"Something's weird about you, man," Byun said, his voice low but pointed, carrying a note of suspicion that made Jae's stomach tighten. "I've seen plenty of training injuries around this academy, but none that look like that knee. And those elixirs? Those are rare, noble-level stuff, hard to come by even for the rich kids. You're a commoner, Jae. No offense, but where'd you get your hands on those?" His words hung in the air, heavy with implication, his eyes narrowing as he waited for an answer.
Jae's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing to come up with a believable cover story. He couldn't mention the Lust System or the dangerous cave quest, not to Byun, not to anyone.
The truth about his mysterious power and the rewards he'd earned from battling the Acid-Fanged Snake had to stay buried deep. Forcing a casual shrug despite the pain radiating through his body, he kept his voice weak but steady, hoping to sound convincing.
