I got into school for nothing - Chapter 32
I got into school for nothing (32)
Lesson 8. This Skill Is Mine - 2
"I have no intention of telling you."
Ban Yuwon blurted the words out quickly, the moment he realized why people were approaching him.
How to record videos inside the Tower? Well, you just need to appropriately combine concepts and create a camera imbued with Ghost (鬼) and Demon (魔).
But if he made that for others, wouldn't the advantage of Rebellion's channel simply vanish?!
‘Besides, there’s no specific crafting skill for it; I’d have to make them myself. Who knows how many people would ask? How could I make them all one by one?’
So, he declared firmly to those who approached him.
The Rebellion channel would remain the one and only!
He hadn't doubted, but...
"I just want to become friends with you... If you don't want to, just say so."
"Huh? Uh... no, it's not that I dislike it, but honestly, we're strangers."
"Precisely because we don't know each other, let's get acquainted! Oh, you have a Mirror, right? Let's exchange contact information. Make sure to save it properly as Yurika, okay?"
"The Student Council is always waiting for talent like you. I am Graham; the time will come when we meet again."
People did not back down.
While Ban Yuwon hesitated, thinking, "This isn't right," over dozens of new codes were registered on his Mirror.
All of this had happened in the short span of eating breakfast.
Only then did Ban Yuwon come to the conclusion that they weren't simply after 'a camera to record inside the Tower,' but something more fundamental.
It was Ban Yuwon himself.
"It must be nice to be so popular, Ban."
"B-but, we're still friends, right...?"
As Light glared from the side, and Rucell asked with an anxious expression.
Only Dokgo Yeon, however, was observing him with an intrigued expression.
No, perhaps she was simply staring at the jar of jam in his hand.
"Honestly, compared to your other abilities, I overlooked this one as nothing particularly special... But seeing people react like this, it seems the items you create are indeed exceptional. Can you protect them?"
"There's nothing to protect, really. Conflicts between students are strictly forbidden, so what, are they going to attack me or something?"
"But you go outside, don't you?"
At Dokgo Yeon's sharp point, Ban Yuwon froze.
"Oh, right?"
Many students had connections outside.
Among the upperclassmen, there were even those who, like Ban Yuwon, had obtained permission to go outside.
If he were attacked in a place beyond the Academy's watchful eyes, it meant there would be no stopping it.
"This has suddenly become a headache. Do I have to be careful for a while?"
At least traveling between dungeons and the school wouldn't be interfered with by others, so perhaps that was a small relief.
He muttered with a grimace, spreading jam on the water cracker Dokgo Yeon held out to him.
For reference, these water crackers were snacks Ban Yuwon had prepared at his own expense.
Every day he had to make sure the members of Class 11, including himself, ate the elixir jam, but there was no guarantee that suitable accompaniments would always be available. So, he'd decided to simply bring crackers.
"Ban Yuwon, there's only half the jam left already."
"It's okay. I've already talked to the fruit store. I can definitely secure enough to make new jam."
"When that time comes, tell me. I shall personally escort you."
If Dokgo Yeon came along, he would be invincible.
Ban Yuwon, having finished offering his tribute to Ms. Dokgo Yeon, who became so gentle before sweets, shared the jam with As Light and Rucell. Then, with a sigh, he bit into his own cracker.
Just then, As Light, who was munching on a jam-smeared cracker, suddenly tapped Ban Yuwon's wrist.
"Ban, your device... that, Mirror."
"Huh? Oh."
The Mirror in his arms was blinking, signaling a message.
It was a message from Yumina, with whom he had personally exchanged codes.
It would have been nice if it was a sweet invitation for a secret meeting, but reality was harsh.
As Light, seeing wrinkles form on his forehead, tilted his head.
"Is it bad news?"
"We have one more lecture we need to attend."
"What?"
The Academy's course structure was similar to universities in Korea.
Once decided before the semester began, it meant it wouldn't change during the semester.
However, there was an exception: lectures hosted by full professors.
They had the right to accept any student they desired into their lectures, even mid-semester.
The new lecture the members of Class 11 had to take was Professor Zenon's ‘Babylon and Constellations’.
It was originally a subject only for upperclassmen, 4th year or higher, but the course title itself already exuded an ominous aura.
"Ban Yuwon, by any chance, you..."
"I didn't leave any evidence. I cut the Room 4 video at the moment the elite monsters were dealt with, you know?"
"Then that woman..."
"Not that either. The Academy apparently found out. Professor Yumina said the Chancellor is the Tower's proxy, so they get to know most things that happen in the Tower..."
"That's unsettling."
"Tell me about it."
But if they found out without anyone telling them, then there was truly nothing they could do.
Ban Yuwon and his companions leaned their shoulders together and examined the lecture overview Yumina had sent... the syllabus.
