Chapter 51: The Monday Clara Waited For

Released:

On Sunday evening, Rohan became certain that Sion would not call again.

He had just finished reviewing theory after removing his bandages.

Having wrapped up his studies, he was in the middle of writing a reply to Clara.

Bzzzzzt—!

“Huh?”

A vibration announced the arrival of a new message.

Rohan blinked at what he saw written there.

[Ichinose: Is this the reason you didn’t come to the training room today?]

He first found out about it through Ichinose’s message.

When he asked what was going on, Ichinose told him there was no need to pretend nothing had happened.

Then, right when he was about to reply to Ichinose again, Gilbert called.

– My friend! No, oh hammer of chivalry! Your righteousness is terrifying indeed!!!

“……..”

From the very moment Gilbert started yelling, Rohan felt as if his eardrums might burst, so he immediately hung up.

Afterward, he checked the internet article Ichinose had sent and finally grasped the situation.

[Academy City’s Late-Night Chase! Orion Academy Student Rohan Takes Down a Criminal Organization with Sheer Instinct…]

[Principal Baek Woon-san: ‘Orion Academy Is Heading in the Right Direction.’ A Proof of Its Founding Ideals…]

“Already?”

Rohan scrolled and read through the article’s contents.

It had only happened the previous day, on a weekend, no less and yet the principal’s word was already made public.

It was surprising. Rather than the Elysium Public Safety Department simply being quick with their work, he guessed that it must have been because Joo-yeon, the former Great General of the Three Nations Alliance, had shown up in person.

“…….”

He felt odd seeing his name scattered all over the internet.

Even in his days as a Hunter, he had never seen himself plastered across headlines like this before. He felt a bit nervous.

[Clara: Photo]

[Clara: Oppa! Look at this!]

[Clara: (°ロ°(°ロ°(°ロ°(°ロ° )!!!]

Before long, Clara who had apparently been browsing the internet while playing a game sent him screenshots of the relevant articles.

[Clara: Oppa, now that you’re famous, aren’t people going to come visit the Spider Lily Bookstore? (≧▽≦)]

Of course, that would never happen. Although the article did show his name and the ID photo from his student certificate, it wasn’t exactly a big enough deal to bring in crowds.

Still, Rohan chose not to rain on Clara’s excitement.

She’s really cute.

He propped his chin on his hand and read through Clara’s exuberant messages.

In reality, her over-the-top enthusiasm felt fun and refreshing. The way she was excited to see the name of someone close to her on the internet was cute even in text alone.

Rohan asked if next time something like this happened, maybe both their names could appear together.

Clara did not reject the idea outright but went back and forth on it.

The fact that she said she would think about it was enough to make Rohan content.

Sunday passed and Monday came.

Although he could not avoid starting his part-time job from that day on, he decided to heed Joo-yeon’s advice to refrain from training.

Well-rested, he arrived at Orion Academy.

“…….”

Right before opening the door to Class 1, Rohan steadied his nerves.

Considering what Gilbert had done the previous day, he could imagine the scene that might unfold when they met again.

He also recalled the instructions Joo-yeon had given him for that nearly inevitable situation. Namely, to keep Gilbert from screaming at the top of his lungs.

“Hoo.”

“Why the sigh when you’ve done something good?”

Just as he finished bracing himself and reached for the door, a voice called out from behind him.

He turned to see Dick Wikitree approaching, pushing up his glasses with an index finger.

“Oh. You’re here.”

“You’re the first person to overcome the controversies and incidents linked to being Gilbert’s friend and earn such praise. It’s unprecedented.”

He still said only what he wanted to say.

However, having spent time with him in class, Rohan had learned more or less how to handle this glasses guy.

“Aren’t you also Gilbert’s friend? You two are closer than me and Gilbert, so why act like that?”

“Let me correct you with facts: Gilbert and I aren’t close enough to be called friends. We’re stuck in what you might call an inescapable ill-fated relationship.”

It worked remarkably well.

Stepping away from the front of Class 1’s door, Rohan called out to Dick, who was muttering to himself.

“Hey. There’s something I need you to help me with.”

“What is it? So you require the wisdom of Dick Wikitree, I see.”

Rohan briefly explained the situation that would likely occur once they stepped into the classroom.

Dick nodded his head fervently as if he had witnessed it in a prophecy.

“As expected, considering Instructor Joo-yeon’s insight, it makes sense she foresaw Gilbert’s shameless outburst. His voice alone is enough to be considered noise pollution.”

“I didn’t say it like that… Anyway, let’s go in?”

“Stop. I have a few solutions in mind. It’s best to craft a strategy before we go in.”

“What are they?”

“The first solution that comes to mind is to summon Gilbert’s older sister. That’s the surest bet, but it’s impossible.”

“Don’t waste time. Tell me only what’s feasible.”

When Rohan cut him off, Dick cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses.

