I got into school for nothing - 54
I got into school for nothing (54)
Lesson 12. Monster Wave - 4
The next morning.
Ban Yuwon, who had woken up before As Light, finished washing his face and turned his gaze toward As Light's sleeping figure.
As Light, breathing softly beneath the blanket, looked every bit a princess.
If only she would keep her mouth shut like this, she'd be truly adorable.
‘But when she holds the Holy Sword, she looks quite masculine, doesn't she?’
When she wielded the Holy Sword and fought in the Tower, she exuded the strong aura of a handsome young male swordsman. However, after training with a spear instead of the Holy Sword all this week, her feminine aura had gradually intensified again.
During training, she occasionally suffered unexplainable pangs of agony, but since she herself insisted she was fine, there was no way to delve deeper.
“Mmm...”
As As Light stirred in her sleep, Ban Yuwon, startled by the thought that she might have woken up hearing his voice, hastily backed away.
But she merely murmured words like ‘Father’ or ‘Ancestor’ in her sleep, before falling back into a deep slumber.
“I mean, she should try harder to hide her true identity...”
Ban Yuwon, finding it absurd, nevertheless smoothed out the blanket that had been dislodged as she tossed and turned, then left the room.
Right in front of him stood the guide.
“What the?!”
“Eek!”
The guide, feigning a dramatic startle as if unaware of Ban Yuwon's sudden appearance, was so obviously acting that one didn't even need 'Authority' to realize it immediately.
Indeed, it would have been harder to pretend not to notice, but Ban Yuwon, with his acting skills honed on modern Earth, could easily pull it off!
“Are you okay? You must have been very surprised?”
I messed up!
“Ah, no. I'm truly sorry. It's quite embarrassing that as a soldier, my skills aren't as refined as they should be...”
Fortunately, however, the guide failed to notice Ban Yuwon's unnatural acting and continued her own performance.
Ban Yuwon inwardly applauded the guide, who, despite possessing enough combat power to effortlessly chew up a hundred soldiers simultaneously, was now pretending to be weak and blushing.
Even after being so thoroughly dealt with by Rucell yesterday, she still hadn't given up her machinations!
“Ah, now that I think about it, I was so flustered yesterday that I didn't even introduce myself. I am Anneri Dedota. Please, feel free to call me Anneri.”
“...Alright, Anneri. I look forward to working with you for the rest of this period.”
As Ban Yuwon extended his hand, Anneri brightened and clasped it, shaking it.
Her Level was approximately 600, her Body 350, Mana 200, and Soul 80.
He could also read her swordsmanship, which reached a level of 120, and even the poison with a depth of 50, glowing with an ominous green light around her wrist.
‘So, with direct contact, I can now read differences to this extent.’
Ban Yuwon's Level was 360, meaning by simple comparison, she was about 1.6 times stronger than him. Nevertheless, he had managed to grasp all her core abilities to a significant degree.
To read her in any more detail would require him to use Hyungi, but that would greatly increase the chance of being discovered. So, he was content with this much and let go of her hand.
“So, what brings you here so early this morning?”
“Nothing in particular, just to give my morning greetings... And to see if there's anything you might need me for.”
She smiled with her eyes, subtly pressing her body closer to him.
A signal that anyone, unless they were utterly oblivious, would understand.
Her indomitable challenger spirit, determined to succeed with her honey trap at all costs, was certainly worth commending... but unfortunately, it was doomed to fail today as well.
“Step back.”
“I, I was just giving my morning greeti— Huh?”
Anneri Dedota instinctively made an excuse and turned around at the voice from behind her.
Standing there was Dokgo Yeon, clad in a luxurious silk nightgown.
At her completely unexpected appearance and intervention, Anneri retorted with a blank expression.
“Uh, so...?”
“I told you to step back.”
“My apologies!”
As Dokgo Yeon revealed a faint trace of killing intent with an annoyed expression, Anneri gasped, bowed her head, and scurried down the corridor.
