episode_0025

“That, that’s not how you do it···!”

The effect of the clean water operation in front of the stagnant water was more outstanding than Rohan expected.

‘Let’s calm down.’

You have to respond calmly.

Rohan knows how this moment and the next few words can lead to a huge opportunity.

“What are you talking about?”

“The company needs to reach rank 5 so that it doesn’t suffer losses in major goods···! It’s better to put Iroha and Kiki as tanks and start with the rain and supplies dungeons!”

When I blurt out the words I had been holding back, do feelings of relief and regret come rushing in hand in hand?

Since Clara was immediately seen fidgeting, Rohan answered as lightly as possible.

“Company? Oh, right! You’re a Company Wave user, right?”

When I answered as if I was remembering the time we had bumped into each other, Clara gave a subtle affirmative response.

Rohan shook his head without showing any sign of emotion.

‘The flow is not bad in that he just said what he wanted to say and didn’t run away.’

Maybe so.

Rohan moved the mop that had stopped and chose a question that Clara, who had her mouth closed, could answer with a short answer.

“Then can I just ask you some questions I’m curious about?”

“Oh, yes!”

“Where is the time···.”

Rohan’s gaze turned to the clock hanging on the wall.

Clara’s head also moved.

“First of all, since closing time is just around the corner, let’s just finish up. I’ll treat you, so let’s just close the door and go to a nearby cafe.”

“!?”

Clara looked very surprised and embarrassed.

Rohan pretended not to know.

‘In times like this, you have to be an ignorant brat.’

Avoid ‘suggestions’ to go somewhere. It would be better to suggest going to a cafe.

Leaving aside the character settings of Abyss City, Rohan’s personal experience suggests that a style like Clara should be delivered with a definite sentence as much as possible.

Until you’re close enough to have a comfortable conversation and joke around, try to hold off on giving them a choice unless it’s a really light question.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll finish it shortly.”

“Ahh···.”

He dropped his gaze to Clara, who was frozen in embarrassment.

Rohan quickly wiped the floor of the bookstore and hurried to close it.

··

··

“Thank you for waiting for a long time.”

“···.”

Rohan closed the bookstore and put the keys in his pocket.

Hiding your keys under a flower pot in front of guests is probably not the right thing to do.

I was thinking of visiting again on my way back.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes···.”

As Rohan walks one step ahead, Clara follows quietly.

If you come out of the alley where the Flower Pot bookstore is and go towards the main street, you will see cafes lined up everywhere.

The travel time is also short. There is no time to suffocate in silence.

‘If you really can’t stand it, you should run away without making a sound.’

Rohan thinks so.

Even though Clara is not an active and spontaneous person, she has enough strength to protect herself.

“Let’s go somewhere where we can easily fill our stomachs.”

“···.”

Rohan started working after eating cheaply at the Academy cafeteria.

But wasn’t Clara in the corner of the bookstore all day long from afternoon until night?

I can guess the situation. Of course, you didn’t eat dinner.

Rohan stood on the street and looked around.

Most of the shops that come into view are lively and bright, so it’s not bad.

“Cafe is good, but burgers are also good.”

It’s not even a serious topic.

Anywhere, be it a cafe or a fast food restaurant, is fine for chatting about games.

‘I guess it’s okay to ask which one you want to go to.’

Rohan looked at Clara, who was standing next to him and blinking.

The girl glances in my direction as if she senses my gaze.

Only then did Rohan ask.

“Where do you like?”

“I am wherever···.”

“Do you like hamburgers?”

Clara rolls her eyes, looks around, then nods slightly, as if embarrassed.

That was enough for Rohan.

Beep! Beep!

The automatic door opens and a bright interior, unlike the outside, welcomes the two people.

A familiar-looking machine appeared, waiting to be ordered.

‘They use a kiosk here too.’

As it turns out, it’s a special time for Rohan too.

This is my first time eating fast food in Gakuen City.

‘I used to get sick of just eating hamburgers and kimbap while moving. This is a first for me.’

Rohan stood in front of the machine and advised Clara.

“The cost of learning. Choose what you want to eat.”

“···Thank you.”

Now that I’ve come this far, I guess I feel like rejection is meaningless.

Clara nodded and shifted her gaze briefly.

“Did you choose everything?”

“Yes.”

Rohan stared at Clara, who was pressing the cheeseburger button and folding her fingers as if she was done.

I still feel like there’s nothing I can do.

Rohan upgraded the single item Clara had pressed into a set and added various side menus.

“I don’t think one hamburger or one French fries is enough for me. Two is too much.”

“···.”

Order and pay as is.

I waited for a moment with Clara, who was unable to say anything and was just fidgeting with her hands clasped together.

Our number was quickly called and we took our seats nearby.

“I’ll eat well···.”

“Eat as much as you want. You can order more.”

