Chapter 46
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Lesson 11. Apprentice Mage Ban Yu-won - 1
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After the Saturday when Yumina heard that Rebellion had brought back artifacts from the dungeon and freaked out like a foreigner tasting spam wrapped in kimchi for the first time in her life, Sunday morning dawned.
Ban Yu-won decided to head out to the outer city of Ronica with the Rebellion members to soothe the shock of Lost and hold a reflection session.
In truth, if they stayed put, Light's body would end up smashed to pieces under Dokgo Yeon's hands.
"Where are we going? This punk needs a bit more drilling."
Of course, Dokgo Yeon herself insisted that Light needed his spirit straightened out and flatly refused, but Ban Yu-won couldn't ignore Light's pleading eyes and managed to persuade her.
"It's no good just drilling him endlessly. Besides, we need to talk about the stuff we got from the tower. Let's get some fresh air while we're at it."
"That kind of leisure will just make this punk rust even more."
"B-Ban. Did I... do that badly?"
"Yeah, you did mess up."
The two had Lost earlier than Ban Yu-won and Lucelle yesterday. They'd given Yumina a rough explanation and then shut themselves in the training room.
To be precise, Dokgo Yeon had dragged Light into the training room and locked him in.
And since they hadn't returned to their rooms all day yesterday, that meant they'd been trapped in the training room overnight.
But Ban Yu-won honestly understood her anger—and in a way, he was even more furious than she was.
"Let's be frank. If not for that mistake yesterday, we would've reached Room 20, right?"
It was because he'd run out of strength in Room 19 and Lost with Lucelle.
Room 20 was Eden—that is, the reward zone.
No doubt the exploration from Room 11 onward hadn't been easy, so there must've been some reward. In a hasty assessment, you could say Light had cost them that reward.
"B-But... that was just a mistake."
"A mistake? Looks like you haven't reflected properly yet."
Dokgo Yeon spoke threateningly and crooked her finger.
Each flick of her finger sparked flames of different colors.
He didn't even want to ask what technique that was.
"No, it was all my fault. Sorry, everyone. Yesterday, I got too cocky."
As if sharing Ban Yu-won's thoughts, Light immediately launched into deep reflection.
It was an instant reaction that revealed just how much he'd been drilled overnight.
"See? Light's reflecting, so let's take a breather. Okay?"
"...Hoo."
Dokgo Yeon wore a displeased expression but ultimately nodded.
"No helping it. But in return, I get two helpings today."
"Of what?"
"The sweet... jam I made yesterday."
Negotiating here of all places?
Ban Yu-won thought for a moment before reaching a conclusion anyone would accept.
"Fine. As punishment, we'll skip Light's share today."
"Aaaah?!"
Having achieved that dramatic resolution, the group finished breakfast, packed up, and headed to Ronica.
Now that they were somewhat known, they all dressed in casual clothes to avoid attention. Among them, the most striking was Dokgo Yeon's elaborate black traditional outfit.
It resembled hanbok somewhere—loose-fitting yet cinched at the waist to subtly accentuate her figure. Truly elegant and beautiful.
"Let's buy you clothes first. Right now."
"Looking forward to it."
It suited the refined beauty Dokgo Yeon perfectly, but from the perspective of traveling together, it was honestly cumbersome—and risked drawing even more attention than their uniforms!
"So today, first we'll buy Dokgo Yeon some clothes... then mirrors for everyone."
"Mirrors?"
Light, who'd been deflated from the all-night drilling, perked up his ears at that.
Meanwhile, Dokgo Yeon tilted her head.
"Student IDs can receive academy communications. Why do we need our own communicators?"
"No sending function on Student IDs. Or rather, we don't have sending privileges."
"Sending? Why would we need that...?"
"No idea. Professor Yumina mentioned it over dinner yesterday. Said it's good to have devices for long-range communication. Most upper-dimension students come with mirrors already."
While Dokgo Yeon pondered with a hum, Light and Lucelle's expressions turned odd.
"Dinner alone again yesterday? That woman's definitely weird."
"I smell it. A blatant... vulgar female scent."
"Surprising that a beast would say that."
"Kyaang!"
Dokgo Yeon scolded Lucelle, gathered her thoughts, and spoke.
"If it was about us going outside, she'd have said so when the club formed. So maybe it's something academy-wide?"
"I heard the academy has tons of special activities outside regular classes."
"Special activities? Ah."
Dokgo Yeon frowned.
"I think they said no tower during special activity weeks."
"Sending us in weekly from the start was weird anyway. They'll balance it out going forward."
Union Academy existed to have students climb the tower, but it didn't focus solely on that.
It placed great emphasis on liberal arts and character education, sparing no support for diverse experiences.
They even called it the academy for raising the next gods.
Special activities likely fell under that umbrella.
"Hoo, not thrilled."
"Calm down. Let's go shopping."
"You think that makes me feel better?"
Ban Yu-won led the grumbling Dokgo Yeon and the group to the department store.
Unlike Lucelle's overly glamorous figure, Dokgo Yeon had a perfectly balanced model physique—slim, curvaceous where it counted.
Aside from the slight eeriness of her cross-shaped pupils, her refined features made it hard to find clothes that didn't suit her.
Yet Dokgo Yeon herself seemed a bit anxious.
"Does this flowy outfit really suit me?"
"Yeah, the traditional one flows more. It fits like a glove, so let's get it."
"I'm not sure, but if you say so..."
Ban Yu-won had plenty of experience from shopping trips dragged along by his sister, so he was decent at picking women's clothes.
Dokgo Yeon, unaccustomed to Union’s colorful casual fashion, unusually followed his lead.
That amused him, so he got into it.
