24-Hour Regression Counseling Center – Episode 3
Swish.
Loura quickly pulled the curtain aside just a bit.
A tall figure cloaked from head to toe in a robe stood staring at the signboard.
The person raised their head.
‘Our eyes met.’
Far away as it was, their eyes definitely met.
A voice came from beyond the intercom:
— “…In a dream, I was told to find lien. To come to lien.”
Lora recalled her grandfather’s words:
“A regressor, a possessor, or a reincarnator. One of the three appears once every hundred years, guided by Lilien.”
Could it be—?
Had one of the regression-possession-reincarnation types shown up?
“Please wait. I’ll be right out.”
For now, Lora decided to meet the person face to face.
That’s when the other spoke in a calm and even tone:
— “May I climb over the wall?”
Climb the wall?
Lora’s mind flashed to the capital-wide lockdown.
— “Is a knight coming?”
— “Yes. I spotted one at the end of the alley. I’ll just climb the wall. I hope you understand.”
She watched in disbelief as the man leapt over a wall at least 1.5 times taller than an average adult male.
‘He’s… kinda strong, huh?’
The man, now far from the magical intercom, stood still in the garden—absolutely motionless, as if quietly waiting for Lora.
‘Something’s off…’
Hiding her unease, Lora finished preparing and opened the front door of the mansion.
‘What was the protocol again?’
The white orb stored not only past records but also various manuals and emergency response protocols for dealing with clients.
The man hadn’t moved.
‘The robe covers him completely—can’t see a thing.’
Lora held an axe behind her back with one hand and motioned with the other through the cracked door.
‘Better to strike a charging enemy than walk up to one yourself.’
The man approached confidently, without hesitation.
When only a few steps remained between them, Lora spoke.
“Regression, possession, or reincarnation. Which one are you?”
“…”
A person who could read the “OOO” letters had appeared for the first time in 500 years. But Lora couldn’t be sure yet if he was truly a client.
Despite the rising tension, she smiled gently. As always.
“Would you mind lowering your hood?”
She couldn’t let someone in without even seeing their face.
“Do you know who sent me here—sent me to lien?”
Lora deepened her smile.
‘They say most clients are rude and even violent at first, but this one has some manners.’
Hoping she wouldn’t need to use the axe, Lora answered calmly.
“Surely it was the god of time and fate, Lilien, who sent you.”
The moment she uttered Lilien’s name, the man lowered his hood.
Lora’s eyes widened.
‘What the hell…?!’
The man muttered warily:
“I opened my eyes and found myself here.”
Even though she had no political ties, Lora—
‘I know what the Crown Prince looks like!’
She kept her expression neutral, but her mind was racing.
‘This is insane! Why is the Crown Prince, who should be in a coma, standing in front of me?!’
Apparently, the possessor had taken over the Crown Prince’s body.
“…For now.”
Lora subtly shifted the axe further behind her back and spoke calmly.
“Please, come in.”
Then, following the manual, she greeted him properly.
“Welcome, dear client! I’m Lora, Head of House lien, heir to the will of the god Lilien, and your regression-possession-reincarnation specialist.”
She wore a serene, elegant smile on her face.
“…”
A brief silence fell.
The Crown Prince stared at Lora before speaking.
“…‘Client’?”
“Yes~ Client!”
Ah.
As a short exclamation slipped from the Crown Prince’s lips, Lora thought:
‘This… doesn’t feel right.’
She had followed the manual exactly, but something about the whole exchange felt strangely embarrassing.
Still, not showing emotion was one of the most basic rules in the manual.
[In front of a client who may be overwhelmed by sudden changes, do not show emotional agitation.]
Maintaining her gentle smile, Lora continued.
“Would you mind waiting just a moment? Your visit was unexpected, and I’m not fully prepared.”
As she invited the Crown Prince inside, she asked,
“Would you like some tea?”
“…That would be nice.”
Still hiding her axe, Lora gracefully walked backward toward the kitchen.
The man, left alone, watched her go, then muttered softly—just loud enough for himself to hear.
