Chapter 14
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Lesson 4. Rebellion - 2
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"Come out, Ban. You're sparring with Irecto."
In response to the flashy summons, he was momentarily confused about who was being called, but Ban realized it was his surname.
Instead of stepping into the ring that formed in an instant, Ban Yu-won raised his hand to speak to the professor.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but my combat abilities are still lacking, so I don't think there's anything for me to gain from a spar right now..."
"Hm? Minus 3 points."
Was this place like the dorms, playing pointless ranking games once a year based on scores, then beating up the lowest-ranked dorm?
"Come out, Ban. That's no excuse."
The professor, who had deducted points for some unknown reason, still ordered Ban Yu-won to come forward.
He could feel intense malice. Maybe this 'associate' professor was a fan of Professor Yumina too.
Ban Yu-won sighed as he eyed Irecto, the guy threateningly clashing his massive fists together, and spoke up again.
"It's not an excuse; it's a fact. I was admitted through special admission not for my combat skills, but for my unique trait. If you're curious about my abilities as a special admittee, wouldn't it make more sense to find another way instead of making us fight like brutes?"
"Are you teaching the professor now?"
"Whether professor or student, we all have to learn what we don't know. And aren't you an associate professor?"
"...! You're the one who doesn't know anything. Minus 5 points."
The minus points were piling up.
At this rate, he'd end up battling the professor directly instead of a student.
And of course, there was a flaw in Ban Yu-won's logic.
Union Academy existed solely to climb the tower, after all.
No matter how uniquely talented Ban Yu-won was to gain admission, he still had to enter the tower himself in the end.
Thus.
"How about we make this week prep time and spar next week? Once I go in and out of the tower once, I should be about ready."
"Now you're ignoring the professor and setting your own schedule? Minus..."
Ban Yu-won had even prepared a solid compromise.
He just hadn't expected the professor to be so closed-minded.
He deliberately let out a big sigh and shrugged his shoulders.
It was meant to look obnoxious.
"Whatever punishment you want to give, save it until you see the results next week. As I said again, I'm not ready yet, so no matter what you say, I'm not sparring this week."
"...Fine. Very impressive."
The associate professor, failing to drag Ban Yu-won out, ground his teeth.
He probably didn't like how boldly Ban Yu-won was defying the professor's orders.
But what could he do? Ban Yu-won really wasn't ready yet.
What good would come from sparring now besides getting pummeled?
He wasn't some hot-blooded protagonist; he couldn't afford to jump into a pointless fight without a plan and take losses.
"Next week Tuesday, Ban spars with Irecto. Might as well make it public for everyone."
The professor seemed to accept Ban Yu-won's proposal but slyly added a condition.
Public for everyone—did they broadcast spars inside the academy?
He'd heard they had machines here, so it wouldn't be surprising if they did.
"You asked for a full week to prepare, so you'd better show results worth it. If not..."
"Sure, whatever."
Ban Yu-won nodded nonchalantly.
Of course, he was still far from catching up to Light or Dokgo Yeon, but at his current growth rate, a week was more than enough to surpass the regular upper-dimension admits.
The problem was that these weren't just any regular admits—they were the elite of Special Class.
"Irecto, right? Official spar next week—how about a commemorative handshake?"
Ban Yu-won boldly stepped forward, aware that all of Special Class's hostility was aimed at him, and extended his hand to Irecto—the student who harbored grudge against him purely for his admiration of Yumina.
The guy was over 2.5 meters tall, like some giant race, with abnormally tough scales covering his arm joints, and strangely, steam rose from his fists.
Honestly, if he weren't in uniform, you'd mistake him for a monster.
"Filthy thing."
"Whoa."
Irecto, annoyed by his cheeky attitude, slapped away the offered hand hard.
It hurt like hell, but Ban Yu-won wasn't an idiot—he couldn't show it here.
Instead, he turned to the professor.
