Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Lesson 10. You Are My Master - 2
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“So good……”
“Hoo, huuu……”
“Mmm?! Pretty spicy—nice. The food here never has any kick. I was already missing Sichuan cuisine.”
The Rebellion members, who had risen at the crack of dawn the next day, quickly filled their stomachs with cup ramen Ban Yu-won had airlifted from Earth.
Ban Yu-won had realized, from the academy cafeteria and the various eateries in Ronica, that even Union Academy—with its cuisine from countless dimensions—skimped particularly on spicy flavors.
He'd repeatedly tried to dissuade Dokgo Yeon from picking the ramen with the black-and-red packaging just because she liked the look, but she was eating it with a satisfied expression.
“Aren't you going to eat, Ban Yu-won?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Of course.”
Ban Yu-won had placed the rectangular box of instant noodles—perfect for evoking that travel vibe anywhere—on his lap, but he'd only soaked the noodles without digging in.
He'd been lost in thought, replaying yesterday's events.
That necklace has to be it.
When As Light had cautiously stripped off his clothes, mistaking Ban Yu-won's focused state on the Incarnation Technique for sleep, Ban Yu-won had caught a glimpse of his bare upper body and been stunned.
Setting aside how excessively delicate it was, it was unmistakably male.
He'd already figured out early on that the appearance was manipulated, given the prominent Adam's apple.
But the key discovery was that even after fully undressing and wiping himself down with a water-soaked towel, As Light had steadfastly kept the cross necklace around his neck.
That's probably why As Light can pass as a guy. It's superficial, but fooling even my eyes means it's no joke.
Still, watching As Light now, itching to wield his holy sword again, it seemed this wouldn't resolve itself anytime soon.
Right now, As Light was even whining to Dokgo Yeon about it.
“I can't do it without the holy sword anymore.”
“Doesn't look that way to me. You seemed to be getting used to fighting without it, bit by bit.”
“But I have no confidence beyond this……!”
“……Sigh.”
As Light wore an expression like he might burst into tears.
Ban Yu-won recalled how As Light had rolled around pathetically throughout yesterday's battle.
Maybe Dokgo Yeon was picturing the same thing.
She let out a deep sigh and drained the ramen broth cleanly.
Ban Yu-won had pegged her as the type to pick out just the noodles and dump the broth—totally unexpected.
She set down the empty cup lightly and nodded as if to say there was no helping it.
“Looks like you've hit a mental wall, so no choice. We've confirmed the potential, so let's call it good.”
“Really?!”
As Light brightened and shouted, then glanced at Ban Yu-won, gauging his reaction.
He knew Ban Yu-won had pulled strings for Dokgo Yeon to train him.
Ban Yu-won shrugged and gave him the answer he wanted.
“If Dokgo Yeon says so, who am I to argue? But once we're out of the dungeon, back to training without the holy sword.”
“Of course! I was thinking I need to practice unarmed combat anyway!”
As Light, thrilled, drew his holy sword (the sight of him pulling a blade from thin air was striking) and began polishing its spotless blade.
Meanwhile, Dokgo Yeon watched him intently before turning to Ban Yu-won.
“Talk to me once we're out.”
“Sure, got it.”
“Grrr.”
“Stick to the noodles, beast.”
He'd half-expected as much, but Lucelle's hair was still half-black even after sleeping soundly.
Maybe the tension never fully eased, even during rests inside the dungeon.
At least her reason was holding, so she was twirling the ramen onto a fork to eat—but her empty hand clung tightly to Ban Yu-won's waist.
She'd just growled at Dokgo Yeon because she thought Dokgo Yeon was bothering him.
By now, he'd grown accustomed to her overprotectiveness.
Adaptation is a scary thing, he thought anew.
“……Dokgo Yeon, can we pull this off?”
“Don't ask me when you're this rattled.”
Ban Yu-won pressed his forehead, sensing he'd catch hell from Dokgo Yeon after this expedition.
