Why Did I Have to Enroll

Classes resumed normally from Tuesday of week 7, the next day.

During the morning's Comprehensive Combat Practice, Ban Yu-won had a magic duel with Ayre, who had been disappointed about not being able to face him during the evaluation match. After being involved in so many situations with magic and curses lately, Ban Yu-won showed remarkable growth in his abilities, which surprised Ayre.

"Can you do that without a staff too?"

"Well, yeah."

"As I thought... you're a natural-born mage."

Ayre nodded her head, deeply impressed.

But Celon wasn't happy even with that.

―All this growth in mana control is thanks to me, but what's that girl saying? She doesn't seem to understand that you and I can't be thought of separately anymore!

'Calm down, Celon.'

Actually, Ban Yu-won wanted to face her using only martial arts without magic, especially after his conversation with Luciel last week, but since Ayre seemed to prefer magical duels, they agreed to alternate between each other's preferred fighting styles in future matches.

But somehow, during this duel with Ayre, he felt like he was forgetting something...

"Ban Yu-won! You promised to have a magic duel with me!"

"Oh right, Misty!"

"Call me Aiole!"

Come to think of it, he had promised Misty Aiole before Ayre that they would have a purely magical duel.

By the way, though he hadn't noticed before, Ayre's name and the surname Aiole seemed very similar - could there be some connection between the two?

While Ban Yu-won was pondering this, Misty climbed onto the dueling platform and called out to him.

"Hurry up and get up here! You did it with the princess, so you can't say you won't do it with me!"

"What's going on? Why is Aiole suddenly acting friendly with that commoner?"

"Probably because of the grades? 'That one' got first place in the written exam."

"Aiole... I thought better of her, but I'm disappointed. Is it because they're both magic users?"

And her behavior triggered unexpected reactions.

The Class 1 students, who were already viewing Ban Yu-won and his Class 11 classmates as thorns in their sides due to the grades being posted just yesterday, started voicing their complaints as they exaggerated and misinterpreted Misty's actions.

While Ayre had been associating with Ban Yu-won from the beginning and never interacted with Class 1 students, so they didn't dare touch her, Misty was different.

Moreover, the fact that Misty belonged to Class 1 and was a rare mage, along with her secret popularity within Class 1, only added fuel to the fire.

"Everyone, quiet! Let's focus on their duel!"

Assistant Professor Entel, who had always had a good impression of Class 11, frowned and tried to control the students when they started getting too noisy, but it wasn't an easy task.

Eventually, Misty herself had to step in.

"What nonsense, I'm not acting friendly, I'm trying to duel!"

"Why duel with someone like that?"

"Because he's skilled at magic! If you have eyes, you should be able to tell whether Ban Yu-won is strong or weak. Stop gossiping behind his back and compete fairly with your own abilities!"

"That's right, those who can't even beat Misty should keep quiet!"

Strange, wasn't Misty herself the one who had been talking behind Ban Yu-won's back more than anyone...

Anyway, after Misty's outburst, there were no more disturbances, so they decided to let it go.

Of course, while Misty was a powerful user of unique magic (it seemed she had developed her earth-based innate ability into magical arts), she couldn't defeat Ban Yu-won, who now wielded not only elemental magic but also language magic and curses.

"Aaargh, what's with this! You're physically stronger too!"

"Yeah, but I'm pretty good at magic too."

"Aaaaarghh!"

Misty trembled with frustration to the point of tears, but she didn't dispute the results of the duel.

Far from it, she seemed likely to keep pestering him for more duels, so Ban Yu-won only agreed to her request after setting the same conditions he had with Ayre.

"Don't you care about what your classmates think?"

"Hmph, if you want to get stronger, you need to associate with strong people. Honestly, I don't know how you developed your magical abilities so quickly being from a lower dimension... but it's foolish to reject someone just because they're from a lower dimension."

She figured it out early.

But looking back, while Misty had strong prejudices against those from lower dimensions from the start, she was more the type who wanted him to clearly demonstrate his abilities rather than ignore or distort facts.

And now that she realized he hadn't exaggerated his skills or cheated, her resistance had disappeared.

"I'm going to keep bothering you to find out how you got so strong, so be prepared."

Perhaps feeling refreshed after realizing Ban Yu-won's true abilities through their magic duel, Misty said this with a bright expression, then added in a slightly lower voice:

"...And if I hang out with you, I might be able to get closer to the princess too."

"What a terrifying yuri line..."

Ban Yu-won shuddered.

Ayre who worshipped Yumina, Misty who followed such an Ayre.

"You fought well even though you lost, Misty!"

"Don't emphasize the losing part, you idiot!"

And even that Class 1 girl who always follows Misty around!

He quickly fled from the terrifying yuri front line and returned to where his classmates were.

"Yu-won!"

"Huh? Oh, what is it? Why so urgent, Luciel?!"

