Chapter 97
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Lesson 21. They Say It's a Special Admission Track - 1
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“Master, I think you're at a very important juncture right now.”
Lucelle said as she twirled her pasta onto her fork.
Pasta—at least the thin, long spaghetti kind—was unfamiliar in her culture, so she hadn't known how to do it at first. But true to her natural grace with her body, she picked it up quickly after Ban Yu-won showed her once.
Yet even though she was doing exactly as he'd taught her, the motion that looked like him crafting a spiral pill when he did it somehow appeared utterly adorable when she did it. It was truly mysterious.
“An important juncture?”
“Yes. Ah~.”
Lucelle naturally held the fork to Ban Yu-won's lips and smiled prettily.
Yeah, he'd more or less expected he couldn't avoid this, whether they were out on a date or surrounded by people.
To Lucelle, serving Ban Yu-won was an act that didn't warrant concern for others' eyes.
In fact, he'd suspected as much the moment she swapped their plates when the pasta arrived.
But if he kept letting her feed him, she wouldn't get to eat her own pasta.
So, with no choice, he carefully twirled his own into a small, neat spiral to feed her in return. As he did, Ban Yu-won thought, Isn't this less master-servant and more just a sappy couple?
“Your abilities are so varied, Master.”
“Munch munch... Yeah. Ah~.”
“Ah~.”
As if she'd anticipated his response, Lucelle smoothly accepted the pasta from him, quickly chewed and swallowed the noodles in her mouth, then continued.
“Of course, you're excellent at all of them, but there's not enough time to master everything just because you can do it or create it. Time to specialize in one thing. Ah~.”
Ban Yu-won chewed his pasta thoroughly as he pondered her words.
She sometimes acted almost animalistic, but that very quality made her insights—like this one that pierced straight to the core—all the sharper.
In truth, during the recent battle inside the tower where he'd controlled the Rainstorm Sword, Ban Yu-won had thought, Strictly speaking, this isn't proper swordsmanship or magic...
“But letting your abilities rust doesn't make sense either. Even just exploring the tower with us, you handle nearly every situation with your powers.”
“Yeah... Not using what I can do feels off too, right? Ah~.”
“Ah~.”
Lucelle accepted the pasta with an expression of pure bliss.
Ban Yu-won began to suspect she might be volunteering to serve him precisely because she wanted him to do this in return.
...No way she's pulling some high-level scheme like that, right?
“Nom... So I think it's time to set priorities and a direction.”
“Priorities and direction.”
“Yes. Decide what's most important to you right now, Master, and develop yourself around that. And direction, for example... Even if you make artifacts with your abilities, there are many options depending on their powers and potential. But I hope you'd make them in a way that supports the ability you want to prioritize.”
The direction of ability development.
To Ban Yu-won, who had just experimented with his newly crafted artifact yesterday, this advice hit home.
He could have wielded the Rainstorm Sword in a way that better complemented his swordsmanship.
Whether controlling it directly to unleash its subtleties or harmonizing it while wielding the Executioner's Longsword.
Magic was the same.
Language magic held limitless possibilities, and whether he applied it to close combat or ranged attacks depended on his choice.
Not abandoning other paths, but prioritizing focus on the one he most wanted to strengthen right now.
“I think your versatility is incredibly cool, Master... But sometimes, excelling outstandingly in one thing is more helpful than being good at everything.”
“Like Dokgo Yeon or you, Lucelle.”
“Yes. When it comes to serving you, Master, I have confidence I can do it better than anyone.”
Lucelle smiled, replying mischievously despite knowing exactly what he meant.
Ban Yu-won couldn't help but laugh at how cute she was, but then she grew unexpectedly serious.
“So please... never abandon me!”
“I won't. I have no intention of ever abandoning a companion... a familiar.”
When her eyes flashed fiercely at “companion,” he hurriedly corrected to “familiar,” and her expression softened to one of I suppose that'll do.
That was close—he'd nearly squandered all the public goodwill he'd built on the Rebellion channel with a public indecency charge!
Ban Yu-won obediently accepted the pasta she offered as he organized his thoughts.
Lucelle's point is to establish a solid concept. Be versatile, but with one standout specialty.
Ban Yu-won's abilities all stemmed from his divine authority, branching into a few main categories.
First: martial arts, including swordsmanship and martial techniques.
His ability to perceive the essence of things made it easier to understand techniques or the subtleties of martial arts, but coldly speaking, it was distant from directly wielding his authority.
Second: magic, like elemental and language magic (recently bolstered by stealing concepts from the frost giants, plus curses).
This was the field most directly influenced by his Babylonia Code authority.
Language magic especially formed its own unique magical system, boasting overwhelming convenience and versatility that no one else could easily replicate.
That said, for language magic specifically, mastery held little meaning.
It drew heavily from his Life, Soul, Magical Power (vital energy), All-Reading Eyes, All-Hearing Ears, and All-Speaking Lips concepts—which grew independently of magic practice.
If he had to compare, it was like firearms.
Once proficient enough for accuracy, power wouldn't increase without upgrading the gun or ammo.
