Why Did I Have to Enroll

Freshmen were too busy adapting to the Academy to worry about it, but Sundays were incredibly important for the Academy’s current students. It was the day when the rankings were updated for students who had completed their explorations from Friday to Sunday. Some students, due to retirement or rest, might leave the Tower as early as Saturday or even Friday.

This ranking system was linked to the Academy’s intranet, accessible via student IDs, and updated when students exited the Tower. Although it was possible to keep rankings private, few teams did so since rankings were a measure of a student’s ability, alongside comprehensive evaluation duel rankings.

“Hey, hey, the rankings for this week are out.”

“Oh? There are always those who hold out until the end. Everyone has to exit by six in the evening anyway.”

On Sunday afternoon, students who had finished their explorations early gathered at the annex’s cafes or restaurant terraces, each with a drink in hand, chatting and waiting for the rankings to update. This week, being the first after the regular exams and the resumption of Tower explorations, many were focused on the rankings…

“…What?”

“What is it? If it’s the third-year rankings, is it the Student Council President?”

“She’s always at the top alone, so there’s no need to check. No, it’s someone from the Student Council.”

“The Public Relations Leader? She’s impressive but always on the same level as the Vice President… Oh?”

Above her were only a few fourth-year and graduating fifth-year students. She was competing with seniors, overcoming two years of experience, and doing it solo!

“Wow, this is…”

“She’s really on a roll. Did she have a great synergy with the Star Trace?”

“So, the third-year hierarchy is perfectly set with the Student Council President and the Public Relations Leader, the two solo explorers.”

“But how did she break through more than ten rooms when nearing the 300-room mark… Did that freshman she’s been hanging out with lately do something?”

“If you’re talking about that boot camp channel or whatever, forget it. You can’t compare those basic bugs to an elite of the Fairy race.”

Whispers about Mira’s name and exclamations of surprise erupted everywhere. People were already curious after seeing her with Ban Yu-won all last week, and now this major incident had occurred, drawing even more attention.

Naturally, curiosity arose about the ranking of the freshman chosen by the beautiful Fairy race girl, whom everyone at the Academy was eyeing.

“30 rooms… That’s average, right?”

“I saw the video; he lost once before, didn’t he? Considering that, it’s fast.”

“Isn’t it average for the entire first year? It’s average, but…”

The rankings of first-year freshmen, who were still adapting to the Academy and the Tower, were difficult to evaluate at this point. However, some were already standing out.

Despite temporarily leaving the Academy due to injuries from special activities, Lucein Ortima, the heir of a prestigious family, led his team to break through 50 rooms at once. Ayre, who had obtained solo exploration rights upon admission and reached 70 rooms at a record speed, was another.

“Objectively speaking, compared to those guys, he’s far behind.”

“Not even close.”

The current students checked the first-year rankings multiple times, sharing a common expression. It was the expression people often make when faced with something they can’t comprehend.

“But why does this Rebellion team’s exploration seem like they’re exploring areas over 100 rooms…?”

“Wasn’t there supposed to be no chain rooms below 100 rooms? Did they really only reach 30 rooms?”

“Even though the Tower’s response varies depending on individual abilities, just how skilled are they?”

At that moment, most students’ mirrors vibrated briefly, delivering a message.

“A new Rebellion video is up!”

“Uh… you watch that too?”

The current students simultaneously took out their mirrors, exchanging somewhat awkward glances. It was a bit embarrassing to admit that they eagerly awaited the exploration videos of their juniors.

“But… doesn’t everyone watch it?”

“When I see what that Ban Yu-won guy does, I realize there are things I need to learn…”

“What kind of freshman is he?”

“All the freshmen this year are just weird, especially those Rebellion guys.”

But once they realized they were all in the same boat, there was no more embarrassment. They shared smiles of camaraderie and confidently played the video.

“Ahem, hey, isn’t the pink hair cute?”

“Her actions are cute too. If it weren’t for Ban Yu-won, I would’ve just…”

“She’s adorable today too.”

“If this silver hair came from a lower dimension, are we all supposed to just die?”

