Chapter 152
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Lesson 31. The Last Spoonful Is Always the Most Annoying - 2
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15th week, Monday.
The curtain finally rose on the last tower exploration of the first semester, doubling as their first long-term expedition.
Just like when they first entered the tower, the entire student body flocked to the hill where it stood, buzzing with excitement like it was some kind of festival.
"This is our chance to catch up on a whole semester in one go."
"Catch up? Won't the gap just widen even more?"
"You never know. The top teams might retire midway."
"Are you an idiot? The top two solo first-years have never retired once."
"What about Rebellion?"
"Those guys are even..."
This time, they might finally surpass Aire's solo team and Lucein Ortima's team.
Anyone who had watched Rebellion channel's weekly tower exploration videos, updated right up until finals season, was thinking exactly that.
Their explorations had been extraordinary from the start.
Though their progress was slow, they had charged through to Room 107 with unbelievable momentum, leading the first-years in solos—something even Aire, who had only encountered trick rooms twice, treated as routine from the lower floors. They had even smoothly broken through multiple chained rooms in a row.
Their one and only flaw—slow progress—had turned into a torrent of breakthroughs starting from Week 10, reaching Room 80 before they knew it. They had overtaken every other team, securing third place behind Ortima's team, currently at Room 94.
"But those guys are brutally tough. Don't you think it'll only get harder?"
"That's probably why they're growing faster. They might actually become the year-top team from a lower dimension..."
"Did you see the latest grades post?"
"Yeah. I figured as much, but I didn't expect the upperclassmen to flip like that too."
"We really should have gone to Union Academy."
Ban Yu-won listened to the whispers around him with a sour expression.
"Feels like they're settling scores."
"Settling scores?"
Sometimes in games, there are mid-summary reports: how many levels you've gained, achievements unlocked, what to do next for your goals—like a settlement sheet.
Ban Yu-won explained it simply to his game-illiterate teammates.
"Even people who knew nothing about us will figure out all the details once they get here."
"And you hate that?"
Dokgo Yeon asked, and Ban Yu-won snorted, shaking his head.
"Not enough yet. The first-years' reactions are par for the course anyway—besides the point."
"That bug over there doesn't seem to think so."
He turned at Dokgo Yeon's words. Today, Lucein Ortima was staring at them with especially sticky, feverish eyes.
It was the kind of look that made you want to call the cops on sight.
"Him... probably because of that conversation during our last spar."
"What'd you say?"
"I told him I was learning swordsmanship from you, and he kept beautifying his past actions, saying he wasn't worthy, acting like you belonged to him."
He was used to the arrogance typical of higher-dimensional folk by now, but Ortima had crossed the line.
Especially deciding Dokgo Yeon's future on his own—there were limits to ignorance.
"And?"
"So I tried to snap him out of it, but like anyone called out on facts, he just got more pissed."
"Hmm... classic. What else?"
"That's it. Stuff like 'I lost this time, but next time I'll win'—you know, loser talk."
Dokgo Yeon shot back incredulously at Ban Yu-won's shrug.
"You had the upper hand and blew it. You don't even try to package yourself."
"This is high-level packaging. You just don't get it yet."
Dokgo Yeon finally let out a small laugh.
And Ortima's gaze burned twice as hot.
"This is annoying as hell, seriously. Dokgo Yeon, you deal with it."
"I'd love to handle it myself... but it seems the problem's out of my hands now."
"Huh?"
The great Dokgo Yeon dodging responsibility?
As Ban Yu-won's eyes widened, she sighed and shook her head.
"Looks like you still haven't realized, Ban Yu-won."
"Realized what?"
"What Dokgo Yeon means is..."
Lucelle narrowed her eyes at Dokgo Yeon and replied.
"No matter what Dokgo Yeon says now, that guy's already fixated on seeing Yu-won as his rival."
"Yeah, I kinda figured that much..."
"So how's it really? Dokgo Yeon, did you lead him on or something?"
"As if. Why would I fear that guy and use Yu-won as a shield?"
Dokgo Yeon calmly met Lucelle's glare, then smirked at Ban Yu-won.
"Ban Yu-won's just butting in on his own to 'protect' me. ...How cute."
"What do you mean, when did I ever--"
Ban Yu-won raised his voice to deny her absurd gripe, but a memory flashed: their last spar with Ortima.
How had he responded to Ortima's jealous ravings, treating him as a love rival?
Wait, had he even denied his relationship with Dokgo Yeon?
'No. I despise strangers judging my relationships without knowing jack. ...Huh? Doesn't that leave room for misunderstanding?'
