Precious Guest -3-
Clara's connection to the Flower Lily Bookstore began around summer.
That was well before Rohan started working there, meaning it had already been several months since the girl had claimed her spot in the store's corner.
Thanks to the store owner's kind consideration after stumbling upon her situation by chance, that corner had become her personal haven—a reserved seat of sorts.
The girl explored knowledge in this space.
Her daily routine was poring over the tattered magazines and books that came in as donations or discards.
Mystery, history, fashion, horror, essays, dictionaries, and more.
She read whatever came to hand, regardless of genre, steadily filling her mind with a rainbow of concepts and worldly wisdom.
Rustle—rustle—.
"…"
Today, she was flipping through a workbook someone had solved and abandoned.
No particular reason. She had simply reached out and grabbed the one on top.
The cover indicated it was prep material for the Orion Academy entrance exam.
Lately, bundles of these kinds of books had been coming in.
This one was crammed with handwritten solutions and explanations, leaving scarcely any blank space on the pages.
'Cute handwriting.'
Clara savored every scribble on the paper as part of her reading.
Diving into the solutions until she grasped them felt like cracking a riddle—thoroughly enjoyable.
'Ah! I've seen this monster before…'
And so the girl quietly passed the day.
Even now, when the owner clocked out and Rohan manned the counter, it felt comfortable.
Rohan never pried into things she didn't want to discuss.
His chit-chat was effortless to respond to, never leaving her tongue-tied, always pitched just right for eye contact—a masterful sense of distance.
Plus, he was genuinely passionate about games, which made their conversations a delight.
When he probed the deeper lore of Company Wave, she couldn't help getting fired up, chattering away like a gatling gun.
'Agh, so embarrassing…'
She recalled snapping back to reality mid-ramble, all hyped up on her own enthusiasm.
Rohan had just smiled and urged her on, but for Clara, that memory never failed to flush her cheeks with heat.
Anyway.
She'd heard Rohan was an academy cadet, probably a year or two older than her, but at this rate…
'…Fr, friend?'
A relationship so radiant it felt too exalted even to whisper aloud—surely it qualified, somehow.
"Hee hee."
A ticklish warmth bubbled in her chest, drawing a silly giggle from her lips.
The moment Clara, lips curved in a smile, reached for the next book—
The door chimed open.
Followed by—
Rohan's voice. And a woman's.
Rohan's tone was far more animated than with regular customers. Clara minimized her presence and crept closer, silent as a shadow, stealing a peek at the counter.
—The owner's gone home, so I'll handle locking up.
Rohan was chatting with the woman, his face lit up with pleasure.
What to call it? Just watching stirred an emotion too elusive for words.
'Of course… he knows people beyond someone like me…'
Clara dropped her gaze from Rohan to size up his companion.
Then she froze, breath catching.
'Whoa…'
A woman of breathtaking beauty, admiration spilling out unbidden.
The aura of unapproachability vaporized Clara's faint flicker of envy in an instant.
Red hair, sharp eyes—cool was the word that leaped to mind.
'Hm?'
Clara's head tilted, brow furrowing as she stared.
Hallucination?
She could've sworn she'd seen that face in a magazine somewhere.
—If the owner were here, I'd have said hello… but you're trusted. That's good.
How long did she eavesdrop, hidden, as they talked?
Clara sensed something off.
'Huh…?'
Not prickling malice on her skin.
More like a reprimand: stop that—it's rude, improper.
The red-haired woman's emanating pressure pinpointed Clara's concealed presence with crystal clarity.
"!!!"
First time her spot had been sniffed out so effortlessly. Clara's legs quaked.
In that split second, she'd glimpsed a mighty, blinding sun.
Its radiance devoured every shadow cloaking her, leaving her utterly exposed.
Power like that—she'd never witnessed it. Terrifying.
The girl whipped her eyes away and huddled back in her corner.
'Sh-she's watching!'
No matter where she shifted, the sensation of being tracked burned vivid.
She yearned to bolt for the exit, but it looked impossibly distant.
The suffocating certainty that nowhere in the store offered refuge plunged Clara into dread.
"Eek…!"
Even after Juyeon departed, Clara trembled on. That's when she caught Rohan's eye.
