Chapter 18

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 18

Chapter Title: Lesson 5. The Tower is One-Way - 1

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday after school, outside dungeon.

Ban Yu-won stared at the amount of concepts being absorbed from the goblin he'd just killed, his expression hardening.

'No mistake about it. It's decreased.'

The moment his Life concept ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠surpassed 50, the efficiency of Life absorption from goblins halved once more.

Even so, goblins with suffixes like Warrior or Archer still yielded decent quantities and qualities of concepts, so he'd diligently farmed two or three dungeons a day on Tuesday and Wednesday.

But today...

For some reason, starting at a certain point, not only regular goblins but even Warriors and Archers yielded barely any concepts.

'Maybe... I've extracted too much from goblins already.'

He'd thought the Babylonia Code had no limits, but that was a misconception.

Having slain an enormous number of goblins and collected their concepts, it was only natural for the depth of new concepts gained to diminish.

In game terms, it was like "diminishing experience gains from the same monster after killing many."

"At this rate, it'll hit zero any moment."

Ban Yu-won cleaned up the site, sighed, and checked his internal code.

The results of clearing outside dungeons every day after classes from Monday through Wednesday were plainly visible in his internal code.

Life had grown the most, of course, but Ban Yu-won took greater pride in the advances in Magical Power and Martial Arts.

Because those two codes had grown more from his own development than from goblin absorption.

'Especially Martial Arts. Every thrust grows both Pierce and Swordsmanship together.'

To put it bluntly, goblin combat skills were abysmal.

The Blind Goblin Warrior from his first practical exam dungeon was the most decent, and even bosses in other dungeons were mostly hobgoblins relying on goblin swarm tactics.

At least the hobgoblins' unique Yao concept had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pushed one of Eve's core concepts, Yao Beast, to 18—which was fortunate.

"Might need to try other dungeons soon instead of goblin ones. You okay with that, Eve?"

"Shiiik, shyrrruk."

Eve, unconcerned by his worry, reassured him that higher dungeons might have more Yao-bearing monsters.

What a commendable pet.

"...Right. Tomorrow we enter the tower, so just this one dungeon today. The goal was always breaking Life past 100."

"Shyiiiik."

"Drive? Got it. Plenty of time left, and boosting Riding can't hurt."

The drive in question was, naturally, riding the hover bike Onyx bought on Monday.

License test? Passed with flying colors.

Thanks to absorbing the Riding concept from an ancient saddle among Grandfather's relics!

With a depth-12 Riding concept that let him control any vehicle, he'd mastered Onyx after one manual read.

Licensed easily, and three days of zipping around outside had raised its depth by 3.

"And we'll do that today too. Promised, right? Ghost Tool hits 30, you get siblings."

"Shyiiiik."

"Good. Let's go."

From days of experience, concept depth showed marked effects past 10, so he'd decided to grow Eve's core concepts to 30 first.

Eve's Ghost Tool was at 29.5. Even with goblin dilution, it'd collect soon enough.

"Human... I curse you...!"

"Yeah, I know you don't even have a Curse concept."

Ban Yu-won's sword pierced the hobgoblin's throat.

Behind him lay over a hundred goblin corpses.

All slain by blade wounds.

Now handling goblins with ease, he'd excluded Eve entirely from the boss room for real combat experience.

"Still doesn't feel right. Time to graduate from here."

He'd struggled against Blind Goblins before; he'd grown a lot.

Sentimental, he reached out, absorbing all codes from the corpses at once.

As expected, around Life 100, a tightness filled his body, followed by the message.

He absorbed the hobgoblin's remaining Life for a clean 101, then checked himself.

"Mm... hmmm...!"

Hard to pinpoint the change.

But unlike Body evolution or Magical Power growth, a strange elation surged through him.

Confidence? Presence?

Yes—the sense that his place in the world had grown larger.

"Grow myself to diminish foes. That's it."

Visible growth was joyful.

No wonder people obsessed over status windows.

Savoring the thrill unknown on Earth, Ban Yu-won smirked.

"Shyiiiik."

"Save the rest of Life for you. No, leave some for your siblings..."

Eve could grow via Life too.

It could develop independently, but direct infusion from him was better.

However, capped by Ghost Tool depth—Ghost Tool 30 meant Life max 30.

With his Life efficiency dropping, he'd fed more to Eve; now unable from goblins, all to Eve... or "others."

