I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 80



79 – An Elf Lives Only Once

“And save your magic. Why have you been using skills since earlier?”

Rohan said with a smile, but Clara, who was hugging Sion, clearly felt the heartbeat that was about to burst.

She could tell because they were so close.

Sion had not used any magic at all.

“Se, surely… Sion unnie…?”

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Clara lifted her head from Sion’s embrace. She pushed away the breasts that blocked her view and looked up.

When she saw Sion’s expression.

Clara knew instantly.

That wasn’t some skill. It was a face so blatantly in love that it could be used as a textbook example.

It looked like something straight out of a manga or anime.

“.”

Thanks to that, Clara’s thoughts stopped. Her mind turned white.

While it was joyous and welcome that Sion had escaped her gloom and was now tasting pure freedom, this situation itself choked Clara.

She had anticipated it someday… but now, had she finally encountered a powerful rival with not even a sliver of victory in sight?

And the girl recalled.

A book she had read while sitting in the Spider Lily Bookstore.

“What if… that book is real…?”

The reason the number of pure-blooded elves was so few compared to other races, to the point of being endangered, was because of an absurd condition that actually existed.

Elves, in their lifetime, only once.

They could only love someone other than their family once. If they couldn’t find a partner, it was common for them to never know love until they died.

It was a nature that pure-blooded elves were born with.

Someone had even recorded it as a curse bestowed by the creator along with beauty.

Moreover.

One of the peculiar problems elves had was that it took them a very long time to open their hearts to others. It was written in bold letters in the book Clara had seen at the bookstore.

Even if it opens, it ends with friendship. It is very, very rare to give affection to the opposite s*x.

As mentioned, it requires the long time allowed only to the long-lived species, so elves mostly get involved with other elves.

But.

There are always exceptions in the world.

If an exceptional opposite s*x appears that pierces through such a needle-hole-like gap and an elf falls in love, it is said that the heart never changes for a lifetime.

If it doesn’t connect, they often wither away and die…

Clara recalled the unsettling end of the book and moved her head.

She saw Rohan standing right behind her.

When their eyes met, he smiled as usual. Then he reached out and carefully tidied her bangs.

Clara, it’s the same for you. Just think about living happily. Got it?

O, Oppa…

Clara no longer wondered why Rohan took care of her like this.

The girl was just busy savoring this sweet moment.

Wouldn’t her heart be pounding as if it were about to burst like Zion’s?

As she shyly returned her head to its original position.

Clara met Zion’s eyes.

…

Zion saw in Clara, who was clinging to him, the same kind of emotion he had.

Thanks to that, a blank and bewildered face.

Was it because he hadn’t received normal life and education?

Clara looked at Zion, who seemed unaware of his own feelings. His eyes were full of questions, as if asking what on earth this was.

Clara bit her lip in her complicated emotions and hid her face.

She buried her head in Zion’s embrace.

“…Rohan.”

“Huh?”

Zion’s voice came as he gently stroked Clara’s head in his arms.

It was like an older sister embracing her younger sibling with affection.

“You said in the past that you would target monsters and criminals.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s what you’re preparing with Clara. And was it the condition that you would help me at least once when our promise was over?”

Rohan nodded and looked down at the girl in Zion’s arms.

Seeing Rohan’s satisfied smile, as if he was looking at a lovely creature when he saw Clara, made Zion’s insides strangely hot.

“That’s right. But if there’s something you want to do, you don’t have to be tied down. Don’t worry about it.”

“I thought you would say that. Knowing Rohan’s personality, Clara must be here voluntarily too.”

That question was not something Rohan should meddle with.

Clara’s silent presence was enough of an answer.

“Rohan. Is it okay if I ask one more thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“Are the people involved in this incident also included in the category of criminals you’re targeting?”

“Of course, it’s included.”

Sion began to organize his thoughts to avoid stumbling over his words later.

He selected his sentences and lowered his gaze slightly, chattering in a small voice.

“Rohan. You will definitely catch them. I have no doubt.”

