I got into school for nothing - Chapter 246
I got into school for nothing (246)
Lesson 48. Professor Ban Yuwon - 1
The moment Woohyeolrin died, all the threads of contract connecting him and Ban Yuwon vanished. Naturally, the Exodus fleet, which had been holding out until now, was also freed.
Compared to their initial numbers, they were reduced by about seventy percent, but still, more than ten ships remained.
“Lilyth, you know what to do, right?”
[Of course I do. With my current abilities, I could transform this spaceship and ram them!]
“No, that’s fine. I want to rest. You handle the acceleration and breakthrough on your own.”
[Master is also getting used to overworking his subordinates!]
Ban Yuwon launched Abel, formed by combining the robots around Lilyth, and sent him out into space to join the three who had already gone ahead to deal with the pirate fleet.
[Geas (Pledge) 100 has been acquired. By imposing restrictions upon oneself for specific situations and conditions, one can trigger phenomena that transcend personal limits.]
[You have gained a deep understanding of Curse, increasing its proficiency to 300.]
The most surprising thing was this.
He had entirely acquired Woohyeolrin’s Authority itself, which was completely unexpected.
Perhaps, since the Authority’s foundation was a curse, it was natural for Ban Yuwon, who had already mastered curses, to be able to acquire it.
However, since its proficiency would inevitably be lower than what Woohyeolrin wielded, he would need to carefully explore and use the ability.
[Through insights gained in the process of wielding Concept Conversion, new possibilities for causal adjustment via Giwon Sword have opened. The concept of Reversal can now be activated. The proficiency of Giwon Sword has reached 1,200, and Yugi's proficiency has reached 320.]
[Due to new insights regarding the operation of concepts, Life, Wonshin, Won-gi, and Soul have all grown significantly.]
[The proficiency of All-Reading Eye, All-Hearing Ear, and All-Speaking Lips has each deepened by 30.]
The next surprising thing was that, following his success in restoring Asha’s mind last time, he had again achieved a dramatic Concept Conversion, finally glimpsing into the realm of Changeling, a power not permitted to humans!
He had only just begun to understand its mechanism while wielding Concept Conversion moments ago, but if he consistently trained Yugi and Giwon Sword and effectively utilized the remaining 60 points of Concept Conversion, he would be able to wield perfect Changeling, not just simple Reversal!
‘I’d been stagnant recently. But after the masquerade ball and facing Woohyeolrin, it feels like something that was blocked has finally opened up. ......If so, then perhaps?’
[Core]
Life 1,000, Wonshin 850, Won-gi 800, Soul 1,000
[Martial Arts]
Yugi 320, Gwoeyeonggong 310, Giwon Sword 1,200
[Culture]
Leadership 300, Charm 310, Honor 400
[Skills]
Riding 274, Art of the Bedchamber 169, Super Strength 250, Elemental Magic 520, Photonic Magic 310, Curse 300
[Unique]
All-Reading Eye 350, All-Hearing Ear 350, All-Speaking Lips 350, Judgment 280, Domination 120, Constellation’s Stigma 167, Soul Flame 50, Mutation 80, Rebellion 35, Adamantine 42, Crimson Flame 200, Gap 17, Divine Wind 10, Geas 100
An uncontainable joy spread across Ban Yuwon’s face as he checked his status after a long time.
When it was blocked, it felt like it would never open... but finally, the proficiency of Life and Soul had reached 1,000!
In terms of Level, he had reached 100, finally approaching Dokgo Yeon’s level at the time of their admission!
...It was a somewhat anticlimactic thought even for himself, but it was clear that he had truly crossed a boundary that could not be overcome by ordinary means and had finally reached the realm of what could be called a master.
‘No matter how many monsters I hunted every time I entered the Tower, it refused to budge... Right, I got too complacent after completing Giwon Sword. I need to reflect.’
Fortunately, there was still some overflow from the insights he gained today.
If he continued to delve into it, he could further develop his current realm.
He turned with a faint smile, and Eve, who had crawled along the spaceship wall, coiled around his arm, making a "shiruruk" sound with her tongue.
“Yes, if there was nothing, then so be it. You worked hard, Eve.”
“Shishishit.”
“Master?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
As Rucell tilted her head, Ban Yuwon briefly explained.
“I infiltrated the Exodus battleship to extract their information, and while I was at it, I tried to find traces of them conspiring with others.”
“Already...?”
“As soon as we crossed the dimension wall.”
Wielding her core concepts of Myriad Changes and demonic power, along with the Gwoeyeonggong shared by Ban Yuwon, Eve was truly an assassin in the dark.
Moreover, as she shared thoughts with him faster than any other subordinate, she was excellent at immediately translating his will into action and producing results.
“For example, an Exodus collaborator within the Academy...”
Ban Yuwon’s eyes narrowed as he recalled someone, then returned to normal.
“But it seems there wasn’t anything. He’s a quick one in many ways.”
“...You.”
Cartro, completely drained of energy after witnessing Woohyeolrin’s death, raised his head again.
“Do you know about that guy too?”
“Without material evidence, it’s as good as not knowing. Let’s not talk about that anymore. So, what will you do, Senior? You’re still with Exodus. Do you want to try something?”
“...”
If the words "Do you want to try something?" sounded like "Do you want to die too?", was that just Cartro’s misconception?
Originally, Cartro had a thread of Authority connecting him to anyone whose abilities he had amplified.
He could exert influence through that thread, and though it was through talismans, he could—in fact—issue quite forceful commands to Ban Yuwon, whom he had empowered dozens or even more times.
He should have been able to issue commands, but he simply couldn’t bring himself to try.
In fact, he didn’t even want to try.
