Chapter 43: A Mother and Daughter’s Reunion

As I entered the situation room, the team leader approached me.

“Counselor, how did your appointments go today?” he asked.

Instead of answering, I gave him a thumbs-up.

Then, with a satisfied smile, I replied, “Great.”

“That’s a relief.”

The team leader nodded, a satisfied smile on his own face.

I got straight to the point.

“Team Leader.”

“Yes, Counselor.”

“Please contact the Azure Sky Alliance Leader… Hunter Lee Seo-ryeong.”

“What? Ah, yes, of course. What should I tell her?”

A hint of tension crept into the team leader’s voice.

It seemed he still remembered the war of nerves I’d had with her last time.

He had even come to me later to formally apologize, admitting he felt he’d overstepped his bounds without realizing it.

Looking him in the eye, I spoke calmly.

“Please inform her that she can visit Ms. Seol Yu-wol tomorrow.”

It was time for the mother and daughter to be reunited.

*

The real reason I had declined the Association staff’s dinner invitation was simple.

I already had plans with someone else.

That someone was Jin Se-ah.

‘I feel like I never see you these days,’ she’d said when she called last weekend.

When I told her I’d been a bit busy, she said she understood and offered to treat me to a meal to cheer me up.

Since my evening was free, I had no reason to refuse.

I waited for Jin Se-ah in front of the high-end restaurant she had booked.

Being a celebrity, she always chose places like this, shielded from the public eye.

The prices were, to put it mildly… exorbitant.

When someone else is paying, you should eat well.

Jin Se-ah was rich, after all.

Just then, the system popped up before my eyes.

[We recommend you just have dinner and head home today!]

[ ၄(cʸ„òᴗóﾘ၃ ]

Huh?

Why all of a sudden?

Knowing Jin Se-ah, after dinner, we’d probably go to a café. And soon after, she’d complain the café was stuffy and suggest a walk along the Han River.

I had already anticipated that much.

[Because you have an important session tomorrow….]

Of course, it was important.

But I wasn’t too worried about it.

I had already spent the entire weekend studying. I was prepared.

Seol Yu-wol’s progress was better than expected.

I didn’t think there would be any major problems.

At that, the system window vanished without any further resistance.

I tilted my head, staring at the empty air.

It was at that moment.

Vroooom….

The sound of an engine roared from down the street.

As if on cue, the gazes of everyone around me turned to one spot.

A sports car glided to a stop right in front of me.

The driver’s side door opened upwards like a wing.

Jin Se-ah stepped out.

A valet rushed over and took the keys from her.

Murmurs of recognition and awe began to ripple through the crowd.

Jin Se-ah bounced over to me with a spring in her step.

“Oh?”

She stopped short in front of me with a sharp gasp.

“What’s wrong?”

Jin Se-ah’s eyes scanned my outfit from top to bottom, noting it was different from my usual attire.

“What’s with the clothes? Is today a special occasion?”

“Ah.”

I glanced down at my clothes.

When I wore my white gown, I never had to worry about what I wore underneath, so I always chose the most comfortable and simple clothes. She was probably just surprised to see me out of my usual attire.

Back when she knew me as a hunter, I wore functional combat gear almost every day.

This was likely the first time Jin Se-ah had ever seen me dressed like this.

I laughed awkwardly and glanced around.

Her arrival had already drawn the attention of the crowd in front of the restaurant.

“Let’s talk inside. We’re attracting too much attention.”

“Are you going to keep dressing like this….”

I cut her off and gave her a gentle push on the back.

Ignoring the curious stares, we headed to our reserved room.

The moment we sat down, Jin Se-ah’s questions continued.

“I’ve only ever seen you in black shirts and pants. What’s the big occasion? Seon-woo… did you get a girlfriend or something?”

Jin Se-ah asked, a curious smile playing on her lips.

I offered a small smile and told her the truth.

“It’s nothing like that. One of my gowns suddenly went missing, so I had no choice but to come out like this today.”

“A gown…?”

At my answer, the playful smile slowly faded from Jin Se-ah’s face.

She seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

“She… hasn’t returned it yet?”

“Hm? Returned what?”

“…N-No, it’s nothing! Anyway, you should keep dressing like this!”

As if nothing had happened, she flashed a bright smile again and changed the subject.

But I shook my head at her suggestion.

“That’s a bit of a hassle.”

I declined.

Our meal arrived soon after.

We ate and caught up on each other’s lives.

I was careful to maintain client confidentiality.

