Chapter 280
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 280
Chapter Title: Lesson 54. Things You Shouldn't Touch – 5
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"Huh."
The moment Ban Yu-won reached out absentmindedly and manifested his ability, he realized something felt different from usual.
Not because of anyone else or the Tower's influence.
It was purely through his own power that he had succeeded in creating a single goblin.
—Kreek!
Made from the countless scraps the Tower spewed out as materials, the goblin had just been granted new life by Ban Yu-won's hand.
As if it knew that it was Ban Yu-won, not the Tower, who had created it, the monster stared at him blankly for a moment before bowing its head to him and getting sucked into the ceiling hole along with the other goblins, vanishing from sight.
"Ah."
Ceron, who had been leisurely sipping black tea alongside the chocolate Ban Yu-won brought, watched the scene and let out a dazed exclamation of admiration.
"That was fast."
"Yeah..."
The Tower had prepared everything, sure, but the sensation of creating a living being with his own hands felt profoundly special even to Ban Yu-won.
Of course, there were cases like Eve or Lilith—originally inanimate objects that gained egos, becoming living beings and rising even higher. But those were items with distinct forms from the start that awakened and grew by receiving ranks.
The goblin he had just made, on the other hand? It was a creature he had shaped from scratch, blending life, a demon's essence, a tiny fragment of soul, and a hint of swordsmanship as its unique trait.
"You've become a creator god."
"Not from absolute nothingness, so no."
"Ordinary folks wouldn't even notice the difference."
"True, but still."
If not for this space—the [Nursery], where remnants of life constantly flowed in and the Tower's mysteries birthed new beings—he would have needed far more time to reach this level.
So what could he do now? Honestly, aside from goblins, he still lacked confidence in creating anything else.
He needed more cases, more practice.
As if understanding that, the space immediately shifted him to the [Next Nursery].
Or maybe "factory" was a better fit.
"Whoa, the scale jumped up all at once."
"Where the hell does the Tower even hide places like this..."
The room they were in had grown larger, the floor and ceiling holes gone. Instead, doors leading to other rooms now lined the walls.
Each door had a nameplate with a different monster's name, so each room must serve the same role as the goblin nursery.
The central room they were in now—which connected to all the nurseries—had not only the large sofa and table from before but also an incredibly plush-looking bed.
"What the—why's there a bed like that...? You don't mean—?!"
Ceron's calm demeanor cracked the instant she spotted the bed, even as space warped and shifted around them while she sat sipping tea. She shot to her feet, pointing accusingly at him.
"You're planning to take advantage of us being alone and do something weird to me? Like you did with that perverted fairy or that lustful beast!"
"You're casually trash-talking Mira and Lucelle when they're not here, huh? And I didn't set up this bed, so chill out."
"Oh, right."
She settled right back down, so it had apparently just been her idea of a joke.
She occasionally showed this weird sense of humor—maybe because, despite appearances, she was even older than Yumina...
"You just badmouthed me in your head, didn't you?"
"Nope, not at all? Anyway, let's check those out."
"You go. I'll just sit here and have some tea."
"...Then at least properly infuse holy light into those talismans."
Ban Yu-won checked the eight doors one by one, starting from the left.
There were Tower staples like Tower Spiders and armored beasts, and surprisingly, even a troll—a monster he hadn't encountered inside the Tower yet, aside from Asha.
Come to think of it, Asha had fought a troll during the entrance exam. Who could've guessed that was foreshadowing?
Indulging in pointless fantasies, Ban Yu-won inspected all eight nurseries, noting how concepts were recovered and new monsters assembled within. He returned to the central room with an energetic nod.
"Back already?"
Ceron set down her teacup, having been infusing holy light into dozens of talismans. She handed them to him with a tilt of her head.
Before the holy light could fade, he used his ring's power to seal them all and stored them in his inventory, shrugging.
"My skills are only goblin-level for now. Took too much time anyway, so let's head back today."
"Okay..."
"What?"
Uneasy at her lukewarm expression, Ban Yu-won pressed. Ceron set her cup down and answered honestly.
"To me, this feels like the Tower's training you to be its manager. Don't you think so?"
"I've thought that from the start."
"Right..."
Ceron fell silent, glancing around thoughtfully before shaking her head. "Later. It's not that important."
"No, you can't just leave me hanging like that—you'll get karma for messing with people's heads. Spill it."
"I was just thinking about why the Tower's giving you this education. It feels too contrived."
—Because it's a setup left by our ancestor, obviously.
Ban Yu-won nearly said it but clamped his mouth shut.
Ceron was half his familiar by now, so she vaguely knew his connection to Babel Tower.
For her to say that despite knowing... Was she doubting his ancestor?
Or the Chancellor and Xenon?
Ban Yu-won had considered those possibilities too, but he couldn't reject the Tower's hidden side that was awakening his talents.
Each situation had its own lay of the land. From the moment he first entered under the guise of solo exploration of the Tower's depths—or even from the instant he saw Babel Tower looming over Union Academy and decided to enroll—he'd been on an unstoppable ride.
