Academy City Is Smaller Than I Thought
Academy City felt smaller than I'd expected.
The academy wrapped up sooner than anticipated.
After the individual interviews, getting the rundown from Juyeon back in Class 1 was the finale.
And the big takeaway? We had holidays now.
All the days originally slotted for exams had been converted to days off.
Tacked onto back-to-back weekends, it was basically a full vacation for us cadets.
Checking my phone as I headed to our meetup spot, it was 11:40.
Right before lunch.
With the extra time, maybe I should ramp up my training.
To at least roughly master the third sword form, I'd need to make the most of this break.
Once today's errands were done, holing up with nothing but my sword didn't sound half bad.
"Oppa!"
"Rohan. Over here."
I looked up from pondering my calendar.
Sion and Clara, standing in the street—they were the kind of striking that turned heads even in a crowd.
Sion was dressed in jeans and a knit that reeked of April's spring breeze.
Not my size, obviously, and from the style, definitely not something borrowed from Clara.
Undeniably new.
"What, you already bought clothes?"
"This is the only new one. Planning to get a few more today."
"Oh."
I nodded with a short burst of admiration.
Sion fiddled with her hem for no reason.
"...Does this outfit look off?"
"Off? Nah, it's pretty."
"!"
Fashion's finish is the face, they say—but Sion already seemed to know what suited her.
Innate sense, probably.
"O-Oppa, what about... me...?"
"No need to ask twice. You're beautiful, milady."
At my unabashed praise, the girls exchanged glances, then broke into rosy-cheeked smiles.
Clara ducked her head to hide her expression.
Sion took a step toward me.
"Rohan. If I asked who looks prettier, you'd be in a bind, wouldn't you?"
The elf girl layered a husky purr onto her deepening smile.
I craned my neck skyward like a coward fleeing battle.
You know me too well.
"...Let's get moving. Where to first?"
Meeting the certified broker Yoho from Tigrova had hooked us up with was set for the afternoon.
First stop: the massive shopping mall in Academy City.
With the academy letting out early, first-years were everywhere.
"Oppa, nothing you wanna buy?"
"Ah, I do—but not here. Something for later. Was gonna ask you two for advice then."
"Hmm?"
"From Sis and me...?"
Four eyes locked on me at once.
I smirked, gathered mana at my fingertip, and pop! flicked it off.
No power behind it at all.
But the implication—projectile mana—was crystal clear. Their eyes went wide.
"Found a new talent. Maybe realized it living together?"
"O-Oppa can use guns too!?"
"Tried it in the exam. Botched the mana control and wrecked the firearm, though."
"Not something you could do from the start—it just suddenly clicked?"
"Yeah. Hit me like a flash while trying to use a skill. Whoosh, right into my head."
"...Never heard of that."
Infusing mana into projectiles isn't something you can teach.
Like dimples on a smile, or mismatched eye and hair colors—it's handed out regardless of your wishes.
I skipped the awkward skill level-up explanation.
"Want handgun recs from you two. Something to carry."
Interest piqued, their eyes lit up in sync.
"Oppa with a handgun...!"
"If Rohan has a style in mind, recommendations are no issue. What model did you use on the island?"
I crossed my arms, stroking my chin, dredging up the hazy name.
"Kangseol-75?"
"Solid, unflashy choice."
"Standard mass-produced type."
My lips quirked up. Already off to a good start.
Agreement's a great omen.
"I'll trust you."
At that, guns seemed to dance in their heads as they chattered like canaries.
"O-Oppa would look great with a hefty revolver—rotary bolt action! Something that takes Magnum rounds...!"
"Gas-operated with a rotary bolt means it'll be bulky—might get in the way during sword work, no? As a sidearm, a stainless steel revolver's fine. Holsters are sleek these days; a 2-inch barrel model's comfy."
"Still... Oppa's got big hands and thick fingers, so something manly fits perfect...!"
"Not wrong, and I get it. But portability's non-negotiable."
The deeper they dove, the more their opinions diverged.
I could already picture the future just watching.
