Admission is a waste of time (27)
Lesson 7. I’m not doing this because I absolutely like you – 2
“I’m glad everyone is safe!”
Yumina saw the group of Ban Yu-won coming out of the tower and slumped her shoulders in genuine relief.
Besides her, all the faculty and staff of the academy were around, including professors and associate professors, and students could also be seen here and there.
One thing they all have in common is that they all look absent-minded.
“What happened?”
“That’s, huuuu… … . Let’s move the location first.”
When Ban Yu-won asked directly, Yumi let out a huge sigh and fiddled with the pendant around her neck.
The next moment, the group found themselves in a classroom without doors.
“I gathered you all here because it wasn’t a good thing and I couldn’t make a big fuss about it. I also wanted to hear about the first expedition.”
“so?”
Dokgo Yeon let out an irritated voice.
“Why did this problem occur from the very first exploration?”
“It’s because of the irregulars.”
I knew it before I even heard about it.
Yumina nodded, knowing that this was not the answer they wanted, and continued speaking.
“You talked about the intruder this morning, right? The intruder’s presence has been confirmed. He… … a student has died.”
“Hic!”
Ruchel, who had been feeling extremely depressed ever since he left the tower, was startled by those words and instinctively grabbed Ban Yu-won’s arm tightly.
Ban Yu-won, who was inwardly preparing himself while looking at the chaotic atmosphere, asked to make sure.
“You’re saying he didn’t just die, but couldn’t get out of the tower?”
“That’s right. People who were in the same party as that student testified. The intruder… … was eventually let go.”
It hurt. Because Lucelle squeezed his arm even harder.
Nevertheless, Ban Yu-won ended up laughing heartily.
“So what happens to that intruder?”
“Well, maybe I would have been recognized as a climber by the top.”
Yumina’s expression as she said those words was extremely bitter.
Ban Yu-won realized that what she was saying was not an assumption but the truth.
At that moment, I realized something in the realm of intuition rather than reason.
“Could it be that the tower was deliberately guiding the intruders to kill the climbers… …the existing climbers?”
“… … !”
Yumina nodded so subtly that it was hard to tell unless she looked closely.
Ban Yu-won’s teeth were chattering and grinding.
It was the moment when my thoughts about the tower completely changed.
“So it was a qualification test, you know. A test where if you can kill the climber, you accept it, and if you can’t, you die.”
If you can’t even beat an existing climber, then an intruder doesn’t have even the bare minimum qualifications.
Conversely, if you beat a climber, you have proven that you are better than the previous climber and are given the chance to climb the tower.
It was… … a test that would never be understood by a half-human with a normal human mind.
“Isn’t it true that there are more attempts to break in on the day when freshmen enter the tower? The intruders want to kill the relatively easy freshmen and be recognized as climbers.”
Yumina didn’t answer his question, but her expression seemed to indicate otherwise.
“What a great place, Union Academy.”
After listening to the conversation and assessing the situation, Dokgoyeon sat down on a nearby desk, grumbling.
“There is someone who dares to invade the tower, which is the very reason for the existence of the academy, and the tower can’t even stop the intruder from trying to kill a student… … It’s ridiculous to say that it is the most prestigious school in the entire dimension.”
“There’s a misunderstanding, Dokgoyeon.”
Yumina said with a bitter smile.
“Union Academy has a duty to protect its students, but once you enter the tower, it’s your own responsibility. Moreover, if the tower chooses the intruder over the student, then it’s something we can’t interfere with. That’s the tower’s will.”
“The meaning of the tower is… … .”
Dokgoyeon muttered in a daze and looked out the window at the tall tower.
Even though one student died inside, the tower just sat there, unmoving.
Could the intruder, now a climber, still be inside the tower?
Maybe so.
“… … I still don’t like it.”
“Wait a minute, student Dokgo Yeon―.”
Dokgo Yeon muttered something like that and put his hand on his student ID.
Yumina, who knew what it meant, called her name, but by then Dokgoyeon was no longer there.
“Wow, really.”
“Please understand, Professor. Something unpleasant happened in the tower.”
Ban Yu-won consoled Yumi, who seemed to be depressed.
