I Became the Academy's Disabled Student-Chapter 314: By the way, the current president of the association is...

I packed everything up in Siyoram.

As I measured the resources stuffed into my spatial inventory, I couldn’t help but feel a little bloated.

I had gathered all the supplies, finished the winter break ceremony, and left my regards with the remaining fairies and the baby unicorn at the mansion.

I also spent some time carefully soothing Se-yul, who had become upset from the prolonged absence. It took a while, but we worked through it.

There was no more reason to delay.

I had to thoroughly explore the likely entrance to the Hidden Realm, and though time was on my side, it wasn’t as abundant as I would have liked.

"Mm."

The eyes of the students who visited the Gate Terminal were all trained on me.

I didn’t pay much attention to the small glances.

"......"

A thick fog blanketed my surroundings. Through the haze, I could faintly see the worried faces of the people close to me.

Worry and concern dripped from their gazes and voices.

It was like watching a child being sent off to battle, and I couldn’t help but feel my shoulders hunch instinctively.

At the same time, the memories of the past few days resurfaced.

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[Happiness]

"What happiness? Do you think this is something to laugh about?"

Bloop, ugh...

Persuasion... or perhaps temptation? They had gently embraced me, trying to keep me from going to dangerous places, soothing and comforting me as if to protect me.

Whenever they found a moment, they would pull me into their arms, make eye contact, pet me, pat me, hold me, whispering affection...

Happiness was indeed the right term.

There were dozens of times when I almost nodded off to their suggestion of just staying in Siyoram during the break.

‘But, I can’t stop here...’

Of course, I wanted to stay. I wanted to spend a peaceful holiday, wrapped in their warm arms, indulging in affection...

Had I been swayed by that temptation, I would have had a blissful holiday.

But I couldn’t guarantee the future.

While I had made tremendous progress compared to my original self, I was still far from enough.

High-level dungeons and monsters. The hidden realms, such dangerous calamities. Most importantly, the invasion of the Tower Masters.

I doubted if I could stop them, and even if I did, I wouldn’t know what kind of damage I might sustain in the process.

That’s why I couldn’t afford to rest on my current success. I needed to keep striving for more power.

So, with a heavy heart, I shook my head.

"I’ll be back safely."

I avoided the hand that was tugging at my lips and hugged my instructor tightly. The warmth and comfort made my lips curl up involuntarily.

"I’ll keep in touch regularly, and if my business ends quickly, I’ll come back as soon as I can. Don’t worry too much."

"...Hoo."

Even my instructor, who had been pinching my lips, let out a sigh as if she couldn’t do anything about it and gently patted my back.

"Be careful... Be careful. Don’t go into strange places recklessly. Especially the dungeons. You have to be extra cautious."

"Before worrying about the hero’s duties or anything, take care of yourself. Don’t just rush in headfirst and fight."

I wasn’t the only one leaving for an extended period during the break.

Both my instructor and Professor Riana had been staying in Siyoram for a while, but they said they had things to do outside during the break.

Baek Ah-rin had to return to her family’s territory for family matters, and Yeon-hwa and Lee Ji-yeon had to go back to their families as well.

Elia had briefly returned home, and surprisingly, she said she would be following Baek Ah-rin to offer assistance.

It wasn’t hard to understand.

Healers are always in short supply on the battlefield. Though she’s still a student, Elia’s skills were already at a level where she would be an invaluable asset.

"But..."

"Is that really coming from you, Ha-yul, who refuses to tell us your destination?"

Bbbbp...

"Ugh... I’m only going to be helping with the rear guard, so don’t worry. If you really don’t want me to collapse from dehydration this time, Ha-yul, you better come back safely, alright?"

"Yes..."

When I showed concern, Elia, looking bewildered, tugged my lips. After whining for a while, I was finally freed from her hold.

"Yeon-hwa."

After saying my goodbyes, I approached Yeon-hwa, my lips still tingling from the tug.

"...I’ll come back safely?"

She looked down at me with her bright red eyes, and in them swirled a tumult of emotions that mirrored my own concern.

Yeon-hwa had been acting strange for the past few days.

She spent a lot of time alone, lost in thought, often pulling me into her arms, looking down at me with a complex gaze.

Even when I asked her why, she wouldn’t give me an answer, which frustrated me... though I wasn’t in a position to complain about it.

