I Became the Academy’s Disabled Student - Chapter 164
Chapter 164
Don’t Bully Dad!
***
After finishing her tasks, Hong Yeon-hwa returned to Shio-ram.
The gate terminal at Shio-ram was bustling with people.
“Look at the crowd. If the building were smaller, we wouldn’t even have made it inside.”
On their way out, Hong Yeon-hwa glanced back at the still-crowded interior, her face showing clear distaste.
“It’s not just us. Everyone’s probably coming back today or tomorrow.”
Next to her, Baek Ahrin shrugged nonchalantly.
“Once the semester starts, it’s hard to spend extended time outside. So there are probably many who stayed out as long as possible during the break.”
There were a few cadets who remained at Shio-ram during the break, but since it’s difficult to spend much time outside during the semester, most of them left the institution.
Hong Yeon-hwa, after completing her tasks, stepped out of the crowded building.
Finally, the blue sky and fluffy, white clouds came into view.
“Phew…”
She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the refreshing air.
Although they weren’t on the outskirts of the island, there was still a faint, salty sea breeze that occasionally tickled her nose.
It wasn’t a particularly pleasant scent, but right now, it felt oddly comforting.
China.
Though it wasn’t the Demonic Realm, it wasn’t normal either.
There were regions where dungeons had run rampant, breaking through barriers and merging with this world.
Many areas were still deeply steeped in the venom of the Twin-headed Venom Dragon, giving off a foul stench.
It wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to sour one’s mood.
Now, standing amidst such a peaceful scene, Hong Yeon-hwa felt a wave of relief wash over her.
Just for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the change in atmosphere.
Then, she resumed her steps.
“Ariel, go and take my luggage to the dormitory.”
“Yes, understood.”
Behind her, Ariel, who had been following like a shadow, bowed her head.
Ariel had accompanied her on the trip to China.
It was only natural.
Ariel was once a top-tier hunter.
She had a knack for tracking, so she had come along to help locate the missing Lee Hayul.
Fortunately, Lee Hayul had been found relatively quickly and was now staying at Shio-ram.
It was still a hot topic.
Lee Hayul, who had slain the Twin-headed Venom Dragon, which had nearly repeated a past nightmare, before the damage could spread.
His fame and attention skyrocketed. Though some at the World Superhuman Association had doubts about the situation, thinking he had gotten involved in yet another incident… all those voices soon quieted down under the association’s authority.
“It’s a pity, though.”
“What is?”
“I’ve heard that the young master has… become younger. I would have liked to see it for myself.”
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes twitched.
“It’s an astonishing story. Physical regression, they say. I’ve never heard of such a case before… could it be a variation of a complete metamorphosis?”
“…You’ll have plenty of chances to see him later.”
“True. Indeed, that’s a wise answer.”
Ariel clapped her hands together in a mock applause, her face expressionless.
“My desire is still within tolerable limits. I shall suppress it for now in anticipation of the future, so Miss, please go ahead and satisfy your own desires quickly.”
“Hey, that sounds a bit weird, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, I apologize.”
With a peculiar tone, Ariel responded and quickly gathered the luggage before departing.
Her attitude was as brazen as ever.
Hong Yeon-hwa shook her head in mild disbelief but didn’t say more.
During the time when Lee Hayul was missing, Hong Yeon-hwa had been so frantic that she didn’t notice anything around her.
In her distress, she had snapped at those around her, and Ariel had borne the brunt of it.
In hindsight, Hong Yeon-hwa realized it was her own fault.
***
After hastening her pace, Hong Yeon-hwa arrived at her destination.
Her destination was Lee Hayul’s dormitory.
-Are the blessings applied outside too? The growth rate is unclear, and I’m confused.
-If the results are still ambiguous even with blessings, that in itself is surprising…
-Bastard.
Just like outside, the dormitory was packed with people… or more accurately, cadets who had returned to Shio-ram.
Though the lobby was crowded and navigating it was tricky, as soon as Hong Yeon-hwa entered, the crowd parted for her.
While the rumors surrounding Hong Yeon-hwa’s ferocity had died down a little, thanks to her frequent appearances with Lee Hayul, they hadn’t completely disappeared.
She pressed the elevator button and waited.
Soon, the doors closed, and she felt the familiar sensation of ascent.
Hong Yeon-hwa kept her eyes on the numbers displayed above the door.
2, 3, 4…
The elevator seemed to move rather slowly. Was there something wrong with it?
“Hmm, hmm…”
As she impatiently tapped her fingers while crossing her arms, a strange sound reached her ears.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes twitched.
That strange sound. It wasn’t new. She had been hearing it for a while now.
“…What is that?”
“Hmm? What’s what?”
Hong Yeon-hwa turned her head to look at Baek Ahrin.
With her hands clasped behind her back, Baek Ahrin hummed a little tune, tilting her head innocently.
Baek Ahrin had also been invited by Lee Hayul. It seemed he intended to share the secret about Lee Seo-yul’s existence.
It made sense. It wasn’t something he could keep hidden forever, so revealing it to those close to him was the logical step.
What bothered Hong Yeon-hwa, however, was that Baek Ahrin had learned the secret around the same time as she had.
“You seem to be in a good mood. Did something nice happen?”
