Why Did I Have to Enroll

Chapter 104:

When Ban Yu-won first heard about it from Mira, he only focused on what she meant by 'growing in numbers.'

While four students might be laughable, twenty students is a number that can't be ignored.

Even more so when you add external allies like Aire and the student council.

He had only considered the significance of creating a group that could meaningfully raise its voice within the Academy, but truthfully, he hadn't had high expectations for the seniors' abilities.

To be frank, weren't these people who had already spent more than a year at this Academy, receiving education from excellent professors, participating in tower exploration and special activities?

At the point where such people couldn't stand on their own and were trying to rely on him, a first-year student, he really couldn't expect much from their future.

But that was an incredibly arrogant and foolish thought.

Ban Yu-won hadn't realized how severely a misguided environment and perception could suppress human potential.

"...How could people with such abilities have been just spinning their wheels all this time?"

Ban Yu-won clutched his head while checking the memo listing the special admission students' abilities.

Actually, ever since hearing about Senior Stone's ability, he had thought 'Hey, isn't this good?'

The paper he now held listed nothing but abilities like that.

For example, there was a second-year senior with the power to manipulate sound.

She could remember various sounds and either replicate them or amplify them with magic power, but she was only using that ability to imitate monster sounds to cause confusion.

As soon as Ban Yu-won heard about her ability, he thought of sonic weapons, and Dokgo Yeon's eyes sparkled saying 'If we apply it to sound techniques...!'

Yet the person herself had wasted a year without properly developing that ability!

"Then Senior Kshana, how do you fight?"

"I use a longsword. Same as you."

"Ah, so you use a longsword."

At that point, Ban Yu-won checked all the seniors' main weapons at once.

Regardless of their abilities, they all used longswords.

"Why is this happening?"

"You use a longsword too, you know."

"That's because Dokgo Yeon uses a sword."

"Ugh...!"

When he asked the senior about the reason, the answer was simple.

The Academy fundamentally doesn't provide ways to develop their unique abilities.

At this point, the question 'Then why even admit students through special admission?' arises, but thinking about it, selecting special admission applicants wasn't the Academy's decision but the Tower's.

'To think the supposedly best academy across all dimensions is this haphazard. Well, I did think they seemed sketchy when I saw them arbitrarily occupying someone else's property (Babel Tower) and using it as their school symbol.'

Anyway, since the Academy doesn't help, they have to either develop their unique abilities on their own or master other skills, and without being able to handle magic, the sword is the most accessible option.

The Union Academy's library is stocked with all kinds of swordsmanship manuals, and students from lower dimensions like the seniors are actually at a level where they should be grateful just to read the swordsmanship manuals available in the library.

"Actually... even if we can't graduate, just learning these advanced sword techniques is beneficial."

"And above all, the Academy's professors traditionally favor swords. We can't even dream of studying directly under Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong like you guys, but it's still beneficial if we can learn swordsmanship from the associate professors."

"I see, so that's why everyone learns swordsmanship."

"That's true even for those not from lower dimensions, Ban Yu-won."

As Ban Yu-won made a strange expression, finally understanding the Academy's situation after the first semester's midterms had passed, Misty chimed in from the side.

"Where do you think the professors' preference for swords came from? For complex reasons including myths and traditions, those from upper dimensions generally favor swords. Have you ever seen a student here using any other weapon in close combat?"

"Now that you mention it, not really."

Ban Yu-won sighed deeply, organizing his thoughts.

Through this series of conversations, he could fully understand why special admission students couldn't exert their power at the Academy.

Looking at them, there were roughly three patterns.

First were those who didn't know how to develop their abilities and either used them minimally or gave up.

Second were those who were developing their abilities well on their own, but their progress was slow because their party members were special admission students who couldn't advance in the tower.

Third, surprisingly, were those who didn't understand why they were admitted through special admission in the first place!

Meaning they hadn't realized their special abilities!

"Setting aside the first case, the second is admirable but pitiful, but what's with the third? Don't the seniors have status windows, status windows?"

"The status window isn't omnipotent, Yu-won."

"It's not omnipotent?!"

As Ban Yu-won expressed his shock, Luciel chuckled and said.

"If it were omnipotent, I wouldn't have needed to rely on you to solve my spiritual path. Come to think of it, I'm really glad it's not omnipotent."

"If the status window were omnipotent, I wouldn't need to struggle with the holy sword either."

"...Now that you mention it, that's true."

