Elia returned, and we resumed our studies.

The “Lee Hayul Support Party” dynamic remained, but I didn’t feel too discouraged—because I was beginning to see results.

The number of marks on my paper was decreasing, while the number of circles was gradually increasing.

“It’s like I can see you improving in real-time.”

It wasn’t just a feeling; the results were evident. Baek Ahrin, who was checking my answers, looked amazed.

It wasn’t because my memorization had improved. I’d always been able to handle memorization questions fairly well. In my original world, my body was weak, but my memory… well, it was one thing I could somewhat pride myself on.

The problems that were now turning into circles were all application questions. The types that, before, would go awry like a bursting kimbap whenever I thought I’d solved them, were now starting to make sense.

“Could this be thanks to ‘Jack of All Trades’?”

I wasn’t sure how much it affected intelligence, but it seemed to at least provide some proficiency.

Since becoming aware of ‘Jack of All Trades’ as my unique ability, my efficiency had increased in various ways.

And now I could see why people chose to study in places like study cafes, even though they could do it at home. Studying with others had this motivating effect—it boosted my enthusiasm and focus, which in turn improved my learning efficiency.

Of course, my source of motivation wasn’t limited to just that.

“Hayul, you got question 21 right, too? That was a tough one, and your explanation… it’s well done.”

Elia, who was marking my answers, looked surprised before giving me a warm smile and patting my head.

“Well done~”

A pleasant warmth trailed down from her touch, and I had to stop myself from grinning stupidly. It wasn’t so much the competitive spirit from studying with others that motivated me, but rather the praise and head pats I received after each problem I solved.

They say even a fish will dance if you compliment it. I knew it wasn’t something I really deserved praise for, but I couldn’t deny that it felt nice.

“Hayul? Open wide~”

[I'm full.]

Along with the praise, Elia would occasionally—or rather, regularly—pop snacks or candies into my mouth.

After seeing Baek Ahrin force a snack into my mouth earlier, Elia had joined in, and the frequency had only increased. I didn’t find the flavors appealing, but I ate them to avoid being rude. After a while, though, I felt uncomfortably full.

Maybe because I’d emptied my stomach earlier, my appetite had hit rock bottom, and I didn’t want to put anything else in my mouth.

Even my trusty nutrition bars were out of reach today.

“You know, supers need to eat a lot more than ordinary people. Hayul, you eat so little that I actually worry about you.”

I couldn’t help but feel a little indignant at her insistence as she pushed another snack into my mouth.

Considering my circumstances, wasn’t it strange to expect me to have an appetite?

My life had never allowed for big meals, so I naturally ate little. Nowadays, with my taste and smell dulled, and the added mental strain, my already-small appetite had shrunk even further.

“To grow tall and stay healthy, you need to eat plenty…”

‘?’

Her words hit a nerve, and my hand shook as I gripped my pen tightly.

[Height isn’t really affected by how much you eat.]

“Huh…?”

[Height is mostly determined by genetics.]

Even Elia, usually calm, seemed taken aback.

As much as I respected Elia, that statement was hard to let slide.

Yes, I know you need nutrients, vitamins, and minerals like iron to grow taller. But that’s not the case for everyone. Some people just don’t grow tall no matter how much they eat.

I was never one of those who ate well, but later on, I made a conscious effort to force myself to eat properly for the sake of growing taller.

But I didn’t grow at all. No matter how much milk I drank or how consistently I ate, my height refused to budge.

If eating well was all it took to grow tall, then everyone who ate three meals a day would be a giant by now.

I understood the logical flaws here, but on an emotional level, I felt a surge of frustration and inferiority.

Elia was tall, comfortably above the average height for women.

I, on the other hand, knew I was below the average height for men.

If I were to stand face-to-face with her, I’d have to look up to make eye contact.

And it wasn’t just Elia. Hong Yeonhwa, Baek Ahrin… even Master and Professor Liana—they were all tall.

Superhumans, by default, tended to have good physiques. Tall, muscular, and commanding. The male students passing by all had towering heights and muscular builds, intimidating to some degree.

Unlike me.

A sense of defiance surged within me. The Confession Necklace, responding to my emotions, began to spill out words.

[Height is mostly genetic. No matter how well you eat, some people just won’t grow taller. My height was just like this from birth—]

“Yes, yes, calm down, Hayul. You’re absolutely right. Let’s try to relax a little, shall we?”

“Oh! My mistake, Hayul! Here, have a sip of this. It’s lemon-flavored, so it’s refreshing and shouldn’t be too hard to drink… there you go, good job…”

I was subdued with a comforting hug and gentle pats.

The truth was powerless in the face of physical comfort, crushed beneath it.

 

“Shall we call it a day?”