Conclusion reached.
Ban Yu-won nodded.
"Yeah, it's totally understandable he'd misunderstand."
"Right?"
"Something... doesn't sit right. I've been trying so hard to get close to Yu-won, but you sneak ahead without a peep...!"
"Don't drag me into your boy-girl drama? ...And you have a habit of letting instincts run wild—rein it in."
The group headed to the tower amid their youthfully charged banter.
Not long ago, Rebellion—the most famous first-year team—would enter first. Now, like upper years, teams entered in order of tower height.
Aire went first, followed by Ortima's team, who glared at Ban Yu-won to the end.
Theirs was third. Yumina stood at the entrance as always, greeting them.
"Please be careful. Intruder activity has quieted, but... the tower always hits when you're off guard."
"We'll keep that in mind."
Before entering, they exchanged glances with her as usual.
As Light awkwardly avoided his, but that had been going on since yesterday, so fine.
"Hold on. Why's Light acting weird? Yu-won, did you...?"
"Well, Light only invited Ban Yu-won to his dimension! So bold!"
"Professor?!"
Yumina dropped the bombshell last, shattering the serious mood.
...On purpose?
Lucelle was pretty shocked to learn Dokgo Yeon and As Light had secretly advanced things with Ban Yu-won behind her back. But after moping briefly, by the time they cleared Room 84, she flipped to a positive mindset.
"No choice now—in this break, we'll pull so far ahead no one can catch up...!"
―Kieeeek!
"Oh."
Ban Yu-won just sighed softly at Lucelle's spectacle: lightning cloaking her body as she rampaged, smashing the monster horde blocking their path.
"Hm."
Meanwhile, Dokgo Yeon tilted her head at the new monster corpses starting from this floor.
"Are these things made entirely of iron?"
"Base is definitely bugs. Ugh... at least armored beasts just have shells—the insides are animal."
As Light cringed, voice pathetic—he hated bugs.
Ban Yu-won, analyzing concepts, already knew their identity.
"Machina bugs."
"Machina? Like armor?"
"Different. Machine armor. Not just iron—they pack firepower. These ones..."
The Room 84 monsters looked like ladybugs, but their elytra gleamed with metal plating.
Attack pattern: simple spin-charge.
But the spin and charge speeds were insane—head-on collision meant getting shredded.
Yet they malfunctioned before reaching the group: stopping spins or crashing into each other.
Reason: one.
Overwhelming current from frontline Lucelle.
"See? Lightning fries their gears, halting the spin. So they gained mechanical spin ability."
"Why's this more efficient than smashing with my internal energy?"
Earthlings know overcurrent fries machines, but explaining to other-dimensional folk? Tough.
He gave up.
"Just accept it. Anyway, thanks to Lucelle, we know the strategy—good."
For unconvinced Dokgo Yeon, Ban Yu-won cast dual magic: elemental for lightning mana, linguistic to enchant her and As Light's weapons.
He could've swapped overflowing sword aura to lightning without magic via Origin Sword.
"Your abilities are getting so diverse."
Dokgo Yeon eyed the menacing current on her shortsword with interest. Ban Yu-won replied proudly.
"Still focusing on martial arts, Master."
"How close to completing Manifestation Arts?"
"..."
No answer.
He felt so near.
One more step.
Why couldn't he reach it?
"Before this exploration ends, somehow..."
"Facing a strong foe might spark growth."
"Ah... Yu-won!"
Lucelle, mowing down machina bugs hardest, called him.
"Weird stuff from the elite monster!"
"Didn't even notice an elite."
"Power's fine, but speed's too much—can't catch it."
"It's a beast type."
Room 84 was cleared, lightning enchant barely used.
If Lucelle hadn't forfeited against Ban Yu-won in the team eval spar, rankings would've differed...
"But Yu-won, sorry."
"For what?"
"Smashed whatever was inside without checking..."
"Ah."
Lucelle approached with delicate machinery scraps—clearly a core part for some massive device.
"Really sorry..."
"It's fine, Lucelle. Our fault for leaving it to you alone. Plus, the tower always has a way forward, no matter what."
Ban Yu-won took the scraps, reassuring teary-eyed Lucelle, then examined it.
One thing clear: with his current power, no fix.
And.
"Huh, shift?"
"Auto-progress without alternatives? Maybe closed chain room chance... Hm?"
―Block 10 attacks without allied damage.
―All machines in this space have 2x power.
...Destroying the device had triggered a chain of 11 chain rooms.