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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Lesson 2. This Is Your Roommate - 1
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Professor Yumina was as kind as she was beautiful, patiently explaining the academy's basic common knowledge step by step to Ban Yu-won, who knew absolutely nothing about it.
To sum it up, it wasn't the professors who had dragged him here—it was Union Academy's student selection system.
Union Academy's student selection system targeted every dimension, automatically selecting students who met the necessary criteria and providing evaluations tailored to each one.
As a result, the professors had only just learned the name of the planet "Earth" today. They were quite shocked to hear that Ban Yu-won hailed from a lower dimension completely unaware of Union Academy's existence.
Ban Yu-won had already let any grudges fly out the window after seeing Babel Tower, so he decided not to dwell on it anymore. Unaware of this, Professor Yumina tried to lift his spirits with all sorts of other stories.
"Is that the artifact you made, Ban Yu-won? Impressive. The power inside is pretty weak ... but an offensive artifact showing fully autonomous movement? My goodness, I can even faintly sense a sense of self. Hehe, your future potential is truly something to look forward to."
"You want to head back home before the entrance ceremony? Hmm, since you said you had no idea Union Academy even existed ... alright. I'll make a special exception."
"Oh, just now, the other lower dimension special admission candidates passed their evaluations. That makes four in total, including you, Ban Yu-won. You'll be rooming with one of them."
"Well then, Ban Yu-won, once you've finished unpacking in your room, just tear this paper. It'll send you back home. We'll request your summoning on the day of the entrance ceremony, so respond once you're all set."
When Ban Yu-won returned to his room after the meeting with her, someone else was already there.
"Who are you!"
The moment he sensed Ban Yu-won's presence, a handsome man drew a glowing sword from thin air and pointed it right at him.
Half a day ago, he might have jumped in fright and collapsed. But after facing goblins and dancing on the edge of life and death, Ban Yu-won no longer flinched at a blade shoved in his face.
In fact, the Dokkaebi Bangmangi had reacted first, blocking it midair.
"Can't you tell from my clothes? New student here. Your roommate."
"Oh? Ah, aah. Sorry about that. I just finished my practical evaluation, so my nerves were on edge..."
Realizing the situation from Ban Yu-won's calm explanation, the man sheathed his sword in a hurry and bowed his head in apology.
He seemed a bit hot-headed, but not someone who lacked manners.
Now that enrollment was confirmed, his roommate's personality mattered. This didn't seem like much cause for worry.
"I heard you're lower dimension special admission too."
"Hm? Ah, you—you're from a lower dimension as well?"
"Ban Yu-won. Just call me Ban, casually."
He'd originally planned to head straight home, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to chat a bit with his future roommate first.
"What? By name? No, I couldn't. Ban, nice to meet you. I'm As Light—no, As Light. Call me Light..."
From his startled reaction to being asked to use his name, it seemed like in Light's world, addressing someone by their first name was a major faux pas.
Ban Yu-won took note of the cultural difference and observed his new roommate—As Light—who he'd be sharing a room with from now on.
He'd just come back from his practical evaluation, covered head to toe in grime, yet he was still ridiculously handsome, the kind that made your blood boil.
I always thought I was pretty decent-looking myself ... but this guy? Just looking at him pisses me off.
A slender, small face. Sharp, deeply sparkling blue eyes. Golden wavy hair swaying at his shoulders.
A high, pointed nose and delicately glistening lips—every attractive feature crammed in, almost artificially perfect.
No exaggeration: he looked like a prince straight out of a shojo manga.
Why the hell am I itemizing this guy's hotness like this? Fucking annoying.
So he stopped.
Instead, he asked,
"You just finished your practical evaluation? Did you fight Blind Goblins too, then?"
"What? Blind Goblins?"
But the response was unexpected.
"No way. Low-level monsters like that can be hunted by even the most basic soldiers back home. I faced a troll and an ogre. Spent hours slogging through the swamp because of it. Exhausted."
... Troll and ogre?
He couldn't judge purely by game knowledge, but no matter how he sliced it, those sounded way tougher than goblins...!
Ban Yu-won could only gape wordlessly at the answer.
That's when he noticed it: the Dokkaebi Bangmangi that had blocked Light's sword earlier.
It was limply draped over his shoulder, apparently having exhausted all its energy—no, its ghostly power—to parry the blow.
