"Because you're beautiful."
"W-what...?"
"I mean your appearance naturally draws attention."
Rohan gave his answer matter-of-factly before striding ahead, clearly intending to change the location.
The princess trailed behind him, her steps hesitant but purposeful.
As he took the lead, Rohan’s mind churned with thoughts.
‘Is it because she’s lived so long outside? She doesn’t seem to grasp how striking her appearance is objectively.’
To Rohan, calling the princess beautiful wasn’t flattery or an attempt to gain favor. If that had been his goal, he would’ve used a more delicate approach.
He had simply stated the truth—straightforwardly and without ulterior motives.
It was simple.
Elves, as a race, were synonymous with beauty and grace.
This was an immutable fact even in Abyss City.
A person finding an elf beautiful was hardly unusual, unless they possessed an exceedingly peculiar taste.
And as a princess of exceptional lineage, she was unmatched even among her stunning kin.
Whether she was dressed in combat gear or casual clothing, her mere presence was enough to draw every gaze her way.
“Hmm, let’s see...”
Rohan stopped just before reaching the heart of District 2, in a less busy area dotted with small cafés and eateries.
"How much time do you have?"
"I’ll tell you when it’s time. For now, there’s still some to spare."
"Have you eaten?"
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"Not particularly hungry."
Despite her indifferent reply, Rohan caught the slight movement of her throat as she gulped.
"Even so, we should talk over something to eat."
"Hmph. If you need a snack to function, do as you wish."
Rohan casually scanned the area, his eyes landing on a cozy café.
"How about here?"
"You’re planning to talk there?"
"Yes. Their sandwiches look delicious."
The princess blinked, her gaze drifting toward the café interior, where scattered patrons occupied tables.
Realizing what he was suggesting, she narrowed her eyes and shot him a sharp glare.
"Don’t joke around. You know the weight of the information we’re discussing."
"I’m not joking. Who would suspect a place like this for such important discussions?"
Whether she was convinced or merely conceding, the sharpness in her gaze gradually softened.
"Hiding under the lamp, hiding the tree in the forest—something like that?"
"Close enough. Honestly, it’s also because I can’t think of a better place."
"How could someone claiming to deal in information lack a proper location? Am I barred from certain places?"
“...”
From the moment they first met, she had labeled him as some sort of information broker.
Though he had only asked for time to gather data, her perception had clearly solidified.
‘Explaining now would only raise more suspicion. She’d just think I’m hiding something.’
Trying to correct her assumptions seemed futile, especially given her guarded nature.
"This won’t do. We need a place without prying eyes or ears."
"Is that an absolute condition?"
"It’s the most important criterion for discussing something of this magnitude."
Her reasoning was sound. Rohan folded his arms, surveying the nearby establishments.
There were a few potential options, but each came with its own complications.
‘A karaoke room?’
Paying for a private room could work, but she might assume there were hidden cameras or microphones.
Rohan’s gaze shifted to another building.
‘A hotel room?’
An Orion Academy cadet and an elf princess booking a room together at a lodging facility? That idea seemed even worse.
‘In that case...’
After weighing his options, Rohan made his decision and looked at the princess with an indifferent expression.
"I have a dorm room."
"You did mention infiltrating the academy. That should work."
She was already certain of her conclusion, leaving no room for argument.
Rohan chuckled lightly and began leading the way.
"If you’re okay with stepping into a man’s living space, I’ll take you there."
"Don’t worry. If you try to disgrace me, I’ll destroy everything you own and take my own life afterward."
Her cold, steely warning didn’t align with the reassurance she seemed to offer.
Ironically, her fierce attitude put Rohan at ease.
***
Rohan bought a hamburger to fill his stomach, then climbed the stairs as usual to reach his room. After setting his belongings aside and opening the window, he prepared for his unusual guest.
Clatter!
The princess didn’t bother entering through the dormitory’s main entrance.
Instead, she scaled the building like a flying squirrel and entered Rohan’s room through the open window.
"Please take off your shoes first."
"...Understood."
The princess removed her tough-looking combat boots, her sharp gaze scanning the room.
"Hmm?"
