Elia, who had stepped out, returned and studying resumed.
The ‘Lee Ha-yul Care Party’ system was still in place, but I wasn’t too disheartened.
Results were starting to show.
The tally of stick figures in the problem sheets was decreasing, and the proportion of circles was gradually increasing.
“I can see you’re growing in real-time!”
It wasn’t just a feeling; the statistics confirmed it. Baek Ahrin, who had been grading my work, was wide-eyed with surprise.
It wasn’t that my memorization had improved drastically. I had already solved most of the memory-related questions easily.
I was weak physically in this world, but at least my mind… my memory was a slight advantage I could claim.
All the problems that were turning into circles were application problems.
Understanding those tricky application questions started getting easier, as if they were bursting like gimbap.
“Is this the effect of being a Jack of All Trades?”
I’m not sure how much it impacts intelligence, but it seemed like there was some adjustment in proficiency.
After all, once I realized that being a Jack of All Trades was my unique ability, my overall efficiency increased in many ways.
And I finally understood why people would go to a Study Cafe for studying when they could do it at home.
Studying alongside others somehow… motivated me more. With increased enthusiasm and concentration, my learning efficiency improved.
Of course, my sources of motivation weren’t just that.
“Ha-yul, you got question 21 right? It was tough! You explained it well too.”
Elia exclaimed with surprise, gently patting my head with a soft smile.
“Well done~”
That warm touch sent delightful chills down my hair. I couldn’t help but break into a silly grin.
Honestly, it wasn’t so much the friendly competition of others studying that boosted my motivation, but rather the compliments and head pats I received with each problem I solved.
Compliments make everything dance, or so they say. It may not have been something to brag about, but I couldn’t deny how good it felt.
“Ha-yul? Ah~”
[I’m full]
Along with the compliments, they would occasionally… no, quite regularly stuff candies or snacks into my mouth.
Seeing Baek Ahrin forcibly shove snacks into my mouth, Elia joined in, increasing the frequency.
They weren’t delicious, but I awkwardly accepted them without embarrassment, and after several rounds of that, my stomach felt bloated.
Maybe it was because I had already thrown up in the morning, but my appetite, which was already low, plummeted, and I didn’t want to eat anything.
I couldn’t even bring myself to reach for my usual energy bars.
“Superhumans need to eat much more than ordinary folks. I’m worried you don’t eat enough, Ha-yul!”
Elia insisted, finally managing to stuff another snack into my mouth, and I felt a bit wronged by it.
Honestly, in my situation, it was weird for me to feel hungry.
I had never really lived a life where I could eat a lot, so naturally, I’d developed a smaller appetite.
Lately, my taste and sense of smell had both been wrecked, and the mental strain made my already short appetite shrink even more.
“You need to eat more to be healthy and grow taller…”
‘?’
Amidst my grievances, an unreasonable statement slipped from Elia’s lips.
My eyes twitched with shock. I gripped the pen tightly in my hand.
[Eating and height are not directly related]
“Uh, really…?”
[Height is mostly determined by genetics]
Elia seemed taken aback for once.
No matter how she might try, a statement like that was hard to overlook.
You need to eat a lot to grow tall! Nutrients must be supplied, and you need to take in vitamins and iron for your bones to grow.
Who doesn’t know that? I know that if you want to grow tall, you have to eat!
But not everyone grows that way. No matter how much they try to eat healthily, there are those who just don’t grow taller.
I wasn’t one of those who grew up big and strong, but I tried to eat well, hoping to grow taller someday.
But it didn’t work at all. Even though I’d drink delicious milk every day and eat nutritious meals consistently, my height didn’t budge.
If eating well truly guaranteed height, then those who had regular meals would have turned into giants!
I understood the logical fallacy here. But emotionally… a complicated mix of frustration and inferiority rose within me.
Elia was tall. She exceeded the average height of women I knew with ease.
I was on the shorter end. I knew I didn’t even reach the average height for men.
If I were to open my eyes, I would have to tilt my head up just to meet her gaze.
It wasn’t just Elia. Hong Yeon-hwa, Baek Ahrin… even my mentor and Professor Riana were all tall.
Superhumans are typically in good shape.
They have height, and muscles develop easily. The passing male students were all tall and muscular, exuding an impressive aura.
Unlike me.
A wave of resentment swelled within me. The charm of the declaration necklace rattled and began to voice my thoughts.
[Height is mostly determined by innate genetics. Even if you take in nutrients well, there are people who don’t grow taller. Height is just something you’re born with─]
“Okay, okay, calm down. Ha-yul, you’re right. Let’s take a deep breath.”
“…That’s true! I misspoke, didn’t I? Ah, Ha-yul! Take a sip of this. It’s lemon-flavored, so the tanginess isn’t overwhelming… That’s it, good boy…”
I was subdued by her hugs and gentle pats.
In the face of power, powerless truths were simply trampled.
