158 – Who He’s Going to Meet

The point at which you begin to really feel the heat of the sun.

When the clothes you are wearing become thinner and you are forced into short sleeves by the sun, the Orion Academy’s break came .

The class 1 gathered in the auditorium from the morning, and after a brief ceremony, they gathered again in the classroom to finish .

While waiting for Juyeon to come, Rohan continued chatting with his two friends, Gilbert Kaniat and Dick Wikitree.

“Rohan, did you get that driver’s license you were talking about the other day?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, I aced it easily. The stuff you sent me was exactly what was on the test, right?”

“Good. Anyone in the know does it that way.”

Rohan had already obtained his planned driver’s license.

The condensed video that Dick sent allowed him to quickly learn the traffic laws of this world.

It was only slightly different from what he already knew, and after just checking those differences, the exam wasn’t hard at all. Not to mention the driving test.

“Rohaaan──!!! Any thoughts on visiting the Sepia Archipelago during the break?”

“I don’t have any plans yet. Not sure if I’ll even have the time.”

Rohan casually replied, familiarly pushing away Gilbert’s face as he shoved it towards him.

“Hmph, that’s a shame then.”

“What kind of accent is that again?”

“How about we grab some food together today? My girlfriend’s also into swords, so she’s been curious about you. Seems like you’ve become quite the talk of the other classes since the practical exam.”

“Hmm…”

“Honestly, I just want to introduce my girlfriend to Rohan! We’ve promised each other the future! She’s practically my wife!”

Come to think of it, Gilbert, that son of a gun, did have a girlfriend.

That’s why he always disappeared during breaks. He did so many incomprehensible things that Rohan kept forgetting about his girlfriend’s existence.

Maybe it was because he hadn’t actually seen her this whole time.

“Is Dick going too?”

“I can’t. I already booked my train ticket, so I gotta dash as soon as I’m done. If you come to the Sepia Archipelago, I’ll at least buy you a meal.”

“Rohan, I never intended to invite that guy in the first place. He gets so nervous around women that he can’t even say a word.”

“I didn’t want to go either. Get lost.”

Ignoring the two who were already starting to bicker as if they never got tired of it, Rohan turned his head.

Ichinose and Noah’s seats were empty.

‘Did they go to the restroom?’

The break had started, granting him some free time, but unusually, Rohan’s plans for today were wide open.

Sion and Clara, who were usually stuck to him like glue, said they were meeting Ichinose and Noah today to look for swimsuits, so Rohan had no reason to refuse Gilbert’s invitation.

‘I can just go back when they contact me.’

Rohan sent a message to the group chat with Sion and Clara, letting them know he was having dinner with a friend.

Then, he accepted Gilbert’s offer.

After a few more words of small talk, Noah came tumbling back in through the back door, doing a somersault.

Ichinose followed behind with a calm stride, taking her seat.

Juyeon entered through the front door.

“Attention.”

Standing at the teacher’s podium, Juyeon scanned the faces of Class 1, one by one.

A gentle smile graced their lips.

“I’ve already said everything at the auditorium, so I won’t drag this out. You all worked hard following the Instructors this past semester. Take good care of yourselves during the break and be careful not to get hurt. Understood?”

“““Yes!!!”””

The cadets offered a resounding reply, laced with laughter, and Juyeon nodded, seemingly pleased.

“As I always say, if you encounter any trouble, don’t hide it, talk to the Instructors. That is all.”

As Juyeon stepped away from the podium, the cadets rose in a clamor and began to move.

Surrounding Juyeon, who was trying to leave the classroom, they showered their thanks.

Summer vacation had begun.

Gilbert had asked for a moment of his time, so Rohan returned to the dorm to change and equip himself.

As he left the dorm, he took out his phone.

[Clara: Going out with my sisters! Oppa, eat something delicious too! ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ]

A smile bloomed on his face at the message.

Clara didn’t seem so uneasy with Noah anymore either.

‘Those four are getting along, even going out together… I hope they can keep this up.’

They’re all sharp and have good personalities, so I trust it will be alright.

It’s just especially disappointing that I can’t watch today’s heartwarming scene from the sidelines.

But.

As the sole male in the group, this is something I must endure.

I’ll wait, looking forward to seeing swimsuits against the ocean backdrop. Replying with good reactions back then would be the best.

‘Should I just buy my swimsuit online?’

While waiting for the traffic light to turn green, scrolling through men’s swimwear on his phone.

An alert window popped up.

[Shop list has been updated]

[Special items have appeared]

“Oh?”

He had half forgotten about it, unsure how long it would take.

The shop, with its missing one-time sale items, had finally been refreshed.

Crossing the crosswalk as the light shifted, I brought up the Shop Skill.

