Chapter 25
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Lesson 6. The Grace of a Teacher is as Vast as the Heavens - 4
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Ban Yu-won had a momentary vision of his own throat being sliced open.
It happened the instant Dokgo Yeon's short sword slashed horizontally through the air, as if he had sensed death before the severing blow itself.
He remembered.
When she had clashed with Ortima, she had killed his power with nothing but a shout.
Now, she was unleashing the exact same essence of power.
'The sword motion of severing, the form. The intent within it, the will of severing. But that went one step further. It added the resolve to slice through the opponent and lead them straight to death...'
Back then, he had only been vaguely amazed.
But now that he had tasted even a fragment of martial arts, he could recognize just how miraculous and chilling her strike truly was.
How could something as simple as a human action—a mere sword stroke—contain death itself?
That clear, dense death.
He was simply grateful that the blade hadn't been aimed at him.
—But facing that terror head-on had certainly paid off.
You have comprehended an advanced technique that manipulates emotions and phenomena, increasing your mastery over your authorities. The depths of All-Reading Eyes, All-Hearing Ears, and All-Speaking Lips have each deepened by 5.
You have successfully captured a portion of a profoundly powerful and complex concept of Martial Arts. Soul has reached a depth of 390. Martial Arts has reached a depth of 97. The excess depth not attributed to sub-concepts will aid in acquiring and developing future sub-concepts of Martial Arts.
Swordsmanship's depth has reached 52.
By observing and partially comprehending the essence of Sever, its depth has instantly reached 15.
Now, if Dokgo Yeon told him to call her teacher, he'd have no choice but to oblige.
She had elevated his realm this much with just a single sword strike. Could there be a better teacher than her?
Moreover, by wielding her sword, she had granted him insight into an entirely different kind of realization.
'Maybe Lucelle's Heart Forge is something similar to the technique Dokgo Yeon just showed.'
The ability to momentarily generate a concept not inherently part of one's body, amplifying one's power or achieving a desired outcome.
Wasn't that exactly what an active skill was in games?
The difference between Lucelle and Dokgo Yeon was that Dokgo Yeon could control such concepts freely, while Lucelle could not.
'So, how could I help a Lucelle like that...'
"Ban Yu-won."
"Huh?"
He snapped out of his thoughts at the voice right beside him and looked up to find Dokgo Yeon's cross-shaped pupils inches from his face.
Startled by how close she was, he nearly fainted.
"Did you commit it to memory? I'm not showing it twice. I put in some real effort there, you know."
"Yeah... I think I got it."
The colossal spider that had emerged with enough force to alter the room had been bisected and vanished in a single strike.
No matter how incredible Dokgo Yeon's abilities were, she couldn't fire off strikes like that casually.
If she could, that would be terrifying.
And besides...
Life 3, Body 11, Demon 12, Carapace 15, Web 10, Resistance 1
Considering that he couldn't properly extract Life from monsters hunted by others, it was clear just how monstrous the beast she had dispatched in one blow had been.
In its place lay only a single magic core—slightly larger than the elite monster from Room 1.
Ban Yu-won felt awkward, as if he'd stolen her rightful gains, but Dokgo Yeon simply gazed at him with a mischievous grin, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.
She's still scary!
"Stop flirting and help already!"
As Light's urgent shout pulled Ban Yu-won's attention away from Dokgo Yeon.
"Grrrraaawr!"
"Lucelle's gone berserk!"
Of the two giant spiders lunging at As Light and Lucelle, one was facing off against As Light.
The other was writhing in agony, some of its limbs torn off—and the slime and carapace fragments on Lucelle's hands made it obvious she was responsible.
However...
Heart Forge 84 — Rage 27, Madness 40, Sorrow 9, Pleasure 3, Killing 5
Compared to when he'd checked just moments ago, the Heart Forge's depth had skyrocketed.
And the addition of unfamiliar concepts worried him.
"Gruk, grrruk...!"
"You idiot, Lucelle! Hunt the monster!"
"Oh? A fun spot like this."
Whenever Dokgo Yeon called something fun, it usually wasn't fun at all.
"Not fun at all!"
"Keehiiit!"
—Screeeeech!
The situation was a total mess.
He could've finished off the legless spider with a bit more pressure, but for some reason, Lucelle was ignoring it and charging at poor As Light instead.
