Denying one’s own nature and essence is not a good thing.
Growth is only possible once you fully recognize both your strengths and weaknesses. Ignoring and denying the elements that make you who you are won’t help with your development.
This is especially true for the superhuman.
It’s a world where unique traits are manifested as abilities. In such a world, what’s the benefit of denying your own characteristics and uniqueness?
Ultimately, personality is a part of that uniqueness. While it may not manifest solely as an ability, it can definitely support other abilities.
Countless traits come together to form a single person.
“Yup, that’s right! Hayul was really… Ah, just so adorable just now.”
“Gahhh…”
My body twisted at the words that intruded upon my thoughts. The memory I had been trying to control opened up like a scroll.
Tangled up, patted, stroked, buried, squirmed, kneaded, squeezed, whining about not being able to come out, stumbling through the embarrassing childish words that Elia had teasingly taught…
“Ughhh…”
[Regret]
[Happiness]
[Embarrassment]
“Of course, you’re still adorable now.”
Elia, with a beaming smile, pulled me into a tight embrace. Nestled in her warm and shameful embrace, I was enveloped by the sweet, nutty smell of milk, causing me to relax completely.
Just as I had anticipated, her enormous chest emitted not just a fragrant body scent but also a rich milky aroma.
I wrapped my arms around Elia’s waist and rubbed my head against her.
“Hehe. I’m so happy… Let’s truly live happily from now on…”
Elia gently rubbed her cheek against the top of my head. Responding to that affectionate gesture, I subtly rubbed my head back.
Smiling brightly, Elia swept back her bangs and planted a kiss on my forehead.
“By the way, Hayul’s ability is so interesting. Ears sprouted from your head, and horns emerged from your forehead, huh…”
Elia’s gaze lingered on the spot where the horns had just grown. Now, not a trace of them remained. Her slender finger brushed my forehead.
“You mentioned it was a unicorn’s horn, right? Does that horn affect your personality too?”
“Yes and no.”
“Huh?”
Elia tilted her head. I buried my face in her chest and took a deep breath of her body scent.
“Ugh, that tickles.”
With her breath hitting my chest, Elia giggled but held me tightly. As I melted into that tender action, I let my hot head cool down for a moment.
A unicorn through integration… I manifested the horn of a one-horned beast.
Due to that influence, it could affect my personality.
The horn of a one-horned beast is no different from a unique trait manifested physically. Since it’s about expressing that uniqueness, there would definitely be some influence.
‘But to a powerful extent like earlier is not common.’
There’s a limit to it. In this case, it’s not just the horn’s influence.
To be precise, it was the instinct that was triggered by the horn that emerged.
‘That…’
Hiding my face in Elia’s chest, I tightly furrowed my brows.
The moment the horn sprouted from my forehead, I felt the phenomenon that occurred with a melted mind.
The horn of a one-horned beast didn’t create something new but drew out what was already within me.
Something pure and shameful, like an instinct.
‘…Anyway.’
It was impulsive, but this time, the integration was executed more precisely than before. Because I had grown in this aspect.
If I continue to nurture this integration, other forms of bodily transformation might become possible.
‘The fourth iteration was about heading towards bodily transformation.’
There were iterations that followed a similar growth path even in the observed world.
The fourth iteration.
Based on the unique ability “Integration,” various monsters’ bodies and traits were manifested, gaining durability and regeneration for prolonged combat.
After the defeat in the second iteration due to the wheel war, I craved sustainability and recognized the need for durability and regeneration after self-destruction in the third iteration.
I successfully utilized my previous experiences quite well.
But in the end, I was buried under the quantity of the tower master of necromancy.
Despite supplementing the shortcomings I felt from my previous failures, I still lacked the output similar to the third iteration and couldn’t do anything about overwhelming numbers.
‘Tomorrow I’ll be entering the tower again.’
Of course, it’s a bit different from previous towers, but it is still the Tower of Growth.
I have no doubt that I will emerge significantly stronger this time. Considering the forthcoming dimension, I must make good use of the tower’s function and come out.
“It’s already getting dark. Shall we head back?”
“Yeah.”
Elia, looking down at me with a gentle smile, turned her gaze out the window.
It’s indeed almost time for dinner. Nodding, she, in a generous way, placed her lips on the bridge of my nose.
“Hehe.”
[Like]
“Let’s take it slow.”
Holding hands with Elia, who was wearing a perception-disabling magic tool, I left the room.
“…Thank you for your help.”
For some reason, the innkeeper looked at us with a strange expression.
Why are they doing that…?
.
.
.
On the third day of the birth festival morning,
Shio-ram was bustling with activity for the entrance to the tower.
Teachers were busy preparing for the entrance, and visitors gathered, eyes sparkling with excitement, flocking to see the Tower of Growth.
Even now, with hours remaining until the entrance, the atmosphere was already that charged. When it finally opens, I bet it will be even more crowded than the opening ceremony.
‘After all, this entrance is essentially the highlight of the birth festival.’
Isn’t the purpose of hosting this birth festival? It’s only natural that people gather.
– Bubbles, bubbles…
And I had been in the underground lab of the mansion since dawn on the day of entrance.
I woke up a bit earlier, but after dozing off snugly in Elia’s arms since yesterday’s lunch, it was all good.
Thanks to that, I was alert, and the lingering scent on my body felt pleasant.
So I was able to concentrate on the current task.
‘Hmm…’
On the wide table before me, flames from Gop-hwa wrapped around the base of a floating test tube.
Normally, the moment it touches, the material would be incinerated without a trace, but the gentle Gop-hwa was heating the test tube with precision according to my instructions.
The liquid inside the test tube was bubbling away.
Originally pink, after continuous concentration, it now appeared reddish-purple or even red.
