I got into school for nothing - 159
I got into school for nothing (159)
Lesson 32. The Progress is Too Fast - 3
The last day of the long-term exploration period, Sunday.
Mira, who had brought the long exploration period to a beautiful close by reaching Room 360, finished her exploration early and was now relaxing in her usual café, enjoying a cup of coffee.
Outside the window, a persistent rain was falling.
"Is that coffee good?"
"Yeah."
Without hesitation, she answered the girl sitting opposite her—Shatie, a friend with whom she had completed a considerably long-term quest—and took a sip of her café mocha.
The intense sweetness seemed to tingle even her brain.
"What?"
Shatie, sitting cross-legged opposite her, sipped her espresso and chuckled.
"Your tastes changing to match the man you like. I find it rather cute, though."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Mira's expression hardened as she showed her displeasure, but Shatie had already decided she needed to discuss this matter with her at some point, so she pressed on without backing down.
"Until second year, you always drank vanilla lattes, didn't you? The one the Vice President used to drink."
"...Well, did I? I don't really remember."
Mira's long, graceful eyebrows lowered demurely as she tried her best to feign ignorance, a sight so adorable that even another woman found it endearing.
She was undoubtedly pretending to forget her past, eager to prove that her heart belonged solely to her current man.
When Shatie had first met her face-to-face two years ago, she could never have imagined Mira would ever wear such an adorable expression—.
"When you first enrolled, you used to act like a haughty lady, drinking black tea."
"Does drinking black tea elevate one's status? Don't say such ridiculous things."
"I'm saying that's how you appeared back then. Besides, you really are a princess. Whereas I was a pauper, abandoned even by my own kin..."
"What are you trying to say? Those are just superficial things, and now you're one of the most brilliant talents in this academy. Is there any need to bring it up deliberately?"
Mira reacted sensitively to Shatie's words.
Shatie was a precious friend.
She didn't want to see her belittle herself.
"No, Mira. Don't react so sensitively, just listen for a moment."
"...Sigh. Go on, then."
When she first enrolled, Shatie was an object of everyone's scorn.
She hailed from a high-ranking dimension, one whose name everyone knew, yet she belonged to the Evil One race, the most reviled species within that very dimension.
Moreover, she was hated even by her own kind for failing to properly wield the unique Authority of the Evil One, leaving her without a place to belong anywhere.
Who could have ever predicted that such a person would secure the privilege of Solo Exploration through a one-on-one interview with the Chancellor?
She became even more disliked because of it—yet, in barely a month after the official start of the semester, she overturned the situation by shattering every kind of record at the academy.
She was simply powerful.
Possessing a strength and potential that compelled everyone who suppressed her to fear, she was able to silence them all.
"It was quite a thrilling comeback, wasn't it?"
"...It was."
Listening to her words, Mira couldn't help but recall her own past.
Born a noble of a revered and even rare race in the A-1 Dimension, the greatest dimension outside of those ruled by the Ten Great Families, she had naturally been selected for Union Academy.
With her beauty and abilities, she had garnered everyone's attention—.
But having lived a life where everyone worshipped her, she couldn't quite find her footing in the academy's environment, merely drifting aimlessly...
Until she met a kind and wonderful man of her own race, and only then did she finally feel as though she had found stable ground.
She felt a pang of discomfort.
Recalling her past, she couldn't help but think of Ketra.
"I just mean there were times like that. For me, you see, it's something to be proud of. I gave a good smack to all those who looked down on me and ignored me, and then I even became the Student Council President with their very support, didn't I?"
"..."
"That's why I don't intend to pretend my past never happened. 'I am because my past exists'—I'm not going to say anything so embarrassing, but rather, I'd say my difficult past makes me seem even more impressive now."
At that moment, Mira finally fully grasped what Shatie was trying to say.
She pressed her lower lip with her teacup, forming a sulky expression.
"So? What do you want to tell me? Are you telling me to brag about all the things I used to do to get Ketra's attention, in front of Yuwon?"
Certainly, back when she first got to know Yuwon, his appearance was so different from Ketra's that she had made a few mistakes.
But she had no intention of doing anything so unrefined now.
