Chapter 12: Random Skill Book

As soon as Rohan returned to the dormitory, he shoved his clothes into the laundry basket and took a shower.

Lying on his bed, he opened the Shop.

The sight of so many points was reassuring.

Excluding the 3P spent on jerky, he had accumulated a pretty good amount.

Abundant!

50P from meeting Instructor Juyeon and 300P for completing the Quest.

Rohan already knew what he wanted to buy.

The Random Skill Book.

It was a no-brainer.

However, there was one question he couldn’t resolve before making the purchase, and perhaps not after either.

“….”

Rohan stared intently at the words “Random Skill Book” and pondered.

Will it only give me Skills I can learn？

What was the scope of “random”?

Would the Skill Book be a physical book, or would he learn the skill the moment he bought it?

It was impossible to predict as Rohan still didn’t know how the Shop Skill would behave.

In the worst-case scenario, the Random Skill Book might contain a Skill with a completely different Attribute, leaving him unable to learn it and be a waste of his Points.

I need to get a Physical or Fire Attribute Skill….

At times like these, the concept of Attributes felt quite tricky.

Having the common Physical Attribute didn’t mean he could shoot shockwaves, and having the Fire Attribute didn’t mean he could erupt in flames.

It might be possible as his level increased, but at his current level, Attributes would only show their true worth when learning Skills.

Let’s trust in luck.

Before he could overthink it, Rohan reached out.

He wasn’t going to not buy it anyway.

The space shimmered as his Points were deducted.

Just as Rohan recalled his experience when buying the jerky and stretched out his hand, the Shop Skill changed.

The remaining time was ridiculously long, but this was definitely the same notification window he had seen on the day of the Placement Exam.

Perhaps it was restocking because he had purchased all the one-time items.

While he was making this deduction…

“!”

A Skill permeated deep into his consciousness in a very clear form.

Huh?

The moment he learned the Skill, Rohan blinked. What he was feeling wasn’t disappointment or definite joy.

It was only a fog-like confusion.

Whose Skill is this？

Rohan began questioning it because he prided himself on knowing every learnable Skill in Abyss City.

He even knew the Skills of characters he hadn’t leveled.

But he had never heard of this Skill before.

While a D-Rank Skill wasn’t anything special, it was the existence of an unfamiliar Skill that left him dumbfounded.

Frankly, it was shocking.

What the….

Rohan pondered again on the scope of “random.”

And he came up with a plausible hypothesis.

Is it possible it includes Skills used by enemies or NPCs, not just playable characters？

Rohan leaped up from his bed and grabbed the blade he had placed on the table.

He tried using the Skill on the knife he had taken as a trophy.

Tzzzzzz──!

A sound like dry firewood splitting.

Instead of blazing flames, the blade heated up and turned red.

Rohan observed the strange heat generated by Mana.

Not bad.

Worried the blade might melt, Rohan withdrew his Mana.

As the Mana dissipated, the knife instantly returned to its cold state. Indeed, it was different from ordinary flames.

Rather than a Skill just for killing humans….

It was definitely more suitable for killing Monsters vulnerable to fire.

After all, blood loss was the most effective way to kill humans.

Additionally, the Skill’s utility brought one more thing to mind.

You can use this to cauterize wounds and stop bleeding quickly.

It was commonly known as cauterization.

A method of hemostasis frequently used in critical battles due to its ease of access.

If I were to use this with a longsword….

Bzzzz──!

Rohan’s thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of his Smartphone.

He needed to sleep if he wanted to wake up in time for his morning exercise.

＊＊＊＊＊

“Hmm.”

Waiting for Rohan, who had requested a meeting, Juyeon reread the evaluation sheets and documents in the counseling room to get a better grasp of the information.

Rohan. From the Southern Region, uses a Sword… And judging by the timing, he must have been alone around the time the Void Whale appeared.

The Void Whale.

Currently the largest observed Monster, and one of the highest-ranked.

A terrifying calamity that opened its mouth and spewed out Monsters endlessly upon making its appearance; the Monster that destroyed the Southern Region, which was once a powerful nation, in an instant.

