Why Did I Have to Enroll

Why Did I Have to Enroll - Chapter 187

Lesson 37. It’s Vacation, Let Me Rest - 2

The next morning, before the clock struck 5 AM, Ban Yu-won carefully slipped out of his room, making sure not to wake Luciel, who was softly breathing in her sleep on his bed. The house was silent, implying everyone was still asleep, except for the faint sound of wind being sliced and soft grunts coming from the garden—Ban Yu-mi was training.

‘Now it really feels like I’m back home.’

Even after becoming a student at Union Academy, even with monsters appearing on Earth, and even with secretive matters involving his family, his sister still woke up early to practice swordplay in the garden. This routine brought Ban Yu-won a small sense of comfort amidst his worries.

“Alright, then…”

After quickly washing his face, he boiled some water. He brewed tea, poured it into a fancy mug, and added thirteen sugar cubes. It was more like tea-flavored syrup than actual tea. Holding the steaming cup, he settled onto the sofa. It wasn’t a mirror, but after months, he finally powered on his smartphone and connected to the internet.

He wanted to investigate the myths and scriptures his grandfather had mentioned yesterday.

‘It’s hard to believe that all myths have vanished. Moreover, you can’t just erase what’s already in people’s minds…’

“No way…”

An hour later, Ban Yu-won sighed as he put down his empty teacup. Almost all religious scriptures and myth-related books, as he learned from Ban Ji-won’s Bible, had transformed into unreadable text. Videos wouldn’t play, games wouldn’t work, and comics appeared distorted as if smeared with paint. While traditions, customs, and names influenced by religion remained, there was no way to explain their religious connections. People’s memories weren’t altered, but they couldn’t convey what they knew to others. Even trying to speak or write about it resulted in an unknown language, reminiscent of the biblical tale of the Tower of Babel collapsing and hindering communication.

‘It’s definitely related to the Tower of Babel.’

Ban Yu-won easily reached that conclusion and checked the reactions from various religious communities. With scriptures corrupted and doctrines unspeakable, evangelism was impossible, and even worship couldn’t be properly conducted. Although not an official stance, some devout individuals blamed dimensional evolution on demons, cursing those who excelled due to it, including the Ban family. Meanwhile, extremists argued that the true gods, emerging with dimensional evolution, were suppressing the fake ones.

“Sigh…”

It’s only been about three months since dimensional evolution began. For believers of religions with thousands of years of history, this was too short a time to accept reality. Even Ban Yu-won, the new master of the unaffected Tower of Babel, couldn’t understand why this was happening. Would he find out if he conquered the tower? Until then, it might be best to keep silent about the tragedy on Earth and its connection to the Tower of Babel.

“Ban Yu-won.”

“What?”

Suddenly, Ban Yu-mi appeared behind him and spoke. Ban Yu-won, who had sensed her movements through the operation of the Origin Blade, responded naturally, but Ban Yu-mi narrowed her eyes at his reaction.

“When did you get so perceptive?”

“You saw the videos, right? I learned martial arts from a girl who popped out of the martial world. Pretty cool, huh?”

“Speaking of her…”

Ban Yu-mi leaned in close to his face and asked, “Did she ask for anything in return for teaching you martial arts?”

“What do you mean?”

“…Your body, for instance.”

Ban Yu-won scratched his ear, but since Luciel had cleaned it thoroughly last night, nothing came out. He squinted at his sister and said, “Ban Yu-mi, have you been reading erotic novels lately?”

“No, you idiot! It’s weird, isn’t it? That’s high-level stuff! There’s no way she’d teach it just because you’re classmates!”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you see the video? She taught martial arts to other classmates too.”

Luciel had taught martial arts to the heretics of the martial world, those with the blood of beasts—likely related to the Ghost Shadow Art Ban Yu-won had learned. To Light, she had taught military spear techniques and even advanced spear techniques later on. Ban Yu-won explained this kindly, but his sister’s reaction didn’t change.

“It feels different. What she taught them wasn’t something she mastered, but what she taught you… it feels like you’re her apprentice!”

“Your eyes are sharp.”

It’s true that the Mysterious Body Technique was the foundation of Dokgo Yeon’s martial arts. Not just the Mysterious Body Technique, but Dokgo Yeon had firmly planted the basics of the sword in him and, through daily sparring disguised as teaching, had instilled all sorts of sword techniques into Ban Yu-won’s body. Each movement was conceptualized and had now fully integrated into Ban Yu-won’s Origin Blade. In essence, calling him her apprentice wasn’t wrong.

“It does feel like I’m her apprentice, as you said. Honestly, I don’t know why she’s so good to me…”

“So she didn’t demand your body in return?”

“Why would she need that?”

When Ban Yu-won shouted, unable to tolerate his sister’s nonsense from the morning, she instead pointed to her eyes, as if frustrated that he didn’t understand.

