I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City-Chapter 135: Stronger Than Charm

It was a famous episode from the past.

A true story that was made into a movie and also published as a book in Tigrova.

One day, when succubi poured out of a dimensional rift, a man resisting a succubus's charm woke up from a kiss by a woman with whom he constantly bickered, and whom everyone called his nemesis.

The two survived the hardships created by the rift and, having confirmed their feelings for each other, are now married.

To forget the horrible calamity caused by the dimensional rift, the citizens endlessly talked about this tale filled with hope and sweetness.

This incident became one of the more popular stories related to the dimensional rift.

As this story spread, many people started imitating similar actions when succubi appeared from dimensional rifts, although the actual success rate was very low.

Only a few successful stories became known, so it became known as one of the methods to respond.

Despite the low probability of success, Ichinose Yui, a clever girl, was aware of it. Additionally, the strength of the succubus she was facing was extraordinary, making the attempt seem foolish.

However, the reason this method was the first to pop into her head was that Ichinose felt a fateful connection to Rohan.

"If this doesn't wake you up, I really will cut you!"

Ichinose pulled Rohan towards her and pressed her lips against his.

The girl's first kiss was not romantic but filled with urgency and desperation; however, if this act were to awaken Rohan, it could become a new memory.

"Ha! You think such a playful trick will work?"

Olivia burst out laughing as she watched Ichinose.

Every time she laughed, her split abdomen throbbed with pain, but she couldn't help it.

Certainly, the only act she could perform while being cautious was a childish kiss, nothing more.

But isn't that too much of a fairy tale?

Olivia was confident that the dense and sticky charm she crafted could not be undermined by such childish antics.

After all, she was the leader of the lair of nightmares.

"Kid, the men who succumb to my charm without exception... Huh?"

Olivia's eyes widened.

The pink magic power that had been bubbling up from Rohan's body was subsiding.

***

Rohan was awake yet confused.

"A dream? Or is this another charm...?"

The unpleasant, sticky things that had been invading his mind were gone. He couldn't tell if they had completely consumed him, or if he had managed to overcome them by force.

[Achievement Unlocked: Heroines' Gaze] [Achievement Reward: Reduced mana consumption of unique skills when with the heroine] [Heroine gains resistance to status ailments when with Rohan]

Behind the notification that popped up, he saw a girl trembling with her eyes tightly shut and lips still pressed together. The soft touch of her lips conveyed happiness.

"Ah."

Rohan realized.

Ichinose had pulled him out of the abyss of charm with a special method.

He tightly wrapped his arms around Ichinose's waist.

"!"

The girl's eyes snapped open, and, reluctantly, he let go of her lips and simultaneously jumped to the side.

Boom!

The spot where they had been standing was hit by Olivia's whip, severing the ground.

Rohan caught a glimpse of Olivia's face, reading various emotions in the succubus. Desperation and shock filled her, especially after losing her primary arm, making her whip strikes clumsy.

"Ro...han?"

Ichinose, held in his embrace, incredulously reached out and touched Rohan’s face.

He accepted her touch, conveying his gratitude.

"Thank you. Let's finish this."

Rohan released his grip on Ichinose and picked up the radiant glyph from the ground. He drew the brand from its holster.

Ichinose watched, relieved that Rohan hadn't transformed into a Pressure Stone. His actions were just as usual, dreamlike.

"Yes...!"

At the prospect of an ideal outcome, Ichinose smiled and moved with Rohan as they charged at Olivia.

Both knew they couldn’t miss this opportunity. Rohan, ignoring his wounds, gripped his weapon firmly. Ichinose deflected an awkward whip strike with her sheath, clearing the way for Rohan.

"Damn you, humans!"

Now, Olivia had no swagger left. The situation was dire. Creating more charm would deplete her magic entirely, and controlling the whip was no longer feasible due to her deep abdominal wound.

