I got into school for nothing - Chapter 278
I got into school for nothing (278)
Lesson 54. Things You Shouldn't Touch – 3
The Dark Magic Soldiers, now under Shati's command, were to disguise themselves as a dimension mercenary group and head to the A-1 Dimension.
With the contract she inherited from the Demon King, she could control them perfectly. Even if they were to go berserk, overcome by the ferocious nature of Blood Magic, they would only harm themselves, never others.
“Seriously, do Iblis just put leashes on their subordinates by default? Don’t they rebel?”
On the way back, inside the spaceship.
Ban Yuwon asked, dumbfounded, watching Shati contentedly roll a black shield-shaped miniature in her hand—a symbol of her control over the Dark Magic Soldiers.
But Shati shrugged and replied,
“Planning Manager, think of it the other way around. How could we trust and simply use guys whose Blood Magic might rampage and cause insubordination at any moment? The Iblis developed contract magic precisely to minimize damage by strictly enforcing these hierarchical relationships.”
He understood that they developed contract magic to prevent their system from collapsing because they were a race born with a ferocious nature.
But considering the Demon King’s barbarity today, senselessly sacrificing subordinates held by the leash of contract magic due to their innate ferocity, there was nothing he could say.
“They say the Demon King managed to suppress his Blood Magic thanks to someone named Cheonma.”
“It won’t be forever.”
Dokgo Yeon, who had now fully regained her composure, guessed Shati’s intention as the latter kept glancing at her, and answered firmly.
“Nor is it something that can be resolved with martial arts.”
“Hmph...”
Despite having flared up in anger when the Demon King revealed his covetousness for the martial arts of Dokgo Yeon’s home dimension, it seemed Shati was still secretly concerned about the possibility, because he was family.
Indeed, after fighting Mumyeong, he had shown a somewhat more human-like demeanor... so it was only natural to think there might be a chance.
However, Dokgo Yeon shook her head with extreme calm.
“Martial arts that acquire blood energy later in life are called demonic arts because they involve a terrible process of forsaking human morality and twisting both body and mind. To abolish this and restore the body to its original state, one must completely remove all the energy and realign the balance of a twisted body and soul. It’s uncertain if they would even survive, and even if they did, they would be no better than a wreck. If this is the case for those who acquired blood energy later, what about a race innately born with it?”
“But the Demon King...”
“Therefore, to overcome it, one requires enlightenment and a realm beyond simple martial arts training. It would be possible if one overcomes the limits of their energy and reaches the realm of ascent in both body and mind. The sect master merely imprinted a clue to that realm of ascent onto the Demon King’s body. Of course, if the Demon King is satisfied with his current state and does not delve into the realm of ascent, even the slight suppressive effect he currently has will quickly vanish.”
Ban Yuwon listened to Dokgo Yeon’s explanation, filled with admiration.
Even with his Babylonia Code, which allowed him to perceive concepts, he couldn’t read anything beyond the restrictions placed on the Demon King, yet Dokgo Yeon had seemingly read more than that.
Perhaps it was because she knew Mumyeong’s methods so well after spending a long time with him, but this incident made him realize anew:
One should not simply accept concepts as they appear to the eye.
“Is that it, like the ‘Can you keep up?’ line often seen in comics?”
“The feeling is similar, but... why did you turn your back and then look back when you said that?”
Unlike the journey there, the return trip was incredibly peaceful.
The party’s spaceship quietly landed at the Union Academy backyard’s spaceship docking station during the unnoticed early morning hours, and Professor Yumina, who was waiting as if it were only natural, welcomed them—or rather, Ban Yuwon—with a radiant smile.
“Professor Yumina— nghph.”
“You’ve really suffered a lot! Oh my, your face has become so thin; perhaps the air of the demon realm wasn’t good for humans?”
“Isn’t it more likely because Professor is burying Yuwon’s face halfway into her chest?”
