Why Did I Have to Enroll

It was an excessively one-sided relationship.

Their positions were different, their thoughts were different, and they had nothing in common - not their tastes, not their personalities.

Not even in how they viewed relationships.

Their views on love were vastly different too.

For him, love was a brief, intense flame that couldn't possibly be contained.

For her, love was a treasure so precious that even after locking it away in a box, she couldn't help but open it again and again to make sure it was still there.

Too clumsy to be called love.

Too obsessive to be called friendship.

Perhaps she just wanted someone to lean on.

Probably more than sixty percent of those feelings were just childish attachment.

—Still, she wanted to stand by his side.

The fact that she, who had started so much later than others, achieved such great results in solo exploration was all thanks to him.

'I made a contract. The constellation seemed rather cheerful, but their ability matches well with mine, so it's fine.'

'What? After trying it out, I can tell you it's better not to get involved with constellations. It's like having an extra heart, but that heart is incredibly heavy, you know what I mean?'

'Don't be anxious, Mira. You're already a student council officer and Professor Campanella's top student.'

So when she heard he had contracted with a constellation, she became desperate.

It was already hard enough to keep up with him, and now it felt like he was leaving her completely behind.

But he, oblivious to her feelings, tried to discourage her from contracting with a constellation.

It felt like he was mocking her, who had never been approached by a constellation.

She liked him.

And that's why she grew to hate him even more.

He who approached her kindly at first, only to draw a firm line and step back.

He who achieved great results without much effort, while never properly acknowledging her desperate attempts to catch up to him.

He who made her efforts seem worthless, yet arbitrarily treated her like a proud little sister.

She came to loathe him.

—Your precarious and sharp mind is truly delectable.

That was the first time she heard the constellation's voice.

If only it had appeared before she came to hate him, there wouldn't have been any problems.

—But then I wouldn't be able to enjoy the current you.

The constellation demanded others' mental energy as payment for contracting with her.

And it said:

They wouldn't die, but would suffer for the rest of their lives.

In exchange, she would become a master of void-dimensional magic.

She thought there was nothing she couldn't do.

But the constellation taunted her, saying:

—You might fail. After all, you're just a failing student who's never even spoken to a constellation before.

The means the constellation suggested to steal others' mental energy was none other than a curse.

And if a curse fails, it rebounds on the caster.

There's a saying that 'a curse always claims at least one life.'

This wasn't baseless confidence that curses never fail, but rather came from the fact that a curse that fails to kill its target kills its caster instead. R̃αɴȫBÈŚ

—So let's take out insurance.

The constellation said.

You happen to have a useful power.

Even if by some chance this curse ritual fails and rebounds,

We can arrange for someone else to take the hit in your place.

By performing a 'changeling' ritual with someone similar to you.

—With that man you hate the most.

She could have refused the offer... but if she did, the constellation would probably never speak to her again.

After all, from the beginning, the constellation just wanted to enjoy her unstable mind and her anguish.

So she nodded.

She thought she just needed to not fail.

She thought there was no way she could fail.

She thought that even if she failed, it might be okay.

And then 'he' appeared.

Similar to her in many ways.

Yet in some ways, similar to that man.

*

"......!"

That was when their eyes first met, as she was returning after completing the 'contract' with the final sacrifice.

Even though she had used high-level magic and artifacts to conceal her presence, and used her powers to alter perception - she couldn't forget those cold eyes that seemed to see right through her true identity.

She thought it was just a coincidence, but the next day she realized it was fate.

"Professor Campanella, what's this?"

"I received this from a student today. What do you think, Mira? Isn't it impressive?"

"It's... amazing. Will they be joining our department next year?"

"Interested? It's Ban Yu-won from the popular Rebellion channel. He may not have Professor Xenon's gravitas, but he's quite popular with the female students."

"Is that really important right now? ...Though perhaps this could help with our current situation. I'll talk to Ketra about it."

At first, she didn't know that the man who had met her gaze was Ban Yu-won.

She had simply recommended this new student, whom Professor Campanella had been keeping an eye on, to the student council members who had come to her for support.

But the moment she saw him with Ketra at their usual café, she knew something had gone wrong.

A mind that remained unshaken even in the face of fairy-folk beauty.

Natural composure, and a subtle nobility that showed through even in casual behavior.

A sweet voice that penetrated the mind.

And― those clear eyes that seemed to pierce through to one's innermost thoughts.

Everything fueled her anxiety.

She was restless with worry that he might recognize her, and without any evidence, she intuitively felt he was dangerous.

It was the first time her heart had fluttered for any man other than Ketra, but her heart was racing for other reasons too.

At the thought that the curse ritual might fail because of this man she had thoughtlessly drawn in.

If that happened― since the changeling ritual was already complete, Ketra would be the one to pay the price.

Should she stop it? But how? On what grounds?

But in the end, he didn't seem to recognize her.

She tried to forget about him, dismissing it as groundless anxiety.

She noticed something was wrong on Saturday morning.

She felt those who had already contracted with her and taken the potion breaking free from the curse's influence one after another.

Instinctively, she knew it had something to do with that man― Ban Yu-won.

A message that arrived late from another student council officer confirmed her intuition was correct.

Her mind went completely blank, unable to think.

Even knowing the curse was already complete and could neither be stopped nor reversed, she went searching for Ketra.

With a desperation she herself couldn't understand.

When she finally found him and learned he was with Ban Yu-won, she almost laughed at the absurdity of it all.

Did that wise yet foolish man know that in trying to help his senior, he had actually backed that senior into a corner?

How pathetic and laughable that he had dressed up to impress her, not even knowing she was the one behind this incident.

But because she hated Ketra, who had thoroughly understood her tastes yet passed that knowledge on to his junior and even tried to set them up together.

