LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 6 - Somewhere Between Friendly and Caution
✦ Chapter 6 – Somewhere Between Friendly and Caution ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
I stepped out of the academy dormitory, heading straight ahead. The warmth accumulated from the shower quickly dissipated in the chilly night breeze. It was invigorating.
‘It’s refreshing!’
The path was etched into my memory.
Each step was sure, instinct guiding me forward, no hesitation.
‘I wonder if it’s there?’
I was searching for something specific.
Unlike many games, Abyss City was an open-world experience without competitive elements.
Wandering around its vast, beautifully rendered map and taking pictures was immensely enjoyable, and this enjoyment was doubled by the rewards.
In the game, treasure chests that supplied resources were hidden in various corners of the academy city.
While I hadn’t memorized the locations of all the chests, a few notable spots lingered naturally in my memory still.
‘But the odds are low.’
I knew the likelihood of casually finding a treasure chest on the roadside was low.
This was no longer a game where I was the only one with free will. The people around me, going about their own business, lost in their own thoughts — they were as real as I was.
Even so, the reason I was putting in the effort and walking around was to be absolutely sure that ‘the chests do not exist.’
I couldn’t rule out the possibility that a quest window or some other special prompt might react.
“…………….”
It was part of my nature to double-check things with my own eyes.
Even I found myself a bit tiresome.
‘Given the advanced level here, it seems slightly ahead of my previous life? There are even people with mechanical limbs.’
These were my thoughts on the way over.
The prosperity of the academy city seemed even more brilliant and dazzling at night.
I’d slowly made my way to Sector 4, not far from my dorm, a bustling commercial district with decent security. Ignoring the brightly lit storefronts and the throngs of people, I ducked down a quieter side street before disappearing into a narrow, dimly lit alleyway.
According to my memory, the chest was supposed to be next to a vending machine in the alley.
In the game, the chest’s location was infamous for its deviousness; from the street, even with a clear line of sight, it was impossible to spot. One had to be practically on top of the vending machine to notice it.
*Thud. Thud. Thud.*
My footsteps echoed in the narrow passage as I approached the vending machine, its glow a beacon in the darkness. I pulled out my phone, using the flashlight function to illuminate the surroundings — and couldn’t help but click my tongue.
‘Tch, nothing.’
The alley was deserted, save for a few stray cigarette butts, empty soda cans, and…
*—Meow!*
A startled cat darted away from the light.
Even the quest window remained disappointingly silent.
“Hmm…”
I slipped the phone back into my pocket, my mind churning. What now?
If there had been a chest here, the reward would probably have been shop points, not actual items…
No such luck this time, it seemed.
‘Alright, moving on… there’s always the Achievement System.’
Considering the upcoming chaos, I shouldn’t be trying to hide.
I must try everything that comes to mind.
Sure, quests were the most certain way to gain rewards, but waiting passively for an uncertain quest wasn’t my style, nor does it suit my impatience.
‘Achievements it is, then.’
Now, what were those achievements again…?
My memory was fuzzy since I wasn’t particularly interested in achievements; I enjoyed leveling up my beloved characters and exploring the map.
From what I could remember, most of them were combat or character-related, but there were also a bunch of miscellaneous ones — achievements tied to everyday activities like using a certain number of consumables, getting good grades at the academy, or doing part-time jobs.
‘Let’s see… Attending classes for a certain number of days and character recruitment are out of the question. So that leaves…’
As I concentrated, memories surfaced from the depths of my mind.
And at the same time, my gaze fell on the vending machine in front of me.
And then it hit me.
“Aha! Of course!”
There was something I could try right here.
My hand darted to my right pocket.
Jingling were ten tokens, roughly equal to one thousand won, I had picked up from my dorm room desk.
‘Let’s see.’
Peach Milk Tea? No, not that. Oakwood Soda? Also no. Mint Cola? Intriguing, but not what I was looking for.
And then I saw it. At the very bottom row. My own personal abyss, staring right back at me.
‘Cucumber Milk…!’
This was it. And the price was perfect too.
*Clang!*
I fed the tokens into the machine, my finger hovering over the button. This was it.
*Clunk!*
A glass bottle, its contents a disturbing shade of green, tumbled down the chute. It felt warm to the touch.
“……………”
The warmth was suitable for the chilly weather, but the ominous feeling was unmistakable.
‘Warm Cucumber Milk.’
How horrid could it be?
*Pop*
I opened the bottle and sniffed, immediately covering my nose in a reflex.
“Blech!”
The smell hit me like a physical force, acrid and pungent. What have I gotten myself into? Why did this even exist? The stench itself wasn’t an illusion; it genuinely caused a headache.
‘Still… I have to try it.’
I really, really didn’t want to, but I had a sneaking suspicion this was the fastest route to…well, something.
*Phew*
I tipped the bottle back, forcing down the greenish concoction.