Even if I say this, Clara probably won’t do it.

It’s the same even if you’re hungry.

When you’ve finished that hamburger, all that’s left are fries and a drink.

Rohan took up the topic of game story.

As the game became the center of conversation, Clara began to talk to Rohan point by point.

“Have you entered the guild?”

“Not yet.”

“It’s always better to enter a guild that has reached level 10. There’s a big difference in attendance efficiency.”

“So you can go anywhere as long as you’re level 10?”

“Yes. But these days, there are few vacancies, so it’s probably safe to look for one in the community, but that’s also ummm···.”

“Is there another way?”

When Rohan asks, Clara hesitates for a moment and does not answer.

Rohan waited, not knowing what he was going to say.

After waiting like that for a while.

Clara’s passionate speech became less intense and she began to avoid eye contact and whisper as usual.

“Would you like to join the guild I created? There are currently empty seats, but… I, I’m the one running this place… ”

“Oh! Can I come in? I would be honored.”

“Then here···.”

When you enter the number Clara calls into the search box, a guild appears.

[ Clara Company ]

▷ Level: Max

▷ Temple: 1/50

▷ Cumulative contribution: 35,899,000

“Clara Company? Does that make sense?”

“No! I just put my name in···.”

Clara’s face flushed with embarrassment at having to explain in detail.

Rohan enjoyed just watching the sight.

“It was a bit awkward to call me a guest outside, but it’s nice to know you like this. My name is Rohan.”

“Ah··· I’ll remember!”

Rohan continued the conversation, grateful for the opportunity that came naturally.

“Did you raise your guild to level 10 on your own?”

“Yes···.”

Rohan said it was great and definitely brought the focus back to the game.

Clara continued her explanation, answering all questions smoothly.

“Even though Gerald is an S-class, his uses are limited, so it would be a waste to spend training materials on him in the beginning. So it would be better to borrow him… Do you have a friend you can borrow him from?”

“Nope. Only people who play mobile games do it.”

“Ugh···.”

“There was a point when I was thinking about quitting because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about this topic.”

A serious expression on her face, her twintails waving and nodding.

Clara seemed to deeply empathize with these words.

“But since you’re helping me like this, I have to see it through to the end. Isn’t it fun when you have someone to do it with?”

“That’s right!”

Clara continued her explanation, seeming excited.

Rohan was able to naturally add Clara to his game friends window.

“There are a maximum of 3 support slots, so I’ll put you in another support character when you move to the next area. Just use it in the areas where you’re stuck.”

“Can I send messages between game friends?”

“There is no message function. Friends can only support.”

“Then, when you pass the stage, should I let you know when you come to the bookstore in person? If it overlaps with a day off, I’ll have to wait a few days.”

“Uh, what is that···?”

Clara paused for a moment, speechless.

Rohan smiled, following his intuition, and held out his smartphone.

“President Clara. Please give me your number.”

Rohan asked playfully, as if it were nothing.

But unlike her appearance, her heart was about to burst with tension.

If you are rejected here, there is a chance that Clara will not come to the bookstore.

‘please!’

I said it because I felt it was the right time, but after saying it, I realized I was impatient.

“···.”

Contrary to Rohan’s excessive worries.

Clara dialed the number without hesitation.

Rohan was so happy that he almost jumped up from his seat and screamed, but he held himself back by gathering all his strength.

“Let me make a call.”

After Rohan dialed Clara’s number on his phone.

Clara munched on one of the few remaining French fries and caught Rohan’s attention.

“And I want to tell you···.”

Rohan leans forward and asks me to tell him anything.

Clara spoke with a strangely exalted tone, just as when she had first thrown the ball.

“Ker, Company Wave is a game with a really good story!”

“Really? It’s still early, so I’ll have to focus on it from now on.”

“They say that the first 3 chapters are the entry barrier because there are a lot of proper nouns··· but if you get over that···.”

“Don’t worry. I will believe you and run until the end.”

“···!”

Clara opened her mouth slightly at Rohan’s words.

The girl seemed happiest she had ever been today.

‘I like this kind of thing.’

Rohan understands Clara’s feelings perfectly.

I wish other people would try games with delicious stories.

I completely understand that feeling of wanting to share a unique sense of foreshadowing and emotion.

··

··

The story became longer than expected when two people who are serious about games met.

Rohan spent much longer chatting with Clara than expected.

Rohan finished by saying goodbye to the girl and saying he would see her tomorrow, then returned to the bookstore, put the key under the flower bed, and headed to the dormitory.

Jiiing──!

On the way back.

Clara sent me a message.

[ Clara: Clara Company’s Four Rules #1! Play mainly in the supplies dungeons until you reach max level! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧ ]

‘The message is lively.’

A cute gap that makes you smile.

A new contact was added to Rohan’s phone book.