"So, how about coming to my place to wash up and eat?"
"...!"
"I also want to discuss your immigration situation and thank you properly for helping Rohan."
Rohan immediately tried to intervene, attempting to express Clara's likely hesitation on her behalf. He was certain her shy nature would never allow her to accept such an offer.
"Th-Thank you! I’ll... gladly accept..."
But to his shock, Clara bowed her head deeply, agreeing without hesitation.
‘...Clara?’
Rohan was at a loss for words. He had no idea what motivated her to accept Juyeon’s invitation. His heart raced, and he felt a lump in his throat as he tried to process the unexpected development.
He glanced at Clara, who briefly met his gaze before lowering her eyes again. Despite her agreement, her hands trembled, and her complexion was pale. The weight of her decision seemed to be overwhelming her.
‘Then why did you agree?’
Rohan wracked his brain, wondering if he had missed something. Should he stop her, or was it too late? However, the determination in Clara’s gaze made him hesitate.
"Rohan, what’s wrong?" Juyeon’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Ah, sorry."
Juyeon let out a light laugh and brushed her red bangs aside as she continued.
"You said you couldn’t eat properly while you were in there. It’s late for dinner, but how about we all eat together, Rohan?"
"May I?"
"Clara seems more comfortable when you’re around, so I think it’d be nice to have you join."
"...!"
Juyeon’s sharp intuition hit the mark, and while Clara blushed shyly, her tension seemed to ease slightly.
"Rohan, the security bureau will drop you off at your dormitory. Take a proper shower and come over afterward."
At her suggestion, Rohan looked down at himself.
‘Yeah... I look like a mess.’
His cadet uniform was in tatters, stained with blood and grime. It was the kind of outfit that would definitely attract stares—and possibly concern—if he walked around in public.
"Don’t even think about wandering off. You might get reported and end up right back here."
"..."
Without argument, Rohan accepted the offer and got into the car provided by the security bureau. As he was driven away, he made sure to keep in touch with Clara via messages.
‘Oppa’s going to his place... but here I am...’
Watching Rohan’s car disappear, Clara reflected on her recent decisions. She had changed a lot lately, and while much of it was positive, moments like this—where she acted impulsively—made her question herself.
Before she even realized what she was doing, she had accepted Juyeon’s invitation. Now, she was left to face the consequences of her boldness.
Her thoughts were jumbled as she followed Juyeon, who seemed to be lost in her own reflections, savoring the relief of having both Rohan and Clara return safely.
"Shall we head out then?" Juyeon asked.
"Y-Yes..."
Clara nodded meekly, her earlier boldness fading as she wilted under the weight of her nerves. Her timid demeanor resurfaced with a vengeance, and even the simplest questions from Juyeon left her stammering and sweating.
When they arrived at Juyeon’s home, the sight that greeted Clara left her speechless.
Ding!
Juyeon opened the door and gestured for Clara to step inside.
"Make yourself at home."
"Th-Thank you..."
Clara removed her black boots at the entrance and hesitantly lifted her head to look around.
‘Wow...’
Juyeon’s residence in Academy City resembled a palace more than a home. The sheer luxury and scale were overwhelming, causing Clara’s shoulders to instinctively hunch.
Following Juyeon through a long hallway that was larger than her entire living space, Clara found herself in a massive living room that could only be compared to a small stadium.
As Clara stood frozen in awe, Juyeon opened a cabinet and began gathering toiletries.
"Place your weapons somewhere safe for now. Don’t worry—I won’t touch them. But if you leave them on while washing, either the weapons or the washing machine might end up damaged."
"..."
Juyeon’s perceptiveness was undeniable.
Clara began to remove her weapons without protest, fully aware that her arsenal was insignificant compared to Juyeon’s overwhelming presence.
She placed her items on a nearby table: two classic fixed knives, a karambit, two balisongs, a silenced handgun, and several empty magazines from the dungeon.
Finally, she kept only her most precious weapon, Arachne, securely in her hands.
"That door leads to the bathroom. Leave your clothes outside, and I’ll have them washed. I’ll also set out a fresh change of clothes for you."
"T-Thank you... very much..."
Clara accepted the items Juyeon handed her and hurried toward the bathroom, her movements quick and timid.
“The bathroom is bigger than my entire room...”
Clara couldn’t help but marvel as she stepped inside the bathroom, just as she had with every door she passed in Juyeon’s house. Quietly, she closed the door behind her and began to undress, piece by piece.
