Chapter 312
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 312
Chapter Title: Lesson 61. The Innocent Sinner - 2
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Delivering the finishing blow was an incredibly delicate concept.
There was even an old saying passed down through generations: "It's not over until the experience points come in."
Of course, shamelessly scooping up the last hit on enemies that were already dead was something to avoid, but it was the finisher's duty to calculate the damage precisely and snuff out the enemy's remaining life force in one go.
So what was the point?
"Well, look at that...?"
Constellation experience... no, the concept has not been secured.
Ban Yu-won kicked off the ground, granting his body the concepts of levitation and flight, then layered on the concept of divine wind to propel himself stylishly into the air toward the ice chunk floating in the sky.
A short distance away, Dokgo Yeon, who had been waiting, lit up at the sight of him.
"Good work, Won."
"You too, Yeon. Is your wound okay?"
"It's healed. Thanks to you... But that thing."
The black energy sword in Dokgo Yeon's hand had dimmed but hadn't vanished yet.
She too had intuited that the constellation wasn't finished.
"It's fine. Take a rest."
"But Won..."
"It's over. It's just holding on. I'll finish it."
Ban Yu-won knew Dokgo Yeon was utterly exhausted despite her composed exterior, so he somewhat forcibly sent her down and approached the ice chunk, placing his hand on it.
He tried to analyze its state with Origin Sword, but it was still no easy feat.
"Somehow, it feels like if I break the ice, it'll pop out perfectly fine."
―Constellations cannot be extinguished. For its main body to emerge was truly beyond imagination, but ultimately, unless you sever the thread connecting it to their source of immortality, you won't be able to kill it.
Cellon spoke in a grave tone.
In truth, she was still dumbfounded by the might of the Follower of Eternity, Dokgo Yeon's sword energy that suppressed it head-on, and Ban Yu-won's technique that had frozen the whole thing solid—but right now, she had an even greater worry that made her voice harden involuntarily.
"The thread connecting to the source. What's the source?"
Ban Yu-won asked, half-expecting the answer already.
It wasn't just from what they'd experienced in Prominence; considering what was unfolding across the universe right now, it was clear what that source pointed to.
Cellon let out a sigh in response.
―It's the place you're thinking of.
"Yeah."
He felt the causal relationship invert.
Perhaps immortality wasn't a symbol of their status but something else entirely... like a prison they desperately wanted to "escape," or shackles.
But anyway.
There was no way he could just toss this into his inventory and carry it around, so to confront other constellations in the future as well, Ban Yu-won needed to find a way to end it now.
―You bastard... I'll burn you...!
A low growl echoed in Ban Yu-won's mind.
If it could perceive the outside from within and speak, then surely he could perceive and analyze the inside from without.
Ban Yu-won mobilized everything at his disposal.
To resonate even slightly with it: Star Marks of depth 350.
To suppress the constellation: Starlight of depth 100.
To boost his authority's power at a cost in this moment: Changeling... no, Sorcery of depth 2,010.
Among his innate authorities, the most outstanding one that read everything and analyzed it as linguistic concepts: All-Reading Eyes of depth 600.
He bound and manifested it all with Origin Sword of depth 1,335.
―I won't hold back even a little. I'll tear your body to shreds and feed it to your beloved sister. I'll burn you to ashes and use them as a blanket for her to sleep under!
He could see it.
The constellation's divinity—its star's trace—faded to the extreme after being trampled by Dokgo Yeon's death and Ban Yu-won's divine kill.
And the supreme concept clinging to it.
As Cellon had said, it was connected to something in another dimension via a transcendent authority beyond what Ban Yu-won could even dream of.
A language he couldn't comprehend, so he couldn't absorb it either—he accepted that fact as somehow natural—Ban Yu-won unleashed his authorities with all his might.
He severed the thread sustaining the constellation's immortality and absorbed everything that made it a constellation.
Absorbing Star Marks 500. Bodily Star Marks depth becomes 600.
He'd originally held 350, so simply adding them should make 850, but as depth increased, raising the value got harder, so it was natural.
A great many other things flowed in as well.
The constellation's myriad miscellaneous fire concepts fused under the supreme concept of Crimson Flame, finally pushing its depth to 2,000, and simply absorbing such a massive amount of Star Marks elevated his soul's status, causing Soul's depth to surge once more.
―...Huh?
Of course, the greatest change happened to the constellation.
With a final roar of flames vaporizing the liquid metal and ice that bound it entirely, something humanoid—like half-burnt charcoal—emerged... filled with bewilderment as it looked up at him.
―Am... I going to die?
It was an utterly absurd statement.
Had it thought it impossible?
Surprise and confusion overshadowed any fear or rage at impending death.
―To be... liberated like this. I didn't wish for it, but it's not bad...
"Liberated?"
Ban Yu-won reflexively questioned the word he'd somehow anticipated but didn't want to hear.
But the constellation didn't answer. Instead, it looked at its body, crumbling into ash bit by bit... and astonishingly, bowed its head toward Ban Yu-won.
