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

Rohan carefully planned his actions while dealing with the onslaught of the Frazier dolls. The succubus's pride in her allure was unmatched. With absolute confidence that no human male with a functioning brain could resist their charm. "One chance." If he could use that arrogance as bait, he was confident he could seize the moment to end Bianca's life. The third sword technique, Gwang-Ik-Chu, was a perfect fit for this diversion. The results were outstanding. Rohan's blade effectively struck Bianca. "Gugh...!?" "I told you I hate filth." As the magic imbued in the sword ignited a fiery spiral, it cleanly shattered her pulsating heart. Thud! Bianca's body crumpled onto the stone floor. The Frazier dolls, freed from their master, disbanded. [+10P] The points confirmed Bianca's fate, granting Rohan a moment of relief. The gun he dropped to feign being charmed was retrieved along with the mark. "Haa...!" Rohan, however, was not completely at ease. It hadn't been easy. Fighting against the charm that seeped into his consciousness left him mentally exhausted, beads of cold sweat dripping down his face. Although the charm's range was wide, which diluted its potency somewhat, it was still far more concentrated than that of a typical succubus. Being forcefully exposed to it for a prolonged period was a significant problem. He felt as though he might release something from his lower body at any moment. "Horrendous." His resolve to avoid the allure of other named succubi only grew stronger. Even imagining being directly hit by such concentrated allure was terrifying. "Rohan! Are you okay?!" Ichinose approached him urgently, her voice filled with concern. Though Ichinose seemed to have no severe injuries, her body bore cuts similar to his own. "I'm fine." "I really... I thought you fell for the charm..." "As if that would ever happen." The relentless assault of the charm-induced Frazier dolls must have been quite a challenge. Yet the girl had admirably held her ground. The price of victory was the red blood trickling down Ichinose’s fair skin. Rohan's expression tightened. "If she ends up scarred, it'll be a disaster." An outcome he'd never tolerate. Rohan used his skills to open the shop. He spotted a new medium potion that had recently become available. Rohan placed the sword and gun back in their places and used 500 points to retrieve a small glass vial. Despite its high point cost, it was only about the size of two finger joints. In Rohan's hand, it was small enough to be concealed within his palm. "Come here, Ichinose." Rohan reached out and gently pulled Ichinose closer. But the girl stepped back in an alarmed manner, her face flushed with color. Seeing Rohan pull her closer with something stiff in his lower body, Ichinose panicked. "Wait, wait a minute...! Such impulsive actions aren't right...!" "What's not right about it?" "The first time should... start with mutual feelings..." "What on earth are you talking about? Drink this first. I'll take care of your wounds." He handed the potion to Ichinose, who had been speaking nonsense due to the overwhelming charm. Only then did the girl calm down upon seeing the item. "Oh... Th-thank you..." "Drink it quickly. Don't leave even a drop." After that, Rohan ignored his uncontrollable lower half and focused on examining Ichinose's injuries. Visually, her wounds didn't seem deep. If they weren't severe, the potion would quickly take effect. "Are you dizzy? Is there anywhere you can't move comfortably?" Considering Ichinose's small frame, the real issue was blood loss. To Rohan, any minor bleeding could be a severe concern for Ichinose. "I'm fine... But Rohan, you have so many wounds..." Rohan had also taken significant damage, having been repeatedly attacked by both the Frazier dolls and Bianca's claws. All he managed was to avoid life-threatening wounds. "I'm fine. These wounds are nothing." "What are you saying... Those potions are precious. Let's share them." "There are extras, so just drink it all. I'll take one too." Rohan made it a point to drink a lowest-grade potion worth 100 points in front of Ichinose. With his composure regained, he checked the notification pane he had put aside. [A personal achievement for Rohan has been unlocked] [You have achieved "Responding to the Succubus' Kiss with a Sword" - Achievement unlocked] [As a reward, your status resistance has increased] "A personal achievement?" Until now, all achievements Rohan had collected were known to him and offered minimal point rewards. But a personal achievement had appeared unexpectedly. And this time, the reward seemed more valuable than mere points. "The sudden quest reward was the opening of a personal main story arc, wasn't it?" It might be one of the branches that had extended from that arc. "Ichinose. Shall we check inside the mansion too?" "Yes..." Ichinose followed Rohan, grateful for being a woman. With clothes on, external evidence of arousal wasn't as obvious as it was for men. "A conflict... This