Chapter 191
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Lesson 38. Ban Yu-won's Words Come True - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Lee Hyun-ji! Over here, just once!”
“You successfully cleared a G-rank dungeon in just one day! What's your take on it now?”
“What's the share for the two new members who just joined in this dungeon raid?”
The G-rank dungeon raid led by Oculus Ruber was nothing short of a massive hit.
With the eyes of the entire nation—no, the whole world if we exaggerate a bit—locked on Gangnam, they boldly wiped out the dungeon and strolled out, silencing all the cautious skeptics and pessimists who shut their mouths and quietly tossed flower bouquets.
“Why all the fuss?”
Ban Yu-won frowned, recalling what had happened during the G-rank dungeon raid.
It was a dungeon full of ordinary human-faced monsters, tough for their level but nothing special. Thanks to Ban Yu-mi, who had dramatically powered up, and especially Kang Mi-yeon, whose combat strength had skyrocketed with her powerful new weapon, Ban Yu-won and Lucelle barely had to lift a finger except for the boss fight.
Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-ji, who had gained confidence from battling the regular mobs, flashed a grin amid the barrage of shutter clicks.
“I can already predict tomorrow's headlines. 'Oculus Ruber Conquers G-Rank Dungeon! What's the Economic Boost for Korea?'”
“That's the same headline from when we first cleared an F-rank dungeon.”
“I've always wondered—how do they just slap a price tag on us like that?”
“Ignore them. It's not like anyone's actually turning it into cash for us.”
Growing accustomed to the spotlight, they all kept straight faces under the flashing cameras while muttering media jabs only they could hear.
As Ban Yu-won scanned them with an incredulous look, one brave reporter tossed a question his way.
“Ban Yu-won, any chance this raid footage goes up on the Rebellion Channel?”
Ban Yu-won exchanged a glance with his sister before stepping forward.
“No. The Rebellion Channel isn't fully mine, so I can't just upload whatever I want.”
“That's a shame.”
“Well, mindlessly exposing Earth's—or Korea's, more broadly—military strength to outside dimensions isn't a great idea. You can see from the videos on my channel: orc waves eroding dimensions on a massive scale, dimension pirates, and plenty more targeting weaker realms.”
He dropped the somewhat heavy remark to highlight that fame for Korea wasn't all good and to raise awareness of external threats.
“It's not smart to leave it all to a strong few. We all need to get stronger to survive the competition with outside dimensions.”
Especially for a unique dimension like Earth, where everyone had been granted status windows—a perk akin to higher-dimensional privilege.
“As announced at the press conference, we'll start accepting applications for other countries' G-rank dungeons today, with raids kicking off next week. And we'll bring along one ace party from each nation to join us.”
“Ooh...!”
It was a chance to showcase Ban Yu-won and Lucelle's prowess more directly, prove Oculus Ruber wasn't just riding their coattails, and give those pathetic foreign ace parties a bit of a 'polish'.
Above all...
To squeeze resources from those who wouldn't want to miss this golden opportunity!
“A brilliant decision, Ban Yu-won.”
“Applications are open on the Oculus Ruber guild homepage. Selections will be made fairly after discussion with the guild master and me.”
Ban Yu-won announced it like this was the real point all along.
That's right.
No matter how crucial a G-rank dungeon raid was.
Even if nations were eyeing a piece of the pie.
All profits from this raid went straight to Oculus Ruber!
The economic ripple from Oculus Ruber belonged to Oculus Ruber alone!
“That's all.”
“Uh... uh...”
With that, the group hopped into their car without a backward glance, leaving the scene behind.
It was the moment Oculus Ruber—and Ban Yu-won—dominated headlines worldwide, not just in Korea.
After the raid wrapped and they dispersed (the members, including Lee Hyun-ji, subtly tried tagging along home, but Lucelle smiled sweetly and shooed them away), Ban Yu-won got home and checked his phone.
Over 999 stacked messages and missed calls left him dazed.
“Elementary school reunion?”
Ban Yu-mi, peering over his shoulder in a world without privacy, snorted.
“They're scrambling now that you're hot stuff. Hilarious.”
“You think this is funny, sis? Oh, and it looks like middle and high school reunions are popping up too.”
“Freaking gold.”
Every group he'd ever brushed against reached out, their opportunism so blatant it was laughable.
No, that was tame.
Contacts from organizations he'd never even touched were the real jaw-dropper.
“What's this? Honorary enrollment?”
“Yeah. They know I'm a high school grad, so they're offering their university cred. 'Please show up to our events just once~~' vibe.”
“Creative economy, huh...”
He blocked most without reading, firing off curt replies to a few high school buddies before shutting the phone.
Ban Yu-mi watched him quietly.
“What.”
“Thought you'd say yes and go meet them.”
“Who, my friends?”
“Yeah.”
“Ridiculous.”
