Episode 25. Trouble Counseling Department (3)
The formal activities of the Distress Counseling Department began.
Day 1 car.
‘No one is coming.’
I was stunned in front of my desk, and it ended in vain.
As expected, as expected. There was not a single client who came to visit. I just waited, just in case, but it was different.
Pyoyurim came, but she decided to make an exception. Even without going through the trouble counseling department, I had originally promised to receive her counseling on a regular basis.
2nd day car.
No one came this time either. I thought it could be because it had only been a few days since the circle was founded.
3rd day car.
I realized an important fact only belatedly.
‘for a moment. Come to think of it, wasn’t I a guy with a bad reputation?’
Why did I realize this so stupidly late?
I was already a guy who was notorious for trying to molest Min Seo-eun on the day of the entrance exam, or for brainwashing Pyo Yu-rim and leaving him around.
Who wants to be consulted by a guy with such rumors?
“Uncle~ I’m here~”
there was a surprise
“I’m rather glad you came.”
I smiled bitterly at Nayeon Eom as she entered the room.
“Eh? What do you mean by that?”
“I made a circle, but no one came for counseling.”
“really? The other day, I thought Yurim was coming this way.”
“She is an exception. Even if it wasn’t in the name of circle activities, I originally planned to consult with you.”
“Hmm. weird. why don’t people come? Is it because all the students at Signal are living a happy life without any worries?”
I sighed and answered.
“Maybe because of my image.”
“image? Why the uncle image?”
“I’m a bad guy. Everyone must be in a situation where they don’t come because they feel embarrassed because of my nature.”
“But you showed a good side last time in Neverland… … ah?”
Um Na-yeon’s voice changed to a questioning voice midway through.
“what’s the matter?”
“uncle. What happened in Neverland then? Didn’t you tell anyone else?”
“Where are you talking and sleeping? It spread through the news, so everyone who knows knows about it.”
“no! There is a story that is not known in the news! My uncle saved a child!”
“That’s true, but it’s a bit… … .”
“good. Then I’ll take responsibility and spread the rumor. If the rumors get better, there will be people looking for this place, right?”
There was no reason to tell him not to do it.
Because I knew from the beginning that Nayeon Eom had a good personality.
7th day car.
“how is it. You’ve worked hard to spread rumors about your uncle, but do you think things have changed?”
Eom Na-yeon came to me again and asked me about my current situation.
“no. Still no one is coming.”
“why?! Haven’t the rumors gotten better now?”
“Rather, this time I heard rumors that I even brainwashed you.”
“madam! My friends told me about it, so I made it clear I wasn’t brainwashed!”
Still, Eom Na-yeon’s efforts were not completely futile.
10th day car.
“excuse me. Are you inside?”
A new visitor has finally arrived.
“come in.”
“It’s been a while since then, hasn’t it?”
“excuse me. Excuse me, where have you met before?”
“You know that last time. The thing that saved me at the department store when there was an unexpected event in Signal. I do not remember?”
Oh, is it the girl who saved Min Seo-eun at the time and saved it as a sidekick?
“ah! That’s him.”
“Phew. I was surprised to find out you forgot.”
“So how did you find out about this place?”
“I’ve been asking around for a while. Because I couldn’t properly say thank you to the person who saved me.”
“If you knew about me, you would know the rumors. I managed to come all the way here.”
“Ah~ that rumor? I don’t care. I only believe in what I have seen with my own two eyes. And from what I saw, you must be a good person.”
It was truly awe-inspiring to say so.
But apart from that, she said that she had come to say thanks, and that there was nothing particularly troubling about her.
The number of customers seeking counseling was still zero.
“Are your circle activities going well?”
15th day car.
This time, Seol Chae-hwa came to the trouble counseling department. It was my first visit since the last time I was first assigned to the stale room.
“What is it? The last time I came, they said there was nothing to worry about.”
“I heard the story. I made a circle, but I heard that there are no customers who are worried about it.”
“It’s not to the point of worrying, but the situation is complicated.”
“How can I recommend this place to my friends?”
“It’s fine if you do. Did you come all the way here to take care of me?”
Seol Chae-hwa sat down at the guest desk and said, crossing her legs coquettishly.
“Would you like to work for my company formally?”
“It is too sudden.”