However, Ban Yuwon caught her giving him a brief, dumbfounded look over her shoulder, and felt a little dejected.
“Now, in that woman's mind, I'm a playboy two-timing both you and Rucell.”
“What does a trivial misunderstanding like that matter, when we're all bound to kill or be killed soon anyway?”
Dokgo Yeon, as usual, scoffed in response, then turned her body.
“Let's talk for a moment. I want to review today's strategy.”
“Are you seriously going outside in that outfit?”
“Who's going to see me on the way to the balcony right in front of us?”
If it was just a simple conversation, they could have had it in the room.
Even as he thought that, Ban Yuwon couldn't stop Dokgo Yeon, who was striding ahead, so he followed behind her.
—Creak
The two pushed open the door at the end of the corridor and stepped out onto the balcony.
There were many reasons why the rooms assigned to their party were good, but primarily, it was because they had been allocated almost the entire section at the end of the corridor.
Naturally, the balcony at the end of that corridor was practically exclusive to them.
“Hoh, the morning breeze is quite pleasant.”
Dokgo Yeon leaned casually against the balcony railing, smiling as the wind swept over her.
Ban Yuwon watched her gown flutter in the wind, thinking that she looked quite splendid.
“But the wind is a bit chilly... I'd like something warm to drink. Even better if it's sweet.”
Splendid, rescinded.
Perhaps she had deliberately come out in thin clothing just to make that remark?
“Just say you want hot chocolate honestly.”
“It's fine, since you understood. Thank you.”
She took the mug filled with warm hot chocolate and let out a satisfied sigh.
As Ban Yuwon drank his own hot chocolate, Dokgo Yeon, who had already half-emptied her mug, spoke nonchalantly.
“What if we killed him now?”
“...You.”
No need to ask whom she meant to kill.
At her terribly radical remark, Ban Yuwon glared at her.
Dokgo Yeon did not avoid his gaze, but simply met it steadily.
Of course, it was Ban Yuwon who lost the staring contest.
He averted her gaze, turning his head as he replied.
“That's different from our plan. No.”
“Tsk, I thought you'd give me the answer I wanted.”
Dokgo Yeon clicked her tongue, her words accompanied by a sigh.
Only then did Ban Yuwon understand why he had been dragged to the balcony.
“You dragged me out here alone because you didn't want As Light and Rucell to hear, didn't you?”
“The beast would take your side, and As Light would undoubtedly be disgusted and object.”
Ban Yuwon massaged his throbbing forehead with one hand as he replied.
“I agree that we need to deal with Ortima somehow, but no.”
“Even when he's trying to kill us?”
“Still the same. If it were just about getting leverage, fine, but killing him would make things far too complicated.”
Ban Yuwon bit his lip, recalling the immense power of the Ortima Family, who could manipulate academy events just to target a few students.
He couldn't even begin to imagine how far the repercussions would spread if Lusein Ortima were to die here.
“Not here, at least. You know that much, don't you?”
“I've never let live anyone who dared to put a blade to my throat.”
Dokgo Yeon said in an unwavering voice.
“I made many other enemies in the process, but in the end, I am still alive. And it will be the same this time.”
“...”
Words far too chilling for someone who had only just barely become an adult to utter.
Ban Yuwon could barely imagine the hellish battlefields she must have endured until now, and so, for the moment, he could only remain silent.
“...However, since this matter isn't solely my problem.”
Dokgo Yeon continued.
“I will trust your judgment and concede this one time.”
Just this one time, I'll endure it.
Dokgo Yeon said so calmly, then finished her drink.
“I'm not forgetting. I'm merely postponing. In the future, when those arrogant fools are utterly annihilated, you will need to be by my side.”
“You were setting the mood to say that from the beginning, weren't you?”
“You caught me.”
She said such a thing with a perfectly straight face, without so much as a blink, and held out her mug for more hot chocolate. Honestly, if he were guaranteed not to get beaten up, he would have loved to punch her.
