’s…”
Luna’s pale cheeks began to blush. I continued speaking without giving her a chance to retort.
“Moreover, the brute strength and agility of beastmen, which the empire calls barbaric, are the best physical abilities that all Hunters envy and aspire to.”
“N-no… that’s not true…”
Under my onslaught of compliments, Luna shook her head as if not knowing what to do. Her cheeks were as red as a ripe apple.
And lastly. Now she needed evidence that she could verify for herself.
“Furthermore…”
I held up my tablet and played a video I had found the previous night.
[Title: Alice Hunter Providing Fan Service After Gate Clear]
This video had caused quite a stir in the community recently. It featured Alice, Luna’s twin sister, who bore a similar face but a completely different aura.
Unlike Luna, who proudly displayed her long, gray ears and fluffy tail, Alice was surrounded by fans right after a gate hunt. Her popularity rivaled that of idols.
Alice cheerfully smiled as she began giving a piggyback ride to a little girl, showcasing her fan service.
However, the real reason this video became an issue was the moment that followed.
The little girl on the piggyback, filled with pure curiosity, reached out her tiny hand towards Alice’s perked ears. However, Alice, as if instinctively sensing the touch without even looking at the child…
– Perk, perk.
Her gray ears danced lightly up and down, avoiding the child’s hand. As the girl giggled and reached out again, Alice playfully bent her ears forward and dodged.
Perk, perk, alternating between left and right.
All those watching the harmless and adorable scene, both the fans in the video and everyone seeing it, were enthralled.
As I watched Luna, unable to take her eyes off the screen, I scrolled through the comments below the video. Most were friendly and complimentary towards Alice.
I would show her all of it—to turn the positive feelings she harbored into certainty.
“Look, Luna. This is the true gaze of the people in this world towards you and beastmen.”
I made sure to display the most positively reacted comments where she could see them well.
However, the moment Luna directed her gaze towards the comments, her expression flushed red to an extent incomparable to before. Her red eyes started to spin before she finally bowed her head deeply.
Unable to face the tablet screen or even my face, her hands fidgeted in her lap, seemingly unsure of what to do.
“T-teacher…”
She called me with a trembling, heated voice.
‘What’s this…?’
Her expression and reaction were anything but touched.
Quickly, I checked the comments she was looking at.
[SD_par]: Seriously, Alice’s ears gripped so tightly…
[choi_142]: Ugh, my child…
[aqsx95]: Union guild S-class black and white duo stacked together.
[room_78]: The handle cover looks fluffy and cozy.
What the actual hell.
I turned pale and instinctively seized the tablet, shutting off the screen. Cold sweat streamed down my back.
“……”
“……”
Silence enveloped the counseling room. I genuinely wanted to turn back time. It was such a perfect build-up that I ruined with my own hands.
I should’ve checked what kind of community it was.
At that moment.
[Lololololololol!!!]
What the hell is this?
The system mocked the current situation before my eyes as if it was all due to not following my previous words.
Today is going all the way.
What are you laughing at? I’m dead serious here.
However, along with that loud mockery, the current state of Luna was revealed once again.
[Luna]
[Main Stance]
[I used to think that beastmen were despised and seen as beasts here as well, but I’ve realized that in this world, they are cherished and adored in ‘various’ ways, even to the extent of being viewed as sexual objects.]
‘…Wow.’
Is this real?
Luna has quite an open personality despite appearances.
Still… I’m truly relieved.
It seems their crude sincerity somehow reached her. Is sexual harassment their way of expressing interest…? That doesn’t seem quite right.
First, I should apologize.
“I’m sorry. I should have checked properly.”
“… No, it’s okay.”
Her response came immediately. Luna waved her now-flushed face.
And after a brief silence.
“Um… I have a promise with my sister today… so I should go… I’ll see you next time, Teacher…”
Luna, no longer able to look at my face, almost whispered as she swiftly rose from her seat.
“Oh, of course. Thank you for your efforts in today’s counseling. Until next time….”
Before my sentence could finish, she stood up abruptly and rushed toward the door, almost fleeing. With her face flushed bright red, she bowed her head deeply, her hand fumbling as she hurried to grasp the doorknob and exited the counseling room.
“……”
I watched her loud exit with a smirk.
‘Pinned.’
I reconfirmed the state of the fleeing rabbit.
[Luna]
[PINNED]
[Current Status: [Celebration] Just surpassed the highest heart rate in her life! Running away because she thinks her heartbeat might be audible to the teacher.]
[Main Stance: Remembers exactly the source of the video featuring Alice.]
“……”
Why on earth is she recalling the Hunter Gallery…?
Is she perhaps planning some legal action?
Will Luna actually come back again?
To be honest, considering what I did today, I wouldn’t have any room to argue if she decided to file a lawsuit against me before the Hunter Gallery.
Regardless of the outcome… Luna’s first counseling session is over.
Now, what’s left is.
“Hey.”
I spoke in a low, cool voice toward the empty counseling room.
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? You weren’t like this after maturing, were you?”
Yet, no response appeared.
“Don’t pretend you can’t hear me. I know you’re there.”
After my warning, finally a translucent system window appeared before me.
[This system always presents the best possible choices for direction.]
It was resistance. I frowned and spoke as one might to a misbehaving child.
“You’re really going to get scolded.”
[Modifying the algorithm based on user feedback. ＿〆(。。) ]
[This system always supports the user! I sincerely apologize!]
[ヽ(●ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ●)ﾉﾟ ]
Seeing that emoticon apologizing, my earlier anger dissipated, replaced with pity.
Well, upon reflection, this system’s suggestions have never led to bad outcomes.
“… Let’s do better going forward.”
Then, the system window shone brightly, displaying the final message.
[٩( ﾟヮﾟ)و]
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at that cheerful emoticon.
