Chapter 139

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 139

Chapter Title: Lesson 28. Flower Viewing of Ruin - 6

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Just to briefly explain what Ban Yu-won had done moments ago.

It started from the sword that served as the main agent of the attack.

From the fingers gripping the sword, to the wrist, forearm, shoulder, and chest.

The waist supporting it all, hips, thighs, knees, shins, instep, and toes.

The breathing to channel power to all of it, the movement of the lungs, the heartbeat, the flow of blood.

And every fluid concept related to his movements, meticulously structured based on his body and the three swords to manifest language magic.

"Hoo, hooo..."

To perfectly read the enemy's movements required instantaneous high-speed cognition to complete all calculations in a split second.

A deep understanding of the correlation between martial arts and the body was necessary, along with the sensibility to break it down into movements—a collection of fluid concepts.

There were limits to magical power as well, and since all of this had to be composed solely of concepts he had cognized, it was far from an easy ability to handle.

As long as Ban Yu-won continued to observe and collect countless martial arts, movements, and related concepts on numerous battlefields ahead.

And steadily trained and grew the foundation to unfold those concepts—his body, magical power, and Swordsmanship—he was certain this technique would bring him endlessly close to invincibility.

The bodily concept fluctuation notifications that poured in the instant he severed the Orc Lord's neck made that fact clear.

'Swordsmanship has grown tremendously. No, it'd be faster to find what hasn't changed.'

Once harmonized and moved through authority, the concepts are firmly imprinted on his flesh.

If the same Orc Lord were brought before him now and told to perform the same movement, Ban Yu-won could unleash an even more powerful strike while consuming less than half the Mystic Energy he used before.

In other words, this technique permanently evolved all his movements the more it was used.

The rapid growth of Swordsmanship depth and the perfect awakening of his aura were prime examples.

'My head... it hurts like it's going to split.'

—Throb.

Ban Yu-won clutched his head with one hand.

It was the natural result of forcibly drawing on the low-depth Acceleration concept.

Ironically, that was how Acceleration's depth finally reached 10.

To properly establish today's insights into a complete martial art, other concepts mattered, but above all, he needed to deepen Acceleration.

—Are you okay?! You just moved like you were possessed by a ghost!

'Something like that.'

Even in his pain, Ban Yu-won swiftly handled what needed doing.

Immediately retrieving the relic so other orcs couldn't touch it, storing it in his Inventory, and extracting the concepts wholesale from the Orc Lord's corpse to make it vanish.

"Whoa, a full combo gift set."

Forgetting his pain as he checked the particularly thick and long golden string extracted, Ban Yu-won widened his eyes in awe.

Ferocity and Monstrous Strength could go to Lucelle, and he could devour the rest himself.

He'd been particularly interested in Spiritual Power, so swallowing it whole was perfect.

And... the Orc Lord's Swordsmanship too.

'Ryu Cheol-myeong's Swordsmanship. Lacking depth compared to Dokgo Yeon's, but combined with the Orc Lord's ferocity, it produced tremendous power. To complete my Swordsmanship, I need to absorb various styles. Only then will the vessel strengthen.'

His Swordsmanship was completed by observing, collecting, and digesting countless concepts.

Dokgo Yeon was the most technically complete swordswoman he knew, but he couldn't learn only from her.

He had to learn from everything in the world.

Even gladly from enemies he loathed, if necessary.

Absorbing 50 each in Life and Swordsmanship for +20 depth was plenty impressive.

Ban Yu-won set aside 50 Life for his retainers, stored Ferocity and Monstrous Strength in the core with it, and looked up.

"The lord... the lord is dead!"

"No, my power... it's draining away...!"

With the Orc Lord's death, the orc wave collapsed, and the powerless orcs groaned in pain everywhere.

Confirming no infection wave energy remained among them, Ban Yu-won relaxed.

Since the Orc Lord had perfectly distorted and controlled the infection wave, killing it cleanly resolved everything without spawning a monster wave.

"In that sense, maybe the difficulty was low— whoa."

"You can say that leisurely because you achieved the feat of one-on-one against a clearly superior foe. Taking them down decisively."

"Huh? ...Sis?"

