Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Lesson 32. The Progress is Too Fast - 4
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[No matter how I look at it, I think I'm prettier than her.]
Lilith, who had been rolling around inside the spaceship assigned to Rebellion's group, measuring this and that, spoke up in a voice that was somehow artificial yet beautiful.
What made it feel artificial was the overly clear tone, the strangely off accent, or the faint noise mixed in like it was a recording being played back.
Ban Yu-won, who had finished checking the coordinates and was gazing out at the stars, responded in disbelief.
"Pretty? What's your standard for that?"
[The harmony of soul? Concepts?]
That was still a profound realm even Ban Yu-won didn't fully understand.
It seemed Lilith, his familiar born from him and sharing part of his authority, had some criterion only she could perceive.
[Anyway, I'm prettier than this old hunk of junk! It would've been nice if Master rode me instead.]
"Special activities have to be done with academy-registered ships. So we'll test-drive you later."
Ban Yu-won repeated his earlier explanation as he examined the concepts within her.
Lilith [Yokai Engine 1,000 | Life 1,000 | Yokai Thunder Force 880 | Soul 750 | Myriad Changes 100 | Space Transcendence 200 | Resonance 128]
The core keywords forming the current Lilith were none other than yokai and machine.
She might even be the ultimate mechanical lifeform, akin to the mechanized monsters like the armored bugs that appeared in the Tower.
Right there, the depth of that core concept was a straight-up 1,000, no haggling.
Considering that Eve's phantom beast, which had grown diligently, had Life at 650, this was a massive leap in one go.
And it wasn't just evolution; she'd devoured precious artifacts Ban Yu-won had acquired, so it was no wonder Eve was miffed.
That was why Eve was coiled around Ban Yu-won's arm right now.
She was sulking and demanding comfort.
[Even if I caused Master trouble during hatching, I just need to be more helpful to Master than Eve sis!]
"Calling her sis, huh."
[Of course. Eve sis was born first.]
That wasn't what he'd meant to question.
For reference, Lilith's current form was a round metal sphere small enough to hold in both hands... if you had to compare, similar to Aire's Magic Orb.
Thanks to devouring Myriad Changes, she could absorb most concepts and transform like Eve.
"Still, doesn't seem much different from Eve. How do you talk?"
[Eve sis can talk too, you know?]
Ban Yu-won's head snapped around at Lilith's innocent reply.
But Eve, wrapped around his arm, pretended not to know and yawned.
Lilith rolled smoothly through the air, chattering away.
[Myriad Changes opens all possibilities. Even star-like monsters communicate, so why couldn't we?]
"Now that you mention it..."
If you could transform into anything, mimicking human vocal cords would be trivial.
He knew his familiars—Tike, Levi, Eve, Lilith—all had intelligence surpassing ordinary humans, so they just needed a way to vocalize human language.
Yet Eve, even after ages with Myriad Changes, never opened her mouth.
There must be a reason.
Ban Yu-won stroked the head of Eve, who was still pretending not to know.
"Ban Yu-won, is chatting with that tin can fun?"
"Pretty fun."
[Tin can?! Calling such a pretty, refined lady by that rude nickname!]
Dokgo Yeon, who had been with Lucelle until now, approached and spoke to him.
Glancing at Lucelle, she was sitting quietly, head bowed, lost in thought.
"Feeling a bit better?"
"Not at all. That girl's still worrying about you instead of her own dimension."
Lucelle had been like that ever since yesterday, when the special activity dimension was assigned.
With external meddling almost confirmed for this activity,
and it happening to be her home dimension, of all places.
She was fretting that she might cause trouble for Ban Yu-won.
"You need to comfort her. Whatever happens there, it won't be Lucelle's fault."
"I know. I tried, but it didn't work."
"Can't even soothe a girl's heart."
Dokgo Yeon clicked her tongue.
"Might as well just knock her down..."
"Huh?"
"..."
Then that worry would be trivial.
She trailed off mid-sentence, like something caught in her throat.
"Ugh...!"
Ban Yu-won jumped up as her face paled and she clutched her chest.
"What's wrong, Dokgo Yeon? You okay?"
"...I'm fine. Worry about her, not me right now."
"Really okay?"
"Keep asking and I'll get mad."
That kind of retort usually meant she wasn't fine.
Ban Yu-won glanced between Lucelle, still hanging her head, and Dokgo Yeon snapping at him needlessly, then sighed.
"Both of you, let's have some hot chocolate and calm down. Still a ways to our destination."
"I do like it, but lately you pull that out every time things get tricky."
"You'll drink it anyway. Lucelle, come here. Keep moping and I'll hug you for real."
"...!"
Lucelle's ears perked up.
