Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Lesson 24. Where's a Freshman Like You? - 2
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While the freshmen were still too busy adjusting to the academy to pay much attention to it, every Sunday was a hugely important day for the current students.
It was the day the rankings updated—the highest floor reached in the tower from Friday through Sunday. (Of course, some students emerged on Saturday or even Friday due to retreats or breaks.)
This ranking system was linked to the academy intranet, accessible via student IDs, and updated the moment students exited the tower.
While it was possible to set them to private, rankings—along with comprehensive evaluation match standings—served as key measures of a student's strength, so hardly any teams hid theirs.
"Hey, hey, this week's rankings are up."
"Oh? Some guys really hung on till the end, huh. Everyone's out by six p.m. anyway."
On Sunday afternoon, students who'd finished their explorations early sat around cafe terraces in the annex's cafes and restaurants, sipping drinks and chatting as they waited for the update.
This week happened to be the first after regular exams ended and tower dives resumed, drawing extra attention to the rankings...
"...Huh?"
"What's up? Third-years? Student Council President?"
"She's always solo at the top. No need to check her. Look at the other Student Council folks."
"Publicity Chief? Impressive, sure, but she's always neck-and-neck with the Vice President... Huh?"
This week, the rankings were unusually shaken up.
Mira, the Student Council Publicity Chief, held solo exploration privileges—something only four third-years possessed—and boasted results rivaling the fourth-year Vice President's team.
This week, she'd finally broken through over ten rooms, closing in on not just Ketra but the Student Council President herself.
Above her were just a handful of fourth-years and fifth-year graduates.
She'd leaped over two full years to compete with her seniors.
And solo, no less!
"Ha, this is..."
"She's on fire. Good compatibility with her constellation?"
"So now third-years' top spots are locked: President, Publicity Chief, and those two solo explorers."
"Even so, nearing 300 rooms and breaking ten more? That freshman she's been with lately didn't do something?"
"If you're basing that on that boot camp channel or whatever, give it up. You think fairy elites are the same as those foundation-less scrubs?"
Gasps and murmurs of Mira's name rippled everywhere.
She'd already drawn eyes all last week hanging with Ban Yu-won, and now this bombshell demanded attention.
Naturally, curiosity turned to him next.
The freshman's ranking—the guy chosen by the academy's coveted fairy girl.
"30 rooms... Pretty average?"
"Saw the video—he wiped once before. Accounting for that, it's fast."
"Average for first-years overall, though..."
First-year rankings were tricky to judge early on; they were still adapting to the academy and tower.
But standouts were already emerging.
Lucein Ortima, heir to a top house, had returned from injury during special activities and led his waiting team straight to 50 rooms.
Aire, who'd snagged solo privileges at enrollment and rocketed to 70 rooms at record speed.
"Objectively, he lags way behind them."
"Not even close."
Current students double- and triple-checked first-years, wearing the same incredulous look people get facing the inexplicable.
"But why does Rebellion's dives always feel like they're hitting 100+ rooms..."
"No chain rooms below 100, right? They really only hit 30?"
"The tower reacts to individual prowess and all, but how cocky are they?"
Then it happened.
Mirrors buzzed briefly across most students.
"New Rebellion video!"
"...You got it too?"
Current students whipped out mirrors, exchanging awkward glances.
Admitting they eagerly awaited a junior team's videos felt embarrassing as seniors.
"But... you all watch, right?"
"Watching that Ban Yu-won guy, I pick up stuff I need to learn..."
"What kind of freshman is this?"
"This whole incoming class is weird. Especially Rebellion."
But realizing everyone was the same killed the shame.
They shared knowing grins laced with camaraderie and boldly played the videos.
"Ahem, uh, pink hair's cute, right?"
"Everything she does is cute. If not for Ban Yu-won, I'd..."
"Adorable today too."
"That silver-hair's martial world must be some splinter dimension from Origin. A lower-dimension girl like her? Might as well tell us all to quit."
All were Rebellion channel subscribers.
...Some even Level Force fan club members.
Confirming the similarity, many current students crowded tables to watch together...
"—Wait, chain up to 27 rooms?!"
"Rewards! Knew it'd treasure chest at 30—yep!"
How insanely Rebellion had crushed the tower spread academy-wide within hours.
Monday morning.
Mira surveyed the 'Special Admission Students' Exclusive Training Room'—barely secured via Student Council President approval, three full professors (Campanella, Yumina, Xenon), and finally the Chancellor's sign-off for this project—letting out a sigh.
"What a hassle just to get this."
Originally, every class got its own training room.
But special admissions hadn't been recognized as classes until Professor Yumina took charge of this first-year batch, finally granting one.
That sight had sparked the Student Council's resolve.
—They hadn't even considered dedicated rooms for specials before.
"We finally have our own training room! Kyaaahoooo!"
"If you don't want it shut down day one, stop rolling and get up, Rock Senior!"
"...If you're that thrilled, you should've applied ages ago."
"I did?"
