Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Lesson 18. Midterms - 5
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The Manifestation Technique was a foundational art that tempered both the body and inner energy simultaneously.
The black flames circulating endlessly through his body blazed fiercely, as if intent on devouring their master, ultimately transforming his ordinary flesh and magic into something from a higher realm.
However, the results varied from person to person because the Manifestation Technique evolved and grew according to its practitioner's will, mindset, and actions.
As a result, one person's body might become a scabbard with their magic turning into a blade, while another's body transformed into a graveyard with their magic embodying death.
Ban Yu-won also felt his own body and magic changing the more he practiced the Manifestation Technique.
Yet he was an ability user who wielded the power of pure concepts, the origin of all things, without limit.
His body and magic drew ever closer to the origin without bias toward any single property, steadily染ing in an endlessly deep darkness.
The depth of the Body concept, stimulated by the Manifestation Energy, decreases to 196. The Body concept is undergoing transformation. You've discerned that the depth of the newly converted unknown concept has surpassed 250!
Due to practicing the Manifestation Technique, some negative concepts in your body have been partially eradicated. Positive excess in Life is generated. This excess potential will promote the growth of other concepts.
The depth of the Manifestation Technique has reached 100, the depth of the Manifestation Energy has reached 285. The depth of Life has reached 445.
The deepened depth of the Manifestation Technique allows for faster practice.
"...Hoo."
Finishing his practice and opening his eyes, Ban Yu-won pondered the Manifestation Technique for a moment.
Perhaps these black flames were simply so profoundly deep that their essence couldn't be seen.
Dokgo Yeon, who had taught him the technique, might scoff at the notion, but weren't all other martial arts derived from it merely branches split from that deep, profound essence?
If so, then the true way to "complete" the Manifestation Technique was...
'No, this is just a matter of interpretation. I should follow the path I believe is right and show the results to Dokgo Yeon.'
Then he could ask why she had taught him such a supreme martial art...
His allotted time of solitude ended there.
"Ssiht!"
"Hm?"
--Pabang!
His Student ID trembled, and Eve popped out into the air, wrapping around his arm.
Liliss appeared belatedly, honking as she did.
These two, who patrolled external dungeons day and night, had returned for a midterm tally.
"Good work. Was it tough?"
"Ssiht, ssishit."
"Yeah, you're the only one for me."
"Buung, buwoong."
"Liliss too, of course. Good girl."
Ban Yu-won stored the concepts they had collected into the Code Core.
Besides the cores Eve and Liliss carried for concept gathering, he had several others. He was currently gathering specific concepts in one of them.
Including this latest haul...
Such terrifying numbers.
"The company commander... The company commander is so proud of you all."
"Shishit."
--Paang!
Of course, these figures were exaggerated.
They were merely low-purity concepts from weak monsters like goblins forcibly stacked together.
In other words, the values in this Code Core represented quantity over quality.
Reinforcing with low-purity concepts would cap Life at around 150 at best.
But that was more than enough.
"Just a bit more hard work. A few more days of gathering should suffice."
"Shiyiit."
"You've earned a rest. Now then... Tike?"
--Whiiing.
Ban Yu-won's dedicated camera operator, Tike, appeared at his call.
He had asked it to film around the academy all day, and thanks to Rebellion's popularity—and now Tike's fame too—students waved happily when they spotted it.
They probably hoped for a chance to appear on the Rebellion channel themselves.
That channel had become the academy's hottest trend.
But today, sending Tike around wasn't for Rebellion footage.
"...Yeah, the problem's real."
He wanted to confirm the rumors of potions circulating inside Union Academy with his own eyes.
With over a thousand current students, Tike had already spotted a dozen or so acting strangely or harboring "odd concepts" in their bodies.
Assuming dorms and library reading rooms were off-limits, the victim count was undoubtedly higher.
How could he detoxify so many? His head already ached at the thought.
"Tch, I'll figure that out with my senior tomorrow. Good work, Tike. I'll upgrade you later."