Dokgo Yeon, having had her mug refilled, smiled faintly and said.
“But I was also serious. I wanted you, of all people, to know that my patience is not a given. I wanted to share this humiliation, this rage, that I'm feeling right now...”
“It just sounds like you're trying to shackle me...”
Dokgo Yeon put on a dramatically startled expression.
Unlike Anneri Dedota, this was an academy-level, leading actress performance.
“To think even that was exposed.”
Could I just hit her once, really?
No, I probably shouldn't, I'd die...
Ban Yuwon forced down the rising annoyance and gulped his hot chocolate.
It was so hot, he thought the roof of his mouth would peel off.
* * *
After the splendid morning banquet, much like the one yesterday, concluded and a short break was taken, the academy students gathered in the plaza, splitting into their respective classes.
As they had been informed by a previous announcement, Class 1 and Class 11 were to form a single combined class. With a mere nine full professors in total, the fact that two of them were assigned to oversee one class drew an extraordinary amount of attention from all directions.
Professor Cantone, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as if reveling in the attention, spoke to Professor Yumina.
“Professor Yumina, I intend to take charge of controlling the students today, would that be acceptable?”
“As long as the autonomy of our Class 11 students is guaranteed, by all means.”
Professor Yumina's unyielding reply visibly stiffened the corners of Cantone's mouth.
However, the gazes of the two most highly anticipated students from Class 1 were too intense to pay much attention to the subtle power struggle between the two professors.
“Hm? Leaving aside that crown bug, when did you charm that woman too, Ban Yuwon?”
“I expected you to say that, but no.”
To Dokgo Yeon, who asked with a puzzled expression after feeling Aire's gaze, Ban Yuwon replied with a wry smile.
“It's not me, but Professor Yumina she has a crush on.”
“In that case... our doting professor must have favored you without realizing it and been caught by that woman.”
“Doting professor? That's a bit harsh, Dokgo Yeon.”
Professor Yumina, who had finished her conversation with Cantone and returned, retorted to Dokgo Yeon with a playful smile.
“I treat everyone equally, you know. It’s all a misunderstanding. To Dokgo Yeon, who feels my affection is lacking, I'll specially give you another beautiful flower ornament like this one...”
“My apologies.”
Dokgo Yeon apologized earnestly, her expression serious.
Ban Yuwon watched her, hoping that Aire's jealousy might be diverted to Dokgo Yeon, but Aire's gaze remained intently fixed on him alone.
‘Surely Aire isn't going to go on a rampage trying to kill me, along with Ortima.’
Ban Yuwon sighed and looked back.
There stood the guides, who were diligently accompanying them to the field site today.
As Class 1 was a Special Class, each student even had a dedicated guide, creating a massive group of seventy people in total, comprising Class 1, Class 11, two full professors, and all the guides.
He had clearly heard that the academy students would directly confront monsters on the battlefield today, so he couldn't for the life of him understand why guides were accompanying them.
“I will ensure you have no inconveniences today, Ban Yuwon-nim.”
Anneri Dedota, noticing Ban Yuwon's gaze, smiled brightly as if she'd forgotten everything that happened that morning, and offered her greeting.
Rucell wore a chilling expression, and Dokgo Yeon let out a hollow laugh.
Meanwhile, the male guide accompanying Rucell and Dokgo Yeon seemed to have decided to blame Ban Yuwon for receiving no attention from the two women, and openly glared at him.
If this wasn't called a complete predicament, what else could it be?
Professor Yumina spoke in a vibrant voice, as if completely oblivious to the fierce war of nerves unfolding beneath the surface.
But Ban Yuwon detected a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Perhaps Cantone had provoked her by discussing the individual abilities of the students?
—Spatial transfer for first-year Class 1 and Class 11 is commencing. May this be a rewarding special activity.
Soon, spatial transfer magic activated, transporting all of them to the class activity site... that is, the battlefield.
