Rohan was in the meditation room of Sion's mansion.

Though it was called a meditation room, it had solid walls and perfect soundproofing. The spacious area made it suitable for physical movement.

In the silent meditation room where not even the sound of wind could be heard, continuously swinging a sword tested the limits of one's concentration.

"Hah!"

He continued swinging his sword even as his grip ached. His calluses had formed well enough.

Though he'd been told to rest after returning from the dungeon, Rohan continued training, knowing that the quest reward had completed his healing.

Moreover, he couldn't stay still with the intuition that now was the perfect time for training, with his mind clearly opened by Ichinose Jun's words.

'Again.'

Having a body with magical power didn't mean special training dominated everything.

Someone somewhere might have secret training methods, but fundamentals always came first.

The importance of basics was so obvious it wasn't worth explaining.

So Rohan continued swinging and thrusting his sword today as well.

He wasn't firing his gun. Instead, he focused on being aware of where the gun barrel would pass while using sword techniques.

He constantly considered the ideal trajectory of bullets.

Whoosh!

Compressed flames bloomed along the sword's path, filling the air with heat.

The temperature in the meditation room was rising.

As he desperately tried to imprint sword techniques into his body and consciousness while using magical power, the parts where his skills were lacking showed fatigue first.

The muscles that tired first screamed intensely for mercy.

"..."

He ignored them and continued repeating his movements.

Though he wasn't pursuing physical balance for aesthetic purposes like a bodybuilder, balance was absolutely crucial.

He needed to severely discipline the lagging parts.

More. More. More.

He squeezed everything out. He pushed himself to the limit.

When even the parts that had been holding up well started to ache and reached their limit, unable to compensate for the exhausted muscles, Rohan's basic training approached its end.

'Just one more time.'

This was the foundation of growth and the core of training not just for Rohan, but for Sion and Clara too.

When the two girls did this training, they wore light clothing that Rohan found difficult to look at directly, holding knives and exchanging brilliant combinations in silence.

The concentration Sion and Clara showed during those times was impressive even to Rohan.

'Last one!'

Rohan's entire body moved elastically as his blade pierced through the air.

—Shing! The blade sang sharply despite touching nothing.

The chronic issues with the Three Sword Light Wing Cone technique were gradually being erased through consistent effort.

"Huff...!"

Sweat dripped down Rohan's jawline as he returned to his starting position.

His white t-shirt was so soaked with sweat that he looked like he'd fallen into water.

Rohan took off the thin fabric that clung to his skin. Splat! The t-shirt made a wet sound as it rolled into a ball.

'If only I had more Points, I'd train while drinking potions.'

Unfortunately, he didn't have much left after his Transcendence.

Of course, he had enough to buy a few potions. But how could he spend that?

'Now I'm more anxious about not having shop Points than having a thin wallet...'

After experiencing the Monolith dungeon twice through unexpected quests, he felt uneasy without a certain amount of Points in reserve.

He compulsively kept some Points aside for food and water.

"..."

After retrieving the magical power from the heated blade, click! He returned it to its scabbard.

He picked up the supplement he'd left in the corner to replenish fluids and nutrients.

His mind gradually recalled things beyond training.

'No news about the exclusive quest that was supposed to be a reward, and the shop is quiet while updating.'

An unwelcome silence. It felt like the calm before a storm.

This quiet atmosphere felt like a sign that a big wave was coming, telling him to train thoroughly and wait.

'For now... it's time to focus on final exams and training.'

His current goal was simple. Build strength.

Rather than trying to interpret the information from the Restricted section with his not-so-great brain, it was better to focus on training.

As Ichinose Jun said, enough to overcome problems without resorting to desperate measures that put his life on the line.

That was Rohan's only immediate purpose.

"Phew!"

He finished the supplement Clara had prepared for him.

'Time to shower.'

Gathering his things, Rohan headed to the small shower room right next to the meditation room.

*****

"That completes the password registration."

Sion operated a device at the main entrance to grant Ichinose free access to the mansion.

At first, Ichinose declined, feeling burdened, but eventually extended her hand after Sion suggested it would be good not to refuse anything related to Rohan.

"Please come in."

"Y-yes, thank you...!"

Ichinose entered the mansion, saying she would be intruding.

She sensed the structure of the mansion without moving her head.

"What a wonderful mansion."

"Thank you."

When Rohan and Clara first entered this mansion, they had gaped in awe.

Ichinose simply nodded, saying it was a nice house.

"Rohan... seems to have not finished training yet."

As Sion said, Rohan's shoes were at the entrance.

But the mansion was quiet. He must have gone into the meditation room and not come out yet.

"I shouldn't disturb his training. May I wait?"

