Chapter 228
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: Lesson 45. Preparations for the Founding Festival - 3
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With dates now lined up with Dokgo Yeon and Ullrike Prominence, Ban Yu-won spent the entire night groaning.
Dokgo Yeon was fine since she'd been the one to ask him out first, but Ullrike Prominence...
'Doesn't she know how I feel about her?'
Back during summer break, when he'd never even laid eyes on her...
She'd tried to bulldoze Earth just to recruit him onto her team.
Of course, that had been her personal goal. In reality, the Prominence family's schemes and the Constellations' intentions had tangled up over Ban Yu-mi, blowing the whole incident out of proportion and burying her desires under the mess.
But that was just the public side of things. Ban Yu-won hadn't forgotten it for a single second.
'There's a limit to how shameless you can be.'
She approached him with a straight face, as if it had never happened—or as if it wasn't worth her time—like she had an iron plate strapped to her mug. All he could do was admire the gall.
It had been the same when he'd challenged her to a special match.
Shockingly, she'd completely misread his intentions.
'Oh? That energy burning inside you... Hehe, just as the rumors said. Are you here to beg the family to take you back as a branch member? Beating me would certainly prove your worth. I like that confidence.'
She'd blabbered nonsense like that and accepted his challenge without hesitation.
Yeah, she'd accepted it readily—and now here she was, shamelessly texting him again!
She probably didn't plan to use the special match as leverage for threats against him.
She didn't even consider the possibility of losing, so for her, the risk was zero.
Maybe she'd heard about his date with Dokgo Yeon, didn't like it, and reached out to stake her own claim... No, why was he analyzing her thought process?
"You."
As Light, already washed up and burrowed under the covers, called out to him.
"Didn't you say you'd beat me in that special match?"
"Yeah."
That's right. Ban Yu-won had two special matches to fight at this masked martial arts ball.
He wanted to settle them beforehand if possible, but to truly pin down As Light—or rather, whoever was pulling his strings—the special match was the best stage.
"Seeing you have time to fool around with girls, I guess you think I'm an easy mark."
"How'd you know?"
"Doesn't matter."
Ban Yu-won thought it did.
After all, that stalker who'd tailed them to the café despite his refusal—creepy and inexplicable as it was—was solid proof that As Light's will was still kicking inside.
"Jealous?"
"Ridiculous. I'm too busy charging ahead to waste time on girls."
"No time to hang with me?"
"G-Get lost."
As Light yanked the blanket over his face, curling up defensively.
"You... Don't tell me you're thinking... those kinds of things?"
"What's with you, Light? We went out to Ronica together during first semester."
"Th-That was..."
"What's weird about hanging with a friend? What do you mean by 'those kinds of things' that has you so flustered?"
"...Going to sleep."
"Hold up."
Sensing the tide turning against him, As Light tried to escape to dreamland, but Ban Yu-won grabbed him.
He pressed on, even as As Light looked ready to swing that holy sword.
"It's great you're up for the special match, but do you even have a partner?"
"...Whether it's just you or you and Dokgo Yeon together, I've got the confidence to take you all on."
"No partner, no entry. And when we face off, my partner's Ire. You know that."
"..."
As Light fell silent at the mention of Ire, but soon spoke up again.
"Don't worry about it. I've already talked to someone. And apparently, we can switch partners right up until the match."
"Switch...?"
"Might happen. Now go away."
As Light waved him off with a complicated expression before pulling the blanket back over.
A switch, huh.
The word sparked an ominous premonition, but...
'Nah, I'll find out when the time comes.'
He shook his head to clear the thought.
He'd already set the meetup with Ullrike Prominence for Thursday.
Observing her up close at least once wouldn't hurt.
The problem was balancing dates with the sulking Lucelle and Mira to maintain team harmony.
Even Ban Yu-won, forced into these dates just to keep climbing Babel Tower with his comrades, was swamped. He had a flicker of respect for guys juggling multiple girls at once—how much effort did they put in?
[Looks an awful lot like what you're doing right now, Master.]
"No way. I've got a righteous excuse, so I can meet them openly. Playboys have to hide it all—that's gotta be way harder."
[You're sounding more trashy by the second, so shut it.]
"Fine, fine."
He nodded meekly at Lilith's words, then slumped over the table with a sigh.
"Truth is, I'm short on free time. I planned to knock out a solo exploration this week..."
[We'd do it ourselves if we could sneak in alone.]
Lilith, shrunk to a 30cm doll, landed lightly before his eyes.
She reached out a tiny hand to pat his hair—must've picked it up somewhere.
"It's fine. Solo runs need me there in person to feel it out properly anyway."
[You were pretty impressive last time.]
"...Yeah."
The Tower still held secrets.
In just half a year, Ban Yu-won's approach to it had changed a lot.
But he couldn't back out now.
His climbs were no longer solo affairs.
