Chapter 130: The Perpetrators

The shabby house fell silent.

Rohan’s breathing filled the space as he slept.

Ichinose Yui watched him with narrowed eyes.

There shouldn’t be any problems.

Based on her knowledge and experience, Ichinose Yui knew.

Even if Rohan was deeply asleep, there was no need to worry about an attack.

Those steeped in real combat share a common trait when they finally get proper rest.

They ignore everything except hostility and danger, responding only to those stimuli.

In Ichinose Yui’s eyes, Rohan already belonged to that category.

Her own father possessed that trait, and Noa and Noa’s father were prime examples, belonging to that category from birth.

Despite possessing transcendental senses, Noa’s father, the Grand Emperor of Snow, never woke up when young Noa and Ichinose Yui chattered or ran around near him.

Ichinose Yui herself had countless similar experiences thanks to her father.

Poke.

Ichinose Yui poked Rohan’s cheek with her finger.

She felt relieved when he didn’t wake up.

Hehehe, as expected.

See, since there was no intention to attack, he didn’t react. He just slept soundly.

Her guess wasn’t wrong. She considered herself to know Rohan quite well.

He must be very tired, both mentally and physically.

She poked his cheek, which had an addictively soft texture. She didn’t know why she found this so amusing, but she couldn’t stop.

Was this how Rohan felt when he randomly touched her cheeks?

Really. What kind of skill does he have?

It was astonishing that he could pull out Food and Mineral Water in a place cut off from the outside world.

But to even take out a precious Potion and offer it, did he have some sort of pocket dimension where he stored things? Or did he exchange something valuable for them?

Either way, it was definitely a remarkable Skill.

The fact that Rohan himself wasn’t just all talk about his Skills was a big plus.

His combat talent was also outstanding, so once word got out, he would be a sought-after talent.

He said he had something planned. Still… couldn’t I recruit him to Cheonocheon after he graduates from the Academy?

It was certain he would look dashing in a black suit.

Rohan seemed like the type who would flawlessly handle not only ordinary tasks but also duties as a bodyguard and executive assistant.

Until I officially take over the company, and even after I do, if Rohan were by my side supporting me…

Daydreams filled the girl’s mind.

Just the thought of inheriting the company filled her with heartburn, burden, and worry, but if Rohan were by her side, she felt like she could handle anything.

What if I went on a business trip with Rohan?

While Rohan drove, they would reminisce about their past in the Academy and their current work, laughing together.

She would be sitting in the passenger seat, not the back.

And as soon as they got off work, they would shed their roles as chairman and secretary and share a secret…

“──!”

Ichinose Yui covered her mouth with her sleeve to stifle her silly laughter.

It was the moment her daydream became most vivid.

I almost drooled.

She wiped her mouth and exhaled.

A forbidden relationship that brought such delight just by imagining it. It was too stimulating for Ichinose Yui.

Seeing her fantasies run wild like this, she decided to cut back on the manga Noa gave her.

“…”

She looked back at Rohan, the subject of her fantasies.

It was the first time she had ever had such thoughts about a man.

The girl could no longer ignore her feelings. Self-reflection was one of her few specialties, after all.

It wasn’t Charm.

It definitely wasn’t the suspension bridge effect created by the Dungeon environment either.

It was the crystallization of feelings that had accumulated over several months.

As I thought…

It was clear that she had feelings for Rohan that went beyond simple liking.

Regardless of the depth or intensity, she was experiencing unrequited love, something she thought she would never experience.

This was her reality, despite her denial.

Maybe it’s not so strange.

Thinking back on the time she spent with Rohan, it made sense.

His diligence in starting each day with training.

His willingness to sacrifice himself for others without boasting about it or turning it into a heroic tale.

He never became arrogant or conceited, despite his rapidly improving skills.

And she couldn’t forget the respect and kindness he showed in his unconscious actions and conversations.

Kindness is the true strength of the heart.

If she listed all the reasons why she was attracted to him, there would be no end.

Now that she was facing her feelings, sweet thoughts flooded her like a burst dam.

As Ichinose Yui stroked Rohan’s bangs with a loving gaze…

Perhaps due to the ticklish touch, or perhaps due to the lingering remnants of the Succubus’s Charm…

Rohan’s lower body shifted as if stiff.

“…”

Ichinose Yui unconsciously gulped as she saw the change in Rohan’s body.

