While time passed, Rohan wasn’t just swinging the sword he bought on installments.
As Rohan balanced studying and training, four unusual incidents involving Monoliths occurred in foreign countries that Rohan didn’t even know by name.
However, so far, there was only one returnee.
The information from the sole returnee and survivor was cross-verified with the data Rohan and his party had brought back, and only the overlapping details were publicly announced on a large scale.
The biggest difference this time was that the returnee came back covered in wounds.
While Rohan checked external information that wasn’t obtainable in Abyss City, he also continued investigating the names Lowell and Jenny from the second restricted file.
He spent most of his time online, but simple searches proved insufficient due to the overwhelming number of people with the same names.
He tried narrowing it down, thinking they might be connected to Solarea in the south, but even limiting the region didn’t yield plausible results.
"[Lowell... Jenny... We are here to fulfill your wishes...]"
He recited the phrase again, pondering deeply.
‘The sentence itself seems to refer to people... but could it not be referring to people at all?’
The hypotheses in Rohan’s mind kept piling up.
The thought crossed his mind that it might be taboo to speak these names aloud, making it awkward to ask anyone for help or to look into them further.
It felt as if the only solution was to go and search in person.
Amid the gloomy progress of the store skill updates, there was at least one piece of good news.
Rohan finally received his first paycheck from the Spider Lily Bookstore.
Today, as always, he had planned to treat Clara to a delicious dinner, seated in her usual corner of the bookstore.
“Look at this! I can clear even Stage 4 on my own now!”
“Congratulations, oppa!”
“If I just level up one more party member, Stage 5 might be doable too.”
After finishing their meal, the two of them spent the rest of the evening enjoying drinks and a game together.
“Oh, right. Clara.”
“Did you call me?”
Before leaving the restaurant, Rohan rummaged through the inner pocket of his jacket.
He handed Clara half of the paycheck he had received from the bookstore.
‘This is way overdue.’
This was his way of repaying her for helping him deal with the human trafficking organization, The Yellow Toad Syndicate.
Considering Clara’s abilities and skills, it felt like an embarrassingly small amount, and he felt sorry. But he planned to make up for it by taking care of her as much as possible in the future when they worked together.
“Sorry for the delay. The reward money from the committee should be processed soon. Once that’s out, let’s go find a house.”
“O-Oppa! Such a large amount... I’m fine, really!”
Just as he expected, Clara immediately waved her hands in refusal.
He had anticipated this reaction from her, knowing full well that the girl in front of him wouldn’t accept the money easily. He had thought long and hard about this before coming here.
“Clara.”
“Yes...?”
“You remember what we talked about before, right? You’ve decided to work with me from now on, haven’t you?”
Without hesitation, Clara nodded.
Her purple twin-tails swayed like a puppy’s wagging tail.
“You know that putting our name out there properly won’t happen until after I graduate from the Academy, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
Even though Rohan mentioned the risks, the girl’s eyes were still brimming with excitement and anticipation.
He was grateful for that, which is why he could speak seriously now.
“Then we need to handle money matters properly. That way, I can feel at ease too.”
“Haah... I-I’m really fine, though...”
Struggling to find the right words, Clara bit her lip and fidgeted awkwardly.
Sensing they were one step away, Rohan smiled warmly, recalling a moment from the dungeon.
“And one more thing.”
“Hmm?”
“Clara, didn’t you tell me not to say I’m fine all the time? I feel the same way.”
“...!”
Reminding her of the time she had impulsively expressed her emotions made Clara’s face flush red.
She hurriedly looked away, sipping her juice through the straw.
“Take this. It’s money you deserve to have, Clara. If you don’t accept it, I’ll leave it at the restaurant.”
“Thank you, oppa... I’ll use it well.”
Clara now knew for sure—Rohan would absolutely follow through with that threat.
From the moment he mentioned that accepting the money would put his mind at ease, her actions had already been decided for her.
“Use it for whatever you want, Clara.”
“Okay!”
“Is there anything you want to buy? Just curious.”
“...Something I want to buy?”
At his question, Clara idly stirred the ice in her drink with her straw as she thought.
When she first settled in Academy City, she had always planned to invest her earnings in games.
But now, she wanted to buy pretty clothes and replace her underwear.
Things that went beyond mere self-satisfaction.
Whenever she got dressed up to go to the bookstore where Rohan worked, she constantly felt like her wardrobe was insufficient.