Muttering half to himself, half to Cellon, Ban Yu-won staggered from the headache when Yumina, who had approached behind and supported his back like before, startled him.

If his martial art were fully established, he might have noticed her approach, but it showed he had far to go.

"What was that just now? I'm no expert in martial arts, but it looked like you predicted all the opponent's movements and countered perfectly. It was the first time I saw you swing a sword to behead someone and thought it was beautiful."

Despite claiming no expertise, Yumina pierced the essence of his sword.

Unable to explain what he hadn't fully sorted himself, Ban Yu-won just smirked and asked her.

"Why'd you come? I said just watch."

"You looked exhausted. And you were wobbling. Beating the Orc Lord only to fall to others would be a shame, right?"

"I wouldn't fall, but... well, it's basically over now, so it's fine."

He had Stormrain Sword and Living Armor ready in Inventory anytime, but he didn't mention it, letting Yumina save face.

"Yu-won!"

Realizing the wave's end from the orcs' changes, Lucelle rushed over on all fours in half-beast form.

Seeing him lean on Yumina, she kicked off the ground, closing the distance in one leap, landing as a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠perfect human and grabbing him.

Yumina, startled by her sudden approach, hugged him tighter, but Ban Yu-won soon slipped free and stood straight.

"Yu-won, are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, just a bit dizzy, but I'm fine now."

Dismissing Lucelle's fuss while waving it off, he chewed a Candy of Life from his pocket without showing the returning headache.

The headache vanished instantly, and—

Jackpot.

Candy of Life and Eden's life essence always grew useful concepts for the consumer, but +2 Acceleration depth in one go was unexpected.

Probably accumulated elixir mileage bursting now; Ban Yu-won nodded contentedly.

"But do we not have to deal with those orcs?"

"Left alone, they'll thin their own numbers and scatter. Especially the monsters that weren't originally orcs—they hate orcs more than humans now that the infection wave's influence is gone."

Yumina pointed at the orcs starting to fight everywhere.

They looked identical at a glance, but per her explanation, originals were clashing with transformed ones.

Having their forms twisted by the orc wave, any sane one would want to tear apart their makers more than humans.

Left alone, the monster wave of tens of thousands would naturally dissipate; Ban Yu-won shrugged.

"Orc wave cleanup is a total steal."

"Only if you take down the Orc Lord."

"Ban, you're not hurt—?!"

Light soon joined, shaking blood from his spear tip.

Despite blocking an orc horde averaging 300 Life with just Lucelle, not a scratch on him.

Whatever 'help' from Aire, he was progressing astonishingly daily.

"Hm, wrapped up quite quickly."

"Good work, Dokgo Yeon."

Dokgo Yeon also appeared riding Lilith-transformed Eve, landing nearby.

Unexpectedly, among Rebellion members, she looked the most fatigued after Ban Yu-won.

"Putting mountain giants in and out of sub-space takes considerable energy. Their size leaves no choice..."

Rolling a Candy of Life in her mouth to recover mental power and inner energy, she said.

"But it grew them. Must've crushed at least 100,000."

"Sounds like you're a full tamer now."

Ban Yu-won wryly smiled at his comrades' calm after averting a lower dimension's near-destruction, then realized he was no different.

After slaying the Orc Lord, he'd only thought of his authority, not it.

"Alright!"

Yumina clapped, drawing their eyes as they gathered mid-battlefield.

Odd that orcs ignored the five humans to fight among themselves, but a faint scent suggested she'd done something.

"Truly splendid performance! No team could have achieved such perfect results on their first special activity. So, I hereby officially declare the special activity complete!"

"Ended in less than a day..."

"I wondered if we could finish the swarming orc legion by weekend's end."

"We predicted decapitating the head would collapse them. Still, precisely targeting and intercepting the leader amid that horde is our team's skill."

Rare generous praise from Dokgo Yeon.

The orc legion was genuinely formidable, and they'd cleared the objective flawlessly without casualties.

As Yumina said, 'perfect' self-assessment was fair.

In the warm atmosphere, Yumina beamed to wrap up.

"Special activity perfectly done, so report results to Papitar's humans and let's do flower viewing!"

