Why Did I Have to Enroll – Chapter 192

Lesson 38. Ban Yu-won’s Words Become Reality – 2

Intuitively connecting the two, Ban Yu-won shook his head reflexively.

“No, it can’t be.”

Prominence, or the supporting Constellation, was searching for a specific unique power. Meanwhile, the ‘enemy’ Ketra mentioned referred to those collaborating with the Crimson Spear to orchestrate schemes on a dimensional scale. Logically, the only commonality among them was the Ten Great Families. Yet, Ban Yu-won couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling about that single commonality.

“Lilith, what do you think?”

[There aren’t that many members of the Ten Great Families attending the academy, are there?]

“That’s true.”

The only one who could be called a ‘successor’ was a second-year student from the Prominence family, aside from the first-year Ortima. Moreover, it might sound funny, but Ban Yu-won trusted his intuition, which rarely led him astray.

Lilith, now dressed in a snug-fitting suit and sporting a pair of stylish glasses, was mimicking a competent secretary. Ban Yu-won sighed softly and muttered to himself that she might get along well with the principal, then took off the fake glasses Lilith wore.

[Ouch!]

“I’m not a fan of glasses.”

[Ah, I’ll remember that!]

“And the information we can gather on Earth seems limited. Delving deeply into the Prominence family is certainly beyond our reach. So…”

Whether the followers of the Ten Thousand Flames were conducting a search across all dimensions or specifically targeting Earth for his sister’s power, Ban Yu-won wanted to know. If it were the latter, how did they pinpoint Earth? Was their interest in his sister mere curiosity, or did it lean towards favor or animosity? He asked Lilith to find out at least this much.

“—-And regarding the important matter of Prominence.”

He pondered for a moment while holding a mirror. Who could help him with information? Mira came to mind, but she was likely busy coordinating and forming alliances among the fairies of many dimensions during this vacation, so he decided to skip her. Yumina might have information since the Prominence heir was attending the academy as a student, but contacting her might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

[In times like this, a mercenary without strings attached is the best choice.]

Dimensional mercenaries might know more about the Ten Great Families, who are renowned across the universe, and especially about Prominence, suspected to be connected to the dimensional pirate group, the Crimson Spear.

[Aneri — Perfect timing!]

Aneri Dedota replied to his message in just five seconds. The speed of the Union Net’s connection across dimensions was impressive, but Aneri’s response time was even more so.

[Aneri — We recently recruited a new member who used to be a pirate! From the Crimson Spear!]

[Me — Really?]

[Aneri — They had changed their face and identity so perfectly that we almost missed it… But who could have guessed that their last activity with the Crimson Spear overlapped with mine? I’m using this opportunity to make them my lackey.]

A pirate from the Crimson Spear who had crossed paths with Aneri–could it be one of Ketra’s former comrades? As an informant, they were second to none!

[Aneri — But I never imagined that the Ten Great Families connected to the Crimson Spear would be Prominence.]

[Me — It’s just my speculation for now.]

[Aneri — If you’re speculating, Yu-won, then it’s probably true. And if it’s not, I’ll make it true!]

Perhaps he had chosen the wrong person for the job.

[Me — Can you talk to the new recruit to confirm this?]

[Aneri — There’s probably a restriction in place.]

If there weren’t, Ketra wouldn’t have avoided explaining about Prominence and only talked about the project.

[Aneri — But it’s my job as a spy to work around such restrictions and extract information. Could you give me a week?]

[Me — It’s not urgent, so that’s fine. I’ll make sure to pay you well for the information.]

[Aneri — Since I’m exploiting the recruit’s weakness thanks to you, I’ll give you a discount.]

Despite offering a special discount, Aneri’s professionalism in ensuring she got paid was evident. When Ban Yu-won agreed, she hesitated a bit before adding this message.

[Aneri — But the Ten Great Families are formidable foes. Their status hasn’t changed for thousands of years, you know what that means, right?]

