Chapter 41: Gaze

The early morning sun spilled through the window, flooding the room with light.

Seol Yu-wol opened her eyes in a bed that still felt unfamiliar.

She began to stretch, loosening the muscles that had grown stiff overnight.

It was a morning routine as natural as breathing.

Just then…

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone was at the door.

Seol Yu-wol’s movements froze.

Her heart sank with a thud.

Before she knew it, she was rushing toward the door.

Maybe the physician is already here, she thought.

But the voice that came from beyond the door was not his.

“Hello, Ms. Seol Yu-wol? I’ve brought your breakfast~”

It was the voice of an unfamiliar woman.

Her breakfast, it seemed.

Her shoulders slumping slightly, Seol Yu-wol opened the door.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

A smiling Association staff member handed her a tray.

“…Yes.”

Seol Yu-wol bowed her head cautiously and accepted it.

“Today’s breakfast is a simple sandwich. You can just hold it in your hand and eat it like this.”

The staff member even demonstrated kindly before turning to leave.

Just then, Seol Yu-wol stopped her with a tiny voice.

She asked quickly, “Excuse me…”

“Yes?”

“Today… is the physician…”

“Oh, didn’t you hear? Today is his day off.”

Ah.

Only then did she remember.

He had definitely told her before they parted yesterday that today was an official holiday.

She had been so preoccupied with the assignment he had given her all night that she had completely forgotten that important fact.

Yu-wol’s shoulders slumped even lower than before.

Seeing this, the staff member quietly let herself out, closing the door without another word.

The sandwich sitting on the table looked completely unappetizing.

Seol Yu-wol stared down at it blankly.

However…

‘All the food provided here is safe.’

‘From now on, you must eat whatever anyone brings you. Promise.’

The physician’s words suddenly came to mind.

She had even made a promise.

Nibble.

“…”

In the end, Seol Yu-wol took a small bite of the sandwich.

“…?!”

Her eyes widened.

Chomp, chomp.

The taste was completely different from the food of Jungwon she knew.

Once again, the physician’s words had opened the door to a new world for her.

*

Monday morning.

I arrived at the Association, just as I would for the foreseeable future.

“Oh, really? That’s a relief.”

According to the Association staff, she had eaten all three of her meals yesterday.

I was glad I’d insisted.

“Thank you.”

I smiled and thanked the staff member in charge of Seol Yu-wol.

My thanks made her blush, and she waved her hands dismissively.

“Not at all! It’s our job, of course.”

Just as the conversation seemed to be winding down, she seemed to steel herself and spoke cautiously.

“Um… Counselor. Do you happen to have plans this evening?”

“Pardon? No, I don’t have anything in particu—”

I asked back, not understanding.

Ah.

Then I understood what she was getting at.

Unlike usual, I wasn’t wearing my white doctor’s gown.

I only had two to begin with, so I usually wore them on rotation. One of them had mysteriously vanished, and I had only managed to toss the other in the wash late last night, so it was still damp.

In the end, I had no choice but to wear casual clothes today.

Just some slacks and an ivory-colored turtleneck.

To her, I might have looked like someone going on a date after work.

Emboldened by my answer, she continued shyly, “Ah…! In that case… would you perhaps like to have dinner after work…?”

Before she could finish, I gently turned her down.

“I’m sorry, but I’m just too busy with work these days. I have to observe an Outsider today… but I appreciate the offer.”

“Ah… I see…”

Seeing her disappointed expression, I added, “How about I treat you to a nice meal some other time?”

As if on cue, her face brightened again.

Leaving her waving energetically, I turned and walked away.

It was time to face Seol Yu-wol again.

I wondered if she’d found the answer to the assignment I had given her.

It didn’t matter if she hadn’t.

It was enough if she had simply tried.

Before I knew it, my steps had stopped in front of the room where she was staying.

Knock, knock.

I knocked very lightly.

And just as I was about to call her name…

“Yu-wol…”

Creaaak.

The door was flung open.

Startled, I instinctively took a step back.

Seol Yu-wol stood in the doorway, breathing heavily.

Her eyes fixed on mine, she spoke in a clear voice.

“The homework.”

“…Pardon?”

