Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Lesson 24. Where's a Newcomer Like You? - 6
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To Ban Yu-won, a concept was the root image inherent in all creation, expressed in language.
In other words, no matter what concept it was, it was defined in terms familiar to him.
It wasn't difficult.
When recognizing something new, replacing it with something most familiar was no different for other humans.
[Sword Aura]
The point was that if he defined his own aura, it would be sword aura.
And though he couldn't examine it closely, for Dokgo Yeon, it felt like [Sword Aura (Death)], with the detailed concept of qi infused within.
For reference, Ryu Cheol-myeong's wasn't divided into sub-concepts under sword aura; instead, various concepts clung messily to the sword aura itself. Like [Heavenly Pressure Sword Aura].
It looked flashier, but that was merely a vessel overly focused on form, forcibly adorned on the outside.
A gaudy vessel with scant contents versus one that seemed simple but was filled to the brim.
No need to debate which was sturdier.
"...To think you realized what true sword aura is while facing that fake."
On Wednesday afternoon, after all lectures ended, they gathered in Classroom 11's training room. After personally rechecking Ban Yu-won's aura once more, Dokgo Yeon acknowledged that he had correctly recognized it.
She noticed he hadn't blindly accepted Ryu Cheol-myeong's aura but had used him as a reference, learning what to take and firmly discarding the flawed parts.
The black color of the aura was solely because it was produced from dark qi.
Of course, being made from dark qi made it stronger than half-baked aura, but that didn't define its attribute.
"This is sword aura that has perfectly grasped only the form for now, produced purely from inner power without enlightenment. It's a feat only you, who can grasp and distinguish the roots of all things, could achieve."
"No, I could produce it because I'd seen your perfected sword aura before. You guided me there."
Having seen the correct form first, then comparing it to the flawed one, allowed him to realize 'why that's wrong, and how to avoid being wrong.'
His achievements in martial arts couldn't be discussed without Dokgo Yeon.
"Mmmph..."
Dokgo Yeon pursed her lips as if she had something to say at Ban Yu-won's pure expression of gratitude.
"...Hmph. If you're claiming to be my disciple, that's the least you should do."
She ended up snorting and turning her head away.
Pretending not to be pleased was pointless; her reddened ears were adorably cute, but he held back lest she hit him.
He couldn't yet manifest the magic to redirect all damage to space on his own!
He cleared his throat and got to the main point.
"Anyway, now that it's happened, no need to forget it, right?"
"No, seal it until your sword intent is properly formed."
Dokgo Yeon cut him off ruthlessly.
"Swinging around sword aura that's only form without true intent will get you drunk on sloppy power, preventing you from grasping proper sword intent."
"Got it, got it."
Ban Yu-won gave a wry smile at Dokgo Yeon's expression, as if swinging sword aura would collapse the heavens, and dispersed his sword aura.
She was a strict teacher, but he'd never suffered loss by following her words.
'Whew, even if it's just the shell, as an advanced technique, it's exhausting.'
Sword aura being the domain of the strong wasn't just due to difficult handling; the mana consumption played a big role.
Manifesting it briefly had sucked nearly 20% of his dark qi...
This made it impractical in real combat.
Even mobilizing all his internal dark qi only sustained it for about 30 seconds... Would grasping sword intent improve this insane mana efficiency?
'Or maybe my magic power is just severely lacking.'
Ban Yu-won checked his internal concepts.
The depth of his dark qi was 390.
Compared to when he first gained magic power, it was worlds apart, but against powerhouses like Dokgo Yeon or Aire, he knew he was still a novice.
"Hehe, alright. I've heard the gist, so... Sis, mind if I go see Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong briefly?"
"Hold on, Professor Yumina. I can't just stand by when you're making a face like you're about to bury someone."
Of course, compared to this transcendent being emanating thick floral mana before his eyes, there was no contest.
"But how can I stay still? Their arrogant mindset is infuriating! What do they take Union Academy's educational policy for...? If I hadn't taught you about magic circles beforehand, what then?!"
Yumina's rage, having heard everything from that morning, pierced the highest heavens.
Everyone assumed a full professor wouldn't lay hands directly on a student, yet he'd breezily shattered that assumption, beating Ban Yu-won under the guise of sparring!
Learning it had likely happened repeatedly before made it all the more outrageous.
"When you asked to embed healing magic in the magic circle, I thought it was worry over student spars going wrong. I never imagined you'd beat a student and try to erase evidence. I've disliked you before, but—this is the worst! Unforgivable; I won't let this slide!"
