I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City Chapter 29 to 41

CH 29

Weakness Induction.

As expected, Juyeon’s finger refused to bend.

So Rohan turned his entire focus into using the skill.

And then.

…!

Just like a vessel containing mana shattering to pieces, he could feel all the mana he possessed drain away in an instant.

A notification window popped up in front of Rohan.

However, there was no time to feel regret.

It was something beyond dizziness, his head flashed brightly and his vision blurred rapidly.

“Ugh….”

With all his mana evaporating in an instant, Rohan tried to hold onto his consciousness, but the exhaustion due to the sudden mana usage, not gradual depletion, was not something he could withstand with willpower alone.

Rohan’s consciousness slowly began to fade.

“!!!”

At the same time, a chilling premonition brushed past Juyeon’s instincts.

Rohan’s mana, which had permeated her finger, attempted to cause a change.

What she was feeling was a sense of disharmony, as if a balance was about to collapse.

Me, by a cadet…?

Using all the patience and reason she could muster, Juyeon suppressed the impulse to move her body.

She almost swung Rohan, who was holding her finger, and threw him.

Juyeon, who was observing Rohan’s condition to see if anything else would happen, was surprised again.

The sword Rohan was holding in one hand slipped, and the grip on her finger loosened.

His consciousness!?

As Rohan was collapsing like a puppet whose strings had been cut, Juyeon caught him in her arms as he fell towards her.

There was no option to avoid him.

Ring Ring Ring!

As soon as the 2-minute alarm rang, Juyeon quickly decided her next step of action.

She jumped from her spot, holding the unconscious Rohan.

“I’m taking him to the infirmary. Everyone, remain here.”

There was no time for formalities in this situation.

Juyeon shot off like lightning.

··

··

Huh?

Rohan opened his eyes and found himself lying on a bed with a thin, warm blanket covering him.

As he came to his senses and lifted his eyelids to see a white ceiling,

Familiar notification windows greeted his return to consciousness.

“….”

Rohan immediately opened his Status Window.

Wow, I would have definitely died if this was a real battle.

The moment he saw the Status Window and the bluish IV drip connected to his arm, he immediately understood the situation.

Rohan pulled his weakened hand from beneath the blanket and covered his face.

He felt relieved that he had somehow thought of testing it beforehand.

He could only hope that increasing his abilities and skill levels would provide a breakthrough.

…My condition is a wreck.

So this was what mana exhaustion felt like. It felt completely different from overusing his Supernatural Ability during his Hunter Era.

His whole body was limp, like cotton soaked in water.

And even though he knew he should check where he was and what time it was, the intense lethargy prevented even those simple actions.

How long had he been spacing out like that?

Swish! Someone entered, pulling back the surrounding curtains.

“Have you come around?”

“!”

Rohan raised his hand and rolled his eyes, and Juyeon came into view.

She naturally took a seat in a chair next to him.

“Mana exhaustion. You scraped the bottom of the barrel, using all of it.”

“…I apologize.”

“You did nothing wrong. It must have been a good experience, so there’s no need to apologize. Just rest for now.”

Juyeon continued speaking, watching the bluish IV fluid drip steadily.

“How are you feeling?”

“Just… a little tired.”

“You’re receiving an IV drip that aids with recovery, so just stay put until it’s finished.”

Juyeon placed Rohan’s bag, which she had kept safe, on the desk and handed him his smartphone.

With a brief word of thanks, he turned on his phone and saw that class was already over.

He has also received messages from Ichinose and the other cadets in Class 1.

And while he wanted to reply to everyone right away, time was of the essence.

“Instructor.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know how long it will take for this IV to finish?”

“Wait a moment.”

He heard Juyeon’s voice conversing with someone after she went out through the curtain before quickly returning and telling him the result.

“About two hours.”

“Phew…”

He could still make it to his part-time job.

Seeing Rohan breath a sigh of relief, Juyeon hardened her expression, reading his intention.

“Rohan, this IV isn’t a cure-all. You’ll still feel the aftereffects of the exhaustion, so it’s best if you rest properly today.”

“It’s alright. My part-time job is practically like resting.”

“Hmm….”

Juyeon had a lot to say, but feeling that it would be crossing the line, she kept her mouth shut.

Everyone has their own circumstances.

And it wasn’t like he was going out to play; it was a part-time job related to his livelihood, so she couldn’t force him to rest.

While she was also curious about his skills, as an Instructor, there was a limit to how much she could pry into his personal affairs.

Juyeon could only watch as Rohan left the infirmary.

“….”

After finishing her work at Orion Academy, Juyeon returned home.

The luxurious residence provided by the Dean when he invited her to Academy City.

She considered returning it or handing it over to another Instructor and moving elsewhere when the opportunity arose.

Beep!

She entered the password and stepped inside, where the dark, unlit living room greeted her with silence.

Every time she faced this scene, she missed her cozy home in the Three Kingdoms Union.

Even commodious should be done in moderation.

An excessively large house was difficult to manage, and the sound echoed if it wasn’t filled with furniture.

Even a house half this size would be perfect.

Click.

After she neatly placed her shoes in the corner of the shoe cabinet, Juyeon began to take off her suit.

She put the suit into the garment care machine after stripping down to her underwear and headed to the bathroom to wash up as usual.

Brush, brush.

She put her underwear in the laundry basket and started brushing her teeth while gazing in the mirror.

Reflecting on the day’s lessons during her washing up time had become a part of her routine.

I should have these kinds of lessons more often.

Every single one of them was undoubtedly a brilliant talent.

And their light shone even brighter than during the usual practical training classes.

While they were all excellent, three cadets left a particularly strong impression on Juyeon.

Noa Frozenheart, Ichinose Yui….

She believed that if those two cadets grew smoothly, they would easily surpass even her.

She wondered if the saying about heroes appearing in turbulent times wasn’t meant for these two lovely cadets.

Whoosh!──!

“Phew….”

Juyeon recalled the last cadet as she showered under the cold water.

And Rohan.

He was different from a hero.

In fact, she couldn’t even predict how he would grow.

And the more Juyeon pondered over Rohan’s movements, the more she felt a mixture of admiration and bitterness.

It wasn’t the fighting style a fresh-faced Academy cadet would display, and that saddened her.

It was a fighting style learned through experience, not professional training.

She could feel the struggle for survival. His movements were wild and rough, as if dripping with blood.

Moreover, it was artificial, not a natural talent like Noa Frozenheart’s.

In the two-minute sparring match, Juyeon was able to see what kind of past Rohan had lived.

Above all.

It was definitely the Burning Blade.

She hadn’t expected to encounter it here.

Did he manage to obtain it by chance, or was he born with it?

Even if I knew, nothing would change or be different…

She knew it was an immaturity, still unable to escape the shadows of the past.

Still, she was simply curious.

Perhaps it was the lingering emotion of missing her younger brother.

Whoosh!──

“…”

However, she didn’t want to pry into Rohan’s affairs.

She knew that asking such questions as an Instructor would put an unimaginable amount of pressure on a cadet.

“Oh?”

Juyeon realized that she had stopped moving again while lost in thought.

It was a bad habit.

I did the same to Rohan.

Those two minutes must have been precious to the cadet, yet she had let her mind wander elsewhere. It wasn’t something an Instructor should do.

And it was certainly shameful for someone whose profession was education. It definitely required self-punishment.

“Phew!”

Having finished her shower, Juyeon lightly circulated her mana-infused heat to dry herself completely and then put on some newly bought underwear.

The feeling around her hips was a bit tight. The top as well.

Hmm? The size?

She hadn’t been neglecting her training, so she definitely hadn’t gained weight.

And as she was past puberty, it wasn’t as if her chest or hips had grown.

This brand won’t do.

Other brands fit perfectly in this size, but not this one.

Juyeon took out some other underwear, put on some casual clothes, and headed to the kitchen.

She grabbed her phone while drinking cold water.

Juyeon carefully checked the contents of the message.

The Flower Bookstore, huh.

She checked the time.

If the reports were correct, Rohan’s part-time job was yet to end.

Next, Juyeon checked the Orion Academy Instructor’s manual.

Standing in the kitchen, she double-checked the section regarding cadets’ part-time jobs.

The Instructor’s responsibilities and duties… Should I pay a short visit?

Juyeon took off her clothes and opened her closet to wear something appropriate for going out.

She chose some casual clothes she hadn’t worn in a while and put on some sneakers she couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn.

---

CH 30

Click!

The Princess returned after having completed her daily training diligently.

Covered in monster blood from head to toe, today was the worst day so far.

With every step she took, a squelching sound came from the soles of her shoes.

“…Is anyone there?”

No one came to greet her, even after her arduous work.

Such things, which she didn’t care about usually, were starting to bother her recently.

To be precise, it was from the moment she became certain that the Elders were tracking her location.

They only ever call me ‘royalty’ or ‘Princess’ when they need something…

Now it was time for her to return to her room, rest, inspect her firearms, and maintain them.

And it was also the time when the Princess’ heart was most at peace.

And so.

As the Princess headed towards her room with her rifle in hand, her long, pointed elf ears twitched.

─ I always knew we couldn’t trust those guys…!

─ Even so, do we have the leeway to hire anyone officially? If you’re going to be angry, at least do it in your room…

─ Isn’t the point you’re arguing entirely based on the outcome?

─ You didn’t raise an objection when we first hired them, and now you’re complaining…

··

··

The atmosphere had been tense ever since the day the Princess returned alone, the expected guests absent.

The cause of the heated arguments, characterized by raised voices, was a series of failures.

Due to unidentified, incomprehensible factors, their plans had fallen apart repeatedly, infuriating the Elders.

Who were the guests they were waiting for? What was the purpose of their invitation?

The Princess subtly probed the Elders, but they simply dismissed her, saying she needn’t concern herself with such trivial matters.

“Sigh…”

Ignoring the ongoing quarrel, the Princess continued walking until she stepped into her private sanctuary.

Then, she placed the sniper rifle and equipment she was carrying on the table.

She used a wet towel to wipe the monster blood splattered on her face and sat down, opening a drawer.

She needed to clean her equipment before washing herself.

Swish, swish.

As the Princess began with the now familiar process, something she was almost able to do with her eyes closed, her thoughts continued.

─ I’m sure you have many questions you wish you had the answers to.

─ Like, what exactly happened to the Elves who lived in the Tigrova Coniferous Forest?

Was sending that man away a boon or a bane?

She didn’t know yet. She didn’t have enough information to judge.

Still…

It seemed clear that the Elders were colluding to keep something from her.

Thump!

The Princess scrunched up the cloth she used to clean her rifle and tossed it into the trash can.

She touched the spot under her vest where she had sewn the tracking device back in.

Feeling the foreign sensation of the tracker against her fingers, she continued her thoughts.

─ You should have a better idea of how to use that tracking device now.

“…”

The distinct feeling of being manipulated by that man was both unpleasant and unsettling.

But the Princess had already made up her mind.

She opened a pocket on her vest and pulled out her cherished notepad.

She double-checked the phone number written there.

I need to pay him a visit.

She knew that it took a considerable amount of time to gather information.

Still, after all this time, shouldn’t he at least have found something by now?

Having resolved herself, a subtle excitement about going to the city filled her heart.

“Hmm hmm~”

Humming the song she had heard during her previous visit to the city, the Princess continued preparing to wash.

I’m sleepy.

Rohan stretched at the counter, trying to shake off his drowsiness.

He tried to sit down and study the theory in his spare time, but no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn’t stick in his head.

And he didn’t have the luxury to do anything else right now. He had to focus to avoid making any mistakes in his work.

“Huu…”

The malaise from mana exhaustion.

This status condition was truly awful.

It was clearly cool outside, but the sluggish feeling made it feel like it was a humid, rainy day.

Even so, he had to endure it for now.

How could he always expect to be in perfect condition for work?

Buzz──!!!

“Huh?”

His phone, tucked in his apron, vibrated.

Thinking it might be a message from the manager, he quickly took it out.

Clara peeked from between the bookshelves, blinking her eyes.

While she was fine talking about the game, she seemed to prefer messages over conversation for everyday matters.

Nice. Healing +1.

For Clara, who still maintained a certain distance, to be the first to contact him about something other than the game…

It was incredibly moving.

It was like a summer shower on his weary consciousness.

He sent her a reply, saying he was fine and gave the girl a small wave.

After receiving his response, Clara looked flustered, her eyes darting around before she quickly disappeared behind the bookshelves.

Rohan smiled at the sight.

I should start cleaning in 20 minutes.

Considering his sluggish state, he had scheduled a rather generous cleaning time today since he had a feeling it would be tight if he didn’t.

And just as he made this decision, the bell chimed.

Turning his head towards the entrance, Rohan’s eyes widened.

He recognized her instantly.

Even though she wasn’t wearing her usual suit.

Her red hair and striking appearance left no room to be mistaken.

“Instructor Juyeon!?”

“Hello, Rohan. Are you working hard?”

“What brings you all the way here, Instructor…?”

“That’s a strange question. I came to buy books, of course.”

Juyeon said as she walked towards the bookshelves.

She glanced over the books the manager had displayed as recommendations near the counter and continued.

“And as the Instructor in charge of Class 1, I also have the duty to supervise cadets who have part-time jobs.”

“Aha…”

Rohan nodded in understanding.

Coming from Juyeon, it sounded perfectly plausible.

“Is your condition improving? Your complexion seems a little brighter.”

“It’s much better than when I first woke up.”

When Rohan smiled, indicating he was fine, Juyeon replied with relief and looked around.

“Are you working alone?”

“Yes. The manager went home already and I’ll be closing up soon as well.”

“I would have greeted the owner if they were here… You’re trusted, I see. That’s good.”

Did she manage to find any books she liked?

Juyeon’s eyebrows twitched slightly as she picked up a book and moved to another shelf.

“Have you had dinner?”

“I plan to eat at the Dormitory after work.”

He would have normally eaten a cheap meal at the Orion Academy Cafeteria before coming to his part-time job.

But today was an exception.

