I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 93



92 – Rain Shower -1-

“This Hornbird, we *can* eat it, right?”

Rohan picked up the Hornbird, its head already gone, and began to pluck at its coarse feathers with a *snip!* *snip!* sound, fidgeting with it.

Ichinose, her golden eyes wide with a sudden disquiet, swiveled her gaze towards Rohan, and asked again.

“…You’re suggesting we eat the Hornbird?”

“It’s not poisonous, and it’s on the list of edible monsters, isn’t it? I saw plenty of people eating them online.”

His tone implied there shouldn’t be a problem.

Ichinose’s voice trembled slightly at Rohan’s unwavering confidence.

“W-well, yes, but…”

“Maybe running into a Hornbird here is lucky. The interior might be filled with nothing but inedible monsters, you know?”

An undeniably sound point.

The girl’s gaze drifted to the hunk of meat in Rohan’s hands.

This Hornbird, its life force extinguished and leaking blood, classified not as beast, but as monster.

The monster classification was instinctively repulsive, but as Rohan said, it wasn’t inedible.

There were people who filmed themselves eating them to get views.

Some would even try it out of simple curiosity.

And now, a recently added scenario.

If you were drawn to the Monolith and thrown into a dungeon, you might have no choice but to face them.

It aligned perfectly with what Orion Academy was trying to teach through the current exam.

‘Could they have even considered that?’

Here Ichinose reasoned.

It was highly probable that Orion Academy had selected this uninhabited island with that point in mind.

‘It’s decided.’

Whether it was true or not, believing it was the most beneficial course for the girl.

With difficulty, Ichinose managed to nod.

“…Y-yes, you’re right! We should save it, since we don’t know how effective this sticker is.”

“Good, good. I’ll take care of preparing it.”

“Prepare… Have you actually eaten a Hornbird before?”

Ichinose was startled by Rohan’s confidence, and her voice rose in surprise.

Reacting this way to something other than combat was simply fascinating to Rohan.

“It’s just a bit big. Wouldn’t you say it’s similar to chicken?”

“Do you cook often?”

“Living alone and wandering around like I do, you pick up the basics.”

“Ah…”

Ichinose, thinking of Rohan’s origins, fell silent.

Rohan, voicing his desire for even just a trickle of water nearby, led the way.

Crunch! Snap! Crunch!

How far had they ventured, taking turns swinging their swords?

The sound of the waves was gone now. Only the natural sounds of the dark green forest filled the air.

Looking back, the night sea was barely visible. It was a distance that wouldn’t be seen had they not avoided the uphill path.

“I was worried that the smell of blood would attract beasts or monsters. But it’s still quiet.”

Rohan glanced down at the plump Hornbird in his hand.

Gutted, but regrettably not washed properly. Water was needed.

“If we see a place that’s suitable to stop, we’ll take a seat there. Somewhere to get out of the wind is enough.”

“So, we’re going deeper? If we go any further, we won’t even see the sea.”

“Let’s go.”

Ichinose, showing his commitment, revealed his blade with a soft scrape.

He neatly sliced through the thickly grown plants.

··

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‘…How much time has passed?’

Ichinose wondered to himself, his eyes closed.

They couldn’t recklessly increase their pace, so their progress was slow, but it felt like a considerable amount of time had passed.

Unfortunately, they hadn’t found a suitable place to rest along the way.

However, the monsters they encountered were diverse.

They hadn’t seen another Hornbird since the entrance, but they had slain over 10 Geroais and Mud Slimes each.

Judging by the occasional cries and the marks left on the trees, there were likely Honey Bears or Iron Turtles around as well.

“Assuming we’re moving in a straight line, wouldn’t heading to the opposite side entirely increase our chances of encountering a different class rather than our own?”

“Considering the flight path of the transport ship, wouldn’t that be right?”

“Even if we did meet, I have a feeling it wouldn’t be a pleasant atmosphere.”

She tried to scatter her thoughts, weaving in a word or two of idle chatter, but Ichinose was unnerved by this unfamiliar state of being.

The sticker was definitely having its effect.

She understood how much strain it took to keep one’s senses razor-sharp and maintain that constant tension.

Even factoring that in, her current condition felt… wrong.

It felt like her metabolism was malfunctioning, cycling through a rapid-fire cold.

‘To endure this for five days…?’

Was this the sensation Noah experienced, becoming limp and constantly complaining of hunger?

There was an emptiness within her stomach, like a hole had been carved out. Her throat was parched, desperately craving water.

She’d always eaten well, ensuring she got her fill for growth.

This drastic change was hitting the sheltered young lady hard.

‘Rohan…’

The girl slightly narrowed her eyes, glancing at her partner.