And this was the artifact that had split a Goblin Warrior's head clean open!
"I see. So you're special ability type, Ban. Makes sense. That artifact blocking my sword wasn't ordinary."
Spotting Ban Yu-won's dismay, Light nodded as if piecing it together.
"My birth dimension and other qualifications fell short, but I'm confident in my combat prowess. Passing the higher-level practical evaluation than the regular track was my enrollment condition."
"I see..."
He'd assumed lower dimension special admission was for students lacking in martial power compared to regular admissions, but apparently there were exceptions.
He felt pathetic for feeling even a sliver of camaraderie with this inhumanly handsome guy upon hearing they were both lower dimension special admits!
"H-Hey, Ban! Don't look so down. We're all here at this academy to get proper training and grow, right?"
"Yeah, true."
Light, noticing Ban Yu-won's deflated mood, tried to encourage him.
And the guy had a good personality to boot!
The only thing he had going for him was language skills.
Not like he could brag about his abilities or act like a sore loser.
Unable to take it anymore, Ban Yu-won decided on a quick retreat.
"You said slogging through the swamp wore you out. Go wash up and rest. I'm actually heading home for a bit before the entrance ceremony. See you then."
"What? They let you go home during the pre-enrollment wait? The academy?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
"No way."
He'd thought it was no big deal, but Light wore the most shocked expression since they'd met.
"Ban, you must have some seriously impressive abilities. For those high-and-mighty academy professors to grant a lower dimension special admit that kind of convenience..."
"...Is that such a big deal?"
"Haha, you have no idea. Higher dimension folks look down on lower ones like they're gods ... You've never experienced that kind of bullying through inter-dimensional exchange?"
Light's face soured as he spoke.
Ban Yu-won replied awkwardly.
"Sorry, I actually just learned about lower and higher dimensions today. No clue what makes higher ones so great."
"Well, the resources, knowledge, even magic power you're born with are all different ... What? Today?!"
"Oh, that's the difference? Anyway, details later. I got dragged into the practical without telling my parents, so I should head back first."
"R-Right. Got it..."
"Later."
Ban Yu-won pulled out the paper the professor had given him and tore it.
Spatial transfer activated without a hitch, whisking him back to his original world—Earth—where he'd always lived.
Leaving behind only the handsome man frozen in shock.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Whoa! Ban Yu-won, you just left the acceptance screen up and vanished—where were you? I thought you were so thrilled you ran outside..."
Finally back in his familiar room, there stood his older sister, Ban Yu-mi.
Slouched on his bed in a loose tank top and hot pants, flipping through comics—she was the picture of grace.
"Why are you lounging in my room like this."
"Can't spill crumbs on my own bed."
"Get out. Scram."
Sure enough, empty snack bags littered the floor.
Crumbs probably scattered like petals on the bed, crunching away.
Ban Yu-won sighed and tried to shove his sister off, but she rolled away nimbly beforehand.
Of course, he'd swung half-heartedly knowing she'd dodge.
She was, after all, a student at Korea's most prestigious H National University of Physical Education.
A national team fencer prepping for the Olympics, no less.
And that active fencer suddenly sprang up and said to him,
"Hey, Ban Yu-won."
"Don't use that weird tone."
"No, seriously. Did you ... change all of a sudden?"
Ban Yu-mi's eyes sharpened.
Ban Yu-won shot her a pitiful look, like only now you notice?
"Can't you see? The fancy clothes wrapping me up? Your big bro evolved from growth spurt to full maturity. You can't keep up anymore."
"Can't keep up my ass!"
Ban Yu-mi raised her hand like a sword and lunged.
Ban Yu-won sidestepped half a pace, easily dodging, then thrust his own hand-blade at her.
She twisted away quick, so he missed—but sensed her sharp stab from the right and flicked it away.
"What ... the hell? Seriously?"
All her attacks blocked. He'd dodged, but countered sharply too.
Ban Yu-mi flopped onto the bed, dumbfounded by her little brother's retaliation. Ban Yu-won said calmly,
"Listen up."
"Spill it."
"Truth is, I've always thought you weren't really blood-related to our family."
"I'm gonna kill you."
Ban Yu-won caught her flying hand-blade and continued,
"Turns out I had similar talent sleeping inside me too."
"No way this is just 'talent'! How many years have I swung a sword?!"
