I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

Rohan stopped chewing his jerky, staring at his smartphone.

[ Spider Lily Bookstore - Hiring Part-Time Staff for Weekdays/Weekends ]

His eyes focused on the photo attached to the post.

It depicted a small bookstore tucked away in an alley, far from the bustling commercial district.

Compared to the massive chain bookstores and corporate-owned libraries in Academy City, it had a quaint charm.

"The address is in Area 2."

The location wasn’t far from Orion Academy, and the familiar scenery in the picture confirmed it for him.

"Hmm…"

He resumed chewing his jerky, the salty flavor grounding him and helping him regain his calm.

It’s worth checking out.

The Spider Lily Bookstore Rohan had discovered in the job listings was just a small, unremarkable shop to the residents of Academy City Elysium.

But to players of Abyss City, it was a beloved and familiar name—a nostalgic part of the game.

In Abyss City, part-time jobs were simple.

You worked at specific shops in the city, interacting with characters who visited.

These jobs weren’t just for raising favorability; they were tied to various achievements and even triggered special quests with some probability.

"There were always complaints about the sheer number of special quests tied to part-time jobs."

Unlike those users, Rohan had always loved this aspect of the game.

Watching the tranquil, everyday moments unfold gave him a rare sense of peace.

Should I look for other shops too?

Just in case, Rohan searched for other job listings related to part-time systems in the game.

However, no other shops were hiring.

The post from the Spider Lily Bookstore was the only one on the overcrowded job board, where hundreds of listings piled up in an instant.

It felt almost like fate.

Alright, let’s do this.

Without hesitation, Rohan began filling out the application on the app.

The minimum wage listed didn’t even register in his mind.

***

After lunch, the afternoon classes began.

Class 1 gathered in the gymnasium under Jooyeon’s guidance, the same gym where they had taken their practical exams.

Inside, a massive iron cage had been set up, though no one knew when it had been prepared.

It was filled with monsters the size of human heads, their eyeballs prominent and wings no larger than fists.

The grotesque sight made some cadets grimace and furrow their brows.

"These are Gero Eyes, F-grade monsters provided as training material by the Elysium Public Safety Bureau. They’re common even in urban areas."

With that explanation, Jooyeon grabbed the cage and rattled it violently.

The monsters, previously subdued by her aura, were startled awake.

─ Gerok! Gerorok!
─ Gerurk! Gerwuk!

Though they had no mouths, they emitted strange cries, flitting about chaotically inside the cage.

"Today, each of you will catch one of these."

For those skilled enough to gain admission to Orion Academy, this task was laughably easy.

Yet some cadets hesitated, their discomfort evident. Jooyeon knew what those expressions meant.

"I’ll explain the traits of the Gero Eyes shortly, but first, let me tell you why we’re doing this exercise."

Jooyeon released her grip on the cage and stepped in front of the cadets, scanning their faces to gauge their reactions.

"I don’t know when each of you began preparing for admission to this academy, but as your instructor, it’s my responsibility to maximize Class 1’s combat effectiveness and develop you into battle-ready individuals."

"…"

"Despite Orion Academy’s purpose and reputation, many cadets who pass the entrance exam have never faced a real monster."@@novelbin@@

Most of these cadets had grown up on flawless elite tracks, yet fewer than half had experienced the life-and-death intensity of true combat.

They had swung their weapons countless times in preparation for the entrance exam.

But extinguishing the spark of life was something entirely different.

"I’m not here to blame anyone for that. But remember this: by choosing to take the entrance exam and step into this academy, you’ve declared your intent to make a living through force."

Rohan heard the sound of someone nervously swallowing behind him.

He guessed it was Dick Wikitree.

"Your paths after graduating from Orion Academy will undoubtedly vary."

Jooyeon opened the folder she had tucked under her arm, skimming through the evaluation forms still sealed within.

"Graduates of the Sepia Archipelago’s flight school may receive bonus points for joining the Celestial Knights.

"Cadets who trained at the Samhwa Nation’s martial academies could aim to become generals in their homeland."

"…"

She didn’t need to add the word but.

Jooyeon’s fierce gaze conveyed an unspoken truth that contrasted sharply with her prior statement.

"While your positions and titles may differ, the work you’ll be doing won’t. You all know this."

Her voice cut through the room with clarity and precision.

"To survive, to protect what is precious, we must take the lives of monsters and heinous criminals without hesitation."

