Why Did I Have to Enroll – Chapter 197

Lesson 39. I Must Have Him – 2

The successor of the Prominence family, Ulrike Prominence, successfully led Team Phoenix through a two-week special activity. They aimed for perfection, nearly using the entire period, but their efforts to solidify the foundation of the dimension ensured the highest evaluation was inevitable.

“Prominence, are you really okay?”

“Yes, of course.”

However, the members of Team Phoenix cast worried glances at their leader. About a week ago, her behavior started to change. Even when she was with them, she often seemed lost in thought, and whenever she had the chance, she would seclude herself in a private space. Some team members speculated that she might have discovered something in this dimension, but they couldn’t bring themselves to ask her directly. Ultimately, a week passed in this peculiar atmosphere, and they returned to the Union after completing their special activity.

After submitting their special activity report, the now-free group gathered in front of the warp gate, which the Union Academy proudly uses to transport students to their hometowns using the power of the Babel Tower, rather than the dimension line. Unless accompanied by a professor with full authority from the principal, all students who completed the special activity were required to use this gate to return.

“Well, everyone, you’ve worked hard. Have a great vacation.”

“Prominence, have a wonderful vacation too!”

The team members, offering overly polite farewells to someone who was technically their peer, began to disappear one by one. Ulrike Prominence sent them off with a gentle smile, but as soon as they were gone, her expression turned cold, as if she had discarded a mask.

“Pathetic… How can they all be so inadequate?”

The team members, who had seemed like valuable assets during the special activity, now felt as useless as scarecrows standing idly in a field. It wasn’t that they had suddenly become incompetent; rather, her standards had changed. Yes, ever since she watched the Rebellion channel.

‘Ban Yu-won, who was nothing more than a commoner with no abilities, managed to reach a graduate-level skill set in just one semester. Moreover, the special phenomena that occur whenever he climbs the tower, and the fact that he was chosen by the Union from a dimension with nothing… He must have a deep connection with the Union!’

Though she wasn’t fond of it, she couldn’t deny that the abilities of those around him weren’t bad either. They were all superior to her team members. Of course, the most outstanding among them was Ban Yu-won. His abilities, intelligence, and handsome appearance made him more than suitable to have by her side. Even that haughty fairy girl was infatuated with him, so it wasn’t just her imagination.

‘He’s wasted on that girl… I must have him.’

Initially, she had monitored the channel to guard against him and devise countermeasures, but as she watched the videos, Ulrike’s thoughts changed. While he possessed dangerous talents and insights, it wasn’t necessary to exclude him entirely. After all, he was a talented individual from a humble dimension with no traditions or customs to bind him. If she could eliminate the influences that led him astray, he could find the right path.

She planned to discard one of her incompetent team members and fill the vacancy with him. Ulrike’s current driving force was entirely fueled by her desire for Ban Yu-won.

‘Even though I wasn’t satisfied with them, I planned to nurture them over time. But now that I’ve discovered a finished gem, I can’t bring myself to look forward to their future.’

Clicking her tongue, she moved away from the gate and headed towards the academy’s main building. The main building, usually bustling with lectures during the semester, was now peacefully quiet during the vacation. Afraid of waking a sleeping beast, she cautiously made her way to the spiral staircase leading from the sixth floor to the professors’ offices above. This staircase was enchanted to repel those without business and guide those with a purpose directly to their destination. Ulrike’s destination was, of course, the office of her mentor, Clio Hecate.

‘A magic even the power of Prominence can’t overcome… It’s truly unpleasant.’

Muttering curses inwardly, she diligently climbed the spiral staircase. After what felt like an eternity, she finally reached her destination. Just as she was about to knock, the door creaked open on its own, and a voice welcomed her from beyond.

“Welcome, my lovely disciple.”

“Ah.”

She had tried to conceal her presence, but Ulrike couldn’t help but smile bitterly as she stepped inside and bowed deeply.

“I’ve returned after completing the special activity, Master.”

“You didn’t come just to greet me, did you? Come, have a seat.”

A mysterious figure wrapped in faintly glowing bandages and a robe. The violet eyes peering through the bandages exuded an extraordinary aura that even Ulrike, the heir of the Prominence family, found intimidating. Clio Hecate, the most enigmatic figure in the academy after the principal and Xenon. Nothing she predicted failed to come true, and no one who opposed her met a good end. Other professors and students revered her as the “Prophet of Destiny.”