After waking up in the infirmary from the bluish IV drip, he came straight to the bookstore as he had completely lost his appetite.

“Straight to the Dormitory… so you don’t have any plans then.”

“Where else would I go at this late hour?”

When he answered nonchalantly, Juyeon met his gaze.

“Then have dinner with me.”

“Huh?”

As Rohan blinked and asked back, Juyeon approached the counter and placed her book down.

She had picked a mystery novel and a historical novel.

“Is it too much trouble?”

“No, it’s not. I’m just a little surprised.”

Rohan answered and picked up the scanner to ring up the books.

4 coins and 31 tokens, including the paper bag.

He accepted the card Juyeon offered and completed the transaction.

“I thought it might be awkward for a cadet, but I couldn’t think of a less direct way to ask.”

“While it was sudden, it’s not awkward or burdensome.”

Juyeon took back her card and stared into Rohan’s calm eyes for a moment before chuckling softly.

“It seems you’re being honest, which surprises me. Do you not feel uncomfortable around superiors, Rohan?”

“It depends on the person. And I’m not someone who’d refuse a free meal.”

There were several conditions attached, but it wasn’t a lie.

A pretty Instructor offering to buy him dinner? There was no way Rohan would refuse.

“…If you looked uncomfortable, I was going to say I was joking and back down.”

“No cadet in Class 1 would refuse an invitation from you, Instructor.”

“That’s excessive flattery.”

“Instructor, I’m not the type to flatter.”

Unable to suppress a chuckle at how easily things had worked out, Juyeon picked up the bag containing her books.

“Don’t get any ideas, this is not special treatment. I only came here under the pretense of supervision, so I can’t just leave without doing anything.”

“Understood.”

She was saying that even if she visited any other cadet at their part-time jobs for supervision, she would likely offer and buy them a meal as well.

“Do you have any preferences? Or anything you don’t eat?”

“I’ll eat anything except things that taste bad.”

“That’s a demanding request.”

“But my standards are incredibly low. The hamburgers sold right outside on the main street are pretty good too.”

“Hmm.”

Juyeon expressed a complex emotion with her lips and eyebrows as she slowly stepped away from the counter.

“Anyway, I understand. I’ll be running some errands, so contact me after you’re done with your part-time job.”

With that, Juyeon took the books she had purchased and left The Flower Bookstore.

Rohan collected himself after the unexpected encounter and left the counter to begin cleaning.

What a sudden whirlwind…

He was pleased but confused at the same time. Disbelief would be a more accurate description.

As he walked towards the storage room to get the mop, replaying the conversation in his head, wondering if he had made any mistakes…

“Huuu…!”

He saw Clara shivering in a corner of the bookstore.

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CH 31

Clara’s connection with The Flower Bookstore began around summer, long before Rohan started working there.

So it had already been quite some time since the girl had claimed a corner of The Flower Bookstore.

And thanks to the bookstore manager, who happened to learn of her circumstances by chance, the corner quickly became Clara’s resting place and designated seat.

In that space, the girl delved into a pile of varying knowledge.

Her daily routine involved spending time reading worn-out magazines and books that had been donated or discarded to the bookstore.

Mystery, history, fashion, horror, essays, dictionaries, and more.

Reading whatever she got her hands on, without regard for genre, Clara filled her head with all sorts of diverse concepts and experiences.

Sharack— Sharack—

“…”

Today, she was looking through a workbook someone discarded after completing it.

She had no particular reason for doing so. She just reached out and grabbed the topmost one, and it happened to be this.

And judging from the cover, it was a book used for preparing for the Orion Academy entrance exam.

Lately, many similar books were coming in bundles.

The one she had picked up today was filled with solutions and interpretations handwritten in every available space on the pages.

Cute handwriting.

Clara even enjoyed everything written on the paper as part of her reading.

And trying to understand the solutions felt like solving puzzles, which she also found enjoyable.

Ah! I’ve seen this Monster before…

So, the girl spent her time quietly today as well.

She was now comfortable even when the manager left and Rohan took over the counter.

Because Rohan didn’t ask about things she didn’t want to talk about.

Even when they conversed, he maintained a mysterious distance that allowed her to answer without difficulty, without being at a loss for words, and to speak while looking him in the eye.

Besides that, he was quite serious about games, so talking to him was fun.

When he asked in-depth questions about Company Wave, she couldn’t help but get excited and chatter rapidly.

Ugh, embarrassing…

She recalled the time she got carried away with the explanation before coming to her senses.

Rohan simply smiled and asked her to tell him more, but whenever Clara thought about that moment, her face flushed hot.

Anyway,

Rohan was an Academy Cadet, so he must be a year or two older than her, but at this rate…

…F, friend?

Wouldn’t such a glorious, dazzling relationship, one she was almost too humbled to even speak of, somehow… be suitable?

“Heheh.”

A ticklish feeling. A silly laugh escaped the girl’s lips.

As Clara, with upturned lips, reached for the next book, the door chimed open.

Following that,

Rohan’s and a woman’s voices.

Rohan’s voice sounded more excited than when he was dealing with other customers, so Clara minimized her presence and moved closer.

With silent steps, she shifted her position and peeked at the counter.

─ The manager went home already and I’ll be closing up soon as well.

Rohan looked somewhat excited as he conversed with the woman.

How should she put it? She felt an indescribable feeling wash over her as she watched them.

S, so he has other acquaintances besides someone like me…

Clara averted her gaze from Rohan to examine the other person.

Then she briefly held her breath.

Wooow…

A beautiful woman who drew involuntary admiration.

A sense of inaccessibility instantly dispelled the dust-like flicker of longing in Clara’s heart.

Her red hair and sharp eyes made the word “cool” come to mind naturally.

Huh?

Clara, who had been observing the customer intently, tilted her head in question.

Was she imagining things?

She felt like she had seen that person in some magazine.

─ I would have greeted the owner if they were here… You’re trusted, I see. That’s good.

How long had Clara been secretly watching Rohan and the customer converse?

Then, Clara sensed something unusual.

Uh…?

It wasn’t a murderous intent that prickled her skin.

It felt more like a reprimand, telling her that her current actions were wrong, impolite, and that she should stop.

The aura emanating from the red-haired woman showed that she had clearly detected Clara, despite her attempts to conceal her presence.

“!!!”

It was the first time her location had been given away so easily. Clara’s legs began to tremble.

In that instant, the girl saw a powerful and dazzling sun.

Its light swallowed the shadow where she was hiding, making her feel exposed.

She had never seen such power. She was a frightening person.

The girl averted her eyes, as if fleeing, and sat down in the corner of the bookstore.

S, she’s watching me!

The feeling that her location was being tracked, no matter where she went, was distinct.

She desperately wanted to make a run for the entrance and escape the bookstore, but it seemed impossibly far.

The pressure of having no place to hide in the bookstore terrified Clara.

“Hooo…!”

Just then, Clara, who was still trembling even after Juyeon left, came into Rohan’s view.

Rohan stopped on his way to fetch a mop and headed straight to the girl.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“…”

The girl grabbed Rohan’s apron with trembling hands.

An instinctive action, devoid of reason. Something Clara would never do normally.

Rohan’s mind began to piece things together.

“Is it because of the Instructor?”

“Th, that’s…”

Looking at the stammering girl, Rohan had a hunch.

This was a chance to naturally approach a sensitive topic.

“Heave-ho.”

Rohan sat down and lowered himself to Clara’s eye level.

Then, he waited in silence for a while.

The grip on his apron loosened and the trembling subsided.

Sitting on the quiet bookstore floor, Rohan gauged the timing and spoke softly.

“Feeling a little better?”

“…”

A slight nod.

“Want some water?”

“…”

A shake of her head, indicating she was fine.

Looking at Clara, who kept her mouth shut and her gaze fixed downwards, Rohan chose his next words carefully.

A positive reaction was crucial.

“More than that, that was impressive.”

At the unexpected praise, Clara slightly lifted her head in response.

He subtly touched upon the secret the girl was yet to speak of.

“An ordinary person would only feel intimidated by the Instructor. But you were able to read her Mana?”

As Rohan expressed genuine admiration, wondering how she suppressed it so subtly, the girl’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.

“Ah, uh, that’s…!”

“The Instructor does have a very strong presence. But you don’t need to worry. And you don’t need to be afraid either.”

Before Clara could come up with a nonsensical excuse in her flustered state, Rohan expressed his indifference to it.

“The Instructor is a very kind person.”

Rohan wouldn’t pry anything from this girl.

It was enough for him to simply acknowledge Clara’s uniqueness.

Rohan quickly replied that it was okay, told her not to worry about it, and that he’d see her tomorrow.

Ugh, I need to go quickly.

He had already spent more time than usual closing up, reassuring Clara.

Rohan placed the bookstore key under the flowerbed and hurried out.

As instructed, he came out of the alley and spotted Juyeon immediately without having to look around.

Rohan dashed over and stopped right in front of her.

“Sorry I’m late!”

“It’s alright. It’s rare for you to leave exactly at closing time.”

Juyeon’s hands were empty.

Had she already left the books at home?

“I have a place in mind. Let’s go there.”

“Yes!”

Juyeon smiled faintly at Rohan, who followed without complaint.

“Aren’t you curious about the menu?”

“Honestly, I am.”

Juyeon glanced to the side as if prompting Rohan to look.

There stood a large building.

“We’ll be going to a family restaurant on the 4th floor of the shopping mall. It’s a franchise that’s also present in the Three Kingdoms Union.”

“Ooh…!”

With an excited gasp, they exchanged small talk as they entered the shopping mall.

Groups of cadets in uniform were visible everywhere.

Many cadets recognized Juyeon and gave her a deep bow in greeting.

They took the escalator to the 4th floor.

A restaurant with an interior similar to the famous steakhouse in Rohan’s memory came into view.

It felt strange.

“How many?”

“Two.”

It was later than dinner time, so the inside was less crowded than expected.

Rohan was led to a table and sat facing Juyeon.

“Order whatever you want.”

Juyeon slid the menu over to Rohan.

Since everything on the menu was unfamiliar, Rohan looked around instead of at the menu.

Besides the food, many customers were drinking beer with greasy snacks.

“Weekday Special… It says beer is on discount today.”

“Ah, that’s why everyone has a drink.”

“Do you not drink beer, Instructor?”

Juyeon shook her head at Rohan’s question.

“I don’t drink alcohol.”

“Do you dislike it?”

“Not that I dislike it. In fact, I crave it at times.”

Juyeon brushed her bangs aside and showed a bold smile, then continued.

“You never know when an emergency might occur.”

A short but immediately understandable statement.

Rohan could relate.

“…It’s not an ordinary job.”

“Well, I was called to Academy City with this purpose stated specifically, so it’s fine.”

“Thanks to you, Instructor, everyone will grow to be incredibly strong.”

Rohan always thought about this during his time as a Hunter.

Having others acknowledge your hardships was a crucial element of mental care.

With upturned lips, Juyeon rested her chin on her hand and gazed at Rohan.

“This Instructor has quite high expectations of you, Rohan.”

“I’ll get stronger quickly so you can relax and have a drink whenever you feel like it, Instructor.”

“That’s reassuring. I look forward to it.”

“And when that time comes, I’ll pour you a drink, Instructor.”

Juyeon seemed undeniably pleased at Rohan’s words.

She even chuckled softly.

“Heh… I’ll accept that drink when I feel confident that public safety won’t be compromised even when I’m not around.”

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CH 32

Whew.

By the time he opened his eyes the next day, the aftereffects of mana exhaustion had vanished.

Even the sticky, damp feeling he was worried would linger, had disappeared.

Whether it was due to the bluish IV fluids they gave him at the infirmary, or the most satisfying meal he’d had since arriving in Academy City,

Either way, he felt he should express his gratitude to Juyeon again for whichever factor contributed.

I should be able to exercise properly.

Rohan slowly sat up in bed.

He still felt drowsy, but this much was fine.

After some light preparations, he opened the dormitory door to head to the Orion Academy training room.

Stepping outside, Rohan looked up at the sky as he walked.

The weather seems to be getting warmer, doesn’t it?

The early morning chill he felt every day seemed to be losing its bite.

And the scent of spring was subtly wafting through Academy City Elysium.

The moment Rohan arrived at the training room and put down his bag,

Ichinose, who had just arrived, spoke from behind.

Seeing the girl wearing short sleeves, unlike usual, made him realize that the weather had indeed changed.

“I didn’t expect you to come today. Aren’t you pushing yourself?”

“I woke up feeling fine.”

“Hmm… Your recovery is amazing.”

He had briefly contacted Ichinose yesterday.

After all, she was the first to message him to ask if he was okay.

“The only thing I’m kinda worried about is the theory class. I couldn’t concentrate enough to review what we learned.”

“Well, it’s hard to even hold a pen when you have mana exhaustion. I’ve experienced it personally, so I understand.”

After making small talk while stretching, Rohan and Ichinose headed to the treadmills together.

It could even be considered a semi-fixed routine now.

“Rohan, shall I tell you something interesting?”

“What is it?”

“Noa started studying yesterday.”

“…!”

To think she would start on the very day they promised to work on theory…

She was such an honest girl and that was also what made her admirable.

Noa Frozenheart, sitting at a desk and studying.

He had never seen that, not even in the flood of fan art that testified to her considerable popularity.

It meant that the situation felt equally foreign to Rohan, who used to enjoy Abyss City.

“The Instructor will be pleased.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? So, I told her to ask the Instructor if she had any questions, instead of just asking me.”

“Oh… If this continues, I might end up coming last in class.”

Sensing the rare tension in Rohan’s voice,

Ichinose asked with a quiet smile.

“How has it been lately? Are you finding studying a little enjoyable now?”

“Thanks to someone who taught me well.”

“Hee hee.”

Rohan and Ichinose continued their conversation as they ran on the steadily accelerating machines.

After finishing their workout for the day, they headed straight to the Academy.

And waiting to greet Rohan as he opened the door to Class 1 was Gilbert’s fierce face.

“Rohaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!!!”

“Ah! You almost gave me a heart attack, you crazy bastard.”

He was so startled, that his heart actually ached a little, and even his ears were ringing from the loud greeting.

“What! You were startled by this… Is it really the aftereffect of mana exhaustion?”

Among the other cadets passing by, one even stumbled and fell, seemingly from the shock.

Rohan apologized to the cadet he’d never seen before and helped him up, then walked towards Gilbert again.

This guy really has a set of lungs.

It also felt like nothing he said would convince him.

Honestly, it could even be considered a unique trait.

“I’m fine. Just move aside so I can come in.”

“Hmph!!!”

Watching Gilbert step aside was like watching a pillar shifting.

Rohan put his bag down, greeted his friends including Dick, who was sitting in the back, and sat down with a long sigh.

Thinking about how he wasn’t able to do anything properly yesterday, he felt like he’d overdone his morning training.

“Haa.”

At the sound of Rohan’s sigh, Gilbert, the sigh-detecting dog, approached him with gleaming eyes.

“A sigh!? As expected, you’re pretending to be fine, but the aftereffects of mana exhaustion are…!”

“No, they’re not. And why are you making such a fuss?”

“Go──!!! Rohan, go get a self-diagnosis done right now! You’re not being careless, relying on the shield of youth, are you?!”

“This is crazy.”

The surprising thing was that even with all this commotion he was creating, the Class 1 cadets had gotten used to it.

Most of them either watched indifferently or went about their own business.

“The fact is, Rohan wasn’t the only one who collapsed from mana exhaustion yesterday. Before that, Rohan carried someone who collapsed after running around with a shield.”

Dick Wikitree’s sudden interjection made Gilbert’s head swivel with a creak.

Just as Rohan had a hunch that their noisy back-and-forth was about to start,

Gilbert and Dick shut their mouths.

““….””

Juyeon was approaching with the click-clack of her footsteps for morning assembly.

··

··

Juyeon’s classes were as easy as ever to focus on. And time flew by quickly.

If he had to pick something special about today, it would be that Noa started racking her brains during the theory class.

And while the practical class went on as usual, there was news that the frequency of sparring would gradually increase as the proficiency in formation training improved.

Having diligently finished his day at the Academy, Rohan had an inexpensive meal at the cafeteria before heading to The Flower Bookstore as usual.

He continued pondering as he walked.

I need to get stronger faster.

Once he had enough money to buy a decent sword, he would start exploring outside the city.

He had already made up his mind for the sake of earning Points.

If I manage to find monsters whose parts are worth money, I might be able to earn some money on the side as well.

With his finances tight, his thoughts naturally went there.

He wasn’t in a situation where he could comfortably focus solely on earning Points.

“Manager, I’m here.”

“Ah, Rohan’s here.”

Lost in thought, he arrived at his workplace in no time.

Rohan placed his bag in the corner and put on his apron.

“That on the table over there.”

“Yes, I see them.”

“They’re cookies we received as a gift, so feel free to eat them while you work. The old lady and I can’t eat hard things because of our teeth.”

“Thank you! I’ll enjoy them!”

As Rohan bowed his head, the manager began moving his wrinkled hands as he prepared to leave.

“Well then, work hard.”

“Have a good evening!”

After the manager left, Rohan stood at The Flower Bookstore’s counter, and after some time, Clara entered the bookstore later than usual.

As always, it was during a time when there were no customers.

Still remembering her shivering form, Rohan gently asked the girl whose eyes met his.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“…Y-yes.”

Still remembering the embarrassing display she had shown yesterday, Clara averted her eyes and gave a small nod.

Anticipating what the mumbling girl would say, Rohan spoke first.

“Let’s not mention any apologies. You already did it through messages.”

“Ah!”

Left speechless, Clara fidgeted and disappeared between the bookshelves.

Bzzzt──!!!

His phone vibrated almost immediately.

He pulled it out to find a message from Clara.

He looked up and saw Clara staring at him.

“D-did you clear the Weekly Boss stage 5?”

“I’m still lacking in levels, so I’ve only gone up to stage 3. Well, I plan to keep leveling up this week and attempt stage 4 on Sunday.”

“Mmm… Is that so?”

“My characters’ specs are lacking even with one support, so it’s a bit overwhelming.”

The girl nodded and disappeared again.

From Rohan’s perspective, he wasn’t sure if that was a satisfactory answer for Clara.

Bzzzt──!!!

Thinking it might be Clara again, he looked at his phone.

However, it was a call from an unknown number. Just in case, Rohan answered immediately.

“Hello?”

─ Hmm….

He recognized the voice instantly.

The Princess!

Rohan turned away from the counter and lowered his voice as much as possible.

“I was wondering when you’d get in touch with me.”

─I’m currently in Academy City. Just tell me the time and place.

“It’ll take about two hours. It should be fine if you’re near District 2.”

─Good.

“Do you have a place where you can wait?”

─That doesn’t matter. I’ll call you back in two hours.

The call ended with the click of a public phone receiver being hung up.

Rohan stared at the screen for a moment before putting his phone back in his apron.

I need to think about how much I should tell her.

He racked his brain while checking the list of books that had arrived today.

As Rohan finished ringing up a customer buying a magazine and left the counter to organize the shelves,

“E-excuse me…”

“Yes?”

Clara, who had approached him silently, spoke to him again.

Rohan stopped what he was doing, straightened up, and met Clara’s gaze.

“Um…”

“Please, speak comfortably.”

Neatly arranging the books that had popped out, Rohan waited patiently without rushing her.

Having finally made up her mind, the girl sat down in the corner of the bookstore and spoke.

“T-today! After you finish work, would you… like to clear Weekly Boss together?”

At Clara’s offer, Rohan’s eyes widened.

What a joyous development.

However,

“Um… I have another appointment today, so it will be difficult.”

“…!”

What extensive human relations.

Clara’s jaw dropped at the unexpected turn of events.

---

CH 33

“Um… I have another appointment today, so it will be difficult.”

“…!”

The girl was frozen stiff like a statue.

Rohan had never seen Clara this shocked before.

Unable to speak, her lips trembled.

What should he do here?

Rohan knew.

“Instead!”

Clara’s courage had already reached its limit with the first invitation, but he knew well that he couldn’t end the conversation with just that.

So, with a joyful heart, he made a sincere offer.

After all, this opportunity was precious to Rohan as well.

“How about tomorrow? I’ll even buy you a drink. Or any other day you’re free is fine too.”

“B-But you must be pretty busy, so there’s no need to trouble yourself for someone like me…”

“Someone like you? You shouldn’t underestimate yourself like that.”

Rohan’s intuition told him that Clara’s mind was probably filled with nothing but apologies.

And since he’d told her to stop apologizing, she was probably at a loss for words.

Hence, Rohan spoke again and took action.

“Here, take this.”

“…?”

Would it be appropriate to carelessly grab the hand and lead such a delicate girl?

Rohan offered his apron like a rein, and Clara, with a puzzled look, quietly grabbed onto it.

“Let’s go.”

“W-Where to?”

Walking backward while maintaining eye contact with the timid Clara, Rohan led her to the table next to the counter and sat her down.

He then opened the snacks the manager had left for him, brewed some warm tea and placed it in front of Clara.

The girl glanced back and forth between the refreshments and Rohan; her expression saying that she couldn’t understand the situation at all.

“…Um, what is this?”

“This is too much for me to eat all by myself, right? So, I’d like some help.”

Rohan said, offering a snack with a straight face.

Clara hesitantly accepted the snack and expressed her gratitude.

Watching the girl nibbling on the snack like a hamster, he then resumed their interrupted conversation.

“I’m sorry. I’m really someone who doesn’t usually have plans, but they just happened to get messed up today.”

“Oh, no! It’s my fault for speaking without thinking…”

“How about tomorrow? Are you busy?”

Clara shook her head. She wasn’t busy.

Her short twin tails and the ribbon on her clothes swayed along with her head together.

“Then I’ll buy you something delicious tomorrow, so can you please help me with the Weekly Boss?”

Rohan held out his pinky finger as a promise.

Clara hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and linked her pinky with his.

As always, the Princess told the Elders she was heading out to train.

After leaving her tracking device in the Ruin, she stepped into Academy City Elysium.

Outwardly, it was a transgression, but inwardly, it was a struggle to escape the deep-seated doubts in her heart.

Click!

Arriving at the meeting place in District 2, the Princess removed her goggles and placed them in their case.

She lowered the mask that covered her face up to her eyes.

She knew she had to blend in by dressing as naturally as possible.

….

As she looked up at the street, the brilliant signs and lights filled her vision.

The girl was genuinely impressed by the prosperity of the Academy City after sunset.

Two hours…

For the Princess, who had lived in the infrastructure-less Ruin, Academy City was nothing short of a fascinating and intriguing entity.

Even the two hours she had while waiting for the meeting wouldn’t be enough.

That much time would just fly while looking around on her own.

Step. Step. Step.

She walked along the street, following the pedestrians.

How could she describe this current state of excitement and worry mixed together?

“…”

The girl slowed her pace.

A small sense of wariness sprouted within her.

Is something lacking?

The Princess could feel the gazes on her with each step she took.

Remembering that the same thing had happened last time, she thought she dressed up as naturally as possible, but for some reason, she was still attracting attention.

I don’t feel any hostility mixed in.

Still, it bothered her.

Wasn’t it a sign that she was lacking naturalness in some unexpected area, creating disharmony?

…I should ask him if there’s anything awkward about my appearance when we meet.

The Princess naturally headed towards the shopping mall.

Since she had known about the monetary system since childhood, she always carried a few coins for emergencies.

And sometimes, while killing Monsters and wandering through abandoned houses in the uninhabitable zones, she would find dust-covered coins.

She got on the escalator in the shopping mall and looked around each floor.

The Princess got off on a lively floor and looked around.

A lot of them are wearing similar clothes.

She remembered hearing that this was the uniform of the educational institution called the Academy and deduced they were probably gathered here because this floor had many stores selling school and office supplies.

And so, after wandering around for a while,

“!”

The Princess’s sharp eyes spotted a familiar blue sign.

The Princess quickened her pace.

The corners of her mouth twitched, incongruous with her cold expression.

…I didn’t expect to see this store in District 2 as well.

THe store was of the same brand from where she had purchased the notepad and pen decorated with a chubby dragon and a naive shark character when she had secretly snuck into Academy City before.

As the Princess walked towards it, the automatic doors slid open.

A bubbly bell chimed, and the staff turned their attention towards her.

“Welcome! Welcome to Droplet Friends!”

The staff’s bright greeting calmed the Princess’s mind a little.

The Princess bowed her head politely in response to the greeting and stepped inside.

Most of the customers were women or children.

The Princess blended in among them easily and looked around at the merchandise.

Woolly wearing a suit and a fedora, how interesting.

Taking in the characters dressed in various types of clothes, the Princess moved sideways, one section at a time.

After passing the cute items, large characters greeted her.

Dolls?

Frankly, she was tempted.

She really, really wanted one. She wanted one, but it would be a problem to take it back.

If a doll like this were to suddenly appear in her dark room, its presence would be too conspicuous, so no matter how much she wanted it, it was impossible.

Well, it can’t be helped…

It was truly a shame but she had to be content with just looking.

Unable to leave, the Princess poked the soft doll with her finger.

After spending some time soothing her regret,

A voice reached the Princess’s ears, making them perk up.

“102 Coins and 28 Tokens, your payment is complete.”

“Please deliver everything to this address.”

“Understood! Thank you as always!”

What could one buy here to spend that much money?

The Princess’s gaze naturally turned towards the checkout counter.

…Blind?

It was a graceful girl with her eyes closed.

The sword she held like a cane was both fitting and incongruous.

The girl took the card after the payment and turned to leave.

Having caught a glimpse of the girl’s capabilities, the Princess held her breath.

Strong.

As if sensing the Princess’s gaze, the girl turned her head.

Seeing the Princess standing there, frozen stiffly, the girl with closed eyes offered a gentle smile and a nod before disappearing.

“…”

The Princess, who had inadvertently returned the nod, realized that there wasn’t much time left before her meeting.

She hurried with her shopping.

“That will be 1 Coin and 10 Tokens.”

“Here…”

Clink, clink.

After purchasing a new notepad, pen, and some stickers, the Princess then left the store.

·· ··

─ I know where it is. I’ll head over immediately.

After receiving the man’s reply, the Princess ended the call and stood in front of the payphone and waited quietly.

There were few pedestrians, so she didn’t attract much attention, which put her at ease.

Thud.

Deliberately loud footsteps.

The Princess’ gaze shifted, and she met the person she was waiting for.

“I’m here.”

The Princess didn’t think she was on friendly terms with this man.

She still couldn’t tell if he was friend or foe.

“Why are you dressed like that?”

If the purpose was disguise, there were less conspicuous outfits available.

Wearing the Academy Uniform, which seemed to garner considerable respect within the Academy City, must have had a purpose.

That’s what the Princess thought.

“I thought I would keep you waiting if I returned to the Dormitory, so I came straight after my part-time job.”

“So you’re also infiltrating the Academy?”

Rohan just smiled at the Princess’s question without providing any further explanation.

“Let’s move for now. There’s a place where we can talk…”

“Wait, there’s something we need to address first.”

“Yes?”

The Princess showed Rohan her outfit.

“Is something wrong with my attire?”

“Not particularly.”

“Hmm…”

She wasn’t carrying her large Sniper Rifle, and her goggles were hidden.

The zipper of her outer garment was pulled all the way up to conceal the magazine inside.

And considering the evening weather, it wasn’t a particularly strange outfit.

“Did a Peacekeeper stop you for a random inspection?”

“No. It’s just that I’m attracting a lot of stares. If I don’t address this issue, I might actually get stopped.”

“Aha.”

Rohan nodded slightly as if he understood.

“Do you know the reason?”

“You don’t need to worry too much about it. It’s just a simple problem.”

“Simple?”

The Princess grew even more curious.

It was dangerous not to recognize a simple problem.

