Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Lesson 18. Midterms - 4
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“But something’s still missing.”
―The connection, right?
“Yeah. Even if that person last night was Mira herself, that info isn’t particularly meaningful.”
So he contacted Yumina, the most reliable adult at the Academy, via mirror.
Any students who returned to the Academy by spaceship last night?
Do you know anything about Mira from the Student Council?
Know anything about the potion circulating inside the Academy right now?
The reply came right away: If you’re in Ronica right now, let’s talk over dinner later^^.
―This woman’s totally flirting with you, right?
“Dude, there are things you can say and things you can’t.”
Yumina had no romantic feelings for Ban Yu-won.
She’d openly admitted from the start that she wanted something from him.
That was why Ban Yu-won didn’t mind accepting her goodwill.
Lucelle’s case was different. Their relationship was built on the murky concept of ‘subservience,’ which made him wonder if he could truly accept her affection at face value. It left a slight discomfort.
―She’s flirting without even needing to ask. She’s a beastkin, too.
“Well... ahem, honestly, I’m not exactly ugly, right?”
―True, but she’s still annoying as hell.
“Listen. But Lucelle’s on another level. Her looks are top of the Academy—no exaggeration. She’s sweet, and her vibe is the most stable among the team. Fans love her reactions best when she’s not in combat.”
―So you’re hung up on whether she’d act the same without the subservience. ...Isn’t that a pointless worry?
“......”
Affirming it would make him seem like a total loser, so Ban Yu-won hesitated for a moment. But realizing he was already acting like one just by worrying, he shut down his thoughts.
“......This isn’t what matters right now.”
―You’re dodging so shamelessly.
“No? There’s no point thinking about it now, so I’m choosing not to.”
―Sure, sure. Looking forward to how you handle it~.
How nice it would be if Cellon had a physical form.
He could’ve smacked it around happily.
Ban Yu-won messaged Yumina that he’d be waiting, then decided to take care of something he’d been meaning to do while he was in the city anyway.
Find an armory.
“Welcome! Oh, you’re Rebellion, right?!”
“That’s me. Nice to meet you.”
Back when he’d gone on a date with Lucelle, some Ronica locals had recognized them, startling her.
But that was old news now.
Most Ronica residents knew Rebellion by now.
“Never dreamed you’d visit our shop! A guy who makes artifacts himself!”
“Needed a good weapon.”
“Planning to use our gear for an artifact?”
“Something like that.”
“No way...!”
Dokgo Yeon had blamed herself for their last exploration ending too early in Room 23, but for first-years overall, it was quite fast—especially factoring in last week’s retirements.
And with the Trick Room footage drawing massive attention as Yumina predicted, their subscribers had finally broken 100 million.
Ban Yu-won’s standout performance boosted his fame, freeing him from the ‘carried by the strong’ image.
“I heard artifacts need complex designs from the crafting stage. You sure our shop’s stuff is okay?”
The owner of Ronica’s largest armory was so friendly probably because of that.
Ban Yu-won, who loved the spotlight anyway, felt pretty good.
“Show me several high-quality longswords. Ideally like this one. Ones infused with lots of magical power would be best.”
As Ban Yu-won half-drew the Executioner’s Longsword from its sheath, the owner took it, inspected it, and nodded.
“Impressive as an artifact, but purely as a sword, we’ve got better. Handle about 20 centimeters, blade 90. How many shall I show you?”
“Hmm......”
Ban Yu-won recalled what Dokgo Yeon had heard: Lucein Ortima’s artifact Astraia used 24 iron beads. He grinned and said,
“Twenty-five.”
That evening, Ban Yu-won dined with Yumina at Ronica’s finest restaurant.
No growth in his bodily concepts, but the menu rivaled the Academy’s in taste. Over it, he got answers to his mirror questions.
“No official spaceship or dimensional ship landings last night. The process is pretty strict. That’s why some get clearance for unreported takeoffs and landings... Full Professors, a few Associate Professors, Student Council officers, top ten Special Activity teams.”
“Nom... Student Council, huh.”
“Student Council PR Chief, third-year Artifact Crafting major fairy Mira. Excellent student. Professor Thalia Campanella’s favorite, too. No official outing records. Unofficially... Council officers go out a lot. Busy with duties, sometimes solo-supporting other teams.”
“Hmm, munch munch.”
Ban Yu-won listened to Yumina’s kind explanation while popping the last bite of his steak—the main dish—into his mouth.
In this Union world, meats were familiar like beef, pork, lamb, chicken, duck, goose. But high-end dishes often featured edible monster meat.
