I got into school for nothing-Chapter 312
I got into school for nothing (312)
Lesson 61. The Innocent Sinner - 2
Delivering the finishing blow is an incredibly delicate concept.
Among the ancient sayings passed down through generations, is there not a famous adage that states, "It's not over until the experience points are acquired"?
While one should, of course, refrain from the shameless act of merely dipping one's spoon into something already dead, it is the task of the one delivering the finishing blow to accurately calculate damage and sever the enemy's remaining life force in a single strike.
So, what exactly was the point?
“Well, look at this...?”
The Constellation’s experience points... no, rather, its concept had not been secured.
Kicking off the ground, Ban Yuwon imbued his own body with the concepts of levitation and flight, then layered on wind using the concept of 'Divine Wind,' elegantly soaring upwards before charging towards the block of ice suspended in the air.
“You’ve been through a lot, Won.”
“Yeon, you too. Are your injuries okay?”
“They’ve healed. Thanks to you... But, that thing.”
The black-aurad sword in Dokgo Yeon’s hand, though it had faded, had not yet disappeared.
She, too, instinctively sensed that the Constellation was not yet finished.
“It’s fine. Rest.”
“But, Won...”
“It’s all over. It’s just holding on. I’ll finish it.”
Though she appeared composed on the surface, Ban Yuwon, knowing that Dokgo Yeon was utterly exhausted, somewhat forcefully sent her down, then approached the block of ice and placed his hand on it.
He attempted to analyze its state using his Giwon Sword style, but it was certainly no easy feat.
“Somehow, if I break this ice, it feels like it’ll pop out perfectly fine.”
—Constellations cannot be destroyed. That their true form manifested is truly beyond imagination, but ultimately, unless the thread connecting them to the source of their immortality is severed, they cannot be killed.
Cellon spoke in a serious tone.
In truth, she too had been dumbfounded by the awe-inspiring might of the Follower of Ten Thousand Kalpas, Dokgo Yeon’s sword energy suppressing it head-on, and furthermore, Ban Yuwon’s technique that completely froze the creature; but now, with a worry even greater than that, her voice naturally grew rigid.
“The thread connecting to the source. What is the source?”
Half-expecting the answer somewhat, Ban Yuwon asked.
Not only considering what they had experienced since coming to Prominence, but also considering what was currently happening on a cosmic scale, it was clear what that source referred to.
Cellon sighed and replied.
—It’s exactly where you’re thinking.
“Right.”
He felt the causal relationship invert.
Perhaps immortality was not a symbol of their prestige, but something else... for example, a prison they desperately wished to 'escape,' or perhaps shackles.
But, in any case.
Unless he was going to carry this around in his inventory indefinitely, and to contend with other Constellations in the future, Ban Yuwon needed to find a way to finish off the creature now.
—I... will burn you...!
A low growling voice echoed in Ban Yuwon’s mind.
If it could perceive the outside from within and speak, then surely he could perceive and analyze the inside from without.
Ban Yuwon mobilized everything he could bring forth.
To resonate even slightly with the creature, he channeled the Constellation’s Stigma with a depth of 350.
As it was for suppressing a Constellation, he channeled the Starlight with a depth of 100.
Paying a price to bolster the power of his Authority in this very moment, he channeled Changeling with a depth of 2,010... no, rather, Sorcery.
Among his innate Authorities, the most exceptional, capable of reading everything and analyzing it as language concepts to absorb, the All-Seeing Eye with a depth of 600.
Binding and sublimating all of that, he manifested it through his Giwon Sword style with a depth of 1,335.
—I will show no mercy. I will rip your body to shreds and feed it to the sister you love. I will make your charred ashes a blanket for her to sleep under!
He saw it.
Crushed by Dokgo Yeon’s death and Ban Yuwon’s god-killing, faded to the point of near-transparency, the creature’s divinity... the trace of a star.
Clinging to it was also a supreme concept.
Just as Cellon had said, he could perceive that it was connected to something from another dimension by an Authority that Ban Yuwon, as he was now, could not even dare to conceive of.
Since it was a language he couldn’t understand, he wouldn’t be able to absorb it; accepting that fact as somehow natural—Ban Yuwon manifested his Authority with all his might.
Severing the thread that maintained the Constellation’s immortality, he absorbed everything that made the creature a Constellation.
[Absorbing 500 Constellation’s Stigma. The depth of Constellation’s Stigma within the body has reached 600.]
Since the Constellation’s Stigma he originally possessed was 350, simply adding them would make it 850, but it was natural that it became harder to raise the value as the depth increased.
