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

As Rohan emerged from the Orion Academy after finishing his shower, he decided to enjoy a cup of coffee. From that moment, two pairs of eyes were glued onto him like gum. The gazes carried no hostility, only overflowing affections. It was no mystery who the gazes belonged to if one were to observe. Armed with a newly purchased high-end observational device, Shion and Clara had left their mansion. For months, they had been lingering around Rohan, failing to make any significant progress, engrossed in their efforts to make a move. Yet, it was not as if they spent this period of unrequited love in vain. The two girls had quite keenly developed what one might call a woman's intuition. Starting from the time Rohan invited them to dine out, introducing a restaurant called Ansimjeong. Since discovering it was the place where Noa Frozenheart and Ichinose Yui had dined together with Rohan. From the moment he mentioned he'd be dining with a friend that evening. Sensing something, they started following Rohan with their equipment in tow. Then it happened. Just as Rohan alighted from a taxi and met Ichinose Yui who had been waiting for him. Shion and Clara saw the expression on Ichinose Yui's face as she talked. It was as if they were looking into a mirror. Her face was just like their own faces when they were with Rohan. Shion looked at Clara and Clara looked at Shion, seeing themselves reflected in each other’s eyes. "..." On the rooftop of a building, Clara took her eyes off the telescope and looked at Shion standing beside her. Judging by Shion's serious expression, she must have felt the same impression. "Shion, sis..." "We're in the same situation, aren't we? With Rohan at the academy, it's no wonder he's popular with the opposite gender." Their infatuation was one thing, but the competition was more formidable than they had imagined. A key figure from one of the great nations, Samhwaguk. The heir to Heaven's Beyond, its biggest corporation. And she was virtuous and beautiful to boot. "Hmm." Shion continued her serious contemplation, feeling the night breeze on the skyscraper. Clara once again glued her eyes to the telescope, tracking the movements of Rohan and Ichinose. 'If she's from Samhwaguk, collaborating might be tough.' Coming from a country where the concept of polygamy was dismissed, could Ichinose Yui, who was raised with different values, cooperatively form an opinion like Clara? ‘Whatever the case may be.’ Considering her feelings, she had no intention of yielding Rohan. Whether it meant throwing dirt in her eyes or sticking a knife in her neck, yielding was not an option. Not even in death. 'Now it becomes urgent...' Gathering their equipment, Shion moved with Clara to the next building to keep tailing Rohan. In light of the confirmation of a new competitor besides Lethe, who had been initiating video calls and sending gifts to Rohan, they needed to take action. It’s vexing. For all their talk about confirming their feelings through confessing, progress was stagnant. How on earth were they supposed to change their relationship with Rohan? Even after trying various methods suggested online and some Clara had seen in animations, they couldn't tell if they were effective. ‘It's ridiculous how paralyzed by a fear of rejection I am that I can't do anything.’ Letting out a sigh, Shion turned her gaze to the night sky. “Sis, look!!!” “?!” Startled by Clara’s urgent voice, Shion lowered her head, which had been gazing at the stars. There, standing in the alley, were the two of them. Appearing before them was a black monolith. Confirmed it. ‘...Monolith!’ Throwing aside their equipment, the two girls instinctively sprang away from the rooftop. The goal was to rush in before something ominous could form its domain. They sprinted with all their might. However, the extensive distance they had secured for a safe observation was a problem. By the time they had closed more than half the distance, the monolith had already enveloped Rohan and Ichinose. “...” All that remained in the alley was a deeply indented mark in the ground. Shion and Clara stood there blankly, staring at the remnants. ***** "..." Rohan opened his eyes. He lay with his back against something. Fortunately, he still had Ichinose in his arms. ‘Where is this...?’ His eyes took in the ceiling of this strange world. A moon radiating a foreign yin energy hung in the sky. The sky was neither blue nor black. Instead, it was awash with a soft red and purple, creating a mysterious ambiance. Rohan raised his head to survey his surroundings. A forest where black roses grew incessantly. A thick mist enveloped everything. The air had a heavy yet sweet aroma. He checked his quest once more. [Nest of the Incubus] ◇ Quest Details: A Monolith, a symbol of anomaly, has appeared in Academy City. Safely escape the distorted space with your companion! ◇ Category: Sudden ◇ Success Reward: 30,000P, Full Party Recovery, Exclusive Main Story Unlocked ◇ Failure Penalty: None ‘...An Incubus. This isn't good.’ Though there are monsters like incubi. In Abyss City, when one speaks of a nightmare creature, they usually mean a succubus. A monster that inflicts the heinous status condition of charm. Especially ruthless and harsh mechanisms for male characters. Already a headache coming on. “Rohan...?” “Ichinose. Are you alright?” She lifted her head from his arms. Once Rohan released her hand, she coughed and got up. "Hmm, I’m fine. But this sticky smell..." With a serious expression, she moved her nose, her eyes widening. As she looked around, her face filled with confusion. “You’ve heard how the Monolith sends people somewhere, right?” “...Is this a dungeon?” “That’s right.” Rohan affirmed as he scoped the surroundings. ‘First, we need to figure out our direction.’ It wasn’t necessary to immediately explain that they were in the nest of an incubus. Ichinose, encountering the monsters here, would quickly reach the conclusion on her own. ‘With all this mist, it makes it hard to decide.’ If there were buildings in sight, making rough guesses would be possible, but with the dense fog, even Rohan found it hard to orientate. Still, he felt some relief knowing he had secured his weapons. It allowed him some cold-blooded composure to survey the area. ‘Let's leave some marks as we move.’ He made his decision. Taking his eyes off the profusely blooming black roses, he looked at Ichinose. She remained stiffly frozen, unable to find the composure to look around, likely due to the unease of first experiencing such an event. In a way, this was the most expected reaction. Rohan approached Ichinose and gently poked her soft cheek with his finger. Her head turned towards him. Her pretty face was filled with anxiety. "Don't worry. I'll figure something out." "Rohan..." "You know I'm the first person to return alive from a Monolith, right? Trust me." Rohan hadn't exactly broadcasted this fact, but Ichinose probably knew. Information would have reached the higher-ups of powerful nations. "Heuuu..." Ichinose let out a long sigh, her tension easing a bit. ZGVPdDc2cnQxMFU0bVlrbnZITXlVckV0dzdRa1dUdHVieDRkWW5KMFlONG9MdjYydGNCMGFrK2FaYTg3WlNWaw "Just be ready to treat me to a steak dinner when we get back, 'Engae-nose.'" "...Once we get back, I'll book out a place so you can eat everything." "That's just torture by food. Just buy me a normal one." Rohan took out his phone and set a timer. Breaking off a tree branch, he picked a black rose from the ground, holding it down with a stone to leave behind a trace. Then he started walking. Ichinose cautiously followed behind him. About five minutes into their silent walk, Ichinose couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up. "Rohan. Where do you think we are?" "Based on experience, we're in an entirely separate world. The sky's color is strange, isn't it?" "...That's what you said dungeons were. A foolish question, I guess." "Not at all. It's a reasonable doubt." Saying this, Rohan drew his blade with a whispering sound from its sheath on his back. Ichinose also felt the unknown creatures slowly approaching and placed a hand on her blade, Yoru, preparing herself. Unlike the tense Ichinose, Rohan could guess what monsters would come. 'The minions of nightmares are largely two types.' The state people fall into after succubi or incubi have finished with them was covered even in Orion Academy's theoretical classes. Creatures completely drained of vitality by nightmares, discarded husks. Then there are the Pleasure Dolls, who attracted the attention of nightmares for their appearance or abilities, becoming their toys. Husks are as empty as discarded fruit shells, encountered more often in the wilderness or outskirts. Pleasure Dolls, in contrast, are typically found in the nightmares' lairs. Husks are little different from zombies, making them straightforward to handle, but dealing with Pleasure Dolls and nightmares can vary greatly depending on the circumstances. ─ Ahhh... Uhhh... ─ Ugh... Forms muttering meaningless sounds finally came into view. As expected, these were three husks. Their translucent gray skin, sunken eyes, and withered faces. Moving sluggishly like zombies. ‘No surprises in this dungeon.’ All the husks were male. The probability they'd encounter succubi rather than incubi just skyrocketed. "Ichinose. They're husks." "Husks, huh..." One piece of information is enough. By now, Ichinose would have concluded what kind of monsters they would face in the dungeon. "Hup!" As Rohan stepped forward and slashed through the air with his blade, a semicircle of light formed. With a single move, the husks’ bodies were split at the waist and fell apart. [+2P] [+2P] [+2P] Rohan did not hesitate to strike down those who were once human. For them, death was the only release and salvation. "Rohan..." "Hm?" "What if you fall under the succubus's charm...?" So she reached that conclusion. Rohan was inwardly pleased, but Ichinose felt a pang in her heart as she spoke. Her mouth went dry, and her hands trembled. "Just stab me somewhere, like in the thigh. Or hit my solar plexus with the hilt. The pain should wake me up." "H-How can you say that!" There are various ways to resist the allure of a succubus. The most famous and effective method is through sharp pain that jolts you awake. "Do you have another method?" "..." Speaking seriously, Rohan resumed walking. "If you hesitate and I turn into a husk, it’ll be up to you to put me down." "Rohan, is there really no other way...?" "Eating herbs like sage or lavender might help a bit? Honestly, having a strong will is the best." What Rohan mentioned was one of the textbook solutions. Yet, both of them were aware. There were a few other ways to break free from the charm too.