With the key milestones of the semester now concluded—Growth Tower training, midterm evaluations, and the tournament—the cadets finally found themselves with a bit of free time. Academic and specialized lectures had also reached their end, creating a lull in their schedules before the break officially began.

In this brief interlude, cadets often relaxed and unwound, reconnecting with friends they’d been too busy to meet, or exploring the commercial district, filled with attractions they’d previously neglected in the name of their studies.

“Wow… this is way too sweet. The last one was fine, but this…”

“Wasn’t the previous one sweet enough to ruin anyone’s taste? Who in their right mind would keep buying this series?”

Shin Seoryul’s face scrunched as she sipped her drink, the overwhelming sweetness causing her to wince. Next to her, Yang Yunha, seated at the table, shook her head with a grin.

“Ever heard of respecting personal taste? Especially for superhumans like us, individuality is supposed to be essential. Yet here you are, unable to comprehend diversity. Tsk, tsk.”

“Why are you blowing this up over one comment?”

“Ah, silence! The few abilities you have are hardly impressive enough to talk back!”

“Then what does that make you, who lost to someone with ‘few abilities’?”

“Kuh…”

Shin Seoryul lowered her drink, having barely managed a few sips before she was hit with the harsh reality of Yang Yunha’s words.

Seated at the table with friends, savoring the cool air and sweet drinks on their tongues, they enjoyed the rare chance to catch up. Their last meeting had been at the start of the semester, during dungeon training, but their schedules had since been too packed to allow for another gathering.

Shioram Academy’s curriculum spans four years, each cadet only granted four years under the Academy’s special blessing. After graduation, cadets return to a normal growth rate, even if they join the faculty. In other words, those four years are invaluable and meant to be used to their fullest. Even a few hours spent idly were seen as wasteful by most students, who believed the time should be maximized for training.

While this might be true in theory, reality is often different.

Human beings are not machines; rust cannot be wiped away with oil, nor can worn-out bodies perform at peak just by refueling. And when damaged, human parts cannot be simply replaced.

Even superhumans, though tougher, are ultimately human. And so, Shin Seoryul and her friends decided to relax.

Despite the gathering, however, the atmosphere was tense.

Six people sat at the table, but it was the unspoken tension between two that dampened the mood: Hong Yeonhwa and Baek Ahrin.

Normally, the two would be bickering loudly, with Baek Ahrin stirring up topics and Hong Yeonhwa responding with exasperation and laughter.

Now, both were unusually silent, creating a quiet stillness that the others found odd.

Shin Seoryul discreetly tapped a hologram interface under the table to message their group chat.

[Group Chat: Hong-Baek Exclusion Zone (4)]

▶ Shin Seoryul: What’s up with those two?
▶ Lee Sieun: No clue, they’ve been weird since we got here.
▶ Shin Seoryul: What’s their deal?
▶ Yang Yunha: Ask them yourself.
▶ Shin Seoryul: Do you see the mood? They’d probably kill me!
▶ Yang Yunha: That’s exactly why you should ask.

Hong Yeonhwa and Baek Ahrin’s frequent spats were so well-known among their friends that they often called it the “Hong-Baek Family Feud.” However, the current atmosphere didn’t feel like a typical spat; it felt closer to a battle on the verge of a collapse, with an underlying tension barely hidden beneath the surface.

‘What’s going on with them?’

Hong Yeonhwa’s gaze was fixed on her iced coffee as she thought. She knew of Baek Ahrin’s keen eye for talent and her habit of forming useful connections, so she wasn’t surprised by Ahrin’s interest in Lee Hayul.

After all, anyone could see Lee Hayul’s potential.

Yet, recently, Baek Ahrin’s behavior seemed excessive, surpassing even her usual zeal for recruiting talent. What could she be up to?

“Everyone, what are your plans for the break?”

Baek Ahrin suddenly spoke, breaking the silence as she looked up from her drink.

“I plan to spend time at the main estate, focusing on mana training.”

“Oh… I’ll head back to my family for a bit, maybe go dungeon diving afterward.”

“I’ll be accompanying a subjugation force along the borders of the Demonic Realm…”

“Wow, sounds tough. I’ll send my condolences in advance.”

“Shut up, you.”

Shin Seoryul, glancing between Baek Ahrin and Hong Yeonhwa, spoke up tentatively, prompting the others to continue sharing their plans.