She started to stand but hesitated and sat back down—clearly more interested in something else than hot chocolate.
Her obvious intentions were oddly cute.
Ban Yu-won decided to resolve her dilemma.
"Come now, and I'll hug you."
"!"
At that, Lucelle bolted over like she'd been waiting.
Right—when words fail, other means work.
Ban Yu-won chuckled softly and pulled a thermos of hot chocolate from his inventory.
"..."
"Whoa, Dokgo Yeon, why the death glare all of a sudden? Scary..."
The three drank hot chocolate amiably, and Ban Yu-won suddenly thought of Light.
Was that guy okay?
Maybe Ryu Cheol-myeong had gone there.
If he turned the ship around now, toward Light's home...
'No.'
He shook off the absurd notion firmly.
Lucelle worried for him, but he worried for her just as much.
He'd heard about her troubles.
She called him Master and served selflessly, but relationships weren't so one-sided.
Naturally, Ban Yu-won wanted to save Lucelle and her home.
So, as the Chancellor said, this was the best choice.
Still, he couldn't help worrying about Light.
Not on purpose, but by picking Lucelle, he'd left Light in a bind.
'Light... if you get hurt, you're really in for it.'
He'd be fine.
Ryu Cheol-myeong's target was Ban Yu-won, Dokgo Yeon, and Lucelle—not Light.
So he had to be.
He hoped so.
When Light, descending from the Tower with Yumina's help, returned to his dimension,
the first thing he saw was the sky filled with airships.
"Prince, you're back!"
"Disaster! The Guardian Alliance has betrayed us...!"
"Exodus is invading, Prince! They're colluding with part of the Guardian Alliance...!"
The kingdom's knights and nobles, spotting his return, rushed over, clutching his clothes and whining.
They were always this frail and dependent.
Ever since he grabbed the holy sword and charged out to protect the kingdom.
"Betrayal by the Guardian Alliance? Infighting's always been around."
The fun times climbing the Tower with like-minded comrades felt like a lie now.
Fatigue he couldn't shake laced his voice as he replied to his subjects.
"Prince? Your appearance is a bit..."
"Voice too."
"That's not important now! Prince, let me brief you on the situation. Inside, quickly! We urgently need your support!"
"R-Right! Hurry, escort him!"
"His Majesty is coughing! He's issuing a direct edict to you, Prince...!"
"Is that so? Father."
Light crossed the palace with a faint sigh.
It had been less than half a year, but he'd matured mentally and was no longer swayed by every word from his subjects.
Except for one.
The one who ordered him to wield the holy sword... the King.
"You've come, 'Prince'."
What did it feel like when his own father called him 'prince'?
What did it feel like?
Light suppressed the growing impulse lately, biting his lip, and bowed to the kingdom's highest man.
"Have you been well, Father?"
"An Exodus envoy mentioned your name."
The cold voice shook his mind.
"Seems you've been making a name for yourself at the Academy."
"Surely this invasion isn't because of me?"
"No. But it won't be without influence."
The king added that it was irrelevant now anyway.
"Our forces are insufficient. As Light, prove your worth as the holy sword's master and defend the nation."
"Father, the holy sword is now..."
"The holy sword?"
In a national crisis, he couldn't say he feared the side effects and couldn't wield it.
Yet,
having felt firsthand how much his companions, Ban Yu-won included, struggled for his 'cure,' he couldn't stay silent.
"...I am strong without the holy sword, Father."
"So you've avoided it. Your softened face makes it obvious."
"Does it... look that way?"
His teeth ground together.
Seeing his darkening expression, the king likely grasped his point and cracked a wry smile on his stern face.
"A joke. You're my son; I know your talent and strength better than anyone."
"Then――."
"But this isn't the time for banter."
Ah.
Light recalled the moment he first drew the holy sword.
No one told him what he'd endure.
He'd just gripped it with naive excitement.
"Draw the holy sword, As Light. With the great power from our ancestors, protect this nation."
"..."
The king was probably right.
The situation was dire—even here at the palace, explosions echoed.
He had to draw it.
The nation's fate rested on Light's shoulders.
It always had, before enrolling at the Academy.
Now it felt like slipping back into his own clothes.
The ones everyone said suited him perfectly.
Utterly sickening, nauseating clothes.
The guardian's garb.
"Father."
"Still words left?"
"Do you remember my name?"
"As Light. I said no more jokes."
"My real name."
The king paused at Light's choked voice.
But the silence didn't last.
"The battle is urgent. Make haste, As Light."
"...Understood, Your Majesty."
As Light turned and left the palace.
Abandoning himself, he gripped the holy sword once more.
Until vacation's end, he never let it go.