Chapter 13
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Lesson 4. Rebellion - 1
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Dawn, dormitory.
With the table between them, Ban Yu-won and Light sat facing each other.
"I'm a little disappointed, Ban."
Ban Yu-won wondered if this was the squad leader he'd only heard rumors about, the one who was good at expressing disappointment.
In truth, the alcohol hadn't fully worn off yet, so his head wasn't working properly.
"I never imagined you'd pull an all-nighter like that. You could've at least told me ahead of time, and I wouldn't have worried."
"Sorry. It was my first time drinking in my life yesterday."
"……."
Light's eyes grew even colder.
Well, it was only natural to get that look when the excuse was just drinking and staying out all night—nothing substantial.
But once he learned the full story, Light wouldn't be able to blame him alone.
"Professor Yumina insisted we drink together, and I couldn't get out of it."
"What, a professor?! You're lying... no, you're not."
Light glanced at the brooch pinned to Ban Yu-won's chest, then shook his head in disbelief.
"If you said you got an official deputy position from a full professor after drinking, no one in the academy would believe it."
"Huh?"
So that's what the brooch symbolized?
Neither when he'd received it nor while sharing drinks with Professor Yumina yesterday had that come up even once!
"Oh, by the way, the booze was insanely good. I brought back a bottle, so let's drink it together later."
"You... haa, whatever. I've never drunk before."
"I hadn't either until yesterday?"
"I'm saying I won't. Go wash up quick. You smell like flowers."
The flower scent was real.
Honeymoon, the fruit wine brewed by the priests of the Temple of the Spring God, was warm and sweet going down, and afterward, it made flowers bloom from every inch of your body.
It wasn't just tasty—Ban Yu-won's internal codes had grown by 3 to 4 points each.
Most surprising was that since it was consumed orally, his All-Speaking Lips, stuck at 100, had risen by 2.
'It felt like real elixir, not the fake stuff I whipped up. Without that growth, even I'd have felt empty.'
After delivering the booze to Professor Yumina, he'd planned to head back to the dorm and prep a few things, but she'd grabbed him and they'd gone all out, wasting the whole day.
Thank goodness it ended well, but separately, he had no desire to go all out with her again.
"Alright, I'll go wash up. Still some time before morning classes?"
"First period is 'Comprehensive Combat Training' in the gym, so eat and hurry. It's with Class 1... the Special Class, the only one in the first years."
The Special Class—meaning the elite group handpicked from the top talents of the year.
Putting them together with the four from Lower Dimension Special Admission? What kind of insane idea was that?
"Hey, doesn't that lineup feel malicious?"
Ban Yu-won unclipped the brooch into his Inventory, tossed aside his uniform, and grumbled with a sour face.
Light turned away, as if he didn't want to see another guy in his underwear.
"Same here. Means our enemies aren't just among the students. And if you're changing, go in the shower room."
"Ugh, how can I hide without drawing attention... Anyway, I'll wash up."
"Ban."
"Yeah?"
Ban Yu-won had stripped off even the shirt under his uniform, revealing abs ridiculously toned for his training period, and turned around.
Light whipped his head away in horror, then asked hesitantly,
"You... didn't just drink all day yesterday, right?"
"No way. Who drinks all day?"
"...Yeah. Sorry, go wash."
"Okay."
Ban Yu-won waved lazily as he headed to the shower.
Light had apparently noticed his changes.
At orientation, Ban Yu-won's Life concept was around 15; now, with Honeymoon's boost, it hit exactly 50.
Still peanuts compared to Light, but the growth was impressive enough.
"Ah, didn't pull out clothes. Light, sorry, can you grab some?"
"Don't come out no matter what! I'll get them!"
As Light.
Suspicious as ever.
So when does Act 3 start?
Breakfast time. Ban Yu-won and Light headed to the student cafeteria near the dorm and easily linked up with Lucelle and Dokgo Yeon.
Ignoring the blatant stares, they grabbed breakfast trays, sat at the same table, and Ban Yu-won recounted yesterday's binge with Professor Yumina.
"Deputy position, huh..."
"Y-Yes, she's pretty."
Those were the reactions from Dokgo Yeon and Lucelle, respectively.
Lucelle's gaze was fixed on the brooch dangling from Ban Yu-won's chest.
Light pointed it out.
"Professor Yumina's in charge of our group of four now, so in a way, Ban as deputy is our class president."
"Hm. If we're picking a representative for us four, I think it should be me."
Today's breakfast was Western-style; she nudged aside the thick potage soup, clearly not to her taste, and stared at Ban Yu-won.
"I'm the strongest. You agree, right?"
"What?"
Before Ban Yu-won could respond, Light jumped in.
He twitched his brow and jabbed his fork toward Dokgo Yeon.
