episode_0033

“That··· I have an appointment today, so it might be difficult.”

“···!”

The girl froze like a statue.

Clara was so shocked that it was the first time she had seen Rohan.

He couldn’t continue speaking and his lips were trembling.

What should I do here?

Rohan knows.

“Instead!”

Clara’s courage was at its limit at the first suggestion, but she knew that she must not finish speaking.

So I recommend it with a happy heart and sincerity.

Because this opportunity is precious to Rohan too.

“How about tomorrow? I’ll buy you something to drink. Any other free day would be nice too.”

“Bah, you must be busy, so there’s no need to strain yourself because of someone like me···.”

“It’s the same thing, you shouldn’t underestimate yourself like that.”

According to Rohan’s intuition, the only word that comes to Clara’s mind right now is “I’m sorry.”

In the meantime, the apology stopped and I was left speechless.

Rohan spoke up again and took action.

“Hold it here.”

“···?”

How could I carelessly grab the hand of such a delicate girl and lead her?

When Rohan hands over the apron like a rein, Clara grabs it with a questioning look on her face.

“Go.”

“Uh, where?”

Rohan continued to exchange glances with Clara, who was cowering as she took a step back.

He led the girl to the table next to the cash register.

And then sit down.

The store manager opens the snacks he left for Clara to eat, makes some warm tea, and places it in front of Clara.

The girl looked back and forth between the tea set before her and Rohan. Her eyes were not understanding the situation at all.

“···What’s that over there?”

“This is too much for one person to eat. I need some help.”

Rohan naturally hands over a piece of candy.

Clara took the candy hesitantly and expressed her gratitude.

Rohan stared at the girl who was munching on snacks like a hamster.

The conversation that had been interrupted was resumed.

“I’m sorry. I’m really not the type of person to make plans, but it just got twisted like this.”

“Oh, no! I said that without thinking···.”

“How about tomorrow? Are you busy?”

Clara nods her head. She says she’s not busy.

Her short twintails and the ribbon on her clothes swayed together.

“Then I’ll buy you something delicious tomorrow, so help the weekly boss.”

Rohan held out his finger as a sign of promise.

Clara hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and hooked her fingers.

*****

The princess said that she would be training with the elders as always.

I left my location tracker in the ruins and entered the Academy City Elysium.

On the surface it looks like a deviation, but on the inside it looks like a struggle to escape the doubts that are deep in the heart.

Click!

The princess, who arrived at the contact point, Area 2, took off the goggles she was wearing and put them in the case.

Take down the mask that was pulled up to under the eyes.

Because you have to dress as naturally as possible to blend in.

‘···.’

Raise your head from the street.

Bright signs and lights in sight.

The girl was purely amazed by the prosperity of the Academy City that she could see after the sun had set.

‘Two hours···.’

For the princess who has been living in a ruin with no infrastructure, Academy City is nothing but a lump of interest and curiosity.

Two hours waiting for an appointment is not enough.

If you just wander around here and there by yourself, that amount of time will pass by quickly.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Walk down the street following the pedestrians.

How should I describe my current state of excitement and worry?

“···.”

The girl who had been moving like that slows down her walking speed.

A small sprout of vigilance emerges.

‘What’s missing?’

The princess felt eyes on her every step.

I remember this happening last time too, so I thought I dressed as naturally as possible, but I still felt like I was drawing attention.

‘There is no hostility involved.’

Still, I was concerned.

Isn’t this a sign that there is a lack of naturalness in unexpected parts and that there is no harmony?

‘···I guess I should ask if there’s anything awkward when we meet.’

The princess naturally walked to the shopping mall.

I’ve known about the currency system since I was a child. Thanks to that, I carry around a few coins for emergencies.

As you kill monsters in areas that have become uninhabitable and wander around abandoned houses, you may occasionally pick up dusty coins.

I went up the escalator in the shopping mall and looked around each floor.

The princess went down to the lively floor and shook her head from side to side.

‘There are many people wearing similar clothes.’

I remember hearing that it was the uniform of an educational institution called the Academy.

I infer that this is because there are many stores selling school supplies and office supplies on this floor.

How long did it take to move around the floors?

“!”

The princess’s excellent eyesight found the blue sign that was memorable.

