I got into school for nothing - Chapter 124
I got into school for nothing (124)
Lesson 25. When Distance Grows, So Does Longing - 5
The moment they set fire to the letter, changes immediately occurred.
Strangely enough, the path they had traveled by carriage swiftly sped past them, as if rewinding.
Before long, everything blurred and disintegrated, and at its end, a new backdrop emerged.
"Oh, it's coming. Soon, a wave of armored creatures will crash down!"
"Reinforcements? Aren't the reinforcements from the neighboring city coming? How could this be!"
"Damned bastards, to ignore such a crisis—this city is finished now! It's over!"
"It's too late to run. Ah, look down the hill. Already, I can see their carapaces reflecting the light...!"
Ban Yuwon and his party stood in the middle of a city plunged into chaos.
"Ban, my student ID display seems a bit strange."
"Mine also says Room 39, so it's fine."
Indeed, if you openly activate such an obvious trigger, this is what happens.
Although they had experienced it once before, a multi-shift that skipped several rooms at once significantly increases the difficulty of the rooms that follow.
This meant the multi-shift they just experienced had set the difficulty of Room 39 to feel like a combination of the skipped Rooms 35, 36, 37, and 38.
"What in the world did you do...!"
"The city is in an uproar."
Beside As Light, who was disoriented after experiencing a shift that skipped a staggering five rooms, Dokgo Yeon said, calmly surveying her surroundings.
"From now on, the atmosphere isn't suitable for mixing with these humans and trying to achieve something."
"That was shown a lot in the last video, so this time, I boldly decided to omit it."
Even listening to the screams of people from all directions, it was clear that the crisis facing this city would immediately descend upon them without a moment's delay.
If they had proceeded normally to Room 35, they might have presented an epic tale of uniting many people's strengths to deal with a monster wave—but that would have been neither fun nor anything but a drawn-out affair.
More than anything, Ban Yuwon was confident that with his current party's strength, they could easily overcome a monster wave of the Tower's lower floors.
"I find this to be excessively impulsive and reckless, however."
"Just call it a producer's spirit."
"Forgi-forgive me, mercenaries!"
It was then. From among the city's soldiers, who were struggling to control the panicking civilians, a soldier radiating a clearly powerful aura stepped forward.
He wouldn't know precisely without exploring it a few times with his Authority, but Ban Yuwon guessed he was a holder of roughly 300 'Life' (생).
Even at that level, he was a strong individual who could easily defeat Irekto in his early days at the academy!
"It's already a blessing that you've willingly come to help us in this chaotic situation, but the city is currently in such great disarray that we cannot properly welcome you..."
As the NPC appeared, the Rebellion members' gazes collectively fixated on Ban Yuwon.
No, that As Light fellow, claiming he would treat NPCs like people, yet when the time came to actually converse with them, he ended up relying entirely on Ban Yuwon!
He grumbled internally, but on the outside, he put on a polite expression and stepped forward.
"Don't trouble yourselves. We didn't come expecting grand treatment. We merely came seeking to lend you our strength."
"This is incredible! To think there are still righteous individuals like you among mercenaries. To come without expecting reward, even to a place where death could strike at any moment..."
"Reward, you say? Of course, if offered, I wouldn't refuse, but... that."
If they were treating them as mercenaries, he ought to play along to some extent.
Ban Yuwon was confident that the soldier facing them held a certain level of authority, and decided to simply drop a subtle hint.
"If we all survive after this calamity passes, let's talk again then."
"Hahaha, this is the first time I've met such a magnanimous individual. ...Let's survive."
The soldier, who had shaken Ban Yuwon's hand with a serious expression, turned around and let out an angry roar.
"All soldiers, assemble! Seal all city gates and prepare for the wave! We must prevent infection from the wave, so evacuate citizens to safety, even if force is necessary!"
"Oh, so he was a captain, just as expected."
At the soldier's roar, the soldiers instantly became sharp and began moving, which Ban Yuwon observed with calm admiration.
