Chapter 1

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 1

Chapter Title: Why Did I Even Enroll? (1)

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Index. Congratulations on passing the document screening.

Back in his childhood, when young Ban Yu-won first learned about the mythical Tower of Babel from the Bible...

His beloved grandfather told him this.

The tower that everyone built together back when the world had only one language—Babel.

"The one who built that Tower of Babel was actually our ancestor, Yu-won. And what's more, the tower wasn't destroyed; it was completed. Everyone else just has it wrong."

That's what he said.

If Ban Yu-won had heard that story after growing older and learning the truth about the Tower of Babel, he probably would have scoffed and argued back.

"Really, Grandpa? So our ancestor owned the place? Not just a house, but a whole building!"

"What kind of education is your dad giving you...? Ahem! It was more than just a building owner, Yu-won. The important thing is our ancestor's power."

Innocent and young at the time, Ban Yu-won believed his grandfather's words without question. His eyes sparkling, the boy prompted more stories from his grandfather.

The Tower of Babel could be built not because everyone spoke the same language, but because their ancestor had the power to let everyone communicate.

The tale of God toppling the tower and scattering humanity was nothing but the ugly delusions of humans jealous of their ancestor.

The master of language, who could interpret, transform, and wield all languages as powerful forces.

We are the descendants of such a great being.

Never forget that, he said.

But Ban Yu-won, more interested in houses and buildings than vague powers, pressed on without giving up.

"So where did the completed Tower of Babel go? That's our building! Darn it."

"The Tower of Babel, huh..."

For reasons fundamentally different from his worldly grandson, the grandfather shared the same pursuit of the tower.

With distant eyes, he replied.

"Even your grandpa doesn't know that. But one thing's for sure: once we find it, our family will reclaim all its power and glory..."

The Tower of Babel that young Ban Yu-won desperately sought? He never even caught a glimpse of it.

But the power inherited from their ancestor did exist.

Proof of that was Ban Yu-won himself.

"The light of my life, the flame of my soul. My sin, my spirit..."

"Yu-won, what are you reading?"

"A book!"

"Oh man, what book has our son so hooked...? Honey, our kid's reading the original text?!"

Language ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is something remembered through constant repetition and practice.

Only when your ears attune, your mouth opens, and your eyes sharpen can you truly speak it.

"This is apple, apple, ringo, pingguo, manzana... All apples!"

"Dad, I think Yu-won's really acting strange."

"He's reading languages from countries he's never even heard of and grasping their meanings, Father!"

Yet Ban Yu-won skipped all those steps.

He understood and handled languages as if he'd known their concepts from birth.

Phonetic scripts, ideograms—it didn't matter.

"Looks like Yu-won inherited our ancestor's blood thick and strong."

"Father, this isn't just that level—"

"At last, the child who'll fulfill our family's long-cherished wish is born! The one who'll bring back the Tower of Babel to our clan!"

"I'd rather die than watch this."

Yes.

Ban Yu-won could understand and wield every language on Earth.

No, it was even more impressive than that.

"No way, there's a limit to this. There's no way I could interpret something like that..."

"...I can?"

In fact, he could even read alien languages.

Lesson 1. This is Your Status Window - 1

It was February, and Ban Yu-won was twenty years old.

Sitting at his computer, endlessly refreshing as he waited for university acceptance results...

Suddenly, his vision brightened, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and a translucent glass window appeared before his eyes.

A window written in an alien language that even Ban Yu-won, master of every Earth tongue, had never seen before.

"It won't even go away."

He'd been waiting for university acceptance, only for an alien-language window to pop up—and for him to read it, no less.

Unable to accept this surreal event, Ban Yu-won shouted the first thing anyone should in an incomprehensible situation.

"Status window!"

Nothing happened.

Status, character window, stat window, inventory—none of it worked...!

But instead—or so it seemed—the text in the window smoothly changed.

"I'm losing my mind here."

What was this practical exam? And Lower Dimension Special Admission?

The window didn't explain, but with some thought, he could figure it out.

In typical university admissions, special tracks recruit students with unique backgrounds or talents outside standard criteria, to diversify the student body.

So, Ban Yu-won had passed the document screening for this Union Academy place thanks to his special ability, and he'd take the practical exam at a lower difficulty than others...

"What the hell is that nonsense? I never even applied...!"

When had he submitted documents? What practical exam?

He'd only applied to S University!

At least give him a status window if you're showing weird messages!

—Pop

Just then, his monitor refreshed late, displaying the acceptance list for S University's College of Social Sciences (Political Science and Diplomacy major).

Result: Accepted!

Yeah, he must've been so stressed waiting for results that he hallucinated.

Convincing himself with deep breaths, Ban Yu-won was greeted by...

"Wait."

It was his first experience with spatial teleportation magic.

"A sec—"

By the time he finished his sentence...

Ban Yu-won was no longer on Earth.

Or, in the most fitting words he knew...

He was in a dungeon.

Huddled in a dark, damp corner of the cave, Ban Yu-won thought.

'This isn't an illusion or hallucination. It's real.'

Now fully accepting his absurdly unrealistic situation.

He'd denied reality for about thirty seconds after arriving in the dungeon, but hearing breathing from the passage beyond had snapped him awake like a cold splash of water.

With his own abilities being miraculous, adapting to the surreal was one of his strengths.

He halted all thought, moved silently to find cover, and here he was.

'Let's think.'

Why was he here?

Was there a way home?

Such questions were pointless now.

What mattered was safely passing this practical exam.

He had to escape this place first to confront whoever was responsible.

Though against a group that could drag him here by force, what could he even do?

'No, don't go weak-minded. I'll get out alive and enroll at S University. A brilliant college life awaits...!'

