I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 108



107 – An Unfamiliar Ceiling

‘Omega is dead?’

Hex could sense it.

The severing of Omega’s life signal.

The conclusion was, for now, accepted. However, the process remained unaccommodating to acceptance.

It wasn’t that the escape route he had prepared became useless because he couldn’t conclude before the drug’s effect wore off.

Unable even to flee, Omega’s lifeline was severed.

‘A perplexing conundrum.’

Knowing the tenacity Omega held for life and the dedication poured into this final battle, Hex’s expression revealed a rare flash of astonishment.

‘The possibility of simply losing due to a mistake is too remote. A body capable of nullifying even mistakes.’

Regardless, the pivotal point that was Omega had been shattered. Jooyeon had found freedom.

The monsters running rampant on the deserted island were rapidly undergoing the process of annihilation.

“Hmm…”

Hex cleaned his glasses and put them back on.

Continuing his contemplation.

“Where did the crack form? What did I miss? With current technology, developing resistance beyond that is impossible.”

A desire surged to retrieve Omega’s corpse and perform an autopsy, but approaching now would mean confronting the acutely sensitive Jooyeon.

‘I must concede.’

From the beginning, Jooyeon was not the type to leave Omega’s corpse unattended.

It’s highly likely she’s already incinerated it.

— Shrrr…

Hex commanded the marine monster he rode to increase the distance further.

He silently watched the deserted island.

‘Was Jooyeon hiding her abilities until now? Or is it a special artifact?’

Perhaps there were loopholes in the data he had been investigating for so long.

“…”

Constructing hypotheses yielded too many possibilities to find an answer.

More information is required.

Then, ultimately, there is only one solution.

‘I must visit Black Hand.’

Black Hand, the organization that dominates the underworld alongside the Inverted Hymn Society.

Hex resolved to meet with the heads who governed that place.

The two organizations shared a symbiotic relationship.

From noble mtl dot com

Despite being colossal organizations dividing the underworld, they were leading the backstreets without any conflict.

This in itself was a decidedly unusual occurrence, but the reason why these masters of the backstreets, so sensitive to profits and willing to bet their lives on stakes, had no strife or discord was simple.

The leaders of the Inverted Hymn Society and Black Hand revered one being like a faith.

Because they were adherents worshipping a single existence and aiming for the same goal, they understood each other.

If it benefited ‘Them’, the followers would not even bargain or haggle over information sharing.

Perhaps the term religious order was more fitting than organization.

*

Rohan felt his consciousness floating and swimming.

Somewhere, whether in space or underwater.

Inside the dark consciousness with eyes closed.

Information implanted itself as if demanding to be seen soon.

[Judged the human traitor Omega. Achievement Completed.]

[Achievement reward: Acquired Point Pouch.]

‘He’s dead. Stupid b*stard…good riddance.’

A first-time achievement. Its meaning was blessedly clear.

The main storyline must have taken a major detour, but at least I can breathe easy for now.

The moment that comfort settled in,

the notification window went berserk, as if warning me not to relax.

[Main Story ■@%$ ■n!■?¿.]

Could it be because the omega died on the deserted island, twisting all the scheduled events to come?

It was clearly malfunctioning, advertising its broken state for all to see.

If Rohan was in his right mind, he might have punched the notification window, *bam! bam!*

‘…’

Before I knew it, the fit that had been scrambling the letters subsided.

The characters underwent repeated recombination, forming a functional notification window.

[You have taken a step closer to salvation.]

A burdensome and grandiose sentence.

A meaningless notification I’d never seen before.

[Restricted Access Video #3 is available for playback.]

‘A video…I doubt it’ll even register in my head right now.’

With the last notification window gone, Rohan lifted his eyelids.

“…”

An unfamiliar ceiling.

But right beside him sat a familiar figure.

I could also see the IV drip, dangling, seeping into his body.

“Instructor…?”

“You’re awake. Anything feel wrong or hurt?”

“My friends…”

“All three are safe. You need to take care of yourself first.”

“I’m…fine.”

It wasn’t just because he was the protagonist; it was obvious to anyone that Rohan was far from fine.

His gaze was unfocused, and he lacked his usual vigor. His voice was so weak, it could only be described as a mumble.

‘Your spirit seems to have sunk to the very bottom.’

According to Ichinose and Noah’s testimonies, you endured actions akin to torture, I heard.

It’s no wonder you’re drained, on the verge of losing your mind.

‘To subject a student to such a horrific experience as torture…’

Juyeon suppressed the rising self-loathing and a sigh, impressing the reality upon Rohan first.

“This is the medical bay on a transport ship. Can you understand that?”

“Ah, I see… transport ship medical bay…”

“…”

Juyeon, met with Rohan’s vacant gaze, found it difficult to speak.

Should she begin with an apology for failing in her role as an instructor, or with words of relief that he was safe?

Seeing Juyeon unable to conceal her complex emotions, Rohan spoke.

“Instructor.”

“Yes, speak.”

“You look tired.”

“…”

Juyeon felt a tightness in her chest at Rohan’s weary smile as he said those words.

Rohan called out again.

“Instructor.”

