I got into school for nothing - Chapter 186
I got into school for nothing (186)
Lesson 37. Let me rest, it's vacation - 1
[Honor's depth reached 350. Charm's depth reached 235.]
Ban Yuwon, at the age of twenty, achieved the feat of gracing the main segment of the 9 PM news.
While he had technically profited by developing two difficult-to-raise concepts, he honestly wasn't thrilled about it.
—It has been revealed that Mr. Ban Yuwon (18), believed to be Earth's first awakened individual, returned to Earth around 1 PM Korea time today, becoming a hot topic.
—Mr. Ban Yuwon is the grandson of Dr. Ban Jiwon, a former diplomat of our country who proactively led the 'New Earth Project' from its inception to execution, making significant contributions to our dimension's evolution. It's said that Dr. Ban Jiwon was able to devise the 'New Earth Project' precisely because of Mr. Ban Yuwon's involvement.
—According to an interview, Mr. Ban Yuwon's summoning to the highest-ranking dimension... Union, earlier this year, marked the beginning of the New Earth Project. Reporter Kim Chuldong?
—That's right. Surprisingly, just a few months later... Mr. Ban Yuwon's older sister, Ms. Ban Yumi, an Olympic gold medalist and current guild master of the world's number one guild, Oculus Ruber, obtained advance access to the Union Net. This allowed Mr. Ban Jiwon to fully initiate the project. At this point, it seems their family's lineage is truly extraordinary.
—Indeed. Experts estimate that the value of the Rebellion channel, operated by Mr. Ban Yuwon, alone would be... in Korean Won...
He knew the Korean media always babbled whatever they wanted, but the things they were saying, purporting to be news, were already beyond what could be considered actual news.
No, why are they arbitrarily converting the value of the Rebellion channel into Korean Won and acting all crazy?
“Korea isn't monopolizing it; *I* am monopolizing it... Ugh, what is it?!”
“Hmph.”
As Ban Yuwon, sitting on the sofa and watching the news, muttered in exasperation, Ban Yumi suddenly appeared and threw herself onto his lap.
“Ban Yumi, get that ugly paperweight off me.”
“Hey, we have a press conference tomorrow.”
“What, you punk?”
“Oh my, look how firm your thighs have gotten.”
Ban Yumi, after dropping that bombshell, felt his legs up and down, then found a comfortable spot and rested her head.
Her movements were so natural that Ban Yuwon didn't even think to push her away.
“Hey.”
“This house's pillow talks.”
“How did you live without a pillow while I was gone?”
“Shh, enough. Don't say anything, my baby pillow.”
Ban Yuwon briefly considered poking his sister in the eye, but he bit back the urge, knowing that unlike before, there was now a significant chance he could actually hurt Ban Yumi.
Instead, he decided to inquire about the veracity of her recent statement.
“What's this about a press conference?”
“Tomorrow at 2 PM, at our house. It's better to nip it in the bud than to be constantly hounded. I've been through it a lot, I know.”
At his sister's explanation, he found himself nodding.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't burdened by this unexpected turn of events, but he knew well, as he had discussed with his mother earlier, that it wasn't something they could simply overlook.
Ban Yumi probably scheduled the press conference for that very reason.
While his sister personally couldn't wait to torment Ban Yuwon, she was also the kind of sister who would never do anything that would put him at a disadvantage or harm his future.
“And while you're on Earth, stay with our guild. That would be best.”
“And at the same time, you'll probably exploit me, won't you, Sis?”
“You know me well. Where else in the whole wide world would you find such a pretty and kind older sister? This is when you repay a little bit of that kindness. Ah, I wish I had a sister like me!”
“You mean *older sister*, idiot.”
Ban Yuwon said gruffly, reaching out to mess up her hair wildly.
“Ah! I'll kill you, Ban Yuwon, seriously!”
“It's because I'm a vibrating pillow. If you don't like it, get yourself a new one.”
He pushed his sister's head aside, got off the sofa, and tossed out a remark.
“Still, thanks for thinking of me, Sis.”
“Ugh... where's my pillow going!”
“Going to cuddle with my girlfriend.”
“What the—”
Just as she was about to sit up and retort, asking what nonsense that was, Ban Yumi spotted Rucell coming out of the kitchen after finishing the dishes and her eyes widened.
The timing was impeccable.
Or else...
“Yuwon! Were you waiting for me?”
“We've been so busy all day we haven't even had a proper conversation. From now on, Ban Yuwon's pillow is yours.”
“Pillow? I'm not entirely sure, but should we go to bed? ♡”
“Sorry, the pillow part was a joke. Let's 'talk,' just the two of us.”
“Hehe, I was joking too. We still have plenty of night left.”
The two exchanged sweet nothings and headed for the rooftop.
As Ban Yumi, left alone, stared blankly at their retreating figures, her phone vibrated multiple times.
[HyunG: So, what's the vixen like in person?]
[HyunG: She's uglier than me, right??]
