Chapter 24: Clean Water vs. Stagnant Water Part 1

Released:

The princess had many worries and thoughts, so she wanted to act with caution.

Even if she were to contact Rohan, it wouldn’t happen overnight.

Perhaps it would be after the next incident occurred.

“…….”

With that thought in mind, Rohan took in the pleasant scenery before him.

By the time he returned to the Academy City and checked his smartphone, it was already dawn.

It was a time when there were more cats and crows on the streets than people, and when the trash placed in front of stores was being cleared away.

They said it’s available even on rest days.

Feeling that he would simply crash and sleep if he went back to the dormitory now, Rohan decided to head straight to the Orion Academy’s training room.

After all, both the academy and his part-time job were free on weekends.

Once I wake up, I need to study theory as well.

With a determined mindset, Rohan began walking.

Luckily, he had stepped out in clothes suited for working out. He only needed to take off his hoodie to be ready to move.

And so, after buying a protein drink at a convenience store and arriving at the entrance to the training room, he saw a petite girl opening the door.

Before Rohan could say anything, the girl, with her eyes closed, turned her head toward him.

The corners of her lips were slightly raised.

“Just by a hair, but it seems I arrived first today.”

“You seem in a good mood.”

“Not at all. Unlike Noah, I don’t take joy in trivial things like that.”

Rohan approached Ichinose with a smile on his face. He was glad he had come at the right time after all.

After verifying the student ID tucked behind his smartphone, they entered the training room together.

“Ichinose.”

“You called?”

As Ichinose headed to the locker to put away her bag, Rohan stopped her and extended the box he was carrying under his arm.

“Want a macaron?”

It must have seemed a bit odd.

Ichinose opened her eyes slightly to reveal her pupils and looked at him with a hint of curiosity.

“Carrying macarons at this hour… Do you have early morning hypoglycemia?”

“No, I just happened to buy them.”

“Hmm…”

“They’re also a bribe of sorts.”

“A bribe?”

The girl who had been looking at the macarons lifted her head and shot him a questioning glance.

Rohan found even that look enjoyable. His voice was raised slightly as he spoke.

“Starting today, I might have to rely on you for some theory work.”

Ichinose finally understood, closed her eyes again, and nodded.

“If that’s the case… hmm, shall I take just one?”

Her pale, slender fingers picked up a single macaron, which she tucked into her mouth.

Oh.

Even in that brief action, there was an air of elegance to it.

She chewed softly with her lively lips moving slightly. The girl then gave an interested nod.

“This… it’s a macaron made entirely with almond powder. Lately, more shops have been increasing the flour ratio due to costs, which is disappointing. But this macaron is well-made.”

“Really? I wouldn’t know. I’m not picky. I’m just glad you like it.”

“Did you buy it from a good shop?”

“In a sense.”

It wasn’t a place where money alone could make a purchase, so calling it a decent shop wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

The praise from Ichinose was proof enough of its quality.

“Want another one?”

When Rohan offered, the girl hesitated for a moment.

It seemed she was curious about the other flavors.

“…Just one more. This will really be the last one.”

“Just eat them all.”

“Ah!”

As Ichinose debated over which color to choose, Rohan simply handed her the entire box.

Seeing the girl he cherished enjoy the treats so much, he didn’t regret spending the points.

··

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Rohan pushed his body to its limits during training, exhausting all his stamina in the training room before collapsing into bed back at the dormitory.

When he opened his eyes, it was already evening.

His head felt foggy as if he had slept deeply. He washed his face with cold water and stepped outside to feel the brisk air.

“……”

Naturally, Rohan bought a coffee on his way back to his room.

He sat at his desk, which was stacked high with thick books.

As he finally started studying, a heavy sense of pressure settled over him, but he forced himself to pick up the book.

It’s been ages since I’ve studied.

As a Hunter, the only studying he’d ever done was memorizing the information he needed for survival, which hardly counted as actual study.

So, it felt overwhelming.

But not trying wasn’t an option.

What did that guy say about studying… something about who can stay seated in their chair the longest? A battle like that, right?

It was advice from a former classmate who had attended a prestigious university in Seoul before transitioning to life as a Hunter. That friend had said that even Hunters memorized a significant amount of information.

It was a small comfort at the start.

I can’t just blindly guess my way through the next exam again.

Accumulating points for shop skills and preparing for future crises were both important.

However, now that Rohan was a student in the Academy City, his life at Orion Academy was just as important.

If he’d decided to live in this world, he couldn’t focus solely on the future he already knew.

He had to think beyond just graduation.

After all, the furthest I know is up to the second year.

Compared to the rest of his life, that knowledge was nothing.

He needed to gather as many credentials as he could to guarantee that he could at least make a living.

“Phew!”

Taking a deep breath to collect himself, Rohan opened his book.

He started by reviewing the material and identifying the parts he didn’t understand.

Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.

It didn’t take long for him to hit a roadblock.

“……”

Though it was something he’d covered in class, he was completely stuck when it came to solving a particular formula.

Without hesitation, Rohan compiled his questions and sent a message.

Bzzzt—!

The reply came back before he could even put his phone down.

[Ichinose: Use the formula on page 27 and try solving it. If you’re still stuck, send me a photo of your attempt so far.]

After staring hard at the formula and mulling it over, Rohan scribbled out his work and sent a picture.

[Ichinose: Good job! Now try solving the next problem the same way.]

A chubby dragon emoji giving a thumbs-up followed behind.

Rohan smiled faintly to himself.

Hmm, studying is actually fun.

It wasn’t a bad feeling to be praised by Ichinose.

··

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“Ah…”

When he blinked his eyes open, he was at the Spider Lily Bookstore.

Rohan now found himself wearing an apron, standing with the manager by the counter.

Saturday and Sunday had been a blur of training and studying. They passed by as if someone had stolen the time.

Classes were packed with fascinating topics, causing the weekdays to melt away.

Adding his part-time job to the mix, it was already Thursday.

“Rohan.”

“Yes?”

As he stood quietly, he turned his head at the manager’s voice.

The warmth on the manager’s face suggested he had spent a pleasant time with his grandson the day before.

“There must be a lot to study at Orion Academy, huh? And exams are probably coming up soon.”

“They’re not right around the corner… The exams are in mid-April, from what I’ve heard. Oh! But I’ll continue working part-time regardless.”

“Hoho, I appreciate that, but that’s not what I meant.”

When Rohan tilted his head and listened carefully, the manager glanced at the empty bookshelves and continued in a gentle tone.

“Our bookstore has a decent number of regulars, but it’s always quiet during the late hours. We barely get any customers then.”

“……”

It was true that there weren’t many customers.

Even so, as a part-timer, it felt a little odd to wholeheartedly agree with such a statement.

“When customers come in, just greet them well and handle the transactions. Otherwise, feel free to relax at the counter. There’s no need to stand so stiffly like you’re doing now.”

When Rohan nodded his head in understanding, the manager gestured toward the spot where Rohan had had his interview.

“There’s a table over there. Once you’re done with your tasks, you can study if you’d like.”

“…Thank you so much!”

Rohan didn’t refuse the manager’s kind offer and immediately bowed his head in gratitude.

With his time already feeling so packed, this was welcome news.

“I can’t offer much pay to such a capable young man, so this is the least I can do.”

“I’m not that capable, but thank you for thinking so highly of me.”

“When I told my son that I hired a student from Orion Academy as a part-timer, he was shocked.”

The conversation flowed naturally from there.

Rohan listened as the manager shared stories about his time with his grandson while responding appropriately as he worked the counter.

As he continued chatting while keeping an eye on the store, Rohan glanced at the clock on the wall.

He turned to the manager and said,

“Manager, from today, I’ll take care of closing the store, so please head home early.”

“Hmm?”

“I need to get used to handling it on my own if I’m going to do it well later, don’t I?”

“Well, that’s true. It’s not a tough job… Should I leave it to you?”

After all, wasn’t the manager the one who had hired a part-timer so he could make it home before his grandson fell asleep?

It was a temptation that wasn’t easy to resist.

“I’ll call right away if anything comes up while closing.”

With that assurance, the manager quickly left for home.

“Good.”

The now-quiet bookstore was left with only Rohan and Clara who was silently reading a book beneath the shelves.

Rohan began the game just as he had before.

Company Wave!

The game sound was still set to the lowest level.

He intentionally wrecked the formation and combination he had honed so well back at the dormitory.

I… I must complete the mission somehow…

And then failure, followed by more failure.

To add a little flavor to the moment, he muttered,

“Hmm… maybe I should just quit.”

With that, he tucked his smartphone away and stood to begin closing up the store.

Even though Clara wasn’t visible today,

After days of repetition, he could vividly imagine how she might have reacted.

How much longer can she hold out?

As Rohan pretended to lose interest in the game and began mopping the bookstore floor and scrubbing with deliberate strokes,

A voice suddenly came from behind.

“Excuse … me!”

“Yes?”

Clara was watching him.

He had thought it would take at least a month, but her reaction had come far sooner than expected.

Suppressing his excitement, Rohan stiffened his lips into a neutral expression and asked,

“Would you like to take something with you?”

“N-No! That’s not it…”

“Then, are you looking for something?”

Clara shook her head, indicating that wasn’t it either.

When Rohan simply stared at her, she fidgeted with her hands and murmured softly,

“That… Company Wave…”

“This?”

When Rohan pulled his smartphone from his front pocket, Clara nodded her head cautiously.

Then came a brief silence. About five seconds long.

Finally, after some hesitation, Clara spoke up.

“Th-That’s not how you’re supposed to play it!”

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