Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Lesson 23. Even If It's a Lie - 4
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Trick Rooms had two patterns to their rules.
The first applied to every element that made up the room.
The second was limited to specific targets.
For example, back in Room 23, the rule forbidding attacks on the innocent naturally didn't apply to the murderers.
But the rule that those without a contract with a constellation couldn't move around inside the city at night applied to everyone.
You might want to argue, "If they're going to play by ear like that, why have rules at all?"
But ultimately, the purpose of Trick Room rules was to make the climb more challenging and rewarding.
More importantly, the fact that the rule's targets varied could itself be a hint.
'An extreme example, but everyone who could break the "no attacking the innocent" rule turned out to be the culprits. Probably the same here. If "you can't attack first unless attacked" applied to everyone, it'd be a truly peaceful world.'
Plus, the second condition in this room aligned with the first.
Anyone who attacked them first would at least be guilty of assault.
In other words, a criminal. Someone they could beat down without mercy.
'But unlike before, we can't just strike first and kill the moment we spot a criminal.'
Did the Trick Room rules change based on their actions, perhaps?
As Ban Yu-won pondered this seriously, Light stomped his foot beside him.
"Is that really important right now? The rooms are linked all the way to 24. What are we gonna do about a four-room chain?"
"You know, you're right. Even accounting for our blunder in Room 23, this might warrant Room 30-level rewards."
"Ahh, this is getting annoying."
Dokgo Yeon let out a gloomy voice as she looked up at the city walls drawing near.
The defenses were incomparable to the small town in Room 23.
They didn't loose arrows the moment they spotted the group, but everyone was poised to attack at any second.
There were two gates: the large one was tightly shut, while a small side door next to it stood open for foot traffic.
"Come this way."
A guard who spotted them beckoned.
As if by prior agreement, the group pushed Ban Yu-won to the front as they approached the guard.
"We never used to do inspections, but these heretic scum have been rampaging lately, so no choice. Where you from?"
"From the small town."
The guard's face paled when Ban Yu-won named the town.
"What, that town where a god descended? Pillars of light and darkness shot up, right? Folks say that's when things really started going south... What was it like there?"
"Not so bad... How'd the rumors spread?"
According to the guard, the two pillars from the small town two weeks ago had become huge news.
Humans, terrified of divine punishment, hadn't even set foot near the town since.
No refugees fleeing a disaster meant they were officially treating the town as obliterated.
"Makes sense they'd think that. Reality was the opposite, though."
"Opposite?"
"Of course. That's when I... exposed the heretics lurking in the town using the power of a constellation."
"You?"
"That's right."
Ban Yu-won nodded with an utterly devout expression.
Then he lied without batting an eye.
"It was I who punished them. Borrowing the name of a holy one."
With that, he floated a sphere of light above his palm.
It was the photon magic he'd just learned, but since it wasn't much different from the elemental magic he'd been diligently practicing, casting it was no trouble.
"What?! No way! So that pillar of light?!"
Were light-manipulating spells really that rare?
The guard's eyes flipped in an instant.
Good. No one from the Wings of Justice was openly active in this city, confirmed.
Now it was Ban Yu-won's turn all the way!
"Exactly. I borrowed too much of his power, though, so I've been recovering from the backlash... Ahem. Anyway, I'd like details on recent events."
"Whoooah... So you'll help solve things here too? No, not out here—come inside! Your companions too!"
The guard urgently handed off his post to a colleague, bowing and scraping as he personally escorted them inside the walls.
Ban Yu-won followed with a saintly, benevolent smile, glancing back at the group with a smug "See?" look.
"This guy's unbelievable... With that face, he could waltz into the Martial Alliance and become leader."
"My conscience is pricking. Why do I feel guilty when he's only half-lying?"
"Probably because you're Light."
"...Lucelle, why'd you trail off? Hey? Lucelle?"
The group received VIP treatment.
Even better: once a knight arrived, confirmed Ban Yu-won's light magic was legit, their already nice lodgings got upgraded further!
"Ah, we could live here a while."
"No."
At the knight's mansion.
Dokgo Yeon shot down Ban Yu-won, who was patting his belly contentedly after a lavish meal.
"Don't forget this is still part of the tower—a test space. Nowhere to settle down."
"I know, I know. That's why I just ate casually."
"Huh? The food?"
Light, leaning back lazily after overeating—better than academy cafeteria grub—blinked at that.
"What's wrong with the food? It was delicious."
"You blockhead, didn't you notice the poison?"
"Poison?"
"Deadly poison, at that."
Light's face fell.
Thanks to his holy sword contract, most poisons were nullified outright for him.
So he'd scarfed down the tainted meal without a clue.
"Ban, this isn't a place to relax?"
"No such place exists."
