“Ugh…”
At dawn, when he should be heading to the training room as usual, Rohan woke up right on time. Muscle memory is a scary thing.
But he didn’t get up. He didn’t even open his eyes.
‘Right. I slept at the Instructor’s place.’
A pitch-black room with not a single ray of light seeping through the blackout curtains. A surprisingly comfortable bed, the sweet scent from the bedding, the warm air. In contrast, the uncomfortable bandages and the wounds that decided now was the perfect time to flare up with a stinging pain.
The sensations were so different from the dormitory he’d been in until yesterday, making him fully aware of the situation.
‘Can’t even go for morning training… Should I sleep more?’
The fact that it was Sunday made his mind relax. Rohan, with his eyes still closed, reached down to fix the messy blanket.
“?”
His hand touched something. Thin and warm. As he fumbled, the shape became clearer, and even in his groggy state, he began to guess what it was.
Apart from the warm touch, a chill and a creeping sensation started to take over. It felt like a blade was pressing into his consciousness.
“Touching the Instructor’s hand as soon as you wake up… Cadet Rohan, you have quite the habit, don’t you?”
“!?”
Juyun’s voice pierced his ears. Rohan’s eyes shot open, and he panicked, trying to sit up.
“Relax. It’s a joke, just lie down.”
Juyun pressed a finger to Rohan’s forehead, pinning the back of his head to the pillow. In this situation, the only thing Rohan could freely move was his mouth.
“Ahem…! Good morning, Instructor.”
A morning greeting he hadn’t given in who knows how long. Juyun blinked for a moment, then smiled in the dark room.
“I’d like to accept your greeting, but it’s still dawn. Sleep more to recover.”
“…”
As Juyun removed her finger from his forehead, she grabbed the blanket that had slipped down from Rohan’s struggle and pulled it up to his neck.
“Don’t mind me. I just came by briefly to check on you, just in case.”
“Thank you for your concern. It’s been a long time since I’ve slept this comfortably… All thanks to you, Instructor.”
This cadet really has a way with words, even when he’s just woken up. Juyun chuckled softly, recalling the sleep-talking she’d heard from Rohan earlier in the morning, and cautiously asked.
“Were you so nervous about being at the Instructor’s place that you had a nightmare or something?”
“Dreams… I usually don’t remember them when I wake up.”
Rohan was the type who only retained a vague sense of having drifted through dreams.
“I see.”
“Yep.”
Juyun seemed relieved by his answer as she got up from the bed. Then, with soft footsteps, she moved away from the bed.
“Not enough for a good night’s sleep, so go to bed. I’ll accept your morning greeting then.”
Before Rohan could even respond, the door quietly closed.
Rohan did as Juyun said and slept some more.
If he wanted to shake off the label of being a troublemaker, he had to listen well, right? Looking back, it was a fine example of following orders.
When he opened his eyes for the second time.
Rohan opened his status window to check his condition and rewards.
『Name: Rohan
Health: 97%
Mana: 99%
Affiliation: Southern Ruins’ Remnant
Organization: Orion Academy
Attributes: [Physical] [Fire]
Status: ─
Remaining Points: 3,796P』
“Hmm, no status effects, so my body should be fine.”
The remaining points were also impressive. With the 1,500P quest reward, his wallet had grown significantly.
It seemed like he was close to being able to buy a random skill book.
“Phew!”
Rohan exhaled, got up, and stepped out of bed. He neatly arranged the blanket with precision.
He used to be sloppy in the dormitory, but now, how could he be?
Satisfied with the neatly folded blanket, he grabbed the doorknob.
*Creak.*
As he opened the door and stepped out, Juyun, sitting at the table and looking at her phone, glanced at him.
The sensation of coming out of the bedroom and facing Juyun felt oddly thrilling.
“You’re up. Good morning.”
“Instructor. Good morning.”
Rohan raised the corners of his mouth as if he had been waiting for Juyun’s morning greeting.
“How’s your condition?”
“My wounds are fine. Just… my head feels foggy from sleeping too much.”
“I see. Breakfast will be ready soon, so go wash up.”
“Yep!”
Hearing the word “breakfast,” he started to feel hungry.
He was curious about the menu but didn’t ask. If Juyun prepared it, he’d have to lick the plate clean, right?
Rohan headed straight to wash up.
*Splaaaaash!*
Water poured into the sink.
Rohan woke himself up with cold water, then lifted his head and looked ahead.
“…What a mess.”
It wasn’t about the bandages or wounds on his body.