As Rohan got close enough, he feinted a sword swing, then pointed the gun at Olivia's thigh as she tried to block with the whip handle.

Blatantly overwhelmed, Olivia was easy to manipulate psychologically.

Bang! Bang!

The remaining bullets fired cleanly.

"Kyaaah!"

Olivia screamed as the bullets pierced her thick thigh, a noise he found unbearably annoying.

—Crack! He smacked her temple with the gun, then thrust the blazing glyph into her heart.

"Ah, aah...?"

Was it the pain that silenced her voice, or did she sense her impending death?

Olivia stiffened, her voice trailing off in a death rattle.

Unsurprisingly, neither Rohan nor Ichinose relaxed their guard. The victory was too surreal to savor just yet.

[+100P]

As the signal of Olivia's demise reached Rohan, the mirrors decorating the mansion shattered weakly, finally clarifying the structure of the mansion for Rohan and Ichinose.

[Achievement Unlocked: Charm Cutter] [Achievement Reward: Random point pouch received] [Achievement Unlocked: Example of Impenetrability] [Achievement Reward: Increased physical durability]

"Is that really what imperviousness means?"

Rohan let out a wry laugh at the unfamiliar achievements, then collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

"Phew..."

Now they had to locate the Monolith inside the mansion, but he hardly had the energy to move. Considering the room with the Monolith changed each time they entered the dungeon, they needed to move quickly, but he could hardly keep his eyes open without having received the full healing reward.

Holding onto consciousness felt like a battle against actual death, so he bit into a potion.

"Rohan! Are you okay?"

Ichinose, with no time to enjoy their victory, rushed over with a concerned look.

Rohan nodded desperately, clinging to consciousness.

"We need to find the Monolith."

"I'll look for it. You rest here."

"No, let's go together. The Monolith might just teleport again."

Ichinose couldn’t say it was unlikely because if it did, Rohan would be left alone.

"I'll support you..."

With the potion's strength, Rohan staggered to his feet, and Ichinose clung to him.

Behind the mirrors that had concealed them, doors lay hidden.

Together, they began to sift through each one.

***

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

"I don't think it's here either."

"Then there's only one room left."

Neither Rohan nor Ichinose mentioned the kiss as they searched the room. They were solely focused on finding # Nоvеlight # the Monolith.

It might have been Rohan's way of showing respect, or perhaps he was simply too worn out to discuss it.

And Ichinose, although she wanted to bring it up, was also caught in the contradictory emotions of hoping Rohan wouldn't mention it.

'It's scary to read thoughts... I don't even know what to make of this situation now...'

Ichinose Yui, a girl known for her contemplative nature, would never have acted so impulsively and taken such a risk if it weren't for the pressing danger. It was a moment spurred by urgency, without deep consideration of the consequences.

'What if the kiss had been useless...?'

That thought alone could profoundly shock the psyche of a girl who had been harboring a one-sided love.

'Was it literally a mental shock that woke him up, or did Rohan also feel something for me...?'

Confused about how to express herself, Ichinose couldn't even bring herself to look Rohan in the eye.

Step. Step. Step.

Supporting the staggering Rohan, Ichinose reached the largest door in the mansion.

Creeeeak! As the door swung open, the distinctive energy of the Monolith flowed out vividly.

Inside, a dark monolith stood prominently. Destroying it would mean their return.

"Baby Rohan."

"...Yes."

Worried he might collapse, Ichinose held Rohan tightly.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the strength right now. Could you break it for me?"

"Understood. And before we go back..."

"Yes?"

"You probably know, but once we return, you'll receive medical treatment and then be debriefed for information."

"I'm aware."

As he spoke, Rohan felt the lingering sensation of the kiss on his lips.

Blushing, the girl gripped the hilt of her sword.

"Just, when you talk, only mention what's necessary... You know what I mean...?"

She didn't wait for an answer.

After delivering her one-sided notice...

Ichinose cleaved the Monolith.