Why Did I Have to En Chapter 63: Lesson 14. Level Force - 1

Anyone would be terrified to see their strongest companion, whom they believed had nothing to worry about, suddenly erge pale-faced and coughing blood.

Moreover, while Ban Yu-won was fighting re underlings like Erecto (though admittedly, without Luciel and Eve, he couldn't have defeated either Erecto or Parel), hearing that Dokgo Yeon had single-handedly faced not only Ortima but also the Constellation made him feel unbearably pathetic in comparison.

No, after getting special tutoring from the Chancellor specifically to face Ortima, how could this happen!

"Did the Chancellor really go that far? You're loved to an absurd degree."

"Hmph, if that's the case, you should have properly stopped Ortima in the first place... What do you take people for?"

After Dokgo Yeon's exasperated comnt, Ban Yu-won curtly replied while checking her complexion again.

Though her color had dramatically improved after eating the Life Candy he gave her (which was Life Elixir made into candy form), her internal injuries weren't completely healed, and her external wounds looked serious too.

They had imdiately returned to the guest palace quarters and put her to bed, but he worried whether they should call for a professional healer.

Of course, Dokgo Yeon insisted she was already fine.

"I'm sorry, Dokgo Yeon. Honestly, I thought you'd be fine anywhere, so I wasn't really worried..."

"Being worried over by you is humiliating enough, so wipe that strange look off your face. Looking carefree suits you best."

This was definitely ant as an insult.

Ban Yu-won was about to retreat with a disgruntled expression... when his gaze turned to the woman still attending to Dokgo Yeon's side, Aneri Dedota.

He heard she had appeared to save Dokgo Yeon when she was under joint attack from Ortima and the Constellation Wandering Light of Night.

...One could also say she had saved Ortima, who was nearly dead at Dokgo Yeon's hands, and cald the situation.

"So what exactly are you? Tell

honestly. You're clearly not an enemy... but you're not from Gelas either."

"As expected, you noticed. You're very sharp."

Did she really think I wouldn't have noticed?

As Ban Yu-won stared intently at her, Aneri spoke sowhat shyly.

"Aren't you curious how I, who's not even from Gelas, could beco your guard?"

"I thought Ortima had pulled so strings."

Of course, that hypothesis had been proven wrong.

The actual answer, which really threw Ban Yu-won for a loop, was...

"I'm not working for Ortima... Actually, I'm a rcenary hired by Professor Yumina."

"What?"

Aneri pulled sothing out from her chest with an embarrassed expression.

It was the sa flower ornant that Yumina had put in the Rebellion mbers' hair on their first day of special activities.

This was the mont that explained why Yumina had maintained such a relaxed attitude even while observing the suspicious-looking guides.

"I was tasked with secretly guarding everyone and keeping situations from escalating. Though I couldn't accomplish anything properly because of that damn dungeon." ??????????Е??

"...No."

No, you should have shown us that from the beginning!

As Ban Yu-won glared at her, Aneri spoke in an apologetic tone.

"I couldn't openly tell you or cooperate because I had to deceive the enemy's eyes. Instead, I tried to give hints through other approaches..."

Other approaches...

Several things ca to mind.

And how Luciel and Dokgo Yeon had invariably interfered each ti.

...What must this woman have thought of Ban Yu-won during those tis?

"It seems my attempts ended up provoking anger from the other party mbers."

"Sigh... Did you really have to choose that thod?"

Ban Yu-won sighed while pressing his forehead.

Luciel covered her reddened face with both hands, looking like she wanted to find a hole to crawl into, and even Dokgo Yeon cleared her throat awkwardly.

And Light was looking at all three of them with strange eyes.

Aneri laughed sheepishly and spoke honestly.

"The thod was my choice, but I just wanted to do it that way."

"This woman is seriously..."

"Well, I couldn't help it since I'm a fan...!"

"A fan?"

What kind of fan?

"Obviously, a fan of Rebellion."

"Rebellion?"

The mont Rebellion was ntioned, her attitude brightened considerably.

"The Rebellion channel is really popular in other dinsions too! It's super hot right now. In the rcenary industry where I work, it's just so..."

