I Became the Academy’s Disabled Student - Chapter 200

Chapter 200

Too Much…

***

“Ughhhh…”

I had already embarrassed myself early in the morning. I let out a groan, messing with my hair for no reason.

“Not only did I sleep with my mouth wide open all night, but I was drooling too…”

And it wasn’t even on my pillow or blanket, but all over Baek Ahrin’s chest.

It was so ridiculous and humiliating that I couldn’t even lift my head.

Even if I had done it while sleeping alone, it would have been awkward, but I ended up bothering someone else…

“It’s okay. Drooling a bit isn’t going to wear out my chest or anything.”

Baek Ahrin chuckled softly as she watched me flailing about while sitting on the bed. She adjusted her loose clothing and then patted my back comfortingly as she came closer.

I turned my head slightly, avoiding her gaze.

Even though the victim herself said it was fine, the embarrassment didn’t go away.

Hong Yeon-hwa was still sound asleep. Even though she was someone who usually woke up at the slightest movement, it seemed like she was exhausted from helping me regulate my turbulent Gop-hwa last night.

“Sigh…”

I let out a deep sigh.

A little while later, Hong Yeon-hwa finally woke up from her dreamland.

“It seems like the trial is over.”

This was her comment after checking my condition before breakfast.

It wasn’t just a casual observation.

She sat me in her lap, and her hand slipped under my clothes to gently caress my stomach. Mana leaked from her soft palm, meticulously scanning my entire body.

“The heat has settled well. There’s no sign of it going berserk, and your mana has calmed down too.”

The trial of Gop-hwa had ended.

Since Hong Yeon-hwa was someone who could handle Gop-hwa at a master level, her words were trustworthy.

More than anything, I could feel it myself. Until yesterday, the mana that would transform into fiery energy and hammer at my emotions even when I stayed still was now calm and settled.

‘……’

Usually, a superhuman who awakens their unique ability can sense their own uniqueness.

From what I’ve heard, people don’t usually sense all the small and countless aspects like I do, but they can recognize the ones that stand out as their ‘ability.’

It was the same for me. Without even needing to use the Power of Observation, I could feel it just by focusing.

There was a sense of discomfort I had felt since waking up earlier.

With a strange expression, I rubbed my solar plexus.

Countless unique traits. Two were significantly prominent, and many others were clinging around them, gradually growing larger.

And near them, there was one more, something new that hadn’t been there before—another prominent unique trait.

The perception was like a burning flame.

‘Gop-hwa.’

I could sense it, but I couldn’t understand it.

‘I haven’t activated Homogenization. So why…’

I could feel Gop-hwa.

Even though I hadn’t gone through Homogenization, Gop-hwa was blatantly asserting its presence.

It wasn’t a mistake. Both my senses and the Power of Observation were recognizing Gop-hwa.

I didn’t understand it, but the result was clear.

I had manifested Gop-hwa. Not through imitation via Homogenization, but as something that had taken root within me.

‘How?’

Confusion and complexity clouded my face.

When I think about it, it was strange that I had even undergone the trial of Gop-hwa.

In my third life, I had manifested Gop-hwa. I had first manifested a half-baked version of Gop-hwa and used it carefully every time I acted alone. Even after graduating from Shio-ram, I continued using it.

I had handled it for that long. But I had never faced the trial of Gop-hwa. I had assumed that since it was a half-baked version achieved through a loophole, there was no trial.

So I naturally thought I wouldn’t face a trial either.

After all, I wasn’t even a half-baked version; I was just temporarily imitating it.

It wasn’t like I had a crude version of Gop-hwa embedded inside me. I was merely altering the nature of my mana to resemble Gop-hwa and manifesting its flames momentarily.

And yet, I underwent the trial, and now I had the real Gop-hwa rooted inside me.

‘Does that mean I have to be wary of Gop-hwa from now on?’

Before, I didn’t have to worry too much. I only had to manage my emotions temporarily when I ignited the flames. But from now on, I might be affected by Gop-hwa even in my daily life.

‘If Changhae and Taesan also take root… will I become an emotional wreck, with my feelings swinging up and down like a madman?’

Suddenly, the dream I had earlier came to mind.

As with most dreams, I didn’t remember it vividly, but certain parts stood out.

Gop-hwa, Changhae, Taesan… and Lee Hayul, who died in the deepest part of the Demonic Realm, wielding all three… Memories of the third life.

And the second life I had witnessed in the Tower of Growth.

‘…I hope I can gain something from the Tower of Knowledge.’

Of course, it’s uncertain whether I can even enter it right now.

In any case, the trial of Gop-hwa was over.

Thanks to that, my emotions were stable, and I wasn’t having any inappropriate thoughts.

“It took longer than I expected. I thought it would end in a few days like mine…”

-Squeeze… Squish…

“Ugh…”

…I wasn’t having those thoughts.

The sensation of a hand rubbing against my skin made me squirm in ticklish discomfort. The tickling was a physiological reaction, so there was nothing I could do about it.

My train of thought was abruptly cut off.

“It took almost ten days, right? It’s finally over!”

Clap, clap—Elia’s eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands together. A bright smile bloomed on her lips.

It wasn’t just Hong Yeon-hwa and me in the living room.

Baek Ahrin, who had slept in the same bed, was also with us, and Elia and Seo-yul had come out of their rooms as well.

“Now there’s no risk of Gop-hwa going berserk anymore, right?”