Sion answered that of course she could, then headed to the refrigerator to get something to drink.

Clara guided Ichinose to the sofa.

"Um, please sit here...!"

"Thank you. Excuse me."

Ichinose received even a cushion to hold and slowly raised her eyelids.

She rolled her eyes to look around the house. Then a question arose.

Ichinose asked Sion, who was bringing fruit juice.

"By the way... there are no Water Drop Friends decorations?"

It was a shared interest between Ichinose and Sion.

Surely it was a character she liked, so why weren't there any goods? From Ichinose's perspective, this was genuinely incomprehensible.

"Ah! Those are in my room. I'll bring them."

Sion smiled, set down the drinks, and headed to her room.

'That's a perfect conversation topic.'

Water Drop Friends also symbolized the place where Sion first met Ichinose.

They weren't any kind of acquaintances then, but Ichinose had been the first to bow in greeting.

A pleasant memory. Though Sion hadn't said it out loud, she felt her relationship with Ichinose was destined.

Creak.

The door opened and Sion came out to the living room.

A pink crying dragon and a silly-looking shark were cradled in Sion's arms.

"These are my most precious ones."

Water Drop Friends dolls that Rohan had bought for Sion.

Wooly and Blueby, classic versions.

Ichinose's eyes widened at the sight of them.

She had a curiosity that bordered on certainty.

"Did Rohan buy those for you?"

"...How did you know?"

"Rohan once asked me what kind of things I liked."

Ichinose laughed silently, saying she understood everything.

Normally she might have felt bitter, but remembering they were now collaborators, she felt overwhelmingly envious of Sion's gift from Rohan.

"Shall we go to the store together next time? I have some recommendations."

"I would love that, of course."

Ichinose also glanced at Clara, who was sitting quietly beside them.

"Clara, you should come too. The store near the academy has a collaboration café inside with many special desserts."

"Ah! Y-yes...!"

In the midst of this pleasant atmosphere.

Rohan, who had just finished showering, came up the stairs from the basement.

"Oh? We have a guest?"

"R-Rohan... excuse the intrusion..."

"Welcome. It's funny for me to say that since I'm also a guest, but..."

Ichinose hurriedly took in every detail of Rohan's daily life that caught her eye.

The moisture remaining at the tips of his hair.

His short-sleeved t-shirt blatantly exposed his developed muscles. To a young woman, it was as stimulating as seeing someone dressed up nicely.

"Are you two done with your outings?"

"We just got back."

"I-I went to a café with big sister..."

Rohan patted Clara's head, saying she did well, then headed to the water purifier.

Ichinose envied Clara, who couldn't hide her melting smile beside her.

'...So these two have been enjoying such precious situations every day.'

Ichinose swallowed hard, controlling her emotions before speaking.

"Somehow I've become quite close with both of you..."

"That's good. I'm glad to see it."

Rohan smiled refreshingly. He looked genuinely happy.

Seeing that, Ichinose felt she had made the right decision to join hands with them.

In that moment, Sion thought about showing Ichinose the true taste of cooperation and support.

After quickly formulating her plan, Sion moved her lips.

"Ichinose, this mansion also has a shooting range."

"I've never used a gun before. I don't know how to handle anything besides a sword, and I find it more comfortable to keep my eyes closed."

"Shooting can be enjoyed purely as a hobby. If it suits your taste, there's nothing better for relieving stress."

"I see. I should try it sometime."

"Since we're on the subject, would you like to try it now?"

"Hmm..."

She had only mentioned it out of politeness and didn't particularly want to shoot. As Ichinose hesitated, wondering how to politely decline.

Sion's gaze turned to Rohan.

"Rohan would be better at teaching than me. Rohan, how about showing Ichinose the basic shooting stance?"

"Sure. Are you interested?"

This changed things entirely.

Baby-nose nodded eagerly.

Everyone went down to the shooting range.

Ichinose stood at the firing line holding a pistol for the first time, with Rohan positioned behind her.

Sion and Clara watched the two from a distance.

"Like swordsmanship, shooting has various grip methods and stances."

"H-hmm... I see...?"

"But there's a standard stance. Let's try that—stand with your feet shoulder-width apart."

"..."

Rohan stood behind her, supporting her arms. He touched her gun-holding hand to correct even the position of her fingers.

Thick fingers and forearms, a broad chest that seemed to engulf Ichinose's small frame.

Her heart pounded at Rohan's voice and warmth felt from behind.

So much that she worried it might be audible.

'...Is this heaven?'

Ichinose couldn't stop thinking how glad she was to have cooperated.

Shooting is the best!

After Ichinose emptied one magazine in that sweet time.

Her smartphone rang.

[Noah]