160 – Pandora -1-

Noah occasionally had his attention stolen by other things, his gaze and tail flitting about.

But Ichinose, Shion, and Clara were fixated, eyes glued solely to Rohan.

Even while moving, they never let Rohan’s movements slip from their sight.

They seemed to be heading to a cafe nearby, all together.

If it’s that open, airy cafe, observation will be easier. But it was difficult to purely rejoice.

‘Tormenting.’

Rohan, being physically affectionate with a woman they’d never seen before, and smiling.

It felt like mental torture, and they didn’t want to watch any longer, yet paradoxically, they couldn’t tear their eyes away.

Right now, the girls were in a position where all they could do was watch.

“Shion-nee…”

At her younger sister’s plaintive voice, Shion wordlessly moved her hand. And gripped Clara’s hand tightly.

This wasn’t comfort. It was an act of supporting one another.

Shion herself was struggling and whimpering, she had no room to offer Clara solace.

‘…Did Rohan really receive an introduction to a girl?’

Shion’s mind was in turmoil.

Was that woman closing the distance so readily because she aimed for a deeper relationship with Rohan? Even if she did hold such feelings.

‘That woman… I don’t know.’

Unlike with Ichinose Yui, there was no composure to discuss things later and guide them in a positive direction.

Was it a visceral rejection? That person, for some strange reason, just couldn’t be accepted.

Something was off.

“…”

The story of Rohan kissing Ichinose? That had been rationalized within Shion and Clara’s minds.

The fact that Rohan wouldn’t have returned alive without that happening, and the fact that it hadn’t been Rohan’s voluntary decision.

For Ichinose, perhaps, it would have been different. But for Sion and Clara, those kisses had been merely emergency measures, and thus, rightfully, didn’t count.

That fact had granted the girls a modicum of breathing room.

But witnessing this unfold in real-time was different.

It ached like a piece of their hearts being carved away.

Even so, they couldn’t resort to some crude tactic and ruin the occasion.

They couldn’t bear to see Rohan flustered or inconvenienced in any way because of them.

They didn’t want to cause Rohan any harm. Death would be preferable to earning Rohan’s hatred.

That sentiment coalesced into a strong, invisible leash, tethering the girls and preventing them from bolting.

*

Perhaps it was because they were individuals who ultimately desired to dedicate their lives to the martial arts, or who already had.

Even when engaging in casual conversation, if the momentum shifted, the topic would naturally drift.

Stubbornly gravitating toward the same direction.

After a satisfying meal, as they strolled toward a cafe,

Rohan was listening to Nicholas discuss equipment.

“The shirt I’m wearing now is made from a blend of Desert Shark monster hide and aramid fiber.”

“Oh, from the outside, I just assumed it was a regular shirt.”

“Right? Would you like to touch it? The texture is quite pleasant, too.”

Nicholas spread his arms wide, as if urging him to feel it immediately.

Intrigued, Rohan didn’t refuse and reached out. He ran his hand over the fabric here and there.

The sensation transmitted to his fingertips was unique.

Smooth like luxurious silk, yet possessing a resilience that suggested it wouldn’t tear easily.

“If you look closely, you’ll notice a subtle color difference in the chest and abdominal areas. That’s because the monster hide content is higher there.”

A measure to protect vital organs, perhaps?

Consciously touching those spots, they did give a stiffer impression than the other areas.

“How much can it withstand?”

“It’s a little difficult to say precisely. But it would easily stop a bullet that isn’t imbued with magic. Though, I suppose it might be a different story if the caliber is too large.”

“Even that much is impressive.”

“Desert Sharks possess a small amount of Abyss, so it should offer some resistance to magically enhanced attacks as well. Beyond that, I can’t really say… I haven’t actually been hit while wearing it, so I don’t know.”

Knowledge that Rohan had learned at Orion Academy, and had already known.

Monsters above a certain rank were shielded by a barrier called the ‘Abyss.’

Possessing not only sturdiness but also resistance to magical forces, the hide of certain monsters was crafted into armor and traded for exorbitant prices.

As if by some divine providence, the parts used for offense, such as teeth and claws, held the opposite qualities, making them ideal for weapon crafting.

Indeed, many of the weapons deemed masterpieces were forged from materials harvested from monsters of the highest caliber.

“Rohan! Nicholas! Hurry over and order already!”

Gilbert and his partner had already settled into a table inside the café.

The two realized their conversation had halted their progress and headed inside.

Even while waiting for their coffee after ordering, the talk of equipment continued.

