Episode 4
Laura’s mind was racing.
Hunter? Is that a title for some kind of hunter?
And whatever it meant, he was ranked number one…
Clearly not an ordinary client.
That was worth noting.
“Um, excuse me, Your Highness?”
“Yes?”
But she hadn’t yet heard the most important detail.
“When it comes to pre-possession information, we also need to know which planet and nation you were affiliated with.”
Laura smiled gently, doing her best to sound polite.
“Ah.”
The Crown Prince let out a short sound of realization and answered without hesitation.
“I came from a planet called Earth, and I was a citizen of the Republic of Korea.”
Despite his frank reply, the man’s eyes continued to scan and gauge the counselor sitting before him.
Then—
“Ah!”
Laura let out a soft exclamation.
The man flinched slightly, but her gaze was already fixed elsewhere.
Earth!
She was sure she’d seen that name before.
Laura tapped lightly on the surface of a white orb.
“Hmm.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes widened slightly.
Vrrrrmmm—
The orb vibrated, and numerous screens emerged above it.
Looks like a tablet screen, the man thought.
As soon as he thought that, Laura’s hands flew across the orb.
She’s definitely reading something—but at that speed?
The man’s jaw almost dropped at her incredible pace.
“There it is.”
Her tone was calm—cold, even—but Laura’s satisfaction showed in the small smile that followed.
Just as a strange gleam flickered through the Crown Prince’s eyes—
“Earth. Yes, I found records on it.”
Laura had already slipped back into her gentle, professional demeanor.
“…Earth exists here?”
She nodded confidently.
“Of course, Your Highness. This counseling center has a history spanning thousands of years, after all.”
Of course, this particular customer was the first Laura had ever handled—and the first in over 500 years.
But using the manual she’d memorized since childhood, she smoothly continued.
“Can you point out the location of the Republic of Korea on the map?”
She tapped the orb like a musical instrument.
Fwaaash—
A small screen above the orb instantly expanded. Laura rotated the orb, and the screen shifted with it to show the man a map.
“Ha—”
A quiet exclamation slipped from the Crown Prince’s lips.
He looked back and forth between Laura and the map several times.
“…Ha!”
Then he let out a short laugh.
He leaned slightly toward the table, away from his chair.
“It’s not exact, but yes—this really is Earth.”
He murmured and pointed at the map.
“The Republic of Korea would be located around… here.”
Laura followed his finger and nodded.
“So, the Republic of Korea is in the area once known as Joseon.”
Ha!
The Crown Prince let out another chuckle, tinged with surprise.
“Wow, this is…”
He trailed off, then casually rested his hands on the table, fingers interlocked.
“What is the connection between Joseon and the Republic of Korea?”
He asked obediently, and Laura answered just as calmly.
“Joseon is Korea’s past identity.”
“I see.”
A glint flickered again in the Crown Prince’s eyes.
Laura pulled out a pen and paper from a drawer nearby and jotted down a quick note.
Joseon → Republic of Korea.
Records always needed to be updated.
“Hmmm.”
She made a quick, shorthand note and then traced her memories.
“You’re the third visitor from Earth, and the second from Joseon.”
The Crown Prince unclasped his fingers.
“Besides me—”
“Yes?”
He leaned forward slightly.
“Has anyone else come from Earth like I have?”
Whoa, too close.
With the small table between them, his sudden movement brought their faces uncomfortably near.
This is a bit much.
Laura subtly leaned back and answered kindly.
“Yes. I can’t reveal full details, of course—that would violate a former client’s privacy. But I can tell you the basics—”
Hmm.
Laura thought back carefully.
There was a reason she remembered the planet Earth so clearly.
“There was a possessor from a kingdom called Portugal. He used to be a sailor. Thanks to him, we were able to construct a basic map of Earth.”
“I see, the Kingdom of Portugal. That’s from quite a long time ago. No wonder the map wasn’t precise.”
The Crown Prince murmured, almost to himself. Laura pretended not to hear but kept her ears wide open.
