I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

49 – Two Guests Expected at the Dormitory

‘It’s enough to say it with words, but suddenly trying to bow deeply. Such a ridiculous act…’

Jooyeon laughed at the absurdity of the situation that had just occurred.

Rohan, who was about to return to the dormitory, suddenly showed an unexpected behavior, honestly leaving me bewildered. I thought Gilbert Kaniat was the strangest cadet in the class, but as time goes by, doesn’t Rohan seem the most peculiar?

Just like that.

Juyeon, who had sent Rohan off, turned around at the entrance.

The long, stretched-out hallway. The path to the living room somehow looks endlessly far.

“Hmm.”

She moved her steps. Arriving at the living room, she sat on the sofa as usual.

Before grabbing the bookmarked book, she found herself looking at the ceiling anew.

‘Was the house… this quiet?’

The time Rohan spent at Juyeon’s house was laughably short, barely a few hours. Most of those hours were spent sleeping.

Yet, the silence feels overwhelmingly strong.

There wasn’t much to laugh about while living in the academy city, but maybe it was Rohan’s chattering that made her lips curl up faintly.

“.”

Juyeon stopped her hand reaching for the book, giving up on reading as her mind grew restless.

She moved her steps to the kitchen, where there was still cleaning to be done.

Sssshhh!!!

Juyeon turned on the water and grabbed the sponge. She considered playing music to drive away the loneliness, but she liked the sound of the water, so she decided to leave it as it was.

She picked up the clattering dishes and scrubbed them until they made a squeaky clean sound.

A strange feeling.

There was one more rice bowl and soup bowl to wash than usual, and one more spoon too.

And it was obvious who had used them.

Rohan’s rice bowl was scraped clean, not a single grain left, as if he was determined to carve out the bowl with his spoon.

“Puhut.”

A clear laugh escaped from between Jooyeon’s lips.

She was purely delighted that he didn’t seem to have forced himself to eat her cooking.

*

“Sion?”

!

Had he been startled by hearing his name before he could even speak? His breath faltered, revealing his emotions.

“Are you in Academy City now? Where are you?”

Rohan.

“Yeah. Speak.”

Rohan focused on the phone as much as he could while on the street.

It was certain she was a princess, but the reason for her call was completely unpredictable.

I want to ask you something.

“What are you curious about?”

Rohan watched a passerby and then walked into an empty alley.

Leaning against the cold wall.

He waited for Sion to end her conflict and let her voice be heard.

Last time even when you were so angry you felt like your head would explode, you told me not to act rashly.

“I did.”

Sion takes a deep breath over the receiver.

Then, in a lowered voice, he asks,

Should I really… just wait like this…?

“Yes. Wait.”

It’s a painful thing to say to Sion, but Rohan has a reason for waiting for signs like those in Abyss City.

Unless you have overwhelming power, it’s best to avoid major variables, even if you can handle the small ones.

The thick trunk of the situation, which can be predicted and read to some extent, is directly linked to Sion’s safety.

At the same time, he understood why Sion had called.

It seems he remembered the words to contact him when he was struggling or wanted something to eat.

It also meant that he was desperate enough to call Rohan, who was still practically a stranger.

I thought that if I diligently fought the battles and caught the monsters as instructed, it would financially help the compatriots settled in other countries…

“…”

He didn’t need to say the rest. It meant he had come to his own conclusion that it wasn’t the case.

It seemed he had figured out a lot on his own, no matter what method he used.

I… I just…

“Yes. I’m listening.”

Rohan listened attentively, giving short responses to Sion’s rambling voice.

‘This is a bit unsettling.’

Because the emotions in Sion’s voice were clearly drawn.

The emotions in the girl’s voice were more of anger than sadness. It was like a volcano on the verge of erupting or a thundercloud ready to burst.

Rohan must have found me frustrating and laughable too. Being swayed by the words of the elders full of flaws…

“That’s not true. I don’t think that way.”

…

Rohan interrupted and asserted.

The girl, who had lived without properly encountering the malice of others, had only grown physically while her mind remained undeveloped.

It was commendable that she maintained her humanity and character under such adverse conditions.

“Because the surrounding circumstances made it that way. This kind of sympathy might make Sion feel bad, but… I think it’s unfortunate.”

…

It became quiet. It was conveyed that Sion’s emotions, which had been causing rough ripples, had calmed down.

So Rohan asked.

