Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Lesson 14. Level Force - 4
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They played hard and ate their fill.
Once time was up, Ban Yu-won and his group returned to the gathering spot in the plaza. They shut down Tike's recording mode and decided to take a break.
While students everywhere were chattering energetically, only the first-years of Class 1 sat in a gloomy funk. That was probably because their leader, Ortima, had returned to his family home for treatment.
"Aire, aren't you going?"
"The return trip's with Class 1 and Class 11 anyway."
If anyone in Class 1 could fill in for Ortima right now, it'd have to be Aire—with her comparable charm and charisma, and skills that surpassed his. But there she was, sticking with the Rebellion members who'd injured him in the first place.
Aire got snatched by Class 11 after Ortima got hurt saving them? Most of Class 1 seemed dead serious about that ridiculous notion. The occasional glances shot their way were downright murderous.
The problem was the mix of immature adult stares in there too.
"Hey, Aire. Professor Kantone keeps glaring over here. Looks like lasers might shoot out of his eyes."
"That guy's creepy. Shady and sleazy."
"We hate him too..."
They knew Professor Kantone had used his power to slow them down, sucking them into the dungeon helpless. But...
His trick was so subtle, leaving no evidence, that even Yumina couldn't press the issue.
If it hadn't involved the Ortima family, the Chancellor might've stepped in personally. Kantone got lucky all around.
Yet here he was, glaring daggers whether he knew he'd dodged suspicion or not.
'Professor Yumina said nothing like this again... but can't count on it. Kantone might snap anytime.'
Even a full professor—one of only nine at the top academy across dimensions—might risk it all just to remove annoying students? Doubtful. But don't forget, he'd already pulled something similar.
That's why Ban Yu-won needed to grow stronger, faster.
So he could leap over any trap with ease...!
"Yu-won, check this out."
Maybe wanting to escape the dour topic, Lucelle called him over while checking her mirror.
Dressed the sharpest of the group, her smartphone-like mirror handling looked natural.
"There's a whole board just for fan club members who stan Academy students."
"Huh?"
"Here... ah."
Lucelle pulled up a Union Net community board.
Ban Yu-won leaned in, and As Light crowded behind—only to jolt back realizing how close it was.
Ban Yu-won said, incredulous.
"You can just use yours."
"I'm no good at that stuff."
"You know other dimensions inside out, but suck at this... whatever."
No helping it. She enlarged the projection so As Light could see too, and the three huddled in.
"Unity, Phoenix, Revival, Survivor... oh, team names, not fan clubs? Our naming sense matches other students' then."
With special activities mostly in squads, others named theirs like Rebellion. But usually in 2nd or 3rd year, once teams solidified (most swapped after losses in the Tower, hunting the perfect combo).
Rebellion's special admission left no room for changes—they were stuck together, sink or swim!
"What're you saying, Ban? Rebellion's a solid name. The riot vibe denying the system bugs me a bit... but still."
"Yu-won, promising teams and fan lists here."
Ignoring As Light's grumble, Lucelle called him back.
Ban Yu-won marveled at the dozens of fan clubs.
"Seriously, tons from 4th- and 5th-years."
"Makes sense. Even five-per-team, dozens per grade. Actually looks sparse now."
"Most have dozens to hundreds max. Adorable compared to Level Force."
Ban Yu-won nodded at Aner's pride in her club.
"Definitely..."
Theirs paled next to Level Force in numbers and unity.
How could they compete with Rebellion's regular Tower vids and Earth-style engagement fostering closeness? No intro vids even!
...Wait.
"Aner, you still here?"
"Your special activity ain't over yet!"
Firm hierarchy kept her from Ban Yu-won, peeking over Lucelle's shoulder.
He checked his watch—plenty till muster.
She planned to cling till they left the dimension.
"How's this help climbing the Tower...?"
"Master Ban Yu-won, you didn't just call me 'this', right?"
"Of course not."
"Knew it!"
Half right, half wrong.
He meant external fame.
It helped here, sure—but Tower link?
"Yumina really said that?"
"Yep."
"Hmm... Tower enables communication across countless dimensions. Events there affecting it? Logical."
Even disinterested Dokgo Yeon chimed in, eyeing the mirror.
Ban Yu-won flashed on something.
'Linking dimensions for talk... like ancestor's power. Tower having it? Inevitable.'
Unified language means universal chat.
Linking dimensions? Extension.
This dimension's name: Union. Integration—not coincidence.
'Tower as key linking all dimensions? Then our deeds elsewhere could impact it!'
Puzzle solved clean.
He wanted to hug Dokgo Yeon for the hint, but she'd deck him. Instead, he grabbed Lucelle's hand, shaking it wildly.