Ban Yu-mi didn't fit the brainy Ban family mold—she was born with a steel-trap mind and a monster body.
Great at anything physical since childhood, she loved whacking people with weapons. In middle school, she chose fencing over kendo for the Olympics path.
She still trained kendo steadily alongside it, and last Olympics, she'd brought home three golds and a silver in team and individual events.
A monster through and through.
So Ban Yu-won had always figured she wasn't real Ban blood. But entering the dungeon revealed he had similar combat talent dormant within.
It just needed a massive shock—like life-or-death crisis—to awaken. That's why he'd never noticed.
And now Swordsmanship 3 on top.
Still, he knew it wasn't enough to surpass Olympic level.
To top monsters like Light, to claim Babel Tower ownership boldly ... he had a long way to go.
"Ban Yu-won! So what happened?!"
"Quiet! Family meeting first."
He shoved away his sister, who was practically foaming at the mouth, and declared.
"Ha, blocked one hand-blade and thinks he can climb over sis's head."
"Hurry."
"Tch, if it's nothing big, you're dead."
Flabbergasted by his one-sided command, Ban Yu-mi nonetheless stepped out, pulling out her phone.
Looks like her brother really went through something in half a day, and planned to spill at the family meeting.
Ban Yu-won yelled at her retreating back.
"Sis, call Grandpa too."
"What the fuck?"
"Call him."
"Whatever, I'll call. You deal with it. Ban men are such a pain..."
She shook her head, heading off to rally the family.
Ban Yu-won stretched his legs, eyeing his sister's sleek back, thinking fix that temper and she'd be super popular, as always, with a sigh.
Then, absentmindedly, he picked up a discarded snack bag from the floor.
[Would you like to steal the language concept, Bag (封紙), from the empty snack bag?]
"Well, well."
A smile crept onto his lips.
Looks like he'd need to secure some budget at the family meeting.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Left alone after Ban Yu-won left, As Light remained stunned for a while before realizing his body was filthy with grime. He sighed lightly and headed to the shower.
Tossing his clothes—smeared with swamp muck, troll blood, ogre fluids—a cross necklace dangled over his toned nude form.
"I could take it off now ... no, no. Gotta get used to it."
After a moment's hesitation, Light showered with the necklace still on.
As he washed, his mind naturally drifted to his new roommate, Ban Yu-won.
"Should've pushed for a single room. Sigh, oh well..."
Fortunately, he didn't seem like a bad guy.
Plus—sorry to say—his combat skills seemed far below Light's, so any trouble could be handled easily.
But that invisible artifact was something else.
He hadn't put much force into his reflexive swing, but blocking his holy sword? Impressive.
As owner of a fine artifact himself, he could tell.
That thing was no ordinary item.
Artifacts like that aren't just about acquiring them. Handling them requires insane talent. That connection method—maybe he made it himself ... The faculty must see real potential. Not half-baked like me, but the genuine article.
Already awakened, destined to shine brighter.
He'd glimpsed a fragment of such talent in Ban Yu-won.
Unlike himself.
"No ... no!"
He gritted his teeth, denying the thought.
His small fist pounded the shower wall.
Go weak-minded, and you're done. I can't crumble. I made it into the academy somehow. No matter what ... I will.
Climb the tower.
Gain the power to protect his world.
As Light steeled himself, scrubbing vigorously.
Then it hit him.
When we talked earlier, it felt so natural I didn't notice ... but that guy spoke Union directly.
Everyone entering Union Academy has their language unified to "Union tongue."
Professors, students, even all academy books—everything standardized.
It was an authority spanning far beyond personal skills.
Strictly speaking, simultaneous interpretation.
Speak your native tongue, it translates seamlessly to Union. Hear Union, perceive as native.
Reading works the same.
Thus, all communicate in Union.
But a minor flaw: lip movements and pronunciation don't match.
You're mouthing native words, but Union comes out—natural side effect.
For sharp senses like Light's, it grated a bit.
So why did that guy's lips and sounds sync perfectly...?
If he knew Union beforehand, but lower dimension, just learned dimension concepts today—that nagged.
His native tongue similar to Union...?
Best conclusion Light could draw.
No way he mastered Union on first contact today.
Anyway, trivial compared to his artifact.
As Light shrugged, toweled off, gripped his sword.
Two days till enrollment.
To dominate the academy teeming with higher dimension elites, he couldn't waste even that short time.