Relationships: The Tiger as a Foothold -3-
Rohan wanted to ditch the counter right away and check on Clara and Noah.
But that wasn't possible now.
The moment he'd agreed to Clara's suggestion to watch comics together, customers had started flooding into the once-quiet bookstore like a tidal wave.
"That's 3 coins and 20 tokens. Paper bag's 1 token—do you need one?"
"Yes, please bag it up."
"Receipt's inside. Thank you!"
Why did they have to swarm at a time like this?
It was the busiest day since Rohan had started working here—Flower Lily Bookstore was raking in unprecedented sales.
"Do you have any books for learning letters? For my kid..."
"Has Pascal's new book sold out?"
"Looking for a book on conversation tips for getting a girlfriend."
Rohan handled the bustling customers' requests one by one, stealing glances toward the corner where the two were.
He couldn't see Noah and Clara clearly, but the quiet suggested they were fine.
"..."
And on another note, he realized something painfully clear.
Looking back, his confidence in knowing Clara well had been pure arrogance.
He never imagined she'd volunteer to hang out with Noah.
It was a scenario far beyond what he'd pictured as a gamer who'd mastered Abyss City.
A scene he couldn't even imagine was unfolding right before his eyes.
'Gotta be more careful from now on.'
This applied even to Ichinose and Noah, whom he had tons of info on. Maybe even the princess.
Reality was freewheeling.
Not trapped in any fixed script.
Rohan etched that fact deep into his heart once more.
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"Hm-hmm~"
"..."
Clara wondered where the courage had come from to accept that invitation earlier.
Just sitting next to Noah, who was humming away, with a book in hand was draining her mental energy in real time.
She couldn't even process the comic she was "reading."
"What's our friend's name?"
Noah's sudden question from behind her book made Clara jolt in surprise, answering softly.
"I-I'm Clara...!"
"Hee, cute name. Just call me Noah."
"O-okay..."
The name Noah, paired with her stunning looks, the pure white of eternal snow on her tiger beastkin features, and that subtle aura of chill brilliance.
Clara finished her thought and was certain.
'Noah Frozenheart of Tigrova? What the heck is Bro...'
The biggest big shot Clara had ever laid eyes on in her life.
But she managed to suppress her tension somehow.
She wasn't here to assassinate or gather intel this time. Unlike before, she could bolt if she wanted, which lightened her heart with confidence.
The beastkin girl rustled through the pages rapidly.
Noah's gaze lingered longest on spreads featuring food rather than dialogue-heavy scenes.
After visually devouring them, she spoke up again.
"I was shocked watching you move earlier. Wanna race sometime?"
"Uh, th-that's..."
"First to the mountain peak wins! Nose is pretty fast too, so it'd be fun with her."
"..."
"Oh! Nose is the one who enrolled with me—"
Clara had stepped into this space willingly, but now she regretted it.
She wished Rohan would come rescue her right now.
How could someone be this forward with a stranger, suggesting they hang out?
From Clara's view, Noah was utterly incomprehensible.
Unlike Rohan, who kept a delicate distance and asked easy-to-answer questions.
This was terrifying—one vague "sure" and it'd turn into a done deal. She was straight-up hopping the fence and dancing over it.
Just listening made Clara's vision spin.
"Anyway, lemme know if you're in. I'll set it up. Got it?"
Clara nodded faintly.
It didn't lead to forced insistence, so she could breathe a little.
But that didn't mean the chit-chat trap was released.
Noah barreled ahead, smashing through topics like she was wrecking the steering wheel.
"The more I look, the more you seem like a doll. Nose has that vibe too, but different style."
"N-no...! Someone like me isn't..."
"Huh? I have super high standards—I don't say this lightly. Pretty faces like yours are rare!"
Clara shook her head in horror at the blunt compliment out of nowhere.
The words sounded like something sleazy street guys would say.
But Noah meant it purely as an observation, no ulterior motive—which made the weight on Clara crushing.
"Dad told Nose once that denying compliments too much kills the humble charm. Have some confidence! Rohan'd agree."
"Bro would...?"
"Wanna ask him when he comes by? He's busy now, but he'll swing over."
Noah asking on her behalf felt like a golden opportunity—for a question Clara couldn't voice herself.
'What if, just what if! Bro's too sweet for that, but...!'
A cold, honest rejection would pulverize her mentally. The mere thought made her tremble.
She gulped hard.
Noah blinked, quietly observing the girl's odd symptoms.
A fresh curiosity bubbled up, and she wanted to ask now.
"So, what's your deal with Rohan?"
"With Bro...?"
"Yeah."
What should she say here?
Shrinking back, Clara's eyes darted around.
"J-just... met at the bookstore..."
"Huh, interesting."
"Wh-what about you, Noah sis?"
"Haha! Noah sis? Love the ring to that! I'm just his classmate."
Noah's tail thumped the floor happily—Clara's nickname clearly hit the spot.
"Um, I have a question..."
"Shoot! Ask away!"
"Tigrova... practices polygamy, right...?"
Not personal curiosity, surprisingly.
Noah nodded simply anyway.
"Yep! My big bro has like... ten-something wives? Forgot the exact number."
"Gasp!"
Noah giggled at the girl's shocked inhale.
"Makes sense it'd seem wild if you're from a no-polygamy country. Gotta be curious."
"I was wondering... what you think of polygamy..."
Noah crossed her arms, pondering Clara's question briefly.
Blue light flashed in the beastkin girl's eyes—she'd found her answer.
"More sisters means more treats for me. Win-win!"
"Th-that's not..."
"Eh? Isn't it? Huge perk."
Clara was curious about her take on her nation's system.
Noah's response pretty much answered it.
No aversion at all.
"...Are there guys who don't do polygamy?"
"Some, but society doesn't look kindly."
"Wh-why?!"
Truly incomprehensible.
Shouldn't they be praised as pure lovers?
"Tigrova values strength above all. Power brings wealth and honor anywhere, but we're more upfront about it."
"...How's that tie to polygamy?"
"One wife screams 'no room for more wealth or heart.' Proof you're not leader material!"
"..."
"Social norms vary by country. Tigrova folks don't expect outsiders to get it."
Tigrova, a superpower, must have advanced systems and tech.
Yet the reasoning backing polygamy felt straight out of hunter-gatherer days.
Was it the bold survivalism of frozen lands?
Not caring about others' opinions was impressive, in Clara's eyes.
"Noah sis... wouldn't mind a lover or husband doing polygamy...?"
"Nah! More playmates is great!"
"..."
"Refusing polygamy as a woman blocks your man's rise. Like I said, one wife can get you called out as small-time."
Bred into it from birth?
Clara felt confused by the innocent tone.
Like she was the weird one for not accepting it easily.
"Ughhh..."
As the girl hid her face in the open comic, Noah patted her slim back with her tail.
"Tigrova's way different from your country?"
"Y-yeah..."
"No need to force understanding foreign systems then. Nose complains about too many bro weddings too."
"..."
If only it ended so neatly.
Clara pulled out her phone, eyes drooping with exhaustion, and started tapping out a message.
Bzzzzt—!!!