I Became the Academy's Disabled Student-Chapter 338: Father and daughter reunion

Most people use a form of employment to control others.

It’s peaceful and rational. You can find mutual agreement and work together in a satisfying manner.

It’s also cumbersome.

You need to find a common ground, and if you can’t, you’ll split apart.

Even if you find it, you can’t abuse others too much. As someone in a position of power, you have to consider many circumstances and conveniences.

From a peaceful standpoint, this is the obvious way.

Hmm... No need to beat around the bush.

But throughout history, non-peaceful methods have been common.

If you don’t want to die, follow me.Slavery is a convenient method.

No need to find a common ground or consider any circumstances. You simply take someone, use them, and when they’re no longer needed, you can throw them away without a second thought.

[You were a slave to Hong Yeonjun. So you couldn’t refuse his commands?]

"To be exact, I was a slave to something that resided within Hong Yeonjun."

Estra was caught like that.

One day, while trying to collect payment and leave, Hong Yeonjun blocked his path.

Of course, he resisted, but was quickly overwhelmed and forced into a contract because his life was on the line.

"If you check the back of my neck, you’ll find a brand. It’s much stronger than the usual slave marks circulated in the black market... it’s a type of curse."

[A curse? Did he personally put this on you?]

"Yes, it forces obedience to his commands."

Before the Great Change, slavery was common. With the rise of magic and otherworldly abilities, it became easier and more certain to create slaves than it ever was before.

[Hmm...]

Beyond the transparent wall, Iha-Yul gave a nonchalant nod after hearing the details.

...For some reason, he looked younger now.

Floating in mid-air, his eyes were even closed, giving an odd impression.

‘There were rumors about the special admission students being younger, but...’

I didn’t expect this. Also, I’m not sure why he got younger.

In any case, his lack of interest in the curse was evident, though some curiosity still remained.

Questions bubbled up in my mind like bubbles in the air.

‘I’m not in a position to ask.’

I swallowed the question down in my dry throat.

The power of life and death was tightly in their hands. Iha-Yul’s whim could result in my head being cut off at any moment.

Here, I shouldn’t express questions but should prove my usefulness.

[So, you couldn’t avoid it because of the mark? It was forced upon you?]

Iha-Yul asked while nodding.

In that moment, Estra felt as though the whole world was watching him.

He immediately realized that this question was a test of sorts.

"I’m not claiming any injustice or innocence."

He wasn’t lying. He could lie, but he had a strong feeling that Iha-Yul would see through it.

"I’m not an ethical person; I value my life far more than anyone else’s. In the end, it was all to survive. Even now, I want to live."

[So, you’re asking for your life by obeying orders this time?]

"Yes."

[And what about the mark? Do you have any way of removing it?]

"I’ve tried, but I haven’t had any success."

Estra was skilled with a bow, but he had also learned magic. He had tried to solve the issue with the mark on his neck but had no clues or success.

[Hmm... What about these two?]

Iha-Yul turned his head. On either side of Estra were Spada and Yang Yi-Hwa, who had also been captured.

Spada was the one who wielded a sword, and Yang Yi-Hwa was the one who played around with a spear.

They had been brought out of their solitary cells for interrogation.

But there was no immediate need to speak, so their gags remained on.

"I don’t know the details. What I know is one’s obsessed with a sword and the other with a spear. As for the marks... I’m not sure, since I arrived last."

[They both have marks on their necks.]

"Ah, I see."

[Hmm...]

Iha-Yul nodded thoughtfully, the expression making him look incredibly cute, especially given his younger form.

‘...Scary.’

But Estra wasn’t fooled by appearances. He swallowed a gulp of saliva as a memory flashed through his mind.

In the Abyss, Estra had witnessed Iha-Yul’s true form as a killing machine.

The bizarre circuits that surged outside his body, the six brightly shining wings, the six arms...

Countless monsters, too many to count, were slaughtered by an even greater number of magic spells.

Spada and Yang Yi-Hwa, who had nothing but basic skills, were quickly reduced to corpses and tossed aside, while Hong Yeonjun barely put up a fight.

...And for some reason, someone with a similar appearance to Iha-Yul but possessing monstrous power was also defeated by Iha-Yul.

The creature, coiled within Hong Yeonjun, ultimately couldn’t do anything against Iha-Yul and fled.

The horrifying weapons hidden behind his beautiful appearance stayed with Estra’s memories. He could never forget the terror.

"...Hey? Your tone is very, uh, refined. Did you speak like this outside?"

"Eh? Oh, no...? I usually speak normally..."

"Hmm? I heard you speaking like that. You can speak in such a refined way, but then curse like crazy..."

