Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Lesson 15. Didn't they teach you to be careful with contracts? - 4
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―I witnessed the object born from your fingertips gaining life and growing. The breath you shared sprouted a bud and became a magnificent tree, so you must be a dandelion spreading life far and wide.
―What a marvelous invention! To think you'd infuse your own authority into an object and make it move. I can't wait to see what happens if they multiply by the dozens or hundreds!
It was obvious that the identities of those who had reached out with their voices were Constellations.
Ban Yu-won was simply surprised because this was the first time two Constellations had spoken to him at once.
"What's wrong, Ban?"
"Ban Yu-won?"
And... Ban Yu-won realized that the voices of the Constellations hadn't reached his companions, who were looking at him curiously, wondering why he'd stopped moving.
"A Constellation reached out to me."
"A Constellation? Not really surprising anymore."
As a freshman, As Light had been involved with Constellations in utterly absurd ways, and all of them had been bad blood so far, so he made a face like he wanted nothing to do with it.
Ban Yu-won felt much the same, so he briefly considered just pulling all the traps and shifting straight to the 10th room.
But the moment he thought that, the two Constellations' attitudes turned desperate in unison.
―You know your name is famous among the Constellations by now, right? Plenty of them have ill intentions. Especially those sponsoring thugs like Exodus! But I can protect you from them right away! Just make a contract with me.
―I think I can enhance your abilities even further. Let's make a contract, young one.
His ears were ringing unbearably loud.
Moreover, Ban Yu-won had once sworn never to contract with a Constellation, so the moment they mentioned a contract, he didn't hesitate to pull out the strings―
―Wait! Just wait a second!
―Hmph, it's not because of you faulty clock that the kid's acting like this!
The 'influence' the two Constellations exerted in unison halted the shift to the 10th room.
Ban Yu-won's eyebrow twitched.
Of course, they couldn't directly interfere with him any further, but it didn't feel great.
It could mean they had high expectations for him...
"No matter what you say, I'm not making a contract."
He'd seen someone die after contracting with a Constellation and being manipulated by their whims, so his resolve wouldn't waver in the future either.
From a very young age, Ban Yu-won had possessed transcendent ability in conveying his intentions through words.
If he set his mind to lie, no one could detect it, and the same went for the reverse.
―Your convictions are firm. You know a contract with a Constellation is the only way to draw out a human's full potential, right?
―It can even create potential that didn't exist. That's how humans reach transcendence... What a shame.
In that case.
The two Constellations spoke in unison.
―I won't ask for anything in return. I just want to forge a connection with you. Your abilities match mine so perfectly that's why I'm making this offer.
―I'll sponsor you, child. As a pure human with the astonishing talent to cultivate life, I want to bet on you.
Sponsorship.
Ban Yu-won recalled what he'd learned about Constellation sponsorships in Professor Xenon's lecture this past Tuesday.
If a contract was a gamble where you gained immense power in exchange for being swayed by the Constellation's will, and in the worst case, losing your life.
Then sponsorship offered less power, but the price the human paid seemed smaller or nonexistent.
―No need to feel burdened. No strings attached. I just want to see how far you can grow with my sponsorship.
―You have the potential to reach the top of this tower. If you allow our connection, I'd love to witness it together.
But why would Constellations sponsor humans without getting anything in return?
Professor Xenon had kindly explained why unconditional sponsorships exist.
'Some of you might think discussing sponsorships is a luxury when our academy pushes Constellation contracts. So, what I'm about to say applies to those who've rejected a contract at least once or are being approached by multiple Constellations at once.'
With those words, Xenon drew all eyes in the lecture hall to the Rebellion members, then calmly began his explanation.
'You know Constellations are especially active in the tower. Just like us humans, they want to reach the top.'
'That's why many are vying for share—the authority to act more freely inside the tower. It lets them contact climbers, infiltrate the tower with someone, make climbers encounter each other... or even strengthen tower monsters or alter room contents.'
Yumina had mentioned the share before.
Thanks to Ban Yu-won's group killing Exodus intruders, the Constellations sponsoring Exodus would have their activities curtailed.
That meant the sponsoring Constellation's share in the tower had decreased due to their contractor's death.
'And that's where sponsorship comes in. If a human wielding a Constellation's power climbs higher, that alone increases the Constellation's share in the tower.'