As a result, As Light couldn't properly fight the giant spider, nor could he fend off Lucelle—he was caught in a dilemma.
Ban Yu-won stared straight at Dokgo Yeon and spoke.
"Dokgo Yeon."
"Don't give me that look. I've done my part in this fight."
Everyone knew she was restricting her power to match the party's average.
In fact, it was necessary for everyone's growth, so no one complained about it.
But this situation was irregular.
"If even one of us dies now, who knows what'll happen. You know? This is an irregular."
"...An irregular, huh. You're right about that."
She had probably wanted him to persuade her from the start.
Sometimes, convincing resolute people required such tedious, obvious steps.
Thus persuaded without much fuss, Dokgo Yeon nodded and said,
"Fine, I'll take that beast off your hands."
"Whatever, just hurry!"
At As Light's yell, Dokgo Yeon flicked her finger. Lucelle, lunging at him, was flung into the air and smashed her head against the wall.
"Gruk!"
But she sprang up unscathed and charged at Dokgo Yeon instead of As Light.
Dokgo Yeon casually repelled her again.
Lucelle got up and lunged once more... and that's when Ban Yu-won realized Dokgo Yeon was just "playing" with her.
"She's lost all reason. She just flies into a frenzy at anyone strong."
"Wait, so she ditched the spider for me?!"
"You wouldn't have time to yap like that, though?"
"Ahh!"
As Light, sighing in realization, finally turned to face the incoming giant spider.
At this point, Ban Yu-won figured out what Dokgo Yeon wanted from him.
Wasn't there one opponent rolling on the floor, unable to find a target?
"Teacher, this homework's a bit tough."
"If you truly saw my strike, your sword should be enough."
Dokgo Yeon replied to his grumbling with a smile.
She maintained an utterly relaxed demeanor even while handling a fully feral Lucelle.
Maybe even her claim of having used real effort on that earlier strike was a lie.
Sensing this was her utmost compromise, Ban Yu-won sighed and turned to his opponent.
—Screeeeech!
There lay the giant spider, screeching in pain after Lucelle ripped off its legs.
Though not normal—having lost three of its eight legs—it had recovered some strength over time and was rising again.
Even without legs, that solid head was intact, and its massive bulk alone could crush him if it charged.
And she wanted him to sever it? He'd known her teaching was Spartan from the start, but this...
"Shruk."
"No, Eve."
Eve stepped forward, shifting into rifle form, but Ban Yu-won shook his head.
"Bullet waste. Turn into chains."
"Shiiiik."
This time, Eve morphed into a bundle of chains in midair.
Taking that as his cue, the recovering spider lunged at Ban Yu-won!
—KeeEEEE!
"Tch...!"
Its movement was incredibly fast, but the beast was enormous regardless. Ban Yu-won slipped through the blind spot created by its missing legs, dodging the charge.
But what he hadn't expected was the silver threads scattering in the air with its motion.
Possessing adhesiveness, they sprayed everywhere, trying to hinder his movements.
You have stolen Web 0.3. This is a concept humans cannot possess.
"Spider-Man's dreams dashed like this."
—Keehi?!
Of course, the webs already released and falling to the floor couldn't escape his conceptual dominance.
As they all transformed into golden strings and were absorbed into him, the legless spider panicked extremely and charged again.
"Eve!"
—Clank!
But by then, Eve's extended chains had already wrapped tightly around one of its remaining legs.
With the other end embedded in the wall, it held firm against the spider's resistance for a brief moment.
And that moment was enough time for Ban Yu-won to attack.
'Sever!'
Perfectly replicating Dokgo Yeon's death-infused strike was impossible.
But one thing—the sword strike infused with the will of Sever—he now had confidence he could wield properly.
He felt the concept of Sever resonating with his movements.
If he added the power of crimson blood, Blood Poison, on top...
—Slash.
Severing one of the spider's legs was now possible.
"Got it!"
"Impressive. But to kill it, you need to split the head."
Dokgo Yeon wasn't satisfied with that alone.
Ban Yu-won let out a despairing sigh as he watched the spider, now with half its legs severed, flop back to the floor.
He'd managed the legs by targeting the joints, but cleaving that thick, massive head?
"Ha... Fine, alright. I'll do it."
