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I got into school for nothing - Chapter 114

I got into school for nothing (114)

Lesson 24. Where do you find a freshman like you? - 2

Though the freshmen were still too busy adapting to the Academy to pay attention to such matters, every Sunday was an incredibly important day for the Academy's upperclassmen.

This was because it was the day when the Tower ascent floors — the so-called rankings — of students who had completed their expeditions from Friday to Sunday were updated (of course, some students exited the Tower on Saturday, or even Friday, due to reasons such as retirement or rest).

This ranking system was linked to the Academy's intranet, accessible via student IDs, and updated as soon as students exited the Tower.

While it was possible to set rankings to private, almost no teams did so, as rankings, along with comprehensive evaluation duel scores, served as a benchmark for judging a student's ability.

"Hey, hey, this week's rankings have been updated."

"Oh? There are always those who hold out until the very end, aren't there? Everyone has to leave by six anyway."

Sunday afternoon. Students who had finished their expeditions early sat around the café terraces of the annex's cafés and restaurants, sipping drinks, chatting, and awaiting the ranking updates.

"...Huh?"

"What is it? Third-year rankings? The student council president?"

"Does she even need to be seen? She's always the solo top. No, I mean, someone from the same student council."

"The Head of Public Relations? She's certainly amazing, but always on the same floor as the vice president... Huh?"

This week, in particular, saw significant upsets in the rankings.

Mira, the Head of Public Relations for the Student Council, possessed the solo exploration privilege that only four third-years held, and achieved results comparable to the fourth-year vice president's team.

It was as if to say, 'Finally,' this week alone, she broke through over ten rooms, not only surpassing Ketra but also approaching the Student Council President's ranking.

Above her were only a handful of fourth-years and graduating fifth-years.

She was competing with her seniors, leaping over two entire years of progress.

And with solo exploration!

"Ha, this is..."

"She's completely in her element. Was her compatibility with a Constellation exceptional?"

"If this is the case, then the top structure for third-years is perfectly set with the Student Council President and the Head of Public Relations, two individuals performing solo explorations."

"Even so, how could she clear more than ten rooms when she's already nearing the 300th floor...? Did that freshman she's been with lately do something for her?"

"If you're talking about that 'boot camp channel' or whatever it is, drop it. Can you really compare those foundational-skill-lacking maggots to a fairy elite?"

Whispers of Mira's name erupted alongside exclamations from all over.

People's interest was already high given that she had been seen with Ban Yuwon all last week, so when such a major 'incident' occurred, it was impossible not to pay attention.

And then, naturally, curiosity arose.

About the ranking of that freshman, chosen as the man of the beautiful fairy girl whom everyone in the Academy had their eyes on.

"30th floor... That's ordinary, isn't it?"

"I saw the video; he got 'Lost' once before, didn't he? Considering that, it's quite fast."

"Looking at all first-years, it's average, right? It's average, but..."

The rankings of first-year freshmen, still in the process of adapting to the Academy and the Tower, were indeed ambiguous to evaluate at this point.

However, even among them, there were those who were already distinguishing themselves.

Such was Lusein Rown-Palomer Aquinas Ortima, the heir of one of the Ten Great Families, who, despite having been temporarily away from the Academy due to an injury sustained during a special activity, led his teammates who had waited for him and broke through to the 50th floor in one go.

And such was Aire, who obtained solo exploration privilege upon admission and had already reached the 70th floor, breaking through the Tower at the fastest speed ever recorded.

"Objectively speaking, his ranking is far behind those guys."

"There's no comparison."

The upperclassmen checked the first-year rankings two, then three times, all wearing the same expression.

It was the expression people often make when confronted with something incomprehensible.

"But why do these 'Rebellion' guys' expeditions always seem like they're exploring areas beyond the 100th floor..."

"Weren't there no Chain Rooms below the 100th floor? Are those bastards really only up to the 30th floor?"

"No matter how much the Tower's reaction differs based on individual capabilities. Just how great are they, anyway?"

It was then.

Without anyone saying a word, the mirrors of most students vibrated briefly, announcing news.

"Rebellion's new video is up!"

"Uh... you watch that too?"

The upperclassmen simultaneously pulled out their mirrors, exchanging somewhat awkward glances.

It was because they were reluctant to admit that, as seniors, they were eagerly awaiting a junior's expedition video every time.

"But... doesn't everyone watch it?"

"Watching what that Ban Yuwon guy does, I actually see things I need to learn..."

"What kind of freshman is this?"

"I'm telling you, all the freshmen this year are just strange, especially these Rebellion guys."