After all, wasn’t I hiding things from her too?

Although the Hidden Realm wasn’t something restricted, if I told her about my intentions, I’d only end up causing more worry. So I kept my mouth shut.

"Ha-yul."

Yeon-hwa pulled me into her arms again.

The soft warmth of her body, and the calming beat of her heart filled my ears.

"Don’t worry about Se-yul, I’ll take good care of her. When your business ends, don’t go wandering off; come back right away, understood?"

"Yes."

"Good. You’re answering nicely."

[......]

When I couldn’t find the words to speak, Yeon-hwa gave me a reassuring nod and stared into my eyes.

Her gaze was unreadable, and despite the storm of emotions swirling in it, the affection she felt was unmistakably evident.

With my head tilted back, I met her gaze, and with a gentle smile, Yeon-hwa placed a kiss on the bridge of my nose.

"Stay in touch. If you go silent like last time, I’ll come find you right away."

"I’ll make sure to keep in touch..."

At her words, I shuddered and nodded.

Three days passed since I received unexpected news from Maxwell.

Robert, after what felt like an eternity, finally finished his work just around lunchtime and neatly adjusted his suit in front of a mirror.

"Mm..."

It wasn’t an extraordinary suit, but it was the kind of high-quality attire that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Compared to the rags I used to wear in the battlefield, the fitting and wearing of such clothes was more complicated, but after years of practice, I was now accustomed to it.

"Hah."

Once he finished adjusting, Robert turned around.

The door was directly in front of him, but instead of opening it, he tapped the floor with the tips of his shoes.

The strange vibration from his feet rose, and by the time it reached his head, Robert found himself stepping into an entirely different space.

The spacious room had no windows or doors leading outside.

This was the innermost part of the Association’s headquarters, a concealed meeting room where only those with special permissions were allowed to enter.

"Robert, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

Inside the room, there were already several people seated. Robert checked his attire once more and turned to face them.

In the center of the room, four individuals sat around a floating rectangular table.

Samuel Delaney.

Alfred Bester.

Fritz Leiber.

Isaac Asimov.

These were all congressmen of the Association, just like Robert.

"You're the last one. Looks like you haven’t changed your habit of being late."

The elderly Samuel Delaney, sitting at one end of the table, spoke sarcastically.

"Still complaining about being late even though it’s not yet the appointed time?"

Robert replied, not missing a beat. "Don’t sit there and throw tantrums after you’ve already taken a seat."

"Heh, isn't it polite to arrive a bit early?"

Samuel chuckled.

"Well, it’s not quite time yet, so don’t provoke me and just be quiet," Robert shot back with a frown, sitting down in the chair that was floating without legs.

"You all seem to get along well."

"It’s the same old annoying talk, no matter how many years pass."

The faces of the other three members broke into faint smiles as they watched Robert’s reaction.

"We’ve all aged quite a bit. Look at all the gray hair. Shouldn't you all be taking better care of yourselves?"

"You’re not in any position to talk," another member quipped.

The playful tone carried an underlying familiarity. After all, these individuals were the ones who had been leading the Association ever since the Tower Masters retired. There was an undeniable bond between them that came from years of collaboration.

"So, is the Association finally coming out of hiding?" Fritz Leiber asked, his voice steady.

Robert went silent for a moment.

"...We can’t say for sure. It’s something that will be dealt with soon," he replied cautiously.

"Well, let’s assume it’s a sign that the Association’s leaders are returning. If they’ve been in hiding for decades, there must be a reason for it," Fritz said, nodding thoughtfully.

"True, maybe things haven’t been going well," Alfred added, his tone contemplative.

The current state of the world wasn’t a secret, and even the general public could sense the rising tension. It was clear to everyone that the world was not in a good place, even if the leaders didn’t want to acknowledge it.

"No matter what, this situation doesn’t give them much to be proud of..." Robert muttered.

After years of leading the Association, the members of the board were finally facing a situation that might push them to act, much to their chagrin.

Whooo!

As they were discussing the situation, the vibrations in the air shifted, and the atmosphere in the room changed.

The faint rumbling in the air made the faces of the members light up with anticipation. The moment had arrived. The long-awaited summons from the Association’s leader.

"Mm?"

Just then, the space in front of them seemed to ripple, and two figures emerged, breaking through the protective vibrations of the room.

