Episode 3: The 24-Hour Returnee, Possessor, Reincarnator Counseling Office
Swish.
Laura quickly parted the curtains slightly.
A tall figure, their entire body covered by a robe, was looking at the signboard.
The person raised their head.
‘Our eyes met.’
It was far, but their eyes had definitely met.
A voice came from beyond the intercom.
- ……In my dream, I was told to find Lien, to go to Lien.
Laura recalled her grandfather’s words.
“A Returnee, a Possessor, or a Reincarnator. Once every hundred years, one of the three comes to us through Lady Lilien’s arrangement.”
‘It couldn’t be—’
Return, Possession, Rebirth. Has one of the three come?
“Please wait. I will come out shortly.”
For now, Laura decided to see the person.
Then, the other person spoke in a calm, composed voice.
- May I climb over the wall?
He’s going to climb over the wall?
Laura suddenly recalled the capital lockdown order.
- Are knights coming?
- Yes. I can see knights at the end of the alley. I’ll just climb over the wall. Please understand.
She watched with a bewildered face as the man lightly vaulted over a wall 1.5 times taller than an average adult’s height.
‘Is he strong?’
The man, now distant from the magic intercom, stood motionless in the garden. Truly, without moving an inch, he stood still as if waiting for Laura.
‘……He’s a bit strange?’
Hiding her uneasy expression, Laura finished preparing and opened the mansion’s front door.
‘What was the manual again?’
Within the white orb existed not only records from all this time but also various manuals on how to deal with customers and how to handle sudden situations.
The man was still standing still.
‘He’s all covered by the robe, so I can’t see his appearance.’
Laura concealed the axe held in one hand behind her back and gestured with her other hand through the gap of the open door.
‘When the opponent is an enemy, ambushing an approaching enemy is more effective than approaching them myself.’
As if without any hesitation, the man strode forward.
When about two or three steps remained, Laura opened her mouth.
“Return, Possession, Rebirth—which of the three are you?”
“…….”
Someone who could read the three characters on the sign had appeared for the first time in 500 years. But she couldn’t be sure if that person was truly a ‘customer.’
Tension welled up, but she wore a gentle smile on her lips. As always.
“Could you please lower your hood?”
She couldn’t let someone whose face she didn’t even know into this mansion—into her own home.
“……Do you know the one who sent me to Lien, who sent me here?”
Laura deepened her smile at the man’s question.
‘I heard there are many customers who attack while speaking disrespectfully the moment they see you, but this person at least has some manners.’
Hoping there would be no need to use the axe, Laura replied calmly.
“It would have been Lady ‘Lilien,’ the god who governs time and fate, who sent you.”
Lilien.
The moment Laura uttered that word, the man removed his hood.
Laura’s eyes widened.
‘Holy……!’
The man spoke as if reciting, clearly on guard.
“I opened my eyes and found myself here.”
No matter how little connection Laura had to the political world, still—
‘I know the Crown Prince’s face!’
Laura thought while barely keeping her composure from showing on her face.
‘This is crazy! Why is the Crown Prince, who should be in a coma, here!’
It seemed the Possessor had possessed the body of the Crown Prince.
“……For now.”
Laura stealthily hid the axe more carefully and spoke with a calm face.
“Please come in.”
And she greeted him according to the manual.
“Welcome, customer! I am Laura, head of the Lien family and a professional Returnee, Possessor, Reincarnator counselor who carries on the will of Lady Lilien, the god who governs time and fate.”
An elegant and gentle smile graced her gentle face.
“…….”
Silence fell for a moment.
The Crown Prince looked at Laura quietly and opened his mouth.
“……Customer?”
“Yes~ customer!”
Ah.
The moment a short exclamation flowed from the Crown Prince’s lips, Laura thought,
‘I don’t think this is it.’
She had acted according to the manual, yet an indescribable awkwardness washed over her.
But not revealing this was also a basic requirement for counselors written in the manual.
[Do not reveal emotional agitation in front of customers who are experiencing confusion due to sudden circumstances.]
Laura spoke while still wearing a picture-perfect, gentle smile.
“Would you please wait a moment? Due to your sudden visit, I am not yet prepared.”
She ushered the Crown Prince, who was standing blankly with an impassive face, into the mansion and asked,
“Would you care for some tea?”
“……I suppose.”
Laura, having thoroughly hidden the axe behind her back, headed to the kitchen with elegant backward steps.
The man left alone watched Laura slip away toward the kitchen and muttered quietly, just loud enough for himself to hear.
“An axe, huh……”
His gaze turned cold.
