Rohan stepped out of the Orion Academy dormitory and walked straight ahead. The cool night breeze swept away the warmth lingering from his shower, leaving him feeling refreshed.
"So refreshing!"
The path ahead felt incredibly familiar. Guided by his memory, he moved without hesitation toward his goal.
"Will it still be there?"
Rohan’s target was clear. In the world of Abyss City, an open-world game without competitive elements, the joy lay in exploring vast, beautifully rendered maps, taking pictures, and finding hidden treasures.
Treasure chests, hidden throughout the academy city, provided a thrill that doubled the fun of exploration. While he didn’t remember the locations of all the chests, a few iconic spots had naturally stuck in his mind.
"The chances of it still being here are slim, though."
Rohan knew it was unlikely that treasure chests would just be lying around in plain sight. After all, this world wasn’t just populated by static NPCs; the people here were alive, each with their own thoughts and purposes.
Despite this understanding, he couldn’t resist verifying it for himself. He needed to confirm that the chest didn’t exist here, even if it meant wasting time. Who knew? Perhaps there would be a unique reaction from the quest system.
"Sigh..."
Rohan waved his smartphone flashlight around as he approached the vending machine tucked into a dim alleyway. His sharp gaze scanned the ground, only to confirm his suspicions.
"Tsk, nothing."
All that greeted him were cigarette butts, empty drink cans, and a startled cat that yowled and scurried away into the darkness. The quest system didn’t react either.
"Hmm..."
Pocketing his phone, Rohan stood before the vending machine, deliberating his next move. He had hoped the chest might yield rewards tied to the store system or something similar. Unfortunately, it seemed his efforts were in vain.
"If there’s no chest, maybe the achievement system still works?"
With the tumultuous events he anticipated in the future, now wasn’t the time to be picky. He needed to try everything he could. While quests were the most reliable source of rewards, waiting passively for them to appear wasn’t his style.
"Achievements, huh... What were they again?"
Rohan’s focus deepened as he rummaged through his memories. Achievements hadn’t interested him much back when he played the game; he’d preferred strengthening his favorite characters and exploring the map.
Most achievements revolved around combat and character development, but there were also ones tied to using consumables, academic performance, part-time jobs, and other mundane activities.
"Attendance streaks and recruitment milestones are out... What’s doable right now?"
After some contemplation, Rohan’s gaze locked onto the vending machine before him, a memory suddenly surfacing from the depths of his mind.
"Ah! That one!"
An idea struck him, and his hand instinctively dipped into his pocket. He pulled out a 10-token coin he’d grabbed from his dorm room desk earlier. Equivalent to roughly 1,000 won, it was just enough for what he had in mind.
"Let’s see..."
His finger hovered over the vending machine’s buttons, scrolling through the options. Cotton candy milk tea? No. Oak tree soda? Definitely not. Mint cola? Intriguing but not today.
Finally, at the bottom row, he found it.
"Cucumber milk..."
This was the one. The notorious drink.
With a resigned sigh, Rohan inserted the coins, pressing the button with a firm resolve.
Thunk, thunk, thunk.
Out rolled a glass bottle filled with a liquid that looked alarmingly green, as if someone had bottled pond water. When he picked it up, the warmth of the bottle’s surface sent an unsettling chill down his spine.
"Warm cucumber milk..."
Rohan hesitated. The drink radiated foreboding energy.
Popping the lid open, he cautiously sniffed it, only to reel back, gagging and immediately covering his nose.
"Ugh, that’s rancid!"
The stench was vile, an assault on his senses that made his face contort involuntarily. It felt like a personal attack from the culinary gods.
"Why does something like this even exist in this world?"
Still, Rohan steeled himself. No matter how unpleasant, he couldn’t afford to back down now. This was the fastest route to confirming his theory.
"Here goes nothing..."
With a deep breath, he brought the bottle to his lips.
“Phew!”
I took a deep breath and gulped down the greenish milk in one go.
Three gulps in, my throat rebelled against me.
“Urgh—!”
Even pinching my nose didn’t help. The nauseating smell hit my brain like a sledgehammer, forcing me to spit the milk onto the ground.
“Cough! Cough!”
Warm cucumber milk was a flavor that crossed the line. The mushy chunks inside were the absolute worst part.
But, there was a silver lining to the torment.
