I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 71



70 – The Quest to Exterminate

During the time that passed, it wasn’t just the sword bought on installments that was swung.

While Rohan was balancing studying and training, the anomaly of the Monolith occurred four times in a foreign country whose name Rohan didn’t even know.

But so far, there was only one returnee.

The information from the sole returnee and survivor, and the information brought by Rohan’s party, were cross-verified and only the intersecting parts were widely announced.

The biggest difference this time was that the returnee came back covered in wounds.

While checking external information that couldn’t be obtained in Abyss City, Rohan also investigated the names Lowell and Jenny, which he had collected from the second restricted document.

He invested the most time on the internet, but simple searches yielded too many people with the same names, making it difficult to narrow down.

He tried to compress the search, thinking they might be related to Solarea in the south, but even when limiting the region, he couldn’t find any plausible information.

[Lowell… Jenny… We strive to fulfill your wishes…]

He pondered over it again.

The sentence itself seems to refer to people… Could it be that these are not names?

The assumptions in Rohan’s mind kept growing.

It was a delicate issue, as he couldn’t ask someone to look it up for him, not knowing if these were people he shouldn’t mention.

It felt like the only way was to go and find out for himself.

Amidst the gloomy progress of even the shop skills being updated, there was one piece of good news.

Rohan finally received his first paycheck from the Spider Lily Bookstore.

Today, as always, he decided to buy a delicious dinner for Clara, who was seated in the corner of the bookstore.

Look! I can now clear stage 4 on my own!

Congratulations, oppa!

If we level up one more party, we might be able to tackle stage 5 too!

After finishing their meal, they enjoyed drinks and a game together.

“Oh, right. Clara.”

“Did you call?”

Before leaving the restaurant, Rohan rummaged through the inside pocket of his jacket.

He handed Clara half of the salary he received from the bookstore.

‘It’s very late.’

This was a token of gratitude for helping him deal with the human trafficking organization, Hwangseomdan ().

Considering Clara’s abilities and skills, he felt sorry that the amount was absurdly insufficient, but he planned to make up for it by taking care of her as much as possible in the future.

“Sorry for the late payment. I was informed that the reward from the committee will be out soon since it’s over. Let’s go find a house then.”

“Oh, oppa! Such a large amount… I’m fine!”

He expected this. Rohan had anticipated Clara’s reaction of shaking her head.

He knew that the girl in front of him wouldn’t accept the money gracefully, so he had thought a lot before coming here.

“Clara.”

“Yes…?”

“About what we talked about last time. You’ve decided to work with me from now on, right?”

Clara nodded without hesitation at Rohan’s question.

Her purple twin-tails swayed like a puppy’s tail.

“Even though properly making a name for ourselves will be after graduating from the academy?”

“Yes. I know.”

Rohan mentioned the risks, but the girl’s eyes were still filled with anticipation.

So, thank you. Because of that, I can speak seriously.

“Then we need to handle the money part properly. That way, I can feel at ease.”

“Haah… I-it’s really fine…”

Clara mumbled, seemingly at a loss for words other than saying it was fine.

Sensing that he was just one step away, Rohan smiled contentedly, recalling the moment in the dungeon.

“And.”

“Hm?”

“Clara, you kept telling me not to just say it’s fine. I feel the same way.”

“…!”

As he reminded her of the time she impulsively expressed her feelings, Clara’s face turned red.

She hurriedly averted her gaze and sipped her juice through a straw.

“Keep this. It’s the money Clara rightfully deserves. If you don’t take it, I’ll leave it at the restaurant.”

“Thank you, oppa… I’ll use it well.”

Clara now knew for sure. Rohan would really do that.

From the moment he said that taking this money would put his mind at ease, her actions were limited.

“Use it comfortably for whatever Clara wants.”

“Okay!”

“Is there something you want to buy? Just curious.”

“Something I want to buy…?”

At Rohan’s question, Clara stirred the ice with her straw and thought about it.

When she first settled in the academy city, she had always thought that once she earned enough money, she would invest in games first.

Right now, I wanted to buy pretty clothes and get new underwear.

Things that went beyond the realm of self-satisfaction.

