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I Got into School for Nothing - 53

I Got into School for Nothing (53)

Lesson 12. Monster Wave - 3

Union Academy, moving like an airship protected by a hemispherical shield, "observed" all thirteen battlefields in the Gellas dimension where large-scale clashes between humans and monsters were occurring.

Perhaps because Zenon had already finished his explanations, the professors wasted no time upon reaching each battlefield, immediately exerting their power to swiftly clear out the monsters.

"All of you, crumble!"

—CRACK-CRUMBLE-CRUNCH!

Among them, the most impressive display of power was that of Lyu Cheolmyeong, the Professor of Or Combat.

True to his reputation as someone unrivaled in handling cold weapons at the Academy, he wielded a greatsword the size of a house with astonishing skill. What was truly surprising, however, was the devastation wrought by the highly purified mana—the Or (Aura)—that gathered at the tip of that greatsword.

"Seeing how twisted that man's martial art is, his character must be equally formidable. A Hegemonic Path achieved by subtly distorting the world's principles. It's frustrating, but with my current achievements, I have no way to counter him."

However, Ban Yuwon merely tilted his head, as he could only perceive an overwhelming hegemonic power from the massive energy emanating from Lyu Cheolmyeong's sword.

"Twisted? It just looks like he's outright crushing everything as it is."

"That's precisely why it makes no sense. If that man's caliber hasn't reached the heavens, how could he crush everything under heaven? That is a martial art that distorts principles and blinds the eyes of the sky."

"Ugh... I don't really get it."

"It's fine. You'll naturally be able to read it soon enough."

Since most of the martial arts Ban Yuwon currently dealt with were those that pursued a single meaning to the extreme, like Gwan (貫) or Ban (反), he couldn't discern the other meaning hidden within Lyu Cheolmyeong's Hegemonic Path.

Perhaps if he were able to add different meanings to his own martial art, he might then be able to uncover the true intent behind Lyu Cheolmyeong's actions.

"Hey, Ban. You're learning magic too, right? If you get stronger, can you perform miracles like Professor Yumina?"

Meanwhile, As Light was captivated by Yumina's majesty, as she single-handedly swept away half of the battlefield.

She was employing a terrifying magic, causing thorny vines to grow over a wide area, using them to halt the movements of hundreds of thousands of monsters, and then swiftly absorbing their mana to wither them to death.

Ban Yuwon could barely discern a few concepts related to plants and the concept of 'Absorb' from her magic, but he had no idea how they combined to produce such horrifying results.

"I'm still a long way from achieving that kind of power, As Light. Besides, Professor Yumina's primary magic isn't something one can reach through training."

"True..."

Yumina's plant magic, though he didn't know for sure, must have been a unique magic stemming from her very essence.

It wasn't something others could dare to learn, and indeed, the magic she taught was limited to what could be called common magic.

It was the same principle as Ban Yuwon, who, having awakened his Babylonia Code, could handle all languages and their concepts.

That's why Ban Yuwon was more concerned about someone else than Yumina.

It was Professor Campanella of the Artifact Production Department.

'I was curious about what artificial artifacts created by someone other than me would feel like.'

To put it simply, Campanella's artifacts were on a completely different level from those Ban Yuwon created.

If Ban Yuwon repurposed existing objects or machines by attaching or combining language concepts that only he could manipulate (which is why others were so astounded by his ability).

Campanella, on the other hand, researched natural artifacts—which some claimed were bestowed by gods—and gathered all the mysteries she could obtain to reproduce them as closely as possible.

Their starting points and goals were different, so naturally, their results had to be different too.

'They're strong. Even stronger than the natural artifacts that are products of chance.'

Having already obtained natural artifacts, Ban Yuwon knew.

Unlike natural artifacts, whose creation depended entirely on chance, artificial artifacts, crafted with the firm will of humans, had clearer purposes than natural artifacts and were also more efficient.

Honestly, it was enough to make Ban Yuwon consider majoring in the Artifact Production Department.

'It also fits well with handling my abilities.'

After all, the ultimate goal was to create a single object, so wouldn't there be plenty of room for Ban Yuwon, who freely manipulated the power of language concepts, to excel?

Even if not as a major, taking her lectures might not be a bad idea.

Rucell, noticing Ban Yuwon watching Campanella, tightly clutched his sleeve and asked.

"Is Yuwon into women like that...?"

"Don't say that in front of others, or you'll be misunderstood. And no, that's not my type."

