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I got into school for nothing - Chapter 215

I got into school for nothing (215)

Lesson 42. Image Change - 5

After the meeting concluded, only Ban Yuwon, Mira, and Shati remained in the spacious student council room.

Shati was humming a tune as she personally brewed tea, while Mira, perhaps exhausted from their war of nerves, leaned back against the wide sofa.

Ban Yuwon, who thought even that sight was picturesque, suddenly voiced a thought that came to him.

“Mira, why don't you carry a fan too? It would suit you even more than that woman.”

“Stop talking nonsense and come sit here quickly.”

Mira dismissed his foolish words and patted the seat next to her.

As Ban Yuwon moved to sit beside her, Mira naturally rested her head on his lap and let out a deep sigh.

“You worked hard, Mira.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

As Ban Yuwon stroked her hair, Mira, as if inclined to fully indulge in her cuteness, let out a cat-like purr and snuggled into his embrace.

Shati, returning with a tray holding teacups, saw this and her lips curled into a wide grin as she exclaimed in a playful tone.

“Oh, come on, can you believe this cuddling in the sacred student council room?!”

“Student council duties are over, you know.”

With Mira still on his lap, Ban Yuwon took the teacup Shati offered and asked, “Shati senior, what do you think of what that woman said?”

“Hmm? The vice president appointment? One could consider it from many angles, but perhaps... Keh-heh.”

Shati, seated opposite him, sipped the coffee in her cup and grinned.

“The biggest aim is probably to keep the Planning Director in check. The vice president position is different from the Planning Director's, after all. Its authority is greater, and so is its prominence.”

“Many would object to me becoming vice president, and people would start comparing Ketra senior and me.”

“Exactly. So, if the Planning Director were to actually become vice president, there's a greater chance he wouldn't be able to engage in student council activities as freely as now.”

It was a classic case of honeyed words hiding a dagger; they were pretending to elevate Ban Yuwon while plotting to stab him in the back.

But Mira seemed to think differently, as she snorted.

“She's not the type of woman to calculate things so elaborately. If she could think that deeply, she wouldn't have done something as foolish as sending an Orc Wave to Earth, would she?”

During the break, Mira, along with Shati, had been tirelessly busy gathering the fairy race and leading the tribal council, and naturally, she only learned of the chaos on Earth after the entire situation had been resolved.

The mere fact that they were targeting the fairy race was enough for her to despise the Prominence family, but the attack on Ban Yuwon was like pouring oil on the fire.

“It was probably just words she blurted out thoughtlessly in a fit of jealousy. She was just desperately trying to get attention, and it accidentally resulted in pressuring Yuwon.”

“Mira, underestimating your enemy is a bad habit.”

“Hmph, what's important now is who we appoint as vice president.”

The student council would, of course, never immediately accept Ulrike Prominence's suggestion.

They had moved past the agenda item by stating that the selection of the vice president was solely the student council's authority, and they would handle it themselves.

However, as she had pointed out, it was also problematic for the vice president position to remain vacant indefinitely.

“We could just promote one of the current members to vice president. Anyone but me.”

“If Prominence hadn't made the suggestion, it might have been fine, but now it's a bit...”

“...You don't mean that if we appoint someone else as vice president, they'll start comparing me to that person, do you?”

“Exactly.”

What a headache!

This is why he hadn't wanted to join the student council in the first place, and no sooner had he become an official council member than such bothersome affairs arose.

Even as Ban Yuwon seriously contemplated leaving the student council right then, Shati's words continued.

“So, we need someone who isn't an existing student council member, someone the academy students can recognize as vice president, and if possible, a low-grade student acknowledged to have potential greater than that of the Planning Director.”

“That last condition is a bit too much, isn't it?”

It's difficult to say this, but now, to find someone in the academy who could compete with Ban Yuwon in combat power and influence, one would have to search among the graduates.

Of course, one could search among the lower grades if they tried, but...

“Because we can't bring an heir of the Ten Great Families into the student council...”

“Excluding the Special Class, there's absolutely no one. Rebellion members are out of the question.”

If a Rebellion member, practically recognized as Ban Yuwon's organization, were to take the vice president seat, it would cause even more talk than if Ban Yuwon himself became vice president.