―Thank you, sorry... I just wanted to be free. Your sister's flame... I needed it. I thought this time I could finally burn XX...
XX?
It wasn't that his All-Hearing Ears had malfunctioned; something akin to an authority was blocking his interpretation.
But having heard it once, focusing his authority on decoding it would surely reveal it eventually.
―I'm going now. Sorry.
The constellation—the Follower of Eternity—that had raged like a madman and spewed nonsense just three minutes ago suddenly bid farewell as if immensely relieved on its own, then completely vanished.
Along with immense time and an unimaginable quantity of strings he never dreamed he'd acquire, they burst forth and were absorbed into his entire being.
Analyzed and neutralized an inscrutable foe. All-Reading Eyes, All-Hearing Ears, and All-Speaking Lips depths become 700.
Successfully subjugated an inscrutable foe and absorbed residual concepts. Life depth: 1,950; Primal Body depth: 1,500; Vital Energy depth: 1,650; Soul depth: 2,200.
The authorities that shone brilliantly grew, of course, and the four core concepts amplified once more, instantly making him a powerhouse on the verge of system level 200—but Ban Yu-won couldn't simply rejoice in it.
Feeling an immense unease and vague anxiety, he noticed something dropping from where all the concepts had vanished, reached out, and grasped it...
'A small pendant-like...?!'
The moment he identified it, he shoved it deep into his inventory where no one could see.
His pupils trembled violently.
Dokgo Yeon had drilled into him through intensive training that he must always perfectly control his body, yet he couldn't stop his trembling.
"Master?"
Lucelle, who would notice his abnormality second only to herself, flew up in alarm to check his condition.
"You need to rest, Master. You're drenched in sweat. Let me carry you, right now..."
"No, Lucelle. We need to head to Union. There must be chaos there."
"But Master—"
"Lucelle."
At Ban Yu-won's low voice, Lucelle froze.
"I'm fine. I'll recover on the way. The situation is urgent right now, you know?"
"If you say so... I understand..."
But the next moment, Lucelle held up one finger before him as if this was non-negotiable.
"You have to lie on my lap the whole way."
"Fine."
Ban Yu-won nodded with a wry smile, descending to the ground with Lucelle, when he noticed her exchanging glances with Dokgo Yeon—they both looked away in different directions as if by prior agreement.
...Did they fight while he was gone?
"Ban Yu-won!"
He wanted to ask about their eye contact, but before he could, Ban Yu-mi flew in, leaped up, and tackled him from above.
Her lips strangely seemed glossy, maybe his imagination.
"You bastard, do you have two hearts? Are you Park Ji-sung?! Why do you always try to handle the dangerous stuff alone, you idiot?!"
"Yu-mi, what would people think if the future head of the family cursed like that."
"Even so, Mom, look at this guy today—he's going to die protecting heavy burdens every damn day!"
"You were one of those heavy burdens, Yu-mi."
"Ugh..."
Ban Yu-mi sank, unable to retort to her mother's heavy fact-bomb.
"Yu-won niiiiiim!"
"Young master! Today was insane! Insaaaaane..."
"Hold on, sorry."
Meanwhile, Aneli and Kira tried to shove her aside and cling to Ban Yu-won to share their stories, but before Lucelle could say anything, someone else blocked them—surprisingly, Shati.
"I know you all have a lot to catch up on, but the timing is unfortunate. We'll celebrate later; we need to head back to Union first."
"But it's finally over..."
"Sorry, but right now... even Junior Yu-won needs to be at Union."
Shati, instantly grasping who held real power, got permission from Aneli and Kang Eun-young and rallied the group.
"Y-yes... Got it. Heading back right away."
Her student ID was vibrating, probably in real-time communication with one of Union's full professors... likely Campanella, Mira's department professor and student council supporter.
He'd heard that while regular student IDs didn't allow personal comms, student council members and their supervising professors had special access.
"Listen up, everyone."
Finishing the call, she addressed the group, especially Ban Yu-won.
"The incident at Union has calmed down for now. Exodus launched terror attacks inside and outside the tower simultaneously, but fortunately, the Chancellor suppressed them in time. Professor Yumina is safe too. Union's net glitched, so mirrors are down."
"That's a relief."
He'd been unable to contact Yumina since the mirrors went out earlier.
The Union's net issue was probably due to something wrong with the tower handling its comms network.
Yet student IDs still worked likely because they incorporated not just the tower but the Chancellor's power...
"Our planning chief looks awful. That worried about Professor Yumina? She's fine."
"No, it's not that... Never mind. President, your face is too close."
"You're so cool today I had to check if you're my planning chief... Oh, sorry, no. Not at all, everyone. Compete among yourselves—don't mind me!"
Shati, who'd leaned in close to Ban Yu-won, recoiled from the killing intent flying at her from all sides and raised her hands.
Thanks to his massive growth, Ban Yu-won read her emotions in that instant, smiled wryly, and addressed the Level 4 members still itching to cling to him.
"Once this is sorted, I'll make time to visit."
"Seriously, leaving like this?"
