Chapter 183
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Lesson 36. How Are You Feeling Right Now? - 3
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At dawn, Dokgo Yeon sat on a massive tree branch, gripping her drawn sword with her eyes gently closed.
Her mind replayed the man she had faced yesterday: Ryu Cheol-myeong.
His disgusting face came to mind, irritating her, but she pushed it aside and focused on his sword—its simple trajectory, unmatched in destructive power—and her own movements against it.
'He was strong. His crude mindset and behavior aside, his swordsmanship was undoubtedly enough to obscure the heavens.'
Ryu Cheol-myeong, who met his end at the hands of students.
His death itself might seem laughable, but the power he wielded was no joke.
Yet the group had defeated him only because he was shackled, weighed down by restraints.
It wasn't just the curses and restrictions from Mira and Shati.
As a full professor at the Academy, he fell under the Chancellor's jurisdiction by default. To move in secret beyond the Chancellor's watchful eyes, he had to suppress much of his true power.
If Ryu Cheol-myeong had unleashed his full strength—even under Mira and Shati's curses—he could have cleaved someone like Dokgo Yeon in half with a single stroke.
In fact, Yumina's plant magic, unleashed without restraint under the Chancellor's permission, had displayed terrifying might, piercing and slaying the legendary ancient monster, the Predator, in one blow.
Even accounting for slight differences among full professors, they wielded fundamentally equivalent power. Thus, the group killing Ryu Cheol-myeong this time could only be called luck.
'It worked out for me, though. Clashing with a restrained powerhouse let me grasp and learn the source of his strength.'
Martial arts evolved through mortal combat, and Dokgo Yeon was no exception.
Facing a formidable foe heightened her sense of death beyond the norm, and overcoming it granted stronger dominion over it.
Of course, getting carried away could lead to her own demise, but Dokgo Yeon possessed self-control that transcended mere mortals.
It wouldn't happen to her.
'I've grown at least 10 percent—no, 20 percent stronger... My level only rose by 10, but levels are just one metric of strength anyway.'
Dokgo Yeon's level alone surpassed Union Academy's senior class, but her actual martial prowess far exceeded that.
Being stronger than one's level sounds simple but is incredibly difficult in practice.
It stemmed partly from her unique home dimension and the special martial arts she practiced, but the main reason was that she herself was extraordinary.
'Yeah, like Ban Yu-won, born in a mana-less dimension and now a core figure at the Academy...'
Through this ordeal, Dokgo Yeon vaguely realized something.
Before long, Ban Yu-won would surely surpass her in strength.
But that didn't shock her.
She accepted his growth as utterly natural—and welcomed it.
She, who had lived competing with everyone around her since birth as the daughter of a ruler, feeling alive only by proving her superiority.
Now, she took pride in her martial arts becoming the foundation for his, admiring and cherishing his unique creation—Yu-won Gong—without a trace of jealousy.
Why did she feel proud of him?
Did she truly see him as her disciple?
...Or was it something else?
'Swing the sword.'
No need to get swayed by idle thoughts.
Since the special activity began, she'd been oddly off-balance and clumsy.
Single-minded sword swings would restore her self-control.
"Hello, Fourth."
"Fourth?"
Her sword halted mid-air at the sudden voice from behind.
Frowning, she turned to see Slothy hanging upside down from a dangling vine, peering down at her.
Her cascading golden hair, pouring downward like waves—how could it look so beautiful yet so foolish?
"When did you...?"
"Just now."
She'd heard that Slothy's presence blended with trees when touching them.
But for it to fool her? Was it because she'd focused too intently on her sword, or because her mind had been scattered? Dokgo Yeon couldn't tell.
"What do you mean 'Fourth'?"
"Second got assigned to someone else last night... So I'm third, you're fourth."
Slothy replied lazily to Dokgo Yeon's sharp tone, eyes half-lidded.
Her activation mode hadn't ended yet, but unlike in battle, her drooping voice gave off a sluggish vibe.
"I never expected some outsider to snatch second place. If my damn master hadn't held me all night..."
"Oh my, 'damn master'? That's regrettable."
This time, it was Yumina who appeared.
As Yumina arrived, sharp thorns sprouted one by one on the vine Slothy clung to, pressing into her in real time.
"Stop it, ouch, sorry Master, stop!"
"You're the one who begged me to teach you magic, Slothy. Try resisting. Contesting dominance is basic for mages, right?"
"I asked for magic lessons, not interference during mating time, ouch!"
"A teacher can't stand by while a student lives so indulgently and promiscuously. Truth be told, I'd love to rein in Mira and Lucelle too, but..."
She must have guessed what happened between them and Ban Yu-won. Yumina pouted and whined.
