I got into school for nothing - 333
I got into school for nothing (333)
Lesson 65. Creation - 3
It was only natural that Stella was welcomed by the Rebellion members, as she had helped Ban Yuwon overcome many difficulties ever since she was sealed within the staff.
Of course... apart from the warm conversations, there were some minor issues, such as Rucell attempting to gauge her rank, or the subtle tension that still flowed between Yumina and Stella despite their long-awaited reunion.
“Commander, I feel as though I've truly grasped the meaning of the phrase 'worthy of its name.'”
Heukseol, who had spent the previous night with Stella, whispered into Ban Yuwon's ear. “So this is the true technique for snaring women. To selectively charm such capable individuals, each powerful enough to dominate their own dimension—how audacious. Would you consider giving a special lecture to the Shin-gyo's intelligence unit? I would gladly serve as teaching material.”
“Death's Pupil.”
“Why are you suddenly mentioning that, ugh...?!”
The moment Heukseol registered the phrase 'Death's Pupil,' Dokgo Yeon gained access to her. Staggering and collapsing to the ground, Heukseol seemed dizzy from the instantaneous barrage of messages.
“Commander... My Lady, My Lady...!”
Ban Yuwon smiled bitterly.
It seemed a deeper bond existed between the master and servant than he had imagined.
Lost in thought, Ban Yuwon was suddenly embraced by Heukseol.
“I don't know how to repay this profound kindness, so I thought I might offer my humble self first. What do you think?”
―Death's Pupil glares with wide eyes, enraged by this act of insubordination!
“What do I think? I believe Heukseol's talent for provocation is unmatched in the world.”
To tease her immediately after confirming Dokgo Yeon's safety! Ban Yuwon shook his head, gently pushed her away, then clapped his hands sharply.
Once Ban Yuwon had drawn everyone's attention, he recounted all the events of the previous day. Everyone gaped, astonished that he had entered a Constellation's domain and immediately forged a contract with Dokgo Yeon, who had just ascended to Constellation status.
“How could he just...”
“I've never heard of a Constellation beginning its activities after only two years. Usually, it takes at least a century for them to adapt to their new status and open their eyes to the external dimensions...”
“That's probably because Yeon had already transcended when she defeated Zenon. Ah, it works.”
While directly addressing the Constellation by her original name was forbidden, it seemed permissible to mention it when conversing with others. A sudden urge to try something specific arose within him, but for now, he sternly suppressed it.
“Transcended? Yuwon, do you truly understand the implications of that word?”
“Think about it, Sis. How else could she have slain that monster?”
With no means to refute his statement, Yumina merely closed her mouth and assented. Stella, who was clinging to her side as if to make up for lost years, nodded, corroborating his words.
“I was there, you know. That child truly transcended. Her unusually rapid awakening as a Constellation was undoubtedly thanks to that. Well, even if she hadn't, Yuwon would have supplied her with power.”
“You're calling her by her name...”
“Cellon... Mina, you do the same, don't you?”
Stella, who had called Yumina 'Cellon,' realized the stares of the others and quickly corrected herself.
With everyone's attention already on them, Yumina decided to offer further explanations about Stella.
“She's both a senior at Union Academy and my personal tutor.”
“Then she's even older than Professor Yumina.”
At Asha's blunt remark, a habit that hadn't changed even after two years, the atmosphere turned chilly once more. No, seeing the slight tremor in Stella's lips, Ban Yuwon even wondered if the comment hadn't been intentional.
“What does age matter to transcendents? We don't age and will remain in this form for eternity.”
“Oh my,” Rucell murmured, scanning Stella's chest with an expression of profound pity.
The effect was tremendous!
Ban Yuwon sighed as he watched Stella glare at Rucell with an expression that clearly wished to rip out her chest.
“There's still more to explain, you know.”
“That's right. Originally, she was groomed to be the Tower's next administrator, with the Principal's backing, but she didn't like the Tower. I was too young then to know all the details, but perhaps... Stella?”
“I tried to tear it down. I believed that with my inherent Authority, it was entirely possible. To surpass the Constellations, to eradicate the entire Tower. I truly believed I could protect the countless worlds that were merely being consumed for the Tower of Babel's upkeep and completion.”
“And the Principal... well, he wasn't exactly pleased by that.”
“I became a Constellation and was subsequently trapped within the Tower.”
And Yumina was raised as her replacement. As the Chancellor had intended, she reunited and formed a contract with Stella, the Starlight Player, who had by then become a Constellation.
However, to the Chancellor's unfortunate surprise, the Constellations who had once nearly perished by Stella's hand felt a fear bordering on terror at her becoming a Constellation, acquiring a contractor, and once again wielding the power of Starlight.
