A month had passed since I gave Choi Yu-ra the Hunter hypnosis counseling.
Fortunately, according to the news, she had returned to being a Hunter without issue and was diligently clearing Gates, back to her old self.
"The treatment worked perfectly."
The hypnosis I had placed on her had been lifted long ago.
Even without seeing her face, I could release the hypnosis regardless of distance.
"Stay as a hero from now on."
If it had been hypnosis that altered common sense, restricted thoughts, or twisted her mind,
she might have reverted immediately upon release.
"But the hypnosis I used wasn't like that."
It was simply conveying my sincere feelings.
That made her even more impressive.
"My advice was just a help; overcoming her hardships was her own will."
Whether to accept someone's sincere words depends on one's own resolve.
For example, nagging from parents to their unemployed child.
The child knows it's sincere concern, but escaping unemployment depends on their own will.
In that way, Choi Yu-ra the Hunter overcame her trials and grew stronger.
She had conquered her obsession that she had to be perfect and the self-deprecation born from others' evaluations, returning as a hero.
But from yesterday's interview, she might have gotten a lot stronger.
"Who knew she'd curse like that in the middle of a live broadcast interview."
Thanks to that, the internet communities were buzzing.
[Wow, what's with Choi Yu-ra's rapid-fire cursing without filters? LOL]
[Swearing on live broadcast, insane LOL]
[Is it okay for a public figure to swear on TV?]
└[What public figure is a Hunter?]
└[She is though? With that recognition and fame, she's a public figure.]
Some were shocked and surprised.
Others disliked it.
But...
[Choi Yu-ra's human after all LOL. That was some thick swearing.]
[Feels like my big sis now, kinda endearing LOL]
[Yura unnie! Yura unnie! Yura unnie! Yura unnie!]
[Well, with that cyber wrecker bitch and those malicious commenters acting like dogs, if she didn't snap, she'd be a pushover not a hero LOL]
└[Agreed LOL But I heard Millennium Guild sued Go Jin-yo. Video's still up.]
└[She's been like that forever. Rumors say even when she requested channel deletion directly from Whytuber, they didn't take it down.]
└[Fuck, is that Whytuber chick really the chairman's daughter?]
More people felt a sense of closeness from her changed demeanor.
Like how a hero overflowing with humanity is loved more by the masses than a perfect one.
Her swearing brought more gain than loss.
"But when will she come by?"
I hadn't tampered with her memories.
Nor did I intend to, so she should remember everything about this incident.
Given her personality, it was about time she came to say thanks...
"Welcome."
Speak of the devil.
As closing time approached, Choi Yu-ra the Hunter visited the shop.
"Hello."
Unlike before, no dark circles.
Her weary face was gone, full of vitality.
Seeing her in person, she was twice as pretty as on screen.
"The usual cafe latte and carrot cake?"
"Ah, no. I'm not here to order today..."
She handed me the paper box she was holding.
"I'm here to say thanks. Thanks to you, Jun-hyuk, I could return as a Hunter. This is in return."
"Haha, I just did some counseling."
"No. You said it, Jun-hyuk: let out what's bottled up inside. After I did that, your advice filled the void. Chewing on that advice, I reflected on myself and realized how foolish my worries had been."
Without you, Jun-hyuk, I'd still be living like an idiot.
She whispered softly.
"Then I'm glad."
Peeking inside the paper box, it was filled with macarons.
"Th-this is a thank-you gift. I heard men like sweets..."
"I do."
My past life self didn't enjoy them.
But this life's body, being a man of this era, loved sweet things.
"This looks really fancy. From a famous patisserie?"
"Ah, yes! Made at the patisserie in our guild."
Oh.
Macarons guaranteed by Millennium Guild.
They must be delicious.
"I don't like sweets much myself, but I eat them often because they're so good."
"Macarons endorsed by Choi Yu-ra the Hunter. Thanks. I'll enjoy them."
"Hehe..."
Was she really just here for the gift and thanks? She turned to leave.
But she didn't go right away, turning only her head to ask me.
"But... can I keep coming from now on?"
"Of course. It's a shop, right? We don't stop customers. And Choi Yu-ra the Hunter is always welcome."
She looked dissatisfied.
Her lips fidgeted as she hesitated, then opened her mouth as if resolved.
"You called me Yura before. Why add 'Hunter' again?"
"Uh, that was during counseling, so..."
