I got into school for nothing - Chapter 211
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I got into school for nothing (211)
Lesson 42. Image Change - 1
Ultimately, one date right was distributed to each executive, excluding Lee Hyunji.
This was the result of a bloody struggle that erupted within the Oculus Ruber guild, even drawing in the regular guild members.
“Why don’t these people use this much passion to pick up guys outside?”
“We’re a community of fate, you see, so we can’t stand to see any one of us getting along well with a guy.”
“Indeed. So they’re dragging each other down by the ankles, huh...?”
For reference, she was currently applying a Cobra Twist to Lee Hyunji, the very person who had first leaked the information to the regular guild members, thus causing the catastrophe.
Lee Hyunji seemed to have already fainted, making it a truly bold and cruel execution of punishment.
“So, they didn’t want to miss this chance to at least feel like they’re dating, and that’s why they blazed up so splendidly.”
“Exactly, I guess—. To put it bluntly, if we want to stay close with Yumi, we can’t even dream of laying a hand on you, can we?”
Did Ban Yumi’s brother complex symptom extend to the regular guild members as well as the executives?
As Ban Yuwon sighed, Yu Jina continued.
“Should I say that since you’re a target everyone cleanly gave up on developing a romantic relationship with, they can relax and enjoy themselves? Ah, does saying it like that make you uncomfortable?”
“I understand what you mean, so it’s fine. Anything more would just be tiring.”
“Oh, how annoying...!”
It might sound bad to the guild members, but Ban Yuwon wasn’t entirely above intentionally acting annoying towards them either.
After all, if a strange atmosphere developed between him and a member of his older sister’s guild, he wouldn’t be able to handle the aftermath.
That’s why he had deliberately approached them from the start with the concept of being a friend’s younger brother...
It seemed his idea was rather clumsy.
Or perhaps, the state of those who’d been stuck in this guild was more severe than he could have imagined.
“Jina Noona, let’s quickly lift the no-dating clause before it’s too late.”
“Yeah, I plan to, after Yumi unnie leaves...”
Yu Jina’s face, as she spoke Ban Yumi’s name, looked melancholic, as if holding onto lingering feelings.
Ban Yuwon was first surprised that his older sister was such a significant presence to someone else, and even more surprised that it was Yu Jina.
“Noona, if you keep making such a tragic heroine expression, it makes me feel strange too, so please stop.”
“Hahaha... Jina has been following Yumi around since high school, you see.”
Kang Mi-yeon, who had appeared at just the right moment, provided the supplementary explanation.
“Ah, Mi-yeon Noona...”
Ban Yuwon instinctively turned around, confirmed Kang Mi-yeon’s appearance, and narrowed his eyes.
Her face and clothes were perfectly neat, as if she had just stepped out of her house, but the blood-red trajectory continuing behind her shadow was something she couldn’t hide.
Whoever had given her special training, the growth rate of her unique Authority was astonishing.
“Noona, by any chance.”
“I just had a match with Yumi. Under Vale Tudo rules.”
“As expected... Wait, what? Vale Tudo rules?”
Ban Yuwon asked back, startled, but by then, Yu Jina, who had patted her cheeks to regain her composure, was nodding beside him with an expression that seemed to say, ‘That’s common in our guild.’
What kind of guild was Oculus Ruber, anyway?
As Ban Yuwon wore a distant expression, Kang Mi-yeon chuckled and said,
“I couldn’t win, but I think this should be enough for Yumi to leave with peace of mind.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Of course, he would have been even more surprised if she had said she beat Ban Yumi.
After all, realizing her bloodline and undergoing training meticulously tailored to her, her core concepts, including her ‘Life,’ had begun to grow at a terrifying speed.
Even so, she wouldn’t surpass Ban Yuwon, but he thought she must have reached around Level 80.
If so, then Kang Mi-yeon, who had directly confronted such a Ban Yumi...
Feeling Ban Yuwon’s gaze, Kang Mi-yeon awkwardly scratched her cheek with her index finger and said,
“My Level is still 65, but my Authority feels more ingrained in me.”
“That’s great.”
“Yeah. The worries I’d been holding onto lately have been resolved, so I feel lighter. Actually, I was contemplating a contract with a Constellation...”
That was the first he’d heard of it.
As Ban Yuwon stared at her, she shrugged.
