I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

5 – Between Familiarity and Caution

Rohan left the academy dormitory and walked straight ahead.

The warmth accumulated from the shower was blown away by the cool night breeze. It felt incredibly refreshing.

‘Refreshing!’

The road was so familiar.

Moving based on memory, there was no hesitation in his steps towards his goal.

‘Will it be there?’

Rohan, who was moving his feet busily, had a clear goal in mind.

Abyss City was an open-world game without competition.

It was fun to wander around the vast map, implemented with excellent graphics, and take pictures.

The reward was what made the fun double.

In the game, there were boxes hidden all over the academy city that supplied resources.

I don’t memorize the location of every box, but a few representative places naturally remain in my memory.

‘Still, the possibility is low.’

I know that the probability of a treasure chest being left on the roadside is low.

Because in this world, I’m not the only one with free will.

Doesn’t it give you confidence that everyone walking on the street is a life living with their own thoughts?

Even though I am properly aware of this, the reason I take the time to check it out myself is to be sure that ‘the box does not exist.’

Even if there is no box, I can’t rule out the possibility that something like a quest window will show a special reaction.

“.”

I can’t help it because I’m the type of person who feels at ease only after checking things like this with my own eyes.

I’m tired of myself too.

‘Judging by the level of development, it’s a little better than in my previous life? Because there’s even a guy with a mechanical arm.’

That was the impression I got on the way.

The prosperity of the academy city became even more brilliant and dazzling at night.

The place I arrived at was Area 4 of the academy city.

It’s not far from the dormitory where I live, and the commercial district is well-developed, so the security isn’t bad either.

After going against the dazzling signs and bustling pedestrians and coming out to a quiet main road.

I head towards a dark alley between the streetlights.

According to my memory, the box is next to the vending machine in the alley.

In the game, it was a devilish spot where you couldn’t see the alley even if you stood on the main road.

You had to approach the vending machine to see it.

Step. Step. Step.

I headed towards the vending machine, the only source of light in the dark alley.

I turned on my smartphone flashlight and looked around.

Immediately, I clicked my tongue.

‘Tsk, nothing.’

All that was on the ground were cigarette butts and cans discarded after drinking.

Meow!

A cat, startled by the light, ran away.

The quest window didn’t respond.

“Hmm.”

I put away my smartphone and continued to ponder in front of the vending machine.

If a box existed, it would be more related to acquiring store points than currency.

Unfortunately, it was a wild goose chase.

‘If there’s no box, then next… there was also an achievement system.’

Considering the upcoming chaos, there’s no time to be picky.

I have to try everything that comes to mind.

The quest rewards are the most certain, but waiting idly for a quest that may or may not come is not something I can do, nor does it suit my temperament.

‘Achievements.’

What was there?

I don’t have a clear memory because I wasn’t very interested in achievements. I was the type who enjoyed raising the specs of my beloved character and wandering around the map.

Roughly speaking, the things related to battles and characters were the most numerous.

There were also plenty of things related to daily life, such as the number of consumables used, academy grades, or part-time jobs.

‘Excluding things like attendance days and character recruitment counts. What’s possible now…’

As I kept focusing, memories forcibly surfaced from the depths of my consciousness.

My gaze turned to the vending machine right in front of me.

A big catch was hooked in my mind, and I snapped to attention.

“Ah! That!”

There was one thing I could try right here and now.

My hand immediately went to my right pocket.

The 10 tokens I had swept from the dormitory desk jingled. About a thousand won in Korean currency.

‘Let’s see.’

Cotton candy milk tea? Not this. Oak soda, not this either.

Mint cola… tempting, but not this one either.

Then, the last row of the vending machine.

I faced the abyss.

‘Cucumber milk…!’

This is it. The price is just right.

After filling the vending machine with money, I pressed the cucumber milk button with my finger.

Thump!

A glass bottle, looking like it was filled with algae, rolls out of the vending machine.

When I pick it up, the surface is warm.

.

Despite the warmth being suitable for the chilly weather, an odd sense of foreboding washes over me.

Warm cucumber milk.

How terrible could it taste?

Pop! As soon as I open the lid and take a sniff, I urgently cover my nose.

Ugh!

It’s foul and nauseating. My face naturally scrunches up.

Why does such a drink exist in this world?

The headache from the smell is not an illusion.

Still I have to drink it.

I don’t want to, but I can’t avoid it now.

This is the quickest way.

Hoo!

Resolving myself, I gulp down the greenish milk.

Three gulps. My throat is broken.

Blergh!!!

