Why Did I Have to Enroll

Why Did I Have to Enroll - Chapter 152

Lesson 31. The Last Spoonful is Always the Most Annoying - 2

Monday, Week 15.

Finally, the curtain rose on the last tower exploration of the first semester, which also marked the beginning of the first long-term expedition. Just like when they first entered the tower, the entire student body gathered at the hill where the tower was located, buzzing with excitement as if it were a festival.

“It’s a chance to make up for falling behind in one semester all at once.”

“Isn’t there a risk of falling even further behind?”

“You never know, the top teams might retire midway.”

“Are you stupid? The top two first-year teams have never retired.”

“What about Rebellion?”

“Those guys are…”

This time, they might finally overtake Ayre’s solo team and the Lucein Ortima team. Anyone who had watched the Rebellion channel’s tower exploration videos, which were updated weekly until the final exam season, was thinking the same.

Their exploration was unusual from the start. Although their progress was slow, they had impressively broken through to Room 107, leading the first-year solo rankings. Ayre, who had only encountered trick rooms twice, faced them as if it were natural from the lower floors and skillfully navigated through several chain rooms.

Even their only downside, their slow progress, had been overcome by a relentless breakthrough from week 10, reaching Room 80 and surpassing other teams. They were now in third place, following the Ortima team, which was currently in Room 94.

“But they’re particularly tough. Maybe that’s why they’re growing faster. Perhaps a lower-tier team will become the top of the year…”

“Did you see the latest grades?”

“Yeah, I had a rough idea, but I didn’t expect even the seniors to change so drastically.”

“I should have joined the Union expedition.”

Ban Yu-won listened to the murmurs around him with a slightly awkward expression.

“It feels like a settlement.”

“Settlement?”

In games, there are times when you see a mid-term report detailing how many levels you’ve gained, achievements you’ve unlocked, and what you need to do next to reach your goals.

Ban Yu-won explained this to the members who didn’t know about games.

“It’s like anyone who didn’t know us before can come here and learn all about us.”

“Do you dislike it?”

Dokgo Yeon asked, and Ban Yu-won snorted and shook his head.

“Not enough. The first-year reaction is expected, so it’s irrelevant.”

“That guy over there doesn’t seem to think so.”

Turning his head at Dokgo Yeon’s words, he saw Lucein Ortima staring at them with an unusually intense and heated gaze today. If there were a police officer around, he would have wanted to report it immediately.

“He’s… probably because of the conversation we had during our last spar.”

“What did he say?”

“He kept saying things like, ‘I’m not qualified to learn the Blade from you,’ and kept glorifying his past actions, claiming you were his.”

Ban Yu-won had gotten used to the arrogant tone typical of those from higher dimensions, but Ortima was going too far. Moreover, deciding Dokgo Yeon’s future without her consent was beyond presumptuous.

“So?”

“So I tried to make him come to his senses, but as is often the case when people are confronted with the truth, he just got angrier.”

“Hmm… It’s a common occurrence. And then?”

“Other than that, he said things like, ‘I lost this time, but I’ll win next time,’ the usual things losers say.”

Ban Yu-won shrugged, and Dokgo Yeon responded incredulously.

“You put on such a show, yet you don’t try to embellish yourself.”

“This is a high-level embellishment; you just don’t get it yet.”

Dokgo Yeon finally let out a small laugh. And Ortima’s gaze grew even more intense.

“This is such a hassle. Dokgo Yeon, can’t you do something about it?”

“I’d like to handle it myself, but… it seems the issue is out of my hands now.”

“Eh?”

Was the great Dokgo Yeon shirking responsibility?

Ban Yu-won’s eyes widened, and she sighed, shaking her head.

“It seems you haven’t realized yet, Ban Yu-won.”

“What?”

“What I wants to say is, well…”

For some reason, Lucein glared at Dokgo Yeon with narrowed eyes and replied.

“No matter what I says now, that man considers you his rival.”

“Yeah, I kind of guessed that…”

“So, what’s the reality? Dokgo Yeon, did you lead him on?”

“Of course not. Why would I need to use Ban Yu-won as a shield because I’m afraid of that guy?”

Dokgo Yeon replied with a calm expression to Lucein’s glare, then twisted her lips into a smile at Ban Yu-won.

“Ban Yu-won is just trying to protect me on his own… how cute.”

“When did I ever—”

As Ban Yu-won was about to raise his voice to refute Dokgo Yeon’s absurd accusation, a conversation from his last spar with Ortima flashed through his mind. How had he responded to Ortima’s words, treating him as a rival and being jealous? Had he ever denied his relationship with Dokgo Yeon?

‘I didn’t. I hate it when outsiders judge my relationships without knowing anything… Oh? Then it’s no wonder there’s a misunderstanding.’

The conclusion was clear. Ban Yu-won nodded.

“It’s only natural they misunderstood.”

“Right?”

“Something… doesn’t sit well with me. I’m always trying to get closer to Yu-won, but Dokgo Yeon, you seem to be sneaking ahead unnoticed…”

“Please don’t drag me into your romantic affairs. And you tend to act on instinct and go wild, so try to control yourself.”