They were all subscribers to the Rebellion channel. Some were even members of the fan club, Level Force. Many current students, realizing they were similar, gathered at tables to watch the video together…

“―Wait, a chain up to 27 rooms?!”

“Rewards! This must be from the 30-room―a treasure chest appeared!”

The news of what unbelievable feats the Rebellion team had accomplished in the Tower spread throughout the Academy within just a few hours.

*

Monday Morning.

Mira sighed as she looked around the ‘Special Training Room for Special Admission Students,’ which she had managed to secure after getting approval from the Student Council President, three professors (Campanella, Yumina, Xenon), and finally the Headmaster.

“Why was it so hard to set this up?”

Originally, every class was supposed to have its own training room. However, special admission students hadn’t been recognized as a class until now, and it was only after Professor Yumina took charge of this year’s first-year special admission students that they finally got their own training room.

In fact, it was seeing this that motivated the Student Council to take action. Until then, they hadn’t even thought about providing a training room for special admission students.

“Finally, we have our own training room! Yay!”

“If you don’t want the training room to close after just one day, stop rolling around and get up, Stone Senior!”

“…If you were going to be this happy, you should’ve applied sooner.”

“I did?”

Stone, who was rolling on the floor (even other juniors were calling him Stone now), suddenly lifted his head and spoke.

“But they rejected me, saying there were no empty rooms.”

“Ha, right. I guess they did…”

The group training rooms in the Academy’s second annex were indeed limited. However, there were definitely rooms left over after assigning them to all grades and classes, and these had been used as free training rooms, which could be reserved in advance.

The problem was that there was a priority system for these reservations. There’s no need to explain what determined this priority, but in short, the free training rooms were practically playgrounds for the Special Class students.

And now, thanks to the determined efforts of the Student Council, a few right-minded professors, and most importantly, Ban Yu-won’s presence, they had succeeded in reclaiming one!

“From now on, it’s up to you.”

Ignoring Stone, who was happily rolling on the floor, Mira spoke in a cold voice as she watched the special admission students activating the talismans Ban Yu-won had given them.

“If you don’t produce results, you won’t be able to keep this room. On the other hand, if you achieve good results, you might even get rooms assigned by grade. To overturn the Academy’s unfair treatment, you need to achieve overwhelming results that leave everyone speechless.”

“We know! Our Mira… the Public Relations Leader! She’s gone to such lengths for us!”

Stone, who had subtly called Mira by her name, quickly changed his words when he saw several purple orbs of light floating around her.

But Mira just scoffed at that.

“It’s not for you. It’s for the Student Council, for a better Academy… and for my man.”

“Ugh.”

In truth, it was also because of Mira’s own guilt, which she couldn’t completely erase, despite entrusting everything to Ban Yu-won. It was guilt for almost committing an absurd mistake by being swayed by the Star Trace, dragging in not only Ketra but countless students.

She couldn’t admit it, knowing she would crumble if she did. But she couldn’t do nothing either. This project was born from her struggles.

‘I don’t want to share all these troublesome worries. I’m sorry I can’t give you everything, even though I said I would. I’ll give you the rest…’

She clenched her fists, thinking of her contractor’s face. She felt a growing impatience from not having seen him since Friday.

In truth, she just missed him. It was absurd.

‘How can it be so different?’

When she had feelings for Ketra, there were times she was afraid to meet him. She was stressed by his actions and his attitude towards her. She had even foolishly thought it would be better if she never met him again and just kept her feelings for him.

Ban Yu-won was different. Even while listening to his voice, she wanted to hear more. Even while looking at his face, she wanted to see more, feeling a thirst. When apart, she worried, and when together, she wanted to be closer.

She knew it wasn’t an ordinary love, that it was a more twisted and obsessive feeling. But thinking of him made her feel at ease and happy.

‘Because you said you’d take all of me.’

It was all because of that one sentence. He had said he’d take all of her, not knowing how heavy, annoying, and troublesome she was. He must regret it terribly, but the contract was already made and couldn’t be undone.

