I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

Since I arrived so early, I might be the first one here.

With that thought, Rohan slid the door open with a screech!.

‘Someone’s here?’

Inside the classroom was a single male cadet, meticulously maintaining a modern-style crossbow.

Their eyes met, and the room immediately filled with an awkward tension.

Rohan’s lips twitched as he tried to greet the cadet, but the boy quickly turned his head and resumed focusing on his crossbow.

"…"

The unspoken greeting retreated back into his chest. Standing there, Rohan glanced around the classroom.

‘Can I sit anywhere?’

Some desks had bags on them, marking them as claimed, but most were empty, likely because of how early it was.

Wanting to focus properly during class, Rohan chose a seat near the front and settled down. He pulled out the academy’s information packet and reread it while waiting.

Before long, cadets began trickling in, one by one.

‘Everyone’s pretty diligent.’

In the blink of an eye, more than half of the seats were filled. Perhaps they, too, had arrived early, brimming with the same excitement he felt.

The increasing number of cadets brought life to the room. Groups of friends who clearly knew each other broke the initial silence, and the rising chatter created a lively and comfortable atmosphere.

“Isn’t Class 1 supposed to be the best class?”
“Would they really make it that obvious? Look at you—you got crushed by Ben, and he’s in Class 5.”
“…”
“More importantly, I’m curious about who our instructor will be.”

Observing the cadets who had gathered, Rohan noticed something.

‘I barely recognize anyone.’

Most of the faces were unfamiliar, which wasn’t surprising.

‘If I recall, there were only about 30 interactable cadets in the game, and that was across the entire academy.’

He wondered if these students were the background characters who filled the academy in the game. The thought gave him a strange, indescribable feeling, and he shifted his gaze to another group.

‘What’s that one’s name again?’

As he tried to organize his thoughts and recall the names of cadets he vaguely recognized, a deep voice boomed through the room.

"Boy."

"?"

Rohan turned toward the source of the voice and found a towering figure standing with arms crossed.

The man was easily over two meters tall, and if not for the academy uniform, Rohan would have mistaken him for an instructor.

"Is this seat next to you available?"

"Uh… yeah, it’s free."

"Good to hear! Mind if I sit here?"

Rohan gestured toward the chair, indicating the giant could make himself comfortable. The cadet thanked him and sat down with a heavy thud, causing the chair to creak loudly under his weight.

‘Why does he look like he’s from a different art style?’

His facial features were so pronounced it was like they’d been drawn with bold ink. He exuded a unique, almost adventurous aura, as if he had just returned from some bizarre quest.

"Boy, what’s your name?"

"Rohan."

"Rohan, is it? A fine name with a strong resonance."

Rohan found the way this cadet spoke peculiar. Calling a peer "boy" and using such formal language was highly unusual.

Curious, he asked, "And what should I call you? Should I call you ‘boy’ too?"

"I am Gilbert Kaniat. Just calling me Gilbert would suffice."

Rohan repeated the name silently, rummaging through his memory.

‘Gilbert…’

Nothing. He had no information on this name. It wasn’t mentioned in Abyss City either.

Perhaps the majority of these unfamiliar cadets fell into the same category—complete unknowns.

"Now that I know your name, there’s no need to call you ‘boy’ anymore."

With that, Gilbert began meticulously unpacking his belongings and placing them on the desk. After a satisfied nod, he suddenly stood up and strode out the front door.

At that moment, the back door swung open with a clunk!.

As if passing a baton, Gilbert left, and Ichinose and Noah entered the classroom.

"Yaaawn… I’m so sleepy…"

"Noah, cover your mouth when you yawn."

The gaze of every cadet in the room snapped toward the two. It was clear that they were well-known figures.

However, very few cadets tried to approach them or show admiration. Most of Orion Academy’s students prided themselves on their own skills, so instead of admiration, many seemed to see the two as rivals to surpass.

One notable exception was the beastfolk cadets from Tigrova, who avoided eye contact with Noah Frozenheart, likely out of deference to her royal status.

"Noah~ I’m so tired… Carry me, will you?"

Noah, swaying with drowsiness, tried to wrap her arms around Ichinose’s petite frame, but Ichinose, eyes still closed, deftly dodged her attempts with graceful movements.

"Stop talking nonsense and go wash your face," Ichinose said, her tone firm.

"You’re so cold!"

