I got into school for nothing - Chapter 31
I got into school for nothing (31)
Lesson 8. This Skill Is Mine - 1
While Ban Yuwon had personally experienced it during his date with Rucell on Saturday, the recording of video footage inside the Tower was truly an enormous event.
No matter that the Tower changed everything upon each entry, the invaluable aid that vivid video footage of its interior could provide was simply beyond words.
The Academy officials, who had been murmuring restlessly from the moment Ban Yuwon entered the Tower with his camera, were practically frothing at the mouth upon seeing him upload the well-edited exploration footage of the Tower.
—To the extent that they were more passionate about this than about capturing the Tower's intruder.
“So...”
Sunday evening.
Nine professors sat around a round table barely large enough for ten people.
“Did you propose this meeting, Professor Cantone, after even prematurely suspending the search operation?”
“Of course, Professor Yumina. While the Tower’s intruder is, after all, merely an individual, the Tower's footage undoubtedly transcends that category, wouldn’t you agree?”
At the words of Professor Cantone, famed for his oily tone, smirking eyes, and the perfectly matching sly intentions he harbored, Yumina merely snorted.
“Everyone knows the intruder is part of a group, so how can you call them an individual? Furthermore, the Tower's footage itself falls squarely within the realm of personal affairs, so I fail to grasp the meaning behind your words.”
“Professor Yumina, even your lies are beautiful. Your affection for your student is truly....”
“Just shut up. Nobody here came to admire the length of your tongue.”
Cantone's words, about to stretch on, were forcefully cut short by a small, silver-haired woman with a bob.
She was Thalia Liliana Campanella, professor of the Artifact Production Department, the Academy's only minority division.
Having silenced Cantone, she shot a sharp gaze at Yumina and pressed her for answers.
“Yumina, the search operation was just a sham anyway. So stop being angry and explain it to me. What exactly is that kid?”
“Thalia, not you too.”
“It is indeed something that requires an explanation.”
If Yumina was in charge of Magical Combat, then naturally, there should be an opposing discipline.
The man who had just spoken was Lyu Cheolmyeong, Professor of Aura Combat.
While 'Aura' sounded grand, all students who fought by infusing their weapons with Gi and mana received their training from this man.
Magic was an outstanding skill, but it demanded considerable talent, meaning the number of students pursuing it was proportionally small. Consequently, in a gathering of professors, Lyu Cheolmyeong's influence carried a bit more weight than Yumina's.
“This isn’t something we can simply cover up just because he’s Professor Yumina’s student. The Tower is the very core of our Academy. A mere student has trespassed upon its authority. This cannot be tolerated.”
“Professor Lyu Cheolmyeong, your words are a bit peculiar. The only reason no one has ever filmed the Tower until now is simply that they lacked the ability. What we should be discussing now is how to utilize that student’s abilities to benefit the Academy....”
“So what *is* the skill?!”
Given the extraordinary nature of the situation, the professors’ excitement was immense.
Of the nine full professors gathered here, even Yumina, who had lived for 500 years, was considered among the youngest.
As such, they rarely got agitated over trivial matters. However, with Ban Yuwon having caused the Academy’s first major incident since its founding, they were all losing their composure and acting wildly, completely unbecoming of their age.
“Silence, everyone.”
But the moment a young man's voice echoed, the clamoring professors all fell silent.
He was Professor Zenon, in charge of a senior-exclusive course with a cryptic title, 'Babylon and Constellations,' which was hard to grasp at first listen.
He was also the Academy’s sole vice-chancellor.
“First, let us be clear: we, the professors, cannot force anything upon that student.”
“But, Vice-Chancellor.”
“This is a matter that will not change for any reason.”
The professors who had intended to argue with him fell silent, unable to utter a peep against his resolute tone.
The Vice-Chancellor's will was, in effect, the Chancellor’s will.
No matter how much the professors deliberated amongst themselves, if the Chancellor did not grant approval, it would all be for naught.
“I will permit individual requests. However, if it is discovered that any party involved pressured the student excessively or placed them at a disadvantage during that process, all implicated individuals should be prepared for expulsion.”
“Of course, Vice-Chancellor, none of us would suppress a student whom the Academy is meant to protect and educate. But if that student refuses to listen to anyone... wouldn’t that create quite a troublesome situation?”
Cantone reiterated.
It was clear he thoroughly disliked Ban Yuwon.
“We are not the only ones paying attention to that student. Other students... especially the scions of the Ten Great Families, will stop at nothing to get what they want.”
“That’s right. It would be safer for the student to share his skill and allow everyone to use it! In return, we could grant that student a few artifacts....”
The way they exchanged glances with another professor, smoothly continuing each other's sentences, suggested they had already formed a faction even before the meeting began.
What would the students think if they saw them now? Yumina was simply dumbfounded.