"Code of conduct to better draw out a Constellation's sponsorship, mindset for contracting more shrewdly with a Constellation, useful knowledge and preparations to avoid a Constellation's wrath, even methods for smoothly switching Constellations."
"Am I the only one who reads this as a methodology for becoming a good con artist?"
At Ban Yuwon's offhand remark, Dokgo Yeon quickly nodded.
"What a coincidence, I feel the same."
"In a way, it also looks like a method for seducing the opposite sex. Even the perfect way to cleverly switch partners at the end..."
"What is this?"
Rucell, who was examining the syllabus, focused her gaze on one particular section.
Perhaps it was a fairly important part of the course, a shimmering hologram in bold text.
"Mock Constellation War...?"
"Are they going to make students fight each other? Moreover, if the opponents are upperclassmen, 4th year or higher... Ban, do we really have to take this lecture?"
"It seems we don't have a right to refuse."
It was a place that liked to manipulate people as it pleased, even without this, wasn't it?
Ban Yuwon had already vaguely resigned himself from the moment the syllabus arrived.
"It's a Tuesday afternoon lecture."
"Tomorrow? Now that you mention it, tomorrow is..."
"That's right."
As Light looked at Ban Yuwon with a peculiar gaze.
Ban Yuwon shrugged his shoulders while drinking the free carbonated water from the student cafeteria.
Since he had naturally imbued it with sweetness (甘味), this carbonated water was now somewhat palatable.
"The day I'm supposed to have a match with that ridiculously huge bastard."
"Perfect timing... *ahem*. Then today, we'll have one-on-one training. As Light, you can go play with the beast."
Dokgo Yeon smiled faintly.
Was it just his imagination, or did she seem to be thoroughly preparing for something?
Originally, Ban Yuwon had intended to clear a few dungeons after school to deepen the concepts he possessed, but seeing her smile, he cleanly gave up on everything.
Somehow, the second week he faced at the Academy didn't seem like it would be peaceful either.
* * *
Another day passed, and when Tuesday arrived, Ban Yuwon had no choice but to admit that he had truly become the Academy's top star.
Immediately, the video channel he had opened on the intranet had reached a point where it seemed every Academy student with a Mirror had subscribed to it without exception.
The external channel, which had surpassed 1 million subscribers just three days ago on Saturday, was now past 2 million and heading towards 3 million.
"Those guys."
"I saw it too. Was that really Room 4?"
"It must be doctored. How could *they*?"
"A human without even basic regeneration abilities? They're an inferior being. Why are such trivial things allowed to strut around?"
His fame could be confirmed even in the gymnasium where the practical combat class, ‘Comprehensive Practical Combat,’ was held.
A deluge of countless prejudices, criticisms, and insults poured from the students of 1st year, Class 1, who comprised the Special Class!
To savor his fame, Ban Yuwon closed his eyes, listened intently, and spoke.
"In my world, there's a saying that your lifespan increases every time you get cursed at."
"You'll live forever then."
Dokgo Yeon scoffed from beside him.
But As Light didn't seem to like it; his eyes wide, he looked around and gritted his teeth.
"Gossiping cowardly from behind, how vulgar they are. Ban, never lose to such trash."
"Ban, f-fighting!"
Rucell, too, gently tugged his sleeve and cheered him on.
Feeling rather proud that he had become quite close with the two, he was about to smile, but Dokgo Yeon, beside him, poured cold water on the moment again.
"After the two of you went out together on the weekend, you're getting along very well, aren't you? Did you like the clothes Ban Yuwon gave you as a gift that much?"
"...Jealous?"
"Oh!"
Rucell had changed!
Even while whimpering, she had become a woman who knew how to deliver a clear jab!
"It seems getting beaten up on Sunday wasn't enough."
"Anyway, you're going to keep hitting me."
"Rucell, provoke in moderation. Anyway, the three of us will bear the consequences."
Even yesterday, under the pretext of one-on-one training before the spar, only Ban Yuwon was intensively beaten up.
No matter how he thought about it, he was beaten unreasonably, but looking at it now, he wondered if it was because she was angry that he had only gone out to play with Rucell on Saturday.
He thought he had clearly explained that it was a date to resolve Rucell's Heart Furnace, yet why he had to be put through such an ordeal, Ban Yuwon couldn't say. Still, his concepts had grown as much as he'd been put through the wringer, so he decided to count it as a success.
It was then.
"Alright, then, let's begin the class."
"...?"
A person who appeared to be a professor gathered the students of Class 1 and Class 11 in one place.
But it wasn't Adjunct Professor Farrell, who had conducted the class last week.
"Ah, I've been assigned to this class. I'm an adjunct professor, and my name is Entel."