"They're already too deeply entangled. Anyway, for Yu-won's future, I can't allow more reckless liaisons. Slothy, give up obediently."
She no longer hesitated to call him "Yu-won" even in front of others.
Instead of the dumbfounded Dokgo Yeon, Slothy retorted.
"Why should my master manage that?"
"Because I'm his teacher!"
Yumina puffed out her chest proudly, but then sheepishly added with an awkward smile.
"And the one who'll fulfill my personal wish. So I have a duty to support him growing up right."
"..."
"Dokgo Yeon, you seem troubled too. Don't let Slothy's nonsense sway you—keep your center properly."
Yumina smiled kindly, then grabbed the nape of the thorn-tortured Slothy.
"Now, shall we resume class? Learn as much as you can before activation wears off, Slothy."
"Master, my activation lasts only because I want to mate with Ban Yu-won—owowowow!"
Yumina vanished into the distance with the screaming Slothy.
Dokgo Yeon stared blankly before snapping back to reality.
'Fourth.'
Against Yumina's intentions, Slothy's nonsense had sliced through Dokgo Yeon's mind more sharply than expected.
Last night, Dokgo Yeon had seen Mira boldly entering Ban Yu-won's arms in this place—Lucelle's home ground.
Appearing with her face flushed from drink, hugging him.
'Hold me tonight.'
With just those two words, she disarmed Ban Yu-won and brazenly kidnapped him right before Lucelle's eyes.
'Fourth.'
If Yumina hadn't been there, Slothy would have jumped into Ban Yu-won's bed without hesitation.
Whether he accepted her was another matter, but that soft-hearted man, who couldn't easily reject people, wouldn't firmly push her away—leading to something deeper.
And she wasn't the only one. The dimensional mercenary Aneri Desota, who took this absurdly underpaid job, eyed him hungrily too. Back at school, countless others would approach him romantically.
'Fourth...'
Dokgo Yeon ground her teeth.
Yumina's parting words to her felt like a warning.
"Keep your center properly"? Did that mean Dokgo Yeon was off-balance now?
Did she seem like she was losing rational judgment over one man, spiraling out of control?
As if what lay between her and Ban Yu-won was anything but martial arts!
"Yaaawn... Eek?!"
Snapping out of it, she found Ban Yu-won right in front of her.
Just woken and stepping out, he spotted Dokgo Yeon and frantically covered the bruise on his nape.
"Wait, Dokgo Yeon. Hold on. This isn't something I kept on purpose—Mira just..."
"You don't think creating a martial art means it's 'complete,' do you?"
"...Huh?"
Ban Yu-won froze at her abrupt interruption of his excuse.
"This is just the beginning. I won't tolerate slacking after barely taking the first step. So—let's spar."
If all that connected her and Ban Yu-won was martial arts...
She'd forge it into something unmatched by anyone.
"Pick up your sword. You have time to play with women but not swing a blade?!"
"N-no, got it, Master!"
"Good. Follow me!"
"Yes!"
When teaching him the sword, she was Ban Yu-won's number one.
A faint smile tugged at Dokgo Yeon's lips as she glanced back at him following obediently.
She hadn't yet realized such thoughts were proof of her spiraling.
Three days passed, and the final day of the special activity arrived.
It fell far short of the two-week limit, but they'd done everything possible for a perfect evaluation—no need to linger.
"Yu-won, please call me again next time...! Check the 90% discount option then, ow!"
"What's wrong with a discount?"
"If this bullshit lasts till the next activity, I'm quitting."
Ban Yu-won settled accounts with Aneri and sent her off, receiving spare parts for the ship via her generous service to feed to Lilith.
Meanwhile, Yumina, pleased with her temporary disciple Slothy, taught her practical spells and the essence of plant magic adaptable to her shamanism.
Luckily for Ban Yu-won, Yumina kept Slothy occupied, freeing him from her beastly pursuits.
But he hadn't been free.
"Yu-won, come in."
"Mira sis, if you hog the master too long, I'll join too."
"You get to go to Earth with him. Yield here?"
"If you're jealous, follow us to Earth, sis."
Mira, aiming to close the gap with Lucelle during the activity.
Lucelle, unwilling to let Mira flirt with Ban Yu-won alone.
"Ha, haha..."
"Ban Yu-won, don't be late for sparring."
"...Sigh."
...And Dokgo Yeon, refusing to let him just play with women after completing his martial art. Three women wore him out from all sides.
With rapid growth demanding time to organize his inner concepts and arts, it wasn't bad for him.
The result...
