Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Lesson 34. Free Servitude - 9
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From burying the beastmen en masse to the moment it appeared was just an instant.
Ban Yu-won must have dropped the chieftain—the Constellation's contractor—into the sinkhole among the beastmen.
The rampaging magic devoured every last one of the other beastmen who fell into the sinkhole. In a flash, it ballooned in size, leaping out of the hellish pit to plant its feet on solid ground.
I never imagined it would come to this.
"Is this solitude too?"
―No, you just made it easy by gathering them up as sacrifices.
The voice responding to Ban Yu-won was surprisingly calm and composed.
He lifted his head, locking eyes with the beast—over 100 meters tall—gazing down at him from an impossibly lofty height.
There were no traces left of the beastmen who had become its offerings.
The aura pouring from its entire body, the signature magic and soul fluctuations of a Constellation... it all resembled the Descent bodies he'd encountered in the previous tower.
The difference? Back then, the Constellations had burned through the tower's occupancy to stir up chaos. This time, the Constellation had sacrificed its own contractor and other victims to manifest a far grander Descent through pure power alone.
'This thing's gotta be ten times bigger than Abel.'
Its form was a grotesque fusion of dragon, turtle, crocodile, and hippopotamus.
A rigid carapace clung tightly to its back, while razor-sharp scales gleamed like fitted armor over the rest of its body. Its head was diamond-shaped, lizard-like.
Its massive jaws parted to reveal jagged, saw-toothed fangs that flashed menacingly like a crocodile's. Its four legs rooted firmly to the earth, so solid they seemed impervious even to a blade.
A monster.
It'd be easier to shatter an iron wall.
―So you're the punk who stole my bride on a whim.
"If you're talking about Lucelle..."
He'd assumed at first it coveted her abilities and wanted her as a contractor. A bride? No way.
Didn't it say it'd planted a heart demon in her before she was even born?
Even lolicon has its limits!
"Sorry, but you come off as pretty repulsive, teacher."
―A mere human daring to meddle in a Constellation's will?
Its snake-like, vertically slit eyes pierced Ban Yu-won with razor sharpness.
Without unleashing any magic, a horrifying pressure slammed down on his shoulders.
What he needed right then were the concepts of resistance and solidity.
Ban Yu-won recalled the moment the Chancellor had bestowed solidity upon him, activating both concepts to their limits.
The exalted rank at the core of his being—his soul's concept—bolstered them, letting him stand tall and defiant before the Constellation's Descent.
―No ordinary human. Even if it's not my true self, how do you withstand my intimidation?
"Intimidation, huh. Got it."
The Origin Sword was a supremely powerful technique in its own right—and an exceptional growth-type art to boot.
Ban Yu-won took the Transcendent's "Intimidation" head-on, resisted it, and learned it in the process. No need to fix it as a permanent concept; from here on, he could effortlessly crush any lesser being.
Well—if he killed this Descent, he'd claim Intimidation outright anyway.
―You're holding your own. But underestimate them, and you're done. They seem physical, but they're conceptual at heart. Your mindset decides if they get easier... or brutal.
Worried for Ban Yu-won facing a Constellation head-on? Cellon channeled magic from her staff into him, bolstering his presence as she spoke.
'Thanks for the tip.'
―It's bluffing—it can't summon its true body. Descents are never perfect, restrictions galore. Same for that thing. Just endure until it calls Abel.
I'm sucking down drugs right now, Master! I'll shorten the time as much as I can... so, about 20 more minutes!
Lilith—charging diligently in his inventory—spoke up in high spirits too.
"Sucking drugs" meant gobbling the talismans, blood pearls, or life elixirs Ban Yu-won had infused with his magic.
Grateful as he was for the slashed charging time, 20 minutes felt awkwardly long.
'Eh, it'll do.'
Ban Yu-won smiled, hiding any unease.
Not every fight could be a cakewalk.
Survive this, and he'd evolve his Manifestation Art for sure.
For that? He could flirt with death once or twice.
―Wants to stall, but is that smart for you?
"Dunno. Explain."
―Your allies are on the move. I only need my bride, so that monster girl? Yielding her to him.
No need to ask who the ally or "monster girl" was—he knew.
Ban Yu-won stayed silent.
Wasn't Anari Dedota with Dokgo Yeon?
She could shield Dokgo Yeon even from Ryu Cheol-myeong.
He just had to focus on the foe before him.
―Then I'll end you. Can't stomach those chains from you binding my bride any longer.
It stepped forward.