She smiled gently, unstartled.
"Something good?"
"Yeah, feels like it."
"Yay, me too then."
"...From a fan view, you two look all lovey-dovey. Kinda weird. Make it a harem with me in?"
"Harem starts at four, I say."
Ban Yu-won shot back nonsense; Aner joyfully latched on.
"Just need two more then!"
"My bad, stop. ...But wait."
He yanked her from posting on the official site, then blanched at her mirror's homepage (Union-bought had different designs, but mirrors everywhere?).
Expected board and cafe, but 100k+ members? Chills.
One doubt hit.
"Aner, you said Union Net access is limited."
"Ah, curious about conditions?"
Spot on.
He nodded; she explained sweetly.
"Dimension-hoppers like us mostly have access. Otherwise, ramps up from lower to higher dimensions, strongest highest ranks."
"Power logic, easy peasy."
If Tower controls Union Net, access by strength? Duh.
Ban Yu-won shook his head; Aner whispered.
"Scouted here: top 1% humanity. High for lower dimension."
"Other lowers...?"
—All hands, muster.
Xenon's call cut him off.
Yumina appeared beside them.
"Good work, Aner. Hope for more gigs."
"Such a shame... 20% off for Rebellion stuff! 50% if you call, Master Ban Yu-won! And..."
Reluctant sigh, she backed away... winking at Dokgo Yeon.
"You too, Dokgo Yeon! Plenty chances left, looks like!"
"...?"
Dokgo Yeon's cross pupils widened rare panic.
No time to ask—Aner vanished into the crowd.
Dokgo Yeon gaped.
"Slipped my senses that fast...?"
"Dimension merc, after all. High caliber. She's infiltration pro—looks and stealth over combat—but thrives in top dimensions easy." Yumina smiled at stunned Dokgo Yeon.
Lucelle ground teeth rare fury.
"Maybe she sized me up too."
"Yeah, couldn't fully read her till end..."
Started suspicious, but overzealous affection—good person.
Swapped mirror codes amid chaos too. Reliable ally if needed.
With Aire bond, biggest special activity gain.
"Dimension merc..."
"Our turn now. Let's go."
Yumina shoved Ban Yu-won's shoulder from reverie.
Casual speech meant party already entered.
"Kinda... anticlimactic end."
"Anticlimactic? Look back."
Stepping through the airborne rift with Yumina, he glanced.
Not for nothing the plaza muster—soldiers massed like their arrival.
"Thank you!"
"Union Academy forever!"
"Safe travels...!"
"We'll remember the salvation forever!"
Lineup way different from days ago.
Professors' reckless power barrages claimed soldiers with monsters.
Unresolved crises regrow like weeds, might strangle later.
Yet they cheered.
Dimension survived. They lived.
Toward students too, like gods—praise pouring.
'No wonder they get arrogant. Gotta watch myself before becoming like them.'
Ban Yu-won boarded the dimension line with bitter lesson.
This special activity—eye-opener on Union and beyond—wrapped.
Empress Declares She'll Break Her Sword!
What Changed from Last Year's Strong Olympics Vow? Empress Ban Yu-mi Abruptly Announces Retirement!
Olympic gold medalist, rising fencing powerhouse.
Fencing's tough—yet she medaled individually in foil and saber. True monster.
Empress Ban Yu-mi's early retirement shocked domestic fans even casually tuned in...
Foil and saber teammates hoping for team gold next Olympics took it hardest.
That's why she splurged on hanwoo for her closest rivals.
"For real quitting? You've got medals galore, sis, but what about us?"
"Sorry, but competing now's cheating anyway."
Who knew mana awakening would keep supercharging her body?
She shrugged inwardly at the unsayable.
Fencing was just a means to strength—no regrets quitting.
"Getting married or something? That why?"
"Pfft, marriage at twenty-two? Please."
"Right, not that, sis. This one's phone wallpaper's still her lil bro."
"That's sus..."
"Super sus..."
"Doesn't lil bro creep you out?"
"But why no intro? You promised last time."
"Ugh, seriously."
They pestered endlessly, now eyeing her brother slyly. She shoved them off one-armed.
"No marriage, no bro intros. Quit coveting."
"So firm."
"Yu-mi, hogging that medalist bro forever? Easy?"
"Whatever, text came—scatter."
Hanwoo should've satisfied.
Ban Yu-mi checked her phone shoving them away.
Plain text. Sender name glitched out.
Brother? Hope flickered—nah, spam probably.
She tsked, read it.
"What the...? ...Earth Dimension Evolution Alert and Union Net Priority Access Notice?"