“Hey, how much are you stuffing in your mouth? Eat in moderation!”
“What? Hong, I’ve only eaten two pieces!”
Lately, breakfast has been pretty lively.
It’s the influence of a new guest who moved into the dorm.
I mechanically shoved another tasteless piece of meat into my mouth while eavesdropping on their conversation.
“Two pieces? That’s a whole lot. Stop eating!”
“Come on, that’s just too much! Who are you judging? You can’t fill your stomach with this! Let’s not mess around when we’re all superhumans here!”
Beside me, Hong Yeon-hwa was casually glancing away while Baek Ahrin paused in disbelief at my absurd critique of how much she was eating.
The playful banter that started thanks to Hong Yeon-hwa felt oddly like background music.
Probably because we all knew it wasn’t a serious fight, no one, including myself, really took it to heart and continued eating breakfast.
Seo-yul was still struggling to shake off sleep, bobbing his head up and down, while Ariel and I sat on either side, keeping an eye on him as we ate.
On the opposite side, Hong Yeon-hwa, Baek Ahrin, and Ariel were enjoying their breakfast.
“Excuse me for saying this to a lady, but… you really look pathetic.”
As the bickering continued, Ariel, who was quietly nibbling on her food, shot a sneaky jab at Hong Yeon-hwa.
At first, she refused to eat at the same table, but lately, she had been sitting without a word and eating together.
“Hey! If it’s rude, don’t say it! And wouldn’t you automatically be on my side?”
Hong Yeon-hwa raised her voice in indignation.
“Me?”
“What’s with that reaction? I’m your employer!”
“Strictly speaking, my employer is Lord Hong Jin-sun. Besides, I, Ariel, can point out faults even if my opponent is my employer.”
“Exactly! They say dogs don’t bother at the dinner table, so why are you harassing me here?”
The tables turned.
Suddenly, Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been pick-pick-picking at Baek Ahrin, was now getting double-teamed by Ariel and Baek Ahrin.
Maybe she was used to getting picked on by Ariel; there was no hesitation in Ariel’s prodding.
“Geez.”
Finally, Hong Yeon-hwa sulked. She scrunched up her face and stuffed a hefty portion of stir-fried pork into her mouth.
Hong Yeon-hwa preferred meat dishes and had been ensuring there were meat options at every meal.
In particular, her fondness for stir-fried pork meant I often made it to suit her tastes.
While I was keeping an eye on her, I noticed her bowl was nearly empty.
“Yeon-hwa? Mind passing that bowl over?”
“Huh? Oh.”
With chopsticks still stuck in her mouth, Hong Yeon-hwa blinked at the hand extended toward her.
Letting out an “Ah,” she reluctantly pushed the bowl forward.
I accepted it and returned it piled high with steaming rice.
“Here, there’s plenty, so just ask if you need more.”
After all, a lot of superhumans eat lots of food. My own intake had surged compared to before.
With four superhumans at this table, not to mention one fairy and one potential fairy, the sheer quantity of ingredients consumed each meal was overwhelming, so I’d deliberately prepared extra.
“Ha-yul…! You’re the only one for me!”
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes glimmered as she received the bowl.
It felt like an enchanting mist surrounded her.
Today, her shimmering red hair and twinkling eyes looked even more beautiful than usual.
“Hehe.”
A smile bloomed on my face. Maybe it’s because Gop-hwa was burning hot inside me in real-time, but my joy magnified.
.
.
.
.
Most of the lectures were skipped due to the trial of Gop-hwa.
I complained that I was able to manage my schedule, but I was immediately subdued by those around me.
“With your state, where do you think you’re wandering off to alone?” they insisted, squeezing my cheeks.
[…It’s not like you have to skip because of me…]
The problem was, I wasn’t the only one skipping.
I hesitantly scanned my surroundings. It was past 10 AM. Usually, it would be peak lecture time, yet only Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin remained nearby.
“Nope, you need to stay behind. You never know when Gop-hwa will go wild! If it explodes while you’re alone, we can’t just brush it off as a joke.”
[I can control it… I managed it alone last time…]
“Oh come on!”
“Yeon-hwa…”
In the end, I had to undergo focused care for a while.
Of course, it wasn’t about just suppressing Gop-hwa.