[Core]
[Martial Arts]
[Liberal Arts]
[Techniques]
[Unique]
Notable was Ban Yu-won grasping the concept of Bedroom Arts himself and raising its depth to 50 in such a short time.
...Imagining what might've happened without that concept was terrifying.
"Phew, why's post-battle always tougher?"
"Ah, Planning Director!"
While everyone bustled, Shati—alone enjoying leisurely forest life—saw Ban Yu-won's half-dead face at the rendezvous and smiled warmly.
"Planning Director, still alive?"
"...Halfway?"
Saying he was half-alive, not half-dead, was scarier.
"Karma's a bitch."
"Dying to argue, but I'll hold back."
Ban Yu-won sighed, vowing to develop his new concepts quickly.
"Hmm—"
"Oh, right, what about you, Chairman?"
He met Shati's oddly knowing gaze, nervously changing topics to avoid her reading his mind.
"Heading to Mira's home with her?"
"Yeah. No way dimensional pirates target A-1 directly without going mad... Anyway, nothing waits back home, so better as Mira's bodyguard."
Before her death, Kettra had sent data via Ban Yu-won's mirror confirming Crimson Spear's S-grade plot.
Nothing urgent yet.
A-1, Mira's home, was the mightiest after S-grades, ruled by her fairy kin.
They could repel even a full pirate assault.
But beware kidnappings of key figures like Mira.
To counter, she'd warn her kin and ally with other dimensions' fairies.
"Yu-won."
"Ah, Slothy."
Slothy arrived with Yumina.
Ban Yu-won had suspected Yumina hounded her nonstop over sexual interest in him—and it seemed true.
One of Slothy's arms was still gripped by Yumina.
"Next time, just you and the princess."
"At least not telling me to come alone."
"You must come. Streeetch..."
Not coquetry—activation finally ending.
It usually faded fast regardless, but she'd forced it to learn more from Yumina.
Then Chief Kanid and Lucia appeared.
"Son-in-law, even without Slothy, you must return!"
"Yes, Father-in-law. Mother-in-law, see you again."
"Good, keep calling us that!"
"Hope there's a baby next time."
Kanid chuckled at Ban Yu-won's acceptance; Lucia smiled seductively with chilling casualness.
With students gathered—Lucelle, Mira, Dokgo Yeon—Yumina released Slothy, clapping.
"Then, disband here? Using Babel Tower's authority for dimension jumps home. Same dimension? Stay together."
Lucelle hooked Ban Yu-won's arm instantly; Shati grabbed the envious Mira's hand.
Dokgo Yeon alone crossed her arms, glaring haughtily.
"Ban Yu-won, no slacking over break—train steadily. I'll check at semester start. Beast, don't tempt him too much. Greater power rusts without maintenance."
"Got it, Mom."
"Who're you calling Mom—!"
"Dokgo Yeon first, then."
Dokgo Yeon vanished mid-rage at Ban Yu-won's words.
The rest stared at him like a legendary hero.
"Not scared of next semester?"
"It was affection—she'll get it."
Ban Yu-won looked relieved after saying what he'd always wanted to Dokgo Yeon.
Yumina giggled, preparing the ritual— but Slothy darted free, kissing Ban Yu-won.
Even Lucelle on his arm couldn't react to the speed.
"Success."
"You tricked us, Slothy?!"
Pretending activation ended to lower guards, she revealed her intent for one last skinship, grinning wickedly.
"Wise Slothy turns stumbles into nap chances."
"So proud, yet so pathetic..."
"Not following to Earth? Let go, Slothy."
"Next time, mating for sure... Yaaawn."
Mission done, Slothy truly released activation and dozed off.
As all gawked, Mira kicked her aside, claiming Ban Yu-won's lips possessively.
"Mira."
"See you second semester, Yu-won."
"Wait, does this mean I get a kiss too?"
"Shati, don't even dream."
Mira pulled Shati back; Yumina frowned oddly.
"Yu-won should restrain himself a bit... Ahem. Enjoy a 'healthy' summer break, everyone!"
Whether to separate Ban Yu-won from the girls or not, Yumina clapped irritably.
Next instant, Ban Yu-won and Lucelle were on Earth.
"Ah—! Look, everyone! Earth's first Awakened, dimension traveler Ban Yu-won has appeared!"
"Pink hair... Crazy, my classmate's with him!"
"Ah, that broadcast got cut!"
"Puppy ears!"
"Ban Yu-won-ssi, look this way!"
"Yu-won-ah, remember me? Elementary classmate Mun Bong-hyun!"
"Ban Yu-won-ssi!"
"Are you dating Lucelle-ssi visiting Earth with you? Answer us, Ban Yu-won-ssi!"
...Huh?
Isn't this Earth?