As Light approached with a very complicated expression and placed a hand on Ban Yuwon's shoulder.
"I trust you, Ban. You were sincere when you said this path would reduce casualties, right?"
"Of course, I don't lie. If we had dragged in the neighboring city, it would have been as good as a disaster already foretold at that point. We might have stopped the monsters more easily, but surely, a greater catastrophe would have erupted afterwards due to conflicts between humans, infected humans."
He doesn't lie.
He merely hides some truths and exaggerates others.
"Hmph—I suppose you're right now that I think about it. But if we can cleanly block just the monsters flooding in from outside on our own."
"Then the situation ends there. And the rewards will be greater too."
"—Right! There's no need to needlessly increase the sacrifices of innocent people. Let's bravely block this wave ourselves!"
As if invigorated by Ban Yuwon's words, As Light clenched both fists and shouted, "Oh—!"
That's why fools are so easy to deal with.
Ban Yuwon mused that perhaps he should be given a title like 'As Light Master'.
"His declaration to Ban Yuwon that he would treat NPCs like people ended up strangling himself... Fool."
"Knowing how As Light would react and preparing a persuasive argument accordingly... Fool."
The Rebellion party, without any hindrance from anyone, climbed onto the city walls.
This city, whose name they still didn't know, was built on a mountainside, and though not a metropolis on the scale of a capital, it was a city perfectly capable of accommodating a population of tens of thousands.
Behind it lay a rocky mountain, devoid of trees and any trace of life, and near the city sat a lake, making it a terrain that could truly be called 'baesan-imsu', an ideal location with mountains behind and water in front.
‘Since that mountain is actually withered and barren, it's a bit odd to call it 'baesan-imsu'... But still, because the terrain is so rugged, we don't have to worry about monsters coming from that direction.’
The city walls stretched along three sides, excluding the mountain at the back, and water drawn from the lake formed a deep moat outside the city gates, preventing monsters from easily crossing.
And now, all the city gates were being nailed shut, completely blocking entry and exit.
Ban Yuwon observed this, pondered for a moment, then pulled out his Code Core.
"If I use Language Magic to cast it, I don't know when it'll wear off. In times like this, a fixed concept is definitely the best."
If transient, fluid concepts are those like temporary emotions or concepts generated by Language Magic, which could disappear at any moment, then immutable concepts inherent in all things are called fixed concepts.
Ban Yuwon had just named them this way for ease of distinction.
[Seal (封) 500]
Among these, the concept of 'Seal' (封), was surprisingly easy to find around them.
Snacks commonly eaten on Earth were sealed by their packaging, letters were sealed, all items placed in boxes were sealed, and most of all, within the Tower or dungeons, one could easily encounter sealed traps, treasures, and passages.
Since Ban Yuwon had extracted all such 'Seal' (封) concepts and stored them within his Code Core... it was perfectly possible for him to unleash this simple yet highly practical concept in large quantities.
"Alright, then..."
Ban Yuwon imbued the entire city wall with the concept of 'Seal' amounting to 500.
At that moment, the city walls blocking three sides of the city simultaneously soared upwards and began to change their structure.
"Oh."
Ban Yuwon realized that the Authority, 'Mutation', which had been dormant within him, had awakened.
He hadn't expected this.
[Imbuing the city walls of Erathon with the concept of 'Seal' (封). The Authority of 'Mutation' is activated, and the concept of 'Blockade' is added to the city walls!]
[The depth of 'Mutation' has reached 30!]
In an instant, a formidable great wall, seemingly impregnable even to modern weaponry, was completed!
"Oh, ohhh."
"What in the world just happened, Ban?"
"Hmm. Perhaps, maybe..."
As a test, Ban Yuwon weakly manifested photon magic and shot a beam of light at the wall.
But the beam of light, instead of piercing the wall, simply dispersed!
Ban Yuwon carefully observed the process of the concept's dissipation and drew a conclusion.