Ban Yu-won dismissed it with a wry smile.
“Meeting friends now, with all the attention? It'd just be awkward. Even if they don't mind. Real friends would hold off on contacting me right now.”
“Still... your popularity with girls must be insane.”
“Do you see your little brother as some girl-crazed dude?”
He shot back in disbelief, but Ban Yu-mi tilted her head seriously.
“You're a total reflex nova.”
“Ban Yu-mi, you're dead.”
“Ack, Ban Yu-won—!”
Daring to mention that lingering trauma, the gold sphere!
The siblings tangled on the sofa in a fierce wrestling match.
Of course, the victor was Ban Yu-won, whose build had overwhelmingly outpaced hers over the past half-year!
“Y-You, as the little brother—!”
“This is justice.”
Only those who've tasted the thrill of rank reversal could understand.
As the smug Ban Yu-won released his flushed sister and stood from the sofa, Lucelle, who had watched the scene, wore a wistful expression.
“Lucelle, what's up?”
“Yu-won really is a great little brother...”
“Duh.”
“A brother who locks in a figure-four on his sister? Where's good about that!”
“And as for big bro... no, nothing.”
“L-Lu-Lucelle? If you have something to say, s-spit it out...?”
Ban Yu-mi, feeling oddly guilty under Lucelle's knowing gaze, stammered and averted her eyes.
Lucelle, as if waiting for that, beamed brightly.
“Perfect timing then—shall us girls have a heart-to-heart...?”
“I'm out, doing something else.”
Frightened, Ban Yu-won bolted from the spot.
He hoped Lucelle wouldn't spill everything unspeakable.
[Master, scan complete.]
“Oh.”
Right on cue, a report from Lilith.
Ban Yu-won seized the chance and headed to his room. Lilith popped from his inventory, shifting into a somewhat large 50cm doll form and landing neatly on the desk.
A highly detailed girl figure, moving so vividly it reminded him she had her own standards of perfection.
But why change into that specifically...?
Ban Yu-won narrowed his eyes and grilled her.
“Lilith, you didn't take my sister's words to heart and change like this, right...?”
[This is purely my choice, Master. Think about it—if someone saw us talking right now, wouldn't a cute girl form look better than a ball or bike?]
“Tch?”
“No, Eve, don't get ideas. Stay my healing pet forever.”
He stroked her head, praying she'd steer clear of this mess.
“No one's gonna see. Report the scan results.”
[Yes. Here's the scan on the 'dimensional walls' connecting from the solar system and our galaxy.]
Lilith projected a wide holographic screen over the desk.
It showed footage of Earth from space and paths from Earth to the nearest dimensional walls.
Proof Ban Yu-won hadn't been idly goofing off since returning to Earth.
[As you've sensed, Earth's mana levels and density match Lady Lucelle's home planet, Jeda—post-predator death, even richer.]
“Current Jeda's around D-1 dimension level, right?”
[Either way, it's beyond lower dimensions. Though handing status windows to all humanity still doesn't add up.]
“About Earth's mana density thickening faster?”
[Most dimensions are densifying too. But Earth's change is markedly quicker. And on that note, scan results from nearby dimensional walls.]
Dozens of dimensional wall footages popped up on the hologram.
Plotting their coordinates around Earth revealed a spiderweb density.
[Earth—has way too many connected dimensional walls.]
“As expected?”
[Yes. Given Earth's late dimensional evolution and cosmic position, it shouldn't. Almost like Earth's at the universe's center. And even more shocking:]
“Go on.”
[Most of these walls seem to have formed right alongside Earth's dimensional evolution.]
So until now?
No walls meant no way out to external dimensions from Earth.
[Like Earth was exiled wholesale to an isolated cosmic corner, inaccessible—now back to its original spot with evolution. No one could reach it before, but now they can.]
“Wait, then.”
His words to the crowd today weren't a joke anymore!
Ban Yu-won rubbed his temples.
Sure, Earth's average combat power was impressive for a newborn mana civilization—but cosmic scale? Pure lower-dimensional stuff.
“Not kidding. Constellations are already eyeing Earth's uniqueness... Better not broadcast about Earth, even beyond sis's issue.”
[Speaking of which, one more report on that.]
“What?”
[Not dimensional walls—Earth's network data.]
The space footage vanished, replaced by a blazing flame icon in the center.
[Looks like a constellation tracking your sister's unique authority.]
“Constellation, huh...”
Never a good entanglement with those guys.
Ban Yu-won sighed deeply.
“What's its name?”
[Followers of the Myriad Calamities. Sponsor of the Ten Great Families' Prominence.]
Ten Great Families, Prominence.
Ban Yu-won paused, recalling something—Lilith added,
[Union Academy second-year has their heir enrolled.]
Right, he remembered.
'Watch out at the Academy. Keep an eye on the Ten Great Families' kids.'
Ketra's dying words.