Still, the timing's good.
He'd been thinking it was about time to dig deeper.
Especially since there was someone who knew more than anyone about the Tower's and the world's origins.
The dragonkin Aire, inheritor of the True Dragon's legacy, and her backers, the Melodia family.
Aire had even personally invited him to visit during break—
Can't go to the Dragon Realm during vacation anyway, but my business would only take a day. Like that special activity trip to Shati sunbae's dimension last time...
"I know what you're thinking. Stop it."
Ceron, sharing his thoughts, shook her head in horror.
"Ignoring an invite to 'come play' and just showing up for business? If a guy I liked pulled that, I'd curse him with every ounce of my spirit power."
"It's fine. I can just say I'm stopping by to say hi since I can't make it during break."
"So you know it's shady."
But Ban Yu-won hadn't realized he didn't need to visit the Melodia family for the truth he sought.
Hadn't Aire already kindly warned him?
The ruins where the True Dragon slept had awakened, and time until full activation was short.
Apart from his Tower training, Ban Yu-won had mountains of work.
Finishing his magic thesis as the deadline loomed, helping special admission seniors still directionless.
Schedule a trip to Mira's dimension, keep in touch with his older sister ahead of time.
Yumina still wanted alone time under the excuse of magic lessons, and student council duties couldn't be ignored.
This week, he even had a rare Tower climb with his teammates—maybe just his imagination, but it felt overdue.
"Yawn."
Thursday night.
After sparring with Dokgo Yeon, too lazy to shower, Ban Yu-won conceptualized and erased the grime from his body whole, then yawned.
Dokgo Yeon blinked at him. "Tired?"
"Yeah, a bit—mm."
Ban Yu-won usually had solid stamina for his power level thanks to his soul's rank, but since getting life essence and blood from Eden, he rarely fatigued.
Otherwise, he couldn't have survived the death march from early second semester to Union Founding Festival...
"It's early to sleep, but... you should rest tonight."
Dokgo Yeon knew Ban Yu-won hadn't slowed down post-festival—in fact, he'd gotten busier.
His unique powers now influenced multiple dimensions beyond student level, drawing more people relying on him.
He'd moved for himself and comrades since freshman year, but now the "comrades" circle felt much larger.
A ruler's quality.
She had it too, but his vessel was on another level.
Embracing even standouts like her—what more to say?
Yet for such a vessel, Ban Yu-won himself wasn't that strong yet.
His abilities and ingenuity punched above his weight, but his mental fortitude remained human-level, per her diagnosis.
"Ah—yeah. Heading to bed. Thanks for the spar today, Yeon."
"Wait—hold on."
"?"
Dokgo Yeon instinctively stopped him but scrambled for words.
Soon, a convenient excuse flashed in her mind.
"You'll never properly rest going back to that dorm with that idiot waiting. She doesn't even know your state—she'll just paw at you like a fool."
"You guys really have no mercy for Asha..."
Speaks the one just as bad, Ban Yu-won grinned.
Dokgo Yeon clenched her fist decisively, then suddenly sat cross-legged in the training room center.
"Um... come here."
"Huh...?"
"I didn't sweat."
"Not about that. ...Huh?"
"Lie down."
"Huh?!"
As Ban Yu-won hesitated closer, incredibly, Dokgo Yeon laid his head on her lap.
Her thighs, honed to perfection, were just soft enough—comfortable.
"Yeon?! What're you—"
"Just thought you'd rest better here."
Her tone brooked no argument.
Lying on her lap, Ban Yu-won tensed recalling Mu-myeong's words to him, but Dokgo Yeon—boldly initiating such intimacy—was blushing furiously, too flustered to notice his state.
"C-Comfortable?"
"Feels too good."
"I see..."
"I'll return the favor next time."
"No way! ...But since you're trying to be fair your way, I'll accept this once."
She yelled reflexively, but imagining herself on his lap, she caved to temptation.
And it didn't end there.
Already recharged from the lap pillow, Ban Yu-won pulled a small chocolate from his inventory as thanks.
The kind Ceron ate in the Tower today—pricey chocolate enhanced with concepts for effects and depth.
"Say ahh."
He'd do what she couldn't before, with Lucelle and Asha watching.
"...Don't you think I'm in a perfect spot to pin you right now?"
"Just us here. No need to be shy—c'mon."
"This guy's getting bolder..."
Yet Dokgo Yeon tilted her head just right, parting her lips slightly.
As he offered the chocolate, she nibbled carefully lest his finger touch her lips.
Watching her face, she was now indistinguishable from a tomato.
"Good?"
"Sorry, no idea."
Flushed with shyness, tension, and unspoken feelings, she spoke again.
Her voice feigned calm—pure Dokgo Yeon.
"Might need another to tell. Ahh..."
But her words dripped desire, making Ban Yu-won burst out laughing.
After that, they had to force another spar.