"As expected, it was an ability to block waves. It should be able to block all waves, not just light."
"Waves?"
"Infection waves. I've confirmed it before; the infection phenomenon that occurs in monster waves spreads through waves."
Ban Yuwon recalled the massive monster wave he had witnessed during his first special activity.
The memory of witnessing the infection phenomenon, where humans transformed into monsters spreading via waves, had remained in Ban Yuwon's subconscious, and now, by borrowing the power of his 'Mutation' Authority, perhaps it had reformed the city walls in a way that could better block monster waves?
Dokgo Yeon also admired the soaring city wall, tapping it with her fist.
"It doesn't seem like you intended it, but it turned out well. It's eased the worries of the people inside."
"Wooooooah! A mage! There's a mage in our city!"
Not only did the city walls on three sides simultaneously rise, but their material also appeared reinforced, causing the citizens to gasp in astonishment, and the soldiers cheered, not even knowing who had modified the walls.
From atop the greatly expanded city wall, Ban Yuwon's eyes widened as he confirmed the horde of armored creatures surging towards the city.
"It's really coming now, isn't it. They're attacking without even giving us time to eat."
"See? I told you we should've eaten earlier..."
"Eat this."
"Abub."
Ban Yuwon shoved an energy bar into As Light's mouth, who was whimpering like a dog needing to relieve itself.
Then, he instantly created four 'Candy of Life', distributed one to each member, and kept one for himself.
"Let's spread out in all directions and cover one side each. Everyone can do that, right?"
"Mumble, mumble... I might have a bit of trouble. Lend me Eve."
At As Light's frank confession, Ban Yuwon chuckled softly and stroked the chin of Eve, who was wrapped around his arm.
"Shshshsh."
Eve whined a little, seemingly reluctant to part from Ban Yuwon, but perhaps knowing that with the recent creation of the Stormrain Sword, she didn't necessarily need to stick by Ban Yuwon's side to protect him, she soon smoothly unwound herself into the air and settled on As Light's head.
"Eek."
"If needed, she'll transform into Tikke or the Stormrain Sword, and help you."
"...Isn't that too much of a cheat?"
"That's why I've been making her hold back her activity lately. But this time, she can go a little wild, I suppose."
"Shishit, shishishit."
"Cute... wait a minute."
As Light, who had been dazed and captivated by Eve, suddenly spoke with a tone of realization.
"The city walls are on three sides, aren't they. Then there's no need for all four of us to split up, is there?"
"Hmm? What are you saying, As Light?"
Dokgo Yeon said in a tone of pity.
"Look at that rugged rocky mountain situated behind the city. You can't find a single monster there, can you?"
"Yeah, so that's why there's no wall there—"
"That's precisely the perfect condition to ambush those who think that way."
"Uh-buh-buh-buh."
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed Dokgo Yeon had also taken a liking to teasing As Light.
Ban Yuwon chuckled softly and said to Dokgo Yeon.
"In that sense, I'm counting on you. If it were me, I'd send the strongest one over there."
"Understood. You'd best do well too. This is a fight where one breach means the end."
"I know, I know."
Then, from below that hill, the faint cries of armored creatures began to echo.
The party members simultaneously raised their heads, looked at each other, nodded once, then scattered in all directions.
—You know, I think magic would be best in a situation like this?
"I think so too. I wouldn't be stubborn at a time like this."
As soon as he was alone, Ban Yuwon smiled and replied to Cellon, who had popped out into the air, asserting himself.
"But before that, let's make something together."
—Hey... what are you thinking again?
"On-site service."
He pulled out the Portkey he had put into his inventory earlier—a bracelet imbued with teleportation magic.
That artifact, brimming with dense magic, was still sparkling alluringly at this very moment... possessing a demonic charm that seemed capable of enchanting anyone, be they human or monster.
—Well, that's the story.
Ban Yuwon was thinking of modifying it not into the Myungdojanwolpa... but as a forced spatial displacement weapon.
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