“Among the students in the Special Class, couldn't we find someone cooperative with the student council?”

“Wasn't it a rule not to include Special Class students in the student council?”

“That's because the general student council is actively regulating the Special Class's excesses, and if someone can cooperate with us in that, there's no problem at all.”

“The Special Class is a lump of arrogance and elitism. There's no way any fool would betray such a group and side with us... Ah.”

Mira, who had been reflexively retorting to Shati's words, suddenly let out an exclamation.

Ban Yuwon met Mira's scrutinizing gaze, tilted his head, and then realized what she was thinking.

No, you want me to ask *her* again?

* * *

“Fine. If it's your request.”

Aire nodded without deep thought.

“I'll be vice president.”

“Really? I know I'm saying this after suggesting it, but this would make you a complete traitor. The Special Class guys might even throw you into space for it.”

“Traitor?”

Hearing his words, Aire let out a soft laugh.

“Dragons don't flock together. I merely decided to cooperate with you, and no one can interfere with my will. Therefore, no one can call me a traitor.”

“Is that so...”

Her dignified appearance almost made him fall for her.

If one were to consider only this attitude, she might seem similar to Dokgo Yeon, but their personalities were distinctly different.

If Dokgo Yeon was a tyrant who would not tolerate anyone above her, one who would try to control everything around her, even by force.

Then Aire was, perhaps, immense power itself, naturally asserting dominance over all other life forms simply by her presence.

“But you said you don't flock together, yet you keep trying to join Rebellion.”

“That's because I want to. Dragons are naturally willful.”

“You've been subtly throwing caution to the wind ever since you revealed your identity, haven't you?”

In any case, if Aire took on the role of student council vice president, all their worries would be resolved.

Aire's combat power was, of course, beyond question, and even in Class 1-1, tightly knit around Lusein Ortima, she was a revered figure whom no one dared to displease.

Every time Ban Yuwon saw those from higher dimensions agitated by her slightest movement, he secretly found it amusing.

Each time, Aire's presence felt wondrous anew.

‘The talk that Aire was from a Ten Great Dimension, Melodia, I'd heard before from a student from the same dimension... Leixu. But I also seem to recall hearing that she wasn't from one of the Ten Great Families.'

The top-ranking dimensions, from S-1 to S-10, were referred to as the Ten Great Dimensions, and the existence of ten families or royal houses, each ruling one of these dimensions, was the extent of Ban Yuwon's knowledge about the Ten Great Families.

Then a question already arose here.

If Aire, whom even Lusein Ortima, an heir of the Ten Great Families, dared not approach, was not from a Ten Great Family, then who was the Ten Great Family in Melodia?

“What are you two talking about, even putting up a barrier just for yourselves?”

“Ah, hello!”

“You surprised me.”

Misty and Leixu took seats in front of the two and greeted Ban Yuwon.

Following the first semester, for the second semester too, the four of them would be taking Professor Yumina's magic class together.

Ban Yuwon dispelled the barrier and returned their greeting.

“Did you have a good break?”

“Yes. Though I was lonely not being able to see Aire.”

“You, were you well too? I saw the video, were you okay after that?”

Misty, whose worshipful attitude towards Aire remained unchanged, and Leixu, who, despite having grown friendly, worried about Ban Yuwon.

Seeing Aire poke Leixu and frown, it seemed she was worried Leixu might fall under Ban Yuwon's 'demonic grip,' but he wished she'd realize he had the right to choose too.

“Earth has been sealed off. There won't be anything to worry about for a while. The problem is what comes next.”

At Ban Yuwon's nonchalant reply, Misty quickly glanced around and lowered her voice.

“How did you end up incurring that princess's hatred? Anyone from the Ten Great Dimensions knows that princess's personality. She's famous for getting everything she wants, no matter what, and for destroying anything she dislikes.”

“As if it wasn't enough that we're already clashing with Lord Ortima, no, with Ortima... I'm worried.”

“Leixu, I told you not to keep siding with him!”

“Are both of you worried about him?”

Aire tilted her head and interjected.

“Why?”

“I'm not worried about him, you know? It's just that if he does something reckless, I'm afraid it might affect you too...”

“There's nothing to worry about.”

