The letter from the family was a headache.
"What? You used the elixir without permission and now you want to be compensated?"
Who is saying what to whom, really?
Baek Seol-hee is Baek Seung-woo's younger sister, known for her calculating and ticulous personality.
Given her personality, the fact that she sent such a letter ans she has already set the stage to so extent. Whatever it is, it's likely sothing that will harm .
"Why are you billing for the elixir in the first place?"
The elixir is a universal potion.
A potion that can save anyone as long as they're not dead.
Mass-producing it could make you filthy rich, but even producing a single one is difficult, let alone mass-producing inferior versions.
So, for ergencies, the Cheonho Baek family had stored a few.
And now, you're asking for compensation?
That's utter nonsense.
The elixir is clearly the property of the Cheonho Baek family.
And I am the head of the Cheonho Baek family.
How can you demand compensation for using my own property?
This goes beyond re overreach; it's almost an act of rebellion. If Baek Seol-hee really demands compensation from , I have no choice but to stand up against it.
"...I guess I'll have to visit the main house soon."
Until now, I had no intention of going to the main house.
I planned to watch the protagonist awaken and let the events unfold as they would. I didn't want to stir up trouble by unnecessarily visiting the main house.
Even if I were to go, I intended to delay it as much as possible.
But now, my thoughts have changed.
'I need to reclaim all the lost privileges.'
I will personally recover everything Baek Seung-woo lost.
By doing so, the massive power of the Cheonho Baek family will fall into my hands.
Vast wealth, honour, connections with major families, and the military power that underpins it all.
If I can fully conquer the Cheonho Baek family, most episodes will be easily manageable. But then, a question arose.
It's good that so episodes can be easily managed.
But what does that even an?
"I'm not the protagonist, after all."
I can't do anything.
I tried to save the students even while preventing the protagonist's awakening.
So, what exactly did I gain?
Nine students who didn't need to die, still died.
The protagonist probably resents my actions.
And I almost died while trying to overturn the episodes.
There was no gain at all.
Thinking about it, it's obvious.
Everyone has their own role. My role is that of an extra villain.
My purpose is to be utterly defeated for the protagonist's sake.
Unknowingly, I must have been intoxicated by a hero complex and vanity.
Why did I forget that simple fact?
"...I can't change anything."
I let out a deep sigh.
I sighed until my chest ached and hurt.
I sighed until there was no breath left in my lungs, and my head felt dizzy and light.
I needed oxygen, fresh oxygen. I desperately needed breath to fill this hollow chest.
I channelled magic into my hands and tore off the restraints.
Although the blood vessels carrying magic and the flesh containing them haven't fully healed yet, I used the dical pole with various IVs as a cane and stepped outside.
Step by step, my footsteps were as slow as my heavy sighs.
***
Before I knew it, April had arrived.
It's the full swing of spring.
Freshn have sowhat adapted to the academy and are making friends. It's also the ti when couples start popping up like mushrooms after rain.
In the past, I found those flaunting couples quite annoying.
"Now, there's no one."
Flower buds have blood all around.
As soone with pollen allergies, my nose itches, but my eyes are delighted.
Ah, this place would suit young people better than an old man like who can't enjoy the charm.
Despite my ntal age being in my mid-twenties and my body only 21, I'm quite pessimistic.
It's quite lancholic that in this park full of colourful flowers, there's no one but . It's not that it's lecture ti, or everyone has gone out.
Professors are rushing back to the academy to handle the aftermath.
Second and third-year students are absent due to their midterms and guild training. And then there's the issue of the first-year students.
"All first-years have PTSD, truly a blow to the reputation of one of the world's top five academies."
Hundreds of students are hospitalized in the academy's infirmary. There are professors skilled in healing and experienced health teachers, so there's no need to worry about injuries.
The injuries are not a concern. The problem is the psychological scars.
Currently, about 1,000 students, excluding the injured, are complaining of psychological stress. Among the injured, it's unclear who might show psychological issues, making it even more troubleso.
"At this rate, everyone in the academy will be on antidepressants."
The ntal hospital will do great business.
With 2,000 students needing treatnt and dication.
Maybe I should open a ntal hospital myself.
I had such a frivolous thought, then realized the number was wrong.
'Now it's not 2,000, but 1,991.'
It's an unprecedented number in the academy's history.
The maximum number of students per grade at Seven Stars Academy is 2,000.
This number has never wavered.
For decades, not a single student has transferred or dropped out. But now, nine students have left.
Whether this gap will be filled or left as is remains unknown.
The novel didn't cover such details.
There's no room for extras who are already dead, let alone supporting characters. I felt stifled by this fact.
Sigh, I thought coming outside might make feel better.
But instead, I feel even more stifled.
While walking, I saw a bench and sat down.
"Thinking about it, I have nothing to do. The professor said I'm on dical leave, so I can't even go to work..."
"That's true. From what I see, even if you go to work, you'd only handle trivial tasks."
A soft voice responded to my muttering.
I've heard it before, but it wasn't a familiar voice.
Turning my head, I realized whose voice it was.
"...Why are you here?"
"Can't I co to the park?"
"The academy is in chaos, so you must be busy."