Luciel now clung to him and rubbed her scent on him, not even caring that they were in the middle of class.

Apparently, she wasn't very happy about him having consecutive duels with girls, first Ayre and then Misty.

"If I don't properly mark you with my scent...!"

Seeing Luciel's behavior, which had become completely unrestrained since their Sunday date, Ban Yu-won slightly regretted if he had done something unnecessary.

Then suddenly realizing there was no brake to control her, he tilted his head in confusion.

"Where's Dokgo Yeon?"

"Over there."

Light, who wanted to separate Luciel from Ban Yu-won but couldn't find an excuse, groaned as he pointed to one side.

Ban Yu-won turned his head wondering if there would be a duel, and let out an "ah" of realization.

Dokgo Yeon and Lucein Ortima were facing off against each other.

"What are you trying to do? If you want to request a duel, hurry up. Your gaze is so disgusting I can barely stand it."

Ban Yu-won's eyes widened in surprise as it was the first time he'd heard Dokgo Yeon speak informally to someone else.

After hearing those words, Ortima remained silent for a while, then barely managed to speak just as Dokgo Yeon was about to turn away.

"Why... are you speaking down to me?"

"Do I need to explain that to you?"

"...No, there's no need."

What's this? What's happening right now?

Why is there suddenly a romantic atmosphere forming?

Ban Yu-won became confused as he watched Dokgo Yeon's increasingly furrowed brow and Ortima's not-entirely-displeased expression at her rough way of speaking.

It looked as if Ortima had jumped into the dungeon to save Dokgo Yeon from danger.

"Dokgo Yeon, you've taken so much from me. I'll get it back, without fail. You'll have to pay me back for your entire life."

"Coincidentally, I only have one thing to give you. I'll give it whenever you want. After that, you won't be able to spout nonsense anymore."

"I've changed, Dokgo Yeon. I'll take it from you! Everything, with my own power!"

"Hmph."

Realizing Ortima wouldn't request a duel with her no matter how much they talked, Dokgo Yeon coldly left with those final words.

Ortima didn't try to stop her and just wistfully watched her leave... Ban Yu-won became genuinely confused watching this.

"Why did his genre suddenly change? You'd think he was someone whose marriage proposal to Dokgo Yeon got rejected."

"Well, maybe after losing an arm, some memories flew away with it and his life perspective changed?"

As Ban Yu-won and Light exchanged bewildered comments, Luciel, who had been rubbing her cheek against Ban Yu-won's chest this whole time, said something close to the truth.

"That man has probably completely forgotten that he committed crimes against us in the dungeon. Acting on his own, drawing his own conclusions... He probably sees the last incident as an expensive life lesson, thinking he's grown quite a bit after going through a bitter failure. What a self-centered nuisance."

At times like this, you could tell that Luciel was neither ignorant nor lacking in vocabulary.

She was just honest to her instincts.

"Now that you mention it, that makes sense. Why is he arbitrarily using us as material for his growth? It's annoying."

"Is this how upper dimension noble families work? Must be nice, having your family clean up after you even when you fail so badly others would have died several times over."

"That's really true. How unpleasant."

By then, Dokgo Yeon had joined the group.

Her deeply furrowed brows were just too cute, though he'd never dare say that to her face.

—Stab!

"Why?!"

"Your expression was irritating. You were probably thinking something weird about me."

"I really can't live like this, it's so unfair..."

As Ban Yu-won clutched where Dokgo Yeon had stabbed him and groaned, she looked at him and said:

"Ban Yu-won, do you have any sweets to improve my mood? Pay the price for making that irritating expression."

"What does Ortima see in such a violent person... no, nothing."

Thanks to Dokgo Yeon not understanding what "violent person" meant, he survived.

As a bonus, after eating the high-quality raw chocolate from the Earth department store (enhanced with preservation concepts to extend shelf life without side effects and added sweetness for better taste) that Ban Yu-won had been keeping hidden in his inventory, Dokgo Yeon's mood improved completely and she forgave him.

*

[Course Notification: Ban Yu-won has received full marks in the 'Basic Weapons Training' course. Starting this week, during that time slot, he will be taking the advanced major course 'Aura Combat Studies' for high-achieving students. The instructor will be full professor Ryu Cheol-myeong.]

"......Huh?"

Tuesday after school.

While having an intense duel with Dokgo Yeon using just one sword, Ban Yu-won felt his student ID vibrate and called for time, only to make an indescribable expression upon seeing the absurd notification that appeared.

Looking up, he saw Dokgo Yeon wearing an equally strange expression as she checked her own student ID.

"Did you get the same notification? Aura Combat Studies?"

"Yes. Ryu Cheol-myeong... You mean that man who emitted crimson sword qi as tall as a house?"

"Yeah."