"We get minus points just for making suggestions to you, Professor, but does straight-up cursing not count?"
"...Irecto, minus 1 point."
"1 point? Let me check—how many minus points have I got now..."
"Ban Yu-won, don't forget you were rude first. Additional minus 3 points."
"Was asking for a handshake rude? I'm not too familiar with this world's etiquette, so I'm just asking."
"You bastard...! Irecto, minus 3 points."
"Got it, sir."
Both the associate professor and Irecto ground their teeth.
The rest of Special Class glared at Ban Yu-won with icy stares.
The moment Ban Yu-won solidified himself as public enemy number one.
'What are you gonna do if you give me minus points, some associate professor? You can't kick me out of the academy anyway.'
But since Ban Yu-won had no intention of befriending them from the start, he didn't care about their glares or the minus points.
He just gritted his teeth, recalling the faint strings of text that had appeared and vanished the moment he touched Irecto.
Life 250, Body 300, Magical Power 120
That was all he could barely make out.
Ridiculous. Special Class lived up to its name.
'Growing my abilities to that level in just a week... might be tough.'
Honestly, they were even stronger than he'd expected.
But asking for two weeks back there probably wouldn't fly, and it was a confrontation he'd face sooner or later anyway—so Ban Yu-won making the board wasn't a mistake.
'No choice, then...'
He'd never planned to beat them head-on from the start.
As he'd told the professor himself, his abilities weren't combat-specialized.
In a week, he'd find a way.
"Shiiik."
"Yeah, yeah."
Eve, sensing his intent and crying out as if to say she had it covered, don't worry.
As he patted the creature, he panicked at the thought of it drawing attention already and glanced around.
To his surprise, no one was paying any mind.
"What's up? No one's around?"
The reason was simple.
While everyone's hostility was fixed on Ban Yu-won, Dokgo Yeon had suddenly stepped forward.
Her eerie cross-shaped pupils swept over Special Class, gleaming ominously.
"Weren't you curious about the special admits' skills? Unlike our class president, I'm combat-specialized. I'll take any spars you want."
"Dokgo Yeon..."
Interesting.
Even without Ban Yu-won asking, Dokgo Yeon was stepping up to cover for all four of them.
He'd guessed from her talent lust, but maybe she'd led a group back in her original martial world.
"If you're not confident, should I pick one? You there, Irecto? You're not the type to pick on the weak, I assume. Come on out. ...I'll crush you."
"Kuh?!"
There was such a thing as a warrior's aura.
Even Ban Yu-won, who had only just awakened his magic power, could sense the vast gap between himself and Dokgo Yeon—surely Irecto could too.
She'd probably singled out Irecto for Ban Yu-won's sake.
If his guess was right, she'd cripple him so badly he couldn't recover in a week.
"Dokgo Yeon, sorry, but Irecto's sparring me in a week, so if you wanna fight him, wait till after."
"Hm...?"
But that wouldn't do.
Ban Yu-won had to prove his worth with his own abilities.
So he boldly intervened against Dokgo Yeon, who turned to him with a slightly surprised look.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Of course."
"...Huh, I thought you were all brains and no brawn. A bit manly after all."
Dokgo Yeon flashed a satisfied smile, then sneered at tense Irecto—who must've realized his life hung in the balance—and spoke.
"All that barking, but when a real threat shows, you shove your head in the dirt. Scram."
"Who's the one barking?"
As Irecto lost his nerve and was shoved aside, someone else stepped forward.
He looked like he wore a crown, but it was actually horns rising like one, with shimmering golden hair cascading wildly.
"No way—the ruler of the Ketius Dimension, Ortima...!"
Light helpfully explained the guy's identity from the side.
"What's that mean?"
"Y-you don't know? Excluding Union, there are ten top-hierarchy dimensions. Ortima rules one—Ketius! Their symbol is those crown-like horns."
"So basically, he's from one of the top-ten families across all dimensions?"
