Why Did I Have to Enroll

Chapter 143:

Why Did I Have to Enroll - Chapter 143

Lesson 29: The Truth Will Be Revealed Someday - 3

The Dark Elf, Ketra, who was randomly matched as Ban Yu-won’s first sparring opponent, drew two daggers with a peculiar expression and declared, “Sorry, but I can’t let you win.”

“What? Of course not,” Ban Yu-won replied, dumbfounded.

He already knew this guy was a bit off, but what was there to apologize for?

“Not to brag, but I have a pretty high score in the mock Constellation Tournament. Considering our friendship, I could afford to lose once without affecting my score… But even so, I don’t want to lose to you.”

So, he was apologizing to Ban Yu-won because he didn’t want to lose, even though it wouldn’t affect his score? Ban Yu-won felt his mind drifting into the astral plane but managed to hold on.

He couldn’t understand Ketra from start to finish.

“It’s fine; just do your best. As Professor Xenon said, winning or losing isn’t important.”

No matter how adept Ban Yu-won was at handling powers within the Orb’s space, he didn’t think he could defeat Ketra, who had been attending Xenon’s lectures for over a semester.

“Yeah, winning or losing isn’t important. You’re right. Even if I win this spar, it won’t bring Mira back…”

“Uh…”

Why did someone who looked like a flower boy talk like a lunatic? Ban Yu-won wondered what had driven this man to such a state as he looked at Ketra’s half-dead expression.

“Sorry, junior. It was all a lie,” Ketra said, hastily correcting his expression upon noticing Ban Yu-won’s disgust.

Was he trying to maintain their friendship even in this situation? Ban Yu-won, exasperated, drew his Blade.

“Let’s just start the spar.”

“Yeah—sorry.”

In the next moment, Ketra was standing behind Ban Yu-won. There was no warning or presence.

“But the part about lying was true.”

A sharp dagger grazed Ban Yu-won’s neck.

“Everything I said to you, junior… Ugh?!”

—Clang!

The image of Ban Yu-won’s neck being cut disappeared like it was dissolving in water. Of course, it wasn’t a Changeling, but an illusion borrowed from Eve through Resonance.

Even if he hadn't prepared in advance, within this space, Ban Yu-won could read all the surrounding situations in real-time and respond accordingly.

He could perceive everything, including himself, as a concept, instantly grasp it, and devise a flow of concepts to turn a disadvantage into an advantage.

That was the essence of the Swordsmanship Ban Yu-won had created.

'The energy surpassing the Mysterious Body Technique… This is really happening.

I can feel the Mysterious Body Technique reacting.

All that's left is to analyze this, maximize efficiency, and train the Mysterious Body Technique to actually use it.'

Golden mana scattered in the air.

It was mana of the same color as Ban Yu-won's aura, an energy he had synthesized on the spot, dreaming of something beyond the Mysterious Body Technique.

It was an energy optimized for the Swordsmanship he was currently using—an energy that responded to his imagination with more sensitivity than telekinesis, creating concepts and greatly enhancing everything.

—Clang!

"Ugh!"

Ban Yu-won's Blade, which had stealthily attacked Ketra from behind, was blocked by Ketra's swiftly reacting twin daggers.

Ban Yu-won had known for a while that he couldn't overwhelm Ketra with physical abilities alone.

But what about Ban Yu-won, who was now perfectly handling the Origin Blade?

What about Ban Yu-won, who could now create an energy that greatly amplified all concepts he produced, surpassing the Mysterious Body Technique?

"Are you really a freshman?!"

In the air, the two combatants' weapons clashed continuously, creating noise.

Both were exuding aura with their Blades, but Ban Yu-won's was clearly of higher quality.

Ketra, groaning in disbelief, was met with a shrug from Ban Yu-won.

“In this space, imagination is more important than actual ability. That’s why you were able to perfectly conceal your presence and ambush me.”

