Chapter 40: Relationships: Using the Tiger as a Stepping Stone Part 1

Released:

“What are you doing…?”

“Huh?”

Rohan and Noah had an ambiguous relationship.

It was hard to say they were close. But when they did talk, they were not exactly distant either.

This was something that went greatly against Rohan’s expectations.

I’m in the same class, yet I got closer to Ichinose faster than Noah…?

Wasn’t Noah Frozenheart someone with an easygoing and straightforward personality?

Rohan had expected that out of all the main characters, Noah would be the one he grew close to the quickest, but reality was not that simple.

The real Noah, not the one in Abyss City, truly had limitless energy.

The moment break time came, she would roam all over the academy, so it was almost impossible to find a chance to talk to her.

“Who do we have here? Aren’t you Nose’s dawn partner?”

– Myaaah!

Noah picked up one of the cats sprawled out on the ground.

Then, as if to show off, she dangled the cat and grinned broadly enough to reveal her sharp molars.

Rohan could only let out an awkward laugh at her phrasing, which could be misunderstood.

“…Well, I do work out with Ichinose, so it’s not exactly wrong.”

“Were you working out with Nose again today? Where’d she go?”

“Ichinose went back earlier than I did. It’s the weekend, so I went a bit later.”

“Aha!”

Before continuing the conversation further,

Noah set the cat she was holding back on the ground.

From Rohan’s perspective, he had no idea what it meant, but it seemed the cats had been thoroughly disciplined.

“Alright! Off you go! And watch out for cars next time, okay?”

– Meooow!

The cats responded with meows and went back somewhere.

Rohan watched them leave, then asked a natural question.

“How do you talk to cats?”

“Huh? You want to learn how to talk to cats?”

“If I could, sure. I’ve always wondered what they’re saying.”

Noah shook her tail lazily and crossed her arms.

Then she flicked her round ears as though shaking off dust and shook her head.

“Unfortunately, normal people can’t do it. If you think about it, tigers are part of the feline family, so that’s why I can.”

“Oh… so that’s the system behind it.”

“Honestly, if you dig deeper, it’s not really a conversation. It’s more like giving orders? Conveying intent? Something along those lines.”

This was news to Rohan, who mostly only had information about Abyss City in his head. It was new and interesting.

“So those cats didn’t actually understand the language and then act on it?”

“That’s right.”

Maybe she was bored just standing still.

Noah headed for the pull-up bar and hung upside down from it, like a bat.

Rohan figured that was just how she was and stood next to her before asking,

“How’s theory study going? You’ve been working hard lately.”

“Ugh, the moment I open a book, my head feels like it’s going to explode. I’ve been asking the instructor and Nose so many questions, I feel a bit guilty.”

“It’s the same for me, really.”

Noah’s face revealed her pain without hiding it.

All Rohan could do was empathize.

He wasn’t in a position to offer advice on theory.

“I want to treat Nose to something tasty, but I don’t know where to take her. The instructor won’t go even if I ask…”

“You want to repay her for helping you study?”

“Mhmm. Do you know a good place? Nose doesn’t eat much, so if I pick based on my own instincts, she’ll have a hard time.”

From that one remark, Rohan sensed a certainty that came from Noah’s own experiences.

Rohan stroked his chin as he pondered, then answered.

“First, getting good results on the midterms would be the best way to repay her.”

“…Is that so.”

“You won’t be too late if you think about material rewards after you accomplish that first. So just set it aside for now.”

“Hmm?”

The girl, who had been silently staring ahead, turned her head toward Rohan.

Rohan met the gaze of the upside-down Noah. Her blue eyes were deep and rich in color.

They exchanged a silent look for a brief moment,

Then Noah made her move.

“Hyut!”

She flipped over with surprising agility and landed lightly on her feet.

Her movement was remarkable.

“When and how did you become friends with Nose?”

“…All of a sudden?”

“Don’t worry about the little details; just spit it out. I’m curious.”

“There really wasn’t any big incident. Why are you so curious about that?”

Noah put her hands on her hips and laughed breezily.

Watching her, Rohan felt she was being transparent. She was clearly recalling some moment from the past.

“Nose never played with boys when she was little. Even if she did talk, she’d stick to formalities and keep it to a minimum.”

“So you’ve known Ichinose since way back?”

“Our parents know each other.”

Rohan asked even though he already knew the answer.

That was simply how their conversation was flowing.

“So how’d you get close to Nose?”

“Like I said, there wasn’t anything dramatic. We just started talking about swords, and that kind of broke the ice.”

“Aha!”

Noah gave a short gasp of admiration and nodded her head like she understood.

“You got that from what I just said?”

“Pretty much. You’re good with a sword, right? Even if your magical power is low, you’re probably good at fighting.”

What a straightforward kind of compliment. It was a chunk of praise, unrefined or polished.

But it wasn’t meant to mock him.