While it was a trial, fundamentally it was a phenomenon arising from Gop-hwa undergoing change.
So it was essential to not merely suppress it but instead, accept it and adapt.
Thus, during this time, I needed to meditate on my own to manage Gop-hwa, with Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin serving as my extinguishers.
“Don’t hold it in too much. If you suppress your desires too much, they might just leak out in unexpected places…” Right, like this…”
…There were some embarrassing moments, but I was slowly managing Gop-hwa.
The curious thing was why Gop-hwa remained in my system even after deactivation of harmonization.
Normally, when harmonization is released, all altered energy in the body returns to my original magical power.
But for some reason, Gop-hwa showed no signs of unraveling.
‘I’ll have to check on that after the trial is over…’
*
Since the improvement in my meditation had made it easier to manage Gop-hwa, I practiced controlling it during mock battles through simple sparring.
FAWAACK… Hong Yeon-hwa gripped her sword fiercely.
With strong strength in her grip, her infused magic surged along the blade, forming a fierce red aura like flames.
She pulled the sword over her head. The powerful technique activated her body. Leaping, she pulled back and poured all her strength into the downward strike.
With her physical strength and skill combined, she could bring an entire building down with a sword that resembled a club if she wanted.
“Haah…!”
The powerful stroke tore through the air and struck the target.
– GUUUNGGG…!
Unbelievably, the sound was not one of destruction but a long-lasting echo.
The spear withstood the impact.
It didn’t break or get sliced.
Like a trampoline absorbing a heavy object, it bent but then thrust back with a significant recoil.
– SPLAT!
“Huh!”
The sword was pushed away. Hong Yeon-hwa’s body floated in the air. Only then did her red hair flutter wildly in the gust that erupted.
In a hurry, Hong Yeon-hwa reached out. Just before the spear lunged toward her, she released her magic with her palm.
WHOOSH! The unleashed red magic shoved her opponent away while also propelling her body back.
Thanks to the nature of the fire magic, her body was smoothly uplifted. But as she landed back on the ground, the spear rushed towards her again.
The opponent showed no mercy, sliding across the ground, launching a thrust with their spear — it was Lee Ha-yul, his white hair billowing.
Hong Yeon-hwa braced herself.
Her stance was already set. Gripping her sword tight, she slid it forward.
As her arm amplified the power of her own technique, a multitude of crimson cuts filled the air.
Strong strikes, unencumbered by reality. Any standard monster would be reduced to nothing in an instant under such a barrage, yet a white aura abruptly weaved into it.
Like a lone eel darting through muddy waters, it skillfully interfered with the onslaught.
BAM! The fierce strikes slammed against the ground, creating explosive clouds of dust as Lee Ha-yul suddenly appeared.
Distance between them closed. Weapons unsheathed.
The spear hits first. Rather than targeting Lee Ha-yul, Hong Yeon-hwa aimed to intercept the spear’s thrust.
– CLANG!
Weapons clashed chaotically. Colors of violent energy scraped and pushed against each other.
Wait…
The red was pushed back.
The energy was chipped away.
The spear slipped through the gaps.
The attack meant to be a counter was being countered.
Lee Ha-yul’s spear techniques were undeniably flexible. Moving gracefully like flowing water, the spear absorbed the strength of Hong Yeon-hwa’s strikes and redirected it elsewhere.
Also, they wielded illusions. The spear blurred and became indistinct, making it difficult to read his next move.
What comes next…
BANG! In the haze, a gleam of thunder sparked.
The glimmering spear pierced through the fleeting awareness like lightning.
– THWACK!
Responding quickly, Hong Yeon-hwa swung her sword, managing to deflect the thrust just in time, yet the spear tip still placed a gentle tap against her.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s expression fell into confusion.
Armor or no armor, there would have been no injury whatsoever.
Even as the spear thrust approached, it felt almost playful as if he were worried about hurting her.
As Hong Yeon-hwa flinched, Lee Ha-yul leaped back to create distance.
This pattern had repeated multiple times. They’d collide, and before a spear could truly pierce, the distance would separate them again.
“Yap!”
Baek Ahrin suddenly leaped in.
Having been flung away earlier by a strong attack, she had returned.
With equally rounded-off weapon in hand, she charged at Lee Ha-yul.
Both wielding their unique spears, they clashed.
