I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

Chapter 34

"Because you're beautiful."

"W-what...?"

"I mean your appearance naturally draws attention."

Rohan gave his answer matter-of-factly before striding ahead, clearly intending to change the location.

The princess trailed behind him, her steps hesitant but purposeful.

As he took the lead, Rohan’s mind churned with thoughts.

‘Is it because she’s lived so long outside? She doesn’t seem to grasp how striking her appearance is objectively.’

To Rohan, calling the princess beautiful wasn’t flattery or an attempt to gain favor. If that had been his goal, he would’ve used a more delicate approach.

He had simply stated the truth—straightforwardly and without ulterior motives.

It was simple.

Elves, as a race, were synonymous with beauty and grace.

This was an immutable fact even in Abyss City.

A person finding an elf beautiful was hardly unusual, unless they possessed an exceedingly peculiar taste.

And as a princess of exceptional lineage, she was unmatched even among her stunning kin.

Whether she was dressed in combat gear or casual clothing, her mere presence was enough to draw every gaze her way.

“Hmm, let’s see...”

Rohan stopped just before reaching the heart of District 2, in a less busy area dotted with small cafés and eateries.

"How much time do you have?"

"I’ll tell you when it’s time. For now, there’s still some to spare."

"Have you eaten?"

"Not particularly hungry."

Despite her indifferent reply, Rohan caught the slight movement of her throat as she gulped.

"Even so, we should talk over something to eat."

"Hmph. If you need a snack to function, do as you wish."

Rohan casually scanned the area, his eyes landing on a cozy café.

"How about here?"

"You’re planning to talk there?"

"Yes. Their sandwiches look delicious."

The princess blinked, her gaze drifting toward the café interior, where scattered patrons occupied tables.

Realizing what he was suggesting, she narrowed her eyes and shot him a sharp glare.

"Don’t joke around. You know the weight of the information we’re discussing."

"I’m not joking. Who would suspect a place like this for such important discussions?"

Whether she was convinced or merely conceding, the sharpness in her gaze gradually softened.

"Hiding under the lamp, hiding the tree in the forest—something like that?"

"Close enough. Honestly, it’s also because I can’t think of a better place."

"How could someone claiming to deal in information lack a proper location? Am I barred from certain places?"

“...”

From the moment they first met, she had labeled him as some sort of information broker.

Though he had only asked for time to gather data, her perception had clearly solidified.

‘Explaining now would only raise more suspicion. She’d just think I’m hiding something.’

Trying to correct her assumptions seemed futile, especially given her guarded nature.

"This won’t do. We need a place without prying eyes or ears."

"Is that an absolute condition?"

"It’s the most important criterion for discussing something of this magnitude."

Her reasoning was sound. Rohan folded his arms, surveying the nearby establishments.@@@@

"If the information I provide proves its worth, I’ll ask for your help on those occasions. Just once is enough."

The princess fell into thoughtful silence.

Even though she needed the information, she was cautious about making commitments—a trait Rohan admired.

"To be clear, I won’t involve you in anything unsavory, like massacring innocent civilians. I’ll need help taking down monsters or criminals."

"You’ll be collecting bounties or selling monster parts, then?"

"Exactly. Clean money is always the best kind."

Rohan nodded along with her deduction, deciding not to elaborate further.

"Fine. If your conditions align with what you’ve said, I’ll agree."

"Then let’s begin."

"And what about a formal contract?"

"Unnecessary. I’ll trust your conscience."

As Rohan unwrapped his burger and prepared to dive into the conversation, the princess spoke up again, suspicion tinging her voice.

"You don’t seem interested in running a proper business."

"I can’t escape the red with my methods, true. But I have my reasons, so let’s just say I’m relying on my nerve."

"...Fair enough. You must have something up your sleeve."

Rohan barely managed to stifle a wry smile.

‘I have nothing of the sort.’

In truth, he didn’t even have a fake contract template to rely on.

"Enough small talk. Let’s get to the main point."

The princess’s sharp gaze bore into Rohan, signaling her readiness for serious discussion.

***

In a shabby one-room apartment where the hot water didn’t work, Clara emerged from a cold shower.

Still damp, she grabbed her smartphone and immediately opened her game.

─ Company Wave!

"One, two, two... Glass for the stun, then Order for the front-row shield..."

She murmured aloud, trying to solidify a build that had come to her mid-shower.

Picturing Rohan’s character pool, she theorized a lineup that maximized stability and synergy.

‘This should work. It’s balanced and efficient.’

One minute and two seconds.

With no deaths on her team, shaving two seconds off her time would guarantee maximum rewards.

"Hmm..."

She debated which adjustments might make the lineup even faster.

Endless retries could reduce the time, but she hesitated to impose such repetition on Rohan, fearing it might ruin the experience for him.

‘I need to research this more.’

Her hands moved to a drawer beneath her bed.

Inside were neatly arranged silencers, various daggers, and...

A small, pink-ribboned piece of black fabric.

She retrieved the delicate undergarment—a prized possession that always lifted her spirits and helped her focus.

"Ah! Maybe if I use that setup..."

Without bothering to dry her hair, Clara lay face-down on her bed, clutching her pillow as she eagerly tested a new strategy.

"Wah!"

After several tweaks, she finally managed to bring her time down to 57 seconds.

Thrilled with her success, she instinctively reached for her phone to message Rohan but stopped short.

‘He’s probably studying right now. Academy cadets must be incredibly busy...’

The thought of disturbing him made her hesitate, the fear of becoming a nuisance outweighing her excitement.

She sighed and pouted, longing for tomorrow to arrive quickly.