Why Did I Have to Enroll

Chapter 142:

Why Did I Have to Enroll - Chapter 142

Lesson 29. The Truth Will Be Revealed Someday - 2

It wasn’t just Dolmeng who achieved dramatic results within the club. Kasyana, who had relatively early found her direction and started working on her power to control sound, was another. This week, she finally succeeded in attacking monsters with her voice during an exploration in the Tower!

“It was incredible, like she had some kind of awakening.”

“If only we had Tike, we could’ve recorded it and shown everyone. It was just like ‘Kwoooaah—!’ It was seriously awesome!”

“We did take some hits, but ouch! It’s clear the enemy took much more damage, right?”

Kasyana’s party members, the special second-year students, were more excited than Kasyana herself about her achievement. They glanced at Dolmeng, who was sprawled out in the training room, and whispered seriously to Ban Yu-won.

“So, we need to make a proper weapon for her. Not just that… paper bundle you made for Senior Dolmeng.”

“I know it’s impressive, but still… right?”

Everyone in the training room was wearing a talisman infused with Dolmeng’s Amplification power under their clothes. Amplifying dozens of abilities by 10% simultaneously—how amazing is that? But the appearance was a bit lacking. Perhaps the second-year seniors were overly praising Kasyana because they didn’t want to see her throwing around talismans…

Ban Yu-won chuckled, dismissing their worries.

“Don’t worry. That’s something specifically for Senior Dolmeng… Actually, I’ve already made a weapon for Senior Kasyana.”

“Really?!”

Kasyana, who had been quiet until then, raised her voice and reached out to grab Ban Yu-won’s hand, but quickly withdrew it when she noticed the gazes directed at her from the side. If Ban Yu-won hadn’t been paying close attention, he might not have noticed her movement. Indeed—this was the subtle tension between women, perfectly understood. Scary.

“This is it.”

What Ban Yu-won took out was a megaphone. Not the kind sold on Earth, but one purchased from Union, where all sorts of magical tools were developed. Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight.

“Huh?”

“You know it’s a magical tool that amplifies sound, right?”

“I heard Ronica’s department store sells things like this. I once thought about using it to enhance my abilities, but you can’t use it inside the Tower.”

“Magical tools break easily in dungeons, right?”

Kasyana and her peers murmured. Ban Yu-won shook his head in disbelief.

“It’s a weapon specifically for you, senpai. I wouldn’t just hand over a magical tool from a shop.”

Since it was crafted with every fixed concept he could muster, like amplification, sound waves, and concentration, its performance could be expected, even if it wasn’t on par with his familiars. Above all, if they knew the core concept ability he painstakingly synthesized, they wouldn’t dare call it a mere magical tool.

Hearing that, Kasyana’s ears perked up.

“Then… could it be?”

“It’s an artifact. Try it out.”

“An artifact… eek!”

Kasyana accepted it obediently and then opened her eyes wide. She couldn’t check concepts like Ban Yu-won, but she probably used her status window to check the item’s information.

“How did you make this?! Can it even target with this?”

“If you practice with it, you’ll eventually be able to control it without needing it. That’s how it should be.”

“Thank you so much for doing this for me…! Oh, but.”

Kasyana, who had been checking the item information with sparkling eyes, noticed something and tilted her head.

“What’s this sealed option here?”

“Ah—that was necessary to make it a proper artifact, but it’s a bit dangerous, so I sealed it slightly.”

To be more precise, it was because the mutant concept went berserk, and he had to urgently cover it with a mixed flame to exert control, but he couldn’t explain all that.

‘I didn’t expect the unique concept to be born from the combination of Alarm, Diva, and Demon Ghost.’

It was all thanks to the hard work of the mixed flame and mutant power! Perhaps Ban Yu-won’s knowledge of Greek mythology and the words that originated from it influenced it… Anyway, to put it simply in one word, a Siren lives inside that megaphone.

“When you’re strong enough to handle it, I’ll release the seal for you.”

“Got it, I’ll work hard! There’s really no other junior as reliable as you…”

“Yu-won.”

Kasyana’s eyes sparkled as she realized Ban Yu-won had truly put effort into making her a dedicated weapon, but at that moment, Luciel naturally intervened.

“You said you’d focus on personal training starting today, right?”

“Ah—right. I’ve checked everything I needed to. Until the 13th week, when the final exam preparation period starts, I won’t be around much. Train hard even without me, especially Senior Dolmeng.”

“Why?”

“Why? Stay here with us!”

The seniors reacted intensely to Ban Yu-won’s declaration. However, he shook his head firmly.

“I have something I need to focus on training. Tike will keep recording, so don’t worry.”

“Intensive training?”

“Yes.”

Ban Yu-won nodded seriously. Not only was his Swordsmanship still in its formative stages, but the task of creating the perfect content to fill the vessel for wielding that Swordsmanship was his current challenge.

*

After the Union Travel Club was fully established and he provided appropriate support to a few seniors besides Kasyana, Ban Yu-won began his personal training. Dokgo Yeon also left him to his own devices, not interfering.

She realized that he had already grasped the direction of the Mysterious Body Technique after seeing him complete his Swordsmanship. She knew that meddling at this point wouldn’t yield good results.

From now on, it was entirely Ban Yu-won’s domain.

‘The Mysterious Body Technique is already a superb Martial Art. It amplifies almost all conceptual powers and works excellently with my abilities.’

Ban Yu-won wasn’t a fool. He knew very well how much potential the Mysterious Body Technique, which Dokgo Yeon had casually implanted in him, actually held. Yet, why is it called a basic technique?

