After a medical examination, I found myself pondering the inexplicable regression of my body.
Though the exact cause couldn't be pinpointed, if there was something wrong with my body, it was bound to be discovered.
"Hmm..."
"Mm..."
There had been a minor misunderstanding before the examination.
My teacher and Professor Liana sat me on the sofa, their faces clouded with mixed emotions.
"A fairy..."
My teacher's gaze lingered awkwardly on the fluttering wings. Now that the chaos from earlier had subsided, I could clearly perceive the odd expression in her eyes.
"...You do look like one."
Fortunately, there seemed to be no outright rejection. If anything, she appeared to accept it, brushing aside her earlier discomfort with a tender, affectionate touch that wiped away my anxiety.
Encouraged, I leaned into her hand as it stroked my cheek.
[Happiness]
[Being petted feels nice]
"Are we sure it's okay to bring him back like this?"
Professor Liana, who had been observing me with an incredulous look, gestured behind me—specifically at the wings still attached to my back.
Three pairs of shimmering blue wings.
They were the Sky Wings, an artifact I had acquired based on its compatibility with my pure mana. Over time, I had nurtured the artifact, allowing it to grow in power, soaking it in the Lake of Mana to enhance it further.
After it fused with me as a medium for spirit transformation, the wings clung tightly to my back. Even after reverting from the transformation, they remained attached.
Surprisingly, the connection persisted, and I could feel them as though they were a part of my body. It was odd, sensing the wings twitch on their own whenever I thought about them.
"...It should be fine. Developing horns, wings, or changes in skin tone aren’t unheard of when one manifests unique abilities," my teacher commented.
"Can we really equate this to that? Hayul’s current state feels... too conspicuous," Liana said, her green eyes scanning me calmly.
"Snow-white hair, translucent wings sprouting from his back..."
I mirrored her, observing my appearance.
My previously black hair had turned pure white, and the Sky Wings adhered closely to my back.
"A profound affinity for spirits, highly pure mana, and an exceptionally beautiful appearance... Hmm..."
Indeed, my affinity for spirits and the purity of my mana had always been remarkable. Beauty? That, I couldn’t say, but much of it seemed to align.
To be honest, the keyword "fairy" had crossed my mind as well.
I wondered how others perceived me.
"I don’t know much about fairies. They’re incredibly rare. I’ve never encountered one during my time in the Magic Realm and have only read about them in books," my teacher admitted.
Fairies were, indeed, an exceptionally rare species.
Their numbers were extremely small, and their habitats were largely unknown, leaving little room for research.
The only fairy habitats I knew of were within the Taesan family grounds and deep in Africa's Magic Realm—neither of which were easy to access.
The Taesan family’s fairy territory required significant trust to even approach, something I had only managed to achieve during my third regression when I formed a bond with Jiyeon Lee and built a strong rapport.
The Magic Realm was equally challenging. Even though they weren’t located in its deepest parts, their habitats were well-hidden and difficult to reach.
"But they’re well-known thanks to that... Was it Robest’s autobiography? It sold too many copies to ignore," Liana interjected.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
Robest’s autobiography.
The memoir of a retired hunter, who was notable enough in the industry to make the book a bestseller. It contained a tale of an encounter with a fairy.
I had read it while gathering materials when Seoyul was born.
The story felt like something out of a fairy tale.
A protagonist on the brink of death in a forest in the Grey Zone, saved by a small fairy who stumbled upon him.
Whether the account was true or fabricated, no one knew.
What mattered was that the autobiography was widely read, popularizing the image of fairies.
The depiction of fairies in the original illustrations aligned with how Seoyul looked, reinforcing that perception.
This likely explained why Professor Liana had concealed my appearance upon entering Siyoram Academy.
Though the academy was tightly secured, presenting the special admission certificate granted me swift passage.
"Even so, the headmaster surely evaluated your condition before accepting you," my teacher added.
"True. Offering him a special admission spot means they knew and brought him in intentionally," Liana replied.
"Fairies and humans aren’t so different if you ignore the wings."
"And if it becomes an issue... the vice principal and Siyoram can handle it."
"Besides, how would anyone prove he’s a fairy? We could just claim the wings are an artifact."
‘Huh?’
Their conversation centered around how my species might stir controversy.
But the remark about the wings being an artifact caught my attention.
‘...They are an artifact.’
I didn’t know why they were attached, but the wings were indeed the Sky Wings.
Their functionality was identical.
The Sky Wings, capable of shape-shifting, moved at my mental command.
That ability had been incredibly versatile, enabling me to alternate between using them as weapons or armor.
‘Hmm...’
I visualized a command and gave the mental instruction.
– Snap.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
The sensation faded.
Both Liana and my teacher’s eyes widened.
"...They fell off?"
The wings detached, morphing into a cloak-like garment that wrapped around me.
‘So it works.’
I blinked in disbelief. It was simpler than I’d expected. I should have tried this sooner.
"...Guess there’s no need for debate," my teacher muttered.
"Indeed..."
She exhaled deeply, but stopped midway and pressed her hand to my cheek.
And so, amidst the bewildered reactions to my transformed appearance, the examination proceeded.
Although I briefly feared being dissected due to my unusual state, the protective presence of my teacher and Liana reassured me.
The real issue arose afterward.
"Hayul?"
“Waaa... Dad...”
Post-examination, I was greeted by a disheveled Elia and a tear-streaked Seoyul, who was still sniffling.
‘Ah.’
A wave of guilt twisted in my chest.
Self-loathing hammered at my consciousness.
My mind went black.
.
.
.
Though much had happened, the vacation wasn’t over yet.
I had only spent less than a week at the Guhwa estate and roughly ten days in China, from rushing around to being rescued.
When I returned to Siyoram with Professor Liana, about a week of vacation remained.
...
And so, with time left on my hands, I decided to focus on studying magic.
Despite my physical condition, my mind remained sharp.
Magic would be my priority during the second semester, especially as it would lead me to the floating island—the Tower of Knowledge.
But before that, there was an immediate challenge.
“Come on, sweetie. Say ‘ah~.’”
My thoughts were interrupted by the warm sensation of a spoon touching my lips, holding a spoonful of vegetable porridge.
Elia, smiling brightly, encouraged me to open my mouth.
While embarrassing, it wasn’t something I could outright refuse.
Given my current state, it was...
‘...’
I glanced around.
The chair I sat in was a high chair, with a bib tied around my neck alongside my Proof of Protection necklace.
‘Oh, no...’
To make matters worse, Seoyul sat beside me in a similar setup.
Her size... matched mine.
‘I swear she was smaller before the vacation.’
Resigned to my predicament, I reluctantly opened my mouth, allowing the warm porridge to slide in.
[Player Adjustment System: Status Check]
...
▶Mental State
｢Fairy(?)｣
｢Regression｣
｢Growth｣
｢Complexity｣
｢Guilt｣
｢Embarrassment｣
｢Comfort｣
...
[Player Adjustment System: Affection Level]
Lee Hayul → Elia Slade
●●●●●●●○○○ (77 ▶ 78/100)
｢Affection｣ ｢Gratitude｣ ｢Chick｣ ｢Regret｣ ｢Guilt｣