Why Did I Have to Enroll – Chapter 194

Lesson 38. Ban Yu-won’s Words Become Reality – 4

“I’d love to tell you everything, but…”

The red-haired beauty brushed her hair back with a bitter smile. “Ever since Earth connected to the Union Net, there’s been an extra pair of eyes on me. Asking you to believe me just based on that might be a bit much, huh?”

No, it wasn’t about belief. The unexpected timing and absurdity of the situation almost made Ban Yu-won’s mind regress to that of a child. Still, the mention of someone watching them helped him regain his composure.

“Constellation.”

“Not right now, but if I talk too much about myself, they might turn their attention this way. Actually, it’s not a good idea to mention a Constellation’s name directly.”

“Oh, I’ve heard something like that before.”

During the time when Ban Yu-won received support from the Constellations, there were moments when information was exposed to them. Of course, he could sever the connection with them at will, so he could hide anything he truly didn’t want to share…

‘Is it possible, Celon? To create a space where the Constellations can’t interfere, like Professor Xenon did at the Union?’

–You only come to me at times like this… But yes, it’s possible.

Well, with such reliable answers, how could he not?

–I’ve told you before, right? My Star Trace Magic has the power to oppose the Constellations. That monster cut off their interference with brute force using his unique power, but I can create a space free from them without them even realizing it.

‘Please do it now. I’ll help too.’

However, since she was currently trapped in the staff, her condition wasn’t perfect, limiting the duration. With Ban Yu-won’s support, they could extend it to about an hour.

“Huh?”

The first to notice the change was, of course, Keira, who was contracted with a Constellation.

“The connection with the Constellation is cut off… No, is the signal being disrupted?”

“Now we can talk freely, right?”

“You trust me! I’m really touched…!”

Creating a space where the Constellations couldn’t interfere was a skill only the headmaster or Xenon could manage at the Union Academy. Revealing such a capability without hesitation was enough to move Keira deeply. From Ban Yu-won’s perspective, it was a bit different. He had already fallen out of favor with quite a few Constellations due to a previous sponsorship incident, so he wasn’t worried about making more enemies.

‘If she tells anyone about this, her contracted Constellation might suspect she’s hiding something, so unless she’s a fool, she’ll keep quiet.’

Unaware of Ban Yu-won’s thoughts, Keira conjured flames in her palm, enjoying the strange situation where she could use the Constellation’s power despite the severed connection. Then, remembering her current situation, she turned to Ban Yu-won and gracefully bowed her head.

“Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Keira Esra Prominence, a branch member of the Prominence family that governs the S-7 dimension. As you know, I’m also a contractor of the Follower of Ten Thousand Flames.”

“A branch member.”

“Of course, a branch member. Did you think a direct descendant of the great Prominence family would be stuck in a backwater dimension like Earth?”

Keira added with a laugh. Ban Yu-won, trusting the Level Force No.3 membership card she had, boldly asked her a question.

“But even as a branch member, your status isn’t something to take lightly. Why are you on Earth?”

“My presence on Earth wasn’t intentional. I got caught up in a dimensional shift during a mission and ended up here.”

Keira added that she hadn’t even known Earth existed before arriving. The mission assigned to a branch member of the Prominence family, the Follower of Ten Thousand Flames tracking a specific unique power, and the possessor of that unique power… his sister. Someone he must protect at all costs.

“It’s hard to talk about the mission, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t that why you blocked the interference? I’ll tell you.”

“What, just like that?”

He couldn’t believe it, but Keira sat on the bed with a bitter smile and patted the spot next to her, inviting him to sit.

“I’ve been on Earth for over 20 years. Longer than I’ve lived in the S-7 dimension. Do you think I still have loyalty to the family? Honestly, being under the Constellation’s interference again is driving me crazy.”

She looked like she was in her early 20s, mid-20s at most, but she was over ten years older than that. Of course, Ban Yu-won wisely refrained from pointing that out. With a 500-year-old sister, a 35-year-old sister was nothing.

He quietly sat beside her, listening to her story.

“I was chosen by the Follower of Ten Thousand Flames at a fairly young age. Of course, I was happy back then, not knowing anything. Until I was dragged into the family’s special forces to carry out all sorts of dirty missions. If I were a direct descendant, I would have been raised as an heir, but being a branch member, that’s what happened.”

“Can you tell me about the mission that brought you to Earth?”

“There was a power struggle within the family. It was quite a big incident.”

The Prominence family has two techniques passed down through generations: the ‘Blade’ and the ‘Flame.’ The family was divided into factions that valued the Blade and those that valued the Flame, competing against each other. Over 20 years ago, a problem arose. A child born to the Blade faction inherited the power of the Flame. The unique power symbolizing Prominence, the ‘Unquenchable Flame.’

