Chapter 222
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Lesson 44. The Strike That Pierces the Gap - 2
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I started feeling like something was off when I realized there was no treasure chest in Room 150 either.
"This…… makes any sense?"
"……."
As Light trembled with rage.
Dokgo Yeon, who had apparently been secretly hoping for one too, shot a sharp glare at the spot where a treasure chest might have been.
Meanwhile, Ban Yu-won had a certain hypothesis pop into his head, but he frowned, wondering if it could really be true.
'No way…… the chain room hasn't ended yet?'
Chain rooms in blocks of 20 were already insane enough, but extending even further?
Maybe it was because there had been too many multi-shifts starting from Room 141?
No, more than that—what else could possibly happen after the nightmare of Room 149?
Sighing at his own ominous guess even as he thought it through, he went ahead and did what needed doing.
He replenished his blood pearls and harvested concepts from the Fruits of Eden.
Since it was dinnertime anyway, he was about to prepare a meal when As Light shot to his feet and shouted.
"On to the next room! The chain room has to still be going!"
He seemed to have reached the same conclusion as Ban Yu-won.
"No. Everyone's exhausted from smashing towers and fighting constellations. We rest in Eden tonight."
Even with As Light looking ready to grab his holy sword and charge off, Lucelle declared it firmly.
But her tail was slyly wrapping around Ban Yu-won's arm, making her intentions crystal clear without needing to look.
"As annoying as it is to cater to a beast in heat……"
Dokgo Yeon sighed.
"It's true we've all overexerted ourselves. Let's rest."
"……This is why solo exploration is better. Staring success in the face and looking for excuses to retreat."
As Light clicked his tongue…… but did he even realize that without Ban Yu-won, he couldn't have achieved any exploration worthy of results in the first place?
Besides, As Light's stamina wasn't infinite.
No, if anything, judging by their performances, As Light had burned through the most energy of anyone in the group.
Yet he kept up a perfectly calm facade. How could that not seem eerie?
'The more he swings his power around, the more his sense of self might be at risk…… It's just a baseless hunch, but Dokgo Yeon probably held him back for the same reason.'
Still, considering how As Light had acted earlier when Ban Yu-won entered the tower created by the constellation, there was still hope.
Including that, he'd have to think about how to act going forward in their exploration—and how to interact with As Light.
After sorting out his thoughts, Ban Yu-won scratched his head, stood up, and casually soothed Lucelle, who had been sending him blatant signals for a while now. Together, they made dinner.
Tonight's meal was kimchi stew loaded with thick chunks of pork belly.
It was one of the dishes born from Lucelle's recent obsession with Korean food, tweaked so even people from alien cultures could enjoy it. Since even Dokgo Yeon and As Light devoured it without complaint, it must have been a hit.
"Mm, your country's food suits my taste perfectly, as expected."
"Dessert too."
"……I don't like how you act like I'm obviously going to demand sweets."
It was dangerous to mouth off when Dokgo Yeon was squinting at you like that.
Suppressing the urge to tease her with "What, no dessert for you then?", Ban Yu-won finished eating, cut her two slices of cake, and took some time for personal maintenance.
After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he polished the Executioner's Longsword—which had grown even broader and longer, making it hard to call a one-handed sword anymore. Dokgo Yeon tilted her head curiously as she approached, having scarfed down her cake in the blink of an eye.
"That sword…… it's gotten even bigger."
"Sliced up something huge today. Its conceptual depth increased."
The Executioner's Longsword, having undergone conceptual mutation, didn't look much different on the surface, but the concepts composing it had completely transformed.
[Demon Sword 1,010, Severance 110, Resonance 110]
Concepts like beheading, murder, and blood poison had fused into Severance. While the original Executioner's Longsword specialized in slicing through living beings—especially human necks—this version could now cleave anything as long as Ban Yu-won willed it.
His guess was that decapitating countless lives, culminating in beheading a powerhouse, had fulfilled special experience or conditions, evolving it to the next stage.
For reference, one-shotting the constellation's avatar today had deepened Demon Sword, Severance, and Resonance by 10 each.
"I thought it had a deep history from the first time I saw it. But now I can feel the sword's will growing stronger."
"Sorry, no clue about that."
The sword's will strengthening? Hearing that a sword with such a brutal name had a sense of self didn't exactly thrill him……
And one that grew by chopping off tons of heads? Felt like a curse.
Grousing inwardly, he meticulously cleaned off the grime and sharpened the blade.
It wasn't cursed to bind to his hand or anything, and its performance was outstanding without needing rechecks, so he'd keep using it.
However……
'When we talk about cutting or severing objects, it's usually "cutting" or its reverse, severance. Of course, the concept on the Executioner's Longsword, Severance, technically means the same in terms of kanji—snapping something apart……'
The kanji forming concepts were just manifested in a way Ban Yu-won, the wielder, could easily understand.
