I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

"Um, I actually have plans today, so it might be difficult."

"..."

Clara froze, as if turned to stone.

Rohan had never seen Clara so visibly shocked before. She stood there, trembling slightly, unable to form any coherent response.

What should he do now?

Rohan knew this wasn’t the moment to let the conversation end.

"But instead!"

Clara’s courage had already reached its limit with her first invitation, but Rohan couldn’t leave her hanging.

With genuine warmth, he took the initiative, knowing how valuable this interaction was for both of them.

"How about tomorrow? I’ll even buy you a drink. Or any other day you’re free."

"W-wait, you don’t have to go out of your way because of someone like me..."

"‘Someone like you’? You shouldn’t undervalue yourself like that."

Rohan could tell from Clara’s expression that her mind was likely stuck in a loop of apologizing.

But since he had already firmly cut off that option earlier, she now seemed at a loss for words.

To ease the tension, Rohan spoke again and moved decisively.

"Here, hold this."

"...?"

Rohan handed her the edge of his apron, like a makeshift rein. Clara, puzzled but hesitant to refuse, timidly took hold of it.

"Let’s go."

"W-where?"

Keeping eye contact with her, Rohan carefully guided Clara backward toward the table near the counter.

Once there, he seated her.

Rohan opened the box of snacks left by the manager and brewed a warm cup of tea, setting it down in front of Clara.

Clara alternated her gaze between the spread before her and Rohan, clearly not understanding the situation.

"Um, what is this...?"

"Well, there’s too much for me to eat alone. I thought you might help me out."

Rohan offered her a piece of the snack with a casual smile.@@novelbin@@

Clara hesitated but eventually took the snack and shyly thanked him.

Watching her nibble on the treat like a hamster, Rohan seized the chance to reconnect the broken conversation.

"Sorry about today. I usually don’t have plans, but things just lined up this way."

"N-no, it’s fine! It’s my fault for speaking without thinking..."

"How about tomorrow? Are you busy?"

Clara shook her head, her short twin-tails and ribbon swaying with the motion.

"Then let’s make it a plan. I’ll buy you something tasty tomorrow, and you can help me with the weekly boss."

Rohan extended his pinky as a gesture of promise.

Clara hesitated for a moment, lowering her head slightly, before hooking her pinky with his.

***

Meanwhile, the princess was, as usual, using the excuse of training to keep the elders off her back.

Leaving the tracking device in the ruins, she stepped into Academy City, Elysium.

From the outside, it might have looked like she was breaking the rules.

But in truth, it was an effort to escape the gnawing doubts that had taken root deep in her heart.

Click!

Arriving in District 2, the designated meeting point, the princess removed her goggles and placed them in their case.

She lowered the mask that had been covering her face up to her nose.

Blending in required dressing as inconspicuously as possible, and she knew that.

‘...’

She lifted her head to take in the sights.

The dazzling neon signs and streetlights came into view, painting the bustling Academy City in vivid colors.

The princess found herself genuinely marveling at the lively scene before her.

“Two hours...”

For someone who had grown up in the desolation of the ruins, Academy City was a captivating bundle of curiosity and intrigue.

Far from being too long, two hours felt insufficient.

She figured the time would fly if she wandered around, taking in the sights.

Step. Step. Step.

Following the flow of pedestrians, the princess walked through the city.

Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

What would you call this feeling?

As she moved, her steps slowed.

A faint sense of unease sprouted within her.

‘What’s missing?’

The princess felt eyes on her with every step she took.

She had felt this way before. Though she had gone out of her way to dress as inconspicuously as possible, it seemed like she still stood out.

‘There’s no hostility in their gaze.’

Even so, the attention made her uncomfortable.

Perhaps her attempts to appear natural had fallen short, drawing attention instead of blending in.

‘...I should ask if there’s something awkward about my disguise when I meet him.’

The princess shifted her direction, heading toward a shopping mall.

She had understood the concept of currency since she was a child, which meant she had a few coins for emergencies.

Growing up in an uninhabitable area, scavenging abandoned houses after slaying monsters had sometimes yielded dusty but usable coins.

The princess ascended the escalator of the shopping mall, observing each floor as she went.

Upon reaching a bustling level, she stepped off, her head swiveling left and right to take in her surroundings.

‘There are so many people wearing similar outfits.’

She vaguely recalled hearing that these were uniforms from an educational institution—likely from the academy.