But once they realized they were all in the same boat, there was nothing more to be ashamed of.

They shared a smile of camaraderie and proudly played the video.

"Ahem, that, whatchamacallit. Isn't the pink-haired one pretty?"

"Her actions are pretty too. If only Ban Yuwon wasn't there, I would have just..."

"Cute today, too."

"That silver-haired one's Murim must have been a dimension splintered off from the Origin. If someone like that is from a lower-rank dimension, are we all just supposed to go die?"

They were all subscribers to the Rebellion channel.

...And some were even members of the fan club, the Rebel Force.

Confirming that everyone was similar, many upperclassmen gathered around a table and began watching the video together...

"—Wait, a Chain Room up to the 27th floor?!"

"The reward! This was definitely from the 30th floor—as expected, a treasure chest appeared!"

Just a few hours later, news of the outrageous things Team Rebellion had pulled off in the Tower had spread throughout the entire Academy.

* * *

Monday morning.

Mira surveyed the 'Special Admissions Student Exclusive Training Room,' which she had finally managed to secure for this project, passing through the Student Council President, obtaining approval from three full professors (Campanella, Yumina, Zenon), and ultimately receiving the Chancellor's sanction. She let out a sigh.

"Why was it so difficult to arrange something as simple as this?"

Originally, every class should have had its own dedicated training room.

However, Special Admissions students had never been recognized as a proper class until now, and it was only when Professor Yumina took charge of this year's first-year Special Admissions students that they finally acquired an exclusive training room.

In fact, it was only after seeing this that the Student Council decided to take action.

—Before that, the idea of providing training rooms for Special Admissions students hadn't even occurred to them.

"Finally, we have our own exclusive training room! Woohoo!"

"If you don't want the training room to close a day after opening, stop rolling around and get up right now, Stonemason senior!"

"...If you were going to be this happy, you should have applied earlier."

"I did?"

Stonemason, who had been rolling on the floor (even the other juniors were now calling him Stonemason), suddenly lifted his head and spoke.

"But I was rejected, told there were no empty rooms."

"Ha, yes. I suppose so..."

The group training rooms in Academy Annex 2 were certainly limited in number.

However, there were definitely rooms left over after allocating to all grades and classes of the Academy, and these had until now been 'free training rooms,' available through advance reservation.

The problem was that these reservations had a priority system.

There was no need to explain how priority was determined; in short, the free training rooms were practically a playground for Special Class students.

And this time, thanks to the determined Student Council, a few professors with righteous ideals, and above all, the presence of Ban Yuwon, they had succeeded in reclaiming one of them!

"From now on, it's up to you."

Mira deliberately ignored Stonemason, who was joyfully rolling on the floor, and looked at the Special Admissions students who were settling into appropriate spots in the training room and activating the talismans Ban Yuwon had given them, speaking in a cold voice.

"If you can't produce results, you won't be able to keep this room. Conversely, if you achieve good results, you might even be assigned separate rooms for each grade. To overturn the Academy's unfair treatment, you must achieve such overwhelming results that everyone is forced to shut their mouths."

"I know! Our Mira... the Head of Public Relations! To think she cares for us this much!"

Stonemason, who had subtly called Mira by her first name, saw several purple orbs of light appear around her body and hastily changed his words.

However, Mira merely scoffed at that.

"It's not for you. It's for the Student Council, for a more righteous Academy. ...And for my man."

"Heh."

In truth, beyond that, it also included Mira's own inescapable guilt, despite having entrusted everything to Ban Yuwon.

It was the guilt of having been entranced by a Constellation and almost committing an absurd wrong, drawing in not only Ketra but countless other students.

She couldn't acknowledge it, knowing that the moment she did, she would collapse.

Yet, she couldn't do nothing.

This endeavor had also begun at the culmination of her agony.

'I don't want to burden him with all these annoying worries. I said I'd give him everything, but I couldn't, and for that, I'm sorry. I'll truly give him everything else...'

She clenched her hands tightly, recalling the face of her contractor.

She realized that her impatience was growing because she hadn't seen him from Friday until this very moment.

In truth, she simply wanted to see him.

It was an astonishing realization.

'To think it's this different.'

When she harbored feelings for Ketra, there were times she was afraid to meet him.

She was stressed by his actions, stressed by his attitude toward her.

Even though she wanted to see him, she had once foolishly thought it would be better if she could just keep her feelings for him and never meet him again.

Ban Yuwon was different.

Even while listening to his voice, she craved to hear more.

Even while looking at his face, she thirsted to see more of him.

When they were apart, she worried; when they were together, she wished to be even closer.