She raised her head.
“Something unpleasant? What is it?”
“What a strange voice called the observer of the ten thousand eyes… … .”
“The constellations?!”
Yumina’s reaction was truly intense.
Rather, it was Ban Yoo-won who was surprised.
But Lucelle and Light just smiled bitterly, as if they had expected her reaction.
“It’s the first time in the history of the Academy that we’ve made contact with a constellation on our first day in the tower! Even though the tower’s security has been relaxed due to the Irregular Incident and the constellations running wild!”
Her reaction was so different from the gloomy one just a moment ago that I began to wonder if she had been acting all this time.
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Ban Yu-won shook his head and asked her a question.
“So what is this constellation?”
“……yes?”
Yumina let out a dumb voice in response to Ban Yuwon’s question.
She looked back and forth between Ruchel and Light, sending them looks that suggested they didn’t know, but the two shook their heads as if they already knew.
Yumi, who felt slightly relieved there, looked back at Ban Yu-won and felt dumbfounded.
“This can’t be… … . I heard it was a lower dimension without mana, but I didn’t think that even access to the constellations was blocked. What kind of a remote place is this?”
The Earth has just been treated like a slum.
Just because there was no constellation or anything!
“So what are the constellations?”
“Sponsor, or observer.”
The answer came from Light.
He said this with a look of extreme contempt in his eyes.
“It refers to transcendent beings who observe countless dimensions, make a contract with a being they like, and exert influence on that dimension through that contractee.”
“Give me magic power, authority… or artifacts. In return, I ask for a lot.”
In addition, Ruchel, who was explaining, had a similar expression.
Ban Yu-won nodded his head involuntarily as he recalled what had happened inside the tower earlier.
A superior being who observes other-dimensional beings at will, sponsors their abilities, and demands payment in return as he pleases.
Isn’t he truly transcendent?
“This is a real fantasy. Are you looking around the dimensions like you’re watching a TV show? And you’re not shooting star balloons or anything, and you’re giving away your abilities so easily… …?”
“They say that Ban Yu-won tells really interesting stories.”
“It’s fantasy, isn’t it?”
For example, from what Ban Yoo-won knows, is Daddy-Long-Legs similar to this?
If everyone had read Daddy-Long-Legs diligently, they would have known that there is no such thing as free support in this world.
Didn’t a young woman with a bright future mortgage her life to a man fourteen years her senior just because she received some financial support for her tuition?
“How dare you make such shady contracts. How do you know what to ask for?”
“The demands of the constellations are different, but there are many who are willing to pay a price if only they can borrow their power. That must mean that they desperately need power. Especially… … in a space where power is valued.”
Yumina’s gaze turned to the tower.
“The tower is the space where the constellations have the most contractors. It is also the space where the constellations have the most interest.”
“What is the Academy’s position on its contract with the Constellations?”
“They claim to be neutral on the surface, but the reality is that they encourage people to seize any opportunity that comes their way.”
Yumina added with a bitter smile.
“I originally said that you can’t enter the tower without a student ID. But why would an intruder show up? How on earth would such a thing be possible?”
“no way…….”
“Yes, and most of that is due to the power of the constellations. If they allow you to dream of becoming a climber, something you would never be able to achieve unless you belong to the Union Academy, then it’s no wonder that some people put their fate on the line for the constellations.”
But to become a climber, you must inevitably kill other climbers.
This means that the constellations, knowing this of course, are supporting the invaders.
Ban Yu-won felt even more disgusted.
Yumina asked, thrusting a sparkling jewel into Ban Yuwon’s mouth.
“What was the demand of the observer of Manan?”
“It’s murder.”
“oh……?”
Professor Yumina’s expression hardened as she looked up.
Ban Yu-won pushed her away slightly and continued speaking.
“I will make a contract with two of the four, but the one who wants to make a contract must kill the others first. … … That is what I demanded.”
No, actually it was a little different, but it’s a little bit different to talk about it here.
It seemed as if the voice of that constellation could still be heard vividly in Ban Yu-won’s ears.
