I Became the Academy's Disabled Student

Nestled in Elia’s arms, Seo Yul bared her teeth, letting out a low growl from her throat.

Her behavior resembled that of a protective animal warning off a perceived threat, and it was shocking to see.

‘Why... Why is she acting like this?’

Seo Yul’s unusually hostile stance toward Hong Yeonhwa was unprecedented.

Even when she first met Elia, her attitude hadn’t been outright friendly, but it wasn’t this aggressive either.

She’d seemed sullen and somewhat displeased, but nothing beyond what might be expected from a child meeting a stranger for the first time.

When she met Professor Liana, however, her reaction was entirely different.

Rather than standing back and glaring suspiciously, she had approached Liana with curiosity, quietly circling her and showing no resistance to being petted or embraced.

In fact, she had allowed Liana to hold her and interact with her much more freely than anyone else.

‘Is it because she’s a spirit summoner?’

Fairies and spirits—while not the same, they were often thought to share a certain kinship.

Seo Yul was a fairy, and Liana was a spirit summoner with extraordinary spirit affinity. It wasn’t strange for Seo Yul to feel a natural sense of familiarity with her.

Elia also had a strong natural connection to spirits, which might explain why she got along so well with Seo Yul.

‘...Familiarity?’

A sudden realization made me tilt my head in confusion.

Familiarity—something warm and comforting, like a sense of being at ease.

‘...Didn’t I feel the same way?’

When I first met Elia, my mental state had been far from stable.

I was a shut-in suddenly thrust into an alien world that resembled a bizarre game.

Without my glasses, my vision blurred to the point of being nearly blind, and spatial awareness constantly bombarded my mind with overwhelming information.

My sharpened senses picked up on every whisper and murmur around me, catching every gaze that pierced me like needles.

It was attention I wasn’t mentally prepared to handle after spending one or two years holed up in my room.

There were people who tried to help me back then, but I had been so startled that I fled from them.

Elia was different.

From the moment I sensed her presence through my spatial perception, I felt no rejection.

Her gaze and voice didn’t unsettle me.

Instead, I felt a strange sense of comfort that let me accept her help despite my initial tension.

‘And Professor Liana...’

It had been the same with her.

There was no hesitation or discomfort. I’d felt warmth and ease from the very beginning.

Though Liana had approached me first, apologizing and offering her assistance, I was the one who ended up asking for her guidance in magical training.

Thinking about it now, me seeking help from someone else was a highly unusual occurrence.

‘......’

It was a difficult feeling to put into words.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

As I unknowingly made a troubled expression, a hand gently touched my cheek.

It was Hong Yeonhwa’s.

Her hand, full of concern, caused me to flinch slightly.

“Huh?”

I glanced up hesitantly at Hong Yeonhwa.

Her face bore faint shadows under her eyes, her complexion subtly pale—a clear indication of the stress she had endured.

And who was responsible for that stress? Who had caused her to suffer, traveling all the way to China and enduring hardship?

It was me, of course.

Yet, instead of expressing anger, she prioritized my well-being, her face filled with concern.

The guilt was suffocating.

Hong Yeonhwa said nothing more. She simply stroked my cheek gently, as though soothing a distressed child.

Carefully, I opened my eyes.

The heavy eyelids lifted, revealing my gray, unsettling pupils.

My vision aligned with the information processed by my Observation Power.

The hazy, fog-filled world of my senses merged with reality.

And amidst the murky haze, Hong Yeonhwa’s vibrant red figure stood out clearly.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“...What is this?”

Sounds of surprise and confusion burst out from the people around us.

Ignoring them, Hong Yeonhwa extended her arms and pulled me into an embrace.

Softness enveloped me completely, the faint scent of milk tickling my nose.

Warmth surrounded me, melting my body into a state of near-total relaxation.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Patting me lightly on the back, Hong Yeonhwa’s bright red eyes stared at me, expecting an answer.

I knew exactly what she wanted.

Swallowing nervously, I licked my lips and spoke.

“I’m... sorry.”

My voice was hoarse and awkward, unpracticed from disuse.

It seemed my prolonged silence had affected my ability to speak fluently.

The same went for my eyes. Keeping them open made them ache, and they trembled as if they weren’t used to the light.

“Heh. Your eyes or throat don’t hurt, do they? You’re not pushing yourself too hard?”

“I... I’m fine.”

Even though I found it embarrassing, Hong Yeonhwa’s radiant smile at my words made me feel strangely pleased.

I had been afraid she would be furious or disappointed, but thankfully, she seemed more concerned than upset.

Relieved, a shy smile crept onto my face.

At that moment, Hong Yeonhwa leaned in closer.

Her breath brushed against me, her scent growing stronger.

Her face filled my vision.

—Chu.

Something soft and warm pressed against my lips.

The unmistakable sensation of a kiss.

“...Ah.”

The warmth faded all too quickly, and I couldn’t help but let out a small, involuntary sound of disappointment.

“...What...?”

And then, a strange voice intruded, low and ominous, sending a shiver down my spine.

Turning toward the source, I saw nothing but the murky fog of my senses.

But my Observation Power captured a face amidst the gloom—the utterly shocked and furious expression of my mentor.

“Hehe.”

For some reason, Hong Yeonhwa smirked triumphantly.

—Crack!

A chilling sound echoed from my mentor’s clenched jaw.

“...So, kissing restored your sight and voice?”

Later, after everyone had regained their composure, my mentor repeated the explanation with a look of utter disbelief.

It was as if she couldn’t trust her own ears.

The others’ reactions weren’t much different.

Elia tilted her head, a question mark practically floating above her.

Baek Arin, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought, her brows furrowed in confusion.

“It could be a psychological phenomenon... maybe?” Liana ventured, though even she didn’t sound certain.

‘...’

Their reactions were understandable.

Even I couldn’t fully believe it, nor could I provide a clear explanation.

The curse, which had seemed immovable, had been lifted—at least partially—by something as simple as a kiss.

I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

The room fell into a contemplative silence.

Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts.

As for me, I wrestled with my own turmoil.

‘...Should I tell them about the curse?’

Should I at least explain that my impaired senses were the result of a curse, not a natural condition?

I had debated this topic back at the start of the semester and ultimately decided to keep it a secret.

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

The Curse of Short Life.

Even if I spoke of it, there was no way to prove it.

The Association’s thorough examinations had failed to detect the curse.

The curses of sensory suppression and silence...

Though their effects were evident, explaining them as anything other than disabilities seemed impossible.

And I couldn’t bring myself to tell someone like Hong Yeonhwa—who gave me sweets, treated me to meals, and constantly worried over my well-being—that I couldn’t even taste food.

So, I had hidden it.

I’d thought it was unnecessary to bring chaos into their lives.

After all, I’d eventually break the curse—or, if not, I’d simply die somewhere out of sight.

But now, I regretted that choice.

I couldn’t hide it forever.

At least some of the truth had to come out.

I steeled myself.

Even if I couldn’t prove it, I knew these people would believe me if I spoke from the heart.

[The truth is...]

—Buzz!

The confession caught in my throat.

Something felt... off.

Warmth disappeared, sound vanished, and a void surrounded me.

Darkness swallowed everything.

[The Curse of Silence is activating.]

[The Curse of Solitude is activating.]

...

[The Master of the Tower of Growth is intervening.]

[The Curse of Silence (?) is activating.]

[A significant amount of points is being consumed.]