– THWACK!
“Ah!”
The dynamics stayed the same. Just like with Hong Yeon-hwa, Baek Ahrin and Lee Ha-yul’s weapons collided, and soon his spear tip was gently poking her as well.
“Ugh!”
Baek Ahrin, refusing to back down, chased after Lee Ha-yul. Wind began to swirl around her left arm. WHUUUSSH! The swirling blue energy glimmered with frost.
While swirling armor wrapped around Baek Ahrin’s arms, Lee Ha-yul mirrored her gesture, facing her with his spear adorned with white energy.
When their palms touched, a grand explosion erupted, mixing the energies.
In that instant, Baek Ahrin clasped Lee Ha-yul’s hand.
As the swirling energy mixed chaotically, her opposite hand left the spear, enfolding her magical aura around it.
WHOOSH! Encapsulated by cold energy, she took a shot…
– THWACK!
“Ugh.”
Lee Ha-yul twisted his wrist as they broke apart. The wind around them swirled chaotically, disrupting the energy flow.
His counter shot grazed Lee Ha-yul’s collarbone without leaving so much as a scar.
In the meanwhile, a fist lunged forward, tapping his chest.
Once again, a practical hit had snuck through.
Baek Ahrin blinked in a daze.
Then she wrapped her arms around her chest and yelled.
“…Why do you keep aiming for my chest? This is sexual harassment!”
[What?]
[No way!]
[It’s not like that…!]
For the first time during the spar, Lee Ha-yul’s composure wavered.
His once stoic expression softened, like a penguin flapping its wings to exhibit a vigorous denial.
“Now!”
Seizing the moment, Baek Ahrin lunged forward with her spear. In her bewilderment, Hong Yeon-hwa followed suit, launching her own attack.
[What the heck!]
[That’s so unfair…!]
Neither landed effectively.
“Ugh… Let’s take a break for a sec.”
– PLUNK
Baek Ahrin slumped down right where she stood.
She carelessly tossed the dull spear to the side and, exhausted, sank onto the lush grass.
– …Phew…
On seeing Baek Ahrin, Lee Ha-yul too exhaled heavily.
Maybe from all the exertion, Gop-hwa was all over the place, and unsettling memories began to bubble up from the depths of his mind.
His body was drenched in sweat, warmth building intensely, making it too easy for perspiration to come out. While only pleasant aromas wafted around them, a hint of embarrassment loomed as well… No matter what, he couldn’t shake it off.
Desiring to let off some steam, he took a deep breath and plopped onto the ground.
“……”
Hong Yeon-hwa also relaxed her posture. Leaning back against her sword, she blinked away in thought.
As they passed through the Tower of Growth, the students had experienced tremendous growth.
With the blessing of growth applicable even in everyday life, they’ve made rapid strides, and within the tower, that gain was amplified.
To exaggerate a bit, one could see meaningful changes in their bodies merely from breathing inside the tower. After five days of pushing themselves to the limit, wielding their weapons,
It was an environment where growth was inevitable, even for those not wishing it.
Especially through this entry into the tower’s “reflection,” they had achieved incredible growth.
A struggle against themselves, each individually manifested. It turned out to be much more rewarding than they had ever imagined.
Understanding one another’s strengths and weaknesses often required third-party advice or an objective evaluation of oneself.
The reflection this time vividly realized objective aspects of oneself.
Actions spoke louder than words, illustrating ideas that had once been invisible despite outside observations.
Acknowledging personal strengths – in what situation they excel and become formidable, realizing the points that posed difficulties for their opponents.
Understanding their weaknesses – realizing when those weaknesses emerged prominently while recognizing points easy to exploit by their adversaries.
In a sense, it stood as time for self-reflection… True reflection indeed.
…Hong Yeon-hwa had also grown tremendously during this entry.
She elevated her physical and magical prowess significantly, confident of her escalating capabilities.
Her mind tickled with the thought that she might soon awaken her unique abilities from the techniques she had cultivated.
Just as this thought passed through her mind, she recalled the recent battle.
To put it bluntly… she had been overwhelmingly outclassed.
The fact that she hadn’t employed Gop-hwa could not be considered an excuse.
This spar was conducted under the conditions of focusing solely on physical techniques and prowess; it was a level playing field for Lee Ha-yul too.