*
“Shall we call it a day?”
After being calmed down, I got my head together and focused on studying for a little while longer.
During this time, Baek Ahrin, who had been scribbling with her pen, glanced out the window and spoke up.
The view from the window, with the curtains drawn back, showed the sun slowly setting, casting a soft orange hue like spilled paint.
“It’s already this late?”
Elia, noticing the sunset streaming into the room, nodded in agreement. I suppose I lost track of time while I was focused.
Even I, who knew the time thanks to my observation powers, nodded as I put my pen down.
Even so, squatting in someone else’s home until nightfall to study felt a bit off.
After all, I had been fed and given plenty of snacks.
Elia and I gathered our things and stood up. Of course, I had to pack up my hologram projector and just one pad.
“Thank you for having me all day! Also, I’ll need your help again tomorrow!”
[Thanks for today]
“Yes, yes, don’t be late tomorrow. But the snack selection may be similar to today’s.”
“Ah, Ahrin has a solid taste.”
After a simple farewell, we left the study room. I double-checked to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
‘Now I should head to the training room.’
My body had long recovered. I had almost shaken off the aftereffects, and in fact, my body’s performance was better than before.
To regenerate my arm, I was told to focus on recovering my energy for a while… but I was still pondering over that.
‘Is it two weeks from now?’
The mid-term evaluation was getting closer. While it was two weeks away, today was Saturday, so next week was pretty much the same.
It felt like it was right around the corner.
At the same time, an unexpected incident reminded me of my lack of preparation for the entrance exam.
The foolish incident of consuming elixirs and fainting right on the spot.
I still had a vivid memory of completely losing track of the weekend right before the exam…
‘I’ve got to manage my condition.’
To avoid repeating that disaster, I needed to manage my condition.
But my already diminishing sleep schedule was further torn apart due to worsening nightmares.
I could last about five days, and now that I was in a routine, it wasn’t an issue, but… it would severely affect the mid-term grades.
Especially for combat practicals and tournaments.
‘Should I take the medicine today?’
The medicine prescribed at the main healing facility of the association.
It was something like a psychiatric drug, and I was told to take one if everyday life was disrupted.
The last time I took one before sleeping, it worked pretty well. I had a good long sleep and the nightmares were somewhat bearable.
Though in reality, sleeping in the arms of my mentor or Hong Yeon-hwa was much more effective.
But that doesn’t mean I could skip the medicine and ask either one of them to let me crash at their place.
[See you tomorrow]
“Wait a moment.”
As I slightly bowed my head and turned to leave, Baek Ahrin suddenly patted my shoulder.
Curious, I half-turned when she dragged her finger across my lips.
“You should eat and then clean up.”
‘?’
With a playful smile, Baek Ahrin held up her finger.
At the tip of her finger was some snack crumbs.
The very crumbs left from my lips moments ago.
‘……’
I could have sworn I cleaned up! Why are there still crumbs…?
First was the indignation, then came the embarrassment.
[You could just let me know]
“Why would I go through the trouble? I can just wipe it off like this.”
Baek Ahrin giggled and waved her hand again.
In a hurry, I cleaned my lips with a handkerchief and hurriedly left the room.
“Ha-yul~ Let’s go together~?”
Elia, also giggling, followed right behind me.
*
With a clunk—the door closed, and silence descended upon the room.
Moments ago, it had been us three studying together.
While the quiet nature of studying remained, now there was an added sense of emptiness.
“Hmm…”
Baek Ahrin twirled her finger absentmindedly, momentarily lost in thought as she recalled the previous memories.
Suddenly, she spotted the crumbs on her finger.
They were leftover crumbs from Ha-yul’s lips.
She had indeed wiped them away, as Ha-yul had said.
These crumbs were from the snack she’d just given him right before studying ended, so it was possible she forgot to shake them off.
Baek Ahrin relived that moment in her mind.
– “Just take a bite.”
– “[Thank you]”
The snack she had offered. The perfect size for a single bite, Ha-yul easily accepted it.
Surprisingly, it filled his mouth quite well, though.
Anyway.
– “How is it? Sweet, right?”
Staring at her finger, Baek Ahrin brought it to her lips.
She then stuck out her tongue and licked off the crumbs lingering on her fingertip.
While there might have been saliva on her finger, Baek Ahrin didn’t mind that at all.
– “[Yes]”
– “[It’s sweet]”
When Baek Ahrin asked if it was sweet, he answered without a hint of hesitation, saying it was delicious.
On his innocent expression, there was no doubt in her mind; nothing seemed off in his response.
It was just some crumbs, but Baek Ahrin nodded, relishing the taste lingering on her tongue.
“Ugh, bitter.”
It was a lie to say it was sweet.
*
[Player Adjustment System: Affinity]
Lee Ha-yul → Baek Ahrin
●●●●●○○○○○(55▷56/100)
“Affinity” “Questioning” “Confusion”
…
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