Because he had nothing left.
“Tsk, I thought I’d get a subordinate.”
Feeling that Cartro had completely given up, Ban Yuwon clicked his tongue and mumbled.
As Cartro himself had told Woohyeolrin earlier, Ban Yuwon had long seen through the structure of his Authority.
In fact, it was Cartro’s Authority, more than Woohyeolrin’s contract, that Ban Yuwon had intended to reverse causation using Concept Conversion.
However, Cartro hesitated until the last moment and ultimately backed off ambiguously, leading to a one-on-one showdown between Ban Yuwon and Woohyeolrin.
“Subordinate? An interesting idea, but it’s impossible. How could an exposed Exodus member remain in the Academy?”
“Who?”
Ban Yuwon’s eyes widened in feigned surprise.
Cartro’s expression twisted at his trickery.
“Are you playing with me? Ban Yuwon, I may be a ridiculous man, but I have no intention of disgracing my fallen comrades.”
“So you want to die with them?”
“I’m saying I have no choice but to die!”
This special club competition was being broadcast live through Union Net.
The moment they crossed the dimension wall, what happened inside the ship, and the Exodus fleet waiting in the abandoned dimension, was exposed to Union Net, cutting off all avenues of escape.
At least, Cartro thought so.
But Ban Yuwon was grinning slyly.
“Who do you think arranged the filming cooperation for this special club competition, anyway?”
“You...?”
Prior to this competition, Ban Yuwon, with the Chancellor’s help, distributed camera-type magical tools imbued with his Authority to each participating club.
And, of course, Tikke was in charge of filming for the Union Journey Club.
Needless to say, Tikke, constantly receiving Ban Yuwon’s will, was the world’s best cinematographer, capable of editing live broadcasts.
When Cartro watched the broadcast later, he would understand.
That the only Exodus members visible in the skillfully edited footage were Woohyeolrin and the students who died following him.
“You... You trapped me in that barrier with that intention from the very beginning?!”
“Oh, did you notice? Of course. It was all to save Senior. You were too ambiguous to kill.”
“You...!”
Cartro suddenly regained his vigor, shot up from his spot, and body-slammed the barrier.
However, though his Authority was excellent, his direct offensive power was on the level of a pebble compared to Ban Yuwon, so there was no way the barrier would break from physical force.
“I—I didn’t do this idiotic thing just to save myself!”
Ban Yuwon scoffed in reply.
“It’s a relief you know you’re an idiot. But since you’re alive, survive.”
“Ban Yuwon, you! You!”
“Do you think I only gave Senior a chance? I made it pretty obvious all this time. Why do you think I didn’t crush you sooner?”
A cold smile hung on Ban Yuwon’s lips.
It wasn’t his first time killing someone, but the death of someone he knew was not something to be taken lightly.
His obsession with the concepts he gained as a result of battle was also a form of escapism to alleviate the burden of holding and wielding others' lives in his hands.
“Senior was the only one who backed down, even if ambiguously. It was all in vain, but I understand Senior’s feelings. So, live.”
“Are you an idiot?! I stood by and watched dozens of battleships, not to mention Woohyeolrin, get decimated... I’ve become a traitor! Exodus never forgives traitors!”
“What a coincidence, there’s someone here that Exodus also never forgives.”
Cartro was speechless at the fluidly connected words.
Suddenly, Ban Yuwon’s presence seemed immensely grand.
The image of the man who had drawn him into Exodus years ago overlapped with Ban Yuwon’s—and only Ban Yuwon’s shadow remained.
“So, such things aren’t very important. Only one thing matters: do you want to live, or do you not want to live?”
“...”
Cartro closed his mouth and looked around at the others.
He saw Kshana and the remaining club members with stiff expressions.
They hadn’t known the circumstances, so it was natural for them to side with Ban Yuwon, but how could they be calm when so many of those with whom they shared a sense of camaraderie as special admissions students for so long had died?
He closed his eyes.
Keeping loyalty to his comrades was an easy choice.
All he had to do was give up the life he hadn’t been able to surrender years ago.
In the ashes that remained after burning white-hot, there seemed to be no hope left.
But....
“Stonemason senior...”
He opened his eyes at someone’s voice.
They were hostages.
Even understanding Ban Yuwon’s malicious intent, he couldn't pretend not to once he had opened his eyes.
Cartro El Fassis let out a heavy sigh—and took Ban Yuwon’s hand.
“Save me first, Junior. The others can come after.”
“Okay.”
With the contract complete, Cartro returned to being Stonemason.
However, someone appeared beside Ban Yuwon, who was smiling triumphantly.
“How long are you going to just play around inside? You got so lazy just because you created a new martial art. Hurry up and follow me.”
“Huh? Yeon, wait a minute, right now something really im—!”
Ban Yuwon’s figure vanished from that spot.
As they stared blankly at the space where he had disappeared, Rucell, the only remaining member of Rebellion, sighed and clapped her hands.
“Alright, let’s get moving too. It seems like the Exodus forces have mostly been dealt with, so we need to clear out the monsters in this dimension. If the competition ends like this, everyone except the Rebellion members will get a negative evaluation.”
“Th-that’s right!”
“Yeah, we need to prepare!”
At her sharp observation, those who had been rigid snapped back to their senses and began to move.
After giving instructions, Rucell unnecessarily checked a hand mirror and tidied her hair, then cleared her throat and turned to Cartro, smiling brightly as she said,
“Stonemason senior, please rest inside. It suits your concept, so that’s fortunate.”
“...There really isn’t a single easy person here.”
He no longer had the energy to argue, so he slumped back down where he was.
That he had been slightly charmed by her smile was a secret.
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