I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

31 – The Princess and the Academy City -1-

Name: Rohan

Stamina: 100%

Mana: 79%

Affiliated Country: Echoes of the Southern Ruins

Affiliated Organization: Orion Academy

Attributes: [Physical] [Fire]

Status:

Remaining Points: 2304P

Phew.

The aftermath of mana exhaustion had disappeared by the next morning when I opened my eyes.

The sticky and damp state that I feared might linger for long was gone.

Perhaps it was thanks to the bluish-green fluid administered in the infirmary, or maybe it was the most hearty meal I had since arriving in the academy city.

Whatever the reason, I must thank the protagonist once again.

I can exercise properly now.

Rohan slowly raised his upper body from the bed.

Though the drowsiness from just waking up lingered, it was fine.

After lightly preparing himself,

he opened the dormitory door to head to the Orion Academy training room.

Stepping outside, Rohan looked up at the sky as he walked down the street.

“Is it getting a bit warmer?”

The early morning chill that I felt every day seemed to have lost its edge.

The scent of spring was subtly beginning to waft through the academy city of Elysium.

The moment Rohan arrived at the training room and put down his bag.

Ichinose, who had just arrived, spoke to him from behind.

Seeing the girl who came in short sleeves, unlike usual, made him realize that the weather was indeed getting better.

“I didn’t expect you to come out today. Aren’t you overdoing it?”

“I woke up feeling fine.”

“Hmm… Your recovery is impressive.”

Ichinose had contacted him briefly yesterday.

She was the first friend to send a message asking if he was okay.

“The only thing that bothers me is the theory. I couldn’t review properly because I couldn’t concentrate.”

“If it’s magical exhaustion, it’s hard to even hold a pen. I’ve experienced it too, so I understand.”

After finishing their small talk and stretching, Rohan and Ichinose headed to the treadmill together.

It could now be considered a semi-fixed routine.

“Rohan. Can I tell you something interesting?”

“What is it?”

“Noah started studying from yesterday.”

“…!”

To think he would start right from the day he promised to master the theory.

She is truly an honest girl. That is quite remarkable.

‘Noah Frozenheart, studying at her desk.’

I have never seen such a thing, even in the flood of fan art proving her considerable popularity.

It means that this situation is just as alien to Rohan, who enjoyed Abyss City.

“The instructor will be pleased.”

“Of course, right? So it’s good to ask me, but if you’re curious about something, I told you to ask the instructor too.”

“Oh… If I don’t work harder, I’ll end up last.”

As tension rarely crept into Rohan’s voice,

Ichinose silently smiled and asked,

“How have you been lately? Are you finding any fun in studying?”

“Thanks to someone teaching me well.”

“Hehe.”

Rohan and Ichinose continued their conversation while running on a machine that gradually increased in speed.

After finishing their workout, they headed to the academy.

What greeted Rohan as he opened the door to Class 1 was Gilbert’s grim face.

“Rohannnnnn!!!!!!!”

“Ah, I almost punched you, you crazy guy.”

He was so startled that his heart hurt a little.

His ears were also ringing from the voice.

“What! To be this surprised… Is it the aftereffect of magic exhaustion?”

Among the cadets passing by from another class, there was one who was so surprised that their legs gave out and they fell.

Rohan apologized to the cadet he was seeing for the first time and helped them up.

Then he approached Gilbert again.

This guy really has an amazing voice.

No matter what he said, it didn’t seem like it would change.

Honestly, he thought it was just his personality.

I’m fine. Just move aside so I can get in.

Hmm!!!

Seeing Gilbert move aside, it looked like a pillar was moving.

Rohan put down his bag and greeted Dick and the other friends sitting in the back seat.

He let out a long breath and sat down.

Thinking he hadn’t done anything properly yesterday, he seemed to have overtrained himself this morning.

Hoo.

At the sound of Rohan’s sigh, Gilbert, the sigh detector, approached with his eyes shining.

A sigh!? As expected, you’re pretending it’s nothing but the aftereffects of magic exhaustion!

No, it’s not. Why are you making such a fuss?

Gal!!! Rohan, conduct a self-diagnosis immediately! Youre not being complacent just because you have the shield of youth, are you!

I’m going crazy, really.

The surprising thing is that now, even with all this noise, the cadets of Class 1 have adapted.

Most of them either just watch or go about their own business.