“And what about you, Yeonhwa?”

The question fell to Hong Yeonhwa, who hesitated before downing her coffee and responding.

“I’ll be heading straight to the main estate.”

“Oh, right. The family’s annual gathering is coming up, isn’t it? You must attend as the heir.”

“Right. An heir can’t just skip that sort of thing.”

This annual meeting of the Geomhwa family would be a large event attended by both the main and branch families, and as the heir, Hong Yeonhwa couldn’t afford to miss it.

Additionally, though she hadn’t disclosed it to anyone except for Baek Ahrin and Elia, she would be bringing Lee Hayul to the family estate during the break for a health assessment. If their visit happened to overlap with the annual gathering, it would only be natural for him to attend as a guest.

Listening to the conversations gradually opening up, Hong Yeonhwa took another sip of coffee, feeling slightly more at ease than before.

Despite the lull, I didn’t plan to waste my time.

The midterm evaluation period had provided enough rest. Now, with a bit of free time, I had the chance to focus on other tasks.

This short break was perfect for consolidating what I’d learned so far. I intended to spend more time with Professor Liana, diving deeper into spirit magic. I also planned to seek out that individual in the crafting department to gain an introduction to crafting skills.

“Puu…”

But all those plans were disrupted by the sudden arrival of the baby fairy.

Though technically a fairy, it was still a newborn, and I couldn’t just leave it alone to run around outside.

I skipped Monday’s common lecture. With the break period in effect, this wasn’t too difficult to arrange.

I spent the morning tending to the baby in the dormitory, trying to think through my options.

‘…Nothing.’

After racking my brain, the reality was clear: I didn’t have the time to care for a child.

I was a cadet with academic responsibilities, hardly in a position to dedicate myself to child-rearing. By the time the second semester began, my schedule might ease up, but…

On Monday afternoon, I skipped my mentor’s specialized lecture and instead went to Professor Liana’s lab for a spirit magic session.

“Your baby is so adorable! Aside from the wings, it looks just like a human…”

“Puu…!”

Holding the baby in her arms, Elia beamed, gently supporting and stroking its head with a maternal touch. It was a natural gesture; she’d told me she was used to looking after her younger siblings.

However, the baby itself seemed a bit disgruntled, puffing its cheeks and whimpering, clearly expressing displeasure. The baby had been like this since Elia reached out to hold it, glancing at me with a hint of desperation in its eyes.

I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

Unfortunately, this was unavoidable.

I could skip all classes during this brief break, but during the actual holiday, I had obligations. I would be accompanying Hong Yeonhwa to her family’s estate for a health assessment, and while I could manage to bring the baby along to that, there were later commitments where it wouldn’t be possible.

The next destination would be far too dangerous, even for me without precautionary measures in place. There was no way I could skip it, as I needed to become stronger to break the curse and protect those around me.

In other words, I had to ask for Elia’s help to watch the baby.

There was a reason I’d approached her family specifically. They owed me a favor, having offered their help whenever I might need it. And her parents had considerable childcare experience, so I thought they’d be well-suited to care for the baby, fairy or not.

“Since it’s a request from Hayul, how could we refuse? A benefactor’s request is never turned down.”

[Thank you so much.]

[You’ve saved me.]

“I couldn’t just watch as a child tried to raise a child. If you hadn’t asked, I would’ve offered my help first.”

[I’m not a child…]

While her words might have stung a bit, I was grateful for her positive response.

As Elia soothed the pouting baby with practiced ease, she held it close, clearly skilled in handling it.

“So, have you given it a name yet?”

At that question, I nodded. I had stayed up late to settle on a suitable name for it.

[Lee Seoryul.]

[Its name is Lee Seoryul.]

Lee Seoryul.

I was fortunate enough to be the one to give the baby its name.

[Player Adjustment System: Affection Level]

Lee Hayul → Elia Seraide
●●●●●●●○○○ (73 ▶️ 75/100)
"Fondness" "Gratitude" "Tenderness" "Guilt"

...

Lee Hayul → Lee Seoryul
●●●●●●●●○○ (89/100)
"?" "Guilt" "Remorse" "Self-blame" "Regret" "Embarrassment" "Anxiety" "Worry" "Anguish" "Bittersweetness" ... ... ... ... ...

...

[Condition for releasing the “Curse of Silence” not met]
[Condition for releasing the “Curse of Loneliness” not met]