The Abyss—still churning underground—ripped open a massive sinkhole right there. But as its foot descended, earth surged up to form a foothold, smooth as could be.
The seamless sink-and-rise was so natural, he laughed despite himself.
―I rule all wild beasts. The earth won't betray me.
"Sure, but it costs you energy each time."
Ban Yu-won shot back with sarcasm, kicking off the ground.
If it wielded earth magic, staying grounded was suicide. He granted himself flight and levitation.
The Constellation's energy saturated the area, pressing from all sides—but his barriers of resistance and solidity let him soar unhindered.
―Wingless human aping a bird.
"That all you got?"
Rock spears erupted from the earth—then crumbled, targetless.
Dozens of meters tall, surging like waves: brutal. But Origin Sword read every twitch—no blind hits landing.
'Where's the weak spot?'
Encompassing its colossal frame in Origin Sword's range was burden enough.
No time for leisure anyway.
The second wave hit fast.
Purple-tinged scales blasted from its body like bullets!
Scales? Each dwarfed Ban Yu-won, tips honed lethal—like a storm of demon blades...
"Bon appétit!"
―...!
Obtained Dragon Scale 100, Heart Poison 100.
Projectiles didn't faze Ban Yu-won—that truth held firm.
Horrific power packed inside? Once fully detached, ownership vanished. Ripe for conceptualization.
Counter it? Yo-yo string or matching authority. But this Constellation? Clueless.
A satisfied smile curved Ban Yu-won's lips as he claimed every scale.
"Dragon Scale's a steal... Heart Poison?"
―A curse. The worst—mind-eroding.
Curse trouble nonstop since hitting this planet.
Halfhearted musing cut short—realization hit.
"Lucelle's heart demon—is it like this?"
―Sharp catch. Careful: looks brute-force, but curse-pro.
"...Yeah. Might've meddled in that solitude ritual too."
Shift was instant.
Purple mist choked the air.
Centered on it, blanketing hundreds of meters—if not for All-Reading Eyes, blind.
Components? Heart Poison plus curses, poisons galore...
Key: unlike scales, no conceptualizing this.
―Too late.
The Constellation's voice dripped satisfaction.
―You're in my authority's grasp. No escape.
"Those first two attacks? Feints to slip this past me."
―Bingo. Tested your predictions... still flawed.
Mist clung to Ban Yu-won, squeezing flesh and magic alike. Torment.
Resistance and solidity blocked invasion... but agony mounted.
Origin Sword had clocked the ploy, though.
Retreat? Nah.
'Flee here, it storms the Wolf Fang turf.'
Keep it from Lucelle if possible.
Obvious: this Heart Poison would wreck her.
Stall 20 for Abel? Vital. But block harm to her here? Priority.
"Huu."
Ban Yu-won toyed with his earring, sighing softly.
Like the special op—Yumina's one-use shield for safety.
While intact: fine.
This irritating curse fog? Acclimating.
'Dissolve concept to purge... nope. Clear Skies to banish mist... nah. Without Constellation authority, workable. Tricky bastard.'
―Mist counts as Descent extension. No purge sans main body takedown.
'Damn thing's huge.'
Origin Sword scanned relentlessly for flaws. Nada.
Idle? Mist gnaws magic, shreds shield.
Storm Rain breakthrough? Neutralized here too.
Better: solo charge, Executioner's Longsword gripped.
―Whiiiing
Tike's full-power Sevenfold Demon shot fizzled off the carapace. No mark.
―Whing, click
"Easy, Tike."
It quivered its aperture in shame—but lens-locking the beast? Plenty.
―Not bad endurance. But Constellation rank? Beyond you.
Crack. Earring shattered.
Pressure and pain surged.
Magic drain accelerated from steady leak—Ban Yu-won lapped his prepped life elixir, recovering.
Abel summon: ~12 minutes.
―Time to descend further.
Boom!
Another step.
Abyss sinkhole—prompt earth rise, foothold reborn. Identical.
Ritual weight in each stride? Maybe.
One step: mist thickens, pressure doubles.
Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon from wuxia? Close...
Thus, resolve hardened.
"Right. Charge."
―Holy light—mist gone in a blink.
Cellon pounced.
―Sword enchant too. Holy light counters Constellations. You sensed it.
"Roger."
11 minutes.
Endure fighting it? Manifestation Art evolution: locked.
Authority failing? Death on line? Thrilling buzz.
Then—battlefield intruder: beast one more.
"Master!"
Lucelle—the bride it craved desperately.