“Answer me. What’s the problem?”

To the Princess, who glared at him with narrowed eyes, Rohan replied nonchalantly,

“It’s because you’re pretty.”

“W-What…?”

“It is your appearance itself that is attracting attention, is what I’m saying.”

Rohan stated the obvious as if asking why she even bothered to ask, and

He started walking ahead, urging her to follow.

---

CH 34

“It’s because you’re pretty.”

“Wh-What…?”

“It is your appearance itself that is attracting attention, is what I’m saying.”

After giving her an answer, Rohan strode forward to change locations, the Princess trotting behind him.

Rohan, who had volunteered to lead the way, continued thinking seriously.

Is it because she has always lived outside, away from people? She doesn’t seem to have an objective view of her own face…

From Rohan’s perspective, calling the Princess pretty wasn’t just lip service or simple flattery, nor was it an attempt to gain favor.

In fact, he wouldn’t have even used this method if that was his intention in the first place.

In conclusion, because it wasn’t an attempt to curry favor, he was able to answer her frankly.

Simple.

Elves were a race of beauty, a symbol of loveliness.

That was an unchanging truth even in Abyss City.

A person who would find it strange to praise an Elf for their beauty? Unless they had exceptionally unique tastes, there wouldn’t be any.

Furthermore, the Princess, born with an excellent bloodline, was unique even among Elves, a race filled with nothing but beautiful individuals.

So, it was only natural that her face alone was enough to attract attention, regardless of her attire, when walking down the street.

“Hmm, where…”

Rohan stopped just before entering the central area of District 2.

There were cafes and restaurants scattered here as well.

“How much time do you have?”

“I’ll tell you when I have to leave. I still have some time for now.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not particularly… And I’m not thinking about it.”

The Princess answered immediately with an indifferent expression.

But Rohan caught sight of the subtle gulp as she swallowed.

“Let’s talk while we have a snack.”

“Hmph, if you want a snack, feel free.”

Rohan moved his legs slowly and looked around.

Then he stopped in front of a cafe with a cozy atmosphere.

“Shall we go here?”

“You’re saying you want to talk in this place?”

“Yes, the sandwiches look delicious.”

The Princess blinked, gazing at the interior of the cafe with people sitting here and there.

As soon as she came to her senses, she narrowed her eyes and glared at Rohan.

“…Don’t joke around. You should know the gravity of the information you hold.”

“I’m not kidding. Who would imagine that we’d be having such an important conversation in a place like this?”

Perhaps she was reluctantly convinced.

The fierceness in the Princess’s eyes gradually subsided.

“Are you saying something along the lines of ‘the best place to hide is in plain sight,’ or ‘hide a tree in a forest?’”

“Something like that. And honestly, I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“How can someone who deals in information not have a place? Or are you saying I don’t meet the entry requirements?”

“…”

When they first met, he had only asked for time to gather information.

And it seemed that in the Princess’s mind, Rohan had already been branded as something similar to an information broker.

It’s no use explaining things now; she’s too guarded to believe me.

If he were to babble that it wasn’t like that, the Princess would surely assume that he was hiding his true identity.

“And no matter how I look at it, this isn’t the place. There should be no eyes to see and no ears to hear.”

“Is that an absolute requirement?”

“I believe that must be the most important priority when sharing critical matters.”

Based on caution, it wasn’t wrong, so Rohan crossed his arms and pondered over the Princess’s words.

Looking around at the nearby shops, there were a few candidates.

Karaoke?

It would be awkward if, after paying to enter, she were to consider the CCTV in the room as ‘eyes watching.’

Rohan’s gaze moved to another building.

Or should I get a room?

An Orion Academy Cadet and an Elf entering a lodging facility.

Somehow, that didn’t seem like a good idea either.

In that case…

After weighing the options, Rohan finally made a decision and offered it to the Princess with a calm face.

“I do have a dormitory where I live.”

“You did say you were infiltrating the Academy. That place would be good.”

She was already convinced of that.

Rohan chuckled and began moving towards his destination.

“If you’re not uncomfortable with a man’s living space, I’ll show you the way.”

“Don’t worry. If you try to dishonor me, I’ll detonate everything on me and commit suicide.”

A chilling warning that didn’t match the words “don’t worry.”

Conversely, from Rohan’s perspective, seeing her behave like this was reassuring.

··

··

Using the stairs as usual, Rohan entered his room after buying a hamburger to fill his stomach.

He then tidied up his clothes briefly and opened the window.

Creaking!

The Princess, however, didn’t come in through the Academy Dormitory entrance.

Like a flying squirrel, she scaled the building and stepped into the room through the window Rohan had opened.

“Please take off your shoes first.”

“…Alright.”

The Princess took off her military boots, which seemed tough just by looking at them, and glanced around Rohan’s room.

Then, she voiced her question in a short tone.

“Hmm?”

“Is there a problem?”

“The room’s pretty decent for the work you do.”

Was she expecting a room full of computers lined up for information gathering?

Rohan didn’t bother answering and simply pointed to the chair at his desk.

“Please have a seat. Unfortunately, it’s a single dormitory, so there’s only one chair.”

“It’s fine. I can stand.”

Claiming she didn’t need to sit down, the Princess took a spot by the window, leaning against the wall.

Rohan had no intention of offering twice, so he took the empty chair and started unpacking his snacks on the desk.

Amidst the rustling sounds, the Princess spoke first.

“There’s a matter we need to decide first. It’s also an answer I didn’t receive last time.”

“Go ahead.”

“What do you want from me in exchange for the information? Is it money after all?”

“Hmm…”

He wasn’t intending to ask for money in the first place.

Rohan knew. Even if the Elders were wealthy, the Princess’s pockets were emptier than his own.

This is a troublesome matter from the start.

He began to ponder while chewing on a french fry.

─ Would she believe it if I said I was an ally trying to help?

─ No. I don’t believe such convenient stories.

Recalling the conversation they had back in the Ruin, it was clear she wouldn’t believe any flimsy words.

Rather, stating a direct purpose seemed like the right way to lower her guard and gain her trust.

“There will be days when I’ll be doing some dangerous things in the future.”

“Mm.”

“If the information I provide is worth its price, please lend me a hand when the time comes. You’ll have to help me at least once, as we agreed.”

“…”

The Princess fell into thought.

It was commendable that she wasn’t rashly agreeing, even though she needed the information.

“I won’t be doing shady things like massacring innocent civilians. You just need to assist me in catching Monsters or criminals.”

“…Are you planning to collect bounties on criminals or sell Monster parts?”

“Yes. Clean money that doesn’t need laundering is the best after all.”

Rohan nodded in agreement with the Princess’ innocent deduction.

He didn’t think it would be good to add any further explanations.

“Alright. I promise, only if it meets the conditions mentioned earlier.”

“Then let’s talk.”

“Is there a separate contract procedure?”

“No. I’ll just trust your conscience.”

As Rohan took out his hamburger and continued immediately, the Princess voiced her doubt.

“Are you not interested in doing business?”

“That’s why I can’t get out of the red. But please think of it as me showing some guts because I have something I’m relying on.”

“…Well, I suppose you must have something.”

Seeing the Princess nod in understanding, Rohan’s lips twitched.

Have something? I have nothing.

Actually, he didn’t have anything to mimic a contract.

All he had was information about Abyss City.

“The small talk is over. Let’s get to the main point.”

The Princess’ sharp gaze met Rohan’s.

A shabby studio apartment with no hot water.

After taking a cold shower, Clara quickly grabbed her Smartphone without even drying herself.

Covering her body with a towel, she turned on the game.

─ Company Wave!

“1-2-2… Stun with Glass, shield the front line with Order, and then…”

The girl kept muttering under her breath, trying not to forget the formation that came to her mind during her shower.

Recalling the characters Rohan possessed, she created a hypothetical team composition.

If I organize it like this, the stability is good. All the synergies are included too.

1 minute and 2 seconds.

Since no characters died, if she could just shave off 2 seconds, she could achieve the maximum reward.

“Mmm…”

What should she tweak it a bit to melt the Weekly Boss even faster?

Repeatedly retrying might reduce the time by 2 seconds, but forcing repetition on a newbie might also detract from the enjoyment of the game.

I’ll have to research a bit more.

Clara pondered and moved her hand.

Creaking.

The girl’s hand opened the drawer under the bed.

A black silencer shaped like a kimbap and daggers of various shapes.

She reached in between them and pulled out a soft piece of cloth.

A black underwear with a tiny pink ribbon.

Just wearing it made her feel excited and boosted her concentration; it was Clara’s cherished item.

Click!

The black fabric clung tightly to her fair skin.

She no longer needed the towel.

Ah! What if I go with that?

Before drying her damp hair, Clara hugged a pillow and lay on her bed, trying to reduce the time with a new team composition.

The more she refined the build, the more she was looking forward to tomorrow.

“Waang!”

After switching the arrangement countless times, she succeeded in bringing it down to 57 seconds.

Feeling accomplished, she was about to text Rohan when her fingers stopped.

He must be studying now, right? Academy Cadets must be very busy…

She was afraid that she would be seen as a bothersome person if disturbed him.

Just imagining Rohan thinking that way made her shudder.

“…”

Thanks to that, her reason easily overcame her instinct.

The girl pouted her lips, showing her disappointment.

She only wished tomorrow would come sooner.

---

CH 35

The Princess’ fingers were twitching, as if something was missing from her clasped hands.

And despite the tense atmosphere, the lack of a weapon in her grasp created an awkward feeling.

“Tell me everything you know.”

“I’m still investigating some parts, so let’s start by filling in the blanks at the beginning.”

“Beginning?”

“Yes. Let’s start with carefully retracing your memories. I’ll fill in the parts I can.”

“…”

Rohan began opening a hamburger wrapper with a rustle.

He offered one of the two hamburgers he had bought before coming to the Princess, but she shook her head, refusing it as expected.

It was wise of her not to accept food from others in a situation like this.

“Princess Testarossa. This isn’t a difficult problem.”

“?!”

“Just retrace your memories and confirm the questionable parts. Starting from the day the ruler of Tigrova changed.”

A title Rohan had never used before.

The Princess’ eyes widened in shock upon hearing those words from someone else’s mouth.

“…You delved that deep into my affairs? I’m impressed. It makes me trust you more, actually.”

“If you find it unpleasant, I’ll change the way I address you. If you give me an alias, I’ll use that.”

“It’s fine. It’s a meaningless name anyway. There’s no reason for formalities.”

Permission granted.

As if waiting for that moment, Rohan dropped the honorifics.

“Testarossa is long… How about Shion?”

Shion Testarossa.

How long had it been since she had heard her real name,and not “Princess,” from someone else’s lips?

Those words were like a flame ignited before her darkened eyes, and Shion was unable to suppress a strange exhilaration, letting out a hollow laugh.

“Unbelievable. My name has been so easily given away.”

“There’s no one else around me who knows it. It’s exclusive information only I know, so there’s no need for worry.”

“Have you ever considered that those words might put you in danger?”

Rohan barely managed to stifle his laughter at Shion’s quasi-threat.

To think someone whose nature didn’t allow them to persecute the innocent would say such a thing.

It would be a good tool to manipulate the old Elders, but to Rohan, it was just naivety.

“Since I’ve proven my ability to obtain information, I don’t think I’ll die.”

Shion shrugged at Rohan’s words, as if to say she didn’t know.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a name to call you too. An alias is fine.”

“Rohan.”

Shion muttered the name “Rohan” a few times and then nodded.

“Good. Let’s start with the day the ruler of Tigrova changed.”

“Okay.”

Rohan listened while chewing on his fries.

“Honestly, there’s not much to recall. I was just a snot-nosed kid who didn’t know anything back then. I was in my room when the Elders brought me the news of my parents’ demise, and then I ran away.”

Grand Emperor of Snow, Noa Frozenheart’s father, became the new ruler of Tigrova from that point on.

Rohan made a show of listening to her carefully, letting Shion mull over the important facts.

“So you didn’t witness what happened to your parents personally? And you only heard it from the Elders?”

“…That’s right.”

That must have been the part that bothered her the most.

Rohan was satisfied with it being brought up.

“First, let’s correct the most important fact.”

“I’m listening. Tell me.”

A brief pause.

Satisfied with Shion’s attention, Rohan spoke.

“First of all, the Grand Emperor of Snow never killed the Testarossa Royalty.”

“…”

“But he did defeat them in battle. In Tigrova, individual martial prowess is the ultimate authority.”

The Grand Emperor of Snow became Tigrova’s rightful ruler by demonstrating overwhelming power. However, he wasn’t needlessly cruel, and he possessed a deep-rooted reputation that required no examples. Therefore, he didn’t kill Shion’s parents, but simply sent them away instead.

And regarding their subsequent whereabouts, the Grand Emperor of Snow was different from the image Shion had in mind.

He welcomed the small number of Elves residing in the Coniferous Forest as members of his court and even attempted to place those of Testarossa bloodline in key positions within Tigrova.

“That’s all for now.”

Rohan’s explanation ended.

Shion’s expression held an indescribable discomfort.

Bright red blood trickled down her lips she had bitten hard in an attempt to suppress her emotions.

“Even if, and I mean a very big IF, what I just heard is true… then what happened to my parents…?”

The girl’s question about who harmed her parents remained incomplete.

Because, assuming Rohan’s words were true, certain figures flashed through Shion’s mind.

The Elders and Rohan.

It was clear that one of them was lying to her.

“Let’s take it step by step to make it easier to find the answer.”

“…”

“What do you think the Elders want?”

The girl’s mind was already in turmoil.

The air felt oppressively heavy.

“Answer me. You know what the Elders want from you, right?”

As Rohan pressed her in a low voice,

Shion answered in a small voice.

“…To reclaim Tigrova from the Grand Emperor of Snow.”

The fact that she had revealed this so easily, without any suspicion, meant she was greatly confused.

Rohan felt a pang of guilt inwardly as he forced the conversation to continue.

“How do they plan to reclaim it?”

