I got into school for nothing-112
I got into school for nothing (112)
Lesson 23. Even If It Is a Lie - 7
Ban Yuwon had half-jokingly worried that they might have to move on to Room 28 and fight a continent-wide battle, but fortunately or unfortunately, after Room 27 came Room 30—Eden's Sanctuary.
“Ugh, I'm exhausted~!”
Ban Yuwon impulsively flung his body onto some giant, plush, cushion-like object that had appeared in the center of Eden.
To his surprise, as if by magic, the fatigue drained away from the parts of his body touching it, and a refreshing sensation spread throughout his entire body.
Upon closer inspection, all the grime and dust on his body were vanishing.
“Oh, ooh...? This must be an artifact too.”
“Really? Hmph.”
Naturally, their bodies overlapped, but she pretended not to notice, reveling in the cushion's comfort.
“Haaah, this really is nice.”
“You two, I don't know what it is, but if it's that good, I want some too...”
“Yuwon's fatigue hasn't fully dissipated yet. Light, please wait a moment.”
“Well, can't be helped then.”
“Yes, it can't be helped. If I were to give Yuwon a massage... Heh...”
Rucell stealthily reached out her hands to Ban Yuwon's lower back and shoulders, caressing him.
To what extent should he indulge this beast's desires, which grew bolder by the day? As Ban Yuwon began to seriously ponder this, Light's question flew in.
“Ban, is it really okay that we didn't kill all of them earlier?”
“Huh? Oh, the stooges of the Wings of Justice.”
The end of Room 27.
The Contractors of the Claws, whose true identities were revealed due to their attempt to forcibly summon night, found themselves fighting the Contractors of the Wings, who were similarly proven to possess special powers, as they could move unhindered even during the night.
The Contractors of the Claws were inherently powerful only at night, being no different from ordinary humans during the day, and were thus unilaterally slaughtered by the Contractors of the Wings.
The problem arose after they were all dead.
A considerable number of the Contractors of the Wings survived, but Ban Yuwon took no particular action against them.
Naturally, Room 27 was deemed cleared, and a gate (shift) to Room 30 appeared. Ban Yuwon ignored Count Durk's words to meet the King, and instead led his party straight to this place.
“To kill those who survived in that situation, we would have had to go through even more troublesome procedures. You know, the condition that we can't initiate an attack.”
“That's true, but we somehow annihilated everything up to Room 26...”
Light was truly pure and honest.
There were times he thought him foolish, but now, he also hoped Light would remain that way.
“Up to Room 26, even if we cleared it, we knew it would be linked to the next room. But this time, I had a hunch it was the last one. So, even if we left them alive, they weren't really a source of instability, were they?”
“They survived for... that reason...?”
“Nom... Moreover, they had already lost their hostility towards us. In such a situation, even if we forced the issue, the Tower wouldn't have properly recognized it as an achievement.”
Dokgo Yeon, who had immediately begun plucking and eating Eden's fruits, paying no attention to anything else that made up Room 30, chimed in, supporting Ban Yuwon's words.
“Even if they're fake, there's no need to kill what doesn't need to be killed.”
“And the constellations' resentment would have grown even stronger.”
“I already feel like we've made enough enemies as it is.”
“Well, yes, we humiliated them, but in the end, the only ones harmed were the NPCs, weren't they? If I were that constellation...”
Dokgo Yeon, who had by then devoured a fruit, regretfully sucked the juice from her fingers, then, noticing Ban Yuwon's gaze, hastily hid her hands behind her back and said:
“If there's a next opportunity, I'll take Ban Yuwon as my contractor then.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Aside from the fact that you've made an enemy of me, you're truly a perfect candidate, you know? You can wield light, you possess an aptitude for Judgment, and you're even exceptionally intelligent.”
“That last part is something that constellation lacks.”
Rucell, who was massaging Ban Yuwon's shoulders, added in a cheerful voice:
“Constellations are probably just like humans in their tendency to seek out what they lack.”
“That's very true.”
Who knew where their minds had met, but the two women began to giggle.
Ban Yuwon and Light exchanged glances, as if unable to comprehend it.
“Ah, Ban, there's one more thing I wanted to ask.”
