Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Lesson 27. Mock Constellation Battle - 2
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Even though it was called a mock constellation battle, the first session was really just about adapting to the power of the space created by Orb in isolated areas for each person. Once it ended, most of the students left the classroom with deeply fatigued expressions from overexerting their mana and mental strength.
Ban Yu-won was also pale-faced, clutching his throbbing head as he staggered along.
"Ugh, my head's gonna split."
"Yu-won, you okay? Want to lean on me for a bit?"
"Ah, Lucelle. Mira too... thanks, both of you."
"Yeah."
"I figured you'd adapt easily. ...You two look totally natural at it."
In contrast, Dokgo Yeon looked perfectly fine. She was stunned to see Lucelle and Mira subtly supporting him from both sides as he struggled.
"I adapted fine, but I tried something a bit different, that's all. How about you?"
"I..."
Ban Yu-won couldn't outright ask about the lecture, since he wasn't allowed to talk about it.
Dokgo Yeon withdrew her pitiful gaze from Mira and Lucelle, cleared her throat with a cough, and replied.
"It wasn't much different from my usual training. The only difference was manifesting what I normally just visualize in my mind into reality. It was incredibly helpful."
"Phew... I was a total mess."
Light, who had been glaring at Mira clinging to Ban Yu-won's left side, let out a sigh and spoke up.
"In that space, my focus loosens up somehow. It was all I could do to keep my holy sword from popping out."
"Overcoming that alone has to help your training, right?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah, kinda."
It was shocking in many ways, but Orb's space clearly seemed beneficial for everyone.
Only Lucelle, supporting Ban Yu-won's right shoulder, wore an dissatisfied expression.
"Why did it have to be called 'constellation' of all things? I don't like the name."
"Because the course is called Babylon and Constellations."
Ban Yu-won, having recovered some mental strength and able to walk on his own, lightly pushed the two away.
Or tried to, anyway. They didn't budge.
They stuck to him like they had been waiting for the perfect chance to cling on, refusing to let go even an inch.
"Both of you, back off a bit. Class is over, so we need to go drill the club members."
A few weeks into taking over the club, Ban Yu-won had already developed the mindset of a passionate trainer earnestly wishing for his PT clients' muscle gains.
Mira wrapped both her arms around his left arm to keep the trainer from escaping and said,
"The schedule for today is already set anyway. Tell them to roll around on their own, and play with me. You've been drained from the lecture—you need some rest time."
"I think the same. Yu-won needs to rest right now. Your complexion earlier was seriously bad."
Not to be outdone by Mira, Lucelle hugged his other arm and insisted.
In an instant, he was trapped by the girls on both sides, unable to move.
And then, to his disbelief, even Dokgo Yeon joined in.
"It should be fine once in a while. Lately, I've thought you move around too busily whenever I see you."
She betrayed him just like that.
"I'll check on the special admission training room. I won't teach them swordsmanship separately, but I'll supervise if they're swinging their swords as you taught them."
"Dokgo Yeon, you..."
"I, I'm coming with you guys! I don't know where you're taking Ban..."
And so, with Dokgo Yeon opting out, Light tagged along instead, and the four of them headed out.
It wasn't much of an outing—just lightly strolling through Ronica's shopping district and settling at a secluded table in the cafe Kettra had recommended, sipping coffee.
"He's finally gone."
Lucelle murmured softly as she picked up her served coffee.
When the rest of the group tilted their heads, not knowing what she meant, she gave a wry smile and answered.
"The student council vice president."
"He's been following us this whole time?"
Apparently, even Mira hadn't noticed.
If it came down to pure strength, Mira would be stronger, and Ban Yu-won was confident his senses weren't inferior to anyone's—yet Lucelle had spotted him more accurately than both.
Ban Yu-won felt a shiver at her animal-like instincts once again.
"From a huge distance. Seemed wary of getting close to you, Senior Mira... Does he have some restriction?"
"Yeah, a restriction. The president—Shati—put it on him personally. Evil One is skilled in contract and restriction magic due to his race traits. The Geas that third-year Woo Hyeo-rin handles is similar to the president's modified magic abilities."