“And the one from Joseon was a very unique case. They weren’t registered as a formal client.”
“…?”
There was a specific reason Laura had recalled Earth so quickly upon hearing its name.
“That individual was not a regressor, possessor, or reincarnator—they were a dimensional traveler.”
“Ah.”
The Crown Prince let out a soft sound.
Tap, tap. Sitting cross-legged, he gently tapped his fingers against his thigh.
He looked genuinely intrigued.
Laura, lost in her thoughts, didn’t notice his expression.
“That dimensional traveler went through something so grueling, I’ve been told there hasn’t been another case like it. Fortunately, they met the family head at the time and were able to adjust to this world. Eventually, they even made it into the history books.”
“…History?”
“Ah, I’m afraid I can’t share any more than that.”
She couldn’t exactly tell him that the traveler had conquered the eastern seas of the Duphia Continent—where the Kalien Empire resides—and founded a maritime kingdom, becoming its first king.
The clients from Earth all seem to have been quite extraordinary.
Granted, there were only two examples so far, but still—this current Crown Prince was no exception. A number-one-ranked hunter in his world? Definitely someone to watch.
“…That’s incredible.”
The Crown Prince gave a hollow laugh, but he looked genuinely impressed.
“Hmm.”
“Please, feel free to speak.”
“Can I… go back?”
Of course.
She’d expected this question.
[For clients who have been possessed, the most frequent and desperate question is whether they can return to their original world.]
But there was something different this time.
He doesn’t seem all that desperate.
There was no deep yearning in his expression.
No—one can never really know what someone is feeling inside.
Laura refrained from making assumptions. Instead, she simply offered the correct response.
“That’s something I cannot answer.”
Her tone was warm but firm.
“…I see.”
“Yes.”
Her predecessors had taught her this:
[We must never offer clients false hope or promise them a beautiful future.]
“This situation you’re in—it was caused by an unknown god, and I can’t give you a definitive answer.”
“A god…”
The Crown Prince’s voice dropped low.
“A god did this?”
There was a slight sharpness to how he said “did this,” but Laura let it slide.
“Yes. Whether it was a dimensional god or some other kind, it was certainly the work of a god.”
The man fell silent.
Laura watched him, seemingly lost in thought, and continued.
“Lady Lilien, the goddess of time and fate, has told us to assist those affected by these disruptions in time and destiny.”
Put more simply, Lilien had tasked the Lien family with cleaning up the messes caused by regression, possession, and reincarnation.
Grandfather always scolded me when I put it that way, but it’s the truth, isn’t it?
Gods made careless mistakes, and humans were left to clean up after them.
Laura didn’t particularly like that arrangement.
“Ha… a god, huh.”
The Crown Prince lowered his head. His hands on the table balled into fists.
He looked as if he’d fallen into deep despair.
Poor thing.
It was a pitiful sight.
“Again…”
But contrary to Laura’s impression, a single word escaped the Crown Prince’s lips, and his eyes held not sorrow—but cold fury, completely at odds with his gentle appearance.
It was a fierce, burning emotion—not helplessness or despair.
“Your Highness.”
At Laura’s gentle call, he composed himself and looked up.
“Please, have some tea.”
Laura pushed a teacup toward him—the most luxurious item left in the entire household.
“…Thank you.”
He picked up the cup and took a small sip.
As the warmth traveled down his throat and spread through his body—
“Your Highness.”
Laura gently placed her hand atop his clenched one.
[During counseling, it’s important to help the client avoid falling into deep sorrow or despair.]
Though he still held one hand in a tight fist, Laura spoke to him as kindly as she could.
“Your Highness, if you truly wish to return to your original world, let’s try to find a way together.”
As he stared at her silently, Laura recalled one last piece of data.
“According to our records, about 47% of possessed clients who wished to return were actually able to do so.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
Laura spoke with conviction to this delicate Crown Prince, who had the nickname ‘the innocent heir.’
“I’ll help you.”
It was a small but sincere promise.