A little while after I’d managed to pull myself together and focus on studying again, Baek Ahrin glanced out the window and spoke up.

Outside the window, the sun was beginning to set, spreading a gentle orange hue across the sky.

“Wow, it’s gotten late already.”

Elia nodded in agreement, glancing at the sunset streaming into the room. She must’ve been so absorbed that she hadn’t noticed the time passing.

I, too, put down my pen and nodded, though I’d known the time all along thanks to my ability.

It wouldn’t be polite to stick around at someone else’s place until nightfall, especially after having been fed snacks and food.

Elia and I gathered our things and stood up. My ‘things’ consisted only of a hologram projector and a pad.

“Thanks for today! And I’ll see you tomorrow?”

[Thank you for everything.]

“Make sure you’re not late tomorrow, either. But the snacks might be similar to today’s.”

“Ahrin has a very particular taste.”

We exchanged brief farewells and left the study room, making sure we hadn’t forgotten anything.

‘I guess I’ll stop by the training hall now.’

My body had long since recovered. Most of the side effects had subsided, and if anything, I felt stronger than before.

They told me to focus on regaining my stamina to aid in the regeneration of my arm… but I hadn’t decided whether to follow through yet.

‘Two weeks, huh?’

The midterms were looming closer. Two weeks sounded like a lot, but with today being Saturday, it might as well be next week.

It felt like it was right around the corner.

At the same time, memories of my first tower trial resurfaced, when unexpected events had disrupted my preparations.

The time I recklessly drank a potion and collapsed, bleeding from every pore. I had completely blanked out on that weekend before entering the tower.

‘I should also work on managing my condition.’

To avoid a repeat of that fiasco, I’d need to get my condition in check. But thanks to worsening nightmares, I barely got an hour or two of sleep a day, if that.

I could hold out for about five days, but with midterms approaching, that lack of sleep could have a serious impact on my performance.

Especially on the combat practicals and the tournament.

‘Maybe I should take the meds tonight?’

The meds prescribed to me by the association’s intensive care unit.

They were similar to psychiatric meds, meant to be taken one at a time if they interfered with daily life.

I had taken one before, and it had worked well. I slept for a long time and the nightmares were somewhat bearable.

…Though, in truth, sleeping in Master’s or Hong Yeonhwa’s arms had a much better effect.

Not that I could just skip the meds and ask either of them to let me sleep with them.

[See you tomorrow.]

“Hey, wait a second.”

Just as I was about to turn and leave after bowing, Baek Ahrin tapped my shoulder.

When I half-turned to look at her, she swiped a finger along the corner of my mouth.

“You should clean up better after eating.”

‘?’

She showed me her finger with a mischievous smile.

There were crumbs on the tip of her finger, from where she had just wiped my mouth.

‘…’

I was sure I’d wiped my mouth. How did they end up there?

First, I felt indignant, then embarrassed.

[You could’ve just told me.]

“It’s easier this way. I can just swipe it off like this.”

Baek Ahrin laughed lightly and waved her hand.

After that, I hastily wiped my mouth with a handkerchief and fled the room.

“Hayul~ Are you going to leave me behind?”

Elia followed with a smile, laughing as she trailed behind.

 

With a soft click, the door shut, leaving the room in silence.

The room where the three of us had just been studying.

Though it had been quiet before, with the focus of studying, now it felt… empty.

“Hm…”

Baek Ahrin tilted her head, momentarily lost in thought as she recalled the recent memories.

Then she noticed the crumbs on her finger.

They were the crumbs she’d just wiped from Hayul’s mouth.

He wasn’t lying when he said he’d cleaned up—this snack was one I’d given him just before we finished studying, so maybe he’d forgotten to brush it off.

She remembered the moment vividly.

“Just one bite?”

[Thanks]

He’d taken the snack she offered without hesitation, fitting it neatly in his mouth.

It was surprising how that small mouth of his managed it all in one go.

Anyway.

“How was it? Sweet?”

Still staring at her finger, Baek Ahrin brought it to her lips.

Then, she ran her tongue over the crumbs at the tip of her finger.

There might’ve been some saliva mixed in, but she didn’t mind.

[Yeah] [Sweet]

Recalling Hayul’s innocent response, she couldn’t find any hint of doubt in his expression, nor any lie in his words.

It was just a crumb, but Baek Ahrin nodded, tasting it with her tongue.

“Bitter, actually.”

That sweetness was a lie.

 

 * * *
 

[Player Adjustment System: Favorability]

Lee Hayul → Baek Ahrin ●●●●●○○○○○ (55▷56/100) "Affection" "Curiosity" "Confusion"

...

[Unique Ability ‘Jack of All Trades’ is improving.]