“By having me, the last of the Testarossa bloodline, defeat him in battle.”

“Fair and square?”

Seeing Shion nod in agreement, Rohan stroked his chin.

If she adds the condition of ‘someday,’ the possibility isn’t zero.

The Grand Emperor of Snow would age, and Shion’s strength would follow an upward trajectory, eventually reaching its peak.

However,

If the premise of ‘within a few years’ were added, it was a delusional plan that could only be criticized as wishful thinking. Unless the Elders had devised a special strategy.

“Then consider this. What do you think the Elders are planning to do by bringing in those incompetent individuals?”

“…”

“They can’t even help you with training with their own abilities, so what are they doing?”

Silence descended upon the small room.

Creak— Rohan leaned back in his chair and waited.

He wasn’t waiting for an answer.

He was simply giving Shion time to think.

“Shion.”

“…”

The girl raised her head at Rohan’s call.

Her eyes had lost their intelligent gleam and were now dull.

Her face was filled with ominous assumptions.

“What are humans and Beastkin?”

“Humans and Beastkin are…”

Amidst her dazed consciousness,

There was a reflexive answer to the unexpected question, but she couldn’t continue.

Rohan’s gaze and the atmosphere carried a fierce and ominous aura, as if warning her not to utter those words.

The girl forcibly roused herself from the murky swamp her mind was sinking into.

─ Princess. Humans and Beastkin have filthy blood, no different from Satan.

─ Do not speak with races other than Elves. They are deceitful beings with mouths that spew lies at every opportunity.

Words she had heard constantly from the Elders during her formative years.

Words she had heard so much, that they even echoed in her dreams and haunted her as auditory hallucinations.

Shion winced, a sharp headache piercing her temples.

“Tell me what you saw and felt directly, not what someone taught you. What were the passersby you saw on the street like?”

“…”

She didn’t have any particular impressions.

She didn’t feel they were good, nor did she feel they were evil.

However,

The girl with closed eyes she met when she went to buy Water Drop Friends merchandise.

Could she call that girl, who greeted her with a gentle smile, someone with filthy blood?

“…”

Once again, Rohan gave Shion time to think.

Observing was enough.

It must be hard for her, especially having heard such information from the very beginning.

He thought he had softened the information as much as possible, but perhaps it was too harsh.

Still, it was fine as long as she hadn’t broken down.

In fact, solving this first suspicion was practically the entirety of the “The Broken Crown” storyline.

How long had the Elf girl been leaning against the wall in silence?

Beep beep beep—! Beep beep beep—!

The clock shattered the stillness, announcing that it was time for her to leave.

“I… I should head back now…”

Moving listlessly, Shion put on her boots, and took her goggles out of her pocket.

“I don’t know if the information was helpful. I’ll try to gather more.”

Rohan opened the window as if seeing off a guest, and spoke softly in the cool breeze that entered the room.

“Shion.”

“…”

The girl, who had one foot on the windowsill, looked back at him.

“Don’t be so shocked. And you don’t have to believe my information at face value right away.”

Shion muttered that it was easier said than done after hearing everything.

Rohan added a word along with an apology.

“You’ll probably think of ways to confirm the truth.”

“…”

Naturally, there were many parts that raised doubts.

After all, she had spent a long time in the outside world.

Thud.

Shion stepped back into the room from the windowsill.

Looking directly at Rohan, she asked,

“What if… just what if…”

“Yeah?”

“If everything you said turns out to be true… what should I do?”

Shion appeared to be on the verge of a mental breakdown.

“Even if you’re so angry that your head feels like it’s about to explode, don’t act rashly.”

“…Are you telling me to wait? Or to calm down?”

“Both.”

“…”

Shion pressed her lips together.

It seemed she wasn’t confident she could do either.

“Wait.”

Rohan picked up the remaining hamburger on the desk, scribbled his number on the wrapper once more, and forced it into Shion’s hand.

“Do you remember what I said?”

“…”

At his words, a conversation immediately surfaced from the girl’s memory.

The short chat they had during their first encounter in the Ruin.

─ I’ve also written down the approximate times you can contact me, so feel free to call even for non-business matters.

─ If you have any worries, or if you’re feeling down and want something sweet? Even trivial matters are fine.

Shion nodded, her face slightly less worried.

Rohan told her to be careful again as he saw her off.

“We’ll meet again anyway.”

No matter how she thought about it, it was a cryptic statement from Shion’s perspective.

Even so, she couldn’t deny it, so the girl kept Rohan’s words in mind as she left Academy City.

---

CH 36

Roaarr!!!

Numerous monsters roared, asserting their presence as they fought for territory in the Ruins.

Having finally arrived at the outskirts, Shion caught her breath, retrieved the hidden tracking device and Sniper Rifle and then checked the time.

“Huff… Huff…!”

Perhaps it was because she had sprinted with all her might to try and shake off her draining thoughts and anxieties.

But contrary to her cluttered mind, she had more time than expected.

They didn’t notice, right?

It would have been a flimsy excuse to say she was doing sniper training if she hadn’t remained stationary for a long time.

Fortunately, Shion had actually been doing this sort of training.

“…”

Carrying the massive firearm, the girl placed the tracking device back in her vest pocket.

She raised her head and stared blankly at the night sky.

Honestly, regardless of the danger, she wanted to rush straight to Tigrova and meet the Grand Emperor of Snow.

The various contours of the past would definitely become clearer with the testimony of the main person involved in the incident.

However,

A giant like the Grand Emperor of Snow wasn’t someone she could meet just because she wanted to.

It’s all delusional in the current situation.

Faced with reality, Shion stared at the hamburger in her hand.

The same number written on the notepad was on the food that had cooled.

“…”

Considering her relationship with Rohan, could she even trust him and eat this?

Food she wouldn’t have eaten out of spite, even if she were starving.

Yet, Shion peeled off the wrapper with a rustle.

Without even checking the smell or the inside, Shion took a bite of the hamburger.

Because she felt like she would be able to calmly accept it if anything went wrong after eating it.

A mental state infinitely resembling despair.

That was exactly what the girl’s mangled insides currently felt like.

“Mmm…”

She didn’t feel any immediate problems.

How long had it been since she had eaten such stimulating food? It was delicious enough to evoke a feeling of ecstasy.

Shion quickly devoured the hamburger and gulped down the water from her canteen.

“Phew!”

Her stomach felt a bit full, and she also seemed to have gained some energy.

Rustle!

She held the empty wrapper. It was hard to believe that she had been in Academy City just moments ago, as if it were all a dream.

Even the fact that she had that conversation and heard those things.

…Rohan.

It must have been an alias.

Nevertheless, Shion swore she wouldn’t forget the name Rohan.

She hadn’t met many people while living outside, but she knew they were all unusual.

The groups the Elders had contacted and summoned all exuded a pungent scent of blood.

What kind of life has he lived?

Based on that experience, Shion’s intuition was telling her this.

Compared to Rohan, everyone she had seen so far was ordinary and mediocre.

…A strange person.

He was a stimulating person in many ways.

At times, she felt a tremendous weight that was a stark contrast to his appearance.

The hue of that profoundness was fundamentally different even from the Elders who had lived long lives.

If she had to compare it, she would say it reminded her of her father whom she had looked up to as a child.

Beep beep!

The girl looked at her watch, which began ringing again.

It was time to go back, no excuses.

“Hooo…”

Shion filled her lungs with the night air and strengthened her resolve.

If all the information I heard today is true…

Crackle!!!

The electricity flowing from Shion’s hand burned the wrapper cleanly.

As soon as Rohan opened his eyes in bed, he asked himself.

I wonder if Shion got back alright.

He felt rather uneasy because he had no way to contact the Elf girl.

He wasn’t fond of being in a position where he just had to wait.

Of course, Shion’s strength and talent were excellent.

But that wasn’t everything in life, was it?

From Rohan’s perspective, Shion was just a girl who caused worry.

“Hmm.”

Rohan sat up in bed.

At least she didn’t mention the guys who fed the Elders false information…

While his mind was occupied with other topics, his body moved as usual.

Even if something special had happened the day before, there was hardly any change in Rohan’s daily routine.

Unless he saw an omen or encountered an unexpected situation, he would focus on gaining strength and key figures.

Additionally, he made sure he attended Orion Academy diligently.

Alright. Let’s go again today.

Because Rohan was quite satisfied with the repetitive daily life.

He turned the doorknob vigorously.

··

··

Rohan met Ichinose in the training room today as well.

At the Academy, he sat next to Gilbert and paid close attention to Juyeon’s classes.

After class, he would grab a quick meal in the cafeteria and then head to The Flower Bookstore. This was his routine.

“Alright, take care of things here.”

“Yes! Thank you for the snacks!”

After the manager left for the day, the last part of his repetitive daily routine began.

Bzzzzz──!!!

His phone buzzed even before he could put it in his apron.

Rohan’s gaze shifted.

He could roughly guess what the emoticon-only message meant, so Rohan raised his head.

Glancing to the side, he saw Clara peeking out and looking at him, just like before.

She’s already here.

She must have been suppressing her presence because there were customers browsing the store.

After all, it was nigh impossible to detect Clara’s presence when she decided to be quiet.

It was a bit awkward to speak, so he waved his hand slightly.

Unlike before, she didn’t run away and bowed her head politely.

Truly dazzling progress.

Should I reply with a message?

He sent her a quick text, asking if she was okay with waiting until the end of his shift, and also said he was looking forward to the Weekly Boss.

The girl nodded, the corners of her mouth twitching timidly.

It was pretty cute to see how excited she clearly was.

Then, as it got late and the bookstore became quiet.

As Rohan began mopping the floor in preparation for closing,

Clara waited outside in silence, trying not to be a disturbance.

“Phew.”

Clatter! Click!

After confirming Rohan had closed The Flower Bookstore door and pocketed the key, Clara recited the lines she had practiced while waiting.

“…You’ve worked hard!”

“Thank you. It’s my job, but you must have had a hard time waiting.”

Clara shook her head, denying it vehemently.

“Shall we get going then? I kept thinking about the game even while working.”

“Ah! I, I understand that!”

Seeing Rohan start to walk, Clara followed behind.

After leaving the alley and arriving at the main street, Rohan glanced around at the open stores before he and Clara entered a Franchise Cafe.

“Add a muffin and a sandwich… what do you want to drink? Choose whatever you like.”

“You don’t have to buy for me! I have money…!”

“Hmm?”

“I, I’m fine with just coffee. The, the smallest size!”

Clara emptied her pockets and took out 23 tokens.

Roughly 2,300 won in Korean currency.

The girl’s eyes sparkled as if asking what he thought, but…

It was such a pathetically meager amount that Rohan couldn’t possibly accept it.

“I’m the one being helped today. In times like these, you have to let me buy.”

“But last time as well…”

Rohan inevitably interrupted the girl.

“Will you be okay drinking coffee at night?”

“…”

Did she not take anything else other than the fact that it was cheap into account?

Seeing her roll her eyes, unable to answer as if she didn’t know, Rohan chuckled and looked back at the menu.

“Let’s see. Decaffeinated drinks are─ hmm, fruit yogurt?”

While Clara was flustered and unable to do anything, Rohan had already ordered two drinks and enough food to fill their stomachs.

“Don’t think too much about it and just eat. And in return, just help me that much with the game.”

“Uuuh… Th, thank you!”

Rohan brought the tray he received and sat down, placing the food neatly.

─ Company Wave!

As Rohan, sitting across her, launched the game,

Clara put on a serious look, as if she had become a completely different person.

She tapped her phone with her nail-polished fingers and then showed him the screen.

“I made this build.”

The smartphone’s notepad contained everything from the team composition to the skill usage timeline.

Rohan perused it quietly, then looked at the character pool she was using and asked.

“You made this yourself?”

“Yes. I can play with you today, but there might be days when I can’t. When that happens, if you just refer to this, you’ll be able to clear it within 1 minute.”

“The formation is amazing…”

“I realized you don’t need to spend all your resources on the tank. You just need to level up the glass cannons to increase their HP so they can survive until their Skills are ready, and you just need to level Order’s Skill to 3 or higher to clear it without problems.”

“Oh?”

What eloquent speech was this?

She became eloquent when the topic was games.

They cleared all the Weekly Bosses together, and Rohan failed at pulling characters after mining.

The two shared a whirlwind of emotions.

After sitting together and enjoying the game for a while,

At some point, Clara had returned to her usual self.

“It’s more fun playing together.”

“Hehe…”

The girl smiled in agreement.

She then put her moist lips on the straw and sipped, glancing at Rohan.

A sweet taste filled her mouth.

Clara stared blankly at Rohan as he tapped on his phone as if replying to someone after finishing the game.

She unconsciously let out a languid voice.

“Um…”

As her eyes met Rohan’s, who had put his phone down.

Clara fidgeted with her fingers and continued.

“You’ve always seen me in the bookstore until it closes, right…?”

“Yes.”

A known fact.

He affirmed by nodding without denying it.

“Has the manager told you anything?”

“No. He hasn’t.”

“Th, then you don’t ask me anything? Like, why am I there every day…?”

If it wasn’t a misunderstanding, she seemed to be trying to confide in him.

Rohan had a hunch.

That the progress he had long been waiting for had finally arrived.

---

CH 37

Clara.

A limited-time S-Rank character in Abyss City. At the time of her release, she was ranked number 1 in sales in the store.

And the last time Rohan checked, the character PV had surpassed 2.7 million views.

Compared to Ichinose Yui and Noa Frozenheart, the period Clara had been part of Rohan’s party was relatively short.

However, she was the third S-Rank character Rohan managed to Limit Break completely, and he cherished her no less than the other two.

Therefore, he clearly remembered the revealed lore.

Clara is originally from Zeno.

Zeno was a small, impoverished nation located in the West, known for its isolation and lack of interaction with the outside world.

And also…

Unlike the Southern Region, which was listed as Rohan’s homeland, it was a country on the path to ruin due to internal conflict.

