episode_0036

Queeeek!!!

A ruin where various monsters show off their presence by screaming and fight for territory.

Arriving at the outskirts of the place, Zion exhaled, retrieved the hidden location tracker and sniper rifle, and checked the time.

“Hoo···! Hoo···!”

Was it because I was running at full speed to shake off the thoughts and worries that were tormenting my mind?

Unlike my head, which had no room to spare, I had more time than I thought.

‘I hope they didn’t find out.’

If it weren’t for sniper training, it would have been a ridiculous excuse to stay still for so long.

It was fortunate that Zion had actually been training like this.

“···.”

The girl carrying the huge gun has the location tracker in her vest pocket.

I raised my head and stared blankly at the night sky.

To be honest, my current state of mind was dangerous and I wanted to run straight to Tigrova and confront Emperor Seolho.

If the testimonies of those who experienced the incident are included, the outline of the past will become clearer.

but.

A giant like Seolho Daeje is not someone you can meet if you want to.

‘It’s all a delusion at this point.’

Zion, who had faced reality, looked at the hamburger he was holding in one hand.

On the food that has lost its heat, there is a number written exactly as it was written in the notepad.

“···.”

Considering your relationship with Rohan, what makes you believe in this and eat it?

Food that I would normally not eat even if my stomach skin stuck to my back.

But Zion rustled and peeled off the wrapping.

Zion took a bite of the hamburger without even checking the smell or the inside.

If something goes wrong after eating, I think I can just accept it as is.

A mental state that is very similar to self-abandonment.

The girl’s torn insides were just like that.

“Um···.”

I didn’t feel any problem right away.

It’s been a while since I’ve had such a stimulating meal. It was so delicious that I felt ecstatic.

Zion quickly devoured the hamburger and gulped down the water from his water bottle.

“Pooha!”

I feel like I have more energy now that I’m full.

Rustle!

I hold the empty package. It feels like a dream that I was in Academy City just now.

Even the fact that I had and heard such a conversation.

‘···Rohan.’

It must be a pseudonym.

Still, Zion was confident that he would never forget the name Rohan.

Although Zion didn’t encounter many people while living outside, he knew that none of them were ordinary.

Because the crowds that the elders contacted and called in all reeked of a terrible smell of blood.

‘What kind of life have you lived?’

This is what Zion’s intuition tells us based on that experience.

Compared to Rohan, all the characters we’ve seen so far are just ordinary people.

‘···A strange human being.’

He was a curious figure in many ways.

Sometimes, the discrepancy between appearance and reality felt like a great burden.

The color of that heaviness was different in nature from that of the elders who had lived for a long time.

If I had to make a comparison, it reminded me of my father whom I looked up to when I was young.

Beep beep!

The girl looked at the ringing clock again.

Now it’s time to go back without any cuts.

“Hooo···.”

Zion filled his lungs with the night air and steeled his resolve.

‘If all the information today were true.’

Phagec!!!

The current flowing from Zion’s hand burned the wrapping paper cleanly.

*****

Days pass.

Rohan had that thought as soon as he opened his eyes in bed.

‘I wonder if Zion has returned properly.’

I feel anxious because I have no way to contact the elf girl.

I really didn’t like the idea of having to just wait.

Of course, Zion’s military power and talent are great.

But isn’t that everything in life?

From Rohan’s perspective, Zion was just a girl who caused him anxiety.

“Hmm.”

Rohan raised his upper body from the bed.

‘But I didn’t mention those who were spreading rumors to the elders…’

My head is always thinking about different topics, but my body moves as always.

Even if something special happened the day before, Rohan’s routine doesn’t change much.

Until the signs appear or the unexpected happens, focus on the main characters while building up their power.

Additionally, Orion Academy also performs faithfully.

‘Okay. Let’s go today too.’

Because Rohan really liked the repetitive routine.

I turned the doorknob forcefully.

··

··

Rohan met Ichinose in the training room today as well.

At the Academy, I sat next to Gilbert and took acting classes.

After class, my routine is to have a quick meal at the cafeteria and then head to the Kkotmurat Bookstore.

“Then, have a hard time.”

“Yes! Thank you for the snack!”

The last of the repetitive routine begins with the store manager leaving work.

Jiiing──!!!

The vibration that starts before I even put my phone in my apron.

Rohan’s gaze moved.

[ Clara : (⊙_⊙)‼ ]

Rohan lifted his head because he could guess what the emoticon-only message meant.

