Why Did I Have to Enroll

Outside the window, a fiery and magnificent sunset was unfolding.

The Babel Tower, which he had been exploring until this morning, could be seen standing tall.

This place, overlooking various other academy buildings surrounding it, was a restaurant located on the top floor of the academy's First Annex.

Ban Yu-won wondered absent-mindedly why he had been dragged here.

"How is it? Quite atmospheric, isn't it?"

Professor Yumina, sitting across from him, asked as she elegantly tilted her glass of wine.

She was the one who had relentlessly pestered him as soon as he came out from being lost, and then brought him straight to this restaurant right after he had finished washing up.

"This is the most famous restaurant in the academy. Even the children of prestigious upper-dimensional families have to wait at least a month to get a reservation here."

"Well, that's natural since they only accept one group per day."

Additionally, because Professor Yumina was such a notable figure within the academy, they couldn't avoid attracting a lot of attention despite trying to be as discreet as possible.

In fact, Ban Yu-won even thought that Yumina might be enjoying this exposure, and perhaps even encouraging it to some extent.

"Anyway, we're going to drink to our heart's content today. Because Ban Yu-won has proven his abilities so well! I was so worried at first..."

Hearing that she had been worried, Ban Yu-won couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

After all, when Ban Yu-won first enrolled, he was so weak that he might have broken if a regular admission student had just lightly touched him, so how could she not have been worried?

But less than a week after enrolling, Ban Yu-won had achieved results surpassing those of regular admission students.

How about now, two weeks later? Just considering the depth of concepts alone, he had surpassed Erecto, and his skills had been proven through duels and explorations.

If more time passes, he might even grow to the level of other members belonging to Rebellion!

"Thank you for your concern. I'm glad to be able to receive a glass from you again, Professor."

"Oh my!"

While thinking to himself, 'You probably just want to drink using me as an excuse, right?', he flattered her appropriately, using the social skills he had learned from his diplomat father.

Sure enough, she was overjoyed and filled his glass to the brim with wine.

He had heard that wine shouldn't be poured too much into a glass, but her complete disregard for such common sense was truly befitting of a full professor at Union Academy.

"But Professor, you said they don't sell alcohol in the academy's internal restaurants, so this..."

"It's from my personal collection. They don't sell alcohol internally, but they don't refuse corkage fees either."

"I see."

"Hehe, it was a tear-jerking effort to acquire this... but if not on a day like today, when would I open it?"

Personal collection.

Even her favorite fruit wine was such a high-quality item, so how extraordinary must this wine be that such a woman had stored away as part of her collection?

Ban Yu-won carefully tilted his glass, afraid that the value of this wine might exceed his imagination.

He couldn't afford to spill a single drop.

"Ah, delicious. How is it for you, Ban Yu-won?"

"...It's my first time with wine, but it's really delicious."

This wasn't just flattery.

In fact, it was more interesting than delicious.

It was because numerous unknown concepts in a single glass of wine appeared alternately, stimulating him.

Once it's visible, at that moment, the sense of taste and smell also begin to perceive it sensitively.

Ban Yu-won knew nothing about wine, but at this moment, he was the best sommelier.

[You have tasted and distinguished countless concepts contained in the supreme wine. The depth of All-Speaking Lips has become 130. The depth of the soul has become 464.] ℝÃꞐőΒЕ𐌔

What? Like this?

Now, even just drinking wine develops abilities?

But this didn't happen with ordinary food, which means this wine must be that special.

At that moment, the table shimmered slightly, and plates appeared in front of each of them with thinly sliced toasted baguette, a cluster of small black pearl-like grains, and a spread with a red clay-like texture.

"The appetizer has arrived. Shall we talk while we eat?"

"...Sure."

Looking at the automatically appearing food plates, Ban Yu-won couldn't help but think of HoXwarts.

Come to think of it, when they were being guided to this room earlier, it seemed like Yumina had requested some kind of personal service, could this be it?