His profile seemed perfectly fine. No outward signs betrayed his condition.

She almost wondered if the sticker’s effects hadn’t kicked in for him yet.

“Hmm… Doesn’t look like there’s anywhere to rest. Might have to dig ourselves a hole.”

Rohan’s voice trailed off, laced with disappointment.

*Grumble*──.

The stark signal of hunger resonated from Ichinose’s slender abdomen.

“!!!”

Ichinose’s face flushed as she covered her stomach with both hands.

A meaningless gesture born from a desperate, flustered state. To Rohan, the action of his beloved character was simply cute.

“Th-that’s…!”

“It’s fine, it’s natural. I’ve been hungry too.”

“…”

Rohan stretched his legs again, offering a guileless smile.

Would she have felt less embarrassed if he had playfully teased her? Ichinose wanted to burrow into a mouse hole.

Her face was burning hot. For a moment, her mind went completely blank, even eclipsing the gnawing hunger.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

They walked a few paces in silence.

Rohan and Ichinose stopped simultaneously, their eyes drawn to the sky.

“This doesn’t bode well.”

“Ah.”

Perhaps it was heaven’s message to the girl, to calm down and cool her fever.

Out of nowhere, fat raindrops began to pitter-patter.

Before there was any time to react, the clouds, having finished their sampling, began to dump their water in earnest.

Swaaash──!!!

A downpour befitting the name squall.

The thick raindrops began to soak Rohan and Ichinose, who had nowhere to take shelter, to the bone.

*

Hex’s laboratory, nestled within the Reverent Heresy Society’s main stronghold.

Hex, one of the two heads who governed the Reverent Heresy Society.

Held a session with Omega.

It was a regularly scheduled time to modify Omega’s body with Hex’s skills.

“As I said before, I’ll be injecting as many fire-resistant factors as possible into your muscles and skin.”

“…”

Superficially, they were complete opposites.

Unlike the gaunt Hex, Omega possessed a height exceeding two meters and enormous muscles and bulk.

Omega’s characteristics didn’t stop there.

A terrible burn had left him without eyebrows or head hair, and his lower face, damaged beyond regeneration, was fitted with a device developed by Hex.

At first glance, it could be mistaken for a black mask.

“If we win this time, finally my face too?”

“That will be the case.”

The skin on all other parts had already been grafted by Hex’s technology.

However, the exposed burn scars on his face remained untouched, due to Omega’s stubborn insistence.

Simply, biding his time.

It was an incomprehensible attitude to Hex.

“The severity of a burn depends on how deeply the heat penetrates the cellular layers, so this time, the transplant material will be Lava Gargoyle, Magma Salamander, and—”

Hex’s words grew faster and faster, the syringe held in his hand.

Omega watched Hex’s eyes, which were beginning to be gently steeped in excitement, and cut him off with practiced ease.

“I say this every time, I don’t understand any of that. Just tell me how long it will take, that’s all I need to know.”

“That’s the part I say every time. A definitive answer is impossible. We have to see how your body accepts the procedure without issue.”

“Tch.”

Hex felt a surge of satisfaction at the Omega’s clenched fist.

The situation unfolding according to his design pleased him immensely.

“Haha! You seem awfully eager.”

“…You’re the one who brought me this news. I’m willing to be used, knowing full well.”

From noble mtl dot com

A former General from the Samhwa Nation. The news that Juyeon had left the academy city and was stationed with students on a deserted island.

Hearing Hex’s news, the Omega felt it was fate.

The timing was perfect.

The transplant, which was practically major surgery, had also ended at just the right time. And a deserted island crawling with monsters was the ideal place for Hex’s powers to create chaos.

It was a sure way to force a confrontation with Juyeon.

‘This is a chance to settle an old score.’

*Thwack!* A thick needle pierced the Omega’s skin.

Finishing the injection, Hex retrieved his medical tools and, with swift hands, let slip some information.

“According to reports, not only are there other instructors, but the Paradise Knights of the Sepia Archipelago have arrived as reinforcements.”

“Paradise Knights? Does that mean Lancelot is there?”

“Fortunately, Lancelot is currently in the Sepia Archipelago. If there were two big shots, I wouldn’t have even brought it up.”

The Omega didn’t like Hex’s tone, which implied defeat.

“Aside from Lancelot, they’re just gnats. You take care of them.”

“I kind of want to rest? Stirring up that much trouble requires a lot of Stack, and it’s tiring.”

The Omega scowled during the procedure.

The intention behind Hex’s words and expression was blatant.

“Just say what you want clearly.”

As expected, this friend was quick on the uptake when it came to these things.

At the Omega’s question, Hex’s lips curved upward.