"As long as I'm by Yu-won's side, anywhere feels comfy... ♡"
"Beast, quit slyly flirting every chance you get."
Ban Yu-won sighed, activating his解 language magic to cleanly purge the poison from everyone's systems.
Strong as Dokgo Yeon or Lucelle were, their resistance probably made it unnecessary, but better safe than sorry on aftereffects.
"You all knew?! And I was the only idiot chowing down happily? Why? Why eat it anyway?"
Ban Yu-won had weakened the poison in their meals the moment he spotted it.
Specifically, he'd plucked the "fierce" from "fierce poison" and absorbed it.
So why leave a trace?
"Because we needed them to strike first. Poison's a prime attack method."
Ban Yu-won sighed in reply, rising to check outside.
Super suspicious: they'd left the group to eat alone.
Probably scared the poison would affect them too.
Now, sorting friend from foe was key. The knight was definitely an enemy.
Ban Yu-won's All-Reading Eyes saw him pitch-black.
"He ordered the poison."
"Why?"
"Dunno. Could be a Claw of the Dark Forest heretic, or tipped off by Wings of Justice to kill us. Doesn't matter much."
"Doesn't matter?!"
"Nope. They attacked us first, confirmed."
Light still didn't grasp Trick Room essence.
Fundamentally no different from Room 23.
"Say an incident happens here. What's key?"
"Uh... Why it happened?"
"Wrong. The culprit. No need for whys or hows—just nab 'em. Next key: who catches the culprit."
"Ban, don't you hear 'your worldview's twisted' a lot...?"
"Pipe down. Here's popcorn. ...Kuhk!"
Ban Yu-won pulled popcorn from inventory, handed it out, then stepped outside.
Soldiers guarding the mansion fixed eyes on him—then he suddenly spewed crimson paint-like blood!
"What's wrong?!"
"Poison! Someone poisoned the food! Gotta be heretics...!"
"No way—get treatment!"
"Who cooked today?!"
"H-Hahaha... You're the heretic!"
"What?"
On cue, the knight stepped forward.
Gripping a thick sword perfect for decapitation, glaring at Ban Yu-won.
Shockingly, his greatsword gleamed radiantly.
Light enchantment! He was a magic swordsman.
"Not bad mimicry, but you can't ape his true power. He was right—you're evil that must be erased here!"
"No way, light?!"
"Our knight, seriously?!"
The knight aimed his blinding greatsword at Ban Yu-won.
Staggering perfectly timed, Ban Yu-won took a shoulder hit and dropped to one knee.
"Kuh!"
"Can't even stand, huh? Mixed in basilisk venom—one drop kills an ogre—to finish you sure."
"Coward! One who follows light using poison...!"
As he screamed in feigned agony, Ban Yu-won thought:
'Tested on a hunch, and yep—rules don't apply to them.'
—Ordering poison was as good as attacking you directly.
'Still, worth checking. Now second rule doesn't apply to Wing or Claw contractors.'
Soldiers hesitated watching Ban Yu-won reel.
Their trusted knight attacking a light-wielder contracted to a light constellation?
And he wielded light himself!
Not the sharpest, they gave up judging good from evil.
They leaned toward the familiar knight emotionally, but the massive light pillar from the small town two weeks ago loomed large—no rash moves.
Conclusion: wait till one died.
Winner's righteous, usually.
"This is light's judgment! Die!"
"True light is—!"
Good, got the intel needed.
As the knight swung his raised greatsword at Ban Yu-won's head...
"This!"
Kneeling Ban Yu-won launched up, thrusting his sword into the knight's exposed throat!
"Ka... hak?!"
Greatsword dropped, knight staggered back gasping.
Huge hole in his neck.
Ban Yu-won raised his gleaming Executioner's Longsword, standing tall, and shouted:
"He healed me and lent strength to punish heretics impersonating his light! With his light, I'll purify this city!"
"He-Heretic... heretic...!"
The knight knelt.
Black light spread from neck wound over his body.
Just like other heretics' deaths.
Ban Yu-won was glad his new magic was photon-based.
"Ooooooh!"
"No way, our knight was a heretic...!"
"The light warrior executed a disguised heretic!"
Soldiers, shocked but cheering louder to steady nerves.
Ban Yu-won silently amplified his light, bolstering their faith.
Liberion members still inside watched, eyes wide.
"How long we gotta let this go?"
"Light, there's a saying: the one who starts it ends it."
"What's that mean?"
"Let the instigator handle cleanup."
Indeed.
Deep meaning behind the popcorn.
Light nodded, munching obediently.
Constellations had underestimated Ban Yu-won badly.
He poured oil on their fire gleefully, escalating wildly under Trick Room rules.
Thus, by Room 27 linkage, Ban Yu-won's group visited the ancient kingdom's palace.