I got into school for nothing - Chapter 100
I got into school for nothing (100)
Lesson 21. Special Admissions for Lower-Rank Dimensions - 4
Wednesday, 2nd period.
The advanced major course, Aura Combat Studies, was unusually held in the forest stretching beyond the academy's spaceship docking bay, and one had to pass through a barrier that could not be entered without the lecture's entry code.
The reason became clear the moment they passed through the barrier; the interior of the barrier was not a forest, but an environment closer to a vast prairie, and an impact-dampening barrier was laid across the entire wide-open space.
“Space Expansion and Impact Dampening. It’s a space where we can run wild without a care. And...”
“You have an eye for magic.”
Ban Yuwon stopped short.
Before they knew it, Lyu Cheolmyeong, the professor in charge of this course, had approached them.
It wasn't that there were no large East Asians on Earth, but even if Lyu Cheolmyeong were mixed among them, Ban Yuwon would surely notice his unusual physical structure and be able to pick him out.
“Space Expansion is recognizable at a glance, but the Impact Dampening Barrier would have been difficult to discern without experiencing it directly. You're taking Magical Combat Studies, so it makes sense.”
His head was shaved short, like a PE teacher who always carried a golf club in middle or high school, and his gaze was as fierce as a snake's.
What was peculiar was his attire... It was a monochrome, Eastern-style training uniform.
Yes, exactly the kind of clothing one might find in a Wuxia novel.
“But you wielded a sword in the comprehensive sparring match. Your physique appears weak, so it's not too late to focus on magic now, wouldn't you say?”
“Thank you for the advice, Professor. I’ll give it serious thought.”
Just as expected. Since he started picking a fight as soon as he saw me, it's so much easier to identify friend from foe! How convenient!
As Ban Yuwon clapped inwardly and offered a gentle smile, Lyu Cheolmyeong, perhaps because the reaction was different from what he expected, turned his head to others with an expression suggesting he had lost interest in him.
He stared intently at Rucell's chest, to an extent that felt rather vulgar (Rucell grimaced and immediately hid behind Ban Yuwon's back), and after seeing Light carrying a spear on his back, he scoffed.
Finally, he cast his gaze upon Dokgo Yeon.
“You’re from Murim.”
“That is correct.”
“I see. I, too, hail from Murim. Though it might be a different place from yours—.”
Saying so, he grinned broadly, and as if a thought had suddenly struck him, added,
“However... are there any transcendents in your Murim?”
“...To my knowledge, there are none currently.”
“As I thought. It will be difficult for Murim to persist as Murim.”
Was this really a provocation from a man who had been a professor at the best academy in the dimensions for hundreds of years?
Though utterly dumbfounded, with his mouth agape, Ban Yuwon glanced at Dokgo Yeon, wondering if she might lose her temper and explode, but—
“Are you concerned about the Murim of another dimension? Indeed, a transcendent’s character is exceptional.”
Dokgo Yeon merely responded calmly, a smile much like Ban Yuwon’s from moments ago playing on her lips.
Lyu Cheolmyeong furrowed his brows and shot an unnecessary glare at Ban Yuwon, then, after confirming that other students were entering the barrier, turned his back to them without a word.
“Ban Yuwon.”
“Hm?”
Dokgo Yeon spoke, her eyes devoid of emotion as she watched Lyu Cheolmyeong’s retreating back.
“I, by nature, despise growth in internal energy alone that is not accompanied by enlightenment, and I never rush the attainment of martial arts unless I am confident I can handle it myself.”
“If you’re that strong without rushing, then what on earth has my life been up to now?”
“As for that fake transcendent who doesn't know his place, deluding himself into thinking he's reached the heavens and rampaging around, I think I'll only be satisfied if I land a good blow on him.”
Dokgo Yeon completely ignored Ban Yuwon’s ridiculous grumbling and continued.
“So, take me to the higher floors of the Tower as quickly as possible.”
The higher one ascends the Tower, the stronger their existence becomes.
Even Dokgo Yeon, who was already far stronger than Ban Yuwon, realized this dramatically.
The Tower strengthens existence.
—And Dokgo Yeon had chosen Ban Yuwon as the companion who could ascend the Tower most quickly, most certainly.
Perhaps from the very moment they first met.
“Even if you didn’t ask, I’d do it.”
“Good. Our goal is to crush that fake before graduation.”
Dokgo Yeon spoke casually of crushing Lyu Cheolmyeong—one of the academy’s representative transcendents and a warrior considered among the strongest alongside Yumina—within a mere five years.
Yet Ban Yuwon was convinced that she could truly do it.
“All students, gather here.”
As the lecture was about to begin, Lyu Cheolmyeong gathered the students in one place.
Excluding Ban Yuwon’s party of four, there were six other students taking this lecture, and somehow, all their faces looked familiar.
They were all students from Class 1.
“Lusein Rown-Palomer Aquinas Ortima! I was looking forward to having you in my lecture. There's no greater pleasure than teaching one who is promised the future of a transcendent.”