Yesterday, Ban Yuwon had been unconsciously tense from moving only through massive battlefields where clashes of millions took place, but the location they arrived at after the spatial transfer was a seemingly ordinary urban area.
That is to say, it would have looked ordinary if not for the shouts and explosions echoing from all directions.
“Hah, you've arrived! Loyalty!”
The battlefield commander rushed over and saluted the two professors.
News of their arrival instantly spread throughout the entire battlefield.
“Union Academy's reinforcements have arrived!”
“Everyone, defensive formation! Union Academy's reinforcements are here!”
“We're saved...!”
Though small in scale, this was also a place where life-or-death battles were being fought.
Ban Yuwon found it ironic that the students, still acting as if on a picnic, were about to fight in place of these soldiers.
“So...”
Cantone, exuding a powerful aura to assert his presence, spoke to the commander.
“What is the war situation? What are the main forces making up the enemy?”
“Yesterday, large-scale subjugations occurred on all major battlefronts, causing the enemy's remaining forces to scatter across various fields. We are defending with a thousand soldiers, but frankly, even maintaining the current situation is difficult. The enemy's main force consists of shadow weasels skilled in urban warfare, and...”
At Cantone's cold voice, the person who appeared to be the battalion commander diligently elaborated.
Cantone waved his hand dismissively in the middle of the explanation.
“Shadow weasels? Nothing worth hearing. From now on, all students will hold their positions at the points I designate and engage in combat. Show these ignorant fools the power of those who climb the Tower!”
After making such an arrogant declaration, he began dispatching students one by one to different points, as if moving chess pieces.
It was a moment that rendered the meaning of class activities entirely meaningless.
“Dokgo Yeon, you go to the rooftop of that building with the orange sign. As Light, Rucell, Ban Yuwon. Each of you will guard one of the buildings lined up next to it.”
“...”
Class 11, as a whole, was assigned points far removed from the battlefield's center.
With this, Ban Yuwon became convinced that Cantone had accurately grasped the true abilities of Class 11.
It was precisely because he knew their outstanding abilities that he assigned them such paltry roles, preventing them from showcasing their talents.
Professor Yumina, realizing this, challenged Cantone with an incredulous tone.
“Professor Cantone? Doesn't it seem like you're making decisions that deviate a bit from the objectives of Union Academy's special activities?”
“The objective of this class activity is to emphasize students experiencing the battlefield firsthand and confirming their individual abilities and potential. I merely thought of a good way to utilize each student's abilities and achieve the combat objectives.”
Furthermore, Cantone continued, a smile playing on his lips.
“Isn't there a saying about 'the right person for the right job'? I even went to the trouble of specially ensuring that Professor Yumina's cherished students wouldn't be in dangerous situations, so I believe this is something you should thank me for.”
“Hah.”
Professor Yumina scoffed once, then turned and approached her group.
“Alright, everyone.”
Her face was utterly serene, as if she hadn't exchanged a single word with Cantone.
Could this be the true pinnacle of disregard?
“As you climb the Tower, there will be times when you'll have to fight in environments like this. During quests given by the Tower's will, you might find yourselves needing to protect the weak, just like now, so I want you to pay special attention to that aspect of your activity.”
Protect what in the Tower?
Before Ban Yuwon could retort, Professor Yumina clapped her hands and said.
“Then let's head to your assigned points and begin combat! I'll be watching over you nearby, so don't worry... Ban Yuwon student.”
Professor Yumina gritted her teeth, demanding in a voice quiet enough only for him to hear.
“Give me a big explosion in the front. Just like I taught you yesterday.”
“I understand what you want.”
Why did Professor Yumina give special instructions only to Ban Yuwon?
It was because, unlike the other three party members who were classified as close-range combatants, Ban Yuwon possessed a reliable long-range attack method.
And a very large and beautiful one at that.
Ban Yuwon retrieved a long, red staff from his inventory, gripped it, and grinned.
“I'll just make a volcano erupt.”
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