I got into school for nothing - 222
I got into school for nothing (222)
Lesson 44. A Strike that Pierces the Gap - 2
He had a premonition that something was amiss when he realized there was no treasure chest even in Room 150.
“This... is this even possible?”
“......”
As Light trembled, expressing his fury.
Dokgo Yeon, as if she had secretly been hoping, glared at the spot where a treasure chest might have been with a sharp, displeased expression.
Meanwhile, a hypothesis came to Ban Yuwon's mind, but he frowned, wondering if it made any sense.
‘Could it be that the Chain Room isn't over yet?’
Perhaps it was because too many multiple shifts had occurred since Room 141?
No, more importantly, what else could possibly happen in the environment of Room 149?
He sighed at the ominous hypothesis, even as he himself thought it, but still proceeded to do what needed to be done.
He refilled his Blood Elixir and harvested concepts from the Fruits of Eden.
Just as he was about to prepare dinner, since it was evening, As Light abruptly stood up and shouted.
“Let's move to the next room! The Chain Room must still be continuing!”
It seemed he, too, had come to the same conclusion as Ban Yuwon.
“No, we can’t. Everyone is exhausted from breaking the Tower and fighting the Constellation, so we must rest here in Eden tonight.”
Even with As Light looking as if he was about to run wild, grasping his Holy Sword at any moment, Rucell declared in a resolute tone.
However, her tail subtly wrapped around Ban Yuwon's arm, making it obvious what she was thinking without even looking.
“Though it’s annoying to pander to a beast in heat,”
Dokgo Yeon said with a sigh.
“It’s true that everyone has over-expended their strength. Let’s rest.”
“......This is why Solo Exploration is so good. To only seek retreat even with success right before our eyes.”
As Light clicked his tongue, making that remark, but... would he realize that without Ban Yuwon, such a fruitful exploration would have been impossible in the first place?
Furthermore, As Light's vigor couldn't be infinite.
No, in fact, judging by his exploits alone, the one who should have expended the most energy among the group was none other than As Light.
But it was certainly strange how he maintained such a calm demeanor on the surface.
‘I can't help but feel, without any solid reason, that As Light's sense of self might be in danger the more he wields his power. Dokgo Yeon probably thought the same, which is why she stopped him.’
Still, there was hope remaining, judging by As Light's attitude when Ban Yuwon had entered the Tower created by the Constellation earlier.
Including that point, he would need to consider how to act in future explorations and how to interact with As Light.
After roughly organizing his thoughts, Ban Yuwon scratched his head and stood up, gently placating Rucell, who had been sending him blatant signals for a while, and made dinner with her.
Tonight's dinner was kimchi stew, simmered with generously sliced pork belly.
Rucell, who had recently become obsessed with Korean food, had made various attempts to adapt it so people from alien cultures could eat it, and this dish was one of her creations. Judging by how both Dokgo Yeon and As Light emptied their bowls without a word of complaint, it seemed to be quite successful.
“Hmm, as expected, your country's cuisine suits my palate well too.”
“There’s dessert too.”
“......I don't like that attitude, as if you think I would naturally demand sweets.”
It was dangerous to make a hasty retort when Dokgo Yeon narrowed her eyes and glared.
Suppressing the urge to tease her with ‘So, you’re not going to eat dessert?’, Ban Yuwon finished his meal, cut two slices of cake for Dokgo Yeon, and then took his personal maintenance time.
After finishing brushing his teeth and washing his face, as he was polishing the Executioner's Longsword – which had become so much wider and longer than before that it was now difficult to call it a one-handed sword – Dokgo Yeon, who had devoured the cake in a flash, approached him with a tilted head.
“That sword, its size has grown even more.”
“Because I cut down a big one today. The depth of its concepts deepened.”
The Executioner's Longsword, having undergone conceptual transformation, appeared unchanged on the surface, but the concepts composing it had been completely altered.
[Demonic Sword 1,010, Severance 110, Resonance 110]
Concepts such as 'execution,' 'murder,' and 'blood poison' merged and transformed into 'Severance.' While the original Executioner's Longsword was specialized in severing the necks of living beings, especially humans, now, as long as Ban Yuwon's will was imbued into it, it could easily cut down anything, regardless of the target.
He speculated that by severing the lives of many and finally cutting off the neck of a strong individual, special experience points or conditions were met, allowing the Executioner's Longsword to evolve to its next stage.
For reference, by cutting down the Constellation’s incarnation in one swift stroke today, the depth of its Demonic Sword, Severance, and Resonance concepts each deepened by 10.
“I thought it was an artifact with deep history from the first time I saw it. I can feel the sword's will strengthening.”
“Sorry, I don't really know about that.”
To hear that a sword with such a wicked name has its own will strengthening, honestly, it doesn't make me particularly happy...
Moreover, a will that grows by severing countless human necks – doesn't that sound like a curse?
He grumbled, yet meticulously examined the sword, removed dirt, and sharpened its blade again.
It wasn't as if he was under a curse that prevented him from letting go of the sword, and its performance was outstanding, beyond further verification, so he planned to continue using it.
However...
‘When describing the act of severing or cutting something, people usually use '절단 (切斷)' or its reversed form '단절 (斷切)'. Of course, the concept attached to the Executioner's Longsword, 'Severance (斷絶),' isn't entirely illogical when considering its constituent characters both imply 'cutting off,' but...’
The Chinese characters that form the concept are merely a representation, made easy for Ban Yuwon, the wielder of Authority, to understand.
