Chapter 100: The Lady’s Dark History and Ramen Theory

The sun asserted its presence in broad daylight.

Compared to the previous night, the campfire was a cute, small size.

Rohan felt the gentle warmth emanating outwards and looked down.

“Huuuh…”

Ichinose was sleeping so soundly that she wouldn’t even notice if she were carried away.

With quiet breaths that contrasted her powerful strength, she was traveling through dreamland.

I’ll just let this burn.

Rohan pulled out a piece of firewood from the pile and placed it in the flames.

He planned to wake Ichinose up once this piece of firewood turned to ashes.

It hasn’t even been a few hours since I woke up, but I’m sleepy, hungry, and thirsty…

After freeing his hands, he quietly opened his mineral water and quenched his thirst.

Experiencing this firsthand is no ordinary test.

He recalled the time during his Hunter days when he was isolated underground for a long period, surrounded by monsters.

That meant the sticker’s effects were potent.

It was certain that this would be an overwhelming experience for the cadets who grew up in affluent environments.

It also highlighted the aspect of preparing for the Monolith Dungeon.

“…”

Rohan blankly watched the campfire gnaw at the wood.

Was this what they called staring into the fire?

The crackling sound of burning wood. Ichinose’s breathing.

In a place where white noises harmonized, Rohan opened the Quest window.

He carefully considered the content.

Will Main Story Chapter 2 proceed exactly the same?

Of course, Rohan remembered.

Compared to the bitter taste of Abyss City Chapter 1, Chapter 2 was lighthearted, and even visually enjoyable in the end.

Players could watch the battles of truly powerful individuals, whom they were curious about.

They could also speculate about the level of power the Protagonist should aim for and face one of the hidden antagonists of the world.

But that’s when playing the game.

Lighthearted and visually enjoyable were from a Gamer’s perspective.

If he actually placed himself there, Chapter 2 was more dangerous.

Omega… the fact that it escaped was just written in text, so it’s difficult to speculate how it escaped.

He carefully reviewed Main Story Chapter 2.

Naturally, his contemplation lengthened.

The gist of Chapter 2 was the charm of interacting with other cadets through choices and building various relationships.

It was also fun to experience different characters through non-lethal combat and try out unowned and upcoming characters.

After obtaining all the rewards, the Reverse Praise Society would appear at the end, showing Gamers that this was one of the villains who would pester them in the future. This was the framework of Chapter 2.

“Hmm…”

He wasn’t sure how these factors would translate into reality. There were too many variables to simply focus on the exam at hand.

Of course, since the Protagonist wouldn’t be involved in the final battle, if he stayed put, the most crucial part would likely proceed according to established information.

But he couldn’t completely shake off his unease.

He was worried.

Would the battle unfold in exactly the same way as the video in Abyss City?

Could Juyeon and Omega’s duel unfold spectacularly and end in a bland draw due to time constraints?

He wanted to leverage his informational advantage and do something by riding the flow.

Unlike Shion’s case, the enemy ‘Omega’ was on a whole different level.

Since the end of Chapter 2 was Juyeon’s stage, the opponent was obviously a worthy rival.

If a cadet intervened carelessly, they could die without even realizing how they were hit.

Or they might interfere with Juyeon, preventing the battle from ending in a draw.

It would be nice if it just ended without the appearance of the Reverse Praise Society. But looking at the quest, it doesn’t seem like that will be the case.

If the situation didn’t deviate from his expectations, the cadets would be safe.

Because there was a price Omega had agreed to pay for Hex’s help.

“Ah.”

It was time to wake Ichinose.

He had gotten lost in digging up information, trying to make predictions, and time flew by.

Looking at the sleeping girl, he spoke.

“Aeng-ae Nose. Wake up.”

“Uuung…”

Given Ichinose’s personality, yesterday was the last day he could let her sleep in.

While he wanted to let her sleep soundly, from an equal standpoint, the image of one party bearing more of the burden would anger Ichinose.

They had to divide roles to avoid trouble.

“Ichinose Yui, open your eyes immediately.”

When Rohan added a sentence in a low voice,

The girl wriggled slightly and made a sound.

“Dad… Yui wants to sleep a little longer…”

“Dad?”

Rohan chuckled at Ichinose’s sleep talk.

Did even the sharp heiress, Ichinose Yui, become this soft when with her family?

This was a precious scene never seen in Abyss City.

“Dad will make you Ramen. Wake up.”

“…”

Ichinose blinked with a drowsy face.

Her golden eyes appeared and disappeared repeatedly.

“Are you awake?”

“…”

Her eyelids closed. Even with her eyes closed, it was obvious she was awake.

Silence. Lips struggling with conflict.

