Chapter 117: Aeng-ae Nose’s Head is Full of Thoughts

“Ugh…”

Waking up from his bed, Rohan habitually started some light stretching.

Having just woken up, his eyes were still half-closed, but his body moved on its own.

A smooth and satisfactory awakening.

After seeing Shion and Clara off yesterday, he had stayed up all night, struggling to learn the third sword technique.

There wasn’t any particular progress, and he only grasped the posture roughly.

But this was a natural result. He didn’t feel disappointed about not achieving it overnight.

Should I go to the Training Room?

With a hazy mind, he mechanically continued making his preparations.

Even with the break of dawn, it was the same. The start of his day always began with training to make his life as tough as a whale’s tendon.

Despite the repetitive days, there was no sense of boredom.

Only the excitement of potentially taking another step forward existed.

The Confidential Video… I’ll play it after training.

That would be the optimal time, a time he could spend all by himself.

Gulp, gulp. He downed a nutrient-rich drink and checked his phone.

The flurry of messages made him feel a youthful vigor.

She was an interesting girl. It was the first time he’d met someone who openly felt like a ‘junior,’ as if the word was engraved on her forehead.

He sent a reply and then scrolled through the rest of his messages.

A smile automatically formed on his face early in the morning.

Rohan moved his fingers busily.

He needed to tell them to call him immediately if any problems arose.

And the last message.

The two people were probably Ichinose and Noa.

Rohan placed the empty glass bottle on the table and packed his bag.

Even so, a call at this hour is a bit…

They must have been very busy yesterday. And besides, the Academy was in complete chaos after the incident on the Uninhabited Island.

He thought it would be best to call on his way back, when things calmed down a little.

Rohan put his sneakers on and stepped out of the Dormitory.

This action itself felt like it had been quite some time. His mood and condition were both quite good.

Arriving at the Academy’s Training Room, he looked around.

He spotted Ichinose stretching in front of a large mirror among several Cadets.

I thought I’d be here first.

She was really diligent. What time did she even come out?

Rohan casually tossed his bag to the side and started warming up, naturally striking up a conversation with Ichinose.

“You’re here early.”

“Ah… I just arrived. Rohan, you’re here early too.”

“Hmm?”

“What is it?”

Rohan’s gaze, which had been fixed on Ichinose through the front glass window, shifted.

He began to observe her directly, and differences from her usual appearance in the Training Room started to become apparent.

Although they were very subtle.

A faint trace of drowsiness lingered, as if she hadn’t slept well.

Her hair, usually sleek, had a slightly frizzy texture here and there.

“Ichinose, you look tired.”

“D-Do I? I’m fine.”

“Are you still tired from the Uninhabited Island?”

“…That’s impossible.”

While denying it, she closed her eyes and bit her lip.

Her appearance was so childlike that he wanted to call her Aeng-ae Nose again, but Rohan kept his mouth shut, mindful of the cadets training around them.

“The exams are over, so take it easy on the studying. Though you need to train hard.”

“I’m planning to rest in the Dormitory after training today anyway.”

“Good idea.”

“Though I’m not sure if I’ll be able to rest peacefully with Noa visiting.”

Already imagining the scene, Rohan chuckled.

After finishing their warm-up exercises, the two moved to the treadmills.

As they moved their legs on the machines, Ichinose, who had been silent, spoke first.

“How are you, Rohan?”

“What do you mean? My body? My body is fine.”

“Your body too, but… You know, you had a good encounter at the shopping mall…?”

“Ah! Lete?”

The name Rohan uttered lightly struck Ichinose’s mind with force.

So that was her name.

“She said she wants to enter Orion Academy next year. And assuming she gets in, I’ll have a good junior.”

“It’s not simply a matter of you accepting her… Doesn’t that Lete person feel differently?”

The conversation during their workout continued longer than usual today.

Thinking that this wasn’t bad either, Rohan carried on the conversation while running.

“The number was just a starting point. A sliver of hope for a potentially good connection.”

“Hmm.”

“Well, continued contact could lead to a good relationship. Or, if things don’t click, it could become worse than strangers, right?”

