Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Lesson 16. The Tutorial is Over - 2
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Exiting through the hole of light Ban Yu-won had created brought them to the 20th floor, Eden.
He had half-expected Dokgo Yeon to spin her cross-shaped pupils wildly and let out a cheer the moment they stepped into Eden.
"Kyaaah!"
Nice, recording complete.
As Light narrowed his eyes, watching him swiftly pull out a recorder and just as quickly store it safely in his inventory.
"What are you up to, Ban?"
"It's a secret. If you knew, you'd be in the same boat as me. Mostly the risk of getting beaten to death by Dokgo Yeon."
"Then I don't wanna know."
Thinking he'd already gotten enough beatings from Dokgo Yeon as it was, As Light turned away without a backward glance.
"You're so mean, Yu-won."
"Too bad."
Ban Yu-won clicked his tongue in disappointment and followed after them with Lucelle.
Hanging in clusters from the ceiling of the 20th floor was the reason for Dokgo Yeon's cheer... the fruits of Eden.
It wasn't his imagination; there were definitely more than on the 10th floor.
"I thought there might not be any. Ban Yu-won, solving that riddle earlier paid off."
"Lucky us. My Life Elixir Jam was running low, down to less than half. I've been turning it into candy."
"Which one should we eat? Something bigger this time..."
"Ban, you can make these into elixirs too, right?"
"Of course. Go ahead and pick one each to eat."
Ban Yu-won checked if there were any figs, just in case, but nothing even similar.
Of course, he'd been told there was only one in all of Eden when he ate it.
Speculating now, perhaps the Fruit of Good and Evil was a treasure only those who knew of its existence could claim?
Even Professor Xenon, who preached about learning Babylonian civilization, knew nothing of Earth's Bible, so naturally, among all who'd entered the tower, Ban Yu-won was the only one aware of it.
'But the Fruit of Good and Evil only appears in the Bible, with no real ties to Babylonian civilization... Well, the Babylonian civilization Professor Xenon talks about is pretty distant from the real one anyway. It's just a new field lumping together traces of the civilization left in the tower.'
The prime evidence was how everyone called the tower.
The name Babel Tower originated from the Bible—that is, Hebrew.
In actual Babylonian Akkadian, its prototype was 'Bāb-ilī (Gate of the Gods)'!
'Well, since I'm the only one who knows that, I've been through all sorts of wonders during explorations.'
Realizing no amount of further pondering would yield answers, Ban Yu-won shrugged, plucked his share of fruit, and bit into it.
Acquired: Life 5, Magical Power 7, Charm 20, Domination 3.
'Hm?'
Gains in Life, Magical Power, and Charm weren't surprising—they happened every time he consumed Life Elixir.
Of course, the intact fruit's concepts fully deepening his own was impressive, but that wasn't the point.
Getting the concept of Domination from a fruit of life!
'Is this completely random?'
Ban Yu-won narrowed his eyes and glanced at his companions. Sure enough, Lucelle was uncharacteristically sparkling-eyed and bouncing.
"I can feel my ferocity growing!"
"As expected."
The fruits of Eden boosted the abilities the consumer needed.
...So why Charm, then?
Pondering the unsolved mystery, Ban Yu-won began what he had to do.
Gathering all the concepts from the fruits of Eden into a large prepared jam jar to create the second batch of Life Elixir Jam!
Constellation [Breath of Life] marvels at your abilities.
Constellation [Clock of the Toy Legion] urges you to hurry and use the authority it granted.
Showing this to the constellations sponsoring him was, of course, intentional.
Life Elixir Jam was an essential item like bandages, torches, or potions before entering a dungeon in a game—it was bound to be revealed eventually.
And he wanted to make a big splash with it someday.
Judging by the constellations' reactions, it seemed like a success.
'Alright, time to test this new power.'
Ban Yu-won strongly focused on the two new concepts within him.
The first was the authority from Breath of Life: Soul Flame.
It involved separating part of his soul into a creation, but infusing jam with soul would just make eaters queasy, so not this time.
The authority he planned to use was the second: 'Mutation' from the Clock of the Toy Legion.
'First, activate the stigmata, then layer on the mutation.'
He could use Mutation alone, but that would raise suspicions and limit its power.
So, season it with stigmata power.
To make the constellations think he was under their control.
Though the result would fully align with his will.
'Now, activate the authority with primal essence.'
He felt primal essence being sucked out at a ferocious rate.
Nearly 70% devoured before the brilliantly glowing activated Mutation transformed the elixir jam he'd just made.
'Good... now!'
Confirming Mutation fully infused, Ban Yu-won sealed the jar, completing the process.
At that moment.
Crafted 60 jars of Elixir of Life Preservation (靈藥). This elixir, born from concentrated fruits of Eden with special mutation, dramatically restores and grows the consumer's life force and magical power, unlocks new possibilities, and plants a seed of life within.