“I look forward to your guidance, Professor Lyu Cheolmyeong.”
The leader, of course, was Lusein Ortima, and it seemed that having his arm cut off had indeed changed him, as he merely glanced at Dokgo Yeon without picking a fight with them.
However, as long as he was taking this lecture, there was no telling what discussions he might have had with Cantone and Lyu Cheolmyeong beforehand.
“Then, I shall begin the lecture.”
Ban Yuwon fingered the jeweled flower brooch pinned to his chest, mentally preparing himself to use his cheat-like abilities at any moment.
Lyu Cheolmyeong spoke.
“What do you all think ‘Aura’ is? Aura is precisely the soul. By believing strongly in oneself and constantly striving for improvement, a warrior becomes capable of wielding the power of the soul, and this power, when visualized, is Aura.”
In truth, Ban Yuwon had initially thought quite seriously, regardless of Lyu Cheolmyeong's intentions, that this lecture might prove beneficial to the growth of his martial arts.
The basic martial arts skills course was practically useless to him, so if he could interact with a warrior who had reached a profound level during this time—even if that warrior held ill will towards him or not—he believed he could gain enlightenment about martial arts by facing them.
Furthermore, he was also curious about what Aura truly was.
‘Dokgo Yeon had simply brushed it off, saying it wasn’t time for me to know yet.’
And that thought seemed to remain unchanged.
Look even now.
While Lyu Cheolmyeong expounded his personal philosophy on Aura, wasn't she subtly turning to Ban Yuwon and slowly shaking her head?
It was a sign to not listen, as there was no meaning in it.
‘No, is it simply a sign that what that bastard is saying is wrong?’
He had vaguely sensed it before, but Dokgo Yeon possessed unwavering pride regarding martial arts and would never compromise.
She even told Ban Yuwon to prioritize following her words when learning martial arts.
As if something terrible would happen if he learned martial arts from someone else.
‘Well, it’s not like Dokgo Yeon would attach such great significance to me.’
It must simply be due to her great pride in her own abilities.
In any case, Ban Yuwon wasn't bold enough to pay close attention to something Dokgo Yeon had told him not to listen to, so he fixed his sparkling eyes on Lyu Cheolmyeong and, while watching him, activated his 'in one ear and out the other' skill, deliberately choosing not to remember his words.
“—Therefore, the best way to awaken one's Aura is to closely encounter, observe, and become accustomed to the Aura of others. It is, in essence, stimulating the soul with the power of the soul itself.”
With those words, Lyu Cheolmyeong lifted his greatsword, which had been plunged into the prairie.
And then—Hup! With a single shout of exertion, he conjured a several-meter-tall Aura that blazed above it.
“Ooooh!”
“That’s amazing, Professor!”
“This is a full professor’s Aura...!”
Aura.
When he had asked Dokgo Yeon previously, she had reluctantly replied with 'the essence (精華) of internal energy,' accompanied by a look that asked 'what use is knowing it now?'
However, the crimson Aura he now faced before his eyes felt simply overwhelming and colossal.
It was the same kind of overwhelming presence, like when Lyu Cheolmyeong had been active in Gellas during their previous special activity, a weight that seemed to cover the entire sky.
If asked to describe what he felt from that Aura, Ban Yuwon would utter only two words.
Sky, and weight.
‘But strangely, what I see with my All-Seeing Eye isn’t either of them. Just magic power, an overwhelming magic power.’
However, if he continued to observe it this way, it seemed he might be able to discern the structure of the magic power that composed Lyu Cheolmyeong's Aura.
Even if he didn't pay attention to his words, observing his Aura would be fine, right?
He looked at Dokgo Yeon with that intention, but before he could—
“Student Ban Yuwon, step forward.”
Lyu Cheolmyeong called Ban Yuwon's name first.
“Today, we will have a demonstration session to allow each individual to intimately feel Aura. Student Ban Yuwon, step forward.”
Indeed. Is this how it begins?
Ban Yuwon stepped forward without looking back.
Rucell instinctively grabbed his hand, but he gently patted the back of her hand, making her let go.
“Should I draw my weapon?”
“No, this is merely a demonstration to feel Aura, so there's no need to be afraid.”
“So, I can assume you won't actually attack me, correct?”
“Of course. I will merely help you feel the Aura as closely as possible.”
“Understood. So, I won't be harmed.”
Perhaps assuming Ban Yuwon was merely repeating himself, Lyu Cheolmyeong subtly furrowed his brow and nodded.
But that was Ban Yuwon's subtle warning.
He also took measures simultaneously.
—Of course, a fool who didn't even know who created this barrier couldn't have noticed.
‘Yes, I just need to activate the spell formula as is. If it were up to me, I'd want to watch from the side... You can do it, right? Just like this?’
Why was Yumina’s attitude towards him increasingly becoming like that of an older sister towards her younger brother?
Ban Yuwon recalled his conversation (對談) with Yumina yesterday, and let out a soft sigh.
“Quite relaxed, aren't you? Even with Aura right in front of you.”
