Chapter 95: Comfortable Pillow

“Sit here.”

At Ichinose’s call, Rohan straightened his back and stood up.

Perhaps due to the warm glow of the campfire, Ichinose’s impression seemed softer than usual.

“Come on. You’re not going to make me repeat it thrice, are you?”

Rohan walked over to Ichinose’s side without a word.

He sat where she patted, indicating he should sit.

“…”

Trying not to cross the line of clothes laid out as a mat and boundary, they subtly touched each other.

It would have been spacious enough for two people if it was just Ichinose, but with the large Rohan present, it was an unavoidable picture.

“Are you cold?”

“Not at all. My clothes are still a little damp, but the fire is keeping me warm.”

“If you catch a cold, consider the exam over. You need to take care of yourself.”

“Hehe… I’m living large on an uninhabited island thanks to a good Partner.”

Ichinose hugged her knees and gazed into the bonfire.

The embers, nearly extinguished in her own hands, miraculously revived by Rohan’s touch.

The enlarged flames greedily devoured the firewood, doing their best to keep the space warm.

“I wonder if Noa is alright. She gets weak quickly when she’s hungry, so I’m worried.”

“Don’t worry too much. She might be boasting about finding hidden food.”

Ichinose chuckled, perhaps having imagined the scene.

It’s better to think positively than to worry about things you can’t solve.

It’s just not that easy.

“I told Noa to remove the sticker if she couldn’t stand it, so I’m a little relieved. The effect was stronger than I expected, so I was surprised.”

“It’s not just Noa, it’s the same for us. We have to remove it if we can’t stand it.”

Ichinose slowly turned her head to look at Rohan.

She wasn’t sure about herself, but judging by his actions today, Rohan seemed like he could easily endure the 5 days.

…

Bit by bit, she grew more curious about Rohan’s past.

Still, asking a Southerner about their past was akin to poking at their trauma, so it was definitely not a topic to bring up lightly.

For now, the feeling of having a reliable partner is enough.

Ichinose closed her eyes, feeling a sense of peace as her tension eased.

Feeling the warmth against her skin, she continued the small talk.

“Since the uninhabited island was the exam location, there were things I expected.”

“It felt like the Academy intentionally hinted at it.”

“So Noa and I watched videos of survival experts, mercenaries, and borrowed books.”

“Oh! There are things like that?”

“I learned a lot of theory and knowledge in various ways, but… the actual experience is very different.”

“Theory and practice being different is similar in any field. But if you neglect theory, you’ll run into problems you can’t solve.”

Rohan agreed, snapping a twig in half and pushing it into the flames.

“Speaking of theory, I remembered something. How was the written exam?”

“Thanks to you, I managed to solve most of it. Unlike the Placement Exam, there wasn’t time to doodle in the corner.”

“That’s good.”

“I had to do at least this much after bothering you every day.”

“I never really thought of it as a bother. You asked sharp questions, so I often had time to review the theory myself.”

Continuing their small talk, Rohan reached out to grab the firewood and tinder he had diligently collected after eating.

Some were wet, but if they used them sparingly, they would likely get through today without any issues.

“Still, education is indeed…experiencing it physically is more…than just books…”

Ichinose’s voice, which had been carrying on the conversation, trailed off into a murmur.

Her voice gradually grew smaller and weaker.

It was late, a time she would normally be asleep, and the drowsiness that came with the satiation of hunger and thirst.

The sticker’s amplification of desires increased the intensity of her sleepiness without brakes, so even Ichinose, who had been tense in the unfamiliar environment, couldn’t resist the drowsiness.

“…”

Rohan quietly watched Ichinose.

The way she dozed off, hugging her knees.

Just a few seconds later, her head drooped.

It looked like she had simply closed her eyes as usual, but it was clear she was asleep.

Well, it makes sense she’d be sleepy.

Rohan was also fighting off the drowsiness that was trying to pull down his eyelids.

It was a strong urge that would put him to sleep the moment he let go.

Still, Rohan had his own tricks. By constantly replaying memories in his head that would chase away the sleepiness, he felt like he could manage for a day or two.

“…”

He looked at Ichinose’s profile again.

Then, he thought.

Should I let her sleep?

Wouldn’t the concept of keeping watch be too much tonight?

He judged that it would be better to let her sleep soundly and recover her condition.

So, how long had he kept the bonfire alive by adding firewood?

“Mmm…”

Ichinose’s body slowly tilted, and her head rested on Rohan’s shoulder.

“!”

Rohan’s mind snapped alert.

This was like an event that would happen on the subway. It was a fresh shock that completely banished his sleepiness.