[Me — I’m not planning to confront them right now… unless they come at us first.]

[Aneri — If we do end up facing them, we might need to form an alliance. At least pick one of the Ten Great Families whose interests don’t clash with ours.]

Ban Yu-won didn’t know when Aneri started grouping herself with him using “us,” but he ended the conversation by saying he’d consider it. Surely, not all members of the Rebellion fan club were like this, right?

*

The declaration made by the Ban siblings after clearing the G-rank dungeon was incredibly effective, causing a flood of applications on their website and numerous contacts from various organizations, despite their firm stance against discussing matters through national channels.

“America is probably the top priority, right?”

At a lunch meeting with the Oculus Ruber executives the next day, Ban Yu-mi commented while poking at the japchae Luciel made, as if it were her mortal enemy. However, she couldn’t deny its deliciousness and slurped it up, acknowledging that it was Kang Eun-young, their mother, who had taught Luciel how to make japchae. Meanwhile, Kang Mi-yeon, who was checking the website updates in real-time on her tablet, shrugged while chewing on the end of her stylus.

“We’re not sure yet. China sent us a proposal with this much as a down payment…”

“Ew, I don’t care how much money they offer, I don’t want to go to China! The Chinese athletes were the most annoying at the last Asian Games—-.”

Lee Hyun-ji whined, checking the tablet screen Kang Mi-yeon handed her, and her expression changed.

“Let’s go to China right now before they change their minds.”

The offer must have been too tempting to refuse.

“Hyun-ji is so pure.”

“Oh, really?”

“How can someone be so pure they don’t even realize they’re being insulted…”

Kang Mi-yeon shook her head at her naive friend.

“It’s not just about the money, sis. This is a chance to establish a clear hierarchy and discipline between nations.”

“Yu Ji-na, stop talking nonsense and look at this.”

“Even if the amount is huge—- Oh my gosh! Let’s go to China first!”

Despite always teasing and criticizing Lee Hyun-ji, Yu Ji-na was fundamentally similar to her. However, Ban Yu-mi remained unfazed even after seeing the amount, shaking her head firmly.

“Not China.”

“Even with this much money?”

“No, just no!”

Ban Yu-won watched the girls, who were getting along well without his intervention, and suddenly asked a question that had been on his mind.

“Don’t our guild and others have promotional channels on the Union Net? I’ve never seen one.”

“Oh, that’s something everyone who sees your channel thinks about at least once.”

Kang Mi-yeon shrugged and explained.

“There are two main issues. First, even if you earn money on the Union Net, there’s no way to bring it to Earth. So, opening a channel wouldn’t be profitable.”

“What? But if you register an account, Ronia deposits the earnings monthly—- Oh.”

Ban Yu-won paused mid-reply, realizing the truth. The account Ronia deposited into was one he had opened in the Union. He had registered it without thinking when the Union Net required an account for revenue settlement, but it made sense that Ronia couldn’t be settled in just any dimension. Simply having a large population accessing the Union Net didn’t mean Ronia would be accepted.

“Then there’s no need to hear the second reason. Or maybe that’s the first reason.”

“You’re smart. Right, it’s actually impossible to open a channel.”

Indeed. Perhaps this was similar to the measures taken when all myths on Earth vanished, Ban Yu-won thought.

“Well, it’s a relief.”

“Because there’s no competition?”

“What? Oh, yes. That’s right. The attention-grabbing power of Earthlings is immense.”

Ban Yu-won muttered his true thoughts without realizing it, then quickly covered it up when Lee Hyun-ji’s words hit him, sighing as he picked up his chopsticks to eat the japchae—-.

“Yu-won, ah~.”

Before he could take a bite, Luciel, smiling warmly, skillfully twirled the japchae like pasta and brought it to his mouth. Her smile left no room for argument, so Ban Yu-won had to obediently open his mouth once again. Perhaps Luciel wasn’t just serving him out of goodwill but also trying to flaunt their relationship to others.