She knew herself that this was no ordinary love, but a more distorted and obsessive emotion.

Still, thinking of him brought her comfort and happiness.

'Because he said he'd accept all of me.'

It was all because of that one phrase.

He probably regrets it immensely now, having said he'd accept everything without knowing she was such a heavy, annoying, and troublesome woman.

But the contract was already made, and there was no going back.

All she had to do was fully immerse herself in their relationship, without needing to worry about anything.

"The Head of Public Relations is lost in reverie with an expression I've never seen before in my life."

"No, it looks like we're already out of her mind."

"Ban Yuwon, he's a truly grateful guy, but just for now, I want to curse him..."

"Isn't she crazy? How can one of the Academy's top fairy elites... with a human..."

"What are you saying?"

The next moment, Mira, snapping out of her thoughts, flicked her finger, sending all the nearby Special Admissions students flying to the opposite wall.

As expected of her, closely trailing the Student Council President who had long established herself as a talent surpassing her grade, the students couldn't even react properly and simply sprawled out.

"Go train."

"Yes, ma'am...!"

Mira sighed, watching the Special Admissions students disperse without a peep.

They, too, were originally elites with special abilities befitting the name 'Special Admissions'.

While they might not have been like this upon admission, as they grew accustomed to the unfair treatment stemming from the Academy's inherent elitism, their personalities seemed to have gradually become somewhat subservient.

Perhaps their personalities and attitudes need to be addressed before even their ability development...

"Head of Public Relations, thank you so much."

"Hm?"

Mira turned her head, and there stood Woohyeolrin, the only third-year Special Admissions male student whom Ban Yuwon had praised.

"For what?"

"For all your efforts regarding this matter. It seemed like you've been swamped with work lately anyway."

"Ah..."

"I'm just a little worried about whether you're alright. Actually, Ban Yuwon junior is the one in charge of this task, but it seems like you're taking on too much of the burden."

Mira was also aware that she had been overworking herself lately.

But it wasn't painful.

While it was partly due to her body being instantly strengthened after contracting with a Constellation... when she thought that she was working hard for Ban Yuwon, the accumulated fatigue seemed to vanish in an instant.

Yet, she certainly wouldn't elaborate on such things to a complete stranger; she merely shook her head.

"You don't need to worry about me. You just need to focus on producing results for this project."

"If you're okay, then that's fine. Still, if you have any difficulties, feel free to talk to me. We're contractors with the same Constellation, after all."

Woohyeolrin left the spot after saying only that.

So that was it, Mira thought, nodding quietly.

"—Is it self-loathing? It seems you're not in a very good mood."

'Kin? Impossible. Though it might be loathing.'

Mira scoffed in reply to her contracted Constellation, the Gravedigger of Purgatory, who was speaking to her telepathically.

'It's just unpleasant when someone tries to act familiar with me simply because we share the same Constellation as a contractor.'

"—You're far too stiff. Do you intend never to speak to any man other than the one you love?"

'The reason a man tries to act familiar with a woman is usually because he wants to mix something other than words.'

"—That is true."

The Constellation chuckled merrily.

"—Still, since you're both handling abilities of the same lineage, becoming closer could lead to a mutually beneficial relationship."

'You just want my human relationships to become complicated.'

"—It makes me happy, yet sad, that my contractor is overly wise."

She didn't reply further.

From the start, she had entrusted her entire being to Ban Yuwon, so all future relationships had to revolve around him.

The Constellation still didn't understand that.

Though even if it did understand, there wasn't much it could do.

"Ohh, it seems wider than the Class 11 training room."

"...!"

At the voice from behind, her pointed ears twitched.

She nonchalantly turned around.

The person she was waiting for had arrived.

"You're here, Yuwon."

"Yeah. I've also delivered the new talismans and Kshana senior's exclusive training equipment... Oh."

Plush. Her body, belying her calm expression, honestly embraced Ban Yuwon.

She never hesitated to throw her entire self at him.

"Ahh, I can't lose!"

"So why is Rucell feeling competitive there?"

Plush. Rucell, who had appeared with him, was startled and hugged Ban Yuwon from the opposite side, turning him into a slice of ham between two sandwich buns.

"Hey, both of you, calm down a bit. ...Ah, this is bad."

Ban Yuwon started to pull them apart, then stopped, sighing.

"...I came on Student Council business. Ban Yuwon junior, can we talk for a moment?"

Ketra, the Vice President of the Student Council, was staring fixedly at them.

Strictly speaking, it seemed he was looking at Mira, not Ban Yuwon, but...

She, oblivious to this, was simply savoring the embrace of her contractor, whom she hadn't seen in days.