"Exactly."
This guy claims lower dimension but knows this stuff cold.
Maybe Ban Yu-won was just too ignorant of dimensional news.
"Weak fools always band together. How amusing, growling to protect your pack."
"Here to flap your tongue? Or protesting because it's too long and needs cutting?"
Meanwhile, Ortima and Dokgo Yeon were already locked in a fierce aura clash.
Ban Yu-won was impressed that Ortima matched Dokgo Yeon's presence, but Light felt the opposite.
"Dokgo Yeon—what is she? She's lower-dimension special admit, how's she holding even with Ortima...!"
"Feeling the power gap now?"
"Don't tease me too."
Light pouted.
His pretty face puffed up like that—it was hard to believe he was a guy.
Not that Ban Yu-won had ever believed it.
"Don't sweat it. We're just at the starting line. You can surpass anyone ahead."
"Really... you think so?"
"Obviously. Dokgo Yeon won't stay still either."
"Comfort me or tease me—just pick one?"
"Fine. One it is."
While Ban Yu-won teased Light, the professor finally gave permission, and Ortima sparred with Dokgo Yeon.
Before it started, something shiny floated in the air—Ban Yu-won confirmed it was a drone with a lens attached.
He'd actually seen it among yesterday's shop items.
"Public broadcast. They're filming with that."
"Filming... recording us now? It's shared on the academy intranet... whatever that is. Still don't get it."
"No, they have internet here too—makes sense now."
Among yesterday's city purchases was a communicator using the magic network for real-time calls—a cellphone, basically.
Here, it was called a Telepathy Mirror, or just Mirror.
It even had video, calculator, calendar, alarms—full smartphone.
By the way, he'd exchanged unique codes (phone numbers) with Professor Yumina over drinks yesterday.
"Ban, do you know what intranet is?"
"Short version: a network for internal info sharing in companies or schools. Hang on, school intranet... found it."
Light watched, baffled, as Ban Yu-won pulled out his 'Mirror' and operated it smoothly.
"Lower dimension clueless about Union—how are you so good at that...?"
"We developed that way."
The academy intranet required Student ID authentication for access and signup.
You could even access without a Mirror, just with the ID.
But no video or complex features then.
As Ban Yu-won logged in via Mirror, Light—and even quiet Lucelle—peeked over.
"Live channel here. For our class..."
"Sharp eyes, Lucelle."
"Th-thanks."
It was even live.
The professor was clearly set on humiliating the four special admits.
But Ban Yu-won doubted it'd go as planned.
"Come at me."
"I yield first strike to the inferior."
"Inferior? Let's see how far that arrogance goes. Kneel!"
The spar began.
The moment Ortima shouted in rage at Dokgo Yeon's taunt, Ban Yu-won clearly saw the mystical power emanating from him crushing down on her.
It wasn't normal magic power, nor the power of words Ban Yu-won wielded.
It was like the natural law of water flowing downward, forcing Dokgo Yeon to kneel as inevitable.
Successfully observed Distortion of Providence.
All-Reading Eyes depth increases by 1.
"Distortion of Providence."
"Y-you saw that...?!"
"Ah, ahhh."
Light gasped at the mutter, and Lucelle trembled as if feeling it too.
"Hmph."
But under pressure that would've crushed Ban Yu-won to his knees, Dokgo Yeon calmly drew up her own aura.
Just that, and the suppressive force...
"Wha...!"
Died.
No other word for it.
Within it, Ban Yu-won faintly sensed a new concept.
Death—the character for 'sa' (死).
Could there be a simpler, more chilling concept?
Ban Yu-won felt fear at the glimpse of Dokgo Yeon's true power.
"Ah, ahhhhh..."
"Shik, shiiik."
Lucelle shook worse, clutching Ban Yu-won's arm like she'd twist it off.
Worried she'd hurt her owner, Eve slapped her cheeks lightly, but she couldn't shake the terror.