“It seems you two haven’t quite grasped what I said.”
Zenon said in a stiff voice.
“I explicitly stated, ‘all implicated individuals will be expelled.’ That, of course, includes students as well.”
“...Excuse me?”
“No, Vice-Chancellor. You must be joking?”
“He is a mere commoner who has caused nothing but unprecedented disruptions since his admission. Are you saying you intend to incur the displeasure of the Ten Great Families to protect him?”
The majority of the professors wore expressions of utter disbelief at his words.
Lyu Cheolmyeong, in particular, was openly disparaging Ban Yuwon, challenging him vehemently.
One might wonder why they had unanimously approved Ban Yuwon’s admission during his evaluation, but among those who had voted in favor, there were quite a few who harbored intentions of merely seizing his useful skills for themselves.
The true intentions of such individuals were now being laid bare.
“You people, I’ve listened and listened, but to the student under my charge, you truly...!”
Just as the thoroughly incensed Yumina was about to finally leap from her seat, Zenon extended a hand to stop her.
He looked down at the professors who had just spoken with icy eyes.
“Were the years you’ve accumulated, spent pursuing wisdom and knowledge, truly so light? ...Professor Campanella?”
“Yes, yes!”
Professor Campanella, who harbored a secret crush on Zenon — and whose specialty, consequently, was falling silent the moment he began to speak — replied with a shrill voice at the sudden address.
“I understand you are conducting research related to using machines inside the Tower.”
“That’s right! I’ve been dedicated solely to that for about 200 years...!”
Artifacts are generally said to fall into two categories.
Natural artifacts, born spontaneously under special environments and conditions.
And artificial artifacts, created by humans who, after thoroughly analyzing and researching natural ones, artificially assembled the necessary environments, conditions, and materials.
While some argue that the mana-powered machines actively produced and sold outside should also be classified as artificial artifacts, such a notion is foolish.
How could the miraculous byproducts born from humanity's pursuit of divinity
Possibly be equated with mere mass-produced items created by humans seeking substitutes for their own hands and feet?
These two are inherently different in structure, and that difference determines whether they function within dungeons and the Tower.
However, this did not mean that those who crafted artifacts looked down on machines; quite the contrary.
“After all, it’s difficult for artifacts to produce intended results, especially something like recording...! So, I’ve been trying to modify machines to make them function in dungeons.”
“I believe you’ve had some success.”
“Of course! Machines break down in the Tower and dungeons because their complex structures can’t withstand mana fluctuations and eventually overload. So, I try to simplify the structure as much as possible, add materials that aid mana circulation, and also, each time a human hand touches it, synchronize it with that human’s magic power to delay overload as much as possible....”
Just like an otaku enthusiastically elaborating on their niche when questioned by someone they like, she continued speaking with fervor.
But the stern Zenon had no intention of listening to her through to the end.
“Yet, you’ve never succeeded with recording, have you? Am I wrong?”
“No, Professor Zenon, you’re right. I’ve certainly managed about five minutes of video recording and even backup in dungeons, but if I bring the exact same model into the Tower, it breaks down before I can even properly turn it on....”
Campanella instantly became crestfallen.
However, upon hearing her words, the professors finally sensed something amiss.
“It worked in the dungeon, but not in the Tower...?”
“Other things worked, though?”
“Yes, things like the mana bombs that appeared in Ban Yuwon’s video could be stored by completely blocking their magic power and then detonated somehow, but recording itself was utterly impossible....”
This was precisely why Campanella was reacting so vehemently to this incident.
Had he not been Yumina’s student and her friend, she might have already run to his dorm and clung to Ban Yuwon’s pant leg by now.
“No, but if that’s the case, then it’s almost as if....”
“What is special is not his skill.”
As if to rein in the professors who had begun to murmur again, Zenon boldly declared.
Immediately afterward, he turned to Yumina and Campanella and added.
“Of course, it’s already been confirmed that he possesses an innate talent for creating artifacts, but the crucial point is that it’s not just that.”
“Vice-Chancellor, then what is it, exactly?”
“He is receiving the Tower’s recognition. Uniquely.”
A categorical statement.
Under the weight of his words, the professors groaned.
“He’s a student who entered the Tower for the very first time just the day before yesterday. To say he’s received the Tower’s recognition... even if you say such an unprecedented thing...”
“I hear he’s from a lower-rank dimension that had no mana. For such a person to receive the Tower’s recognition? Even for you, Vice-Chancellor, those words are excessive this time.”
“I would venture to say it’s simply a lack in Professor Campanella’s research.”
Yumina noted down the names of the professors, including Cantone and Lyu Cheolmyeong, in her mental notebook.
A day would come when those insolent wretches would pay the price for their wagging tongues, absolutely!
“Whether you believe my words or not is your choice, but I will preemptively declare that even if you were to extract his skill, it would be utterly meaningless.”