Yeah, gonna end up buying two, no doubt.
At some point, our steps had halted.
I started walking again.
"Handguns after shopping. Gun shops stay open late."
"Ah! Y-Yeah...!"
"Agreed."
I let them board the escalator first, hanging back.
"So, what first? Clothes?"
"Clothes are clothes."
"...?"
Clara clamped her mouth shut; Sion gave a vague reply.
Something weird hung in the air. I pressed.
"What’s that mean?"
"You'll see if you follow."
I trailed the girls off the escalator.
We arrived at a store specializing in women's undergarments. A few female academy cadets inside.
"...?"
I shot Sion a look.
She smirked, utterly unashamed.
"Underwear's clothing too, isn't it?"
"Then lizards wouldn't be called grapefruits."
"Lizard grapefruit?"
"Never mind... let's go in."
I didn't protest, so they dove in with excited faces, browsing.
Sion snatched a hanger and thrust it at me like a challenge.
"Need underwear, but also comfy sleepwear."
Pure white fabric—light, sheer enough to see through.
Her fingers visible holding it.
"...Isn't this a negligee?"
"Classified as sleepwear. Wrong?"
"Well, not wrong... but... uh..."
Shoved in my face, my mind wandered.
That's gonna be pretty damn sexy.
"Heh, don't worry. I'm not so careless as to flash just anyone."
"Good to hear."
Playing it cool, but I felt a bit stiff.
Sion clearly enjoyed my reaction.
"Rohan. Think it'd suit me?"
"Uh..."
"O-Oppa! What about this?"
Clara, liking a black one—the opposite of Sion's—circled me with it.
Full-court press.
My mouth went dry.
Finishing her dorm prep and stepping out, Noah Frozenheart spotted her prey.
Tail swishing, she crouched low.
Then, arms wide like always, she charged her friend.
"Nose! C'mere!"
"...?"
"Eh?"
Expecting the usual dodge, Ichinose didn't evade.
Deep in thought, frozen in place.
Slid right into her arms.
"Nose?"
Eungae Nose Yui.
No—real name, Ichinose Yui.
First time inviting a non-family man to a meal. Tasted failure.
Looking back, why didn't I consider failure? What made me so sure? On what basis?
All those men she'd invited—did they bear this pressure too?
Prior engagement was understandable, yet doubts swirled: avoiding due to burden? Uncomfortable with her?
Maybe I've grown too accustomed to respect...
How bold was she, bragging to be seen as a warrior, not a woman?
Recalling those lip-service days, she wanted to bang her head in self-reproach.
"Nose? You listening? Hey?"
Poking soft cheeks a few times, held close.
The petite girl finally stirred.
"Ah... you're here."
"What's up with you today? Wanna just chill?"
"I'm fine. Let go first. Can't breathe."
Ichinose slipped free, walking on naturally.
"Shop before food?"
"Sure. Whatever."
"Boobs grew again—bra's tight! Suffocating!"
"...?"
Ichinose gave no real reply to Noah's words.
Gripped her sword tight, picked up pace.
Noah trailed, amused by the reaction.
Thus, to the Academy City mall.
Noah and Ichinose hit the escalator.
"But why do guys stare at these lumps so much?"
Feeling male gazes, Noah puzzled, grabbed her breasts, kneading.
Ichinose sighed, smacked her hands with her scabbard.
"...Stop that in public."
"Aww~ Nose, mad?"
"Just saying, it draws eyes. And no cutesy act—it's overwhelming."
"Daddy says my cute's the best?"
"...?"
Ichinose knew.
One word here, and Noah's charm doubled.
Best to head to the store quietly.
"Ah! Exams over—heaven! Heaven! Sleep in tomorrow!"
"Sleep too late, and academy start'll hurt."
"Fine. Nose'll wake me... Huh?"
Noah, bouncing around Ichinose full of pep, halted abruptly.
Odd move forced Ichinose to stop too.
"What's wrong?"
Noah, staring intently into a store, zeroed in on a head of jet-black hair.
"Isn't that Rohan?"