I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City-Chapter 131: Avoiding the Charm

[Unremembered Sweet Crime - Achievement Unlocked]

[With this achievement, the probability of inflicting debuffs when with an accomplice increases.]

[The growth rate increases when the accomplice is with Rohan.]

“...?”

Rohan reread the notification window, furrowing his eyebrows.

Even reading it slowly from the beginning, it made no sense. He understood the content but not the context.

Still, this sudden mystery was a welcome distraction.

It made him momentarily forget his embarrassment.

[Accomplices: Shion Testarossa, Clara, Ichinose Yui]

All names he was glad to see.

Including those he missed and worried about, especially Ichinose, who was with him.

‘I wonder how they are doing.’

He wasn’t sure if Shion and Clara were eating well or if they had realized he was caught up in the Monolith.

If they understood the situation, what kind of life would they be leading?

Both girls were worry-prone and emotional, so Rohan’s concerns were immense.

‘So.’

Back to the main point.

‘What’s an accomplice?’

The term didn't fit as a descriptor for teammates or party members.

He couldn’t understand why.

All three were not the type to secretly plan or execute misdeeds.

From Rohan's perspective, calling them accomplices was incomprehensible.

‘The name of the achievement too... Is it supposed to be light-hearted and cute, or does it relate to a past I don’t remember?’

The name "Unremembered Sweet Crime."

Maybe the answer lies in the restricted fragments of memory.

For now, that was the extent of Rohan’s speculation.

“Sigh.”

He decided to give up pondering.

In unknown situations, perhaps it's best to accept things as they are.

While he didn’t know the conditions for the achievement's completion, the reward itself was impressive.

‘Driving me crazy.’

Despite this, he sighed deeply, hesitant to return home.

Ichinose pretended not to notice, but Rohan felt uncomfortable.

It wasn't easy to feign indifference with people he cared about, unless they were villains to be deceived.

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‘Because of those succubi...’

If not for Bianca’s enchantment, he would have been fine.

Admitting that he’d been caught off guard and left with a significant black mark after dying was the only option.

“Tch.”

Rohan clicked his tongue and moved with heavy steps.

Heading back to the shabby house, he asked Ichinose as naturally as possible.

“How are you feeling?”

“Ah... I’m fine.”

Normally, Ichinose would nod her head even with her eyes closed to show she was listening, but now she slightly avoided his gaze.

Rohan could only feel remorse.

The guilt made it hard for him to even use the nickname “Baby-nose.”

“Ichinose. How about we move somewhere to rest?”

“...Where do you have in mind?”

While still avoiding his gaze, Ichinose didn’t show any objection, and stood up, grabbing her sword.

Her voice was low, but audible.

“How about the succubus’s lair we hunted before we arrived at this house?”

There was another ownerless shack nearby.

Though smaller, it also had a roof and windbreak.

“Hmm...”

At Rohan’s suggestion, Ichinose clenched and unclenched her pale hands, murmuring thoughtfully.

“Just tell me if you have a preference.”

He had waited a while for the young girl’s reply.

Having somewhat settled her chaotic feelings, Ichinose finally started to nod slightly.

“How about checking beyond the succubus's mansion we just captured? We have to go that way anyway.”

“If you're up for it, that sounds good. Are you sure?”

“I’m fine. I, uh, want to walk a bit... to feel lighter.”

Though the packed lunch wasn’t substantial, she still felt full.

Her body was indeed fuel-efficient.

“Alright, but if a husk or lower-level succubus appears, I’ll handle it. Just conserve your strength, Ichinose.”

“Okay... got it.”

The two left their shelter and walked on.

The mansion was quiet, remnants of the disaster still present, and a few husks roamed nearby which they hunted.

Crossing into a new area past Bianca’s mansion, the backdrop was still forested but now included a large river.

The flowing water wasn’t blue but a light purple.

No fish seemed to live in it.

Stirring the water with a long branch only disturbed some unknown plants, confirming it wasn’t safe to drink.

“Ichinose, back up.”