Ban Yu-won was impressed by the student council president's thorough aftercare.
Was that why she had been so confident?
He was a bit bothered that she hadn't mentioned such a method back then... but regardless, she'd cleanly dealt with Kettra, so he was grateful.
"I was thinking of showing off a little since he was staring so blatantly when we left the classroom."
"That's why you two were clinging so oddly earlier."
"Since he followed us all the way here, it must've been pretty effective, right?"
Mira wore an utterly delighted expression as she took a sip of her cafe mocha, then leaned back against the chair cushion with a satisfied, languid look.
If you cut out this moment, she perfectly embodied the image of a villainess.
"What if that senior holds a grudge against us?"
Light said with a sullen expression.
"He's obsessed with you, Senior, so he might try something bad to us. What then? I heard he owes Ban a lot—won't that just cause trouble instead?"
"Kettra doing that? Pfft. No way."
Mira narrowed her eyes like she'd heard a ridiculous joke.
"Kettra joined the student council to boost her own reputation. She cares a ton about how others see her and their evaluations."
"She didn't seem lacking in confidence."
"The opposite—she works hard to build confidence by staying in a position where everyone likes her. That's why she never complains about the president overloading her with work and just follows orders. Of course, she wouldn't even dream of committing a crime. She's terrified of the blame that would come her way."
Light still looked confused, but... Ban Yu-won nodded unconsciously, recalling Kettra's affable demeanor from their first meeting, where she carefully maintained an image that inspired no aversion.
"Maybe she's pretending to cling to me now because I clearly told her 'no' back then. She can't accept being hated by anyone—she's the type who'll do anything for approval. Now that you've heard this, you can relax, right?"
"Hmm..."
By coming here, Kettra's image had unintentionally been fleshed out more.
It matched surprisingly well with Ban Yu-won's original impression of her, so he accepted it naturally.
"I hate that. People who approach just to confirm they're loved by everyone. I like... someone who pulls me in strongly, regardless of my own will. Someone who takes everything from me intensely—"
"I get what you're saying, but anyone overhearing might think I'm some criminal, so cut it out."
Ban Yu-won couldn't withstand the hot gaze Mira directed at him steadily and turned his head away.
Mira giggled at his reaction, set her coffee cup on the table, and suddenly switched expressions as she spoke.
"And you guys, your senses seem a bit numb on this front, so I'm telling you."
"Huh?"
"No matter how obsessed, no psycho in the academy would commit a crime over romantic drama. Getting into Union Academy is too hard to risk expulsion over something like that."
Come to think of it, yeah!
There was that lunatic Ortima who mobilized dimension pirates for Dokgo Yeon, but he had the ultimate backing of a tenth-rank family—normal people couldn't go that far!
But did Mira realize?
That her own words had boomeranged right back to poke at her back...!
"Staring like that won't change anything. I've forgotten everything before meeting you. The me before you and now are separate. The contract said so."
"Convenient excuse."
Ban Yu-won sighed and sipped his tea.
But to Mira, it wasn't an excuse—it was sincere truth without a shred of falsehood.
"Yeah... Hehe. Still, sitting like this and talking feels nice."
Lucelle, who had been quietly sipping her coffee across from them, suddenly let out a laugh and said,
"I've wanted to sit down properly with you like this at least once, Senior Mira, and really open up about our thoughts."
"Yeah, same here."
Mira's violet eyes sparkled.
Ban Yu-won tensed up, unsure what conversation was coming, but it unfolded in a slightly different direction than he'd imagined.
"Everything I heard today was helpful. I got a good sense of how you see Yu-won, Senior Mira."
"You too—I can tell from how naturally you're positioned to protect Yu-won. Like how you noticed his condition before I did today..."
Mira and Lucelle's gazes met in the air.
They always seemed to compete whenever they crossed paths, but now there was no trace of rivalry between them.
In fact...
"...Can I call you Lucelle?"
"Then can I call you Mira-unnie?"
"Sure, nice to meet you properly. Use casual speech."
"Yeah. Nice to meet you too, unnie."
...Huh?
What? Why do they suddenly look like best friends?