Elemental magic and curses relied more on skill, and he was steadily improving under Yumina and Cellon's tutelage... but compared to language magic, it wasn't a standout strength and tied less to his authority.
Third, needless to say: artifact and familiar creation.
This too fully leveraged his authority.
From the fully combat-modified Tike to his other artifacts, they were all powerful. Especially against Irecto and Parell before, Eve had shone, completely turning the tide.
However, focusing solely on creating overpowered artifacts would stunt his own growth.
Did he mass-produce familiarized artifacts to fight while supporting from behind? Or use artifacts as support while fighting primarily himself? He needed to decide.
Even in this expedition, I could have clashed swords directly with the frost giants for melee experience... or swept them with large-scale magic.
Ban Yu-won deliberated thoroughly (meanwhile trading bites with Lucelle) and soon reached a conclusion.
“What matters in a pinch is the power to protect my body. Meeting a great teacher like Dokgo Yeon at the perfect time is rare. Prioritizing martial arts feels right.”
“I think so too, Master.”
Lucelle beamed.
She had likely hoped for that answer.
“Martial arts is the least influenced by my authority. That's precisely why I should focus there. The others yield massive results with moderate effort. From now on, I'll develop magic and artifacts to support my martial arts.”
Of course, he had no intention of abandoning the others entirely.
For instance, large-scale AoE spells unique to elemental magic needed honing.
And some issues could only be solved through artifacts, beyond his body's limits.
He'd simply set priorities among the three.
I need to work on deeper integration with the Rainstorm Sword and martial arts. Good that I can handle twelve at once now... but back to basics.
As Ban Yu-won resolved firmly and sipped water, Lucelle—lost in gazing at his profile—suddenly smiled faintly.
“Now that it's decided, please don't get too deeply involved with that woman.”
“...Huh?”
“Mira-sunbae from Artifact Creation. You won't need to pull all-nighters making artifacts together anymore, right?”
“...”
Huh.
Something's off.
“And Aire from the Special Class, who you wrote that magic paper with... You're focusing on martial arts, Master. No need to get too heated about magic research. Papers can be half-hearted.”
Lucelle was surely saying this out of genuine concern.
So why did it feel like she was jealously steering his thoughts and actions away from other women who suited him?
Suspecting her pure worry was outrageous.
But Ban Yu-won couldn't help asking.
“...Lucelle, are you jealous?”
“Yes, tremendously! It keeps me up at night...”
Lucelle was brutally honest.
No, after guiding him so well, why spoil it by being so obvious at the end?
“I didn't want to deceive you, Master... And if it's something you truly think you need, I couldn't presume to stop you...”
“You're so cute, Lucelle.”
He wanted to add five exclamation points, but that would draw eyes, so he held back.
Instead, he answered from the heart.
“Thanks for thinking of me so much, Lucelle.”
“Master...!”
“Though at first, I thought it was all because of that forced 'subjugation.'”
He voiced his inner thoughts, which might come off as petty.
“Mas-ter?”
Lucelle froze mid-motion.
But Ban Yu-won pressed on—this date with her was orchestrated for this very talk.
He etched soundproofing and barriers onto the table with language magic, ensuring no one could interfere or eavesdrop, then continued.
“I thought you were faking rational affection to overcome your heart demon and grow under my protection. To maintain a good relationship with me.”
“Master, I...”
“If the first button's wrong, you redo it. But human relationships don't work that way. Since you're bound to me by subjugation, it's impossible for me to fully shake this suspicion. I could pretend, but that's just acting too. I don't want to act in front of you.”
Lucelle realized he wasn't denying her feelings outright and listened without rebuttal.
“But suspecting you doesn't mean I'll cast you out, right?”
“Master...?”
“So... I've decided to accept you, including that.”
And her wait was rewarded.
“In short, I'll think and act however I want.”
“Master!”
Lucelle's eyes widened as she shot to her feet.
Surprisingly, without combat or activating her giant concept, beast ears and a tail sprouted on her.
“So, Lucelle, from now on, you can't hate me, find me burdensome, or reject me. Whatever I do, you nod and accept it. That's the proper master-servant dynamic. ...Got it?”
“Y-yes...! That's exactly what I wanted...!”
He thought it sounded like trash talk, but Lucelle wept with感動 and threw herself into his arms.
At the same time, he sensed her subjugation concept—stuck at 6-circle for so long—skyrocketing past 10 in an instant.
As expected...
A wry smile formed naturally.
Dokgo Yeon mentioned it before—Lucelle likes it when I push hard... Her attitude's been consistent from the start. She wanted me to say this.
'I don't want to act in front of you'—pure lie.
Ban Yu-won wasn't some macho man.
He hadn't fully shed his modern Earth mindset.
What he'd just said to Lucelle was the result of observing her words and actions for weeks, delivering exactly what he suspected she craved.
But... while not certain, her behaviors—despite subjugation and all conditions—mixed inexplicable fondness that defied pure rational interest. So his resistance had waned since their initial binding.
Anyway... it's been a long road.
A month since binding with Lucelle as master and servant.
Their relationship finally took plausible shape.
“So, no getting mad if I hang out with other girls now.”
“That's... we'll see!”
Ah, as expected.