I got into school for nothing - Chapter 13
I got into school for nothing (13)
Lesson 4. Rebellion - 1
Dawn, the dormitory.
Ban Yuwon and As Light sat facing each other across a table.
“I’m a little disappointed, Ban.”
Ban Yuwon wondered if this was the famously easily-disappointed commander he'd only heard rumors about.
Truth be told, the alcohol hadn't quite worn off yet, so his head wasn't working properly.
“To think you actually stayed out all night. If you’d at least told me beforehand, I wouldn't have worried.”
“My apologies. I drank alcohol for the first time in my life yesterday.”
As Light's eyes grew even colder.
Well, it was only natural for him to give that look, given that it wasn't a proper excuse — just that he'd stayed out after drinking.
But if he knew the full story, he wouldn't be able to scold him so easily.
“Professor Yumina asked me to drink with her, and I couldn't possibly refuse.”
“What, a professor?! That’s a lie... no, it isn’t.”
As Light, glancing at the brooch pinned to Ban Yuwon’s chest, shook his head in disbelief.
“If you told anyone you got a deputy position appointed by a full professor after drinking, no one at the Academy would believe you.”
“Eh?”
Was this supposed to symbolize a deputy position?
Not a single word about it was mentioned when he received the brooch, nor while sharing drinks with Professor Yumina yesterday!
“Oh, by the way, that alcohol was seriously delicious. I brought a bottle, so let's drink it together later.”
“You... *sigh*, no, it’s fine. I’ve never drunk alcohol.”
“I drank it for the first time yesterday too, you know?”
“I mean I’m not going to drink it. Hurry up and wash. You smell like flowers.”
The claim of smelling like flowers was true.
Honey Moon, the fruit wine brewed by the priests of the Spring Shrine, was a rare liquor that felt warm and sweet when consumed, and afterwards, made one's entire body exude a floral scent.
Not only did it taste good, but Ban Yuwon's internal codes even grew by 3 to 4 points each.
The most astonishing thing was that perhaps because it was consumed orally, even his Man'eonsun (萬言脣), which had been fixed at a steady 100 until now, increased by 2 points.
‘It felt less like a pseudo elixir I’d made and more like a true one. Perhaps if there hadn’t been such growth, I would have felt a bit empty.’
After delivering the alcohol to Professor Yumina, he had intended to return to the dormitory and prepare various things, but he was instead held captive by her for a drinking session, and the entire time flew by.
Anyway, it was fortunate that it ended well, but separately from that, he had no desire to have another drinking session with Professor Yumina in the future.
“Then I’ll wash. There’s still some time before morning classes, right?”
“The first class is 'Comprehensive Practical Combat,' and it’s in the gymnasium, so we’ll have to eat quickly and rush a bit. It’s a joint class with the Special Class... the only one for first-years.”
The Special Class, in other words, was an elite class specifically gathered with only the most outstanding talents of that grade.
But to group them with the quartet from the Special Admissions for Lower-Rank Dimensions? What kind of insane idea was that?
“Hey, I somehow feel malice in that setup, don't you?”
After taking off the brooch and putting it in his inventory, Ban Yuwon tossed off his school uniform and spoke with a sullen expression.
As Light turned his head away, as if disgusted by the sight of a man in his underwear, and replied.
“Same here. It probably means our enemies aren’t just among the students. And if you’re going to undress, do it in the shower room.”
“Ugh, how can I hide without being noticed...? I’ll wash up and come out first.”
“Ban.”
“Huh?”
In the meantime, Ban Yuwon had even taken off the shirt he wore under his uniform, revealing abs that were ridiculously firm compared to his training period, and turned to look back.
As Light recoiled and turned his head away, then asked in a slightly hesitant voice.
“You... weren’t just drinking all day yesterday, were you?”
“Of course not. How could a person drink all day?”
“......I suppose so. My apologies, go wash.”
“Okay.”
Ban Yuwon waved his hand languidly and entered the shower room.
It seemed As Light had noticed his change.
Indeed, at the time of the entrance ceremony, the concept of ‘Life’ (生) that Ban Yuwon possessed was only about 15, but now, with the added effect of Honey Moon, it had reached exactly 50.
