[+1P]
The F-rank monster that was cut in half. Above its corpse, a clean number floated like experience points.
Rohan’s eyes widened as he saw it.
His brain which was completely consumed by games instantly grasped the meaning behind it.
Is this how the mechanism works?
Maintaining a calm expression as though he wasn’t surprised, Rohan returned to his seat.
When he opened the status window and the shop, he saw that 1 point had been added outside of his achievements.
Back when he dealt with the Yard-Pound brothers, no points had been awarded separately.
But now monsters grant additional points that can be used in the shop?
Though it was something he would have discovered eventually, the joy of realizing this loophole now sent a shiver of exhilaration through him.
This is insane.
The blurry path he had once envisioned in his mind grew sharper and clearer.
For someone like him, who had felt suffocated as his achievements piled up, this was nothing short of a refreshing breakthrough.
He felt as if a spring breeze was blowing through his consciousness.
“Well done, everyone.”
Finally, the students including Wikitree steeled themselves and with trembling hands killed the Gero Eye.
With a light compliment, Joo-yeon let the students sit comfortably.
She continued the rest of the story after telling them to just listen.
“Gero Eyes don’t have any worthwhile parts to salvage after being hunted. In other words, they’re worthless for making money.”
“”””””…….””””””
“That’s why I’ve heard some people choose to ignore them even when they see them. But if such behavior keeps piling up, it’s obvious how society will change.”
Joo-yeon first emphasized the establishment of ideal and proper values. After making that point, she began to delve into minor theories.
All the students of Class 1 were captivated and fully focused on her sincere voice.
“And the abnormal increase of Gero Eyes in urban areas is often a sign that a nest has been formed somewhere. The places where Gero Eyes create nests and reproduce are usually small forests not far from the city or…”
Rohan strained his ears and tried to absorb as much information as possible.
The details Joo-yeon shared during lessons were things he could never have learned in the “Abyss City” game.
Games centered around school life are typically designed to focus on relationships and events to add excitement and appeal.
To minimize boredom, theory classes are kept shallow, without in-depth exploration. That skipped time was what he was experiencing right now.
Rohan found himself deeply interested and focused intently.
The afternoon classes passed by in the blink of an eye.
After all the lessons were over, Rohan grabbed a cheap meal at the academy cafeteria and was heading back to the dorm when he received a notification through the job-seeking app.
[This is Spider Lily Bookstore. Feel free to visit during business hours.]
He immediately checked the time.
He did a quick internet search and confirmed the business hours of the Spider Lily Bookstore.
There’s plenty of time before they close.
Was today a day when dopamine would burst? Rohan turned away from the path to the dormitory without hesitation.
The bustling streets in front of the academy that he set foot on again were crowded with students.
Everyone held either a weapon or a smartphone in one hand. Watching them casually walk in and out of cafés or shopping malls in that state was truly fascinating.
Hunters without a name had to deal with their weapons before even stepping into a store.
Reflecting on that bitter past life, Rohan left the bustling streets and arrived at a residential area lined with houses.
Without consulting a map, he managed to locate the Spider Lily Bookstore nestled between narrow alleys.
This is the first time I’ve been to a bookstore since arriving in this world.
Such was the setting of Abyss City.
Despite scientific advancements far beyond his previous life, this world still had an overwhelming demand for physical books.
It was a trend Rohan personally liked.
“…….”
He approached with slow, deliberate steps.
As the familiar bookstore came into view, Rohan was overcome with an indescribable emotion.
This feels… strange.
The Spider Lily Bookstore exuded a cozy warmth.
Outside, new magazines and books recommended by the owner were displayed.
He remembered in the past, he used to carry around a few literary works and magazines as items to increase his favorability. At most, there were a dozen or so, but everything here was unfamiliar.
Before opening the store’s door, Rohan found himself distracted with his eyes fixed on the piles of books.
He picked up a manga from the recommended section and flipped through it.
Every one of these manga is new to me.
Even the books labeled “bestsellers” were completely unfamiliar. There was one manga boasting sales of 300 million copies, but it was also a new one to him.
“…….”
Wherever he looked, every manga was something he had never seen before.
At the same time, he was struck by the obvious realization that this was a completely different world.
None of the manga he knew existed here, leaving him with the regret of never being able to see their endings. But there was also a sense of satisfaction that, should he find free time, there wouldn’t be a lack of things to read.
Both emotions came to him at once.
My Hunter Academia… I really wanted to see how that manga ended.
As both a hunter and an avid reader, it was the one thing he had wanted to see through to the end.
Though there was nothing he could do about the situation, it was still a deeply disappointing thought.
Thump!
Rohan closed the manga with a determined will, resisted its pull on his time, and reached for the door handle of the Spider Lily Bookstore.
Ding! Ding!
A cheerful bell rang out, welcoming the customer.
