I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

24 – Fresh Water Before Stagnant Water -2-

“That’s not how you do it…!”

The effect of the Fresh Water Before Stagnant Water operation was more remarkable than Rohan had expected.

‘Stay calm.’

He must respond calmly.

Rohan knew how much of an opportunity this moment and the next words could lead to.

“What are you referring to?”

“The company needs to reach rank 5 to avoid losses in key resources…! Set Iroha and Kiki as tanks and start with the equipment dungeon!”

As the words she had been holding back poured out, a sense of relief and regret came rushing in hand in hand.

Seeing Clara’s obvious restlessness, Rohan responded as lightly as possible.

“The company? Ah, right! You were a Company Wave user too, weren’t you?”

When he answered as if recalling their previous encounter, Clara gave a slight nod.

Rohan, without showing any reaction, started thinking.

‘The flow isn’t bad, considering I didn’t just say what I had to and run away.’

Probably.

As Rohan moved the mop he had stopped, he picked a question that Clara, who had closed her mouth, could answer even with a short response.

“Then, can I ask you a few questions?”

“Ah, yes!”

“What time is it…”

As Rohan’s gaze turned to the clock on the wall, Clara’s head moved along with it.

“Since closing time is just around the corner, I’ll just finish up here. I’ll treat you, so let’s close up and go to a nearby caf.”

“!?”

Clara looked quite surprised and flustered.

But Rohan pretended not to notice.

‘At times like this, you have to act like an oblivious fool.’

Avoid suggesting ‘how about going somewhere?’ It’s better to say ‘let’s go to a caf.’

Leaving aside the character settings of Abyss City, based on Rohan’s personal experience, a style like Clara’s should be confirmed as much as possible before handing over a sentence.

Unless it’s a really light question, it’s best to withhold giving options until you’re close enough to talk comfortably and exchange jokes.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll finish soon.”

“Ahhh…”

Dropping his gaze from the startled and frozen Clara.

Rohan quickly wiped the bookstore floor and hurried to close up.

“Thank you for waiting.”

“.”

Rohan closed the bookstore and put the key in his pocket.

Hiding the key under a flowerpot in front of a customer was not something he would do.

He planned to visit again on his way back.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

As Rohan walked a step ahead, Clara followed with quiet steps.

Coming out of the alley where the Flower Spider Bookstore was located and heading towards the main road, cafes were scattered everywhere.

The travel time was short. There was no room for suffocating silence.

‘If she really can’t stand it, she’ll run away without a sound.’

That’s what Rohan thought.

Even though Clara wasn’t an active and spontaneous person, she had enough strength to protect herself.

“Let’s go somewhere we can grab a quick bite.”

“.”

Rohan started his day with a cheap meal at the academy cafeteria.

But hadn’t Clara been in the corner of the bookstore from afternoon till night?

He could roughly guess the situation. She probably hadn’t had dinner.

Rohan stood on the main street and looked around.

Most of the shops in sight were bustling and bright, which wasn’t bad.

“A caf would be nice, but a hamburger would be fine too.”

It wasn’t a serious topic anyway.

For a conversation about games, a caf or a fast-food place would do just fine.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to ask where she wants to go.’

Rohan looked at Clara, who was blinking beside him.

Noticing his gaze, the girl glanced this way.

Only then did Rohan ask.

“Where would you like to go?”

“Anywhere is fine.”

“Do you like hamburgers?”

Clara rolled her eyes and looked around quickly, then nodded slightly, as if embarrassed.

That was enough for Rohan.

Beep! Beep!

The automatic door opened, welcoming the two into a bright interior, a stark contrast to the outside.

A familiar-looking machine stood by, waiting for their order.

They use kiosks here too.

It was a special moment for Rohan, somehow.

For the first time in the academy city, he was about to eat fast food.

In the past, I used to get tired of eating hamburgers and kimbap while on the move. But this is a first here.

Rohan stood in front of the machine and suggested to Clara.

Its a learning expense. Choose whatever you want to eat.

…Th-thank you.

Having come this far, perhaps she felt it was meaningless to refuse now.

Clara bowed her head slightly and moved her gaze briefly.

Have you chosen everything?

Yes.

Rohan watched Clara press the cheeseburger option and then fold her fingers as if she was done.

It still felt like there was no other choice.

Rohan upgraded Claras single item to a set and added various side dishes.

For me, one serving of fries isnt enough, though two is too much.

…

They proceeded with the order and payment.

Unable to utter a word, Clara fidgeted with her hands and waited for a moment.

The number we had was called soon, and we found a seat nearby and sat down.

“Thank you for the meal…”

“Eat a lot. You can order more if you want.”