"Calm down, Sis."
As Ban Yu-won used his secret art, Yumina—who'd looked ready to teleport straight to Ryu Cheol-myeong—calmed somewhat.
Of course, this art had the side effect of drawing stern glares from onlookers!
Ignoring it, he continued.
"If it were before, we might've pressed the issue, but not now. I've actually achieved results."
"That's because it's you, Yu-won."
"That's not the point. Anyway, no victims emerged before, and I gained aura thanks to Professor Ryu Cheol-myeong. At least on the surface, that's how it looks."
"That's true, but I still... can't stand it...!"
Since her mask slipped once before, Yumina had been showing her true face more often around Rebellion members.
Even her killing intent was transposed into floral scent—fragrant yet chillingly eerie.
Ban Yu-won soothed his queasy stomach from the floral aroma and pressed on.
"It's fine. They won't pull that stunt again anyway."
"Because you awakened aura?"
"Exactly."
Even repeating it thousands or tens of thousands of times, others couldn't; only Ban Yu-won could awaken aura through such brute force.
Zero and one were starkly different.
This would provoke not just Ryu Cheol-myeong, but other students in his class even more.
"He won't swing his sword at lower-dimensional students or other underperformers anymore. If a bullied student awakens aura, it'd just benefit them."
"Hearing it that way... yeah, maybe."
Even if aura was the domain of advanced swordsmen, Union Academy gathered the dimension's top talents; beyond upperclassmen, few couldn't handle aura.
Up to second-years, it was 40-50%, but by third-year, 80-90% of melee majors wielded aura.
Those who couldn't were essentially underperformers—and Ryu Cheol-myeong's bullying targeted them.
...Though Stone Senior still couldn't wield aura.
'But first-years are different.'
Aura was what top talents honed over a year in Union Academy and Babel Tower's ultimate growth environment.
Now standing at that starting line, Ban Yu-won's awakening shocked everyone, drawing attention.
During that aura combat lecture, first-class students who'd witnessed it even clamored for special training next, flustering Ryu Cheol-myeong.
"So his tyranny ends today for sure. Once this spreads publicly, even more so."
"Still, he beat our Yu-won; we can't just let it fizzle out...!"
"Not sure when Ban Yu-won became the professor's possession."
Dokgo Yeon coldly remarked, raising her shortsword.
Black aura enveloped the blade, infused with vivid death that Ban Yu-won could sense.
Though inferior in sheer power to Ryu Cheol-myeong, its quality overwhelmingly surpassed.
"I'll cut him down myself. Before graduation."
Everyone in Rebellion, including Yumina, fell silent at Dokgo Yeon's chilling declaration.
No one dared quibble that beheading was extreme.
"So don't half-ass it. Professor, just focus on supporting Rebellion and Union Irregulars now."
"Y-Yes. I'm always ready to support you all."
Thanks to quietly seething Dokgo Yeon, Yumina's speech returned to normal.
Ban Yu-won thought the same.
The incident happened; no real way to damage Ryu Cheol-myeong by pursuing it.
Now, solidify their foundation.
Establish Rebellion as the undeniable ruling class, lead special admission students to support them solidly.
Once next year's freshmen back them, victory was theirs.
"Beating those bastards... we can start then."
Ban Yu-won wasn't saintly enough to endure injustice forever.
He wasn't pursuing accountability for Kantona, Ortima, Ryu Cheol-myeong because he lacked the power to crush them and the authority to punish boldly.
Thrashing now would be, as Dokgo Yeon said, 'feeble flailing.'
Keep them tense yet convinced he couldn't bite back.
Until the moment he reclaimed everything.
"Then, we flip it all."
"Agreed. Shall we spar, then?"
"...What? Hey, wait. Huh, hold on, Teacher?"
Enraged Dokgo Yeon, targeting Ban Yu-won instead of Ryu Cheol-myeong, dragged him onto the ring.
This woman, despite acknowledging it, resented that he'd awakened aura thanks to Ryu!
So petty!
"Wait, Dokgo Yeon."
Luckily, rampaging Dokgo Yeon was stopped by Lucelle.
"I want to master aura ASAP too. So, spar with me directly for a while."
"Didn't you hear what I told Ban Yu-won? Mastering just the shell is meaningless."
Dokgo Yeon snorted at Lucelle's cheeky retort, but she countered as if expecting it.