“Ask away, everything.”
Knowing that Light had been quite uneasy throughout this entire exploration, Ban Yuwon was rather lenient with him.
“Why did you refuse the King's summons? Originally, the King was supposed to personally commend us if we succeeded.”
“Ah—that's...”
What should I do? If he hears the answer, Light will only feel bad again.
But as he pondered this, Light, this time, realized the answer on his own.
“Could they have intended to harm us?”
“...Probably. It was likely a 'trap' from the Tower, disguised as a reward.”
“You're surprisingly perceptive, Light.”
“Yeah. After hearing Ban's incitement, I certainly thought it was a bit dangerous too.”
Even the Chamberlain must have thought it dangerous.
He had gained the support of hundreds of thousands of citizens, wielded an Authority that directly subdued the Constellation's contractors, and instigated their battles in front of many citizens.
It was chilling just to imagine what would have happened if Ban Yuwon had, in that very spot, additionally pointed out a noble and declared them an enemy.
Therefore, with the threat of the Contractors of the Claws gone, in the eyes of the King and the nobles, Ban Yuwon would have been nothing more or less than another dangerous element.
“I still can't believe it.”
Light muttered, pouting his lips.
“To think that all of it was fake. That we had to invest our emotions and rack our brains against those fakes.”
“It's a good thing it was fake, isn't it? We could simulate it in a way that our minds would be relatively less hurt.”
“Is this also a trial that the Tower deliberately imposed to make us grow?”
“Of course. Though whether this is growth, or merely an awakening to and adaptation of human nature, is somewhat debatable.”
Ban Yuwon and Rucell got up from the cushion and plucked fruits from a tree to eat.
“Delicious. You try some too.”
“Ban, I've made up my mind.”
Ignoring the fruit he was told to eat, Light said in a strong tone.
“From now on, even if I meet NPCs in the Tower, I won't treat them as fakes. I'll consider them all just like real humans.”
“Really?”
“Ah, no, I'm not saying I'll stop your actions. You always do what's best for us, after all.”
Light, recalling how he had protested against Ban Yuwon during the 'trial' at the beginning of Room 23, said this with a blush, then cleared his throat and put on a serious expression.
“It just means I won't easily kill them just because they're fake. Not that I won't kill them in a situation where I have to, but rather... I want to properly bear the weight of my thoughts, actions, and the consequences of dealing with them, instead of lightly shaking them off.”
Though his words were a bit rambling, Ban Yuwon understood exactly what he wanted to say.
He would understand and respect his party's attitude towards the Tower's NPCs, but for himself, he couldn't help but treat them as real.
“So you're choosing to take on all the unnecessary stress as well.”
“Because I don't think that's right... Is that not allowed?”
“No, it's fine.”
Ban Yuwon smiled.
Given that he, Dokgo Yeon, and Rucell had accepted the existence of NPCs too easily, he felt it wouldn't be bad for at least one member to approach the Tower's simulated beings seriously.
If it had been the old Light, he might have considered it dangerous... but knowing now that Light respected his party more than himself, it was fine.
“Perhaps you'll gain something else by approaching it so seriously. They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, after all.”
“I'm not going to die!”
“You're like a slug. You could just pass by quickly, but because you're too slow, you bump into everything and hurt yourself.”
“What?!”
Light grew agitated at Dokgo Yeon's offhand remark.
As Ban Yuwon and Rucell got up, she flattened the now empty cushion with her rear, letting out a faint laugh.
“That was actually a compliment, you know.”
“Liar!”
“This cushion is truly refreshing. Can't we take it with us?”
“Don't change the subject...! And it was my turn next!”
In the end, Light somewhat forcefully squeezed in, sharing the cushion equally with Dokgo Yeon.
They must be getting along well, right? He let out a soft chuckle and then surveyed the other structures that had appeared in Room 30.
He had a rough premonition, but because the exploration spanning from Room 23 to Room 27 had been so spectacular, the rewards for Room 30 were incredibly generous, despite Rooms 28 and 29 being skipped.
Not only was there a large cushion that washed away all impurities from the body and even restored fatigue (though it was stuck to the floor and couldn't be removed), but there was also a stream flowing with alcohol, which one of the previous party members had mentioned.