As Asha, speaking with a straight face beside her, reacted to Yumina hugging Yuwon and refusing to let go in front of everyone, Dokgo Yeon suddenly spoke up.
“Professor, was it you who told others about our special activity?”
“Yes! We couldn’t take no measures when you were going to a dangerous place like the A-4 Dimension. Fortunately, Mr. Mumyeong gladly supported us both last time and this time...”
“Last time too.”
Dokgo Yeon muttered, pulling Ban Yuwon out from where he was buried in Yumina’s chest, on the verge of suffocating.
On the way back in the spaceship, he had roughly explained the events of his meeting with Mumyeong, so she understood why Mumyeong—that is, the Shin-gyo sect master—had followed Rebellion, and how he knew about Rebellion.
However, that understanding was a separate matter from the embarrassment and anger she felt because of it.
“Professor, you must have known he was my father.”
“I didn’t know when he first joined. Though I did think it was wonderful that such a powerful person wanted to become a fan of Rebellion!”
Yumina’s unwavering response, even when facing Dokgo Yeon’s sharp gaze, was truly courageous.
From Yumina’s perspective, she had simply done her best to protect her precious students, and thanks to Mumyeong’s appearance, they had indeed been able to complete their task in Diabolo safely.
But... if that was the case, where was she supposed to vent her anger?
“It would have been better if you had told us.”
“Regardless of the underlying intention, it was your special activity. If possible, wouldn’t it have been best for it to be resolved without my involvement being revealed? Besides, if you had known that Mr. Mumyeong was behind it, would you truly have been able to actively proceed with the special activity from the start?”
Every word was true, which only made her angrier.
Biting her lip tightly in a fit of pique, Dokgo Yeon slapped away Yumina’s hand, which was reaching to pull Ban Yuwon back toward her, as if asking if the questions were over.
Yumina’s two jewel-like eyes widened.
“What?!”
“This person has something to discuss with me. I’m afraid I can’t hand him over.”
“What? But you’ve all been together this whole time, and I’m seeing him after so long...”
Although “after so long” amounted to less than a full day, Yumina’s Ban Yuwon deficiency syndrome was gradually becoming severe enough to be outwardly noticeable. Yet, even seeing this, Dokgo Yeon resolutely took Ban Yuwon’s hand and led him away.
“Won, come with me. You’ll have to explain properly to me.”
“Yes.”
Ban Yuwon meekly followed her, thinking, ‘Just a moment ago she was shy even holding hands, but now she’s completely used to it?’
As soon as their figures disappeared, everyone couldn’t help but admit that Dokgo Yeon was today’s victor.
“I have to write the special activity report with Yuwon, though...”
“Wow, that shameless professor is no match. I should’ve learned something like that instead of martial arts.”
“Ah, I was just watching, enjoying the exhilaration—but come to think of it, Yuwon was taken by that snake-like woman!”
“It’s alright, Mira unnie. Dokgo Yeon is too timid; she won’t be able to make any real progress.”
Yumina, fuming at having Ban Yuwon snatched away right before her eyes; Asha, scoffing at Yumina’s misfortune; Mira, fretting anxiously that Dokgo Yeon and Ban Yuwon might do something inappropriate; and Rucell, acting composed as if it was all within her expectations, even looking a little pleased....
Shati and Aire wore somewhat distant expressions, watching the others, whose culture and customs seemed ten billion light-years removed from their own. Then, Shati suddenly turned her head to Aire and spoke.
“Vice President, after seeing this realm of strife, do you still feel like jumping into the middle of it?”
“Jump into it?”
Aire tilted her head, genuinely puzzled by the question thrown at her.
“I don’t intervene in events. Events merely happen around me.”
“So you’re going to play innocent? While you boast so much about the gift you received from the Planning Manager.”
“Just as there’s no reason for others to interfere in matters between him and me, I merely do the same. What I need from him, I obtain directly. ...Though this time he seemed to have stepped forward first.”
