I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City – Chapter 94

Swoooosh───!!!

Thick raindrops harshly pelt the skin.

In an instant, the rain poured down like a bucket being overturned, and within seconds, they were soaked like drowned rats.

The heavy rain made it hard to even open their eyes.

Yet, Rohan and Ichinose didn’t move from their spots.

There was no point in rushing to find shelter—there was nowhere to go.

“This is going to slow us down even more.”

“…”

This weather wasn’t just affecting Rohan; it was getting to Ichinose too.

Even if she didn’t rely on her sight, this kind of weather could mess with anyone’s senses.

Not good.

“Let’s keep moving for now.”

Rohan marked a tree with his sword and moved forward.

Ichinose nodded and followed behind.

‘…It’s refreshing.’

The rainwater that slipped through her lips quenched her thirst a little.

Her hair and clothes were soaked and heavy, but oddly enough, drinking a bit of water made her feel lighter.

It was the first time she felt good in the rain.

*Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!*

As they trudged through the muddy ground in the dark forest, they spotted a place where massive rocks formed a roof-like shelter.

Going under it, the rain finally let up.

It wasn’t quite a cave, but it was good enough. Both of them let out a sigh of relief at the same time.

“Phew!”

“Hah…”

They faced each other and chuckled.

The absurdity of the situation and their drenched state were just too ridiculous.

“The wind’s not too bad here. Not bad for a random find.”

“This should be enough to make it a temporary base.”

As Ichinose pulled out her sword to shake off the water, Rohan took off his jacket, wrung it out, and laid it on the ground.

“Sit here.”

“…How can I sit on your clothes? I’ll use my own, so put yours back on.”

When Ichinose tried to take off her coat, Rohan quickly stopped her.

“Your clothes are less than half my size.”

“They’re enough for me to sit on.”

“Forget it. Take off your shoes and socks. Wash them in the rain and come back.”

“Huh?”

Rohan’s firm tone left no room for argument about whose clothes to sit on.

“They’re a mess from the mud. It’s better to wash and dry them. I don’t want to see sand rolling around in your shoes tomorrow.”

“I’ll do that myself. I’m an equal cadet, not here to be protected.”

Ichinose’s voice lowered, clearly annoyed. Rohan chuckled at her.

She was clearly someone who held onto her identity as a warrior.

“It’s not about protection or worship. It’s about efficiently dividing the work.”

Rohan used his magic to create a small flame at the tip of his finger.

This was an application made possible by his fire attribute unique skill, the “Heavenly Sun Holy Judgment Sword.”

“Can you keep the fire going while I’m away? If you’ve never done it before, I can handle it.”

“I can do it. It’s just fire, right? You just keep adding stuff to burn, right? I’ll even fan it.”

The rock-made space was deeper and wider than expected.

In the wind-sheltered areas, there were dry grass, twigs, and old animal fur scattered around as kindling.

“Not wrong, but keeping a fire going is harder than you think.”

“…”

Ichinose opened her eyes, sensing something profound.

Rohan’s voice and expression weren’t dismissive or warning.

“I thought about keeping the fire myself, but I also need to tend to the Hornbird. And I need to make a device to collect rainwater.”

Unlike people who unconsciously carry disdain in their words and gazes.

He wasn’t mocking or ignoring her small stature or femininity.

It was more like a father camping with his cherished daughter.

There was a kindness that made her feel puzzled.

“First, take off your socks and shoes. Quickly.”

“Don’t rush me… Just turn around for a moment.”

Rohan, still smiling, leaned his longsword against the uneven wall.

He picked up a spare short sword he had brought.

Ichinose, after checking on Rohan a few times as he gathered firewood, sat down and removed her muddy shoes and damp socks.

Her small, pale feet, even though wet.

The girl fidgeted with her toes, feeling like this wasn’t something to show to the opposite sex.

“Um… Here.”

“Then I’ll just start the fire and go?”

“Okay.”

Ichinose tried to help, but there was no room for her in his skilled movements.

No matter what she tried, she just ended up hovering around.

Without a word, Rohan gathered the kindling and built the base, then tucked the muddy shoes and socks under his arm.

He carried the Hornbird and the short sword as he walked outside.

Singing about wanting to wash off the blood, he seemed excited about the opportunity.

As he briskly walked towards the entrance, Rohan added one more thing.

“It’s better to wring out your clothes even if they get wrinkled. Don’t rely on magic too much, or you’ll catch a cold.”