As he walked in, a soothing scent filled his senses and brought a sense of calm. The faint scent of books mingled with a rich coffee-like aroma.
“Is someone here?”
The counter was empty.
Even so, he could sense movement between the shelves, though he couldn’t tell if it was a customer or the shopkeeper.
“Excuse me, is anyone here?”
“Oh my, oh my!”
At the sound of his voice, there was a response from inside.
A kind-looking old man, who appeared to have been organizing something, emerged slowly while brushing off his hands.
Rohan immediately bowed deeply.
“Good day to you. I’m Rohan, the one who contacted you earlier about the job listing.”
“Hoho, welcome, welcome!”
When the shopkeeper gestured for him to come and sit, Rohan made his way to the small table set beside the counter.
The shopkeeper began heating water in a kettle, casting a glance toward Rohan.
“Do young people these days not care much for tea?”
“Not at all. I enjoy tea.”
Relieved to hear it, the shopkeeper slowly poured the steaming water into a cup.
Then, he handed the ceramic cup with wisps of steam curling up from it to Rohan.
“Here, take this. Be careful; it’s hot.”
“Thank you. You can speak to me more casually if you’d like.”
At his suggestion, the shopkeeper smiled and nodded.
“If you’re a student at Orion Academy, isn’t it easy to find good jobs?”
“I enjoy books, and I’ve always wanted to work in a bookstore, so I applied.”
Was this an interview or just small talk?
Believing it to be the former, Rohan straightened his posture and engaged in the conversation earnestly.
“The books that come in can be quite heavy. Will that be alright?”
“I’m confident in physical work. I like to think I’ve got a knack for handling it efficiently.”
“Then I’ll give you plenty of time to settle in. Try working for a few days comfortably, and we’ll decide from there.”
The shopkeeper occasionally slipped into formal language.
Rohan bowed his head in gratitude.
“Once you get used to it, I’d like to have you handle things from the afternoon to closing time. Would that be alright?”
“Of course. Once I learn the ropes, I’m sure I can manage just fine.”
When Rohan said he was willing to start learning immediately, the shopkeeper nodded approvingly and began explaining why he needed a part-timer.
“My grandson is just a little baby who can’t even speak yet… If I keep running the store as usual, I barely get to see him except when he’s sleeping.”
“Oh.”
“If this keeps up, I’m worried my grandson might forget what his grandpa even looks like. Hohoho! The thought makes me so restless I can’t stand it.”
It was a heartwarming story, like something out of a game.
“Still, it felt like too much to hand over the entire store management to someone else, so I wasn’t sure what to do. Then my son told me to try posting a notice, even if it was just for a few odd hours. I didn’t expect to find someone so quickly.”
“There aren’t many part-time jobs that fit in the short hours after the academy, so I feel lucky as well.”
“Hoho! The way you talk, you seem more mature than my son. So mature!”
After creating a simple contract using the app, Rohan exchanged contact numbers with the shopkeeper and received his employee apron.
[You have unlocked the ‘Apprentice Librarian of Spider Lily’ achievement.]
[You have received 10P as an achievement reward.]
Got it!
He had successfully unlocked an achievement related to his part-time job.
From now on, he could start working toward other achievements, one step at a time.
And so, Rohan’s first part-time job began.
“The cash register is simple. If you look here…”
Rohan started by learning the basics, like scanning barcodes, handling refunds, and managing reward points.
He familiarized himself with the locations of cleaning tools and got to know the layout of the storage area.
“I’ll handle this.”
Rohan neatly stacked a box packed full of books and lifted it with ease.
The shopkeeper looked to be pleased, gave him a thumbs-up, and praised him.
This is a good start.
Rohan already felt content with the work.
Even though he wasn’t doing anything particularly special, being surrounded by books gave him a sense of satisfaction.
On his way to place the box near the entrance, something unexpected happened.
[A Positive Cliché is Activated.]
“Huh?”
A notification window suddenly appeared in midair.
Rohan stopped in his tracks while still holding the box.
A cliché…
He recalled receiving a reward once for disposing of the Yard-Pound Brothers.
Still, he couldn’t fully grasp the meaning behind it.
Was it safe to move?
As he stood there for a moment, lost in thought—
Thunk.
He felt someone bump into the box he was holding.
“Ah!”
Tap! A smartphone fell to the floor. Its screen was still displaying an ongoing game.
“I’m sorry! Are you alrigh—?”
Rohan lowered the box to the floor, intending to continue his apology, but then his eyes met those of a girl with purple twin tails.
“…I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
The girl averted her gaze to the ground. Her behavior was so timid it crossed into outright excessive shrinking.
Rohan clenched his teeth tightly, nearly grinding them, to stop himself from blurting out an exclamation of shock.
Even so, his startled heart refused to calm down easily.
I didn’t think I’d meet her until the second year…
The girl standing before him was the very first person who had come to mind when he thought of forming a team.
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