“The way she looks at you! Those strange cross-shaped eyes are so seductive!”

“You’re talking big for someone who’s never dated.”

“Ugh…!”

Ban Yu-mi clammed up, having been hit where it hurt. Ban Yu-won sighed deeply and stood up.

“Let’s spar. That’s why you started talking, right?”

“You’re so perceptive…”

“Of course, I’m more perceptive than you.”

How could he not know when she approached with a wooden sword in each hand? Ban Yu-won accepted the wooden sword his sister handed him and headed to the garden with her.

“I’m going all out.”

“When have you ever played around with a sword?”

“I’ve never tried to kill you before.”

Well, you shouldn’t try to kill family.

“But now I feel like I could.”

“Hey.”

“Here I come!”

Ban Yu-mi charged at him with a wooden sword, seemingly filled with personal feelings. Ban Yu-won had known her potential since she won an Olympic gold medal as a high school student, but he hadn’t expected her to grow even faster after Earth’s transformation.

“Huh?”

As he dodged her sword, which followed a familiar trajectory, Ban Yu-won blinked.

“This is Dokgo Yeon’s swordsmanship?”

“I learned it from the videos you uploaded.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Sure, the videos captured the Rebellion members in action, so there must have been scenes of Dokgo Yeon wielding a sword. But she hadn’t filmed them as instructional videos for teaching swordsmanship to others. At most, they were recordings of sparring with other members or swinging swords while climbing the tower. And she learned swordsmanship from that?

If Dokgo Yeon’s swordsmanship were that easy to learn, Ban Yu-won wouldn’t have had to endure so much to master it!

“I’m not kidding. With the determination to beat you someday, I worked hard, and it worked. Besides, it’s different from fencing or kendo—‘it goes well with mana.’”

“―Hah!”

As the familiar-feeling sword flew at him again, Ban Yu-won felt a hot energy within it, ready to explode at any moment. Indeed, he finally understood why Ban Yu-mi’s growth had been so rapid.

Dokgo Yeon had taught Ban Yu-won the perfect ‘Form’ of the sword. Ban Yu-mi had learned it just by watching videos and succeeded in imbuing it with her own meaning, completing an incredible feat. While it might not be as good as building from the realm of martial arts, Ban Yu-mi’s talent in starting from form and completing a plausible martial art was extraordinary.

‘It’s not just swordsmanship. She was already skilled at handling magic power—and that unique power of hers is too overwhelming.’

The heat transferred to his wooden sword and even tried to burn Ban Yu-won’s body during the process of deflecting her wooden sword. Of course, the concept of ‘Diamond’ he gained from facing the Constellation’s incarnation was blocking it, but it was strange to have to use his unique concept in a mere sparring match.

‘An unquenchable flame. With that power alone, it wouldn’t be strange if she got into Union.’

The unique concept of Wildness Core, born from Ban Yu-won’s distortion of the Constellation’s power and infused with countless wildness, granted its owner immense strength, stamina, and infinite growth potential. A similar or even greater power was burning within Ban Yu-mi’s body. Literally, an unquenchable flame was constantly producing energy, strengthening Ban Yu-mi even at this moment.

“The age limit for Union admission is up to 20, so it’s a shame.”

“I know what you’re thinking, but I have no intention of joining as your junior!”

“I thought it would be fun.”

“Iiiick…!”

As he teased her, Ban Yu-mi’s sword swung even faster. She was truly aiming for his vital points with her sword!

“If you’re embarrassed, just say so.”

“Stop dodging and stand still, so I can kill you!”

“Good grief.”

Ban Yu-won sparred with his sister for about 30 minutes. Although she had already accepted and developed Dokgo Yeon’s swordsmanship in her own way, reaching the realm of her unique martial art, the fact that her foundation was Dokgo Yeon’s swordsmanship was undeniable. Moreover, it was impossible for her to win a strategic battle against Ban Yu-won, who had already perfected the harmony of Origin Blade and Yu-won Gong. She should be evaluated for persistently attacking and swinging her sword to find a breakthrough against the absolute powerhouse, Ban Yu-won.

[The depth of Origin Blade has increased by 2.]

“Heeek, huff…”

“That was a good spar. You’re a genius, after all.”

Ban Yu-won remarked, watching Ban Yu-mi, who had thrown down her wooden sword and was catching her breath. It wasn’t a mockery; Ban Yu-mi’s swordsmanship, combined with her innate sense, allowed Ban Yu-won to gather high-quality swordsmanship concepts for the first time in a while. The result was a 2-depth increase in Origin Blade. Growing this much from a single spar was truly remarkable.

“What are you? Your movements are unsettling…”

“I’m reading all the situations and movements and responding accordingly. This is my style, so I can’t help it. Since my sword talent is lacking, I had to make up for it in other areas.”

