Chapter 102
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Seraphim Guild's Announcement
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"Hmm..."
Lee Se-hun, dressed in his training uniform while browsing a news site on his phone, read the screen that popped up.
[Yeomhwa Sect Announces New Partnership with Seraphim Guild.]
[Yeomhwa Sect's Youngest Instructor, Mad Dog Yeom Seong-ha, Subdues A-Rank Wanted Criminal]
[Sect Leader Yi Won-ryong: 'This innovation will usher in a new golden age for the Yeomhwa Sect.']
A short article sandwiched between the Yeomhwa Sect-related news.
Since An Gil-hyeon lacked fame, it hadn't drawn much attention, but Lee Se-hun saw it as a positive sign just that it had made the headlines.
'It means the Yeomhwa Sect's profile has risen enough that they couldn't suppress it beforehand.'
This would make it hard for Yi Won-ryong to pull off the same blatant schemes as before. If he steadily built his skills and spread his reputation from here, he could inch closer to the sect leader's position.
'I asked Kasar to keep an eye on things, so Yeom Seong-ha should be fine for a while... but this one's bothering me.'
Lee Se-hun tapped the most prominent article and scanned its contents.
[Seraphim Guild, renowned as one of the world's top 100 guilds and sponsor of S-Rank Hero Weapon Eater Ryu Eun-ha, has announced a new partnership with the Yeomhwa Sect.
Seraphim Guild Master Uriel Oppenheimer stated, 'The Yeomhwa Sect possesses the outstanding technique Salt Wheel Remnant Flower Spear but has suffered greatly due to an underdeveloped armaments system,' and plans to overhaul all systems...]
Seraphim Guild's declaration to support the Yeomhwa Sect and create a new force of arms.
Reading it, Lee Se-hun dredged up his memories.
'This is Eden, right?'
'Eden,' operated as both a nursery and hero training facility.
It had closed due to financial troubles and rebranded as Seraphim Guild, but it was once one of the world's most recognized institutions.
And from there, someone had grown from infancy to become the youngest S-Rank Hero: Ryu Eun-ha.
'Uriel Oppenheimer recognized her talent and invested in her.'
With reddish-brown hair and a youthful appearance in his fifties that made him look early thirties. As an A-Rank Hero himself, his aging was slowed, and his hair color even made him resemble Ryu Eun-ha somewhat.
'Though there was no actual personal connection.'
Uriel had simply invested in her talent as Eden's director, and Ryu Eun-ha had simply grown with that support.
Their professional relationship ended about five years from now when they parted ways without renewing the contract.
'After that, Seraphim Guild folded due to mismanagement... By the time I met her, all ties were cut.'
In short, he'd heard of them but never met them. That's why Lee Se-hun was wary of how they'd move forward.
'If they're partnering with the Yeomhwa Sect, my closeness to Ryu Eun-ha could be a real problem.'
The basic response would be for her sponsor to ask her to keep her distance from him, but would Ryu Eun-ha, now hooked on his armaments, quietly comply?
As Lee Se-hun resolved to ask Ryu Eun-ha about Seraphim Guild next time he saw her,
"Lee Se-hun."
The hulking, muscular man standing in the sparring arena—Professor Ricardos Miles—called his name.
"You're up. Come on in."
"Understood."
Lee Se-hun casually pocketed his phone in his subspace pocket and stepped into the arena, eyeing his opponent.
"......"
A blond man with slicked-back hair gripped a blue rapier, staring back tensely. Lee Se-hun gave Hans Valmut, third son of the Valmut family, a quick once-over.
'Average.'
Nothing special, good or bad—just solid fundamentals.
Lee Se-hun lightly rotated his right wrist holding the Dawnlight Hammer as he waited for Ricardos's explanation.
"Stop immediately if one side is subdued or surrenders. Falling out of the arena is an automatic loss—keep that in mind."
Ricardos stepped back after the brief rundown, and Hans leveled his rapier forward into position.
A explosive aura that could surge ahead and pierce his chest at any moment.
"Ahem."
But Lee Se-hun just let his Dawnlight Hammer hang low, standing casually. Hans's eyes narrowed at the seemingly full-of-openings posture.
'This bastard...'
Holding that weird hammer as a weapon was bad enough—what, how much did he plan to underestimate him?
The faint fear of facing Lee Se-hun vanished cleanly, replaced by anger and greed in Hans's eyes.
'Father's been colder to elder brother Bier lately for some reason. If I land one on this guy now...'
Father might rethink his opinion of him. Fired up by that hopeful future, Hans gripped his rapier tightly.
"Begin!"
"Haaah!!"
At Ricardos's call, Hans shouted and kicked off the ground.