“You seem to believe in me more than I do. Thank you.”

With just a word of thanks, Sion almost lowered his goggles to cover his eyes.

His heartbeat was so loud that he feared it might be heard outside.

“…But I can’t just lie down and wait, knowing that.”

“Hmm?”

Rohan showed a listening attitude.

Sion slightly stuck out his tongue to moisten his dry lips from nervousness.

“If it’s okay, I, I also… want to move together.”

He had been preparing to say this as soon as the situation arose. But why was it so difficult to say it now?

Sion conveyed his meaning, stuttering rarely.

Rohan blinked in surprise and then smiled brightly.

“A precious manpower that fits well is always welcome. What about Clara?”

The girl in his arms shrugged her shoulders and showed her face.

A look of embarrassment was all over her face.

“Oh, isn’t brother the boss…?”

“Still, we should hear her opinion.”

Clara looked at Sion, who was holding her and not letting go.

A gentle gaze as if looking at family, and lips mouthing to speak comfortably.

A very brief moment.

Dozens of different thoughts flashed through Clara’s mind.

She derived the ideal answer.

“I like you, Sion unni…”

The words that she liked Sion were sincere. Compared to the desire to continue going around with Rohan alone, it was so evenly matched that it was hard to decide.

However, Clara knew.

If she truly wanted to do what was best for Rohan, beyond her personal desires, this was the right path.

“Thank you. I like you too, Clara.”

Sion hugged Clara’s frail body even tighter.

The moment she had dreamed of was within reach. Sion realized this and drew a deep smile on her lips.

…

…

[Quest completed.]

[Rewards obtained.]

Rohan cleared the notification window and hurried to prepare.

He had to move quickly to return to the academy city on time.

Rohan brought the car he had hidden at the entrance of the ruins and opened the trunk.

He scattered a large amount of incendiary bombs, explosives, flammable liquids, firearms, ammunition, etc., stolen by criminals from the gun shop, all over the building.

Even during the final check, there was nothing that Sion and Clara felt like taking with them.

“Sion. Did you pack all the important things? Just in case, check again.”

“Got it.”

Without a word, Sion headed to his room at Rohan’s command.

After taking in the room that had nothing to pack in the first place, he checked the small items in his vest pocket.

When he returned, Rohan continued his explanation.

“There will be many valuable items inside. The robe that the Grand Elder was wearing is no longer usable, but things like the staff are all adorned with jewels.”

“Are we taking everything?”

At Sion’s question, Rohan shook his head. The only thing worth taking was the thirty pieces of silver that the Grand Elder had.

To be honest, it was tempting. Selling them would bring in enough money to live comfortably.

But that would be an act blinded by greed.

Once this place is destroyed, it’s uncertain how much interest the Reflux Praise Society will have in Sion.

They might dismiss it as a failed project like Abyss City and focus on another vessel without even glancing at it.

He didn’t want to leave any traces.

‘Tracking down sold items is a piece of cake, even if it’s not the Reflux Praise Society.’

With those words, Rohan stepped outside.

Holding a stick-shaped cluster bomb, he led the two away.

Sion and Clara distanced themselves from the building.

Rohan nodded, checking the time, as if this was far enough.

“It’s dawn… Hmm, once we get back, I’ll go straight to exercise. You two can sleep in my dorm.”

At the same time, with a powerful shoulder throw, he flung the cluster grenade.

Watching the grenade spin as it flew towards the building piled with explosives.

Rohan leisurely recited his plan.

To celebrate Shion joining us, I’ll treat you to something delicious for dinner. Let’s all go eat together.

Before the two girls could respond with delight, the grenade hit its target.

A deafening roar echoed through the air.

Boom!!! Bang!!!

The dilapidated building wobbled from the explosion and then collapsed.

A massive flame engulfed the pile of rubble, blazing fiercely.

Satisfied with the firepower, Rohan turned around without hesitation and led the way.

Let’s go back. It’s getting dusty.

Sis! Let’s hurry!

Shion, looking at the two people waiting for her.

Couldn’t hide her smile.