Why Did I Have to Enroll

Chapter 146:

Why Did I Have to Enroll - Chapter 146

Lesson 30. Final Exams - 1

Wednesday afternoon, after all classes had ended.

Ban Yu-won was having dinner with Yumina for the first time in a while. The Rebellion members wouldn’t be too thrilled if they found out, but there were things the two needed to discuss privately.

“So, you spent the entire evening guarding the tower?”

“More like until dawn. I didn’t expect it to last that long. Thankfully, once a wave ended, I barely managed to escape. It’s a relief that time inside the tower stops when you leave.”

Ban Yu-won let out a yawn, as if to show the toll of staying up all night was still lingering.

Yumina found his sleepy demeanor endearing, but her expression suddenly turned serious.

“But… is it really okay to be this honest with me about everything?”

“I think it’s better to be open and hear your thoughts than to keep everything to myself.”

“Well, I appreciate that.”

Yumina smiled wryly as she sipped her wine.

“It’s best not to share too much with others. The Rebellion team’s explorations already draw a lot of attention. It’s a place filled with ‘unique’ and ‘special’ individuals from all dimensions, so people are sensitive about it.”

“I understand. It’s like being a top student in high school, only to find that everyone at S University was also a top student and a national competition winner. It gives you a sense of relative deprivation.”

“Uh, yes… something like that?”

Yumina couldn’t quite grasp Ban Yu-won’s analogy, but she was certain of one thing after hearing about his recent experiences: she hadn’t made a mistake in choosing him. He was destined to be a key figure at Union Academy, or rather, the Tower of Babel.

“Promise me you won’t talk about your solo explorations with anyone else.”

“Uh…”

“Did you already tell someone?”

When Ban Yu-won mentioned his conversation with Ayre, Yumina mischievously pinched his cheek.

“Did you want to get closer to Ayre? Hm?”

“Sharing secrets is a way to build trust, right? I thought it was a good opportunity to show Ayre that I trust her.”

Yumina sighed at Ban Yu-won’s confident attitude. She knew he was deliberately forming a ‘faction’ within the academy after expanding the Union expedition. If his actions were a calculated move to bring Ayre into his fold, rather than just trying to impress a girl, she couldn’t really object.

“Well… I do think she’s trustworthy, but she’s still a student under Professor Cantone. It’s better to block any potential leaks of information.”

“I’ll be more careful in the future. But I do have a question.”

“Yes?”

Yumina was wary of Cantone, and Ban Yu-won fully agreed. Cantone seemed to be involved in most of the academy’s incidents. But what puzzled him was why Cantone and people like Ryu Cheol-myeong were so intent on keeping an eye on him and causing trouble.

Regardless of their pureblood ideology or whatever, weren’t the students the ones climbing the tower? There shouldn’t be any competition between professors and students. Yet, it seemed like the professors were more bothered by Ban Yu-won than the students were.

“Well, it’s not openly stated, but professors and students are technically in a competitive relationship.”

Yumina’s unexpected words struck Ban Yu-won like lightning.

“Do professors enter the tower too? When… during breaks?”

“Yes, twice a year for a month each time during breaks. Associate professors usually have different schedules, but it’s at least one to two weeks.”

“I see… Graduates can’t enter the tower, but professors can continue climbing it. No wonder everyone wants to become a professor.”

Ban Yu-won finally understood the structure of Union Academy.

“You see? It’s not just the students competing with you, but the professors who’ve been at the academy for years, desperately trying to climb the tower. They can’t openly suppress or hinder students because the principal would reprimand them. Those who couldn’t hold back and crossed the line have been…”

Reprimanded by the principal, like children. Ban Yu-won almost laughed at her phrasing but managed to continue her thought.

“Replaced, right?”

“Of course, replacing a full professor doesn’t happen often. But associate professors, lacking experience, make youthful mistakes and are replaced every few years.”

Even this year, an associate professor had been expelled. Ban Yu-won shrugged, recalling a minion of Exodus whose name he couldn’t remember.

“One full professor will be dismissed this break.”

“Are you sure?”

“Aren’t you too?”

“Well…”

Yumina couldn’t deny it. Knowing Ryu Cheol-myeong’s intentions, she felt powerless for not being able to preemptively deal with him.

“I informed the principal about the relics from the recent special activity. But…”

“It didn’t go well, did it?”

Most members were convinced Ryu Cheol-myeong would pull something during the upcoming long-term special activity over the break. Even though a greatsword belonging to Ryu Cheol-myeong was found during the last special activity, it wasn’t enough to directly incriminate him.

“Of course, I couldn’t get permission for an escort either. Instead, the principal agreed to provide headbands like last time… Maybe he wants you to confront Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong.”

“Using us to get rid of Ryu Cheol-myeong? What does he think students are?”

“The principal has high expectations for your potential. It’s presumptuous to guess his thoughts, but maybe he believes a confrontation with Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong will help you grow.”

“That’s really inconsiderate…”

Ban Yu-won had suspected it from the start, but the principal never seemed to take proactive measures. Even knowing Ryu Cheol-myeong might attack Ban Yu-won, he left it be!

Ban Yu-won sighed at the principal’s cold behavior. He wasn’t exactly an enemy, but he certainly wasn’t an ally either.