Jin Se-ah sliced a piece of steak with her knife, brought it to my mouth, and spoke as if relieved.

“Still, it’s a relief that your first Outsider case seems to be resolving well.”

I unconsciously accepted the fork she offered and nodded.

“It is, isn’t it?”

“So, what’s your schedule after that case wraps up?”

“Probably….”

Barring the appearance of another Outsider or some other unforeseen event, I had be back to my usual routine: clients from the Union Guild visiting my office, and me making house calls to other guilds.

“I’ll probably start making house calls to the next guild.”

Life would return to normal.

At my answer, Jin Se-ah gently licked the sauce from the tip of the fork she had just fed me with.

Then she asked, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Haetae, right?”

“Yeah.”

That was the most likely scenario.

Remembering the little incident from last time, I smiled playfully.

“Did you guys submit the application properly this time?”

A smile tugged at the corners of Jin Se-ah’s lips.

Her golden eyes curved into crescents.

“Yep.”

Jin Se-ah added, her voice full of certainty.

“This time, it’s certain.”

*

The next morning, I dragged my tired body outside.

In the end, I had done it all with Jin Se-ah last night—the café and the late-night walk.

It was midnight by the time I got home.

I should have known when to call it a night.

But I have a soft spot for Jin Se-ah.

She rarely ever reveals her true feelings. She always tries to show only her bright, strong side.

But I knew.

Jin Se-ah is more fragile… and not as strong as she seems.

I sometimes worry that she might be going through a hard time again, like in the past.

So, I occasionally stay by her side like this, hoping to hear what’s really on her mind.

When I first came here.

The Jin Se-ah from back then….

She had it rough.

She had changed and improved so much since then. Both in personality and in skill. It was hard to believe she was the same person.

Fatigue weighed on me as I headed toward the Association building.

Thankfully, I was wearing my gown today.

I went straight to the situation room of the quarantine facility where Seol Yu-wol was staying.

I had told the team leader yesterday that I was approving Lee Seo-ryeong’s visit, so she was probably already here.

The moment I opened the door, the scene inside unfolded.

And there, as expected, Lee Seo-ryeong had already arrived.

Hearing me enter, Lee Seo-ryeong slowly turned her head.

The moment our eyes met.

“Ah…!”

A look of deep emotion bloomed on her face.

Lee Seo-ryeong rushed over to me.

She grabbed both of my hands and squeezed them tightly.

“Thank you… Physician. Thank you so much….”

Lee Seo-ryeong bowed her head repeatedly, expressing her gratitude.

I calmly comforted her, then gently corrected her misunderstanding.

“I didn’t do anything. This was Ms. Yu-wol’s wish.”

“Yu-wol….”

She nodded, looking even more moved.

I briefly explained the visitation time and a few precautions.

And the most important fact.

“I will be present during this visit.”

As her counselor, my presence was a given.

Normally, this wouldn’t be necessary, but this was an exceptional case. Even if Seol Yu-wol’s condition had improved significantly, no one knew how she might react.

“I won’t participate in the conversation directly. I will simply watch from the back to ensure you can both speak safely.”

Lee Seo-ryeong nodded as if she had already expected as much.

“Let’s go.”

We left the situation room.

We stood before the door to the room where Seol Yu-wol was staying.

Knock, knock.

I knocked quietly.

“Ms. Yu-wol, you have a visitor.”

And then.

Creeeak….

The door slowly opened.

Beyond it stood Seol Yu-wol, dressed in a simple one-piece dress.

…As I thought.

I had thought she was much better.

And she was.

But she was biting her lip hard. Her legs were trembling slightly.

Seol Yu-wol had also summoned great courage.

Her gaze passed over me and settled on her mother, who stood behind me.

Lee Seo-ryeong, too, simply stared at her daughter without a word.

I don’t know how much time passed.

It was Lee Seo-ryeong who moved first.

She slowly approached Seol Yu-wol.

And very carefully, she drew Seol Yu-wol into her embrace.

“My child….”

A small, trembling voice escaped Lee Seo-ryeong’s lips.

From my vantage point, I could see unconcealable surprise on Seol Yu-wol’s face.

It was only natural.

I had heard it from both Seol Yu-wol and Lee Seo-ryeong. Though they were mother and daughter, their relationship had been sustained not by affection and warmth, but by cold commands and a sense of duty.

There had never been this kind of warmth in their relationship before.

“I’m so sorry….”

