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

Ichinose was well aware of the capabilities of the espers and the law enforcement office in the Academy City. The ominous magical presence left by Monolith would have already been detected by them. Thus, her mind was in turmoil. If the missing person's identity had been confirmed, would her parents back in Samhwa-guk have heard the news? And what about the instructor or Noa? If they were aware of the incident, they would undoubtedly be worried. Would her daily life turn into chaos because of her, considering her father was already busy with business management and training? Ichinose's mind was filled with a myriad of worries. After battles with succubi or husks, whenever she walked through the tranquil forest, she could not shake off her distracting thoughts. She knew these weren't concerns for someone who had fallen into a dungeon to dwell on. It was clearly a bad habit that doubled her mental fatigue. And yet, such was Ichinose's nature. There was nothing she could do, so it was best for the girl to keep her worries to herself. For now, having found the pillow she had been longing for, she felt at ease. Even if only for a moment, she distanced herself from her thoughts and felt liberated. 'This...! Yes, this is the texture...' Indeed, this pillow was perfect. It was flawless. Her consciousness floated like a cloud. Approaching with the intent to use his thigh as a pillow. Normally, Ichinose would never have done such a thing. Yet, for some reason, she went ahead impulsively. Aside from the embarrassment, she found it surprisingly satisfactory that Rohan had stiffened completely. "···." Rohan maintained his silence. She found his breathing pleasant. Just lying there, the tension unraveled, and the accumulated fatigue in her mind dissolved. 'There’s something remarkable about his scent...' The scent exuding from Rohan now was more intense than on the deserted island. It was the scent of a male. Even though Ichinose had never encountered it before, her woman's instincts affirmed it. She felt a warm heat behind her head. It was a heavy pulse, as if the blood circulation gathered and pulsated right where the back of Ichinose's head touched. Rohan seemed to be doing his utmost to restrain himself. 'Could it be the lingering effects of seduction?' Or was it that upon seeing the body of a succubus, some sort of sexual urge had awakened? "···." It must be an uncontrollable male instinct. Yet somehow... somehow it was unsatisfying. More than being embarrassed, that sentiment took precedence. 'Do men really have a preference for voluptuous figures like those of succubi?' It wasn't as if Ichinose chose to be this petite, her lips pouting like a duck. Amidst this, a single hope emerged. 'But, considering he's always with a woman like Clara...?' One of the two people Rohan especially cherishes. The image of a doll-like girl with twin-tails comes to mind, causing Ichinose's feelings to waver back and forth. "Eungaenose, can't sleep? Uncomfortable?" "···I'm comfortable." "That's good then." She was breathing regularly, facing away, yet how did Rohan know she hadn't fallen asleep? He remained an intriguing man, distinctly different from the others. "Rohan, isn't it uncomfortable?" "Not at all." "Are you sure you're not uncomfortable? It's okay to be honest." "It's fine. Should I sing you a lullaby?" "No need..." Perhaps it was because her consciousness was on edge. The nickname Eungaenose and Rohan's actions made her contemplate deeply. Calling her an infant, did she not even register in Rohan's consciousness as someone of the opposite sex? "Rohan." "Yes." "Do I really seem like such a child...?" Rohan noted the hint of disappointment in Ichinose's voice. He knew not to play around this sensitive topic, akin to how embers could spread like wildfire. Ignoring even the tiniest spark could allow it to grow uncontrollably, akin to a forest fire. "I'd never say something with that intent." "···Then what do you mean?" "With a face this beautiful, how could I see you as a child? I was just trying to put it nicely, and I'm sorry if it upset you." A few seconds after Rohan finished speaking. Ichinose, who had been lying down, flinched like a fish and propped herself up, looking at Rohan with wide eyes. "I-I’m beautiful...? Me...?" "What's so surprising? You've heard you're beautiful so often that your ears must be clogged with it." These words, heard so frequently that they wore grooves in her ears. Yet the resonance was different. Her heart thumped loudly. Ichinose quickly lay back down on Rohan's thigh, hastily hiding her face. "Should I stop calling you by that nickname?" "···Since there's no ill intention, it's allowed when we're alone." "Eungaenose surely has a big heart." Signaling