[ Waterdrop Friends ]

The princess moved with a slightly quicker pace.

The corners of his lips twitch in a way that doesn’t match his cold face.

‘···I didn’t know this store was in Region 2.’

It was the same brand as the store where I bought a notepad and pen with a plump dragon and an innocent shark character drawn on them when I sneaked out to Academy City in the past.

As the princess approaches, the automatic door opens with a squeak.

Pogururur—The bell rang like a bubble, drawing the attention of the employees.

“Welcome! We are Water Drop Friends!”

The princess’s mind calms down a little thanks to the staff members who greet her with bright voices.

The princess bowed her head politely as if in greeting and stepped inside.

Mostly female guests or children.

The princess mingled in the gap and looked at the items.

‘Woolwool, suit and fedora, interesting.’

The princess moved sideways, taking in the characters in various fashions.

As you pass by the cute products, big characters welcome you.

‘doll?’

To be honest, it’s annoying.

I really, really want it. I want it, but the way back is the problem.

If a doll like this suddenly appears in a dark room, its presence will be so noticeable that it is impossible to want it no matter how greedy you are.

‘I can’t help it…’

It’s such a shame that we have to be satisfied with just looking at it now.

The princess couldn’t leave her seat and kept poking the soft doll with her finger.

How long did I stand there trying to console my regret?

A voice was heard that made the princess’s ears perk up.

“102 coins 28 tokens were paid.”

◦Please ship all to the %◦ address.”

“Okay! Thank you every time!”

What can I buy here that would cost that much?

The princess’s head naturally turns to the cash register.

‘···Blind?’

She was an elegant girl with her eyes closed.

The sword held like a cane looks appropriate, yet creates a sense of dissonance.

The sight of someone walking away with the card they used to make the payment.

The princess held her breath as she caught a glimpse of the girl’s abilities.

‘Strong.’

He moves his head as if he reads the movement from this side.

As the princess stood stiffly, the girl with her eyes closed nodded with a gentle smile and disappeared.

“···.”

The princess, who had just bowed, realized that there wasn’t much time left until the rendezvous.

I hurried to go shopping.

“1 coin = 10 tokens.”

“Here···.”

Jangle jangle.

The princess left the store after purchasing a new notepad, pen, and stickers.

··

··

─ I know where it is. I’ll go there.

The princess, who had finally finished the call after hearing the man’s answer, stood in front of the public phone and waited quietly.

I feel at ease because there are few pedestrians and no one looks at me.

Ttukbuk.

Footsteps that seemed to be calling out to you.

The princess’s gaze moved and she came face to face with the person she had been waiting for.

“I’m here.”

The princess did not think she was close enough to greet this man properly.

It is still unclear whether they are friend or foe.

“Why are you dressed like that?”

If your goal is camouflage, there are less noticeable outfits available.

There must be a purpose to wearing the academy uniform that seems to be treated quite well in Academy City.

The princess thought so.

“I thought you’d make me wait if I went to the dorm, so I came right after finishing my part-time job.”

“Are you also infiltrating the Academy?”

In response to the princess’s question, Rohan laughed without further explanation.

“Let’s move first. There’s a place where we can talk···.”

“Wait a minute, there’s something I need to take care of first.”

“Yes?”

The princess showed her outfit to Rohan.

“Does my outfit look weird?”

“There’s nothing particularly strange about it.”

“Hmm···.”

He didn’t even have a large sniper rifle and he even hid his goggles.

He had his outerwear zipped all the way up so as not to show the bullet casing inside.

Considering the evening weather, it wasn’t such a strange sight.

“Have you ever been subjected to a security check by a peace officer?”

“That’s not it. I just get a lot of strange stares. If you don’t solve the problem, you might get stopped for questioning.”

“Aha.”

Rohan nods slightly as if he understands.

“Do you know why?”

“Don’t worry too much about it. It’s a simple problem.”

“Simple?”

The princess became more curious about the reason.

Because it’s dangerous to not recognize simple problems.

“Answer me. What’s the problem?”

Rohan answered indifferently to the princess who was glaring at him with sharp eyes.

“Because it’s pretty.”

“What, what···?”

“They say that appearance catches the eye.”

Rohan answered the obvious question as if it was nothing.

He said, “Let’s go quickly,” and started walking ahead.