[Blood Wine, Regeneration]
“I had a feeling, but it really isn't ordinary wine.”
Though it was a simple list of concepts, these two alone brought something to mind.
And the alcohol, of all things, looked similar to red wine....
Ban Yuwon tried putting the alcohol into his water bottle, and to his surprise, seeing the alcohol transform into water inside the bottle, he gained a certain conviction, but decided not to voice it.
‘Anyway, it means I should be content with drinking it here. Just like Eden's fruits...’
That meant he could likely extract and compress its concepts, just like with Eden's fruits.
Ban Yuwon put his thoughts directly into action and achieved satisfying results.
Though it had the drawback of causing intoxication if too much was consumed, it was the moment he acquired the most plausible potion since coming to this fantasy world.
Just then, Dokgo Yeon's voice drifted over from the other side.
“Ban Yuwon, I'd like you to start making some jam. There's something called marmalade, isn't there?”
“You really just assume I'll do it.”
However, contrary to his words, Ban Yuwon obediently made potion jam with marmalade.
The only difference was that while it was otherwise identical to the jam he had made before, a rather interesting concept had been added as a result of a mutation: 'Extreme Poison'.
Its effects were excellent upon first consumption, but if eaten consecutively, the effects would rapidly diminish, and eventually, side effects might even appear.
To put it bluntly, it was an option that couldn't simply be called good, and it became a good opportunity for Ban Yuwon to firmly recognize the negative aspects of mutation.
“What?! That's... not very good news for us, who eat jam every day.”
“Calm down, Dokgo Yeon. We still have a lot of jam left from Room 20. Besides, this one is fine if you eat it at regular intervals.”
“Ah, that.”
Rucell, who had heard the explanation of the potion marmalade, made a thoughtful expression as if something had occurred to her, but she couldn't easily speak, mindful of Dokgo Yeon's reaction.
Meanwhile, Light, who was thoroughly enjoying the cushion, spoke without thinking.
“It has the greatest effect if you only eat it once? Then we can feed it to the club members. It'd be a waste to give it daily, but once should be enou—ouch!”
“What did you say!”
Dokgo Yeon reacted exactly as everyone expected, shoving Light off the cushion.
Why Rucell, despite thinking of the exact same thing as Light, hadn't voiced it—the answer was easily found by looking at Light, who was now rolling on the floor.
Dokgo Yeon was extremely sensitive about having her sweets stolen by others!
“I don't even have enough for myself, and you're telling me to yield to someone else now? This sweetness... no, this potion!”
“Don't worry too much, Dokgo Yeon, we'll reach Room 40 before then anyway. And...”
“Are you saying such things too?”
“Ban...!”
Light, don't look at me with such touched eyes, as if I were a friend who had sacrificed himself to save you.
“Don't be too disappointed; we might be able to get Eden's fruits elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere? Could it be... Ah.”
Dokgo Yeon, recalling that Ban Yuwon possessed the authority for Solo Exploration, finally calmed down.
“But I don't have a share in that exploration. Are you saying you'll get potion jam for me?”
“What hurtful words are those? Half of my current strength is thanks to you, after all.”
“Ah...”
As opportunities to flatter Dokgo Yeon were rare, when they arose, he would naturally exaggerate his gratitude as much as possible.
For example, though he actually believed Dokgo Yeon's contribution to his strength was around 30 to 40 percent, he nonchalantly inflated it to 50 percent.
His masterful use of this advanced skill greatly improved Dokgo Yeon's mood.
“A-ahem. Well, if that's the case... I don't feel bad that you think so highly of me.”
“Phew, that was close.”
Light, who, though technically blameless, had felt ten years of his life shaved off for carelessly provoking Dokgo Yeon, cleared his throat and said:
“Then, shouldn't we slowly open that treasure chest now?”
He wondered why he hadn't mentioned it earlier. Ban Yuwon let out a snicker and turned his gaze towards Room 30's main dish.
Lying in a corner of the room.
A treasure chest made of bronze, banded with gold.
It was a treasure chest of 'Lower-tier, Upper-grade' according to the Tower of Babel's standards, waiting to be opened at any moment.
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