Rebellion, Yumina, and even Cellon were watching, along with Mira and the others...
"...Time for bed."
Focus on what's right in front of him first.
Like snapping Dokgo Yeon out of her ridiculous delusion.
Ah... he might get absolutely wrecked...
Dwelling on tomorrow's date, Ban Yu-won slunk into bed feeling deflated. But between dread and anticipation, sleep didn't come easy.
Wednesday.
Lectures wrapped up by morning.
Normally, he'd head straight to the club training room, oversee the seniors, spar intensely with Dokgo Yeon, Lucelle, and even As Light like back in first semester, working up a sweat.
But not today.
"Alright, we'll meet at the spot!"
"Why are you the beast getting all hyped up about this?"
"Dokgo Yeon, let's go get ready. Hurry! Master, head to the square first!"
Lucelle, brimming with resolve, dragged Dokgo Yeon toward the girls' dorm.
Ban Yu-won glanced at As Light, left standing stiffly beside him, but the guy drew his holy sword and marched coldly to the training room.
His iciness exceeded the usual—definitely sulking.
"Sigh."
[So, Master... why's that girl under such a delusion?]
Maybe because he'd shown a softer side yesterday, Lilith was speaking a bit more gently.
[She acts like she has no value beyond her strength.]
Sharing most of his time, Lilith remembered everything: Dokgo Yeon's attitude toward Lucelle, Lucien Ortima, and him yesterday.
No wonder she'd nailed what he and Lucelle were thinking.
"Dunno. Probably raised that way. The rest is the environment."
Ban Yu-won smacked his lips and fiddled with his Student ID to head to Ronica.
Ronica was Union Academy's premier—no, only—major city.
Holiday or weekday, students itching to get out all flocked here. Even now, eyes were on him from every direction.
"Lilith, stealth mode."
[Quit phrasing it like I'm some cutting-edge weapon, Master.]
She activated the ghostly technique they shared, vanishing obediently while grumbling.
"I've given you a concept beyond cutting-edge weapons. Be grateful."
[Lots of students here... Why so many? It's not usually this crowded.]
Ban Yu-won narrowed his eyes, scanning around at her words.
Now that she mentioned it, something was off.
Few students could freely enter Ronica anyway, and they mostly came on weekends after early explorations or Mondays packed with theory classes... But now it felt like the whole Academy was crowding the square!
"Look, Academy students!"
"Something big must be going down here today."
"Monster wave hitting Union?"
"Wouldn't put it past 'em..."
No chance.
His minions were periodically clearing dungeons around Ronica anyway.
But... as he scanned the crowd, Ban Yu-won grew certain.
"They're all here for us. Word's spread already...!"
[Popularity explosion.]
"Dokgo Yeon might explode too..."
That's why he'd said not to blab about the date in public.
Lucien Ortima probably knew too, right?
Not that provoking that jerk wasn't delightful!
But he couldn't predict Dokgo Yeon's reaction...
"Ahem."
Lost in thoughts of her, Dokgo Yeon appeared before him.
Ban Yu-won thought she was dazzling, then realized why: despite Union's fusion fashion blending dimensions, she wore pure Earth-style clothes.
'Right, she swept up outfits from stores back home. Even bought sizes that'd never fit Lucelle—all for this.'
And hot pants baring her thighs with a knit top? Something Dokgo Yeon would never pick herself. Lucelle must've pushed hard for this date.
Her legs had always struck him as exceptional, and this outfit tugged right at his heartstrings!
"...This feels awful."
"Why?!"
Dokgo Yeon scowled, half-ruining the perfectly styled look.
Wait—subtle makeup too!
"What difference does makeup or clothes make? When we get back, I'll drill some sense into that beast... and you too."
"It suits you perfectly."
"Liar."
She clenched her fists, trembling, hand instinctively dropping to her waist—then noticing no sword belt, she fumed more.
"That beast even snuck off with my weapon...! She's gotten good at this."
"Praise or insult? Pick one."
Only then did Ban Yu-won snap out of it.
Too late—Dokgo Yeon had caught him staring at her legs.
Her cheeks flushed rare as she stepped back half a pace, protesting.
"I didn't choose this. I never meant to show my legs! What humiliation...!"
"Cut it out, seriously. You're cute..."
"Cute...?!"
Something was wrong.
He couldn't calm down.
Was this the gap moe thing?
Lucelle always dressed femininely, but Dokgo Yeon? Uniforms rarely, otherwise all black training robes.
Well, she'd worn a nightgown during that special activity once.
Yeah... back then too, Ban Yu-won had...
"Uh, let's just go."
"...If it's that weird, I'll change right now."
"No, absolutely do not change."
"Knew it felt off."
Dokgo Yeon's chronic issues wouldn't vanish with pretty clothes and makeup.
Ban Yu-won steeled himself and took her hand.
Half-expecting a smack, he was relieved when she gripped back.