“Not really… I’m just feeling particularly well today~”
‘Not really, my foot,’ Hong Yeon-hwa thought, narrowing her eyes.
Baek Ahrin always acted cheerful, but today, there was something different.
After spending considerable time together, Hong Yeon-hwa had developed a sense for these things. Baek Ahrin wasn’t just pretending to be in a good mood today—she genuinely was.
As Hong Yeon-hwa pondered over this oddity, the elevator doors opened.
She suppressed her swirling thoughts and hurried down the hallway.
Finally, she reached the door.
The nameplate read “Lee Hayul.”
‘Sigh…’
Hong Yeon-hwa closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She had prepared herself mentally, but she still wasn’t entirely sure how she would react once she saw him.
Anger simmered within her. He had wandered off on his own and almost died. Her rage was burning hot. She might just grab him and scold him right on the spot.
Was she looking forward to it? The fact that he had become younger? She had heard the news but hadn’t seen it for herself. Elia had offered to send a photo, but Hong Yeon-hwa had refused, wanting to see it with her own eyes.
Behind this door was Lee Hayul.
-Gulp.
Hong Yeon-hwa swallowed hard and opened the door.
The entrance came into view.
Several pairs of shoes were neatly arranged on the shoe rack.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes narrowed.
Most of them weren’t Lee Hayul’s but women’s shoes. She had been told about this in advance, but it still made her feel a bit uneasy.
That feeling soon faded, replaced by the sweet scent filling the air.
That familiar aroma… the honey-like, sweet fragrance that was uniquely Lee Hayul’s.
Perhaps because it was where he resided, that scent was particularly strong here.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s expression softened.
“What are you doing?”
Prompted by Baek Ahrin’s poke from behind, she removed her shoes and stepped into the living room.
There were quite a few people in the living room.
Elia Slade, Liana Velus, Atra Clyde…
And…
Lee Hayul, sitting on the floor? Hong Yeon-hwa froze, her breath catching in her throat.
Her eyes trembled as they scanned Lee Hayul.
His snow-white hair was so clean and pristine that she felt an almost overwhelming urge to dye it with her own colors.
An aura that exuded mystery and dreamlike quality surrounded him.
And his skin, now even fairer and softer than before…
‘Wait.’
For a moment, Hong Yeon-hwa’s thoughts came to a standstill.
His skin, fair and soft… and the scars on his right arm were gone.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes widened.
“Yeon-hwa?”
A voice called from behind her, but she didn’t hear it. All her focus was on Lee Hayul, specifically on his right arm.
The scars left by Gop-hwa were notoriously difficult to erase, often considered permanent marks or brands.
Yet now, the once-scarred arm of Lee Hayul was smooth and flawless, covered in soft, pale skin.
A ripple of emotions surged through Hong Yeon-hwa.
As she approached, she couldn’t help but notice just how much smaller and more delicate Lee Hayul had become.
He was incredibly petite… easy to hold in her arms.
An impulse arose.
She still wanted to scold him, but that could wait.
Hong Yeon-hwa absentmindedly reached out her hand.
-Slap!
“Huh?”
Her hand was slapped away by a tiny hand from the side.
Hong Yeon-hwa blinked.
The fog clouding her mind cleared.
Her narrowed vision returned to its original state.
That’s when she saw the girl standing next to Lee Hayul, glaring at her with a fierce look.
The girl resembled Lee Hayul.
Her hair was similarly white, and she was just slightly larger than him.
The main difference was her hair had a subtle, iridescent glow, unlike Lee Hayul’s pure white.
Moreover, her sharp eyes gave her a much more intense and confident appearance, unlike Lee Hayul’s gentle demeanor.
And, of course, there were the beautiful, multi-colored wings on her back.
‘Ah.’
Lee Seo-yul.
The fairy child born from the egg retrieved from The Tower of Growth, who had come to see Lee Hayul as a parent.
The child Lee Hayul had nervously admitted to raising.
“Don’t bully Dad!”
-Clang, clang!
Her clear voice rang out like the striking of a musical instrument.
Lee Seo-yul, who had yelled, raised her eyes fiercely and wrapped her arms tightly around Lee Hayul.
She even spread her wings wide to completely shield Lee Hayul.
As if protecting him from some kind of danger.
The problem was, she seemed to regard Hong Yeon-hwa as the danger.
Hong Yeon-hwa was left speechless.
[Seo-yul, no…]
[You shouldn’t do that…]
[I’m sorry.]
[Seo-yul must have misunderstood.]
[I’m really sorry…]
Lee Hayul, who had been standing stiffly, suddenly snapped back to attention. He anxiously glanced at Hong Yeon-hwa while trying to calm down Lee Seo-yul.
Even in his tense and weakened state, his actions to protect his daughter were quite heartwarming.
“No, um… I didn’t do anything, though…?”
But Hong Yeon-hwa was simply at a loss for words.
All she had done was reach out to hug him, but now she looked like some villain threatening the family.
“Trash.”
“…”
Baek Ahrin, standing behind her, whispered teasingly, and for some reason, it hit Hong Yeon-hwa right in the chest.
Her eyes twitched in frustration.
End of Chapter.
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Jhonrock
Looooool!!! Fatality!!!