A Therapist Obsessed Over by Hunters – Chapter 5

The heart of the Demon Cult, the Heavenly Demon Hall (천마전).

The Ten Demon Council was convened. It was an unusual occurrence.

Typically, the Ten Demon Council, which discusses the future and providence of the cult, is held on a predetermined day once a month. However, today, the Heavenly Demon, Jahwaeon, disregarded the procedures and issued a summons.

The reason it could be done was simple. The Heavenly Demon stands above the laws of the cult.

Around the enormous round table of the Heavenly Demon Hall, four demon lords remained silent. The Ten Demons that existed in this world were confined to these four.

Behind the round table stood the remaining demon lords in a line.

And above them, on a throne placed several steps higher, sat Jahwaeon.

At that moment, the heavy doors of the Heavenly Demon Hall opened, revealing the left-hand law, Hyuk Yeon-bo. He arrived later than Jahwaeon.

However, he showed no concern and walked past the round table, heading toward the Heavenly Demon’s throne as he always did. It was his long-standing habit to flaunt his position as the representative of the Heavenly Demon and the second-in-command of the cult.

Just as he was about to step onto the throne’s stairs, a languid voice rang out.

“Left-hand law.”

“Yes, Exalted One.”

“Come down and sit in your place.”

In an instant, Hyuk Yeon-bo’s eyes trembled. Though the voice was languid, the command within it was as cold as ice.

In fact, the left-hand law was also one of the Ten Demons. It would be only right for him to sit at the round table.

Before all the other Ten Demons, there was no justification to defy the command of the Heavenly Demon.

“… I shall obey your command.”

The atmosphere was completely different from usual. Hyuk Yeon-bo instinctively tried to grasp the situation. His gaze, like a blade, shot toward Geumgang, who stood straight behind the round table.

However, Geumgang could not meet that gaze.

‘Geumgang…!’

At that moment, Jahwaeon spoke.

“The reason I have gathered you all here is simple.”

All eyes of the Ten Demons turned toward her. Left-hand law Hyuk Yeon-bo, who sat at the round table, also looked at her while trying to hide his expressions.

“Recently, the discipline within the cult has been shaken, and unnecessary noises are being heard. This is because the balance of the two wings supporting the main seat is out of order.”

The two wings. At those words, some of the demons’ eyes turned toward the left-hand law.

The wings of the cult referred to the left-hand law and the right-hand law. However, the position of the right-hand law had been vacant for a long time.

Everyone present understood who had consolidated their power by leaving the position of the right-hand law empty for years.

“Therefore, I intend to establish a new balance within the cult in this meeting today.”

Jahwaeon’s gaze turned toward Geumgang, who stood rigidly at the back of the round table.

“Geumgang has demonstrated unwavering loyalty toward the main seat with his steadfastness from the previous generation to the present. I hereby appoint Geumgang to the sixth vacant position of the Ten Demons.”

“……!”

Geumgang’s eyes widened the most, and a small stir occurred among the other Ten Demons. It was not that they doubted Geumgang’s abilities; it was simply too sudden.

However, Jahwaeon’s declaration did not end there.

“Moreover, I shall entrust the vacant position of the right-hand law to Geumgang as well. From now on, Geumgang will become the right arm of the main seat, leading the cult on equal footing with the left-hand law.”

At that moment, the face of Hyuk Yeon-bo, the left-hand law, hardened.

This was not merely a reshuffling of positions. It was a political declaration to cut his authority in half and place a watchman over him.

Hyuk Yeon-bo could not have missed the implications of this.

Geumgang hastily knelt on one knee and bowed his head to the ground.

“Exalted One! This is too much for me…”

“Worthy or not, that is for the main seat to judge.”

Jahwaeon cut him off. Then she slowly rose from her throne. Her cold gaze turned directly toward the man at the round table, left-hand law Hyuk Yeon-bo.

The pressure emanating from Jahwaeon overwhelmed the demons.

“Do you have any objections to my decision?”

It was a question posed to everyone, but the target was clearly defined. Jahwaeon’s pressure was directed at the left-hand law.

Time seemed to freeze. All the demons of the Heavenly Demon Cult looked wide-eyed, solely focused on Hyuk Yeon-bo’s lips.

Hyuk Yeon-bo, with the determination to bite his lips, remained silent for a long time. And finally, with a voice tinged with metallic resonance, he spat out just two words.

“… I acknowledge it.”

This place is the Heavenly Demon Cult, where the Heavenly Demon is revered as a god.

And now, it is a solemn meeting place where all the demons of the cult are wide-eyed and attentive.

In such a place, anyone who dares to defy the Heavenly Demon’s will could not possibly exist.

***

Ji Seon-ah and I finished lunch and exited the dining hall.

There was still some time left until the afternoon shifts, but I thought I would head in now.

“Where are you going?”

Ji Seon-ah quickly grabbed my arm as I turned to leave. Her golden eyes were looking up at me.

I had intended to leave, but I found myself caught.

This was her routine. From the dining hall to the café.

Eventually, we entered a quiet café near the dining hall. After our ordered drinks arrived, I sipped my bitter Americano and spoke first.

“How long has it been since I had someone to accompany me to a café?”

She pouted her lips, grumbling.

However, if I had asked anyone else, no one would have rejected a tea time with S-rank hunter Ji Seon-ah.

“How’s the new team? Is it alright?”

“Ugh…”

I inquired about her well-being. The moment my question ended, Ji Seon-ah let out a strange sigh and collapsed onto the table.

