Purple-dyed short twin tails, sparkling green eyes.
A flashy fashion that’s often called a “landmine” or “mental hazard.”
Despite the unique outfit and accessories, her attitude is timid.
“!”
Rohan quickly pieced together a character from Abyss City in his mind, taking in the girl’s slender face and delicate features.
The knowledge he had buried came flooding back, condensing in an instant.
‘Clara?!’
In Abyss City, while working part-time at the Flowering Chrysanthemum Bookstore, there’s a set group of Academy cadets who frequently appear.
This bookstore is also a place where Clara, who loves manga and games, often shows up.
Even though this was a given, Rohan was still flustered.
“…”
After all, Clara is a character who first appears when the protagonist enters their second year, and she comes in as a first-year.
Rohan had wanted to find her after their first battle, but information about Clara before her Academy enrollment was practically nonexistent.
He had given up, thinking it was impossible to find her before becoming a second-year at the Academy.
Whether it was due to the reward of a positive cliché or not, they had coincidentally run into each other like this.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Clara, frozen in nervousness, avoided eye contact and muttered.
Rohan, finding this peculiar girl both endearing and oddly familiar, quickly finished his train of thought.
After carefully setting down the box of books,
he picked up the smartphone that had fallen to the floor and handed it back to her.
“I couldn’t see in front of me because of the box. I’m really sorry.”
“Th-that!”
“Miss, you should check the screen. If it’s cracked or damaged, I’ll compensate you.”
“Ugh…”
Clara took the smartphone with trembling hands.
She gulped and pressed a few buttons here and there.
Rohan didn’t speak after that.
He waited for Clara to say something first, absorbing information visually.
‘Nail art. It’s more flashy than the game.’
The nails on her slender fingers sparkled in various colors.
It was fascinating to think that she handled weapons delicately with hands like these.
“It’s… fine…”
“That’s a relief.”
Clara tightly sealed her lips after that.
Rohan left a final remark, telling her to let him know if there were any issues, but he didn’t just walk away.
To prevent the flustered Clara from leaving through the entrance,
he went in.
It seemed like she stepped aside.
After that, should I say it went as Rohan expected?
The hesitant girl didn’t step back but instead walked into the bookstore.
Rohan let out a sigh of relief as he watched the girl disappear between the bookshelves.
“Phew…”
Should he have mentioned being the new part-timer at Flowering Chrysanthemum Bookstore to make his presence more official? The answer is Nope.
Considering Clara’s personality and tendencies, absolutely not.
‘I need to stop being impatient.’
Unlike games where you can retry infinitely, real-life opportunities are usually just once.
To build a bridge with a girl whose wariness is like a wild animal’s, rushing is a big no-no.
Rohan moved the box he had set down to the correct spot and headed to the warehouse to continue his work.
Though it’s just repeating simple tasks, hardly what you’d call hard labor, he let his mind wander slowly.
‘So… what game was Clara playing just now?’
He knows Clara likes manga and games.
But just like the manga, all the games in Abyss City are things he’s never seen before.
Though half of it is also about building a common topic.
After all, Rohan, as a former Hunter, used to enjoy games after work too.
A new game is always welcome, no doubt.
He’d been putting it off because he had so much to do, but his curiosity about this world’s games had sprouted.
“Boss! I’ve moved everything!”
“Already? Take it slow… or you’ll hurt your back!”
Rohan brushed it off with a laugh, tapping the box filled with donated books.
“Can we load them when the car arrives later?”
“No need for that. A little forklift thing will come, so just leave them at the entrance.”
When asked to watch the counter, Rohan stayed until closing time.
Clara quietly slipped out from between the bookshelves just before closing and disappeared.
“Rohan.”
“You called?”
“We’re closing now, so come here.”
“Yep!”
“When closing, just flip this switch, and all the lights will go off…”
The final task of the day.
Rohan learned the closing procedure from the boss.
After finishing the cleanup together and stepping outside, the world was already soaked in twilight.
“After locking up, just put the keys under this flowerpot.”
“…Is that really okay?”
Thinking about security, shouldn’t they install something more advanced?
He knew that in Academy City, stores using keys were rare to begin with.
“Hoho, it’s not like there’s anything worth stealing here…”
“What’s up. You worked hard today!”
“You worked hard too, Manager.”
At the tone that suggested it wouldn’t matter even if a thief broke in, Rohan just smiled and bowed his head.
The manager, who was about to continue the conversation, looked at his watch, startled, and started to move.
“Oh dear, I need to see my grandchild before they fall asleep…”
The manager walked away slowly but quickly.
Rohan watched quietly, then took out his smartphone and started typing a message.
‘I should report to the instructor.’
Rohan captured a screenshot of the simple contract he had written in the app and attached it to the message.
After compiling information such as the location, store name, business hours, and tasks, he sent the message.
The reply came quickly.
[Instructor Juyun: I’ll register it in the system.]
A straightforward reply.
Rohan chuckled and headed towards the dormitory.
On the way, he browsed mobile games and downloaded a few that caught his interest.
*****
At dawn, when light flickered in the eastern sky.
Ichinose Yui woke up at that time.
“Ugh…”
She hugged the dolls on her bed, tossed around for a bit, then got up.
Ichinose reflexively straightened the messy blanket and placed the dolls back in their original spots.
She also took off her favorite character-themed pajamas and hung them up.
A light wash to refresh her groggy mind.
After minimal skincare, she grabbed the bag and academy uniform she had prepared the day before with her eyes still half-closed.
‘Student ID and water bottle… here they are…’
Ichinose, dressed in comfortable underwear and gym clothes.
Left the dormitory with meal replacement supplements and her sword.
As soon as she faced the outside, Ichinose deliberately blocked her vision and relied on her heightened sense of smell to feel the wind first.
‘The scent of spring is faint.’
If it were her usual routine, she would head to the gym she had booked in the bustling area, but now Ichinose Yui’s destination was Orion Academy.
There was no need to visit nearby gyms for morning workouts anymore.
As of yesterday, the Strength Training Room at the academy was open to new cadets, so there was no reason not to go there.
The facilities were top-notch and close to the classrooms.
Even though her load had increased a bit, one less trip back to the dormitory made things less hectic.
“Good morning.”
─ Meow!
“Good morning. Did you guard the house well last night?”
─ Woof! Huff huff…
At Ichinose’s voice, the cat sprawled on the wall and the dog with a collar…
A tied-up puppy shows sincerity.
Just by the vibe, you can tell they’re close.
“If I meet these kids, it’s as good as arriving.”
Ichinose strode forward without hesitation.
If Noah had seen her, she would’ve freaked out, saying she’d get lost again.
“Now it’s different.”
Heading to Orion Academy feels familiar now.
Every time I take a walk alone, I make the academy my destination, so I don’t embarrass myself by getting lost anymore.
If all else fails, climbing to the top of a low building and just heading straight towards the academy works too.
After walking for a while, I slightly open my eyes to the energy I feel.
In Ichinose’s view, the main gate of Orion Academy came into sight.
“Hehe.”
Proof that even without following the morning rush of cadets, I can safely reach the academy.
Impressive. There’s even a sense of accomplishment filling my chest.
A faintly raised corner of the mouth.
The girl, keeping that expression, bowed to the security guard and moved inside.
The Strength Training Room at the academy is larger than a single gymnasium, so even Ichinose wouldn’t have trouble finding it.
*Beep!*
Just like the dormitory, it’s a system that authenticates with a student ID. The glass door opens.
Entering inside, Ichinose tilted her head, sensing one of the presences in the Strength Training Room.
“This is…”
I expected someone to be here even at dawn.
After all, there are diligent cadets who don’t slack off in their training.
But I didn’t expect to see a classmate from the first day.
Ichinose peeked out, opening one eye.
*Huff*… Ugh!!!
In her golden eyes was a man straining his body, groaning.
“Rohan.”
Ichinose murmured the name that was vividly etched in her memory.
