Chapter 88: Girls at Risk of Being Left Alone for 5 Days (1)

The Grand Emperor of Snow then asked how Noa was doing in Academy City.

Shion recalled the time she met Noa. Honestly, she seemed healthy and happy.

That answer was the best a parent could hope for, so the Grand Emperor of Snow had a satisfied expression.

After personally answering a few questions Shion was curious about…

“I’ve put in a call, so your identity will be restored within 30 minutes.”

“Thank you.”

Escorted by Yoho, Shion was led to the place where Testarossa’s inheritance was located.

Walking through a corridor deep underground, she passed hundreds of doors.

Then, Yoho suddenly stopped in front of a door that was indistinguishable from the others.

“Here it is.”

“…”

The doors lining the corridor had no numbers or distinguishing features.

So, how did he find it? Did Yoho memorize the entire space?

While Shion harbored such curiosity, Yoho tapped the entrance with his fan.

Click!

With just that, the tightly closed door slid open as if oiled.

“Shall we go in?”

“Yes.”

Shion followed Yoho, who stepped inside confidently.

She faced a space filled with an enormous amount of wealth and objects.

Yoho wagged his tail, admiring the items once again, and informed her.

“With this much wealth, you can get away with almost any mischief without a trace. You could even live a life of leisure without ever working? It’s a dream most people have.”

Yoho said it was the dream of most, but Shion felt no attraction to such a future.

She even feared that if she settled down, Rohan and Clara would become unreachable.

“Even so, there are still things I want to do, so I don’t think I’ll stay put. I feel like I lack various experiences…”

“Indeed! That’s commendable. Then, you can think of this as having found the privilege to undo a few failures.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Shion had taken a liking to Yoho.

Perhaps it was because he had a good impression of Testarossa, whom he had met in the past.

“If you have any questions or need any explanations about anything, please feel free to ask.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Shion took a step forward and looked around.

There were things that caught her eye before the dazzling jewels and ornaments arranged in antique chests.

“…”

Portraits of her parents hung on the wall.

They were paintings Shion had seen when she was young. She was certain they had hung in Testarossa’s palace in the past.

The moment she saw them, her emotions surged, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Even the books, neatly placed and maintained below the portraits.

Her mother’s parenting diary and a photo album of Shion’s childhood. Things that, under normal circumstances, would have been filled without leaving any blank spaces at the back.

Emotions welled up, making her nose tingle, but Shion took repeated breaths to calm her heart.

She hadn’t intended to turn this place into a sea of tears.

I’ve… shed enough tears.

The treasures she had regained under the name of inheritance were enough to serve as a driving force for growth and a pillar of strength to endure hardships.

After spending a long time looking at the photos and composing herself, Shion raised her head.

Yoho politely informed Shion, who still held the status of a distinguished guest of Tigrova.

“You don’t have to take everything with you at once. This room can be kept as is. Or, if you tell us your address, we can move it for you.”

There was no need to sort out the items to be disposed of today.

Yoho informed her that there was no need to rush her decision, but Shion wasn’t in such a leisurely position.

“Still… I’d like to prepare some living expenses. I’ve received too much help from those around me.”

Currently, Shion was so broke that she had to rely on Rohan even to come to Tigrova.

When she returned, she would need to find a place to live in Academy City and prepare the necessary supplies.

After explaining her situation, Shion continued to ponder, gazing at the gems and ornaments about which she had no knowledge.

Yoho watched the girl with a pitying expression.

Those are such precious gems… She’ll probably sell them even if it means selling them for a pittance.

She was a worrisome girl, in a different sense than the Grand Emperor of Snow’s youngest daughter, Noa Frozenheart.

The treasures here were all items with long history and rarity.

Such wonderful items being undervalued by merchants with forked tongues? It was a picture Yoho, a collector, abhorred enough to barely contain his murderous intent.

His Majesty must have assigned me to her for that very reason.

As a subject, he had to follow the king’s will.

Yoho took out the smartphone he had tucked into his wide sleeve and approached Shion.

“Then, may I, Yoho, recommend some items here that you could dispose of?”

Perhaps because Shion and Clara had slept in it, the bed had been exuding a sweet scent that was overflowing lately.

And now, Rohan was lying there, talking to Shion on speakerphone.

─ Anyway, that’s how my missing person status was withdrawn. It was a strange feeling to come back to life after being declared dead, but… my identity has been resolved for now.

“That’s good.”