Engaged in a conversation filled with the scent of youth, the group headed toward the tower. Until recently, the Rebellion team, the most recognized among the first-years, had entered the tower first. But now, like other grades, teams entered in order of their progress in the tower.

Ayre entered first, followed by the Ortima team, who kept glaring at Ban Yu-won until the end. Their turn was third. Yumina, as always, stood at the tower’s entrance to greet them.

“Please be careful. Although the intruders’ activities have quieted down, the tower always strikes when you’re most off guard.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Before entering the tower, they exchanged glances as usual. Light, feeling embarrassed, avoided his gaze, but that had been the case since yesterday, so it was fine.

“Wait a minute. What’s up with Light? Yu-won, did you…?”

“Well, Light invited Ban Yu-won to his dimension! How bold!”

“Professor?!”

Yumina’s bombshell at the end shattered the serious atmosphere.

…Did she do it on purpose?

*

Luciel, shocked by the fact that Dokgo Yeon and Light had secretly progressed with Ban Yu-won without her knowledge, was initially downcast. But by the time they reached Room 84, she had shifted her thinking positively.

“At this point, I’ll make sure to progress so far during this break that no one can catch up…!”

―Screeeeech!

“Oh.”

With lightning enveloping her entire body, Luciel charged forward, smashing through the monsters blocking her path. Ban Yu-won could only let out a small sigh.

“Hmm.”

Meanwhile, Dokgo Yeon tilted her head, examining the corpse of a new type of monster that had appeared on this floor.

“Are these creatures entirely made of metal?”

“The base is definitely an insect. Ugh… At least the Armored Beasts just wore carapaces, but the insides were animal, so it was okay.”

Light, who seemed to dislike insects, shrank back with a pitiful voice. Meanwhile, Ban Yu-won, with his ability to analyze concepts, had already identified the monsters.

“They’re Mechanized Bugs.”

“Mechanized? Like carapace?”

“No, mechanical armor. It means they’re equipped with firepower. In the case of these guys…”

The monsters on the 84th floor looked like ladybugs, but their shells were covered in metal, boasting a sleek shine. Their attack pattern was simple: they spun and charged. However, the spinning speed and charging speed were terrifying, and a head-on collision could result in being shredded.

But before they could even approach the group, they stopped spinning or collided with each other, malfunctioning. The reason was simple: the overwhelming electricity emitted by Luciel at the front.

“See, when Luciel releases lightning, the machines burn, and their spinning stops. It means they had gained the ability to spin through machinery.”

“Why is it more efficient than destroying them directly with my internal energy?”

Overloading machines with electricity causing them to malfunction was familiar to Earthlings, but explaining it to someone from another dimension was a headache. So he gave up.

“Just think of it as how it is. Anyway, thanks to Luciel, we know how to tackle them, so it’s a good thing.”

To help Dokgo Yeon understand, Ban Yu-won simultaneously activated Elemental Magic and Language Magic. He created the power of lightning with Elemental Magic and used Language Magic to enchant Dokgo Yeon and Light’s weapons with it.

Ban Yu-won didn’t need to use magic; he could activate the Origin Blade and directly convert the overflowing Mysterious Qi into lightning.

“You’re becoming more versatile.”

Dokgo Yeon, watching the threatening electricity flowing over her small sword with interest, remarked, and Ban Yu-won responded confidently.

“I’m dedicated to martial arts, Master.”

“So how much longer until you complete the Mysterious Body Technique?”

“…”

He couldn’t answer. He felt he was almost there. Just one more step, but why couldn’t he reach it?

“Before this expedition ends, I’ll somehow…”

“If you encounter a strong enemy, it might be an opportunity for growth.”

“Ah… Yu-won!”

At that moment, Luciel, who was energetically sweeping away the Mechanized Bugs, called out to Ban Yu-won.

“An elite monster dropped something strange!”

“I didn’t even realize an elite monster appeared.”

“I can handle the strength, but it’s too fast to catch up.”

“Because it’s a beast.”

Looking around, the entire Room 84 was in ruins, despite the Lightning Enchantment on their weapons. If Luciel hadn’t forfeited during the recent comprehensive evaluation spar with Ban Yu-won, the rankings would have been different…

“But Yu-won, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I didn’t know what was inside and destroyed it along with the monster…”

“Ah.”

Soon, Luciel approached the group, holding what appeared to be a very delicate mechanical device. At a glance, it seemed to be a crucial component for operating something large.

“I’m really sorry…”

“It’s okay, Luciel. It was our fault for leaving it all to you. Besides, the tower always has a way forward, no matter how it rolls.”

Ban Yu-won reassured Luciel, who looked like she was about to cry, and examined the device closely. However, he quickly realized that, at least with his current abilities, there was nothing he could do with it. And then…

“Huh, shift?”

“It seems it progresses automatically without needing another method. Maybe it closed the possibility of a chain room… hmm?”

―You must block 10 attacks without any ally taking damage.

―In this space, all machines have double the abilities.

…Luciel’s destruction of the mechanical device had triggered a chain room sequence, leading to a total of 11 chain rooms.