Chapter 151
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Lesson 31. The Last Spoonful Is Always the Most Annoying - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The moment Ban Yu-won picked it up instinctively, his authority activated.
He'd expected something impressive, but this exceeded it right away.
Space Transcendence? Was this the power that had yanked him toward that thing in an instant just moments ago?
He'd suspected the axe and horns resonated with some magnetic or spatial force, but to think this was the true core!
Pulling out just this concept alone... as expected of Murin. The concepts are so intricately intertwined that it might be a bit tough for me right now... Hm?
He was pondering how to make use of what might be the rarest treasure he'd gained since entering the tower when he suddenly noticed something off about its composition.
The Bull Demon Twin Horns' concept depth is 100. But why? It should be the sum of its subsumed concepts. Space Transcendence is also at depth 100, Solidity and Mighty Strength—unbreakable resilient power—at 50 each. Add Dark Magical Power, and that's 300 total. Isn't that weird?
It almost felt like there was a minus in the mix, as if the concepts weren't adding up but canceling out.
Space Transcendence and Mighty Strength were new to him, but both were undoubtedly extremely rare.
Dark Magical Power was a precious mana that enabled the use of advanced dark magic.
No elements for subtraction, so why the deficit?
"Hissit!"
"Ah, Eve! Sorry, I got distracted for a sec... Oh."
Ban Yu-won snapped out of his thoughts at Eve's call and took in the surroundings, falling silent.
Was it because the boss monster was dead and the wave's momentum had died down?
While he'd been examining the drop item, his retainers had mopped up the rest of the battle.
"That's it, then."
Normally, an alert would pop up after a wave ended, warning to prepare for the next one shortly after. But now, there was only silence.
Ban Yu-won sorted the golden strings flying in from all directions and distributed them to his retainers, absorbing as much as he could himself.
It only raised his Life by about 5, but that pushed his depth to 760. By system standards, that'd be around level 76.
"So, what now? Just wait around until the tower's done?"
But there was no need.
Turning around, he saw the tower fully completed behind him.
Soaring piercingly toward the sky, its form matched perfectly with the Babel Tower he knew.
"So now...?"
―Ban Yu-won, that guy's looking right at you, isn't he?
As Cellon said, while everyone else faced the completed tower, one lone human had turned toward Ban Yu-won.
His face was still unrecognizable, his voice inaudible.
But Ban Yu-won was certain he was staring straight at him.
"No, if you're recording to show your descendant, shouldn't you have checked if the audio worked properly too?"
Ban Yu-won, convinced the man was his ancestor, grumbled in disbelief.
The man pointed at the tower with his finger.
"Huh?"
The tower that imprisoned light.
A small clump of light burst out from within.
Maybe his ancestor hadn't gained free control of that light by building the tower—perhaps he'd built it to contain it.
As Ban Yu-won blankly pondered this, the ancestor pointed again—this time at him.
"――."
No, not at him, but at the Bull Demon Twin Horns still in his hand.
He knew because the light clump from the tower shot in a straight line and got absorbed into the horns.
At lightspeed—no time to react.
"No way. The Bull Demon Twin Horns already held Dark Magical Power, and now light dwells within too. Light and darkness combined—looks invincible...!"
Of course, it wasn't.
Not coexistence of light and darkness—they'd canceled each other out.
But simultaneously, Space Transcendence amplified, tripling the overall concept depth in pure terms.
If Ban Yu-won hadn't properly beaten the bull? If he hadn't properly defended the tower?
He wouldn't have gotten rewards like this, obviously.
Eden's probably out again this time. But with this, it's plenty.
Ban Yu-won was convinced this was the room's true reward.
His ancestor's gesture was the finale—the surrounding scenery warped and melted away.
―Eh?! What?! It's over just like that? What about a detailed explanation of the tower's origins? Hints on what's hidden inside?!
"You just saw it. That light, right? It's sealed in the tower."
―So what is it?! Where'd the absolute truth go that climbers become gods?! What's so special about that light!
Even the grand archmage Cellon couldn't fully parse the sequence of events in this space.
But Ban Yu-won had a hunch.
Because that man was his ancestor?
Or because his authority let him glimpse the light's essence, at least partially...?
Probably.
Babel Tower might not have been stolen after all.
If so, how many people have wrongly badmouthed him all this time...?
As he muttered awkwardly, the same vibration from killing the giant in his solo exploration hit him.
Ban Yu-won surrendered to it, turning back to the man amid the distorting scenery.
But the tower and the man had already vanished without a trace.
As if isolated from this space entirely.
After exiting the tower.
Ban Yu-won pondered how to process the two horns bearing the unfamiliar Space Transcendence concept, but it was unnecessary.
The moment he put them in his Inventory, Lilith swallowed them whole.
"Hey, you jerk."
―….
He'd clearly seen her gaping maw gulp them down in one go, yet the instant he spoke, she reverted to mechanical egg form and played innocent.
It was ridiculous, but Lilith wouldn't betray him, and maybe her stalled evolution had been due to lacking exactly this essential concept. He decided to let it go.
