Chapter 1: The Hunter Counselor

“I admit it.”

It didn’t take me long to accept that I had no talent.

I was just an ordinary citizen.

But when I opened my eyes, I had been transported to a world overrun with all sorts of monsters and the hunters who fought them.

For reasons unknown, people were being brought over from other dimensions—a phenomenon they called a “Transfer.”

And in this world, people like me were called “Outsiders.”

The first ability I received as an Outsider was… Counselor.

[The target’s desired response is visible.]

That was it. Nothing more than words.

My mana and stamina were both average. The only thing I had going for me was… my speed.

No, let me rephrase that. I had a decent burst of power.

The problem was, that was all I had.

A single burst would drain all my mana, leaving me a dead weight who needed protection from my teammates for the rest of the fight.

For a hunter meant to protect the world and save humanity, my ability was completely useless.

“Seon-woo, have you thought about becoming a Hunter Counselor? You’re an Outsider and you’ve been an active-duty hunter, so you could get the license in no time. They say every hunter these days has at least one mental illness, you know? It’s a job for life. A real job for life.”

And so, I became a counselor.

“I can even introduce you to a few clients.”

It might sound ridiculous, but that was my reality.

Outsiders were often powerful or possessed special abilities, making them potentially valuable assets from a guild’s perspective. The competition among scouts to recruit even one more of them was fierce.

The man sitting across from me now, Wi Jae-wan, was the very person who had scouted me.

Of course, looking back now… my recruitment had been a complete wash.

[Wi Jae-wan]

[Main Stance]

[Wants you to stop playing the hero.]

[True Intent]

[Let’s just stop, Seon-woo. You’ve done enough. It’s getting awkward for me to keep supporting you.]

[Suitable Response] [95% Satisfaction Rate]

[“Yes, hyung-nim. I’ll give up and find another path.”]

I accepted it.

I was sick of this anyway. I was tired of being a burden.

Most importantly, there was no reason to hold on any longer.

“Yes, hyung-nim. I’ll give up and find another path.”

“Yeah… You’ve worked hard.”

[The target is satisfied.]

Wi Jae-wan patted my shoulder with a relieved smile.

And just like that, the third act of my life quietly began.

Once I decided to retire, everything went smoothly.

An Outsider, a former active-duty hunter, and a letter of recommendation from a guild.

With those three conditions met, getting a license for the newly created profession of “Hunter Counselor” was just a formality.

The interview wasn’t difficult either.

After all, my ability was Counselor.

Honestly, you could say it was the perfect ability for the job.

Well… whether my patients would actually get better, that was another story.

Before long, I became the first Hunter Counselor in the Republic of Korea—or rather, the Republic of Korea of this world.

[Birth of Korea’s First Hunter Counselor! A Beacon of Hope for Hunters Suffering from Mental Illness?]

Hope, my ass.

I tossed the article aside and prepared to meet my first patient.

“Come in.”

A small, quiet office.

Today was the first day of counseling.

I prayed that my first patient would be a gentle, easygoing hero.

The whole reason the Hunter Counselor profession even existed was because ordinary therapists couldn’t handle the… unpredictability of a mentally unstable hunter.

– CRASH!

The door didn’t just open—it flew off its hinges with a deafening crash, slamming into the wall.

?

A woman stood in the ruined doorway.

She wore a robe darker than shadow itself. Her jet-black hair cascaded to her waist, and the gaze peeking through it was barely human.

From the look of her, she was clearly an Outsider hunter from “Jungwon.”

A large man behind her was trying to hold her back, but even his massive frame seemed dwarfed by her overwhelming presence.

“So it is you. The foolish one who would dare gaze into my abyss.”

[Ja Hwa-yeon] [Heavenly Demon]

[Main Stance]

[She considers you insignificant and will tear you in half the moment you open your mouth.]

[Suitable Response] [100% Satisfaction Rate]

[(Remain silent.)]

“……”

I kept my mouth shut.

So much for an ability based on talking.

It seemed…

I was well and truly fucked.

*

I had definitely heard that name before.

The Heavenly Demon.

It wasn’t uncommon for Outsiders from Jungwon to come to this world and form their own factions.

The Azure Sky Alliance, I think it was called? I had heard they’d established a massive force, positioning themselves as the righteous faction.

I wasn’t sure of the details, but they definitely existed.

The opposing Demonic Faction, however, was minuscule in comparison. They were more like a street gang than a proper organization.

