Chapter 148
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Lesson 30. Final Exam - 3
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Even though Ban Yu-won had grown tremendously over the past semester, he still wasn't quite at the level where he could take down Lucen Ortima in a one-on-one fight.
In other words, he had stepped into the ring fully expecting defeat... but deliberately courting humiliation in a fight whose outcome he knew wasn't Ban Yu-won's style. This time, though, he set his stubbornness aside.
He judged that since Ortima's Authority overlapped somewhat with his own, there was something to gain from a direct confrontation.
Even if he couldn't win now, turning that experience into a future victory made enduring a loss or two more than worthwhile.
"I don't like that look in your eyes."
The conviction that he would one day surpass him made Ban Yu-won stand tall even before a powerhouse.
What he lacked wasn't talent or effort—it was simply time.
And seeing Ban Yu-won show no intention of hiding that attitude, Lucen Ortima's eyes gleamed coldly as his expression soured.
"If you'd known your place, you'd have tucked tail and run before facing me. Guess bugs can't help themselves."
"Oh dear, did knowing your place so well get your arm lopped off by Dokgo Yeon? Oh right, it's back on now? I ate that thing—how'd you reattach it?"
"You bug—!"
Ortima, struck physically and verbally in return, reached out with one hand in a savage grimace, only to grit his teeth and pull back upon realizing the duel hadn't started yet.
It would've been a solid disqualification bait if it had worked—too bad it failed.
"Your eye looks different now. Swapped it out, huh?"
"I'm done falling for your crude provocations."
Since the special activity ambush on Rebellion members had been officially swept under the rug, getting drawn further into Ban Yu-won's words risked self-incriminating.
Regaining his senses late, Ortima feigned composure and backed off, but Ban Yu-won—who remembered perfectly who started the taunting—was dumbfounded.
"Did you swap your body for short-term amnesia instead?"
"...!"
Right then, the start signal rang out.
Without any preparatory motion, Lucen Ortima unleashed his Authority.
A massive barrage of mana spears materialized before Ban Yu-won and surged toward him!
'Whoa, straight-up dumping mana like that?'
The nasty part? Most of the mana spears hurtling at him were natural mana.
Ortima's Authority boiled down to 'Command'.
He could forcibly manipulate anything he overpowered with his rank, and natural mana was no exception.
That gave him total dominance over lower-rank foes, but against higher-rank ones like Dokgo Yeon or Aire, he was powerless.
'And probably me too.'
Rank wasn't measured by just one metric.
Internal mana played a role, and levels from the higher-dimensional system were surely one too.
Physical perfection, and the outward influence of 'Charm' factored in as well.
But Ban Yu-won knew the single most crucial metric.
The soul.
"Crawl on the ground like the bug you are."
Ban Yu-won's soul rank had likely surpassed Lucen Ortima's from the moment he entered the Academy.
Of course, everything else lagged behind back then, making him easy prey for the Authority... but now.
With his soul—having recognized, grown, and skyrocketed beyond all other concepts—reaching a whopping 850.
"Kgh... Kneel, befitting your station!"
"You know it won't work."
Ortima's Authority had zero chance of invading his body.
Ban Yu-won inwardly cheered—the conceptual motion when Ortima tried exerting force on him mirrored his own Authority activation perfectly.
'Definitely helpful.'
He'd suspected as much ever since absorbing the 'Divine Word' concept from Ortima's arm.
Ortima's Authority was a strict subset of his own.
Ortima just seemed superior due to far greater mastery (honed over generations with refined training methods).
'How to interfere with concepts inside another's body. How to manifest multiple concepts simultaneously.'
He planned to extract as many such insights as possible by fighting.
To do that, first—
Ban Yu-won raised the Executioner's Longsword, unleashing his near-complete Origin Sword.
It perceived every incoming mana spear, generating an optimal 'flow of concepts' for dodging or shattering them.
Some were pre-mastered ones like Flow and Counter.
Some were instant creations like Left-Step, Forward-Duck, or Gallop.
Others were weapon-infused enhancers like Sever and Pierce.
"—Hup!"
Once optimally arranged, he simply entrusted his body to the flow.
Grasping all surrounding concepts, generating their flow, and acting accordingly—the Origin Sword process had become overwhelmingly more efficient than at creation.
—Ching ching ching!
"..."
The result was plain to see.
With supremely efficient, even beautiful motions, he cleaved through the mana spears filling every direction, forging paths to charge and evade.
To an outsider, it might've looked like Ortima had tipped him off: 'I'll fire like this, counter like that.'
"You...?"
But after elegantly piercing the overwhelming assault, instead of pressing Ortima, Ban Yu-won sheathed his blade and swiftly retreated.