“…So you’re considering it positively?”

“It’s hard to say yet, but asking for a number takes courage, doesn’t it? I was impressed. It’d be absurd to see her thanking me as something unpleasant.”

“…”

Ichinose closed her mouth with a hardened expression.

She started to pick up the pace, as if preparing to move her body in earnest.

Rohan likewise moved his legs faster and faster.

Perhaps thanks to Transcendence, the elixir from the Monolith, or simply the effects of training.

He continued jogging, showing off his stamina, which had definitely increased compared to before.

··

··

While Rohan used the training room’s shower facilities.

Aeng-ae Nose had a habit of returning to the dormitory to wash up.

The reason wasn’t anything grand. It was simply because there were no prying eyes.

“Huu…”

Ichinose enjoyed the pouring hot water leisurely.

Since she had time today, she replayed the brief sparring session she had with Rohan using wooden swords.

Just what was that thrust?

He’d asked for her feedback, saying it was something he was starting to practice.

The feeling of receiving it was strange.

However, Rohan’s lack of proficiency prevented her from grasping that feeling clearly.

Thanks to that, Ichinose clearly understood what Rohan meant by his constant refrain about his swordsmanship being a mess.

In such cases, the only answer was to practice relentlessly until it became ingrained in his body.

There was no other way. And Rohan knew that all too well.

Outwardly, a simple thrust. But just looking at the difficulty of mana manipulation, it’s similar to some of the Dream Illusion Shadow Style’s sword techniques.

Just what kind of swordsmanship was that? What form would it take when completed?

She became curious.

A pleasant sense of crisis came over her. Rohan was growing stronger, as if leaping forward.

At this rate, winning a sparring match with ease will soon reach its limit. The fact that he can swing his sword reliably even with a broken stance is threatening.

It must be based on a strong core and lower body, not mana.

Plus, he had the strength to easily sever bone even with a one-handed swing.

Even if she had won today’s sparring match, she couldn’t guarantee her victory if she were to face Rohan in a real fight.

The flow and rules of sparring were shackling him.

Rohan was the type whose true skills emerged when he held a real sword and was determined to kill.

Review complete.

Only then did Aeng-ae Nose finish her shower.

“Huu…!”

She dried her hair with a prepared towel and wiped away the water clinging uninvited to her snow-white skin.

At the same time, she mulled over the second matter.

I was going to ask him how things were at home, but…

Just asking about the girl named Lete was already too much for Ichinose.

Meanwhile, Aeng-ae Nose opened her eyes and looked in the mirror.

Swept up in her emotions, she only now noticed the prominent point.

Why am I…?

Curious about Rohan’s personal life?

Was Ichinose Yui, successor of Cheonocheon, ever this interested in other people’s private affairs?

It was a newfound curiosity.

Could it be that she was having those kinds of feelings for the man named Rohan?

She, who had decided to live as a swordswoman, captivated by the sword? And for a man she’d only known for a month or two?

“That’s… ridiculous…!”

The voice that should have echoed within her escaped her lips.

At the unconsciously uttered sound, Ichinose covered her mouth with a gasp and finished drying herself.

“…”

Of course, Rohan could cook dishes that perfectly satisfied her gourmet palate.

And he was the owner of a 100-point pillow, possessed a self-sacrificing spirit seen only in fairy tales, and had already saved her several times.

He had the humility to not boast about his good deeds and excellent potential without arrogance.

And he possessed a kindness and respect that one only realized in retrospect.

But…!

Aeng-ae Nose slapped her mochi-like cheeks to regain her senses.

It seemed she shouldn’t delve any deeper into her train of thought.

It was highly likely she’d lose sleep again.

It’s because he keeps saying embarrassing things like Aeng-ae Nose…!

It was clear that her mind was in a mess from the strange pranks she’d never experienced in her entire life, not even from Noa.

After finishing his call with Juyeon while returning to the dormitory, Rohan entered his room and lay down on his bed.

Shion and Clara said they were at the government office.

Perfect timing.

Rohan properly positioned his pillow, lay down comfortably, and closed his eyes.