“Unbelievable, you’ve only been here twice, and you’ve already imagined a power that surpasses mine? And how did you manage that aura—!”

“It’s talent, I guess.”

Despite his irritating response, Ban Yu-won read Ketra's reactions moment by moment, delivering strikes that were difficult for Ketra to block.

Even with the Elven race's unique keen senses and the power of his inherent ability that corrected minor errors in movement, Ketra couldn't hide his astonishment.

'This isn't right. This surpasses the limits of imagination—this is the power this guy originally possessed!'

That's why it was even more absurd.

If this was the power Ban Yu-won originally had—it meant that this rookie, who hadn't even completed a semester at Union Academy, was already perfectly controlling and developing his power.

Considering that most students who first took this lecture often stumbled by trying to create powers that were too grand or absurd, it was unbelievable that a mere freshman like Ban Yu-won made such a 'smart' attempt.

But even more surprising was…

"Are you reading me?"

"I'm glad I got matched with someone as hard to read as you from the start."

The Changeling that turns his disadvantage into an advantage.

And Ban Yu-won's Origin Blade, which reads all flows and targets the moment of becoming a Changeling to turn it back into a disadvantage.

After just a few clashes, Ketra realized that Ban Yu-won's power was at least a perfect superior counterpart to his own, at least in combat.

"It's definitely training me."

"???You."

How can I read the concepts of myself, others, and the environment more precisely?

How can I quickly manifest my intentions into the power of concepts?

How can I amplify the power of the concepts I've created to the maximum?

The energy that answered all these questions was wielded in Ban Yu-won's hands, clearly imagined by him.

It felt like the guilty pleasure of peeking at the answer sheet without solving the workbook properly, and at the same time, it felt like the path forward was clearly visible.

'…Tsk, already halfway?'

The only downside was that Ban Yu-won hadn't yet reached that level himself, so a considerable amount of Magic Power was being consumed to bridge the gap between imagination and reality.

Meanwhile, Ketra still seemed to have plenty of Magic Power, and if Ban Yu-won didn't quickly seize the advantage, he would lose.

He had already become accustomed to the way Ketra moved.

If Ketra hadn't simultaneously used his Changeling and presence-concealing powers to avoid fatal injuries each time, Ban Yu-won's Blade would have pierced his head long ago.

So, it would be fine to continue sparring and look for an opportunity, but… having already grasped the essence of Martial Arts, Ban Yu-won also wanted to end the spar and do some self-study.

'Moreover, what the senior said earlier is bothering me.'

—Clang!

Ban Yu-won blocked Ketra's attempt to hide his presence and mimic an assassin, deflecting his Blade and creating distance.

He then took a charging stance again and spoke to Ketra.

"When you said everything you told me was a lie, were you referring to your feelings for Mira? Like, you actually liked her from the start?"

"…"

Ketra didn't deny it.

When they talked before, he had evaded by saying he hadn't realized it yet… It seemed that now, with his approach to Mira completely blocked, he had no room to maintain a facade.

However, Ban Yu-won felt that what Ketra was hiding wasn't such an obvious lie that anyone could see through.

It was something more fundamental.

"Senior, by any chance."

Ban Yu-won spoke again.

In the past, he had absorbed the power of divine speech from Lucien Ortima's right arm, which had evolved his power of persuasion.

The charm he possessed enhanced the influence he had on others.

Therefore—when he deliberately spoke, it became a power that anyone would listen to and answer honestly.

"Was the claim that Changeling, the swapping of human and Elven children, doesn't actually happen—a lie?"

"Ugh—?!"

The moment Ketra couldn't hide his shock and fear, Ban Yu-won accelerated.

Ketra gritted his teeth and swung his twin daggers with anger, but—seeing Ban Yu-won's figure dissolve into nothingness, he realized he had been tricked.

"Hah…"

Looking at the long sword that had pierced his heart and protruded from his chest, Ketra couldn't help but laugh.

"Getting caught from behind, my contracted Constellation will be furious."

