I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 109



108 – Exam Over! Daily Life Begins!

“It’s not exactly a time for reunions, but allow the students to commemorate their safety and rest.”

“…”

Juyeon left after uttering those words.

Slamming the infirmary door shut!

Rohan felt a slight resentment towards Juyeon for leaving him in the awkward atmosphere.

‘Ah, how embarrassing. I want to run away.’

Noah was wagging his tail gently. His eyes flickered with the unique gleam of a predator, staring intently in this direction.

He didn’t know what that expression meant.

Ichinose was only turning his head this way, concealing his pupils, but it was incredibly, incredibly unnerving.

“…”

In the silence, the thin screen fluttered softly.

Ichinose stood up gracefully from his seat, and Noah also jumped up, following suit.

Rohan held his breath as the two girls approached with purposeful strides.

*Tok!*

Ichinose halted before his bedside, cradling her sword as she bowed respectfully.

Noah, flustered, followed suit, offering the deepest bow she could muster.

“Putting everything else aside, I just wanted to express my gratitude to Rohan. Thank you. And… I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Thank you. I owe you my life.”

To say he didn’t deserve thanks for acting on impulse, considering how his conversation with Jooyeon had been leaked…

“I’m glad you two are safe as well.”

From noble mtl dot com

Rohan felt his answer falling short, forcing an awkward laugh to smooth things over.

“About the conversation with the instructor… we absolutely weren’t trying to eavesdrop. We just didn’t want to interrupt until she was finished speaking.”

“That’s right! That’s why we stayed quiet.”

Rohan knew what they were implying.

The very act of a student eavesdropping on Jooyeon’s conversation was, after all, impossible.

“I just woke up, so I’m still a bit out of it. How’s Korin?”

Rohan steered the conversation away from the awkward topic.

Ichinose hesitated a moment before answering.

“The medical results are fine. She woke up earlier, and we even ate together. She’s sleeping soundly now.”

“Korin must be exhausted from wandering around the deserted island with me!”

Noah chimed in with a self-deprecating remark, defusing the tense atmosphere.

Ichinose lightly mentioned a detail that came to mind.

“It’s been about six hours since Rohan fell asleep, and the instructor removed the sticker.”

Come to think of it, there *was* something like that.

Rohan ran a hand over his neck, realizing the irritating object was gone.

“The Gangseol-75 pistol is completely destroyed. I believe it couldn’t withstand the mana.”

“I got a good shot off, though. It served its purpose.”

He’d have to acquire a proper pistol when he got back.

He should seek advice from Sion and Clara, he thought.

“Honestly, there’s so much I want to say to Rohan. So many questions to ask, and I want to properly express my gratitude.”

“Yeah! Yeah!”

Noah seemed to share Ichinose’s sentiment, nodding her head with fervor.

“Even so, I will endure it for now. I understand Rohan needs rest, just as the instructor said.”

“Buy me something tasty next time. We can talk then, too.”

Rohan said, smiling as he usually did.

Ichinose nodded slightly, agreeing.

“I don’t forget a kindness. The meal is separate, and I will repay you somehow.”

“Me too! Papa said forgetting kindness is for beasts! I’m not a beast, but a Beastkin, so I won’t forget!”

Having said that, the girls vanished like a whirlwind, not allowing Rohan a chance to refuse.

Rohan watched the door through which Ichinose and Noah had disappeared, then closed his eyes.

“…”

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Ichinose and Noah left the infirmary and walked down the long corridor.

Their footsteps led towards the place where the cadets gathered to rest.

As they moved their legs onward.

Noah, who had been looking at the ceiling, suddenly giggled and revealed her inner thoughts.

“Hehe! He’s the first man other than Papa that I’ve thought was cool.”

Ichinose stopped walking, startled.

She stiffly turned her head, creaking, towards Noah.

She asked as if she had misheard.

“Noah. What did you just say…?”

“Why? It’s true, isn’t it? He’s much better than those who clumsily pretend to be manly.”

“That’s…”

Noah gets along well with everyone, but Ichinose had never heard her say a man was cool so directly.

Her face was so excited that It didn’t seem like a joke.

“Well, it’s simply such an impression. My heart was quite thumping, you know?”

“…”

“Everyone says they’ll risk their lives, but I’ve never actually seen such firm resolve or spirit before.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“And I’m so frustrated! I’m too weak! I can’t even beat one old man like that… Papa would have killed him with one punch! When I get back, training! Training! Training!”

Ichinose could only see Noah, who was renewing her determination, as admirable.

The act of revealing even such impressions to others without hiding them. It’s impossible for her.

How could she be so candid?

Envy flickered.

··

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The transport ship was currently heading towards the Academy City.