"You always take things to such extremes. I'm just saying there's no need to desperately ignore it."
"You, who helped drive Ketra out, are saying that?"
"Huh? Oh, no. I'm not saying you should get friendly with the Vice President again. I don't like him either, you know?"
"Hoo... Wait a moment. Here, I'd like to order."
Mira, having emptied her cup, ordered another café mocha.
She had a premonition that the conversation would be long.
But Shatie, seeing this, was dumbfounded.
"You keep drinking such sweet things, won't you gain weight?"
"No."
The fairy race's Changeling ability possessed a power that any woman would undoubtedly envy: the ability to convert absorbed nutrients into magical energy.
Thus, no matter how many sweet things she consumed, she could never gain weight.
On the contrary, she could even use Changeling to develop only the parts of her body she wished to enhance.
"More precisely, I only gain weight where I want to. Yuwon seems to prefer the larger side, so... I'm going to make them a bit bigger."
"You're seriously so adorable, I want to punch you."
Shatie felt a murderous intent boil within her at Mira, who had emphasized a certain part of her body while speaking.
Meanwhile, Mira took the teacup from the server and nodded slightly.
"Alright, let's continue talking."
"We were talking about the Vice President, right? ...Yeah, my point about not pretending to forget your past isn't because I want you to get along with the Vice President again."
"It's not?"
"It's just that I want you to feel at ease."
"My heart is already at ease."
In that single moment, as she took her first sip of the café mocha, Mira's smile was truly dazzling.
The very image of a girl in love.
Even knowing that her feelings for Ban Yuwon were genuine—Shatie still felt a nagging uneasiness.
"I think there's a difference between emptying something out and just putting a lid on it and pretending you don't know what's inside, don't you agree?"
"I emptied it. It's gone now. Yuwon emptied it for me."
"If you really emptied it, that's even more of a problem. Besides, I don't think he'd care about your past. Wouldn't he just accept everything?"
"Shatie, I don't like you saying that."
Mira grumbled to herself.
While their contract might indeed imply that.
Could she really entrust everything to him, though?
Things she truly didn't want to show him, things dirty and messy, things that might upset him... shouldn't she take care to separate and discard such things herself?
"I'm not pretending not to know, I truly don't know. Ketra can't influence me in any way. Nothing, absolutely nothing, remains. Does that sound like a lie too?"
"You're sincere, I'm sure. That's why I'm worried."
"Worried?"
Of course, everyone wishes every love could be a first love.
But if every love truly were a first love every single time, wouldn't that mean one was simply treading water, making no progress at all?
However, even as she thought such things, Shatie bit back the words, fearing she would sound childish if she uttered them aloud.
She wanted to give advice on love, but without any personal experience, this was the pathetic result.
Shatie slumped her shoulders powerlessly and blurted out whatever came to mind.
"...It's just that I hope you don't hate your past, whatever it may be. I mean, you didn't even sleep with the Vice President, did you?"
"Of course not! And that's vulgar...!"
Watching Mira flush and burst into anger, Shatie's lips curled up on one side.
"Ah, that reaction. So you haven't slept with the Head of Planning yet? Or rather, you couldn't?"
"Ugh..."
Mira, stung in a sensitive spot, clamped her mouth shut.
Shatie grinned broadly and continued.
"Rebellion's upcoming special activity is going to Rucell's hometown, isn't it? You shouldn't poke dragons in their lairs, and even slimes are halfway to being food in a swamp. If you're not careful, you'll really get overtaken, you know?"
"That's why we're gathered here right now! To hold a countermeasure meeting for the special activity! Whatever happens, whatever the evaluation, I'm going to finish this as quickly as possible and go to Yuwon's side. Understand?!"
"Yes, yes, of course, this kind Student Council President must help for the sake of our dear Mira's love~."
Shatie chuckled heartily at Mira, who was pouting like a child, and thought of the charming man Mira loved, Ban Yuwon.
And then, she thought of Ketra—who knew what he was thinking—who had only started obsessing over Mira after they had grown distant—.
'Someone's definitely going to get hurt.'
A demon's intuition was never wrong when it came to bad things.
Shatie sighed and muttered.