“Hya! Hah!”
“Kwek!”
With his holy sword reclaimed, As Light literally flew around Room 15.
Wings of light on his back, he darted everywhere, mowing down monsters with his blade of light—like an angel descended from heaven.
No trace remained of the flailing, unarmed version from before.
No finesse, no technique.
Just an angel of destruction pulverizing foes with overwhelming light.
“As Light's combat level for real? That's top-of-the-world-tier fighting…… The same As Light who was a total loser up to Room 14?”
“Grrk?”
Lucelle shot Ban Yu-won a look like, What nonsense is my puppy spouting?
Should he be relieved she still had enough wits to understand speech? Ban Yu-won shook his head and focused on the foe ahead.
“Kuiii! I'll rip you all apart!”
Room 15's monsters were orcs—those infamous across Earth.
Pig-headed, muscled brutes draped in burlap, armed with axes or glaives: monstrous warriors.
With physical prowess surpassing humans, in some dimensions they were civilized intelligences—but their love for destruction and slaughter usually relegated them to monster status.
The tower's orcs were no different…… except for their wildly varying strength.
The weak were newbie fodder; the strong could outmatch even Union Academy's top full professors.
And the orcs they faced……
—Kclang!
“Quiii! I, Quonos of the proud Rusty Halberd Legion, judge you filth!”
“Tch, seriously……!”
……were strong enough to push Ban Yu-won in a 1v1.
Many had names, but they weren't elite monsters per se.
If I hadn't given As Light his sword of light, we'd be done here.
Ban Yu-won gritted his teeth, deflecting the orc's long axe-spear with Flow's subtlety.
Room 15 was a vast cavern for company-scale battles, and the orcs charging shoulder-to-shoulder from the darkness were pure terror.
Without As Light and Dokgo Yeon handling nearly half each, Ban Yu-won couldn't even dream of 1v1s.
“Judgment! Comingaaaah!”
The orc, smaller and weaker yet constantly slipping away, must have been furious.
After several deflections reddened its eyes, it bulked its muscles and raised its halberd high.
This tower's structure is bullshit. I'm growing at insane speed, but no easy foes? Gonna have to squeeze every last concept.
Ban Yu-won grumbled inwardly and activated a concept: Monstrous Strength, stolen from Irecto's arm before.
“Hup!”
Awakening the dormant string in his body and infusing black flame, the Executioner's Longsword surged with power, batting the orc's axe-spear skyward. (Counter)
Its arms shot up gripping the weapon, like it was cheering victory—ridiculous.
“Kwaak?!”
The orc's eyes bulged with a stifled groan.
Ban Yu-won thrust straight at its unguarded chest.
Blood Poison riding Swift Pierce. (Pierce)
A red line beautifully traced the air!
—Kwajik
The blade, laden with Monstrous Strength, pierced unerringly through chest and out the back.
Ban Yu-won yanked it free forcefully.
The body crumbled, golden strings flowing in—no need for confirmation kill.
[Acquired: Life 1.4, Demon 0.7, Body 0.7, Wildness 0.2, Monstrous Strength 0.1]
Strong individuals meant solid rewards.
Especially gratifying: the orc held a sliver of Monstrous Strength, the very concept he'd just used.
His current 16 in Monstrous Strength (grown slightly through practice since Irecto) yielded this power—what if it rose higher?
That strike consumed about 15% of his vital energy, but higher Monstrous Strength would mean greater destruction with less.
Orcs born with Monstrous Strength, huh. No wonder they push like this. Way tougher than Rooms 11-14 combined.
Lifting his gaze: As Light whirled from above on wings of light; Dokgo Yeon blocked charges below with fists, palms, and kicks.
And Lucelle? She shredded orcs slipping past them with claws and stomped them dead.
He'd noticed before: losing reason, she prioritized guarding him.
Probably because he was the weakest here.
