I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City-Chapter 160: Who is That?

Standing on the crosswalk, Rohan received a message from Gilbert, saying he had already arrived.

It wasn’t that he was late. It was just that Gilbert had arrived early.

When Gilbert asked if another friend could join them, Rohan replied that it was fine via text.

Entering the shopping mall, he made his way to the restaurant they had agreed upon.

Before he could even be guided by the store employee, a familiar voice pierced his ears.

“Rohan! Over here!”

Gilbert’s large frame and his distinctly sharp features were easily visible from a distance. He still had that imposing figure that distorted perspective.

The fact that he wasn’t wearing his academy uniform made it feel somewhat out of place, adding to the oddness.

As Rohan approached, unstrapping his gear, the woman who had been sitting next to Gilbert stood up to show her respect.

“Hello. I’m Emily Renkels, Gilbert Carniart’s partner.”

“I’m Rohan. Nice to meet you.”

Gilbert’s girlfriend was a woman with braids and glasses. Despite her appearance, which seemed to align with something literary, her sharp gaze made it easy to imagine her wielding a sword.

More than that, the sight of her sitting next to Gilbert felt rather bizarre.

“Rohan, hurry up and sit down.”

“Okay.”

The seat opposite Gilbert’s couple wasn’t empty.

As Rohan got closer, he clearly saw someone who had been obscured by the decorations. This person seemed to be the friend Gilbert had mentioned.

‘A woman...?’

The figure had shoulder-length hair tied into a ponytail. Looking at the face, it seemed like a woman, but there was an odd feeling that made it hard to confirm the gender.

She was small and had a slender build, but there was something off about the shape of her hands and the subtle curve of her throat.

Rohan hesitated for a moment as he sensed the discomfort, but Gilbert let out a big laugh and revealed an important fact.

“Hahaha!!! Rohan, that’s a guy.”

“Ah.”

“This is Nicholas. I told you it would be hard to fool him, right?”

At that, the person who had been sitting quietly finally stood up and lowered his head, continuing the introduction.

“I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Nicholas Harbor. I’m not a student at Orion Academy, so I hope I’m not imposing.”

“It’s not a problem at all. Don’t worry about it.”

From his voice, it was clearly a man.

Nicholas gestured for Rohan to sit as he smiled, and Rohan took his seat.

As all four of them gathered at the table, Gilbert’s girlfriend, Emily, continued the explanation.

“Gilbert, Nicholas, and I have known each other since childhood. Nicholas didn’t apply to the Academy for a reason, but he visits us sometimes.”

“That’s a good relationship.”

“I was on my way back to the Sepia Islands when I heard about the vacation and suddenly decided to come here. I don’t think Gilbert and Emily expected it either.”

While Rohan chatted with his friends, Gilbert told the employee to bring out the food they had arranged.

Watching this, Rohan was reminded that Gilbert was, after all, someone from a good family, not just an eccentric.

“Did Gilbert talk about me? I’d like to hear it if he did.”

“It was all praise. But it’s hard to forgive him for trying to flaunt it in front of a single guy.”

Emily smiled contently, and Gilbert laughed heartily.

“Emily, this guy Rohan, even if he says that, could make a partner if he really wanted to.”

“What are you saying?”

As Rohan took a sip of water and let out a dry laugh, Emily quietly smiled and spoke.

“Actually, there are a lot of Academy friends who wanted to join us here. After all, you’re the only student who got every single bell in the practical exam, right?”

“It’s an honor. I suppose it’s been motivating for the other students.”

“That’s definitely part of it. Speaking of which, Nicholas is also training with a sword. After hearing about the practical exam from Gilbert, I guess he became curious about you, Rohan.”

Rohan turned his head slightly toward Nicholas, who was sitting next to him.

Nicholas, subtly glancing at the sword he had placed next to his seat, smiled and raised the corners of his mouth.

“To say I only handle swords would be wrong. I also work with guns alongside the sword.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about that. That’s why it’s even more fascinating, don’t you think?”

Emily, who seemed to itch to speak, handed over the conversation to Nicholas.

Nicholas, his eyes gleaming, eagerly began to spill the words that had been on his mind.

“I can also imbue bullets with magic, just like Rohan, the student. I’ve even tried using both weapons before. I thought that having a weapon that could complement the range ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the sword couldn’t cover would make fights more efficient.”

“You’re not wrong. I prefer close combat myself, but depending on the situation, it definitely has its advantages.”

“I spent quite a long time with that idea in mind. After almost dying a few times, though, I eventually focused only on the sword.”

