Chapter 138: Three Ichinose Yuis

Before the man and woman caught in the Monolith fell into the Succubus’ Nest.

Rohan and Ichinose Yui met after Orion Academy ended.

The two had been missing in this world for approximately 10 hours.

Therefore, it was now the time between dawn and morning.

Friday had changed to Saturday.

Fortunately, it was the weekend, and the Academy was closed.

Instructor Juyeon also had free time, so she could attend the Public Security Bureau investigation as the Cadets’ guardian.

Rohan and Ichinose Yui had no problems either.

And Ichinose Momo cleverly created some leeway in their schedule.

─ Wouldn’t it be appropriate to fill our stomachs before the investigation? We didn’t do anything wrong.

─ Shall we get a good night’s sleep and have lunch?

The mealtime was loosely scheduled for a late lunch.

Rohan and Ichinose Yui currently needed a relaxed break without tension.

Rohan, who had to go to the Public Security Bureau with Ichinose Yui, naturally agreed to attend. Momo also invited Shion and Clara, who were with her, to the meal.

The restaurant was decided to be Ansimjeong (安心停), a place everyone knew the location of.

The visit to the Public Security Bureau was vaguely set for after the meal.

“Yui. Are you cleaning your room properly?”

“Don’t worry! Nose’s room is super clean!”

Noa answered on behalf of Ichinose Yui, wagging her tail at Momo’s question.

As you can see, Ichinose Yui returned to the Academy Dormitory with her mother and Noa.

“Should Mom make some side dishes for you? Are you eating well?”

“Mother, you worry too much.”

As it was a dormitory for female Cadets, men were not allowed to enter.

Ichinose Jun was currently at a nearby Cafe with Juyeon, discussing the incident on the uninhabited island and the current situation.

Noa naturally occupied Ichinose Yui’s bed.

With innocent eyes, she didn’t hide the question that just came to her mind.

“I just remembered, was Nose with Rohan?”

“Uh··· Yes···.”

“What were you two doing?”

“Nothing special··· We were on our way to eat.”

“Aha!”

Noa seemed satisfied with the simple explanation.

However, Ichinose Yui, as if escaping before anyone asked any further probing questions, fled the scene.

“···I’m going to wash up!”

The girl headed to the bathroom. Clothes that needed to be thrown away, torn in places, were piled next to the laundry basket.

She started a shower to cleanse herself.

─ Is our Noa having fun at the Academy? Is there anything uncomfortable?

─ Yes! It’s more fun because I’m with Nose. I studied hard for this exam───.

Even though the door was closed, voices could be heard from outside.

The sound wasn’t unpleasant. It felt good to listen to.

Ichinose Yui smiled as she was showered with warm water.

‘···I really came back.’

The realization that she had survived the Dungeon against all odds.

The girl covered her white skin with smooth bubbles, pondering the Dungeon environment.

‘If it weren’t for Rohan, I wouldn’t have made it back either.’

She understood why there were so few Survivors from Dungeons. Not only Monsters, but everything, including Food and water, was a problem.

She was fortunate to have been with Rohan.

“···.”

Looking back on the helpless past, she should have felt the lack of her skills and gained motivation for training.

However, the girl’s Consciousness drifted elsewhere.

The hand that was lathering her jet-black hair stopped.

‘Rohan is with those two···.’

The image of Rohan seeing her off, saying they would meet again in the afternoon, came to mind. Shion and Clara had stayed with Rohan.

She envied how natural that action seemed.

Ichinose Yui, finished with her shower, came out wearing pajamas.

Perhaps because she had relaxed in the warm water, she felt like she would fall asleep the moment she lay down. The accumulated mental fatigue rushed in as the tension eased.

“Nose! Let’s sleep quickly!”

“···.”

Noa had already prepared a place for herself to sleep on the floor.

Judging by the White Tiger character and meat patterns all over the blanket, it was her own bedding from her room.

Ichinose Yui was too tired to argue with or push away Noa, who was clearly planning to sleep in her room.

“Mom and Dad will be nearby, so call us when you wake up.”

“Have you found a place to rest?”

“Yes. But we came all the way to Academy City, right? I need to go on a date with your father.”

Momo knew her husband well.

Ichinose Jun’s heart must be in turmoil, having witnessed his daughter’s change.

She found it cute how he tried not to show it.

Momo laid Ichinose Yui and Noa down, then click! turned off the light.

She quietly left the dormitory.

2 PM at Ansimjeong (安心停).

After a good night’s sleep and a shower, Rohan arrived at the restaurant in a clean state.