[ You drink that? Achievement Unlocked. ]
[ 10P awarded as an achievement reward. ]
“It worked...!”
The confirmation was a huge relief. This success laid the foundation for my next steps.
I wiped the offending liquid from my lips, forcing my mind to focus on anything but the aftertaste.
“If I can collect 500P before the semester starts...”
As I mapped out my plan, a voice cut through the stillness, catching me completely off guard.
“Are you alright?”
“!”
Startled, I whipped around.
Golden eyes gleamed in the dim light, their sharp gaze locked squarely on me.
‘Ichinose Yui!?’
That rare brilliance vanished as quickly as it appeared. Ichinose shut her eyes again, her movements deliberate and composed, as she stepped toward me.
“Your taste is... unique.”
It seemed she’d witnessed my little culinary experiment—or perhaps her sharp senses had clued her in.
I tried my best to suppress my surprise at encountering her here, masking my emotions with feigned calmness.
“Just curious, so I tried it,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Hmmm...”
Standing directly in front of me now, Ichinose radiated an aura that filled the entire alleyway.
Despite her petite frame and closed eyes, her presence made it feel as though my every movement, breath, and even heartbeat were laid bare.
‘So this is Ichinose Yui’s first unique skill...’
The skill I had invested heavily in for her character flashed through my mind.
[ Insight (心眼) ─ Lv.1 ]
◇ While her eyes are closed, physical abilities are enhanced.
◇ While her eyes are closed, mana efficiency improves.
◇ While her eyes are closed, sensory perception sharpens.
In the game, the “eyes closed” condition came with the downside of horrendously low accuracy.
Yet during today’s placement exam, her precise strikes and fluid movements betrayed none of that usual drawback.
‘Could it be Level 2? Or even 3?’
I wasn’t sure what level her skill was at now, but if her character development mirrored what I knew, she would have adapted to a life lived in darkness ever since awakening her abilities.
Her closed eyes no longer seemed out of place but entirely natural—almost like one of those “perpetual squint” characters in anime.
“99, correct?”
“If you’re referring to the exam number, yes,” I affirmed.
Ichinose hesitated for a moment, her fingers twitching slightly before she tucked her sword behind her and asked, “Apologies. I didn’t catch your name during the exam. Could you tell me?”
“Rohan.”
“Rohan... I see.”
She murmured my name softly, nodding as if committing it to memory.
As I spoke to her, I couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of joy and wariness.
I knew better than to lower my guard in a situation I couldn’t fully understand.
“I’m Ichinose Yui,” she introduced herself.
“I’m aware.”
Her name carried such weight that it needed no explanation. She seemed unsurprised by my response.
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“There’s no need to be so formal. We’re both cadets at Orion Academy, after all,” she said, her tone steady and reassuring.
“...”
“In this academy city, we don’t cling to notions of national pride or power dynamics. It’s foolish to behave otherwise.”
This was the Ichinose Yui I remembered. Her words carried the unique conviction that was quintessentially hers. I marveled at how perfectly they captured her essence, even as my mind raced to figure out her intentions.
Still, I couldn’t bring myself to respond curtly.
While she might project the image of a poised heiress to the Tianwaitian conglomerate, I knew her better.
‘Ichinose Yui has a soft heart.’
Recognizing this, I found myself caring despite my better judgment.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
The familiarity I felt for her kept tearing down the walls of caution I tried to build.
No matter how much I steeled myself, they crumbled all over again.
Feigning indifference, I casually said, “Feel free to speak comfortably first.”
Her lips pursed slightly into a pout, almost like a duck’s bill—a reaction I found endearing, knowing it was one of her habits.
“Formal speech is more comfortable for me,” she replied.
“Fine, if that’s what you prefer...”
I relented with a nod, which earned a small smile from her as she stepped closer.
“There’s something I’d like to ask. May I?”
“Me?”
She nodded.
The crinkle of the plastic bag in her hand revealed glimpses of snacks inside.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked, doing my best to keep my amusement in check. Seeing this side of her—a soft, almost playful demeanor—was rare and strangely heartwarming.
Her curiosity finally emerged.
“During today’s placement test, your slash that split the golem—it wasn’t just the result that was impressive. The movement itself was remarkable.”
“...”
“It felt like you’ve been wielding a sword for a long time. Are you affiliated with any particular school of swordsmanship?”