From what Ban Yu-won had heard, Aura Combat Studies was a specialized course for close-combat ability users that paralleled Magic Combat Studies, and first-year students who hadn't even chosen their major would never be allowed to take Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong's class no matter what.

So why had it suddenly been sent to Ban Yu-won and Dokgo Yeon, who hadn't even chosen their majors yet, under the pretext of being high achievers?

"Something smells fishy."

"....*sniff sniff*"

Dokgo Yeon pulled at her sleeve and sniffed it.

Ban Yu-won chuckled and shook his head.

"No, not you. I mean this situation."

Dokgo Yeon turned serious.

"What are you implying I did? I haven't done anything at all."

"You just now clearly... right, you didn't do anything."

Ban Yu-won thought they needed to create a word specifically for Dokgo Yeon that meant something cute suddenly becoming scary.

"Ban, you got it too?"

"Oh, you guys too?"

"Yu-won, if it's replacing Basic Weapons Training..."

"Yeah. Second period tomorrow."

It seemed Light and Luciel, who had been dueling a short distance away, had received the same message.

Well, it made sense that if Ban Yu-won, ranked 8th in overall combat rankings, got it, everyone above him except the mages should have received it too.

But still... Ban Yu-won couldn't shake this uneasy feeling.

The Academy had never explained what privileges top students would receive, so why were they suddenly being told to take advanced major courses just because they became high achievers?

"Yu-won!"

The door to Class 11's training room burst open.

Yumina had come to find them herself.

Her hair, made of flower petals, was tied in a neat ponytail giving her a very tidy appearance, but her facial expression was completely distorted in contrast.

"You don't need to take that, refuse it! Professor Cantone is up to something. Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong deeply despises those from lower dimensions, who knows what he might do!"

She was so anxious that she even forgot her usual manner of speech and blurted everything out informally.

While the other team members stared at her in bewilderment, only Ban Yu-won responded calmly.

"But Professor, during official class hours, he can't directly harm us."

"He'll harass you in really underhanded ways! Like going all out immaturely during practice matches to crush your spirit, or looking down on and belittling your techniques, or forcing you to follow his teaching methods without any consideration! He's just that kind of underhanded person!"

Right, of course.

This was a place full of people who had great power but weren't particularly mature in character.

Still, Ban Yu-won couldn't give her the answer she wanted.

"Professor, after working so hard to build a good image by passing the midterms brilliantly, I can't refuse this offer now."

"But..."

"That's how image works. Cantone and Ryu Cheol-myeong probably know that too, which is why they provocatively sent this notice just one day in advance."

Perhaps they were hoping the Class 11 members would run away.

They'd probably spread all sorts of malicious rumors, starting with how these supposed top students ran away because they weren't confident enough to take an advanced major course.

If they accepted the offer, they'd have other ways prepared to torment them - it was truly underhanded to no end.

"But that doesn't mean we're just going to take it lying down. Right, Dokgo Yeon?"

"I'll acknowledge the inner power and twisted sword intent built up over long years, but whether he's great enough to look down on us... well, I wonder if age is all he has to boast about."

"Ugh."

For some reason, even Yumina took damage from those words.

Though she was 500 years old, she was overwhelmingly young among the full professors and one of the strongest among them, so there was no need to mind.

"But I'm worried, forget about reputation, if you can avoid it then avoiding would be..."

"Sis."

Ban Yu-won's finishing move made Yumina freeze on the spot.

As a side effect, the other three also froze.

Ban Yu-won deliberately ignored the three people behind him and spoke while looking straight at Yumina with serious eyes.

"I'm tired of dealing with people who look down on us for some incomprehensible reason about lower dimensions. I'll settle this once and for all so we never hear such talk again. ...Please trust me."

"If you ask me to trust you... I have no choice but to trust you, I suppose."

Overwhelmed by his intensity, Yumina nodded while stumbling over her words.

Ban Yu-won smirked and lightly tapped the flower brooch pinned to his chest.

"I'll use this if things get dicey. So make sure to play along when that happens."

"Okay, got it. Then I'll... get going...?"

She had rushed here worried about them, only to be completely defeated by Ban Yu-won's logic.

Perhaps drained of energy, Yumina began backing away.

"Wait."

And Light stepped in to block her path.

"Professor... don't tell me you're making Ban call you 'sis' when you're alone together? And your way of speaking just now was strangely familiar too."

"Eek?!"

She should have played it cool, but Yumina visibly flinched instead.

"So that's what was smelling fishy..."

"I see, so there was a reason she always bought meals for Ban Yu-won. 'Sis,' she says. How interesting..."

Between Luciel creating an atmosphere of terror by speaking each word separately, and Dokgo Yeon grinning like she'd found some good dirt, Yumina looked at Ban Yu-won with a pleading expression, but not wanting to get dragged into this with her, Ban Yu-won chose to remain silent.

A witch trial commenced.

The verdict was guilty.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!