Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Lesson 32. The Pace is Too Fast - 3
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The final day of the long-term exploration period—Sunday.
Having wrapped up her exploration in the 360 Room on a high note, Mira finished early and was now sitting at her usual café, savoring a cup of coffee.
A light drizzle fell outside the window.
"Is that coffee good?"
"Yeah."
She replied without hesitation to the girl sitting across from her—Shati, her friend from that lengthy quest they’d tackled together—and took a sip of her café mocha.
The rich sweetness made her brain tingle.
"Some things about you never change, huh."
"What?"
Shati crossed her legs, sipped her espresso, and grinned.
"Like how your tastes change to match the guy you like. It’s cute and all."
"No idea what you’re talking about."
Mira stiffened, showing her discomfort, but Shati had already made up her mind to hash this out with her once and for all. She pressed on.
"Back in your second year, you only ever drank vanilla lattes. The vice president’s go-to."
"...Dunno. Don’t really remember."
Mira lowered her long, elegant eyebrows and did her best to play dumb. Even as a fellow girl, it was too adorable.
She was clearly pretending to forget her past just to prove her heart belonged only to her current guy.
No one could’ve imagined her making such a lovable face two years ago, when they’d first met.
"When you first enrolled, you were putting on this haughty lady act, sipping tea."
"Does drinking tea make you high-class or something? Don’t be ridiculous."
"That’s how you came across. And you really are a princess, aren’t you? Meanwhile, I was a reject even my own kin abandoned..."
"What’s your point? That stuff’s just a title. You’re one of the brightest stars at this school now. No need to bring it up."
Mira reacted sharply to Shati’s words.
Shati was a precious friend.
She didn’t want to see her putting herself down.
"No, Mira. Don’t get sensitive—just hear me out."
"...Fine. Go ahead."
Back when she enrolled, Shati had been universally despised.
From a higher dimension everyone knew by name, yet the most reviled race there: the Evil One.
And she couldn’t even wield her innate authority properly, earning hatred from her own kind. She had no place to belong.
Who could’ve predicted she’d secure solo exploration rights through a one-on-one with the Chancellor?
That only made her more hated—until, just a month into the semester, she shattered every record in the school and turned it all around.
She was just that strong.
With power and potential that made everyone who’d oppressed her tremble, she silenced them all.
"Pretty epic comeback story, right?"
"...Yeah."
Mira couldn’t help recalling her own past as she listened.
Born a noble of a rare, exalted race in the mighty A-1 Dimension—outside the Ten Great Families’ realms—she’d naturally been selected for Union Academy.
Her beauty and talent drew everyone’s eyes.
But having lived a life of constant adoration, she couldn’t adapt to the academy, floating aimlessly on the surface...
Until she met that kind, dashing guy from her own race and finally found her footing.
Her mood soured.
Thinking of the past meant thinking of Ketra.
"Just saying, we all have those phases. I’m proud of it, y’know? Gave those snobs who looked down on me a smackdown, then won their support and became student council president."
"..."
"So I’m not trying to erase my past. It’s what makes me who I am—not that I’d say something that cheesy. Just that the rough past makes the present shine brighter."
That’s when Mira fully grasped what Shati wanted to say.
She pressed her lower lip against her teacup, pouting.
"So? What’re you trying to tell me? That I should brag to Yu-won about all the dumb stuff I did to get Ketra’s attention back then?"
Sure, when she’d first met Yu-won, Ketra had been so different that she’d slipped up a few times.
But she wasn’t about to do anything that tacky now.
"You always go to extremes. I’m saying you don’t have to desperately ignore it."
"You helped chase Ketra off, and now you say that?"
"Huh? Oh, no. I’m not telling you to cozy up to the vice president. I hate the guy too."
"Ugh... Hold on. One more here—order up."
Mira, having emptied her cup, ordered another café mocha.
She sensed this talk was dragging on.
Shati looked exasperated at the sight.
"You chug that super sweet stuff back-to-back and don’t gain weight?"
"Nope."
Fairy changelings had one ability any woman would envy: converting nutrients into magical power.
So no matter how many sweets she devoured, she never gained fat.
On the contrary, she could use changeling powers to develop only the parts she wanted.
"Well, technically, I fatten up where I want to. Yu-won seems to like ’em big, so... gonna grow mine a bit more."
"You’re so lovable it makes me wanna smack you."
Shati seethed with mock murderous intent as Mira emphasized her assets.
Mira took the fresh cup from the waiter and nodded.
"Anyway, keep going."
"We were on the vice president... Yeah, I’m not saying forget your past so you can patch things up with him."
"Then what?"
"Just so your heart feels lighter."
"My heart’s already light."
For that split second as she sipped her mocha, Mira’s smile was dazzling.
A girl utterly smitten.
Even knowing her feelings for Ban Yu-won were genuine, Shati still felt uneasy.
"Emptying the contents versus slapping a lid on and pretending it’s gone—I think those are different."
"I emptied it. It’s gone now. Yu-won cleared it out for me."