‘I want to pay for meals when I eat with oppa, too...’
But she kept those thoughts to herself.
“Nail art gel and decorative rhinestones?”
At least this answer wasn’t a lie.
“Cubic refers to those gemstone-like decorations you put on nails, right?”
“Yeah...! You can get a set for 15 tokens.”
Clara typically buys inexpensive items from general goods stores.
Even if she splurged on nail-related items, it wouldn’t cost more than 1 coin.
“Did you do your nails yourself? Not at a salon?”
“Salons are expensive... and, well... you have to talk to people...”
Rohan couldn’t help but laugh.
It was such a Clara-like reason.
In moments like these, Rohan came to appreciate the value of everyday life.
It felt like he’d gained the strength to study tirelessly and swing his sword until bedtime again today.
“Clara, you’re really skilled with your hands──”
Bzzzz!
Both Rohan’s and Clara’s phones vibrated simultaneously, cutting off their conversation.
Not just them, but every customer in the shop checked their smartphones.
A message with a red exclamation mark had arrived.
It was sent by the Public Security Bureau responsible for Academy City.
[Elysium Public Security Bureau: 19:37 / Today / A coordinated assault on firearms stores and planned armed robberies have occurred simultaneously in the nation of Yamal. / Predicted escape route includes Academy City. / Photos attached. / Report to the Public Security Bureau if you spot individuals matching the description...]
Rohan’s eyes widened as he looked at the familiar photos attached to the message.
Glancing out the restaurant window, he saw Public Security vehicles moving busily below.
‘A prelude!’
As he recognized the signs, the wait came to an end.
A translucent notification window appeared before his eyes.
[A quest has been issued.]
[Act II: The Broken Crown]
◇ Quest Objective: The criminals, unable to resist their greed, will infiltrate Academy City. They are loose-lipped. If the fact that they are targeting Frozenheart reaches the ears of the Tiger Emperor, no one connected to the matter will come out unscathed. However, we know one thing: the dead cannot speak.
◇ Category: Main Story
◇ Success Reward: One transcendence, random point pouch
◇ Failure Penalty: None
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“The dead cannot speak. Murder and annihilation...”
It was an order to eliminate the criminals before they were captured by the authorities and spilled the plans of the Elf Elders.
It was a simple directive, but it seemed urgent—swift action was necessary to avoid leaving behind traces of the battle.
And then there was the reward.
The word “transcendence” stood out in particular, and Rohan couldn’t help but feel intrigued.
‘Could it be that transcendence I’m thinking of?’
In Abyss City, if you drew the same character consecutively, you could use the transcendence system.
It allowed up to six levels of transcendence and was a major revenue driver for Abyss City.
‘For now, I move.’
After confirming the quest, Rohan decided it would all become clear once he received the reward.
Still seated, he grabbed the longsword leaning against the chair beside him.
Clara noticed the shift in Rohan’s demeanor as she read the message on her phone.
“Clara. Do you have all your weapons with you? Do we need to stop by your place?”
“I have everything with me. We can move right away.”
As Rohan stood and began moving, Clara followed behind him, watching his broad back.
Descending the stairs, Rohan slung the sword onto his back using the leather harness he carried. This method had been convenient back when he was a hunter, and he still preferred it.
“Clara. Let’s go meet someone today.”
“Huh? Who are we meeting...?”
The girl’s curious expression made Rohan grin.
“Shion.”
In the secluded residence where Shion and the Elf Elders were staying, unexpected visitors arrived.
They had traveled from the distant nation of Yamal.
The leader of the group left a significant number of his subordinates stationed outside while entering with only a minimal entourage.
This crime syndicate boss, who had dominated a region in Yamal, was a Doberman beastman in a beige coat.
He had personally performed ear cropping surgery on himself, leaving his ears sharply pointed and giving him an even fiercer appearance.
The henchmen flanking him were also beastmen with aggressive bloodlines.
“Bring out the item from the photo. I want to verify its authenticity.”
“Here it is.”
The head elder presented a coin that shone jet-black.
On both sides of the coin were intricately engraved hands.
The ominous aura emanating from the coin made it clear it couldn’t have been made arbitrarily.
“It’s genuine. Explain the request.”
The beastman nodded in satisfaction and handed the coin back.
Once the task was complete, the coin would be his.
While conversations continued inside, Shion’s room remained locked, adorned with numerous padlocks.