He knew getting closer amplified Ortima's Authority.
As Ortima glared with a hardened expression, Ban Yu-won grinned and said,
"Let's go a bit more. This is fun."
"Think I'll play your game—?!"
Enraged by the expert taunt, Ortima surged his mana fiercer.
"Kneel—!!"
Expecting more ambient mana control, Ortima instead focused everything on direct interference with Ban Yu-won.
Which was exactly what Ban Yu-won craved—so he smiled and activated his own Authority.
The duel ended in Ban Yu-won's defeat.
Even not losing instantly to Lucen Ortima—whose Life neared or exceeded 1,000—was impressive enough.
It was possible only because Ortima's Authority was a perfect subset of his.
Unable to subjugate Ban Yu-won, Ortima realized he might actually lose and switched to brute-force overwhelming quantity, letting Ban Yu-won hold out until he declared defeat.
In-depth contemplation of a subordinate Authority enhances its application. Depth of All-Reading Eyes, All-Hearing Ears, and All-Speaking Lips increases by 20 each.
Depth of Mysterious Body Art reaches 225. Depth of Mysterious Energy reaches 470. Body concept converts rapidly; Body depth becomes 10. You realize the converted unknown concept's depth has surpassed 600.
Existence grows greatly in high-level battle with superior ability user. Depth of Life reaches 750.
The fruits of defeat were incredibly sweet.
Not only did his stagnant Authority receive prime stimulus and surge ahead, but amid the frantic conceptual conversions in intense combat, Mysterious Body Art advanced steeply—bringing true completion of a new martial art within reach.
He was tempted to beg Lucen Ortima for another round, even if it meant losing again, but the mood was anything but right.
"You..."
After the duel.
Lucen Ortima's feelings toward Ban Yu-won were utterly wretched.
His victory looked 'uncool' to anyone watching.
He'd just bulldozed with raw power; a closer look revealed Ban Yu-won's combat prowess had overwhelmed him.
If Ban Yu-won kept growing at this rate? In a month?
Two months if not?
Could Ortima still win then?
Maybe not.
This duel planted that anxiety deep.
Even a smug Ortima couldn't mock or gloat over his win.
"...Bug."
"What, trash?"
He could've ignored and left, but since he'd lost in the end—no, wait, he'd won—so he figured he'd hear out the victor's words.
He could guess what was coming anyway.
The same thoughts everyone at the Academy harbored toward him.
How do you get so strong so fast?
Who's helping you?
Spill the secret.
Join my family; I'll treat you well.
What do you know about the Tower...?
"Dokgo Yeon and you."
"Huh?"
"What's your relationship... with Dokgo Yeon?"
Ban Yu-won just blinked.
No, this has nothing to do with the duel, right?
Wait... was he still nursing that solo romance fantasy?!
"I sensed Dokgo Yeon in your swordsmanship."
Ban Yu-won desperately wished for a towel.
To scrub off his goosebumps right there, facing Ortima's dead-serious, wistful expression—he'd do anything.
"Well, yeah, she taught me swordsmanship. We duel for about 30 minutes every day..."
"Thirty minutes a day. Spending thirty minutes a day with her."
Oof.
That's heavy, mister.
Overwhelmed by Ortima's aura, Ban Yu-won gaped as the man continued.
"I'm not killing you right now because I realized my previous approach with her was wrong. Remember you're alive by my mercy... know your place, and don't dare approach her."
"Goodness. That was your 'approach'? To us, it was attempted murder."
"She doesn't belong with the likes of you. That overwhelming power, will, beauty—befitting the matriarch of House Ortima. Once she realizes her true place, she'll come to me naturally."
Reason-proof. Alien confirmed.
Strange—his Authority should work on aliens too, but no dice.
He thought he'd grasped him through the duel, but now? Total mystery.
Hating pointless chatter most, Ban Yu-won cut off Ortima's rambling nonsense midway.
"Stop justifying yourself. You're just a criminal and trash."
Of course, Dokgo Yeon liking someone was her freedom.
Ban Yu-won had no right to interfere.
But in his judgment—after spending even a short first semester with her—Lucen Ortima was definitely not someone she'd choose.
"See ya. Keep digging alone."
"..."
Too tired even for 'bug,' Ortima just glared silently.
Maybe he'd realized using his Authority only let Ban Yu-won observe and grow?
"Congrats on third place. Who knows next semester."
"...!"
His eyes wavered at the casual jab—proof he wasn't dumb enough to underestimate Ban Yu-won's potential.
Satisfied, Ban Yu-won secured fourth in the year and left the training room.
For the record, first place in this semester's comprehensive evaluation duel went to Dokgo Yeon.