"I know the martial arts you taught me aren't as profound as what you taught Yu-won. I feel aura manifestation is near."
"..."
"Precisely, from watching today's spar... right?"
Dokgo Yeon fell silent.
Apparently, Ryu Cheol-myeong's demonstration enlightened more than just Ban Yu-won.
Lucelle's talent, high affinity with Dokgo Yeon's martial arts fueling rapid growth played a part.
But most crucially, her deep feelings for Ban Yu-won let her vividly witness his awakening process.
Guiding two growths at once—truly a devoted professor!
"Fine. Let's see how long that confidence lasts."
Dokgo Yeon finally drew her wooden sword, facing Lucelle instead.
Lucelle leaned forward, extending both hands.
Crackling blue sparks danced as long, sharp claws grew over her hands.
The ominous aura, unfit for something from Babel Tower's 30th floor, made Ban Yu-won and As Light simultaneously gulp in unison.
"...Grown accustomed to those claws?"
Dokgo Yeon suddenly asked while eyeing them; Lucelle replied with a gentle smile ill-matching the menace.
"Yu-won got them for me and strengthened them. Plan to use them for life."
"A ceaselessly strengthening tool? Fine choice. Matching aura's form to a weapon is one way. Martial artists with divine tools did likewise."
Lucelle's ears seemed to perk at Dokgo Yeon's words.
"How?"
"I'll etch it into your body now."
"Kyaa?!"
Dokgo Yeon vanished from her spot, appearing before Lucelle to kick her.
The moment her foot connected, black mist-like aura definitely cloaked her toe!
"Kuh... Haaah!"
"Slow!"
"Kyaaang!"
Lucelle, wreathed in blue lightning, moved at near-unperceivable speed—yet Dokgo Yeon ghostly captured her, slashing with sword or kicking true.
Having gained the Thunder Beast, Lucelle's combat power surged nearly 50% with deepened ferocity and instincts, but Dokgo Yeon handled her effortlessly.
—Thwack! Thud!
"Kyang, kyaaang!"
"Sync with the energy nonstop. When you're desperate, broken to the point you can't distinguish tool's energy from yours! Then, a simple, brutal qi befitting the beast will form!"
"Graaaang!"
Black and blue auras clashed repeatedly, dazzling Ban Yu-won's eyes.
Lucelle seemed to adapt swiftly to her tool under Dokgo Yeon's blows, but it looked brutally painful.
As Light, watching beside Ban Yu-won, quietly asked.
"How's what Dokgo Yeon's doing now different from what Ryu Cheol-myeong did earlier?"
"You idiot As Light, Ryu hates us; Dokgo Yeon likes us."
"...Ban, know you're making three layers of dangerous statements? Triply pissing me off!"
"Ban Yu-won! You're next, so wait!"
"Ah, screwed."
"Dokgo Yeon, too aggressive... Eek?!"
Dokgo Yeon was indeed in a foul mood. As Light too, apparently.
As Ban Yu-won nodded, convinced of his impending doom, Yumina fretted over potential murder in her class.
The next day, Thursday after school—Union Irregulars activity time, aka special admission remediation.
Ban Yu-won was grilled by club members yet to awaken aura on how to produce it, while Lucelle, who'd snagged a growth-type artifact in last week's exploration footage finale, got similar heat from the envious.
Dokgo Yeon teaching Ban Yu-won swordsmanship was famous too, making her a celebrity.
"Sigh..."
As Light, briefly sidelined, felt relieved and slipped out of the training room.
Lately, he pondered himself, Ban Yu-won, and his future with Rebellion members often.
Especially now, with Ban Yu-won and Lucelle shining.
So even amid group chatter, he sneaked off alone like this.
"As Light."
"Yeah?"
Recognizing the woman's voice—not Ban Yu-won's—yet hoping foolishly made him feel idiotic.
It was Aire.
Since the special activity, she'd grown closer to Rebellion, especially to Ban Yu-won and As Light.
"Why?"
"Hang out with me a bit."
Aire said, seemingly pondering something.
"In human tongue, 'right now you're' a male, so..."
"What're you on about? I've always been male!"
Her face brightened, word recalled.
"Right, a date. Date with me."
"...Dunno, but that'll be a hard no."
As Light retorted incredulously, yet uninterested in sword-swinging amid the group, he followed her meekly.
Naturally, those spotting the pair sneaking out lent credence to their dating rumors, spreading further.