Rohan knew from experience how he could ramble on if allowed to continue.

“…All right, the sixteenth solution: physically shut his mouth.”

Dick rummaged through his bag, causing a rustling sound, and pulled something out.

“Bread?”

“I bought this last Friday and completely forgot about it, but it’s still within its expiration date. Well… even if mold started growing, Gilbert survives by eating Wisp cores, so I suspect he’d be fine.”

“You plan to stuff his mouth with that?”

“Isn’t it a simple yet groundbreaking solution? When you consider his usual behavior patterns, the answer is pretty clear.”

Rohan let his imagination run briefly at those words.

Gilbert always barges in like a brute the moment the door opens. His mouth is positioned squarely in the center.

There was a solid reason behind Dick’s seemingly reckless suggestion.

It wasn’t a bad strategy. Just as Rohan was about to give his approval, someone tapped him on the back.

When he turned his head, he saw Noah Frozenheart, who had come out through the back door, wagging her tail with interest.

“What are you two talking about out here instead of going in?”

“Oh, you’re here early.”

Rohan greeted her naturally and reassured her that it was nothing important. Noah, however, poked Rohan’s arm with the tip of her tail.

“I heard from Nose yesterday that you did something good.”

“Just got lucky.”

Dick, who was looking at Noah, closed his mouth. His whole body stiffened with tension.

Rohan had learned from experience that this guy couldn’t communicate properly with women.

Even when he did, it would come out as awkward, rigid nonsense.

“Gilbert’s inside, right?”

“He is. He’s been pacing back and forth between the front and back doors for a while now. Like a guard golem or something.”

“Hmm, I see. Do you know why?”

“When I asked what he was doing, he just said something weird like usual. Something about waiting to praise the mace that punishes evil?”

“…….”

It was clear the situation was going to be more chaotic than expected.

Rohan pulled an unopened pack of high-protein jerky from his bag. The moment Noah saw it, her eyes sparkled like stars.

“Noah.”

“Yes!”

“If I give you this jerky, can you freeze Gilbert’s mouth shut?”

“Why? What if the instructor gets mad at me?”

“Well, the thing is…”

Once she understood, Noah acted swiftly.

Although Rohan had only asked Noah to freeze Gilbert’s mouth, the result was far beyond his expectations.

Gilbert who was now entirely encased in a huge block of ice was finally freed only when Joo-yeon arrived.

***

For Clara, this last Sunday felt longer than Monday and Saturday combined.

Her daily routine hadn’t changed regardless of whether it was a weekday or the weekend, but it was the first Sunday she hadn’t seen Rohan since the two had grown considerably closer.

Even though she spent the day manually playing a game that she could’ve just let run on autopilot, the sensation of time dragging on while the sun was up was overwhelming.

Her sense of time felt warped.

She wondered if this was what it would feel like to drift aimlessly in space.

Clatter—

“….…”

And so, Monday morning came. Clara opened the window of Rohan’s dorm room.

She had already sent him a message and even received a reply, so this visit was fully permitted.

The room Rohan uses!

The girl surveyed her surroundings more leisurely than she had when they ate together before.

Then, carefully, she approached the bed.

Her mouth watered just from looking at it.

Though she was tempted to throw herself onto it right away, the rational part of her insisted she should at least shower before lying down.

Clara took off her clothes and neatly folded them on the bed in preparation for a shower.

Just before heading to the bathroom, her eyes fell on a pile of clothes Rohan had left in the laundry basket.

“Ah…”

The sight immediately sent a flurry of thoughts racing through her head.

Clara wasn’t sure how long she stood there, but she managed to suppress her impulsive urges.

After a long while, she finally washed her body with warm water.

Once she was clean, she put on her underwear. At the same time, her feet naturally carried her toward the bed.

“…..…”

She knew there was no one around to see her. Even so, Clara checked her surroundings several times before lying down on Rohan’s bed.

The girl, dressed only in her underwear, hugged the blanket and buried her face into it.

“Uuung… hehe…”

The bedding smelled like Rohan. The scent, which she could only faintly catch from a distance before, was now rich and vivid.

There was something mysteriously comforting about this scent.

If she waited until the afternoon like this, she could go to the bookstore to see Rohan.

Ah! Should I do his laundry, too?

A woman who quietly takes care of housework without being asked. It wasn’t such a bad impression in that anime she had watched before, was it?

Having made her decision, the girl’s thighs squeezed the blanket tightly. Excited by the thought of being praised, she wiggled her hips in anticipation.

She didn’t fall asleep, but she lingered there, hazy and intoxicated by the lingering traces Rohan had left behind.

How long had she stayed like that?

“?”

Clara suddenly felt the faint presence of someone climbing up the dormitory wall.

One response to “Chapter 51: The Monday Clara Waited For”

  1. Zeta Avatar
    Zeta

    OHHHH IT’S ABOUT TO GET DOWN

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