He had slept so soundly in this new place that, looking in the mirror above the sink, his hair had turned into a bird’s nest.
After cleaning up as neatly as possible, he came out to find Juyun bustling around the kitchen, having left the dining table.
As Rohan quietly watched her back, Juyun moved her hands and spoke.
“Sit down and wait a moment.”
“Instructor, is there anything I can help with?”
“It’s fine.”
“Anyway, the owner knows where the stuff is, so just stay put.”
Without a word, he sits down at the dining table.
It’s the seat across from where Juyun was sitting earlier.
“You said last time there’s no food you avoid, right? Except for bad-tasting food, you eat everything, right?”
“Correct.”
Clearly, this was the conversation they had when Juyun visited the Flowering Chrysanthemum Bookstore and treated him to dinner.
“Then, if there are leftovers today, it means the Instructor’s food is bad.”
“I’ll even chew the bowl!”
“Hmph, just kidding, don’t chew the bowl. Breakfast in Samhwa Country can be hit or miss, so it might not suit your taste.”
With that, Juyun checks the rice cooker timer, which has 3 minutes left.
Feeling it’s the right moment, he changes the subject.
“There was a report from the Security Officer early this morning. Let me briefly explain the situation.”
“I’m all ears.”
“First, since it’s a small organization, we believe there are no remnants. The on-site investigation seems to be concluded as well.”
The explanation is brief, but they’ve thoroughly examined the members’ smartphones, electronic devices, internet accounts, websites used, and transaction records.
Not to mention, the quick-footed Security Officers must have worked tirelessly all night.
“And the firearms and swords Rohan used were the organization’s weapons, so they’ll be submitted as evidence. It’s a shame, but I’ll request the Instructor to add a separate bonus for that.”
“Thank you!”
If it’s converted into money, I’m all for it.
Although the machete had a certain charm, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted.
Besides, without Juyun, this process would have been tough.
“Hmm, and there’s one more thing to confirm.”
“What is it?”
“The Security Bureau plans to announce this incident as involving an Orion Academy Cadet. They’ve asked for consent to include Rohan’s real name. If you prefer, we can omit the Cadet title and just announce the organization’s destruction.”
“I think it’s better to include my real name.”
At Rohan’s immediate answer, Juyun turns around from the kitchen.
His eyes show a rare expression of surprise.
“That’s an unexpected decision. Why?”
“I think it’s necessary for the future.”
Originally, he might have hidden even the fact that he’s a Cadet, as Juyun expected.
But for the business Rohan and Clara are planning, even a speck of fame would be beneficial. This is a rare good opportunity.
“The future… So, a direction other than being a Security Officer?”
“Correct.”
Juyun is convinced by Rohan’s firm voice.
Rohan seems like the type who can handle things well without much explanation.
“Then I’ll relay that. The class will be noisy on Monday. You’ll be a good example.”
Juyun
Gilbert was told to keep an eye on Rohan so he wouldn’t scream, and he placed a bowl of rice and soup in front of Rohan.
And even grilled fish.
“Luxury overload!”
Rohan cleaned up two bowls right on the spot.
Before leaving, he tried to bow deeply as a sign of gratitude, but Juyun stopped him, leaving him quite disappointed.
··
··
“Manager, see you on Monday!”
─ Alright. Take care!
After confirming the call had ended, Rohan exhaled and laughed.
When he asked if he could take a day off from his part-time job, the manager said it was fine before even hearing the reason.
He was already planning to take his grandson out in the afternoon, so the sooner, the better.
After hearing all that, Rohan briefly explained that he was injured, which ended up taking 7 minutes on the call.
‘They said I can take off the bandage and wash tonight.’
The Security Bureau must’ve applied some really good medicine.
The wound is already itching, feeling like new skin is growing.
[Clara: So, I won’t see you today? Are you staying in the dorm? (◕︵◕)]
[Juyun Instructor: If the Security Bureau calls, make sure to report to the instructor.]
Busily exchanging messages on the way back to the dorm.
He was typing furiously when—
Bzzzz──! Bzzzz──!
A call came in.
‘Huh?’
It wasn’t a registered number. But you have to answer calls from numbers like this.
As Juyun said, it could be the Security Bureau. Or there’s another possibility.
“Yes, I’m here.”
─ ···.
No words, just silence. A faint breath could be heard.
─ ···.
The silence stretched on without a response. The breathing grew tangled.
Rohan called out the name of someone who came to mind.
“Sion?”
The next foreshadowing of the main story hadn’t even appeared yet.
But a gut feeling told him something was about to begin.