“Uh… for now, yes. But it’s not completely safe. Gop-hwa can still explode at any time, even outside of the trial…”

“So, it’s just like before? That’s great! Now we can all sleep together with Hayul and Seo-yul again, right?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Seo-yul has been feeling really lonely lately. Isn’t that right, Seo-yul?”

“Yes, I want to sleep with Daddy.”

Seo-yul replied clearly, as if she had been waiting for the question.

Her sulky gaze pierced through me. My shoulders shrank involuntarily.

I hadn’t been able to play with her for a while because I had been focusing on controlling Gop-hwa. While I could move, I had devoted all my time to training to get used to Gop-hwa.

It seemed Seo-yul had been building up some frustration during that time.

“……”

Hong Yeon-hwa glanced back and forth between me, nestled in her arms, and Seo-yul, who was in Elia’s arms, with a conflicted expression.

She seemed dissatisfied, but at the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to separate a parent and child, judging by the complex look in her eyes.

After that, a strange silence settled over the living room.

“Now that the trial is over, has Hayul’s Gop-hwa changed as well?”

[Yes, it should have.]

Baek Ahrin’s carefree voice broke the silence.

I, who had been cautiously reading the room, perked up and responded.

I extended one hand forward.

It was both to change the atmosphere and to check the state of Gop-hwa. I knew that Gop-hwa had taken root within me, but I needed to manifest it directly to understand the difference.

I was curious about how Gop-hwa had changed.

Did Hong Yeon-hwa’s power output increase? Maybe mine had increased similarly. If so, had the side effects also grown?

‘Manifest, Gop-hwa.’

-Whoosh

Gop-hwa ignited in my palm.

For a moment, the bright morning sunlight was pushed back, and the color of the flame filled the surroundings.

The flame rose, stretching upward as if it were waking up from a deep slumber.

“Wow…”

The arms wrapped around my waist tightened. It was Hong Yeon-hwa, still holding me in her lap. She stared blankly at the flame, letting out a breath of admiration.

The others had similar reactions. Their eyes widened, and soft gasps of awe escaped their lips as they gazed at the flame.

“It’s beautiful…”

That was Elia’s assessment.

I couldn’t help but agree, even as I observed the flame myself.

It flickered violently, like a burst of life, yet twisted gracefully, as if acknowledging the natural flow of the world. Watching it was like witnessing an elegant dance performance.

The color was still red, but somehow, it felt brighter and warmer. It was a color that emphasized warmth rather than danger.

More than anything, the flame itself was aesthetically pleasing. My brain registered it as such.

“Wow, wow… It’s so beautiful…”

“…Yeon-hwa. Is it possible for Gop-hwa to change like this?”

“Huh? Oh… There have been cases where the nature of Gop-hwa changed, but I’ve never heard of such a unique transformation.”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been holding my hand with the flickering Gop-hwa, stammered as she replied. It seemed she was too absorbed in admiring the flame.

It wasn’t just Hong Yeon-hwa. Everyone had gathered close to me, watching the flame from up close.

‘…Why is a flame so beautiful?’

I tilted my head in confusion. I had expected the power output to increase, but suddenly, the atmosphere of the flame had changed drastically.

On the surface, it looked more like a ceremonial flame than one meant for combat.

Everyone continued to admire the flame until I extinguished it.

With the end of the trial, the ticking time bomb that had been attached to me was gone.

Of course, the danger hadn’t completely disappeared.

I still had to be cautious of Gop-hwa’s side effects, which I could previously pick and choose when to deal with by using Homogenization. Now, I had to be mindful of them even in my daily life.

Still, the immediate risk of the bomb going off had vanished. Thanks to that, Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin no longer had to stick to me at all times.

For some reason, both Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin seemed a bit disappointed, while Elia was just happy that the trial had ended safely.

In any case, I could finally resume my activities.

There was a lot of work piled up.

First, I had to deal with the assignments that had accumulated from missing classes and attend the important lectures that I couldn’t afford to skip.

But above all else, there was one thing I had to do first.

“It’s been a while, Cadet Lee Hayul.”

[Yes, hello.]

I had come to the top floor of the Central Administrative Building for the first time in a while.

Sitting across the table from me was the Vice Principal, distinguished by her violet eyes and hair, who bowed her head slightly in greeting.

This was the meeting with the Vice Principal that I had arranged in advance.

I returned the greeting with a bow, but I couldn’t help but feel a hint of frustration creeping into my expression.

There were so many things I wanted to talk about, so many complaints I wanted to vent.

There was also the matter of entering the Tower of Knowledge. Would they let me in? If not, why?

And the second life I had witnessed in the Tower of Growth. Who was that person? Why did I feel pain? Why did they show me the second life? Are there other lives as well? Why did the Principal bring me here?

There were so many questions I had held back but now wanted to ask.

“First, take this.”

[?]

Just as I was about to unleash my barrage of questions, the Vice Principal suddenly reached into the air. A subspace opened up. I could have blocked it with the Power of Space, but I let it be for now.

The Vice Principal rummaged through the subspace and then pulled out two keys.

One was a luxurious golden key, and the other was a simple silver key.

The Vice Principal handed both keys to me.

[What are these?]

In response to my question, the Vice Principal replied nonchalantly.

“They are the keys to Shio-ram’s secret vault and the Tower of Knowledge.”

[What?]

The complaints I had been about to unleash were abruptly silenced.

End of Chapter