I got into school for nothing - Chapter 234
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I got into school for nothing (234)
Lesson 46. Union Founding Festival - 1
The Union Founding Festival was the one time a year when Union Academy opened its doors to the outside world.
Though this "opening" merely involved strictly vetted guests transferring their consciousness into observation dolls prepared by the Chancellor to semi-fly around the academy's interior, even this limited access brought an overflowing demand from those eager to visit.
"Oh, here they come, here they come."
"Rika, stop goofing off and get to work, work!"
And it was the student council members' duty to guide these very guests through the academy's interior.
But perhaps it wasn't for nothing that she was a fourth-year; she effortlessly met Ban Yuwon's gaze and beckoned him over.
"You, junior, don't just stand there talking! Come here and look! Important figures, the kind you'd struggle to meet in other dimensions, are pouring in like a packed bean sprout basket!"
"Rika, don't hit on my man."
"Kya-hahahahaha! Perfect, Mira!"
"These people have gone mad from staying up all night..."
"The Founding Festival is for five days starting today... I just hope we don't lose our minds during that time."
Concerned by Rika, who clung to the large window in the student council office, unable to tear herself away, Ban Yuwon eventually got up and headed towards her.
Peering out the window revealed the academy entrance, accessible via a pathway extending directly from the main academy building.
Normally, a warp gate was located there, used by students permitted to travel to the outer city of Ronica (Ban Yuwon had never used it, as he could directly teleport to Ronica using his Yugi). But now, external guests, having transferred into dolls, were pouring through it like a flood.
"Ha, the security really is thorough."
Ban Yuwon let out an exclamation of admiration as he looked down at the floating dolls, guided by the adjunct professors, entering the academy one after another.
Naturally, all those dolls were linked to the Chancellor, allowing for 24-hour surveillance, and he could even sever the connection between a guest and their doll if he wished.
It meant having to carry both a bomb and a surveillance camera on one's body... What on earth were these people thinking, to willingly accept that and enter the academy?
'Come to think of it, did Mumyeong or Nine also control dolls in this manner? They must have been much higher-performance models compared to these mass-produced, cheap dolls... No, even so, how could they display such monstrous power without even moving their actual bodies? What kind of drugs would even make that possible?'
As he stared blankly, lost in thought, watching the wave of guests, another person's fine, slender fingers had, at some point, crept onto his arm.
"It's a scale incomparable to previous years. And I hear this is after they've filtered through an overwhelming number of applicants."
"Mira."
Mira, having at some point 'educated' Rika appropriately, approached him, attempting to initiate physical contact.
Ban Yuwon, holding her hand and accepting her affection, pondered her words about the increased number of guests, then quickly realized the answer.
"Us?"
"Hehe, that's right. It's because of you. Thanks to the Rebellion channel, many people have indirectly experienced Union Academy, and their desire to see it with their own eyes has grown."
"I'm not exactly thrilled that those dolls are flocking to see me..."
A deluge of dolls, most looking identical, though there were traces of efforts to give them some individuality.
If you changed the setting to night and turned on dim lighting, it wouldn't be difficult to switch the genre directly to horror.
"That's enough slacking off. Head of Public Relations, Head of Planning! Please guide the guests well!"
"Shatie, just look at those dolls. Do we really have to make our Yuwon look at their faces?"
"Don't worry about it, Head of Public Relations. What's inside those dolls is a lump of malice incomparable to him."
Graham's encouragement was no encouragement at all.
Ban Yuwon, too, stopped escaping reality, let out deep sighs, and accepted the cruel task assigned to him.
"Ah, I really shouldn't have joined the student council..."
"If we just ignore those dolls, it could be a pretty decent date."
"Sorry, I'm not in the mood for cutesy stuff when there might be people from the Ten Great Families mixed in..."
The two looked at each other, sighed, and headed downstairs.
The academy's main building was already packed with guests, and with no classes for the week of the Founding Festival, students, ready to enjoy the event, were peeking at the floating dolls here and there with intrigued expressions.
"From here on, the student council will guide you."
"We look forward to your guidance."
"Hmm? Ah!"
"Oh, Ban Yuwon!"
"Hoo, that's..."
"It's hard to get a proper read because of this doll. But, yes... quite impressive."
"It's nothing much. Arrogant."
"His very existence is unpleasant."
Ban Yuwon and Mira took over from the adjunct professors, guiding the dolls further inside.
Those seeing his face for the first time often uttered quite rude remarks, scanning his entire body as if appraising an object. Ban Yuwon merely managed a wry smile, recalling the stares he'd received from other students when he first entered the academy.
Though he had grown stronger over the past semester... the visitors to the academy this time were mostly individuals possessing both power and might, hailing from S- or A-rank dimensions, or at worst, B-rank.
Among them were numerous ancient monsters who had lived for hundreds of years, so it was natural for such individuals to focus on his growth potential and future, rather than being simply astonished by Ban Yuwon's current skill.
Those who evaluated him positively were, at least, fortunate; but there were also those who openly disregarded him, a native of a lower-rank dimension, and spat harsh words...
"You are the Fairy Princess of Fairytale. Correct?"
"Hoo, hooo."
"...That monster put quite a bit of thought into guest reception."
"Oh, this, this is an honor."
"I am Mira. Please enjoy the Founding Festival."
It was Mira's presence that, at least somewhat, quelled the dissatisfaction of such individuals.
She was a royal of the fairy race, one of the few powerful species difficult to find even if one scoured countless dimensions, primarily focusing on A-rank dimensions.
Even if her own martial prowess was inferior to Ban Yuwon's, her political standing meant that even the guests could not treat her lightly.
