Why Did I Have to Enroll

Chapter 147:

Why Did I Have to Enroll - Chapter 147

Lesson 30. Final Exams - 2

“Still not back yet.”

No matter how much I think about it, it’s too much.

Light thought this as he looked around the empty dorm room.

‘When exactly is this guy planning to come back? It’s exam time, and it’s been days…’

It was already 8:30 PM. After finishing special training with Ayre, Light thought about having dinner together and called, but there was no answer. So, he ended up dining with Luciel and Dokgo Yeon and returned, but still no sign of him.

He worried pointlessly, thinking maybe Ban Yu-won would come back while he was gone, and had just finished washing up.

“Sigh.”

Light felt foolish for even briefly considering going out in just a bathrobe. No, he was a fool. Whether he wore a robe or nothing at all, it was still a man’s body, so why would Ban Yu-won care?

Maybe it was because he hadn’t spent much time with him lately, making him feel a bit… yes, a bit lonely, leading to such foolish thoughts.

‘What’s taking this solo exploration so long?’

Today was Thursday of the 13th week at the academy. Ban Yu-won had started his solo exploration on Tuesday of the 12th week, so it had been over a week. Although they explored the tower together for three days in between, an unfortunate incident occurred, leaving Light feeling insecure instead of strengthening their friendship.

He thought he could show the results of his training and receive praise, but it all went wrong. Seeing the team’s indifferent attitude towards it hurt even more.

He knew he was the weak link in the party, but getting used to being treated as a hole would be the end. He wanted to spend time with Ban Yu-won, talk calmly, and clear up misunderstandings, but he hadn’t been able to face him properly for days.

It’s really depressing.

‘The special training was going well, I was actually improving.’

The special training to awaken the blood and soul of a dragon within him. Ayre, who grew up in a blessed environment as a perfect dragon, was the perfect teacher for the clueless Light.

Ayre said that the power of a dragon yields to nothing. Indeed, when he immersed himself with the energy she drew out, he could hear something akin to a faint roar from within. And as that roar became clearer, he felt the forced power of the Holy Sword weakening.

Meanwhile, Light’s innate abilities, like physical strength and magic power, were gradually but surely improving. Naturally, his mind became clearer, and he made progress in the spear techniques he learned from Dokgo Yeon.

The Holy Sword seemed to fear the energy he was drawing out and remained silent. At this rate, he might really be able to control the power of the Holy Sword someday—perhaps not too far off—and become a hero who wields it perfectly, like his ancestors.

Such fantasies were becoming more realistic.

But when it came time to act with his companions… that is, with Ban Yu-won, the Holy Sword would start going berserk.

Was it because it was real combat, not training? Because Ayre, the dragon, wasn’t by his side? Or was it because he was improving, as he said?

All wrong. Light knew the reason.

The Holy Sword was more wary of Light getting closer to Ban Yu-won than anything else, even more than him gaining the power of a dragon.

Specifically, it was wary of Light changing as he got closer to Ban Yu-won.

‘As if I would throw away the necklace because of Ban…’

Not that he could take it off himself now anyway.

But the Holy Sword’s will had always been one-sided, and it would continue to act out without considering Light’s circumstances.

At this point, it’s no different from a curse, as Ban Yu-won once said.

Ban Yu-won and the others couldn’t understand why he relied on the Holy Sword, but Light knew better than anyone that the Holy Sword wasn’t something to depend on.

It was just that all the circumstances around him had led him to be tamed by the Holy Sword.

‘But now it’s different. …I can overcome it.’

Just a little more, just a little more effort.

If he continued to awaken the dragon’s blood.

And if Ban Yu-won watched over him.

It would surely be possible.

‘But that jerk isn’t coming.’

His clenched fist trembled.

No matter how important exploring the tower was, there should be a limit.

Now that it’s exam time, he should study, and with practical evaluations coming up, if he overexerted himself exploring, his body might…

No, forget all this nonsense!

Shouldn’t he spend more time with his roommate?

At this rate, there’s no point in getting resentful looks from Luciel for sharing a room with Ban Yu-won…!

“Of course, it’s not like I plan to do anything, not that I could in the first place… Luciel misunderstands me. It’s purely from a desire to strengthen our friendship…”

“What desire?”

“Whoa!”

Startled by the voice behind him, Light turned around, letting out a cat-like sound, to find Ban Yu-won opening the door and entering.

Then he flinched upon seeing Light still in his bathrobe.

“Light, you…”

“Kyaaaaaa!”

Realizing it belatedly, Light let out a scream that even Kasyana would admire and dove into his bed, pulling the blanket over himself and glaring at Ban Yu-won with only his face peeking out.

“When did you get here!”

For Ban Yu-won, who had just returned from a grueling solo exploration, it was an unjust situation.

“I just got here. Why are you glaring at me like that?”

He almost added, “You’re a guy,” but refrained because it was getting harder to pretend not to know Light’s true identity.

Seeing Light in just a bathrobe, it was clear that his physique was becoming more feminine.

Probably only he didn’t know.

If he knew and still acted like this, well…

What should he do?

“I’m not glaring, I was just surprised…!”

Light, realizing he had overreacted, squirmed under the blanket and somehow managed to change clothes.

In high school gym class, girls would change clothes like that; maybe it’s an instinct imprinted in their genes? Ban Yu-won thought.

“Ahem, are you done now?”

“Solo exploration? Not yet. This wave just ended a bit early.”

“What?”

Light’s expression twisted at Ban Yu-won’s unexpected words.

“Are you going to keep at it until the exam period?”