Covering my nose was useless. The stench hit my brain like a hammer.

The milk held in my mouth was spat out onto the ground.

“Cough! Cough!”

The warm cucumber milk was an excessive taste.

There were even mushy grains inside, and that was truly the worst.

However.

It was worth the ordeal.

[ You have achieved the feat of eating that? ]

[ You have earned 10P as an achievement reward. ]

‘Ah, finally…!’

Proof of achievement. This success is significant.

It’s the cornerstone that will shape future plans.

I wiped the cucumber milk flowing from my mouth and tried to distance my consciousness from my taste buds as much as possible.

‘If I can just gather 500P before the semester starts…’

While I was forcing myself to continue thinking that way.

A voice that had no reason to be heard here seeped into my ears.

“Are you okay?”

“!”

Startled, I turned my head.

A pair of sparkling golden eyes were looking directly at this place.

‘…Ichinose Yui!?’

For a brief moment, she showed that precious light.

Ichinose Yui, as usual, hid her eyes and approached me with graceful steps.

“You have unique tastes.”

It seemed she had observed me drinking a bizarre beverage.

Perhaps she had sensed it with her keen sense of smell.

I suppressed my surprise at the sudden encounter with Ichinose Yui as much as possible.

Feigning calmness, I replied.

“I was just curious and tried it.”

“Hmm…”

Facing Ichinose Yui head-on was no ordinary experience. With her petite frame, she dominated the entire alley with her presence.

The feeling of having one’s movements, gaze, and even breath read by a girl with closed eyes.

It was truly a mystical sensation.

‘This is Ichinose Yui’s first unique skill…’

I recalled the girl I had invested a fortune in nurturing.

[ Mind’s Eye Lv.1 ]

When her eyes are closed, her physical abilities increase.

When her eyes are closed, her magic efficiency increases.

When her eyes are closed, her senses develop.

In the game, the condition of having her eyes closed was expressed as having an unusually low base accuracy.

However, the drawing and walking Ichinose showed in today’s placement test did not exhibit such chronic issues.

Is it level 2 now? Or maybe level 3?

I don’t know what level Ichinose Yui’s unique skill is at the moment.

If her nature is as I know it, she would have adapted to living in the darkness since she realized her skill.

Thus, the way she hides her eyes feels natural without any sense of incongruity.

She even looks like a typical “slit-eyed character.”

“Number 99, right?”

“…If it’s the test number, then yes.”

When I confirmed, she fidgeted with her fingers for a moment, then hid her sword behind her back as if to show off and asked.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name properly during the test. Could you tell me?”

“It’s Rohan.”

“Rohan… I see.”

She nodded, murmuring my name.

While I felt joy in conversing with her, I also tried to remain cautious of the current situation.

One must always be careful of things that lie beyond the realm of understanding.

“I am Ichinose Yui.”

“I know.”

She’s quite famous, after all. She accepted my response without any further comment.

“You don’t need to be so wary. We’re both students of Orion Academy, so there’s no need for formalities.”

“…”

“In Academy City, we do not engage in the foolish act of considering our own background as power.”

This is the color of Ichinose Yui that I know. While I am impressed by the words that deeply embody that unique color, I am also racking my brain.

Because I have no idea why she approached me in the first place.

However, the harsh and abrasive tone just wouldn’t come out of my mouth.

That girl tries to act mature, holding the perception that she is the successor of the “Heaven Beyond Heaven.”

‘Ichinose Yui is soft-hearted.’

Knowing that part of her, it bothered me.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

The familiarity I hold alone keeps breaking down the wall of vigilance.

Even if I try, it collapses before I can properly build it up.

I vividly recall the information about the character Ichinose Yui.

I spoke in a nonchalant voice.

“Please, make yourself comfortable first.”

She pursed her lips like a duck, as if troubled by my words.

Knowing her habit, her actions were transparently readable and even seemed cute.

“I am comfortable with formal speech.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

Nodding as if I understood the expected picture.

She took a step closer to me.

“I have something I’m curious about, may I ask you one thing?”

“To me?”

“Yes.”

Ichinose nods.

The plastic bag in the girl’s hand rustles, revealing the snacks inside.

“…What are you curious about?”

I asked back, careful not to let the corners of my mouth lift at the soft picture I couldn’t see in the game.

Ichinose Yui finally brought out the curiosity she had been holding inside.

“The slash that cut the golem into pieces in today’s placement test. The result was excellent, but the movement itself was impressive.”

“….”

“It seems like you’ve been handling the sword for a long time. Are you affiliated with any particular school ()?”