Laura’s axe had already been discovered.
“She looks quite skilled at handling an axe.”
It seemed the counselor was considerably strong after all.
Sharp eyes scanned the interior of the mansion submerged in darkness.
“It seems she’s managing it in her own way, but the mansion’s condition isn’t particularly good.”
The man, who had crossed his arms at some point, tapped his arm with his fingers.
“Tch. I can’t say I trust her.”
Rustle.
At the sound of someone approaching, the man naturally uncrossed his arms. The sharpness in his eyes slightly subsided.
Laura was approaching.
“Customer, would you come this way?”
“I apologize for visiting at such a late hour.”
Wow, he still has a basic sense of time and manners.
Laura gave a gentle smile to the Crown Prince Possessor.
“I am the one who should ask for your understanding for my lack of preparation and humble circumstances.”
Of course, it was only words; she didn’t particularly want his understanding.
It’s not like living like this is something to be ashamed of, right?
“Well, then.”
Laura and the Crown Prince Possessor.
The two sat facing each other across a small table.
Glancing. The Crown Prince’s eyes moved to the two teacups on the table, and then to the white orb.
Confirming that gaze, Laura continued speaking.
“You said you opened your eyes and found yourself in this world—may I take that as ‘Possession’ among Return, Possession, and Reincarnation?”
Contrary to her calm appearance, her heart was pounding like crazy.
‘A customer after 500 years!’
And a Possessor, who is said to have the highest difficulty among Returnees, Possessors, and Reincarnators!
And the Possessor is the Crown Prince!
‘……If I handle this wrong, the country could collapse!’
The fourth Possessor customer recorded in the records.
That customer had fallen asleep while gaming and possessed a great general in some fantasy world.
Records say that despite the counselor’s dissuasion, he treated war like it was an ‘online game.’
As a result, the Great General Possessor soon met a tragic end, killed by his subordinates.
‘……Just because a counselor is by their side doesn’t mean the customer’s life will definitely end well.’
Grandfather had said,
“Laura, our family’s work is not easy. It is very difficult.”
Laura felt the weight of those words anew.
‘Anyway, understanding this person’s basic identity is the most important thing right now.’
Quite a few customers among them had falsely revealed their identities.
“Yes. If I had to choose among the three, it seems to be Possession.”
“I see. It must have been a terrible shock to suddenly come to another world.”
Saying so, Laura placed her hand over the white orb.
Because of that, she failed to see the man’s eyebrows rise slightly.
‘She seems sincere.’
To the man, the counselor saying it must have been a great shock looked sincere.
‘……Is that possible?’
Without having experienced it herself, how could she show empathy so calmly without overdoing it?
‘Is this what it means to be a counselor?’
The man didn’t know, but Laura had spoken quite sincerely.
‘Among Hoebinghwan customers, Possessor customers often have the most confusion. Because of adapting to reality.’
Having read the records, Laura could understand to some extent the heart of a Possessor customer.
“Then, before we talk, I would like to ask you a few questions first. Would that be alright?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
Silver hair and blue eyes.
People expressed that looking at the Crown Prince was like seeing the galaxy unfold over eyes resembling the winter sky.
‘Wasn’t he called the Pure Crown Prince?’
There were quite a lot of secret praises for the Crown Prince’s beauty.
‘The scoundrel of the neighboring duke’s household is famous for his decadent beauty. I think these two were called the twin pillars.’
He really was handsome. Realizing once again the incredible beauty of the Crown Prince before her, Laura continued.
“Could I briefly hear about your current personal information and your personal information before possession?”
“Hmm.”
For a moment, a strange smile appeared on the Crown Prince’s lips before vanishing instantly.
‘Hm?’
Laura paused briefly at the cold smile far from pureness, but seeing the Crown Prince quickly become composed, she brushed it off as nothing.
The Crown Prince stared at Laura for a moment and opened his mouth.
“……I have currently possessed the Crown Prince.”
“I-I see.”
It was surprising no matter how many times she heard it.
“Even I can tell that you are indeed the Crown Prince.”
Of course, only the outward appearance.
Because the person before her was completely different from the Crown Prince rumored to be frail.
“What about your personal information before possession?”
“And my personal information before possession.”
He dragged his words for a moment before continuing nonchalantly.
“I was originally an ordinary college student. And—”
“Yes, yes. Please speak comfortably.”
The Crown Prince secretly observed Laura’s reaction and opened his mouth.
“And I was active while simultaneously serving as the Rank 1 Hunter. Of course, being Rank 1 Hunter was a secret.”