He had recently learned that a succession of deaths among the leadership had left the country in a state of near anarchy, prompting surrounding nations to begin extending their influence under various pretexts.

And Clara probably knew this as well.

Anyway, contrary to Zeno’s exclusionary stance toward foreign countries…

Internally, they dedicated themselves to training spies for various purposes such as assassinating key figures, gathering intelligence on other nations, and extracting technology.

Clara was one of the vagrant children trained and raised there.

Her name there wasn’t Clara, but Number 11.

As you could see, her natural disposition was timid. Like the other vagrants who came for the promise of food, she too could have been cast out at any time.

However, when it came to combat power, her talent surpassed everyone she trained with, and it was said that expectations for her within Zeno were high.

It’s a tragic story.

But as they say, the ups and downs and transformations of fate arrive unexpectedly.

One day, Clara was tasked with finding and eliminating a group that had amassed wealth by smuggling foreign goods into Zeno, and confiscating their assets…

What more needed to be said?

The girl, who had lived under the burdensome weight of “dying for one’s country” without understanding why, encountered foreign goods that day and caught a glimpse of the outside world.

Unused smartphones, laptops, colorful books, and external hard drives filled with animations and movies, all without owners.

At first, she dismissed them as cheap propaganda meant to confuse the citizens of Zeno.

But although Clara was timid in interpersonal relationships, she wasn’t stupid. So, before returning to Zeon, she pocketed some of the items.

The person in charge of Clara’s training made two major mistakes.

The first mistake was believing that Clara lacked the courage to escape, based solely on her passive behavior.

The second was dispatching her on that mission before conducting proper mental conditioning, based on that belief.

Thus began a period of hardship.

Perhaps the heavens took pity on the girl who accumulated knowledge and was waiting for a chance to escape.

And as if urging her to leave, an incident occurred that shook the foundations of the nation, creating an opening.

Farmers, who lived in a society so impoverished that it was mocked by other nations as a barren land rather than Zeno, rose up, forming military organizations or bandit groups.

The leadership, lacking a ruler with overwhelming power, was constantly at odds, and the small country began to crumble.

On the day one of the leaders dispatched the spies they had trained, not for their original purpose, but to suppress the domestic uprising…

Clara seized the opportunity and escaped without looking back.

“…”

Rohan looked at the girl facing him.

It feels different to see the person who actually experienced it, compared to just learning the information from the game.

Rohan even understood why Clara stuck to her unique fashion style.

After wearing the same black, tight-fitting outfit every day, she had fallen in love at first sight with something she saw in a smuggled fashion magazine.

I also heard she got into gaming while learning about the outside world.

Despite possessing all this information about Clara, there was something Rohan didn’t know.

That was the ‘present.’

He knew up until the moment she escaped from Zeno, but the period after that, until she met with the protagonist in her second year, was a blank.

So Rohan wanted to know about Clara’s current situation.

He was also pleased that this girl seemed willing to share her personal story.

“Th, then you don’t ask me anything? Like, why am I there every day…?”

Turning his attention back to the topic Clara initiated, Rohan answered carefully.

“Honestly, I was curious, but I thought it might be a burdensome question.”

“You were curious…!”

The girl’s eyes widened, sparkling.

He had the illusion that her twin tails were wagging like a tail.

That’s what she’s happy about.

Rohan was curious about what sort of personal story Clara would tell, so he decided to inquire subtly.

And seeing that she brought it up herself, he felt it should be okay to ask.

“You’ll tell me, right?”

“But…it-it might be boring.”

Rohan watched Clara stir her drink with her straw, then reached out.

He tapped Clara’s pale hand with his finger.

“!!!”

The startled girl met his gaze, which she had been avoiding.

Rohan smiled and said,

“Does being interesting even matter between us? Getting to know each other is what’s important.”

“…!”

They met almost every day, shared hobbies, belonged to the same guild, and hung out together after work occasionally.

How could there be a closer friendship?

“I think it would be good if we dropped the formalities. What do you think?”

“Ah! Eh? Uh, g-guh…?”

Clara made strange noises and couldn’t keep her eyes still.

She seemed quite flustered, but since it didn’t look like she would run away, Rohan enjoyed observing her fresh reaction.

Clink!

The melting ice clinked against the glass.

“Between us…between us…”

After repeating Rohan’s words for some time, the girl seemed to make up her mind.

She straightened her posture, placed her hands on her knees, and nodded with a sense of gravity.

“O-Okay! Let’s drop the formalities…!”

“Then is it okay if I just call you Clara?”

The girl gave a small nod of agreement.

Then, mixing in awkward informal speech, she asked what she should call him. She still remembered their respective ages.

“You’re…no, you’re going to be in the Academy next year…”

“What does a one-year difference matter? It’s okay to call me by my name, so call me whatever you want.”

Even though there was only a one-year age gap, Rohan felt much older to Clara.

So, the choice of address inevitably went in one direction.

“Th-Then, Rohan oppa…?”

“I like it. It’s like music to my ears.”

Still awkward with informal speech, Clara twitched the corners of her upturned lips.

Rohan enjoyed the lighthearted conversation, but he wanted to hear the main story, so he changed the subject.

“Now then, are you going to tell me about yourself?”

“…Yes.”

With the premise that it wouldn’t be everything, Clara continued her personal story.

“I came from a little far away…”

“I see.”

She meant to say that her home country wasn’t one of the three superpowers that operated Academy City.

There was no need to specifically mention Zeno.

“F-First, the bookstore… it’s because I can’t work anywhere until my identification is issued…and I also just like bookstores…”

“Identification?”

“Yes, I went to the Public Security Bureau and they said that in my situation, I’m like a refugee, so I need to apply for immigration and get my identity confirmed first, so I went to the government office…no, I went, but?”

“Ah.”

“I was getting counseling on that floor, and that’s where I met the bookstore manager, who was there for something else…”

A clear picture was already forming in Rohan’s mind.

That’s when the manager told you to come and hang out at the bookstore.

With understanding…

He focused on Clara’s voice and listened attentively.

“It’s hard to explain in detail, but… in my case, the procedure for getting an ID seems to be, uh, incredibly complicated and time-consuming…”

“So, you need that before you can look for a job or anything?”

Nod, nod.

Confirming his words, Clara recounted what she heard at the government office at Rohan’s request to elaborate.

Rohan absorbed every piece of information without missing a single word.

The basic conditions for obtaining identification seemed simple.

The first was to enroll in an Academy, which was practically synonymous with Academy City Elysium.

The second was to be a citizen of one of the three superpowers that operated Academy City—the Three Kingdoms Union, Tigrova, or the Sepia Archipelago—or an honorary citizen recognized by either of those countries.

The third was to pass an examination to become directly affiliated with Academy City.

These were the main methods, and Clara’s case fell under the third category.

There were other methods, such as those for businesses or individuals seeking to conduct commerce, but those were irrelevant to Clara.

The third one is too vague and broad… things like this are usually complicated.

Even Abyss City didn’t provide these specific details about the system.

So, this was new information for Rohan.

Ultimately…

Obtaining identification in Academy City was extremely easy for some, but impossibly difficult for others.

“So how are you living now?”

“Th-The Academy City is providing me with food and lodging until they finish reviewing the documents …and for my phone bill, I followed what the manager told me, so the subsidy is just enough…”

“Hmm.”

Rohan’s expression grew serious.

It wasn’t a pleasant story for his beloved character to be experiencing.

Even if Academy City was a collective of powerful nations, how great could the food and lodging provided to Clara be?

Could it be that her identification still hasn’t been issued after all this time, which is why she enrolled in Orion Academy?

It was difficult to say for sure.

However, considering Clara’s portrayal in Abyss City, the possibility was high.

Her abilities were certainly sufficient for admission.

“Is the room they provided warm? Does it have hot water?”

“Th-There’s no need to wash with warm water. Ah, um, there isn’t…? And I don’t really feel cold…”

She responded with polite language that was far from fluent.

In the end, it meant she was washing herself with cold water even in the middle of winter and was sleeping in a freezing room.

“Hmm.”

Rohan’s worries deepened.

---

CH 38

Clara had guaranteed it.

That no one would find her personal history interesting.

So, she’d hesitated greatly to even bring it up as a topic of conversation.

However, Rohan listened to her circumstances more earnestly than any government official ever had.

And as if acting spoiled for the first time in her life, Clara shared more than she’d initially intended to.

Strangely, whenever she talked to Rohan, her mouth couldn’t help but open up and spill everything out.

“Hmm.”

Rohan fell into deep thought after listening to her story.

What could he be thinking about?

“…”

Clara sipped her drink through a straw, glancing at Rohan from time to time.

As she savored the sweetness while pondering about his thoughts, he called out to her.

“Clara.”

“Yeees… Ah! Uh, yes?”

“If you’re uncomfortable using informal speech, you don’t have to force yourself. You can mix and match however you feel comfortable.”

Though it seemed like that wasn’t the main point, Rohan addressed it lightly.

Nod, nod.

Clara was curious about what Rohan would say after pondering for so long.

So, she nodded, her twin tails swaying like a tail, signaling her understanding. Rohan then continued.

“The Dormitory room provided by the Academy has hot water and it’s not cold, right? The washing machine also works fine, it’s just a bit small.”

A story to be envied.

Clara listened attentively to Rohan’s voice.

“I’m usually out from dawn until before work ends on weekdays. So, the room is empty during that time, right?”

“…?”

“You can wash up there. You can also take a nap if you’re feeling sleepy, or just use the washing machine and leave.”

“!!!”

Rohan spoke with a nonchalant expression, as if it wasn’t a big deal, but as the understanding gradually dawned on her, Clara froze as if she were struck by lightning.

Her eyes widened as much as they could.

“It might be a bit awkward since it’s a guy’s room, but I clean it regularly.”

“E-even so…”

“It’s not good to wash with cold water and sleep on a cold floor when the weather hasn’t fully warmed up, right?”

Rohan ended his sentence with a rhetorical question seeking agreement.

He picked up a bread knife to cut the muffin he’d bought with the drink.

Fshhk.

The soft cut muffin was placed in front of Clara.

The girl watched him quietly, then raised her head.

“…Rohan Oppa.”

“Yeah.”

“Can I ask you just one thing?”

“Even two or three, feel free to ask as many questions as you like.”

Clara gazed at Rohan with an incredibly serious expression. Her gaze seemed to pierce right through him.

Her voice lowered slightly, and she wasn’t as helplessly withdrawn as usual.

A cool sharpness and vigilance flickered beneath her eyes.

Rohan could see it.

“…Why are you being so nice to me?”

Certainly, unmotivated kindness would be suspicious. It was a valid question.

It was right to be doubtful of a situation that was inexplicably favorable.

So, how should he explain it?

He crossed his arms and thought for a moment, then chuckled.

“Thinking back, it sounds strange even to me. It seems I got too carried away.”

“…”

“If I were Clara, I would have refused. It would be unsettling to be suddenly told to use a man’s room freely.”

Clara blinked at his frank admission.

The sharp aura she’d been unconsciously exuding subsided.

“Of course, it’s not like I have ulterior motives or… no, saying that would make it even weirder.”

“…”

Rohan cleared his throat with an ahem! and finished off his drink.

Clara gulped nervously.

Slide.

Rohan, who had been tapping his fingers with his arms crossed, leaned forward.

He put weight into his voice as if he’d concluded this was the only way.

“Clara. Would it be okay even if I don’t have any tangible proof? I’ll be honest.”

“I-if you’re honest…”

It was rather welcome.

The girl was confident she could read the malice in a person.

So, she indicated her agreement, and Rohan reached out.

He gently took hold of one of Clara’s slender fingers.

“I wish to get closer to Clara.”

“Huh!?”

“This might sound creepy, but… I was being overly meddlesome because I feel uncomfortable knowing that you’re living in such a place. I’m sorry if it was burdensome.”

“It’sokayit’sokayit’sokayit’sokay… R-really…”

The girl mumbled, losing her composure at his apology.

The sincerity in Rohan’s apology made her feel like she was the one at fault, making her even more flustered.

The vigilance she’d harbored evaporated the moment he took her finger.

Right now, Clara’s face was just burning hot.

Her consciousness spun with the heat.

…

This feeling was completely different from when an Instructor grabbed her wrist and threw her down during her training at Zeno.

Back then, her body had moved naturally to counterattack, but now, she couldn’t even move, even though he was only holding one of her fingers.

It was the same in Academy City.

There had been countless times when men she didn’t know approached her and tried to touch her, pretending to be friendly.

Every time, she’d only felt disgusted and wished they hadn’t interrupted her.

But being with Rohan was different.

The conclusion was: no response possible.

None of Clara’s past experiences could be compared to this situation.

“Hmm, what would be a good analogy…”

Rohan lowered his head and shared his thoughts as he looked at the silent Clara.

“The image of a guy like me being left on a cold floor is different from Clara being alone on a freezing floor, right?”

“Hyaa…”

“Anyway, just think about it. And if you need it, just let me know anytime. Okay?”

The girl affirmed with silence rather than a nod.

Rohan apologized once more and decided to change the subject.

Clara’s finger was still in Rohan’s hand.

“Since Clara shared her story today, how about I tell you mine? Of course, only if Clara wants to hear it.”

Only then did the girl flinch and react.

“I-I want to hear it…!”

“Thanks. I almost felt embarrassed.”

Rohan rummaged through his coat with his free hand and pulled out his Orion Academy student ID.

He handed it to Clara, gesturing for her to look.

“As it says there, my home country is the Southern Region. Not exactly from a powerful nation.”

“Southern? Southern Region…?”

The girl’s eyes widened in shock as she checked the letters on the ID.

She’d received education about foreign countries while at Zeno, so she knew how the Southern Region had fallen.

She also knew that there were very few survivors among its once numerous citizens.

The photos she’d seen in the materials were horrifying.

“Officially, I’m alone. Well, not just officially, but in reality too.”

“I-I’m the same…!”

“Clara and I have a lot in common.”

“Hee…”

Being an orphan with no place to call home wasn’t something to laugh about.

