Luna’s steps toward the counseling room were lighter and more excited than ever before.
Despite this, not a single sound was made by her footsteps. It was a characteristic way of walking for a rabbit beastman.
“When did it start?”
Luna thought.
Just a few days ago, the word ‘counseling’ was an act that filled her with fear and shame. But now, strangely, she was looking forward to it. The feeling of her heart being at ease… had been a long time coming.
Finally arriving in front of the counseling room door, Luna paused for a moment. She straightened her clothes, licked her dry lips with her tongue, and swallowed nervously.
And it was at that very moment, when she carefully raised her hand to knock on the door…
A soft voice flowed from beyond the door.
“You may come in, Luna.”
As expected, he seemed to have noticed. The corners of Luna’s mouth involuntarily lifted slightly.
– Knock, knock.
With pleasant nervousness, Luna lightly knocked on the door and stepped inside.
However…
“…!”
As soon as she entered the counseling room, Luna froze in place.
A scent that pricked at her nose… so strangely unfamiliar, yet at the same time stirring her instincts with a sense of familiarity.
The teacher’s expression was calm; he seemed completely unaware. But Luna, a rabbit beastman with extremely sensitive senses, could feel it.
The heavy, overt smell of another female lingering in this room. The unbearable pheromones released by a female in the midst of an instinctual phase, designed to entice a male and warn off any other competitors.
“…….”
‘This man is mine.’
It felt like the arrogant and possessive pheromones were claiming ownership. That scent was mingling with the teacher’s unique scent, swirling in Luna’s mind.
Luna was taken aback by the powerful display of territory.
‘Uh… what should I…’
She pondered how to react to this unprecedented situation. There was only one creature she knew that could leave behind such bold and confident pheromones.
‘Ellis…’
Her twin sister.
She had gone first.
First…? In any case, she had declared this man as hers.
Of course, this was something Luna would never know, but Ellis had never intended to leave such traces. However, the recent contact with Yu Seon-woo had been a strong stimulus that Ellis experienced for the first time as well. The pheromones she emitted unconsciously had taken over this space.
– Fidget.
Unable to enter or leave, Luna’s fingers just fidgeted.
‘Ellis marked the teacher’s territory first.’
‘That girl is always mature and quick. Always wanting to take the lead…’
‘Then as her sister, I should… concede this time…’
But, a very small voice within her that she had never felt before blocked her thoughts.
‘No.’
Luna’s red eyes sharpened.
‘This time… I don’t want to.’
She could concede everything else. But not this time. Luna’s mind was becoming very complicated.
‘Uh…? What was I just thinking…?’
Ah, no. Let’s think simply. There was nothing difficult to contemplate.
‘I am just here for counseling.’
It wouldn’t touch Ellis’s territory.
Rationalizing to herself like this, Luna set foot inside the counseling room.
– Swipe.
Unknowingly, she reached out to wave away the piercing scent in the air as if trying to swat away an insect.
***
I was watching Luna, who had halted for quite a while at the door, finally step inside. Just as her face entered the room, it scrunched up for a brief moment.
‘What is that?’
Luna, who had been faintly smiling just moments ago. I cautiously checked her condition, filled with concern.
[Luna]
[Main Stance]
[Feeling discomfort from the scent in the room.]
[Appropriate Response] [Satisfaction Fit Rate 100%]
[Please get up for a moment, open the window, and ventilate the room.]
Oh no. Could it be that I smell?
One of the critical elements a counselor must provide is a comfortable and stable counseling environment. So I had always done my best to maintain the counseling room’s scent with high-quality diffusers and air purifiers…
But since this was a place provided by the union, it seemed problems arose.
Luna was fundamentally a rabbit beastman. It seemed that a scent existed which would irritate her sensitivities, something a normal human like me would be unable to detect.
I quickly got up and opened the window. Then, I activated the air purifying mode on the system’s air conditioner.
And as I sat back down, I checked Luna’s state again.
[Luna]
[Main Stance]
[‘Good… it’s fading away.’] Feeling relieved and satisfied as the unpleasant scent filling the room slowly dissipates with the fresh air coming in through the window.
What a relief. I let out a sigh of relief as I checked the system window. I didn’t know if it was my smell or someone else’s, but the source of discomfort had disappeared. I resolved in my mind to pay more attention to ventilation from now on.
Luna sank deeply into her chair, her expression much more at ease.
Now it was time to start the actual counseling. I gently inquired, “Did you have a good day yesterday?”
“Yes….”
Her voice was soft but significantly more stable than before.
“Thanks to you, Teacher.”
“It’s not like that.”
I smiled gently. For a while, an appropriately calm small talk continued.
However, my goal for today was not just simple ice-breaking. It was to help her bring forth her true self, which she had kept hidden since her arrival in this world. To embrace her identity as a beastman, specifically her ears, with pride rather than shame.
Just as I was contemplating the direction to take for the next step, the system in front of me popped up as if it understood my thoughts.