"Somehow, I thought it might be assassination-related. This time, it's practically a foul on my part, so let's spar again next time."

The penalty for losing a spar was minimal.

The loser would be expelled from the virtual space and couldn't stay in the virtual space created by the Orb for the rest of the day.

But the look of frustration on Ketra's face wasn't likely due to such a penalty.

"I'll keep your secret, so don't worry."

There was no need to specify what secret he was keeping.

It was obvious from Ketra's reaction to the word "Changeling."

…Surely, Ketra was an Elf who had been raised among humans through Changeling.

It suddenly made sense why his personality was so twisted.

The reason he couldn't easily develop his relationship with Mira, despite liking her from the start.

“Yeah… please.”

“I don’t lie about things like this, so you can trust me.”

“No, not just that. About Mira too.”

“Huh.”

It seemed like even someone like me wasn’t enough. With those words, Ketra’s figure vanished as if erased from the spot. It wasn’t like he was really dying, just losing a spar, but the way he struck a dramatic pose and the words he left behind were incomprehensible.

‘What does he mean by fake? Just because he was raised among humans doesn’t mean he’s not an Elf.’

Did he mean fake in a psychological sense? If so, it made some sense. There were also various points to consider about his ambiguous attitude toward Mira and his actions solely to gain others’ favor… ‘He wasn’t a self-centered person. Maybe that guy was desperately self-hypnotizing himself that everyone liked him.’

Yeah, a truly self-centered person wouldn’t care about others’ opinions. If you think about it as him instinctively acting to be liked by others to align his delusional world with reality as much as possible, everything fits. He must have had a reason why he couldn’t help but do so.

‘But honestly, there’s nothing more I can gain from thinking about him, so let’s stop.’

He already had enough troublesome people to deal with around him, and he couldn’t afford to increase his workload. Of course, if Ketra wanted, Ban Yu-won was willing to offer some counseling. But he probably wouldn’t want that. No matter what others thought, to him, Ban Yu-won would just be a plunderer.

“Let’s train.”

Winning a spar granted free time. While he could apply for additional spars, focusing on Martial Arts alone would yield better results now.

*

Upon receiving Ban Yu-won’s sparring report, Dokgo Yeon twisted her facial muscles slightly into a smile.

“Well done. I thought that guy needed to be put in his place at least once.”

“How about you?”

“I can win without the help of this space.”

Of course. When he looked back at the other two, Luciel and Light, they both wore similarly dejected expressions, so he could guess the outcome without asking.

“I just can’t grasp the concept of creating a power. I tried to blindly increase my strength, but it wasn’t enough.”

“That’s a statement that reveals your identity.”

“I was so focused on controlling the Holy Sword that I couldn’t concentrate on the spar…”

“Yeah, you did well. I’ll make you some hot chocolate, so cheer up.”

He thought it was fortunate that these guys were simple enough to be cheered up with a cup of hot chocolate. Sure enough, Dokgo Yeon silently tugged on Ban Yu-won’s sleeve.

“I know. You think I’d leave you out?”

“No. I won, so give me two cups.”

“You’re becoming more shameless, teacher… Ouch!”

Later that day after school.

Rumors began spreading on the intranet that Ryu Cheol-myeong had visited the student council room.

With the recent rise of lower-dimensional forces like Rebellion within the academy, there were unsettling rumors that Ryu Cheol-myeong, practically a representative of pure-blood supremacy, might be trying to threaten the student council president.

If that were true, there were calls to immediately sanction Ryu Cheol-myeong for crossing the line.

Others argued that it wasn't their place to intervene when the principal wasn't doing anything, and some said not to escalate the situation with unnecessary speculation.

Amidst hundreds of students chattering on the intranet bulletin board, Ban Yu-won realized that the student council president—Shati and Mira—had officially started their 'operation.'

He sent a message asking if there was anything he could help with, but the response he received was, "Already succeeded without needing help, lol."

…These women were truly terrifying.