Setting aside Light whose problem hadn't been solved yet, Luciel would certainly have remained in an incomplete state unable to resolve her spiritual path issue if it weren't for Ban Yu-won.

At that moment, Ban Yu-won felt his chest tighten.

He realized that almost all the special admission students present were in the same situation as Luciel, unable to resolve their spiritual paths.

'Of course the problems won't be solved no matter how long they stay at the Academy or even with a status window.'

Just as Ban Yu-won was mocking his own foolish thoughts, that's when it happened.

Senior Stone tilted his head and said.

"Something seems odd hearing all this. Junior, you don't have a status window?"

"No."

Ban Yu-won replied nonchalantly.

Next to him, Luciel, Light, and Dokgo Yeon were nodding in agreement with "Mmhmm."

It made sense, since although it was never explicitly mentioned, the three of them had plenty of opportunities to realize he didn't have a status window while constantly working together with Ban Yu-won.

Especially when the Tower gave rewards after defeating the Tower's intruders, even Dokgo Yeon leveled up, but they couldn't help but notice Ban Yu-won tilting his head in confusion at that time.

"Wait, without a status window, you can't even receive the benefits of the level system. So how did you get so strong...?"

"Ah, levels. That's because my Power is similar to that. Actually, I don't have a status window because my Power overrides it."

"The status window... is overridden by Power...?"

Senior Stone looked at Ban Yu-won like he was looking at an alien.

In fact, most students except the Rebellion members had similar expressions.

"So that's why you're so strong..."

"Aren't status windows and levels systems that even the professors haven't fully analyzed yet?"

"What kind of Power..."

"Is he really going to conquer the Tower?"

Ban Yu-won was taken aback by the whispering crowd.

He found it absurd that not having a status window was a reason to rate him highly.

"No, what's important right now isn't my Power. What matters is that there are seniors who don't know their unique abilities."

"But how can we find out what doesn't show up on the status window?"

"Well... that's difficult for me right now too. We'll need to analyze together how to develop the Powers of those who don't know how to develop them."

However, there was a solution.

The possibility had already been demonstrated by the talismans he had developed recently.

First, for those who had become familiar with his talismans made with his magic power, Ban Yu-won could cast spells directly on them... and of course, discovering their internal concepts wouldn't be difficult either!

"Leave the unique ability matters to me, and let's start with a skill assessment today."

Ban Yu-won infused Mysterious Qi into his student ID card as he handled it.

At the same time, when he stimulated a certain concept within his body, the Mysterious Qi spread instantly in all directions and enveloped everyone.

Of course, some among them could resist his energy, but knowing he meant no harm, they quietly accepted it...

The next moment, they all found themselves in Class 11's training room in Academy Building 2.

Misty, being somewhat of a magician, reacted strongly.

"What? Was teleporting with a student ID card always capable of covering such a large scale?"

"You expanded the teleport range with spatial control? Until recently, your understanding of space wasn't very deep, Ban Yu-won. I'm impressed."

"You really...!"

Yumina immediately stated the correct answer.

Meanwhile, Aire was glaring at him like she wanted to eat him alive.

Yeah, she probably can't do it.

"Well, I had some insights."

Even though it was Yumina, he couldn't tell her.

The truth was that when he entered the Tower alone this time and faced the World Giant, he realized that the concept of void pressure he collected in large quantities actually had characteristics of spatial control, and after transforming and absorbing all of it, his spatial control concept that had been staying below 10 suddenly reached 100!

It made him feel quite guilty to receive admiration and praise for abilities obtained through such shortcuts.

"What's this? Why do you keep showing off your abilities?"

"Senior, instead of just being jealous, you should learn from that kind of thing. Even when he shows off openly, everyone's impressed because his abilities are truly remarkable."

"Then shall we start sparring?"

Ban Yu-won looked at Dokgo Yeon, wondering if she would step in for him, but she firmly shook her head.

He clicked his tongue and stood in the center of the training room.

"Senior Stone, you're up first. Let's fight with pure swordsmanship, nothing else."

"What? Even so, I've been at the Academy for 4 years."

"Winning or losing isn't important, I'm just curious about the swordsmanship you seniors have learned."

"You won't resent me if I win?"

"Of course not."

"Alright."

When Ban Yu-won confirmed, a sly smile flashed across Senior Stone's face.

That person should never deal with people in the future.

How can someone's true intentions be so obvious?

"Sigh, I told him not to be petty..."

The junior who had advised him earlier could only sigh at the sight.

Meanwhile, the two faced each other holding wooden swords.