Yumina's flower viewing obsession was wondrous.

Papitar scouts confirmed the wave's collapse, bursting fireworks and planning a welcome party, but she ignored it all, ruthlessly taking only the royal high-end liquors by type.

"Now, for the next hour, roam the capital and find tasty drinking snacks! Assemble back here in one hour!"

"Professor, were you just craving a drinking party...?"

Light narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but she averted gaze, ignored him, and dismissed the group.

Of course, Ban Yu-won predicted it when she mentioned flower viewing.

That spring as a senior, charging cherry blossoms in Yeouido with friends, sweeping food trucks thoughtlessly.

Watching others spread mats and drink, how bitter his minor status was.

Point is, flower viewing was basically a drinking party.

"Thinking that makes me suddenly crave chicken. Chicken at Han River with a mat and delivery is the best..."

Back then, tears and cola cocktails instead of booze ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with the chicken, but now he could legally drink!

"Hm?"

As Ban Yu-won eyed hunting chicken in the city, someone tapped his shoulder.

Dokgo Yeon.

"What's up?"

"Seems you achieved something fighting it. I want to hear about it."

Curious about her disciple's achievement, she'd come herself.

No way he'd dislike such interest.

Ban Yu-won grinned, raising his index finger.

Limiting his budding martial art to that finger, generating Sword and Pierce concepts, then infusing Mystic Energy.

His finger glowed golden aura.

"......"

Dokgo Yeon widened her eyes silently.

When truly shocked, her pupil cross moved impossibly; it did now.

Slightly tilting horizontal to an X, not cross.

Cute.

"This... doesn't seem fundamentally changed."

"Not sure how it looks to you... but I feel like I've found my own path. Since I can collect and create contents endlessly, I concluded I must strengthen the vessel to hold them."

"The vessel."

Her eyes regained focus.

Now facing him with serious, stern gaze.

"Creating a vessel to perfectly contain infinite possibilities—is that the path your sword pursues? Answer more firmly, with conviction."

Initially, expounding his martial art to Dokgo Yeon, far ahead, felt arrogant.

But she disliked such humility.

She wanted him resolute in pursuit.

"...Yes, exactly. That's my Martial Arts."

As Ban Yu-won nodded firmly, a faint smile graced Dokgo Yeon's lips.

"I see. ...Whoever taught you, you learned well."

Right answer again.

Dokgo Yeon cleared her throat, turning her head sideways.

Not wanting to show her smile.

"It'll require immense effort and study. To contain all martial arts intents in one sword—if not you, it'd be utterly arrogant."

"That's... why you believe?"

"No, you're an ignorant pup who spouts it unknowing. Ignorance, not arrogance."

Blunt as ever, but Ban Yu-won caught her profile still smiling.

"But who can stop one aiming high? Though unintended, I taught you sword first, so as a master of sorts, I'll support you."

"So grateful I'm tearing up— ow!"

Precisely knuckle-rapped without looking back, she continued.

"A vessel holding any intent. Suits your goal. 'Perfect Vessel' sounds tacky; 'Fundamental Vessel' awkward. Flip to Origin Vessel. Since sword becomes vessel, Origin Sword."

"Origin Sword..."

"All rivers return to the sea, so uniting all sword intents makes a grand flow. Then, Origin fits."

Finishing, she sighed, turning back with feigned blank face.

Poorly hidden flushed cheeks unnoticed by her.

"Well, like it? You could name it yourself..."

"Love it, Origin Sword."

Ban Yu-won nodded without hesitation.

Her lips twitched loose; right answer again.

"Glad you like it. Wasn't confident in naming..."

"Ah— now."

Sensing the odd mood, Ban Yu-won coughed, changing topic.

"Talk's done, let's get snacks. Hope this world has chicken."

"Chicken? Ah, that crispy-battered fried chicken from before."

"Seasoned chicken's tasty too. You'd like the spicy-sweet sauce version."

"Spicy... sweet? That exists?"

They walked the capital chatting idly.

Their distance feeling shorter wasn't Ban Yu-won's illusion alone.

For reference, no chicken or seasoned found, so with skilled chef Lucelle's help, they had to fry and sauce it themselves.