Even if I said this, Clara probably wouldn’t order more.

Even if she was hungry, it would be the same.

After finishing the hamburger, only the fries and drinks were left.

Rohan steered the conversation towards games.

As the topic shifted to games, Clara began to speak clearly and steadily with Rohan.

“Have you joined a guild?”

“Not yet.”

“It’s always best to join a guild that has reached level 10. The attendance efficiency is significantly different.”

“So, as long as I’m level 10, I can join any guild?”

“Yes. But these days, it’s hard to find an empty spot, so it’s usually best to look in the community, but even that is… um…”

“Is there another way?”

When Rohan asked, Clara hesitated for a moment without answering.

Not knowing what she was going to say, Rohan waited.

As the waiting continued.

Clara, who had been speaking passionately, shrank back, avoiding eye contact as usual, and whispered.

“Would you like to join the guild I created? There are still plenty of spots available… but, um, it’s run by someone like me…”

“Oh! Is it alright if I join? It would be an honor.”

“Then, here…”

As Clara entered the number she was given into the search, a guild appeared.

[ Clara Company ]

Level: Max

Members: 1/50

Accumulated Contribution: 35,899,000

“Clara Company? Does it have a meaning?”

“No! I just put my name in it…”

Clara’s face flushed with embarrassment as she explained in detail.

Rohan enjoyed just watching her.

“It was a bit awkward calling you a guest from outside, but it’s nice to know you like this. I’m Rohan.”

“Ah… I’ll remember!”

Rohan gratefully continued the conversation as the opportunity naturally presented itself.

“Did you raise the guild to level 10 by yourself?”

“Yes…”

Rohan praised her and firmly steered the conversation back to the game.

Clara smoothly answered all the questions and continued her explanation.

“Even if Gerald is S-class, his use is limited, so it’s a waste to use nurturing resources in the early stages. So it’s better to borrow… Do you have any friends to borrow from?”

“No. Only people who play mobile games do.”

Uuuh…

I was actually considering stopping because there was no one to talk to about this topic.

With a serious face, she nodded, her twin-tails swaying gently.

Clara seemed to deeply empathize with these words.

But now that you’re helping me, I have to see it through to the end. It’s fun when you have someone to do it with, right?

Y-Yes!

Clara, excited, continued her explanation.

Rohan naturally added Clara to his game friends list.

There are only three support slots, so when we move to the next area, I’ll add you with another support character. Just use it when you’re stuck.

Can you send messages to game friends?

There is no messaging function. Friends can only support each other.

Then, should I let you know when I come to the bookstore after passing a stage? If it overlaps with your day off, I might have to wait a few days.

Uh, that…

Clara, at a loss for words, paused for a moment.

Following his intuition, Rohan smiled and held out his smartphone.

President Clara, could you at least give me your number?

Rohan asked playfully, as if it were nothing.

But contrary to his outward demeanor, his heart was pounding with tension.

If she refused here, there was a chance Clara might not come to the bookstore again.

Please!

In a moment of feeling the timing was right, he spoke, but only after did he realize the urgency.

.

Contrary to Rohan’s excessive worry.

Clara, without much hesitation, tapped in the number.

Rohan, thrilled enough to jump up and shout, restrained himself by clenching his entire body.

I’ll make a call.

After Rohan entered the number into Clara’s phone.

Clara, munching on one of the few remaining fries, caught Rohan’s gaze.

And there’s something I want to tell you.

As Rohan leaned forward, eager to hear anything.

Clara, with a strangely elevated tone similar to when she first gave advice, spoke.

Company Wave is a game with a really good story!

Really? It’s still early, so I’ll have to pay more attention.

They say the first three chapters are a bit of a barrier because of the many proper nouns but once you get past that.

Don’t worry. I’ll trust you and see it through to the end.

!

At Rohan’s words, Clara slightly opened her mouth.

The girl looked the happiest she had been all day.

This is nice.

Rohan completely understood Clara’s feelings.

A game with a delicious story is something you wish others would also try.

That feeling of wanting to share its unique foreshadowing and emotions is deeply understood.

When two people who are serious about the game meet, the story became longer than expected.

Rohan spent much more time chatting with Clara than he had anticipated.

After finishing with a “see you tomorrow” to the girl, Rohan returned to the bookstore, placed the key under the flower bed, and headed to the dormitory.

Bzzzz!

On the way back.

Clara sent a message.

[ Clara: Clara Company’s Rule No. 1! Focus on the supply dungeons until you reach max level! () ]

She’s lively in her messages.

A cute gap that makes you smile.

Rohan’s contact list gained a new entry.