“Ah~.”

“Oh my…”

“Wow.”

“……”

Ban Yu-won confirmed the emotions of ‘happiness,’ ‘desire,’ and ‘superiority’ that Luciel displayed, and after deep contemplation, he succeeded in uncovering her motives. However, there was no way to escape the situation of being stared at or glared at by the women sitting around the table.

*

The pressure from the G-rank dungeon was far more overwhelming than Ban Yu-won had anticipated. Contrary to his expectations of threats or power struggles, most countries reached out to Oculus Ruber—-specifically Ban Yu-won, expressing their unconditional willingness to accommodate his desires.

Given the circumstances, the selection had to be based on what each country could offer and the order of their applications. The chosen country turned out to be—-the United Kingdom.

“Hey, Ban Yu-mi.”

Ban Yu-won, who had left the selection entirely to his sister, only learned their destination was the UK when they arrived at the airport. He called out to her in a cold voice.

“What, Ban Yu-won.”

Yet, Ban Yu-mi responded with an inexplicable grin. Her smile was infuriating.

If it weren’t for the fact that all eyes at the airport were on them, he would have pinched those chubby cheeks.

“There were other countries with similar conditions!”

“I chose based on personal preference.”

Despite knowing Ban Yu-won’s trauma with the UK, she dared to say such things. He trembled with frustration, but Kang Mi-yeon tilted her head in confusion.

“Yu-mi, you like the UK? Wasn’t it the opposite?”

“Yeah, Yu-mi, you hated the UK a few years ago. Did you choose based on dislike? Planning to crush the UK’s ace party in the dungeon?”

“You don’t like the UK?”

This was news to him. But there was no time for further discussion. Ban Yu-mi, with a fierce aura, silenced the group.

“Stop chatting and follow me.”

“By the way, which airline are we flying with?”

“Ours.”

What seemed like a joke turned out to be true. A private jet with “Oculus Ruber” elegantly written in large cursive on its side was waiting for them.

“The guild’s doing well.”

“When the US failed to clear the F-rank dungeon and it overflowed, they gifted us this to come quickly.”

“Isn’t it you, not me, who’s living life to the fullest?”

Unhappy with his sister’s smug expression in front of the jet, Ban Yu-won considered revealing Lilith’s true form, who was currently pretending to be a beautiful doll, to dampen her spirits. But he refrained, fearing she’d ask to be taken to another dimension, which would be a hassle.

“I’ll do my best to ensure a safe and comfortable flight.”

“Captain! Looking forward to today! Do you have any drinks?”

“Of course, they’re prepared.”

The captain, who seemed to have flown this plane multiple times before, exchanged friendly greetings with Lee Hyun-ji, who immediately asked for drinks. Ban Yu-won realized why this sister, despite her beauty, wasn’t popular.

He turned his head in search of other hope, but even Kang Mi-yeon, along with Yu Ji-na, was pulling out a glass.

“Why do you carry a glass around?”

“Oh, our guild has a rule to check for poison and use our own utensils wherever we go. When we were doing well initially, we had a hard time with all sorts of tricks people tried to pull.”

“That’s why we don’t accept men in the guild anymore.”

“Even after all that, you didn’t give up drinking…”

Ban Yu-won sighed, and Lee Hyun-ji, who had pulled out a glass from her bosom, offered it to him.

“Want a drink?”

“Yeah, take the glass and tell us why you and your sister dislike the UK.”

Ban Yu-mi quietly fumed. But Ban Yu-won just laughed helplessly.

“It’s really nothing.”

“So, what is it?”

“Well, it’s just…”

At Ban Yu-won’s next words.

“I went on a school trip to the UK.”

“A school trip!”

For some reason, it was Luciel who suddenly stood up!

“I can’t lose, absolutely not!”

“What the heck, what’s up with Luciel now?!”

“……Does she know too?”

She had eerily remembered what Ban Yu-won had said before!