What was Ichinose thinking that made her unable to move? Did she remember the sleep talk she just uttered?

“Ahem! Excuse me…”

Ichinose sat up as if nothing had happened.

But what a pity.

The girl had learned to hide her emotions, but she wasn’t skilled enough at acting to ignore and conceal such overwhelming embarrassment. She still lacked brazenness.

Therefore, she spoke.

“Rohan.”

“Why.”

“Please forget it quickly. Erase it from your memory.”

“Erase what?”

“That…”

Ichinose’s face turning red wasn’t because of the small campfire.

Definitely.

Rohan, unable to hold back, said to the girl,

“Just tell Daddy. What should I forget?”

“!!!”

Startled, Ichinose abruptly stood up.

So flustered, her gem-like eyes were clearly visible.

Her surging emotions seemed ready to bolt out the entrance.

“Alright. I won’t.”

“…”

“Sit down. I’m debating whether to eat and sleep.”

“Haa…!”

Wiping her face with her hands to cool down, Ichinose sat back down.

Was this practical exam destined to be a day of renewed dark history? The girl felt dizzy.

“Anyway, I’ll fill the bowl with water first.”

It was also a perfect opportunity to give Ichinose time to catch her breath.

Saying it’s better to use the drinking water they received yesterday quickly, Rohan took the bowl and stood up.

After giving her a suitable amount of time.

Rohan returned to their shelter with a smile.

“Aeng-ae Nose.”

“If someone hears you calling me by that embarrassing name…!”

“So it’s okay if I call you that when we’re alone?”

“Would that be okay?”

The certainty that Rohan would be grinning slyly when she opened her eyes.

This playfulness was different in nature from Noa, who she was always with.

“Too bad. It rolls right off the tongue, I think I’ll keep saying it.”

“Haa… If you’re going to be like that, I’ll have to think of a nickname for Rohan too.”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll change your name in my phone contacts when we get back.”

“…”

Rohan sensed it. The fun ends here.

Going further would be overkill.

He was certain that if he brought it up one more time, Ichinose would get upset.

“Ichinose. Do you like ramen?”

Rohan casually placed the water-filled bowl over the fire.

Ichinose pouted her lips and replied.

“I’ve had it before. I don’t dislike it.”

“How’s your stomach now? If you’re not hungry, we can sleep and eat later.”

“I’m hungry… Rohan, you’re hungry too, aren’t you? Let’s eat now.”

Ichinose answered honestly. Satisfactory.

Rohan grabbed the ramen package and started rambling as things came to mind.

“Cooking it well is important, but I think ramen is exceptionally affected by the situation. There are times when ramen tastes best, you know.”

“Is there such a thing?”

“Ramen after swimming, ramen after finishing snow removal in the middle of winter, ramen for a hangover. There are a few others besides these.”

“…Except for the last one, isn’t it delicious because you’re hungry?”

Rohan smiled at Ichinose’s characteristic answer and tore open the package.

They had previously agreed to save the canned food, so he didn’t touch it.

“Anyway, being outdoors like this is one of the factors that makes ramen taste good.”

“Are you going to make it, Rohan? I know how to make ramen too.”

“This isn’t about division of labor. I won’t budge. I’m making the ramen.”

At Rohan’s insistence, Ichinose showed a rare playful smile.

“So you’re saying you’ll open my eyes to a new world of ramen I’ve never experienced before?”

“Hmm, is it that much…? I’ll try my best with the water ratio first.”

“I’m really, really~ looking forward to it.”

Ichinose watched him with her hands cupped around her face as if she had caught him in the act.

It was probably an attempt to pressure him, but just looking at her made Rohan feel healed.

Let’s do it right away.

Now that they’d decided to eat ramen, there was no reason to hesitate.

Rohan added firewood as a support to level the bowl.

“Once the water boils… hmm?”

A faint presence.

Rohan, who was continuing his ramen lecture, glanced towards the entrance.

He picked up the Long Sword he had placed on the ground.

Ichinose got ready even faster than Rohan.

She was poised to swing her sword at any moment.

““…””

Rohan and Ichinose exchanged hand signals they learned in class.

Holding their breaths to escape the confined space, they exited the shelter and stood outside.

Faint footsteps could be heard. The sound was exceptionally clear to Ichinose.

Two people.

They were approaching, stepping on the mud-caked ground from the heavy rain. They were headed in this direction, so they couldn’t be ignored.

As they got closer, the tension should have naturally heightened, but…

Rohan and Ichinose, recognizing the familiar presence, looked at each other.

“This?”

“A familiar presence. They’ll notice us soon too.”

They relaxed their grip on their swords.

The two waited for the cadets approaching from beyond the bushes.