He halted mid-stride toward the mop closet and hurried to her side.
"What's wrong? You hurt?"
"…"
The girl's trembling hand clutched his apron.
Pure instinct, devoid of thought—an action utterly unlike her usual self.
Rohan's mind pieced it together.
"Because of the instructor?"
"Th-that…"
Eyeing the stammering girl, Rohan sensed his opening.
A natural step toward that delicate topic.
"Alright."
He plopped down, squatting to match her huddled eye level.
How long did he wait in silence?
Clara's vise-grip loosened. Her shakes ebbed.
On the quiet bookstore floor, Rohan gauged the moment and spoke softly.
"Feeling a bit better?"
"…"
A tiny nod.
"Water?"
"…"
She shook her head: I'm fine.
Rohan mentally sifted his words, watching her sealed lips and downcast eyes.
Positive vibes first and foremost.
"Impressive, though."
The out-of-left-field praise drew her head up just a fraction.
He grazed her unspoken secret.
"Most folks only sense intimidation from the instructor. You read her mana?"
Genuine awe at how seamlessly she'd suppressed it.
Clara's pupils quivered wildly.
"Ah, uh, th-that…!"
"She's got an overwhelming presence, sure. But no need to worry. Or fear her."
Before Clara could flail with some panicked deflection—
Rohan brushed it off.
"The instructor's incredibly kind."
He wouldn't probe this girl for details.
Just acknowledging her uniqueness was plenty.
*****
Rohan fired back a quick it's fine, no worries—see you tomorrow.
'Ugh, gotta hustle.'
Reassuring Clara on multiple fronts had delayed closing past the usual time.
He stashed the store key under the flower bed and hustled off.
Emerging from the alley as messaged, Juyeon stood out immediately—no searching needed.
Rohan dashed up and skidded to a halt before her.
"Sorry I'm late!"
"It's fine. Hitting closing exactly on the dot is the rarity."
Juyeon's hands were empty.
Had she already dropped the book off at home?
"Got a place in mind. Let's go."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Juyeon offered a faint smile at his prompt obedience.
"Not curious about the menu?"
"Honestly? Dying to know."
Juyeon flicked her gaze sideways, as if presenting it to him.
A massive building loomed there.
"Family restaurant on the fourth floor of the shopping mall. Franchise you've got in Samhwa Nation too."
"Ooh…!"
Exclamations of anticipation mingled with idle banter as they entered the mall.
Cadets in uniform dotted the crowds here and there.
Plenty bowed deeply in greeting upon spotting Juyeon.
They rode the escalator to the fourth floor.
A restaurant with an interior reminiscent of a famous steakhouse from Rohan's memories came into view.
The vibe felt oddly off.
"Party of how many?"
"Two."
Late for dinner but not dead of night, the place was quieter than expected.
Rohan took his seat across from Juyeon at the guided table.
"Order whatever you want. Go wild."
Juyeon slid the menu his way.
Everything was unfamiliar, so Rohan scanned the room instead.
The food was fine, but beer-with-greasy-snacks patrons dominated.
"Event for office workers… cheap beer night, it says."
"Ah, that explains the glasses everywhere."
"No beer for you, instructor?"
Juyeon shook her head at his question.
"I don't drink."
"Don't like it?"
"Not that I hate it. If anything, I crave it now and then."
Juyeon swept back her bangs, flashing a bold grin.
She continued to Rohan.
"Emergencies strike without warning."
Short and sharp—crystal clear.
Rohan got it completely.
"…Not your average gig."
"Called to Academy City with that purpose spelled out from the start, so it's manageable."
"Everyone's gonna skyrocket thanks to you."
Rohan had always believed, from his hunter days:
Acknowledging others' struggles was vital mental care.
Juyeon propped her chin, lips curving as she fixed him with a stare.
"This instructor has high hopes for you too, Rohan."
"I'll power-level fast so you can kick back with a drink worry-free."
"Reliable. I expect great things."
"When the time comes, I'll pour you one myself."
Juyeon's delight was plain, unmasked.
She even let out a soft chuckle.
"Heh… Maybe I'll accept that glass when the city's secure enough without me."