Why Did I Have to Enroll

Wednesday, Second Period.

The advanced major course in Aura Combat was uniquely held in a forest beyond the academy's spaceship landing pad, requiring students to pass through a barrier that could only be entered with the class's entry code.

The reason became clear the moment they passed through the barrier - the interior wasn't a forest at all, but rather an environment closer to a vast prairie, with an impact-absorbing barrier spread across the entire space.

"Space expansion and impact absorption. A space where we can go wild without worry. And..."

"You have an eye for magic."

Ban Yu-won froze.

Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong, the instructor for this course, had approached them without notice.

By Earth standards, he clearly had East Asian racial characteristics, though his physique was impossibly large for a human from Earth.

While there were certainly large-bodied East Asians on Earth, even if Ryu Cheol-myeong were among them, Ban Yu-won would definitely notice his alien physical structure and pick him out.

"While spatial expansion might be obvious at a glance, the impact absorption barrier would be hard to detect without experiencing it firsthand. I see why you're taking Magic Combat Studies."

His hair was cut short like that one PE teacher who always carries a golf club in every middle and high school, and his eyes were as fierce as a snake's.

The peculiar thing was his attire... it was a solid-colored Oriental training uniform.

Yes, exactly the kind you'd expect to see in a martial arts novel.

"But I heard you wielded a sword in the comprehensive training. Your physique looks weak - perhaps it's not too late to focus on magic instead?"

"Thank you for the advice, Professor. I'll give it serious consideration."

Well, isn't this great! He's picking a fight right off the bat, making friend-or-foe identification crystal clear!

When Ban Yu-won responded with a bright smile, Ryu Cheol-myeong, perhaps finding the reaction different from what he expected, turned away with a look of lost interest toward the others.

After staring intently at Lucelle's chest in a rather vulgar manner (Lucelle grimaced and immediately hid behind Ban Yu-won), and snorting at the sight of Light carrying a spear on his back.

Finally, he turned his gaze to Dokgo Yeon.

"You're from the Murim, they say."

"That's correct."

"I see. I too am from the Murim. Though from a different one than yours—"

He said with a snicker, then added as if suddenly remembering something.

"By the way... are there any transcendents in your Murim?"

"...Not at present, as far as I know."

"As I thought. It must be difficult for a Murim to maintain its existence as a true Murim."

Is this really the provocation of someone who's been a professor at the dimension's top academy for hundreds of years?

While Ban Yu-won's jaw dropped in disbelief, he glanced at Dokgo Yeon, worried she might explode with anger.

"Are you concerned about another dimension's Murim? As expected, a transcendent's character is quite remarkable."

Dokgo Yeon merely responded calmly with a smile similar to Ban Yu-won's earlier one.

Ryu Cheol-myeong furrowed his brow, unnecessarily glared at Ban Yu-won once, then turned away without a word after noticing other students entering the barrier.

"Ban Yu-won."

"Yeah?"

Dokgo Yeon spoke while watching Ryu Cheol-myeong's back with emotionless eyes.

"While I typically despise the growth of inner power without accompanying enlightenment, and never rush martial arts achievement unless I'm certain I can handle it..."

"If you're this strong without rushing, what does that make my life up until now?"

"I feel I need to teach that presumptuous fake transcendent who's jumping around thinking he's reached the heavens a lesson."

Dokgo Yeon continued, completely ignoring Ban Yu-won's unreasonable complaints.

"So take me to the higher levels of the tower as quickly as possible."

The higher one climbs the tower, the stronger one becomes.

Even Dokgo Yeon, who was already far stronger than Ban Yu-won, could feel it dramatically.

The tower strengthens one's existence.

—And Dokgo Yeon had chosen Ban Yu-won as the companion who could climb that tower the fastest and most surely.

Probably from the moment they first met.

"You don't even need to ask, I was going to do that anyway."

"Good. The goal is to crush that fake before graduation."

Though Dokgo Yeon casually discussed crushing Ryu Cheol-myeong, one of the academy's representative transcendents and considered among the strongest martial artists alongside Yu Mina, in just five years.

Ban Yu-won was convinced she could really do it.

"All students, gather here."

As class time began, Ryu Cheol-myeong gathered the students together.

Besides Ban Yu-won's group of four, there were six more students taking this class, and somehow all their faces looked familiar.

They were all students from Class 1.

"Lucien Rownpalomer Equinas Ortima! I've been looking forward to having you in my class. Nothing brings me more joy than teaching someone destined to become a transcendent."

"I look forward to your guidance, Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong."