She had no worries about their relationship and could simply immerse herself in it.

“The Public Relations Leader is lost in a daydream with a face I’ve never seen before.”

“No, it seems like we’re not even in her thoughts right now.”

“Ban Yu-won, I’m grateful to him, but I want to curse him right now…”

“Isn’t it crazy? How can one of the Academy’s top Fairy race elites be with a human race…”

“What are you talking about?”

The next moment, Mira, snapping out of her imagination, flicked her fingers, sending the special admission students near her flying to the opposite wall.

True to her reputation as a student council member who was closing in on the Student Council President, the students couldn’t even react properly and just collapsed.

“Get to training.”

“Yes, ma’am…!”

Watching the special admission students disperse without a word, Mira sighed. They were originally elites with special abilities befitting the name special admission. They wouldn’t have been like this when they first entered, but they seemed to have grown a bit servile, getting used to the Academy’s unfair treatment stemming from its elitist mindset.

Before developing their abilities, she might need to do something about their personalities and attitudes…

“Public Relations Leader, thank you.”

“Hmm?”

When Mira turned her head, there stood Woo Hyeol-rin, the only special admission third-year male student Ban Yu-won had praised.

“For what?”

“For all the effort you’ve put into this. It seems like you’ve been busy with work lately.”

“Ah…”

“I just worry about your health. It seems like you’re taking on too much burden, even though Ban Yu-won is the one in charge of this project.”

Mira was aware that she had been overworking herself lately. But it didn’t bother her. Thanks to the body enhancement from her contract with the Star Trace, and because she felt like she was working for Ban Yu-won, any accumulated fatigue seemed to vanish instantly.

Of course, she wouldn’t go around telling strangers about this, so she just shook her head.

“You don’t need to worry about me. Just focus on achieving results for this project.”

“If you’re okay, then that’s fine. But if you ever have a hard time, feel free to talk to me. We’re both contractors of the same Star Trace, after all.”

Woo Hyeol-rin left after saying that. Mira nodded quietly, thinking that he was right.

—Is it self-loathing? You don’t seem to be in a good mood.

‘Self-loathing? No way. Maybe the loathing part is true.’

Mira scoffed, responding to her contract Star Trace, the Gravekeeper of Purgatory, who spoke to her in her mind.

‘It’s just unpleasant when someone tries to act friendly with me just because we have the same Star Trace.’

—You’re too rigid. Are you planning not to speak to any man other than the one you love?

‘When a man tries to act friendly with a woman, it’s usually because he wants to mix something other than words.’

—That’s true.

The Star Trace laughed heartily.

—But since you’re dealing with similar abilities, if you become friends, it could be mutually beneficial.

‘You just want my human relationships to become complicated.’

—I’m happy yet sad that my contractor is too wise.

She didn’t respond further. She had entrusted everything to Ban Yu-won, so any future relationships had to revolve around him. The Star Trace still didn’t understand that. Even if it did, there wasn’t much it could do.

“Oh, this seems bigger than the 11th class training room.”

“…!”

Her pointed ears perked up at the voice from behind. She turned around, trying to act nonchalant. The person she had been waiting for had arrived.

“You’re here, Yu-won.”

“Yeah. I brought new talismans and Kasyana senior’s exclusive training equipment… Oh.”

Poof. Despite her calm demeanor, her body honestly pulled Ban Yu-won into a hug. She never hesitated to throw herself entirely at him.

“Aah, I can’t lose!”

“Why is Luciel competing here?”

Poof. Luciel, who had appeared with him, was startled and hugged Ban Yu-won from the opposite side, turning him into a sandwich.

“Hey, both of you, calm down. …Ah, this is bad.”

Ban Yu-won sighed as he tried to separate them.

“…I’m here on Student Council business. Ban Yu-won, can we talk for a moment?”

The Vice President of the Student Council, Ketra, was staring at them. To be precise, he seemed to be looking at Mira, not Ban Yu-won, but… She didn’t notice and was simply enjoying the embrace of her contractor, whom she hadn’t seen in days.