This implies that the Chinese characters forming the word wouldn't change without meaning.
If so, what if.
If the new possibility it gained after conceptual transformation was merely to cut things, just as Ban Yuwon had expected, then...
At that point, it wouldn't be a simple concept, but rather the domain of a unique Authority, something even Constellations couldn't easily handle...
“......Why are you staring at my Holy Sword like that? Polishing that worn-out sword must have made you envious of my Holy Sword, eh?”
“It’s nothing.”
Seeing As Light, who was midway through his second bowl of stew, clutch his Holy Sword with both hands as if wary, having noticed Ban Yuwon's gaze, he shook his head with a wry smile.
It would be good if his prediction was correct, but if not, the consequences would be difficult to handle.
He could test it at the Founding Festival.
—Vrrrrm
“So, just bear with it until then.”
As if to confirm Dokgo Yeon's words that its will had strengthened, or perhaps protesting As Light, who had disparaged it as a worn-out sword, the Executioner's Longsword vibrated and trembled; he gently stroked it and returned it to its scabbard.
“Then, shall we call it a night?”
“Yes, Master♡”
Dokgo Yeon's eyebrow twitched at the sight of Rucell, who had finished preparing for bed early and was clinging to Ban Yuwon the moment he spoke, as if she had just been waiting for him to say that.
“Didn't you say you were exhausted just now? Since you seem to have energy to spare, I'll be your opponent.”
“Hmph, if you're jealous, you can also— K-AANG!”
Dokgo Yeon and Rucell's impromptu sparring match began.
Ban Yuwon, sighing at the roughly anticipated outcome as he took out a tent, suddenly noticed As Light staring blankly at the two sparring individuals.
He occasionally glanced back at Ban Yuwon, seemingly deep in thought.
“What, you want to spar too? Shall I take you on?”
“No, I have no time to humor fools. I'll be moving at dawn tomorrow, so I'll get some shut-eye for a bit.”
As Light, who audaciously lumped Dokgo Yeon in with Ban Yuwon as fools, walked into the tent Ban Yuwon had just set up, spread out his bedding, and said.
“The two of you will be able to sleep.”
Of course, it was a two-person tent that Ban Yuwon had taken out to use with Rucell.
“You too, come in and sleep now. Although I hate to admit it, you are the core of this party. Make sure to get proper sleep and recover your energy.”
“Huh?”
“Quickly.”
As Light reached out and pulled Ban Yuwon in.
Unable to resist, Ban Yuwon was pulled inside and ended up sleeping next to As Light, just as he usually did in the dormitory.
......Wait?
* * *
The space was incredibly vast and expansive.
There wasn't a speck of light, making it impossible to discern the surroundings—but someone possessing eyes that could pierce the darkness would realize that the ceiling, floor, and walls were all adorned with grotesque eyeballs.
The man shrouded in a black hooded robe, Zenon, knelt in the center of that space.
“Are you truly postponing that girl's disposition, then? Although everything is entrusted to the students' autonomy, that crossed a line. She even accessed the dimensional database managed by the Academy. That is a challenge to the Academy and the Tower.”
—It doesn't matter. He is preparing to prove himself. If we clumsily interfere, we'll only delay his awakening. Remember, Zenon. We are merely guides illuminating his path; we must not obstruct him or arbitrarily clear his way.
“......”
—Do you have a complaint?
“—No. However.”
Zenon threw back his hood, revealing his neat, composed face.
His face, which was usually so devoid of human emotion that he was even called a doll, now held a hint of dissatisfaction.
“I feel as though too much is being expected of an immature child.”
—Is it not you who is immature, Zenon?
The voice clicked its tongue, as if finding him laughable.
—Haven't you already had your entire bag of tricks exposed by him?
“......That is, true.”
Recalling his memories of teaching that child in the first semester, he bit his lip.
During his first wielding of the Tower's Authority, that child created a sword that was perfect both inside and out, without hesitation.
Unlike himself, who was merely outwardly plausible.
“But that is merely potential. Right now, too much attention is focused on him. Didn't many Constellations interfere with him today, simultaneously expending their share? If those fools were to entice him with plausible words...”
—Impossible.
The voice declared resolutely and burst into laughter.
—They can never tempt him. He merely doesn't show it, but he has already seen through their true nature. How could he entrust his fate to beings inferior to himself?
“......If you say so, I will believe it.”
At the voice's resolute stance, Zenon nodded and retreated.
However, before leaving the room, Zenon could not resist the impulse and spoke again.
“Then, Administrator.”
—Hmm?
“If that child, even after realizing everything, commits an act against your will, what will you do?”
—Zenon, you foolish and pitiful doll, are you still speaking such foolish words?
The voice sighed and explained.
—My will is not that important, but his will and mine will surely align.
“Is that so?”
—Yes.
The voice asserted.
—If he is truly the heir of the Tower of Babel, it cannot be otherwise.
* * *
Saturday night, just before falling asleep after finishing her day's work.
Yumina, sitting by her bedside, narrowed her eyes as she looked at two small picture frames on the dresser.
Both photos in the frames had a similar composition.
A picture of an adult holding the hand of a small girl.
The adult looked the same, but the girls were different.
One of them was Yumina, and the other was...
“......Starlight.”
Yumina, who had whispered softly, gently stroked the face of the girl in the picture, then, fearing someone might see, she flipped it face down on the dresser.
And she fell asleep, awaiting the morrow when she would meet the prince who would fulfill her cherished wish.
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