111 - I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

The academy session ended sooner than expected. After the personal interview, Juyeon returned to Class 1 and listened to the explanations which marked the conclusion. The essential takeaway was that they now had a holiday. The days originally scheduled for exams were all declared holidays. With a weekend right after, the cadets practically had an extended break. As Rohan checked his phone on his way to the meeting place, the time read 11:40. Just before lunchtime. ‘With this free time, maybe I should increase my training.’ If he wanted to even get a rudimentary grasp of the third sword, he needed to make full use of this holiday. After attending to today’s errands, dedicating his time solely to the sword wouldn’t be a bad idea. "Rohan!" "Rohan. Over here." Rohan, who had been lost in thought while looking at his calendar, raised his head. Even amidst the crowd, Shion and Clara stood out with their striking appearances. Shion wore a pair of jeans and a sweater that exuded the scent of spring in April. From the size, it was clear they weren't his clothes, and from the style, definitely not borrowed from Clara either. It was certain this outfit was new. “What’s this, did you already buy clothes?” “This is the only new piece I’ve bought. I plan to buy a few more today.” “Ah.” Rohan gave a short nod of admiration. Shion fidgeted with her outfit nervously and asked. “...Does this look strange?” “Strange? It’s beautiful.” “!” The saying that fashion is completed with the face rang true here—Shion seemed to have an innate sense of style that suited her well. Probably a natural talent. “Oh, Rohan, and what about me...?” “Why waste words? You’re beautiful as well.” At Rohan’s casual praise, the girls exchanged glances and smiled bashfully. Clara hid her expression by lowering her head deep. Shion took a step toward Rohan. “Rohan, if I asked who’s more beautiful, would that be difficult?” The elven girl added a sweet voice to her deepened smile, teasing. Rohan darted his eyes to the sky as if trying to escape. They knew him well. “...Let’s get moving. Where to first?” Meeting the real estate agent Yooho had introduced from Tigroba was scheduled for the afternoon. First, they headed to the large shopping mall located in the academy city. With the academy ending early, many first-year cadets were visible in the vicinity. “Rohan, don’t you have anything to buy?” “Ah, I do, but I can’t buy it here. I can get it later. I’d like to ask for both of your advice then.” “Hmm?” “Advice from sis and me...?” Two pairs of eyes simultaneously turned toward him. Rohan smiled, gathering magic at his fingertip and flicked it lightly. Though it held no power, the form of the discharged magic clearly expressed its intent, which caused the girls’ eyes to widen. “I’ve discovered a new talent. Perhaps you’ve realized it from living together?” “Oh, can Rohan use guns too!?” “I did try using one in the last exam. I couldn't control the magic well, so the firearm was damaged.” “So it’s not something you could always do, but you suddenly figured it out?” “Yeah. This time, the method just hit me while trying to use a skill.” “...That’s unheard of.” The ability to infuse projectiles with magic isn’t something that can be taught through education. Just as some people have dimples when they smile while others do not, and the color of one's eyes and hair can differ, it's an element given to a person irrespective of their will. It was hard for Rohan to explain the concept of skill leveling up, so he skipped the explanation and went straight to the point. “I’d like you two to recommend a handy handgun.” Shion and Clara's eyes sparkled with interest simultaneously. “You with a handgun...!” “If Rohan has a preference, recommending one shouldn't be a problem. What model was the handgun you used on the island?” Rohan crossed his arms and rubbed his chin, struggling to recall the faded name. “Kangseol-75?” “Pretty standard.” “A typical mass-produced model.” Rohan's smile widened at the thought that they had come to the right place. An agreement in opinions is surely a promising sign. “I trust you.” Watching Rohan express his anticipation, as if a particular firearm came to mind, the two girls started chatting like excited canaries. “Oh, I think a hefty handgun with a rotary bolt structure suits you! One that uses Magnum rounds...!” “If it’s gas operated with a rotary bolt, it’d be large enough to get in the way when wielding a sword. As a secondary weapon, a stainless steel revolver isn’t bad. These days, holsters are neat, and with a 2-inch model, there’s no discomfort.” “Still... you have large hands and thick fingers, so I think a masculine handgun would match well...” “True, I understand. But we can’t neglect portability.” The more they delved into the details, the more Shion and Clara's opinions diverged. To Rohan, just observing was enough to envision the future. ‘No doubt, we’ll end up buying two.’ At some point, the group had come to a stop. Rohan resumed walking. “Let’s talk about the handgun after the shopping is done. Gun shops stay open late anyway.” “Ah! Okay...!” “Indeed.” Rohan, after putting them on the escalator first and standing behind, asked. “So what’s the first thing you plan to buy? Clothes?” “Clothes, of course.” “...” Clara clamped her lips shut, and Shion gave a vague response. Sensing the odd tension, Rohan questioned back. “What do you mean?” “Follow us, and you’ll see.” Rohan trailed behind the girls who had gotten off the escalator and ended up at a store specializing in women’s underwear. Inside were a few female academy cadets too. “...” Rohan glanced at Shion. With a confident smile, Shion replied. “Lingerie is clothing too, isn’t it?” “With this logic, why not just call Charizard a grapefruit.” “Charizard?” “Never mind... let’s go in.” With Rohan entering without objection, Shion and Clara began excitedly browsing the merchandise. Holding a hanger, Shion held it up to Rohan as if to show off. “I need lingerie, but I also want to buy some comfy pajamas.” The sheer white fabric was lightweight and completely see-through. Shion's fingers were visible through the material she was holding. “...Isn't that a negligee?” “Well, it’s classified as sleepwear, isn’t it? Am I wrong?” “Well, you’re not technically wrong. But still... hmm...” Seeing it up close, he couldn’t help but imagine. Wouldn't it be quite daring? “Don’t worry. I’m not careless enough to show my skin off to just anyone.” “Well, that’s a relief.” Trying to act fine, but feeling slightly stiff and uneasy. Shion found Rohan's reaction subtly amusing. “Rohan, do you think it would suit me?” “Uh...” ZGVPdDc2cnQxMFU0bVlrbnZITXlVaVdadUZaNERVRUYxeGJiY0JNQytJdUdpTDkxOXFyVEp3aDRkTEdHL0Vybw “Hey, Rohan! What do you think of this?” Clara, on the other hand, seemed to fancy a black negligee, contrasting Shion's choice. She hovered around Rohan with her pick in hand. It felt like being trapped in an impenetrable pressing defense. Rohan’s mouth went dry. ***** After preparing to go out from the dormitory, Noa Frozenheart spotted her prey. Wagging her tail gently and lowering her posture, she spread her arms wide and rushed to embrace her friend as usual. “Nose! Come here, quick!” “...” “Huh?” Contrary to Noa’s expectations that Ichinose would evade, she remained still, seemingly lost in thought and not moving an inch. She fit snugly into Noa’s embrace. “Nose?” The waif-like Ichinose Yui. Or, by her full name, Ichinose Yui. For the first time, she'd been granted the authority to join a meal with someone other than family. Yet, she'd tasted failure. ‘Looking back, it’s surprising. Why did I assume I could succeed without considering failure? Based on what grounds?’ She wondered if all the men who had invited her had endured this same pressure. Though having a prior engagement was a perfectly reasonable explanation, she couldn’t help but worry if he was avoiding the meeting due to feeling burdened, or if dining with her was uncomfortable for him. ‘Maybe I’ve become too accustomed to being respected...’ With these thoughts swirling, she reflected on why she’d been audacious enough to declare she should be regarded as a warrior and not just as a woman. Recalling these boastful moments, she found herself knocking on her own forehead in self-reproach. “Nose? Are you listening? Hey?” Still embraced, Noa gently poked Ichinose’s soft cheek several times. Finally, the petite girl moved her head. “Oh... you’re here.” “What’s up today? Should we just rest?” “It’s fine. But let go now, I can’t breathe.” Ichinose extricated herself from the embrace and naturally began walking. “Can I do some shopping before eating?” “Sure, go ahead. What are you planning to buy?” “My chest has grown again, and my bra has become uncomfortable. It’s suffocating!” “...” Ichinose remained silent at Noa's words. She tightened her grip on her sword and increased her walking pace, with Noa trailing behind, amused by her reaction. Thus, they arrived at the shopping mall in the academy city. Noa and Ichinose stepped onto the escalator. “But why do guys find such fleshy parts so fascinating?” Feeling the stares of the men, Noa inquisitively grabbed and kneaded her own chest. Ichinose sighed, gently swatting away Noa's hand gestures with the sheath of her sword. “...Please stop doing that in public.” “Eee~ Is Nose upset?” “It’s just that you're drawing attention, so please refrain from it. And keep the cutesy antics to a minimum because they’re overwhelming.” “Daddy says my antics are the cutest, though?” “...” Ichinose knew all too well. If she uttered even a single word now, Noa's antics would only double in return. The best course of action was to quietly head to the store. “Ah! It feels like heaven now that the exams are over! Heaven! I can sleep in tomorrow!” “If you sleep too late, you’ll find it tough when the academy resumes.” “It’s fine. Nose, you’ll come to wake me up... huh?” As Noa, hopping around energetically, abruptly halted, Ichinose stopped as well, displaying a look of curiosity due to the sudden action. “What’s up?” Standing still, Noa scrutinized inside the store with keen interest and then calmly called out to a familiar face. “Isn’t that Rohan over there?”