“This is the conclusion I came to after observing it for a long time. I will treat you without regret. If you come to my company, I can improve all the rumors related to you right now.”
Coincidentally, it was an offer that the main character of the original work also received once.
‘Yoosung refused because he wanted to focus on his studies.’
My answer was also fixed.
“sorry. I want to focus on my studies now.”
“hmm. is that so.”
“Instead, any freelance request like the last time is always welcome.”
20th day car.
A male student asked for counseling, claiming that he had come on the recommendation of Seol Chae-hwa.
“Actually, I was forced to come here to keep an eye on Seolchaehwa. I’m sorry, but I don’t have any serious concerns… . ah! Come to think of it, I heard you can use hypnotic powers?”
“Why?”
“Could you use that hypnotic power to relieve something like fatigue? I was under a lot of stress because of my studies. After all, it’s a bit like counseling for worries, so shouldn’t it?”
“Anyway, worries are worries. Lie down on the sofa over there.”
After laying him down on the sofa, I used the Emotion Implant to infuse him with comfortable feelings.
The result is a great success. He said he was very satisfied and left saying he would come again next time.
Although there was no professional counseling, I was able to achieve my ultimate goal of raising my proficiency by exercising my nature in the counseling process.
25th car.
“teacher. Would someone like me receive counseling?”
This time, an unexpected client came to visit. A worker who periodically cleans the school grounds. He was an elderly man who had grown old.
When I asked what kind of counseling I was here for, a very special story began to flow.
“Maybe I’m starting to get senile… … . I can’t remember the face of my wife who passed away at some point.”
“I see. It’s unfortunate.”
“It all happened because I was ignorant. Why did I have so much pride when I was young? I hated taking pictures because it was embarrassing, but I didn’t think I would regret it this much… … .”
The elder said that he came to see me because I have the ability to hypnotize, so I wonder if something can be done through it.
Coincidentally, what he wanted was also a positive function of hypnosis. The key is how do I remind myself of it.
After saying that he would find a way, a rather long time of contemplation passed, and the moment he was about to be discouraged, saying that he knew that the elder was asking too much.
‘for a moment. Can I do it this way?’
The idea I came up with was to apply these two natures.
＜Delusion practice＞
:: The caster realizes the action he has in his head.
＜Memory reading＞
:: myself. Or read the other person’s memories.
Looking into the memory of the elderly through memory reading. To do this, I had to first inevitably ask him when he had been separated from his wife.
Should I say this is fortunate? The old man remembered very precisely when his wife died.
The date of the bereavement was about 40 years ago. I had to use up my ignorant mental power to recall such a long memory.
It was to the point of fainting as soon as the memory reading was over.
‘I can’t sleep like this. It should be finished when the memory of the wife I looked into is vivid.’
Next is the time for delusion practice to come into play. I drew the same picture of the old man’s wife that I looked into in my memory.
The result is a picture of an elderly wife that is virtually nothing more than a black and white photo.
[Remaining Spirit: 11%]
It was a pity that I couldn’t draw it in color because I lacked mental strength.
“you’re right. It looked like this. thank you… . thank you… … .”
It was nice to see her happy and shed tears anyway.
anyway this. If you look at the results of your work, aren’t you closer to the trouble-solving department rather than the trouble counseling department?
‘Because good is good no matter what.’
30 days car.
Around the time when it had been a month since we started our circle activities.
‘The start of the second main episode will be coming soon.’
The time to prepare for the future was approaching.
In the meantime, I checked how much my innate mastery had risen.
Step 1 (safety)
+ Emotion Implant Lv.4 (Emotion Injection) [Proficiency: 99%]
+ Mental Acceleration Lv.3 (Mental Acceleration) [Proficiency: 58%]
+ Sense Control Lv.1 (Sense Manipulation) [Proficiency: 7%]
Step 2 (safety)
+ Demagogue Lv.3 (Emotional) [Proficiency: 66%]
+ Delusion Practice Lv.3 (Delusion Practice) [Proficiency: 31%]
Step 3 (Risk)
+ Memory Reading Lv.1 (Memory Reading) [Proficiency: 54%]
+ Telepathy Lv.2 (Chlorosis) [Proficiency: 10%]
+ Overlord Lv.1 (Overload) [Proficiency: 15%]
Step 4 (warning)
+ Mind Siege Lv.1 (Physical Control) [Proficiency: 33%]
+ Eyes Fake Lv.1 (Perception Manipulation) [Proficiency: 27%]
Step 5 (ban)
+ Amnesia (???)
