As time passed, it wasn’t just the sword bought on installment that Rohan swung around.
While Rohan juggled studying and training, anomalies involving the Monolith occurred four times in a foreign country whose name Rohan didn’t even know.
But so far, there’s only been one returnee.
The information from the sole returnee and survivor, along with the intel Rohan’s group brought back, was cross-verified, and only the overlapping parts were publicly announced.
The biggest difference this time was that the returnee came back covered in wounds.
Rohan checked external information that couldn’t be obtained in Abyss City.
He also investigated the names Lowell and Jenny from the second restricted-access document.
He spent a lot of time on the internet, but with just simple searches, there were too many people with the same names to narrow it down easily.
He tried compressing the search by considering if they might be related to Solaria in the south.
But even limiting the region, he couldn’t find any plausible information.
“[Lowell… Jenny… We will fulfill your wishes…]”
He muttered it again and pondered.
“The sentence itself seems to refer to people… but maybe it’s not a person’s name?”
Rohan’s assumptions kept piling up in his head.
It was also unclear if these were names that shouldn’t be spoken aloud, making it awkward to ask someone to look into it.
It felt like the only way was to go and find out directly.
Amidst the gloomy progress of even the Shop skill being under maintenance, there was one piece of good news.
Rohan finally received his first paycheck at the Flowering Chrysanthemum Bookstore.
Today, as usual, he decided to treat Clara, who was sitting in the corner of the bookstore, to a nice dinner.
“Look at this! I can even push through stage 4 on my own now!”
“Congratulations, oppa!”
“If I level up one more party, I might even tackle stage 5!”
After finishing their meal, they enjoyed drinks and played games together.
“Oh, right. Clara.”
“Did you call?”
Before leaving the dining hall, Rohan rummaged through his jacket pocket.
He handed Clara half of his paycheck from the bookstore.
“It’s pretty late, huh.”
This was a reward for helping out when dealing with the human trafficking organization, Huangshan.
Considering Clara’s abilities and skills, the amount felt ridiculously insufficient, and he felt sorry, but he planned to make up for it by taking care of her as much as possible when they worked together in the future.
“Sorry the payment’s late. I heard the committee’s done, so the reward money should come out soon. Let’s go house hunting then.”
“O-oppa! This much money… I’m fine!”
He knew this would happen. Rohan had to deal with Clara’s protests.
I had expected this kind of situation.
I knew the girl in front of me wouldn’t take money gracefully, so I thought a lot before coming here.
“Clara.”
“Huh…?”
“Remember what we talked about last time? You decided to work with me from now on, right?”
Clara nodded without hesitation at Rohan’s question.
Her purple twin tails wagged like a puppy’s tail.
“Even though it won’t be official until after we graduate from the Academy?”
“Yeah. I know.”
Even though Rohan mentioned the risks, the girl’s eyes were still filled with anticipation.
So, thank you. That’s why I can speak seriously.
“Then we need to handle the money part properly. That way, I can feel at ease too.”
“Ugh… I-I really don’t mind…”
Clara seemed to have nothing else to say but “it’s okay,” as she fidgeted with her lips.
Sensing that they were almost there, Rohan smiled contentedly and recalled the moments they had in the dungeon.
“And.”
“Yeah?”
“You told me not to keep saying ‘it’s okay’ to you. I feel the same way.”
“…!”
As she was reminded of the time she impulsively expressed her feelings, Clara’s face turned red.
She quickly averted her gaze and sipped her juice through a straw.
“Take this. It’s the money you deserve. If you don’t take it, I’ll just leave it at the dining hall.”
“Thank you, oppa… I’ll use it well.”
Clara now knows for sure. Rohan would really do that.
From the moment he said he’d feel better if she took the money, her actions were already limited.
“Spend it on whatever you want, Clara.”
“Okay!”
“Is there anything you want to buy? Just curious.”
“…Something I want to buy?”
At Rohan’s question, Clara swirled the ice with her straw and thought about it.
When she first settled in the academy city, she had thought that if she ever earned money properly, she would invest in games first.
But now, she wanted to buy pretty clothes and get new underwear.
Things that went beyond just self-satisfaction.
