Chapter 188
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Lesson 37. Since It's Vacation, Let Me Rest - 3
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"Hello! I'm Lee Hyun-ji, Yumi's friend!"
"I'm Yujina, Yumi unnie's junior! I've heard so much about you since high school!"
"You're the only one who came late, Kang Mi-yeon!"
"I came alone, Yumi. They just followed me. Nice to meet you, Yu-won. Should I go with Mi-yeon unnie?"
The four women, who introduced themselves as executives of Oculus Ruber, were already acquainted with the family and only greeted Ban Yu-won.
He vaguely recognized their names—they were all fencers on the national team.
Among them, Kang Mi-yeon was the only high school student at the time who had competed in the Olympics with Ban Yu-mi, winning bronze in the individual saber event and gold in the team event. The other two had joined her for gold in the team saber at last year's Asian Games.
They said they were training hard at the athlete village for medals at the next Olympics...
"But now, who knows if the Olympics will even happen."
"Right? They won't check every athlete's level and powers one by one."
"Maybe they'll do a super-powered Olympics? Divided by level brackets or something."
Ban Yu-won chatted with them over tea in the living room alongside the guild members who had arrived far too early.
Even as he conversed, he occasionally sensed their gazes locking onto him like missiles.
Lee Hyun-ji, Ban Yu-mi's college classmate, was the most blatant. Kang Mi-yeon, who gave off the most mature vibe among them, was the subtlest.
'But my eyes read even the concepts of their movements, so they're all busted...'
To fool his eyes, they'd need at least Dokgo Yeon's level of skill.
Ban Yu-won sighed deeply, wondering what exactly his sister had been saying about him for them to show this much interest.
No, it wasn't just that, of course.
Right now, everyone on Earth probably had the same or greater interest in him.
"Got a question."
Soon, Lee Hyun-ji launched a direct attack.
"That video—was it a concept, or the real deal?"
No need to ask which video.
Ban Yu-won wondered what kind of torture this was as he first checked if any family was around.
Thankfully, Father and Grandfather were at work, and Mother was in the kitchen.
—Thwack
In the meantime, Ban Yu-mi had judged her friend.
"Lee Hyun-ji, cut the nonsense. He was serious."
"Why? Everyone's curious! It was hotter than most porn!"
"Why are you such a Hyun-ji, Hyun-ji unnie?"
"Plus, that lingering regret you can't hide makes it even uglier."
"You guys are too harsh...!"
Sure enough, in this group, Lee Hyun-ji was the one taking the hits.
Ban Yu-won shook his head as he quickly assessed it, and Lucelle, who had been smiling beside him, suddenly spoke up.
"By any chance, do you all want to become Yu-won's woman too?"
"Pfft—."
Kang Mi-yeon, who had been leisurely sipping tea while teasing Lee Hyun-ji, couldn't hold it in and spat it out.
Ban Yu-won captured the concepts of the airborne liquid, recovered, and erased them, then flicked Lucelle's forehead.
"Watch your words."
"Huh? But I was holding back."
He dreaded to think what she'd say without holding back.
Kang Mi-yeon shuddered at the casual display while looking at Lucelle's innocent smile.
"Anyway... I get that it wasn't a concept..."
"Hey! Even if Yu-won dates other girls, you're okay with it, Lucelle?"
Lee Hyun-ji charged bravely again.
Yujina watched her like a villager eyeing a reckless hero.
"Of course not. But it's only natural for females to flock to a strong male. Deny reality and stamp your feet in place, and you'll just get weeded out."
"Nooo, her mindset's not human...! Gang-mian, your turn!"
Kang Mi-yeon brushed aside the shattered Lee Hyun-ji and spoke.
"Women want a man who loves only them. That's what matters to us. If not, we date someone else."
"? But there's only one Yu-won."
"Exactly."
Kang Mi-yeon perfectly grasped Lucelle's logic.
"Once you have absolute priority, the rest doesn't matter. Can't be helped."
"This society will change that way soon enough."
Lucelle smiled brightly at Kang Mi-yeon's analysis, which still treated her like an alien from another planet, and declared.