Her face flushed, but…

The fact that Rohan hadn’t woken up kept her gaze fixed.

…Isn’t it a blunt weapon?

Judging by the bulging fabric of his pants, it looked like he had a blunt weapon hidden there.

“Ahem.”

Ichinose Yui cleared her throat and stood up, pretending nothing had happened.

If it were any other man, she would have been disgusted, but for some reason, she was now filled with curiosity.

Rohan didn’t wake up even when Ichinose Yui moved.

Even with the sound of footsteps and her presence, because there was no hostility, his Consciousness focused on rest felt no need to awaken.

He said he had no experience with women.

Ichinose knelt and continued her observation.

Even though Rohan was asleep, she had no intention of touching him. Her eyes darted back and forth.

“Mmm…”

Rohan murmured in his sleep.

Along with it, his lower body twitched and showed a change.

“Uh…?”

The incident that Shion and Clara experienced had come to Ichinose as well.

Liquid gushed out over his pants.

Misfortune or fortune.

The tight weave of the Academy Uniform prevented the disastrous creation of a vigorous fountain.

“Uh, uh…?!”

Startled, Ichinose reflexively moved her hand to catch the flow.

She couldn’t catch it perfectly, but the gushing liquid formed a small, white pool in her hand.

“Ugh, uh…uh?”

The embarrassment pushed back the thought of wiping Rohan’s pants or taking care of it.

H-How can I…?

She caught it, but she didn’t know how to handle it.

It was so hot it felt like it might burn her. It had a very strong smell.

Should she throw it outside? She thought about it, then immediately dismissed it.

If I throw it away and those things, no, and if the Succubi smell it and come looking, it’ll be a big problem.

If she threw it away and something ate it and gained tremendous power, it could become troublesome.

Even though it hadn’t been verified, there was a sense of unease.

So, how should she deal with this thick liquid?

“…”

The smell stimulated her Nose.

Having made up her mind, Ichinose gulped.

··

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The lying Rohan opened his eyes.

Simultaneously, he felt a sense of foreboding.

How long did I sleep?

The fact that Ichinose hadn’t woken him and he’d opened his eyes on his own wasn’t the only thing.

His mind was frighteningly clear.

Clear enough to remind him of a certain chilling day.

What is this?

He woke up to a completed achievement.

It was an achievement he’d never seen before. Was it one of his unique achievements?

The problem was that he didn’t have time to properly check the excellent Reward.

Because the unpleasant feeling in his lower body was something he remembered.

I’m fucked.

Rohan moved his head, looking for his companion.

Ichinose was sitting in a corner, wiping a Sword with a cloth.

She tried to look like she wasn’t aware, but her senses were subtly directed towards him.

“…”

Rohan got up from his spot and headed outside.

He was grateful to Ichinose for not saying anything, but at the same time, he wanted to die of shame.

He bought Mineral Water from the Shop and wiped himself down.

He scrubbed thoroughly. He tried to clean himself as best as possible.

The thought that it was fortunate it wasn’t a large amount came a beat too late, making him feel even worse.

Fuck.

Returning to the shabby house, Rohan left the door open.

As he stepped back inside, the smell that filled the house hit him hard.

“Rohan. Sorry, but would you mind if I have some water…?”

Ichinose coughed, her throat seeming to catch.

The water he had placed on the table was already empty.

Ah.

Rohan wanted to die.

Ichinose’s voice and gaze clearly showed that she already knew.

It was a fact he couldn’t avoid, yet the fleeting hope he’d held for a moment that she might not know was driving him crazy.

“…Just a moment.”

Despite his chaotic mind, he opened the Shop, took out a bottle of Mineral Water, and handed it to Ichinose.

Rohan equipped the Sword sheath that he had left on the floor and went outside again.

His uneasy mind had nowhere to go.

This is really shitty. Was it the Charm that was the problem?

He sighed deeply, trying to clear his head.

Trying to ignore his crumbling Consciousness, he opened the notification window he had seen earlier.

He hadn’t even gotten a proper look at it.

I don’t know what the achievement conditions are, but the Rewards are amazing. But who is the Perpetrator? Not a companion...

As he thought this, an arrow flashed beneath the reward notification window.

He clicked on the flashing part.

A new section opened.

“???”

Everything was a mystery.