[Wait a second, Sajeo...]

"What? Curse? Who did?"

"Igeuk, that..."

...Caught between two women, looking flustered, the image of a child unable to handle such a situation overlapped with that of a terrifying killing machine.

[Let’s focus on the task first...]

"......"

A moment later, Estra, now shrinking in Iha-Yul’s gaze, opened the solitary cell door and entered.

With a deep sigh, Liana followed behind. Daera, who had received a glare from Iha-Yul, shrugged her shoulders and followed as well.

Iha-Yul, floating toward them, gave a warning.

[Wait, I’m just going to check something. Don’t move.]

"Yes."

Estra nodded obediently.

He had no choice.

While standing next to Iha-Yul, Daera, who had moved slightly ahead, stared at Estra with a murderous gaze.

On the opposite side stood Liana.

Though Estra didn’t know her identity, the dozens of high-level spirits emerging behind her indicated she was no ordinary person.

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If he tried any funny business here, his head would likely be smashed by a lightning-charged fist, and he’d be reduced to nothing by the onslaught of high-level spirits.

Fwoosh...!

‘Damn.’

Even as a small hand wrapped in fiery energy approached, Estra couldn’t possibly escape.

As a result, Estra and the other two were left alive for now.

They wouldn’t be granted freedom.

As Estra had confessed with his own mouth, the brand on his neck still remained.

They could be ordered to act at any moment, so they were locked away in the Association’s main prison.

And whenever there was time, I would go and try to remove the brand.

‘It might serve as practice.’

Removing the curse that the “Tower Master of the Abyss” had placed on them.

This would be incredibly useful experience for when I would need to lift Baek Arin’s curse later.

Of course, the entities that placed the curses and the severity of the curses would differ, but the experience itself was important.

By the way, the recent experiment with Estra had failed.

It was possible to burn the curse with flame energy. However, it was impossible to avoid harming Estra in the process.

‘When I do it for Baek Arin, it must be safe and cause minimal pain.’

I recalled the screams that had echoed in the prison and nodded.

When it comes to lifting Baek Arin’s curse, I would likely be in a difficult situation, so focusing would be even more challenging.

Experience and skill were crucial.

‘Well, if I figure out how to undo the curse, I can just replace it with another collar...’

Squeeze...

That moment came.

The pressure on my stomach caused me to exhale sharply.

"Are you feeling full, junior?"

[Full]

[Yes...]

It was Lee Jiyeon’s touch. She had entered the healing room and was gently rubbing my stomach, infusing me with vitality.

"When manipulating vitality, it’s not just the total amount that matters. Above all, you need to manage the continuous flow."

[Yes...]

"Taesan is especially good at drawing vitality from the earth. It’s similar to the sensation of planting roots."

The soldiers from the three great families had caught me using Taesan and Changhae.

Naturally, Lee Jiyeon noticed me using Taesan as well.

As a result, whenever she injected vitality, she began giving me detailed training on how to use Taesan.

I listened carefully to her calm explanation while keeping an eye on her.

"Why are you being so cautious?"

I was immediately caught.

Startled, I flinched, and Lee Jiyeon shrugged her shoulders while patting my back.

"Are you still worried about it?"

[Well, it’s still a bit... something I kept secret...]

"You learned it from me as mentoring, and practiced on your own, right? It’s fine, really. Honestly, if I were you, I’d be scared too, and that’s how I learned."

Although I understood why I had asked her for mentoring, Lee Jiyeon didn’t mind and reassured me.

In fact, she smiled and stretched out her hand, as if to tell me not to worry about it.

"Now, just like I showed you, try it yourself."

[Yes]

I looked at Lee Jiyeon and, with her hand in mine, I used the technique of Taesan, absorbing her vitality slowly.

Wooosh...

Lee Jiyeon’s vibrant vitality flowed into me without resistance.

The vitality filled my insides, creating a feeling of fullness and bloating.

Hrk...

Immediately after, I let out a small burp, and my body relaxed.

Lee Jiyeon, with her familiar gestures, lifted me and gently patted my back.

I couldn’t understand why I always burped after absorbing vitality.

But right now, I just wanted to enjoy the comfortable feeling, so I surrendered to Lee Jiyeon’s touch.

Now, it had become familiar, and instead of feeling embarrassed, I just felt comforted.

"Hmm..."

As I lay there comfortably, I felt a gaze upon me.

I raised my face slightly, and there was Lee Jiyeon, staring at me with a thoughtful look.

She gently cupped my cheek.

"Junior, I think it’s better if you go back to the mansion now, before the afternoon arrives."

[Huh?]

Suddenly?

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