"External threats are fierce, and we're stronger united. We'll naturally reach the stage of expanding the smallest trustworthy unit—the family. Centered around one reliable powerhouse. Could be a man like Yu-won, or a woman like Sis."
"Uh, yeah?"
"There are many dimensions, and plenty where females lead families—usually when females outclass males. Right, Yu-won?"
"Ah—yeah. We covered that in class. You remember well, Lucelle."
"Because Yu-won helped! Ehehe."
Lucelle purred on his lap, delighted by the praise.
The four Earthlings could say nothing more.
Kang Mi-yeon alone pondered Lucelle's words.
"True, despite dedicated agencies worldwide tackling monsters aggressively, humanity's population is plummeting fast. At this rate, we might have to overhaul our mindset just to preserve numbers..."
"Gang-mian, why are you taking it so seriously?"
"It is serious. Lucelle's from a mana-advanced world ahead of ours. High chance she'll be right."
"...Really?"
Lee Hyun-ji had thin ears.
"Plus, her point boils down to the strong claiming multiple mates. If I get strong, I can snag a bunch of hot guys!"
"Oh...!"
Lee Hyun-ji fully bought into Kang Mi-yeon's words.
"Yeah! Swapping guys daily is trash, but leading a pack is success! Right, the reverse harem dream—legally!"
"Me? I'd rather aim for a strong, cool guy who protects me than needy ones I have to babysit..."
Kang Mi-yeon quietly voiced her secret wish as she watched Lee Hyun-ji fall into the trap.
Ban Yu-mi glared sharply, but Lucelle, enjoying his lap, nodded in agreement.
"Right. Women crave men who protect them. Even with other women around, if he's irreplaceable, compete for his favor up close. And if you can manage those women yourself, even better."
So that's why Lucelle tested the Oculus Ruber executives first—the group fully understood.
"Still hard to accept. Emotionally impossible."
"Obviously! Letting my boyfriend two-time? No way!"
"Huh? ...Y-yeah. Right!"
Kang Mi-yeon stated firmly, Yujina nodded vigorously as if she'd waited for it.
...And Lee Hyun-ji, dreaming of reverse harems, freaked out at her friends' cold reality check and joined in.
What an amusing bunch.
"Got it. You're all out, then."
Lucelle smiled sweetly.
"If any of you approach Yu-won later, I'll take it as trying to steal him from me."
She added it lightly with a smile.
The others, guessing the implication, couldn't laugh.
"Isn't it about time?"
"Y-yeah! Reporters are coming. Snap out of it and get ready."
Ban Yu-won tossed it out with a wry smile, and Ban Yu-mi jumped up shouting.
She looked the most shaken by Lucelle, but kind friends didn't point it out.
"Question. Mr. Ban Yu-won, does that mean you haven't fully returned to Earth?"
"As mentioned in the video, Union Academy's break isn't short. Finish the pre-break special activities early, and it's longer. I wrapped up a two-week activity in under a week, so my break extended. Planning to stay on Earth for just under two months."
Ban Yu-mi had handpicked friendly, non-aggressive reporters, so the press conference flowed smoothly.
But they couldn't stick to safe Q&A only.
Especially since it was live worldwide.
"Ms. Lucelle is the first visitor from another dimension, but are you aware of certain claims circulating...?"
Like sci-fi novels: she might carry harmful germs, be an alien invader scout, a monster—even calls to kill and dissect her. Internet nonsense everywhere.
The issue: some meant it seriously.
More so abroad.
"If Lucelle's dangerous for any reason, so am I—we've been together constantly. Naturally, I won't hand over myself or her to anyone."
"Oculus Ruber officially protects them both. All checks are done. Legal action for baseless claims is on the table."
Ban Yu-mi, seated to his left, nodded and added to his words.
All checks done? Bold-faced lie without batting an eye.
Ban Yu-won played along innocently.
"I'm just home for break with my girlfriend. Earth's dimensional evolution surprises me honestly. I'll aid my sister's guild during break for a better future."
"Joining Oculus Ruber? But I thought it only accepts women..."
"Yu-won will be the exception. We banned men to avoid drama, but he's family—the guild master's—so no issue. Plus, he's strong."