"Ho, a decent one."
"And yours is as ridiculous as those horns. Disappointing if that's all."
"Hardly."
As Ortima stepped forward, a denser pressure enveloped Dokgo Yeon.
Same result.
"Gets stronger up close, huh. Thought I'd run...?"
Dokgo Yeon's foot lightly tapped the ground.
Next instant, she charged Ortima head-on, unleashing a razor-sharp kick.
Ortima seemed unprepared, but a golden shield appeared just before her foot pierced his gut, blocking it.
Kwajik.
With an ugly shatter, the shield crumbled into light shards scattering in the air.
Beyond it, Ortima crossed his arms to block Dokgo Yeon.
"Forcing me to use my hands."
"That's why they say a bad head means a sore body. Or lack of eyes."
"Insolent!"
Kwang!
Ortima's punch unleashed that same kneel-forcing pressure, condensed over tenfold.
But Dokgo Yeon dodged lightly, palm-striking his forearm.
Her rising kick then clipped his chin.
Kaaang!
Ban Yu-won doubted his ears.
Was that really flesh-on-flesh?
"You bitch...!"
"No surprise your movements are awkward. Someone feeds you too?"
Who came to brag about tongue here?
Dokgo Yeon relentlessly insulted while pressing with limbs.
Collision sounds rang out fiercely.
Dokgo Yeon struck cleanly; Ortima's heavy blows missed.
'He's used to suppressing foes with Distortion of Providence and striking, but it doesn't work on her—so he's flailing.'
As Dokgo Yeon said, Ortima's transcendent physique lacked hands-on experience—obvious to Ban Yu-won. He retreated, beaten unilaterally.
But despite her hits landing, each produced metallic clangs—like striking steel, not flesh. That bothered him.
"...Kuh, no more rudeness. I'll kill you as wished!"
"Death isn't a word for brats like you."
Kwaaaaang!
Ortima erupted horrific energy; Dokgo Yeon retreated.
Yet both seemed fine— as Ban Yu-won thought.
They exchanged glances, auras turning deadlier.
Then.
"That's enough."
"...!"
Professor Yumina appeared between them, declaring it over.
Neither accepted, surging more power—but Yumina smiled, lightly releasing her strength, disarming them both.
"Kuh?!"
"Hoo, huuu."
Flower scent spread everywhere.
It quelled battle lust, calming raging hearts.
Forced calm left no will to fight.
Ban Yu-won sensed flower (花) and harmony (和) concepts simultaneously, chuckling unwittingly.
Even ability holder Yumina wouldn't grasp why.
"Our academy doesn't like students risking lives against each other. Save it for the tower, okay? Got it?"
"..."
"Strong."
Ortima glared silently and returned; Dokgo Yeon admired, narrowing eyes at Yumina before nodding and rejoining.
"Eek."
"Fuu."
Lucelle flinched, clinging tighter to Ban Yu-won as Dokgo Yeon returned.
Dokgo Yeon glared at her, then smiled at Ban Yu-won.
"How was it?"
"Pretty helpful."
"Oh?"
At his sincere reply, Dokgo Yeon widened her eyes, then smiled deeper.
Ban Yu-won realized too late—he should've said he learned nothing.
He's attracting this psycho's interest!
"Associate Professor Parell, that's grounds for discipline. Filling first class with spars, allowing them without limits and just watching—major errors. Prepare yourself."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
"Then I'm off. ...Ah."
After harshly rebuking now-named Associate Professor Parell, Yumina spotted Ban Yu-won, approached gracefully, and straightened his rumpled collar.
"Class presidents need dignity. Have a good day."
She's reminding them she appointed him class president—mess with him and die.
Expressed with her signature dignity, Yumina vanished as abruptly as she'd appeared.
But Ban Yu-won sighed again, sensing Parell and Special Class glaring murderously—Yumina's flashy intent gone awry.