I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 70



69 – Night Map

Juyeon stood up from her seat when she saw Rohan’s face on the camera.

Opening the door for a guest was enough to operate the device from inside.

I’m here!

Clack! As the door opened and a confident voice echoed through the living room, Clara unconsciously jumped up from her chair.

Juyeon gestured to Clara to go quickly.

“Oppa…!”

With permission granted, Clara headed to the entrance like a dog waiting for its owner.

Soon, the sound of conversation followed.

Juyeon stayed at the table, wanting to give the girl with a heartache some fresh time.

She moved her magic, and the coffee regained its warmth as she held the cold mug.

Juyeon, with her lips slightly touching, repeatedly pondered the topic Clara had thrown.

‘Love.’

The more she recalled the word, the more she thought of her parents in Samhwaguk. They often brought up such stories when she returned.

Although she somehow understood their desire to see a grandchild, Juyeon had no intention of putting down her weapon.

Too many responsibilities had arisen to enjoy an ordinary life. She had come too far to turn back.

‘I am neither a qualified instructor nor a filial daughter…’

Even if she left Orion Academy and returned to Samhwaguk, Juyeon would live on the battlefield, protecting her homeland.

As long as he continued living such a perilous life, the fear that he might cause someone the pain of loss was blocking deep relationships.

He knew from experience how quickly this shock could consume a person.

How have you been with the instructor?

Yes…! Ms. Jooyeon has been very kind…

The two figures drew closer.

Jooyeon cut off her sticky thoughts.

“Instructor! Excuse me!”

“Come in.”

Rohan, who stepped into the living room, showed the colorful paper bag in his hand along with his greeting.

If Jooyeon’s memory was correct, it was an ice cream franchise that had crossed over from Tigrova to the academy city.

“I thought it would be rude to come empty-handed, so I brought some dessert for after the meal.”

“A cadet bringing something like this to the instructor’s house…”

Jooyeon stopped speaking when she saw Clara’s gaze fixed on the ice cream.

Thanks to that, she just nodded with a chuckle when Rohan asked if he could put it in the refrigerator.

‘Hmm?’

Rohan opened the freezer and turned his back.

Jooyeon’s eyes narrowed as she watched him. If it wasn’t a mistake, she felt that the aura around Rohan had changed.

A change so subtle that it went unnoticed at the police agency, where things were hectic. A change so slight that most people wouldn’t recognize it.

As Jooyeon focused on Rohan, she saw something familiar yet alien.

‘Light…? No, flames?’

Ju-yeon is aware that Rohan, like herself, has an affinity for fire.

Being able to use the Scorching Blade () means just that. But that light was too small to judge its nature.

But now, it feels like it has grown in size.

‘Did he realize something amidst the hardships?’

If Rohan uses his magic to control the fire, it might become a bit clearer.

For now, the only thing that felt real was that something had changed and grown.

After the three finished their meal and even had dessert.

Rohan expressed his regret for not being able to attend the afternoon class due to a natural disaster and asked Ju-yeon if she could take a look at his sword for a moment.

Ju-yeon, who was also concerned about Rohan’s change, handed him one of the swords she had and the three of them went outside to digest their food.

Rohan gave his coat to Clara, who had followed him out. The girl seemed particularly happy about it.

The park in front of Ju-yeon’s house.

It was quiet since only the residents of the mansion where Ju-yeon lived could use it.

Under the bright lantern, Rohan, who was loosening up with some stretches, rotated his shoulders and announced as if he had just remembered.

“Ah! Instructor. My friends asked where I had gone, so I just told them I had to leave early because something came up.”

“Hmm, well done. Once the information is sorted and agreed upon, the instructor will spread the word directly. It won’t take long.”

The information had already been conveyed to the three countries that operated the academy city.

Although it was unclear what conclusion each country would reach, it was highly likely that some of the high-ranking children at the academy had already heard about it.

T-shirt and cotton pants.

Rohan, lightly dressed, bounced on the spot a few times and, satisfied with his condition, drew the sword that Joo-yeon had lent him.

Sreung!

He placed the scabbard respectfully on the ground and took his stance.

Clara stepped back to avoid getting in the way and watched the two of them closely.

Joo-yeon, who was to receive Rohan’s sword, was barehanded.

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It was a state where he could step in at any time, like in a lesson.

Before the monumental first use of the sword technique, Rohan organized his thoughts.

The Celestial Sun Judgment Sword () is currently at level 1.

There are two swords he can use.

The First Sword () Flame Sever () and the Second Sword () Dawn Falling Sun ().

Experience and intuition, which had observed various unique skills, told him.

As his level rises and he possesses corresponding physical abilities and magical power, new swords will be unlocked.

Hoo…

He exhaled deeply, spread his legs, and lowered his stance.