[Luna]
[Main Stance]
[Feeling stabilized and pleased from the conversation with the teacher.]
[Appropriate Response] [Satisfaction Fit Rate 85%]
[But could you please show me your ears soon? That was pretty when I saw it last time. (in a low voice and assertive tone)]
[Appropriate Response] [Satisfaction Fit Rate 60%]
[Consider forcibly dispelling her perception-lowering magic (B) camouflage, and perform the greeting method that Ellis taught you.]
“…….”
This time there was really no middle ground. However, upon reconsideration, option 1 might not be a bad choice. Of course, I needed to appropriately modify it.
But regarding the second option, the greeting after ‘forcibly dispelling’… it lacked persuasiveness. It was a matter of giving a little and taking a little.
I chose option 1. To modify it in my own way…
[It’s advised to refrain from altering too much!]
[ ヽ`､ヽ`(。・︿ ・。)ヽ`､ヽ ]
Nope, I’m not going to listen. I lightly disregarded that warning and met Luna’s red eyes, cautiously opening my mouth.
“Luna.”
“Yes, Teacher….”
“Luna, you are doing really well. For a client to open up about their story and to confront it like this takes immense courage.”
“Ah….”
I complimented her efforts first and created a safe space for support. At my sincere praise, Luna’s cheeks turned faintly red.
“However, it’s a delicate topic… but is it not difficult to maintain that transformation magic at all times?”
With concern in my voice, I inquired about not her secret, but the efforts she made to keep that secret. Even B-grade magic couldn’t be easy to maintain constantly.
“I think at some point, all the veils obscuring Luna must be lifted. Only then can you feel at ease.”
Upon hearing my words, her eyes flickered nervously.
“Ah… it’s difficult, but still… I just….”
As soon as I sensed her resistance, I immediately softened my smile and took a step back.
“Yes, of course. You can take your time. There’s no need to rush at all.”
At my words, Luna seemed slightly reassured that she wasn’t being pressured. She nodded very slightly.
So I prepared a compromise.
“Well then… how about this?”
I didn’t miss that opportunity and presented my last suggestion. Leaning slightly forward and lowering my voice by one tone, almost as if sharing a very important secret.
“If it’s alright, then for the time being, in this counseling room, and only to me as your counselor… how about showing your true self?”
I looked into her eyes and continued, “I think it could be seen as having a bit of an adjustment period. And to be honest… I also think the true form of Luna I saw last time was truly beautiful.”
With that last remark, I cleared my throat awkwardly and diverted my gaze.
Luna stared at me in silence, as if verifying whether my words were sincere.
I matched her gaze without turning my head away.
For a very long time, Luna said nothing. She closed her eyes for a moment, her long and beautiful eyelashes quivering gently.
And when her eyes opened again, a hint of determination was evident in her red irises.
– Phaang!
With a bright and cheerful sound, the space around Luna’s head shimmered slightly like a mirage.
It was the moment her veil finally fell away.
“Teacher….”
Amidst the particles of light scattering through the air, her snow-white hair revealed a pair of long, elegant, white rabbit ears with fluffy tips.
She seemed too afraid to face my reaction, tightly biting her lips while her eyes were squeezed shut, her entire body trembled like a small bird.
Seeing her brave state, I uttered the words she most wanted to hear.
“What a pity.”
At my words, the tightly shut eyelids of Luna flickered slightly before opening.
“That I’m the only one who can see Luna’s true form right now.”
Impious. Bestial. Filthy. Instead of the words that had tormented Luna her whole life, I spoke the one she had longed for.
At that one phrase, Luna’s trembling halted as if it were a lie. Her cheeks turned red, and she spoke in a whisper.
“It was my first time….”
Luna hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Showing this… to someone else in this world….”
“I see.”
I replied softly. First impressions and first experiences are always the most important. And as a counselor, I had the duty to ensure that this beginning remained an entirely successful and positive experience.
I spoke to her with sincerity.
“It’s an honor that I’m the first.”
Then, I carefully stood up from my seat. Wasn’t this the perfect timing to use the greeting method that Ellis had taught me?
[Now is the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
The system responded vigorously, as if it were cheering me on. I recalled the delightful greeting from the beastman world that Ellis had shared.
‘Gently stroke the outside of the right ear.’
– Swoosh.
I stepped closer to her and carefully brushed the outer part of her right ear with my palm. The world’s softest sensation was felt at my fingertips.
“Ah….”
But.
The moment my hand made contact, a short and heated breath escaped Luna’s lips.
Her body froze in place, trembling as if she had been electrocuted. It was a reaction similar to Ellis.
Slowly, she lifted her head. Luna’s face was the reddest I had ever seen it.
Her red gaze captured my figure, slowly and clearly expanding.
I felt as if the red was becoming much more vivid and intense than before.
At the same time, Luna was smiling.
It was, too, the deepest smile I had ever seen from her.