After consoling his familiars, and with As Light due back from training (or rather, getting one-sidedly thrashed by Dokgo Yeon), he thought of brewing hot chocolate to share and stood up.
Buwoong. His Student ID vibrated again.
"What's this... No way?"
A spatial transfer coordinate hovered over his Student ID.
Yumina wouldn't summon him so bothersomely, so it must be the Chancellor calling.
"Ssiht?"
"Hm... It's nothing. Can't ignore a summons. Gotta go. I was thinking of talking to him anyway. Rest up; I'll be back."
He gently stroked Eve's worried head with a finger, prepared hot chocolate for As Light on the table, and activated his Student ID.
The scenery melted away in an instant, the space shifting.
It was the Chancellor's office, where he'd been twice before.
--It's been a while, Ban Yu-won.
Week 5 of the first semester, first year. His third audience with the Chancellor began.
Today's Chancellor was a doll resembling a witch straight out of a fairy tale.
Wearing a large pointed hat and a black cloak, the cute witch doll's eyes glowed bright green.
Though he inwardly thought the overt aesthetic was in poor taste, Ban Yu-won greeted him politely.
"How have you been, Master?"
--Mm, you remember well even today.
The witch doll nodded sternly and swung the broom in its hand.
Somehow, that broom looked just like the one the maid doll had carried.
"What did you need me for?"
--Have you spoken with the Student Council?
Why did all high-and-mighty types skip straight to the point?
Without his power to read hidden messages in words, proper communication would be impossible.
"I plan to meet Senior Kettra tomorrow. But no matter the outcome, I won't step forward myself."
--What about the potions?
"Somewhat."
Ban Yu-won wasn't a potion expert, and mere conceptual analysis couldn't reveal everything.
But several points nagged at him.
First, he couldn't find concepts related to concentration, comprehension, or memory in the potion.
Second, it faintly contained the concept of "Stigmata."
...Third, he confirmed it in those who had drunk the potion too.
"A Constellation is involved. Those who drank it are influenced by one, knowingly or not. Maybe even the learning boost is..."
--Correct. Your delve into Constellations has deepened through this investigation. The Tower accompanies them, so analyzing and learning from them is right.
The witch doll perched on its broom and, astonishingly, floated up to hover over Ban Yu-won's head.
But the moment it settled there.
"Kuh--?!"
Ban Yu-won felt a searing heat pierce his entire body like light, staggering in place.
"Mas... ter... What... now..."
--Inspection and prevention. But no need, it seems. Keep it up, and you'll never be caught off-guard by Constellations.
Passing grade was nice, but this guy was still creepy...
Unaware or uncaring of his thoughts, the "inspected" Chancellor hopped off his head to his shoulder.
Cute witch doll on the outside, unknowable monster within.
He wished it'd get off ASAP, but the Chancellor seemed comfy on his shoulder.
--To the core.
"Yes?"
--You won't find evidence everyone will accept.
The witch doll released the broom, which began drifting through the air on its own.
--She's a talented fairy, and fairies excel at altering reality. Even Full Professors would struggle to detect her alibis. You've heard of changelings, surely.
Changelings.
Fairies swapping human babies (pretty ones) for their own (ugly ones) unbeknownst to parents.
On Earth, fairies embodied illusions.
So hearing they could warp reality? Sure, that tracks.
--Her plan was flawless, timing ripe. Without you, it would have proceeded... endangering many students. One would have been expelled.
"So you planned to let it happen just to expel her anyway."
--Of course. Students bought and drank the potions of their own will. Foolishly signing cursed contracts aimed at their own throats. The contract formed then, and no one can pay the price for them.
Hearing the Chancellor's brutal explanation, Ban Yu-won recalled his talisman's mechanism.
Not a curse, but his talismans required the user's magic infusion—clear intent to activate.
Mira's potions likely worked via similar contracts... Wait, curse?
--It hasn't manifested yet, so missing it is natural. Don't overestimate yourself.
"Fair enough."
--Now, the conclusion.