“I didn’t do it.”

What?

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard, that she’d said, ‘I did it.’

But what was with that expression?

Why did she look so proud of herself?

“I see… I understand for now.”

I nodded and stepped inside.

I wanted to question the source of her confidence, but that could wait.

First, I checked her condition.

“Do you feel cooped up?”

She had been confined to this room since Friday—three full days.

No matter how perfect the ventilation or sunlight, it was impossible not to feel suffocated.

Of course, her risk level had been downgraded from ‘Caution’ to ‘Safe’ as of yesterday.

This took into account that she had shown no aggression or abnormal behavior, and that her initial aggression had been due to her specific opponent, Ja Hwa-yeon.

It was a unanimous conclusion reached by me and the observation team.

What did a ‘Safe’ designation mean?

It meant that limited outdoor activities were now possible within the Association’s managed garrison area.

Therefore, today’s task was… precisely that.

To get her out of this stuffy room and show her the world.

Our first field trip to help her discover what she wants for herself.

It was time to give Seol Yu-wol a breath of fresh air.

I smiled at the blank-faced Seol Yu-wol and said, “Shall we go outside?”

At my words, Seol Yu-wol tilted her head as if she had heard the word for the first time.

My gaze shifted to her clothes.

Seol Yu-wol was currently wearing a gray shirt and pants provided by the Association that were the right size but nothing more.

I heard a female staff member had helped her.

She needed new clothes, too…

“Let’s go buy some clothes first.”

And get her something good to eat.

I took her hand and led her outside.

*

I took Seol Yu-wol outside.

Vroooom…

Every time a car whizzed by on the street, I could feel Seol Yu-wol’s shoulder flinch beside me.

There was certainly a difference between seeing it in an educational video and feeling a hulking iron beast rush past.

Seol Yu-wol clung tightly to my sleeve, walking on the inside of the sidewalk.

Today’s destination was Luna Field.

No, not the S-class hunter Luna.

It was the name of a giant shopping complex.

The reason I chose this place was simple.

It was the most suitable place to experience a new world.

Many people came here for fun…

And it was also perfect for buying clothes or having a meal.

Of course, all expenses were covered by the Association. The economic benefits of successfully integrating an Outsider into society were immense, after all.

I led her small hand toward the massive automatic doors.

As Seol Yu-wol hesitated in front of them, the transparent glass doors slowly slid open.

The moment we stepped inside, Seol Yu-wol’s world was turned upside down once more.

The inside was far larger and more magnificent than it looked from the outside.

The din of a thousand conversations, the music echoing through the vast space, the endless rows of storefronts.

This time, she instinctively squeezed my palm tightly.

I whispered quietly in her ear.

“It’s okay. If you feel too overwhelmed or find it difficult, you can tell me anytime.”

I felt the tension in Seol Yu-wol’s shoulders release at my voice.

Instead of answering, she squeezed my hand a little tighter.

That was enough.

Holding her hand, I slowly walked through the department store.

Her eyes went wide in front of the stairs that moved on their own—the escalator.

I smiled, led her on, and we rode it up.

“Eek.”

Her small shriek was lost in the noise.

We spent a long time walking around as I taught her about the culture of this world.

As I guided her first steps, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘This really feels like being a dad…’

Was this what a father felt like, holding the hand of a child who knew nothing and teaching them new things one by one?

I checked on her condition.

“Are you hungry by any chance?”

She shook her head.

She wasn’t hungry yet…

“Then shall we go buy clothes, our original purpose?”

I led her to a women’s clothing store that seemed the most secluded.

I didn’t think Seol Yu-wol would prefer to shop for clothes in a crowded place.

But in front of hundreds of outfits, I was just as lost as she was.

‘…What should I have her wear?’

Being a complete novice when it came to women’s clothing myself, I asked the nearest employee for help.

“Excuse me… could you possibly recommend some clothes that would suit this person?”

The stylish-looking employee glanced over me and Seol Yu-wol, who was holding my hand tightly.

Then, with a practiced sales smile, she said, “Oh my, you two look so good together. Is the boyfriend here to help his girlfriend pick out some clothes?”

