Chapter 193
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Lesson 38. Ban Yu-won's Words Come True - 3
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Brushing off the curious stares from those itching to know what happened during Ban Yu-won's school trip, the group flew on in heavy silence for several hours before safely landing at London Heathrow Airport.
"Isn't it fast?"
"Well, they gifted it to us from America, asking us to come quick."
So that's what they meant.
Apparently, it was the latest model incorporating new materials that appeared on Earth after dimensional evolution and rudimentary mana-energy engineering tech.
Hearing that, Lilith reacted with wide eyes, as if she couldn't believe it.
[This is... the latest model...? Not a toy?]
"I don't want to spark a tech revolution on Earth, so don't nitpick and just let it be."
Interfering with their tech might lead to Earthlings achieving dimensional travel too quickly, which would be a headache.
Tech and magic development should ideally sync with humanity's overall power growth.
After waving to the pilot and disembarking, they soon met the person holding a sign welcoming them—the beautiful secretary Lilith had mimicked yesterday.
But as he told Lilith yesterday, Ban Yu-won didn't find her appealing because of the glasses.
"Welcome to the UK."
She spoke nearly flawless Korean, but no one in the group was surprised. Ban Yu-won could understand all languages anyway, Lucelle had auto-translation as a Union student, and the rest were such big shots that guides fluent in Korean were standard no matter the country.
"Pleased to meet you, everyone from Oculus Ruber, and Ban Yu-won. I'm Eleni Mark, here to assist you during your stay in the UK."
Ban Yu-mi shot back sharply at the woman who adjusted her glasses upon spotting Ban Yu-won and acted familiar.
"Ban Yu-won is a guild member too."
"My apologies. You just have such a strong unique image."
She said it politely enough, but everyone caught the implication.
Ban Yu-won was relieved she wouldn't be joining them in the dungeon.
At least he could prevent his sister from becoming a murderer!
"Picking us first, and already hitting hard from the start."
"Should we just fly back home?"
"Yujina will remember this..."
"Isn't that her 'just remembering' pattern?"
Of course, Eleni Mark wouldn't dare underestimate the world's No. 1 guild, Oculus Ruber.
It wasn't deliberate provocation; more like her true feelings slipping out uncontrollably.
From the perspective of those expecting more from Ban Yu-won, fresh from another dimension back to Earth, he might seem tied to Oculus Ruber because of his family.
Ban Yu-won understood their mindset, but he had no intention of bending to their wishes.
His main stage was Union, not Earth—why hustle here too?
Sure, as an object of interest, attention didn't bother him, but playing on a dimensional scale already, Earth's media hype felt like returning to his hometown village for a break, only for the locals to swarm him with welcomes.
Noisy for no reason; he just wished they'd all go do their own things.
'On Earth, riding my sister's coattails is easiest. Not Oculus Ruber and Ban Yu-won separately, but Oculus Ruber's Ban Yu-won.'
Yeah.
That's how he'd thought before learning her secret.
Mother probably knew too—the Rebellion Channel not uploading Ban Yu-mi's videos was just a stopgap.
Soon, Earth would fully engage with other dimensions, especially with a constellation tracking her unique authority...
'Can't stick to her side forever, nor hide her somewhere safe.'
Detailed plans after gathering intel, but right after dealing with Ryu Cheol-myeong, this ghost of a bigger hassle appeared. Unbearable.
Nothing to do now but focus on the immediate dungeon.
"The team joining you is already at the hotel. You can chat with them over a simple dinner tonight."
Eleni Mark explained the schedule in the limo to the hotel.
Originally, dinner was at Buckingham Palace with a meeting with the King, but Ban Yu-mi shot it down flat.
"By the way, where's Britain's ace party?"
Lee Hyun-ja, hunting for booze in the limo, pouted as Yu-jina snatched her champagne.
"You're an executive and didn't know? Phoenix Knights."
"Britain's proud strongest knight order. Their leader, Kiira McBride, is world rank No. 3."
"Gack."
Eleni added proudly to Kang Mi-yeon's explanation.
But Lee Hyun-ja shrank back in horror—whether from Phoenix Knights or Kiira McBride, unclear.
Ban Yu-won fixated on another word.
"Knight order? What's that?"
"Some European countries like Britain call state-affiliated Awakeners 'knights.' A knight order is their party—like national guild fighters."
Kang Mi-yeon kindly explained to his tilted head.
Eleni smiled brightly, adding,
"They even get actual knight titles and pensions."
"Does Korea have nothing like that?"
"They exempt you from military service if you join the state."
"I wanna bolt to Union ASAP."
Eleni itched to say immigrants to Britain skip military worries, but held back under the fierce glares from Kang Mi-yeon and Lee Hyun-ja.
Besides, the Ban family wouldn't let Ban Yu-won enlist easily anyway—pointless dream.
"We're here. Oh, Phoenix Knights members are out front."
"Oh, they're all so friendly..."
Ban Yu-won's words trailed off as he spotted Britain's ace party through the window.