Every day, before going to the bookstore where Rohan was, I felt like my clothes were ridiculously insufficient as I started to care about my appearance.

I want to pay when I eat with oppa…

But these thoughts are kept hidden inside.

Nail art gel and decorative cubic stones?

This answer wasn’t a fabricated lie either.

Cubic stones, you mean those jewel-like things on nails?

Yeah…! You can buy a set for 15 tokens.

Anyway, Clara buys cheap stuff from the general store.

Even if she splurges on nail-related items, it wouldn’t exceed 1 coin.

Did you do your nails yourself? Not at a shop?

Shops are expensive and… you have to talk to people…

Rohan couldn’t help but laugh.

It was such a Clara-like reason.

In these moments, Rohan realized the preciousness of everyday life.

Today too, he gained the motivation to study and swing his sword tirelessly until bedtime.

Clara’s dexterity is.

Bzzz!!!

Rohan and Clara’s phones rang simultaneously, interrupting their conversation.

Not only these two, but all the customers in the store were checking their smartphones.

A message enclosed with a red exclamation mark.

It was sent by the Public Security Bureau protecting the Academy City.

From noble mtl dot com

[Public Security Bureau of Elysium: Today 19:37 / Simultaneous raid on gun shops by criminal groups in the state of Yamal / Planned simultaneous robbery and murder / Expected escape route includes Academy City / Photo attached / Report to the Public Security Bureau if similar appearance is found…]

Rohan’s eyes widened as he looked at the familiar photo attached to the message.

Looking down from the restaurant, he saw Public Security Bureau vehicles busily moving around.

Omen!

With recognition, the waiting comes to an end.

A translucent notification window appeared before his eyes.

[A quest has occurred.]

[ Act 2 of the Broken Crown ]

Quest content: The criminals, unable to resist their greed, will invade Academy City. They are loose-lipped. The moment the fact that they are targeting Frozen Heart reaches the ears of the Grand Duke of Seolho, none of those involved will be safe. But we know. The dead do not speak.

Classification: Main Story

Success reward: One transcendence, random point pouch

Penalty for failure: None

The dead do not speak. Kill and destroy…

It means to deal with them before they are caught by the security officers and babble about the plans of the elf elders.

A simple logic, but without erasing the traces of battle, it seems necessary to move quickly.

And the reward.

The word transcendence particularly caught his eye. Rohan couldn’t help but be tempted.

“Could it be the transcendence I know?”

In Abyss City, if you draw the same character consecutively, you can use a system called transcendence.

It is a system that can be used up to six times and was responsible for a large share of Abyss City’s revenue.

“First, I move.”

Quest confirmation complete. Eventually, it will be known once the reward is received.

Rohan, while seated, grabbed the longsword he had placed beside him.

Clara sensed the change in Rohan’s atmosphere along with the message.

“Clara. Do you have all your weapons? Do we need to stop by the house?”

“I have everything. We can move right away.”

As Rohan stood up and moved, Clara followed, watching his broad back.

Rohan descended the stairs, carrying the sword on his back through a leather harness. He had carried his sword this way even as a hunter, finding it convenient.

“Clara. Let’s go meet today.”

“Huh? Who are we meeting…?”

Rohan smiled at the puzzled girl.

“Shion.”

*

A secluded dwelling where Shion and the elf elders resided.

After a long time, many guests arrived there. From a distant country called Yamal.

The leader of that group stationed a considerable number of members outside.

With a minimal entourage, they entered inside.

The leader of this criminal organization that ruled over a region of Yamal was a Doberman beastman in a beige coat.

He personally performed the ear cropping surgery, giving himself sharply trimmed ears. As a result, his appearance looked fierce.

The hulking figures flanking him were also beastmen with aggressive blood.

“Bring out the item we saw in the photo. I want to verify its authenticity.”

“Here it is.”

The elder brought out a jet-black coin.

On both sides, intricate hands were drawn.

The unique ominous aura emanating from the coin was something that couldn’t be fabricated.

“It’s genuine. Explain the request.”

The beastman nodded in satisfaction and returned the coin.

Once the mission was complete, it would be in his hands.

Meanwhile, inside the lair.

Sion’s room was locked with numerous padlocks hanging from it.