And even though it involved teamwork with Baek Ahrin, she had still found herself in such a situation.
Simply put, she had lost in terms of overall skill.
Despite confidently believing she’d made significant strides in the Tower of Growth, the reality of Lee Ha-yul’s progress crushed her spirits.
‘What the heck…’
An exceptional student with a special admission — the first student the Tower of Growth’s master selected due to potential.
That name held great value was certainly evident to her now.
‘So I have to work harder.’
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes hardened with resolve. Although overwhelmed, she wouldn’t be defeated. No time for that now!
She had to get stronger to protect Lee Ha-yul, who often wound up in trouble, returning all beaten up.
“?”
Determined, just as she took a deep breath, she sensed someone’s piercing gaze on her skin.
– ZAP…!
The source of the gaze rested on Lee Ha-yul, slumped on the grass.
His previously closed eyes were now wide open, gazing openly at her.
With a dazed look, he stared at her exposed collarbone—no, he was blatantly staring at her chest.
‘……’
Hong Yeon-hwa looked at her own reflection.
Wearing a sleeveless top had left her cleavage exposed.
After the workout, her skin had turned rosy, steaming lightly as beads of sweat cascaded down her neck, trickling down between her breasts… An undeniably scandalous sight.
She shifted subtly. Lee Ha-yul’s gaze followed her every movement.
‘Heh.’
A sly smile danced on Hong Yeon-hwa’s lips.
‘So cute…’
His gaze felt far too open and unrestrained, showing no intention of hiding it.
Honestly, he looked completely unaware he had been caught peeking at her.
This was typical Lee Ha-yul, who struggled with keeping his eyes open.
Maybe he didn’t even realize he was wide awake now.
‘Is it because of Gop-hwa?’
Yet again, that intense gaze felt unbearably warm. Under the torment of Gop-hwa’s trial, Lee Ha-yul’s emotions were being stirred up. The sight of her might’ve triggered something instinctive.
Hong Yeon-hwa giggled mischievously and crawled towards Lee Ha-yul.
How focused was he? Even with her crawling so close, he hadn’t noticed her proximity.
The warmth scoured past his nose. Just as he was now soaked in sweat, Lee Ha-yul’s own scent filled the air.
With playful energy, Hong Yeon-hwa brought her lips to his forehead, just inches away.
– SMACK!
The most delicate and gentle touch collided with his skin.
His previously vacant eyes refocused, blinking rapidly as he processed what had just occurred.
“Hiky?”
He squeaked, promptly covering his forehead with his hands. It was simply too cute, as Hong Yeon-hwa noted. With glimmering eyes, she placed another gentle kiss on his palm.
– SMACK!
“Ugh…”
A flustered sound escaped from Ha-yul’s tightly pursed lips.
He looked lost and flustered. His touch warmed her palm, too. It had been a while since a gust blew away his heat; she had to cool him down before he burst with warmth.
“Ha-yul?”
This time, she didn’t extend her hand. Instead, she playfully tapped his lips with her fingers.
As his senses returned slowly, Lee Ha-yul swallowed hard.
His head spun. It felt like heat had pooled within him, clouding his judgment. His pupils dilated, spinning round and round. WHOOSH! Gop-hwa surged up within him, his feelings setting fire to his desires. Oh, Yeon-hwa looked so pretty; he wanted to be cute, to kiss her—!
His thoughts tangled together. He had come to a conclusion and in a daze, leaned forward…
– THUMP!
Just then, a hand landed on his back.
“Oho, Gop-hwa has gotten quite fierce, hasn’t it?”
“Wha…?”
Cool sensations seeped through his warm body. Thanks to Choi Ji-yeon’s cooling energy, his sanity started to seep back.
“Hey! You little punk…! Get out of here!”
“What? I was just calming down Ha-yul’s Gop-hwa.”
“That’s not the point! Why NOW of all times?”
“I mean, I didn’t do anything!”
“AAAACK!”
Hong Yeon-hwa shrieked.
.
.
.
“Hyek…”
Choi Ji-yeon, gasping, rushed over.
Before I had a chance to react, she scooped me up and buried me in her ample bosom.
“…Did they all collectively lose their minds?”
Witnessing the chaotic scene, Hong Yeon-hwa subtly drew her sword.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