If the power Zenon displayed was so close to incomprehensible that it didn't feel real even after seeing it, the achievements of the other eight full professors and other faculty were chillingly tangible displays of force.

Their mastery was intuitive enough to understand at a glance, yet so overwhelming that it made one doubt if they could ever reach such a level.

Even watching that insufferable Cantone crush thousands of monsters simultaneously with telekinesis of a transcendent scale filled one with awe!

—Moving to the next location.

"It's a meteor!"

"A full professor casting a summoning spell with full power!"

"Amazing, Professor!"

The tour of the battlefields continued.

The professors moved freely, sweeping away millions of monsters, and the students watched, constantly exclaiming in admiration.

"We're, we're alive."

"We're alive! Reinforcements are here!"

"Union, Union has...!"

"We're alive... Damn it, we're alive!"

And the soldiers, who had come to the battlefield to throw their lives away, sank to the ground, weeping with joy as they watched them.

Even with just a shield separating them, a stark disparity was palpable.

Ban Yuwon felt a little nauseous.

—Today's group activity ends here. I ask everyone to reflect on what you've seen today and gain insight for your minds and bodies.

Having conquered all the large-scale battlefields in the Gellas dimension in less than half a day, the Union Academy contingent executed a spatial transfer and returned to the capital plaza of the Tolmon Empire, where they had first arrived by dimension ship.

They must have already heard the news from each battlefield; high-ranking individuals rushed out barefoot to greet the group.

"We've been waiting!"

"Salute to the saviors of the dimension!"

Their attitude was as if they would lick the professors' boots.

In fact, the professors' efforts today had virtually brought an end to Gellas's Monster Wave, so their attitude was understandable.

However, it was difficult to accept the smugness of the other students, who had done nothing, on behalf of the professors.

"Enough."

Zenon, who had silenced the deluge of applause and cheers directed at the group with a raised hand, stepped forward and spoke with elegance.

"Accommodations have been prepared, I trust?"

"We will escort you all to a place where you can rest comfortably."

"Excellent. Everyone, arrange yourselves by class!"

"Understood!"

Although most cities in the dimension had been heavily damaged by the massive Monster Wave, the capital of the Tolmon Empire was relatively intact, which was why Union Academy decided to stay there.

They were given a massive detached palace attached to the Tolmon Imperial Palace.

The floors were divided by year, and then areas were divided by class. Perhaps due to Yumina's influence, Class 11 was allocated a rather good section.

"These are the people who will assist you during your stay."

"We look forward to your kind assistance!"

They even had three escorts assigned to them.

Ban Yuwon and As Light were assigned breathtakingly beautiful women, while Dokgo Yeon and Rucell were assigned handsome men oozing with charm.

The escort assigned to Yumina was, comparatively, of a normal level.

At this point, Ban Yuwon completely abandoned the idea that Yumina had any influence over the room assignments.

These guys are totally spies, no matter how you look at it!

A beauty scheme and a male charm scheme—it was so textbook that it made him smack his forehead.

"Please just say if there's anything you desire. I'll help you with anything within my capabilities."

"Haha, how very kind of you."

Ban Yuwon forced an awkward laugh at the escort's overtly seductive gaze.

He tried to feign ignorance of their true identities, exchanging quick glances with Dokgo Yeon.

'Indeed, they're starting their tricks here.'

Although all the escorts were in military uniforms, Ban Yuwon, who could 'somewhat' read the concepts within their bodies, realized they were concealing their identities.

Yet, driving them away on suspicion of their identity would be tantamount to announcing that they had caught on to the enemies' plan. For now, it was best to endure sleeping with the enemy.

—These individuals are surprisingly strong in combat. Tell Light to be vigilant too.

Had he thought the same thing?

Ban Yuwon nodded silently at the telepathic message that reached him from Dokgo Yeon.

Then, a thought suddenly struck him: could he also convey his intentions to her using a similar method?

The key was the magic he had recently begun to learn. Among them...

'If it's Language Magic...'

Having absorbed the concept of 'Magic Language', Ban Yuwon was now able to wield his unique magical path, Language Magic.

Its essence was to draw out magical words imbued with specific meanings, infuse them with mana, and then manifest those meanings into reality.

This felt not entirely unfamiliar to Ban Yuwon, because Language Magic was, in effect, not so different from directly unleashing the power of language concepts.