– Thud.

With her forehead pressed against the table, she drooped like a corpse.

“It’s the worst.”

Her muffled voice came from her head buried in the table.

The worst? I found it hard to understand.

She was part of the Hae Tae Guild, which I had once been part of. Hae Tae was among the top 10 guilds in South Korea.

But to speak frankly, while Hae Tae was indeed an excellent guild, it felt slightly lacking when compared to the top tier guilds.

And every one of those shortcomings was being filled by Ji Seon-ah.

S-rank hunter Ji Seon-ah.

She was always among the top 5 in community voting popularity and had an official hunting success rate nearing 90%.

The remaining 10% had been mostly due to my interference, which is why the higher-ups in the guild weren’t too keen on me teaming up with her.

Thus, I heard there was a reshuffling of personnel immediately after I left.

It was clear that the guild would have treated her as a top-class team member.

Tanks and supporters were definitely at the highest level within the guild.

And yet, she claims it’s the worst?

I asked the Ji Seon-ah with her head buried in the table.

“What’s the problem?”

Ji Seon-ah slightly lifted her head but could not meet my eyes. She glanced down, pouting like a child as she mumbled.

“… I don’t know.”

“……?”

Huh.

“Just the worst.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. Ji Seon-ah wasn’t the type to act this way.

Clearly, behind the surface-level grumbling, a more profound reason was hidden.

I opened her status.

[Ji Seon-ah]
[Main Stance]
[Gate### before **** ##@##! ##@.]

The noise was worse than before, and I couldn’t read an intact sentence.

‘… I really can’t make sense of this.’

However, the words “Gate” and “before” were visible. I could barely infer something from that.

It seemed this was referring to a planned raid before the team’s disbandment.

A large-scale gate raid. I had been looking forward to it.

We had decided to enter directly to carry out the raid.

Since it was a new approach, my team and I were quite tense. Yet Ji Seon-ah seemed particularly excited, saying it would be fun.

However, with the team disbanded, the raid was naturally canceled.

Could that be the disappointment she felt?

It was merely speculation, and I wasn’t entirely sure of the situation.

In any case, it appeared she was having trouble adjusting to the new team.

I smiled and handed her a piece of paper I pulled from my wallet.

“If it’s hard, come to me.”

It was a crisp counselor’s business card that had come out yesterday.

Even if I couldn’t provide direct help, I could at least be a listening ear when she was struggling.

At my words, Ji Seon-ah slowly raised her head. She accepted the business card with care and gave a faint smile.

“Thank you.”

I matched her gaze and smiled back.

***

As I returned to the counseling room, I called the department in charge at the association. The familiar voice of a secretary came through the receiver.

“This is Yu Seon-u, the counselor.”

– Ah, counselor! I’ve been waiting for your call. Have you decided on the first guild for the home visit next week?

Home visit.

It’s simply termed a home visit, but I think of it as just being in the position of a servant going to the guild.

The guilds that want counseling apply to me. And I, as the counselor, coordinate schedules and select the guilds.

At first, I was dubious about how many applications would come through. I intended to handle everything myself without the association’s help.

But my thoughts were completely wrong.

On the very first day applications opened, my counseling room’s phone and fax lit up with requests. Applications poured in from all major guilds, including the top 10 in South Korea.

It was then that I realized the situation and requested help from the association.

I wondered why that was the case, but I figured it out as I reviewed the previous incidents.

Guilds had been managing hunters and outsiders with dedicated counselors.

However.

An incident where an A-rank hunter exhibiting anxiety broke the counselor’s arm during a session. An incident where an S-rank hunter suffering from severe depression caused the counselor to lose consciousness from the magical pressure.

And countless other incidents.

General public counselors were like sheep thrown into a lion’s den before hunters and outsiders.

Essentially, counselors were ordinary people and did not understand the struggles of hunters, creating a disconnect.

Given the inherent instability of awakened individuals and outsiders, there arose situations where we had to protect the counselors while conducting sessions.

Thus, every guild was desperate for dedicated counselors for hunters.

Eventually, I had inadvertently taken on a position that, based on perceptions alone, would seem superior.

Of course, I never think of myself in that way.

I am not superior. I just feel overwhelmed.

What if someone breaks my arm?

– Counselor? Shall I read the list of candidate guilds again?

I snapped back to reality at the voice coming through the receiver.

“Oh.”

Then, without hesitation, I calmly said, “Hae Tae.”

– Ah, Hae Tae. Understood. Please hold on for a moment…

I could hear the sound of the secretary flipping through documents from the other side of the receiver.

However, at that moment, a voice laced with far more caution and embarrassment pierced my ears.

– Um… Counselor?

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

What’s going on?

– The Hae Tae guild did not apply for the home visit this time. They are not on the list.

I was startled for a moment.

“… Huh?”

– Yes. They are the only one among the top 10 guilds. I checked several times out of curiosity, but… they are not on the list.

When I heard Ji Seon-ah’s words, I thought Hae Tae had definitely applied.

‘Did they apply?’

‘Of course! I told them to.’

But they hadn’t?

“… Huh?”

I couldn’t help but be flustered.

A Therapist Obsessed Over by Hunters

A Therapist Obsessed Over by Hunters

被猎人们执着的心理咨询师
Score 8.4
Status: Ongoing Native Language: Chinese
Patients were never to be viewed as romantic interests. That was how it had been taught to me. “I’m here!” “……” “Doctor?” “……” “Answer me.” However, whether romance would happen or not— That was not something I had the power to decide.

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