[Shop ─ Lv.3]

◇ Unique Skill Level Up – 50,000P (Available Once)

◇ Feather Fall Amulet – 1,000P (23 hours 59 minutes remaining)

◇ Monster Chit-Chat Potion – 800P

◇ Animal Chit-Chat Potion – 700P

◇ Intermediate HP/MP Potion – 500P

◇ Fatigue Recovery Elixir – 200P

··

··

◇ Low-Grade HP/MP Potion – 100P

◇ Restaurant Reservation Ticket – 50P

◇ Concentration Incense – 50P

··

··

[Remaining Points – 1,750P]

‘The Skill Level Up’s gotten even pricier.’

The limited-time item’s price had been steadily climbing, and now it had finally reached 50,000 points. When would I ever scrape together that many points?

Amidst the growing despair, a time-limited special caught my eye.

‘That’s the one.’

No surprise there. I knew it the instant I saw it.

It was a consequence of my second Transcendence, after all.

[Special items may appear randomly in the Shop Skill]

“Hmm.”

Rohan knew what the Feather Fall Amulet did. A consumable item that, once used, negated fall damage, no matter how far you dropped.

Back in Abyss City, they were a dime a dozen from just playing the game without a second thought. A trinket that was nice to have, but not essential. But here, in this reality, things were different.

I wanted it.

But buying it with my current point balance felt like a strain.

‘Forget the special item, even the Skill Level Up needs a quest or something to even consider.’

Accumulating points from minor achievements and the occasional Low-Grade monster like a Geroi on the street just wouldn’t cut it.

The main story, promised as a quest reward, taunted him with its delayed release. Enough to drive a man mad.

Maybe he should dive into a monster-infested zone, become a monster hunter, just to rack up some points.

He knew a few places, after all.

So deep in thought he was, as he walked, when

Rohan snapped back to reality.

‘No. Must avoid reckless acts.’

Charging headfirst into a monster zone with his current abilities? He’d deserve the condemnation for being blinded by greed and rushing to his death.

His skills were far too meager to brazenly defy Ichinose Jun’s advice and hold his head high.

‘Trying to take shortcuts can lead to death. Only one life, so no need to be impatient, focus on training… Skills are just a tool…’

With that thought firmly in place, after about ten minutes,

the multi-complex shopping mall Gilbert designated as the meeting place came into view.

*

Ichinose Yui, Noah Frozenheart, Sion Testarossa, and Klara.

Over time, these four had grown quite close.

Not long ago, they’d even agreed to drop formalities and speak casually, each in their own way.

Noah, subtly hinting she knew about Sion and Klara’s feelings for Rohan, often engaged the women in deep, heart-to-heart conversations.

Which made today’s swimsuit shopping trip both crucial and candid.

“If we want to get Rohan’s attention, wouldn’t something like this be perfect? Something… s*xy!”

Noah pulled out a swimsuit, its fabric scarcely larger than her palm, shockingly daring, and thrust it at the group.

Ichinose, not answering, moved towards Sion to look at other swimsuits. Klara, her face flushed, shook her head vigorously.

“Uh, Oppa likes… whatever suits you best…”

“Aww~ But this looks like it would suit Klara perfectly!”

“Uhhh…”

“Noah. Don’t tease Klara so much. You’re embarrassing her.”

“Tch!”

Noah hung the swimsuit back up and wandered off,

more interested in what the others would choose than picking out her own.

“Nose, are you really getting that? Something that covers everything?”

“What’s wrong with that…?”

Ichinose, holding up a rash guard, pouted.

Even I know this choice is a bit timid, and it doesn’t sit right with me.

Still, the exposure feels…shameful. I’m still wrestling with it.

Sion, with a face so earnestly grave, is only circling the bolder swimsuits, which is almost provocative.

Just like that.

Though quite some time has passed, no one except Noah has managed to decide on a swimsuit.

Noah, wearing diving goggles, was pacing around, contemplating the water toys.

Suddenly, a glimpse of someone outside made his tail perk right up.

Stepping towards the store entrance, Noah narrowed his eyes and spoke.

“Isn’t that Rohan?”

The heads of the girls, who were still looking at swimsuits, swiveled and they surged towards the entrance.

Lost in the crowd of bustling people, Rohan was definitely visible, riding up the escalator.

He’s looking at his phone.

“U-Uh, Oppa said he was having dinner with a friend today…”

“Clara. Do you know the name of this ‘friend’?”

“I don’t… I didn’t, uh, ask that far…”

“Judging by the look of it, he’s on his way to meet them, but Rohan’s friend? Is it Gilbert Kaniat, or perhaps Dick Wikitree?”

Thinking about it, it felt strange.

I’ve always heard that when Rohan eats with his male friends, he goes to cheap, filling restaurants.

There were distinct eateries popular with men.

“He’s still going up.”

“What’s up there?”

Noah answered the conversation between Ichinose and Sion.

“Men’s clothing is sold upstairs. And the very top floor has a movie theater? And the floor below that has restaurants and cafes.”

“…”

The girls exchanged glances at Noah’s words.

Each and every one of them wore a look of utmost gravity.