Chapter 288
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 288
Chapter Title: Lesson 56. The House Next Door Is Also on Fire - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The meeting, thick with the suspicion that the Chancellor had merely wanted to show off in front of Ban Yu-won and Yumina, left behind immediate and devastating side effects.
Specifically, Yumina—properly terrified by his declaration—clung to Ban Yu-won like a fragile baby rabbit that would drop dead the moment she let go.
Of course, her behavior immediately provoked the ire of the Rebellion members.
"So you've decided to just come out and admit it? How could a Full Professor treat a single student so blatantly?"
"Everyone, I think there might be a misunderstanding. Calm down and hear me out without glaring like that."
Yumina offered a sincere explanation in response to the Rebellion members—who were staring at her in disbelief—and especially As Light, who always stepped up as their spokesperson with her sarcasm.
But with Ban Yu-won’s head wedged firmly between her arm and chest, leaving him unable to escape, her words carried zero convincing power.
Dokgo Yeon and Lucelle chimed in as well.
"A misunderstanding? There were plenty of students outside the restaurant too. You planning to go around explaining to all of them that it's just a misunderstanding?"
"We've managed excuses up until now, but it's impossible from here on out..."
Incidentally, they were currently in the outer city of the Academy, Ronica—a famous restaurant there.
Ban Yu-won had shown up here, grabbed by Yumina, for a team dinner. It was meant to double as catching up on what happened when the Chancellor summoned him and as a belated afterparty since everyone had passed out right after their exploration.
Of course, they were in a private room now, but whispers from students who spotted them on the way in seemed to pierce the barrier and reach this far.
"I'm serious right now. It's not because... I have any ulterior motives or anything."
With Ban Yu-won unable to speak, his face buried in Yumina's chest, she gave a rough rundown of the situation.
Up until now, the Rebellion team's explorations had been unusual—but this time, they'd crossed the line.
As all the members were aware, these changes in the Tower revolved around Ban Yu-won. And not just students were reacting sensitively to the anomalies; powerful figures, including the Ten Great Families, were too.
This wasn't mere wariness or suspicion. It could lead to attempts to exploit him—or even violent acts like abduction.
And if Ban Yu-won really was selected as the Tower's successor, then trivial things like current explorations or evaluations weren't the priority. They needed to band together to protect him, and even that might not be enough.
"So—from the moment you left the Academy, you've had him bundled up tight in your arms like this?"
Dokgo Yeon pressed her forehead with a sigh.
Hearing that, As Light tilted her head and muttered.
"Ee... Sah...?"
"Anyway, I get why you're so on edge."
Dokgo Yeon raised her voice to drown out As Light's dumb mumbling.
"This is too much. Plus, aren't you basically advertising to the world that we're on high alert?"
"Th-this is on purpose. I'm a Full Professor at Union Academy, a powerhouse known inside and out of the Union. If I make it public that I'm protecting Yu-won, they won't dare make a move."
"Yu-won..."
As Light's gaze shifted to Yumina this time.
Under her blunt, dull stare, Yumina tightened her grip on Ban Yu-won and continued.
"Everyone, we need to think about this seriously. This could spark a massive war that makes Prominence's Earth invasion look like child's play. It might even drag in multiple S-rank dimensions fighting over Yu-won's custody..."
"Should we hold back on explorations?"
"We were going to attract attention sooner or later. And if Yu-won really is the Tower's successor, staying away from climbing it wasn't an option."
"If we hadn't run the Rebellion channel, would Master be getting this much attention right now?"
"That was actually a smokescreen. The only way to divert attention focused solely on Yu-won... Though it looks like it's too late now."
"Master..."
As Light stared blankly at Lucelle last, muttering to herself.
Lucelle didn't spare her a glance, her eyes gleaming instead.
"Academy students can't stay cooped up in the Academy forever. From now on, every time we step outside, we have to brace for combat with enemies."
"Exactly, Lucelle. That's why my proposal is... Ah, they're here."
The barrier lifted briefly, the private room door opened, and three new women entered.
Mira, Shati, and Aire, of course.
"Oh my, it really is true."
Mira glanced around the group—serious-faced and ignoring the spread of food—and covered her mouth with one hand, laughing as if on purpose.
"A Full Professor getting into romantic entanglements with students? I wouldn't have believed it without seeing it myself..."
Yumina flinched under her cold, purple gaze.
"Professor Yumina, you're way too casual with my boyfriend. Anyone would think you actually have feelings for your student."
"Ah, ahh."
"Boyfriend..."
Regardless of As Light's meaningful mutter.
Mira approached Yumina naturally, pried Ban Yu-won away from her, and sat down with him. Aire swiftly claimed the seat beside him, crossing her legs.
Naturally, all eyes turned to her.
Aire opened her mouth with a composed expression, as if what she'd just done wasn't important.
"I saw the exploration results. The footage too... Is that why you're all gathered?"
"Y-yes? Yeah, that's right, but—"
"That's not the issue right now. Why are you sitting there?"
