Chapter 279
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 279
Chapter Title: Lesson 54. Things You Shouldn't Touch – 4
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Not even that long after midterms wrapped up, and right after special activities ended the following week, a tense atmosphere began to drift through Union Academy, all eyes turning toward finals.
Unlike the first half of the second semester, packed with events and scandals, now it was time to truly focus on evaluations from the tower, special activities, classes, and the like.
And that tension hung especially thick among the first-years. A prime example was how the Special Class students, led by Ortima, had teamed up with a few full professors particularly friendly to higher-dimensional folk for a group project, all to shake up the overwhelming lead Rebellion had secured.
"What's that about?"
"Like that paper you're writing with the princess."
Ban Yu-won took in Misty's straightforward explanation and nodded in understanding right away.
Somehow, he'd clicked with Aire, and the magic research paper they'd started back in the first semester not only substituted for the note-taking evaluation in Yumina's Magical Combat Studies lecture but also offered hefty bonus points based on its quality—a real gem of a project.
Of course, whether first or second semester, it was only possible because Aire carried dragon blood and Ban Yu-won could analyze and wield every language concept. They'd armed themselves with fresh, effective magical theory to aim for top marks. Even so, he couldn't help feeling the bonuses were a tad generous.
'That's Yumina sis... maybe especially doting on me. Since it's her specialty, the other professors can't really complain about the scoring. Which means, flipping that around...'
Other full professors who wanted the Special Class to keep pace with Rebellion could pull the same stunt just fine.
Go too far, and there'd be repercussions, but professors weren't idiots—they'd play it just shy of objection territory, favoring Special Class enough to feel petty and annoying.
The problem was, even if Ban Yu-won wanted to call them out, he was already doing something similar.
No matter how groundbreaking the magic paper he and Aire were crafting, they'd only fixate on his score and whine, "If he gets it, why not us?"
"Eh, let 'em do what they want. I wasn't writing the paper to chase top rank anyway."
"Then why are you? To get alone time with the princess?"
Facing Misty's axe-glare as she grilled him, Ban Yu-won seriously wondered if she was in cahoots with Special Class, plotting to screw him over.
"Getting close to Aire was one reason, sure."
"You finally confessed, you wolf!"
"And I wanted deeper knowledge of magic. Honestly, working on the paper with her boosted my magic skills a ton."
"I'm so jealous...! I wanna study magic one-on-one with the princess, not deal with these flashy annoying rookies!"
"Oh, so you're doing that project with her after all."
"You wouldn't ask me to spill what it's about, right?"
As if, Ban Yu-won thought, shaking his head with a chuckle.
She must've let his "no interest in top spot" comment go in one ear and out the other.
But he wasn't entirely uninterested in them.
Precisely one of them.
"Got a question, though. How's Lucein Ortima holding up?"
"Dangerous."
Her instant reply.
"Honestly, everyone underestimated it. Treated it like some prince's whim at first, but he's gotten weirder and weirder..."
Ban Yu-won had his suspicions too.
He'd noticed how other Special Class students glared at him like they wanted him dead, but eyed Dokgo Yeon with awkward uncertainty, unsure how to handle her.
As he stared, Misty sighed and continued.
"Looks like it was his first real love. But the tournament penalty wiped her from his perception... He's basically a madman now. Keeps hunting for Dokgo Yeon, even drawing pictures of her. Word is, his cronies cooked up this project to snap him out of it... Man, so this is lovesickness."
"Pfft."
Lovesickness? Recalling how Lucein Ortima had first bared his desire for Dokgo Yeon during special activities—his actions back then—Ban Yu-won burst out laughing.
Things reaching this point was entirely due to Lucein Ortima's arrogance, recklessness, and impatience.
"This is hilarious."
Whatever state Lucein Ortima was in now, the sins he'd committed in the past wouldn't vanish.
To that trash who'd sacrificed an entire dimension—and countless Academy students—for his own goals, this torment over an unattainable desire suited him perfectly.
"Hilarious? Dude's got whole dimensions under him, assets out the wazoo. Not scared?"
But Misty, unaware of the full details between him and Rebellion despite knowing their beef, figured whatever he'd done, this was an insult to his status.
Compared to other Special Class kids, she was pretty grounded, but too many years as a higher-dimensional elite had ingrained her mindset deep.
Still, worrying for Ban Yu-won's safety over defending Lucein showed she was coming around.
"Scared? A top-ten family heir without a knife to his throat?"
"You're not human."
"Not human? I spared that guy's life, and you don't even know."
Misty snorted at his earnest words.