“Lacking talent, my foot…”

Regardless of abilities, it’s ultimately oneself who wields the sword. Just as Ban Yu-won gained from Ban Yu-mi’s sword, Ban Yu-mi also gained much from Ban Yu-won’s excessively beautiful swordsmanship.

“You, rest a bit and let’s go again. I won’t lose so easily next time.”

“That’s fine by me, but not now.”

“Why! …Oh.”

“Yu-won, sir.”

Luciel, who had come out to the garden, handed Ban Yu-won a cold, damp towel.

“You were amazing, Yu-won.”

“Thanks.”

“You too, sir. Breakfast is ready, so wipe off your sweat and come in.”

“Oh, uh, thanks.”

Luciel handed Ban Yu-mi a towel and smiled brightly before heading back inside. Ban Yu-mi wiped her sweat with the towel, feeling a strange sense of defeat.

“Is she… was she always like that? She’s like a complete traditional girl…”

“Actually, she wasn’t quite like that. Just feeding me meals…”

“Feeding you meals?! That’s slavery!”

Well, she is a slave. But during the days after defeating the Constellation in Jedah, whenever she wasn’t with Ban Yu-won, she was training by his mother’s side. She must have learned those bride-like actions then…!

“Ban Yu-won…”

Ban Yu-mi had picked up her wooden sword again. Her eyes were filled with 70% anger and 30% an indescribable feeling akin to envy.

“Pick up your sword.”

“No, I’m going to eat.”

“Then let me hit you once!”

“You’re so persistent. How did you survive without me?”

“I lived with the sole intention of killing you!”

“Anyone would think I’m your sworn enemy…”

At 7:30 AM, the Ban family sat frozen in front of the breakfast Luciel had skillfully prepared. Of course, it was because of Luciel.

“Yu-won, ah~.”

“Are you really going to do this? Luciel, think carefully. It’s two months. Are you really going to do this every meal for the next two months? Are you really going to do this while feeling the intense stares pouring down on us?”

“Hehe, ah~.”

“…Ah~.”

It seemed to be what she wanted. In front of Luciel’s unyielding will, Ban Yu-won eventually surrendered. As she fed him with care, Luciel asked with a smile that couldn’t be happier.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yeah…”

“I’ll master Korean cuisine completely in these two months. Then, even when we return to the academy, I can make meals that suit your taste perfectly, right?”

Watching the slave force her master into action, his family gradually began to understand the nature of their relationship. This must be some kind of… play.

―Snap

Ban Yu-mi’s chopsticks broke, and Ban Ju-seok commented.

“Daughter, your chopsticks broke.”

“Be quiet, Dad.”

Snap, Ban Yu-mi shattered her chopsticks into pieces and replied. Ban Ju-seok, with tears in his eyes, turned to his wife.

“Honey, hasn’t our daughter been a bit cold to me since yesterday?”

“She’s acting like this because you don’t even know why.”

“Everyone’s so mean…”

Next to Ban Ju-seok, who was sniffling, Ban Ji-won, who was elegantly deboning a grilled fish, suddenly spoke.

“There’s a press conference today, isn’t there, Yu-mi?”

“…Yeah, Grandpa. Are you joining? We’d be grateful if you did.”

“An old man shouldn’t keep sticking his nose into young people’s affairs. I can’t intrude on an occasion where our Yu-won should shine.”

Hearing this, Ban Yu-won tilted his head and asked.

“Grandpa, are you part of the guild too?”

“I’m an honorary advisor.”

Indeed, when support is this blatant and overt, there’s nothing to say. As he nodded, impressed by his grandfather’s subtle lesson on how to wield power, the doorbell rang from the entrance.

“What’s this in the morning? Did you order a delivery?”

“Nothing’s supposed to come… Is it the maid’s day, honey?”

“No?”

“Oh.”

Ban Yu-mi snapped her newly received second pair of chopsticks and slapped her forehead.

“That crazy woman is rushing things…”

“Who is it?”

“The vice guild master.”

Ban Yu-mi answered briefly and stood up, looking at Luciel.

“Luciel, take care of your husband.”

“Is it a woman?”

“Consider everyone an enemy by default.”

“Is the guild full of women?”

How can they communicate with just a few words? As Ban Yu-won found it peculiar, the front door finally opened, and the guest entered.

“Wow, amazing. You’re even more handsome in person…! Oh, and you’re even prettier in person… Damn.”

“Good morning, sister! Oh my gosh, your family is here too?! I’m screwed, what do I do? I’m sorry, and during breakfast too!”

“Sorry for the early morning disturbance. I’ll be brief due to guild matters.”

“Uh, huh? Hey, hey hey hey!”

And there are three of them at that.