Even Light, drinking hot milk beside him, had his eyes wide open—so it wasn't just Ban Yu-won's imagination.
"It'll be tough ahead, but... let's support Yu-won together. That's what I've wanted to say to you all along, Mira-unnie."
"Just the two of us so far? Can I think of myself as second?"
"No such thing as order, unnie. Even if there was, it'd be up to Yu-won."
"Got it... That's good info. Thanks. Truth is, I didn't want to lose to you either."
While Ban Yu-won and Light stared wide-eyed, Lucelle and Mira exchanged words back and forth, eventually shaking hands with smiles.
It wasn't pure fondness, but they even gave off the vibe of upright rivals competing honorably.
"I-is this the world of women...?"
"Don't ask me, Ban. But... right now, I'm feeling really down."
As the two shared bold smiles like they'd formed an alliance or fair competition pact, Light suddenly set down his milk glass and declared,
"I don't care about the order you two set—I'm Ban's closest friend! Remember that!"
"...What's with this guy?"
"Idiot."
"Lucelle, did you just call me an idiot?!"
Mira nodded at Light's pouty face.
"Yeah, no need to worry about him."
"Not that I should say it, but aren't you treating him too poorly?"
Fortunately, when Ban Yu-won mixed some elixir jam into Light's milk to make an instant fruit latte, Light's mood lifted right away.
"So, Yu-won, why were you so wiped out after the lecture?"
"Ah, that was—"
After that, the four of them discussed the "Mock Constellation Battle" from today and successfully built some camaraderie.
It was such a good time that Dokgo Yeon's absence felt regrettable.
"Run."
A pebble bravely objected to Dokgo Yeon's chilling voice.
"No, Junior Ban Yu-won isn't here right now!"
"So you won't?"
"No, I will..."
And it deflated in an instant.
"W-what? She's scary enough normally, but she seems even moodier today."
"Now that you mention it, why'd only she come today? I wanted to show off to Junior Yu-won and score points, but dang—."
"We gotta rest a bit when the cameras aren't rolling to survive. Our Yu-won is way too intense..."
The club members, who usually monopolized the seniors' attention and affection from Ban Yu-won and thus showed somewhat scattered focus in training due to his absence—
"You there, come out. Sparring time."
"Huh?! We just did!"
"You seem to have energy left, so I'll oblige. Unless you'd rather not?"
"N-no! I'll do it!"
All turned into meek lambs before Dokgo Yeon equally.
"You're working hard alone. Everyone ditched you to go have fun?"
"Hmph."
Among the seniors here, the only third-year with a constellation contract, Woo Hyeo-rin, still approached Dokgo Yeon boldly anyway.
As if she'd completely forgotten getting thoroughly thrashed by her last time.
"I know you take the same lecture. Didn't you see?"
"I saw you all together, but I didn't eavesdrop. Looks like the PR chief went with...?"
"Yes."
"How the heck did the PR chief get close to Junior Ban Yu-won? Kinda jealous—wonder where I fell behind."
During her previous spar with Ban Yu-won, Woo Hyeo-rin had subtly revealed her good feelings toward Mira.
Unlike a certain fairy race member, she seemed to have cleanly given up now... but took the chance in her absence to show a bit of lingering attachment.
"It's their business, so I wouldn't know. Even if I did, I couldn't say."
"Sorry, I was rude. It's personal between them, so of course you wouldn't know. That was impolite of me."
"..."
Dokgo Yeon tilted her head slightly as Woo Hyeo-rin backed off without lingering.
Then she stopped him and asked,
"By any chance, do you go out of your way to make people around you dislike you?"
"Huh? No way. I put a lot of effort into my image."
"Is that so. Then remember this from today."
Dokgo Yeon drew her wooden sword and said,
"I just don't like you for no reason. Everything you say rubs me wrong. So from now on, watch your words around me. ...Now, let's spar."
"W-wait, that's just an excuse to beat me up, right? What did I even do wrong—."
—Thwack, thump! Whack!
Dokgo Yeon beat Woo Hyeo-rin senseless under the guise of sparring.
Only then did her pent-up frustration start to ease.