“I understand that the Orion Academy uniform Rohan-student possesses also uses excellent materials. And since the academy covers the cost, it’s supplied at a surprisingly affordable price.”

“That’s what I hear. It has certainly been a great help on many occasions.”

Soon, two iced Americanos were delivered.

They picked them up and headed over to the table Gilbert and Emily had secured.

“After hearing Rohan-student’s story and doing some research, I found out about the incredible things you’ve done. I saw an online article about you tracking down and dismantling a criminal organization.”

“Well, it just… sort of happened.”

“Haha! Such modesty.”

As Nicholas took a sip from his straw, Emily continued the conversation.

“The news caused quite a stir in my class when it broke. It even came up again during this exam.”

“It’s a bit late to ask, but which instructor’s class is your girlfriend in?”

“I’m in Instructor Ed’s class.”

“Ah.”

The image of Ed cleaving a bullet in two with a hand axe flashed through his mind.

“Rohan, didn’t you meet our instructor during the capture-the-badge exercise?”

“Instructor Ed was actually in charge of the placement test from the very beginning.”

“Really?”

Emily explained that Instructor Ed, while generally easygoing and seemingly uninterested in everything, took his classes very seriously, thus satisfying Rohan’s curiosity.

Moreover, he was said to be extremely meticulous when it came to weapon maintenance.

“Listening to my friends’ stories makes me wonder if I should have pushed myself to go to the Academy, even if I had to force it.”

“It would have been fun if Nicholas had come too.”

“Hahahaha!!! Still, Emily and I think Nicholas is amazing for getting a head start in the working world and establishing himself.”

Emily smiled and nodded enthusiastically at Gilbert’s words.

“Amazing is a strong word, I just inherited the family business…”

Subtle whispers of information and past histories drifted.

Rohan quietly absorbed the three’s conversation, and just as Emily’s drink reached its final dregs,

Rohan’s phone vibrated, a small tremor in his pocket.

*Zheeeng! Zheeeng!*

It was only an advertisement text, a piece of digital flotsam.

But the conversation had reached a natural pause, a convenient break.

“Shall we think about heading off?”

At Emily’s words, everyone nodded, gathering their belongings.

Gilbert picked up the tray to return the empty cups, while Rohan exchanged farewells with the remaining two.

“Thank you for the meal today. I’ve discovered a delicious place, thanks to you.”

“Gilbert paid, so the gratitude isn’t really mine to receive, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. If we run into each other at the Academy, I’ll introduce you to my classmates.”

“I look forward to it.”

Maintaining a respectful distance, using honorifics with his friend’s girlfriend, seemed appropriate.

As Rohan concluded the exchange with that thought, Nicholas shared his ambition.

“Meeting you today, Cadet Rohan, has been stimulating. Next time, I’d like to spar with you, even if only briefly.”

“If the opportunity arises, I’d be happy to.”

The exchange concluded with a handshake.

The four of them left the cafe.

“Rohan! If you have time during the break, you absolutely must come to the Sepia Islands! I’ll treat you to the full course!”

“Alright, alright. Whatever this ‘full course’ is, you better show it to me when I get there.”

Sending Gilbert and his companions off toward the elevator, as they still had errands to run, Rohan turned to take the escalator. In that very moment,

*Clack. Clack. Clack.*

A woman passed by Rohan, the sound of her high heels striking the floor.

She paid him no attention. Rohan, under normal circumstances, wouldn’t have either.

Just another passerby.

However, a jolt, a buzzing sensation, flared in Rohan’s mind, drawing his gaze to her, however briefly.

‘…’

A woman with a distinctly venomous air, sharp as the pointed heels she wore.

But it wasn’t her expression that captured Rohan’s attention; it was her shadow.

An ominous feeling arose that something sinister lurked within that woman’s shadow.

‘What is that?’

Rohan was certain he was seeing something for the first time. Not even in Abyss City had he witnessed anything like it.

Yet, the sensation…it wasn’t unfamiliar.

‘It feels similar to back then…’

To that time a dimensional rift had erupted in another shopping mall, when he’d been forced to hold Ichinose and plummet downwards.

Rohan had experience in reading the ominous signs in the air, before they coalesced into the form of a dimensional tear.

He’d observed the monsters, teeming and eager to escape, their crimson eyes glinting from the other side.

‘Ominous.’

His first instinct was to avert his gaze.

Forcing his head, Rohan turned it in another direction.

But the notification window would not permit him to look away.

[Encountered Pandora, the Traitor of Humanity – Achievement Unlocked]