I got into school for nothing - 190
I got into school for nothing (190)
Lesson 37. It's Vacation, Let Me Rest - 5
Crash! BOOM!
The two greatswords clashed, unleashing a roar like that of two colossal trucks colliding.
A fierce skirmish where neither side gave an inch.
Ban Yuwon clapped, impressed.
"Oh, even Sister Kang Miyeon is strong."
"What in the world is that armor?"
Ban Yumi looked dumbfounded.
That's right. The one sparring with Kang Miyeon, wielding an identical greatsword, was none other than Ban Yuwon's vassal, the Living Armor, Livi.
"My secret weapon. I was careful not to expose it in any videos until now."
"And now?"
"Its purpose as a secret weapon has been achieved, so now I can use it normally."
Livi, the Living Armor, utilized its unique characteristics to perfectly embed every swordsmanship technique contained within Lyu Cheolmyeong's Relic, exceeding perfection itself, into its own form.
To gain even a slight advantage against Lyu Cheolmyeong, the Rebellion members had sparred countless times against Livi. Conversely, Livi also repeatedly sparred with the group—especially with Dokgo Yeon and Ban Yuwon, who wielded profound swordsmanship—further developing Lyu Cheolmyeong's techniques into something even more profound.
The reason Livi had been kept hidden from cameras all this time was, of course, to capture Lyu Cheolmyeong.
Now that the rogue was dealt with, there was no need to hide Livi, nor was there any particular need for the armor to wield the Relic itself.
The greatsword 'newly acquired after killing Lyu Cheolmyeong' was even stronger, after all.
"I still haven't quite gotten the hang of this swordsmanship thing... Urgh!"
―Crash! Bang!
So, while it was good to yield the Relic to Kang Miyeon, she couldn't master Lyu Cheolmyeong's swordsmanship immediately. Thus, Livi, who could perform Lyu Cheolmyeong's swordsmanship even without the Relic, was acting as a one-on-one instructor, directly hammering the techniques into her body in a short period.
"You need to solidify at least the basics by today since we're going into the dungeon tomorrow."
"You're doing it this... brutishly!"
Kang Miyeon, who had initially displayed a relaxed demeanor, now wore a long face. However, the sparring with Livi was proving quite effective, and she was gradually drawing out the Relic's power without even realizing it.
Meanwhile, the executives of Oculus Ruber watched, their expressions difficult to describe.
"I just can't wrap my head around it...! Sister Miyeon is easily within the top 10 rankings, even by Earth standards, yet Yuwon is having armor fight her instead of himself?"
"Livi is merely the weakest among my vassals."
That was a lie, in fact.
Livi, wielding Lyu Cheolmyeong's greatsword, could easily overpower Eve in terms of sheer combat power.
"Earth's best..."
"Union..."
"Hey, hey, shut your mouths."
Kang Miyeon personally closed the gaping jaws of Lee Hyunji and Yu Jina, who were making rather unseemly faces.
But perhaps it was better to be directly restrained by her.
Rucell simply smiled quietly without saying a word, but what might happen if they took their affection for Ban Yuwon one step further was unpredictable.
They knew this too, which was why they weren't overtly flirting for now, instead trying to get close as fellow guild members and as a friend of their older sister.
"I'll distribute the other sisters' armaments as soon as they're ready. If you're really not confident, you can just go inside Livi in the dungeon."
"Go inside?"
Yu Jina, her interest piqued, tilted her head and asked. Just then, Ban Yuwon, seeing Livi finish a round of sparring with Kang Miyeon, flicked his finger without a word.
At that, Livi, starting from its helmet, split into individual parts—cuirass, pauldrons, gauntlets, knee guards, greaves, and more—then flew towards Ban Yuwon, attaching itself to him automatically!
Even Lyu Cheolmyeong's greatsword, which Livi had been holding, became a part of it, slowly revolving around Ban Yuwon as if to protect him, moving under his control.
"Wow!"
"Oh... I saw that in a movie!"
As Ban Yuwon, who had instantly completed a magnificent transformation and donned full plate armor, stood there like a knight, Lee Hyunji, next to the thoughtlessly applauding Yu Jina, exclaimed with wide eyes.