With those words, Zenon swept his gaze over each of the professors.
Only now did everyone understand why this absurd meeting had been convened.
This meeting was not meant to discuss Ban Yuwon’s skills or to devise how the Academy might utilize them.
It was simply a platform the Chancellor had arranged to issue a stern warning: anyone who dared to provoke Ban Yuwon in the future should be prepared for the consequences!
‘The situation is good. It seems the Chancellor truly took a liking to Ban Yuwon...! What with talk of him receiving the Tower’s recognition, perhaps Ban Yuwon truly is the Tower’s....’
Now that things had come to this, at the very least, no one would dare openly mock or belittle Ban Yuwon in the future.
It was then, as Yumina breathed a sigh of relief, that he spoke.
“And Professor Yumina.”
“Yes, Vice-Chancellor.”
“Is it true that Ban Yuwon received a Constellation’s choice?”
“What did you say?!”
The room erupted once more.
As Yumina herself had told Ban Yuwon, no one had ever received a Constellation’s approach on their first day entering the Tower.
However, Yumina, being in a position where she wished to conceal this, showed a troubled expression.
“To speak of the personal achievements or abilities of a student under my charge is a bit....”
“I am a professor who teaches students chosen by Constellations. If Ban Yuwon was chosen by a Constellation, then he is also my student. Simply informing me whether a contract was made is sufficient.”
“...Ban Yuwon did not form a contract with a Constellation.”
She did not lie.
The professors all understood the subtle nuance, and knowing that she wouldn’t lie about such a matter, they were collectively plunged into silent astonishment.
“So he refused, then. It must have been difficult to clearly express his will in the face of a Constellation’s overwhelming presence.”
Yumina, who didn’t wish to elaborate, tried to gloss over it with a vague smile, but Zenon, perhaps having read something from her, simply nodded.
“Understood. In that case, Ban Yuwon... no, it would be best for all students in Class 11 to attend my lecture.”
“What? No, wait, Vice-Chancellor!”
Yumina cried out in a fluster.
“None of the students in my class have contracted with a Constellation!”
“Professor Yumina, what’s important isn’t whether they contracted with a Constellation. What’s important is whether they received a Constellation’s choice.”
At Zenon’s words, the other professors unconsciously nodded, only to realize anew whom he was referring to, and their sudden straightening of expressions was quite amusing.
“Simply being chosen by a Constellation is proof of exceptional ability. And once someone gains a Constellation’s interest, the attention of other Constellations also converges on them. In fact, having refused a Constellation once makes them even more appealing. And such students are precisely those who should attend my lecture. The remaining students who were present also qualify.”
“Ugh....”
Yumina didn’t particularly care if Ban Yuwon attended other full professors’ classes, but the thought of him attending Zenon’s lecture made her feel as though he was being stolen from her, stirring anxiety within her.
As if to fuel her unease, Zenon smiled contentedly (Campanella fainted.) and declared.
“Then, this concludes our meeting. I wish you all a good end to your weekend.”
First, Zenon vanished from his seat.
The professors who had remained neutral throughout the meeting disappeared next.
Lyu Cheolmyeong stared pointedly at Yumina before vanishing.
“Professor Yumina, I am always impressed by your affection for your students, but I wonder if this time it wasn’t a little excessive....”
“Thalia, snap out of it. If you sleep here, your mouth will twist.”
“Uh, uh-huh.”
“....”
Cantone, as annoyingly as ever, approached, uttering unpleasant remarks, but Yumina neatly ignored him, woke Campanella, and vanished with her from the spot.
“Haha, he’s been snubbed again. Professor Cantone, shall we go for a drink at the bar?”
“...Tsk!”
Thus, all the professors left their seats.
As the round table stood alone, bathed in moonlight streaming through the window, a crack appeared in its center, then it split open wide to reveal a colossal eye.
—Those who fail to grasp the Academy’s purpose, who are consumed by envy and engage in clandestine struggles, who seek to suppress and bring down those who rightfully deserve qualification.
A voice murmured softly.
Soon, the eye gently tilted, fixing its gaze upon the Tower visible outside the window.
—Is it time for another cleansing? ...No, it would be fine to observe for a while, relying on that child’s ability.
The eye closed.
Only the moonlight, left alone in the meeting room, ethereally dyed the darkness.
* * *
And the next day, Monday.
“You’re Ban Yuwon, right? I... I’m Mirrei Ordena, from the dimension called Hato!”
“Do you have time around lunch? Yeah, I’m asking you out on a date right now....”
“Ban Yuwon? Are you aware of the Academy’s Student Council? I am Graham, the Student Council secretary. I came here to invite you to join the Student Council.”
“Wh-what in the world is going on?”
Ban Yuwon entered the peak of his life.
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