[HyunG: Tell me quick that the Unitube videos were all thanks to lighting, makeup, and filters!]
In the group chat where four executives of Oculus Ruber were gathered, her peer Lee Hyunji was spewing curses about Rucell.
Ban Yumi, silently reading through it, couldn't even think of lying and answered honestly.
[Me: She's f***ing gorgeous. Even prettier in person. Her skin is pure white and smooth, her limbs are slender, her waist is narrow, but her chest is huge, and her eyes look like they have stars embedded in them.]
[Me: And she's even nice. She did the cooking and the dishes today.]
She was about to add, 'I want to kill her, but I can't,' but quickly deleted it, afraid someone might see. Instead, someone else exploded in indignation on her behalf.
[HyunG: Unitube said that those kinds of girls are actually rotten inside, club regulars, and swap boyfriends every other day.]
[Kang Miyeon: Go to a club at least once before saying things like that.]
[HyunG: YOU haven't been either!!!!!!!!]
[Yu Jina: Hyunji unnie, were you serious about trying to get Yuwon...? Just looking at the unedited news footage today, it's not even a competition. You'd lose 15 to 0.]
[HyunG: You bitch.]
[Me: I'm losing a bit of confidence.]
[Kang Miyeon: Yumi, are you okay? Want to grab a drink?]
Lying weakly on the sofa and watching the constantly updating chat, Ban Yumi suddenly recalled that Ban Yuwon had gotten up before Rucell even emerged from the kitchen.
It wasn't a coincidence.
He had reacted faster and more accurately than Ban Yumi, who was confident that no one could beat her in terms of senses.
[Me: But you know, I lay on Ban Yuwon's lap.]
[HyunG: Is this a fantasy story?]
[Me: Lee Hyunji, shut up. I thought he couldn't dodge me, but what if he *chose* not to?]
[Yu Jina: Unnie... I have plenty of time too. Should I come meet you now? I want to see your face.]
[Me: I'm serious! It's not nonsense! That bastard sensed someone approaching from a distance and reacted, okay? But he didn't dodge me, okay?!]
[Kang Miyeon: Ah.]
[Kang Miyeon: You're right.]
[Kang Miyeon: It's a green light then.]
[HyunG: Kang Miyeon, you just thought this was annoying, didn't you?]
Ban Yumi, who had been pouting and idly tapping the screen when she didn't get the reaction she wanted, soon sighed and changed the subject.
[Me: Miyeon, you come to our house by 2 PM tomorrow.]
[Kang Miyeon: What's up?]
[Me: We're having a press conference, and it looks better with the vice guild master present.]
[Kang Miyeon: Press conference... Ah, is it Yuwon, by any chance?]
[Me: Yep. From tomorrow, Ban Yuwon is a member of our guild.]
[HyunG: NICE!!!!!!!! I love you, Yumingming!!!!]
[Me: I'm not doing this for you, you crazy bitch.]
[Yu Jina: Unnie, but men are forbidden in our guild.]
[Me: In our guild, I am the law.]
[Yu Jina: Unnie, you're so cool! ♡]
[HyunG: She's weird too, seriously.]
[Kang Miyeon: So, I'll finally get to see the little brother Yumi dotes on so terribly.]
[Me: ...Kang Miyeon, you better not?]
[Kang Miyeon: I'll be there in the morning. Will you provide lunch?]
[Me: Kang Miyeon?!]
* * *
Ban Yuwon, who had come up to the rooftop with Rucell, sat side-by-side with her on the wooden bench his father had made.
A creaking sound was heard.
“I told Dad to throw this junk away and buy a good one, but he really doesn't listen for crap.”
“Hmph, I can finally call you Master. Hmph.”
Rucell, with a satisfied expression, rested her head on his lap, just as Ban Yumi had done earlier.
Ban Yuwon chuckled and gently stroked the hair at her temple.
“Were you watching?”
“Of course. I was so envious. The thought of your older sister monopolizing Master's lap for eighteen years makes me unbearably jealous.”
“Rucell.”
“Yes, Master.”
Ban Yuwon caressed the soft, perky dog ears that sprouted from her head (the sensation was almost addictive) and asked.
“Is there a reason you insist on this subservient relationship?”
Rucell's body stiffened for a moment.
Her ears twitched within his hand.
As Ban Yuwon calmly waited for her answer, Rucell soon asked in a cautious voice.
“Are you angry, after all...? Do you dislike... the idea of a slave?”
“No, I'm not angry. And while I'm not sure about 'slave,' there's no way I'd ever dislike you.”
After the decisive battle with the descended entity and the re-establishment of their relationship, he had been so busy with various things that he hadn't had the chance to ask Rucell why she had acted that way back then.
He had considered whether it was due to beast-kin instinct or impulse, but knowing that Rucell wasn't actually that simple of a person, he had always wanted to confirm her true feelings with her someday.