The sound of footsteps fading away.

Ichinose silently stood up, watching the fire Rohan had started.

‘Indeed… to maintain body temperature, I should wring out my clothes…’

She moved away from the fire Rohan had started and wrung out the hem of her skirt. Water trickled down.

And then it hit me.

The kind of picture you can only see if you rely on your vision.

‘The shirt is like underwear…’

Even though I’m wearing a T-shirt underneath, the outline faintly shows through.

A picture that, even in the dark, would be visible enough to those with magical power.

Had Rohan been seeing me like this all along?

“…”

My hands trembled as I undid the buttons.

So that’s why he cut me off earlier and told me not to take it off.

*Tap! Tap!*

As I continued to think, I undid the buttons.

Ichinose felt embarrassed but couldn’t relax.

Being in underwear outside? There’s a limit to how far you can go off the rails.

“Phew…”

But still, clarity in the mirror.

Exhaling the rising heat, I steadied my mind.

‘I have to act like it’s nothing…’

Before being a woman, I am the proud successor of Tengetsu and a martial artist.

Would I cower if my clothes were torn in battle? That’s just asking for death.

‘Let’s stay calm.’

I need to keep my composure.

If I make a fuss and act flustered, it’ll be awkward for both me and Rohan.

*****

“Huh.”

Rohan was busy moving around in the rain.

He cleaned his shoes and socks as much as possible and placed them where the rain wouldn’t reach.

He even quickly prepared by cutting sturdy leaves resembling banana leaves to collect rainwater.

Now, he picked up a dagger. He began to dismantle the Hornbird.

He cut it into large pieces and washed them. There was quite a lot.

‘I wonder how it’ll taste.’

I’d chew on anything as long as it fills my stomach.

But for Ichinose, it should taste familiar, like chicken or turkey.

Filling a large leaf with the cut-up Hornbird,

Rohan, holding Ichinose’s socks and shoes in one hand, called out at the entrance.

“Ichinose. Can I come in?”

─ Uh… come in for now!

Her voice, while agreeing, sounded urgent.

Only after entering did Rohan realize why.

“!”

He saw a campfire that had been stuffed with too much firewood, now dead.

Only a faint gray smoke rose.

“Th-this… I mean…”

Ichinose, who had been blowing on the campfire while lying down, looked up.

Golden eyes filled with guilt. Cute, shriveled toes.

Rohan couldn’t help but laugh at Ichinose’s appearance.

··

··

The campfire came back to life under Rohan’s touch.

And the cooking began immediately.

Using a longsword as a skewer, he pierced chunks of Hornbird meat.

The searing heat…

Cooking with the Scorching Blade and a campfire.

Ichinose, who had quenched her thirst with the water Rohan brought, couldn’t take her eyes off the sizzling piece of meat.

The girl’s gaze was filled with hesitation about eating a monster.

But her throat gulped down saliva, endlessly triggering Rohan’s laughter.

It’s just that Ichinose herself didn’t realize it.

Time passed without breaking Ichinose’s concentration.

Rohan used his dagger to cut open the meat, confirming it was perfectly cooked.

He carved out the Hornbird’s leg with his dagger, placed it on a leaf, and set it in front of Ichinose.

He took the first bite, claiming it was fit for royalty.

“It’s not as good as chicken, but it’s decent. Try it.”

“Th-thank you for the meal.”

The girl hesitated, then slowly put the meat in her mouth.

Chewing like a hamster with her small mouth.

After a few chews, she blinked in surprise, finding it unexpectedly good. She moved her mouth again and swallowed.

“Edible?”

“…”

Perhaps embarrassed by her initial hesitation.

Ichinose nodded shyly with a red face.

“Eat a lot. Even if it’s just meat, hunger is the best seasoning.”

“That… makes perfect sense.”

Ichinose thanked Rohan and sat down to fill her stomach.

It was a moment of realization—how precious the things she had taken for granted were, and how terrifying hunger and thirst could be.

‘He really doesn’t rest.’

That was Ichinose’s observation.

Rohan was diligent. He kept working without a break.

She wanted to do something too, but she didn’t know what.

Unable to decide easily, Ichinose began cleaning the moisture and grease off Rohan’s longsword.

After finishing, she called out to Rohan, who was still busy.

“Rohan.”

“Yeah?”

The way he turned at his name reminded her of a big dog.

Ichinose, with a faint smile, shifted her hips to the side and patted the spot on her clothes.

“Sit here.”