Knowing Noah was sincere, Rohan gave a small laugh and thanked her.

“So, your curiosity’s resolved now, right?”

When Rohan pulled his clothes together and looked like he was about to head off, Noah’s eyes went wide.

“Where are you going! I’m bored, so push me on the swing.”

“If you’re bored, go back and study. I’m going to study until I go to work.”

“You have a part-time job?!”

Noah’s blue eyes sparkled like jewels brimming with interest.

Seeing that glimmer, Rohan sensed he’d stepped on a landmine.

I messed up.

It seems the remark meant to stoke her competitive spirit ended up pouring oil on a different fire.

“…Anyway, I’m leaving. See you on Monday.”

Rohan took the gift he planned to give the manager in one hand and started walking.

He left the park and glanced back. Noah was standing there with a mischievous look.

“Why are you following me?”

“I’m not following you. It just so happens we’re going the same way.”

“What are you, a kid?”

Rohan let out an incredulous laugh.

When he continued walking, she came right up beside him.

“You’re not planning to follow me all the way to work, are you?”

“Are you embarrassed? Surprising that you’d care about something like that.”

“…This is driving me crazy.”

So he talks like this sometimes, too.

Seeing Rohan’s reaction, Noah chuckled as though she found it amusing.

“I wanted to check out my friend’s workplace! I think it’d be fun.”

“It won’t suit you. Didn’t you say you get a headache just from looking at books?”

“Where do you work?”

“A bookstore.”

“I’m fine with manga! I used to read them a lot when I was little!”

Rohan stopped in his tracks.

He stood in the alley, faced Noah, and shook his head.

“Still, no.”

“Why! For what reason!”

“If a big shot like Frozenheart shows up at a local bookstore, the manager will freak out.”

“They’d probably just think I dyed my hair. Hardly anyone recognizes me if they’re not from the academy, even when I walk around.”

Rohan was taken aback by Noah’s gaze which told him to try and argue against her.

“No, but still… It’s a bookstore that sells books, right? Not a manga café or a rental shop.”

“I’ll buy them. If I want to read them, I can just purchase them all, can’t I?”

“…….”

“I mostly look at the pictures in manga, so I read them pretty fast. If I buy dozens of volumes, it’s good for the store, isn’t it?”

Since he was hearing that from a royal of a powerful country, it didn’t sound like a joke.

Whether it was a hundred or a thousand volumes, it would be pocket change to Noah.

“Even so, no.”

“Tch…”

She must have sensed that pressing further wouldn’t work.

Noah’s ears and tail drooped down.

This is driving me crazy.

There was only one problem that arose from Noah’s dejected demeanor.

To Rohan’s eyes, his favorite character Noah looked truly pitiful.

“Hoooo…”

Rohan let out a long sigh and scratched his head in thought.

He came to a decision.

They say no parent can beat their child, and no gamer can abandon a favorite character.

Rohan reached out and gently flicked Noah’s ear as she stared at the ground.

“Alright, I’ll talk to the manager. But you have to promise me one thing.”

“!”

She blinked and wagged her tail eagerly as if to say, “Hurry up and tell me.”

“Don’t invade the cash register area, and don’t do anything that disrupts business.”

“Then that’s two promises, not one, right?”

“…Don’t nitpick.”

“Got it! I won’t interfere at all!”

Noah recovered her energy in an instant, making Rohan wonder if that defeated look had been an act.

Rohan rubbed at the corner of his eye, feeling he’d somehow been duped.

He checked the time on his phone.

“Hmm… I still have a while before I need to go to work.”

“Wanna go hang out on the mountain? Let’s race to see who reaches the top first!”

Hearing Noah’s excited voice, Rohan gave a slight grin.

But he couldn’t just indulge her every request.

“I need to study. Where would I go?”

“……..!”

“I’m going to a café to study until work. If you don’t come with me, then no bookstore. Keep that in mind.”

“T-Taking a hostage is a bad thing!”

“You didn’t know? I’ve always been a bad person.”

As Rohan started to walk off while telling her not to come if she wouldn’t comply,

Noah stomped her feet in frustration for a moment, then followed him.

***

It’s 30 minutes until Oppa’s shift…

Clara, who was sitting in a corner of the bookstore, looked at the clock and tried to calm her pounding heart.

There were still 30 minutes left before his shift started, but he’d probably arrive soon.

Rohan always came around this time to prepare.

Ding!

The bell on the door jingled.

From the heavy-sounding footsteps alone, she knew exactly who it was.

Oppa’s here! Huh…?

The footsteps overlapped with someone else’s. Did a customer come in with him?

Clara peeked toward the entrance through a small gap.

“Manager, I’m here!”

“Wow! So this is the place!”

“Keep your promise, or I’ll kick you out.”

“I said I got it!”

Rohan appeared.

He was walking in, pressed close to a beautiful beastkin woman.

Clara could see it clearly.

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