Chapter 36: The Long-Awaited Progress (1)

Roaarr!!!

Numerous monsters roared, asserting their presence as they fought for territory in the Ruins.

Having finally arrived at the outskirts, Shion caught her breath, retrieved the hidden tracking device and Sniper Rifle and then checked the time.

“Huff… Huff…!”

Perhaps it was because she had sprinted with all her might to try and shake off her draining thoughts and anxieties.

But contrary to her cluttered mind, she had more time than expected.

They didn’t notice, right?

It would have been a flimsy excuse to say she was doing sniper training if she hadn’t remained stationary for a long time.

Fortunately, Shion had actually been doing this sort of training.

“…”

Carrying the massive firearm, the girl placed the tracking device back in her vest pocket.

She raised her head and stared blankly at the night sky.

Honestly, regardless of the danger, she wanted to rush straight to Tigrova and meet the Grand Emperor of Snow.

The various contours of the past would definitely become clearer with the testimony of the main person involved in the incident.

However,

A giant like the Grand Emperor of Snow wasn’t someone she could meet just because she wanted to.

It’s all delusional in the current situation.

Faced with reality, Shion stared at the hamburger in her hand.

The same number written on the notepad was on the food that had cooled.

“…”

Considering her relationship with Rohan, could she even trust him and eat this?

Food she wouldn’t have eaten out of spite, even if she were starving.

Yet, Shion peeled off the wrapper with a rustle.

Without even checking the smell or the inside, Shion took a bite of the hamburger.

Because she felt like she would be able to calmly accept it if anything went wrong after eating it.

A mental state infinitely resembling despair.

That was exactly what the girl’s mangled insides currently felt like.

“Mmm…”

She didn’t feel any immediate problems.

How long had it been since she had eaten such stimulating food? It was delicious enough to evoke a feeling of ecstasy.

Shion quickly devoured the hamburger and gulped down the water from her canteen.

“Phew!”

Her stomach felt a bit full, and she also seemed to have gained some energy.

Rustle!

She held the empty wrapper. It was hard to believe that she had been in Academy City just moments ago, as if it were all a dream.

Even the fact that she had that conversation and heard those things.

…Rohan.

It must have been an alias.

Nevertheless, Shion swore she wouldn’t forget the name Rohan.

She hadn’t met many people while living outside, but she knew they were all unusual.

The groups the Elders had contacted and summoned all exuded a pungent scent of blood.

What kind of life has he lived?

Based on that experience, Shion’s intuition was telling her this.

Compared to Rohan, everyone she had seen so far was ordinary and mediocre.

…A strange person.

He was a stimulating person in many ways.

At times, she felt a tremendous weight that was a stark contrast to his appearance.

The hue of that profoundness was fundamentally different even from the Elders who had lived long lives.

If she had to compare it, she would say it reminded her of her father whom she had looked up to as a child.

Beep beep!

The girl looked at her watch, which began ringing again.

It was time to go back, no excuses.

“Hooo…”

Shion filled her lungs with the night air and strengthened her resolve.

If all the information I heard today is true…

Crackle!!!

The electricity flowing from Shion’s hand burned the wrapper cleanly.

As soon as Rohan opened his eyes in bed, he asked himself.

I wonder if Shion got back alright.

He felt rather uneasy because he had no way to contact the Elf girl.

He wasn’t fond of being in a position where he just had to wait.

Of course, Shion’s strength and talent were excellent.

But that wasn’t everything in life, was it?

From Rohan’s perspective, Shion was just a girl who caused worry.

“Hmm.”

Rohan sat up in bed.

At least she didn’t mention the guys who fed the Elders false information…

While his mind was occupied with other topics, his body moved as usual.

Even if something special had happened the day before, there was hardly any change in Rohan’s daily routine.

Unless he saw an omen or encountered an unexpected situation, he would focus on gaining strength and key figures.

Additionally, he made sure he attended Orion Academy diligently.

Alright. Let’s go again today.

Because Rohan was quite satisfied with the repetitive daily life.

He turned the doorknob vigorously.

··

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Rohan met Ichinose in the training room today as well.

At the Academy, he sat next to Gilbert and paid close attention to Juyeon’s classes.

After class, he would grab a quick meal in the cafeteria and then head to The Flower Bookstore. This was his routine.

“Alright, take care of things here.”

“Yes! Thank you for the snacks!”

After the manager left for the day, the last part of his repetitive daily routine began.

Bzzzzz──!!!

His phone buzzed even before he could put it in his apron.

Rohan’s gaze shifted.

