Salamander Inn
“Hnggg...!”
Ichinose Yui clutched her stuffed doll to her chest and squirmed at Rohan's reply.
She was finally going to see him.
He was coming here to thank her parents and give her and Noah a ride.
Her heart pounded at the thought of facing the object of her crush after more than a week.
And she found his polite demeanor—something her parents would approve of—cool and thrilling.
Still, Ichinose had a tiny worry nagging at her.
She wanted to just bask in the joy, but tension and anxiety kept creeping in, which was such a shame.
This wasn't the plan at all...
She'd heard that Noah's mom, Jane Frozenheart, would drink, sleep one night, and head back.
So Ichinose hadn't thought much of it. She'd somehow survived the embarrassing interrogation.
But.
The next day, Jane went shopping with Momo and came back at night, staying another day in the Samhwa Nation.
And the day after, she sparred with Ichinose Jun, letting another day slip by.
All sorts of circumstances kept piling up, tying down Jane—who had no real schedule—in the Samhwa Nation.
And just like that, day by day passed until today.
Seeing Noah packing for a trip, Jane had learned that Rohan was coming today, too.
“...”
Of course, she knew.
Jane wouldn't overstep by passing on her feelings for her or pulling some excessive prank.
Even so.
With her past experiences, how could she not worry?
Please, let nothing happen...
Ichinose saved the photo Clara had just sent—Rohan driving—and offered a fervent prayer.
Was it because Sion and Clara were buzzing with excitement for the trip?
Rohan was enjoying it just as much.
Positive emotions had great contagiousness, turning even trivial things into sources of laughter and happiness.
He didn't even need to connect his phone for music.
The girls' breathing and humming were music to his ears, and their conversation flowed smoothly.
Even brief silences weren't awkward anymore—their bond had long surpassed that point. A glance was enough to spark smiles.
“Oh! There it is.”
“Waaah...!”
A few minutes after escaping the traffic-clogged Academy City following the navigation.
A grand interchange—commonly called an IC—greeted the group.
The road had huge numbers painted on it, with most traffic veering right.
But Rohan turned toward the leftmost lane 1, the special road taken by only a few, steering the wheel sharply.
Before paying at the entrance, he held Sion's card and thanked her again.
“Sion. Thanks. I'll drive safe.”
“Sion unnie... thank you!”
“I'm the one who asked you to drive. No need for thanks.”
After swiping the card through the machine, a wide, quiet road welcomed them.
This was what you paid for—pure luxury just looking at it.
“Oppa! The road suddenly got so quiet...!”
“Feels like I can breathe now.”
“For that price, it better be.”
This was the dedicated road from Academy City Elysium to the Samhwa Nation.
There were side paths back to the Academy City here and there, but no exits to other countries—just a long one-way haul.
This vast, endless road sat like a golden goose, showcasing the might of the Samhwa Nation, one of the great powers.
Vroooom—!
Rohan floored the accelerator.
He drove with care, mindful not to get too carried away by the thrill and comfort.
“First time in the Samhwa Nation for both of you, right?”
“Yeah...!”
“Same for you, Rohan?”
“Yup, first time. But I've heard some stuff, so I'm looking forward to it. The Samhwa Nation food in Academy City was pretty good, too.”
Rohan recalled the lore the Abyss City devs had spilled in interviews.
Why was the Samhwa Nation called that?
The origin was simple.
Academy textbooks and history books dragged on about its founding in endless detail, but Abyss City gamers summed it up in one line.
A nation blending the cultures of Korea, China, and Japan.
That was it.
Even thinking about it now, they mixed it so perfectly for appeal.
Rohan couldn't help chuckling as he mulled over the setting.
Hanok houses, hanbok, cheongsam, kimono, Japanese subculture maids and ninjas, martial arts, and more.
A country tailor-made to churn out familiar, fan-favorite character archetypes.
Sunday Games must've counted the Samhwa Nation among its top cash cows.
So Rohan was excited, too.
Wonder what it'll be like in person.
He was dying to see how this cultural mash-up would feel up close.