“It’s not like I don’t have a competitive spirit, you know. Everyone, not just me, probably thought about wanting to surpass Yumi at some point. So I once thought about borrowing a Constellation’s power, but well...”
“So this incident made you shake off any lingering attachment to Constellations?”
“Yeah. And the thought that even the mighty Ban Yumi isn’t much when viewed on a cosmic scale made me want to look a little further and longer, instead of just chasing after Yumi’s back.”
Ban Yuwon couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
He had thoroughly separated Kang Mi-yeon and the guild members from his thoughts during this Orc Wave incident, but it seemed that was a huge misunderstanding.
He might need to seriously reconsider the Academy’s special activities, which would take place across various dimensions, once again.
“That’s right, even the mighty Ban Yumi can’t pick up a single guy and is flailing about.”
At that moment, Lee Hyunji, who had finally regained her senses and escaped Yu Jina’s hold, spoke triumphantly.
Seeing Kang Mi-yeon casually nod in agreement to her words, perhaps she was thinking something similar...?
Ban Yuwon sighed and retorted,
“I’m her brother, you know.”
“Right, right, though it doesn’t seem like she thinks that way.”
“Honestly, when I first found out, I was quite startled too.”
“She used to at least try to hide it, but ever since Yuwon was dragged to Union, she really can’t hide it anymore. It’s truly disgusting...”
“Hehe, I thought the heavens don’t give everything, you know. When I met Yuwon myself, I could understand Yumi’s feelings, but back then, it was really...”
Watching the executives, who at one moment were fighting, and at another were already missing Ban Yumi and tearing up at her departure, now united in badmouthing her, Ban Yuwon felt skepticism about female friendship and turned away.
“Ah.”
And, exercising his Gwoeyeonggong for the first time in a while, he hid between the shadows without a sound and quietly left the spot.
As Ban Yuwon silently moved away from them, the voices of the three women steadily carried to his ears.
“When I found out his lock screen was a picture of Yuwon, I was genuinely scared. Even from that angle, it was definitely a hidden camera shot.”
“I, um, this is a real secret, but you know, back in high school. Yumi unnie secretly...”
“Ah— girls? Even so, saying things that cross the line when Yumi isn’t here is a bit much.”
“What, Gangmyeon. Why are you suddenly cowardly backing out alone— Kyaaaaah!”
Ban Yumi, who discovered the gossip session, quietly drew her sword, flared up with crimson flames, and—
Hell descended upon the guild training room.
No, this guild has a hellscape unfold too often; isn’t there some feng shui problem here?
...Perhaps the people are the problem after all.
Ban Yuwon reached a clear conclusion and safely left the area.
That day, Yu Jina and Kang Mi-yeon somehow overcame the crisis of having their date rights confiscated and were able to enjoy Ban Yuwon’s rental boyfriend service.
* * *
With Oculus Ruber’s special training over, Ban Yuwon took Rucell to various places around Earth during the remaining free time.
After all, once they returned to the Academy, he would be overwhelmed, paying attention to everything, with the Tower, lectures, and training.
He used the good excuse of securing videos for the Rebellion channel, which he hadn’t properly updated during the break, aside from the brutal combat footage of the Orc Wave, under the ‘travel’ category, and enjoyed a date with Rucell to his heart’s content.
No matter where it was on Earth, Ban Yuwon’s mobility meant he could reach it in less than ten minutes.
He visited only famous tourist spots in various countries with Rucell, which caused widespread astonishment as photos of Ban Yuwon and Rucell at different national landmarks, without any time difference, appeared on countless websites.
“Ehehe.”
“Why do you laugh like such an idiot the moment you see my face?”
“Because I’m happy to have monopolized Yuwon these past few days...”
Indeed, too many incidents had occurred right after arriving on Earth, so there hadn’t been much time for Rucell and him to spend intimately together.
As Ban Yuwon embraced Rucell with an apologetic heart, she gently closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest, remaining still before finally pulling away with a satisfied expression.
“Then, let’s go back now.”
“Has it gotten that late already?”
It had.
Today was the last day of vacation.
More precisely, it was the day before yesterday, and they had to return to the Academy today to fix their living patterns and prepare for the Academy’s second semester, which would begin the day after tomorrow.