Of course, it was still a negligible number compared to As Light, but even considering that, he could confidently say the range of change was significant.
“Ah, I didn’t take out my clothes. As Light, could you be a dear and grab them for me?”
“You, absolutely do not come out of there! I’ll get them for you!”
As Light.
Still suspicious.
So, when does Act 3 begin?
***
At breakfast time, Ban Yuwon and As Light headed to the student cafeteria building, which was built close to the dormitory, and easily joined Rucell and Dokgo Yeon.
Somehow ignoring the blatant gazes fixed upon them, they grabbed their breakfast menus and sat down at the same table. When Ban Yuwon recounted the drinking session with Professor Yumina from yesterday, he was met with two distinct reactions.
“A deputy position, huh...”
“Yes, it’s pretty.”
These were the responses that came from Dokgo Yeon and Rucell, respectively.
Rucell’s gaze, of course, was fixed on the brooch pinned to Ban Yuwon’s chest.
As Light pointed at it and said,
“Since Professor Yumina is currently in charge of the four of us, Ban, who obtained that deputy position, could also be seen as our class president.”
“Hmm, if there is to be a representative for the four of us, I believe it should be me.”
Today’s breakfast was Western style, and perhaps not pleased with the thick, potage-like soup, Dokgo Yeon pushed her bowl slightly aside and stared intently at Ban Yuwon.
“Because I am the strongest. You agree, don’t you?”
“What?”
Before Ban Yuwon could even reply, As Light reacted to her words.
He twitched his eyebrows and pointed his fork at Dokgo Yeon.
“Your words are a bit strange, Dokgo Yeon. As comrades who should get along, I didn’t want to say this... no, which is precisely why I feel I must make this clear. That attitude of yours, disregarding everyone else as if you’re the best, will absolutely not bode well for future Tower climbs. And I don’t agree with your claim of being the strongest, either.”
“That’s laughable. I recall you were the first to make dismissive remarks about us yesterday. Didn’t you say you wanted to enter the Tower alone?”
“C-c-c...! You...!”
Ban Yuwon simply chuckled.
He had intended to suggest they strategize in advance, as their first class was a joint session with the Special Class, but these guys were already showing signs of internal strife.
“Shhhhaaaaa.”
“Oh?”
“Wow.”
At that moment, Eve, in Ban Yuwon’s stead, dispelled her invisibility and revealed her presence, calming the heated atmosphere between the two.
The effect was surprisingly tremendous.
Upon seeing Eve, Dokgo Yeon widened her cross-shaped pupils and seemed to quell her killing intent, then extended her hand to Eve, who was wrapped around Ban Yuwon’s arm and holding her head up.
“That artifact from yesterday?”
“It’s changed quite a bit, hasn’t it?”
“Surely not like this since yesterday... no, no. It definitely changed in just one day. How could this be...?”
“Shhhhaaaaa.”
Eve raised her head and showed off.
Dokgo Yeon, realizing that it understood her words, widened her eyes and, as if she no longer had the energy to be angry, let out a sigh.
“How cute. ......Alright, since you’ve impressed me, I’ll listen to what you have to say first.”
It was a strange logic, but Eve’s move had worked nonetheless.
Ban Yuwon let out a sigh. Truthfully, he didn't particularly want to be a class president, but he was certain that if a representative were to be chosen from these four, it had to be him, so...
He began his persuasion.
“Actually, a class president doesn’t need to be the strongest. No, it’s more accurate to say they shouldn’t be the strongest.”
“Why?”
“Because if the strongest person becomes class president, they’ll decide everything as they please. But a class president shouldn’t do that.”
Dokgo Yeon rotated her cross-shaped pupils, signaling him to continue.
I wish she wouldn’t do that; it’s genuinely scary.
“You seem to be mistaken about one thing: a class president isn’t a ruler. They don’t lead everyone according to their own will, but rather synthesize the opinions of the members and possess the skill to choose the fairest and best method for everyone. In other words, the class president should be as objective and neutral as possible.”
“That sounds terribly boring.”
“That’s what a class president is. There’s no particular gain, only headaches. But that’s why it’s important. An individual who sacrifices for the group, that’s what a class president is...”
“But that’s merely the class president according to *your* thoughts, isn’t it?”
Tch, I was found out after all.