To do that, he needed to escape.

The goal had been given from the start.

A straightforward sentence, no language skills needed.

He'd seen it plenty in games and novels.

'They're straight-up calling it a dungeon. Is Union Academy some school training explorers for dungeon raids? Then why did I pass the screening...? Think later.'

Dungeon Core.

Core means heart.

Destroy an object's core, and it collapses.

...At least in the novels he'd read. Probably the same here.

So, he was ordered to conquer and clear the dungeon.

But the goblins living here wouldn't just watch the core break.

He'd face unknown numbers of monsters, reach the unknown center, overcome their interference, and smash the core.

'Suuuuuck... I'm definitely dead.'

Modern folks like him couldn't confidently beat even wild Chihuahuas, let alone packs.

That fear froze him—just as a club flew past his nose from thin air, and he didn't fall.

"Kragh!"

"...!"

He desperately stifled a gasp.

Lost in thought, he'd missed the monster closing in.

No, the monster had hidden its presence.

A far scarier beast than any Chihuahua.

"Grah! Where!"

Dark green wrinkled skin, shorter than Ban Yu-won's 182 cm frame.

But muscled limbs, fangs bared on a vicious face.

Game goblins were fodder for Lv.1 warriors, but this one clearly outclassed him.

"Then right!"

"!"

—Whoosh

Dodging two swings (the air-ripping sound was horrifying) wasn't luck.

Ban Yu-won, now understanding the monster's words, moved based on its foolishly honest announcements.

'Crazy, I can understand monster speech too.'

First time meeting a talking monster, first time experiencing this.

Oddly, it gave him confidence.

His language ability worked even here.

"Can't catch it! Right in front!"

Frustrated at failing to hunt its prey, the goblin raged, swinging wildly.

Why not aim straight at Ban Yu-won?

Because it was blind.

'This must be the advantage for Lower Dimension Special Admission? What a comfort.'

Thanks to that, he was alive—but passing the exam was different.

He backed away slowly from the mad swinger, but that was a mistake.

It charged and slammed down!

"Missed againnnn!"

'Gah! Huff...! This bastard reads my presence when I move!'

Dodging that strike was thanks to surprisingly improved reflexes.

His physical abilities seemed enhanced beyond Earth norms.

But not enough to fight back; he could barely evade obvious attacks.

Luckily, it couldn't sense him mid-swing.

So it flailed after each miss.

But then.

"Kin there? Something?"

Ancestor help him.

Just as he adapted to one, another appeared from the passage!

Blind too, but equally muscled, equally armed with a fearsome club!

Sensing kin, Goblin 1 (G1) shouted gladly.

"Prey keeps dodging!"

"Prey? Prey!"

I knew it'd end like this, damn it!

New Goblin 2 (G2) bounded over.

This way, he'd be sandwiched.

Move, and it'd sense him.

'How? How to survive this unfair mess?'

A ridiculously stupid idea flashed in his mind.

No time for better; he acted.

"Charge straight and smash right in front!"

Ban Yu-won yelled—in goblin tongue.

And dove sideways, desperately away.

"Prey speaks our words!"

"Thanks for telling!"

"Wait...!"

G1 froze in shock at his words; G2, new arrival, ignored the voice nuance and charged.

Goblins were dumber and stronger than he'd imagined.

And their evasion worse than his.

—Crack!

G2's club half-smashed G1's head.

"Caught pre—!"

"Kill!"

"Grk!"

Mortally hit, G1 swung back despite knowing it was kin.

G2 couldn't dodge and took it.

Splat!

"Hurts! Why hit!"

"You hit first!"

"Die!"

Ban Yu-won blankly watched the fierce brawl.

Moving now might provoke them; best stay put.

G2 had first strike advantage, but G1 was stronger; they were even.

"Stupid! Not me!"

"Liar! Goblins forgive no liars!"

Childish talk, but brutal fight.

Thwack! Crack! Boom! Smash!

Heads, chests, legs, arms—each blow echoed thunderously, beyond imitation.

'Who said goblins are weakest...? If I'd believed novels and rushed in, my head would be pulp.'

"Guh, urk..."

As he shuddered at the harshness, the fight decided.

Despite first hit, G1 tore G2's neck!

"Die!"

"Kek!"

G1 smashed G2's head.

Neck gushed; G2 dropped its club, strength gone.

G2's final spasm: lunging to bite G1's nose.

"Get off...!"

"Gurgle..."

Truly final; G2 stilled.

G1, mortally wounded and pinned, flailed helplessly.

"Huff, huff..."

Ban Yu-won picked up G2's dropped club.

And stood over G1's head.

'If I can't kill this, no hope clearing the dungeon.'

He could've fled from the near-dead G1, but chose risk.

Not fleeing blindly—he chose to advance.

Unfair or not, to survive, conquer the dungeon.

To conquer, fight these things.

Couldn't run from a dying one.

"Huuuuuuh!"

Over-tensed, gripped too hard, breath held—but good for a newbie swing.

He brought it down.

—Thud!

His strike, above average Korean youth strength, ended the dying goblin.

At that utterly unexpected moment, another translucent window appeared.

Arms aching from tension, he glared at it.

The message updated.

"Huh?"

A status window now?!

He'd been cursing the school moments ago, but his heart raced at the words!

And finally, before Ban Yu-won's eyes, his status window...

Right before it appeared.

A more inorganic, higher-dimensional text appeared—structurally unlike previous ones.

'But somehow instantly recognizable.'

"What?! Give me back my status window!"

Panicking, forgetting the situation, he yelled.

Realizing his recklessness, he clamped his mouth—thankfully, no new goblins.

Instead, from the two goblin corpses before him, golden strings of text began emerging.