‘The hated potion… no, it’s frustrating not to know the official name.’
Commonly referred to as the hated potion.
It was a substance obtained in a dungeon where I entered with Choi Ji-yeon and the fairies, which has the effect of negatively altering the external perception of the user while it works.
It’s a potion that has effects on perception manipulation, but when I first discovered it, I was quite perplexed about how to use it.
– Bubbles, bubbles…
I had been heating it since a few hours ago. I was removing unnecessary parts to concentrate the liquid and enhance its efficacy.
From observation, I predicted that while the duration would be shorter, the amount needed for proper efficacy was half.
So I would store half separately and concentrate the remaining half into a pure essence.
Normally, that would ruin the efficacy completely.
Based on observations, since this was a substance naturally generated in the dungeon, if I processed it ineptly, its efficacy would evaporate.
‘It’s going well.’
But I had my own tricks.
I have the power of observation to precisely measure every change in the condition, and I possess a body and magical energy that allows for meticulous manipulation based on that information.
Knowledge gained from the alchemy I learned in bits from Lady Ariel was also piling up.
Moreover, since I was originally creating a pure essence to enhance the efficacy, no complex processes were needed.
Flame! I dispersed the Gop-hwa that had clung to the test tube. Grabbing the test tube with a strange expression.
The amount of the concentrated potion had decreased so much that it was now less than one-tenth of the original quantity.
‘……’
I can predict the degree of the effect through observation.
Currently, the master of observation could even foresee the effects with premonition… I might not be as skilled but I could infer the effect levels of the potion.
However, that wasn’t enough, so I concentrated and turned it into a pure essence.
I still have more thoughts about how to use this, but recently, one idea did crop up.
It’s uncertain and risky.
I’d like it to flow toward something better, and I hope to come up with a better plan.
But since life doesn’t always go according to plan, I should prepare just in case for myself.
– Huh…
After taking a deep sigh, I shook the test tube.
Although I couldn’t see it, it was a liquid that somehow felt like something I wanted to eat.
Radiant colors. It seemed to have a pleasant aroma, and would likely taste delicious if consumed.
When I actually deduced the flavor through observation, it seemed like it would taste like a fruity drink.
‘But it won’t taste like anything…’
But thanks to the curse, that kind of thing doesn’t exist for me. It won’t give off any scent, and surely it won’t have any flavor when I drink it.
With a somewhat deflated expression, I corked the opening of the test tube and tucked it into the space.
Then, I placed the remaining portion of the potion into a mold nearby and added the herbs I had prepared earlier. Even for simple processing, some appropriate preparation is needed.
I was going to experiment with the concentrated portion, and if it doesn’t feel right, I planned to turn the remaining portion into a pure essence as well.
After leaving the potion with the herbs in the lab, the door near the lab opened.
“Are you done?”
“Yeah, just finishing up.”
It was Yeonhwa who was stretching and warming up in the morning. I approached her, who was drying her sweaty hair with a towel, and her pouty eyes glared at me.
That scolding gaze felt sharp, almost like I was being examined for trouble. I chuckled and clung to Yeonhwa.
“Hehe…”
“…Oh dear, what should I do with you?”
As she looked down at me from her arms, Yeonhwa’s sigh slipped out, and she gently patted my head.
– Lo and behold? Are you now looking into Elia’s eyes and chatting? What have you been up to outside…?
– Reeally…?
To be honest, after returning to the mansion yesterday, I got a overwhelming amount of kisses from Yeonhwa. If it weren’t for Elia’s help, I would have been pinched the entire day.
That pouting from Yeonhwa didn’t ease until we shared a summer-themed fireworks show on the rooftop of the mansion yesterday.
I knew that was my chance and acted all cute, so she forgave me much faster.
“Okay, let’s hurry up and go. Before we know it, we might be late.”
As we headed up to the mansion, I heard Yeonhwa utter something quite unlike her regarding time commitments.
.
.
.
When the sun was rising in the center of the sky,
Around the Tower of Growth standing tall in the center of Shio-ram, people had gathered in large numbers.
The noise was so boisterous that it felt like my eardrums would burst. I rubbed my ears and surveyed the crowd.
Right by the tower, students were standing orderly, while at a distance, visitors were watching the tower and students with expressions filled with anticipation and curiosity.
‘Soon, giant holograms will appear all over Shio-ram.’
This entrance could almost be considered an event of sorts.
More precisely, the situation inside the Tower of Growth would be streamed to showcase just how exceptional the Shio-ram students are.
In any case, the Shio-ram students are the future pillars. This is a chance to show the greatness of those who will support the next generation.
In short, a demonstration soaked in display. Therefore, unlike before, it wouldn’t last for days on end but would only be for a few hours at most.
This isn’t a serious trial but rather an opportunity to showcase each other’s skills to the world.
It isn’t a simple battle or survival, and I heard there are special rules as well.
With that, all grades can enter at once, and rather than standard gear, suitable personal armaments are permitted as well.
Thanks to that, it seems the proof of purification and protection can also be worn while entering.
‘……’
Listening to the professor explaining from the platform, I subtly shifted my observational perspective.
A gigantic ivory-colored tower, which even skilled observation finds hard to decipher.
Memories of losing crazy amounts of my mana on the opening ceremony day came flooding back.
‘I wonder if anything special will come out?’
Thinking about the event to occur at the tower, I observed the Tower of Growth.
– Wuuuuuummm…
I felt some kind of tremor from the tower.
*
[Player Correction System: Exploration Level]
[Subquest “Birth Festival: Day 2” Achieved]
[Points are accumulating]
…
[The Master of Harmony is being careful.]
[What about taking my $ and @ it?]
[The Master of Knowledge shakes their head.]
[No $ and @ resources available.]
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