He could roughly guess what the emoticon-only message meant, so Rohan raised his head.

Glancing to the side, he saw Clara peeking out and looking at him, just like before.

She’s already here.

She must have been suppressing her presence because there were customers browsing the store.

After all, it was nigh impossible to detect Clara’s presence when she decided to be quiet.

It was a bit awkward to speak, so he waved his hand slightly.

Unlike before, she didn’t run away and bowed her head politely.

Truly dazzling progress.

Should I reply with a message?

He sent her a quick text, asking if she was okay with waiting until the end of his shift, and also said he was looking forward to the Weekly Boss.

The girl nodded, the corners of her mouth twitching timidly.

It was pretty cute to see how excited she clearly was.

Then, as it got late and the bookstore became quiet.

As Rohan began mopping the floor in preparation for closing,

Clara waited outside in silence, trying not to be a disturbance.

“Phew.”

Clatter! Click!

After confirming Rohan had closed The Flower Bookstore door and pocketed the key, Clara recited the lines she had practiced while waiting.

“…You’ve worked hard!”

“Thank you. It’s my job, but you must have had a hard time waiting.”

Clara shook her head, denying it vehemently.

“Shall we get going then? I kept thinking about the game even while working.”

“Ah! I, I understand that!”

Seeing Rohan start to walk, Clara followed behind.

After leaving the alley and arriving at the main street, Rohan glanced around at the open stores before he and Clara entered a Franchise Cafe.

“Add a muffin and a sandwich… what do you want to drink? Choose whatever you like.”

“You don’t have to buy for me! I have money…!”

“Hmm?”

“I, I’m fine with just coffee. The, the smallest size!”

Clara emptied her pockets and took out 23 tokens.

Roughly 2,300 won in Korean currency.

The girl’s eyes sparkled as if asking what he thought, but…

It was such a pathetically meager amount that Rohan couldn’t possibly accept it.

“I’m the one being helped today. In times like these, you have to let me buy.”

“But last time as well…”

Rohan inevitably interrupted the girl.

“Will you be okay drinking coffee at night?”

“…”

Did she not take anything else other than the fact that it was cheap into account?

Seeing her roll her eyes, unable to answer as if she didn’t know, Rohan chuckled and looked back at the menu.

“Let’s see. Decaffeinated drinks are─ hmm, fruit yogurt?”

While Clara was flustered and unable to do anything, Rohan had already ordered two drinks and enough food to fill their stomachs.

“Don’t think too much about it and just eat. And in return, just help me that much with the game.”

“Uuuh… Th, thank you!”

Rohan brought the tray he received and sat down, placing the food neatly.

─ Company Wave!

As Rohan, sitting across her, launched the game,

Clara put on a serious look, as if she had become a completely different person.

She tapped her phone with her nail-polished fingers and then showed him the screen.

“I made this build.”

The smartphone’s notepad contained everything from the team composition to the skill usage timeline.

Rohan perused it quietly, then looked at the character pool she was using and asked.

“You made this yourself?”

“Yes. I can play with you today, but there might be days when I can’t. When that happens, if you just refer to this, you’ll be able to clear it within 1 minute.”

“The formation is amazing…”

“I realized you don’t need to spend all your resources on the tank. You just need to level up the glass cannons to increase their HP so they can survive until their Skills are ready, and you just need to level Order’s Skill to 3 or higher to clear it without problems.”

“Oh?”

What eloquent speech was this?

She became eloquent when the topic was games.

They cleared all the Weekly Bosses together, and Rohan failed at pulling characters after mining.

The two shared a whirlwind of emotions.

After sitting together and enjoying the game for a while,

At some point, Clara had returned to her usual self.

“It’s more fun playing together.”

“Hehe…”

The girl smiled in agreement.

She then put her moist lips on the straw and sipped, glancing at Rohan.

A sweet taste filled her mouth.

Clara stared blankly at Rohan as he tapped on his phone as if replying to someone after finishing the game.

She unconsciously let out a languid voice.

“Um…”

As her eyes met Rohan’s, who had put his phone down.

Clara fidgeted with her fingers and continued.

“You’ve always seen me in the bookstore until it closes, right…?”

“Yes.”

A known fact.

He affirmed by nodding without denying it.

“Has the manager told you anything?”

“No. He hasn’t.”

“Th, then you don’t ask me anything? Like, why am I there every day…?”

If it wasn’t a misunderstanding, she seemed to be trying to confide in him.

Rohan had a hunch.

That the progress he had long been waiting for had finally arrived.