Chapter 224
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Lesson 44. The Strike That Pierces the Gap - 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fortunately—as proof that the chain room sequence had finally ended—they safely obtained the treasure chest in Room 160, Eden.
Moreover, excluding the one Ban Yu-won had forcibly created before, this was their first golden chest!
Though it was made of iron, it was still something to be grateful for.
The depth of the Seal on the Ring of Seals has reached 650.
"So, what is this?"
Ban Yu-won, who had absorbed the concept sealing the chest into his ring and smiled in satisfaction, tilted his head at the artifact revealed inside.
It clearly wasn't ordinary, given the faint glow it emitted, but no matter how he looked at it, the material was fabric.
It was a bit too thick to call it just clothing, making him wonder if it might be winter pajamas.
As Light's reaction was the complete opposite.
From the moment he laid eyes on it, they were glued there, refusing to budge.
"This is..."
"Oh, you know what it is?"
"Arming Doublet—also known as inner armor. You can't wear metal armor directly on bare skin, so this is a simple protective garment worn underneath..."
"I see."
As the only member wearing armor, it was no surprise that Light recognized it first.
When Ban Yu-won reached out and picked it up, Light's gaze followed it perfectly.
"...Hey."
"Ah, ahh."
As Ban Yu-won shook the inner armor this way and that, Light's eyes wobbled like a cat chasing a laser pointer.
He repeated this a few times, teasing him, when Dokgo Yeon's fist came down on Ban Yu-won's head like an iron hammer.
"Stop playing around."
"It was fun, though..."
"I want it."
Light said with serious eyes.
Before Ban Yu-won could respond, Dokgo Yeon spoke in disbelief.
"I'm impressed by that shameless face of yours. What nerve..."
"Why not? Light performed admirably this time. Sure, it was tough, but it was thanks to him that the chain rooms kept connecting."
"Are you okay?"
Receiving such a genuinely concerned look about his mental state made even Ban Yu-won worry if something was wrong with him...
He gently pushed away Dokgo Yeon, who was poking around his head in search of alien tentacles controlling his mind, and examined the inner armor's texture.
Upon inspecting its concepts, it was an extraordinary artifact. Just wearing it provided robust defense, along with recovery of physical fatigue, wound regeneration, self-repair of the garment, and various other abilities.
Moreover, it seemed to offer supportive effects on both body and mind...
Which meant.
"This is a good item."
As Ban Yu-won grinned while handling the inner armor, Light looked anxious.
"A very, very good one. ...Ban Yu-won, if you're giving it to me, could you please stop touching it like that?"
"Refrain from statements that could be misinterpreted. Especially in your current state—it might overly provoke certain groups."
"?"
If he didn't get it, that was fine.
Ban Yu-won finished appraising it and testing it out, then handed the inner armor to Light without fuss.
"Here."
"...You're really giving it to me?"
Light had performed exceptionally in this chain room, and he was the only one who could use it, so it was a fair distribution.
Yet the one who had boldly asked for it first now looked genuinely surprised upon receiving it.
"This is treasure. It would boost my current strength by at least 20%. Are you sure you should hand it over so easily?"
"20%? Nice. What's the problem?"
"We're competing against each other in a month over something important."
Light's eyes flashed with unnecessary seriousness.
"Handing over an artifact without hesitation—do you think I'm a joke? Or have you already given up on facing me after seeing my performance this time?"
"If you're going to talk nonsense, give it back."
As Ban Yu-won reached out, Light quickly tucked the inner armor into his chest.
He'd begged desperately at first, but now that he had it, he was getting uppity—and when asked to return it, he hid it. It perfectly revealed Light's mental state.
Ban Yu-won snorted.
"If you're going to use it, just use it without overcomplicating things. I'm not underestimating you or giving up—I'm just distributing spoils to a comrade."
"...Got it."
In the end, Light accepted the inner armor.
Though called inner armor, with a little adjustment anyone could wear it—a top-tier piece of defensive gear handed over casually. The other members might complain, but Lucelle had been fine from the start, and by the time Dokgo Yeon saw it go to Light, she seemed to understand something and quieted down.
"Alright, let's head out now. Time limit's getting tight."
"We cleared 30 rooms in just three days, no matter how you look at it."
"I lost count of the multi-shifts."
Considering that top third-years like Mira and Shati had conquered nearly 300 rooms in a full semester, Rebellion's pace defied common sense.