“Your neck will hurt if you sleep like this. Sleep comfortably.”

Thinking of moving completely out of the way and laying Ichinose down on the clothes, Rohan supported her head with his palm and wriggled.

As he tried to pull away, Ichinose, breathing regularly, grabbed his shirt.

“Instructor… This time, I will…”

At Ichinose’s sleep-talking, Rohan chuckled, trying to release her hand.

But his expression soon crumbled, and he couldn’t help but be flustered.

What is this?

Even as he tried to untangle her fingers, starting with her pinky, her fist, tightly gripping his shirt, wouldn’t budge.

How much sword practice had she done to have this kind of grip strength without using mana?

If he used more force to pry her hand open, it felt like her fingers would get hurt or injured.

“…”

In the end, Rohan had only one choice.

Stay still.

Huh?

When Ichinose woke up.

The first thing she saw was a small campfire, emitting a faint warmth as it burned with flames the size of a fist.

A pile of ash had accumulated, showing how long the wood had burned.

It’s quiet…

The next thing that came to her drowsy mind was the fact that the pouring rain had stopped.

Even without looking, the gentle sound of the wind told her so.

Could she sleep a little longer? Her mind was hazy and unfocused.

With a strangely comfortable feeling, she closed her eyes again.

Just as Ichinose was about to fall back into the depths of slumber.

A sudden curiosity struck her like a bolt of lightning.

Come to think of it?

When did she fall asleep? What was she using as a pillow?

Slowly, she traced her senses.

She was resting on something firm and wide. Something warm, not quite like an object.

…

Should she even wake up? A vague anxiety made her hesitate to open her eyes.

But Ichinose couldn’t avoid it.

Even with her eyes closed, her senses sharpened due to her Unique Skill.

She forcibly absorbed information about her surroundings.

No way… It can’t be.

She reluctantly opened her eyes. Ichinose turned her body, intending to look at the rocky ceiling.

Instead of the ceiling, the first thing she saw was a familiar face.

“Sleep well?”

Rohan, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, looked down and greeted her.

Unable to accept reality, Ichinose blinked blankly.

Rohan calmly continued to explain the situation.

“The sun just came up. You woke up at the perfect time.”

“…”

Ichinose blankly reached out her hand.

And realized that what she had been using as a pillow was Rohan’s thigh.

As soon as she accepted it, her Consciousness turned white as if a flashbang had exploded.

“Ah…? Ahhh!!”

Ichinose’s lips trembled, and her face gradually turned red.

As if the heat had built up to its limit and exploded.

Ichinose sprang up as if she had been bounced.

“You’re full of energy in the morning.”

The start of the second day.

Rohan smiled with satisfaction at Ichinose’s energetic appearance.

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“The ground is quite wet, it feels unpleasant.”

“…”

“I wonder if we’ll see any Honbirds today. We can’t eat Gerois or Mud Slimes, can we?”

Rohan acted as if nothing had happened.

Ichinose followed behind him with her Sword, her lips tightly sealed.

“If it doesn’t work out, should we try fishing by the sea?”

“Th, that sounds good!”

After several attempts, Ichinose finally spoke.

Her head was down, but it seemed she would recover soon.

“Have you ever fished, Ichinose… Huh?”

Rohan’s words trailed off, and Ichinose cautiously opened her eyes.

Her partner’s gaze was directed towards the sky. She looked there as well.

“…What is that?”

Only then did Ichinose notice the anomaly.

In the sky where the Transport Ship had passed.

Something was slowly descending.

There were many of them, scattered all across the island.

Square boxes hanging from parachutes, conspicuously emitting red smoke.

Rohan’s eyes widened at the undeniably familiar shape.

Supply drop!

Rohan remembered what Juyeon had said on the Transport Ship.

That she would drop supplies where everyone could see them.

He had been informed in advance.

“It’s probably a Supply drop.”

“Ah! Right, there was talk about that.”

“The closest one is that one.”

Rohan pointed to a Supply drop with his finger.

He immediately changed his direction.

“Wait a minute.”

At Ichinose’s voice, Rohan stopped in his tracks.

He looked back to see Ichinose with her eyes closed, expressing a question.

“Since it’s such a conspicuous item, there’s a possibility of encountering other groups, right?”

“We have to assume we will.”

“What are you going to do?”

Ichinose’s question was transparent in its meaning.

Rohan’s answer was also concise.

“The Instructor said they would understand non-lethal conflicts as long as we don’t cross the line.”

Ichinose nodded in understanding.

And started moving with Rohan.