'Of course, contracts grant more share, but if you refuse a contract, sponsorship is the next best thing. That's the first reason Constellations offer unconditional sponsorships to promising climbers. Not entirely unconditional, really.'
But even that was just surface level, Xenon said with a faint smile.
Ban Yu-won remembered the orb at the center of the lecture hall glowing clearly at that moment.
Maybe it was a measure to block Constellation approaches, he thought now.
'A Constellation's power clings to a human's soul and even affects the body. Soul power is inherently hard for humans to grow, but Constellations enable it, earning human praise.'
'Whether contract or sponsorship—the scale differs, but once a Constellation's power clings to the soul, it steadily erodes it.'
'Anyone who's received a Constellation's power, even unknowingly, gradually comes to resemble them... Even with no conditions on a sponsorship, you might one day naturally follow their will. Exodus members, their souls eroded by countless sponsorships, their minds fractured—that's the prime example.'
'Of course, this only happens if your innate soul is small, so no need to panic yet. If you don't overly rely on Constellation power and hone your own skills, sponsorships—or even contracts—can be useful tools.'
With that, Xenon stared straight at the person with the deepest soul depth in the classroom.
Ban Yu-won.
He understood exactly what Xenon meant to convey to him.
―I can't hold this much longer. Nod already! I, 'Breath of Life,' wish to sponsor you. You'll grow stronger, and those who receive your breath will spread like dandelions!
―Don't listen to that guy. Constellations who flaunt grand titles like life or death are usually con artists! But me, 'Clock of the Toy Legion'? Clean and clear, right? Nod now and accept my sponsorship! All your creations will become more perfect! Hurry!
As Ban Yu-won snapped out of his thoughts, the two Constellations were practically frantic.
They couldn't infinitely burn share to halt the tower's movement, and if he didn't respond soon, it'd all be for nothing.
'Is there anything else I need to watch out for? No. In that case...'
"Alright."
Ban Yu-won finally nodded, delighting the two Constellations while his companions stared in disbelief.
―Choose me! That idiot con artist misunderstands your true power! Your ability to move machines in the tower pairs perfectly with my authority to enhance all creations!
―No need to get hung up on petty tricks, child. I'll lend you a piece of my life. From now on, let your minions breathe freely and gaze beyond to new possibilities.
"It's too hard to choose, so I want both of you to sponsor me."
But the Constellations never dreamed he'd say that.
Sure enough, both deflated, lamenting and berating him.
―B-both? Are you an idiot? Who accepts sponsorships from two Constellations at once? You think I'd do such a losing deal?
―Such great power in the hands of the lowly... What a pity...
"Fine, negotiations broken."
He had no lingering attachment to Constellations anyway, so Ban Yu-won replied nonchalantly.
He extracted a depth-50 trap, added it to what Eve and Lilith had collected, and poured a total of 200 depth into the Code Core.
―…….
―…….
"What are you waiting for? Not going?"
The Constellations' presences vanished immediately.
The shift to the 10th room happened right away, taking them to a safe zone no one could invade.
"No fruits here."
"We got here too easily. No elites either..."
"Maybe because we already cleared it once."
"...More importantly, Ban Yu-won."
As everyone glanced around the surprisingly barren rest area—Eden—Dokgo Yeon turned to Ban Yu-won, her eyes gleaming.
"What on earth were you thinking? You clearly heard in lecture that Constellation sponsorships are dangerous."
"Right, Ban!"
As Light, who'd been looking around with regret, suddenly straightened up and chimed in like he'd finally said something smart.
"Wanting sponsorships from two Constellations at once. Gaining benefits from multiple is insanely risky."
"Constellations... are dangerous..."
Even Lucelle reacted that way, so a wry smile tugged at Ban Yu-won's lips.
"Sorry for worrying you. I just wanted to properly analyze their powers."
"I get that your abilities are impressive. But keep in mind Constellation power isn't to be taken lightly."
"Yeah, especially two at once!"
"I know, I know."
But Dokgo Yeon easily saw he was still considering accepting Constellation sponsorships.
It was a choice she herself would never make, but knowing the uniqueness of his abilities, she let it slide without further comment.
'If he can freely wield even Constellation power, I wonder what'll happen... And if he ultimately can't overcome it and gets devoured, that'll just be his limit.'
Even so, she couldn't picture Ban Yu-won losing to a Constellation.
This must be blind trust, Dokgo Yeon thought, and ended up laughing.
――And the chance to confirm her faith came sooner than expected.