This place too. It tasted great, and he didn’t care what monster, so he ate quietly.
“Wow, Yu-won, you eat so well. Another steak plate?”
Her explanation paused; she stared at him, a pleased smile on her lips.
His hearty chomps on big steak chunks tickled her heart.
“I’m good. Still got dessert. Anyway, the explanation...”
“Right, right. I actually got one of those potions.”
At his urging, Yumina pulled a small vial from her pocket.
A faceted crystal bottle with swirling purple mist inside. Ban Yu-won unconsciously held his breath.
“Whoa, looks dangerous. We’re drinking this?”
“Union Academy graduation’s on the line. Desperate kids bet their lives.”
“Where’d you get it?”
“Yu-won, you think the Chancellor’s letting this slide because she’s incompetent?”
“Ah—okay, got it.”
That explained everything.
Not just the Tower—everything at the Academy was a divine trial.
Students were all rivals; their clashes utterly fair.
Thus, the Chancellor observed unless it hit rock bottom.
And her ‘rock bottom’ differed wildly from his.
“......Thinking the Chancellor didn’t actively stop Ortima for that reason makes me wanna punch her.”
“I see it differently. Lucein Ortima’s unforgivable, but you grew massively clashing with that bastard.”
Did his sweet teacher just say something she shouldn’t?
“The Chancellor doesn’t blink at student deaths, sure... but Yu-won, you’re already getting special treatment. So relax.”
“Why?”
“Hmm... Secret for now.”
She pressed her index finger to her lips in obvious charm.
The scary part? Even knowing she was hamming it up, it was too cute to call out.
“Sorry, it wouldn’t help even if you knew now.”
“It’s fine, Sis.”
He said that, but Ban Yu-won roughly guessed why he got special treatment from the Chancellor.
My ancestors built Babel Tower... maybe not that far, but she’d know I’m connected somehow. Freakouts every time I enter.
No clue how she’d treat him going forward, but remembering she wasn’t fully an ally would suffice.
“Wait. Then you getting this for me breaks the rules, right?”
“We’re cooperating, aren’t we? Forming equal partnerships with Full Professors is proof of skill.”
Her bold smile nearly made his heart skip.
Unlike the Chancellor, she was definitely a full ally.
Ban Yu-won smiled back, took the potion vial... then his face hardened coldly.
His Authority usually revealed an item’s creator.
―Of course, the potion was named ‘Mira’s Hypnosis Potion.’
“Figured it out?”
“Yeah. Senior Mira’s the culprit. She must’ve set up today’s meeting to check if I saw her last night.”
But a fairy with a good mask couldn’t beat a child of harsh modern media.
Unless caught off-guard, Ban Yu-won could mask his expressions against ‘enemies’ effortlessly.
“Whew, gathering data after your questions gave me suspicions too...”
“Being too competent is a curse.”
Normally, these incidents drag: a week of scrambling for clues, testing hypotheses, missing timings, escalating drama. Just when all seems lost, catch the culprit—only to learn their sob story, leaving a bitter aftertaste.
Pinpointing the perp on day one? Unheard of!
Now just investigate her circumstances, and done.
......Or not even that.
“No wonder the Student Council’s eyeing you.”
Yumina propped her chin on one hand, eyes narrowing.
“Since you’re clashing with Special Class anyway, joining the Council isn’t a bad move.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Truth was, it wasn’t fully solved.
For him, evidence and suspicions were ironclad. But without his Authority, it was just an anonymous buff potion to others.
Sure, tracking her moves could end it easily... but he hesitated.
Excluding Yumina, only the Student Council could help resolve it. But they wouldn’t readily admit their officer’s guilt.
Worst case, can’t touch Mira herself, just fix the potion side effects and call it.
He’d prefer to push hard, but with Special Class already enemies, he needed moderate ties with the Council.
Approach carefully, minding their leanings, or...
Shouldn’t have gotten involved.
Whatever the end, it’d feel unresolved—failing the classic ‘case’ elegance.
“Sigh.”
“Hee hee.”
Seeing his conflicted face, Yumina laughed warmly again, reaching to stroke his cheek.
A pinch, a caress—comfort or tease, hard to tell.
“Ahem.”
“Hm?”
He’d cleared his throat to signal her touchiness, but she didn’t seem to get it.
......Or pretended not to.
As she fiddled more, Ban Yu-won stated directly.
“Sis, uh, the skinship...”
“Yeah, potion price. If short, dinner too.”
She parried so confidently?
Ban Yu-won was stunned but not displeased, so he let her have her way a bit longer.
The next morning, Lucelle grilled him relentlessly about what happened with Yumina.