The life seed recovers lost body parts, breathes life into the dying, maximizing the consumer's vitality. Repeated use grows the seed, but overdose invites heavenly punishment.
You've created a miraculous elixir unseen before and never to be again. Depths of Life and Soul increase by 10 each. Depth of Mutation becomes 11.
"Oh, this is..."
This was a bit much.
Ban Yu-won hadn't expected much from the 'Mutation' authority, honestly.
The name alone put him off.
Yet the Babylonia Code and Mutation, amplified by stigmata and primal essence, created a miraculous synergy!
Constellation [Breath of Life] excitedly promises to enhance its authority if you offer tribute!
Constellation [Clock of the Toy Legion] marvels, gauging the scale of the authority it granted.
Just their reactions showed the scale.
Tribute? He hadn't even used Breath of Life's authority yet—that was beyond shameless.
Ban Yu-won snorted and stowed the finished jam in his inventory.
Truth be told, Dokgo Yeon's blazing gaze made him anxious she'd snatch it anytime.
"You just ate a fruit; you're full anyway."
"I'm merely curious about the taste of this new sweet batch."
"Yeah, sure."
He was endlessly grateful no one could access his inventory.
As Ban Yu-won pondered future distribution of the Life Elixir and turned, As Light returned from circling Eden.
"Ban, maybe we should wash up and rest soon."
"Yeah, it's night now. Nothing but fruits, huh?"
"Seems so. Would've been nice if there were artifacts."
"Light, your sense of tower norms is starting to go off the rails."
Thanks to prior explorations, up to the 16th floor was familiar territory; they'd only faced 17th-floor elites and pulled off a minor miracle there.
Securing Eden's fruits on top—expecting more would be greed.
"Alright, let's wash first."
"Got it. ...Peek and I'll stab you!"
As Ban Yu-won set out a simple tent and shower gear, As Light grabbed them and cast a spell that tempted even the innocent to peep, then walked off.
Who in the world yells at guys not to peep while showering—and yells!
"Yu-won, wanna wash together... Kyaa!"
"Beasts go this way."
Even Lucelle, slyly tempting him, got dragged off behind another tent by Dokgo Yeon. Ban Yu-won sighed, pulled out a camping chair, and sat.
Only alone did he finally have time to think.
'What an exhausting day.'
Hed foreseen entanglement with constellations soon and resolved to explore their powers to avoid being swayed.
But he never dreamed it'd whirlwind right after re-entering the tower.
Proof the Rebellion party's tower climbs outpaced others.
'First button's on right. Got exactly the abilities I need... Buck up, Ban Yu-won. This isn't the end.'
He sometimes felt the tower was designed around his abilities—even with constellations.
Impossible, but—their powers were so simply structured for his authority to steal.
'Well, blame the OP authority from my ancestor...'
If he acted well, maybe he could claim countless constellation authorities into his soul.
Of course, carefully, to avoid getting consumed—but he trusted himself.
'I'll reach the tower's top.'
So he couldn't settle for this.
To stand atop a tower unclimbed for millennia, honing skills alone wasn't enough.
Claim everything claimable.
Then climb higher.
Higher, ever higher.
—Now I'm certain.
As he savored the rare moment of resolve amid the mood.
Ceron's gloomy voice pierced his mind.
"What, Ceron?"
—Only after entering the sanctuary could I be sure. Took a bit to sort my thoughts, but...
Why was the usually silent one suddenly speaking up?
Ban Yu-won sighed, about to ask what he was so certain of.
—The ones who sealed me... were constellations.
Hatred laced Ceron's voice.
—Constellations I thought were allies betrayed me. Sealed my power and memories to stop my contractor from reaching the tower's top.
"Whoa, hold up. If you're gonna drop something, at least turn on the blinker... Huh?"
The mention of "sanctuary" had rung alarm bells.
Constellations betrayed him?
Sealed power and memories?
...Contractor?
Ban Yu-won doubted his ears.
Before he could retort, Ceron groaned in fury.
—But I can't remember that kid's face. How we contracted, how I got sealed...
"So, wait— you..."
You definitely said you were human last time.
But thinking it over, that wasn't entirely wrong.
"Ceron, don't tell me...?"
—I was once human, and at the moment of sealing, yes.
The staff slung diagonally across Ban Yu-won's back vibrated violently.
He could vividly read the raging concept trapped in that narrow space.
—I was a constellation! A transcendent being reborn from human to constellation!
A declaration perfectly capping a tumultuous day.
Not some bluebird of happiness, but a constellation had been by his side all along.
Absurdity overwhelming, Ban Yu-won rubbed under his nose and let out a hollow laugh.
"What a total mess."