Of course, most class presidents chosen through the elementary, middle, and high school education system in South Korea fit the type Ban Yuwon described. But wasn’t this an Academy composed of those with special abilities? In a society where power is important, power *is* law.
While there could be representatives who considered everyone’s position and made fair and objective choices, as Ban Yuwon described, there could also be representatives who led their members with overwhelming power and charisma.
Moreover, it couldn’t be definitively said that such a leader was wrong.
The saying “All roads lead to Rome” isn’t for nothing.
‘However, if we’re choosing a representative from the four of us, a lone wolf wouldn’t do.’
It wasn’t a matter of scale.
Rather, charismatic leaders tended to lead small groups better than large ones. The problem was the personalities of these four individuals.
Just look at As Light; his pride was so strong that he was still clashing with Dokgo Yeon. Even if Dokgo Yeon could suppress As Light with force right now, As Light wasn’t one to easily back down, and the problem would surely erupt soon.
Rucell’s case was an even bigger problem. They had only met two days ago, but it was clear that she was astonishingly lacking in self-assertion.
To simply ignore her because she lacked self-assertion? That would be an act of completely disregarding the Academy’s fundamental theme of student growth.
This type of person especially needed a leader who would patiently wait for them to demonstrate their abilities and listen to what they had to say.
This was something Ban Yuwon could confidently assert, especially since he could discern her brilliant potential.
“At least I’m the easygoing type, so it might be fine, but to bring out the individuality of all four of us, I think it’s better if I become class president rather than you.”
“Easygoing? You?”
For some reason, Dokgo Yeon snorted at that part.
But perhaps she was convinced by his words, as she soon nodded.
“Understood. Anyway, appointing a class president seems to be within the professor’s authority. Besides, among these, you are the only one I genuinely wish to lead me.”
“Eh?”
A shiver ran down his spine for a moment.
But before he could probe the meaning of her words, she continued.
“However, the point I don’t want you to misunderstand is this: I merely acknowledge that you are the class president; I have no intention of taking orders.”
“Well, I don’t particularly intend to give orders. However, for the growth of all four of us, I’d like us to have a certain degree of communication and cooperation. What do you think about that?”
“......”
Dokgo Yeon silently swept her gaze over As Light and Rucell, then snorted as if displeased.
However.
“One who stands at the top must be able to see far... Even if some parts are displeasing, one must be able to embrace all to achieve what is desired. Very well. Let’s do that.”
Somehow, he managed to end the debate with Dokgo Yeon in a win-win fashion.
There was still the minor issue that As Light remained furious at Dokgo Yeon’s words, but Dokgo Yeon actually seemed stronger than As Light anyway... Such pride issues could only be resolved with time.
As expected, the biggest ticking bomb was As Light, that guy.
A sigh escaped him involuntarily.
“Um... excuse me.”
Just as Ban Yuwon was pondering how to defuse this bomb, Rucell, who had been quiet until now, spoke cautiously.
“Snake... can I touch it too? Because it’s cute...”
“By all means!”
Let me correct myself.
It’s full of bombs.
***
And so, the issue of acknowledging Ban Yuwon as the representative of the four was somehow resolved.
As Light simply disliked Dokgo Yeon stepping forward and claiming the strongest person should be the representative, but he had no particular complaints about Professor Yumina choosing Ban Yuwon as the representative from the start.
Dokgo Yeon openly stated that she personally liked Ban Yuwon (he clearly realized that her feelings were akin to those of a corporate executive head-hunting a talented individual), and openly declared her intention to step down out of consideration for him.
Rucell, saying Eve was too cute, rejoiced, flashing a shy smile for the first time since Ban Yuwon had met her.
While it was surprisingly cute, he really didn’t know what to make of this one.
“For the first class, I was thinking of having some light sparring. What do you all think?”
“Professor, I’m curious about the skills of those nobodies... no, I mean, the special admission students!”
“I’d like to fight those things myself!”
And for Ban Yuwon, who had become the class president representing the four, hardships arrived from the very first class.
“That weakling dared to receive a brooch from Professor Yumina, who is called the Goddess of Flowers? I absolutely cannot accept this. I must personally verify that scoundrel’s skills!”
Truly tremendous hardships.
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