It’s a Martial Art that develops both internal energy and the body simultaneously. Fundamentally, it’s because the Mysterious Body Technique is a Martial Art that can ‘become anything.’

‘Dokgo Yeon evolved the Mysterious Body Technique to handle Death. But I’m different. What I need is the energy that can become anything itself.’

That would be the perfect content to fill the vessel known as the Origin Blade. Therefore, Ban Yu-won must delve into the principles of the Mysterious Body Technique. He must thoroughly explore everything about how the Mysterious Energy is created and how it’s emitted.

In the end, he must maximize the characteristics of the Mysterious Energy to create a stronger, more immediate energy that can bring about the changes he desires.

‘If it were that easy, I wouldn’t have to struggle.’

The Mysterious Energy was circulating rapidly within his body according to the principles of the Mysterious Body Technique, but no matter how many times he repeated it, he wouldn’t learn what he didn’t know.

So Ban Yu-won quickly abandoned meditation and instead repeatedly wielded the Origin Blade while operating the Mysterious Body Technique to create countless concepts he desired.

He began to expand the possibilities of the Mysterious Energy by repeatedly filling and emptying the vessel known as the Origin Blade, enhancing the completeness of his Swordsmanship.

[The depth of the Body stimulated by the Mysterious Energy decreases to 32. The concept of the Body is undergoing change.]

[Most negative concepts within the body have been eliminated due to the practice of the Mysterious Body Technique. All concepts gain room for positive development.]

[The depth of the Mysterious Body Technique is 210, and the depth of the Mysterious Energy is 425. The Mysterious Body Technique shows signs of change.]

[The depth of Swordsmanship is 280. The concept of higher Swordsmanship is being established.]

And this was quite effective.

“Indeed, ignorance makes the body suffer…”

Tuesday lunchtime. Ban Yu-won, who had achieved decent results after skipping meals and swinging his sword in the 11th training room, muttered half-jokingly.

“No one creates Martial Arts through mere imagination. You’re doing well.”

“……”

He didn’t even know when she came next to him. As Ban Yu-won blinked silently at Dokgo Yeon, who approached and encouraged him, she took half a step back with a disgusted expression.

No, what’s with that attitude when she approached first?

“Why? Your gaze is unpleasant.”

“No, thank you. I’ll do my best.”

Ban Yu-won replied, hiding his true feelings, and checked the time. It was already time for the afternoon lecture to start. The lecture on ‘Babylon and the Constellation,’ taught by Professor Xenon.

“Did you come because lunch break is over?”

“Of course. What else?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

Ban Yu-won smacked his lips, regretting the interruption of his training flow, but didn’t dare consider skipping class. In a way, it was a time when he could achieve greater growth than swinging his sword alone.

“……Phew.”

Ban Yu-won sheathed his sword and extracted all the sweat, including detailed concepts like stench and filth, from himself, annihilating them. Without needing a shower or face wash, he returned to a fresh state and told Dokgo Yeon to hurry up as he walked ahead. She watched him blankly.

‘Indeed, his understanding of his abilities has deepened.’

Dokgo Yeon nodded leisurely, recalling his actions just now. She had noticed since he manipulated concepts to make ramen on the spaceship during their special activity trip, but his growth exploded after he succeeded in establishing the framework of Swordsmanship derived from his abilities by defeating the Orc Lord.

‘Ban Yu-won, you…’

As he becomes more proficient with his unique abilities, which no one else can imitate, Ban Yu-won’s skills grow remarkably. Perhaps he might surpass her someday soon. No, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes stronger than her.

‘If that really happens…’

Every time she saw Ban Yu-won, Dokgo Yeon felt a certain impulse. She had concluded that their relationship would begin and end in Union, but maybe…

“Dokgo Yeon, why are you spacing out all of a sudden?”

Ban Yu-won tilted his head, looking back at her. Dokgo Yeon’s breath stopped for a moment, then returned to normal.

“No, it’s nothing. …Let’s go.”

No. She shook her head, shaking off the impulse. She couldn’t repeat the foolish mistakes of her ancestors. This was merely greed for a brilliant talent. It was enough to receive his help in climbing the Tower of Babel. She must not let anyone else into her dimension again.

*

“Starting today, we will begin sparring between students.”

Standing on the podium, Xenon activated the barrier with an orb and declared in his usual cold and hollow voice.

“I believe you’ve all adapted by last week. The evaluation for this semester will be conducted entirely through mock Constellation battles, so everyone should participate sincerely. The match schedule is posted here. Remember that the evaluation criteria are not about winning or losing, but how you create and handle the power of the Constellation.”

Within the space created by the orb, all students will be able to wield powerful abilities. Although there is a limit to Magic Power, so they can’t do anything just by imagining it, the gap that originally existed between students will be significantly narrowed. So, what’s important?

It’s about how efficiently you can create and operate abilities with limited Magic Power.

‘It’s about evaluating the ability to handle the power of the Constellation, which is slightly different from the skills accumulated so far.’

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but it felt like he kept making eye contact with Xenon. Ban Yu-won didn’t know what Xenon expected from him, but he would move according to his own will.

‘He said winning or losing doesn’t matter. If I can do anything, then creating energy that surpasses the Mysterious Energy within this space should be possible.’

With the final exams in the 14th week, there are only four opportunities, including this week’s 10th week, to enter the orb’s space. Ban Yu-won vowed to complete his Martial Arts within that time.

“I didn’t expect my first-round opponent to be you… It’s been a while, junior.”

“…Senior Ketra.”

Well, maybe he wouldn’t be able to.