“Be careful.”

Naturally, this area too was overflowing with husks and occasionally non-communicative succubi.

Finding a house fit for a short rest, they drove out its succubus owner.

Now it was Ichinose’s turn to settle down and lie back.

As Rohan sat down and removed his equipment, Ichinose naturally used his thigh as a pillow.

“...”

“Just rest for a bit. If it’s uncomfortable, tell me anytime.”

Ichinose, overwhelmed with embarrassment and hesitation inside, couldn’t stop her impulsive actions knowing Rohan wouldn’t reject her.

‘Today, this pillow scores a hundred points.’

The way she sorted through things quickly while he slept, allowing her to face him squarely again, was probably because she had faced her feelings head-on.

Comfortable in her position, Ichinose spoke with her eyes closed.

“Rohan.”

“Hm?”

“You’re not still worried about that, are you?”

“...”

Throughout their journey, they had continued their conversations.

Ichinose no longer avoided looking at him when talking.

But Rohan hadn’t completely moved past giving her a bad experience. The embarrassment had long faded, but the stench-filled room where he had protected Ichinose lingered in his memory.

Every time Rohan showed the slightest odd behavior, Ichinose was reminded of that thick taste that clung to her throat.

Chewing over it made her head feel strange, so she felt the need to completely fix Rohan’s guilt.

“You’re too hard on yourself, Rohan.”

“Me?”

“You should take pride in surviving the succubus's enchantment. That’s really something, isn’t it? You should be proud.”

“...”

“So don’t worry too much. It’s not like Rohan committed a sin, and it’s a natural bodily reaction for a healthy man... I don’t mind at all.”

Rohan smiled wryly at Ichinose defending him.

She really was a wonderful girl.

Accomplice was a disturbing word, but it certainly held a different meaning here.

“Baby-nose isn’t really a baby, huh?”

“Of course not!”

Even while boasting from her position on his thigh, her credibility was a bit shaky.

Rohan, sincerely grateful, placed his hand on Ichinose’s shoulder.

“Thanks.”

“Thank me? I’m more thankful...”

With that meaningful gratitude, Ichinose closed her mouth, the heat rising to her cheeks again.

“Let’s rest well and then move on.”

With Rohan’s comforting pat, the girl quickly found peace and drifted into dreamland.

***

After their rest, Rohan and Ichinose set off again.

Rohan, anticipating potential combat, provided Ichinose with potions.

The best-case scenario would be to finish the dungeon unscathed without using the potions.

But if they needed to use them at a critical moment, the points spent would be well worth it.

“Baby-nose, do you °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° feel it?”

“It's definitely here.”

As they dealt with monsters and followed the stream, the mansion came into view.

Rohan was certain it was the dwelling of a named succubus.

As before, they circled the perimeter to survey the interior, then stormed into the mansion armed.

A frozen ward stone in the foyer was quickly dealt with, and a succubus absorbing essence in the bedroom burst out.

As expected, upon seeing Rohan, the succubus's eyes widened in surprise and lust.

“This man...!?”

Was there ever an exception?

This succubus, too, coveted Rohan's special vitality.

Like the previous one, it proposed a pact, but Rohan responded with bullets, and the battle ensued immediately.

The succubus’s forte was using its large, sturdy wings both as weapons and shields.

To Rohan, however, such a foe was no different from a reaper.

He exploited the weakness exposed by the wings blocking bullets.

Avoiding the succubus's narrow but potent enchantment, unlike Bianca's more extensive charm, he swung his sword. If struck by such a charm, especially from a named succubus, the tide of battle could drastically turn, potentially leading to a "social death" for Rohan.

Ping!

The debuff exploded in a single hit, resolving the conflict much quicker and more anticlimactically than expected.

Rohan sheathed his sword, the glow of victory dimming, and continued his thoughts.

'The next succubus is the last. The Monolith is there.'

Having encountered this succubus, he was certain.

Rohan's memories grew clearer.

With a resolve to not be directly hit by enchantment again, Rohan and Ichinose continued on their way.