Tell Me Your Number
Rohan was the first to arrive at the physical training room.
Unlike outside, the temperature was comfortably warm, the air purifier humming with clean, fresh air—perfect for a workout.
"Urgh!"
Rohan rolled his stiff neck muscles, picking up the thread of his thoughts from last night.
Next up are those bastards... I wonder when.
The line from the Yardpound brothers had gone dead.
Rohan had a pretty good idea of how the elf elders would respond.
In Abyss City, even the protagonist ended up cutting off contact with them, so Rohan's rougher approach had led to the same outcome.
This is where the real trouble starts.
He knew the events that would unfold from here.
But he couldn't predict or calculate when they'd happen—not easily, anyway.
In Abyss City, most quests progressed at the gamer's whim. Until you moved the protagonist to talk to the NPC with the exclamation mark, the world might as well be paused.
So from now on, he had to stay sharp for the precursors.
Just like that one line from Juyeon: he couldn't afford to miss the signs heralding the events.
The wildcard ones to watch are those sudden pop-up quests and special quests.
Rohan was hyper-aware of the incidents ahead.
Knowing what was coming in the future made it impossible to just look away and enjoy school life like nothing was wrong. It wasn't in his nature.
The fire in his chest wouldn't allow that kind of brazen indifference.
Those filthy scum targeting the people he cared about?
Just thinking about it felt like a fishbone stuck in his throat.
The girls he'd poured his heart into protecting were too fragile and pure to be crushed by injustice, their spirits worn down.
You bastards. As long as I'm alive, I won't let that happen.
So he planned to prepare with everything he had.
But as he mapped it out in detail, too many uncertain variables cropped up.
Too much to think about. It was complicated. His already foggy head was overloading.
Run. Just run till I drop.
Rohan knew moving his body was the best cure for this.
He finished stretching and hopped on the treadmill.
"Hoo!"
A treadmill built for mana users.
They said it could handle speeds faster than a car. He'd seen similar machines in the hunters' training gear back home.
Vreeee—!
Rohan started running. The machine ramped up speed in response to his pounding feet.
Not bad.
He'd keep at it until the morning stiffness wore off.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
His heart thundered like it was lodged in his skull, his throat burned dry, his lungs screamed for mercy. That's how it should be.
That's what made his mind snap into focus at dawn.
Clara's gonna be essential as things ramp up.
How long would it take to recruit her if he started now?
Could he pull it off before some massive incident he couldn't handle alone blew up?
Borrowing someone else's help...
He mulled over the faces that came to mind.
Noa won't do. Not for this, anyway.
The target herself couldn't pitch in for this storyline.
It wasn't a lack of power. With her current skills, Noa could wrap it up the moment she stepped in.
The old elves knew she was an unprecedented monster for her age—that's why they were so cautious.
They'd even spent ages mapping her routes through Academy City, her habits, whether she had invisible guards.
But the biggest reason Noa couldn't join, even if all conditions were met?
The fail condition that sends you back to the start... is Noa finding out about the incident.
Even the Snow Tiger Emperor, who once tried housing those elves in Tigrova's conifer forests, would wipe out the clan himself if they touched Noa.
Rohan didn't want that scenario.
The other trash he didn't care about, but there was one elf he wanted to save.
"..."
So Noa was out.
Anyone else?
Gilbert...
No way to control that guy, no matter how you tempted him.
He'd probably just roar and go berserk out of nowhere.
The fact that he had no idea how loud he was—that was the real problem.
Dick Wikitree?
The kid shook just killing an F-grade monster. Real combat? Forget it.
Right now, he'd just flail if thrown in deep water.
Beep—!
How long had he been running? The treadmill shut down automatically.
Rohan stumbled off, doubled over and gasping.
He wiped sweat with a towel, loosened his leg muscles, and headed to the next machine.
Work the body. Grind it down.
"Grraaah—!!!"
He shoved the insane machine that ramped up weight in response to his mana, searching for a path through his swirling thoughts.
If I can't recruit Clara in time, convincing Ichinose is the best bet.
Ideal plan.
But it had its issues.
Ichinose had no shortcomings in ability, but Rohan wasn't sure he could steer things his way with her there.
Thud!
One set done. He released the machine and caught his breath.
"Ichinose, huh..."
A frustrated mutter.
It should have been a fleeting whisper, gone into the void.
But the sound flew through the air and brought an unexpected reply.
"Did you sense my presence? You're no ordinary guy."
"!?"
Rohan whipped around in surprise to see Ichinose in gym clothes.
"Good morning. You're up early."
"Uh... gotta train."
Rohan felt a surge of energy at the sight of her.
In the game, he'd only seen her in the academy uniform. Gym clothes in real life? Way cuter than any fanart.
"A model student. Diligence is admirable in anyone."
"You're here too, Ichinose. I just got here myself."
"For 'just got here,' you're pretty sweaty."
Ichinose chatted with him while doing light stretches.
Her petite frame sipping water daintily was downright adorable.
"Well, I'll get back to my workout. Sorry for interrupting."
"Gonna run?"
"Yeah. Mornings are just running for me."
"I was gonna do another round. Let's go together."
Ichinose cracked her eyes open slightly.
She stared at Rohan, sweat dripping from his bangs, then nodded with a small hum.
"Sure. Won't be boring that way."
Ichinose's feet were fast.
Her jogging pace blew past Rohan's full sprint like it was a joke.
It wasn't something grit alone could bridge—she'd built stamina since childhood. With mana, her strength had to eclipse his easily.
"Huff! Haaah...!"
Rohan ran until the machine forced him to stop, then collapsed flat on the training room floor.
Ichinose stepped off without a drop of sweat, looking at him with genuine surprise.
"Rohan. You feeling okay?"
"Haaaah... Ugh, I'm dying."
"Water here."
Rohan took the bottle she offered, gulped some down, and sat catching his breath.
"No joke. Didn't know the gap was this big."
"...?"
The girl opened her eyes fully and looked at him.
His dead-serious face puzzled her.
His running form's solid, though.
Swinging a sword that fiercely but having crap stamina? Something didn't add up.
No sword school? Sure, but he'd been training with blades forever—how was he gassed from this pace?
From her view, it made no sense.
"Rohan. Mind if I ask something?"
"Yeah? What?"
Rohan lifted his towel-shrouded face.
"Where are you from? You handle a sword that well, and I didn't know... Feels like a gap in my intel."
Rohan pondered briefly but saw no reason to hide it.
He'd been ready to answer anytime.
"Buy me a drink if I do?"
"Of course. Make it two."
Rohan just enjoyed bantering with Ichinose like this.
He'd have answered even without the bribe.
Just looking at her softens me up.
He savored her curious expression for a beat.
Then dropped the answer.
"Southern Ruins' Remnant."
"...!"
Did she sense she'd hit a nerve? Ichinose's pupils shook as instinct told her she'd touched something raw.
Rohan chuckled at her gentle reaction, heading off any apology.
"Pretty impressive, right? Coming from the south to Orion Academy."
Ichinose got his cheeky point and shut her mouth.
She chewed her lip for a moment, then nodded with a faint smile.
"...Yeah. Really impressive."
"Theory's my weak spot, though. Gotta work harder."
Rohan stood, rubbing his legs.
Ichinose watched, then added softly,
"Rohan."
"Yeah?"
"Theory's one area I'm confident in... Ask me anytime."
"Anytime?"
"Sure. Teaching's the best review for me too."
At that, Rohan told her to hold on, rummaged in his bag in the corner,
and handed her his smartphone.
"Tell me your number. I'll hit you up if something comes up."
