I got into school for nothing - Chapter 34
I got into school for nothing (34)
Lesson 8. This Skill is Mine - 4
[You have succeeded in partially understanding and interpreting the concepts held by a higher-ranked being. The depth of your conceptual insight has reached 137.]
Ban Yuwon took a deep breath, careful not to show it.
He couldn't foolishly reveal that he had recognized even a fragment of that monster.
He was already receiving plenty of attention, but precisely because of that, he had to conceal everything he possibly could.
“I've written various things in the syllabus, but in truth, the goal of this lecture is simple: to understand the origin of the Tower and the Constellations. Today, among those topics, we'll start by discussing the Tower.”
Had he not explained it in the first class?
Ban Yuwon tilted his head, listening to Zenon's explanation, which seemed to assume students were hearing it for the first time.
He had canceled the first class due to his business trip.
“By understanding the origin of the Tower, we become more recognized by it, and gain the possibility of accessing treasures and miracles hidden throughout its every corner. Babylon. The name of this ancient civilization, barely discovered in a remote corner of the Tower, is the subject we will be immersed in all semester.”
Oh, that ancient civilization is the history of Earth, thousands of years ago, the very Earth you look down upon as a lower-ranked dimension.
He yearned to retort with those words, but honestly, Zenon's story itself was incredibly fascinating.
He had suspected it ever since the Tower was called the 'Tower of Babel', but were they truly aware of Babylon as well?
No, if so, shouldn't they naturally know about Earth, its originating dimension? He truly couldn't understand it.
“The Tower is just like a living organism. It's natural for such a Tower to reveal more of its secrets to those who understand it. Evidence of the Tower's sentience is vividly apparent when it receives a great shock, both internally and externally—.”
Could what the professor was currently talking about be related to the irregular phenomena Ban Yuwon and his party experienced in the Tower? Just as Ban Yuwon was pondering this and gradually becoming engrossed in Zenon's explanation, a moment passed.
Rucell poked his side and whispered.
“In the center of the classroom.”
The center?
Listening to her words, Ban Yuwon turned his gaze and indeed found a sizable orb placed in the center of the classroom.
What was astonishing was that not a single language concept within it could be read by his Authority.
It was clear that it held an overwhelming magical power, enough for Rucell to be wary, but other than that, he couldn't discern anything.
‘A suspicious being and a suspicious object. If a religious ritual were to start here now, it would be perfect.’
However, just as Ban Yuwon was about to examine the orb more closely, Zenon smirked as if he had noticed his gaze.
“You noticed it quickly. Rucell, Ban Yuwon, excellent. I understand now why first-year students like yourselves have earned the right to be here.”
“Uh... thank you.”
He was screwed.
He had just resolved to hide everything he could, and only a few minutes later, he was doing this!
Zenon's deep, black eyes, like an abyss, stared directly at Ban Yuwon.
“You'll gradually learn about this ‘orb’ as the lecture progresses. For now, I'll just tell you that this object is related to the simulated Constellation War, which can be called the core of this lecture.” RANOBes
Was it just his imagination, or did the ambient temperature seem to rise by several degrees the moment those words left Zenon's mouth?
Ban Yuwon noticed that it originated from the fifth-year students, the highest grade at Union Academy.
‘So, were these the same people who took this lecture last year? Or had they heard about it from friends who took it before...?’
Almost all the students' gazes were fixed on the orb.
Zenon cleared his throat, drawing their attention back, and spoke.
“Just keep in mind that if you can't properly keep up with the class, you might be expelled from the lecture hall even before the simulated Constellation War. Now, shall we continue?”
The lecture lasted a full hour and fifteen minutes.
The stories that followed were quite interesting, but everyone else present in the class seemed to be focused solely on the orb.
As for Ban Yuwon, the phrase 'understanding the Tower', which repeatedly appeared in Zenon's discourse, continued to weigh on his mind.
‘I had thought all the bizarre changes we encountered in the Tower were due to the irregulars' invasion. But what if that wasn't it? What if those changes occurred because I, who knows everything from the history of Babylon to the Tower of Babel mentioned in the Bible, entered the Tower?’
If that were the case, it would mean that not only this time, but every time Ban Yuwon entered the Tower, he would encounter difficulties and environments incomparable to anyone else's.
That was truly—nothing could be more satisfying.
‘It means I can get closer to the Tower's true form than anyone else, doesn't it?’