“An axe…”
His eyes turned sharp and cold.
He had already noticed the axe.
“She handles it quite skillfully.”
Apparently, this counselor was physically quite capable.
His sharp gaze swept the dark interior of the mansion.
“It’s being maintained, I suppose… but still not in great shape.”
The man crossed his arms, fingers tapping thoughtfully against his bicep.
“Not very reassuring.”
Rustle.
Hearing a sound, he uncrossed his arms naturally. The sharp edge in his gaze softened slightly.
Lora was returning.
“Client, would you join me over here?”
“Apologies for the late visit.”
Well, at least he had some awareness of time and basic manners.
Lora offered him a soft smile.
“No, no. I’m the one who should apologize. I wasn’t quite ready, so I hope you’ll forgive the mess.”
Of course, she didn’t actually care for forgiveness.
It’s not like living this way is shameful or anything, right?
“Well then…”
Lora and the Crown Prince’s possessor.
The two sat across from each other at a small table.
The Crown Prince’s eyes flicked toward the two teacups and the white orb on the table.
Lora noticed and spoke.
“You said you woke up in this world. Would it be correct to assume you’re a ‘possessor’ among regression, possession, and reincarnation?”
Though her voice remained calm, her heart was pounding wildly.
‘A client after 500 years!’
And of all things, a possessor—the most difficult of the three types.
And possessing the Crown Prince no less!
‘…If I mess this up, the whole empire might fall!’
According to the records, the fourth possessor client had fallen asleep playing a game and then woke up possessing a fantasy world’s great general.
Despite the counselor’s advice, he treated war like some online game.
As a result, he was soon betrayed and killed by his own subordinate.
‘Just because a counselor is present doesn’t mean the client’s life will always end well.’
Her grandfather once said:
“Lora, our family’s work isn’t easy. It’s incredibly hard.”
Lora now understood the full weight of those words.
‘Anyway, the priority now is to gather the client’s basic information.’
Some clients had lied about their identities.
“Yes. If I had to choose, I’d say possession fits best.”
“I see. It must have been quite the shock to suddenly arrive in another world.”
As she spoke, Lora placed her hand on the white orb.
She didn’t notice the man’s eyebrows twitch ever so slightly.
‘She seems sincere.’
To him, Lora’s expression showed genuine concern.
‘…Is that even possible?’
How could someone show such composed and subtle empathy about something they hadn’t experienced?
‘Maybe that’s just what counselors are like.’
Unbeknownst to him, Lora truly meant what she said.
‘Possessor clients are often the most confused. Adjusting to this world is hard.’
From past records, Lora could somewhat understand how they must feel.
“Then, before we begin our discussion, may I ask you a few questions? Is that all right?”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
Silver hair and blue eyes.
The Crown Prince’s appearance had often been likened to “a galaxy spread across the eyes of a winter sky.”
‘Didn’t they call him the “pure-hearted prince”?’
There were many secret admirers praising the Crown Prince’s beauty.
‘And that scandalous neighbor from the duke’s family is famous for his decadent looks. People always paired the two of them up…’
Lora found herself acknowledging just how handsome the man sitting in front of her was.
“Could you briefly tell me about your current identity and the identity you had before possession?”
“Hmm.”
A strange smile flickered across the prince’s lips before vanishing.
‘Huh?’
Lora flinched at the cold, almost chilling smile—far from anything “pure”—but quickly dismissed it when his expression returned to neutral.
After gazing at Lora for a moment, the prince spoke.
“…I’ve possessed the Crown Prince.”
“Th-that’s what I thought.”
Still shocking, even the second time.
“Just by looking, I can tell you’re the Crown Prince.”
Well, appearance-wise at least.
The man in front of her was nothing like the frail prince rumored throughout the empire.
“And your identity before possession?”
“As for that…”
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke casually.
“I was an ordinary college student. And—”
“Yes, yes. Take your time.”
The prince watched Lora’s reaction closely before continuing.
“I also worked as the top-ranked hunter. Though the fact that I was ranked number one was a secret.”