And today, he decided to confirm it before he got entangled in Earth's affairs and became busy once more.
“Before I tell you why... there's one thing I'd like to confirm.”
“What is it?”
“Master, you can see my emotions right now, can't you?”
Since his first step to resolving Rucell's Heart Furnace was collecting emotions, there was no way Rucell wouldn't know that fact.
Ban Yuwon nodded in affirmation.
“Yeah. Sorry, it's a bit embarrassing to put into words every time.”
“I love you, Master.”
“Did you even hear what I just said?”
“But I'm not embarrassed at all.”
Reaching out with both hands, Rucell clasped one of Ban Yuwon's hands tightly and continued.
“Ever since I learned about Master's ability, I've always thought: 'There's no point in hiding anything from Master.' Just by looking once, the subjective judgment process is skipped, and you know the objective result. So, the word 'trust' will hold no meaning for Master anymore...”
Ban Yuwon paused at her words.
It was because Rucell had accurately pinpointed the very thought he had been having ever since he awakened his Authority.
To trust someone is to infer some unknown cause and effect by adding a few objective pieces of evidence and subjective desires.
For facts beyond doubt, there is no need to use the word 'trust'.
Whether the subject is a person, an object, or a phenomenon—if you fully comprehend it, it is simply objective cognition, and there is no room for subjectivity to intervene.
“If everyone reveals everything without hiding anything before Master, if you are always forced to 'know the right answer' whether you want to or not, then Master won't be able to trust anyone. You'll abandon subjectivity and rely solely on objectivity.”
If he knew what a subject was thinking in front of him, he could perfectly define his relationship with that subject.
For the current Ban Yuwon, who had newly awakened his martial arts and whose Authority was further strengthened—even if someone was acting like a perfect ally and had indeed been his ally a mere five seconds ago, the moment they harbored different intentions, he could sense it and strike them down.
That's what it means to read everything.
He had the ability to perfectly divide the world into allies and enemies, so all he had to do was act on it.
There was no room for trust to intervene there, only a perfect distinction that no one could complain about.
“You've been putting on an act, haven't you? You're aware of Dokgo Yeon's emotions, Mira unnie's true feelings, Anneri-ssi's passion, Slothy's paltry deceptions, your older sister's feelings, and even that Mother is hiding something—you realize all of it, don't you?”
“...Yeah.”
He was impressed.
Since awakening her Wildness Furnace, Rucell's intuition had truly improved.
To the point where it was confusing who actually held the Authority.
No—that was probably because Rucell was his subordinate.
“I... I don't like that very much.”
Rucell pouted and continued.
“I know Master's Authority is incredible—but if I think that you'd judge and treat me relying only on it, without any emotion, it's horrifying.”
“No, Rucell. I'm not—.”
“I know, but I still don't like it.”
Rucell, cutting off Ban Yuwon's rebuttal decisively, continued.
“I dislike it just at the possibility of it. Don't underestimate a girl in love.”
“Am I supposed to be apologizing now?”
“That's why I chose subjugation again.”
Huh?
Why would that be?
As Ban Yuwon blinked, unable to understand immediately, Rucell squeezed his hand tightly and spoke with emphasis.
“Subjugation means that everything I am belongs to you. My body, my mind, my soul. I cannot betray you. I will be with you forever.”
“Uh... right.”
“Therefore, Master can always trust me without needing to judge with your Authority. Without needing to 'see' with your eyes... you can trust and rely on me simply because we are connected.”
“...”
“That's why. That's all.”
As Rucell, who had spewed out words like a machine gun, fell silent, a stillness descended.
Though it had taken a long roundabout way, Ban Yuwon finally understood what she had wanted to say.
Because he understood—he thought she was a fool.
“You're a fool, aren't you?”
“You know, I thought about it a lot...”
“You worry too much to begin with.”
“Ow, ow.”
Ban Yuwon made a fist with the hand that had been stroking Rucell's head and playfully poked her forehead.
Even if he did that, Rucell, who was at a much higher level than Ban Yuwon, wouldn't actually feel pain, and Ban Yuwon himself knew that well. Nevertheless, Rucell pretended to be hurt and grimaced, and Ban Yuwon put on a mischievous expression as if he were truly punishing her.
Without needing to rely on his Authority, without needing to check the leash she had forced into his hand.
In truth, this was enough.
“I'm not a machine, Rucell. Not only is my Authority not perfect, but even if I were given perfect information, being able to judge solely based on that would already make me a divine being or something akin to one, wouldn't it? The mere fact that we're doing this right now is absurd.”
“But...”
“Still, Rucell.”
His hand gently caressed Rucell's forehead.
“Just as we confirm our affection through such physical touch.”
Then he lowered his head and kissed his lovely slave's forehead.
“I understand how much you care about me, so let's just leave it at that.”
“Then...”
Rucell cautiously sat up, leaning against him as she spoke.
“Shall we go to bed now? ♡”
“The ending is just too disappointing...”
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