Chapter 186

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 186

Chapter Title: Lesson 37. Since It's Vacation, Let Me Rest - 1

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Ban Yu-won had achieved the feat of gracing the 9 p.m. news main segment at the tender age of twenty.

He'd grown two notoriously hard-to-level concepts, so it was a gain in that sense, but honestly, it didn't sit well with him.

—Ban Yu-won (18), presumed to be Earth's first Awakener, has returned to Earth around 1 p.m. Korean time today, sparking widespread buzz.

—Ban Yu-won is the grandson of Dr. Ban Ji-won, a former diplomat who spearheaded the New Earth Project from inception to execution, making immense contributions to handling the dimensional evolution. Sources say Dr. Ban could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠devise the plan thanks to Ban Yu-won himself.

—Interviews reveal that Ban Yu-won's summoning to the top-tier dimension... Union earlier this year marked the project's start. Reporter Kim Chul-dong?

—Yes. Remarkably, just months later, his sister—Olympic gold medalist and current world No. 1 guild Occlurus Ruber's guild master, Ban Yu-mi—secured early access to Union Net, allowing Dr. Ban to launch the plan in earnest. At this point, it's clear their family runs deep with talent.

—Truly proud Koreans, both siblings. If Korea monopolizes top-dimensional resources and info, the economic value would be astronomical.

—Indeed. Experts estimate even just the value of Rebelllion channel run by Ban Yu-won, converted to won, at...

He knew Korean media always spouted whatever nonsense they pleased, but this so-called reporting had devolved beyond anything resembling actual news.

No, why the hell were they converting his Rebelllion channel's value to Korean won on their own?

"It's not Korea monopolizing it—it's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me monopolizing it... Ah, what the hell!"

"Oof."

As Ban Yu-won sat on the sofa, muttering in disbelief at the TV news, Ban Yu-mi suddenly appeared and flung herself onto his lap.

"Ban Yu-mi, shove off that ugly doorstop pillow."

"Hey, we've got a press conference tomorrow."

"What the hell?"

"Ooh, feel how firm your thighs have gotten."

Ban Yu-mi dropped the bombshell and started groping his legs up and down, then nestled her head comfortably into place.

The move was so natural that Ban Yu-won didn't even think to push her off.

"Hey."

"This house has a talking pillow."

"How'd you survive without me as your pillow?"

"Shh, quiet. No talking, my baby pillow."

Ban Yu-won briefly considered poking her eyes but held back. Back then, maybe not, but now he might actually hurt her for real.

Instead, he decided to probe the truth of what she'd just said.

"Press conference what?"

"Tomorrow at 2 p.m., here at home. Better to squash it early than drag out the hassle. I know from experience."

He nodded involuntarily at his sister's explanation.

It'd be a lie to say it wasn't burdensome—he hadn't anticipated it at all—but like his talk with Mom earlier, he knew it couldn't just be ignored.

Probably why Ban Yu-mi had scheduled the conference.

She was the sister itching to torment him personally, but she never did anything that'd harm his position or future.

"And stick with our guild while you're on Earth. That'd be best."

"Right, so you can boss me around while you're at it."

"You know it. Where else in the world is there a sister as pretty and sweet as me? Time to repay the favor. Man, wish I had a sister like this!"

"You'd be the sister, dummy."

Ban Yu-won gruffly retorted and reached out to ruffle her hair wildly.

"Ah! I'm gonna kill you, Ban Yu-won!"

"It's the vibrating pillow feature. Don't like it? Get a new one."

He shoved her head aside, slipped off the sofa, and tossed out one last line.

"Still, thanks for looking out for me, Sis."

"Ugh... Where's my pillow!"

"Off to play footsie with my girlfriend."

"What."

As he stood, retorting that it was nonsense, Ban Yu-mi spotted Lucelle emerging from the kitchen after finishing the dishes and widened her eyes.

Perfect timing.

Or else...

"Yu-won! You waited for me?"

"Been too hectic today to really talk. From now on, the Ban Yu-won pillow is yours."

"Pillow? Not sure what that means, but shall we head to the bedroom?♡"

"Sorry, pillow was a joke. Let's 'talk' just us two."

"Hee-hee, mine was a joke too. Night's still young."

The pair exchanged sugary sweet banter as they headed to the rooftop.

Ban Yu-mi stared blankly at their retreating backs when her phone buzzed repeatedly.

Ban Yu-mi read them impassively, with no intention of lying, and replied honestly.

She almost added I want to kill her but can't, but deleted it hastily fearing prying eyes. Someone else vented for her.

Lolling powerlessly on the sofa, scrolling through the nonstop messages, Ban Yu-mi suddenly recalled how Ban Yu-won had risen before Lucelle even emerged from the kitchen.

Not coincidence.

He'd reacted faster and more precisely than her, who trusted no one in sensing.