Many other things flowed in as well.
All the miscellaneous fire concepts the Constellation possessed merged under the supreme concept of 'Crimson Flame,' eventually raising the depth of Crimson Flame to 2,000, and perhaps simply by absorbing a large amount of Constellation’s Stigma, his soul’s standing had elevated, as the depth of his soul also surged dramatically again.
—...Huh?
Of course, the greatest change occurred in the Constellation.
With a whoosh, a final great flame flared up once, vaporizing all the liquid metal and blocks of ice that had restrained the creature, and something in human form, appearing like a half-burnt lump of charcoal... looked up at him, filled with bewilderment.
—Am... I dying?
It was an utterly preposterous statement.
Had it thought this impossible?
More than fear or anger at the approaching death, surprise and bewilderment seemed greater.
—To be... freed like this. I didn’t wish for it, but this isn’t bad either...
“Freed?”
Something he had vaguely anticipated.
But Ban Yuwon found himself questioning the words he hadn’t wanted to hear.
However, the Constellation did not answer his question; instead, it looked down at its own body, which had turned to ash and begun to scatter little by little... and astonishingly, bowed its head towards Ban Yuwon.
—Thank you, I’m sorry... I just wanted to be free. The flame your sister possessed... I needed it. This time, I thought I could finally burn XX-nim away...
“XX-nim?”
It wasn’t that Ban Yuwon’s All-Hearing Ear had broken and couldn’t hear it, but rather, it felt like something close to an Authority had blocked his interpretation.
But once he had heard it, if he focused his Authority to interpret it, he would surely be able to figure it out someday.
—I’ll go now, I’m sorry.
Though just three minutes ago it had raged like a madman, spouting nonsense, the Constellation, Follower of Ten Thousand Kalpas, who suddenly seemed incredibly relieved and bid farewell, finally completely vanished.
Along with vast eons, an immense amount of text, which he had never even dared to dream of, burst forth and was absorbed into his entire body.
[You have read, analyzed, and neutralized an inscrutable enemy. The depth of All-Seeing Eye, All-Hearing Ear, and All-Speaking Tongue has reached 700.]
[Successfully subjugating the inscrutable enemy, residual concepts are absorbed. The depth of Life has reached 1,950, the depth of Wonshin has reached 1,500, the depth of Won-gi has reached 1,650, and the depth of Soul has reached 2,200.]
While the Authorities that had played a significant role grew, and the four core concepts were amplified yet again, making him a powerhouse nearing Level 200 according to the system in an instant, Ban Yuwon could not simply rejoice.
Feeling an immense sense of unease and vague anxiety, he realized something was falling from the spot where all concepts had vanished, and reached out to grasp it...
‘A small pendant, like...?!’
The moment he confirmed its identity, he shoved it deep into his inventory, ensuring no one would see it.
His pupils trembled uncontrollably.
He had surely been thoroughly taught by Dokgo Yeon, through rote education, that he must perfectly control his body at all times, yet he simply couldn’t control his trembling body.
“Master?”
Rucell, who would be second to none in noticing his abnormalities, urgently flew up and checked his condition.
“You, you should rest, Master. You’re sweating profusely. Hop on my back, I’ll immediately...”
“No, no, Rucell. We need to go to Union. It must be chaotic there.”
“But, Master—”
“Rucell.”
At Ban Yuwon’s low voice, Rucell’s body stiffened.
“I’m fine, I’ll recover if I rest on the way. The situation is urgent right now, you know?”
“If Master says so... I understand, but...”
However, the next moment, Rucell, as if this was the one thing she couldn’t concede, raised a single finger before Ban Yuwon and said.
“You must rest your head on my lap on the way.”
“Alright.”
Ban Yuwon gave a wry smile and nodded, taking Rucell and descending back to the ground. He saw her making eye contact with Dokgo Yeon, and as he glanced at them, the two, as if on cue, turned their heads in different directions.
...Had they fought in the meantime?
“Ban Yuwon!”
Ban Yuwon wanted to ask about their eye contact, but before he could, Ban Yumi flew over, leapt up, and tackled him from above.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but her lips looked glossy.
“You bastard, do you have two hearts? Are you Park Ji-sung?! Why do you always try to do all the dangerous things by yourself, you son of a bitch!”
“Yumi, you’re about to become the head of a family; how can you use such vulgar language?”
“Still, Mom, just looking at what this bastard did today, it looks like he’s always going to end up dying protecting heavy burdens!”
“Yumi, you were one of those burdens.”
“Ugh...”