"You really really won't resent me?"

"Like I said, I won't."

"Good... Die!!!"

Senior Stone pretended to nod in satisfaction before suddenly charging forward.

As the saying goes 'a carp is still a carp even when rotten', befitting a senior who had climbed the Tower for over 3 years (though he had retired a few times), his movements were incredibly fast, and the energy concentrated in his wooden sword was sharp enough that it couldn't be underestimated.

Unfortunately though, everything was within Ban Yu-won's expectations.

'Dokgo Yeon is truly a genius.'

There wasn't even any need to mix in Flow to soften the impact.

Ban Yu-won instantly deflected the senior's wooden sword with Counter, strongly struck his abdomen to push him back, and thought to himself, 'I've learned swordsmanship from them for less than 6 weeks, yet I'm defeating someone who has trained for over 3 years so easily.'

"Ugh!"

While Ban Yu-won was having such leisurely thoughts, Senior Stone clutched his stomach where the wooden sword had struck and fell to his knees.

Was it a problem that he hadn't held back much force since his opponent was a 4th-year senior? As Ban Yu-won pondered this, he suddenly realized his Life had already reached 520.

With a strong body in harmony with advanced techniques, this level of power was only natural.

"I don't think I got to see your swordsmanship properly. Shall we go another round?"

"No way! Not even if I die!"

Senior Stone kept dry heaving as he backed away with tears in his eyes.

Another 4th-year senior stepped forward and kicked him aside.

"You're embarrassing all of us fourth years, you bastard."

"You try fighting him too! It hurts like hell!"

The match with the other senior began immediately.

Fortunately, this senior was much more skilled with the sword than Senior Stone, so the match lasted quite a while, but even he couldn't surpass Ban Yu-won.

And the next one, and the next one...

Of course, they got weaker as the grade levels went down, but uniquely, one male 3rd-year senior achieved something beyond Ban Yu-won.

More precisely, it should be said that his raw strength rather than technique overwhelmed Ban Yu-won.

"You said it was called Geas?"

"That's right. It's a curse you place on yourself. If you restrict one thing, you gain another. Have you heard of equivalent exchange?"

"I know it well."

As his unique ability was both simple and powerful, he was overwhelmingly strong among the special admission seniors.

However, due to his team members' poor achievements holding him back, his Tower progression was only slightly above the third-year average.

"Senior, you didn't need to make a contract with me."

"When all my teammates are doing it, how could I be the only one to opt out? Besides, I was curious about the guy that the Student Council PR Director has taken a liking to."

"Huh? Ah, you mean the third-year."

"To think a first-year would... Well, after fighting you myself, I understand now. You're unbelievably strong."

"Haha, you were incredibly strong too, senior."

It seemed this senior had quite some feelings for Mira.

Though he tried to hide it, his expression couldn't conceal his bitterness and envy.

Come to think of it, it was the same in the student cafeteria, and even Senior Stone seemed to admire Mira.

Indeed, popular people are different in their own way.

Ban Yu-won felt touched.

"So this is what they call a school idol or whatever..."

"Yu-won, prepare yourself for later."

But everything after that was disappointing.

While there were occasionally those with outstanding abilities, none were particularly exceptional in swordsmanship.

Though watching and learning various forms of swordsmanship helped Ban Yu-won somewhat in reinforcing his own skills, that was about it.

After finishing matches with all fifteen members.

"It was just as expected."

Dokgo Yeon, who had been watching all the matches, said with what seemed to be a refreshingly satisfied smile.

"It's not the practitioners' fault. These so-called different dimensional sword techniques are truly terrible!"

"That's such an isekai cliché..."

Actually, Ban Yu-won had started to feel this while watching Ryu Cheol-myeong's Aura demonstration yesterday.

After all, Ryu Cheol-myeong was a master who had honed his swordsmanship for at least several hundred years.

If Dokgo Yeon felt something lacking in Ryu Cheol-myeong's Aura.

If even Ban Yu-won felt something was off.

What about the other students who were of lower skill?

"I guarantee this. Among all the students in this Academy, unless they possess sword-related Power, none can handle a sword better than you, Ban Yu-won. Because I taught you!"

"By the way, what do you think about Japanese swords?"

"What's that?"

However, while Dokgo Yeon enthusiastically criticized the isekai swordsmanship, she didn't offer to teach the seniors herself, so starting next week, Ban Yu-won ended up having to teach them Cut, Pierce, and Flow directly.

Of course, it wouldn't be an easy task.