Well, of course, Ban Yuwon explained, nodding solemnly.
"It's natural since I made it to be like that after watching movies. And of course, just like in the movies, Livi also enhances physical abilities."
"You really do whatever you want."
Ban Yumi mumbled, dumbfounded.
But Ban Yuwon already knew what his sister would say next.
"I want to try it too."
"I knew you would."
Ban Yuwon snorted and flicked his finger again. Just like before, Livi disassembled from his body and attached itself to Ban Yumi.
The moment it was equipped, it even transformed to perfectly fit Ban Yumi's entire body!
"Oooh...!"
At first, Ban Yumi, seemingly excited by equipping Livi, moved her body this way and that, clearly thrilled. But then, for some reason, she suddenly stopped her movements.
"Th-this, now that I think about it..."
"What's wrong? It shouldn't be uncomfortable to move."
"No, it's not that... Take this off."
The helmet obscured her face, so he couldn't see his sister's expression.
But she seemed flustered, so he docilely disengaged Livi. She then emerged from within, clearing her throat as if nothing had happened.
"This is forbidden."
"What? Equipping Livi?"
"Forbidden!"
Ban Yumi declared curtly with a single shout, then turned away.
While everyone else tilted their heads at her incomprehensible behavior, only Lee Hyunji giggled, finding her cute.
And the next day, Oculus Ruber, armed with artifacts created by Ban Yuwon, challenged a G-rank dungeon. To the interest, concern, expectation, and some curses of countless people, they brilliantly cleared the dungeon in just one day.
* * *
"Who are you calling Mom—!"
Just as she was about to teach that insolent man, who dared to talk down to her, a lesson, Dokgo Yeon realized her vision was warping and bit her lip.
Only moments ago, she had been on Jeda, the Jade Star, but now she found herself standing inside a wooden pavilion.
"Ban Yuwon, I will remember this humiliation distinctly..."
"Young Lady."
A voice called out to her from behind.
If there was a presence so subtle that even she found it hard to detect, it could only be one person.
Dokgo Yeon didn't turn around and spoke her name.
"It's been a long time, Heukseol."
"Yes, Young Lady. I am relieved you returned safely."
A calm, low female voice.
Dokgo Yeon looked down at her loyal guard, who had appeared before her, bowing her head and kneeling.
The beast martial art that formed the basis of the Gwoeyeonggong Ban Yuwon had learned.
The peerless genius who had created and mastered it herself, successfully regaining a form endlessly close to human, and who was loyal only to her, was now prostrating herself before her eyes.
"You seem to have been doing well, too."
"I merely guarded the Young Lady's chambers for four months, so I had ample time to train."
Befitting her name, Heukseol's long hair was as black and straight as ebony, and her skin was as white and pale as snow.
As if to prove her beastly origin, her unhidden leopard ears and tail swayed gently, reminding Dokgo Yeon of her mischievous junior, and she couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
"What changes have occurred in the Shin-gyo during my absence?"
"Among the thirteen leaders of the armed units, a few advocated for the disbandment of the Myeolryongdan."
The Shin-gyo was the organization Dokgo Yeon belonged to.
And the Myeolryongdan was the armed unit she commanded within it.
Meaning there were audacious individuals who bared their fangs at her during her absence.
Compared to them, Ban Yuwon, who called her "Mom," was quite cute.
Of course, she had no intention of forgiving Ban Yuwon either...
"...Young Lady, are you smiling? You must be very angry."
"Ahem!"
Dokgo Yeon, whose lips had unconsciously curved at the thought of Ban Yuwon, only realized she was smiling when Heukseol pointed it out. She cleared her throat and fixed her expression.
"It was merely because their foolishness made me laugh."
"It seems they didn't know the academy had a vacation, and thought the Young Lady wouldn't return for several years."
"What about the Cheonma?"
"The Young Lady's enrollment in the Pseudo-Heavenly Academy is being treated as a special directive from the Cheonma. It is illogical to disband the Myeolryongdan when its Meryongdanju is well, and the Cheonma, of course, paid them no heed."