He met Ichinose Yui’s group, who had just arrived in front of the restaurant with Shion and Clara.

“Ro, Rohan···.”

Ichinose subtly waved her hand as if signaling, her voice a soft whisper.

Noa, her round ears twitching, approached and presented her palm.

“High five!”

Rohan’s lips curved upwards at the unexpectedly energetic greeting.

After returning the high five waiting on her palm, he bowed his head to Ichinose’s parents.

Shion and Clara also showed their respect.

“Thank you for inviting us.”

“It’s a parent’s joy to feed their daughter’s friends well. Thank you for coming.”

Momo smiled, looking at Rohan and the girls who followed him.

“Well, let’s go in.”

Ichinose Jun’s acknowledgment ended with a nod. He was quiet and had a different atmosphere, almost the opposite of Momo.

He led the way into the restaurant.

Ichinose Jun, who ran a business, was busy, but he stayed in Academy City with his wife to attend this occasion.

Nothing was more important than his family.

And he was quite curious about the boy his daughter was interested in.

“Are my daughters hungry?”

“Hungry!”

Noa’s reply was the loudest.

Momo, accustomed to Ichinose Jun leading alone, guided the group.

Rohan, following behind, gazed at Ichinose Jun.

Inwardly, he was filled with admiration.

Wasn’t he a celebrity he couldn’t meet in Abyss City?

‘Is he on the same level as Instructor Juyeon? He’s a real monster.’

Like Juyeon, Ichinose Jun was someone far beyond Rohan’s ability to measure.

He walked across the grass at the entrance, but there was no sound of footsteps.

Rohan wondered what kind of trajectory the Sword in his hand would show if he drew it.

“Manager Maeng Do-hyun. It’s an honor to guide you.”

Having heard the news, the manager of Ansimjeong came out personally.

After a simple greeting, he led the way.

The group was guided deep into the restaurant, to a private room with a separate garden.

Drrrrrr—

The door to the private room opened smoothly.

Ichinose Jun, still at the front, took a seat first.

Shion and Clara, their eyes sparkling, sat down, leaving a space in the middle.

The girls patted the empty seat, calling for Rohan.

“O-oppa…! Sit here!”

“Rohan. Sit down quickly.”

Shion and Clara occupied the seats to Rohan’s left and right as if it were natural.

Even though the seats were spacious, they sat close enough to touch Rohan’s shoulders.

Momo found the girls’ eagerness endearing.

‘They’re at a good age. So cute.’

And the most adorable of them all was her own daughter, who seemed to be taking even these eager actions with anxiety.

Looking to her side, Momo saw Ichinose Yui looking as if she was about to bite her nails.

“Hee hee.”

Opposite Rohan sat the Ichinose mother and daughter.

Every time Momo met his eyes, she gave him a smile mixed with kindness and playfulness, leaving Rohan inwardly quite flustered.

While they engaged in small talk, the dishes were quickly prepared.

A feast fit to break a table filled the wide tabletop.

Noa began to fill her stomach, practically inhaling the Food.

Momo naturally led the conversation. The Twin Tail girl and Elf girl who tensed up every time she spoke were interesting.

How did he capture the heart of an Elf at such a young age?

“Cadet Rohan, having survived the Dungeon twice, has a bright future ahead of him. It will be an excellent record. Right, honey?”

“Hmm…”

At Momo’s words, Ichinose Jun vaguely agreed.

It was true that it was unprecedented.

“I wouldn’t have returned if it weren’t for Ichinose. I was lucky.”

“By Ichinose, do you mean me? Or my husband?”

“…”

Momo’s smile deepened at Rohan’s speechless appearance.

Cadet Rohan, despite his fierce impression, was mature and respectful.

In between, he showed cute sides that made her want to tease him.

“You should call her Yui, right? There are three people with the same last name.”

“M-Mother?!”

Ichinose, startled, retrieved her almost-dropped chopsticks and spoke out.

Momo continued to gaze at Rohan, not her daughter. Understanding her meaning, Rohan corrected himself.

“…I wouldn’t have returned if it weren’t for Yui.”

Aeng-ae Nose reflexively hid her tomato-red face when Rohan called Yui by her name.

Feeling satisfied, Momo continued.

“Is that so? Our daughter said the same thing. You two are close?”

“I think we’ve become quite close during our time at the Academy.”

Momo, holding back a burst of laughter at her husband’s twitching eyebrows, decided to get to the heart of the matter.

“Cadet Rohan. Could you tell me a little about the Dungeon? What kind of Dungeon was it?”