Chapter 112: Leap of Faith

“Isn’t that Rohan?”

At Noa’s words, Ichinose’s senses spread out like ripples.

The girl closed her eyes and spread her Ki, cleanly locking onto her target.

It was definitely Rohan.

And beside him were two people with familiar auras.

Clara, the swift-footed girl, and the Elf girl, claiming to be the last of the Testarossa bloodline, who had asked for Noa’s help.

Ah?

Aeng-ae Nose’s mind finally began to piece together the situation.

A prior engagement… to buy women’s underwear?

She had been curious about his relationship with those women, but didn’t want to pry into his personal life.

Now, there was no need to ask. The relationship was clear.

He had shown her this much; to not understand would be foolish.

Two such beautiful women as lovers… Amazing.

The words themselves were praise, but the tone of Ichinose’s inner voice, beyond her own awareness, was strangely barbed.

By a speck of the unknown, easily missed by an inexperienced girl.

“Nose? Can you hear me? Hello?”

“…”

“She’s malfunctioning again. I’ll go ahead, okay?”

“…”

Aeng-ae Nose’s worries deepened.

As long as Rohan was a survivor who preserved the values of the Southern Region, Solaris, it shouldn’t matter if he had ten or a hundred lovers.

And if it was a matter agreed upon by both men and women, outsiders shouldn’t interfere.

Then.

Should she just go in, greet them, and shop as if nothing was wrong? Or would it be polite to pretend she hadn’t seen them? If neither was the right answer, should she excuse herself?

She had no idea how to act.

It was as if someone had glued her shoes to the floor.

It’s… right to go back… Rohan refused, saying he had a prior engagement, so it might be uncomfortable if we run into each other…

Aeng-ae Nose came to a bitter decision, the taste inexplicable.

She then came to her senses and opened her lips.

“Noa. Let’s not bother them and just go a little later… Noa?”

She was gone. She had only been concentrating for a moment, but Noa didn’t answer.

She opened her eyes and looked left and right.

Noa had definitely disappeared.

No way!?

Anxiety washed over her.

Clutching her sword tightly, she tiptoed to look inside the store.

Sure enough, Noa was already approaching Rohan and his group.

“Rohan! What are you doing here?”

“Noa?”

After greeting Rohan, Noa wagged her tail and rolled her eyes to the side.

The predator had caught sight of the Twin Tail girl.

“Ehehe, Clara’s here too? Can I hug you?”

“Eek…!”

Holding underwear, Clara quickly hid behind Rohan.

Noa smiled brightly at the sight, then relaxed her posture, as if ready to pounce.

“Just kidding. I won’t do it now, so don’t run away.”

Shion slipped into the conversation.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Noa Frozenheart.”

“Oh! I heard about you from Dad and Sister Yoho!”

Noa naturally grabbed Shion’s hand and swung it back and forth.

Her tail also moved up and down, showing how happy she was.

Even though it was their second meeting, Noa was truly sociable and uninhibited.

“Thanks to you. I apologize for the late expression of my gratitude.”

“Nah, it’s okay. I’m a dummy, so I don’t really remember what happened in the past, but we’re family who left footprints in the snow together, right?”

Shion expressed her gratitude again at Noa’s words, which emphasized Tigrova’s unique bond.

Noa had nothing to do with it, and there was no reason to bring up old stories.

Step. Step. Step.

Leaving the girls chatting behind, Rohan walked towards the entrance.

He had seen a familiar face there earlier.

“Ichinose.”

As Rohan’s voice called her name,

Ichinose moved her head as if spellbound.

“Rohan…”

“Of all places, we meet here.”

“…That’s… true.”

Whether it was discomfort or awkwardness, it was hard to diagnose, but Rohan understood the uncomfortable atmosphere Ichinose was exuding.

It would be different if he were a complete stranger.

But for a man she knew to be in a lingerie store, it was understandable.

He even felt apologetic.

“Aeng-ae Nose.”

He called out her nickname softly, trying to lighten the mood.

Ichinose’s shoulders quivered, showing a greater reaction than expected.

“Th-That nickname…! Sigh, just don’t let anyone else hear it. If anyone hears, I won’t be able to show my face.”

“So you’ll allow it when we’re alone?”

Before, she had completely refused.

But now, the feeling was different.

“…I gave up because it seems like you’ll do it anyway.”

“What? Is that the kind of image you have of me?”

“Well. Don’t you know yourself best?”

Rohan moved away and stood by the railing, where he could see the lower floor of the shopping mall clearly.

Ichinose also left the store and stood next to Rohan.

