Monolith -7-
Rohan and his group had been swept into the dungeon by the Monolith hours ago.
Back in the original world, lunchtime had just ended.
The Elysium Public Security Agency had swiftly detected the ominous mana surge within Academy City.
That was why Juyeon, who should have been in the middle of classes at the academy, was here at the agency instead.
The footage shown by the officers.
Juyeon's face hardened as she reviewed the data, and she uttered a single word cautiously.
"Monolith…?"
"Yes, exactly. But as you can see, the situation is a bit different this time. If monsters had appeared, we would have dispatched and handled it…"
The officer was right—the circumstances were unusual.
There was little the agency could do beyond issuing an access restriction to the area.
"Embarrassingly, even we officers are in the dark about this phenomenon. We've shared the incident with the nations and requested information, but we'd love to hear General Juyeon's insights as well."
Dimensional rifts and Monoliths that threw the world into chaos and caused massive casualties.
No one in Academy City had more veteran experience confronting and combating those disasters than Juyeon.
And unfortunately, the academy student caught up in it was a face familiar to the officers.
He was the one who'd recently wiped out a human trafficking ring and rescued people, gaining all sorts of exposure.
The officers naturally knew he was one of Juyeon's students.
"…Show me the footage again."
"Yes, ma'am!"
At Juyeon's request, the officer moved the mouse to replay the video.
Footage from a security CCTV in the alley.
No audio, but the scene was clear enough.
Juyeon hoped it wasn't true, but reality was cruel.
No matter the angle, the student on screen was unmistakably Rohan.
From what she could guess, he was just sending off what looked like an elf woman.
Then the Monolith burst through the ground. It unleashed a powerful surge of mana.
And then the unexpected twist.
Normally, monsters would pour out afterward.
But the three vanished like smoke along with the Monolith. Completely different from any prior Monolith incidents.
They'd even tried calling, wondering if they'd just been relocated.
But no signal reached Rohan's smartphone.
The agency couldn't track his location either. Field officers were running around with no results.
"Haa…"
Juyeon squeezed her eyes shut and took deep, repeated breaths, fighting to suppress her emotions and regain composure.
She pushed away the ominous assumptions. Nothing was confirmed yet.
For the officers waiting silently, she reviewed her past experiences.
But naturally, no sharp insights or info emerged.
"I don't think I can help. This is a first for me too."
"I see. Maybe this Monolith that appeared in Academy City is something special…"
The officers reacted as if they'd expected as much.
The fear of the unknown made the atmosphere subtly heavier.
In the midst of it, Juyeon replayed the footage once more and snapped the floundering officers out of it with her voice.
"I might sense something from the mana residue. Can I go to the scene?"
"Of course! We'll escort you right away."
The officers snapped to attention at her request, jumping up to gear up, grab keys, and hurry preparations.
Rohan opened his eyes after a long, deep sleep.
As his eyelids lifted, a doll-like girl greeted him with a smile.
"Ah…! Oppa! Sleep well?"
"You're up?"
Sion's approaching footsteps. That marked the end of the fan made from vine leaves.
As Clara's hand stopped, warm air seeped into Rohan's foggy mind, reminding him they were in a dungeon.
"Sorry. I'm fully recovered now."
Rohan apologized as he propped up his upper body.
Looking down, his shoes were off, and his clothes were a mess. He could guess what the two had done.
No wonder it felt so comfortable.
He started fastening the loose buttons and belt. Clara and Sion politely turned their heads.
Once he slipped his shoes back on and stood, Clara asked with worried eyes.
"Oppa. You're really okay, right?"
"I'm really fine now. Sorry."
He soothed Clara and pulled out his smartphone.
Rohan checked the real-time timer ticking away.
And then—silence.
…What?
The timer nearly made him flip in shock.
How many hours had he slept? He rubbed his eyes, thinking he'd misread, but the numbers stayed the same.
He'd figured maybe a couple hours at most, but it'd been over five.
"We judged ten minutes of rest wasn't enough."
Clara nodded vigorously at Sion's words.
Rohan had no words but an apology. What was done was done; he'd make it up by doing better from now on.
"You all must be hungry. And the water canteens are probably low."
First things first—resupply.
As Rohan moved to act, Clara hurriedly spoke up.
"Oppa…! Wait a sec!"
"Yeah?"
After stopping him, Clara exchanged glances with Sion.
Then they both nodded seriously. Rohan watched curiously, wondering what they were up to.
"Oppa. Can I ask one thing?"
"Rohan. It's a sensitive question, but we have to for the future."
"Something happen while I was out?"
No, Clara shook her twin tails, denying it.
She glanced at Sion, then carefully opened her mouth.
"That skill you use to get water…"
"Yeah."
"…Did the cost of that skill make you collapse? Be honest."
Rohan grasped what the girls wanted to know.
So he skipped the long explanation and stated it firmly.
"No. That's separate. Even if it's a skill cost, it's not consuming lifespan or anything."
"…"
Sion and Clara shut their mouths at his resolute tone.
Not fully relieved, but they didn't pry deeper into what the cost was.
"Let's eat and refill water. Hang on a bit."
Rohan moved his still-stiff body and stepped outside.
Still dazzled by the harsh sunlight, he checked the shop.
No need to scroll far for something suitable—it was right there.
[Purchased Large-Capacity Combat Rations.]
His first 5-point food purchase.
"Large-capacity" seemed to mean for one person. Still, enough for three to stave off hunger, if not fill up completely.
Buying one more would satisfy them, but he held back.
No point getting sluggish when combat could strike anytime.
Self-heating, huh? High calories too.
The packaging read <Just Pull the String—15 Minutes!>.
No water or fire needed. It stirred memories of unwelcome times, making his eyes twitch.
Finally, three bottles of water for 6 more points, wrapping up the spend.
Rohan carried the haul back, distributed the water, and sat.
Clara eyed the novel combat rations curiously. Sion had seen them before but not this type, sparking different interest.
"Wait 15 minutes."
He pulled the string on the box.
White steam billowed out, drawing an awed sound from Clara.
Normally, Rohan would've smiled at her cuteness, but now his mind was busy sorting thoughts.
A man called 'family head'… What family? And this body…
Borrowing someone's gaze was fine. No burden, just gains.
But tasting their emotions had clear pros and cons.
It helped vividly understand situations, but forced negative feelings wore down mental strength.
And the instinct to endlessly affirm one's identity brought heavy psychological fatigue.
Even so.
Ignorance wasn't an option over learning.
Rohan had just been holding back since the path wasn't clear.
Curiosity had always lingered.
What life had this body lived before Orion Academy acceptance and stepping into Academy City?
Contacts empty. Gallery blank—no photos.
No relations visible. A total mystery.
Once I get stronger, head south.
He finally had a vague grasp on that.
Nothing concrete uncovered, but he sensed the path to answers.
For now, satisfaction. Plenty.
"Alright, dig in!"
Rohan pulled out the paper trays, pouring hot sauce over the rice.
Curry and mapo tofu.
The girls swallowed at the hunger-piquing aroma, eyes sparkling.
"Wow…!"
"A proper meal in a place like this. True luxury."
They dug in with the crude spoons.
Rohan felt satisfied watching them eat well. Grateful too. Regretful he couldn't fill them up more.
"Eat, nap a bit, then move. I'll stay awake this time."
By the time, Sion and Clara needed a quick rest too.
After eating and light digestion,
Rohan forced the protesting pair to lie down, fanned them, and let them sleep.
In excellent condition relative to the situation, Rohan's group
headed toward the destination, now clearer than before.