The beast was filled with pain and rage, barely able to move properly.
When better than now to sever it? Under Eve's cover as she yanked the chains free, Ban Yu-won charged!
"Sever it!"
He swung his sword at its head with intense resolve!
—Kagagagak!
But he failed.
Two reasons.
His power and technique were insufficient from the start, and this time, Blood Poison hadn't activated properly.
—KEEEEEE!
—Kwang!
Instead, the enraged spider thrust its remaining legs at him. If Eve hadn't swiftly turned into a shield, he'd have a hole in him somewhere.
"That ability to draw blood onto your blade—it would've been perfect this time."
"Kuak!"
Dokgo Yeon remarked as she hurled Lucelle toward the ceiling.
But knowing even with Blood Poison, decapitating it was unlikely, Ban Yu-won didn't reply. He just clicked his tongue inwardly, readjusted his stance.
'Blood Poison's hard to use consecutively. Obvious in hindsight, damn it.'
As he sorted his thoughts, the spider's legs came at him again.
The space was tight already; retreating further risked hitting As Light or Dokgo Yeon.
'Can't back down. To fight as an equal party member from now on...!'
—Keehit!
He desperately swung his sword in place to deflect the spider's legs.
But meeting them head-on would shatter his arms under their immense power.
He had to deflect the force outward as much as possible.
Of course, easier said than done.
—KeeEE! KeeEET!
"Di, deal...!"
Abandoning movement entirely, it stabbed downward with its sharpened remaining legs.
Eve blocked some, but even she had limits.
Ultimately, Ban Yu-won had to deflect most.
"Nngh...!"
His arms felt like they'd snap, but he never dropped his sword.
On the contrary, he was growing immersed in the situation.
Four irregular legs lunging at him.
Deflect them in order of approach, dissipating the force within.
Ignoring the creaking in his arms and the sense his body might slam into the floor any second,
Honestly—it was kind of a fun challenge.
—Clang! Clang! Squeak!
Before long, he'd forgotten the pain and the situation, focusing solely on batting away the legs.
In that process, unnecessary tension drained from his body, and the noise of clashes grew quieter.
Was the spider tiring, its attacks weakening?
Maybe, but that wasn't all.
Ban Yu-won had begun successfully deflecting the power in its legs.
A terrifying adaptability.
—Screeeeech!
How many more deflections later?
Suddenly, Ban Yu-won realized he no longer feared its attacks.
A bit lighter.
A bit faster.
As his sword repelled another leg, a subtle momentum dwelled within it.
In the process of deflecting enemy attacks, you have comprehended and internalized the concept of Flow. Flow's depth has reached 5.
His quick grasp of this new Martial Arts concept was likely influenced by the residual Martial Arts depth from Dokgo Yeon's strike.
Even accounting for that, it was astonishing.
And his realization didn't end there.
'By timing my sword to the exact moment the enemy's power peaks in their attack, I can deflect it. Then, couldn't I reverse that force to strike back?'
The concept known as parrying.
Honestly, it was half game-thinking.
But the power of concepts he wielded manifested as he perceived them.
Unlike naturally acquiring Flow while deflecting,
This time, he first engraved the concept of Counter in his mind and moved.
"Now!"
—Keehiiit!
The first try failed a bit.
To reverse and strike using the enemy's force, he needed the exquisite gap at the attack's peak—a timing harder to grasp than Flow.
But the next improved.
The one after made the spider's leg momentarily recoil.
And the next instant.
—Kwachik!
The moment the spider's extended leg reached its power's zenith.
He succeeded in flicking his sword to reverse its direction.
—KEEEEEEEE!
The leg fully buckled, snapped, and dangled limply as the spider writhed in agony.
But Ban Yu-won had no time to comfort it, eyes on the popup.
You have engraved your self-defined concept, Counter, into your body. Counter's depth has reached 10! In comprehending a higher Martial Arts concept on your own, Martial Arts' depth has reached 120. The excess depth not attributed to sub-concepts will aid in acquiring and developing future sub-concepts of Martial Arts.
Soul's depth has reached 400.
Having finally attained true enlightenment, Ban Yu-won turned shining eyes toward Dokgo Yeon.
She had clearly set this up from the start, pitting him against a weakened foe to spark this realization!
"Teacher!"
"...What? Scary."
...Or not.