"Call me like that time. I'm here as a customer, not a Hunter?"
"Then... Yura?"
Her face brightened again.
"I'll come often from now on!"
"Yes. Boost our sales a lot."
＊＊＊
'Yura really keeps her promises as a friend, huh?'
Choi Yu-ra the Hunter.
No, Yura came to the cafe frequently like before after that day.
Of course, her job took her away sometimes to other regions.
But otherwise, she visited every day an hour before closing and left right at closing.
Wearing that bracelet that blurs her presence, not wanting to be noticed, just like before.
The relationship wasn't much different.
She was still a customer.
I was just the cafe employee, but a few things were added.
"..."
Her stealing glances at me secretly.
Or fidgeting her lips when I was leaning on the counter playing on my smartphone, like she wanted to talk.
As much as she observed me intently, I observed her in between.
"Jun-hyuk, try this."
That subtle standoff broke in an instant.
"What's this?"
"It's a new product from our guild's bakery. I thought of you, so I brought some."
Men like bread, right?
There's even a term like bread boy.
She said that while handing me the gift, and it really was delicious as she said.
"It's good. Millennium Guild is enviable. I heard you have tons of welfare facilities selling delicious food like this?"
"Yes. The welfare is top-notch."
"Makes me want to try other places too."
"Really?"
It was just polite talk.
But Yura took it at face value and started bringing food every day after that.
One day strawberry cake.
One day ice cream.
Another day tteokbokki, fried food, and sundae set.
No longer limited to bread, she brought various foods.
'External food consumption prohibited in the store.'
The Cafe Owner had noticed early on.
But when Yura touched her bracelet, revealing her identity, she was surprised and said nothing more.
"Sigh, if I were just a bit younger... What a shame."
Leaving such meaningful words.
Anyway, after she started bringing food like she was raising me, her attitude changed too.
"Really? Must have been tough."
"It was tough, but the pride was stronger. The more we effort, the more peaceful the world becomes."
We'd eat the food she brought and chat.
She used to be shy before, but now no more stuttering or embarrassment.
"Something on my face?"
"No. You eat so cutely. Just watching makes me happy."
And staring at me with the same gaze as the Cafe Owner.
Before, her way of treating me was like a pubescent 'boy.'
Now, it was like a mature 'woman.'
"You're here? The usual drink?"
"Yes. Ah! And if you're not busy..."
So today too, Yura visited the cafe.
She brought chocolate cookies today, golden brown and looking crispy and tasty.
"Wait a sec. Let me clear this and come back."
As Yura arrived, the remaining customers left.
My hands were full clearing tables, heading to the sink, when.
"Yura?"
She blocked my path.
Her eyes curved in a smile, with the Cafe Owner's gaze.
But the mischief mixed in was different from the Cafe Owner's.
"Here, ahh."
"Ah?"
As I opened my mouth, something sweet entered.
Her finger touched my lips, wiping crumbs from the corner of my mouth.
"How's the taste?"
It was the cookie she brought.
I chewed hard, but the cookie was too big to speak.
After barely swallowing, ignoring the lump in my throat, I answered.
"Super tasty."
"Yeah? Glad to hear."
"Yes. Not just saying it, it's really good. What brand?"
A brighter smile bloomed on Yura's face than before.
"I made it myself."
＊＊＊
"..."
Back home after my shift.
Took a light shower and lay in bed, but sleep wouldn't come.
"Sigh."
Closing my eyes, Yura's actions toward me over time flashed by like a panorama.
The panorama ended with her feeding me the cookie she baked herself today.
"Nah, no way. Yura likes me?"
I said that,
but I'm not some Japanese light novel protagonist who got his brain's romance center lobotomized for a harem plot.
"...She likes me."
The friendly attitude she showed.
The affectionate gaze looking at me.
Above all, the feelings she must have felt from my actions saving her when she was struggling.
No idiot would miss it.
"Tsk."
I like her too.
She's a Hunter with the heroic image I dreamed of.
Not some cocky one relying only on talent, but a wonderful woman who strives.
Above all, she was prettier than any woman I'd seen.
"Everything's great, but..."
If I could, I'd confess right now.
No. A man confessing might hurt her pride as a woman.
When she confesses, I'd accept.
But anxiety bloomed in a corner of my heart.
"Is Yura... like other women too?"
Sexual desire based on maternal instinct and protectiveness.
I worried if she was like other women of this era.