At the heavy truth thrown by her mother, Ban Yumi couldn’t retort and sank into silence.
“Yuwon-niiiiiiiiim!”
“Young Master! Today was truly amazing! Aaaaamazing...”
“Just a moment, excuse me.”
In the meantime, Anneri and Kiira roughly pushed her aside and tried to cling to Ban Yuwon, wanting to catch up, but someone stepped forward to block them before Rucell could even say anything... and surprisingly, it was Shati.
“I know you all have a lot to talk about, but the current situation is unfortunate. Let’s save the after-party for later; we need to return to Union first.”
“No, it’s only just finished...”
“I apologize, but for now we... Junior Yuwon also needs to be at Union.”
Shati, who instantly realized who held the real power, asked for understanding from Anneri and Kang Eunyoung, and gathered the party.
“Yes, yes... I understand, we’ll return immediately.”
Perhaps she was communicating in real-time with one of the academy’s full professors, as her student ID card was vibrating... It was probably Campanella, Mira’s department professor who supported the student council.
While direct communication between individuals usually wasn’t possible with standard student ID cards, he had heard that the student council and their supporting professors had special permission to communicate.
“Everyone, listen up.”
After finishing the call, she looked at her companions, especially Ban Yuwon, and spoke.
“First, it seems the situation at Union Academy has been stabilized. It was a terrorist attack orchestrated by Exodus simultaneously inside and outside the Tower, but fortunately, the Chancellor reportedly suppressed it in time. Professor Yumina is also said to be safe. Due to an issue with the Union Net, the Mirror is currently unresponsive, though.”
“That’s a relief.”
No wonder the Mirror had been unresponsive since earlier; he hadn’t been able to contact Yumina even when he tried.
The issue with the Union Net was likely because the Tower, which managed the Union Net’s communication network, had encountered a problem.
Despite that, the student ID card still functioning was probably because not only the Tower but also the Chancellor’s ability had been added to it...
“Our head of planning, your face is a mess, isn’t it? Are you that worried about Professor Yumina? I told you she’s fine.”
“No, it’s not that... Never mind. President, your face is too close.”
“You were so cool today, I just wanted to check if you were really the head of planning I know... Ah, I’m sorry, no, everyone. It’s not me! Rest assured and compete amongst yourselves!”
Having achieved significant growth, Ban Yuwon, who had read Shati’s emotions in that brief moment, gave a wry smile, and looking at the members of the Rebel Force who still wanted to cling to him, he spoke.
“Once this situation is sorted out, I’ll make time to visit you.”
“No, are you really leaving like this?”
Ban Yumi, who wanted to share the joy of the victory she had achieved with her brother, looked at Ban Yuwon with an incredulous expression, but she must have known well that her ‘all’ was merely a ‘part’ to her brother.
“Anyone would think you’re abandoning me.”
“You *are* abandoning me, aren’t you...?”
“You crazy family head, go sort out the chaos within Prominence, okay?”
Kiira semi-forcibly dragged Ban Yumi, who was whimpering like an abandoned puppy.
Just as she said, having lost its full power and with the family head even changing, they needed to focus on resolving the situation in Prominence, which had reached the peak of chaos.
The new family head, who should have been more trustworthy than anyone, couldn’t possibly have her crying and wailing over one man broadcast live, and Ban Yumi knew that.
“I know, I know. It’s just... if Ban Yuwon hadn’t been here, all of this would have gone to waste, wouldn’t it?”
“We can arrange a suitable position later. Yuwon is also a Prominence, after all.”
“Ah, right. That’s true. Of course.”
Watching Ban Yumi finally calm down at her mother Kang Eunyoung’s words, Ban Yuwon also had an epiphany.
Perhaps Ban Yumi was afraid of losing the connection that tied her to Ban Yuwon.
In that she immediately caught on and said the words she desired, his mother was indeed great.
“Then I’ll really be going now. Your Majesty, you’ve also been through a lot. I’ll make you a spaceship, so please return safely to Fairytale.”
“Make... a spaceship...?”
At the mention of creating a highly advanced spaceship capable of crossing dimensional walls on the spot, some were astonished, but he was actually referring to a clone of Lilyth.
“We all had fun~~ The fairies also got a proper level-up this time.”
“Ah, level up. Yes.”
Of course, as a higher dimension, it would have a system.
At her words, an idea suddenly struck him, and he looked back at the Rebellion members, including the honorary members... Indeed, though not as much as he, who had directly absorbed concepts, due to repeatedly fighting powerful enemies and finally defeating a Constellation, all the members had grown incomparably stronger than before.