Ban Yu-mi, wanting to share her hard-won victory joy with her brother, stared in disbelief, but she knew well his "all" dwarfed her own.
"Anyone would think you're abandoning me."
"You are abandoning me..."
"You crazy head of the family, sort out the chaotic Prominence internals first, okay?"
Kira half-dragged the whining Ban Yu-mi like an abandoned puppy.
As she said, they needed to focus on straightening out Prominence, now leaderless and in total disarray with a new head.
They couldn't broadcast their trustworthy new head bawling over one guy, and Ban Yu-mi knew it.
"Fine, I get it. Just... without Ban Yu-won, this would've all gone to hell."
"We'll set up a proper spot later. Yu-won is Prominence too."
"Ah, right. Yeah."
Seeing Ban Yu-mi finally calm at her mother Kang Eun-young's words, Ban Yu-won gained his own insight.
Perhaps Ban Yu-mi wasn't fearing the loss of her connection to him and him specifically.
Her mother had spotted it instantly and given exactly the reassurance she craved—truly great.
"Then we're really going. Thanks for your hard work, Queen. I'll make you a spaceship, so head back to Fairytale carefully."
"A space... ship?"
Some were shocked at the idea of on-the-spot crafting a ship with dimension-crossing tech, but he meant Lilith's clone.
"We had fun~~ The fairies leveled up big time too."
"Ah, level up. Yeah."
Higher dimensions would have systems, naturally.
That sparked a thought; looking at Rebellion members including honorary ones... As expected, not quite matching his direct concept absorption, but battling tough foes repeatedly and felling a constellation had grown them all immensely.
Dokgo Yeon especially... He'd thought he'd caught up, but she pulled ahead again—unbelievable.
She'd faced the constellation head-on, so massive growth was natural.
"It's okay, Won."
Dokgo Yeon, reading his gaze, smiled gracefully to reassure him.
"The gap's definitely narrowed. We'll be equals someday, and eventually you'll surpass me."
"Definitely."
"I won't go down easy though."
As the two smiled at each other, puffed-cheeked Asha barged in and hung on Ban Yu-won's neck.
"Yu-won, what about me? How was I today?"
"Dragon Breath was killer."
"Right?"
"Master, don't forget our promise?"
"Of course."
"A kiiiss..."
"...Aire?"
"One moment."
As he exchanged words with members and boarded the ship, a voice tugged from behind.
The kunoichi Aneli, still in skin-tight leather.
"Aneli, thank you so much. When we celebrate, I'll properly compensate..."
"Curious about the reward, but more importantly, I have something to say now."
"What?"
After brief hesitation, Aneli whispered in his ear.
"If you ever want to escape, let me know. It's my specialty."
"No wonder you're so strong."
Ban Yu-won nodded admiring her oddly, but firmly rejected the offer.
"I can't escape. That's mine."
"As expected of Yu-won—scale on another level. That's why I'm a fan."
Satisfied with his answer, Aneli winked.
"With Yu-mi sorted, call anytime. 90% off, I'll follow you to hell."
"Thanks... Senior."
"Escape artist, remember."
Ban Yu-won waved to Aneli and others, finally boarding the ship.
[Coordinates? Straight to Union?]
"No, Professor Campanella says Union's in turmoil—better head to the dimensional line they control first. Everyone's gathering there."
"The dimensional line is that big?"
"It's called a line, but it's basically an independent, mobile dimension. You have to cross the dimensional wall to enter. What you saw before was just the tip."
Even fresh off perfectly ending a constellation, Union's bottomless might made his head spin.
He shook his head, sat in a seat; Lucelle swiftly took the one beside and patted her lap.
"Got it."
"Hee hee."
"Fox..."
Someone muttered quietly, but it could be anyone, so impossible to pinpoint.
Lilith followed Shati's inputted coordinates into the dimensional wall... Midway through the circuit-like tangled paths, Mira suddenly spoke.
"By the way, Shati, does Professor Campanella have dimensional line control access?"
"Only the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor."
"Would the Chancellor be at the dimensional line?"
"Dunno, probably busy controlling the tower?"
Their eyes met in midair.
"Wait, Shati. I'm getting uneasy. Can't explain why, but something doesn't add up."
"Coincidence... Me too. Timing's too perfect. Hold up, Lilith—stop?"
[Come on, don't both flag like that. But genius pilot Lilith has emergency stop and acceleration ready for any situation, even bold reverse just before breakthrough... Huh?]
Lilith prided herself on superior functions to any ship of the era, but sadly, within spaceship limits, one thing was insurmountable.
[Huh, what's this. Why's the dimensional wall... Huh? H-huh?!]
It was the mobile dimension: the dimensional line.
The ship racing through the wall moments ago was suddenly flung into a vast space.
And something looked down on them.
To Ban Yu-won, it looked like doom.
"Ssshh."
Eve hissed softly.
Probably: 'Knew that damned bitch would pull this someday.'
He agreed, but frustratingly suppressed by the enemy's aura, he couldn't even nod.
The enemy's name was Xenon, Union's Vice-Chancellor and transcendent wielder of destruction.