"I've adapted to everything else, but not that."
Men wearing makeup.
Giggling like girls from my past life.
Women burping like old men at restaurants.
I'd adapted to all such things long ago, but this one sexual preference? Impossible.
No, maybe not impossible to adapt, but I didn't want to.
"Lived 22 years, but that's hard to give up."
Fine if not equal as lovers.
But in bed, sexually, at night—I want equality or me on top.
From the dirty talk on the internet, this world sees men getting devoured as normal, so a hard dream.
[Want to sit a boy on my lap, stroke his hair while touching his dick.]
[Laying him on my lap, playing with nipples while breastfeeding is the standard, right?]
[Y'all don't get it. Hugging naked tight, patting while sleeping is best.]
└[Fuck, that's not sex.]
But suddenly, a thought struck.
Even in past life, mannerly men could be wildly rough in bed beyond imagination.
And even with all the sexual drips on the internet, not all tastes are public.
Am I being too narrow-minded?
'How can comments reveal the whole world? Social image and bedroom desires are separate, right?'
So, let's investigate.
Got out of bed, booted the computer, headed to the internet's dark side.
Porn sites that exist no matter the era.
Among them, accessed the most famous and massive one via search.
"Whoa, fuck..."
The video greeting me on the main page was breastfeeding handjob.
A woman giving a handjob to a man lying on her lap sucking her breasts.
'Not about the video. Need to see what's mainstream taste.'
Entered the category list on the left, various tastes greeted me.
Fortunately, each category showed video count vs total, so I could easily check what I wanted.
'Breastfeeding play is the most.'
Many, but not all women enjoy it like I thought.
About 48% ratio?
Clicked the most viewed video, solving my biggest question.
'I thought breastfeeding required pregnancy.'
Right before play, the woman swallowed a pill.
Soon after, milk flowed from her breasts.
Wow, even pills for breastfeeding play developed.
'Well, women have stronger sex drives.'
Capitalism developing desired adult toys makes sense.
What principle?
Probably a byproduct of mana engineering, combining mana and science.
'And... the rest are mostly positions.'
Labeled missionary, but actually cowgirl.
Various positions, all woman leading.
Others were fellatio, paizuri, brother or step-brother, daddy, cosplay, etc.
Scanning the list, something unusual caught my eye.
"Melodom...?"
First time seeing the word.
Know femdom, woman dominating man roughly.
Similar word, maybe...
"Oh!"
As expected!
Woman getting pounded roughly.
By a smaller man, moaning!
"Yes! God hasn't abandoned me!"
But melodom ratio was only 5%.
Comments on videos weren't favorable either.
[Guy's hot as fuck, but woman moaning while getting pounded.]
[Man's wasted FML]
[Detach the tits. What the fuck is she doing as a woman.]
[Eyes gone.]
World is wide, tastes many.
Reflected on my narrow view of women.
'But 5%. One in twenty women shares my taste.'
Is Choi Yura into melodom?
Would be great, but if not...
"Hmm, no clue."
Stop thinking about this.
Scanning categories more, femdom caught my eye.
"No way..."
Regretted entering immediately.
Man whipped on ass.
Cowgirl—no, missionary while slapping cheeks.
"Eyes gone."
Ratio 0.01%.
No worry here.
"Whew, tired."
Learned a lot from porn site.
Time to sleep.
＊＊＊
Opened my eyes to an unfamiliar place.
Where is this?
Woke in a filthy messy tiny studio, but soon realized where.
"My past life's studio."
It's a dream.
Can move freely, so lucid dream.
"Hmm. Face still not remembered."
Studio appeared clearly.
But mirror showed past life face blurry, invisible.
"Well, 22 years passed, no wonder I don't remember."
But why remember the studio.
Familiar with current life body, forgot past appearance?
"Huh?"
In that instant, the studio vanished.
Replaced by my current life's home.
And my appearance reverted to current life's.
"If it's a dream, make it spectacular. What's this."
Dreams usually have absurd events.
Or movie-like scenarios for fun.
This is just like reality, boring as hell.
'Something's there.'
Then, faint presence from the bedroom.
I'm not that sensitive normally.
Must be the dream.
"Who's there?"
Carefully opened the bedroom door.
"You're here?"
And...
"Welcome home."
Choi Yura was sitting on the bed, greeting me.
"Our Jun-hyuk, had a hard day? Come, lie on big sis's lap."
Naked.