Especially Dokgo Yeon... he thought he had finally caught up, but felt her pull away again, which was preposterous.
Of course, as someone who had directly confronted a Constellation, it was natural for her to grow significantly.
“It’s alright, Won.”
Dokgo Yeon, discerning the meaning in his gaze, smiled elegantly and comforted him.
“The gap has certainly narrowed, hasn’t it? Someday we’ll be equals, and someday you’ll surpass me.”
“Definitely.”
“Though I won’t let myself be caught easily.”
As the two looked at each other and smiled, Asha, her cheeks puffed out, interrupted and clung to Ban Yuwon’s neck.
“Yuwon, what about me? How was I today?”
“Your Dragon Breath was amazing.”
“Right?”
“Master, don’t forget your promise earlier, okay?”
“Of course.”
“A kiss...”
“...Aire?”
“Just a moment.”
As he exchanged a few words with the members, a voice from behind stopped Ban Yuwon, who was about to board the spaceship.
Still wearing her tightly fitting leather outfit today, it was the kunoichi, Anneri.
“Anneri, thank you very much. I’ll properly compensate you at the after-party...”
“I’m curious what the compensation will be, but more than that, there’s something I want to tell you right now.”
“What is it?”
Anneri, who seemed to hesitate for a moment, whispered into his ear.
“If you ever want to desert, just tell me. It’s my specialty, after all.”
“No wonder you were so strong.”
Ban Yuwon nodded, subtly impressed by her words, yet firmly rejected her proposal itself.
“I can’t desert. Because it’s mine.”
“As expected, Yuwon-nim’s scale is truly extraordinary. That’s why I’m a fan.”
Anneri, who retreated, seemingly satisfied with his answer, winked and said.
“Now that Yumi’s been taken care of, call me anytime. I’ll follow you to hell at a 90% discounted price.”
“Thank you... Senior.”
“I told you, I deserted.”
Ban Yuwon, who waved goodbye to Anneri and the others, finally boarded the spaceship.
[What about the coordinates! Should we just go to Union?]
“No, Professor Campanella said that Union is currently in chaos, so it would be better to go to the dimensional ship that Union possesses for now. Everyone is there right now, she said.”
“No way, is a dimensional ship that big?”
“It’s only called a dimensional ship as a convenience; it’s practically an independent, moving dimension itself. To enter a dimensional ship, you often have to cross a dimensional wall. What you saw before was merely the tip of the iceberg.”
Even though he had just completely annihilated a Constellation, thinking about Union Academy’s stature, which seemed to have no bottom, made his head spin.
Towards Ban Yuwon, who shook his head and sat in his seat, Rucell, who quickly sat next to him, patted her lap.
“I get it, I get it.”
“Hee hee.”
“Foxy girl...”
Someone quietly muttered, but unfortunately, it was something anyone could say, so it was impossible to pinpoint who.
Lilyth entered the dimensional wall, following the coordinates Shati had input... As they sped along the path of the dimensional wall, which was intertwined like chaotic circuits, Mira suddenly spoke.
“By the way, Shati, does Professor Campanella have control over the dimensional ship?”
“Oh, come on, only the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor have that.”
“Would the Chancellor be on the dimensional ship?”
“Well, wouldn’t he be busy controlling the Tower?”
The two exchanged glances in mid-air for a moment.
“Wait a minute, Shati. I’m feeling a bit uneasy. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something feels subtly off.”
“What a coincidence... I feel the same. The timing is too perfect, isn’t it? Hold on, Lilyth. Could you stop?”
[Oh dear, if both of you keep throwing out such flags, what will happen? But the genius spaceship pilot Lilyth, prepared for all situations, equipped with abrupt stop and rapid acceleration functions, and even capable of boldly reversing just before breaking through a dimensional wall... Huh?]
Lilyth prided herself on having more excellent functions than any other spaceship of this era, but unfortunately, as long as she remained within the realm of spaceships, there was something she could never overcome.
[Huh, what is this. Why is the dimensional wall acting on its own... Huh? H-huh?]
It was none other than a moving dimension, a dimensional ship.
The spaceship, which had been speeding through the dimensional wall just moments before, was suddenly flung into a vast space.
And something was looking down upon them.
To Ban Yuwon, it looked like destruction.
“Shhh-shisss.”
It was as if it was saying, "I knew that damned woman would pull something like this eventually."
Though I agreed, it was infuriating that I couldn't even nod my head, suppressed by the enemy's overwhelming presence.
The enemy's name was Zenon, the Vice Principal of Union Academy and a transcendent who wielded annihilation.
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