Before going to the bookstore where Rohan worked, she had been thinking every day that she didn’t have enough clothes.
‘I want to pay when I eat with oppa…’
But she keeps these thoughts hidden.
“Nail art gel and some cubic decorations?”
This answer wasn’t exactly a lie either.
“Cubic, you mean those gem-like things on nails, right?”
“Yeah…! You can get a set for 15 tokens.”
“Uh.”
Anyway, Clara buys cheap stuff at the general store.
Even if she splurges on nail-related items, it won’t cost more than 1 coin.
“Did you do your nails yourself? Not at a salon?”
“Salons are expensive… and, you know, you have to talk to people…”
Rohan couldn’t help but laugh.
It was such a Clara-like reason.
In moments like these, Rohan realizes the value of everyday life.
It’s like he’s gained the motivation to study like crazy and swing his sword until bedtime.
“Clara’s got some serious skills—”
**BZZZZT!!!**
Rohan and Clara’s phones rang simultaneously, cutting off their conversation.
It wasn’t just them—every customer in the store was checking their phones.
A message with a red exclamation mark.
It was sent by the Security Bureau protecting the academy city.
[Elysium Security Bureau: Today at 19:37 / Simultaneous armed attacks by criminal groups at national weapon stores / Planned robbery-murders occurring simultaneously / Expected escape routes include the academy city / Photos attached / Report to the Security Bureau if you spot similar suspects…]
Rohan’s eyes widened as he saw the familiar photo attached to the message.
Looking down from the dining hall, he saw Security Bureau vehicles busily moving around.
‘A sign!’
With that realization, the waiting came to an end.
A semi-transparent notification window popped up in front of him.
[A quest has been triggered.]
[The Shattered Crown, Act 2]
◇ Quest Details: The criminals, driven by greed, will invade the academy city. They have loose lips. The moment Lord Seolho hears they’re after Frozenheart, everyone involved won’t make it out unscathed. But we know this: the dead tell no tales.
◇ Category: Main Story
◇ Success Reward: Transcendence x1, Random Point Pouch
◇ Failure Penalty: None
‘The dead tell no tales. Silence them…’
It means to deal with them before they’re caught by the officers and blab about the elf elders’ plans.
Simple logic, but they’ll need to move fast without leaving traces of battle.
And the reward.
The word “Transcendence” stood out. Rohan couldn’t help but be intrigued.
‘Could it be the Transcendence I know?’
In Abyss City, if you pull the same character consecutively, you can use the Transcendence system.
It’s a system that allows up to 6 Transcendences and was a major contributor to Abyss City’s revenue.
‘First, let’s move.’
Quest confirmed. He’ll figure out the reward once he gets it.
Rohan stood up from his seat.
He picked up the longsword he had placed beside him.
Clara sensed the change in Rohan’s demeanor 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 got up and started moving, Clara followed, looking at his broad back.
Rohan descended the stairs and slung the sword he was carrying onto his back using a leather harness. He had carried his sword this way even as a Hunter, finding it comfortable.
“Clara, let’s go meet someone today.”
“Huh? Who are we meeting…?”
Rohan grinned at the puzzled girl.
“Sion.”
*****
In a secluded residence where Sion and the elf elders were staying.
A large group of guests had arrived after a long time, from a distant country called Yamala.
The leader of the group had a considerable number of his men wait outside.
Then, with a minimal number of people, he entered the premises.
The boss of this criminal organization, which had dominated a region in Yamala, was a Doberman beastman wearing a beige coat.
He had sharpened his ears to a point through a self-performed ear-cropping surgery, giving him a sharp appearance.
The burly figures accompanying him on either side were also beastmen with aggressive blood.
“Take out the item we saw in the photo. I need to verify if it’s genuine.”
“Here it is.”
The Grand Elder pulled out a coin that gleamed darkly.
On both sides, there were intricately drawn hands.
The unique ominous aura emanating from the coin was something that couldn’t be replicated.
“Confirmed. Explain the request.”
The beastman nodded in satisfaction and handed the coin back.
It would end up in his hands once the mission was complete.
Meanwhile, as the conversation continued inside.
Sion’s room was locked with multiple padlocks hanging from it.