'If someone's going to get hurt anyway, I hope it's just that obnoxious Vice President, and not our adorable little ones.'
* * *
E-1 Dimension.
It was Rucell's home dimension.
Being selected as a special activity dimension meant that a crisis was currently befalling that dimension.
Considering As Light, who had rushed back upon receiving a signal that his own dimension was in danger—one couldn't help but suspect external manipulation.
At the same time, he began to worry about his own and Dokgo Yeon's home dimensions.
―Ex-2 and Ex-1 are currently safe, so there's no need to worry.
"Wait a moment, Master. What did you say?"
That evening, the Chancellor, who had summoned Ban Yuwon just before the special activity's departure, abruptly said such things, throwing Ban Yuwon into confusion.
For reference, today the Chancellor was in the form of an astronaut doll.
Despite clearly having perfectly concealed his video, the Chancellor seemed to know exactly what Ban Yuwon had obtained from the Tower this time.
What was frustrating was that this astronaut doll was actually quite cute.
―It means there's no need to worry about your dimension and student Dokgo Yeon's dimension.
"So why are they 'Ex'? No, wait... Exception?"
―Precisely. It's a designation given to distinguish dimensions that cannot be defined by conventional methods. Do you require an explanation as to why they are exceptions?
"Is it because I was chosen for Union Academy from there, despite the absence of mana?"
―Precisely. However, that pertains to your dimension; student Dokgo Yeon's dimension—.
"Never mind that."
Ban Yuwon cut off the Chancellor's words decisively.
"I'll hear it directly from Dokgo Yeon later."
―You prefer to go through unnecessary processes, it seems.
The Chancellor didn't understand Ban Yuwon's reasoning but complied with his wishes.
In fact, the mere act of forgiving him for interrupting was proof that the Chancellor was giving Ban Yuwon special treatment.
"So... did Lyu Cheolmyeong's influence play a role in the E-1 Dimension being chosen as a special activity dimension?"
―I cannot disclose that. However, what I can certainly tell you is that it is for your best.
Ban Yuwon now fully understood the Chancellor's personality.
To be clear, the Chancellor liked Ban Yuwon.
However, that affection was severely distorted, and this instance was no exception—.
"Meaning, no matter how much I suffer, it's none of your business, and I should just go crash, break, and grow."
―Your growth is truly astonishing. I will not deny that my guidance influenced it.
Guidance.
Guidance, he says.
"So, I'm supposed to be grateful?"
―On the contrary, I am the one who should be grateful.
The astronaut doll split in half, revealing the fluffy eyeball he had once seen before.
An eyeball that clearly fixated on Ban Yuwon.
―For you are truly an interesting subject of observation. The most interesting since that child.
He felt no inclination to ask who 'that child' was.
The Chancellor already knew the extent of Ban Yuwon's understanding.
The only person the Chancellor would address so familiarly was...
'It must be Yumina.'
The organization, Exodus, which had suddenly appeared during the all-school special activity and launched a terrorist attack.
Ban Yuwon clearly remembered the derogatory term they used to call Yumina.
The adopted daughter of a monster.
There was only one entity they would refer to as a monster.
This floating eyeball right before him.
"Oh? Shall I call you 'Principal' too?"
―Call me Master.
"...Did you raise Professor Yumina like this too?"
―That child was more delicate and weaker than you.
But because Ban Yuwon was strong, he was being treated especially roughly.
Ban Yuwon, understanding the unspoken implication, scoffed and turned away, saying.
"I won't be played according to your whims forever."
―I never consider you an adversary. Yet, is there any meaning in intentionally uttering words that would put me on guard?
"Someone who can command with a single word still seems to underestimate the power of words."
As Ban Yuwon turned away from the astronaut doll, his eyes glowed with a golden light.
Since completing his Or, the light emitted by his Authority had grown even stronger.
"It is a declaration that things will absolutely come to pass as stated. You'll see for yourself."
―Then I shall look forward to it.
The Chancellor replied with absolute sincerity, devoid of any falsehoods.
―Return safely.
"Naturally."
Thus, the final interview of the first semester concluded.
And the next day, Monday.
The Rebellion party departed for the E-1 Dimension.
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