One of them was Maxwell, the executive member of the Association, and the other was...

"Ha...?"

Alfred gasped, his eyes wide as he looked at the second person who had entered.

From head to toe, the figure was completely white. It was an aura so pristine, it seemed to blend with the very light itself. The figure’s features were flawless, and they radiated an almost divine energy. The sight was so striking that it seemed like sunlight had suddenly filled the room, making the dimly lit space feel like an illusion.

"Is that Ha-yul, the student?" Alfred mumbled in disbelief.

Everyone else, too, couldn’t hide their astonishment.

They had all seen Ha-yul around the academy, but this was the first time they had seen him in such a setting—dressed as one of them, exuding a presence unlike before.

[Hm.]

For a brief moment, there was a stillness as the room took in the unexpected appearance. Ha-yul stood still, his eyes closed, and then slowly took a step forward, his fingers brushing the necklace he wore.

[It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Ha-yul, a student from Siyoram.]

"Ah, yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Ha-yul, the hero. I am Robert Hyraline, a congressman of the Association," Robert responded politely, standing up.

"I’ve heard of your accomplishments and have been looking forward to meeting you in person. It’s truly an honor."

He gave a respectful smile, one that had been honed over decades of public life.

"On behalf of the Association, I would like to express my gratitude for your dedication, particularly in dealing with the incidents in Siphonah and China," Robert said, lowering his head slightly in thanks. The others followed suit, also bowing their heads in respect.

They weren’t just polite words. They genuinely appreciated Ha-yul’s efforts, and the gratitude was real. The events in Siphonah and China had caused significant turmoil, and Ha-yul’s actions had made all the difference in those dangerous times.

[It is I who should be grateful. After those incidents, I could rest easy knowing the Association had my back.]

"It is our purpose to maintain the balance of the world, and if we fail to do that, the Association itself has no reason to exist," Robert said, his voice filled with conviction.

There was a brief, warm exchange between them. Once the formal greetings were over, Robert broke the silence.

"By the way, may I ask what brings you here today?"

It was a polite question, but Robert already had a pretty good idea of the answer.

The meeting room they were in had been carefully designed by the Tower Masters themselves, equipped with spatial magic that allowed it to hide from the world. Anyone without the proper authority couldn’t even step foot in it.

The very fact that Ha-yul had entered here meant he was connected to the Association’s leadership in some way.

Perhaps Ha-yul had been invited by the leaders of the Association for a particular reason... Robert couldn’t help but speculate in his mind.

"I am Maxwell, from the Executive Division," Maxwell spoke up just as Robert’s thoughts were swirling.

"Ha-yul is here today in the capacity of 'Acting Chairman of the Association.'"

"Acting Chairman?" Robert blinked, clearly taken aback. "What?"

The others also looked at Ha-yul and Maxwell, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Yes, Ha-yul has officially received the authority to act as the Acting Chairman, granted by Chairman Gracia Tehullin and Sierra Scariar," Maxwell clarified.

"Already?" Robert was stunned. "He’s already received the authority?"

"Yes, Ha-yul is currently the Acting Chairman of the Association, holding full executive authority," Maxwell repeated, calmly nodding.

"......"

The room was silent for a moment. The other members exchanged bewildered looks, processing the news.

"Acting Chairman?" Robert echoed, his voice still a little hoarse from the shock.

"Yes," Maxwell replied, unwavering. "Ha-yul is the Acting Chairman, and I am here to assist him as his advisor for this meeting."

The calmness of Maxwell’s words contrasted sharply with the weight of what he was saying.

In a single day, Ha-yul had gone from a student at the academy to the Acting Chairman of a global organization.

The impact of this was immense, and everyone in the room was stunned.

Ha-yul, for his part, took a seat at one of the higher chairs reserved for the top members. His demeanor remained composed, though the sheer weight of the situation hadn’t escaped him.

[So, for now, I am temporarily taking on the role of Acting Chairman of the Association.]

Ha-yul’s voice, coming through his necklace, was calm and businesslike.

[Please prepare to mobilize the available hunting and defense squads at any time.]

"Excuse me?" Robert was still processing what he had just heard. His eyes widened in surprise.

Despite his calm tone, the instructions Ha-yul had given were chilling.

The newly appointed Acting Chairman’s first order was to mobilize the Association’s forces.