I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 85



84 – The Taste of Pictures

[Shop List Updated]

The thing everyone else had but me.

The thing I couldnt even begin to guess how to get, since there wasn’t a slot to just pump in cash or special currency.

＜ Shop Lv.2 ＞

Unique Weapon – 30,000P (Can only be purchased once)

Unique Skill Level Up – 20,000P (Can purchase once)

Lowest-Grade Health/Mana Potion – 100P

Restaurant Reservation Ticket – 50P

Focus Enhancement Incense – 50P

Samhwa Kingdom Confectionery Set – 10P

Rainbow Macaron Set – 8P

Chicken/Pizza – 8P

Large-Capacity Combat Rations – 5P

[ Remaining Points – 16,098P ]

…Personal Weapon!

Finally, the item I’d been waiting for appeared.

The shop skills even felt like they were glowing.

‘This refresh is seriously packed, huh? And it’s not just one item.’

Just the personal weapons alone are making my eyes spin, and then there’s the Unique Skill Level Up too.

The price inflated way too much compared to the first level up, but still, this is better than I expected.

“What’re you spacing out for? Class is starting?”

Noah poked Rohan’s forearm, tail flicking, and passed him by.

Rohan, jolted back to his senses, stumbled back to the classroom. He sat at his desk, carefully piecing his thoughts together.

‘Points…’

Thanks to the rewards from clearing quests related to Zion, he had a decent chunk of points remaining. Just a bit more and he’d be set.

Whether to buy a personalized weapon or level up his skills first was a tough choice, but either way held merit, and the goal of buying both wasn’t too far off.

There would be more chances to acquire points, the store’s currency, in the future.

Wasn’t the upcoming practical exam supposed to take place on an uninhabited island teeming with reproducing monsters? For Rohan, where monsters converted into points, it was practically a festival.

‘If it’s like before, there’ll be quests during the practical too.’

The written exam was a perfect opportunity to breathe life into his faded image.

The practical exam was a chance to snag both points and a good score.

He was laying out his schedule with such seriousness when.

“Young one…troubles you? Then ponder more. Deep contemplation is the pinnacle of human excellence.

“Ah, this crazy b*stard.”

Gilbert’s shadowy face shattered his focus.

Gilbert, seeing Rohan lean away from him with discomfort, freely expressed his thoughts.

Rohan. What do you think of the change in this practical exam?

“Don’t have any thoughts about it.”

Is that a bold acceptance of destiny then? A response with such robust magnanimity.

“This guy’s starting again…”

Whether Rohan groaned in boredom or not, Gilbert crossed his arms with a stern face.

His academy uniform*kuguuk!*squeaked and cried, straining.

The pressure from his bulk threatened to burst the fabric, but even such expansion was within the academy uniforms sturdy tolerance.

Its a change brought on by a regrettable disaster, but in a way, us first-years are blessed to be able to prepare for this in advance.

I know. Just dont go picking up weird stuff to eat on a deserted island.

Gilberts illustrious history with bizarre foods made that the first thing that came to mind.

Dick Wikitree, who was sitting and organizing the main points, naturally joined the conversation.

Even if the instructors save you from monsters, they probably won’t be able to save you from willingly picking up weird things to eat.

“But they wouldn’t just let students wander alone, right? They emphasize cooperation in every class and, from a management perspective, it’s easier to group people into teams of at least two.

As Rohan spoke with a quiet certainty,

Gilbert looked at Dick and threatened him.

You breathing glasses rack. If you team up with me, Ill strengthen your weak stomach with three meals a day of rock stew and mud cookies.

If Im on a team with a caveman, I might as well just go alone.

Dick pushed up his glasses using only his middle finger, deliberately showing it off to Gilbert.

Rohan, tired of their tiresome power struggle, secretly wished that the two would be teamed up together.

‘Whoever I end up with, I hope it’s someone at least somewhat normal.’

In Abyss City, you choose your character to team up with, but right now its completely unpredictable, and a matter of pure luck.

So, for a moment, Rohan became an instant believer and offered a prayer to the heavens.

*

Sion, seated in the sky train, clutched her bag to her chest with each jolt.

Every person passing through the car glanced her way, but she paid them no mind. It was fine.

She’d managed to snag a seat all to herself, and that was enough to lift her spirits.

‘I hope I can get a seat alone on the way back, too.’

Thinking that, she shifted her gaze to the window. Lower than the clouds, but a good distance from land.

She could see the ocean, and scattered here and there, some unidentified structures and buildings caught her eye.