A secret he couldn't yet tell anyone, not even the comrades who entered the Tower with him.
But they wouldn't resent Ban Yuwon.
After all, his comrades would gain the chance to clear the Tower's shortest route alongside him!
‘As expected of my ancestor. He had already made all the arrangements for me in the Tower.’
A confident smile played on Ban Yuwon's lips.
He, whose brimming confidence had unknowingly been chipped away by recent events, found all of it perfectly restored in this very moment.
So much so that even those watching him from nearby instantly noticed the change.
“Ban Yuwon, tell me immediately what villainous thoughts you're having.”
“...Dokgo Yeon, aren't you being a bit too hard on me?”
“Ban doesn't do bad things. ...At least not to us.”
Somehow, his image among his comrades seemed to be increasingly skewed.
Had he been too merciless in pushing Adjunct Professor Entel this morning?
He looked at Light with eyes seeking help, but Light merely shrugged and said.
“I trust you, leader. As long as it's not illegal, I'll follow your instructions. ...You're not planning to clash with the seniors, are you?”
Perfect.
It seemed he was utterly doomed.
* * *
Though Ban Yuwon didn't realize it, Zenon's lecture was the most popular subject, one that every student at Union Academy wished to attend.
Furthermore, since Zenon personally selected all the attendees, competition to hear the lecture was virtually meaningless.
They merely envied, and at the same time, kept their distance from the students who actually attended Zenon's lecture.
In other words, students attending Zenon's lecture at this Academy could be said to receive special treatment, even above the Special Class.
This was no exception for Class 11, composed of students admitted through the Special Admissions for Lower-Rank Dimensions.
“Hey, there go those lower-rank dimension kids.”
“Did you see yesterday's mukbang? The pink-haired one was cute.”
“Still, they're stronger than us. Haven't you heard they're attending Professor Zenon's lecture?”
“What, no way!”
“First-year students? Professor Zenon's lecture? No...”
“That's a new record.”
If there was one greatest gain after their entry into Zenon's lecture (which was indeed a noteworthy feat), it was that Rebellion had firmly established itself not as a merely flashy group, but as one with 'undeniable skill'.
In the videos they had posted on their channel until now, one could indeed find Ban Yuwon's peculiar swordsmanship, Light's dazzling sword of light, and Dokgo Yeon's overwhelming destructive power, but in truth, the video viewers hadn't readily accepted it.
Especially those within the Academy, while finding the videos themselves entertaining, mostly thought, 'They're just from lower-ranked dimensions, the videos are probably just exaggerated and well-produced.'
However, with all four of them attending Zenon's lecture, such thoughts completely vanished.
After all, to question their skill was to question Zenon himself!
“Perhaps the video channel wasn't really necessary after all?”
As the situation reached this point, Ban Yuwon seriously asked himself that question.
But Dokgo Yeon snorted and shook her head.
“The video channel is, at least, earning our class some goodwill. What would we do without it? Instead of these piercing stares, they might have actually stabbed us by now.”
“...That's true, I guess.”
“Ugh, this comment. Someone's calling us 'low-class' and swearing again.”
Had attending Zenon's lecture brought only positive effects? Not at all.
Those from higher-ranked dimensions with a strong sense of authority, especially those in the Special Class, even went so far as to say, upon seeing the members of Class 11 attend Zenon's lecture, 'These low-lives don't know their place and are making a fuss.'
The hatred intensified especially after Ban Yuwon shattered one of Irekto's arms, a Special Class student, and following a school meeting, Irekto left Union Academy in the form of a voluntary withdrawal.
It was a situation where the majority of Special Class students, who had one class per grade from first to fifth year, were going around badmouthing Class 11.
“It's fine, beast. They'll just get thoroughly cussed out and delete it themselves anyway.”
“Ah, seriously... I refreshed, and there are about 50 hate comments now.”
“These people are turning into some kind of fanatical religious cult.”
“Idol fanatics are the scariest, you know.”
“Idols...?”
Precisely such backlash from the Special Class was met with derision and trampled underfoot by those who had formed a favorable impression of Rebellion after watching their videos.
Of course, they might not be able to say anything face-to-face, but on the intranet, everyone was equal, wasn't that right?
The stronger the Special Class came on, the fiercer the voices of those criticizing them grew, and thanks to that, a 'Special Class vs. Everyone Else' dynamic had been forming on the school's intranet for the past few days.