"Alright, that's everything."

Hobgoblins, goblins, gear—all consumed.

Smashed Dungeon Core, split and pocketed Magic and Core. Routine.

Outside, he enacted today's plan.

"Onyx."

The sleek black bike didn't respond.

Ordinary hover bike, after all.

But not for long.

He'd infused life into objects before.

"Eve matched perfectly as a club, but... insurance time."

He drew concepts from the Code Core.

Not any object becomes an artifact with Ghost infusion.

Like club + Ghost Tool = Dokkaebi Club; compatibility between object/concepts mattered.

Days pondering infusion/synthesis had mapped success for this bike.

Today's key: Yao.

"Sorry, Eve, can't give you it all."

"Shyrruk, shyrrruk."

Eve coiled around his arm, unconcerned.

He petted its head, then scanned the hover bike's concepts.

Floating Vehicle: self-explanatory. Magic Core: mana engine like Dungeon Core.

Swiftness: design-granted speed. Magical Power Resistance: resists dungeon mana waves...

Hardening: front fender function.

"Leave Floating Vehicle. Swiftness and Hardening too. Key is... whew."

The Magic Core.

Mess it up, and 3.2 million Ronica bike explodes. Even he tensed.

Back down? Miss growth as Babylonia Code master.

Sometimes, risk failure to advance.

Now!

"Split Magic and Core, fuse Yao 2 with Magic, Ghost 5 with Core."

One hand split the bike's Magic Core; the other infused Yao to Magic, Ghost to Core.

Split instant: bike vibrated violently, near-exploding.

Next: synthesis began. He watched intently.

"Please work, work...!"

Red-hot, smoking mana core etched with strange runes—Ghost, he realized.

Success!

Ghost-infused core powered by Yao Demon—a fictional entity driving the bike!

"Huuuuh."

Artifact completion boosted his abilities hugely.

Especially Life nearing +10—a true triumph.

Unlike lucky Dokkaebi Club birth; deep thought and prerequisite concepts enabled meaningful success.

"You're Lilith."

—Vroooom

First Eve, second Lilith.

Reversed myth, naming a human-ridden bike Lilith—terrible taste, but the clueless bike vibrated joyfully.

Not done yet.

He granted it Life 1, Soul 1, and amassed Sharpness from blades.

Front fender hardened for attacks? Sharpen it—no loss.

Result:

Analyzing the code flow, he stroked Lilith's handlebars.

"Hm... No need for Magical Power Resistance anymore?"

—Vroooom

Affirmative engine rumble.

Why Magical Power Resistance? Magic tools break near dungeons because refined internal mana scrambles from dungeon waves, wrecking innards.

Resistance counters it, but self-controlling artifacts like Eve or Lilith ignore waves.

'So she can enter dungeons now... even the tower...'

His gaze drifted to his Student ID.

Magic tool too—why unscathed in dungeons?

Unknown language structure unfinished analyzing.

Cracking it? Another growth spurt.

'Extract Magical Power Resistance first. Split to Power and Resistance? Nope.'

Resistance alone? Possible.

From mana-only resistance to universal—horrible rate.

20 became 1 in his grasp; bittersweet.

"Guess... I'll keep it."

Infused to himself.

Unexpectedly potent.

Body tougher, mind firmer; power gathered from within.

"Applies to body and mind alike. Big win."

Brief mad thought: sell gold bars, buy dozens of Onyx for more—but shook head.

Better Resistance sources exist.

Resistance everywhere, really!

"Time for Eve's drive, as requested."

"Shyrrruk."

With arm-coiling, coquettish Eve, he mounted Lilith.

No visual change, yet comfy—like a hug.

Say that aloud? Labeled crazy.

"But ride alone insufficient. Let's... fly?"

—VRROOOOOOM!

Ignition unneeded; Lilith surged.

Acceleration beyond yesterday's, exceeding top speed!

Unsure if driving or dragged, he gripped handles wide-eyed.

'Insane...!'

Past flights? Child's play.

Now, truly streaking skies!

Then, higher up, Academy's floating island part visible.

Near strictly restricted Babel Tower—his clan's secret garden—a black ripple.

Optical illusion, probably.

Easy to ignore, but...

"Something's definitely happening tomorrow..."

Resolve: consult Yumina.

He never overlooked details.

And the next day—the day to enter Babel Tower—finally arrived.