I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City-Chapter 120: Are You Busy at Lunch?

The sweet, unexpected holiday for the first-year cadets of Orion Academy had come to an end.

With the return to normalcy, there was a small event scheduled.

Today, both the first and second years gathered in the grand auditorium for a general meeting.

In the auditorium, some high-ranking law enforcement officers were seated, greeting the instructors before the meeting started.

And then, the meeting began.

Juyeon grabbed the microphone from a corner and tapped it with her finger, causing the cadets to stop chatting and face forward.

─ We will now begin the morning roll call.

They went through the usual small procedures one by one.

Rohan, who was unfamiliar with the Orion Academy song, sang the one song he had never heard before.

Then, they all saluted, thinking of the country they belonged to.

And then, the awaited moment.

─ Next, we will have the award ceremony. Cadet Rohan of the first year, please come forward.

When Juyeon called his name, Rohan, sitting in his seat, immediately stood up and moved forward.

He moved just as he had been informed.

Climbing the six steps, he stood in front of the wooden platform where the microphone was set up.

On the platform sat a middle-aged law enforcement officer wearing a flashy badge, holding a stiff paper in his hand. He began reading aloud in a resonant voice.

"Certificate of Award. The above cadet has dealt severe punishment to criminals disturbing public order, single-handedly dismantling their organization and making great contributions to the rescue of innocent hostages..."

The investigation by the Elysium Security Bureau had concluded.

Now, Rohan had received the reward for the work done with Clara against the Yellow Toad Gang.

The sum wasn’t small, and he had planned to use it for a deposit to secure Clara’s house.

However, since Shion had already secured a mansion, they could just split the money in half.

"Because of your contribution, this certificate is awarded. On behalf of the Elysium Security Bureau Chief."

─ Please congratulate him with a round of applause.

Juyeon grabbed the microphone again, and the sound of applause echoed from the cadets behind.

"You did great. With a cadet like you, maybe it’s time for me to retire."

The officer, after turning off the microphone, laughed and added his personal remark.

Rohan, who had expressed his gratitude, took the certificate respectfully and tucked it under his arm.

The officer extended his thick hand.

Rohan didn’t refuse and shook hands with him.

‘...Look at this guy.’

The calluses and energy in his thick hand were unusual.

Even without releasing magic, Rohan could sense it.

This middle-aged officer wasn’t as strong as Juyeon, but definitely stronger than most instructors.

─ This concludes the award ceremony.

Rohan, recalling what he had learned, turned and saluted before descending the stairs.

He returned to his seat and immediately calmed Gilbert, who looked like he was about to shout in excitement.

‘This is overwhelming.’

Sitting down, Rohan could feel the many different gazes directed at him.

As Juyeon had said,

There were many cadets at the academy who carried their family’s name on their shoulders, placing great importance on honor.

So, awarding a certificate in front of everyone would undoubtedly serve as great motivation, just as she had said.

Though some mental conditioning was needed to prevent baseless overconfidence and rash actions,

it was clear that it had indeed served as a good motivation for the cadets.

─ ···

Juyeon lowered the microphone and started talking to the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» instructors beside her.

After receiving some information, she brought the microphone close to her lips again.

─ We will now have a speech from the Headmaster. Cadets, please stand.

The cadets stood up all at once.

The academy’s headmaster walked out from behind the curtains.

An elderly man with a long, white beard.

Despite his wrinkled face, his strong body was adorned in traditional Eastern-style robes from the Samhwa country.

The headmaster, exuding a heavy presence, stood on the platform.

When he faced the cadets, his serious expression shifted into a soft smile, instantly changing the atmosphere.

“Please sit comfortably and listen.”

─ Take your seats.

With Juyeon’s words, the cadets sat down all at once.

“There’s a perception that the word 'speech' is a boring occasion where old people try to show off their knowledge.”

Everyone silently listened.

It wasn’t a statement that required an answer.

“It’s not wrong. From now on, I will remind you of the current situation based on my past experiences, so that you may be aware of it.”

Rohan looked at Juyeon standing beside the platform.

He thought that the "unspoken disaster" the headmaster referred to likely included the fall of the South.

“That’s why it’s time for a new mindset. We must truly recognize the value of everyday life and peace.”

The headmaster and instructors didn’t plan to directly mention the importance of peace.