“The fact is, it wasn’t just Rohan who collapsed from magical exhaustion yesterday. Before that, Rohan had carried someone who had collapsed while rampaging with a shield.”

Gilbert’s head snapped around at Dick Wikitree’s tackle.

Sensing that a noisy exchange was about to begin, Rohan was about to leave his seat.

Gilbert and Dick fell silent.

“….”

Because Jooyeon was coming with the sound of her heels clicking for the morning assembly.

Jooyeon’s classes were still easy to focus on. Time passed quickly.

If there was something special about today, it was that Noah started to show signs of struggling with the theory class.

And although the practical class went on as usual, there was news that the frequency of duels would gradually increase as the proficiency in formation training improved.

Having diligently finished his day at the academy, Rohan had a cheap meal at the cafeteria.

As always, he headed to the Spider Lily Bookstore.

He continued to ponder as he moved.

‘I need to grow stronger faster.’

Once he saved enough money to buy a decent sword, he would wander outside the city.

It was a decision he had already made for the sake of points.

‘If I find a monster whose parts are worth money, I might be able to earn that much.’

His thoughts went that far as his finances were tight.

It wasn’t a situation where he could just aim for points with peace of mind.

“Manager. I’m here.”

“Ah, Rohan is here.”

Lost in thought, he arrived at work in no time.

Rohan placed his bag in the corner and put on his apron first.

“That thing on the table over there.”

“Yes. I see it.”

“It’s a snack that came as a gift, so eat it while you work. Nana and I can’t eat hard things because our teeth aren’t good.”

“Thank you! I’ll enjoy it!”

Rohan bowed his head.

The manager, with wrinkled hands, began to prepare for leaving work.

“Then, please take care.”

“Goodbye!”

As the manager left, Rohan stood at the counter of the Spider Lily Bookstore.

How much time had passed?

Today, Clara entered the bookstore later than usual.

As always, it was a time without customers.

Rohan lightly asked the girl whose eyes met his. The image of her shivering was still vivid.

“Are you feeling better?”

“…Yes.”

Clara, recalling her disgraceful behavior from yesterday, avoided his gaze and nodded slightly.

Predicting the words that would come from the girl’s trembling lips, Rohan spoke first.

“Let’s not say sorry. We already did that through messages, right?”

“Ah!”

Clara, at a loss for words, hesitated and disappeared between the bookshelves.

Bzzz!!!

A vibration rang out immediately.

When he took out his phone, it was a message from Clara.

[ Clara: I have something to ask. (XX) ]

When he looked up, Clara was looking at him.

“Did you clear the weekly boss stage 5?”

“My level is still low, so I’ve only managed up to stage 3. This week, I’ll keep leveling up and try stage 4 on Sunday.”

“Uh… really?”

“Even with one support, my characters’ specs are a bit lacking, so it’s a bit tough.”

The girl nodded and disappeared again.

Rohan wasn’t sure if Clara was satisfied with his answer.

Bzzz!!!

Thinking it might be Clara, he looked at his phone.

But it was a call from an unknown number. Rohan, just in case, answered the call immediately.

“Yes, I received the call.”

Ahem…

He could tell instantly by the voice.

‘Princess!’

Rohan turned around at the counter, lowering his voice as much as possible.

“I was wondering when you would contact me.”

I’m in Academy City now. Tell me the time and place.

“It will take about two hours. You can be near Area 2.”

Fine.

“Is there a place you can wait?”

It doesn’t matter. I’ll call again in two hours.

With a click, the sound of the payphone receiver being hung up ended the call.

Rohan looked at the screen for a moment before putting the phone into his apron.

‘I need to think about how much to tell.’

He pondered while checking the list of books that arrived today.

As Rohan finished ringing up a customer buying a magazine and left the counter to organize the bookshelf,

“Um, excuse me…”

“Yes?”

Clara, who had approached silently, spoke again.

Rohan stopped what he was doing, straightened up, and met Clara’s gaze.

“Well…”

“Please, speak comfortably.”

Rohan waited patiently, arranging the protruding books neatly.

The girl, having made up her mind, sat in the corner of the bookstore and began to speak the words she had prepared.

“To-today! When you finish work, shall we… push the weekly boss together?”

Rohan’s eyes widened at Clara’s suggestion.

What a delightful progress this was.

But.

“Well… I have plans today, so it might be difficult.”

“…!”

Such an extensive social network.

Clara’s mouth dropped open at the unexpected turn of events.