I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

8 – The First Day of the Semester -2-

Since I arrived early, perhaps I was the first one here.

With that thought, Rohan slid open the door with a loud clatter!

‘Someone’s here?’

Inside the classroom was a male cadet tending to a modern crossbow.

Our eyes met. The air was filled with an awkward silence.

Just as Rohan was about to greet him, the cadet quickly turned his head and resumed tending to the crossbow.

“.”

The greeting that was about to come out retreated back into his stomach.

Rohan stood at the back and looked around the classroom.

‘Can we sit wherever we want?’

There were a few desks with bags on them, as if they had been reserved, but many seats were still empty, probably because it was early.

Wanting to properly attend the class, Rohan went to the front and sat in an empty seat.

As he carefully reread the academy’s notice, cadets began to fill the classroom one by one.

‘Everyone’s so diligent.’

He had only looked away for a moment, but already more than half of the seats were filled.

Perhaps they, too, had arrived at the academy early with similar excitement.

Either way, it was good. As the cadets took their seats, the classroom began to buzz with energy.

Thanks to the group that seemed close from the beginning, the silence that dominated the class melted away.

The comfortable atmosphere filled with conversation made Rohan satisfied.

“Isn’t Class 1 the best class?”

“Would the academy blatantly create a sense of deprivation like that? Even you got beaten badly by Ben, and he went to Class 5.”

“…”

“More than that, I’m curious about who the instructor will be.”

Rohan, who was observing the increasing number of cadets riding the wave of the atmosphere, suddenly realized.

Somehow, familiar faces were rare, and most were unfamiliar.

Sss… Were there about 30 cadets you could talk to in the game? Come to think of it, that was throughout the entire academy.

Then, could those friends be the ones who filled the space as shadows in the game?

Thinking that way, it was a feeling hard to explain. He shifted his gaze to another group.

What was his name again?

While checking the cadets he only knew by face and organizing information in his head.

A deep voice struck his ears.

“Boy.”

?

Turning his head to find the owner of the voice, a giant in a cadet uniform stood with arms crossed.

Clearly over 2 meters tall.

If it weren’t for the uniform, he would have mistaken him for an instructor.

“Is the seat next to you empty?”

“Uh… it’s empty, right?”

“That’s great news! May I sit here?”

I pulled the chair closer, inviting him to sit comfortably.

The burly man plopped down beside me, saying he looked forward to getting along. The chair creaked under his weight, letting out a scream.

‘Why does he look like he’s drawn in a different art style?’

His facial features were so bold, they seemed to be drawn with ink. His distinct personality was already apparent.

It felt like he had just returned from some bizarre adventure.

“Boy, what’s your name?”

“Rohan.”

“Rohan, huh? It has a nice ring to it.”

What kind of speech is this? Calling a classmate “boy” is quite unusual.

Intrigued by this unique type I’d never encountered before, I asked,

“What should I call you then? Should I call you ‘boy’?”

“Gilbert Kaniat. I’d appreciate it if you just called me Gilbert.”

Rohan chewed over the name, quickly sifting through the information in his mind.

‘Gilbert…’

No information. It’s the first time he’s heard it. It’s a name he’s never encountered in Abyss City.

Most cadets here would probably feel the same way.

“Now that I know your name is Rohan, there’s no need to call you ‘boy’ anymore.”

With that, Gilbert began to methodically take items out of his bag and place them on the desk.

Nodding with a satisfied snort, he suddenly stood up and disappeared through the front door.

At the same time, the back door clattered open!

Like exchanging batons with Gilbert, Ichinose and Noah entered the classroom.

Yaaawn! I’m so sleepy…

Noah. Cover your mouth when you yawn.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the two like arrows.

Indeed, the feeling of being a celebrity.

However, there were few cadets who took the opportunity to get close or sent looks of admiration.

Most of the Orion Academy cadets were proud of their own abilities, so instead, they seemed to be burning with a sense of rivalry when looking at the two.

If there were any notable exceptions.

The beastmen cadets from Tigrova avoided the gaze of Noah Frozenheart, the royal.

Noah~ I’m sleepy… give me a piggyback ride.

Noah, staggering with sleepiness, tried to hug Ichinose’s petite body.

But Ichinose, with eyes closed, gracefully avoided Noah’s gesture.

Stop talking nonsense and go wash your face.

