Chapter 20

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 20

Chapter Title: Lesson 5. The Tower is One-Way - 3

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A corridor spacious enough to accommodate four people walking side by side with room to spare.

Torches lined the walls at regular intervals, but even up close, no warmth emanated from them.

The Tower was a fantastical space that truly existed.

Ban Yu-won had felt this vividly from the moment he stepped inside.

'The funny thing is, the concept of fire is definitely present within those torches.'

He considered extracting it, but it was impossible.

Because he didn't own these torches.

Yet in the previous dungeon, he had been able to extract ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠concepts from traps that clearly weren't his. What was the difference?

Realizing this might help him embody his ability more deeply...

"Ban?"

"Ah, sorry. I zoned out for a second."

Snapping out of his thoughts at Light's call, he came face-to-face with Dokgo Yeon glaring at him with her cross-shaped eyes.

"This is enemy territory. I won't forgive even you if you act scatterbrained."

"They said combat doesn't start until the shift happens—until we enter the first room. Don't be too hard on him."

"Hmph."

Perhaps due to entering the Tower, Dokgo Yeon seemed a bit on edge.

Since it was his fault, Ban Yu-won apologized to both and decided the four of them would stick together to properly explore the Tower.

But just as the mood settled and they began walking, Dokgo Yeon suddenly asked him,

"So, what did you confirm about the torches?"

"You knew and still scolded me? You're something else... It's a secret."

"Were you trying to see if you could pull out that flame?"

This woman was a real ghost.

Ban Yu-won feigned composure and nodded.

"Something like that."

"But it didn't work. If it had, we could've freely manipulated the Tower's terrain and objects..."

"Don't think so far ahead with my ability—it's scarier that way. This isn't all I can do, so just watch."

"Ugh."

At that moment, Lucelle let out a faint groan and tightly gripped Ban Yu-won's arm.

Simultaneously, Ban Yu-won witnessed the Tower's pervasive concepts transforming into something else.

"...Shift."

"First room now."

Light checked the number 1 clearly appearing above his Student ID necklace, bit his lip hard, and drew his sword of light.

"Light, you got this?"

"I told you to trust me."

"Let's see it then."

A sword made of golden light, drawn from who-knows-where every time.

It had to be an artifact of a level far beyond what Ban Yu-won could currently imagine.

He was uneasy about Light's behavioral and personality shift the moment he gripped it, but seeing the deep, murderous concepts overflowing from the sword made such worries seem pointless.

"Lucelle, don't just hide—come out."

"Ah, uh, but..."

"If it comes to it, I'll kill you myself."

Ban Yu-won barely understood half the exchange between Dokgo Yeon and Lucelle.

But seeing Lucelle's posture straighten a bit after those words suggested some rapport between them he wasn't privy to.

Well, sharing a room, it wouldn't be strange if their relationship had progressed over the past week.

By the same token, he and Light, rooming together, should've understood each other—but that seemed more like a one-way street on Ban Yu-won's part.

"Above."

Lucelle muttered softly then.

In an instant, a massive droplet fell from the previously empty ceiling, dripping like melting candle wax.

As Eve urgently shifted into a shield to block it, Light leaped lightly and swung his sword like a beam of light.

The amorphous droplet evaporated with a pfft, vanishing.

He'd seen this monster in a manual analyzing the Tower's diverse monsters.

It devoured metal, leather, cloth—anything. If not dealt with before contact, you'd likely lose your gear.

In bad luck cases, it'd strip you bare.

Had they missed it, everyone would've been in trouble.

So Ban Yu-won felt no regret.

No re...gret...!

"First room is Cloisters... Looks favorable for us. We've got sharp senses here."

"Can't guarantee nothing else shows up. Stay alert."

Another Tower trait differing from dungeons: monsters bursting out from walls, floors, anywhere.

The party assigned zones—up, down, left, right—and diligently popped Cloisters as they advanced through the room.

Low durability compared to stealth or speed meant little effort needed.

"Hah!"

"Quiet. You planning to advertise every swing?"

"Ha! Hup...! And you're too quiet!"

"Hmph."

Light swung his sword, firing beams of light. Dokgo Yeon just snapped her fingers, and distant droplets burst on their own.

"Haaah!"

—Boom!

Surprisingly, petite Lucelle fought like an infighter, bare-handedly smashing foes!

Whenever one rose in her sector, she'd dash with startling speed and pulverize it, leaving no trace.

'No, traces remain.'

Ban Yu-won smiled faintly at the sizable code chunks absorbing at a visible rate—rare lately.

Before entering the Tower, he had two concerns.

One: Could he extract codes from Tower monsters like dungeon ones?

Two: Could he from monsters killed by allies?

Both yes.

Thanks to his growth, codes released and absorbed without approaching corpses.

'Difference: Less Life absorbed compared to kills by me or Eve.'