Ultimately, they exploited an irregular phenomenon, one they had created by permanently expending immense power, to seal away the Constellation, Starlight Player.
Yumina, deeply wounded in both mind and body by that incident, grew frustrated and abandoned her ascent of the Tower.
“In Room 561.”
“...Yes, that's correct.”
As expected, the Tower's highest climbing record belonged to Yumina. Ban Yuwon mulled over the concise story, wondering if Stella's presence within the treasure chest of Room 10 hadn't been a stratagem orchestrated by the Chancellor.
It was then that Aire finally broke her silence.
“If I make a contract with you, will I be able to suppress the Constellations?”
“Yes, that's correct.”
“Then why didn't you secure more contractors? There would have been no better way to thwart the Tower's intentions.”
“Because not just anyone can wield Starlight.”
Stella declared curtly, conjuring an artificial starlight above her palm.
“You know it's the same for other Constellations, not just me, right? To contract with a Constellation, an individual must fundamentally possess outstanding aptitude. If such a condition didn't exist, then a single Constellation born long ago could simply turn all beings into their contractors, and that would be the end of it.”
“Aptitude...”
Aire's eyes, ever sensitive to such a word, blazed with a fierce fighting spirit.
“What about me?”
“Asha, a dragon that shatters stars wanting to house a star within her body? There's a limit to irony.”
“But I truly think it's something worth considering.”
Asha's eyes, too, gleamed with excitement.
“We're going to face Constellations many more times in the future, aren't we? If we could all wield Starlight like Yuwon does, wouldn't we be able to put an end to it in an instant, even if a Constellation's true form descended?”
“You don't have the aptitude.”
“Uwaaang, Yuwon!” What exactly had she hoped to achieve, having just been told that a dragon couldn't do it? Ban Yuwon comforted the clinging Asha, casting a glance at Rucell, but she merely shook her head with a peculiar smile.
“Because I am a Divine Beast. I can no longer house the power of another kind of god. Moreover, Master has already forged the Heart Furnace within my body.”
“Exactly. Now that the blood of two Divine Beasts has fully awakened within her, if we purely consider her rank, it's likely even higher than mine. There's no way she could accept a Constellation's power.”
“Then, it seems there truly is no one who can contract with Stella.”
“Even if there were, I would refuse. Now that I possess this physical body, it's preferable for me to draw upon my own inherent power directly, rather than exercising it through another contractor.”
Stella, having declared with conviction, smiled sweetly at Ban Yuwon.
“Now, I'll help you directly, right by your side.”
“It's a rather peculiar feeling, like having both my teacher and my student snatched away at the same time...”
Yumina said, puffing out her cheeks, but no one responded to her.
That was because she rarely acted like a teacher in the first place.
Ban Yuwon, sensing the general mood had settled, let out a soft chuckle and began to speak.
“Anyway, our stance hasn't really changed. While I wish I could simply shatter that monolith myself and stop the Tower, it's also the most crucial and thus the most resilient part of the Tower. So, we'll continue to ascend the Tower as a team. The only difference is that Stella and Yeon will be assisting us.”
“Yeah, it would be a pity to stop now that we're finally in a position to break the highest record.”
“Friday is the day after tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it.”
As the atmosphere began to disperse, Stella, who had been clinging to Yumina moments before, cleared her throat and subtly approached Ban Yuwon.
Her expression was brimming with expectation.
“Then, as we promised earlier, grant me some time to—”
“Stella, it's been so long, let's have a pajama party!”
“Ugh, huh?! I can't let the Chancellor—”
“I know!”
And in a flash, she was abducted by Yumina, vanishing from the spot.
Aire, aghast at Yumina's rare display of true power, exclaimed, 'I didn't even sense the flow of mana...!'
“To still not have reached the level of a full professor,” she muttered with a hint of awe.
“Mina-nuna is the Vice Chancellor, after all. ...And I believe what just happened was her transcending her limits.”
Although he worried for Stella, Yumina would undoubtedly conceal her presence on her own. Now that she could wield Starlight independently, such an ability was well within her grasp.
Ban Yuwon sighed, then rose from his seat.
“Then I, too, have an appointment with Professor Campanella, so I'll be taking my leave first.”
“You have to come back to the room on time today, right? Ah, ahh—”
Asha, who had been attempting a cute flirtation, clutched her head and staggered, as if struck by a barrage of messages from Death's Pupil.
Only then did Ban Yuwon feel that something was truly back to normal, and he was about to bid farewell to the remaining members, but Aire and Heukseol were likewise clutching their heads.
Only Rucell remained, sitting in her spot with a wide, cheerful smile.
“Rucell, are you alright?”
“Hehe, she must be truly delighted to see us again after so long. We'll just continue conversing amongst ourselves, so Master, please contact us once you're finished with the professor.”
