Quest After a Long Time
The academy dean, with his striking beard like eternal snow, had forewarned of the Orion Academy curriculum overhaul.
It arrived alongside the academy uniforms thinning out in proportion to the warming weather.
Now, cadets weren't just preparing to face monsters threatening humanity.
Based on data compiled from the great powers, training in interpersonal combat against humans with malicious intent was formally integrated into the curriculum.
As some cadets had hoped, the theory portions were streamlined and reduced, increasing the ratio of hands-on, practical classes where bodies clashed and moved in real combat.
And today was the day Juyeon provided focused instruction to each student in Class 1 one by one.
While the other cadets continued their training at their stations, waiting their turn.
Rohan faced Juyeon, holding the academy-issued sword and gun.
"Hoo..."
Rohan exhaled long and slow, letting his body droop like liquid flowing down.
The sword tip pointed downward.
Sweat beaded on his pitch-black bangs.
The moment the drop hit the floor.
Rohan's body exploded forward like lightning.
"Hup!"
In the instant his body rebounded with power, a thrust utilizing the momentum.
Flames flashed.
Tsang—!
Juyeon deflected Rohan's blade with her wooden sword.
And she was impressed.
Rohan's growth was like bamboo shooting up in a downpour.
A superb thrust. It even incorporates rotational force created by mana.
Moreover, the speed was unparalleled among the sword techniques he'd shown.
As she'd observed through repeated recent guidance, the changes grew more extraordinary as proficiency increased.
If he can minimize the preparatory motion and chain these thrusts together... he'd make a fine weapon.
Juyeon could see it.
How much effort and practice Rohan had put in where no one could see.
Against someone of equal skill, blocking that thrust unscathed would be difficult on the first move.
Even against someone a notch superior, the odds of cleanly blocking it were only about fifty percent.
"Your stance-taking time is still too long. As you know, enemies won't wait like an instructor does."
"Kuh!"
Rohan gripped the rebounding sword, loaded with fierce repulsion, and aimed the pistol in his left hand.
"Focus on compressing your motions. It's better than before, but not yet usable in real combat."
He pulled the trigger without hesitation toward Juyeon, who continued her advice.
Bang!
Juyeon showed curiosity toward the bullet infused with heterogeneous mana.
This was probably what had transformed Omega on the uninhabited island.
Tempted for a moment to take a hit out of curiosity, her instructor's dignity and responsibility suppressed her warrior's instincts, opting to deflect instead.
Juyeon reminded herself once more that this was an academy class.
Time to teach Rohan.
The bullet's trajectory is flawless. Using gun and sword together feels completely natural.
Instantly deciding the gun's direction wasn't something words could teach.
It was the realm where instinct and experience harmonized.
Rohan seemed to have firmly found weapons suited to his hands.
In Juyeon's memory, the Rohan from their first sparring match resurfaced vividly—the one who'd exhausted his mana.
He'd used gun and sword back then too.
But he wasn't infusing mana into bullets then. Thought he couldn't do it.
Was the period when he'd wandered around wielding only a sword a time of hesitation?
Even with talent for infusing mana into bullets, handling edged weapons alongside isn't easy. It's true many focus on a single weapon.
Juyeon reined in the praise about to escape her lips.
The current Rohan needed the whip, not indulgence.
Clang! Tsang! Bang! Bang! Ping—!
Juyeon parried Rohan's sword and bullets with her wooden sword while dispensing advice nonstop.
"Of course, the direction your swordsmanship aims for might not be this. But to use it in real combat, you need to compact your stance."
"Yes, ma'am...!"
"If the instructor's advice conflicts with your swordsmanship's intent, find a compromise. Prioritize the form your sword pursues, treating the instructor's words as secondary."
At Juyeon's prompt to try again, Rohan prepared the third sword once more.
After his full-power thrust was futilely blocked.
He received corrections on his slightly disrupted stance and the unclean mana circulation.
Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!
The alarm rang, signaling the end of Rohan's turn.
"That's it. Go back and practice."
"Thank you!"
...
...
After the final class ended and academy hours concluded.