"That's a weird way to put it, Dokgo Yeon. I don't want to say this about a teammate we should get along with... but actually, that's why we need to clear it up. That attitude of yours, acting like you're the best and dismissing everyone else—it's no good for climbing the tower. I can't agree you're the strongest either."
"Funny. I remember you dismissing us first yesterday. Didn't you say you wanted to enter the tower alone?"
"Kuh?! You...!"
Ban Yu-won chuckled dryly.
He'd planned to discuss strategy ahead of first period with the Special Class, but infighting was already brewing.
"Shaaak."
"Huh?"
"Whoa."
Then Eve dropped her invisibility in Ban Yu-won's place, revealing herself and cooling the heated mood between them.
The effect was surprisingly huge.
Dokgo Yeon, seeing Eve, widened her cross-shaped pupils and reined in her killing intent, then reached out to Eve, who coiled around Ban Yu-won's arm with her head raised.
"That artifact from yesterday?"
"Changed quite a bit, huh?"
"No way you've been like this since yesterday... no, it is just one day. How...?"
"Shaa."
Eve lifted her head proudly.
Dokgo Yeon realized she understood speech, her eyes bulging; drained of anger, she sighed.
"So cute... Fine, you impressed me, so I'll hear you out first."
Odd logic, but Eve's play worked.
Ban Yu-won sighed; he didn't particularly want to be class president, but he was certain he'd be the best pick among the four...
So he began persuading them.
"Actually, the class president doesn't need to be the strongest. Or rather, they shouldn't be."
"Why?"
"Because if the strongest is president, everyone does whatever they want. But the president can't."
Dokgo Yeon spun her cross pupils, urging him on.
That's seriously scary, so please stop.
"One misunderstanding: the president isn't a ruler. They don't drag everyone their way—they synthesize opinions and pick the fairest, best option for all. Meaning the most objective, neutral person should be president."
"Sounds boring."
"That's the president. No perks, just headaches. But that's why it's important. The individual sacrificing for the group—that's the president..."
"But that's just your idea of a president, right?"
Tch, caught.
Sure, most class presidents from Korea's elementary, middle, and high schools fit his description.
But this was an academy of ability users.
In a world where power mattered, power was law.
There could be fair, objective reps considering everyone's side,
or ones leading with overwhelming strength and charisma.
And the latter wasn't necessarily wrong.
There's a saying: get to Seoul any way you can.
'But picking a rep from us four, a lone wolf is trouble.'
Not a scale issue.
Charisma leaders suit small groups better than large ones.
The problem was these four's personalities.
Take Light—his pride was sky-high, clashing with Dokgo Yeon right now.
Even if she could crush him by force now, he wouldn't bend easily, and it'd blow up soon.
Lucelle was worse. Only two days together, but her lack of assertiveness was obvious.
Ignore her for no self-assertion? That trashed the academy's core theme of student growth.
This type needed a patient leader who listened and waited for them to shine.
Ban Yu-won could declare it, seeing her dazzling potential.
"I'm pretty even-tempered, so it'd work, but to draw out all four personalities, I'm better as president than you."
"Even-tempered? You?"
Dokgo Yeon snorted oddly there.
But convinced, she nodded.
"Fine. Seems professors appoint presidents anyway. And you're the only one here I'd truly follow."
"Huh."
Chills.
Before he could probe, she continued.
"Just don't misunderstand—I accept you as president, but I won't take orders."
"No plans to order anyway. Just, for all four's growth, some communication and teamwork? Thoughts?"
"……."
Dokgo Yeon eyed Light and Lucelle silently, snorting disdainfully.
But.
"Those at the top must see far... Even if some displease, to get what you want, embrace all. Fine. Let's do it."
He wrapped up the debate with Dokgo Yeon as a win-win.
Minor issue: Light still fuming at her words. But she seemed stronger, so... pride issues needed time.
Light's the biggest bomb, huh.
He sighed involuntarily.
"Um... excuse me."
As Ban Yu-won pondered disarming that bomb, quiet Lucelle spoke up cautiously.
"The snake... can I touch it too? It's so cute..."
"Go ahead!"
Correction.
Bombs everywhere.
Thus, they settled Ban Yu-won as the rep for the four.
Light just disliked her claiming the strongest should lead; no issue with Yumina picking Ban originally.
Dokgo Yeon openly said she liked him (he realized her 'liking' was like a corporate exec headhunting talent) and stepped back graciously.
Lucelle gushed over cute Eve, flashing her first shy smile since meeting Ban—stunningly adorable, but who knows with her.
"First class, maybe light sparring? What do you think?"
"Professor, I'm curious about the special admits' skills!"
"I'd like to test them myself!"
And so, first-period woes hit their new class president.
"That wimp dares wear a brooch from Professor Yumina, the Goddess of Flowers? I absolutely won't accept it. I'll check his skills myself!"
A massive woe.