Watching Misty vehemently deny it, as if afraid of being associated with Ban Yuwon, Aire declared.

“Because the Prominence family, at their level, cannot contain him.”

“Since I'm right here, call me by my name, by my name.”

At Ban Yuwon's gruff remark, Aire, as if hearing something utterly novel, met his gaze with wide eyes.

Then, nodding as if in understanding, she opened her mouth to speak again.

“Because I will be Ban Yuwon's ally.”

“Huh...?”

“Heh...”

Time froze.

Could it be that someone else besides him could wield 'The World'?

Ban Yuwon, who had been nonchalantly admiring her, realized from Misty and Leixu's unusual reactions that Aire's words might have held a deeper meaning than he had initially thought.

And then, time began to flow again...

“Ah, A-A-A-A-Aire-nim!”

“Aire-nim?!”

At Leixu's sudden use of an honorific, Ban Yuwon exclaimed in surprise.

Misty urgently clapped her hand over Leixu's mouth, but because there was no barrier, all eyes in the not-so-large classroom focused on them.

“Alright, then, let's begin the first class of the second semester~~.”

And then, with truly artistic timing, Professor Yumina entered, scattering all their gazes.

Misty and Leixu hurriedly turned their attention back to the front, but even afterward, they kept glancing back over their shoulders, observing Aire and Ban Yuwon, looking utterly flustered.

“Why are they acting like that? Is it that strange for you and me to team up?”

“Probably. As I said before, we don't naturally flock together.”

Even in the first semester, Aire had practically been on Ban Yuwon's side.

If one were to say they were merely participating in club activities together, that might be true, but...

Could it be that... drawing her into the student council was a far greater, more monumental feat than Ban Yuwon's vague imagination suggested?

* * *

In the end, he had only parted ways with Aire after hearing that he could announce it anytime, and he hadn't received an answer regarding Misty and Leixu's exaggerated reactions.

As for Leixu's personal contact information, Ban Yuwon had it too.

If he called her out personally, she certainly wouldn't refuse, but he felt hesitant to contact her, sensing she might come with some unnecessary misconceptions. Coincidentally, Misty contacted him first.

The two met at a cafe in Ronica, the city outside the academy.

“Do you know how the dimension got the name 'Melodia'?”

At Misty's sudden question, Ban Yuwon pondered.

The name 'Melodia' was merely the designation Ban Yuwon had adopted in Earth's language, which was most familiar to him; in reality, it was a more complex ancient tongue.

That meant the dimension's name carried an intended meaning...

“Is it famous for musical instruments?”

“Your language comprehension is indeed preposterous. You're right, not instruments, but bards are famous.”

As if to prove her status as a noble lady, Misty elegantly set down her teacup, filled with black tea, and, as if unsure how to process it, looked at him directly with eyes full of complex emotions.

“A bard who quelled a dragon's rage with music created a world blessed by the dragon. That is the origin of Melodia.”

“That means the Ten Great Family ruling Melodia is...”

“The family's name is 'Melodia,' taken directly from the dimension's name. They are the most unusual among the Ten Great Families. While their wealth and renown are high, their military power lags behind the other Ten Great Families. Yet, they cannot be ignored, because the dragon's blessing bestowed upon them still endures.”

“Ha.”

“Now you understand why not only Leixu and I, who are from Melodia, but even Lusein Ortima, an heir of the Ten Great Families, has to defer to Aire, don't you?”

He understood perfectly well.

“Aire isn't even from the Melodia family, yet she appeared with the Melodia family's backing. She hasn't given any explanations herself, but no one doubts that she is connected to dragons. No, she probably doesn't even need to explain it herself. Her naturally exuding presence alone was enough to make Lusein Ortima back down without a peep.”

“So that's why Leixu reacted that way.”

“Perhaps in her eyes, you overlapped with the primordial bard—the human who received the dragon's blessing.”

Misty sighed and sipped her tea.

Setting down her teacup, which had inexplicably emptied, she glared at Ban Yuwon.

“Now, won't you tell me something too? What exactly does it mean that Aire is your ally?”

“...You'll find out tomorrow.”

Ban Yuwon could only say that.

The next day, when the new vice president was announced—just as he had expected, the academy was turned upside down.