Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Lesson 30. Finals - 1
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Wednesday afternoon, after all classes had ended.
Ban Yu-won was having dinner with Yumina for the first time in a while.
The Rebellion members would probably grumble about it again if they found out, but there were things he needed to discuss just with her.
"So you were stuck guarding the tower all through dinner?"
"Until dawn, to be exact. I had no idea it would drag on this long. I barely slipped out after one wave ended. The fact that time inside stops once you leave the tower is a real lifesaver."
As if to prove the damage from his all-nighter lingered, Ban Yu-won let out a big yawn.
Yumina giggled at how cute he looked, then suddenly sobered up.
"But... is it really okay to tell me all this?"
"I figured it'd be better to open up and get your advice than keep it bottled up."
"I'm grateful you think that way, but..."
Yumina tilted her wine glass and gave a wry smile.
"You shouldn't tell anyone else. Your team's explorations are already drawing enough attention. This place gathers only the 'unique' and 'special' from every dimension, so everyone's sensitive about that sort of thing."
"I get what you mean. Like how the top student in high school suddenly feels average at S University, surrounded by national competition winners."
"Uh... yeah, something like that?"
She couldn't quite follow his analogy.
But hearing about his recent ordeal only confirmed what Yumina already knew.
She'd chosen him right.
He would be a key figure in Union Academy—no, in Babel Tower itself.
"Promise me, little brother. No telling anyone else about your solo explorations from now on."
"Uh..."
"...You already told someone?"
When Ban Yu-won mentioned his chat with Ire, Yumina made a mischievous face and reached out to pinch his cheek.
"Trying to get close to Ire, huh?"
"Sharing secrets brings people together. I thought it was a good chance to show I trust her."
Yumina sighed at his confident demeanor.
She knew he'd been deliberately building 'influence' in the academy since expanding Union Expedition.
If it wasn't just him trying to impress a girl but a calculated move to assess and recruit Ire as an ally, she had nothing to say.
"Fine... I trust her too, but she's under Professor Kantone. Better to cut off any info leaks at the source."
"I'll hold back from now on. ...Hmm, but I've got a question."
"What?"
Yumina was wary of Kantone even more than Ire, and Ban Yu-won shared that sentiment fully.
Most of what had happened in the academy so far involved Kantone somehow.
But what nagged at him now was why types like Kantone and Ryu Cheol-myeong were so obsessed with targeting him.
Pure-bloodism or whatever—ultimately, it was the students climbing the tower.
There shouldn't be any rivalry between professors and students.
Yet their actions made it seem like the professors saw him as more of a thorn than the students did.
"Well, it's not openly stated, but... professors and students are technically rivals."
Yumina dropped the unexpected bombshell.
A bolt of realization struck Ban Yu-won's mind.
"Professors enter the tower too? When... during breaks?"
"Exactly. Two months total, one month each during winter and summer breaks. Associate professors get one to two weeks, usually."
"I see... Graduates lose tower access, but becoming a professor grants continued climbs. No wonder everyone wants the job."
Ban Yu-won finally grasped Union Academy's inner workings completely.
"Got it? It's not just rival students—professors who've lingered here for decades, clawing their way up, are hypersensitive to 'newcomers.' They hold back from openly bullying students or they'd get chewed out by the principal. Those who cross the line anyway..."
Chewed out by the principal—like kids or something.
He nearly burst out laughing at her phrasing but managed to continue.
"They get replaced."
"Full professor swaps are rare, of course. But associate professors lack the tenure, make impulsive mistakes, and get cycled every few years."
This year alone, one had been booted.
Ban Yu-won shrugged, recalling some Exodus lackey whose name he couldn't remember anymore.
"One full professor will get axed this break."
"That certain?"
"You think so too, right?"
"Well..."
Yumina couldn't deny it.
She bit her lip, frustrated at her own powerlessness. She could read Ryu Cheol-myeong's intentions clearly but couldn't act preemptively to oust him.
"I talked to the chancellor about the relic from this special activity. But..."
"No dice, huh."
Most of the team was convinced Ryu Cheol-myeong would pull something during the long break's special activity.
Even with his greatsword found last time, it wasn't direct evidence against him.
"Couldn't get permission for escorts either. But he did say he'd overlook headbands like before... Maybe he wants you to face off against Professor Ryu."
"Using us to take him out? What does he think students are?"
"He rates your potential highly. I'm overstepping by guessing, but he might see the clash as a growth opportunity for you."
