Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Lesson 30. Finals - 2
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"Still not back..."
He was being way too much, no matter how she thought about it.
As Light glanced around the empty dorm room, that was the thought running through her mind.
'When the hell is this guy planning to come back? It's exam week, and it's already been days...'
It was already 8:30 p.m.
After finishing special training with Aire, she'd called to see if they could grab dinner together, but there was no answer. She'd ended up eating with Lucelle and Dokgo Yeon before heading back, and still nothing.
Just a little while ago, she'd showered while worrying pointlessly that maybe he'd come back and peek in.
"Haa..."
Ban Yu-won hadn't returned yet.
She felt like an idiot for even briefly wondering if it was okay to walk around in just a bathrobe.
No, she was an idiot.
Whether she wore the robe or stripped naked, it was still a guy's body. Why would Ban Yu-won care?
It was probably because she hadn't been able to spend much time with him lately... Yeah, she was feeling a little lonely, that's all. That's what had led to these foolish thoughts.
'Solo exploration or whatever, why is it taking so damn long?'
It was Thursday of the 13th week at the Academy.
Ban Yu-won had gone off alone for his solo exploration starting Tuesday of the 12th week, which meant it'd already been over a week.
Sure, they'd spent three days together exploring the tower in between, but of course, that's when her outburst had happened. Instead of building camaraderie with Ban Yu-won, she'd just planted more anxiety in him.
She'd thought she could show off her special training results and get some praise, but she'd ruined everything.
It hurt even more that her teammates reacted like it was no big deal anymore.
She knew she was the weak link in the party right now, but getting used to being treated like a liability would be the end of her.
That's why she'd wanted some alone time with Ban Yu-won to calmly talk things out and clear up the misunderstandings... But they hadn't even properly seen each other for days.
It was really getting her down.
'The special training felt so good. I was actually getting better.'
The special training to awaken the dragonkin blood and soul within her.
Aire, who had grown up into a perfect dragonkin in a blessed environment, was the ideal teacher for As Light, who couldn't distinguish past from present.
"The power of the dragon bends to nothing," Aire had said.
And indeed, with the energy Aire drew out to help her sink into her own depths, As Light could hear something like a faint roar echoing inside.
The clearer that roar became, the weaker the holy sword's compulsion felt—she could sense it herself.
On the flip side, her innate strengths—physical abilities, magic power, and the like—were steadily, surely rising.
Her mind sharpened naturally, and her spear skills from Dokgo Yeon improved too.
The holy sword went quiet, as if afraid of the energy she was drawing up.
If things kept going like this, maybe someday—not far off—she could control the holy sword's power and become a hero who wielded it perfectly, just like her ancestors.
Such delusions were starting to feel real.
But whenever she acted with the group... with Ban Yu-won, the holy sword would go berserk.
Because it was real combat, not training? Because Aire the dragonkin wasn't there?
Or because she was actually improving, like she'd told herself?
All wrong. As Light knew the real reason.
The holy sword was on guard against her getting close to Ban Yu-won—more than anything, even more than her gaining dragonkin power.
Precisely.
It was wary of how she was changing in the process of getting close to him.
'As if I'm going to rip off the necklace because of Ban or something...'
Not that she could remove it herself anyway.
But the holy sword's will had always been one-way.
And it would keep freaking out without regard for her feelings.
At this rate, it was no different from a curse, just like Ban Yu-won had said.
Her friends, Ban Yu-won included, didn't understand her reliance on the holy sword, but no one knew better than As Light that it wasn't something worth depending on.
It was just that everything around her had been steering her toward being tamed by it.
'But not anymore. ...I can overcome it.'
Just a little more effort, that's all.
If she kept awakening her dragon blood like this.
And if Ban Yu-won watched over her.
It was definitely possible.
'But this jerk won't come back.'
Her clenched fist trembled.
Even if tower exploration was important, there were limits.
Exams were here, so he needed to study, and with the practical too, overdoing it could hurt him...
No, screw those lame excuses!
Shouldn't he make time for his roommate?
What was the point of getting dirty looks from Lucelle for sharing a room with him if this was how it was...!
"Not that I'd do anything even if he was here—I couldn't anyway... Lucelle's misunderstanding me. This is purely about building friendship..."
"What kind of friendship?"
"Hyah!"
The voice from behind made As Light spin around with a cat-like yelp, only to see Ban Yu-won had already opened the door and stepped in.
His eyes widened when he saw her still in just the bathrobe.
"As Light, you..."
"Kyaaaaah!"
As Light realized too late and let out a scream that would impress even Kshana before diving into her bed.
She pulled the covers over herself, peeking out to glare at Ban Yu-won.
"W-when did you get here?!"
For Ban Yu-won, who'd just wrapped up grueling solo exploration to finally rest, this was utterly unfair.
"I just walked in. Why are you glaring like that?"
He almost added "you little punk," but held back. It was getting harder to pretend he didn't know As Light's secret as days passed.
Looking at her now in just the bathrobe, he could confidently say her figure was growing more feminine.