“Grrr!”
The issue: once instinct overrode reason fully, friend-foe distinction vanished—heightening risk of her attacking him.
Gazing at her increasingly blackening hair, he agonized.
Couldn't bench her to preserve sanity; with Eve dormant for evolution, no way to restore it. Her rampage was inevitable, sooner or later.
When it hits, retry that failed trick from last time……
Ban Yu-won steeled himself and raised his sword again.
No time for brooding.
Idling meant Lucelle lost reason faster.
Couldn't rely solely on comrades like on first tower entry.
Just a week later, everything had changed.
Gaps with comrades shrank rapidly; must accelerate further.
“You look the weakest!”
“Perfect timing!”
At minimum, in this fight: deflect all attacks (Flow), counter (Counter), kill mana-free.
Ban Yu-won resolved as he clashed with the charging axe-wielding orc.
[Flow's depth has reached 35.]
[Counter's depth has reached 27.5.]
[Incarnation Technique activation converts part of Body's depth to an unknown concept. Definable upon completion.]
How long had they clashed weapons with orcs, growling?
Each failed counter meant burning mana on Monstrous Strength and Wave to cope; as mana dwindled, thinking he'd rest post-fight, he gripped tighter—
“Haaaaah!”
“Whoa, hold up!”
As Light swooped in on whirling light wings, beheading the orc before him.
Ban Yu-won thought, Told you, sword talent, but Dokgo Yeon's urgent cry chilled him.
Why stop him?
“You idiot! What if you wipe them all out?!”
“Huh? Oh no……”
Indeed—that orc was the last in the room!
High difficulty, accumulated fatigue: As Light's blunder stung.
[Acquired from orc corpses: Life, Demon, Body, Monstrous Strength, Wildness.]
Ban Yu-won hastily snatched all concepts from the dead orcs, catching his breath—but far from full strength.
“Bonehead! Gave you an opening, and you blow it!”
“Tch…… Fine, I'll handle Room 16 solo!”
Fatigued Dokgo Yeon snapped sharper than warranted; As Light, brimming with sword confidence, bit back.
Worse: Lucelle panted, staring straight at Ban Yu-won.
Reason gone, sizing up her moment to pounce.
“Hah, haaah……!”
“Shit.”
Ban Yu-won sensed the expedition had tanked.
And then……
—Thud
—Kwaaaang!
Space warped instantly; the party scattered into grid squares, like chess pieces.
Opponents appeared opposite.
“I am Kuros, centurion of the great Rusty Halberd Legion! You the humans who slaughtered my men?”
Nearly double Room 15 orcs in bulk, 3 meters tall—an orc? More troll.
And chained to 15? Like the manual said……
Linkage—Chains in the manual.
Multiple rooms connected, spiking difficulty.
Room 16 added special rules……
—The weakest soldier charges first.
An artificial voice rang in Ban Yu-won's ear.
Others grimaced, rubbing ears—same message.
“Trick room.”
Ban Yu-won whispered, looking up.
Weakest first meant him.
What to do solo against that brute? No clue.
Nothing for it but try……
“Ban, ignore that. I'll handle it.”
“What? No, wait—hey!”
As Light's sword flashed brilliantly.
Ignoring the ear message, he burst from his square skyward!
“I'll kill you!”
“You the weakest human? —No!”
The orc narrowed eyes, as if checking—then grinned and stepped forward.
Its halberd hurtled at As Light, brimming destruction—suddenly doubling speed/power, no dodge room.
“Hraaaah!”
As Light bulged eyes, swinging his light sword.
But his movements sluggish; before reaching neck, halberd blade gashed his torso.
“As Light!”
Ban Yu-won cried in horror.
As Light clung to sword till death; it slashed half the orc's forearm.
Then vanished fully from the tower.
“Ha.”
As Light, reaction lost.
Thus ended their first two-week expedition in failure.
Damn troll bastard!