"It would be troublesome if other people kept coming in and out while it's just the two of us."

As if reading Ban Yu-won's mind, Professor Yumina said with a wink.

He picked up a piece of bread, small enough to be slightly exaggerated as finger-sized, with a bitter smile at how he had already become accustomed to her winks.

He spread the spread, topped it with the pearl-like things, and took a bite.

[You have consumed food that has been processed with abundant magic power and excellent technique, retaining its original vitality and magic power. You have gained 0.5 Life and 0.3 Magic Power.]

[The depth of All-Speaking Lips has become 131.]

The moment he ate it, his eyes widened.

He was surprised more by the rich umami taste than by the growth of the concept.

More importantly, he discovered traces of an active concept in this trivial appetizer.

Does this world have cooking skills too?!

Professor Yumina spoke with a mischievous smile, as if she had succeeded in surprising him.

"It's different from what they serve in the student cafeteria, isn't it?"

"...I let my guard down because it looked similar to what I've seen in restaurants on Earth."

"Oh my, it seems your food culture is quite developed."

"But the contents must be very different."

Until he ate it, he had secretly thought of caviar and foie gras pâté, but the taste was completely different.

As he savored all the luxurious concepts lingering in his mouth, Ban Yu-won became curious about how much this meal would cost, but decided not to ask.

Instead, he brought up the topic of exploration.

"I thought only the fruit of Eden could have such an effect when eaten."

"Come to think of it, Ban Yu-won student this time... um, can I be a bit more casual?"

"Please feel free to be as casual as you like, Professor."

"Then I'll call you Yu-won."

It became too casual all of a sudden?

"In private, I'd like you to call me casually too. Hmm... how about Sister Mina?"

Sister Mina comes in with a smile like a blooming flower.

Ban Yu-won expressed his refusal with an ambiguous smile, but Yumina didn't seem to have any intention of taking back her words.

I'm pretty sure I heard before that she lived for 500 years, but if I point that out now, I'll probably be hit non-stop for the next 500 years, right?

"Mi... Sister Mina?"

"Good."

Yumina smiles contentedly as she empties her glass filled to the brim with wine.

Now it was time to get to the main point.

"Actually, I was shocked when I heard about the intruder from student Dokgo Yeon, who came out before you guys."

"Hahaha..."

"An encounter with an intruder has an overwhelmingly higher mortality rate than most irregular phenomena. Moreover, a new intruder appeared just last week, I didn't expect such a bold crime to be attempted this week. It seems the constellation supporting him exerted quite a bit of power."

Constellations have the power to intervene in the operation of the tower and create gaps.

There's no doubt that the power of constellations was involved in the collision that occurred this time.

Ban Yu-won opened his mouth, recalling the message that the constellation had delivered to them after their enemy died.

"Professor, I mean..."

It was time to ask what he had been curious about since the moment he encountered the intruder in the tower.

However, just as he was about to speak, Yumina slightly furrowed her brow and reached out to correct his words.

"Sister."

"...Si, Sister."

"That's right."

Ban Yu-won had to try hard to forget the fact that the other person was 480 years older than him.

Pleased with being called sister, Yumina kept fluttering her hair and smiling. Ban Yu-won composed himself and asked again.

"Sister, do you know what that person's purpose was? It's clear they weren't affiliated with the academy, but they seemed to have the qualifications of a climber."

"Hmm, probably. I was hoping that time would come later if possible, but..."

A slight crack appeared in Yumina's smile, which had been all smiles until now.

Perhaps she wanted to deepen her friendship with Ban Yu-won even more because she was facing a gloomy topic.

"You already know that those who have been associated with constellations once are likely to attract the attention of other constellations, right?"

"Yes. I heard about it in Professor Xenon's lecture too."

"Yes, you guys are a very special case among them. Rejecting a contract with a constellation means that you have strong principles and great potential... so many constellations are especially coveting you."