Aire faintly smiled, fiddling with the ice crystal decorating the center of her hairpin.
Shati shook her head repeatedly at Aire’s words, thinking that Aire would have been better suited as Cheonma’s daughter.
‘While this special activity certainly made me realize that my junior is a decent guy—this is still not it. Unless Mira came along as a bonus, then maybe.’
At the point of having such thoughts, she had not yet realized that she herself was already positively contemplating the possibility of a future with Ban Yuwon.
* * *
The special activity, which they had embarked on with considerable resolve, ended up being short in duration, putting aside its arduous content. Thanks to this, the Rebellion members were able to enjoy a relaxed weekend in an academy that had been emptied out by other students performing their own special activities.
—Or so it would have been, but because Dokgo Yeon, who had suddenly had the extremely embarrassing experience of introducing her father to her friends, tried to erase their memories with a thorough beating, they all had to be put through the wringer in the training room all day Saturday.
However, unlike how she would outright try to 'capture' Asha or Rucell, she maintained a dignified, sword-focused teaching method during her sparring with Ban Yuwon. Because of this, everyone realized that she no longer even bothered to hide her affection for Ban Yuwon.
“Hmph, haaaah—”
Asha, who had been sprawled on the floor companionably with Rucell, watching Dokgo Yeon and Ban Yuwon spar, seemed to regain her energy and sat up. Untying her ponytail, she wiped her sweat with a towel and grumbled.
“Look at them, Rucell.”
“Is it because they’ve ‘opened up’ to their parents, or what? They’re just being blatant now. Anyone who saw them would think they were dancing together, not sparring.”
“And how about you, Light, lately?”
“Uh, me?”
Asha, extremely flustered as the question was directed at her, stammered, unable to speak properly.
“What do you mean? I’m doing fine lately? How about you?”
“I’m doing well too, but what I want to talk about right now isn’t basic foreign language conversation. I’m asking about your relationship with Yuwon. You two are roommates, aren’t you?”
Rucell’s expression as she added, “Enviously,” was utterly earnest.
Enough to want to kill Asha and take him if possible.
“Ah—come to think of it, about that issue. I was summoned by the Chancellor this morning and just returned.”
“...Perhaps about your gender?”
“Yeah.”
She had thought from the beginning that it would be impossible to hide it until the end.
Last time, when Aire and the Melodia Family Head borrowed the Rebellion channel to broadcast, Asha’s female gender had even been mentioned.
If so, would Ban Yuwon’s efforts in ordering her to cross-dress be in vain, and would their rooms end up separated?
“You look happy?”
“Not at all. So, what happened?”
“They said we could keep sharing a room until graduation, but just not to make a baby during the semester.”
“Ah... is that so.”
It wasn’t the answer Rucell had hoped for.
She was eager to cooperate in forming a large family centered around Ban Yuwon, and if necessary, even intended to lead the process herself. However, she did not look favorably upon others surpassing her and taking the closest position to Ban Yuwon.
Yet, putting aside the psychological aspect, when considering only physical distance, she couldn’t catch up to Asha, who always shared a room with him. So, despite it going against Ban Yuwon’s wishes, she had thought it would be good if their rooms were separated this time!
“And then... he said something strange.”
“Strange words?”
Asha continued, frowning, seemingly unaware of Rucell’s thoughts.
“He said that ancestral regression due to atavism is an achievement worthy of blessing, but he wished I wouldn’t follow in my ancestors’ footsteps. He said that would obstruct Yuwon’s path...”
“How would the Chancellor know what Yuwon is thinking...?”
“I asked him the same question, and the Chancellor said it was ‘meant to be that way.’”
The two exchanged glances, blinking.
Coincidentally, they were both thinking the same thing, and it was about Aire, not Ban Yuwon.
Because it was probably Aire, not Light, who possessed a similar way of thinking to Light’s ancestors, the True Dragons.
If so, could the Chancellor possibly be hostile towards Aire...?
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