But she laughed anyway.

This was the first time this gloomy situation had made her smile.

“Hmm, what else should I tell you?”

“I… I like any story…”

“It might be boring, though?”

As Rohan smiled and uttered a line she’d heard somewhere before, Clara realized why Rohan had responded that way when she’d said those words.

So, she gathered her courage and spoke.

“O-Oppa! It’s not about being interesting, it’s about getting to know each other, right…?”

“That’s right. Clara’s right.”

The sweet atmosphere surrounding the two seemed to permit no intrusion.

However, there were those who couldn’t help but interrupt this conversation.

“Customers, it’s closing time for our dining area…”

A business-like smile that was truly apologetic.

When the Beastkin part-timer, whose ears were dropping from exhaustion, said so, Rohan and Clara had no choice but to tidy up.

“Huu…”

Returning to her small room, Clara exhaled a breath that was far from the coldness of the space.

The heat that had risen in her body was yet to subside.

In her arms were the macarons Rohan had given her, presenting them as a gift as if thrusting them upon her.

Clara hugged them tightly and lay down on her bed.

…

She wondered what they would have talked about if their conversation had continued.

She felt as though Rohan’s touch lingered on her finger.

─ I wish to get closer to Clara.

What does he mean?

The girl stared at the ceiling, replaying the tingling moment over and over.

─ The image of a guy like me being left on a cold floor is different from Clara being alone on a freezing floor, right?

And when she recalled those words, the answer came to her rather easily.

Perhaps it was likely kindness stemming from Rohan’s personality.

She couldn’t find even a trace of the malice or ill will she’d encountered so tiresomely throughout her life.

However,

If she were asked whether she liked this answer, aside from the sense of relief, well…

Buzz—!

A small vibration.

With a certain anticipation, Clara quickly checked her Smartphone.

The corners of her lips curved upwards in an unconscious smile.

Clara sent a reply at lightning speed.

Tomorrow…

She’d have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to see Rohan again.

The girl rolled around on her narrow bed, fluffy daydreams blooming in her mind.

What kind of expression should she make when they meet?

What should she say about his offer to use his Dormitory room?

“…Ah!”

She thought of a way to understand and learn more about Rohan.

Not just by investigating incidents with ulterior motives like at Zeno, but by learning about the Southern Region’s lifestyle and traditions.

Tap.

Since it was a former powerful nation, a flood of information appeared when she searched.

The girl scrolled down, reading about the characteristics of the Southern Region.

“!?”

Her finger stopped at a specific passage.

The girl, who had been lying on the bed reading, sat up abruptly.

---

CH 39

The faces of the Elders who had gathered for the meeting were grim.

Their meticulously planned operation had been thwarted twice, and they were still in the dark as to why.

It was no wonder their wrinkles deepened like furrows in a field.

But that wasn’t all.

Their fatigue was stemming from more than just this one issue.

“Hmm…”

It was time for them to pool their wisdom and think of a profound solution to prevent similar mishaps in the future.

Recently, a significant problem had arisen in another quarter.

“The Princess has been asking a lot of strange questions as of lately. Do any of you have an inkling as to why?”

“She’s been asking me similar things as well.”

“Hmph! Where did she pick up such nonsense…?”

Assuming it was just another one of her occasional acts of rebellion, they reacted as they always did.

However, the Princess’s reaction was different this time.

Simply urging her to focus on her training, as they had done so in the past, failed to make her back down easily.

And with slight exaggeration, her persistent pursuit of answers was enough to even make a leech recoil in surprise and flee.

“Such aggressive behavior becomes tiring just to witness as I grow older.”

“The way she pokes at such uncomfortable truths… She truly is of Testarossa’s blood.”

“Heh heh, I thought the same.”

She had insisted on attending the Elders’ meetings, claiming it was her right as royalty, or at least demanded that meeting minutes be prepared and delivered to her.

They found her sudden, impossible requests and her refusal to back down incredibly bothersome.

“She said that to me as well.”

The Princess hadn’t forgotten the fabricated story they’d concocted to smooth things over back when she was younger.

She wanted to know if her compatriots, whom they claimed had safely settled in another country, were doing well, and in which country and where they had been sent.

She even expressed her desire to meet them and offer words of comfort if possible.

“How can we arrange for her to meet the compatriots who have returned to their mother’s embrace for the greater good?”

And if she continued to pry like this, this matter would become even more troublesome than the previous one.

It seemed that the Princess’ unprecedented behavior required strong suppression this time.

“Chief Elder, what should we do?”

“Hmm… I told her to abandon such distractions if she desired to become the weapon that would reclaim our glory. She has yet to learn her duty.”

Testarossa’s lineage held the potential and the qualifications to become the bullet that would pierce Frozenheart.

Like it or not, she was a presence they had to embrace.

However, her increasingly deviant behavior was far from pleasing to the Elders.

“For now, let’s set that aside. We have more important matters to discuss, don’t we?”

“Hmm… it won’t be easy to simply set it aside…”

Tap! Tap!

The Chief Elder struck the floor with his staff, ending the conversation.

The Elders shut their mouths and turned their gaze to the head of the table.

“With all this commotion, will we even be able to address today’s main topic?”

“…”

“Let’s postpone the discussion about the Princess and focus on the most crucial matter at hand.”

Wearing robes too extravagant for their current surroundings, the Chief Elder pulled an object from his bosom.

The aged Elf seated at the head of the table revealed a gleaming, jet-black coin.

On both sides of the coin, which seemed like it would invite misfortune with a single touch, was an image of a human hand.

As soon as the Elders saw it, they gasped.

“Oooooh!”

“Are those individuals assisting us again?”

“Ah…! I can feel our long-cherished wish is within reach!”

The Chief Elder calmly observed the Elders’ clamor.

Now that they were confined to this cramped place, they must have been feeling a thirst for the wealth and glory they once enjoyed.

In fact, he had anticipated this reaction.

“Now that we have found our answer, we must prepare to show our sincerity. Otherwise, we might be forced into another disadvantageous contract.”

“We still have some treasures remaining. We’ll pick from those.”

Although they had incurred future debts by accepting Tigrova’s assistance, their abilities were beyond doubt.

With this, the Elders firmly believed that they would once again clear the path ahead.

Saturday, a day without Academy classes.

After Rohan finished his workout in the training room and stepped, he found a message from Clara.

She finally ate them.

The girl, who had been hesitating to eat the gift because she found it too precious, had finally tasted the macarons today.

He had received a long message filled with appreciation and thanks, expressing how it was her first time trying such a treat.

The rainbow macarons Rohan gifted Clara cost 8 Points.

And he didn’t think it was a waste at all.

Just seeing that she enjoyed them was worth more than that.

Even Ichinose praised them. I guess the quality of food bought with Points is guaranteed.

After replying to Clara, Rohan packed his bag, left the training room, and made his way back to the dormitory.

As he walked, he began to reflect on Clara’s recent behavior.

“Hmm…”

She looked more comfortable talking to him at the bookstore and even gave him bright smiles.

Even the messages they exchanged were more affectionate and intimate than before, but Rohan sensed something.

Clara’s recent actions felt strange at times.

This is difficult.

Her timid behavior was within the normal range of what Rohan knew about her.

However, the change in her gestures since their conversation at the cafe was the problem.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Whenever they talked, she would often trail off mid-sentence, as if something had just come to mind, and then gave up.

It was clear she was curious about something.

Well, I’ll have to wait.

Even if he was curious, he couldn’t pry too much.

This was the definite answer when it came to Clara.

Still, he was happy that the distance between them had considerably decreased.

His relationship with Clara was progressing  steadily.

“…”

Having finished his workout earlier than usual on the weekend, he walked along the brightly lit streets of Academy City.

Shops that were yet to open when he passed by earlier in the morning were now open for business, and there were quite a few pedestrians.

Rohan slowed his pace and looked around.

He was planning to buy something he had thought of while giving Clara the macarons.

I should get the bookstore owner a gift too.

He wanted to repay his kindness.

Additionally, he couldn’t deny that he had played a role in his connection with Clara.

He said he doesn’t like hard things. I should look for something soft.

Rohan turned away from the path back to the dormitory.

While he remembered the prominent buildings of Abyss City, he wasn’t familiar with the specific shops in this area.

So, he decided to take this opportunity to explore.

And as he thought about gifts, Juyeon came to mind.

What kind of gifts would an Instructor accept from a cadet…?

This was a difficult one.

Regardless of her preferences, she would probably refuse, citing regulations against accepting gifts from cadets.

Unsure about either option, he temporarily set the thought aside.

He passed the shopping district he had seen earlier and ventured deeper inside.

Oh! There’s a place like this.

Just looking around made him feel like he had traveled abroad.

Rohan stopped in front of a traditional confectionery shop from the Three Kingdoms Union.

He sampled a thin slice of yokan offered for tasting.

It was quite delicious and it seemed like the sweetness would pair well with the hot tea the bookstore owner always drank.

“I’d like to buy this as a gift. Can you wrap it?”

“Certainly!”

The man dressed in traditional Three Kingdoms Union attire nodded vigorously.

Rohan followed him inside the shop and looked at the neatly displayed goods.

Three Kingdoms Union Chestnut Yokan. The small size costs only 2 coins, so it’s not too burdensome… This should be perfect.

Rohan wasn’t exactly rolling in money.

But he could consider this an investment to save Points.

“Please wrap one of these for me.”

“Thank you!”

With skilled hands, the employee quickly prepared a neat paper bag.

After paying and leaving the store, he felt the sunlight was too inviting to simply return.

Deciding to continue his stroll, he walked down an alleyway.

He came across a quiet park when heard a familiar voice from beyond the bushes.

─ Roll left.

─ Meow!

─ Look at your form! Roll right.

─ Meow!

A hunch led Rohan to quicken his pace and peak beyond the bushes.

“You can’t just run into the street. Understood?”

─ Meooow…

As expected, the voice belonged to Noa Frozenheart.

Although his prediction was correct, the scene unfolding before his eyes was so incomprehensible, that he was speechless.

“?”

Plump cats were rolling around in front of Noa, undergoing what appeared to be disciplinary training.

“Your hearing is better than ordinary people’s, right? So if you ignore the sounds around you and get hit by a car, it’ll be a big problem. Got it?”

─ M-Meow!

As Noa growled menacingly, the cats flipped onto their backs, exposing their bellies.

It was quite a spectacle.

“What are you doing…?”

Rohan, who had been observing the situation in silence, emerged from the bushes.

Perhaps startled by the sound, Noa Frozenheart’s eyes met his.

“Huh?”

She seemed surprised to see him, her round ears twitching.

---

CH 40

“What are you doing…?”

“Huh?”

Rohan and Noa’s relationship was rather ambiguous.

It was hard to say that they were close. However, whenever they did talk, it wasn’t awkward.

This was a significant deviation from Rohan’s expectations.

Being in the same class, I never thought I’d get closer to Ichinose than Noa…

Noa Frozenheart had a friendly and easygoing personality.

Rohan had expected to become friends with Noa the fastest among the main characters, but reality wasn’t so easy.

Noa in reality, not in Abyss City, possessed truly infinite stamina.

As soon as break time began, she would run around the Academy, making it difficult to even find a moment to talk.

“Hey, hey? Isn’t this Nose’s dawn partner?”

─ Meow!

Noa picked up a cat lying sprawled on the ground.

Then, she dangled the cat ostentatiously, grinning so wide that her sharp canines showed.

Rohan just chuckled at the potentially misleading remark.

“…Well, it’s not entirely wrong since I exercise with Ichinose.”

“Are you going to exercise with Nose today as well? Where did Nose go?”

“Ichinose left before me. We started a little later today since it’s the weekend.”

“Aha!”

Before continuing the conversation,

Noa put the cat she was holding back on the ground.

From Rohan’s perspective, he didn’t understand the meaning, but it seemed like the cat had been disciplined.

“Go on! Go back! Just be careful of cars from now on, okay?”

─ Meow!

The cats responded with meows and headed elsewhere.

Watching them, Rohan naturally expressed his curiosity.

“How do you talk to cats?”

“Huh? You want to learn how to talk to cats?”

“It would be nice if I could. I’m curious about what they say.”

Noa flicked her tail, crossed her arms, then twitched her round ears and shook her head.

“Unfortunately, ordinary people can’t. It’s possible for me because tigers are also felines, after all.”

“Oh… So that’s how it works.”

“Actually, if you look at it, it’s not really a conversation, but more like giving orders? Conveying intentions? Something like that.”

This was another story he’d never heard before.

For Rohan, whose head was mostly filled with information related to Abyss City, this was new and exciting information.

“So the cats weren’t understanding language and acting on it just now?”

“Right.”

Was she bored from standing still?

Noa approached the horizontal bar and hung upside down like a bat.

Rohan stood next to her as if it were nothing and asked,

“How’s your theory study going? I heard you’ve been working hard lately.”

“Hmm, the moment I open a book, my head feels like it’s about to explode. And I feel guilty for asking the Instructor and Nose so many questions.”

“Same here.”

A pained expression was clearly visible on Noa’s face.

The best Rohan could do was empathize with her.

And wasn’t like he was in a position to give advice about theory.

“I should buy Nose something delicious, but where should I take her? The Instructor won’t come even if I ask…”

“Do you want to repay her for teaching you?”

“Yeah. Do you know any good places? Nose is a light eater, so if I choose based on my instincts, she’ll definitely struggle.”

Noa’s words conveyed a certainty born from experience.

Deep in thought, Rohan rubbed his chin and then answered.

“First, getting good results in the midterm exam is the first repayment.”

“…Is that so?”

“And it’s not too late to think about material rewards after achieving the first one. Just forget about it for now.”

“Hmm?”

The girl’s eyes, which had been looking straight ahead, turned towards Rohan,

And Rohan met Noa’s gaze as she hung upside down. Her blue eyes were a deep, rich color.

After briefly meeting her gaze in silence,

Noa moved.

“Hyah!”

She flipped over with momentum and landed.

Her movements were incredible as ever.