"......"

It feels like the important story hasn't come out yet.

Yumina seemed to be contemplating something as she poured herself a drink, then finally sighed and looked up to face him.

"In that sense, you guys are amazing prospects. ...In other words, it could be said that now, when you're just prospects, is the easiest time to kill you."

Ban Yu-won was so stunned he closed his mouth.

Yumina's unwavering eyes were telling him that he hadn't misheard just now.

"Did the attacker reveal anything about himself?"

"Not by himself, but after he died, his contracted constellation called itself Exodus..."

"As I thought."

Yumina's sigh deepened.

"Exodus is a notorious dimensional pirate group, the largest among the forces trying to invade the tower. They also receive support from many constellations. Their relationship with Union Academy is, needless to say, the worst."

"Why are those constellations...? No, never mind. I think I know without hearing."

Why are they supporting Exodus, which is clearly 'evil'?

Ban Yu-won was about to ask that, but soon realized the answer himself.

To begin with, constellations are not particularly good.

They only contract with humans to fulfill their own desires.

Yumina's explanation also supported his thoughts.

"The constellations supporting Exodus are very radical and violent. You guys, who are the most notable rookies this year but have no possibility of contracting with them, must have been an eyesore to them. So much so that they're trying to eliminate you early, even if it means going to extremes. Still, I didn't expect them to move this quickly..."

The members of Exodus are humans from lower dimensions.

Of course, Ban Yu-won and his companions are also from lower dimensions, but they were selected as Union Academy students based on their innate abilities alone, so the possibility of them voluntarily joining Exodus converges to zero.

Regardless of how they are evaluated within the academy, to Exodus, they are definitely 'enemies'.

'And that guy was trying to kill us to weaken Union Academy's expected forces... It's like Exodus and the academy are waging a proxy war on the stage of the tower.'

Ban Yu-won couldn't easily accept that they were targeted for such reasons.

Irritation and rising anger.

Although they're weak now and have no choice but to be targeted (of course, Exodus and the constellations who suffered a setback from them might not think so), someday they will become strong enough to crush all those who treat him and his companions like chess pieces.

'Exodus, I'll never forget.'

They've messed with the wrong person.

The price for failing to recognize the true heir of the tower will not be small.

"Anyway, that's why you guys did really well this time!"

At that moment, when Ban Yu-won was grinding his teeth and making a resolution.

Perhaps intending to change the atmosphere, Yumina clapped her hands and said in a loud voice.

"Because you cleanly finished off Exodus's intruder. Their activities will be suppressed for a while, and the constellations who used their power to interfere with the tower will be weakened too. Really, really, really well done!"

"Then what should we do with the video? We've recorded everything clearly."

"Upload it. Since it's related to constellations anyway, Exodus must already know about your existence, so it's much better to publicly humiliate them."

Perhaps from the moment the video is uploaded, Rebellion will be treated as young heroes opposing Exodus?

Even the students who had been suspicious, saying it was fabricated, will finally have to acknowledge it.

That Rebellion is very special, and they are already beyond the scope of lower dimensions, let alone first-year students.

Of course, we can't fully reveal Ban Yu-won's powers, so we'll need to do some editing.

"It's going to be really tiring from now on."

"As your supervising professor, I should help you grow without interference from anyone..."

Seeing Yumina's troubled expression, Ban Yu-won couldn't help but chuckle.

"You mean we'll be getting involved with those guys more often from now on?"

"It won't be that often. ...or so I'd like to believe. At least the constellations on Exodus's side won't touch you for a while."

After saying that, Yumina seemed to be choosing her words while observing his expression for a moment, but eventually gave up, pouting her lips.

"And they'll probably ambush you when they're confident they can finish you off for sure."

"Thanks for the good advice, sister. I guess I'll have to train even harder."

Just because we know it's become dangerous doesn't mean we can't enter the tower.