It was also the decisive factor that made the Three Kingdoms Union, Tigrova, and the Sepia Archipelago stop their political conflicts and unite.

From the Southern Region….

Juyeon stared at Rohan’s picture.

She knew that the survivors remaining in the ruined Southern Region had built a small village and only those living there were recognized as residents of the Southern Region, like Rohan.

But in reality, what was the current state of the Southern Region?

It had transformed into a hideout for criminals from various countries. She had heard that even that small village had been targeted by criminals, and only a few survivors remained.

Troublesome.

She felt reluctant to simply consider his survival as good luck.

And it wasn’t something she could judge.

Because, Rohan might consider himself unlucky to have survived alone.

Word choice is crucial during the meeting.

Juyeon scratched a pen across her notepad, writing Rohan’s name and updating the additional information.

She didn’t want to use words that would stir up the Cadet’s nightmares.

“Sigh…”

She wondered why he had requested a meeting in the first place.

Feeling parched, Juyeon opened her tumbler and took a sip of tea.

He’s here.

She sensed a presence outside.

Juyeon organized the documents she had been looking at, tidying her desk.

Knock, knock, knock.

A polite knock, followed immediately by a voice.

─ It’s Rohan, here for the meeting.

“Come in.”

Opening the door gently, Rohan entered and bowed his head.

“I apologize for interrupting your busy schedule.”

“There’s no need for such formalities. Sit down.”

“Excuse me.”

Juyeon checked the time one last time before starting the counseling session.

Fortunately, there was still some time before the morning assembly.

“So, what is it that you wish to discuss?”

Juyeon looked directly into Rohan’s eyes and Rohan immediately stated his business.

“I’d like to receive permission for a part-time job.”

“A part-time job?”

“Yes. I haven’t found one yet. However, I understand that I need permission before I can start looking.”

Juyeon knew this. It was indeed written in the Academy’s guide.

However, it was rare for Orion Academy cadets to have part-time jobs.

“A part-time job… Is it for financial reasons?”

“Yes. I need to cover living expenses and at least be able to buy a cheap weapon.”

Juyeon felt a pang of bitterness every time she witnessed this kind of dark cycle in society.

His stiff tone didn’t suit his freshman Cadet badge and the way he spoke, as if he was already accustomed to the system, intensified the bitter taste.

….

The vast majority of Orion Academy cadets had financial freedom, meaning they didn’t have to worry about making a living.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that was the reason they were able to enter Orion Academy.

Filled with cadets who had received systematic training in elite courses since childhood, Orion Academy cadets were overwhelmingly skilled when compared to their peers.

Therefore…

It’s a vicious cycle.

Juyeon knew this well.

She knew that Rohan’s future Academy life would likely follow a similar pattern.

While Rohan would inevitably have to invest time in a part-time job, other cadets could devote all their time to training without such worries.

Scholarships were the same.

Cadets who used their time wisely were more likely to achieve excellent grades. However, Rohan, who was weak in theory based on his evaluation, would have a hard time receiving one immediately.

“…I see. Have you thought about what kind of part-time job you’d like to do?”

Analyzing Rohan’s words from her perspective, it seemed he wasn’t in a position to be picky.

“As you’re surely aware, illegal activities are not permitted.”

“Yes!”

Juyeon felt ashamed and resentful of her position, where she had to end the conversation with such a formal statement.

But seeing Rohan’s straightforward reply, a faint smile crept on her lips.

Admirable.

The fact that he hadn’t resorted to financially motivated crimes despite having the skills to enter Orion Academy.

And the fact that he entered this Academy with such a disadvantaged background.

It was truly commendable.

It was simply a shame that she couldn’t support directly him due to fairness issues.

“…Alright. Once you’ve decided on a part-time job, send me a message with the details. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing Rohan happy about the permission, Juyeon stood up.

She reached out naturally and gently stroked Rohan’s hair in a soothing manner.

“…Do your best.”

Saying it was time for the morning assembly, Juyeon led the way, and Rohan followed, feeling puzzled by the gentle touch.

Is this her usual personality？