“Your steps up the stairs were light. Is it love?”

“No!”

Startled by the sudden remark, Ulrike shook her head, though she couldn’t deny that her consultation was somewhat related.

“There’s a junior I desperately want to recruit into my team.”

“You’re a second-year, so your junior must be a first-year. You’re probably talking about Ban Yu-won.”

“…Yes, Master.”

“Haha, if I had to pick the most famous person compared to the beginning of the semester, it would be him. It’s not a prediction.”

Hecate deftly used her bandages to pour tea into a cup without moving her hands. She offered the cup to Ulrike with a smile.

“So, how did you come to know about this junior?”

“Ahem, we’re not particularly close, but…”

No matter how much she trusted her mentor, she couldn’t reveal the darkness of Prominence. Even if Hecate already knew about it, especially not in this academy where monsters lurked.

“I came across his UnionTube channel. He’s young and talented, but unfortunately, he’s on the wrong path, associating with the wrong crowd. I feel I must save him…”

“Ah… You were certainly jealous of the popular fairy princess in the academy. I’ve heard rumors that they became close.”

“—-!”

She almost stopped breathing. Her mentor, who seemed to see through her heart and deliberately teased her, made her glare in annoyance. Hecate chuckled and sipped her tea.

“Isn’t it nice? Love is about taking from each other.”

“It’s not love.”

“I won’t lecture you on that ambiguous emotion. One thing is certain: the closest desire to it is the desire to monopolize. You want to monopolize him, don’t you?”

“Well… yes.”

Hecate smiled at her disciple’s candid response.

“But what can we do? To conclude, forming a team with a student from a different grade is impossible.”

With a smile, she dashed Ulrike’s hopes. Ulrike, who was well aware of this fact, pleaded earnestly.

“Isn’t there something you can do with your abilities, Master?”

“Think carefully, Ulrike. The reason students from different grades can’t form teams is simple. Once a team is formed, they must stay together until the end. If they switch teams, they have to start climbing the tower from the beginning.”

“I’ve only completed the first semester of my second year, so it’s not too late. There are cases in the third and fourth years where students retire and start climbing the tower anew…”

“If you graduate first, he’ll have to start climbing the tower from scratch when he reaches the fifth year.”

“That’s not a concern. He’ll follow me to my family once I graduate. Or perhaps we’ll conquer the tower together, and he won’t need to climb it anymore.”

Her mentor sighed, resting her forehead in her hand. Ulrike, who had never failed to obtain what she wanted, believed she could easily win over a man’s heart. This wasn’t just a case of being spoiled; it was something far more dangerous. Yet, despite foreseeing her dangerous thoughts and the nightmare she dreamt of, Hecate…

“There is an exception. In truly unavoidable cases, there have been precedents of forming teams with students from different grades.”

She willingly mentioned the possibility that could lead to disaster for some.

“Master!”

“But remember this.”

As her disciple eagerly grabbed her bandaged hand, Hecate warned her seriously.

“This is not something a student can deliberately aim for. It’s only possible when there are no team members left.”

“When there are no team members left… So, if his team members all disappear?”

“Not just that. To be safe, your Phoenix team members must also be gone. That way, even if other students intervene, there will still be vacancies.”

“Ah!”

It was a simple matter!

Ulrike Prominence clapped her hands in pure joy.

“That was already part of my plan. You needn’t worry, Master!”

“Ulrike, my dear disciple.”

“Ah! I’ve shown my impudence before you again, Master.”

Startled by her mentor’s call, Ulrike covered her mouth and bowed her head. Hecate smiled wistfully and spoke.

“It’s fine since you reflect on it yourself, but be careful with your words in the future. You won’t be able to take them back.”

“Master…”

Hecate’s violet eyes gleamed deeply. The future she foresaw when she first met this false heir, Ulrike Prominence, flashed before her eyes again. Ulrike’s actions, driven by her trivial desires, would awaken long-hidden truths and legends. The real one, chased away by the fake, would realize their place and return. Ultimately, the situation would spiral out of control, drawing in the entire universe. At the end of the hellish banquet, when she learns everything, she will likely curse Hecate for deceiving her. But…

“The master of the tower will return.”

“They will tear down all that is old, establish a new order, and bring peace to the universe.”

There was no turning back from the prophecy she had already spoken. To complete her prophecy, Hecate willingly ignited the signal flare that would drag countless people into a living hell that day.