"So external policy remains the same."
"Yu-won only."
Ban Yu-mi paused, then added with a deliberate smile.
"We'll also take G-rank dungeon support requests. Handling bombs nations can't touch."
"R-really?!"
The bomb drop shook reporters.
Ban Yu-won too.
G-rank dungeon?
Shouldn't we sync stories before press?
Ah, we were hearing Lucelle's alien dating theory!
[They classify dungeon danger by alphabet here, Master.]
[Starts at minimum A, scales with mana and monster levels. Humanity's max is F. Oculus Ruber handled those.]
Lilith sent a resonance message for his ears only then.
'Right, dungeons rampage or backflow if ignored, so ranking speeds cleanup. Plus infection waves.'
Ban Yu-won nodded inwardly at her explanation, then grew curious.
'How do you know, Lilith?'
[Since landing yesterday, I've seized all global networks, gathering data. Hooked into satellites too—for instant regional info on demand.]
'Perfect, Lilith!'
Recalling how she'd devoured massive electricity and cores in Babel's 94th room to wield it fully, he nodded.
No clue how that linked to networks, but if Lilith said so, it was true.
'So F-rank was max till now—Oculus Ruber only—and adding me enables G-ranks before they blow?'
[Spot on, Master. Great for winning hearts.]
Not her idea alone, but clever—Ban Yu-won agreed.
Even if some resented two asymmetric powers joining Korea, offering to clear their dungeons made hostility impossible.
"Words alone won't convince on G-ranks. So tomorrow, we'll clear Korea's."
"Huge news!"
Reporters' excitement showed G-ranks were dire.
Ban Yu-won guessed: someone rivaled Oculus Ruber's F-clear, rushed a G, got wrecked... or a wave.
Maybe both.
[How'd you know?!]
'Experience.'
His smug smile read as G-rank confidence to reporters, earning gasps.
Ban Yu-mi drove it home.
"After our elite party clears Korea's G-rank, we'll take requests. Fair selection, of course."
Fair selection.
No viewer missed her meaning.
Want protection? Kiss up.
Ban Yu-won grinned at her closing, then asked Lilith curiously.
'What's a G-rank that's got everyone riled?'
[G-rank if max 70-level monsters. Boss can up it.]
'Dog snacks.'
Probably A=10 max, scaling up.
Wait.
'F-rank max 60 then.'
Checked Ban Yu-mi's level again: 50.
Kang Mi-yeon highest at 43.
'...How'd they clear it?'
Ban Yu-won marveled at her feat, despite his own higher-level hunts.
The conference ended smoothly—after reporters left, Ban Yu-mi rarely bowed to him.
"Sorry, should've briefed you...! Those damn reporters crashed and blabbed."
Never dreamed she'd bow.
Her mature poise throughout, and with Lucelle—sister had changed a lot. He felt off-balance.
"Just 70 levels. No biggie."
"'Just'?"
Yujina (Lv. 36), silently guarding Ban Yu-mi's back, smiled wryly.
"Yu-won, what's your level?"
"Mine? Well."
Life check: up 2 to 897.
Round? Nah, trim it.
"89."
"Liar?!"
"Lucelle, you?"
"Lemme see, thanks to Yu-won I surged... 120. But he'd crush me head-on."
"Not crushingly. You got Primal Core now."
Ban Yu-won chuckled at her overestimation.
Lucelle's Life under 1,000 originally, but burning Primal Core into her core permanently hit monster levels.
Not Dokgo Yeon yet, but activating it'd make even her wary.
"89's nuts, 120..."
"Good we skipped levels at press."
"Cheater accusations galore."
"89..."
Guildies gawked; sister's stunned face stood out.
Not joy, not shock.
If anything...
"Yu-won."
Mother, bringing drinks for all from the kitchen, set the tray down and called him.
"Talk with Mom a sec."
"Now?"
"Yes, now."
"Got it."
He could guess the topic.
Braced, he gently pried Lucelle's hand from his sleeve and followed to the master bedroom.
Expected long, but she was brief.
"Yu-won, remember. No exposing Yumi's face on Rebellion Channel."
Simple, really.
Simple...!