"What, like his life depends on you? Whatever. Just don't say that in front of his guard. They're out for blood right now."
"Thanks for the concern."
"C-concern? Hah, who said—?!"
Stung, Misty bristled, then spotted his smirk and fumed.
"Don't smile like that! If she wasn't the princess, I'd...!"
"Hm."
Misty's words cut off.
Just like always when they chatted in the lecture hall, Aire approached, sat beside Ban Yu-won, and shot Misty a blank sky-blue glare.
For Misty, that otherworldly beauty singling her out with a stare was blissfully thrilling.
Maybe that's why she kept talking to him—for this payoff.
"You two seem close."
But Aire's words weren't welcome.
Fearing Aire might misunderstand, Misty shook her head frantically.
"Close? No way! We're practically enemies!"
"Enemies...? You're Yu-won's enemy?"
"No, not like that! More like rough buddies or...!"
Unable to withstand Aire's icy gaze—laden with 'Yu-won's enemy? Then mine too'—Misty scrambled excuses, nearly in tears.
Pitying her tough life, Ban Yu-won glanced away, only to find Reshu in the seat ahead, turned back with sparkling eyes.
"Want me to do it, spy? I'm so unnoticeable, I can snoop anywhere!"
"Nah, it's fine. Too risky for you."
And unbeknownst to her, you stand out plenty.
Maybe more than our Aisha... Should I infiltrate with Aisha instead?
He learned about the first-year Special Class project through YouTube, of all places.
Their project? Running a YouTube channel.
Not like Rebellion broadcasting tower footage—that was impossible—so they'd planned special activities by half-class, showcasing dazzling innate powers unique to higher dimensions in flashy videos.
"Didn't cameras break from massive magic reactions?"
Aisha tilted her head at the screen: Special Class kids wildly tackling their planned special activity, dimension pirate extermination.
Ban Yu-won popped a stick snack into her gaping mouth and explained.
"Lucein Ortima must've used his dominion power."
Ortima's authority to meddle with the world's governing laws was impressive, rivaling Ban Yu-won's language power.
For him to debase himself controlling a camera? He must be seriously shaken.
"Nom... So that makes it hold up?"
"Tower's a no-go, but a battlefield like that? Sure. No one's ever asked a top-ten heir to play cameraman before."
Tike—not poorly paid—fiddled with his aperture and huffed dramatically at Ban Yu-won's words.
"Don't misunderstand, Tike. You're Rebellion channel's star director. Ortima's no you."
—Whirr.
Tike buzzed contentedly.
Feeling eyes, Ban Yu-won turned to see Lucelle with her little mouth open in an "ahh."
"Here we go."
"Ah—."
He fed the shoulder-wriggling, whining Lucelle what she wanted, then glanced at Dokgo Yeon, who clamped her lips tight, refusing to follow suit.
Did she really not know that made her cuter?
If she did, she'd be a master player.
"Why dimension pirates, though?"
Crunching snacks, Lucelle piped up.
"Special activities against people rarely hit first-years."
"Maybe 'cause our dimension pirate vid put us on everyone's radar?"
"Could be. But I..."
She glanced at tightly pursed-lip Dokgo Yeon, then Ban Yu-won.
Alternating looks, she voiced her hypothesis.
"Maybe it's a signal to Master?"
"Huh?"
"Everyone knows Master opposes most dimension pirates. And Special Class, led by Lucein Ortima, is taking them on directly. Too hasty to call it friendly outreach to Master?"
"Not Dokgo Yeon bootlicking me for... Wait."
Ban Yu-won checked every video on Special Class's new YouTube channel.
Mostly pirate wipeouts, and with tons of users hating pirates, views were skyrocketing.
Not just nobodies—they clashed fearlessly with Exodus and Crimson Spear fleets. You could mistake these prideful Union higher-dimensional students for vengeful ghosts obsessed with pirates.
"Ortima family's not pirate-free either. Crimson Spear's basically Prominence's pet. This... is weird."
If it was to curry favor with him? Shocking.
And if Lucelle was right, Lucein figured winning Dokgo Yeon meant winning Ban Yu-won first.
That acknowledged Ban Yu-won's massive sway over her.
And he'd risk all that just to see her face again?!
"This guy's a real monster...?!"
"Not a top-ten heir for nothing... What a headcase."
Ban Yu-won reeled, realizing the snowball he'd rolled had created a wildly advantageous mess for Rebellion—but utter chaos for the top families.
Aisha, beside him clicking her tongue, caught his eye and cracked her mouth open tiny, cheeping for snacks like a baby bird.
You? You're a true dragon heir too.
You?!