Seeing numerous stores selling school supplies and office materials, she deduced the connection.

How long had she wandered around this floor?

“!”

Her sharp vision caught sight of a familiar blue sign.

[Waterdrop Friends]

Her pace quickened slightly, and despite her cold, composed face, the corners of her lips twitched upward.

‘I can’t believe this store exists in District 2 as well.’

During one of her previous secret escapes to Academy City, she had purchased a notebook and pen adorned with plump dragons and an innocent-looking shark—exactly the same brand as this shop.

As the princess approached, the automatic doors slid open with a soft swish.

A cheerful chime, reminiscent of bubbling water, sounded as she entered, drawing the attention of the staff.

“Welcome to Waterdrop Friends!”

The bright greeting from the employees helped her regain her composure.

The princess returned their welcome with a polite bow before stepping further inside.

Most of the customers were women or children.

Blending into the crowd, she browsed the items on display.

‘A character named Woowoo in a suit and fedora… Interesting.’

Admiring the characters in various outfits, she moved slowly, one step at a time, savoring the sights.

Passing by shelves of cute trinkets, she was greeted by large plush characters.

‘Plushies?’

She was tempted, to be honest.

She wanted one—desperately—but practicality held her back.

A plush toy suddenly appearing in her dark, barren room would stand out too much. No matter how badly she wanted it, it wasn’t worth the risk.

‘No choice then...’

It was frustrating, but she could only settle for admiring the plushies from afar.

Gently, she prodded one with her finger, trying to console herself.

How long had she been standing there?

A voice reached her sharp ears, catching her attention.

“Your total comes to 102 coins and 28 tokens.”
“Please deliver everything to the address on file.”
“Got it! Thanks again for your continued patronage!”

‘What would someone buy to spend that much?’

The princess’s gaze naturally turned toward the counter.

‘…A blind person?’

There stood an elegant girl with closed eyes.

Her poised demeanor matched the sword she carried like a walking cane, though the juxtaposition was striking.

As the girl collected her card and turned to leave, the princess felt her breath hitch.

‘She’s strong.’

There was no mistaking it. The girl’s abilities were palpable, even at a glance.

As if sensing the princess’s gaze, the blind girl tilted her head slightly before offering a gentle smile and a polite nod.

The princess, stiff as a board, reflexively returned the nod.

Realizing how little time she had left before the meeting, the princess hastily resumed her shopping.

“Your total is 1 coin and 10 tokens.”
“Here you go...”

Jingle, jingle.

She purchased a new notebook, pen, and stickers before leaving the store.

***

─ “I understand. I’ll come to you.”

After finishing the call, the princess stood still by the public phone, calmly waiting.

The area was quiet with few passersby, allowing her some peace of mind.

Step.
Step.
Step.

Footsteps, deliberate and audible.

The princess’s gaze shifted, locking onto the figure she had been waiting for.

“I’m here.”

The princess wasn’t one for exchanging pleasantries with this man.

She still couldn’t decide if he was an ally or an enemy.

“Why are you dressed like that?”

If she wanted to blend in, there were surely less conspicuous outfits than the academy uniform he was wearing.

His attire suggested some purpose behind the choice, especially considering the recognition it garnered in Academy City.

“I didn’t want to keep you waiting by stopping at the dorm first, so I came straight from work.”

“Are you infiltrating the academy as part of your plan?”

The princess’s question was met with a casual smile, devoid of further explanation.

“Let’s move. We need a better place to talk...”

“Wait, there’s something we need to address first.”

“Yes?”

The princess gestured to her attire.

“Does my outfit look strange?”

“Not particularly.”

“Hmm...”

She had concealed her sniper rifle and goggles, zipping up her outer jacket to hide the ammo pouches beneath.

Given the evening chill, her outfit wasn’t out of place.

“Did you get stopped by the city guards for a random search?”

“No, but the way people keep staring at me makes me think I might.”

“Ah.”

Rohan nodded slightly, as if he understood.

“Do you know why?”

“It’s nothing to worry about. It’s a simple issue.”

“Simple?”

The princess frowned, skeptical.

Failing to recognize a “simple” problem was dangerous.

“Explain. What’s the issue?”

Under her sharp glare, Rohan replied with a nonchalant shrug.

“You’re beautiful.”

“W-what...?”

“I mean your appearance naturally draws attention.”

With a tone that implied it was the most obvious thing in the world, Rohan provided his answer and began walking ahead.

“Let’s go.”