“How and when did you get close to Nose?”

“…Suddenly?”

“Don’t worry about the details and tell me quickly. I’m curious.”

“There wasn’t any particularly big event. Why are you so curious?”

Putting her hands on her hips, Noa laughed refreshingly.

Looking at her, she seemed transparent. It was clear she was recalling something that happened in the past.

“Nose hasn’t played with boys since she was young. And even when she talked, it felt like she was just being polite and kept it to a bare minimum.”

“So you’ve known Ichinose for a long time?”

“Our parents know each other.”

Rohan asked, even though he already knew.

The flow of the conversation simply led him there.

“So, how did you become friends with Nose?”

“Like I said, nothing special happened. We just started talking about swords.”

“Aha!”

Noa let out a short exclamation and nodded as if she understood.

“You understood from just that?”

“Mostly? You’re good with a sword, right? Even if your Mana is low, I think you’re good at fighting.”

Was there such a direct form of compliment? A lump of praise, raw and unrefined, without any embellishment or refinement.

But it wasn’t sarcasm.

Knowing Noa was sincere, Rohan chuckled and thanked her.

“Then, is your curiosity satisfied?”

While Rohan adjusted his clothes as he prepared to leave, Noa’s eyes widened.

“Where are you going! I’m bored, push me on the swing.”

“If you’re bored, go back and study. I’m also going to study until I have to go to work.”

“You have a part-time job too?!”

Noa’s blue eyes began to sparkle like jewels with interest.

And from that sparkle, Rohan felt a sense that something had gone wrong.

I made a mistake.

The words that were meant to fuel her competitive spirit seemed to have poured oil on a different fire.

“…Anyway, I’m off. See you on Monday.”

Taking a step with the gift for the manager in one hand, Rohan left the park, and looked back.

Noa was standing there with a playful expression.

“Why are you following me?”

“I’m not following you? Our paths just happened to cross.”

“What a child.”

Rohan laughed in disbelief.

As he continued walking, she walked right beside him.

“You’re not planning to follow me all the way to work, are you?”

“Are you embarrassed? Are you unexpectedly the type to care about that kind of thing?”

“…This is crazy.”

So she used this kind of tone too.

Noa giggled, as if amused by Rohan’s reaction.

“I’ve always wanted to visit a store where my friend works! It seems like fun.”

“My workplace probably won’t suit you? You said your head hurts just looking at books.”

“Where do you work?”

“A bookstore.”

“I’m fine with manga! I used to read them a lot when I was little!”

Rohan stopped walking.

He stared Noa in the alley and shook his head.

“Still no.”

“Why! Why not!”

“I think the manager would be surprised if a big shot like Frozenheart showed up at a local bookstore without any warning.”

“They’ll probably think I dyed my hair? Even when I walk around the city, hardly anyone recognizes me unless they’re Academy Cadets.”

Rohan was flustered by Noa’s look that challenged him to argue.

“No, but still… It’s a bookstore that sells books, you know? It’s not a manga cafe or a rental shop.”

“I’ll just buy them. If I want to read them, I can just buy them all, can’t I?”

“…”

“And I mainly look at the pictures in manga, so I read pretty quickly. It’d also be good for the store if I buy dozens of them.”

It didn’t sound like a joke coming from the royalty of a powerful nation.

Whether she bought a hundred or a thousand, it would surely be pocket change for Noa.

“Still no.”

“Tch…”

Perhaps sensing that it would be pointless to continue, Noa’s ears and tail drooped.

This is driving me crazy.

The problem stemming from Noa’s dejected behavior was one thing.

Noa, a beloved character, looked genuinely pitiful in Rohan’s eyes.

“Sigh…”

Rohan let out a long sigh, scratched his head in thought, and made a decision.

They say there was no parent who could win against their child, and no gamer who could refuse their favorite character.

Rohan nudged Noa’s ear while she pouted and stared at the ground.

“Alright, I’ll talk to the manager. Just promise me one thing.”

“!”

She blinked and wagged her tail, as if urging him to speak quickly.

“Don’t crowd the counter and don’t do anything that will interfere with business.”

“Then that’s two promises, not one.”

“…And don’t nitpick.”

“Okay! I absolutely won’t interfere!”

Noa regained her energy quickly, as if her dejected demeanor had all been an act.

Rohan massaged the corners of his eyes with the feeling that he’d been tricked, and checked the time on his phone.

“Hmm… There’s still a lot of time before work.”

“Shall we go play in the mountains? Let’s have a race to the top!”

Rohan grinned at Noa’s excited voice.

He couldn’t just give in to everything.

“Where are you going? We have to study.”

“…!”

“I’m planning to go to a cafe to study before work. If you don’t come, there’s no bookstore, so understand that.”

“T-Taking a hostage is a bad thing!”

“Didn’t you know? I’m a bad person.”

As Rohan started walking, telling her not to come if she wasn’t going to study, Noa stamped her feet hesitantly and then followed him.

30 minutes until Oppa’s shift…

Sitting in a corner of the bookstore, Clara tried to calm her pounding heart as she checked the time.

His shift would start in 30 minutes, but he would probably be here soon.

Rohan always came around this time to start preparing.

Cling!

The sound of the bell on the door jingled.

She could clearly tell who it was just from the weighty footsteps.

Oppa’s here! Uh…?

The footsteps overlapped with someone else’s. Did a customer come in with him?

Clara snuck a peek towards the entrance through the gap.

“Manager, I’m here!”

“Whoa! This is the place!”

“Keep your promise. Or I’ll kick you out.”

“I said I understood!”

She saw Rohan.

Rohan’s figure, entering side-by-side with a beautiful Beastkin woman, was clearly visible to Clara.

---

CH 41

…

The afternoon drowsiness induced by a filling lunch had come to an end.

And having finished her assigned revision of the upcoming lessons, Ichinose swiveled her chair around.

The sight of her empty bed felt strangely awkward.

Noa, who usually occupied her bed every day, was nowhere to be seen. The absence of the barrage of questions also meant that Ichinose was able to finish her review faster than usual.

Is she perhaps sleeping, even though it’s almost dinner time?

Or maybe she was just lounging around in her room because it was the weekend.

“Hmm…”

Lying on her soft bed, hugging a doll, Ichinose continued her train of thought.

Should she go to Noa’s room and wake her up?

Thinking of Noa’s parents, who had entrusted their daughter in her care, Ichinose found herself in a bit of a dilemma.

Still…

Regardless of the true intention behind their words, one thing was certain.

The Grand Emperor of Snow would be really surprised to see Noa studying.

And considering Noa’s personality, the fact that she hadn’t given up after three days was praiseworthy in itself.

Noa Frozenheart diligently studying. That sight would be novel to anyone.

In fact, unable to get used to it, Ichinose was still surprised every time she saw it.

And since Noa had displayed such an unprecedented change, perhaps it was alright to let her rest on the weekend.

After all, it must have been quite a painful experience for someone unaccustomed to studying to suddenly bury herself in books.

This cold aura…?

With a sense of foreboding, Clara carefully observed the beautiful woman next to Rohan.

A Beastkin woman radiating a healthy beauty.

Her height and limbs were long and slender, like a model from a fashion magazine, while her chest was as ample as the Instructor’s, and her waist was slim. Her exposed abdomen was devoid of any flab.

What selfish genes!

Clara was forced to come to terms with evidence of the world’s unfairness.

And aside from her captivating appearance, there was another important point that couldn’t be ignored.

A… a strong person…

Although not as powerful as the red-haired woman Rohan had introduced as an Academy Instructor, Clara could sense a full mana and a substantial presence.

Clara had learned from the fear and mistakes of the past, when she had been caught by the Instructor.

So this time, she concealed her presence more effectively than before as she continued observing the situation.

“Manager. This is the friend I told you about… yes… that friend.”

“Hello! Please call me Noa! Nice to meet you!”

Following Rohan’s introduction, Noa greeted the owner energetically, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

The manager smiled warmly.

“Oh my, thank you for coming all the way to this little bookstore.”

“This bookstore has the best smell of all the ones I’ve been to!”

“Haha, is that so? I’m glad to hear that.”

“The big bookstores on the main street don’t use wooden bookshelves, so they don’t have a scent like this!”

Noa carried the conversation as if she had known the manager for a long time, saying the scent made her feel at ease.

Rohan was stunned by her terrifying sociability, which seemed to have erased his own presence.

“It’s better to have some chatter in a bookstore than for it to be too quiet, so Noa, feel free to relax and browse. Rohan will take good care of you.”

“…Yes. I’ll take care of her.”

“Thank you!”

Noa grinned at the manager’s words as he prepared to leave for the day.

He then glanced directly at Rohan.

“Well then, this old man should be going. I’ll enjoy these with my wife.”

The manager left the bookstore, holding the gift Rohan had brought him.

It wasn’t an expensive gift, but the manager seemed to be pleased, and Rohan was satisfied.

“Kehehe, I studied hard today, so I think I’ll relax a bit.”

“Are you malfunctioning after you stuffed your head with all that theory?”

A strange laugh that didn’t match her appearance. Rohan chuckled and took his place behind the counter.

He then put on an apron with the bookstore’s name on it.

“Hmm… what should I read~?”

“You know you can’t unwrap it before paying, right?”

“I know that much.”

Noa said as she dived into the bookshelves stacked with manga.

Turning away from her, Rohan glanced around the empty bookstore.

He was looking for a certain girl.

Where’s Clara?

The possibility that she hadn’t arrived yet was low.

Could she have hidden herself after sensing Noa Frozenheart’s overwhelming presence?

“Ring this up for me!”

“You already picked something?”

“Yes!”

Noa began piling the manga she had picked on the counter.

The title was Cooking Man and Picky Eater. Scanning the barcode revealed it was categorized as a romantic comedy and gag manga.

“Volumes 1 through 24? You brought the whole series…”

As Rohan scanned each volume and stacked them aside, Noa giggled.

She twirled a card between her fingers, ready to pay.

“I’m going to read it all even if it’s boring. I like the art style.”

“Why not look up some reviews online?”

“I don’t like that. I don’t want to read with any preconceived notions.”

“Oh… you make a good point. Give me your card. I’ll ring it up.”

As Rohan reached for the card, Noa pulled her hand back.

The playful look on the girl’s face made Rohan feel uneasy.

“I’m a customer. Treat me right.”

“…”

“Hurry up! It’s a reasonable request!”

Rohan knew the quickest way to deal with situations like this.

It wasn’t a difficult request, so it was best to just comply. Rohan put on his best customer service smile.

“It will be 10 coins and 80 tokens for 24 volumes. Do you need a paper bag? That’s an extra 1 token.”

“No!”

“Do you have a loyalty card?”

“No!”

Was she enjoying this strange exchange with a classmate?

Noa’s tail was wagging back and forth.

“Will you be paying by card?”

“Yes! With this!”

“How would you like to pay? In installments?”

“One lump sum!”

She seemed satisfied with his straightforward responses.

Noa carried the paid-for manga in her arms and with her tail to a corner, plopped down and started unwrapping them immediately.

This was clearly her first time here, yet the White Tiger girl acted as comfortable as if she were in her own home.

She’s truly free-spirited.

Impressed, Rohan began looking around for Clara again.

But he couldn’t find her.

He wasn’t sure if she was hiding somewhere he couldn’t see, or if she wasn’t there at all.

There’s also the possibility that she really didn’t come.

Rohan pulled out his phone and messaged Clara.

Bzzzzz──!!!

A reply came almost instantly.

A crying emoticon was the response to his question about her whereabouts.

Rohan blinked as he read the message.

Wondering what was wrong, he immediately called Clara.

The ringing tone was interrupted by Clara’s voice.

“O-Oppa…”

He heard her voice, not through the phone, but from his vicinity.

And only then did he see her.

Having caught sight of the girl, smaller than usual, Rohan quickly left the counter and approached her.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“…”

Although he had a good guess, he asked just in case.

Clara wordlessly reached out and lightly gripped the edge of his apron.

Her slightly pouted lips gave off a sulky vibe, which Rohan found adorable.

“I’m feeling a bit down because Clara didn’t greet me when I started work.”

“…”

“Did you finish the macarons?”

A small nod.

“Good. I was happy when you said they were delicious.”

“…”

The girl gripped his apron tighter and mumbled something.

Just then, footsteps approached. Clara’s head whipped around.

“What? Who are you talking to?”

The moment Noa appeared with a manga in hand and spoke,

“Eek!”

Clara stifled a compressed scream and instantly teleported to the opposite side of the bookstore.

Her movements resembled a cat confronted with a cucumber.

Noa grinned in admiration.

“Wow! Who are you? You’re as fast as Nose!”

“U-Uh… Oppa…”

As Noa’s eyes sparkled with interest, Clara shot Rohan a pleading look.

Rohan stood between Clara and Noa, blocking the way.

“Go back and finish reading your manga.”

“It’s not like I’m going to eat her…!”

Noa looked wronged, but it couldn’t be helped.

It took time for extreme extroverts and introverts to understand each other.

“Want to read some manga together? I’m still on volume one, but it’s fun. We can also talk since I’m bored!”

“Talk…”

Peeking around Rohan, Noa tried to initiate a conversation.

Clara, seemingly reminded of something by the White Tiger girl’s words, muttered,

“Before I give you a workbook and make you start reviewing, stop that and leave. Customer.”

“Should I tell the manager? That you’re forcing me to study!”

“Go ahead. I’ll be praised for doing a good job.”

“Torture is prohibited under Three Kingdoms Union law! It’s inhumane!”

“Too bad. You’re a citizen of Tigrova, so it doesn’t apply to you. And studying isn’t torture.”

Overwhelmed by a new, unsettling feeling, Clara, observing the two bickering, voiced her thoughts.

“O-Okay!”

“See? She’s uncomfortable… huh? What?”

Rohan turned his head at Clara’s reply.

Thinking he might have misheard, he gave her a questioning look.

With trembling lips Clara stared at Noa, and spoke once more.

“Let’s read manga together… a-and talk…”

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