Chapter 3

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: I Shouldn't Have Enrolled (3)

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Lesson 1. This Is Your Status Window - 3

'This must be the boss room, right?'

Ban Yu-won thought as he stared at the iron door blocking his path ahead.

Up until now, there had been hardly any forks—just a straight cave tunnel stretching on. And now, this artificial door had appeared.

Even if it wasn't the boss room, it was only natural to assume something lay beyond.

Ban Yu-won accessed the code within his body.

Every Blind Goblin had the same stats: Life 0.2, Body 0.1, Demon 0.1.

From the first one he encountered in high school all the way to this point, he'd somehow taken down (telling the details would bring tears) every Blind Goblin he'd faced and absorbed all their language concepts entirely. His current status was nothing short of astonishing.

Now, he could clearly feel his grip strength surging just from clenching his fist.

Specifically, by about 20%.

From that, he guessed that basic physical strength followed Body, but the Life concept amplified all stats overall once more.

'The problem is, even at this level, I still can't take on a Blind Goblin one-on-one.'

Seriously, if he hadn't been able to understand and mimic goblin speech with his unique ability, Ban Yu-won would've died long ago.

His only hope was the club in his hand: Blunt Weapon 15, Demon 1.5.

Unlike himself—who still felt somehow lacking even after devouring fifteen goblins whole—the club's transformation was striking.

The more Blunt Weapon it gained, the heavier it became. The more Demon, the darker its originally brown color grew.

He could feel the weapon changing dramatically with every finishing blow on a goblin.

'Maybe the essence of my ability lies more in crafting and evolving objects than my own growth?'

It was a bit premature, but he shook his head to dismiss the thought.

It hadn't been long since he'd awakened to the Babylonia Code—jumping to conclusions now was too hasty.

'More importantly... what now.'

Ban Yu-won pondered the door before him.

Honestly, he really didn't want to go in.

If he had to, he'd prefer to hunt ten more goblins—twenty if he got greedy—to secure more concepts first.

The issue was that the cave wasn't that big, with few branches. Backtracking now wouldn't yield many more goblins.

A bigger problem: thirst and hunger were starting to gnaw at him.

Wandering for hours to snag just one or two more would make passing the Practical Exam impossible.

'...Let's go in.'

The deliberation was long, but the decision instant.

He had no intention of clashing head-on with these monsters—not even as a joke—but his reason and instincts aligned, insisting it was the best option.

He opened the door.

Waiting inside was a massive monster.

"Intruder... you've finally come."

This is bad.

Ban Yu-won knew it the moment he saw it.

It was half again as large as the Blind Goblins he'd faced so far.

"You... were you watching me?"

"I don't need to see to know."

True to the Blind Goblin Cave's name, its eyes were blind—but to Ban Yu-won, whether it could see or not seemed irrelevant.

Above all, the weapon in its hand was menacing.

A long single-edged sword, its blade honed razor-sharp.

The tip pointed straight at him, proving its keen spatial awareness.

"I was getting bored waiting. Took you forever to deal with those vermin."

It even spoke as if aware of events outside the room.

Sensing he couldn't win, Ban Yu-won quickly scanned the small chamber for the 'core' but spotted only a small door behind the goblin.

The core must be in that next room. As always, defeating the boss claimed the reward.

Damn it!

"Not coming at me? Figures. A coward sneaking around, mimicking my kin's speech—why would you charge straight in?"

It bent its knees ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slightly.

It's coming.

The moment intuition struck and he raised his club—

A horrific clash rang out, sending agony ripping through his grip, forearm, waist—every tensed muscle.

Just one collision with its sword had Ban Yu-won reeling on the verge of blackout.

"...You blocked it?"

"Guh... hurk..."

The goblin sounded surprised.

A blessing for Ban Yu-won.

He needed time to fight nausea and reclaim the club slipping from his grasp.

From the moment he'd been dropped here, he'd braced for death—but his resolve was shallow.

The first excruciating pain of his life shrank his mind.

'This won't work. No chance. Even a miracle wouldn't save me.'

Run. I have to run.

The urge echoed in his head.

But his body moved oppositely.

Instinct raised the club again; the incoming sword slammed into it, birthing another shockwave and roar.

"Impressive."

The Blind Goblin Swordsman nodded appreciatively, still utterly composed.

"I thought you just a coward, but you've got talent... and that weapon's exceptional. Where'd you get such a sturdy club?"

From your kin, you bastard.

He'd have spat it if he could—but even speaking wasted precious stamina.

Instead, he moved, blocking the next sword strike.

Just three clashes, yet fatigue like three hours of beatings dominated his flesh.

Numbing body, throbbing hands.

Still, he never let go of the club.

He was certain death would follow if he did—clinging desperately, trusting instinct to move his body.

He was almost dumbfounded at how he'd adapted to this absurdity.

"Not luck after all."

'This fucking...!'

After blocking an invisible sword arc purely on innate sense, he realized it.