“Ryu Cheol-myeong isn’t someone to underestimate. I know you’re all preparing, but true strength can break through any trap.”

“But we have no choice but to face him… We’ll do our best.”

Ryu Cheol-myeong’s combat patterns were mostly replicated by Levi, who wielded a relic. Ban Yu-won and the members were preparing for a showdown with Ryu Cheol-myeong through constant sparring with Levi. While it was an ancient relic, understanding even a part of Ryu Cheol-myeong’s style would be advantageous in future confrontations.

Despite the vast gap in power…

“We need to grow somehow before the special activity.”

Ban Yu-won was anxious about completing his martial arts, given the limited gains from recent team explorations. He knew it was a problem that couldn’t be solved by worrying, but he couldn’t help feeling anxious. Was this a sign of immaturity?

“It’s okay.”

At that moment, Yumina reached across the table and gently hugged his head. Her floral scent filled him, calming his anxious heart.

If he had a sister, would it feel like this… Ah, he did have a sister on paper, but let’s not think about her.

“It might sound irresponsible, but if things get tough, just run. I’ll make sure you can escape safely from any situation.”

“But that would mean failing the special activity.”

“You’re what’s most important.”

Yumina’s unwavering voice supported Ban Yu-won.

“Failing doesn’t matter. Surviving and proving Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong’s misdeeds is what’s important. Then, the success of the special activity won’t matter.”

“…But running away.”

“Think of it as a last resort.”

Yumina reassured him, patting his shoulder.

“The principal is strict but doesn’t make unreasonable demands. With your abilities, I’m sure you can handle anything.”

“…Thank you.”

In the end, Ban Yu-won nodded. Her comfort eased his anxiety, but he still wondered why Yumina was so kind to him. Perhaps he’d find out soon. Maybe it was related to why Yumina became a full professor and climbed the tower.

---

From then on, Ban Yu-won spent his free time entering the tower alone to participate in the tower construction defense. After surviving a wave, he and his minions would be exhausted and have to leave the tower quickly. But slowly, all of Ban Yu-won’s concepts were growing, and the massive amount of concepts gained from solo exploration greatly helped his minions grow.

After burning through Thursday night, he entered the tower with his team on Friday morning.

The team exploration went smoothly. Based on the reward space Eden, which consisted of 10 rooms, the difficulty was such that while treasure chests didn’t appear, the ‘Blood Pill’ and ‘Fruit of Life’ always did.

Ban Yu-won gradually completed his martial arts by wielding various concepts in the tower’s diverse environments. Dokgo Yeon continued to finish all enemies with a single strike, and Luciel became more adept at handling weapons, exuding the aura of a true master of lightning.

As for Light…

“Ugh…!”

As his level and spear skills increased, the intervals between his painful episodes grew shorter.

“Light, are you really okay?”

“I told you… I’m fine…! I’m used to handling the power now…”

“Light…”

Even Dokgo Yeon, who usually pushed Light hard, looked at him with concern. But his power was growing rapidly, thanks to his special training with Ayre. He was now almost on par with the Light who had wielded the Holy Sword and dominated the battlefield at the start of the semester.

“The shorter intervals of pain mean my power is growing smoothly… I won’t be controlled by the Holy Sword anymore.”

“That sounded like a protagonist’s line. I’m worried it might lead to a dark turn later.”

“Don’t say weird things when I’m in pain, Ban…!”

The 12th week’s team exploration, undertaken with firm resolve, achieved the feat of reaching the 80th room over three days from Friday to Sunday. Although they had cleared 15 rooms the previous week, considering the increasing difficulty with each room, it was a remarkable achievement.

Light, who had been struggling throughout the 79th room, finally regained his normal condition after consuming a Fruit of Life and drinking a Blood Pill in the 80th room.

“Hmm, so now we have the two-week-long exploration before the special activity?”

Dokgo Yeon checked the time in the 80th room and confirmed it was time to leave, muttering as she savored her apple-shaped Fruit of Life.

“When I first joined your team, I thought reaching the 100th room in one semester would be lucky, but it seems we’ll achieve that comfortably.”

“You were scarier back then, Dokgo Yeon…”

Ban Yu-won made a careless comment and got hit by Dokgo Yeon. But at the start of the semester, he couldn’t have imagined joking and bickering like this. The team was special to him, and he wanted to stay with them until the end.

“Oh, speaking of which, exams start next week for two weeks.”

“Time seems to have flown by.”

“There hasn’t been much excitement. But this break will feel long.”

“Acting all confident.”

Dokgo Yeon scoffed at Ban Yu-won’s bravado.

“Focus on doing well in the exams first.”

“I’ve already had Light and Luciel study for the finals, so no worries there.”

The mock Constellation battle, which could have been a major variable, went surprisingly well for all four of them, so there shouldn’t be any issues with their evaluations.

“The real focus of this exam is… them.”

“Now that you mention it.”

Dokgo Yeon nodded seriously at Ban Yu-won’s words.

Them.

The reason the Union expedition’s special selection seniors joined the club in the first place was to improve the exam scores of those at the bottom of each grade.

Finally, the time had come for their efforts over the past few months to be rightfully evaluated.

Rebellion, the start of the uprising.