Even as Noah grumbled behind her, Ichinose ignored her and began searching for a seat. She paused, moving her head softly, and then opened one eye slightly to greet Rohan.

"Good morning."

"Oh, good morning," Rohan replied, casually returning the greeting while feeling a surge of joy inside.

The fact that he could exchange everyday pleasantries with Ichinose Yui still felt like a dream. Watching her and Noah interact was an endlessly delightful sight.

"Huh?"

Noah Frozenheart, following Ichinose with a drowsy expression, blinked as if waking up from a dream. Her blue eyes regained their sparkle, and her straight nose and round ears twitched slightly.

Locking her gaze on Rohan, Noah suddenly marched toward him with determined steps.

"Noah! Where are you going now?!"

Ignoring Ichinose’s protests to sit elsewhere, Noah stopped in front of Rohan.

With her tail swaying gently, she stared at him with transparent curiosity, her gaze unwavering.

"Um?"

Noah tilted her head, inspecting the seated Rohan with a puzzled expression. Then, leaning closer, she began sniffing him from various angles.

Rohan, utterly perplexed, sat still and let her continue.

After a long moment of this odd behavior, Noah straightened her back. She licked her lips slightly before speaking.

"You smell delicious. Interesting."

"Me?"

"Yeah!"

Her response was utterly sincere, devoid of any pretense. Rohan met her gaze and smiled faintly, already guessing the reason.

‘Does the jerky smell that strong?’

Coming from a beastfolk with gleaming sharp teeth, her comment didn’t feel like a joke. If anything, it amused him even more.

"Noah!"

Ichinose, now thoroughly flustered, approached and pulled on Noah’s arm.

Noah resisted, her face a picture of indignation as she urged Ichinose, "It’s true! You should smell him too!"

"Wh-what kind of shameless behavior is that?!"

Watching the two bicker in front of him, Rohan felt an overwhelming urge to record this moment on his phone.

Suppressing the temptation, he reached into his bag instead, intending to share some of the jerky with Noah.

But just as he opened the bag, the towering figure of Gilbert cast a shadow over them as he returned.

"Young ladies, the instructor will arrive soon. Please take your seats."

"Whoa! Why are you so tall? How many burgers can you eat in one sitting?"

"Noah…! What are you even saying?!"

It wasn’t often you saw Ichinose Yui this flustered, even in Abyss City. Watching her rare moments of embarrassment unfold one after another was a real treat for Rohan.

"Three burgers at most," Gilbert replied matter-of-factly.

"Light eater, huh? What about you?"

Noah’s question shifted toward Rohan, but he merely waved her off with a casual gesture, already watching her being dragged away by Ichinose.

"To think the daughter of the Snow Tiger Emperor would have such a stormy personality. I expected someone icy and aloof," Gilbert remarked, his expression solemn as he sat down and crossed his arms.

Understanding the widely held perception of Tigrova’s royal family, Rohan simply listened without comment.

"Rohan, do you have a connection to those girls?"

"Not really. I just know Ichinose casually."

He added that Noah Frozenheart seemed like the sociable type, to which Gilbert responded by dramatically furrowing his brow and muttering, "Have I been imprisoned by the coffin of ignorance, nailed shut by societal preconceptions…?"

Rohan couldn’t help but chuckle.

This guy’s got some serious character.

As they chatted—a mix of small talk, information about the academy, and rumors about the new cadet curriculum—the lively classroom atmosphere suddenly shifted.

"Instructor?"

"Looks like it."

The vibrant room was instantly shrouded in silence. Every cadet could sense it—a commanding presence was approaching.

Clack.@@novelbin@@

The door opened, and a woman in a sharp suit stepped inside.

The most striking thing about her wasn’t her fiery red hair but her piercing eyes, radiating an aura so intense it left the cadets momentarily breathless.

"Greetings."

Her heels clicked against the floor as she strode confidently to the podium. The cadets couldn’t tear their eyes away from her, and those who recognized her were frozen in shock.

For cadets from Samwhakuk, it was impossible not to know who she was.

Even Ichinose’s normally composed face was wide-eyed, her emotions plain to see.

"I will be your instructor for Class 1. My name is Joo-yeon."

Simultaneously, a notification appeared in front of Rohan’s eyes.

[ You have encountered the Dragon Slayer. Achievement unlocked. ]
[ Achievement Reward: 50P ]