"What about Adjunct Professor Farrell?"
"He was fired. Everyone can guess the reason for themselves."
The students' gazes all simultaneously converged on Ban Yuwon.
Ban Yuwon merely shrugged his shoulders, like a Western politician who had received an awkward question from a reporter.
"Then I'd like to jump right into class, but before that... I heard a formal spar is being held today, is that correct?"
"That's correct."
Irekto stepped forward and spoke in a strong tone.
Glaring back at Ban Yuwon was an added bonus.
Ban Yuwon also stepped forward without hesitation.
Adjunct Professor Entel, who had merely nodded upon seeing Irekto, had his eyes widen slightly when he saw Ban Yuwon.
"Oh, you're Student Ban Yuwon, right? I've been enjoying your videos. You're quite talented, it seems."
"Thank you."
"Hah, such doctored videos are merely..."
"Oh, Student Irekto. You shouldn't suspect a classmate in the same class based on mere suspicion. If you make another mistake, I will give you negative points."
"..."
Fortunately, Adjunct Professor Entel had a positive impression of Ban Yuwon.
Whether it was Yumina's scheme or a result garnered by Ban Yuwon's videos, he didn't know, but with this, biased judgment could be avoided.
"I heard this spar will be broadcast live on the school's official channel. Do both of you agree to this?"
"Live broadcast means no manipulation... *ahem*, I agree."
"I agree."
The moment the two nodded, a drone rose into the air.
A virtual ring was instantly formed, and they heard the same precautions as when Dokgo Yeon and Ortima had fought before.
Becoming incapacitated for combat or a surrender sign being given — only then would the spar end.
Direct attacks on vital points were forbidden, but any injuries sustained during the spar were one's own responsibility.
‘These are incredibly harsh conditions.’
They said Academy students don't like fighting to the death, but it seems they don't mind them fighting until they're half-crippled.
Ban Yuwon gripped the Executioner's Longsword and entered the ring.
As they stood facing each other, Irekto suddenly spoke to him.
"Are you afraid?"
"What?"
What was that? Surely he didn't want to hear an answer like, 'Exciting...! Just give me the order!'
As Ban Yuwon stood still, not knowing how to reply, the fellow continued speaking.
"If you're scared, you can surrender. However..."
"Surely you don't expect me to crawl between your legs and bark like a dog, do you?"
Irekto shut his mouth.
Instead, cloudy steam surged from his entire body.
It seemed that was the correct answer.
"Surely not, right? You're not actually a lunatic who utters lines straight out of some third-rate novel, are you...?"
"Hah! I wonder how long you can keep blabbering like that."
"Weren't you the one who started talking first? Do you have amnesia, by any chance?"
Irekto raised his fist.
His fist, covered in thick calluses as if made of solidified rock, was seen to grow even larger in an instant.
Strangely, into that fist, concepts like Earth (土) and Rock (巖) were seen to converge.
The steam erupting from the tip of his fist began to take on a black hue.
No joke, it really seemed he was a race like rock giants.
"Adjunct Professor Entel, please start quickly!"
Irekto shouted as if threatening.
Perhaps because the lines he must have carefully thought up were stolen in the worst possible way, he appeared thoroughly enraged.
Adjunct Professor Entel looked at him with a slight pity and declared.
"Spar, begin!"
"Die!"
Kwang—!
It wasn't the sound of a bomb exploding, but merely the sound Irekto made as he kicked off the floor.
Throwing his house-sized body, and simultaneously slamming his greatly enlarged fist towards the enemy — an extremely simple and crude attack!
But the pressure that came from charging forward with his full weight, that punch imbued with all his strength, was undeniably an attack only possible by fully utilizing Irekto's strengths.
"Hoo."
Against that fist, Ban Yuwon silently raised the Executioner's Longsword.
And then....
The sword flamboyantly parried the fist and struck Irekto across the cheek.
—Thud!
Irekto crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
Ban Yuwon, calmly stepping to the side with his sword still in hand, kicked the fallen Irekto's backside once and distanced himself from him.
[You successfully counterattack by fully utilizing the opponent's strength against them. The depth of 'Counter' (反) has become 21.]
The message that appeared before his eyes was utterly satisfying.
All through yesterday, he had desperately tried to fend off Dokgo Yeon's fearsome attacks, and his strenuous effort had paid off.
‘You have several options to defeat that ignorant brute, but the simplest would probably be to utilize the essence of ‘Counter’ (反) you acquired in the Tower.’
As Dokgo Yeon had watched Ban Yuwon's growth right beside him, her advice was extremely accurate.
‘But from what I observed then, you wasted a lot of time trying to grasp the opponent before performing a skill. That's only half of it. You must be able to utilize the essence against any opponent or skill you encounter for the first time; only then can you say you've fully mastered the essence.’