Not getting the reaction she wanted, Ban Yu-mi pouted and tapped the screen idly, then sighed and changed the subject.

Ban Yu-won ascended to the rooftop with Lucelle and sat side by side on the wooden bench his father had handmade.

It creaked.

"Told Dad to toss this junk and buy a good one, but he never listens."

"Phew, finally calling you Master. There."

Lucelle beamed proudly and, just like Ban Yu-mi earlier, laid her head on his lap.

Ban Yu-won chuckled and gently stroked the side of her head.

"You saw?"

"Of course. So jealous. Thinking Bro hogged your lap for 18 years... unbearable."

"Lucelle."

"Yes, Master."

Ban Yu-won toyed with her soft puppy ears poking up from her hair (addictively plush texture) and asked.

"Any reason you're insisting on a master-servant bond?"

Lucelle tensed briefly.

Her ears perked in his hand.

As Ban Yu-won patiently awaited her answer, she spoke cautiously.

"Are you mad...? Don't like the slave idea?"

"No, not mad. Even if slave's off, you're not someone I'd ever dislike."

Since redefining their relationship after the showdown with the Descent Body, things had been too hectic to ask why she'd acted that way.

He'd wondered if it was beastkin instinct or impulse, but knowing Lucelle wasn't that simple, he'd wanted to hear it from her someday.

And today, before Earth matters bogged him down again, he decided to confirm.

"Before explaining... one thing to check."

"What?"

"You can see my emotions now, right, Master?"

Since collecting her emotions to resolve her Heart Path initially, she'd known.

Ban Yu-won nodded.

"Yeah. Sorry, too embarrassing to voice each one."

"I love you, Master."

"You hear me just now?"

"But I'm not embarrassed at all."

She clasped his hand with both of hers and continued.

"Once I learned your power, I kept thinking. Hiding anything from you is pointless. One glance skips subjective judgment for objective truth, so 'trust' holds no meaning for you..."

Ban Yu-won paused.

She'd nailed the thought he'd harbored since awakening his Authority.

Trusting someone means weighing objective evidence and subjective hopes to infer unknown outcomes.

No need for "trust" with irrefutable facts.

Person, object, phenomenon—if fully grasped, it's mere objective knowledge, no subjectivity involved.

"If everyone bares all before you, whether you want it or not, you're forced into always guessing right. Then you can't trust anyone. You'd ditch subjectivity for pure objectivity."

Knowing a target's thoughts lets you perfectly define the relationship.

With his newly awakened martial art and bolstered Authority, Ban Yu-won could detect and eliminate betrayal instantly—even from a flawless ally of five seconds prior.

That's what reading everything means.

Perfectly divide world into allies and enemies, then act.

No room for trust, just flawless, complaint-proof lines.

"You saw through it all, right? Dokgo Yeon's feelings, Mira-unnie's true thoughts, Aneri’s passion, Slothy's pathetic tricks, Bro's emotions, even Mom hiding something."

"...Yeah."

Impressive.

Her instincts had sharpened immensely since awakening Savage Heart Core.

To the point it rivaled his Authority.

No—likely because she was his familiar.

"I... don't like that."

Lucelle pouted and went on.

"I know your Authority's amazing, but judging and treating me solely on it, without emotion... horrifying."

"No, Lucelle. I don't—"

"I know, but still hate it."

She cut off his rebuttal boldly.

"Hate even the possibility. Don't underestimate a girl in love."

"Am I the one who should be sorry here?"

"That's why I chose servitude."

Eh?

How'd that follow?

As Ban Yu-won blinked in confusion, Lucelle gripped his hand tighter and asserted strongly.

"Servitude means everything of mine belongs to you. Body, heart, soul. Can't betray. With you forever."

"Yeah... sure."

"So you can always trust me without your Authority. No need to 'see'... Just knowing we're connected lets you trust and rely on me."

"..."

"That's it. Only that."

After her machine-gun explanation, silence fell.

Quite the detour, but Ban Yu-won finally got what she meant.

And grasping it, he thought she was an idiot.

"You're an idiot."

"I agonized over this a ton..."

"Worry too much to begin with."

"Ow ow."

Ban Yu-won turned his stroking hand into a fist and drilled her forehead playfully.

Lucelle, far higher level, wouldn't hurt, and he knew it, but she winced dramatically, and he played stern punisher.

No Authority needed, no forced leash to check.

This was enough.

"I'm not a machine, Lucelle. My Authority isn't perfect, and even if it gave flawless info, judging purely on it would make me godlike or equivalent. Us doing this right now defies logic."

"But..."

"Still, Lucelle."

His hand softly caressed her forehead.

"Like how we confirm love through touches like this."

He leaned down and kissed his beloved slave's forehead.

"I get how much you think of me, so let's call it good."

"Then..."

Lucelle rose cautiously, leaning into him.

"To the bedroom?♡"

"What a regrettable closer..."