I looked to one side and saw Clara sticking her head out like before, looking this way.

‘You’re already here today.’

It seems that the place was quiet because there were customers choosing books.

Clara, who had decided to remain quiet, had no sign of it at all.

It was difficult to raise my voice, so I just waved my hand slightly.

Unlike before, he doesn’t run away but instead bows his head.

This is truly remarkable progress.

‘Should I reply with a message?’

I asked if it would be okay until the end, saying that I was looking forward to the weekly boss.

The girl frowns and timidly twitches the corners of her mouth.

It was cute to see him so obviously excited.

The bookstore became quiet as it got late.

As Rohan picks up a mop and starts cleaning the floor to close the store.

Clara went outside quietly so as not to disturb anyone and waited.

“After.”

Crunch! Crunch!

Clara, who had seen Rohan close the door to the Flower Pot Bookstore and take the key, recited the lines she had practiced while waiting.

“···Thank you for your hard work!”

“Thank you. I know it’s work, but I’m sorry you had to wait.”

Clara shakes her head, saying that is not the case.

“Let’s go quickly. I was having a hard time because I kept thinking about the game while I was working.”

“Oh! I, I understand that too!”

Seeing Rohan walk, Clara also started walking along with him.

Rohan left the alley and arrived at the main street, looking around at the open stores.

Clara and I stepped into a franchise cafe.

“Add a muffin and a sandwich··· What would you like to drink? Choose as much as you want.”

“You don’t have to buy it! I have money too···!”

“Huh?”

“I’m… well, just coffee is enough for me. The smallest size!”

Clara took out 23 tokens from her pockets.

In Korean currency, it’s worth about 2,300 won.

The girl’s eyes sparkled as if asking how things were.

It was such a surprisingly salty sum that Rohan simply could not accept it.

“I’m the one receiving help today. In times like this, I should let you buy it.”

“Still, last time too···.”

Rohan had no choice but to cut the girl off.

“Is it okay to drink coffee at night?”

“···.”

Have you ever thought about anything other than the fact that it’s cheap?

Rohan snickered at the sight of her rolling her eyes as if she didn’t know the answer and looked at the menu.

“Let’s see. Decaffeinated beverage─ Hmm, fruit yogurt?”

While Clara was flustered and helpless.

Rohan had already ordered two drinks and some food to fill his stomach.

“Don’t think too much and just eat it. It’ll help the game that much.”

“Eeee··· Go, thank you!”

Rohan sits down with the tray he received and starts putting food on it.

─ Company Wave!

Rohan, sitting across from me, turns on the game.

Clara looked at me with serious eyes, as if she had become a different person.

He taps his phone with his shiny fingers and reveals the screen.

“This is a build I made.”

Everything from the formation to the timeline of using skills is written down in a smartphone notepad.

Rohan watched it quietly and asked the character pool he was using.

“You made this yourself?”

“Yes. I can help you today, but there may be days when I can’t. If you refer to this and help you, you should be able to clear it in less than a minute.”

“The texture is no joke···.”

“I tried it and found out that there was no need to spend all the resources on the tank. If you just level up Glass and increase its HP, you can last until the skill fills up, and if you just get the skill level 3 or higher for Order, you can break it without any problems.”

“Hoo.”

What kind of smooth talking is this?

Since the topic is games, he becomes a silver-tongued speaker.

We defeated all the weekly bosses together and Rohan raided the mines to get characters, but we failed.

The two people shared joy and sorrow in an instant.

How much fun would it have been to sit together like that and play a game?

After consuming all the content you can enjoy in one day.

At some point, Clara returned to her usual self.

“It’s fun because we do it together.”

“Hehe···.”

The girl smiled in agreement.

She stared at Rohan as if she was stealing glances at him, sucking her moist lips on the straw.

A sweet taste lingered in my mouth.

Clara was blankly staring at Rohan, who was typing on the keyboard as if replying to someone after finishing the game.

I let out a hoarse voice without realizing it.

“That···.”

When Rohan put down his phone, our eyes met.

Clara continued talking, wiggling her fingers.

“I’m at the bookstore every day until closing time···?”

“Yes.”

Facts I know.

Nod in agreement, not negation.

“Have you heard anything from the store manager?”

“No. There isn’t.”

“But you still don’t ask anything? Why is it like that every day···?”

If I’m not mistaken, it looks like he’s trying to reveal something.

Rohan had a gut feeling.

The progress we’ve been waiting for has arrived.