Moreover, by speaking absolutely correct words, she even managed to reset Ban Yuwon's unnecessary arrogance—which had grown after acquiring 'Counter' (反)—back to zero.
‘So, let's start that special training now. With this wooden sword, I will attack each time with different speeds, different forms, and different intentions. If you can counter even one of them, then that ignorant brute won't even be able to lay a hand on you.’
...Or perhaps she just wanted to hit him as much as possible.
However, the effect was certain; with just yesterday's training, Ban Yuwon's 'Counter' (反) had grown to 20.
Parrying her strength was so difficult that his 'Flow' (流) had grown much more than his 'Counter,' which was definitely not something to laugh about.
‘Well, 'Counter' and 'Flow' are closely related, so it's natural for them to grow together.’
Ban Yuwon, emerging from his thoughts, raised his sword, aimed forward, and glared with wide eyes.
Irekto, who had somehow stood up straight, looked back at him and was trembling.
"Y-you, you bastard, you...!"
"Sorry, but can you cut the nonsense and just attack already?"
"Kuaaaaaaah!"
Foolish.
If he was defeated at least once, shouldn't he think of employing a different method?
Nevertheless, his opponent, in the exact same stance, with the exact same raised fist, was charging at him.
‘No... or was it not?’
While focusing his gaze on the greatly raised right fist, he saw power quietly being funneled into the left fist.
It was a change difficult to discern with the naked eye.
However, in his All-Seeing Eyes, he saw the red-tinged concept of ‘Monstrous Strength’ (怪力) concentrating in the opponent's left fist.
‘Originally, against enemies with a significant level difference from me, it was hard to read the changes in their internal concepts. Is it because I tried to peek while on a date with Rucell? Or is it thanks to yesterday's special training with Dokgo Yeon?’
Whatever the reason, it didn't matter.
For now, he was simply delighted by the development of his abilities.
"Die!"
"Hoo."
Ban Yuwon raised his sword diagonally, pretending to parry the opponent's right fist, but at the moment of impact, he diagonally deflected it (流).
As the force was twisted, Irekto naturally lost his physical balance.
In that brief instant where his opponent's left fist's strike point wavered along with him, Ban Yuwon's sword plunged down (貫) onto it and sent his opponent's power raging in the opposite direction (反)!
"Kuaaaaaaack!"
That was to be expected.
[You have excellently dispersed the opponent's power with the vibration imbued in your sword. The depth of 'Wave' (波) has become 23.]
In fact, Ban Yuwon's recent thrust also contained the power of 'Wave' (波).
The waves created by Ban Yuwon's sword not only amplified the counterattack's strength but were also exceptionally effective at making the power in his opponent's fist fly wildly out of control.
"I-I'll kill you...!"
"Stop! I declare the spar over! Student Irekto, you are incapacitated for combat!"
Entel, seeing Irekto's left fist pierced by the sword and shredded, declared the spar over in a panic, but the words didn't reach the enraged giant's ears.
"Diiiiiieeeeee!"
"Student Irekto, that's grounds for expulsion! Student Ban Yuwon, dodge!"
Due to the steam he emitted from his entire body, the inside of the gymnasium became hazy.
Surprisingly, in his undamaged right hand, the concepts of ‘Volcano’ (火山) and ‘Monstrous Strength’ (怪力) were converging!
But even as Ban Yuwon watched it, he had no thought of retreating.
That was because Dokgo Yeon’s wooden sword, which had been swung at him yesterday, was far heavier, mightier, hotter, and more terrifying.
‘Dokgo Yeon was right.’
When facing something crude and solely powerful, 'counter' is always best.
It’s the easiest and simplest way.
Ban Yuwon raised his sword.
A wave heavily imbued with mana flowed along the sword, and the power of severance contained within the blade flared golden as if in response.
The blood poison, activated by consuming Ban Yuwon’s blood, further amplified it.
With that, the minimum conditions for confronting the ferocious giant were met.
He observed his opponent with his eyes.
There was no need to scrutinize trivial concepts.
Two things were important.
Where the bastard was aiming his attack.
Where the bastard’s power was concentrated.
‘I’ve got it.’
He extended his sword.
The power of the wave contained within the sword shot forth a step ahead, subtly twisting the trajectory of the giant’s descending fist.
He created an opening.
The sword, surging as if to pierce that opening, as easily as plucking a persimmon from the end of a branch,
—*Shwing*
severed the bastard’s entire right arm from the forearm.
“Kuaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The giant shrieked terribly, tumbling to the ground.
But Ban Yuwon had no time to spare for the monster.
[Would you like to plunder Life, Physique, Giant, Volcano, and Monstrous Strength from Irekto’s arm?]
Because he had discovered a far more interesting subject.
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