He wished they could just stay on peaceful Earth, where extraterrestrial access was forbidden, cuddling with Rucell and enjoying a pleasant everyday life... but perhaps it was precisely because there was an end that the vacation could be so enjoyable.
“I hope we can spend the next vacation like this too.”
“Stop it, Rucell. I had a vague feeling it would be like this, but when you say things like that, I feel like winter break will genuinely be busy.”
“Ban Yuwon, are you still not up?”
At that moment, Ban Yumi shouted from behind the door, with a banging sound rather than a polite knock.
At least it was fortunate that she no longer barged in without permission after Rucell arrived.
“I’m up, I’m getting dressed, so wait.”
“I don’t need that information!”
He finished washing his face on the spot with water created by elemental magic, then used the power of his Authority to completely remove even the concept of minor dirt clinging to his body, leaving him with a feeling of refreshment beyond what was possible.
He put on his clothes, shoved all his luggage into his inventory, and, with Rucell who was ready, opened the door and stepped outside.
There stood Ban Yumi, clad in black, tight leather clothes that were a bit different from Earth’s attire... to be frank, they looked borrowed from Anneri.
It was a female ninja outfit that thoroughly covered her vital spots but surprisingly exposed a lot of skin, the kind that would likely have high defense points in a game.
“Are you trying to learn ninjutsu too?”
“No, idiot. Anneri just said that if we’re going to be dimension mercenaries, it would be good to wear similar clothes.”
He knew that woman would pull a stunt like this someday.
Ban Yumi herself was squirming awkwardly, looking a little embarrassed, but Ban Yuwon thought her squirming was even more embarrassing.
“Oh, Sir Yuwon! How is it, does it suit Yumi? It’s the official uniform of our Rebel Force Mercenary Group!”
As if she had sensed Ban Yuwon thinking about her, Anneri appeared from behind Ban Yumi and uttered such nonsense with a wide, blooming smile.
For the record, her calling Ban Yumi by informal speech was a kind of camouflage strategy.
“First, drop that mercenary group name. It’s just the fan club name.”
“Then how about this? Combining Yumi’s Unquenchable Flame and Rebel Force to make Eternal Force...”
And just like that, the meaning of the camouflage strategy cleanly vanished.
To resort to threatening with the mercenary group’s name so cowardly.
“Let’s just stick with Rebel Force Mercenary Group.”
“Yes!”
It would be better to give it a suitable name, even to hide the mercenary group’s true purpose.
Ban Yuwon successfully silenced Anneri, who was about to suggest other mercenary group name candidates like Crimson Force and Real Prominence, and turned his gaze...
“...”
“...”
He saw Kiira and his mother, Kang Eun-young, wearing the same clothes as Ban Yumi, and abruptly turned pale, shutting his mouth.
Kiira, who had looked the same as she did in her twenties since he first met her, was one thing, but his mother... No, her appearance had caught up quite a bit to Kiira’s, but still...
Ban Yuwon was frozen stiff like a stone statue, but his mother did not leave her son alone.
“Son?”
“...Huh?”
“Say something.”
Ban Yuwon turned his head and declared,
“I choose death.”
“You look incredibly beautiful, Mother!”
Fortunately, Rucell rescued the atmosphere, which was so tense it wouldn’t have been strange for someone to collapse and die of a heart attack.
“They suit you so well, and your figure is amazing...!”
“Is, is that so? I wonder if I’m being too silly.”
“They suit you this well! Father will fall for you all over again!”
“Really...?”
Seeing Rucell dissolve the fierce atmosphere with genuine praise, Kang Eun-young couldn't help but smile.
Ban Yuwon, secretly relieved by the rapidly heartwarming atmosphere, turned his head to Anneri.
“You, come here.”
“Hah, how can informal speech be so powerful and cool...!”
“I said come.”
Through an appropriate conversation with Anneri, the Rebel Force Mercenary Group concluded that they would get new group uniforms.
Seldon, the mercenary group’s only male member, was very disappointed by the change, but because the hierarchy establishment with Ban Yuwon was completely finished, he had to try extremely hard to act calm on the outside.
“Yuwon.”
Grandfather Ban Jiwon approached Ban Yuwon, who had finished his conversation with Anneri and turned around.
His grandfather, who had all of a sudden sent his daughter-in-law and granddaughter off to space, looked a little more tired and lonely than when he had first returned to Earth.