"Next, this dress? If it suits, we buy."
"Y-Yes, got it."
"Then knits after?"
After trying on various outfits and buying all that suited her, just her shopping alone exceeded 100,000 ronias.
In Korean won, over ten million—an absurd luxury.
But Ban Yu-won knew it was pocket change compared to the value of the Descent he’d received, so he gladly footed the bill.
"Hehe, these gifted clothes feel heavy."
Dokgo Yeon looked quite satisfied afterward—not so much with the clothes, but because Ban Yu-won had spent more on her than on Lucelle's gifts.
"...Greedy pig."
"What was that?"
Lucelle was just a tad miffed.
Her jealous pout was adorably speechless.
But Dokgo Yeon's glare upon hearing the mutter was terrifying, so Ban Yu-won didn't dare speak.
After buying clothes and mirrors for everyone, the four settled into a private room at a restaurant.
Over lunch and dessert, surprisingly, Lucelle spoke first.
"I think rampaging drunk on power like yesterday isn't good, Light."
"Anyone else, fine—but you, Lucelle?!"
Light, remembering how she'd become a beast once Eve was disabled, shouted in grievance.
But Lucelle, who would've shrunk timidly before, looked proud. She reached under the table, grabbed Ban Yu-won's hand beside her, and replied.
"Mine's perfectly resolved. Yu-won fixed it."
"...Yu-won? Did you just call Ban 'Yu-won'?"
"Hoo, indeed."
Light looked shocked, Dokgo Yeon pleased.
Ban Yu-won was just as surprised as Light.
She used his full name or surname around others—now just his given name?
In Korea, names were normal, but here, hearing full names or surnames made it feel awkwardly intimate.
"Knew it vaguely. Looks like you wrapped it up well."
"Dokgo Yeon, you saw through everything?"
"Not everything. Just what's visible."
Dokgo Yeon smiled faintly, turned to Lucelle.
"So your issue's fully resolved now?"
"Yes."
Lucelle gripped his hand crushingly confident.
He wanted to say it hurt, but held back seeing her resolute face.
Beside them, Dokgo Yeon smirked knowingly at their changed dynamic. Light mumbled with a tragic expression.
"So now I'm the only hole in the party..."
"Hey, Dokgo Yeon, how hard did you drill him in one day for him to call himself a hole?"
"Everyone felt it yesterday—that sword's a serious problem."
Ignoring Ban Yu-won's probe, Dokgo Yeon continued.
"Light, anything to say about that?"
"...No. I know my actions yesterday were unnatural. Even without the holy sword... I'll fight properly. I'll work on it."
That wasn't what Dokgo Yeon wanted to hear.
She'd hoped he'd spill his circumstances and ask for help.
But while admitting his issue, Light held back on the holy sword details.
They couldn't force it further.
—Not yet, at least.
"Hoo."
Dokgo Yeon sighed softly and glanced at Ban Yu-won.
He looked puzzled as to why him.
What was he supposed to do? He could've tied Lucelle, but not Light!
Then it hit.
—Training without the sword a thousand days won't help. Approach the root.
He flinched.
Dokgo Yeon's voice rang directly in his mind—he couldn't not be startled.
Telepathy? The famed wuxia transmission of voice!
—You share a room with this punk. What good's that handsome face? Seduce him properly!
Ban Yu-won nearly spat out his chocolate cake.
Ignoring Lucelle's worried head-tilt at his odd face, he struggled with Dokgo Yeon's mental barrage.
—Match his mood gently, strip him down to his secrets—think he'd stay stubborn? You tamed the beast fine; not saying you can't with Light, right?
Anyone hearing would think he was Casanova.
He felt deeply wronged.
He hadn't seduced Lucelle; she didn't even like him romantically!
—You pushed to keep Light till the end. I'll help, but don't slack off.
Unable to reply without telepathy, the one-sided declaration ended.
Ban Yu-won sighed at Dokgo Yeon's feigned innocence, reluctantly pulling his trump card.
"This ties into Light's issue, so let's discuss the Room 16 reward."
"Room 16? Trick room?"
"Yeah. Treasure chest popped."
Ban Yu-won checked the room's security, cleared the tableware.
Then he placed a spear atop it.
About 2.5 meters long, a simple white metal rod.
"No way—an oddity? Artifact?"
Dokgo Yeon asked incredulously; Ban Yu-won nodded.
"Right. Honestly, Light rampaging barehanded without his holy sword is tough. Thought sword first, but..."
"Can't wield true swords besides the holy one. That's the contract."
Light pouted.
Ban Yu-won nodded.
"So, other weapons it is. Went barehanded this time for experience; can't next. Got an artifact—how about Light uses it?"
"I'm fine with it. Easy for beginner acquisition too."
"Really artifacts? Two from one run—first for our party, I bet..."
Not doubting Ban Yu-won but the sheer luck, Light reached for the spear.
His motion froze.
His pupils twitched faintly—item info window, probably.
"...It's real. And performance unbelievable for low floors."
"You use it. Dokgo Yeon, you'll teach him spear arts, right?"
Since you said seduce him, won't let you off easy.
His pointed gaze met Dokgo Yeon's scoff.
"Basics, sure. How well he'll follow without holy sword aid is questionable."
"Not hating spears. ...I'll try."
Light nodded firmly, though uneasy.
Why uneasy?
'No way the holy sword blocks spears too. Like Dokgo Yeon said, needs root fix.'
Worried if he'd really have to seduce Light someday, Ban Yu-won sighed, recalling something untold.
"Also, starting next week, I'm taking Professor Yumina's magic lectures. Heads up. No change to joint classes—just added Thursday afternoons."
"Magic?!"
That was the biggest bomb of the day.