Then, one day, everything changed.

All because of a single Outsider who transferred over.

With her wondrous martial arts and overwhelming legitimacy, the Demonic Cult rallied once more, united beneath her.

And that person was the Heavenly Demon standing before me now, Ja Hwa-yeon.

“Why do you not utter a single word?”

I avoided her gaze, sensing it was the right move. Instead, I fixed my eyes somewhere around her collarbone.

It was a delicate tightrope walk—an attitude that didn’t shy away from her, but didn’t dare challenge her either. Not provocative, yet not servile.

“So this is the so-called ‘Heart-Reader’ from another world. You are no different from the rest.”

The killing intent lacing her words began to subside. The pressure in the air, which felt moments ago like it could sever my head, gradually eased.

This was my chance.

[Suitable Response] [80% Satisfaction Rate]

“How could a mere underling like myself dare to discuss the profound abyss Your Excellency faces? There are principles in the heavens that must be kept hidden, and secrets on the earth that must never be spoken.”

As I spoke, a flicker of interest appeared in her eyes.

“To hear of such darkness, one must surely be worthy… and if I may be so bold, I do not believe the man standing behind you is.”

It was a clear dismissal. I was telling her lackey to get lost.

At that moment, the corners of the Heavenly Demon’s lips curled into a smirk.

I instinctively reached for my neck, wondering if my head had been split in two. Fortunately, it was still attached. My answer must not have been completely wrong.

“Are you saying, then, that you are worthy of gazing into that abyss?”

No other options appeared in my vision. But after using this ability in countless conversations, I could handle this much on my own. I had developed a certain knack for it.

“Not at all.”

Only then did I slowly raise my head and continue.

“But… do they not say, ‘Poisons to the Tang Family, information to the Haomun’? It means that to handle something like the abyss, one must have at least walked along its edge. I may not dare to reach Your Excellency’s abyss… but surely I can approach its gate.”

“Poisons to the Tang Family, information to the Haomun…? Hahaha! To think I’d hear the names of those eyesores in a place like this.”

She let out a snort of laughter.

“Yes, you speak the truth. Vile methods like poison are fit only for the cowards of the Tang Family, and as for information, the filthy, vulgar Haomun who do nothing but poke around in others’ business would know it well!”

‘…?’

I was momentarily taken aback but kept my expression neutral.

Fortunately, she seemed to like it more than I expected.

I had picked it up from a martial arts novel somewhere. I had only meant it in the sense of “leave it to the experts,” like leaving medicine to the pharmacist and treatment to the doctor.

In any case, I was glad the reaction was positive.

“Good.”

She slowly, menacingly, pulled a chair over and sat down. The hem of her black robe swept the floor as she gripped the armrests, occupying the simple chair as if it were a throne.

She slowly rested her chin on one hand, while the fingertips of the other tapped against the armrest. Tap, tap.

Then she turned her head toward the man standing quietly behind her.

“Geumgang. You may leave.”

It was a short command, but even I could feel the absolute authority behind it.

“This man has sparked my interest. It is only right that I treat him accordingly. It has been a long time since I have felt such a thing.”

The man called Geumgang bowed his head without a word. He turned without hesitation, pulled the ruined door shut as best he could, and left.

Silence filled the office.

The real counseling session was about to begin.

[Ja Hwa-yeon] [Heavenly Demon]

[Main Stance]

[She still considers you insignificant but finds you more interesting than expected. It has been a long time since she has felt interest in anything. If she deems you uninteresting, she may turn on you in an instant.]

Without me even noticing, her main stance had changed.

This was an improvement. It meant I had a chance of getting through this alive if I played my cards right.

From now on, it was a conversation built purely on interest.

“Do whatever it is you do.”

She gestured lightly with her hand.

“Ah, and stop with the titles like ‘Your Excellency.’ That is a title of a bygone era. You will call me Heavenly Demon.”

“Yes, Heavenly Demon.”

It was now Counselor Yoo Seon-woo’s time to shine.

[Suitable Response] [70% Satisfaction Rate]

“In that case… Heavenly Demon, are there any worries on your mind lately? Or perhaps any thoughts that trouble you?”

“Hmph.”

She glanced down and scoffed.

“Nonsense. This one’s mind, energy, and body are without a single flaw—an invincible form. There is no reason for me to have such things as worries.”

Ah, I see. Of course.

Then why did you come here?

From the very first question, I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.

---

Translated By: Meher (RaidenTL)

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