is an artificial and malicious conflict created by the succubus... I have to keep my composure so I don't embarrass myself in front of Rohan." Ichinose worked hard to rein in her consciousness before it slipped. The overpowering desire she felt—stronger than anything she'd experienced in her life—made her feel discomfort in her undergarments. The scent of Rohan made her heart race. "..." Watching Rohan's back, she was overwhelmed with the urge to leap into his arms. To restrain herself, she had to bite her tongue hard. If it was this intense for a woman like her, she wondered what Rohan might be thinking. Inside the succubus's mansion, there was nothing particularly extraordinary. A bedroom doused in perfume, luxurious furniture, discarded Frazier dolls. The only thing worth mentioning was the giant bath. However, given that the water was pink, bathing was out of the question. "What could 'special item' mean?" As they exited the mansion, Rohan sought Ichinose's thoughts on the matter. The words the succubus had spoken lingered in his mind. The concept of being graded like an object, even though it's not beef or pork, felt peculiar. "...The succubus's reaction wasn't ordinary." "Could it be because of the elixir Noa gave me? She said it was beneficial for men." When Rohan circumvented the word vitality, Ichinose tried not to focus on it as she offered her thoughts. As time passed, both Ichinose and Rohan's lower urges had somewhat settled. "The elixir Noa gifted is indeed valuable and rare." "Am I right then?" "Even so, most affluent people from prestigious families have ingested it... There should have been others among those who encountered succubi who had taken it, but there's no record of such reactions." "True, I'm not the only one who's taken it. It may not be related after all." Ichinose speculated further, "Moreover, the effect she mentioned as beneficial is more about enhanced vitality and its subsequent aspects... Perhaps Rohan has a unique constitution." "I don't really need a constitution that makes me popular with succubi." With that, Rohan and Ichinose decided to leave the mansion behind. Considering the mess they'd caused, it wasn't wise to linger. Step. Step. Step. They made their way through the brush, returning to the shabby house where Ichinose had briefly rested. Even then, their discussion continued. They needed to gather as much information as possible. ─ You're the one who's supposed to take me to the queen's throne. The words Bianca had uttered before her heart was pierced seemed too significant to ignore. "She asked to be led to the queen’s throne. Is there a condition under which succubi grow stronger?" "I'm not sure." "From the way she phrased it, it sounds like she grows more powerful by absorbing my essence." At Rohan's speculative comment, Ichinose clamped her mouth shut. Her face flushed with heat. Creak. The two, having reached the abandoned dwelling, sighed heavily and took a seat. After noting that her wounds had healed cleanly thanks to the potion, Ichinose hesitated before speaking to Rohan, whose thoughts seemed still in turmoil. "Rohan, is it okay if I ask a sensitive question?" "Sure. What is it?" "Throughout your life... have you noticed anything particularly unusual?" "The scope of that question is so broad it’s baffling. Even right now is quite the unusual event." Her inquiry was an attempt to decipher the succubus's enigmatic remark. Ichinose steeled herself repeatedly inside, forcing a nonchalant expression. "And, well, during... your sexual experiences... did your... essence have any specific effect on women?" But this was a hurdle too high for Ichinose. She tried to appear unfazed, but her words stumbled over terms she wasn't used to. "…" Rohan directed a bemused expression her way. Ichinose hurriedly offered an explanation. "Don't look at me weirdly...! It's purely for deduction purposes..." "Sorry, but I can't answer that; I've never had such experiences." "!" He spoke sincerely. Rohan had never physically been with a woman. "You’ve never had those experiences...?" "Do you have to rub salt into a tender wound?" "No, that wasn't my intention..." "Let's refrain from rubbing it in." Ichinose had naturally assumed Rohan would have ample experience with women. But his unexpected answer caught her off guard. He seemed sincere, and he wasn't the type to lie about such matters. ‘...Then what about those two?’ Clara and Shion appeared vividly in Ichinose's mind. The girls seemed to have a relationship closer than lovers. What kind of relationship did they have with Rohan? "I don't get it~ Let's just be cautious around succubi. It's not like we can test it anyhow." Finishing his statement, Rohan untied the sword sheath from his back and set it aside. He was preparing to rest comfortably. "...This time, you should rest first, Rohan." "I'll sleep for a bit. I'm tired." Rohan handed the phone with a timer to Ichinose, quickly falling into a deep slumber. "..." Keeping her eyes barely open, Ichinose began to watch Rohan quietly.