rest. Rohan placed a hand on her shoulder, tapping gently at a slow rhythm. Ichinose felt a relief as if a thorn had been removed and drifted off into dreamland. She woke up after about an hour of rest. After expressing her gratitude to Rohan, she proceeded with some stretching to awaken her dormant senses. "I have combat rations, bread, or jelly. Candy, chicken, and pizza are out of the question... Anything you'd like? Perhaps rice would be safe." After a moment of contemplation, Ichinose decided on a menu while gauging his reaction. "Ho-how about ramen...?" "You want ramen?" When Rohan looked at her with surprise, Ichinose flushed and nodded slightly. Recently, Ichinose had faced numerous challenges, matching exactly the number of failures. No matter how she prepared it, the ramen never matched the taste Rohan had made on the island. The flavor of that ramen still lingered in the girl’s mind. "Unfortunately, I can't make ramen with my skill right now... Would a combat ration be okay? I’ll make it for you once we’re out." "I'm sorry for being unreasonable. Of course, combat rations are appreciated." Ichinose was not in a position to be picky—she was grateful for anything offered to her. Besides, the future 'ramen' reward she could receive was an excellent motivation. Rohan retrieved a large combat ration from thin air. He swiftly began preparing it. "Just wait a bit. It’ll be ready soon." A dungeon inhabited by succubi, who feed primarily on energy. Normally, a person dragged to Monolith would suffer immensely over what to eat and drink. Amidst such adverse conditions, Rohan's skill stood out exceptionally. Ichinose realized once again what a tremendous fortune it was to have Rohan as her companion. His presence provided her with immense stability. “This... this is the same combat ration we had on the deserted island.” Watching Rohan's skillful preparations, Ichinose voiced her observation. “Oh, you noticed? Please keep it a secret from the instructor.” “Since it's a skill you have, it shouldn't be an issue.” “Even if Eungaenose says so, the instructor might not mind... but still.” Ichinose recalled the practical test memories as she chatted with Rohan. ‘Back then, Rohan certainly...’ Ichinose remembered. Rohan didn't recklessly use his skills on the deserted island. He had claimed to have found supplies when Noa, drawn by the aroma of ramen, had collapsed from hunger. His first use of the skill was not for himself but for others. “Rohan is so kind.” A gentle smile lingered on Ichinose's lips. ·· ·· After replenishing their energy, Rohan and Ichinose headed towards the building they’d seen through the thick mist. As they approached, Rohan's memories became clearer. This was a mansion owned by succubi. One of the named succubi resided here. ‘This isn’t the location of Monolith.’ However, it was a necessary stop. Reducing their numbers to prevent unification and gaining proper combat experience with a succubus was essential. ‘I can’t remember the name... what was it?’ He decided to abandon the elusive information and approached as quietly as possible. Despite not entering, the exterior of the mansion was wide open. There were no walls in sight. Even just strolling through the nearby shrubbery, a variety of scenes came into view. ‘Yes. This was the structure.’ The mansion’s owner enjoyed bathing outdoors. A huge bathtub sat in the yard. Floating atop the fragrant, hot water were black roses. Around the tub stood men resembling butlers, lined up in sequence. All were young and of slender build. Whether they became slender upon arriving here or were already so was unknown. According to Rohan’s memory, the named succubus living here had a preference for men dressed in such attire. ‘Hmm.’ He observed the men carefully. Their pale complexion and lackluster eyes resembled husks, but their facial skin wasn't withered and dry. “Those are Pleasure Dolls.” “They certainly look different from husks.” “They likely possess combat capabilities as well.” They exchanged whispered opinions. Ichinose, gripped by tension, already had her hand on her sword. Put simply, Pleasure Dolls were part of a succubus's human collection. Some might have been turned into Pleasure Dolls because of their appealing appearance, while others remained close because their energy was particularly palatable. Others were kept for their abilities, serving as sentries—each was collected for various reasons. ‘Regardless, they are humans who caught a succubus’s interest in some way.’ Swish! Rohan drew his sword from its sheath. He grabbed the pistol in his holster with his left hand. “Eungaenose. Ready to go?” “Yes. Let's go.” It was time to free those despairing souls and grant them peace. And. The moment had come to meet a named succubus capable of communication.