―Only the hot blood that is full of life will be my praise and offering. You children with wonderful potential, if you cut off the heads of your fellows and offer them to me, I will make you my closest children. My love will not leave you until you reach the top of this tower and achieve what you desire!
I would trust and follow that crazy bitch who suddenly demands that I kill my friend while promising to give me strength.
Luckily, before anyone could react, Dokgoyeon got angry and raised his spirits, ‘chasing it away.’
She must have been a tough person, as she had a hard time right after that, but thanks to that, she was able to escape from that space and leave the tower safely.
“this…….”
The price was probably more outrageous than he had imagined.
Professor Yumina sighed, touching her forehead, then muttered while looking at Dokgoyeon’s empty seat.
“So she listened to me and… … .”
“It must be so frustrating to have an unknown being treat our deaths as if they were some kind of fun prank or test. I feel the same way.”
I knew that whether it was a tower or a constellation, they were all trying to manipulate humans as they pleased.
Maybe somewhere out there there is a constellation that is very kind to humans and willing to give unconditionally.
Today’s experience was enough.
Ban Yu-won would never trust a being who interferes with him without permission.
“Professor, so I can’t enter the tower this week?”
“Yes? Yes, I think it will be difficult. I’m sorry. But I will be monitoring the tower over the weekend to find any intruders… … .”
“The professor has nothing to be sorry about to us.”
It was a difficult situation for Ban Yu-won, who was facing a duel with Irekto this coming Tuesday.
If this happens, we have no choice but to focus on exploring the more difficult external dungeons…
“I’d like to summarize what happened at the top in a simple report format. Is that okay?”
“Hmm. If possible, I’d like to hear it in person… … Right, do you have time tonight? Let’s talk over a meal.”
“… … .”
“… … .”
As Yumina clapped her hands as if she had a good idea, Ban Yuwon remained silent while Light and Ruchel stared at her.
Then Yumina blushed slightly as if she had been stabbed in the back,
“If you wanted to eat with me, I’m sorry. But since I’m the class president who works hard, I feel like I should take care of it myself… … . Let’s eat together with you next time!”
“No, that’s not it… … Okay.”
“… … .”
Light shook his head instead of saying anything to Yumina’s response, which seemed to be off-key.
At least Yumi didn’t seem to be interested in Ban Yuwon as a romantic interest, so I thought that was okay.
On the other hand, Ruchel still stared at Professor Yumina as if something was suspicious, then glanced at Ban Yu-won, let out a light sigh, and placed her hand on the student ID hanging on her chest.
The next moment, she disappeared from sight.
“Then, Ban Yu-won and Light students too. You’ve worked really hard. Starting next week, I’ll be careful not to let something like this happen again, so I hope you don’t think too badly of the Academy.”
“I understand your position, Professor. Anyway, thank you for your concern.”
“Haha… … Then I guess I’ll go and rest. Have a nice weekend.”
Light, who looked somewhat listless, left the room first.
Ban Yu-won also nodded and was about to leave the room.
“Student Ban Yu-won, just one thing before that.”
Yumina’s voice held him back.
It was a sight that made me feel a sense of foreboding.
“I have a question.”
“Can we do it in the evening?”
“No, I want to end the depressing story now.”
At Yumi’s bitter voice, Ban Yuwon realized that his cheap tricks had not worked on her at all.
As Ban Yu-won, who had given up everything, turned around with his shoulders slumped, Yumi looked straight at him and asked.
“Then let me get straight to the point. The observer of Manan… … wasn’t he actually the one who designated the scapegoat?”
“……that’s right.”
Ban Yu-won hesitated for a moment, then closed his eyes tightly and nodded to her question.
If you want to become a contractor, you have to kill ‘first’?
No, she wasn’t that kind.
* * *
―You two can definitely reach the top of the tower. Of course. Of course… …if you get rid of all that useless baggage.
The observer of the manan ‘tied’ two of the party to the spot with those words.
– Now, my dear children, kill them. Then I promise you, you will have the brightest potential of all climbers.
And then he demanded.
To Dokgoyeon and Ban Yuwon.
-Kill and conquer. I will show you that this is all there is to the world.
He demanded that they kill Ruchel and Light to gain power.