Seeing his pupils quake, Ban Yu-mi snarked,
"That's Kiira McBride. Your type, right?"
"I-it's her in person?"
"What?!"
Ban Yu-mi, who'd kept calm, jumped in shock.
Good thing—if sis had lured him knowing that, he'd have severed family ties right there.
"What're you talking about?"
"Related to what you mentioned before takeoff?"
"Red hair... green eyes!"
Ban Yu-won sat Lucelle back down as she bolted up.
He wished the limo wouldn't stop, but no dice.
Stepping out with Lucelle, hoping she wouldn't recognize him...
"Oh, hi! Kiira McBride. We've met before, right?"
She zeroed in on Ban Yu-won from the start, approaching with hand outstretched!
"We don't speak English, so Korean?"
"Ah, hi everyone! But most glad to see you... ♡"
Lee Hyun-ja shoved her away gruffly for Ban Yu-won, but she either didn't know Korean or didn't care, waving breezily at Lee while switching back to heavy-accent English for Ban Yu-won.
Waist-length crimson locks, emerald-sparkling green eyes.
And the blazing flames boiling within her.
Flames?
—Constellation Contractor. The Follower of Man-Geop you mentioned yesterday!
[No word that Britain's top ranker is a constellation contractor...!]
Ceron, who'd been quietly observing, piped up sharply, and Lilith protested aggrievedly.
Fair enough—flame users were plentiful on Earth scale; couldn't suspect and investigate them all as Follower of Man-Geop contractors.
"What, already figured it out? Quick."
"My eyes are sharp by nature."
Ban Yu-won shrugged, and she grinned deeply, amused.
"You noticed back then too, two years ago."
"Two years ago, huh..."
Kiira McBride before him: Britain's top ranker and constellation contractor.
He'd met her "by chance" during his school trip to Britain—but now, even that felt uncertain.
Was she even Earthling?
Too strong if so.
Couldn't read her Life precisely, but definitely stronger than Ban Yu-mi.
"Can we meet tonight? Just us."
Kiira giggled, whispering in his ear.
Not English, not Korean—an alien tongue only he and Lucelle could understand here.
"Sure."
Couldn't recklessly glance at Ban Yu-mi without knowing how much she knew.
Ban Yu-won nodded with a feigned casual smile.
Of course, Oculus Ruber members, unaware of context, could only assume he'd fallen for the redhead beauty's seduction!
"What're you doing to our Yu-won right now?!"
"Are British girls always this forward?"
"Uh, Yumming died standing?"
"...So this is what they mean by 'hoist with your own petard.'"
Meanwhile, Phoenix Knights members with her naively admired.
"Whoa, our captain's seducing a minor."
"No scandals till now 'cause of her tastes!"
"Looks can be fixed with surgery, but age...!"
Thankfully, if the whole party were contractors it'd be trouble, but they seemed average as publicized.
Ignoring the chatter, Ban Yu-won eyed the redhead smiling only at him, secretly checking with Eve.
'Can you monitor without being spotted?'
"Shh-shit."
Eve shook her head firmly.
Fair; even he lacked confidence in fooling her with his Ghost Phantom Art, so Eve wouldn't either.
Could illusion her in a fight here with Eve's hypnosis, but only for short bursts.
"Hey, Ban Yu-won."
Revived Ban Yu-mi called him, frowning worriedly.
"What'd she whisper to lure you?"
"Not luring, don't worry."
"She totally was?"
Kiira interjected bluntly into the siblings' talk.
Hearing that, Lee Hyun-ja bellowed,
"This bitch knows Korean!"
"Knowing and still calling her a bitch? Bold."
Kang Mi-yeon sighed.
She hoped this farce would end, but...
Sadly, the real show hadn't even started.
As guide Eleni said, that evening Oculus Ruber and Phoenix Knights gathered for a casual dinner. Unlike all-female Oculus Ruber, Phoenix Knights had men, but they behaved—no funny business, as if warned.
Even Kiira McBride, who'd flirted with Ban Yu-won on sight, stayed meek, so everyone chalked it up to an overly enthusiastic greeting...
"Came secretly?"
"Yeah, one person knows."
That night, their secret meetup was known only to Ban Yu-won and roomie Lucelle.
"So—how much did you figure out?"
Ban Yu-won replied guardedly to the excitedly sparkling-eyed Kiira McBride.
"That you're contracted with a constellation, named Follower of Man-Geop..."
Couldn't mention it hunting specific unique authority holders.
Hoped she hadn't clocked Ban Yu-mi's yet.
Instead,
"—And that you might not be Earthling."
A different shake-up line.
"Right! I'm from S-7 dimension."
His trump card, but she responded brazenly.
Tsking as he pondered next, what she pulled from her bosom blew his mind.
"And an early member of Rebel Force...!"
"Huh?!"
[Rebel Force ― No.3]
The platinum card she flashed read.
...The Earth viewer—Grandpa, sis, no, it was this woman?!