For reference, regarding that rcenary industry, she went on a long explanation about dinsional rcenaries who travel through various dinsions on dinsional ships performing dispatch missions.

"Other dinsions...?"

Ban Yu-won felt dizzy at these unimaginable words.

What was this about?

Rebellion was known even in other dinsions?

"Why are you so surprised? Uni-tube, based on the Union Net, is a video site that services all dinsions."

Here, Uni-tube was the na of the external channel site where Ban Yu-won's videos were broadcast.

From her subsequent explanation, Ban Yu-won learned the shocking fact that Rebellion channel videos were spreading even to other dinsional networks, and the true nature of the dinsional integrated network - Union Net - that made it possible.

"So... our channel's videos have actually been spreading across all dinsions...?"

"More precisely, all dinsions that can access Union Net. You can access it here in Gelas too, though access is limited to certain people."

Checking confird it was true.

Not only could they access the site where videos were uploaded... 'Uni-tube', but they could even upload videos after a simple procedure!

"Since residents of Union, the highest dinsion, all have full Union Net mbership, access is easy anywhere. That's one of the rights Union Academy students get, isn't it?"

"...I thought access to the network would naturally be restricted in lower dinsions."

But thinking about it carefully, no one had ever said that they wouldn't be able to access the network when going to Gelas.

In fact, from the mont they could communicate with each other through mirrors, it should have been obvious that they could access the network sohow - how stupid of him not to realize it!

At this point, maybe no one ntioned it because it was too obvious... Ban Yu-won felt embarrassed for the first ti in a while.

"No wonder so top channels had subscriber counts in the billions. It wasn't because Union had a huge population, but because it spanned all dinsions..."

"That's also how I was able to contact Aneri Dedota for the request. She was a mber of Rebellion's fan club."

Just then, Yumina opened the door and entered while speaking.

"Professor Yumina!"

"I'm glad everyone is safe. Aneri, you did well too."

"Haha... I don't think I was much help though."

Looking quite tired as she entered, Yumina glanced around the room (though her gaze lingered on soone in particular) before sitting down in a nearby chair.

He had heard that she had almost single-handedly held off the Exodus fleet until they retreated.

Whatever they had gone through in the dungeon, could they be more exhausted than her?

Though he wanted to let her rest... Ban Yu-won couldn't help but ask.

"Professor, did our channel even have a fan club?"

"I created it."

To think it was her own creation!

He could see [Rebel Force ― No.0] written on the platinum card Yumina pulled out from her chest.

Rebel Force must be the fan club's na, and No.0 ans she's the president...

Just then, a thought occurred to him, and when he turned his head, he saw Aneri shyly pulling out a gold card marked No.7 from her chest.

She was even an early mber!

No wonder she could communicate with Yumina...!

"I accepted Lady Yumina's request partly because I really wanted to et the Rebellion mbers in person. Ah, before eting you all in person, I liked Light the best! But after seeing you in person, Light wasn't that impressive, and instead Ban Yu-won was more..."

"No, there's no need to go into that."

"What a vulgar female...!"

Luciel, who didn't care about being a Rebellion fan club mber or not, bared her teeth while openly showing her wariness.

Seeing this, Yumina smiled slightly and spoke.

"The matter has been mostly wrapped up. Even if they had prepared an escape route beforehand, bringing in Exodus was truly a stupid move. The principal is discussing with representatives of the other Ten Great Families, so no matter how powerful the Ortima family is, they can't help but be subdued. At least within Union."

However, she made a displeased expression.

"I don't think we can pursue this any further. I wanted to get them expelled if possible... but this incident won't surface. For better or worse."

"I wasn't expecting that from the start."

It wasn't a matter of evidence or justification.

While the Rebellion mbers were the ones who were wronged, it was the principal and other Ten Great Families who would use this incident to pressure Ortima.

They would gain sothing else instead of expelling Ortima.

The saying 'the bear does the work but humans take the profit' couldn't be more true.

While Ban Yu-won was making a pouty face at this understandable but unsatisfying conclusion.

"Expel them? I'm so glad that's not happening."

Dokgo Yeon said with a quiet laugh.

"I need to kill that vermin myself to be satisfied. So shouldn't we keep them where I can see them?"