Jooyeon moved closer to the cage, her fiery red hair rippling like flames.

Her footsteps echoed sharply in the gym, each step reinforcing her presence.

"However, do not become indifferent to losing your comrades. Even if it seems shameless, that’s how you survive the battlefield."

"…"

"Did you understand this instructor’s harsh worldview?"

"Yes!"

The iron cage creaked open.

The monsters inside, paralyzed by the oppressive aura Jooyeon exuded, remained frozen in place.

It was hard to believe, given how frenzied Gero Eyes typically were in the wild.

"Gero Eyes are F-grade monsters. According to the training manual, an average adult male with a weapon can easily handle them. That’s their level."

─ Gek, Gerok!

Jooyeon grabbed one of the Gero Eyes by its wing, and it began to thrash in her hand.

"These monsters, with their oversized eyeballs, cause dizziness and nausea if you make direct eye contact. That’s all there is to them."

In truth, they were weak monsters.

For anyone with a certain level of magic power, even the dizziness effect wouldn’t pose a problem.

"But when you encounter these monsters, you mustn’t leave them alone."

The issue was for regular people.

In urban areas, Gero Eyes were particularly dangerous for drivers.

There had been numerous incidents where Gero Eyes perched on traffic lights caused accidents by inducing dizziness.

"Their weak spot is their entire body. You can strike anywhere. The shell covering their eyeballs isn’t tough, so even without magic, killing them isn’t difficult."

With the information about the monsters and the upcoming task explained, it was clear what they were expected to do.

"There are as many Gero Eyes in this cage as there are cadets in Class 1. Your task today is simple: hunt one each."

Rohan appreciated Jooyeon’s teaching approach.

While killing monsters posed a lower psychological hurdle than killing humans, for cadets with no prior experience in taking lives, this lesson was both challenging and essential.

"Take a weapon of your choice from the wall."

Rohan promptly stood up, grabbed a longsword, and returned to his seat.

Noah, as during the placement exam, chose to fight barehanded. Ichinose, similarly, picked a sword again.

"We’ll start with the cadets in the front row."

Thus, the lesson began.

Ichinose drew her blade and dispatched her Gero Eye without hesitation, slicing it cleanly.

Noah, smiling, froze her Gero Eye solid and then crushed it with her bare hands.

"Monster, may you ascend to paradise!"

Gilbert swung his blunt weapon with a theatrical bellow.

Meanwhile, Dick Wikitree, who had never killed anything before, trembled as he gripped his glasses and spear, inevitably being pushed to the last turn.

Rohan’s approach was straightforward.

He simply brought the longsword down, slicing the Gero Eye cleanly in half. He felt no hesitation about killing monsters.

In fact, what he felt was anticipation.

[ You have achieved the "Novice Hunter" achievement. ]
[ You have received 10P as an achievement reward. ]

It was the first achievement players unlocked when they began hunting monsters—just as Rohan had expected.

But there was an additional, unexpected reward.

[ +1P ]

***

A dilapidated building with no electricity.

Inside, figures were seated around a round table.

"The Yard-Pound brothers… No word from them?"

"I told you we should’ve hired someone more expensive."

"We’ve been satisfied with them up to now. They were bound to run out of usefulness sooner or later."

Their voices were raspy, as if scratching at dry throats.

Seated around the table were elderly individuals whose ages were indeterminate.

The most distinctive feature about them was their pointed ears.

Their extravagant clothing contrasted sharply with the dusty, decrepit surroundings.

"Tch, does this mean we’ll need to find another puppet?"

One of the wrinkled elves muttered, his face lined with frustration.

Another elf beside him, his lips parched and cracked, spoke up.

"That’s a trivial matter. What’s more important is ensuring none of this reaches the princess’s ears. Keep your mouths shut."

"Hah, how tiresome…"

"Indeed. The princess wouldn’t be able to handle this part of reality yet."

Their voices carried a hint of frustration at the princess’s naivety.

As their idle complaints dragged on, the oldest elf, holding the most ornate staff, tapped it against the floor, drawing everyone’s attention.

"There’s no need to rush."

"…"

"The path to reclaiming the glory stolen by the Celestial Emperor will inevitably involve sacrifices. The princess will come to understand this truth soon enough."

They told the princess the same thing every day.

That as a noble elf of royal lineage, she had a duty to restore the fallen elves to their former glory.