At the head was, of course, Lucien Ortima, who seemed to have changed after losing his arm - he merely glanced at Dokgo Yeon without picking any fights with them.

However, with him taking this class, there's no knowing what conversations he might have had beforehand with Cantone and Ryu Cheol-myeong.

"Then, let's begin the class."

Ban Yu-won fiddled with the jeweled flower brooch on his chest, preparing himself mentally to use his cheat key at any moment.

Ryu Cheol-myeong spoke.

"What do you think aura is? Aura is the soul itself. After strongly believing in oneself and continuously striving forward, a martial artist becomes able to handle the power of the soul, and the visualization of this power is what we call aura."

In fact, Ban Yu-won had been quite serious about thinking this class might help his martial arts growth, regardless of Ryu Cheol-myeong's intentions.

The basic weapon skills class was practically useless, and if he could interact with an accomplished martial artist during that time - whether that martial artist bore him ill will or not - he thought he might gain insights into martial arts by dealing with them.

Moreover, he was curious about what aura exactly was.

'Since Dokgo Yeon had been evasive, saying it wasn't time to know yet.'

And it seemed that thought hadn't changed yet.

Look even now.

While Ryu Cheol-myeong was going on about his personal philosophy on aura, he was slightly turning toward Ban Yu-won and slowly shaking his head.

It was a sign not to listen since there was no point in hearing it.

'Or is this a sign that this guy is just plain wrong?'

As he'd vaguely sensed before, Dokgo Yeon had unwavering pride in martial arts and never compromised.

To the point where she told Ban Yu-won to prioritize following her instructions above all else when learning martial arts.

As if something terrible would happen if he learned martial arts from someone else.

'Well, there's no way Dokgo Yeon would attach such great importance to me.'

It must simply be due to her immense pride in her own abilities.

Anyway, since Ban Yu-won wasn't bold enough to carefully listen to something Dokgo Yeon told him not to hear, he kept his eyes bright and fixed on Ryu Cheol-myeong while activating his in-one-ear-and-out-the-other skill to deliberately avoid remembering his words.

"Therefore, the best way to awaken aura is to closely encounter, observe, and become familiar with another's aura. It's about stimulating soul with soul power."

With those words, Ryu Cheol-myeong lifted his greatsword that had been planted in the meadow.

And then— with a single shout of "Ha!" he manifested several meters of blazing aura above it.

"Ooooh!"

"Amazing, Professor!"

"So this is a full professor's aura...!"

Aura.

When he'd asked Dokgo Yeon about it before, she'd reluctantly answered "the essence of inner power" with a look that said 'what good would knowing do you now?'

But the crimson aura he now faced felt simply overwhelming and massive.

It had the same weight that seemed to cover the entire sky, like when Ryu Cheol-myeong had shown his prowess during the special activity in Gelas.

If asked to describe what he felt from that aura, Ban Yu-won would use just two words.

Sky, and weight.

'But strangely, what I see with the Ten Thousand Poison Eyes is neither of those. Just magical power, overwhelming magical power.'

Though if he kept observing like this, he felt he might be able to figure out the magical structure composing Ryu Cheol-myeong's aura.

Even if he wouldn't take his words to heart, observing his aura should be fine, right?

With that thought in mind, he looked toward Dokgo Yeon, but before that.

"Student Ban Yu-won, step forward."

Ryu Cheol-myeong called Ban Yu-won first.

"Today we'll have a demonstration session so each individual can intimately experience aura. Student Ban Yu-won, step forward."

Indeed. So this is how it begins?

Ban Yu-won stepped forward without looking back.

Though Lucelle grabbed his hand in a panic, he patted the back of her hand and made her let go.

"Should I draw my weapon?"

"No, this is merely a demonstration to feel aura, so there's no need to be afraid."

"So I should understand that you won't actually attack me?"

"Of course. I'll just help you feel the aura as closely as possible."

"I understand. So I won't be injured."

Perhaps thinking Ban Yu-won was repeating himself, Ryu Cheol-myeong nodded with a slightly furrowed brow.

But that was Ban Yu-won's way of getting verbal confirmation.

He took measures simultaneously.

―Though a fool who didn't even know who created this barrier wouldn't have noticed that.

'Yes, just activate the spell formula like this. I'd like to watch from the side but... can you do it? Is this how we're doing it?'

Why did Yumina's attitude toward him keep changing to treat him more like a younger brother?

Ban Yu-won recalled yesterday's conversation with Yumina and softly sighed.

"You seem quite relaxed, facing an Aura user."