So many new, fascinating things that Sion had never seen before, but with no travel companion to share it with, she could only stare blankly.

‘Eleven hours of this, huh.’

Yeah, just sitting still wouldnt make the wait easy.

Sion turned on her smartphone, intending to review Tigrova’s geography again, and nail down the etiquette more precisely for the remaining time.

While meticulously reading the information,

she received a message from Clara in their group chat.

[Clara: Unnie, are you doing well? I’m on the bus! ()]

“Heh…”

A smile bloomed on Sion’s face at Clara’s message.

How did she even put together those emoticons like that?

After fiddling around with the keyboard, Sion gave up and decided to just take a picture of the view outside and send it to her.

Click!

She sent the photo with her awkward touch and Claras cute reaction followed right after.

[Clara: I’m a bit scared because Im sensitive to the cold… but, I hope we have the chance to go together next time… ( )]

Sion was wholeheartedly having the same thought.

To be talking like this, about Rohan who couldn’t join because he was in class.

[Rohan: This body. Has recovered from a storm of ruthlessly rough theory.]

[Rohan: Photo]

Had one of his classes ended?

It seemed Rohan sent a photo, wanting to show where he was, though his face was barely half visible.

Of course, the background was the academy classroom.

‘You can’t see his face properly…’

As Sion was dwelling on her disappointment, wishing she could see his face more clearly than the background.

*Wee-ooh! Wee-ooh!*

A phone call came through on her smartphone.

[Rohan]

!

Startled, Sion looked around pointlessly, wondering if anyone had seen her.

She moved to the middle corridor to take the call.

Ahem! Ahem!

The girl cleared her throat with water, finishing her preparations, and only then answered the phone.

It wasn’t the first time she’d received a call from Rohan, but her heart was strangely pounding.

“I answered.”

Were you sleeping? I didn’t wake you up, did I?

“It’s not like that. It just took me a while to get out of my room.”

Ah, that must be a pain. I should have just messaged you.

“It’s okay. I still prefer calls over messages.”

The reason Rohan called wasn’t anything big.

It was just a simple check-up call, to see if I was getting there alright and if I was feeling okay.

If you get hungry on the way, make sure to eat properly. Dont go looking for cheap stuff to save money.

He completely read my actions and my thoughts. But instead of getting chills, I feel good.

It feels like Rohans awareness of me is being emphasized.

And don’t forget to stick to the main roads as much as possible. Don’t move around late at night just to get there faster. Once the sun goes down, find a place to stay and get to bed early.

“You’re treating me like a little kid.”

Sion chuckled, focusing on Rohan’s voice.

The way Im being handled is ridiculous, but it feels pretty good.

Oh, the instructor is coming. Anyway, call if there are any problems. Even if there aren’t, keep in touch.

“Yeah… I understand.”

After the call ends, I look at the screen.

[00:06:28]

[Call recording file will be saved.]

The call recording that happened automatically thanks to Rohan and Claras settings.

Its a feature I really like.

From noble mtl dot com

‘Ten listens equals one hour. If I loop this about a hundred times, we should be there.’

The ride to Tigrova might not be so boring after all.

*

Likewise, another girl was riding in her own vehicle.

Clara, on her bus ride home, startled at the message.

Oh, oh, oppas picture?!

Shed always wanted it, what a random gift.

Though Rohan hadn’t meant for her to be the subject, just being in the frame made Clara love the picture.

First, save it to the gallery. Then move it to the hidden folder.

Lock it with a password, just in case.

…

Procedures complete, time for a leisurely viewing.

The girl, head against the window, watched Rohans photo in silence.

And then she remembered.

What Sion had done on the bus and back at the dorm, so blatantly.

‘Jealous.’

Such a short time, yet such a powerful record. Even without realizing, that transparent and brazen display of desire, she envied it.

How great it would be if she could do that too.

‘M-Maybe, I’ll try it too?’

She always hesitated, but watching Sion just do it all so freely in front of her…

The girl, too, began to sway, her reason faltering before her instincts. It felt like a loss not to.

Of course, she didn’t have Rohan’s clothes like Sion did.

She could only fret, staring at the picture Rohan sent.

“…”

Clara checked again the quiet, sparsely occupied bus.

She ducked down in her seat, hidden from the driver.

Then, she stuck her tongue out like a cat.

Clara lightly licked the screen, where Rohan’s photo was displayed.

“Haa…”

Of course, there was no taste, but.

The realization that she’d done something utterly huge was undeniably there.