+ Ripley Syndrome (???)
Except for the natural properties that should not be used recklessly, overall ability has risen significantly. It was also thanks to the fact that he did not miss out on individual training in the middle of his circle activities.
Basically, as the nature level rises, the power becomes stronger and the efficiency of consuming mental power increases. In other words, it means that you can exert a little more powerful effect when you exercise your nature in real battle.
I am the one who showed the highest rise among them. I looked at the ’emotion implant’, which is also my ability to feed myself.
‘When I reached level 5, my abilities were strengthened.’
In the original work, this was called ‘promotion by nature’.
I haven’t been able to get over that wall yet. Currently, it was a situation where I was guessing that I should gain some decisive experience through actual combat.
If it was the same as before, I would have tried to solve this problem by getting a request from Seol Chae-hwa.
‘The last time we met by chance on campus, he looked very unwell.’
It was not a situation to ask about a request.
It was a time when, looking at the time zone, he would gradually be framed and driven to the edge of a cliff. Perhaps when the time is right, she will come to me and tell me about the commission and the satellite project.
I decided to wait patiently until then.
smart.
“Yes, come in.”
“hello.”
Today, Pyo Yu-rim came without fail.
“You don’t look good today. did something happen?”
“I met and talked with my mother.”
When I heard that, something came to mind.
If you cleared all of the Psychic Age, the epilogue showed the afterwords of the bosses you defeated in the form of a picture.
How was the pyoyurim? I remember her appearing as her mother pulling her from behind, sitting in a wheelchair with empty eyes.
Even at a glance, my mother had a face full of regret.
“Didn’t you say that the reason you went crazy with Halo the other day was because of your mother?”
“yes. I’ve told you about my situation the other day when I was in counseling, so you should know.”
“… Don’t hate me too much.”
All I can say is this is the best.
“I don’t hate you. Even the things you hate can be memorable.”
“Um… … .”
“It’s just that the things my mother has done in my name are a bit annoying. I think I will be out of Signal for a while to take care of those things.”
After she said that, she suddenly looked at me with a worried expression.
“what. Why are you looking at me like that all of a sudden?”
“Mr. Kim Do-yoon. Can’t you get hurt while I’m gone or something?”
“Am I a child?”
“If anything happens, you must contact me. I will go to help right away.”
“I’m not shameless enough to ask someone who’s going to be busy in the future to help me.”
“You don’t have to be ashamed of Kim Do-yoon. At least in front of me.”
Pyo Yu-rim smiles shyly.
Because I know it’s a smile I never show to others. I can guess what kind of emotion that smile came from.
To me, her smile is more than anyone else’s smile.
“… … okay. thanks.”
It felt heavy.
***
Time goes by and goes by.
The long-awaited day of fate has finally arrived.
It was time for Seol Chae-hwa, who had turned into a disorganized appearance and a ghostly look, to come to me and entrust the request of fate.
‘I have to… . Why is there no news?’
Until then, I wasn’t panicking.
It’s only once or twice that you’ve experienced a change in the future. I went to Class 1 to check the condition of Seolchaehwa myself.
Coincidentally, she was chatting with her classmates.
‘what. You look good, don’t you?’
Something was strange. I’m sure the last time we met, I confirmed that his expression didn’t look good.
“uncle? Why are you here? Who are you looking for?”
As I was hanging out in front of the door, Eom Na-yeon, who first noticed my presence, asked me about my business.
I asked her to sing Seolchaehwa, and before long, she herself approached me.
“What is it? You can text me if you have any business. Did you ever change your mind about the Scout offer?”
“that… . The last time I went to see you, you looked bad. Did something happen?”
“My expression? well. I don’t know when you’re talking about.”
“It must have been about a week ago from now.”
“Ah, that’s when. That was the day I was. Can I elaborate on what you mean?”
that day
Didn’t I have a bad expression because of the worries I thought about?
‘no. It’s something you never know. Last time, when the pyoyurim ran rampant, there was a time when it was ahead of schedule. Then, on the contrary, there could be a situation that is delayed even more.’
I decided to wait a little longer just in case.
like that.
Ten more days passed.
Seolchaehwa was still doing well without any problems.