"If you really emptied it, that’s the bigger issue. Besides, he probably wouldn’t care about your past. Might even accept it all."
"Shati, I hate when you say that."
Mira grumbled, thinking it over.
Sure, their contract covered that.
But could she really hand over everything to him?
The filthy, ugly parts she didn’t want him to see, the things that’d upset him... She had to handle those herself, right?
"It’s not pretending. I just don’t know. Ketra can’t affect me anymore. Nothing left. Sound like a lie?"
"Probably true. That’s what worries me."
"Worries you?"
Everyone hopes every love is their first.
But if it really was always the first, that’d mean no growth—just spinning wheels.
Even as she thought it, Shati swallowed the words; they’d sound childish aloud.
She had no dating experience to back up love advice.
Shati slumped her shoulders and blurted whatever came to mind.
"...Just don’t hate your past so much, whatever it is. Worst case, you didn’t even sleep with the vice president, right?"
"Of course not! And that’s vulgar...!"
Shati’s lip curled as Mira flushed and snapped.
"Ah, that reaction seals it. You haven’t slept with the planning chief either? Or... couldn’t yet?"
"Urk..."
Mira clamped her mouth shut, hit where it hurt.
Shati chuckled and continued.
"Rebellion’s special activity is heading to that Lucelle girl’s home dimension. Don’t mess with the dragons in the lair, and even slimes half-eat you in the swamp. Blink, and they’ll lap you."
"That’s why we’re here. Special activity strategy meeting! No matter the evaluation, I’ll wrap it fast and get back to Yu-won. Got it?!"
"Yes, yes~ Guess the kind student council president has to help our little Mira’s love life."
Shati giggled at Mira’s childish pout, then thought of that charming guy she adored, Ban Yu-won.
And of Ketra, who’d only started obsessing after distance grew.
‘Someone’s gonna get hurt.’
A demon’s intuition never missed on the bad stuff.
Shati sighed and muttered.
‘If someone’s gotta hurt, better that sleazy vice president than our cutie.’
E-1 Dimension.
Lucelle’s home dimension.
Being picked for special activities meant crisis loomed there.
Thinking of Light rushing back upon sensing danger in his own—couldn’t help suspecting foul play.
Her own and Dokgo Yeon’s dimensions suddenly worried her too.
—Ex-2 and Ex-1 are safe for now. No need to worry.
"Hold on, Chancellor. What?"
That evening, before departure, the Chancellor summoned Ban Yu-won and threw him for a loop.
Today, the Chancellor appeared as a cute astronaut doll.
Even with videos hidden perfectly, he seemed to know exactly what Yu-won gained from the tower this time.
Annoying part: the doll was kinda adorable.
—No need to worry about your dimension or Student Dokgo Yeon’s.
"Why call them Ex, then? Wait... Exception?"
—Correct. A label for dimensions that defy standard classification. Need I explain why they’re exceptions?
"No mana, yet I got into Union Academy from mine?"
—Correct. That applies to yours; Student Dokgo Yeon’s is—
"I’ll ask her myself later."
Ban Yu-won cut the Chancellor off firmly.
—You prefer unnecessary steps.
The Chancellor didn’t get his thinking but obliged.
Forgiving the interruption already proved special treatment.
"So... Did Ryu Cheol-myeong pull strings for E-1’s selection?"
—I can’t say. But rest assured, it’s best for you.
Ban Yu-won had the Chancellor’s personality pegged.
Sure, he liked him.
But that fondness was twisted, and this was no exception—
"You don’t care how much I suffer—just go clash, shatter, and grow."
—Your growth is remarkable. I won’t deny my guidance’s influence.
Guidance.
Guidance, huh.
"What, I should thank you?"
—Heavens no—I’m the grateful one.
The astronaut doll split open, revealing the fuzzy eyeball from before.
Staring straight at Ban Yu-won.
—You’re the most fascinating subject since that child. Truly intriguing.
No point asking who "that child" was.
The Chancellor knew how much he’d pieced together.
Someone he’d call that fondly...
‘Mina noona, probably.’
During the all-school special activity, the group Exodus had appeared out of nowhere for terror.
He remembered their slur for Yumina clearly.
Monster’s foster daughter.
Only one they’d call a monster.
The eyeball floating before him.
"Should I call you Principal too?"
—Master.
"...Did Professor Yumina grow up like this?"
—That child was softer, weaker than you.
But Yu-won was tough, so he got the rough ride.
Grasping the unspoken end, Ban Yu-won snorted and turned.
"I won’t dance to your tune forever."
—I’d never antagonize you. But does needling me with wary words serve any purpose?
"Someone who commands with a word still underestimates words’ power."
Leaving the astronaut doll, Ban Yu-won’s eyes gleamed gold.
Since perfecting his aura, his authority shone brighter.
"Declarations become reality. You’ll see."
—Then I look forward to it.
The Chancellor replied with pure sincerity.
—Return safely.
"Naturally."
Thus ended the semester’s final meeting.
The next day, Monday.
Rebellion’s party departed for the E-1 Dimension.