Rohan, having finished his sleep in the infirmary, joined the rest of Class 1. He also retrieved his phone from storage.

‘I wonder if Sion and Clara are doing alright.’

The exam ended sooner than expected.

Sion and Clara’s faces flickered in his mind, tinged with worry.

Imagining the two girls, perhaps already in the dorms, Rohan turned on his smartphone.

Just as Academy City came into view through the transport ship’s window, he confirmed the carrier signal was connected.

*Zzzing! Zzzing! Zzzing! Zing!*

The vibration went wild.

Rohan, startled, silenced the vibrations and checked his phone.

A flood of unread messages had poured into the group chat.

[Clara: Sion-unnie wanted her own cup and utensils too, so we’re out buying them! ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ]

[Sion: Clara and I had hamburgers for lunch]

[Clara: (*•؎ •)]

[Sion: Photo]

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[Clara: Back at the dorms! Sion-unnie got scouted on the street 12 times today! There was even a famous agency! (¬‿¬)]

[Sion: Clara managed to hide her presence for over 3 hours… When she spoke to order the hamburger, the employee asked for Clara’s number]

[Clara: It’s hard to walk around! We need oppa! ✘_✘]

[Sion: Agreed]

··

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[Sion: I received Tigrova’s hollow honorary position]

[Sion: The CCTV footage of my involvement with Monolith in the past is no longer an issue. Yuho-nim will have it handled as if I was investigated within Tigrova.]

‘How many are there?’

He still wasn’t even halfway down. There were definitely hundreds, at least.

Rohan, before announcing he was on his way back, carefully read each one, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he saw how well everyone was doing.

He was maybe halfway through when new messages began popping up in real-time.

[Clara: Σ(ʘωʘﾉ)ﾉ Oppa read it!!!]

[Sion: Rohan? Granted a reprieve, perhaps?]

Rohan chuckled, and continued typing.

Just a quick word that the exams ended early, and he was heading back now.

Adding, he was practically there.

He considered calling, hearing their voices, but then, alas, Jooyeon began her broadcast.

─ Attention, all students of Class 1. The transport will be landing in five minutes, so please be seated and await further instruction.

And so, they arrived at Orion Academy.

Students poured out of the transport in a chaotic wave, and Jooyeon gathered Class 1 to begin wrapping things up.

“The fatigue won’t vanish overnight, but I expect everyone to attend tomorrow. There will be no classes. Proper rest will be guaranteed after that.”

The exams had ended early, accompanied by such commotion, it was what everyone expected.

Seeing no objections or complaints, Jooyeon continued.

“Today, focus on recovering in your dorms. Should any issues arise, contact the instructors at any time.”

After such an incident, the Academy couldn’t simply sit back and relax.

They needed to gather as much testimony as possible, and provide the best possible care for any injured students, even those with minor wounds.

“Dismissed.”

“””Thank you for your hard work!!!”””

The students shouted, their voices ringing out, before scattering in all directions.

*

Ichinose decided to follow Jooyeon’s advice and concentrate on resting.

Arriving at the dorm, he relaxed his body in a warm bath, and chatted with his parents on speakerphone while stretching.

Noah must have fallen asleep the moment he arrived, as there was no reply to his message.

‘Ramen…’

Suddenly, ravenous hunger struck, accompanied by the unexpected craving for ramen.

Never happened before.

He went to the convenience store and bought some ramen.

He tried his best to cook it perfectly, but it tasted awful.

If Rohan’s creation was a perfect 100, this was maybe a 10.

Un-eatable. Better to just brush my teeth and sleep.

“Umm…”

Fluffy, warm bed. Settling onto it, I closed my eyes for three minutes.

Ichinose, struck by a disquiet, pushed herself up to a sitting position.

‘What is this? Why is the pillow like this?’

The pillow I’d used so faithfully for so long, now presented a subtle discomfort I’d never known.

Had the shape of my head changed, perhaps? The girl sat on the bed, fingers exploring her scalp.

Round. No problems there.

A beautifully shaped head, bestowed upon me at birth.

“Ha!”

Amused, she grabbed one of the stuffed animals lined up on the bed and lay back down.

I can sleep just fine. Compared to a deserted island, this is paradise.

But, scoring it objectively, this pillow is maybe a 98?

Nothing lacking.

And yet, a strange feeling of something missing lingered.

‘Perfection is greedy. This is already more than enough.’

Pointless thoughts spun on.

My consciousness drifted towards dreamland, painting swirling images.

Looking back on a day I couldn’t forget.

“…”

Rohan’s words and actions surfaced, clear as day.

Just like Noah said, my heart was thumping.

Whoosh!

Ichinose pulled the blanket up over her face.