Chapter 49: A Hectic Weekend

Released:

“Uhhhhh…..”

At dawn, when he normally would have gone to the training room as part of his usual routine,

Rohan woke up exactly on time. He realized again just how frightening the body’s memory could be.

However, he did not sit up. He did not even open his eyes.

Right. I slept at the instructor’s place.

A pitch-black room where not even a single ray of light seeped in through the blackout curtains.

An exceptionally comfortable bed, a sweet scent emanating from the bedding, and warm air.

In contrast, there were the uncomfortable bandages and wounds that took this moment to eagerly deliver their stinging pain.

These sensations, so different from the dorm he had occupied until yesterday, made him realize his current situation.

I can’t do my dawn training anyway… might as well sleep some more.

Realizing it was Sunday relaxed his mind. With his eyes still closed, Rohan reached down to straighten the blanket that had lost its neat shape.

“?”

He felt something with his lowered hand. It was slender and warm.

As he fumbled, its shape grew clearer, and despite his fuzzy consciousness, he began to guess what it was.

Rather than warmth, he felt a chill and a sense of dread.

It felt like a blade pressing into his mind.

“Touching your instructor’s hand first thing the moment you open your eyes… Student Rohan, you have some bad habits.”

“!?”

Joo-yeon’s voice pierced his ears.

Rohan’s eyes snapped open, and in his confusion, he tried to lift his upper body.

“It’s fine. That was a joke. Lie back down.”

Joo-yeon pressed Rohan’s forehead with a fingertip and pinned the back of his head to the pillow.

Given the circumstances, the only part of Rohan he could freely move was his mouth.

“Ahem…! Good morning, Instructor-nim.”

It was unclear how long it had been since she had last heard such a morning greeting.

Joo-yeon blinked briefly, then smiled in the dark room.

“I’d like to return your morning greeting, but it’s still dawn. You should sleep more for your recovery.”

“…..…”

After removing her finger from his forehead, Joo-yeon pulled the blanket that had slipped down during Rohan’s tossing and turning back up to his neck.

“Don’t worry about your instructor. I just came by to check your condition, just in case.”

“Thank you for caring about me. It’s been so long since I’ve slept this comfortably… It’s all thanks to you, Instructor.”

This student seemed to have a well-oiled tongue even after just waking up.

Joo-yeon let out a small laugh as she recalled Rohan’s sleep-talking from earlier that dawn, then asked carefully.

“You weren’t so nervous about staying at your instructor’s house that you had nightmares, were you?”

“Dreams, huh… once I wake up, I usually don’t remember them at all.”

Rohan was that kind of person. He only retained a vague sense that he had drifted through a dream.

“I see.”

“Yes,.”

At those words, Joo-yeon stood from the bed, as though she was reassured.

Then she walked away from the bed with audible footsteps.

“You haven’t slept enough for a full recovery, so go back to sleep. I’ll respond to your morning greeting then.”

Before Rohan could reply, the door closed quietly.

Rohan slept a bit more, just as Joo-yeon had told him.

After all, if he wanted to shake off the reputation of being a troublemaker, he needed to follow orders to the letter. In hindsight, it was an excellent display of obedience.

When he opened his eyes for the second time…

Rohan opened his status window to check on his physical condition and any rewards.

****

Name: Rohan

Health: 97%

Magical power: 99%

Affiliated Nation: Southern Ruins

Affiliated Organization: Orion Academy

Attributes: [Physical] [Fire]

Status: —

Remaining Points: 3,796P

****

Hmm, since any status ailments are gone, my body should be fine.

His remaining points were also quite impressive. He had received a solid boost of 1,500P as a quest reward.

The milestone of being able to buy a random skill book was now close at hand.

“Phew!”

Rohan let out a breath, got up, and stepped off the bed. He neatly folded the blanket with military precision.

At the dorm, he had always been careless about such things, but he obviously couldn’t do that here.

Satisfied with the neatly shaped blanket, he reached for the doorknob.

Creeeeak.

When he opened the door and stepped out, he saw Joo-yeon who was sitting at the table looking at her phone glance his way.

It felt strangely suggestive to come out of the bedroom and face Joo-yeon.

“You’re up. Good morning.”

“Instructor. Good morning.”

Rohan smiled, as though he had been waiting for her morning greeting.

“How’s your condition?”

“My injuries are fine. It’s just… I slept so much that my head feels a bit foggy.”

“I see. Breakfast will be ready soon, so go wash up in the meantime.”

“Yes!”

The moment he heard it was time for breakfast, he began to feel hungry.

He was curious about the menu, but he didn’t ask. If Joo-yeon had prepared it, he would surely have to clean his bowl completely.

Rohan went to wash up without any delay.

Sssssssh!

Water gushed from the faucet into the sink.

Rohan awakened his senses with cold water, then lifted his head to look at himself.

…I look like a mess.

It wasn’t about the bandages wrapped around his body or his injuries.

