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

Title: Academy City Became a Human Rights Case - Chapter 114 > Arctic Bunny - Web Novel Library [Purchased an Exclusive Weapon.] Rohan thrust his hand into the swirling space. He grasped at nothing, feeling only the rhythmic pulsing reminiscent of a heartbeat. A voice seeped into his consciousness. ["Two must become one, and for one, there must be two."] The pulsing halted. Condensed power coursed through his hand. Instinctively, Rohan freed both hands. The long sword, its edge dulled from slicing through hard objects, returned to its sheath. The gun he borrowed from Shion was placed on the ground. A force from beyond space took form. First, in his right hand, a longsword with a cross guard and pommel. [**Brilliance**] ◇ Decreases mana consumption for Celestial Verdict Sword (天日聖裁劍) ◇ Increases power of Celestial Verdict Sword (天日聖裁劍) ◇ Can use points to repair if damaged ◇ Grows upon accumulating experience to reach the limit It had the perfect weight. The handle wrapped around his hand as if custom-made. Having absorbed blazing intensity, the sword embodied a unique heat unlike any weapon he had ever wielded. The blade embraced and contained the sensation of love for flames. And in his left hand, an automatic pistol. [**Stigma**] ◇ Decreases mana consumption for assigning weaknesses ◇ Bullets enter a state of fire branding, increasing mana capacity and hardness ◇ Can use points to repair if damaged ◇ Grows upon accumulating experience to reach the limit The sleek, shiny silver form was appropriately sized and comfortable in his hand. A full magazine was loaded. ‘Stacking? Growth…? I've never seen equipment with such options.’ In Abyss City, to finalize a weapon, one must obtain the same weapon six times to stack it to level five. But this weapon was different. The attack power or additional effects weren’t specified in numbers, but the explanation involved growth through experience rather than stacking. Clack! Holding the full weaponry with regret, Rohan bit down on the gun and pulled the slide back. ‘Ah, whatever. I don’t understand complicated things.’ There wasn't room for deep thought right now. One thing was clear: this weapon was perfect for him. That was enough. “Oh, brother?” “Rohan… what is that…?” Surprised gazes fell upon the suddenly appeared armaments. They could somehow accept it, though bewildered. Like Noa’s exclusive weapon, Fimbulvetr, there were rare instances of compressed form equipment existing. “I’ll explain later. Let’s deal with this quickly first.” Focusing mana into the pistol named Stigma, mana streamed into the bullets like water, and a skill was loaded instantaneously. Rohan pulled the trigger. Bang! His target was the massive scorpion. The bullet pierced its thick exoskeleton. ─ Screeeeech!!! The monster’s cry, filled with pain. The effect was already evident. [Assigning a physical attribute weakness to the target.] For Rohan’s team, the common weakness was physical. After firing the shot, Rohan charged ahead, with Shion and Clara following closely behind. Clack! Loading another skill while rushing forward. One shot at the Hue Beetle leader, who was ramming its head against the shutter. ─ Crk! Crurkle! [Assigning a physical attribute weakness to the target.] The beast, which had been incessantly scratching at the sturdy shutter, raised its head. Bullet-struck leader creatures turned their attention towards Rohan. “I’ll go right! You two take the left!” Strengthening his grip on the weapon, he directed Shion and Clara. He swung the sword held in his right hand. [**Single Blade - Flame Sever**] ───Chearak! The gigantic scorpion was split not vertically, but horizontally. The hard claws and shell-like armor split smoothly in two. Like a bread bun waiting for a patty, the monster split up and down with a rip. [+5P] Simultaneously signaling the monster’s demise. “!” Rohan was surprised at the lack of resistance he felt. Even with an attached weakness, it should take considerable force to split such beasts. It was like slicing through stiff paper without effort. The blade, aptly named Brilliance, was undoubtedly an excellent sword. “Doing that with just one hand? Impressive.” “As expected of you, brother…!” The girls, having dealt with the giant beetle, returned and gasped at the scorpion’s sliced surface. Regardless of Rohan’s skills, the clean cut of the slash invoked admiration. “Are we done? Well done, both of you.” Rohan returned the gun placed on the ground to Shion and assessed the situation. There was no need to forcefully open the shutters to rescue civilians. The leader of the mummies had been dealt with by Ichinose and Noa. The security officers were swiftly handling the remaining monsters, and the situation was stabilizing quickly. There were no visible monsters left. 'Should I report to the instructor?' If multiple rifts had formed in Academy City, Juyeon would be extremely busy. A single message of being unharmed would suffice. “Rohan.” “Yeah?” “So, what’s that weapon about?” “I…I’m curious too…!” How should he explain this? He felt they would probably understand whatever he told them, but he didn’t wish to build lies into this relationship. Taking it lightly might lead to an irreversible point. “I have a skill that lets me procure things like water, remember?” They recalled when the two were taken by the Monolith. They acknowledged with a surprised Ah!, seemingly already convinced. “So it’s not just food that’s possible. That’s an amazing power.” “Instead, weapons like these require immense resources. They can’t be compared to water or food.” “Brother… does that mean you won’t need the gun shop then…?” “I still need to visit for a holster and to stock up on bullets, even though I have the gun.” Clara's expression brightened upon hearing the plan. It seemed she really wanted to go there. “For now, should I modify the existing leather sheath to fit the sword quickly?” “Not a bad idea, but wouldn’t it be better to order a proper one today?” “If there’s a shop I can ask to do it. The situation's uncertain, so I wonder if businesses are running normally.” “Wouldn’t it be times like these that weapon shops see more business?” “Certainly, there’s a point to what Clara says.” It's time to part ways with the longsword that still has ongoing payments. Rough handling coupled with slicing through a few unmarked beetles and scorpions had left its blade nicked and jagged. Considering the repair costs, saying goodbye now felt right. ‘You’ve been through a lot under such a rough owner.’ Today, the well-worn longsword achieved notoriety by its final plunge into the leader creature. Rohan bid farewell to his weapon. Meanwhile, Shion and Clara directed their gaze upwards. Their eyes held a gentle wistfulness. “I just hope we can retrieve what we purchased.” “Oh…” They remembered the fact that their purchased lingerie and pajamas were still wrapped up inside the store. As Rohan’s group cooperated with the peacekeepers investigating the mall scene, Ichinose and Noa finished talking with other peacekeepers and joined the group. “Is everyone safe?” “Wow! All that exertion made me hungry!” The two appeared safe to any observer. Noa, brimming with eager energy, seemed slightly intoxicated by the thrill of battle—a trait befitting her combative lineage among the beastfolk. “We’re fine. I already reported to the instructor.” “We’re all right…” Ichinose exhaled deeply with relief. Meanwhile, Noa wagged her tail with gentle confidence. “What kind of disaster is this? I just got word that not only Academy City, but multiple small-scale rifts have appeared in Samhwaguk as well.” “Tigrova too! But they suppressed it quickly! I hear other countries are experiencing similar things?” “This all feels ominous.” Fixing the makeshift sheath strapped to his back, Rohan mused over the situation. It wasn’t a moment to rest on the miracle of there being no casualties inside the mall. ‘This wasn’t how sudden quests used to be.’ In Abyss City, dimensional rifts or monoliths appearing wasn’t uncommon. But never had they manifested so senselessly and simultaneously. ‘Perhaps that’s just a game allowance, and this is the harsh reality…’ Could this be linked to the disruption of the main storyline? He had a sense things wouldn’t be smooth going forward. “Cadets, we’ve lifted the disaster shutters, so you can retrieve your belongings now.” “Oh! Thank you.” The peacekeeper expressed gratitude and began moving swiftly with a radio in hand. Rohan looked at the dizzyingly high ceiling of the shopping mall. “Let’s get our things and head out.” As he prepared to move, a hand tugged on his sleeve. The grip wasn’t that of Shion or Clara, naturally prompting him to turn. “What?” He noticed a young girl. She wasn’t wearing a school uniform. Her casual attire made it unclear if she was an academy cadet. Shion and Clara, on their way to retrieve their items, paused, stunned. Ichinose watched silently, observing Rohan and the girl. Meanwhile, Noa blinked nonchalantly in her usual carefree manner. “Um, excuse me!” “Who are you?” With short hair that, when seen from the back, might be mistaken for a boy, her face showed a distinctly tomboyish cuteness. “Thank you for saving me…!” Her voice rang loudly and clear. Thanks to that, Rohan remembered. “Ah!” He recalled passing by while crushing monsters. She was the girl fighting monsters to protect people at a vending machine. Her movements, using fists and legs, came back to him faintly. “You fought well yourself. Good work.” “I will strive diligently…!” Her speech was unique and intriguing. Her actions resembled those from a martial arts dojo. “And, and…” “And?” “I’m graduating high school next year and aiming to enroll at Orion Academy!” The girl’s gaze was direct and sincere as she looked at Rohan. Her eyes sparkled with a clear, determined purpose. “Once you’re in, I’ll be your senior. Work hard.” “...Senior! I’ll give it my all to get in!” Simultaneously, the girl’s hands shook slightly, as if trembling. She pulled out her phone and held it out to Rohan. “C-c-c-could I, could I… find out more a-about the a-academy?” Despite the apparent inexperience, she nodded slowly, her face beet red. Rohan, finding humor in this rare experience, laughed as he keyed in his number. The girl, bowing deeply as if her head might touch the ground, ran off to her friends, who seemed to be waiting nearby. High-pitched, lively shrieks erupted from the group. “““...””” The women, who had been observing the scene intently instead of going upstairs, began to fill with various emotions.