Ban Yu-won's tower explorations added elements other teams rarely encountered: not just higher difficulty per room, but chain rooms and multi-shifts that ramped up challenge while accelerating progress.
"Ah!"
Emerging from the tower, Yumina waited for them as always at the end of the semester—along with a crowd watching their exit.
The reason? Their ranking updated the moment they emerged.
At semester's end, they'd finished close to Irena Ortima's team, which had led first-years in solo exploration. But in just three days, they'd surged past to 160 rooms—impossible to ignore.
"Great job, everyone! Classes tomorrow, so disband and rest up."
Yumina greeted them with a bright smile, clapping as she subtly pulled Ban Yu-won toward her.
On Sundays after explorations, she always "kidnapped" him for a debriefing, so it was nothing new.
"Trying to steal Master again..."
"Beast, if you've got energy left, how about a spar?"
"Kyaaang!"
"Hmph, then I'm off too."
Lucelle, frustrated by interruptions throughout the exploration, bared her teeth at Yumina, but Dokgo Yeon sighed and dragged her away. Light shot Yumina a briefly odd glance before snorting dismissively—now fully accustomed—and left.
Left alone with Yumina, Ban Yu-won had to leave with her to escape the piercing stares from all sides.
"What happened?"
The debriefing spot was the top-floor restaurant in Union Academy's first annex, a nostalgic place he'd visited with her before.
Sitting face-to-face with Yumina after nearly half a year, Ban Yu-won felt her gaze especially intense today.
"The usual. Got tangled with Constellations, triggering chain rooms and multi-shifts. Smashed some Babel-like fake, probed a bit into Babel's authority."
"Gotta watch the footage."
Tike's editing skills were god-tier.
Yumina fast-forwarded the video just uploaded to the channel, narrowing her eyes.
"Looks like a lot was cut."
"Cut the sanctuary parts entirely. Let Light heroically 'rescue' me while I was stuck—perfect framing."
Light's existing fans were thrilled.
And thanks to Tike's needless two-shots of Light and Ban Yu-won, the exact fandom clash he'd feared was unfolding.
"Truth comes out, channel's gonna burn..."
"Sometimes I wonder what Sis really wants from me at Union Academy..."
Food arrived as she checked the video.
Over the past half-year, Ban Yu-won had encountered, fought, and harvested so many foes that even rare monster meat had minimal effect now.
Bitter smile at his rapid growth in such a short time—then Yumina, having reviewed the raw footage, let out a quiet sigh.
He couldn't yet fully read her emotions with his eyes, but her sigh carried real weight.
"Yu-won, this Starlight Conductor..."
"The ego in the staff I showed you before. She claims to be a former Constellation; mimicked her magic, and they caught on."
"..."
Ban Yu-won frowned, recalling yesterday.
He'd ruthlessly rejected their demands, prioritizing his comrade.
But in hindsight, their uniform guess at her identity—and bold demands—from just knowing of starlight magic was odd.
Selron must be a notable figure among Constellations.
No wonder they schemed against her organizationally.
"I knew it..."
Yumina whispered.
"Professor... Sis knows the Starlight Conductor too?"
"She was the one who controlled the Constellations."
It made perfect sense.
Who else would control them if not the wielder of starlight magic, which weakens their power?
Yet Yumina's words carried a subtle nuance: not that Selron could control them, but that she was their controller.
"You heard right."
"Intriguing."
Today's main was sautéed meat from some high-rank monster.
Perfectly salted and grilled, it melted divinely, juices bursting in ecstasy.
Ban Yu-won savored it carefully before asking.
"Sounds like Selron's ability... or existence... was artificially created."
"The universe's top talent incubator is right here."
"A student?"
"And the principal's protégé. ...Like me."
Ban Yu-won set down his fork.
He'd devoured it so fast without realizing.
"Feels like there's more to the story, Sis."
"Never thought I'd tell you this soon... Maybe overlapping miracles."
Yumina raised her glass, infusing it with her magic.
Mystical power filled the red wine, sparkling crystals forming within—like a crimson universe trapped inside.
Ban Yu-won sipped the familiar magic he'd half-expected.
"Starlight. She bragged it's her unique magic, usable only by her."
"There are ways to let others use unique magic or authorities. You know that, right?"
"Yeah."
A contract with a Constellation.
She was the Starlight Conductor's contractor.