─ Other than that… I want to show at least a minimum of courtesy to Yoho-nim, who has helped me. Yoho-nim invited me to dinner first, and it really doesn’t feel right to refuse.

“Do that. It’s a good opportunity.”

Rohan also knew who Yoho was.

He had seen his face briefly in a video about the Abyss City world.

As a celebrity in Tigrova, a quick search on his phone would yield a flood of information.

“So you’re staying one more day then?”

─ No, I’ll be back as soon as dinner is over. I don’t think it’ll be the next day.

“Just think of it as a few hours difference. If the timing works out, Clara and I will go to the station.”

─ If there’s time. I won’t refuse being picked up.

Rohan naturally smiled.

He liked how Shion was more talkative than usual, perhaps because things went well in Tigrova.

He was certain that he had worked hard to see this side of Shion.

Then, a comfortable silence.

A brief pause hung in the air.

Shion let out a faint chuckle.

─ Hehe…

“Anything else good happen?”

─ I’ll show you when I get back. You can look forward to it.

Shion’s voice was filled with excitement.

Something must be up.

After a short exchange of small talk,

Rohan realized he had news to share. He had just finished preparing, so he would tell Clara about it at the bookstore tomorrow.

“Ah, by the way, I made as many side dishes as I could, just in case.”

─ Hm?

“The Academy practical exam schedule has changed. We’re going to an uninhabited island from Monday to Friday.”

─ …

Before Rohan could finish telling her to enjoy the food, which was plenty enough for both of them, Shion declared in a subdued voice.

─ I’ll return to Academy City right away.

“…?”

─ Yoho-nim will understand if I say I have urgent business.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

It wasn’t a joking tone, but a serious one.

Rohan sat up abruptly in his bed.

“It’s not like I won’t see you. It’s not like you’re coming back after a few years.”

─ That’s true, but…!

“Finish what you need to do. Saying goodbye properly is also important, isn’t it?”

─ …Alright.

She did what she was told. Yet, her reply and voice sounded subtly sulky.

Rohan struggled to hold back his laughter.

“Shion.”

─ Yes…

“I also have something to show you when I get back, so look forward to it.”

─ !

Rohan’s gaze shifted to the shopping bag on the table.

Inside were two dolls he had bought after consulting and getting recommendations from Ichinose, an expert on Droplet Friends.

A crying pink dragon and a somewhat goofy-looking shark.

They were classic versions of the characters Ululi and Bluebee.

Rohan was, of course, aware that Shion had a subtle interest in those characters. Her notepad from when they first met made it obvious.

And separately,

He had prepared a hairpin as a gift for Clara, not a doll.

He had originally considered surprising her with clothes or shoes. But not knowing her size was the biggest problem.

Including the receipt so she could exchange it was also an option, but wouldn’t even that be difficult for Clara?

It’s not like I just bought anything.

Perhaps it had gold dust sprinkled inside because the hairpin was more expensive than the dolls.

Still, could he really be stingy in this area?

The black sheen of the hairpin seemed like it would go well with Clara’s purple hair, so he couldn’t help but pick it.

This is the real reasonable consumption.

Thinking back to Abyss City, which didn’t release character skins, provided the answer.

This was an irresistible desire for Rohan.

─ …I’ll look forward to it.

“Don’t get your hopes up too high. Just a moderate amount of anticipation, please.”

The slight sulkiness seemed to evaporate.

The small talk continued smoothly, and the topic of conversation changed quickly.

─ Rohan. I have a question.

“What is it?”

─ Tell me the name of the perfume you use.

“Perfume? What perfume?”

─ The one you usually wear.

“I don’t use perfume?”

Until recently, he had struggled so much to save money, how could he possibly use a luxury item like perfume?

Even with a more comfortable financial situation, it wasn’t something he would be particularly interested in.

He was the type who believed that each person’s natural scent was the best.

─ You don’t use perfume?

“No. I’ve never used it. I don’t even own any.”

─ …That can’t be right?

A rustling sound came from the other end of the phone.

Whatever she was doing, Shion’s attention seemed to have drifted away from the call, so Rohan spoke up.

“Shion.”

─ Ah!

“Call Clara too and let her know what’s going on. She’ll be waiting.”

─ Uh, yeah… Alright.

Shion stuttered in a confused manner and hung up.

Rohan scratched his head at the puzzling reaction and started preparing for tomorrow.

The uninhabited island life was now right around the corner.