“…Yes.”

“Don’t have bad thoughts.”

“Bad thoughts…?”

“This incident… it’s not your fault, Instructor.”

“!”

Rohan’s listless murmur dug into her deeper than anything else.

Was he talking about her late arrival, or the unresolved relationship of the past?

From Rohan’s perspective, it was certainly the former, but somehow it felt like it encompassed all time.

Juyeon was ashamed to feel her heart lighten with those very words.

“Thank you for saying that. And… I’m sorry I was late.”

“Instructor, you weren’t late. I’m alive, aren’t I?”

“…”

Juyeon watched Rohan, and a thought surfaced in that hazy moment.

_He certainly speaks well, considering his muddled state._

“Rohan.”

“Yes…”

“I heard the testimony. Why did you rush headlong into that enemy? Didn’t the thought of stalling for time, of negotiating, even cross your mind?”

It wasn’t meant as blame.

Juyeon simply wanted to understand what was inside Rohan.

“Hmm…”

Rohan hummed at Juyeon’s question.

Then, as if recalling some distant memory, he raised his gaze to the ceiling and muttered.

“That monstrous man… he was the type who enjoyed tormenting and breaking his opponents.”

“…”

“It was a raw expression I’d seen many times in the past, so it was familiar. He wanted to see me squirm more the more I struggled. Giving up and killing me there would have felt like a defeat to him.”

There was no need to ask where he’d seen such a type of person.

Even if Rohan’s past was a mystery, his origins were known.

“So, knowing what you’d be subjected to… you willingly rushed in?”

“It was a gamble, in a way.”

Rohan didn’t deny it. Instead, he grinned as if satisfied with the outcome.

Juyeon couldn’t bring himself to offer praise.

Rohan’s actions seemed so perilous, like walking a tightrope.

He feared it could lead to a terrible outcome any day.

“Rohan. It’s hypocritical of me to say this, considering I failed to prevent the situation entirely… but value your life.”

As they spoke, his consciousness seemed to sharpen.

Rohan began to speak with certainty.

“Instructor. I don’t want to die either.”

“The Instructor finds it hard to believe that, considering your unreliable actions. One misstep there, and you really could have died.”

Juyeon’s stiff tone carried a clear undercurrent of sincere concern.

Rohan cherished this emotion. He was glad he’d stepped forward. He had no regrets.

“Instructor. But surely, there’s something you dislike even more than death, isn’t there?”

“…”

“I simply cannot bear to see my friends in pain. Besides, this is all I’m capable of… Ugh!”

Juyeon pinched and pulled Rohan’s cheek, stretching it out.

Commendable. But praising him would only encourage more sacrifice.

“Do you think a drill instructor would find such words from a cadet admirable?”

Rohan’s attitude, if left unchecked, was a death sentence in the making.

Even back in the academy city, he’d likely throw himself into any incident he saw. The worry was a mountain on her shoulders.

“I, Instructor! The patient! The patient!”

“Haa…”

Juyeon sighed, releasing his cheek.

Knowing she couldn’t stop him only deepened the feeling of helplessness. People with such a spirit acted before they thought.

Telling him not to do anything dangerous would be like talking to a wall.

‘…’

Painfully reminiscent of her younger sibling.

“Get some more rest. We’ll head back to the academy city as soon as the other cadets are treated and examined.”

“Everyone’s alright?”

“No fatalities, no critical injuries. All minor wounds. We came prepared with medical facilities better than most hospitals, so they’ll recover quickly.”

“Oh! That’s a relief.”

“I’ll hear the full story when we return.”

As Juyeon finished speaking and rose to leave,

Rohan, struck by a sudden thought, stopped her.

“Instructor.”

“Hm?”

“That… I’d prefer it if you didn’t mention to my friends that I knew what I was getting into.”

“Why is that?”

Juyeon’s lips curved upward.

Her beautiful smile felt somehow unsettling, but Rohan laid out his reasoning.

“I believe such things can become matters of pride the moment the underlying motives are revealed.”

Ichinose, for example, was like that.

He loathed being protected during their time on the deserted island. He wanted to be seen as a capable survivor.

And Noah undoubtedly possessed an even stronger sense of pride than Ichinose.

The moment I faced the Omega.

Even if Rohan had stepped forward and explained the situation, they surely wouldn’t have accepted it.

To survive by sacrificing someone else was a shame to them, that much was obvious.

Having listened to Rohan’s detailed explanation, Juyeon nodded in admiration.

“You seem to understand Ichinose Yui and Noah Frozenheart well. A remarkable friendship.”

“I’m in your care.”

A moment of silence.

Juyeon let out a soft chuckle, giving Rohan a regretful answer.

“Of course, it’s a noble intention, and even the instructor wishes to remain silent, but that promise, I cannot keep.”

“…?”

“Is your mind still hazy? To not even notice this.”

Juyeon, still smiling, extended a finger.

He pressed Rohan’s cheek, turning his face to the other side.

Between the fluttering privacy screens.

Corinne was visible, lying in bed, sleeping soundly.

And Ichinose and Noah were visible, sitting beside her.

Both of their heads were clearly turned in this direction.