They believed the cadets should enjoy their academy life, improve their skills, and experience and understand it themselves.

But the rapidly changing situation didn’t allow them such a luxury.

“A major overhaul of the academy’s curriculum will be taking place. I hope you all focus on further improving yourselves and honing your skills.”

Then,

The headmaster stepped off the platform and bowed deeply before everyone.

His beard nearly touched the floor.

“And I apologize for the unpleasant events that the first-year cadets experienced. I am sorry.”

His voice echoed throughout the grand auditorium.

Rohan, watching from the side, felt complicated. There were some things that couldn’t be prevented no matter how much preparation was made.

The position of responsibility always tasted bitter just by watching.

“However, the rights of the cadets, who are growing under such scoundrels, should not be infringed upon. We will not start the lessons timidly. We will strengthen protection and increase the budget.”

If this were a school from Rohan’s previous life, such a statement would cause an uproar from students and parents.

However, Orion Academy accepted it as it was. No one objected.

Under their respective purposes, this was a place where most of the people had decided to make a living through combat.

***

"I will hand out the midterm grades."

After the meeting ended, the first-year class returned.

Juyeon took out a bundle of papers.

"Noah Frozenheart."

"Ugh..."

Noah stood up, tail raised, with a nervous expression.

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Juyeon handed him the report card while patting Noah's head.

"Good job. You kept your promise."

"!"

The top score in theory was Ichinose Yui, while the lowest was Noah Frozenheart.

Noah's average score was in the 40s, but Juyeon didn’t hold back on her praise.

What was remarkable was that, unlike before, he hadn’t just guessed the answers, but had solved them himself. That was a great first step.

"Rohan."

"Yes..."

"Excellent. You surprised your instructor."

"Thank you!"

Rohan's average was in the 70s.

It wasn't a bad score, but in an academy where everyone was studying hard, it placed him just below the middle.

He had failed to avoid the pitfalls in the subjective questions and the tiny hidden traps that helped determine the top ranks.

If he had solved more types of problems, he could have aimed for the upper middle ranks.

However, with his focus on catching up in unfamiliar subjects from scratch, he had reached his limit in the short time available.

He couldn’t just focus on books while neglecting physical training.

There was a clear hierarchy in importance.

‘It’s hard to get along with numbers.’

Rohan stared at his report card, feeling a sense of regret.

There were definitely subjects that had dragged down his average.

"Don’t get too comfortable. Your rank also includes the practical exam scores."

Juyeon smiled faintly and placed a new stack of papers on the teacher's desk.

"The top scorer in the practical exam is..."

Everyone’s gaze turned to Juyeon’s lips. It was a tense moment, wondering whose name would be called.

Juyeon deliberately paused for a moment before calling out the name.

"Rohan and Ichinose Yui."

"!!!"

Rohan turned his head, and Ichinose looked this way as well.

When their eyes met, they both smiled and exchanged thumbs-up gestures.

"They not only kept sticking the stickers, but also managed to neatly suppress the attempts made by other cadets to seize supplies during the acquisition, which played a major role in their ranking."

Someone had been watching when Rohan fought with Ok Myungjin.

He hadn’t sensed any eyes on him, so this came as a surprise.

"When your name is called, come forward to receive your practical exam report. It will include both positive and negative points. Objections can be made until a week from now."

***

Before the first class started,

Rohan, having pulled out his textbook, was admiring his practical exam report, trying to overcome the regrets he felt over his theoretical score.

In the meantime,

A little ball of fur approached and poked at Rohan’s cheek.

It was Noah’s tail, black stripes on a white background.

"Hey! Hey!"

"What is it? Do you want me to grab your tail?"

As Rohan moved his hand to grab the plump tail,

Noah quickly pulled it back and got to the point.

"Are you busy for lunch today?"

"Lunch? Nothing really planned."

He had just thought about going back to Shion's mansion and eating with the three of them.

There was nothing set in stone.

"Then, let's eat with Nohse and the three of us. I’ve got something to give."

"Oh, right."

There was indeed such a promise last time.

He had apologized for declining then.

Rohan’s gaze naturally turned toward Ichinose’s seat.

"Yikes..."

He saw Nohse, who had been eyeing him, suddenly panic and turn his head away.