episode_0031

Clara’s relationship with the Flower Pot Bookstore began around summer.

It had been a long time since Rohan had started working, so it had already been several months since the girl had taken over the corner of the Flower Pot Bookstore.

Thanks to the store manager’s consideration, who happened to find out about the situation, the corner of the bookstore became Clara’s resting place and designated seat.

The girl explores knowledge in this space.

My daily routine is to spend time looking at worn-out magazines and books that have been donated or discarded to the bookstore.

Mystery, history, fashion, horror, essays, dictionaries, etc.

By reading whatever she can get her hands on, regardless of genre, Clara is filling her head with diverse concepts and knowledge.

Sharak- Sharak-.

“···.”

Today I’m looking at a workbook that someone had already solved and thrown away.

There was no special reason. I just reached out and grabbed the top one, and this was it.

Judging from what is written on the cover, it is a book for preparing for the Orion Academy entrance exam.

Recently, a lot of books of this type have been coming in bundles.

What I caught today was a page full of handwritten explanations and interpretations.

‘Cute handwriting.’

Clara enjoyed everything written on the paper as a part of reading.

It was fun because it felt like solving a puzzle, as I kept running until I understood the solution.

‘Oh! I’ve seen this monster before…’

So the girl spent her time quietly today too.

Now, the time when the store manager leaves work and Rohan guards the cash register is comfortable.

Rohan doesn’t ask questions about things he doesn’t want to talk about.

He shows a mysterious ability to control distance so that he can talk to you without difficulty answering questions, without being at a loss for words, and while looking into your eyes.

Plus, there’s a lot of sincerity in the game, so it’s fun to chat.

Whenever I’m asked about the in-depth settings of the Company Wave, I find myself getting excited and chatting away at a rapid pace.

‘Ah, I’m embarrassed···.’

I remembered a time when I was explaining something to myself and then came to my senses.

Rohan smiled and asked her to tell him more, but Clara’s face still feels hot whenever she thinks about that moment.

anyway.

I heard that Rohan is an academy cadet, so he must be a year or two older than me, but this is about it.

‘···Hey, buddy?’

How could it not somehow fit into such a splendid and brilliant relationship that it is embarrassing to even mention it?

“Hehehe.”

A ticklish heart. A hollow laugh escaped the girl’s lips.

The moment Clara, with the corners of her lips raised, reached out to grab the next book.

The door opened with a creaking noise.

Next.

Rohan and a woman’s voice.

Clara moved as quietly as possible at the sound of Rohan’s voice, which was more excited than when dealing with other guests.

I moved to a quiet location and glanced at the checkout counter.

─ I also close the store after the store manager leaves work.

Rohan is talking to a woman with a happy face.

What should I say, I felt something that I couldn’t describe in words as I watched.

‘Oh, I guess there’s someone else who knows besides me···.’

Clara takes her gaze off Rohan and checks her opponent.

And then I held my breath for a moment.

‘Wow···.’

A beautiful woman who elicits admiration.

At the feeling of being unapproachable, the tiny speck of desire in Clara’s arms fled away in an instant.

The red hair and sharp eyes naturally made people say that he was cool.

‘huh?’

Clara’s head, which had been observing the guests intently, tilted in question.

Could it be an illusion?

I think I’ve seen that person in some magazine.

─ If the boss was here, I would have at least said hello… I guess I’m being trusted. That’s a good thing.

How much did he watch Rohan and his guests converse while hidden?

Clara sensed something strange.

‘uh···?’

It wasn’t a stinging sensation that made my skin tingle.

It feels like he is admonishing you to stop doing something bad or rude.

The current of air emanating from the red-haired woman clearly detected Clara, who was still in silence.

“!!!”

It was the first time her location had been discovered so easily. Clara’s legs began to tremble.

What the girl saw in an instant was a powerful and dazzling sun.

The light swallowed up all the shadows he was hiding in. He felt naked.

I’ve never seen such strength. He was a scary person.

The girl turned her eyes away as if running away and sat down in the corner of the bookstore.

‘Look, I’m watching!’

I had a clear sense that my location was being read no matter where I went.

I wanted to run out of the bookstore right away, towards the exit, but it seemed too far to reach.

The pressure of having nowhere to hide in the bookstore terrified Clara.

“Ugh···!”

Even though the lead actor had left, Clara, who was still shivering, came into Rohan’s sight.

Rohan stopped walking to get the mop and walked straight towards the girl.

“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”

“···.”

The girl grabbed Rohan’s apron with trembling hands.

An action taken instinctively, without reason. Something Clara would never do on her own.