“I’m well-prepared for the exams. …Are you worried?”

At those words, Light was startled again.

“What?! Why would I be worried because you’re not here!”

“Where are you struggling? Just tell me.”

“…Huh.”

Light realized he had misunderstood again and collapsed in place, but fortunately, Ban Yu-won didn’t notice and continued speaking.

“You’re not anxious about the exams, are you? The study charm isn’t all-powerful… Since we have some time today, I can tutor you.”

“Oh? Oh…”

“Shish, shishit.”

Eve flew over and wrapped around Light’s arm as if to comfort him while Ban Yu-won casually stored his equipment.

“Come out after you wash up. Have some hot chocolate in the meantime.”

“…No, I’ll drink it with you.”

“Then suit yourself.”

Ban Yu-won headed to the bathroom.

Feeling deflated, Light quietly began preparing to study.

In truth, he was a bit anxious too.

“…Well, this isn’t so bad. Right?”

“Shishit.”

Eve extended her tail to pat his shoulder as if she understood his feelings.

Ban Yu-won’s special tutoring continued until the date changed, but fortunately, there were no incidents.

---

The last week of the academy, the 14th week, dawned.

The week of exams, where both practical and written evaluations were conducted.

As it was a week to settle the semester, the entire academy felt strangely uplifted.

The same was true for the training room where the members of the Union Expedition gathered.

“I messed up??!!”

Stone rolled on the floor like a stone, wailing.

“I totally messed up!”

“I didn’t expect much anyway. So how bad was it?”

“Ugh! You didn’t expect much! Why are you hitting me!”

“I didn’t expect much, but punishment is necessary.”

“Argh!”

“Leader, stop it.”

One of the 4th-year peers stepped in to stop Ban Yu-won, unable to bear watching Stone roll pathetically on the floor any longer.

“He’s lying about messing up the exam. He won 3 out of 4 matches in today’s comprehensive evaluation sparring. He just wanted to brag and overdid it.”

“…”

Ban Yu-won looked down at Stone with a gaze as if he were a filthy bug.

“I also think Stone is like a bug, but isn’t that gaze a bit too harsh?”

“You’re too much! You’re too much!”

“Putting him aside, everyone, report your scores.”

The results were as expected.

Even Stone, who was in the worst state, won 3 matches in the sparring evaluation, so how about the others?

Kasyana, who had clearly developed her specialty and obtained a dedicated weapon, quickly rose to the top ranks of the 2nd year, and most of the other seniors were stably positioned in the middle ranks of the practical evaluation.

Woo Hyeol-rin, who originally had good practical scores, was, of course, no exception.

“For just two months, this level of change is quite remarkable. It also means that the past few years were quite serious.”

In a lower dimension where talent is hard to come by, the potential to be selected for the Union Academy, where talents from all higher dimensions gather.

Even if it hadn’t shone for a few years, it was firmly embedded within them.

Ban Yu-won merely observed the concepts that made them up and guided them in the right direction, resulting in such dramatic changes.

“That’s not something just anyone can do, it’s all thanks to you, Yu-won!”

“Well, that’s true. It’s all thanks to me.”

Kasyana, who had won all her matches today, cheered, and Ban Yu-won nodded without hesitation.

It’s easy to say he guided them, but awakening talents that didn’t even appear on the status window and that they might never have realized in their lifetime wasn’t easy.

“That confidence is… eek!”

Ban Yu-won smirked as he watched Kasyana, who was once again crossing the line, being subdued by Luciel and Mira.

Since he had changed their lives, the price wouldn’t be cheap, and he wondered if they realized it.

They couldn’t back out now, having even signed a contract.

“But don’t let your guard down. It’s only the first day. Your practical scores were good, but you need to achieve much better results in the written exams. Got it?”

“Why are you looking at me when you say that…?”

“Because you’re the most concerning, Stone.”

But to tell the conclusion, that concern was unnecessary.

The study charm’s effect was truly remarkable, helping even the blockheaded Stone to achieve middle-ranking scores in the written evaluation.

Throughout the exams on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the members of the Union Expedition achieved outstanding results, enough to be suspected of cheating.

Since the Union Academy had to overlook any cheating that wasn’t caught during the exams, even the professors who looked down on them couldn’t dare to challenge them.

“You can feel the change in atmosphere. The way they look at us…”

Thursday afternoon, in front of the gymnasium where the comprehensive evaluation sparring was held.

Most of the 1st-year students were lingering nearby, observing the Rebellion members, even after the sparring had ended.

“Once the scores are posted, those who were unsure will realize it for sure.”

Everyone knew who led the miraculous turnaround of the special admission students, so the gaze on Rebellion changed once again.

As Mira had said when the club was first established, it was only a matter of time before they surpassed the influence of the regular professors.

At that moment, Ban Yu-won’s student ID vibrated, signaling his turn.

—1st Year Class 11, Ban Yu-won, to Sparring Room 1.

“Oh, it’s finally the last one. I’ll be back.”

“We’ll cheer for you, Yu-won…!”

All other exams were over, and only the last sparring of the comprehensive evaluation remained.

Ban Yu-won’s group, who were attracting everyone’s attention in front of the gymnasium, were not just drawing attention because of Rebellion’s recognition.

It was also because of Ban Yu-won’s final sparring opponent.

“…You’ve grown a lot, worm.”

“Indeed, trash. I didn’t expect to fight you this semester.”

Ban Yu-won from Earth and Lucein Ortima from Ketius.

The two were about to face off in the 3rd and 4th place match.