He had only been unaware because she was always by his side, but he now realized anew that Mira was a talent who commanded attention on a pan-dimensional scale.
Provoke with Ban Yuwon's presence, suppress with Mira's presence.
There was, indeed, a truly brilliant reason why Ban Yuwon and Mira had been designated for the role of guiding the guests.
"There are many events at this Founding Festival that you can participate in with students. We will hand out brochures."
"If you wish to offer sponsorship, please refer to the last page of the brochure."
As an event that opened the interior to external guests only once a year, events could typically be hosted by grade levels, class units, or even club units.
The special club competition was, after all, an event only open to clubs with large memberships capable of handling an entire dimension. Rather, mini-competitions or student-run shops were considered the main events of club activities.
"Even among all these events, there seems to be only one that we'd enjoy."
"When does the Masquerade Ball begin?"
—Unfortunately, most of these events were only in demand among internal students and held little appeal for external guests.
The one thing all of them were paying attention to was the Masquerade Ball.
Ban Yuwon had been bothered all this time, wondering why this event, which had neither masks nor a ball, was called a "Masquerade Ball." Yet, to his surprise, the guests didn't question it at all!
No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say they *couldn't* bring themselves to question it.
They all knew the Chancellor himself had named that event!
"To be able to witness the Masquerade Ball firsthand..."
"The qualifying tournament begins this evening. But what I'm most looking forward to is the special match."
"Every year, those who don't know their place reach for the sky, only to be frustrated."
"Indeed, it's a wicked and charming event. I'm looking forward to it."
Ban Yuwon merely offered a faint smile, despite the gazes pouring onto him from the guests he was guiding.
This was because the fact that he had already been named on the special match list had been revealed through the Rebellion channel.
The match between Ban Yuwon and Dokgo Yeon's pair against Ulrike Prominence and Lusein Ortima's pair.
This garnered even more attention than Ban Yuwon had imagined.
Although Ban Yuwon had appeared like a comet and was performing brilliantly, he was, after all, merely a human from an ungraded dimension, one not even listed in the rankings.
The same was true for Dokgo Yeon; those who underestimated her would acknowledge her strength but often devalue her based on her origin.
Lusein Ortima, who was ferociously approaching her, was considered to be on the better side of things, relatively speaking.
In any case, for them to challenge the heirs of the Ten Great Families, the most noble among all, how could that possibly look good in the eyes of the powerful figures from higher-ranked dimensions outside the academy?
This was also one of the reasons Ban Yuwon received unfavorable gazes from the guests, despite possessing exceptional abilities.
"They say he was even betrayed by a team member."
"Ah, that royalty from a lower-rank dimension?"
"I came expecting that from the start. Up until now, he seemed to be doing quite well due to luck, but now that internal strife has broken out..."
"My dear, you're quite mischievous."
The dolls chattered loudly behind him, as if to make sure he heard them.
"My dear" or not, with all these identically-looking dolls putting on a social drama among themselves, a bitter smile naturally crept onto Ban Yuwon's lips, given his position of having to guide them.
Mira, on the other hand, who was with him, gripped his hand very tightly, suppressing the urge to tear those dolls apart right then and there.
"Because of that boy-like girl, Yuwon is being insulted...!"
"Ah, so that's why you were angry?"
"Let's finish guiding them quickly. I'm reaching my limit now."
The Union Founding Festival was an event held with the academy's main building as its stage.
Even within that main building, certain areas were off-limits to guests, so they guided the visitors for a full three hours, carefully keeping those restrictions in mind.
And this wasn't even the end.
Begun and Rika were waiting to guide the guests through the major events scheduled for the afternoon of the Founding Festival.
"Our guidance concludes here. Please remember that entry to the academy is from 10 AM to 8 PM, and if anyone has not secured accommodation in Ronica, please contact the student council."
"Oh dear, I had hoped to share a cup of tea with the princess."
"Please excuse us."
Mira, having somehow managed to finish the guidance without making a harsh impression on the guests, immediately grabbed both of Ban Yuwon's arms and pulled him away, leaving the main building and heading towards the annex.
The events were held only in the main building.
This meant that the annex, where student amenities were located, was open only to them.
Normally, it was bustling with students on break or instructors, but today, with the Founding Festival in full swing, everyone was focused on the events, making it surprisingly quiet.
"Ugh, seriously!"
She had anticipated this before taking on the duty, but sure enough, Mira unleashed her true nature, venting her frustrations freely.
Ban Yuwon, however, was satisfied with taking on this task, precisely because he had been able to directly observe the outsiders of the academy.
"They're just people who don't know anything anyway. Once they see my abilities firsthand in the special match, they probably won't be able to talk so arrogantly anymore."
"That's not the problem, it's that girl! Light, I mean!"
Ah, just as expected?
Ban Yuwon offered a bitter smile, as he had already guessed what she wanted to say.
"You saw who she's paired up with, didn't you!"
He had.
It hadn't been revealed until relatively recently, making him wonder if that one had given up on the match. But, much to his surprise, they had splendidly proven his expectations wrong.
Thanks to that, Mira's anger boiled over even further, and she was furious, demanding to know how such a brat could remain Yuwon's team member.
"Mira, you're cute."
"I'm not happy even with such obvious compliments! No, I am happy, but I can't just let this go! Unless I personally pulverize that girl...!"
The guests' provocations must have been just the right kind of stimulus. Gently calming the raging Mira, Ban Yuwon thought about the special match happening the day after tomorrow.
Well, he had somewhat expected it, actually.
As Light's partner, competing as a man, was, surprisingly, Ulrike Prominence.
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