"Yeah, I'm taking a 10-minute break after 29 hours."
The man who had run errands as soon as I entered this world.
After that, he harboured inexplicable hostility towards and avoided as much as possible.
I never expected him to seek out.
"Assistant Bang Seok-hoon..."
"Call Senior Bang Seok-hoon. Don't act like a freshman."
"Didn't you get scolded by the professor for that? If you want to act like a senior, go bother soone else."
I didn't particularly want to talk to Bang Seok-hoon.
We're acquainted, but not close enough to have a private conversation. How do you handle that hysterical ss?
I can't.
"You're the only junior who talks to a senior like that, you parasitic bastard."
"If you want respect, change your behaviour first. So, what do you want from ?"
"I heard you got hurt. Are your lungs okay?"
Good heavens.
Bang Seok-hoon, who caused all sorts of trouble from day one, is asking about my well-being. I was shocked.
But what surprised more was the content of his concern.
He didn't ask if I was okay; he asked about my lungs. Truly, Bang Seok-hoon is extraordinary in many ways.
"...Why are you making such a stupid face?"
"No, I was just thinking that you're probably the only person in the world who would ask such a thing."
"You're a rude brat... I just can't warm up to you."
I feel the sa.
Over the past month, I haven't done anything to get close to others, but there are two people I'd consider bad acquaintances.
Bang Seok-hoon and Kyle.
Regarding Kyle, it's entirely my fault, and I don't have any particular feelings towards the assistants who avoid . But Bang Seok-hoon is an exception.
"I don't want to get close to you either, so why don't you just go your way?"
"...I'll sit here for a bit."
"No, why of all the benches would you sit next to ... Oh, you're already sitting."
Bang Seok-hoon sat next to .
The bench was wide enough that we weren't touching, but it was still quite unpleasant. I'd like to swing my dical pole and tell him to get lost.
But if I did, the pole would probably just break.
Though he's an assistant, Bang Seok-hoon is also a mage studying under Nam Hwa-yeon. If I were in my pri, like when I fought Yuren, maybe.
But in my current half-crippled state, I'm no match for him.
"By the way, your tail has grown. I heard it's a trait of the Cheonho Baek family, but it's fascinating. What's the principle?"
"...Is that what you ca for?"
"Half of it."
Well, it is fascinating.
I'm also fascinated by my growing tail.
Having a tail grow is a very strange sensation.
It's different from growing an extra limb. It's like having sothing foreign attached near your waist. But the sensation of it moving on its own is indescribable.
"It's more a result of training than a family trait."
"...Training?"
"Yes, training. It's similar to a Buddhist attaining enlightennt and reaching nirvana. Now that I've explained, why don't you go back to work?"
I gave a rough explanation, but I'm not sure if it was clear.
I don't know much about training myself.
A fox growing its tail is different from simply acquiring knowledge.
It's not about increasing physical strength or patiently waiting for a hundred years.
I can't even guess the thod.
Well, that's why it's called training.
"That's fascinating."
"Now that you know, why don't you go back to work?"
"I'll have a cigarette first."
"You...!"
Bang Seok-hoon took out a cigarette from his pocket.
Click, click!
He lit the cigarette with a lighter.
What is he doing now?
"What are you doing in front of a non-smoker? I'm a patient, are you crazy?"
"Nice rhy."
"Wow, I knew you were crazy, but not this crazy."
He's been beating around the bush since earlier.
I knew from the start, but I didn't expect him to be this crazy.
Bang Seok-hoon handed a cigarette.
"...Are you asking to light the cigarette?"
"Have a smoke."
"I'm a non-smoker."
"..."
Offering a cigarette to a non-smoker. And I'm a patient.
Now that I think about it, he must have asked about my lung health because of the cigarette.
Wow, where else would you find a senior like this?
He's truly the worst.
"But you used to smoke, right?"
"...How did you know?"
"Just a guess."
"..."
What could I possibly ask this guy?
Talking to him really makes my head go blank.
I stared blankly at the cigarette Bang Seok-hoon handed .
It's not that I don't want to smoke.
I used to smoke due to stress on the battlefield, but I was forced to quit due to a lack of luxury supplies. I don't mind smoking.
But I don't want to smoke the cigarette he's offering.
Look at that.
A cigarette with no brand on it.
How can you trust and smoke sothing like that?
I can't. I just can't.
Bang Seok-hoon watched intently.
His eyes no longer held the previous hostility. Instead, there was a sense of pity, or perhaps a sense of kinship.
I felt a gaze on the back of my head and turned around.
There, Bang Seok-hoon was flicking away the remaining cigarette.
White powder flowed from the cigarette butt, then evaporated into the air.
It looked like an angel had scattered gold dust in the air.
It was a strangely fascinating cigarette.
He straightened his collar and stood up from the bench.
"...Don't do this kind of thing."
"Huh?"
"Then I'll be going. You should recover quickly and co back."
Is he crazy?
Before I could ask, Bang Seok-hoon left.
Bang Seok-hoon returned the way he ca, and soone approached along that path. They seed to know each other, exchanged greetings, and parted ways.
As the distance closed, I saw the face and was startled.
It was soone I never expected.
***
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