His natural combat sense wasn't bad.

But without enough experience and strength, he'd block a few lucky strikes—then, exhausted, be cleaved in two.

Amid relentless sword strikes, a grinding twist echoed from his joints.

Pre-dungeon him would've had bones shattered, rolling.

"Ngh...!"

His tougher body held, but each clash rapidly drained his durability.

"Wonder ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how many more you can block."

'What do I do? How?'

Ignoring his breaking body's signals, he desperately racked his brain.

Before entering, he'd anticipated multiple threats and countermeasures—including one vastly superior foe alone.

'No answer like this. Then...!'

Time for that earlier idea, make or break.

Blunt Weapon and Sharp Weapon collided again.

Aware of his limits closing in, Ban Yu-won focused on the weapon barely in his grip.

From it, he extracted only the Magic essence.

Desperate will and focus bypassed steps, yielding instant results.

He absorbed the pure essence of Magic—the refined energy stripped of all corruptions.

The next change exceeded his expectations.

"Hm?!"

A brilliant golden aura burst from Ban Yu-won; even blind, the goblin recoiled in alarm.

Perhaps his only chance in this fight—but Ban Yu-won couldn't attack.

Too busy focusing on changes within.

One his ability's alert, the other the Academy's.

Amusingly, far fewer bonus points than for his earlier weak artifact...

But Ban Yu-won felt euphoria beyond compare.

Mind and body fully restored—no, qualitatively transformed from moments ago.

By the colorless, transparent energy coursing his veins.

'I always had this power?'

Unbelievable.

How had he lived without sensing this radiance?

Likely because he'd lacked the words to express it.

Successfully isolating Magic let him grasp its mystery; stimulated, his body's concepts activated!

"No way... you awakened Magical Power mid-battle?"

The goblin opposite realized the change, face incredulous.

"That's why you were so weak—no Magical Power. But mere human-level won't beat me!"

Only Magical Power changed, yet the difference was vast.

Much more bearable.

But as the goblin said, not enough to win.

Ban Yu-won was a total novice, never properly swung a weapon—and hadn't surpassed the goblin physically.

"Growing fast, human. But my sword will take your head first!"

"Shut up, monster!"

Having grasped part of his power's true nature, amid clashes, his mind whirred for the next plan.

'Could I extract just the Dull from Blunt Weapon—i.e., Dullness alone?'

He'd drawn concepts from fourteen clubs.

Each time: [Ownership secured. Steal item's language concept? Absorb Blunt Weapon 1?]

To steal concepts, secure ownership.

Probably kill original owner or buy fairly.

That's why he couldn't steal the goblin's sword concepts.

But what if just imbuing other concepts into the Sharp Weapon?

[Imbue Blunt Weapon 1 into touching item. Item now holds Blunt Weapon 2.]

Message from earlier imbuing.

Imbuing didn't require ownership!

His hypothesis: Imbue Dullness into an ultra-sharp blade?

Opposing properties cancel out...?

"Daydreaming mid-fight?"

Vertical slash at his head.

Intuition screamed dodge or parry—yet he honestly raised the club to block.

"Urk!"

"Hmph, even your decent judgment dulled?"

"Dulling... isn't my judgment..."

Even with Magical Power, tanking raw impact wasn't wise.

Ban Yu-won spat blood, reached out, grabbed the blade.

Split his weapon's Blunt Weapon 15 into Dull 7.5 and Tool 7.5.

"Your weapon now!"

The goblin, thinking theft, roared in fury.

"I'll shred your hand!"

As he channeled extracted Dull 7.5 from club through hand to sword—

Despite savage swing to sever, Ban Yu-won's hand merely flung aside, unharmed.

"...What?"

"It worked."

Ban Yu-won grinned.

Killing the blade's sharpness alone would've been success.

But more happened.

Dullness vs. Sharpness clashed; the sword crumpled into worthless scrap.

Lesson: Never underestimate concept imbuing. What a boon.

...Or so he thought—

"Huh?"

An unforeseen change.

Club stripped of Magic and Dullness—mere scraps left.

...Or so thought, yet it evolved spectacularly!

Who could've imagined removing Magic and Dullness triggers this miracle?

Ghost Tool—vessel for ghosts.

Shorn of excess, his club evolved into a possessed weapon!

The club slipped his hand, coalescing into misty haze, hovering nearby.

Ban Yu-won stared, awestruck.

The Academy hadn't foreseen this.

Messages flooded upon Dokkaebi Club's completion.

His linguistic prowess grasped it instantly.

Strength returned with it.

Teleport to dorm?

Moments ago, he'd have nodded without hesitation for safety.

But now? He'd gained the Dokkaebi Club treasure; before him sat one dazed, swordless Blind Goblin.

"...I'll finish the exam first."

Ban Yu-won replied firmly, looking down at the goblin and commanding the Dokkaebi Club.

"Kill it."

True to "obedient to owner," it obeyed instantly.

Whoosh!

Thwack!