"Hoo... How did things end up like this."
"...Guys, can I just leave?"
Shati unwittingly let out a weak whine at the awkward situation where all the other girls here were heated up over one guy, excluding her. But even she had received favors from Ban Yu-won.
Seeing him buried among the women yet maintaining his serious expression, she sighed and eventually took an appropriate seat.
The group, briefly fired up over the ridiculous debate of where to seat Ban Yu-won—who had the right to sit closest and be served first—calmed down for now upon seeing As Light obliviously open the door to accept more drinks she'd ordered.
"—So that's how it became more than just one or two Ten Great Families getting involved."
"Even better."
The moment Yumina finished explaining the situation again, Mira shrugged casually and said.
She rolled the wine glass in her hand, took a sip, set it down, and...
"I've been thinking Yu-won needs a title that suits him. A man who's going to lead all the fairy folk someday should at least be the Tower's master. Perfect timing for some good news, really."
She flashed a relaxed smile.
Someone made a stunned face at Mira's cheeky scheme to arbitrarily crown Ban Yu-won as the fairy folk's leader, but...
"We were going to have a war anyway, and I knew a conflict involving the Ten Great Families wouldn't fizzle out easily—so maybe it's better to just quickly wipe out Prominence like this."
Shati nodded, looking not all that grave either.
In truth, everyone knew Ban Yu-won's abilities were extraordinary. Watching him explore the Tower like it was his own backyard had planted the subtle thought: 'Ah, maybe this guy really could do it?'
The Chancellor himself confirming it added realism—but so did the feeling of 'Here it comes.'
"What a joke. They founded the Academy to nurture someone who reaches the Tower's summit, yet now that the person has appeared, they're all desperate to kill him."
Aire sneered.
She gently stroked the back of Ban Yu-won's hand before continuing.
"Yu-won, come to Melodia with me after all. The family head will lend her strength."
"Hold on, Fairy Tail comes first. Everyone's expecting the Queen's man."
Mira shot back sharply, swatting her hand away.
And the Rebellion members watched the two with deeply complicated expressions.
"Our beastkin... No, but we're too weak to fight higher dimensions. For now, at least my parents and the elite forces..."
"All the kids from our dimension are weaklings... No, but for a blessed marriage, I can't back down...!"
"You're treating troops like a dowry now?"
Dokgo Yeon spoke in a pathetic tone, then suddenly clapped to quiet the group.
"Ban Yu-won, what about you? You've been quiet this whole time, like you're thinking something over. Spill it. You've been preparing stuff on your own, right?"
She was probably referring to his solo explorations.
Ban Yu-won finally looked up, clearing his throat with a cough.
"War's already broken out."
"Huh? Why are you talking about it like it's someone else's problem..."
"War?! Someone else invading Earth?!"
"Unforgivable!"
The members jolted up in alarm.
Ban Yu-won shook his head and cut off the connection he'd been maintaining via communicator up to now.
He gestured in the air a few times, clicked his tongue upon realizing it still wasn't possible, and lifted his mirror to log into Union Net.
The top headline was about a massive military clash in the abandoned dimension.
"Let's see... Exodus, Crimson Spear... and the Ketius dimension's fleet in a three-way battle?"
"Ketius?"
As Light tilted her head beside him while Lucelle perked up her ears, realizing something.
"Ketius—that's that guy's home dimension, right? The one who was hitting on Dokgo Yeon..."
"What?!"
Shati leaned in toward the screen in panic.
An abandoned dimension should be an environment no one could easily access, yet the hologram photo clearly captured the moment the factions collided.
And it had been uploaded just minutes ago.
The poster seemed to be keeping distance from all factions, not a direct participant in the war.
"It's from my older sister's mercenary team. She said stuff like this spreads better if you share it fast..."
"Wait, then Mom's there too. That's dangerous... No, but in that case."
"Mom..."
Regardless of As Light quietly muttering.
Mira ruffled her own hair in disbelief.
"Ortima's on our side? For real?"
"What nonsense is that, Mira? House Ortima is corruption incarnate."
"But they're fighting our enemies right now?!"
With a massive fleet in tow, no less!
Those peering at the photo in astonishment soon recalled how Ortima had recently launched a project, leading the Special Class to hunt dimension pirates like Exodus and Crimson Spear.
No way those minor skirmishes had escalated into a full war pulling in a Ten Great Family's main force and the pirates' full strength!
And soon—everyone's eyes turned to Dokgo Yeon, the one who'd essentially sparked this mess.
"Wh-why are you looking at me like that? I've never even contacted that guy!"
"This is what a true femme fatale looks like...?"
"F-Femme...?!"
Dokgo Yeon's cheeks flushed red at the shameless remark as she shot up from her seat and yelled.
"I haven't even held hands with any guy except Won, got it?!"
"Won..."
And As Light muttered quietly once more, just like before.
Ban Yu-won had a good idea what As Light was thinking, but dealing with her cuteness on top of everything else was too much hassle right now, so he decided to play dumb for the moment.