Chapter 34

Chapter 34

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Gaudium Hall.

The consultation room in the so-called multipurpose hall.

Pia, who was waiting outside, witnessed a familiar face.

A girl, fidgeting at the end of the corridor.

“Evergreen Solintail, over here.”

“Oh, yes! Assistant Professor, you’re here too...?”

“It’s a day off from research, so don’t worry, I won’t be going in with you.”

“...It would be nice if you did.”

“What?”

“Oh, no, nothing!”

Pia looked at the blushing Evergreen.

Among the students who were like monsters in Extreme, she was the only one who showed a rare novice-like appearance.

She was the first in line for this counseling session.

“Just go in through this door.”

“Ah, yes!”

Nervously, Evergreen clenched her hands, looking at the door Pia pointed to.

A small sign hung there.

[Consultation Room]

Beyond the tightly closed door, there was no sound or any indication of movement.

Evergreen swallowed hard.

A counselling session with the professor.

One-on-one!

Since the day the date was announced, her heart had been pounding so much that she couldn’t sleep.

‘Why do I have to be the first...?’

Fear, discomfort, excitement?

A mix of emotions that she couldn’t quite define, squirming in her stomach.

The only thing certain was that a few months ago, this was something she couldn’t even imagine.

“...What could someone like me have to talk to the professor about?”

Evergreen, unable to easily take a step, absentmindedly fidgeted with the carefully chosen shirt sleeves.

“Ms. Solintail? If you’re not emotionally prepared yet, you can ask the professor to postpone the counseling a bit...”

“I-I’ll go in now! You don’t have to postpone it!”

She couldn’t cause such trouble.

Evergreen pulled the door handle hastily and stepped inside.

But soon, she could only stop in her tracks.

“...Huh?”

Her mouth slightly agape, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Evergreen looked around the counseling room.

Tears began to well up in her emerald eyes that were trembling.

“Why, why?!”

* * *

A little back in time.

A few days ago.

Yussi stared unevenly at the Hero sitting across from her.

Without a call, he unexpectedly came at a late hour...

Moreover, it was a truly pathetic thing to not be able to hate a man who made such unexpected demands.

“So... You want to use ‘Dreamscape’ for counselling the kids?”

The Hero nodded leisurely, sipping his tea.

“Is it not possible?”

“No, of course, it’s possible... Truly an innovative idea.”

“It seems more efficient for counselling. I will bear all the necessary costs.”

With those words, he pulled out a thick wallet and placed it on the table.

Yussi sighed deeply, pushing the wallet back to the Hero.

“...Enough. What does that even mean to someone whose only possession is money?”

‘He really cares about the kids.’

To use the ‘Enigma of Rosenstark’ just for counselling kids, there was no such thing as excessive investment.

But she knew well that once he made up his mind, there was no way to stop him.

If there were such a way, the Demon King would have wanted to know it first.

“The usage is simple, so I won’t explain separately. I will just hand it over to Joyce by tomorrow.”

“Sure, I appreciate it. Then...”

“Are you leaving already?”

“I’ll drop by again soon.”

Watching the satisfied Hero stand up, Yussi suddenly recalled memories from the past.

‘Help me, please? Just say something.’

It seemed like that rough touch from back then was also reaching out to the kids now.

Despite the passage of time and numerous events, this man’s nature remained unchanged.

The fact was both pleasing and bitter, and she couldn’t help making a sarcastic remark.

“You always say you’ll drop by, but you only come when there’s a favor to ask!”

“That’s... I apologize.”

As the cost of operating the ‘Dreamscape,’ which could amount to hundreds of gold, left a trace of awkwardness lingering on his lips.

* * *

It happens sometimes.

The territories in the northeast, adjacent to the great mountain range, were subject to annual invasions by the demons.

A cursed era.

The fact that it was rare for a child to grow up without shadows of war was a lamentable reality.

▼

Deepening Understanding of Evergreen Solintail.

Understanding Level: 7/100 -> 12/100

▲

* * *

Some time later, a strange rumor began circulating among the students.

“Professor Redymer is sincere in student counseling?”

“...Counseling? Wasn’t that just for show?”

“No, it wasn’t. According to what I heard from fellow students, it’s genuine.”

The amazement of students who had experienced counseling with other professors before was even greater.

Those who had talked one-on-one in the tightly sealed counseling room weren’t alone in pushing away nonexistent melancholy.

Testimonies about counselling on the Connector...

Or rather ‘affirmations’ added more credibility.

– It was like a dream...

└ Is it some kind of medicine?

└ What is it, tell me!

└ You have to try it yourself to understand, hehe.

└ Thank you, I was curious, but now I’m upset.

└ Will you give me something tasty too?

└Ahh!! I want counselling too!

Of course, it couldn’t be confirmed whether the writings were from students who had actually received counselling.

However, as the posts increased one by one over time, students couldn’t help but harbor more expectations.

“Wait, the Hero is so sincere about students’ concerns? I can’t imagine that.”

“...I’m curious about what kind of counselling it is.”

“Then why don’t you go and see? Jake won’t even look at me when it comes to counselling topics....”

“Do you want to die?”

...Such conversations leaked through the open window of the counselling room.

The Hero organized the results of the previous counselling sessions and filled the marble with ‘Illusion.’

It seemed like he had finished counselling with Deindart, the sole returning student on the edge, and Karen, who hailed from the southern Great Forest.

[PR/N: Deindart is the only ‘current’ student, while others were new applicants, as in, the one who left his current unir course and applied for Hero’s unir course ‘Extreme’]

‘About half of it is done now.’

Observing the faces of the students leaving the counselling room, most seemed satisfied with the counselling.

Initially hesitant, the kids easily opened up once they shared the illusionary fantasies.

Topics ranged from love, career, academics to various interests.

The primary subjects of the previous counselling sessions.

Deindart worried about abandoning his existing Unir credits, fearing that graduation might be delayed.

Karen, on the other hand, was concerned about her seemingly messy skin, finding it too noticeable.

There was even a request for advice from Gerald, who wanted to engage in A.C. (Academy Couple) before the end of the semester but didn’t know how to approach a girl.

Most of the concerns were trivial and didn’t necessarily require clear solutions.

Listening alone seemed to be helpful.

Fortunately, there were no students burdened with overwhelming worries.

The illusions presented by the Hero were mostly ordinary.

‘Of course, they won’t reveal their deepest concerns in the first counselling, so I shouldn’t let my guard down yet...’

Regardless, the positive reactions were quite encouraging.

As evidence, the Iris of Laplace were also responding.

▼

Deepen Understanding of Deindart!

Deepen Understanding of Karen!

Deepen Understanding of Gerald...

▲

The children seemed to gain much comfort just knowing that an incredible figure like the ‘Hero’ genuinely listened to their stories and empathized.

Remembering the smiling faces of the kids who grinned after feeling relief, the Hero couldn’t help but display a faint smile.

“......”

He quickly handed over the documents.

The next sessions required a more cautious approach.

Ban, Leciel, Cuculli, and Luke—four candidates for the next Hero.

Their counselling sessions remained.

Luke’s guardian had urgent matters that required Luke’s presence, so he had been sent out.

He was expected to return sometime next week.

That left three.

Information about them had been researched, and the Hero had roughly thought about what topics to discuss during the counselling sessions.

If he continued building rapport with them as planned...

“......”

That’s when it happened.

A distant voice echoed in the corridor, a grumbling voice filled with curses.

“...This bastard!”

Surprisingly, it was Ban’s voice.

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