No, honestly, he was excited.
Lilith, my mount, just devoured Space Transcendence. Isn't it unreasonable not to speculate?
These days, even novels didn't hide stuff like this as "foreshadowing" anymore.
Maybe post-evolution Lilith would gain a function beyond his wildest dreams... like spatial teleportation!
He'd briefly hoped for dimensional travel too, but reined in his expectations—that'd be underestimating dimensional tech.
"Hm. Anything I can do?"
Back in his dorm room, staring at the mechanical egg, Ban Yu-won smacked his forehead.
Why had he boosted study and training efficiency with language magic but not thought to help her evolution?
He poured his full mana—plus Cellon's—onto the egg's surface, engraving the language magic word Promotion.
The egg lit up brilliantly, and the sounds of winding gears and a heartbeat emanated from within.
No need to check with his authority—he knew it had worked.
"Ban!"
The door opened, and Light appeared.
Sweaty from training, spear in hand.
"Done?"
"Yeah, perfect timing somehow."
"Good..."
"I'd made sure it wouldn't mess with Monday's exploration either way. No need to worry."
"I'm glad you're safe, idiot."
Light's sharp retort, face serious.
Of course she'd be annoyed—he'd worried her, then brushed it off.
"Thanks for worrying. I'll make hot chocolate as thanks, so wash up and come out."
"Yeah... okay. Um..."
Was there something embarrassing in what he'd just said?
Light fidgeted awkwardly before heading to the shower, then turned back.
"A-add booze too?"
"No, you're on alcohol ban for a while. Even after, no drinking without me or Dokgo Yeon around."
"You suck...!"
Drunk Light's destructive power could make anyone think, maybe even a guy wouldn't be bad.
Thank goodness Dokgo Yeon had introduced her to drinking first.
"Ban."
As he reminisced about that drinking party, leisurely making hot chocolate, Light poked her head out from the shower.
Just her head through the door, but her bare collarbone was fully visible.
The necklace chain around her neck looked oddly constricting... wait.
"Whoa?!"
Had Light ever acted this careless before?
Ban Yu-won couldn't hide his shock.
Light flushed redder at his reaction.
"D-don't come over."
"So, what's up? Urgent?"
"Not urgent, but... I forgot what I wanted to say earlier. Better spit it out before I forget again."
She avoided his eyes, gaze darting, fumbling.
Maybe it wasn't something silly like Yumina asking for booze in her cocoa.
But if not urgent, she could've waited till after.
"S-so... you know. Applications close tomorrow morning."
"For what?"
"Uh... the invitation. What kind of invitation? Well."
Her hair was damp from the shower.
If it were anyone else, he'd suspect a honey trap on him.
A droplet fell from her bangs, trickling down her collarbone.
It vanished into unseen territory, but the trail vividly sparked his imagination.
What the hell.
What was this situation.
Why was it suddenly like this.
Ban Yu-won realized anew: he shared a room with the opposite sex, and it was thrilling.
"C-come?"
"Where?"
"Our dimension."
Light whispered, turning away shyly.
He wished she'd avoid sudden moves with more skin showing.
But saying that would expose he noticed—and he'd lose.
Unaware of his pathetic thoughts, Light repeated herself.
"During break... wanna visit? Lucelle's... going to your dimension too. So."
"Uh... then go with Lucelle?"
"No!"
Her voice rose.
"I mean, not that I hate Lucelle. But I can't just let anyone in... You're my friend, so it's fine."
Did that imply Lucelle and Dokgo Yeon weren't friends? Fine?
"So... coming?"
She peeked up at him slyly, questioningly.
Sly? Or an unexpected cuteness from Light that made his heart race more.
But was this a shower-appropriate question? Bizarre.
"Mm. Lucelle's visiting our world, and I've got Earth stuff too... but a week or so? Sure, I'll come."
He wanted to get closer to Light anyway, thought he should lift her necklace curse, and above all, had words for her "parents." He nodded.
"For real?"
"Yeah."
"Yesss...!"
Her face lit up instantly.
Then she remembered she was naked and hid in a flash.
Before closing the door.
"It's a deal then!"
"Yeah, I'm going."
Still anxious, she got his confirmation before shutting it.
Ban Yu-won chuckled at her innocent charm, then stiffened at a sudden thought.
Wait, then what? ...Is she finally confessing she's a girl?
Or did she invite him home to keep hiding it?
Which was it?
"If you're seducing him, surprise attack's the only way."
"Not seducing! Just inviting him to our kingdom! ...Surprise? Like tackle from behind and blackmail? I know that's not it, so don't look at me like I'm pathetic..."
"Create an unexpected situation. Make him nod without overthinking. Extreme example: strip naked."
"That's just pervy."
"Subtly."
"Who's subtly stripping? That's even pervyer!"
"Don't pry. I don't know human mating well."
"M-mating?! No, not that yet!"
"Yet?"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"Ah, wrong word. Courtship, right? ...Light? You okay?"