I Became an Academy Counselor

Chapter 93

"After all that cursing, why the long face?"

"Shut up. I’m not in the mood to talk..."

"I’m just saying it because it’s uncomfortable for me too. Did you forget we share the same body? I might not feel your emotions, but I do feel your physical sensations."

I wish it would just shut up.

Orca resisted the urge to smack her own body, as the parasite occupying her mouth taunted her. If she hit herself, the parasite would feel pain, but so would she.

No matter how much she wanted to hurt it, the backlash of that action would come straight back to her. So, as much as she despised it, she couldn’t strike.

While she silently fumed, the parasite’s voice slithered back into her ears.

"By the way, I’ve been watching, and... why are you just lying there?"

"What’s your problem now? Why are you picking a fight?"

"I’m not. Just wondering why you don’t go looking for her. It’s not like she hates you."

"...What?"

Orca’s anger flared at the smug tone, as if the parasite was speaking to an idiot. But just as her fury reached its peak, something the parasite said left her stunned.

"You don’t have proof, but you have a feeling, don’t you? You know better than anyone that she’s pushing you away on purpose."

"What are you talking about?"

"...You seriously didn’t notice? She’s been deliberately provoking you."

"What?"

The moment those words left the parasite’s mouth, Orca slammed her head against the wall.

"Ouch! What the hell are you doing?!"

"...Explain that statement. Or things are about to get a lot more painful for you."

She stared at herself in the mirror. Blood trickled from her forehead, and the pain throbbed in time with her heartbeat, but that was irrelevant. What mattered now was confirming the truth behind what the parasite had said.

That was the only thing that mattered.

"You don’t have to threaten me; I’ll tell you."

"Then get to it. Now."

"So impatient. ...It’s nothing complicated. Unlike everyone else, you have a way to figure out the counselor’s true intentions, don’t you?"

"And what’s that?! If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking! Hurry up and tell me!"

Orca was on the verge of bashing her head against the wall again, but the parasite’s next words stopped her.

"That incense."

"...Incense?"

"Yeah, the one you’re smelling right now. I overheard before that it’s supposed to subdue demons."

"So what?"

"You really don’t get it? You’re listening to me talk just fine right now, aren’t you?"

"...Huh?"

"That stuff’s fake, you idiot."@@@@

...Fake? This?

Orca stared blankly at the incense burning by her bedside, holding it in her hand.

"But... ever since I started using this, you haven’t tried to take control of my body..."

"Oh, that? ...Ha, do I really have to explain this?"

The parasite, Hazed, hesitated briefly, as if contemplating whether to reveal the truth. But it didn’t take long for it to decide.

It wasn’t out of kindness or any deeper motive—it was just amusing to mess with Orca.

And besides, it would feel good to expose the truth about the counselor, who had cursed him with this contract.

"I don’t like admitting this, but I lost."

"Lost? What do you mean?"

She wanted to scream, How can you not find something so simple?!

But she knew that losing her temper would only demotivate them, and they would take even longer. So, she bit her tongue and forced herself to respond calmly.

"Haa..."

But even so, she couldn’t hide her frustration.

It had only been a few days since she and Leo had started searching for the counselor after seeing his efforts.

It was only natural that they hadn’t made any progress yet. Still, the lack of results made Stella anxious.

"...What in the world are you doing, Ophelia?"

The reason was simple.

...Stella realized she knew almost nothing about Ophelia.

Her exact age, her birthplace, her family—none of it.

To narrow down the search, they needed more specific information.

But all they had were vague facts that anyone could know.

"What kind of crown princess am I, damn it."

To be honest, Stella hadn’t expected the search to be this hard.

After all, she was the crown princess.

She was destined to be the highest-ranking person in the empire once her father passed away, which was expected to happen soon.

But despite her lofty position...

Despite having the power to command anything in the kingdom with a single word, she couldn’t even find one person.

Stella clicked her tongue in frustration.

"Stop! Who are you? This is the residence of Her Highness the Princess—"

"Move aside. I have business with someone inside."

"How dare you!"

How can I find the counselor?

As that question echoed in her mind, she suddenly heard a commotion outside the door, accompanied by a familiar voice.

"What’s going on?"

"I apologize, Your Highness! It seems an uninvited guest has arrived. We’ll deal with them immediately."

"An uninvited guest?"

"Yes. They insisted on seeing Your Highness. A strange individual with black hair and white specks in it."

"Let them in."

"Excuse me?"

"Don’t make me repeat myself."

"...Yes, Your Highness!"

Black hair with white specks.

There was only one person Stella knew who fit that description.

It had to be Orca.

It was the first time that Orca had come to her directly.

...Whatever the reason, Stella decided to let her in.

After all, they were still friends.

"Looks like you're living the good life, huh? Even got some annoying guards around."

"That’s what happens when you’re the crown princess."

"Yeah, yeah. Neither of us likes small talk, so I’ll get straight to the point. I need your help finding Ophelia."

Without bothering to hide the blood dripping from her forehead, Orca made her demand.

She asked Stella to help her find the counselor.