“Sion. Is it very hard for you?”

…

“This is really amazing. It’s a bit easier if you honestly let out your emotions rather than swallowing them. Share your melancholy with me.”

As Rohan raised his voice slightly and showed some energy, Sion responded.

It’s… hard.

“Is it very hard?”

Yes. I don’t know where to start unraveling…

“Just observe the situation as it is and stay calm. It will be tough, but just a little longer.”

…

“Don’t worry. Soon you’ll be able to smile again.”

How can you be so sure…?

Though different from now, there comes a point in Abyss City where Sion, in a much more arduous state than the current situation, realizes the truth.

Rohan recalled the texts he had seen back then. The sense of helplessness he felt, the doubt about himself, the anger and sorrow over the elder’s betrayal.

For now, instilling hope in the girl is the top priority.

Only then does it make sense to convey information while ignoring variables.

“I never fail when I take on a task.”

…

It seems she doesn’t even have the leisure to make a remark about his great confidence.

Rohan felt a bitterness at the different atmosphere of Sion compared to their last meeting.

It’s too late, but can’t I resolve the current situation with my own strength…?

“Do you hate receiving help from others?”

I know I’ve already received enough help from you, Rohan. But still… just receiving someone’s help like this…

I think I understand how she feels. There are people who think like that the more they are cornered.

Of course, it’s not wrong. I think it’s an uncommon strong spirit.

But Rohan’s experience tells him.

They eventually realize it in the end.

“Sion.”

I’m listening.

“No one can stand alone without anyone’s help.”

…

“It’s not shameful to ask for help when you need strength. Let’s make that clear.”

Rohan had no intention of responding to this statement.

Before Sion could drag the conversation further, he changed the subject.

“Since you called, how about we chat a bit? There’s nothing better than a good talk to lift your spirits.”

…Chat?

Not just subtly, but openly surprised voice.

Seeing something other than negative emotions in the girl, Rohan lifted the corners of his mouth.

“I wanted to have a personal conversation with you back then too. Most of it was about work, wasn’t it?”

Ah!

“Hmm?”

Seeing Sion’s reaction as if she remembered something, Rohan waited silently.

Feeling Sion squirming and twisting on the other end of the phone. After that ticklish moment, Sion whispered.

The hamburger you gave me last time… was delicious. I wanted to thank you.

Feeling a sense of cuteness from Sion, Rohan changed his posture.

Squatting in the alley, he laughed without hiding his satisfaction.

“Pretty good, right? I’ll buy you another one next time. It’s even better when it’s warm.”

Come to think of it…

“Hmm?”

The elders said that humans outside have rigid stereotypes and think elves are strictly vegetarians. Was that wrong too?

“The image isn’t entirely absent, but it’s rare for people to think that way unconditionally. Besides, the elves of Tigrova are quite different from that.”

“You seem to know quite a bit about the Tigrova elves.”

“In my own way?”

Tigrova is a country with vast snowfields and coniferous forests.

The elves who lived there are different from the elves commonly depicted in the green forests of imagination.

Elves who have lived in warm climates often enjoy a vegetarian diet, but the harsh environment of swirling snowstorms doesn’t even give them the option of being vegetarians.

As we talked about various things, we had already been on the phone for 30 minutes.

From time to time, I heard the clinking sound of Sion inserting coins into the payphone.

Having filled the initial gloomy atmosphere with distant stories, I hoped the chatter had lightened his mood a bit.

“Sion.”

“…”

The weight in my voice must have signaled a change in topic.

Even without a response, I could tell he was listening. I got that feeling.

“If you’re having a hard time or need someone to talk to, you can call me like today. Remember the dormitory? Come there.”

“Yeah…”

“But on weekdays when I’m not there, there will be someone.”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The call was cut off before I could convey perhaps the most important message.

“Sion? Hello?”

Rohan looked at the smartphone screen. The battery was half full, and the call duration was exactly 35 minutes.

He scratched his chin in bewilderment.

Are we out of money?

Sss! Rohan swallowed his breath with a sound and stood up to look at the sky.

…This is really troublesome.

What if Clara, guarding the dormitory alone, runs into Sion?

Would it be okay if I told Clara first? Rohan’s head was already throbbing.

It would be a problem if they started fighting as soon as they saw each other.

Rohan moved slowly, constantly checking his phone, wondering if Sion might call again.

But that day, there was no call back from Sion.