The boisterous conversations from inside the store made the corners of his mouth turn upwards.

“Rohan. How’s your body? Are there any lingering effects from the poison?”

“No problems. I had a re-examination at the infirmary today.”

“…That’s a relief. Good job.”

Ichinose’s voice softened, as if she was still feeling complex emotions recalling the time she faced Omega.

Still, Rohan knew.

The sense of helplessness Ichinose felt when she met a strong opponent would become a stepping stone for her growth.

“We can still use the Academy Training Room even on holidays, right?”

“Yes. Are you going?”

“Of course I have to go. Aside from stamina, I need a place where I can swing my sword freely.”

The long sword hanging on Rohan’s back.

Ichinose recalled the skills Rohan had showcased on the Uninhabited Island and added,

“I’d like to learn a thing or two from you, Rohan.”

“Learn from me? Don’t you just mean you want to hit me?”

Rohan’s playful guess.

Ichinose covered her mouth with her sleeve and giggled.

“Indeed, the rules of sparring might be a shackle for you, Rohan.”

“Whether there are rules or not, it’ll be similar. My swordsmanship is still unrefined.”

“Even if humility is important, aren’t you underselling yourself too much?”

“I’m a real beginner in swordsmanship. I’m just good at swinging it around.”

“Hmm…”

Girls heading towards the checkout counter were visible inside the store.

Rohan let out a long breath, remembering the pressure from Shion and Clara earlier.

It was happy, but not easy.

He felt like he’d keep imagining what kind of underwear Shion and Clara were wearing under their everyday clothes whenever he’s with them.

“You came shopping with Noa, right? I’ll be outside, so take your time.”

Ichinose recalled what kind of store they were in front of.

The gazes of a few cadets who recognized her are also fixed on her. What would it look like to be standing here with Rohan in front of this store?

Her face suddenly flushed.

Her habit of hiding her emotions malfunctioned and activated.

The girl’s mouth babbled on its own.

“Y-Yes! My size doesn’t fit lately, so it’s been suffocating…!”

“Huh?”

“Women, overnight…! They keep growing!”

“Really?”

Rohan erased his bewildered expression and drew a pleased smile. He felt like he was playing along even though he knew everything.

Ichinose felt a pang of quilt in her conscience.

Would it be okay to take back her words and say it was a joke, even now?

Ichinose Yui. You’re being childish, really… What are you doing!

Ichinose knew it too.

She knew it was silly to be concerned about breast size. She also knew it was a childish and immature side of her.

The moment the conversation ended and she distanced herself from Rohan, a tremendous sense of self-loathing would pour down like a landslide.

The concentration of embarrassment grew thicker and thicker.

At that moment, when she was having such a peaceful everyday life.

What’s this?

Suddenly, a chill ran through Rohan’s entire body.

“Ah, what I said earlier was actually…”

Leaving Ichinose, who seemed lost in thought, Rohan’s head darted around.

Noa, Shion, and Clara inside the store seem oblivious, chatting while putting their purchased items into bags.

Am I mistaken?

Rohan focused on his senses and grasped his Long Sword.

And a notification window popped up.

The air shimmered with ominousness.

Rohan’s eyes peered into it. He saw eyeballs filled with clear hostility.

The monsters inside were reaching out, attacking across space.

“!”

Was he the only one who could sense and predict this in the current situation?

Rohan embraced Ichinose, who was still muttering to herself, and ran.

Crash!!!

The two jumped down, shattering the railing glass.

Large monsters were rampaging where the two were standing just moments ago, creating a deafening roar.

“Ro, Rohan…?!”

There was no time to answer.

Rohan curled his body, shielding the bewildered Ichinose.

The structure of the Academy City shopping mall was open in the middle.

Similar to a common department store.

At this rate, it’s a high-rise fall.

Trusting his strong body and landing on his feet was also an option, but it could result in fractures.

Rohan chose a different method.

“Clara──!!!”

He called out to the girl who could help at the top of his lungs.

Ping! Tat-tat-tat!

Clara’s Arachne quickly connected with minimal Mana.

Nimble fingers created a safety net in the form of a spiderweb and caught Rohan and Ichinose.

Ugh.

Even with his body strengthened by mana and the cutting power of Clara’s Arachne minimized, there was no way to avoid damage from the impact of the fall.

His back stung, even though the scabbard was there.

“Rohan…? What is this…?”

“Are you okay? You’ve really become Aeng-ae Nose.”

Rohan observed the monsters appearing one by one, and simultaneously he gently stroked the back of the girl in his arms to calm her down.