The tumbling rock (even other juniors called him that now) looked up suddenly.
"But they said no empty rooms."
"Ha, yeah, figures..."
The annex's group training rooms were limited.
Yet plenty remained after assigning per grade and class—open as 'free training rooms' via prior reservation.
The catch? Priority booking.
And priority went without saying to Special Class students, turning them into playgrounds.
But the determined Student Council, upright professors, and Ban Yu-won's existence reclaimed one!
"From now on, it's up to you guys."
Mira ignored the gleeful roller, picked a spot, and eyed the specials activating Ban Yu-won's talismans, her voice icy.
"No results, and we lose this room. Good ones, and we snag grade-specific rooms. To flip the academy's injustices, crush with overwhelming performance till mouths shut."
"Got it! Our Mira... Publicity Chief! For you to care this much!"
The rock, who'd slipped to first-name basis, spotted purple orbs floating around her and hastily corrected.
Mira just scoffed.
"Not for you. For the Student Council, a fairer academy. ...And my man."
"Guh."
Truth be told, guilt lingered too—inescapable even after entrusting everything to Ban Yu-won.
Guilt for nearly dragging Ketra and countless students into disaster under constellation sway.
Admitting it might shatter her, so she couldn't.
But inaction wasn't an option.
This project stemmed from that torment.
'Hate dumping these annoyances on you too. Said I'd give everything, sorry for holding back. The rest, really all yours...'
She clenched her fists, picturing her contractor.
No face-time since Friday bred urgency she felt keenly.
Really, she just missed him.
Incredible.
'How can it be this different.'
With Ketra, meetings scared her sometimes.
His actions stressed her, his attitude stressed her.
She'd even foolishly wished to cherish feelings sans meeting forever.
Ban Yu-won was different.
His voice made her crave more.
Sight sparked unquenchable thirst.
Apart, he nagged her mind; together, she yearned closer.
She knew it twisted beyond normal love, obsessive even.
Yet thinking of him brought peace, joy.
'You said you'd take all of me.'
That one phrase.
He'd take even this heavy, irritating, bothersome woman—probably regretted it blind.
Contract sealed, irreversible.
She could plunge worry-free.
"Publicity Chief's lost in delusion with an expression we've never seen."
"Feels like we're invisible already."
"Ban Yu-won, super grateful guy, but curse him right now..."
"Her head okay? How's a top fairy elite falling for a human..."
"What'd you say?"
Next instant, Mira snapped from reverie, flicking a finger to blast nearby specials to the opposite wall.
True to chasing the grade-transcending president, students crumpled without reaction.
"Train."
"Y-Yes...!"
Mira sighed at the scattering specials, voiceless.
They were elites befitting 'special' once.
Not at enrollment, but academy elitism warped them toward sycophancy.
Fix attitudes before abilities, maybe...
"Publicity Chief, truly thanks."
"Hm?"
Turning, she saw Woo Hyeol-rin—the sole third-year special Ban Yu-won praised.
"For what."
"This project's all your effort. You seem swamped lately."
"Ah..."
"Just worried you're okay. This was Ban Yu-won junior's gig, but you're shouldering too much."
Mira knew she was overdoing it.
But it didn't torment.
Constellation contract supercharged her body, sure... but thinking efforts for Ban Yu-won melted fatigue instantly.
She wouldn't spill to a near-stranger, just shook her head.
"No need to worry about me. Just deliver project results."
"Fine if you're good. But consult freely if tough. Rare sharing a constellation lineage."
Woo Hyeol-rin left after.
As expected, Mira nodded thoughtfully.
—Kin hate? He seems sour.
'Kin? Nah. Hate, maybe.'
She snorted mentally at her contractor constellation, Inferno Gravekeeper.
'Just annoyed at familiar chit-chat over shared constellation.'
—Too rigid. Avoiding all men but your love?
'Men cozying to women usually want more than words.'
—Fair point.
The constellation chuckled merrily.
—Still, same power lineage could benefit if friendly.
'You just want my relations messy.'
—Joy and sorrow, my contractor's wisdom.
She ignored further.
Having given all to Ban Yu-won, all future ties centered him.
Constellation hadn't grasped that.
Even if, powerless anyway.
"Ooh, bigger than Class 11's room."
"...!"
Her pointed ears perked at the voice behind.
She turned casually.
He'd arrived—the one awaited.
"You're here, Yu-won."
"Yeah. Dropping new talismans and Kshana-senior's custom gear... Whoa."
Squish. Her body betrayed her calm face, hugging him tight.
She never hesitated hurling all at him.
"Aaah, can't lose!"
"Why are you competing from there, Lucelle."
Squish. Lucelle, arriving with him, jolted and hugged from the other side, sandwiching him like ham between bread.
"Hey, both calm down... Ah, doomed."
Ban Yu-won sighed midway peeling them.
"...Student Council business. Ban Yu-won junior, a word?"
Student Council Vice President Ketra stared.
Seemed aimed at Mira, more...
Oblivious, she savored her contractor's embrace after days apart.