Rohan’s head began to comprehend the situation.

“Is it because of the instructor?”

“That, that···.”

Rohan had a gut feeling as he watched the girl groping.

This is naturally an opportunity to take a step closer to a sensitive topic.

“Ugh.”

Rohan sat down and met Clara’s eye level as she crouched down.

How long did I wait without saying anything?

Clara’s hands, which had been tightly holding the apron, loosened. Her trembling also subsided.

Rohan, who was sitting on the floor of a quiet bookstore, spoke softly while watching the timing.

“Are you feeling a little better?”

“···.”

Nodding slightly.

“Would you like some water?”

“···.”

It’s okay, he said.

Rohan looked at Clara, who had her mouth closed and her gaze fixed downward, and selected the sentences in his head.

Above all, a positive response will be important.

“That’s even better than that.”

Clara raises her head slightly in response to the sudden compliment.

It touches on a secret the girl never told anyone.

“An average person would only feel a sense of intimidation when they see the instructor. You were able to read his magic?”

When Rohan showed genuine admiration, he asked how he could press it so unobtrusively.

The girl’s eyes trembled without mercy.

“Ah, uh, that···!”

“The instructor’s presence is so strong. But don’t worry. You don’t have to be afraid.”

Before Clara panics and starts improvising without thinking.

Rohan took out the sentiment that he didn’t care about it.

“The instructor is a very kind person.”

Rohan won’t ask this girl anything.

It’s enough to just recognize Clara’s specialness.

*****

[ Clara: I’m sorry because of you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. (╥﹏╥) ]

Rohan quickly sent a message saying that he was fine, so don’t worry and see you tomorrow.

‘Oh, I have to go quickly.’

In order to reassure Clara in many ways, the store closed later than usual.

Rohan left the bookstore key under the flower bed and hurriedly moved.

As soon as I came out of the alley as I received the call, I saw Jooyeon at a glance without even having to look around.

Rohan ran quickly and stopped in front.

“Sorry I’m late!”

“It’s okay. It’s rare for it to come out exactly at the end of work hours.”

The lead actor’s hands were empty.

I wonder if I left the book at home already.

“I have a store in mind. Let’s go there.”

“Yep!”

The protagonist smiled faintly as he watched Rohan follow him without saying a word.

“Aren’t you curious about the menu?”

“I’m honestly curious.”

The protagonist looked to one side as if telling Rohan to look.

There was a huge building there.

“I’m going to the family restaurant on the 4th floor of the shopping mall. It’s a franchise that also has a branch in Samhwaguk.”

“Oh···!”

The two entered the shopping mall, chatting about this and that with anticipation and admiration.

Groups of people wearing cadet uniforms can be seen here and there.

There were many cadets who recognized the lead actor and greeted him with open arms.

Take the escalator and get off on the 4th floor.

A store with an interior similar to the famous steakhouse in Rohan’s memories appeared.

I felt strange.

“How many minutes are you here?”

“Two.”

Because it was late for dinner, the inside was quieter than expected.

Rohan was guided to a table and sat down facing the main character.

“Order as much as you want to eat.”

Jooyeon quickly passed the menu to Rohan.

Since it was a menu he had never seen before, Rohan looked around instead of at the menu.

Food is good, but there are more customers drinking beer with oily snacks.

“Event for office workers··· It says it’s a day when beer is cheap.”

“Ah, somehow everyone is holding a glass of alcohol.”

“Instructor, don’t you drink beer?”

To Rohan’s question, Juyeon shook her head.

“I don’t drink alcohol.”

“Do you dislike it?”

“It’s not that I hate it. It’s just that I think about it sometimes.”

The lead actor pushed back his bangs and showed a cheerful smile.

He continued to gossip about Rohan.

“You never know when an emergency will occur.”

A short but understandable phrase.

It was a statement that Rohan could relate to as well.

“···This is not an ordinary thing.”

“It’s okay since it was called Academy City with this purpose in mind in the first place.”

“Thanks to the instructor, everyone will grow into a great force.”

Rohan always thought about it while he was a hunter.

It is said that having others recognize your struggles is a very important factor in mental care.

The lead actor raised the corners of his lips, rested his chin on his hand, and stared at Rohan.

“This instructor also has high expectations for Rohan.”

“I’ll get stronger quickly so you can have a drink with peace of mind.”

“You’re trustworthy. I’ll look forward to it.”

“When that time comes, I will pour you a drink.”

At Rohan’s words, the protagonist looked unable to hide his joy.

He even laughs quietly.

“Heh··· When I feel like there will be no security issues even without me, I’ll take a drink.”