Finally, even her undergarments came off. Slightly embarrassed, she cracked open the door just enough to slip her hand out, placing the laundry outside for Juyeon to collect.
Before stepping under the showerhead, which looked like it could rain an endless stream of hot water, she paused in front of the mirror.
Clara studied her reflection, turning this way and that.
“Am I... too small?”
She cupped her chest with her hands, feeling the soft texture. Though pliant and delicate, it didn’t even fill her palms.
She’d never paid much attention to it before, but recently, it was something she couldn’t stop thinking about.
“Noah unnie and Shion unnie both had... big ones. Even Juyeon... she’s...”
Every woman around Rohan seemed to have a stunning, almost intimidating figure. Everyone except her.
Standing before the mirror, her slim, modestly curved figure felt plain and inadequate in comparison.
“...”
Clara sighed softly, wondering if things would’ve been different had she eaten better during her growth spurt. Her slender reflection, lacking dramatic curves, only made her feel wistful.
Meanwhile, outside the bathroom.
"...Huh?"
Juyeon, gathering the laundry Clara had left out, froze as she caught sight of something unexpected.
The words she’d planned to say slipped from her mind, replaced by a stunned silence.
‘Where on earth did she get these?’
Clara’s outer attire was already flashy and unique, but her undergarments were on an entirely different level.
Juyeon held up a pair of sheer, lacy underwear that barely qualified as clothing. The delicate fabric was translucent, offering minimal coverage, and so thin that her fingers were visible through it.
It was the kind of item that would leave one’s backside entirely exposed and was as far removed from Juyeon’s own practical, plain preferences as the sun was from the moon.
‘Is this... normal these days?’
Flustered, Juyeon wondered if she was out of touch with modern trends. She briefly considered whether lending Clara her own unadorned clothing would be appropriate.
***
"Finally!"
Having arrived back at his dorm, Rohan finally had a moment to sit back and review his rewards.
After all the chaos, it felt like everything had wrapped up more neatly than expected.
As he peeled off his cadet uniform, crusted with dried blood and grime, he reached into his jacket and retrieved the rewards Shion had handed him.
While Clara had already consumed hers on the spot, Rohan had waited, knowing he’d need time to focus afterward.
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‘These are huge.’
In his hand were two small fruits, no larger than fingernails, but radiating an odd allure.
The moment they had left the dungeon, knowledge about the items had been imprinted in his mind. Rohan already knew what they were.
[Fruit of the Ivy Rosellia]
◇ The fruit left behind by the carnivorous Ivy Rosellia.
◇ Consuming it slightly increases physical and magical abilities.
◇ Effects diminish with repeated consumption.
In Abyss City, such items could be regularly harvested from dungeons, but whether the same held true here was anyone’s guess.
Regardless, Rohan knew he needed every advantage he could get. Without hesitation, he popped both fruits into his mouth.
"Hmm."
The initial taste was sweet, but the aftertaste was bitter and astringent, lingering unpleasantly on his tongue.
"Ah, so that’s why Clara made that face," he muttered, recalling her grimace when she had eaten hers.
A few moments passed, and Rohan closed his eyes, focusing on the changes coursing through his body.
‘Whoa, my mana...?’
Even though it was described as a minor boost, the sensation was palpable. His mana felt like popping candy, fizzing and sparking within him.
The effects soon subsided, leaving Rohan impressed despite the modest description.
"Alright. Time for the real reward."
Next on his list was the most mysterious item: the reward labeled "Seneca’s Fortune."
Rohan had no idea what it was when he first received it, but upon opening the system store, he finally found the answer.
<Store – Lv. 2>
◇ ■■■■ Skillbook – 5,000P
(One-time purchase. Requires Seneca’s Fortune.)
◇ Minor Health/Mana Potion – 100P
◇ Restaurant Voucher – 50P
◇ Focus-Enhancing Candle – 50P
...
◇ Three Kingdoms Confectionery Set – 10P
◇ Rainbow Macaron Set – 8P
◇ Chicken/Pizza – 8P
◇ Large Combat Ration – 5P
...
[Remaining Points – 8,772P]
Despite indulging in food and potions, his remaining points felt exhilaratingly abundant.
But what caught his attention most was the mysterious, garbled text of the ■■■■ Skillbook.
‘That must be what Seneca’s Fortune does.’
The incomprehensible name only piqued his curiosity further.
Without wasting another moment, Rohan made his decision.
[You have purchased the ■■■■ Skillbook.]