“Alright.”
―Death's Pupil mutters resentfully that beasts are, as expected, not to be trifled with.
Ban Yuwon shook his head, then warped through space.
To the professor-exclusive laboratory in the Artifact Production Department, the very place where he had first modified Tikke with Mira's help during his distant first year.
There, Mira, clad in a work uniform and gripping a crowbar, and Professor Campanella, similarly dressed and holding a wrench, were already awaiting him.
“You're late. Though I've already heard everything that transpired.”
Mira, narrowing her eyes, peeled off the mask attached to her work uniform, then approached him, kissed him, and whispered.
It was said that truly beautiful people looked good in anything, and Ban Yuwon found himself once again astonished by Mira's beauty, as she managed to pull off even a work uniform with her unique style.
“Congratulations, Yuwon. I'm truly relieved.”
“Thank you.”
“I did ask you to refrain from public displays of affection.”
“I apologize, Professor. My affection simply proved uncontrollable.”
Campanella sighed at Mira's less-than-convincing excuse, then called the two closer.
“I understand, but I'd appreciate it if you'd at least concentrate during the experiment.”
“Of course, Professor.”
“Understood.”
The trio's joint research had been ongoing ever since Ban Yuwon advanced to his second year and selected the Artifact Production Department.
Initially, it began with 'magical tools usable in the Tower and dungeons'—a field of her own research—partly to rekindle Professor Campanella's motivation after she had been heartbroken and betrayed in love in the worst imaginable way.
Naturally, the magical tools Ban Yuwon personally imbued with concepts were usable within the Tower and dungeons. However, this was only possible with him present, making mass production an impossible dream.
However, Professor Campanella wasn't a full professor at Union Academy for nothing; by closely observing Ban Yuwon's Authority and learning from the myriad astonishing combinations he created, she experienced a dramatic epiphany. About a year later, she succeeded in yielding concrete results.
After watching the Rebellion channel, wasn't video recording in places with turbulent mana flow, such as dungeons, precisely what everyone had dreamt of?
The commercialized magical tools were distributed in limited quantities and at exorbitant prices through the trading company operated by the Prominence Family. Even knowing they weren't permanent, those who eagerly bought them followed the Rebellion channel's example, establishing their own 'Unitube' channels that specialized in thrilling combat videos.
Of course, there were even Union students who purchased these magical tools and attempted to emulate the Rebellion channel, but Ban Yuwon paid them little mind.
Because, in any case, the Rebellion channel's standing was far too firmly established for anyone to dare approach its level.
Of course, video recording magical tools were merely the tip of the iceberg.
The mere fact that household magical tools became usable in dungeons sent their convenience and utility skyrocketing. When released with a 'Dungeon Edition' option, their value surged, generating overwhelming sales that significantly boosted the standing of the Prominence Family's trading company, which had been somewhat diminished by the family head succession struggle.
As for why these magical tools, primarily researched by Campanella, were distributed through the Prominence trading company, it was, naturally, due to the guilt she harbored towards Ban Yuwon.
He had suggested that it would be better for him to receive even a small share, but she refused, insisting that merely being able to conduct research with him was sufficient.
To be honest, the expression Professor Campanella wore at that moment was a little frightening.
“An artifact that expands innate Authority. If it succeeds, it will be tremendous. In a way, it even feels akin to the Tower itself.”
However, the subject of their current research was no longer a 'cute' item like a simple magical tool.
“Because I've already tried it indirectly several times through my subordinates. ...It demands too much of my power, so commercialization will be impossible.”
“How could we possibly commercialize such a dangerous item?”
Ban Yuwon intended to do everything within his power to bring down the Tower.
Artifact creation, the genesis of his Authority, or more broadly, 'Creation,' was no exception to this resolve.
The power to manipulate language concepts; the power that had reached the realm of grand sorcery; Starlight, whose potency was maximized when directed not only at Constellations but also at other transcendent beings.
By mobilizing the Giwon Sword, which encompassed all these powers, he would bring forth a wondrous creation that even the Chancellor would not dare to measure.
“Let's begin.”
He could no longer repeat the helplessness of losing someone precious, as he had two years ago.
He had to prepare everything within his means.
“Yes... I'll cooperate as always. Even if it means sacrificing everything I possess.”
“Professor, honestly, I keep telling you not to burden yourself so much, but you always do.”
Mira let out a soft snort of laughter, watching Professor Campanella, whose eyes gleamed with intense seriousness.
However, Ban Yuwon, who perceived the warped obsession and madness hidden within her, could only sigh inwardly.
―Death's Pupil asks why there are so many deranged women around you.
‘It's a stab to the gut, so please don't point it out so bluntly...’
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