Rather, because of that, we had to climb the tower even more diligently and develop our abilities.

"Getting involved with constellations really brings nothing but trouble. I've only met them twice so far, but I'm completely sick of it."

"There are really good constellations among them that genuinely help their contractors!"

Yumina tried hard to defend against Ban Yu-won's cold voice.

Meanwhile, the course progressed, and clear soup and fish were served together.

"Still, I don't think I'll be contracting with any constellations in the future."

"Uh, yeah. That's right, I guess someone like you wouldn't need the help of constellations..."

Thinking that it seemed a bit different from the course meals he had eaten on Earth, he picked up a spoon. Feeling a gaze, he looked up and met eyes with Yumina, who was sitting with her chin resting on the table, staring at him intently.

"Aren't you eating?"

"Well, I'm thinking. It seems like you no longer need my support. I'm wondering... what more I can do for you."

Did she think that far because of the comment about not needing constellations?

He glanced at the jeweled flower brooch on his chest that was emitting a brilliant light, then shrugged and replied.

"The inside and outside of the tower are different issues. Moreover, the reason I can act like this now is because of the guarantee that Professor Yumina believes in and supports me. That will be the same even after our channel becomes a great success."

"I see... So you're saying you'll continue to need my help in the future?"

"Of course."

Perhaps satisfied with Ban Yu-won's unwavering and firm answer, she smiled with her eyes and poured wine into Ban Yu-won's glass.

"Alright, just keep trusting your big sister from now on. And when you make it big, don't forget to pay me back."

"Of course. You have something you want to ask of me, don't you?"

Ban Yu-won knew well that Yumina wouldn't be nice to him without expecting anything in return.

If we're just talking about innate talent, we don't have to look far—there's Dokgo Yeon.

So why is Yumina trying to take care of Ban Yu-won as if he were her own son, grandson... no, younger brother?

Of course, it must be because she wants something from him.

"I'd like to say 'let's not be so formal between us,' but..."

Yumina's cheeks flushed, as if she felt embarrassed.

For that moment, transcending the limits of species, he purely thought she was beautiful.

"Actually, there is something. I didn't want to talk about it so soon though."

"Then please tell me later. When my abilities have grown. When I'm able to fulfill your request."

The main dish arrived.

Ban Yu-won cut a large piece of the steak made from the grilled meat of an unidentified creature, took a bite, and swallowed it.

[You have eaten a steak prepared with techniques that maximized the characteristics of an apex predator's body, which is far beyond your current abilities to approach. You absorb Life 2, Body 4, Magic Power 3, Resistance 1, Acceleration 1.]

Did Yumina herself know just how much help this single bite of steak had given to Ban Yu-won?

To this 480-year-older sister who became his first understanding person and supporter in this academy he came to without knowing anything, Ban Yu-won sincerely declared.

"When that time comes, I'll grant any request you have."

"...Thank you."

Yumina, who understood the weight behind Ban Yu-won's words, smiled brightly.

It was a smile so beautiful that it was easy to understand why a group of followers had formed around her in the academy.

"In that sense, I have something to consult about."

"Hm?"

But a smile is just a smile, and business is business.

Now that her mood had improved was the best chance!

Ban Yu-won carefully spoke to his older sister figure, whose affection for him had clearly increased by at least 5 points just now, as if he were a middle schooler consulting about his first love.

"I'd like to ask you about various things regarding the artifact I obtained from the 10th floor, Eden. And about 'magic language' too."

"This is the first I'm hearing about you obtaining an artifact?!"

According to Yumina's explanation, it seemed that the total number of natural artifacts students obtain from the tower in a year doesn't even exceed 10.

Naturally, this meant that Rebellion had become the first party to acquire an artifact from the tower since the start of this school year!

...In fact, the artifacts acquired from the tower this time weren't just one, but for the sake of Yumina's mental stability, he decided not to mention that now.

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