The Pseudo-Heavenly Academy was a term for Union Academy.
In her home dimension, they did not acknowledge Union, thus referring to them as 'pseudo-heaven,' meaning a false heaven.
"Tell me who advocated for the disbandment of the Myeolryongdan."
"I have prepared a list. Would you like to punish them immediately?"
"...No, reporting my return to the Cheonma comes first."
Dokgo Yeon cast off the clothes she had been wearing on Jeda.
With a light movement, Heukseol caught and tidied them, then approached Dokgo Yeon, who now stood in her undergarments, revealing her slender figure, carrying a luxurious black robe, and began to dress her.
"Young Lady."
And then, quite naturally, she asked her.
"Speak."
"Have you perhaps found a romantic partner?"
"W-what...?"
Dokgo Yeon's body stiffened at the sudden question from her loyal subordinate, taken aback.
Heukseol, intuiting various things from her reaction, skillfully continued dressing her and spoke.
"Not yet a romantic partner, I see. To toy with the Young Lady's heart, they must be no ordinary person."
"W-what... If you intend to tease me, stop it."
"Your underwear has changed."
Heukseol pressed Dokgo Yeon, who had tried to gloss over it, with a calm tone.
"When you were in the sect, you only wore plain underwear utterly devoid of sensuality. But now, are you not wearing underwear so alluring that no man could resist it?"
In Union, such underwear, combining both functionality and charm, was commonly called lingerie.
For Dokgo Yeon, who had lived her entire life unconcerned with fashion, wearing such underwear so naturally made it impossible not to ask.
"I merely changed to adapt to Union's culture."
"The Young Lady is not one to change herself to suit her environment. It would be one thing if you changed the environment to suit yourself."
Moreover, judging by her gaze and manner of speaking, Heukseol, utilizing her knowledge as a former assassin perhaps unnecessarily effectively, declared.
"Even if it's not romantic feelings, my conclusion is that at the very least, a man has appeared whom the Young Lady cares for greatly."
"I have no leisure to harbor such fleeting emotions as romantic feelings, Heukseol."
"...I did not mean to interrogate the Young Lady. It was merely out of joy."
Heukseol realized she had overstepped and retreated a step.
She must have made a mistake due to the overflowing joy and longing from seeing her master after a long time. Just as she resolved to compose herself once more—
"However... it's not that there isn't a man I care about."
Dokgo Yeon made a confession akin to a bombshell announcement.
"Huh?!"
Heukseol lost her composure and exclaimed in surprise.
However, Dokgo Yeon, oblivious to her subordinate's rare display of emotion, spoke her mind.
"There is a man in my class with whom I act together... Surprisingly, he is a talent rarely found even in this vast Murim."
"Hmm, hmmm?"
"After realizing this and teaching him a few moves, he followed too well... Perhaps I became too fond of being his master and showed an uncharacteristic side of myself."
"No, Young Lady. Please wait, I'm a bit confused right now..."
But Dokgo Yeon, having entered "proud student" mode, did not stop there.
"I taught him your martial art without permission, but he even adapted and transformed it to suit himself. Since all of Heukseol's things are mine, you have no complaints, right?"
"If you're referring to my unique martial art, it's not one that can be properly learned just by teaching... Wait? Adapted and transformed it to suit himself?"
"Didn't I say he was a remarkable talent? His rudeness and bad habits with women are flaws, but his talent is genuine. Moreover, his character is quite... passable."
"Young Lady..."
Even while adamantly denying romantic feelings, Dokgo Yeon's flushed face as she rattled on about him...
Heukseol, the guard who protected only Dokgo Yeon, chuckled softly, even as she pondered what to do with this person.
She had heard that the Pseudo-Heavenly Academy's vacation was long.
It wouldn't be too late to ponder after hearing all about her master's school life during that time.
"If the Young Lady speaks so highly of him, I, too, would like to meet him once."
"...If it's that man, he will surely try to flirt with you too, so make sure you don't meet him directly."
"Young Lady, are you perhaps jealous..."
"Let's go see the Cheonma."
"Yes."
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