How deeply had he slept in this unfamiliar house? Looking at the mirror attached to the sink, he saw that his hair was a tangled mess, resembling a bird’s nest.

After tidying himself up as much as possible, he stepped out to find Joo-yeon standing up from the table and busily moving around the kitchen.

As Rohan quietly observed her back, she spoke while continuing to work with her hands.

“Take a seat and wait for a moment.”

“Instructor, is there anything I can help you with?”

“It’s fine. The owner knows best where things are, so just stay put.”

Without further comment, he obediently sat at the table.

He chose the seat opposite where Joo-yeon had been sitting earlier.

“You mentioned before that you’re not picky with food, right? That you eat everything except tasteless food.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

He clearly remembered their conversation from when Joo-yeon had taken him to dinner after visiting the Spider Lily Bookstore.

“In that case, if you leave anything on your plate today, it would mean my cooking isn’t good.”

“I’ll eat everything, down to the last grain!”

“Ha, I was joking. Don’t eat the plate. Breakfasts in the Three Nations Alliance tend to be divisive, so it might not suit your taste.”

With those words, Joo-yeon checked the rice cooker’s timer, which showed three minutes remaining. Deciding it was the right time, she shifted the topic of conversation.

“A report came in from the Public Safety Department early this morning. I’ll summarize the situation for you.”

“I’m listening.”

“First, given the small size of the group, it’s been determined that there are no remaining members. It seems the investigation related to the scene has also been concluded.”

Her explanation was concise enough to fit in a single sentence, but the report itself was extensive. It included a thorough investigation of the members’ smartphones and electronic devices, along with a review of the internet accounts, websites, and transaction histories they had used.

Not to mention, the Public Safety Department officers who were known for their speed had likely worked tirelessly throughout the night in the real world as well.

“Also, since the firearm and blade you used belonged to the group members, they’ll be submitted as evidence. That might be disappointing, but I’ll make sure to request an additional reward for your contribution.”

“Thank you!”

If that translated into monetary value, it would be fine by me.

The machete had a satisfying grip, but it wasn’t exactly the type I preferred. Besides, without Joo-yeon, the whole process would likely have been far more difficult.

“Oh, and there’s one more thing to confirm.”

“What is it?”

“The Public Safety Department plans to make this incident public and intends to mention that an Orion Academy student was involved. They’ve requested permission to include your real name. If you’d prefer, they can omit both your student status and name, announcing only the group’s destruction.”

“I think including my real name is a good idea.”

Rohan responded without hesitation.

Joo-yeon turned from the kitchen to look at him with a rare expression of surprise in her eyes.

“That’s an unexpected decision. Why?”

“I think it’s something I’ll need for the future.”

Under normal circumstances, Rohan might have followed her expectations and hidden even his status as a student. However, the business he was planning with Clara would definitely benefit from even the smallest amount of recognition. This was a rare opportunity not to be missed.

“For the future… you mean something beyond the Public Safety Department?”

“That’s right.”

Joo-yeon accepted his firm response and understood his reasoning.

With Rohan, she felt confident he could handle things without needing lengthy explanations.

“Then I’ll relay that. Monday’s going to be lively in your class. You’ll set a good example.”

Joo-yeon placed brown rice and soup in front of him and reminded him to keep Gilbert from screaming in excitement. Along with that came grilled fish.

This is over-the-top luxurious!

Rohan finished two bowls cleanly on the spot. Before leaving, he wanted to express his gratitude with a deep bow, but Joo-yeon stopped him, leaving him feeling slightly regretful.

“Manager, I’ll see you on Monday!”

– Right. Take care of yourself!

Rohan confirmed the call had ended and exhaled with a smile.

When he asked if he could take a day off from his part-time job, the manager agreed before even hearing the reason.

Apparently, he’d been planning to go out with his grandson that afternoon and said the earlier he could leave, the better.

After listening to all of that, Rohan briefly explained he’d been injured, turning what should’ve been a short call into a seven-minute conversation.

Didn’t they say I can take the bandages off and shower this evening?

The ointment the Public Safety Department had applied must have been exceptional.

The wound was already starting to itch as if new skin were growing in.

[Clara: So, I won’t get to see you today? Are you staying in the dorms all day? (◕︵◕)]

[Instructor Joo-yeon: If the Public Safety Department calls, make sure to report it to me.]

As he exchanged messages on his way back to the dorms, his fingers flew across the keyboard.

Bzzzzt— Bzzzzt—

A call came in.

“Hmm?”

The number wasn’t saved in his contacts, but calls from this type of number were ones he needed to answer.

It could be the Public Safety Department, as Joo-yeon had mentioned. But there was also another possibility.

“Yes, this is Rohan.”

– …..

There was silence. Only faint breathing could be heard.

– …..

The silence stretched on without a response. The breathing grew heavier and more erratic.

Rohan had a guess about who it might be and called out a name.

“Sion?”

The next chapter of the main story hadn’t even begun yet.

But a strong intuition struck him; it felt as if something was about to happen.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *