Chapter 216
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: Lesson 43. Too Much Popularity - 1
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Aire was one of the few who dominated the academy simply by existing, even in a place where geniuses from every dimension gathered.
The fact that she had been elected vice president of the student council left many in shock.
"Why her? There's no benefit in it for her."
"Idiot... Don't you know what the student council gets up to here?"
"She's always had that detached air since enrollment. Same with clubs..."
"Even so, the student council!"
The reaction was especially fierce from 'Noblesse', an elitist club exclusive to Special Class students with a strong aristocratic vibe, but even they couldn't confront Aire directly.
She had never leaned on them or sought them out, so they had no grounds to demand anything from her now.
"Shouldn't we inform the Melodia family and have them step in?"
"I already contacted them. They said they respect her decision."
"Damn it, don't they have any pride as one of the Ten Great Families?"
"They are one of the Ten Great Families, though. The one with unmatched wealth among them..."
There was no grand ceremony for Aire's inauguration—just a brief announcement—yet it captivated the entire academy, from students to associate professors and full professors alike, throwing everyone's day into chaos. It was a clear testament to her influence.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Misty grabbed Ban Yu-won by the collar and shook him violently.
"How could you put our princess in that position?! You asked her, didn't you? You made her do it!"
"Aire says she made up her own mind."
"Same difference! The princess likes you, so she accepted without thinking...!"
She'd been calling her Aire properly just yesterday, but now her true colors were showing in her panic.
And she wasn't even minding the location.
They were in the training room of Union Expedition, the club Ban Yu-won had founded, so everyone was watching them.
"How did she end up like that?"
"Alright, let's speculate. Our club president got caught cheating between Aire and Misty, right?"
"Don't you subscribe to Rebelion Channel? Yu-won junior's two-timing is public knowledge."
"And now it's three-timing."
"What are you talking about? It's four now."
Aah, more useless misunderstandings were spreading because of this...
But fortunately, before some dramatic morning soap opera could unfold, Aire herself arrived and pried Misty off.
"Don't decide things for me on your own."
"Eek! But..."
Misty flinched at Aire's slightly sharp tone, her face flushing as she retorted.
"It's true you've been influenced by Ban Yu-won!"
"Of course. But so what?"
"The student council isn't just any club—it's not something you decide lightly. Just being part of it will make a lot of people see you as..."
"See me as?"
Misty couldn't continue.
Things like it'd be hard to fit in with Special Class, or she'd face bad looks back home after graduation...
But Aire's presence was too overwhelming for such platitudes.
Seeming to read her mind, Aire gave a faint smile and raised her transparent, beautifully sculpted hand like carved ice, pressing her index finger to Misty's forehead.
"Ah...?!"
"I always move toward what's most important to me. Following Professor Yumina, who transcended her racial limits, or staying with Ban Yu-won, who broke the boundaries of magic—it's all for myself."
"That's what it was?"
Misty hadn't dared hope for romance, but she'd thought there was at least some friendship.
Aire looked a bit flustered at Ban Yu-won's interjection from the side but ignored him and pressed on.
"So, Misty, you should focus on what's important to you too. We don't have time to hesitate over illusions."
"Ah..."
Aire withdrew her finger from Misty's forehead and stepped back.
She glanced at Ban Yu-won...
—That's how it started.
She transmitted the unnecessary excuse in a voice only Ban Yu-won could hear, then vanished.
She'd come to participate in club activities, only to leave immediately.
She must have been a little embarrassed too.
"...Misty, you okay?"
Ban Yu-won asked the frozen Misty.
After a long silence, she plopped down on the spot.
"What's important to me... is Aire..."
She murmured, her cheeks flushed red.
Ban Yu-won instinctively stepped back three paces.
"Hey, say creepy stuff like that when no one's around."
"Alright, I've made up my mind!"
"Standing up shouting like that is creepy too."
"I'll protect Aire! I'll get rid of everyone who tries to stop her from doing what she wants!"
Ban Yu-won wondered if Aire's finger-to-forehead touch was some kind of brainwashing magic, but thankfully it wasn't.
Still, she clearly had some status ailment, so he left her to Lucelle and gathered the excited seniors who had been watching. He checked their progress during the break.
"Senior Kshana, you've improved a lot even over vacation. Great work."
"N-no! It's thanks to the amplifier you made me."
There were cases like second-year senior Kshana, who had discovered the true potential of her unique authority thanks to Ban Yu-won and steadily developed it on her own.
"Pebble senior hasn't betrayed my expectations. You haven't grown at all—it's almost like you manipulated it on purpose."
"I don't work during breaks. That's my creed."
And then there was Pebble, who truly embodied "once trash, always trash."
Ban Yu-won was starting to suspect the guy chose his words and actions deliberately to make him dislike him.
"Bear with it, junior. People from our home dimensions have their own issues..."
Third-year Woo Hyeo-rin, the ace of the Special Admission team, gave a wry smile as she defended Pebble.
Indeed, unlike stable higher-dimension students, Special Admission kids often dealt with monster waves, dimensional pirates, and the like.
Ban Yu-won himself had suffered through vacation...
"Right, that's unavoidable. What matters is from now on."
"From now on?"
Feeling more exhilarated than burdened by the focused stares, Ban Yu-won continued.
Many had forgotten amid the buzz about Aire's vice presidency, but there was something far more important happening.
"You all know the Union Founding Festival is in a month and a half, right? There'll be a club competition tournament there."
"Oh yeah, there was one last year too. We didn't even get a chance to enter."
The seniors perked up at Ban Yu-won's words, murmuring excitedly.
He cast a light language spell to draw everyone's attention and went on.
"This time will be different. We had great growth in the first semester, but this tournament—where clubs are judged—will be key to improving Special Admissions' image, just like you've all wanted."
"Yu-won was thinking that much about us..."
"Eh, is that necessary? We're good enough already."
Seniors like Kshana, moved to tears.
Seniors like Pebble, annoyed.
Seniors like Woo Hyeo-rin, raring to go now that the time had come.
Ban Yu-won smiled at them all.
"It'll be a big one. The event is purifying abandoned dimensions."
"..."
"That's... really."
Union Academy students trained to become gods.
Special activities like responding to lower dimensions' pleas for aid were part of that.
But students alone couldn't fix every dimension's problems.
Abandoned dimensions were those where unsolved issues led to civilization's collapse.
In severe cases, they even built barriers to prevent dangers from leaking out.
"Isn't that too dangerous?"
"It's a solid opportunity. Back out scared now, and we'll slide back to square one."
As the club members buzzed with worry, anxiety, excitement, and anticipation, Ban Yu-won caught Woo Hyeo-rin and Pebble exchanging glances and smirked inwardly.
"Alright, so train like hell from now on. I'll check regularly, got it? Fall below standards, and you might get kicked out."
"What are the standards?"
"Mine, obviously."
"Tyrant!"
"Took you long enough?"
Some grumbled at his harsh words, but he didn't back down.
Strict checks were for their safety and the club's goals, so no one but Pebble dared complain aloud.
After instilling clear purpose and dismissing the seniors, Lucelle handed Ban Yu-won a drink as he returned.
"Will it really be okay, Yu-won?"
"Yeah. Time to weed out the dead weight. ...Light hasn't shown?"
"No."
Dokgo Yeon, scanning the dispersing members with sharp eyes, turned to him.
Ban Yu-won read her intent from her gaze and shrugged.
"Okay? Anyway, he said he'd cooperate on explorations until we settle things, so don't worry too much."
"Climbing the tower with an uncontrollable ally is suicide."
"Hold on."
Ban Yu-won hastily erected a barrier to block sound as Dokgo Yeon continued.
"I can't shake the feeling you're too lenient with Light."
"You were too."
"Not anymore. I regret teaching martial arts to something like that."
"Dokgo Yeon, Light isn't Light right now."
He wasn't playing riddle games.
There was no better way to describe Light's current state.
"If it were his own will, I'd let him solo explore or drop out, whatever. But since it's not, I'm not giving up on him."
"Why? Did you bond with it behind my back?"
"Don't say creepy stuff. He's a friend."
"Friend. Who's saying creepy stuff now?"
Dokgo Yeon snorted but stepped back.
"I'm yielding a lot to you. How many times have I bent my stubbornness to your opinion? People from my home who knew me would be shocked."
"I know. Thanks."
"And that's because I believe you'll bring gains worth it. Let me be clear: I'm not worried about Light. Got it?"
"Yeah, I get that too."
Dokgo Yeon wanted to argue more at his seemingly oblivious expression, but Lucelle smirking beside them annoyed her more, so she let it go.
"Beast, spar with me."
"Always picking on the easy one? Heh, but I'm not that easy anymore."
Lucelle eagerly prepared as Dokgo Yeon drew her sword to humble her confidence, then turned to Ban Yu-won as if struck by a thought.
"Ban Yu-won, what if."
"Say it."
"What if I... No, never mind."
Ban Yu-won spoke clearly to Dokgo Yeon's back as she bit her lip and turned away.
"If something happens to you, I'll come save you for sure."
"I said never mind!"
That day, Dokgo Yeon's sparring partner switched from Lucelle to Ban Yu-won.
And the next day was the first tower exploration since the start of the second semester.