Cold-hearted!

Even though Noah grumbled from behind, Ichinose, who was looking for a seat, stopped walking.

She moved her head gently.

With one eye slightly open, she greeted Rohan.

Good morning.

“Uh. Good morning.”

Rohan greeted leisurely, but inside, he was so happy he could do a somersault.

The feeling of having a casual conversation with Ichinose Yui still felt like a dream.

The picture the two of them made was always heartwarming to see.

“Huh?”

Noah Frozenheart, who was following Ichinose with a drowsy face, blinked.

As if waking from a dream, the light returned to her blue eyes. Her sharp nose and round ears twitched.

Then, she stared intently at Rohan and walked over with determined steps.

“Noah! Where are you going again?!”

Ignoring Ichinose’s words to sit here, Noah Frozenheart stood in front of Rohan.

Rohan, wagging his tail gently, did not avoid Noah’s transparent gaze and met it head-on.

“Huh?”

Noah, looking at Rohan sitting there, made a puzzled face.

The girl began to sniff Rohan, moving her head here and there.

Rohan, not understanding the action, just watched quietly.

After a while, Noah straightened her back.

The girl licked her lips to moisten them and spoke.

“You smell delicious? Interesting.”

“Me?”

“Yes!”

A candid reaction without any lies. I just smiled as I met his gaze.

Because I had an idea of what was coming.

‘Does jerky really smell that much?’

Maybe it was because I heard it from a beastman with gleaming molars, but it felt genuinely amusing, not like a joke.

“Noah!”

Ichinose, who had approached after putting down her bag, was flustered by those words and pulled his arm.

Noah, with a face of injustice, resisted and urged Ichinose.

“I’m serious! Nose, you smell it too.”

“Wh-what kind of shameless behavior is that!”

Watching the two bickering in front of me, I felt an urge to film and capture the moment on my phone.

Suppressing that intense impulse, Rohan reached into his bag.

Just as he opened the bag to share the jerky with Noah.

The towering figure of Gilbert returned, casting a shadow.

“Girls, the instructor will be here soon. Please step aside.”

“Wow! Why are you so big? How many hamburgers can you eat at most?”

“Noah…! Why are you being so rude!”

It’s rare to see Ichinose Yui flustered in Abyss City. Truly, a series of precious scenes.

Though it was chaotic and noisy, Rohan enjoyed the situation.

“I can eat up to three hamburgers.”

“You’re a light eater. How many can you eat?”

Rohan just waved his hand and said goodbye to the question directed at him.

Noah was already being dragged away by Ichinose’s hand.

“Being the daughter of the Great Tiger Emperor, I expected a cold, icy image. But she’s like a stormy girl.”

Gilbert sat down with a solemn face, crossed his arms, and began to share his impressions.

Knowing the publicly known image of the Tigrova royal family, Rohan just listened quietly.

“Rohan. Do you have any connection with those girls?”

“Just a mere acquaintance with Ichinose.”

And Noah Frozenheart, isn’t she the type that looks very sociable at first glance?

Gilbert, with a very serious face, stroked his shadowed face.

“Have I been nailed into the coffin of ignorance, trapped by the stereotypes instilled by the world…?”

I chuckled at the sight of Gilbert.

This friend truly has an outstanding personality.

A spoonful of chit-chat with Gilbert, a spoonful of information exchange about the academy, a spoonful of rumors about the curriculum of the new cadets.

As we were mixing in with the bustling class, sharing stories like that.

“Instructor?”

“It seems so.”

The lively space was tinged with silence.

The cadets felt it. Someone with a huge presence was approaching.

Creak!

The door opened, and a woman in a suit appeared.

What exudes intensity above all is not the red hair, but the sharp eyes. The aura emanating from them makes one hold their breath.

“Nice to meet you.”

The cadets observed the woman standing at the podium with a clicking sound.

The cadets who figured out who she was were frozen in surprise.

Especially the cadet from Samhwaguk, who couldn’t not know her face.

Ichinose, too, was expressing his emotions without hiding them, his eyes wide open.

“I am the instructor in charge of Class 1. My name is Juyeon.”

At the same time, a notification window popped up in front of Rohan’s eyes.

[ You have encountered the one who hunted the dragon. Achievement unlocked. ]

[ You have earned 50P as an achievement reward. ]