'If there's a difference between the two... if concept release only applies to the language concepts I possess, then Language Magic means I can artificially create and manifest specific language concepts.'

The depth of the magical words Ban Yuwon had acquired reached an astonishing 100, and their sheer volume was immense, with each meaning profound. It was no exaggeration to say that he could manifest virtually any phenomenon.

However, like all magic, it required enormous mana consumption for powerful effects, so it wasn't truly omnipotent. In terms of efficiency alone, concept release was overwhelmingly superior.

'Still, if it's just about transmitting sound...'

Having witnessed Dokgo Yeon handling telepathic messages, he had a rough understanding of its principles.

Resolved, Ban Yuwon immediately moved the Hyungi within his body to create and combine two magical words.

He then realized it was a simple matter to embed his intentions as sound within them and transmit them to another.

—These escorts don't seem to be from this dimension. I think they might be people specifically prepared by the Ortima family.

—Did you steal and learn telepathy from me in the meantime?

Dokgo Yeon responded calmly to the telepathic message from Ban Yuwon, showing no surprise.

—Hardly. I'm just imitating it using a different method.

—What a clever trick.

—If you teach me properly, I'll gladly learn. Anyway, for now, let's both be careful of these guys.

—You should be careful, Ban Yuwon. If anyone here would fall for a beauty scheme, it's only you.

—That's really unfair. You don't trust me, who never batted an eye even with beauties like you two?

—How can you flatter so ridiculously?

The escorts, of course, didn't notice their silent communication, but Rucell, with her unique animalistic senses, picked up on it and her eyes gleamed sharply.

"These are your rooms. You may rest comfortably until dinner."

"If you need anything, please call us anytime."

Fortunately, their rooms were adjacent to each other.

Indeed, separating them would have been far more unnatural. It was fortunate that they didn't seem to intend to cause a major disturbance right from the accommodations.

"Well then, everyone, please rest well."

"Yes, Professor."

Even as they entered the rooms assigned by their respective escorts, the group pretended to know nothing, acting nonchalantly.

However, the moment Ban Yuwon and As Light's escorts attempted to follow them into their rooms, all their efforts went to waste.

"Wait, why are you trying to come in?"

"Out of a desire to attend to you until dinner..."

The escort replied nonchalantly, subtly emphasizing her chest to be seen only by Ban Yuwon and As Light.

But naturally, it had no effect whatsoever on As Light, and Ban Yuwon didn't even have time to react.

Because.

"Grrrrrr...!"

"H-hic?!"

Before he could show any reaction, Rucell let out a fierce beastly growl and violently grabbed the escort's arm.

Ban Yuwon was astonished to see rage and affection, two emotions, surge to over 50 each within her, completing a Heart Furnace of 100.

It was the first time her Heart Furnace had instantly activated to its maximum like this!

—BANG!

Rucell, with half of her hair dyed black, forcefully pushed the escort against the wall before she could even react, then leaned in close and snarled in a low voice.

"Don't... try your tricks... on Yuwon...!"

"Y-yes! I'm sorry!"

In that moment, Ban Yuwon saw a hallucination of two pointed ears sprouting from Rucell's head.

When Rucell violently flung her away, the escort slumped to the ground with a bewildered look, and an ineffably awkward atmosphere settled in.

"Oh my, a spring breeze is blowing. Well, see you at dinner."

Yumina, who casually uttered such words and closed her door in that situation, was truly heartless.

Meanwhile, Rucell, quickly regaining her senses, realized what she had done, panicked, and hid behind Dokgo Yeon. Dokgo Yeon, suddenly becoming a human shield, let out a dumbfounded snort, picked Rucell up with one hand, and entered their assigned room.

"..."

"..."

Only the three abandoned escorts, As Light, and Ban Yuwon remained.

Ban Yuwon, seeing the escorts trembling in terror from Rucell's lingering Wildness and the others wearing indescribably subtle expressions as they watched her, tried to think of something to say. In the end, he couldn't utter a word, pulling As Light into their room and closing the door.

Everything's ruined.

* * *

After an excruciatingly awkward period, dinner time finally arrived.

Ban Yuwon, led by his trembling but undaunted escort to the banquet hall, noticed that other classes also had escorts assigned almost one-on-one. When he read the concepts within the bodies of some of those escorts, his expression turned serious.

Honestly, he didn't want to read them.

"This place is truly impossible to get used to..."

"Wouldn't it be a way to improve their lives if they could just please someone from a higher-ranked dimension, even like this?"