"...Student Dokgo Yeon?"

Though Yumina sent her a reproachful look, Dokgo Yeon dismissed it with a snort.

If there was a next ti, that would truly be the mont she would take Lucein Ortima's head.

"Anyway, we should understand that from now on, he won't interfere with us anymore? Whether he lost an arm or an eye."

"That's already been concluded as injuries from fighting monsters in the dungeon. It's very unfortunate, but unavoidable since they were facing monsters contracted with Exodus's constellations."

Yumina said with a shrug.

To think that was the conclusion.

He couldn't help but laugh mockingly.

Korean public opinion manipulation had nothing on this.

"Then I suppose Erecto and Parel will be treated as if they never existed?"

"Yes. However, since the principal is interested in the fact that Parel was originally part of Exodus, I'm not sure what will happen going forward. There might even be more people connected to Exodus within the Academy..."

Only then did Ban Yu-won realize he had made a big mistake.

"I should have kept them alive to extract information... I'm sorry."

"Even if we had kept them alive, the Ortima family would have either retrieved them or killed them sohow, so this is actually better. Besides, any information we could get from such low-ranking mbers would have been practically useless."

"That makes it even scarier."

"It's alright. From now on, you all just need to focus on your own growth without worrying about these matters."

That was probably what she truly wanted to say to them as their supervising professor.

With that, the conversation seed to be over, as Yumina let out a deep sigh and leaned back in her chair.

Then, half-opening her jewel eyes, she gave Ban Yu-won a sign.

"After all these things, I'm tired and exhausted. I'd like sothing sweet and warm."

"Ahem, good idea. Warm sweetness lts both frozen body and soul."

"Dokgo Yeon, you beco a different person just at the ntion of sweets."

When Dokgo Yeon agreed with Yumina's words, Luciel grabbed his sleeve eagerly while Light sent subtle glances.

As Ban Yu-won smiled and pulled out a thermos from his chest, even Aneri was looking at him with sparkling eyes.

"Could that be Ban Yu-won's special hot chocolate?"

"How do you even know about that?!"

Even though she knew her identity now, she didn't particularly want to get close to her, but since she had secretly protected them at Yumina's request, she couldn't treat her too coldly.

Ban Yu-won reluctantly poured hot chocolate for Aneri's portion as well... and turned his gaze toward the last person remaining in the room.

"So what'll it be. Want so too?"

"...Yes."

The girl who had followed them silently all the way here after escaping the dungeon - Ayre nodded slightly.

Ban Yu-won poured seven cups of hot chocolate in total and passed them around to everyone.

"Phew... wait."

Light, who had just taken a sip of hot chocolate and let out a contented sigh, suddenly turned serious and shouted.

"But why is she even here?!"

"You're the one who brought her here, you idiot!"

"Why did we spill all those things we shouldn't have said in front of an outsider?!"

Well, he had a fair point, but since Yumina didn't seem to mind, Ban Yu-won couldn't really stop it either!

That's when Ayre cleared her throat with a "ahem" and spoke up.

"May I speak now?"

"Go right ahead."

"Well first... Ban Yu-won, I'm sorry."

Seemingly enjoying the special hot chocolate, Ayre bowed her head to Ban Yu-won while holding the cup tightly with both hands.

Light and Yumina wore surprised expressions at the sight.

"Please forgive my arrogance. I'll pay whatever price you want."

Arrogance, huh? Ban Yu-won couldn't help but laugh.

Actually, even when his magic was interfered with, he felt it was more like having a proper duel than feeling upset, and she had already apologized to him directly...

"I heard you helped Light in the dungeon? That's enough."

"...Thank you. And..."

This ti Ayre turned to Yumina and bowed just as politely... making her request.

"Professor, as I ntioned before, I would like to transfer to Class 11."

"Transfer...?"

"You an changing classes? From Special Class to the Special Selection Class...?"

Luciel and Light muttered while tilting their heads.

So this was why Yumina hadn't minded Ayre's presence - such conversations had been taking place.

As Ban Yu-won nodded in understanding, Yumina finished her cup and said with a smile.

"Of course not."

Well, that was to be expected.