Rohan, heading to the academy showers, halted at the girl before him.
Ichinose Yui, uncharacteristically without Noah at her side.
"Good work."
"You too, Ichinose."
If no cadets were passing by, Baby Yui would've slipped out immediately.
"Ahem..."
"What's up? Need help with something?"
Rohan lifted the corner of his mouth at Ichinose clearing her throat, as if about to say something important.
It was especially cute how she aimed for dignity without trying to be adorable.
"Remember before? When I said I'd treat you to a meal separately..."
"Of course I do."
It was a topic Rohan hadn't brought up, given her long silence.
"How about dinner tonight? Are you... busy?"
"Sounds good to me. No plans."
Ichinose's lips and cheeks twitched at Rohan's ready acceptance.
"I'll just shower first. Can't go out like this."
"I'll wash up at the dorm too. I sweated a ton."
"You smell great already."
"Eek...! Get away!"
Ichinose startled and backpedaled as Rohan teasingly approached.
"Anyway, text me when you're done. I'll get ready and wait."
"Okay. See you later."
Ichinose walked away with graceful steps.
Watching her, Rohan quickened his pace, eager to finish showering.
Climbing the stairs, he pulled out his phone.
He'd agreed to message Sion and Clara ahead in cases like this.
Rohan finished his shower quickly. But that wasn't all.
He changed into a crisp uniform and properly equipped his weapons, Radiance and Brand.
Finally, he ordered a large iced Americano at the franchise cafe in front of the academy and sipped it.
"Mm."
Rohan drank fast.
He downed the coffee in seconds, swirling the straw in the ice-filled cup.
As he debated dumping out the lid to crunch the ice, a message from Ichinose arrived.
Unexpected.
The meeting spot she suggested wasn't in the bustling district.
Stepping out of the taxi at the shared location, it was a quiet street like the alley where he'd first met Ichinose.
There she is.
Ichinose stood demurely in pretty casual clothes.
She still carried her sword at her side. Excellent.
As Rohan approached, her closed-eyed head turned.
"Not late, am I?"
"I just got here too."
"Noah?"
"She's busy today. Something important about deciding the alley boss among Academy City's strays..."
Ichinose trailed off, as if struggling to explain it herself.
But Rohan could easily picture it.
He'd seen Noah disciplining and training park strays before.
"That's rare. You two not stuck together."
"These days happen. Rohan prefers it when Noah's around, right...?"
"Why would Baby Yui think that?"
"..."
Ichinose pouted her lips and took the lead.
The girl glancing back expectantly showed no sulkiness.
Rohan fell in step beside her.
"Good place nearby?"
"Yeah. A spot only insiders know."
"Guess I'm one of the insiders now?"
Ichinose chuckled at Rohan's words and asked,
"You like meat, right, Rohan?"
"Love it. But I eat greens fine too. Not picky."
"You'll be satisfied then. It's a steak specialist that sells limited weight per day."
"Ooh!"
"Great meat, generous portions. Sides are top-notch too."
"Drooling already."
Rohan could tell. She'd chosen it considering his appetite.
Ichinose preferred lighter meals, didn't she?
Matching her consideration with big reactions was the way to go.
"And after the meal, you can enjoy dessert inside too..."
"..."
The pair walking the quiet alley halted.
Due to the pitch-black monolith that abruptly appeared in their view.
Monolith!
Too late by the time he realized.
Rumble rumble rumble—!!!
The jet-black stone exuded ominous energy, its letters glowing.
Mana swirled, warping space.
"Ichinose! Over here!"
"...!"
Rohan yanked the frozen Ichinose into a tight embrace.
They absolutely couldn't separate inside.
Nest of Dream Demons
Quest Details: A Monolith, symbol of anomalies in Academy City, has appeared. Escape the warped space unharmed with your companion!
Type: Sudden
Success Reward: 30,000P, Full Party Recovery, Exclusive Main Story Unlocked
Failure Penalty: None
The long-awaited new alert window.
Rohan's eyes widened in shock.
Dream demons? Succubi!?
The title was so intense, he barely registered the rewards.
In that instant.
The Monolith swallowed the two whole.