The drifting broom suddenly moved in patterns.
Ban Yu-won recognized it as magical script.
--Stopping it before manifestation lacks evidence. After, it falls under my authority. Ban Yu-won, what will you do?
"I've considered not being able to interrogate the culprit from the start. Focusing solely on resolving the potion side effects is all I can do."
--Wrong.
The Chancellor spoke coldly.
--Not side effects—curses. Exorcism is the term. Can you?
"Yes, definitely."
--Good. That achieves all you want.
"...?"
The Chancellor smiled contentedly.
Ban Yu-won couldn't read the hidden meaning in his words even with his power.
He just sensed unfeigned joy.
--I've heard what I needed. Solve this, Ban Yu-won, and I'll grant solo exploration rights. Separate from party climbs.
"Separate meaning..."
--Won't affect party explorations.
"Excellent, thank you."
Multi-climbing was possible, huh.
He'd been ready to decline solo rights for the security of climbing with his team, but if separate, it wasn't bad.
...Finding time might be tricky.
"Then I'll take my leave. Oh, any ideas for Rebellion footage you'd like..."
--Go.
Ban Yu-won was curtly ejected from the room again.
Weird—he was definitely a Rebellion fan.
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"Huh?"
Late at night, back from sparring with Dokgo Yeon, As Light spotted a mug on the table.
"Hot chocolate? Still piping hot..."
Having just rinsed off with cold water, something warm was perfect.
As Light instinctively brought the mug to his lips.
"Hoo, hoo... Sweet. Delicious..."
He belatedly wondered if Ban Yu-won had prepared it for himself, but Eve lingering nearby showed no reaction, confirming it was for him.
His grip tightened on the mug.
'That guy's mischievously attentive in these subtle ways...'
Back home, he'd surely charmed women by the drove.
Yet knowing that, he neither resented nor feared him—which was scarier.
Always reminding himself not to let his guard down, yet catching himself relying on and acting spoiled toward him more and more, As Light would jolt in surprise.
'But where the heck is Ban really?'
His familiars were here, so no emergency.
Good timing—he wouldn't want Ban seeing his face now anyway.
"Eve, when's your master coming back?"
"Shiyii?"
As Light chuckled unwittingly at Eve's bodily question mark, then coughed and headed to the bedroom, perching on the bed.
Still clutching the half-full mug.
'He's busy.'
Dinner alone yesterday too.
For some reason, Lucelle had cornered him that morning, half in tears, asking about him and Yumina... Probably nothing to worry her.
'He's handling some incident. Obvious from his face.'
And out again today—must be serious.
Something he wouldn't tell the team, or pointless to share.
They enrolled together, and back then his abilities outshone Ban's... How did it come to this?
No helping feeling inferior.
But now he felt more frustrated and anxious.
He hated the one-sided dynamic of always receiving help.
'Even in this exploration, he snagged support from two Constellations...'
He might fall hopelessly behind someday.
Ban might insist on sticking together, but As Light doubted he could endure that.
...If only he could get Constellation backing too, he wouldn't be dead weight.
As that thought crossed his mind, the necklace around his neck vibrated and glowed.
"Kuhhh--!"
A crushing headache assaulted his mind.
As Light clenched his teeth to stifle a scream.
"I know, I get it...! No contact with Constellations, so stop...!"
Groaning to himself, he grimaced and downed the mug's contents in one gulp.
A bit hot, but miraculously, the headache vanished instantly.
The necklace's vibration subsided.
It felt like the necklace feared Ban Yu-won—absurd, but amusing.
'Ban...'
Even his absence brought aid.
Gazing at the empty mug, As Light's eyes gleamed.
'...Alright. Time to study.'
The upgraded talisman, post-side effects, could now pause its effects intermittently.
He gathered his assignments, sat at the desk, and infused the talisman with mana.
When Ban Yu-won returned, As Light was asleep with homework as his pillow, so he carried him to bed and tucked him in.
Talismans couldn't beat fatigue, after all.