One gulp. Two. Three.
My throat felt like it was dissolving.
“Blechh—!!!”
Blocking my nose was futile. The nauseous odor assaulted my brain.
And I gagged, the last of the warm Cucumber Milk escaping my lips and splattering onto the pavement.
“Cough! Cough!”
That had been a mistake.
Warm Cucumber Milk was a crime against humanity. And those weird, gritty bits felt within, and that was truly the worst part.
However,
The ordeal had its worth.
[You have unlocked the achievement ‘Do You Even Eat That?’]
[Achievement reward: You have received 10P.]
‘Finally…!’
This achievement was a crucial validation. It laid the foundation for my future plans.
Wiping away the traces of cucumber milk from my lips, I tried to distance my consciousness as much as possible from my taste buds.
‘If I can gather 500P before the start of the term…’
While forcibly trying to think ahead, an unexpected voice reached my ears.
“Are you alright?”
“!”
Startled, I turned my head to see a pair of shining golden eyes directed right at me.
‘…Ichinose Yui!?’
The unique glow lasted only a moment before Ichinose Yui, as usual, hid her eyes and approached me with graceful steps.
“You have quite an unusual taste.”
She must have witnessed me drinking that bizarre beverage.
Maybe she even picked up on it with her keen sense of smell.
Suppressing the unexpected encounter’s sudden shock as much as possible, I tried to respond calmly, “I was just curious and wanted to try it out.”
“Hmm….”
Facing Ichinose Yui directly, I could sense her extraordinary presence. Despite her petite stature, she seemed to dominantly sense the entire alley.
The sensation of having my movements, sight, and even breath read by a girl with closed eyes was quite mysterious.
‘So this is Ichinose Yui’s first unique skill…’
I recalled the girl I had invested heavily in developing.
[Mind’s Eye ─ Lv.1]
◇ Physical abilities increase while eyes are closed.
◇ Mana efficiency increases while eyes are closed.
◇ Senses develop while eyes are closed.
In the game, the prerequisite of closing her eyes manifested as a notably low base accuracy. Nonetheless, Ichinose’s sword draw and steps during today’s placement test didn’t reveal such chronic issues.
‘Is she at level 2 now? Or possibly level 3?’
I wasn’t sure of the current level of Ichinose Yui’s unique skill.
But if her nature remained as he knew, she would have lived her life honing her abilities in the darkness ever since she realized her skill. Hence, her closed-eyed appearance seemed natural, without any awkwardness.
She somewhat resembled the characters known for keeping their eyes shut.
“Are you number 99?”
“…If you mean the test number, then yes.”
As I confirmed, she fidgeted with her fingers and, after a brief moment of deliberation, hid her sword behind her back and asked.
“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name during the exam. Could you tell me?”
“Rohan.”
“Rohan… I see.”
She nodded, murmuring my name.
Though gratified by our conversation, I tried to maintain my caution.
Certain images, those that defied comprehension, demanded caution.
“My name is Ichinose Yui.”
“I know.”
Her reputation preceded her. She, unsurprisingly, didn’t question my knowledge.
“There’s no need to be so formal,” she continued. “We’re both Orion Academy students, after all; there’s no need to use formal speech.”
“………….”
“I have no intention of using my family’s influence here at the academy,” she added. “That would be foolish.”
This was the Ichinose I remembered: proud, fiercely independent, and brutally honest. Though her words were laced with her signature sharpness, I couldn’t help but admire her unwavering conviction.
But my mind was still trying to figure out why she had approached me.
However, harsh or prickly words just wouldn’t come out of my mouth.
This girl might strive to act maturely as the heir to Tenoten.
‘Ichinose Yui has a soft heart.’
Knowing this aspect of her, it bothered me.
‘This is really driving me crazy.’
The friendly feelings I harbored kept breaking down my walls of caution. No matter how much I tried, they crumbled before I could rebuild them.
Recalling all the information I had about Ichinose Yui, I spoke as nonchalantly as I could.
“Please, feel free to speak casually.”
At my words, she pursed her lips like a duck, looking troubled.
Knowing her habits, I found it quite endearing.
“I’m more comfortable with formal speech.”
“Well, if that’s the case…”
Nodding in agreement, as expected, she took a step closer to me.
“I’m curious about something. May I ask you a question?”
“To me?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, and the plastic bag in her hand rustled, revealing its contents.
“…What are you curious about?”
I carefully asked, trying to keep my smile from showing at the sight of this soft image of her that I had never seen in the game.
It was only then that Ichinose Yui voiced the question she had been holding inside.
“That slash that cut the Golem into pieces during the placement test. The result was excellent, but I was more impressed by the movement itself.”
“………….…”
“It seemed like the work of someone who’s handled swords for a long time. Are you affiliated with a specific school or style?”
↤ END OF CHAPTER ↦
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