She probably had no idea.
If she did know and was acting like this... uh...
What to do?
"I wasn't glaring! I just got startled...!"
As Light realized she'd overreacted and squirmed under the covers to change clothes somehow.
High school PE class, girls changing like that—maybe it was some instinct etched into genes? Ban Yu-won wondered.
"Ahem, you done now?"
"Solo exploration? Not yet. This wave just ended quicker than expected."
"What?"
As Light's face twisted at his unexpected response.
"You're gonna be stuck on that through exam week?"
"Prep's solid. ...You worried or something?"
She jumped at his words.
"What?! Why would I be worried without you!"
"Where's the blind spot? Just tell me."
"...Huh?"
As Light realized she'd misunderstood again and slumped, but luckily Ban Yu-won didn't notice and continued.
"Not anxious about exams? Study charms aren't foolproof... Got time tonight, so I'll tutor you."
"Uh? Oh..."
"Shh, shh-shh."
As Ban Yu-won stowed his gear and spoke casually, Eve flew over to comfort As Light, wrapping around her arm.
"Go wash up first. Have some hot chocolate while you wait."
"...No, let's drink together."
"Fine, whatever."
Ban Yu-won headed to the bathroom.
The deflated As Light quietly started prepping for study.
Truth was, she had been anxious too.
"...Well, this isn't so bad. Right?"
"Shh."
Eve stretched her tail fully, patting her shoulder as if she understood completely.
Ban Yu-won's special tutoring session continued past midnight, but fortunately, no outburst happened.
The Academy's final week, the 14th, dawned.
Exam week proper, with full-on practicals and written tests.
As a semester wrap-up, the whole Academy buzzed with a strange excitement.
The training room where Union Irregulars gathered was no different.
"I bombed it—!!"
Stone rolled across the floor like a literal pebble, wailing.
"Totally bombed!"
"Wasn't expecting much anyway. How bad?"
"Gah! Expecting! Ack! Nothing! Oof! Why hit me!"
"No expectations, but punishment's still due."
"Gyaah!"
"Rep, cut it out."
One of his 4th-year peers stepped in to stop Ban Yu-won, unable to watch Stone's pathetic display.
"He didn't bomb. Got 3 wins out of 4 in comprehensive sparring today. Just overplaying for attention."
"..."
Ban Yu-won looked down at Stone like a filthy bug.
"I get thinking I'm bug-like, but that's too blatant, isn't it?"
"You're worse! You!"
"Skip him. Everyone report scores."
Results were as expected.
Even Stone, who'd been the worst off, snagged 3 wins in sparring—what about the others?
Kshana, fully developing her traits and gaining a custom weapon, shot up to top 2nd-year ranks. Other seniors mostly settled mid-tier in practicals.
No need to mention 3rd-year Woo Hye-rin, who'd always aced practicals.
"Such clear progress in just two months. Means the last few years were really bad."
From lower dimensions where talent is rare, these potentials had been selected for Union Academy amid higher-dimensional geniuses.
Even if dormant for years, it was firmly within them.
Ban Yu-won had just explored their concepts alongside them and pointed the right directions—yet such dramatic change.
"Not just anyone could do that. All thanks to Yu-won!"
"Yeah, pretty much. All my doing."
Ban Yu-won nodded shamelessly at Kshana's cheer after her perfect sparring record.
Easy to say "point the direction"—awakening talents they never knew, invisible even in status windows? Not simple.
"That confidence is so cool... Eek!"
Ban Yu-won smirked as Kshana crossed the line again, only to be subdued by Lucelle and Mira.
He'd changed their lives; the price wouldn't be cheap. Wonder if they realized.
Contracts signed—no backing out.
"Still, no slacking. Just day one. Practicals good, but written needs even better. Got it?"
"Why glare at me...?"
"You're the most worrisome, Stone-senior."
But in the end, that worry was unfounded.
The study charms were insanely effective—even thick-headed Stone hit mid-tier written scores.
Tuesday through Thursday exams, Union Irregulars posted suspiciously stellar results.
Union Academy couldn't prove cheating without catching it, so even salty professors couldn't touch them.
"Atmosphere's shifted. The looks we're getting..."
Thursday afternoon, outside the gym for comprehensive sparring.
Most 1st-years lingered post-matches, watching Rebellion members.
"Once scores post, even the doubters will get it."
Everyone knew who led the special admits' miracle turnaround—Rebellion's gaze shifted again.
Like Mira said at launch, surpassing full professors was just time.
Then Ban Yu-won's student ID buzzed—his turn.
—Class 1-11, Ban Yu-won. To Sparring Room 1.
"Oh, finally last one. Be back."
"We'll cheer, Yu-won...!"
All other exams done; just his final spar left.
The group drew eyes outside—not just Rebellion fame.
His opponent.
"...Grown a lot, bug."
"Yeah, trash. Didn't expect to fight this semester."
Earth's Ban Yu-won vs. Kettius's Lucein Ortima.
3rd vs. 4th place decider.