“Both approaches have their pros and cons, so it’s hard to say which one is better right away.”

Nicholas’s gaze shifted toward the gun that Rohan had resting beside him. His clear eyes showed a subtle competitive spirit.

“I, Nicholas Harbor, am curious about Rohan’s approach. If there’s ever a chance, I’d love to spar with you.”

“I’m fine with it right now.”

Rohan accepted the challenge calmly, and Gilbert laughed heartily, nodding as though he had anticipated it.

Emily, surprised, widened her eyes.

“Haha, Rohan is so cool. But we can’t make a mess of the place. Emily would get mad at us.”

Just in time, the food arrived on the table, shifting the atmosphere.

The four of them began to talk more smoothly, shifting to lighter and softer topics.

***

"···"

Shion and Clara were confident in their ability to hide their presence.

When they used their honed skills with intent, passersby would not notice the two girls.

Even if Clara spun a butterfly knife dazzlingly in the middle of the crowd, or if Shion showed off her pointed ears and appearance while carrying a rifle case with a sniper rifle, they wouldn’t be noticed.

Thus, they could approach closer than Ichinose and Noah.

However, for now, the four of them kept their distance and gathered together.

They had set up their base on the upper floor of the restaurant, where there was a movie theater. From there, they had taken a seat at the café and were looking down through the glass railing at the store where Rohan was.

There were more people coming and going than expected, and the store’s door opened frequently.

It was easy to spot Rohan.

Shion’s observation device moved from hand to hand among the girls.

“I know who one of them is. Emily Renkels, the student dating Gilbert Carniart.”

“The problem is the one on the opposite side. I’ve never seen them before.”

Noah swished her tail around, showing her curiosity.

The person had a pretty face, but to Noah’s sharp senses, there was an odd feeling that gave off an unusual vibe.

“Oh, the woman sitting next to oppa, who is she?”

“I’m curious about what kind of conversation they’re having, too.”

They considered wandering around the area, but now wasn’t the time.

The shopping mall was crowded with customers, and the surrounding noise made it impossible to overhear their conversation.

As Ichinose once again focused on the observation device, she bit her lower lip, clearly unable to remember.

“I don’t know either. It’s the first time I’ve seen that face. But she doesn’t seem to have a weak impression that you could forget...”

“Isn’t he introducing a girl?”

“That, that can’t be...!”

“Why? Lately, when I go to other classes, I hear a lot about Rohan.”

Ichinose closed her mouth. Denying it was just wishful thinking.

Knowing that it was possible, there was nothing else to say.

“What if we pretend to be customers and go into the restaurant? Act like we just ran into them by chance. After all, we were shopping here.”

At Shion’s bold suggestion, Noah immediately agreed.

Ichinose and Clara fell into thought.

“···Do you think I could act without being obvious?”

“Well, I think it might be difficult for you, Ichinose.”

“I-I’m not confident either...”

Even Clara had given up. In the end, it seemed like they would just have to watch from afar.

How long had they been observing, switching between binoculars and scopes?

Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that the situation was dragging on.

So she asked.

“I have one thing I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Hmm?”

“Rohan doesn’t have a girlfriend, right?”

All three of them nodded in unison. There had been hints, and Rohan himself had said as much.

So Noah asked, without any malice, out of pure curiosity.

“Then why hasn’t he confessed? Shouldn’t it be right to make a move before someone else does?”

The girls immediately froze, holding their breath.

It was hard to answer, knowing that Noah wasn’t wrong.

“If I were rejected by Rohan... I don’t think I could stand up again... If I let the distance grow, then for real, I...”

“I want to confess when I’m a bit more sure... To just go for it like a gamble, that’s the most important challenge in my life. I can’t help but be cautious.” fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

“Mm... oh, I want to be involved with him somehow...”

Everyone had their own thoughts.

Noah realized that the feelings her friends had were deeper than she had thought.

“Ah...! Oh, oppa’s coming out!”

When Clara relayed the information, everyone’s gaze moved.

The four people could be seen coming out of the store.

The woman with the ponytail lightly tapped Rohan on the arm with a smiling face, and then posed as if to flex his arm. Rohan was made to touch it.

Then, she also grabbed Rohan’s arm and began fiddling with it. The way she marveled at it was indescribable.

“···”

Ichinose, Shion, and Clara were staring, their eyes nearly spinning with envy. It felt like their intestines were being twisted.

They confirmed that all four were walking somewhere together.

“···We should go too.”

The girls, who had been watching, quickly gathered their equipment and prepared to leave.

Except for Noah, they all returned their drinks, which hadn’t even been touched, and left the store.