I laughed awkwardly, while Seol Yu-wol, who had no way of knowing the meaning of the word ‘boyfriend,’ just tilted her head in confusion.

The employee smiled even more brightly and gently guided Seol Yu-wol by the arm.

“This way, please, customer. These days, light, flowy dresses like this are in style… but with your fair skin, anything would…”

I followed the two of them at a reasonable distance as the employee led the way.

The employee talked to Seol Yu-wol without a moment’s rest.

What colors she liked, what kind of clothes she usually wore, what occasion she was dressing for.

Of course, Seol Yu-wol couldn’t properly answer any of the questions.

Just as I was about to gently intervene…

“Just… something the physician would like…”

Seol Yu-wol glanced back at me before murmuring quietly to the employee.

The employee’s eyes widened, then she smiled knowingly, picked out a dress, and led Seol Yu-wol to the fitting room.

A sudden, inexplicable anxiety washed over me.

A moment later, the employee’s voice came from behind the curtain.

“Sir~”

I approached the fitting room she was pointing to.

Swish.

A hand gently pulled the curtain aside.

And Seol Yu-wol stepped out.

“…”

I couldn’t say a word.

Seol Yu-wol was wearing a pale gray dress that clung to her every curve.

She had always been hidden under baggy, gray clothes, so I had never paid it any mind, but…

Seeing the lines of her body so clearly defined left me flustered.

Seol Yu-wol did not avoid my gaze at all.

On the contrary, she met my eyes, staring as if to pierce right through me.

As if trying to read my thoughts, her blue eyes bored into me, intense and unwavering.

I swallowed hard under her powerful gaze.

“This one is a little too…”

I was about to give an awkward smile and ask the employee to recommend a different outfit.

But at that very moment.

“I’ll take this one…”

Seol Yu-wol said quietly.

A smile of satisfaction graced her lips.

Seol Yu-wol didn’t wait for my answer.

The employee beamed and moved to ring up the purchase.

‘…She’s gotten more assertive, hasn’t she?’

I stood there blankly, watching her back.

The clothes themselves didn’t matter.

What was important was that she had chosen something for the first time.

If she wanted this dress, that was enough.

‘Good.’

I nodded at Seol Yu-wol’s positive change.

*

In the end, Luna had given up on washing it.

No, to be precise, she hadn’t given up… she had come in search of a new, more powerful fabric softener.

As soon as lunchtime arrived, she headed to Luna Field, the giant shopping mall across from the Union Guild.

She went straight to the household goods section.

In front of dozens of colorful products, she was sniffing the scent of each one with a serious expression.

“Something as close to a strawberry scent as possible…”

But, then.

—Hmm… how about fried pork?

Then, a familiar voice—followed by a familiar scent—reached her.

Almost reflexively, Luna hid her body behind a large display shelf.

Then, she peeked her head out ever so slightly through a gap in the shelves.

‘Counselor?’

It was the counselor.

Why was he here at this hour?

The moment Luna’s gaze shifted to the person next to the counselor, her heart sank with a thud.

The first shock was the counselor’s attire.

It was the first time she had seen him in casual clothes, and her heart pounded in spite of herself.

Seeing him like this, for a fleeting moment she even thought she’d done the right thing by stealing the gown, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

But that wasn’t the reason her heart had sunk.

He wasn’t alone.

Beside him was an unfamiliar woman.

A form-fitting dress that hugged every curve of her body.

Her hair was a mysterious mix of black and white.

And her hand was tightly holding the counselor’s, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

And then there was her gaze.

Luna had a habit of analyzing a person’s gaze first—a beast-human instinct.

The unfamiliar woman’s eyes were fixed on the counselor, never leaving him for a single moment. Every fiber of her being seemed focused on what he would do or say next.

It was, without a doubt, a look of absolute trust and dependence.

The only silver lining, perhaps, was that the counselor’s gaze didn’t meet hers or linger on her body, remaining gentle and gentlemanly as always…

But that fact was of little comfort to Luna.

“…”

She could only stare blankly at their retreating backs as the two of them, holding hands like lovers, disappeared into a restaurant.

Thud.

She didn’t even hear the sound of the fabric softener sample she had been holding fall to the floor.

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Translated By: Meher (RaidenTL)

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