"What a massive jerk..."
He'd suspected as much, but the chancellor never intervened upfront.
Letting Ryu attack him knowingly? Unbelievable.
Ban Yu-won sighed at the chancellor's ruthlessness.
Not an enemy, but definitely not his ally.
"Ryu Cheol-myeong's no pushover. I know you're all preparing, but true strength smashes through traps."
"No choice but to face it. ...We'll manage."
Ryu's patterns—mostly relic-dependent—Libby could replicate perfectly. The team sparred endlessly with her to prepare.
An ancient artifact's style might differ now, but mastering even a piece would give them an edge.
Still, the gap felt vast...
"Gotta grow somehow before the special activity."
One wave cleared in an endless solo defense.
Team runs progressing smoothly, no dramatic gains.
With gains drying up, Ban Yu-won itched to complete his martial arts.
He knew rushing wouldn't help, but he couldn't shake the impatience. Proof of his immaturity?
"It's okay."
Yumina leaned across the table, hugging his head gently.
Her floral scent enveloped him, swiftly calming his frantic mind.
If I had a big sis, would it feel like this...? Wait, scratch that—ignore the one on my household registry.
"Might sound irresponsible, but run if you have to. I'll prepare escape plans for any scenario."
"But that fails the activity."
"You're the priority."
Her steady voice bolstered him.
"Fail all you want—as long as you survive, you can prove his crimes. The activity won't matter then."
"...Running, though."
"Just the last resort."
She patted his shoulder reassuringly, whispering.
"The principal's strict but fair. I believe you'll handle anything with your skills."
"...Thanks."
Ban Yu-won nodded.
Her comfort eased his anxiety, but why she favored him so much remained a mystery.
...I'll find out soon enough.
Maybe tied to why she's aiming for full professor and tower climbs.
He pondered cautiously.
From then on, Ban Yu-won joined Tower Construction Defense solo whenever he had free time.
Waves took hours, leaving him and his retainers exhausted—he had to bail fast.
Still, steady growth for all concepts, especially his retainers, thanks to massive solo gains.
Burning through Thursday night, then Friday morning with the team.
Team run went swimmingly.
By Eden standards (10-room reward floors), no treasure chests but guaranteed 'Blood Beads' and 'Fruits of Life'—solid difficulty.
Ban wielded diverse concepts from varied environments, refining his martial arts; Dokgo Yeon one-shot foes as always; Lucelle mastered her armaments, radiating lightning lord vibes.
And As Light...
"Urgh...!"
His rising level and spearmanship shortened his agony cycles.
"Light, you okay for real?"
"I said... I'm fine...! Getting used to the power now...!"
"Light..."
Even Dokgo Yeon, who always pushed him hard, eyed him worriedly.
But special training with Ire paid off—his raw power surged.
He could now match early-term Light, who holy-sword-rampaged.
"Pain cycles speeding up means my power's growing smoothly. ...No more getting controlled by the holy sword."
"That line was super protagonist. Worried you'll go dark later, though."
"Hurts like hell—don't jinx me, Ban...!"
With firm resolve, their 12th-week team run hit 80 rooms over Fri-Sat-Sun—a triumph.
Last week broke 15 rooms numerically, but factoring rising difficulty, pure lightning advance.
Light, groaning through 79, recovered after a Fruit of Life and Blood Bead in 80.
"Hmm, next up: two-week pre-special-activity long run?"
Dokgo Yeon checked time in 80, confirming exit, munching her apple-shaped Fruit of Life.
"When I first teamed up, I thought 100 rooms a semester was ambitious. Looks like we'll clear it with time to spare."
"You were scarier back then..."
Ban Yu-won quipped and got smacked.
Early-term dynamics wouldn't allow such banter—his感慨 was profound.
This team's great.
Wanna stick together to the end.
"Oh yeah, exams start next week for two weeks."
"Time flew weirdly fast."
"No thrills. Expect the break to drag—super long."
"Big talk."
Dokgo Yeon scoffed at his bravado.
"Study for finals first."
"Prepped Light and Lucelle already. We're good."
Mock Constellation War surprised with all strong showings—no eval issues.
"Real issue this exam... is them."
"Yeah."
Dokgo Yeon nodded gravely.
Them.
Union Expedition special admits joined the club to boost bottom-feeder seniors' grades per grade.
Months of effort about to pay off.
Rebellion—the rebellion begins.