Dokgo Yeon sneered, as if she had realized what Ban Yuwon was reading and thinking.

"Think about it. They're students of Union Academy, said to have the highest potential across all dimensions. If they can forge even a small connection by sacrificing their bodies, there's no reason for them to hesitate from their perspective."

"Grrr."

Perhaps stimulated by Dokgo Yeon's words, Rucell, clinging tightly to Ban Yuwon's side, bared her teeth and scanned her surroundings protectively.

He'd heard that her growth had been slow due to suppressing her Wildness, but he could already see her Wildness increasing by more than 5 since coming to this special activity.

"H-hic."

"...!"

The female escort, who had received Rucell's fierce gaze, flinched and moved away from Ban Yuwon, clinging to As Light instead. Unfortunately, there was even less chance there.

But seeing As Light look uncomfortable was amusing, so for now, Ban Yuwon decided to leave them be.

—Are you enjoying your meal?

Zenon's voice, resounding simultaneously in the minds of all the students, made Ban Yuwon instantly lose his appetite.

—I will briefly discuss tomorrow's schedule. Tomorrow morning, we plan to conduct class activities where you will directly confront the Monster Wave under the guidance of your professors. In the afternoon, you will have group activity time to freely explore and sightsee the capital of the Tolmon Empire.

"It wasn't a training camp, but a school trip."

"Ban Yuwon, what's a school trip?"

"Oh, it's a trip where you get caught up in the mood for no reason, make countless embarrassing memories, and then come back."

Why do humans get unnecessarily hyped up when they travel?

And the foolish things you did then somehow stick in your memory.

He shouldn't have been so confident in his language skills that he tried to pick up foreign beauties...

As he shook his head, recalling the memory that had earned him the nickname 'Ban-sanova' for the entire second semester of his second year after that school trip, Dokgo Yeon's eyes gleamed with interest.

"Oh, so you seduced a woman."

"Yeah, with fiery red hair and incredibly pretty green eyes... Was I saying that out loud?"

"Yes."

Unable to endure Dokgo Yeon's mischievously smiling expression, Ban Yuwon turned his head. Just then, Rucell, whose gaze met his, clenched her fists and said with a resolute expression.

"I won't lose either."

To whom?

To the red-haired beauty?

"The more I hear about your world, the more intriguing it becomes. Considering your level when we first met, it doesn't seem like a harsh environment, yet your talent itself is exceptional, and travel technology is developed enough for you to freely go abroad, and you handle things similar to the machines used in the highest-ranking dimensions."

"Come visit later."

"...Me? To your world?"

Dokgo Yeon retorted, as if she couldn't imagine it.

Ban Yuwon shrugged, thinking that if they could all gather at Union, why couldn't he take a friend to Earth?

"If it's possible."

"You say truly interesting things. ...No, uninteresting things."

Dokgo Yeon smiled.

She pretended to be nonchalant, but an undeniable coldness seeped through.

It was then that he wondered if Dokgo Yeon might have her own circumstances.

Dokgo Yeon took her gaze off him and replied.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

"I'll go, anytime."

Rucell declared firmly.

"And I have to greet them."

Whom?

My parents?!

"Everyone, love quarrels are all well and good, but you must remember the announcements properly. Tomorrow morning: class activities, afternoon: group activities. Did everyone hear that?"

Yumina's cheerful voice instantly shattered the subtle atmosphere that had unknowingly formed among the group.

Ban Yuwon quickly seized the lifeline she had extended, replying,

"Of course I remembered. You'll be with us all day tomorrow too, right, Professor?"

"Of course."

Yumina replied with a bright smile.

Both Ban Yuwon, who asked, and Yumina, who answered, had a general idea.

If they were going to pull a trick, it would probably be tomorrow.

And specifically, in the afternoon, during the group free activity time, when it would be easy to avoid prying eyes.

'They'd try to separate Yumina from us, somehow.'

He didn't know for sure, but the moment he lost her protection would undoubtedly be the most dangerous.

And the moment the 'plan' would commence.

Ban Yuwon secretly checked his inventory, narrowing his eyes.

He had prepared as much as he could.

Now, all that remained was to await the decisive battle.

"Oh?"

......For a moment, he felt something stir inside his inventory, but it must have been a trick of his imagination.

Because such an obvious plot development – where something would miraculously hatch from an egg the moment he was in danger and save him – couldn't possibly happen in reality!