“Because you, Professor, said you wouldn't harm me. Aren't you the academy's top Aura user?”
“Are you perhaps scared? Come a little closer.”
Why do these sons of bitches all ignore the answer to a question and spout something else?
Ban Yuwon smiled and took another step forward.
At that moment, Lyu Cheolmyeong’s greatsword cleaved the world in half, descending directly over Ban Yuwon’s head.
“Do you feel it?”
Lyu Cheolmyeong spoke in an oily voice.
The bastard’s greatsword, imbued with crimson Aura, hovered above Ban Yuwon’s crown.
Perhaps it was no lie that he was a master of Aura and simultaneously a master of martial arts, for the blade was truly not even 0.01 centimeters away from his head.
If Lyu Cheolmyeong had put just a little more force into the sword, Ban Yuwon’s head would have been split in two, killing him instantly.
“I still can't quite tell.”
Whether he was fearless or simply hadn't grasped the situation.
Ban Yuwon replied with a calm expression, tilting his head.
“Could you please do a little more?”
“As much as you like.”
He seemed to think it was a bluff.
The next moment, the greatsword swept past Ban Yuwon's chest.
It brushed vertically past the tip of his nose and stopped just before his shoes.
Even though it wasn't an actual battle, he mixed in feints, sending the sword flying along completely unexpected trajectories.
All of these stopped a mere half-step before touching Ban Yuwon's body, to the extent that the watching students grew increasingly tense.
“Gnnnngh... Yuwon, my Yuwon...!”
Especially Rucell, who seemed to be feeling serious anger while watching it, as nearly half of her hair was turning black.
“Calm down, beast. Ban Yuwon is not yours.”
“Gnnnngh!”
Dokgo Yeon had stepped forward to restrain her, lest she might suddenly charge out, but even Dokgo Yeon was utterly dumbfounded by Lyu Cheolmyeong’s actions.
‘I wondered what it was he was planning, and all he came up with was this farce.’
The terror stemming from a greatsword imbued with immense Aura flying towards one's life.
What's more, at the very moment he delivered the slash, Lyu Cheolmyeong emitted such an overwhelming presence, filled with genuine murderous intent, that even Dokgo Yeon could have been fooled.
If Dokgo Yeon had been in that position, could she have stood as calmly as Ban Yuwon was now?
Perhaps it would have been possible. Given that her experience facing death was second to none, she was confident in distinguishing between the real and the fake.
However, she would have had her entire body tense, ready to counterattack at any moment.
‘He chose the wrong opponent, that worm.’
What about Ban Yuwon, on the other hand?
The most fitting word to describe him right now was 'natural state.'
He wasn't preparing for combat, maintaining a calm posture as if nothing at all was happening.
Dokgo Yeon knew very well that he genuinely wasn't feeling any tension.
And for good reason, because his 'eyes' were more accurate than anyone else's in this academy.
“Truly, he has no... fear!”
Unaware in his wildest dreams that one student was laughing at him.
Lyu Cheolmyeong gritted his teeth inwardly and spoke.
Ban Yuwon's demeanor deviated too greatly from his expectations.
To Lyu Cheolmyeong, who firmly believed there were few stronger than himself in the entire dimensions, Ban Yuwon's presence, watching the slash he unleashed with murderous intent without even a blink, was excessively irritating.
—Swaaah
To the point where he inadvertently added more strength to the hand holding his sword.
Just slightly, failing to control the heat contained within the Aura, just enough to slightly singe the student's hair.
However, the greatsword, swung down with excessive force, and the Aura enveloping it, did not harm Ban Yuwon.
—Jjaeang!
A sound like glass shattering.
Ban Yuwon, not a single hair harmed, faced Lyu Cheolmyeong, who was glaring at him with a bewildered expression, and tilted his head again.
“Hmm, did you just fail to control your strength?”
“You bastard, just now... was that magic?”
“Huh? What makes you say I used magic? During your demonstration just now, was there anything that would necessitate me ‘using magic’?”
Lyu Cheolmyeong was no fool.
Even after directly witnessing magic activate before his eyes, there was no way he wouldn't recognize that Ban Yuwon had used an advanced defensive spell.
But he couldn't question it.
Because to question the magic Ban Yuwon had just used, he would first have to admit that he had failed to control his strength.
Only then did he realize why Ban Yuwon had given him that warning earlier.
He couldn't suppress his rage because that lowly wretch from a lower dimension had dared not only to see through his intentions, but also tried to manipulate his words and actions.
“You, you...”
“What’s wrong, Professor? It’s alright if you show me a little more.”
Ban Yuwon remained utterly calm, even with the greatsword hovering above his crown.
Whether intentionally or not, he subtly puffed out his chest... emphasizing the sparkling jeweled flower brooch.
“Will you continue?”
Ban Yuwon asked Lyu Cheolmyeong.
Lyu Cheolmyeong gritted his teeth, retracted his greatsword, and ordered Ban Yuwon to return to his place.
He was an idiot, as expected.
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