But other concepts fully absorbable, and taking everything from allies' kills felt wrong anyway—no complaints.

For now, he couldn't say, but later, enhancing allies with his ability made this fair trade.

"Hm...?"

Dokgo Yeon, casually snapping fingers to clear everything, suddenly glanced at Ban Yu-won.

Caught absorbing codes? He flinched, but she pointed at Eve, not him.

"Is that its combat form?"

"Yeah? Something like that."

Clank, shing!

Eve, now a mass of iron chains floating midair, shot chain ends at every Cloister, hunting them.

He'd granted it the remaining 10 Sharpness from Lilith yesterday; chain shots fell under Fierce Shot, making it fiercely lethal—Cloisters pierced vanished instantly.

"Impressive. Fast too..."

Her words said that, but her eyes screamed 'No way that's all.'

Ban Yu-won stabbed a rising Cloister at his feet and shrugged.

"It has stronger forms, but they're noisy."

"Noisier than those?"

Dokgo Yeon snorted, pointing at rampaging Light and Lucelle.

"Ha! Hah!"

"Haaah!"

Having cleared dungeons before, Ban Yu-won and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quiet Dokgo Yeon knew silence mattered in exploration—but Light and Lucelle bellowed 'I'm here!' with every move.

Like game characters grunting on basic attacks.

"Light seems experienced, yet..."

"Combat experience doesn't always translate to special environments."

Ban Yu-won sighed softly, resolving to explain later.

Light aside, Lucelle moved on instinct over shouts—unlikely to improve.

How long had they fought onward? Suddenly, Cloister assaults dwindled.

"Room changing soon?"

"No. Sensing strong ki gathering. A different-quality monster coming."

"Elite monster in room 1? Already...?"

Elite monster.

Like dungeon bosses, exceptionally strong Tower specimens.

Unlike regulars vanishing without trace (hence easy code absorption), elites often dropped items—key income source for students.

Problem: Encountering one usually meant expulsion from Tower.

"...!"

Scanning after Dokgo Yeon's words, Ban Yu-won spotted it: golden strings brightly clumping on one wall!

Closest to Lucelle.

"Lucelle!"

"!"

Sharp-sensed Lucelle noticed too.

She swept surrounding Cloisters with one hand, then charged the 'sprouting' thing on the wall.

"Kyaaaah!"

Monster cry?

Ban Yu-won tilted his head, then realized no.

It was Lucelle.

Boom!

—Graaaah!

Her beast-like hooked hand smashed the wall viciously.

The massive amorphous thing bursting out shattered before fully emerging, vanishing.

A small black glass crystal fell—likely a Magic Core.

Ban Yu-won hurriedly recovered dispersing codes, observing Lucelle.

"Hah, huff, huff... Hooo."

After instant-killing it, she panted in place until breathing steadied, picked up the core, and returned.

Light stared shocked; Dokgo Yeon knowingly. Ban Yu-won focused on her body—her bangs.

'Thought she had colored contacts, but no.'

Originally pink with black bangs section; now black spread slightly.

A previously unseen internal code exposed.

Not emotional 'heartache furnace', but heart + furnace.

Burning emotions as fuel for power.

'Just a plain berserker.'

Satisfied with his conclusion, Ban Yu-won smiled—then felt his sleeve tugged.

Lucelle.

"W-Was I scary?"

"Huh?"

"Just now..."

Misread his piercing stare, apparently.

Ban Yu-won shook his head vigorously, denying her worry.

"Not at all. Reliable, even."

"But if... it gets worse."

"Told you it's fine."

Disliking Lucelle's hesitant sleeve-tugging, Dokgo Yeon coldly swatted her hand.

"If you lose reason completely, I'll kill you anytime."

"Can't do that, Dokgo Yeon. One death resets exploration from room 1."

"If it keeps up, we'll ascend with three. Or just you and me—not bad."

"Ugh, ugh."

Dokgo Yeon was Dokgo Yeon, alright.

What rapport? Just ready to cut others ruthlessly!

Ban Yu-won gave a wry smile at shivering Lucelle under Dokgo Yeon's chill, gently grasping her flailing hand.

"I'll think of something."

"Huh...?"

"Figured why you're overly timid. Rest is finding a fix."

"Ah! Th-Thank you...!"

Truly touched, Lucelle gripped his hand, trembling.

Really puppy-like.

But Dokgo Yeon scowled at the sight.

"You're a typical guy after all. Fawning over looks."

"Misunderstanding. See me calm around you?"

"Hmph, switching tactics won't work."

She coldly rebuffed his flattery, but All-Reading Eyes owner Ban Yu-won confirmed from her subtle expressions: no woman hates praise (in his experience).

But he wasn't swayed by Lucelle's beauty or craving skinship.

Holding her hand was just to analyze her code, pondering how to eliminate that ability's side effects and utilize it.