They wouldn't change kanji pointlessly.
So, if.
If the new potential this sword gained from conceptual mutation went beyond mere physical severing, as he'd hypothesized.
That would enter the realm of unique authorities even constellations couldn't handle lightly……
"……Why are you staring at my holy sword like that? Polishing that rusty hunk of junk made you jealous of my holy sword all of a sudden?"
"Nothing."
As Light, noticing Ban Yu-won's gaze mid-second bowl of stew, clutched his holy sword protectively with both hands. Ban Yu-won gave a wry smile and shook his head.
If his guess was right, great—but if not, dealing with the fallout would be tough.
He could test it at the founding festival.
—Vrrrrm
"Just hold on till then."
Whether Dokgo Yeon's words about its ego strengthening were true, the Executioner's Longsword vibrated indignantly at As Light calling it a rusty junk sword. He stroked it lightly and sheathed it.
"Alright, bedtime."
"Yes, Master♡"
Lucelle, already prepped for bed and waiting for those words, pounced on Ban Yu-won. Dokgo Yeon's eyebrow twitched.
"Didn't you just say you were exhausted? You seem full of energy, so shall I keep you company?"
"Hee-hee, jealous? You're welcome to Master anytime— Kyaa!"
Dokgo Yeon and Lucelle's impromptu spar began.
Ban Yu-won sighed at the predictable outcome as he set up the tent, then noticed As Light blankly watching the two fight.
He glanced at Ban Yu-won now and then, clearly lost in thought.
"What, wanna spar too? I could oblige."
"No. No time to play with idiots. We move at dawn, so get some shut-eye."
As Light lumped Ban Yu-won—and boldly Dokgo Yeon too—in with "idiots," then slipped into the tent Ban Yu-won had just pitched. Spreading out bedding, he added,
"You two can manage."
It was a two-person tent meant for him and Lucelle anyway.
"You too, get in and sleep. Hate to admit it, but you're the core of this party. Rest up properly and recover."
"Huh?"
"Now."
As Light reached out and yanked Ban Yu-won in.
Unable to resist, Ban Yu-won ended up sleeping next to him, just like back in the dorms.
……Huh?
The space was vast and expansive.
No light at all, so you couldn't make out your surroundings—but anyone with eyes that pierced darkness would see countless grotesque eyeballs studding the ceiling, floor, and walls.
Xenon, a man shrouded in a black hooded robe, knelt at the center.
"So you're really putting off dealing with that wench? Sure, we leave everything to student autonomy, but that's gone too far. She even accessed the Academy's dimensional database. That's a challenge to the Academy and the Tower."
—It doesn't matter. He's preparing to prove himself. If we meddle clumsily, we'll only delay his awakening. Don't forget, Xenon. We're mere guides lighting his path—we can't block it or pave it arbitrarily.
"……."
—Dissatisfied?
"—No. Just……"
Xenon pulled back his hood, revealing his refined features.
His face, usually called doll-like for lacking humanity, now held a hint of displeasure.
"I think we're expecting too much from a still-immature child."
—Aren't you the immature one, Xenon?
The voice tsked mockingly.
—Haven't you already bared your all to him?
"……That's true."
He bit his lip, recalling the first semester when he'd taught the boy.
For the Tower's first authority exercise, the boy hadn't hesitated to craft a sword perfect inside and out.
Unlike himself, who was all show.
"But that's just potential. Too much attention's pouring onto him now. Today, tons of constellations burned occupancy just to interfere with him. If those fools seduce him with sweet words……"
—Impossible.
The voice declared firmly, bursting into laughter.
—They can't tempt him. He's already seen through them without showing it. Why entrust his fate to inferiors?
"……If you say so, I'll believe it."
Xenon nodded at the voice's resolute tone and relented.
But before leaving, he couldn't hold back and spoke again.
"Then, Administrator."
—Hm?
"If, after realizing everything, that boy still acts against your will—what then?"
—Xenon, foolish, pitiful doll…… still spouting such nonsense?
The voice sighed and explained.
—My will isn't that important. But his and mine will align inevitably.
"Is that so?"
—Yes.
The voice asserted.
—If he's truly Babel Tower's successor, it must be so.
Saturday night, just before bed after finishing her work.
Yumina sat by her bedhead, squinting at two small frames on the drawer.
Both photos had similar compositions.
An adult holding a little girl's hand.
The adult was the same, but the girls differed.
One was Yumina…… the other……
"……Starlight."
Whispering softly, Yumina caressed the girl in the photo, then flipped it face-down on the drawer, afraid someone might see.
Then she drifted off, dreaming of tomorrow when she'd meet the prince to grant her wish.