The blade, imbued with the Scorching Heat Blade (), turned bright red.

It’s difficult even before swinging it.

Using the sword technique didn’t mean his body would follow blindly.

Only the basic movements and the direction of circulating magical power were drawn in his mind.

In Abyss City, just a click would unleash a splendid sword technique, but now it was ambiguous to call it an active skill or a passive skill.

The contraction and relaxation of the muscles used, the breath, the moment of impact when gripping the sword, the trajectory the blade must draw after receiving force, the complex and geometric movements of magic.

Various conditions pour into consciousness like an avalanche.

‘The first step of the basics is to achieve what is required.’

How much practice would it take to go beyond that and wield the ideal swordsmanship?

Rohan began to look forward to the training he had to perform until his mind became hazy.

‘For now, even if it’s clumsy, I’ll try.’

He gripped the sword tightly.

Tszuk! Rohan’s foot pushed off the ground, closing the distance with Joo-yeon.

“Release it to your heart’s content.”

“Thank you.”

Joo-yeon waited without reaching out to Rohan first.

That was the best condition for Rohan.

“Hup!”

The distance where the blade could reach. Rohan moved like lightning, channeling his magic.

[One Sword – Flame Cut]

Joo-yeon stepped out of Rohan’s sword path with a single step.

In the meantime, he continued to observe.

‘Unique.’

There was no flashy flame. However, Joo-yeon could see it clearly.

The heat flickered and compressed with explosive force along the trajectory of the blade.

It was the first time Juyeon had seen such a use of magic.

‘And this sword…’

It wasn’t the fierce swordplay that Rohan had shown during class, based on his experience.

It seemed to follow a certain system. Interesting.

There was a sense of potential for growth.

[Two Swords () Dawn Falling Sun ()]

Then, a downward strike.

The blade was caught in Juyeon’s hand.

It was a response that made the blazing man pale in comparison, but it wasn’t the end. The ground seemed to throb as if flames would burst forth.

Sensing the heat, Juyeon stomped on the flames to keep them from emerging.

Even though there were only three people in the park at the moment, it was a space used by everyone.

Having finished dealing with the situation, Juyeon felt a surge of curiosity.

‘What kind of swordsmanship is this?’

It seemed that Rohan had learned some kind of swordsmanship.

Was it something he originally had, or perhaps a southern swordsmanship? If these flames grew and became more distinctive, what kind of scene would they create?

Just seeing the unique use made one curious about the achievements when it was mastered.

‘But that’s that, and the posture…’

There was much to criticize. It was clumsy beyond measure.

Rohan himself seemed dissatisfied with the sword he wielded.

He seemed to feel the lack of practice.

Even though Juyeon didn’t know what kind of sword this was, he couldn’t guide an ideal swordsmanship.

But he could at least refine the basic points and minimal improvements.

“Start again from the first sword you showed.”

Juyeon spoke, extending his hand and moving his magic.

The scabbard that Rohan had placed on the ground flew into Juyeon’s grasp with a swoosh!

“Understood!”

Once again, Flame Cut ().

Snap!

Before the sword could even be swung, Juyeon’s scabbard intervened in the sword’s path.

The blade couldn’t move and was blocked.

“It’s obvious where the heat gathers. The problem is that the condensation time is too long.”

Seeing the start means it’s literally a telegraphed punch.

“Think about when an ordinary person throws a punch. You can read the signal from their shoulder before they extend their fist.”

“Yes.”

“Based on that, evasion becomes much easier.”

“You’re right, Instructor.”

“The same goes for the sword just now. The process of gathering heat before swinging is not concise, meaning it’s similar to the signal of a shoulder twitching before throwing a punch.”

Rohan nodded at Juyeon’s words, establishing a direction.

“Of course, for a quick-witted opponent, it might serve as bait for a reverse feint once.”

“Thank you.”

Rohan, with gratitude and a serious face, adjusted his posture again.

Juyeon commanded.

“Then next. Try the downward motion again from earlier.”

The time that was supposed to be just for digestion started to get considerably longer.

At the point where Rohan’s magic was barely holding on, the night map ended.

Clara spent that time blankly staring at Rohan’s face.

When Juyeon asked if she was bored, she replied that she was not bored at all.

A day later.

Rohan bought a longsword on an installment plan. And thanks to Juyeon’s intervention, Clara was able to obtain an academy city ID card.

They were asked to vacate the small room they had been provided within three months.

Rohan decided to find Clara a house where she could live alone as soon as the reward money from the police department came out, as much as she had helped him.

As time passed, Rohan’s sword found its place.

On a day in April, with midterms just around the corner.

Rohan, who was anxious about how Sion was doing, finally saw the prelude to the main story appear before his eyes.