"Is something wrong?"
"For someone in your line of work, this room is surprisingly ordinary."
She had perhaps expected a space filled with computers and other tools of an information broker.
Rohan didn’t respond to her remark, simply gesturing to the single chair by his desk.
"Take a seat. Unfortunately, this dorm is only meant for one, so I only have one chair."
"No need. I can stand."
The princess dismissed the offer, opting instead to lean against the wall near the window.
Seeing no point in insisting, Rohan claimed the chair himself and began unpacking his food on the desk.
The crinkling of wrappers filled the room, but it was the princess who spoke first.
"There’s a matter we need to settle first. It’s an answer you didn’t give me before."
"Go ahead."
"What do you want in return for your information? Is it money?"
"Hmm..."
Rohan had no intention of asking for money. He knew that while the elders were wealthy, the princess herself likely had less to her name than he did.
‘This is going to be tricky.’
He munched on a fry, pondering his response.
‘If I claim to be an ally helping out of goodwill, would she even believe me?’
‘No. Someone like her wouldn’t trust such convenient words.’
Reflecting on their previous conversations, Rohan realized that offering her a specific purpose might lower her guard and earn her trust more effectively.
"There will come a time when I have to take on dangerous tasks."
"Hmm."
"If the information I provide proves its worth, I’ll ask for your help on those occasions. Just once is enough."
The princess fell into thoughtful silence.
Even though she needed the information, she was cautious about making commitments—a trait Rohan admired.
"To be clear, I won’t involve you in anything unsavory, like massacring innocent civilians. I’ll need help taking down monsters or criminals."
"You’ll be collecting bounties or selling monster parts, then?"
"Exactly. Clean money is always the best kind."
Rohan nodded along with her deduction, deciding not to elaborate further.
"Fine. If your conditions align with what you’ve said, I’ll agree."
"Then let’s begin."
"And what about a formal contract?"
"Unnecessary. I’ll trust your conscience."
As Rohan unwrapped his burger and prepared to dive into the conversation, the princess spoke up again, suspicion tinging her voice.
"You don’t seem interested in running a proper business."
"I can’t escape the red with my methods, true. But I have my reasons, so let’s just say I’m relying on my nerve."
"...Fair enough. You must have something up your sleeve."
Rohan barely managed to stifle a wry smile.
‘I have nothing of the sort.’
In truth, he didn’t even have a fake contract template to rely on.
"Enough small talk. Let’s get to the main point."
The princess’s sharp gaze bore into Rohan, signaling her readiness for serious discussion.
***
In a shabby one-room apartment where the hot water didn’t work, Clara emerged from a cold shower.
Still damp, she grabbed her smartphone and immediately opened her game.
─ Company Wave!
"One, two, two... Glass for the stun, then Order for the front-row shield..."
She murmured aloud, trying to solidify a build that had come to her mid-shower.
Picturing Rohan’s character pool, she theorized a lineup that maximized stability and synergy.
‘This should work. It’s balanced and efficient.’
One minute and two seconds.
With no deaths on her team, shaving two seconds off her time would guarantee maximum rewards.
"Hmm..."
She debated which adjustments might make the lineup even faster.
Endless retries could reduce the time, but she hesitated to impose such repetition on Rohan, fearing it might ruin the experience for him.
‘I need to research this more.’
Her hands moved to a drawer beneath her bed.
Inside were neatly arranged silencers, various daggers, and...
A small, pink-ribboned piece of black fabric.
She retrieved the delicate undergarment—a prized possession that always lifted her spirits and helped her focus.
"Ah! Maybe if I use that setup..."
Without bothering to dry her hair, Clara lay face-down on her bed, clutching her pillow as she eagerly tested a new strategy.
"Wah!"
After several tweaks, she finally managed to bring her time down to 57 seconds.
Thrilled with her success, she instinctively reached for her phone to message Rohan but stopped short.
‘He’s probably studying right now. Academy cadets must be incredibly busy...’
The thought of disturbing him made her hesitate, the fear of becoming a nuisance outweighing her excitement.
She sighed and pouted, longing for tomorrow to arrive quickly.