“You're changing the flow of Union Academy. It's quite interesting.”
“Yeah, well, the problem is that most of the seniors attending Professor Zenon's lecture are from the Special Class...”
Enemy territory.
It was nothing short of hostile ground.
At least during the first lecture, Irekto's expulsion hadn't yet been announced, so their hostility wasn't overtly displayed, but what would next Tuesday be like? It was already terrifying just thinking about it.
“So, we'll have to cultivate our skills a little more until then, right? Even though this won't help us improve at all...”
“Don't talk nonsense. Training isn't just mindlessly clashing swords and rolling around. You have to accumulate diverse experiences and knowledge in various places to be able to handle any situation without panicking.”
“You talk a good game.”
Ban Yuwon snorted in response to Dokgo Yeon's teasing remark.
He filled in all the necessary information on the paper in front of him and then passed it to his party.
“Then, everyone, check it and write your names.”
“We're busy enough just focusing on the Tower, but a club? Can't we just join some random one?”
“Light, snap out of it. In a situation where all eyes are on us like this, you want to join a club that actively engages with others? That's the worst possible move.”
Indeed.
They were now amicably gathered in a windowless classroom, filling out club application forms.
This was because there was a rule that every student attending Union Academy absolutely had to join at least one club.
The intention was to provide a bit of respite for students striving towards the supreme goal of 'divine feats', but in this world, do things ever go according to intention?
The clubs formed by students were a veritable pandemonium, a microcosm of Union Academy's power structure, and a student's authority could even change depending on which club they joined and participated in.
“A 'random' club? The problem is there's no such thing. Most clubs are all about exploring the sophisticated hobbies of the high-ranking folks. Why are they playing chess at an Academy whose very purpose is to climb the Tower, for goodness sake?”
“Just be honest. You don't want to get into a fight with the club representatives.”
“Yes, that's actually right. Dokgo Yeon, you're number one.”
“A piano club... I really wanted to join one.”
The Academy, with its grand goal of raising future gods, had clubs that were anything but ordinary. The problem was that every single one of them had a representative who was a Special Class student, steeped in authoritarianism.
Ban Yuwon had no intention of joining such a club and causing friction; moreover, he happened to have a good 'backer' in Yumina, so he decided to unhesitatingly accept her help this time as well.
That is, to create a new club with her as the supervising professor.
“Everyone, are you done filling out the club application forms?”
Just as Dokgo Yeon was signing after Light and Rucell, Yumina appeared.
“Professor Yumina, you seem to be in a very good mood?”
“Of course!”
Yumina hummed a tune and perched on the professor's desk.
Her abundant, petal-like hair truly looked exquisite as it fluttered in the gentle breeze.
“I'm ostensibly your supervising professor, yet I haven't even had a class to teach you all, have I? I'm absolutely delighted to be able to join you, even if it's in the form of a club.”
“But Professor, are you sure about your time? It might be difficult to observe club activities every week...”
“Full professors actually have quite a bit of free time.”
Of course, that made sense, Ban Yuwon conceded.
It was always only the adjunct professors, lecturers, and teaching assistants who were busy.
“Besides, the club's activities are wonderful, aren't they? I've already secured permission for group outings from the Principal a long time ago, so we'll be able to proceed without any problems. I guarantee it will be a club envied by all the students and professors at Union Academy.”
“Is this really...?”
Light muttered, looking down at the club application form with a skeptical expression.
The club's name was 'Union Journey Club'.
The club's activities included 'public service, dungeon exploration, gourmet touring, and so on'.
“Ban, isn't this just a club you're making to secure footage for the Rebellion channel?”
“This is why I dislike astute little brats like you.”
He acts sharp only in moments like these, when he's utterly oblivious when tact is actually needed.
Meanwhile, Rucell and Dokgo Yeon, who knew this club would be for having fun and freeloading, remained silent!
“Hehehe, now I'll be able to appear in the videos a lot too!”
“Professor, was that your objective...?”
The club application was approved immediately after submission.
Their first activity was an Elrone fried food mukbang, and this video, featuring even the beautiful and young (or young-looking) professor, smoothly achieved 3 million views on external channels, announcing the club's successful start.
And there was a small bonus to all this.
[You have exposed your existence to a great many beings and imprinted your presence upon them. You awaken new language concepts: Charm (魅力) and Honor (名譽).]
[The depth of Charm and Honor has reached 10!]
Well, this is how it turned out.
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