"That's because you said you wouldn't hurt me, Professor. Aren't you the academy's most skilled Aura user?"

"Are you scared? Come a bit closer."

Why do these bastards always ignore the answer and say something else when you respond to their questions?

Ban Yu-won smiled and took another step forward.

At that moment, Ryu Cheol-myeong's greatsword split the world in half as it fell toward Ban Yu-won's head.

"Can you feel it?"

Ryu Cheol-myeong asked in a drawling voice.

The greatsword, imbued with crimson Aura, stopped right above Ban Yu-won's crown.

As if to prove he was truly both an Aura master and martial arts expert, the blade was literally not even 0.01 centimeters from his head.

If Ryu Cheol-myeong had applied just a bit more force, Ban Yu-won's head would have been split in half, killing him instantly.

"I still can't quite tell."

Whether fearless or simply unable to grasp the situation.

Ban Yu-won responded calmly, tilting his head.

"Could you show me a bit more?"

"As much as you want."

He must think it's just bravado.

The next moment, the greatsword passed in front of Ban Yu-won's chest.

It brushed past the tip of his nose vertically and stopped in front of his shoes.

Even though this wasn't actual combat, he mixed in feints and sent the sword flying in completely unexpected trajectories.

All of these stopped just half a step before touching Ban Yu-won's body, making the watching students tense up instead.

"Grrrr.... Yu-won, my Yu-won...!"

Especially Lucelle, who seemed to feel such serious anger watching this that nearly half her hair had turned black.

"Calm down, beast. Ban Yu-won isn't yours."

"Grrrrrr!"

Dokgo Yeon had to hold her back to prevent her from rushing forward, but even Dokgo Yeon was internally dumbfounded by Ryu Cheol-myeong's actions.

'What was I expecting? To think this crude performance was the best he could come up with.'

The terror of having a massive Aura-imbued greatsword flying at you, threatening your life.

Moreover, Ryu Cheol-myeong was releasing such an overwhelming presence with real killing intent in his strikes that even Dokgo Yeon could have been fooled.

If Dokgo Yeon were in that position, could she have stood there as calmly as Ban Yu-won?

It probably would have been possible. After all, she had survived the frontlines enough times that she was second to none in distinguishing real from fake.

But she would have kept her whole body tensed, ready to counter at any moment.

'You picked the wrong opponent, you worm.'

But what about Ban Yu-won?

The most appropriate word to describe him right now would be 'natural.'

Because he maintained a calm posture as if nothing was happening, without preparing for combat.

Dokgo Yeon knew well that he truly wasn't tense at all.

And for good reason - his 'eyes' were more accurate than anyone else's in this academy.

"You really have... no fear!"

Not even dreaming that a single student was mocking him.

Ryu Cheol-myeong ground his teeth as he spoke.

Ban Yu-won's attitude had deviated far too much from his expectations.

To Ryu Cheol-myeong, who firmly believed there were few in any dimension stronger than himself, Ban Yu-won's existence was extremely irritating - watching his killing-intent-filled strikes without so much as blinking.

- Swoosh

To the point where he unconsciously added more force to the hand holding the sword.

Just slightly, just enough that the uncontrolled heat in his Aura would have burned the student's head.

But the overpowered downward strike of the greatsword and the Aura covering it did no harm to Ban Yu-won.

- Crack!

A sound like breaking glass.

Ban Yu-won, without a single hair harmed, tilted his head again as he faced Ryu Cheol-myeong, who was glaring at him with a bewildered expression.

"Hmm, did you just lose control of your power?"

"You... did you just use magic?"

"Pardon? What magic are you saying I used... Was there anything in your demonstration just now that would have required me to 'use magic'?"

Ryu Cheol-myeong isn't a fool.

Having seen magic activate right before his eyes, there's no way he wouldn't recognize that advanced defensive arts were used.

But he couldn't press the issue.

To question the magic just used, he would first have to admit that he had lost control of his power.

Only now did he realize why Ban Yu-won had sought confirmation earlier.

His uncontrollable anger came from the fact that this lowborn from a lower dimension had not only seen through his intentions but was also trying to guide his words and actions.

"You, you..."

"What's wrong? You can show me more if you'd like."

Ban Yu-won remained completely calm even with the greatsword positioned above his crown.

Whether intentionally or not, he pushed his chest slightly forward... emphasizing the sparkling jeweled flower brooch.

"Will you continue?"

Ban Yu-won asked him.

Grinding his teeth, Ryu Cheol-myeong withdrew his greatsword and ordered Ban Yu-won to return to his place.

He really was an idiot after all.

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