As he sped along, lost in those thoughts, he spotted a large sign.
10KM Ahead
They said if the rest stops on the road were named inns or taverns, you were on the right track to the Samhwa Nation.
The name alone sparked curiosity.
“Wanna hit the inn? Grab some snacks at least.”
“Sure. Something cool to drink.”
“Oppa! I looked it up... all the rest stops on this road are famous! Great reviews...!”
“Guess it's a premium road.”
“Yeah! Each road has different-sized stops and shops! Salamander Inn's famous for... green onion pancakes, sweet potato snacks, and honeyed fruit drink...!”
Rohan smiled, taking in Clara's excited voice.
Back in his hunter days on long drives, he'd always snag sweet potato sticks at rest stops. Fond memories flooded back.
10KM on this road flew by.
The entrance to Salamander Inn came into view. With so few cars, the parking lot was absurdly spacious.
Stepping out, Rohan stretched and took in the building.
Nice build.
It was called an inn, but the scale evoked a fortress.
The open central courtyard, visible from afar, nailed the inn vibe despite the size.
The kind of place where a cocky young master from a noble house picks a fight with the protagonist over a bowl of noodles—and gets wrecked.
Sion and Clara gasped in admiration, pulling out their phones to snap pics.
Waiting behind for them to finish, Rohan felt Clara sneak up quietly.
“O-Oppa... wanna... take a pic together?”
“Sure? It's a trip—let's all do it. Sion, over here.”
Rohan took Clara's phone and stretched his arm out.
“Back for smaller heads~”
“Hehe...”
“Hm.”
He'd said back, but they stuck to his sides, wafting their scents.
Rohan steadied his dizzying mind, forcing his lips into a grin.
With trembling fingers, he hit the shutter.
But it wasn't over.
As he tried heading to the inn after the pic, the girls grabbed him and pulled him back to the center.
“Rohan. It's blurry.”
“Oppa, sorry... I blinked...”
Only after retaking it several times at Sion and Clara's insistence did Rohan regain his freedom.
Finally, the three headed inside.
Step. Step. Step.
The breezy open center lined with shops on both sides.
Passersby still stared at Sion and Clara, but they were too busy gawking to care.
“Honeyed fruit drink? It's famous.”
The girls nodded without hesitation at Rohan's suggestion.
They must've liked it from Ansimjeong in Academy City.
“Oppa... can I get snacks too?”
“Of course. Get whatever you want.”
Sion and Clara linked arms like sisters and wandered the shops around Rohan.
He watched their sweet dynamic with a warm smile, waiting for the drinks.
Then a booming voice rang out.
Rohan thought his ears had broken.
Turning, the sight was even wilder.
The "waiter" was a beastkin woman in a maid outfit—cat ears and tail.
Sprinkling soy sauce on the pancakes while chanting her spell.
The customers at the table were losing it with joy—clearly high demand.
...What the hell?
Cultural potpourri in full chaotic glory.
Rohan gave up trying to understand and turned away.
With East Asian subcultures blended and time passed, this was probably normal.
Maybe a perk for drivers on this road.
As he solidified his "respect the culture" mindset, the drinks arrived, and Sion and Clara returned.
“Got everything?”
“Yup!”
“So many curiosities.”
Rohan and the girls left Salamander Inn behind, heading onward to the Samhwa Nation.
While driving, Sion and Clara fed him snacks.
They even sensed when he wanted a sip and guided the straw to his mouth.
He'd said to sleep since it was a long way, but they stayed awake, chatting nonstop.
They were the epitome of ideal copilots.
The group, leaving early morning, arrived at the Samhwa Nation capital, Samkyung, at 2 p.m.
Forty more minutes to the Ichinose residence. Before ringing the bell, Rohan grabbed the gifts from the car.
Running a conglomerate, her parents wouldn't be wowed, but skipping prep wasn't an option.
As gift-laden Rohan reached for the ornate doorbell—
“You're finally here!”
Jane flung the door open like she'd been waiting.
The beast's eyes locked onto him.