Because she was sick and tired of him, who remained unchanged until the end, not knowing what she was thinking or how much she had agonized―.

She was able to turn away without a smile or a word.

She gave up.

If anything, she felt relieved.

Why had she wanted to contract with a constellation in the first place?

Right.

Because she wanted revenge on Ketra.

*

The curse ritual had its activation time set from the moment it was constructed.

Monday afternoon, when the false contractors would normally be at their most focused.

However, since all connections with them had been severed, the burden of the ritual would concentrate entirely on Ketra.

The curse, too dense for any individual to bear, would drive Ketra to destruction right then and there.

Knowing this, Mira sat calmly in her usual corner seat at Ronica's alley café, silently waiting for the moment the contract would be established.

"Hello, Senior Mira."

Her junior appeared in that spot.

Ban Yu-won, a rising star drawing attention both inside and outside the academy for his radical actions and abilities.

The one who had disrupted her plans― no.

The one who had completed them.

"May I sit?"

"You're already sitting, aren't you?"

Her junior was a man who resembled Ketra perfectly in his uninhibited speech and actions.

Even down to his delicate features and the casual air he gave off at first glance.

Only his eyes were different.

Ketra never emanated such a chilling gaze that could freeze one's heart.

Ironically, that difference gave her a sense of relief.

"First years must be busy today."

"I finished the two written subjects this morning, and dueling ends early if you maintain a winning streak."

When she was a first year, dueling had terrified her.

She couldn't stand how it ignored individual characteristics and roles, ranking people by simple criteria.

But Ban Yu-won seemed different.

―Even though he had already achieved results surpassing her even in artifact creation.

She asked the junior who wore a strange smile directly.

"Are you interested in me?"

"Yes."

She couldn't believe herself for feeling even slightly happy at his immediate response.

Was she really such a fickle woman?

In betraying Ketra, had she already completely cut away her feelings for him too?

Or was she craving new love precisely because she hadn't been able to do so yet?

...A love to replace Ketra, whom she would never meet again after today.

"Actually, I'm interested in you too. It surprises even me."

"Then it was close."

Ban Yu-won's smile deepened.

It was a smile that made her heart uneasy.

"What was?"

"If your interest had been just a bit stronger, I would have failed."

Failed.

What?

The moment she considered the meaning, her insides went cold as if she'd swallowed a huge piece of ice.

Ban Yu-won picked up a sweet café mocha that he had ordered at some point, took a sip, then casually reached out to scribble words on the table.

Soundproofing (防音).

Visual barrier (視野遮斷).

Barrier (結界).

"There, now we don't need to worry about others' eyes."

"What are you trying to do?"

"This is for your sake, senior. The curse's rebound will be tremendous, after all, being from dozens of people."

"Wait, how do you know..."

At that moment.

She was struck by an excruciating pain as if sharp thorns were piercing through her from head to toe all at once.

She realized then that the curse had activated.

―Thump

―Thump thump

―Thuuump!

"Ugh―――!"

"I don't really know what happened between you two seniors. Not that it's my business anyway."

Is this what it feels like to have dozens of people's mental energy stolen at once?

After the strong impact came an even stronger one, more terrible pain washing over her like waves.

Her mind emptied and countless curses filled the void.

She wanted to die, but her supreme soul as a fairy wouldn't allow it.

"You, huh, how, Ketra...!"

Ban Yu-won responded indifferently to her as she trembled, clutching her chair and gasping through the pain.

"Still, cursing someone who didn't do anything wrong is a bit much. It's the worst way to end unrequited love."

"You, you... ugh!"

"What's there to feel wronged about? You brought this on yourself. Surely you don't expect me to explain in detail how I figured out your schemes?"

The pain kept intensifying until she couldn't even make a sound.

She had long since reached her limit, yet with each attempt to breathe, the pain surpassed that limit exponentially.

What else could this be called but hell?

"Actually, there was something I wanted to ask, but seeing this now, I can't bring myself to do it. Well, in the end, no one but you got hurt, so it worked out. ...The constellation's mental manipulation probably played a part too."

Ban Yu-won sighed as he set down his cup.

Suddenly, he pulled out his staff and aimed it at the half-full cup of sweet coffee.

"Let me do one thing I've always wanted to try, senior."

Various concepts activated through language magic and settled into the coffee.

Concepts to reduce pain, heal the mind, boost regeneration, and weaken the constellation's interference.

But this alone would be like pissing on frostbite.

Ban Yu-won seemed to know this well, as he took out a crystal of magical nucleus burning like flames and dropped it into the cup.

"I'll make you an offer you can't refuse."

Ban Yu-won pushed the liquid, which could no longer be called mere coffee, toward her as he spoke.

His tone had changed, starkly demonstrating their suddenly reversed positions.

"Drink if you don't want to become disabled. Though in exchange, you'll have to give me everything you can offer."

Ah―.

In the endless pain, she realized.

Wasn't this the same setup as when she had deceived her 'victims' into making contracts―?

She had been completely read.

Who was truly foolish and pitiful?

It was herself.

It was a perfect defeat without room for a single complaint.

'This man, to me―'

Strangely, at that moment, an ecstasy rivaling the pain filled her mind.

The man who had utterly shattered her plans.

This tyrant who surpassed herself, surpassed Ketra, and even mocked the constellations.

Was trying to completely dominate her in exchange for the sweet cup before her eyes.

He wanted her.

―Indeed, he was different from Ketra.

"Ah, aah..."

With trembling hands, she grasped the cup.

Strangely, at that moment all pain and trembling vanished.

Even the emotions and anguish that had remained like dregs in her heart were cleanly erased.

Only the presence of the dominator, Ban Yu-won, remained.

―Gulp

Without hesitation.

She emptied the cup of contract.

The curse-breaking was established.

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