Ban Yuwon firmly clasped his grandfather’s wrinkled hand with his own.
“Grandpa, I’ll come visit again during winter break, so take care. Don’t get hurt.”
“Yes. This old man has no doubt that our Yuwon will achieve our family’s long-cherished wish.”
“...Yeah.”
The family’s long-cherished wish.
The Tower of Babel.
He thought of the barrier spread across Earth and gave an ambiguous smile.
Honestly... lately, his doubts had only deepened, but he was hesitant to talk carelessly about the Tower with his grandfather, who had overcome even dementia and was burning his regained life solely for that wish.
Pretending to know nothing, he smiled brightly and replied to his grandfather.
“The Tower, I’ll get it back soon. It doesn’t feel like much time is left.”
“Indeed, that’s my grandson.”
Grandfather Ban Jiwon chuckled and patted his back.
Then, he took out an old journal from his pocket and handed it to him.
“What is it?”
“It’s just a journal where this old man wrote down his thoughts while dealing with the abilities he acquired in his later years. It’s nothing grand, but you, Yuwon, can also use abilities similar to mine. So perhaps you might find something useful in it.”
“Grandpa...”
Even if it was just called a journal, Ban Yuwon could easily tell that the paper itself was no ordinary material.
He wanted to interpret it immediately with his all-reading eye, but he held back, thinking it would be rude to do so in front of the grandfather who had given him the gift.
Instead, filled with respect and love for his grandfather, he hugged him tightly once more.
“Thank you.”
“Have a good trip.”
“Yeah. And Dad... Ah, never mind.”
He thought about saying goodbye to his father as well, but his father was tightly embracing his mother and shedding copious tears, so he decided to just leave them be.
His mother’s eyes were also glistening with tears; if he were to interrupt that, Ban Yuwon wouldn’t get off lightly either.
“It seems we should go first.”
“I wanted to go to space with them.”
“We’re summoned directly to Union from here, you see.”
“Oh, right, that’s how it was.”
He had gone through various things with Anneri, and he had entrusted his mother and sister to her, so they would probably become even more deeply intertwined in the future.
He had many things he wanted to say, but for now, he decided to replace his greeting with a kiss on her cheek.
“Sir Yuwon...♡”
Fortunately, that was enough to fill Anneri with enthusiasm.
“What, for me? Is there nothing?”
“Kiira, you got to go on a date with the Oculus Ruber members.”
“Wow, you were the one who first flirted with me back then—”
“Alright, alright!”
Though it was a short period, Kiira was also indebted to him.
He couldn’t deny that thanks to her, who sided with Ban Yuwon, even disobeying a Constellation’s directive, he was able to respond quickly to this incident.
After he kissed Kiira’s cheek as well, his gaze naturally met Ban Yumi’s, who was left alone.
“What. What is it?”
“Ban Yumi, come on.”
“Do you want to die, seriously?”
Relieved by Ban Yumi flaring up in anger, Ban Yuwon chuckled and spread his arms.
“A kiss is too much, but since we won’t see each other for a while, let’s at least hug.”
“Siblings don’t do things like that.”
“Oh, but last time, you...”
“Eeeek!”
Immediately after he tried to mention what had happened between them a short while ago, Ban Yumi brought down the edge of her hand vertically on him.
As if he’d been waiting for it, Ban Yuwon caught her hand, pulled her close, and embraced her.
“Hey!”
“Noona, call me anytime you’re having a tough time.”
“Hey...!”
Ban Yumi seemed about to go wild, but as he calmly stroked her back, she quickly calmed down.
“Don’t forget I’m on your side. Okay?”
“Hah... You’re the younger brother and I’m the older sister, you know? Why are you suddenly acting mature...”
Yes, that was enough.
With those words, it finally felt as if their relationship, which had been lost and wandering, unable to find its place for a while, had finally returned to normal.
When Ban Yuwon released her from his embrace, Ban Yumi lightly struck his forehead with the edge of her hand, devoid of any force, and then hurriedly retreated.
“You, just you wait. You’re dead then.”
“Wait until when?”
To Ban Yuwon, who chuckled as he spoke, Ban Yumi replied with a straight face,
“After I conquer Prominence.”
...It really did go back to normal, right?
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