At that one phrase, Seol Yu-wol froze like a stone.

I was just as surprised.

I had never expected her to apologize like this.

That single apology must have struck Seol Yu-wol more deeply than anything else.

Seol Yu-wol’s shoulders, which had been frozen solid, began to tremble.

Sniffle.

Seol Yu-wol sniffled softly.

That was the start. A single hot tear trickled down from beneath her eyelid.

“Hk… sob….”

Once the tears started, they wouldn’t stop.

She began to cry her heart out like a child.

With her face buried in her mother’s embrace, she was pouring out all the sorrow she had never once been able to express.

Lee Seo-ryeong could only pat her daughter’s small back.

Her own eyes began to turn red and moist.

I watched the entire scene in silence.

The long, cold winter for this mother and daughter was finally coming to an end.

*

After the emotional reunion was over, we moved into the living room, unable to just keep standing at the door.

I quietly stepped aside to give the two of them space to face each other fully.

They sat side-by-side on the living room sofa and began the real conversation they had never been able to have.

Their talk would be a very long one.

I opened the refrigerator and started taking out things like flour, yeast, and butter.

In this brief moment of downtime, I would make bread.

I don’t know.

Maybe this is my calling.

To be honest, in a case like today’s, me standing in the kitchen baking bread was the most ideal situation. My direct intervention would mean things had gotten messy.

Their conversation continued for hours.

I listened to them talk as I baked.

The story of how Seol Yu-wol’s martial arts progress had stalled.

The story of how she shivered with loneliness during her closed-door training.

And the story of how she failed to become the Martial Alliance Leader.

Throughout all these stories, Lee Seo-ryeong never once interrupted her daughter.

She simply listened with a look of pity and remorse.

“I see… so that’s what happened….”

The savory smell of baking bread began to fill the air from the oven.

Just in time, their conversation was also winding down.

I took the warm, freshly baked bread from the oven, placed it on a wooden board, and brought it to them.

“It’s salt bread.”

I smiled gently, looking at the two of them with their red-rimmed eyes.

“You’ve both cried a lot, so you’ll need to replenish your salt.”

Faint smiles touched their lips.

I cut a slice of bread for each of them and placed it on their plates.

Then I posed a question.

“So, what do you both plan to do now?”

This was a question for both of them.

For Lee Seo-ryeong, it was a question of how she would treat her daughter from now on.

And for Seol Yu-wol, it was a question of what kind of life she wanted to live.

The two of them said nothing, simply looking at each other.

Lee Seo-ryeong met Seol Yu-wol’s eyes and nodded slowly, as if telling her to speak first.

In truth, that itself was Lee Seo-ryeong’s answer.

It meant she would respect her daughter’s opinion.

Seol Yu-wol lightly moistened her dry lips with her tongue.

She took a breath.

“I’ve… thought about it a lot….”

Her voice was trembling faintly.

“Since I was a child… for a very long time, there was something I always held in a corner of my heart.”

“Yesterday, holding the Physician’s hand and walking through those streets, I think I remembered that forgotten dream.”

Seol Yu-wol voiced the small, simple dream she had hidden in the deepest part of herself.

“I… I want to build a close-knit… and happy family.”

It was an unexpected answer.

But it didn’t matter.

I met her wavering blue eyes.

“I see.”

[Seol Yu-wol]

[Main Stance]

[I want to build a happy family. It’s a dream I’ve hoped for since I was a child… a very, old dream.]

[Suitable Response] [Satisfaction Rate 90%]

[I’m sure you can achieve it.]

[Suitable Response] [Satisfaction Rate ???%]

[Build a happy family with her, just as she wants.]

[Suitable Response] [Satisfaction Rate ?????%]

[Become Lee Seo-ryeong’s husband and give Seol Yu-wol a happy family….]

I furrowed my brow and mentally erased the second and third options.

The answer was already decided.

I acknowledged and supported her small dream with all my heart.

“I’m sure you can achieve it.”

At my reply, a faint blush colored Seol Yu-wol’s cheeks.

And Lee Seo-ryeong, who had been listening quietly until now, softly repeated her daughter’s dream.

“A happy… family….”

I turned my gaze to her and asked.

“Will you support her?”

Lee Seo-ryeong looked at her daughter’s face for a long time, then back at mine.

And… she finally nodded.

“…Yes. Physician.”

She added in a very small voice.

“I… like that too.”

I said nothing.

I simply smiled and nodded slowly.

---

Translated By: Meher (RaidenTL)

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