“The head of the family at the time was from the Flame faction. The child was from the Blade faction, so they were a branch member. Naturally, they were seen as a thorn in the side. If the child grew up safely, it was only natural they’d become the next head. To be blunt, the reason the Follower of Ten Thousand Flames supports Prominence is because of that power passed down through generations.”

“…You were tasked with assassinating that child.”

“Yes, but the information leaked, and things escalated. A direct confrontation between the Blade and Flame factions erupted over the newborn child, and many died in the ensuing battle…”

As Keira recalled the past, her face was filled with indescribable emotions. At this point, Ban Yu-won realized something. She wasn’t sharing such deep secrets with him out of mere fandom. Not that she was trying to deceive him, but she likely had something she wanted from him.

“We pursued the child relentlessly. But the last surviving guardian knight unleashed a high-level artifact from Prominence, escaping with the child–and I got caught up in it. When I came to, I was here. Returning to the S-7 dimension or even contacting them was impossible.”

“Hmm.”

Ban Yu-won let out a low groan. He never expected to learn such deep secrets related to his family in this way. He had assured his mother he wouldn’t tell her, but he couldn’t stop Keira’s words from flowing like a river, and he ended up hearing everything.

“After that, there wasn’t much. Disconnected from the family, I gave up on continuing the mission and tried to adapt to life on Earth… Then, at some point, I could access the Union Net again.”

She winked as she mentioned discovering his channel at that time. Of course, she couldn’t help but notice, considering Ban Yu-won, a ‘Earth’ native, was broadcasting on the Union Net. It must have been quite shocking for her, exiled to Earth!

He had heard from his family that Ban Yu-mi was the first Earthling to connect to the Union Net, but now he understood why Keira could access it before her. She had Union Net access rights before coming to Earth, so she wasn’t counted.

“Moving from Earth to the Union meant that change was coming to Earth, a dimension lost in the void. As I prepared for it, Earth underwent dimensional evolution and was once again bound by the Constellations. And my family, realizing I was here, was convinced.”

That the owner of the Unquenchable Flame existed here on Earth–

“The order I received was to determine if that child was alive, and if so, to secure them and return. My personal thought is, after leaving it for 20 years, how dare they order me around now. So, does this explanation suffice?”

“More than enough…”

Ban Yu-won sighed. Thoughts of the Crimson Spear and the fairies vanished from his mind. Fortunately, she seemed skeptical about the mission and unaware of Ban Yu-mi’s identity. But he had no idea how to handle his sister or what to tell his mother, leaving his mind in a tangled mess–until something dawned on him.

“Wait, so when you approached me during the school trip, was that a coincidence?”

“Huh?”

She tilted her head, not understanding Ban Yu-won’s question.

“You approached me first. I still remember the line vividly, ‘Your fiery hair suits you–‘”

“Stop!”

That was close. With the grand scale of the conversation, he almost let his embarrassing past slip!

“So it was really a coincidence that we met?”

“There’s no need to lie, of course. So when I saw your channel on the Union Net, I thought it was fate! The person who enrolled in the Union was you, someone I had a connection with.”

“Ugh, you didn’t have to remember…”

He wished she had buried that memory deep in the recesses of her mind. But as she looked down at Ban Yu-won, who knelt and wept, Keira shrugged her shoulders, expressing her regret with exaggerated Western gestures.

“You might be used to charming women, but for me, it was quite a memorable event. Earthlings couldn’t handle my aura, so both men and women avoided me. But you approached me without hesitation… I couldn’t forget.”

He hadn’t realized it at the time, but it was likely due to the influence of Ban Yu-won’s soul’s depth. With a power inherited from ancient Babylonia etched into his soul, Ban Yu-won’s soul depth was already 300 by the time he enrolled in the Union.

“Ahem, so when someone I couldn’t forget? Enrolled in the Union from Earth and started a channel? How could I not watch?”

“And that’s why you’re in the fan club…”

“Among the platinum members, some support As Light, but I’ve been firmly in the Ban Yu-won camp from the start! Don’t forget that, and while you’re at it, could you sign this too?”

Ban Yu-won obediently signed the platinum card she handed him.

“Ah–this is the best! Meeting my favorite, having the conversation I’ve always wanted! I’m so glad I became a knight!”

With a genuine smile, she hugged the card to her chest, beaming. Ban Yu-won chuckled and asked, “So, what do you really want from me?”

“Huh? There’s nothing like that. A fan doesn’t demand anything in return for their love.”

“As a member of Level Force, maybe not, but what about as a contractor bound by the Follower of Ten Thousand Flames?”

“Wow–.”

It wasn’t a particularly sharp observation. She had been dropping hints throughout their conversation. But Ban Yu-won could have ignored it, and because he didn’t, she seemed even more touched.

“Actually, I didn’t think of it from the start.”

“You thought of it when you saw me sever the connection with the Constellation, right?”

“Yes. I wondered if it might be possible.”

Apologizing in advance for her excessive desire, she said, “I want to completely sever the contract with the Constellation. Can you help me?”