Thud!
His body shot forward like a compressed spring uncoiling. Hans immediately activated his main skill.
'Double Accel!'
Whoosh!
Blue mana wrapped around his body, accelerating his movements further, closing the distance to Lee Se-hun in an instant.
Eyeing Lee Se-hun, who still hadn't moved and was acting all relaxed, Hans triggered his rapier's armament skill.
"Icing Needle!"
At Hans's shout, an ice blade erupted from the rapier's tip. The combo shrank the remaining distance in a flash, the blade hurtling toward Lee Se-hun's solar plexus.
'Got him...!'
A technique even praised by the swordsmanship department seniors.
Hans's eyes gleamed as he envisioned Lee Se-hun paying for his carelessness, certain of victory.
Whoosh!
The Dawnlight Hammer casually swatted the ice blade aside.
Crack!
The ice shattered into pieces scattering through the air in one strike. Hans's eyes went wide.
'What...'
How had he blocked an attack that was about to hit? Why had the ice blade, capable of piercing steel, shattered so easily?
Unable to realize Lee Se-hun had subtly stepped back half a pace to create distance and struck the hastily formed ice's weak point, Hans just stared blankly ahead.
Smack!
Lee Se-hun's fist smashed straight into Hans's face.
"Kuhk...!"
A blow that would have crushed his nose and teeth in real combat. Thanks to the arena's protective barriers, Hans stood unharmed and reset his stance.
"Lee Se-hun wins."
Ricardos declared the victory.
"W-Wait a minute! I can still go!"
Ending it after just one punch? Hans protested, and Ricardos gave him an exasperated look.
"You planning to fight barehanded?"
"Pardon? What do you mea—Huh?"
His rapier, which should have been in his right hand, was nowhere to be seen. Hans reflexively looked straight ahead and spotted it.
"Hmm... Looks a bit bent..."
Lee Se-hun inspecting the rapier with a dissatisfied gaze.
"......I lost."
Hans took back his rapier and descended from the arena, sitting next to the dejected cadets who'd already lost.
All of them had been one-shotted by Lee Se-hun in spars, and now even their physical superiority was surpassed, leaving them thoroughly demoralized.
'Is this the Forging Department or the Weaponry Department...'
As Lee Se-hun sighed at the cadets obsessing over pointless things, Ricardos approached with a wry smile.
"You've learned well from Professor Ma Gwang-su, I see. Never thought you'd improve this much..."
"It's just self-defense level at best. Anyway, is this enough?"
Ricardos pondered Lee Se-hun's question briefly before nodding.
"At this level, you definitely don't need first-semester classes. I'll report to the department, so feel free to roam."
"Thank you."
Tool Understanding, one of the major classes. With exemption granted, Lee Se-hun thanked Ricardos and headed out.
'Tool Understanding passed from now on, too.'
He'd already submitted all assignments for Metal Refining ahead of time for exemption, leaving only Mineral Analysis as a major.
There were minor electives, but with low frequency, his free time had increased a lot.
'Should handle the backlog during this time...'
What to tackle first? As Lee Se-hun pondered,
Bzzz—
His pocket vibrated.
Pulling out his phone, he checked the caller.
[Aria Myers]
"Hm..."
He'd felt contact was imminent, but actually getting it felt off.
Staring at the buzzing phone, Lee Se-hun sighed and answered.
"Hello."
—Long time no talk. Doing well?
Aria's soft voice came through. Lee Se-hun responded flatly to the awkward pleasantry.
"Same as always. How about you, Senior? Jake said you were on a tough mission."
—The target had tamed three A-Rank beasts, so it dragged on, but it's done. Once I wrap up loose ends, I'll head back to Babel.
Aria had successfully tracked and eliminated the original A-Rank villain and his three A-Rank beasts alone.
Given the time, the villain must have fled desperately before being cornered and beheaded.
'At this point, she's top-tier A-Rank.'
If she climbed a few more floors in the Hero's Tower, S-Rank was within reach. Lee Se-hun clicked his tongue at her unbelievable fourth-year prowess.
'In one or two years, she'll break the youngest S-Rank record.'
Ryu Eun-ha wouldn't care about records, but he was a bit curious how she'd react.
As Lee Se-hun imagined it,
—You don't seem that interested.
A flat voice echoed from the phone.
The chilling sensation like a blade to his throat made Lee Se-hun clear his throat.
"Ahem. Just had something on my mind."
—I wanna hear what, but my schedule's tight after this, so straight to business.
Her tone wasn't angry, just genuinely indifferent as she got to the point.
—Thanks for helping Jake last time. Sounds like he was a burden, but you fixed his armament too. I owe you big.
"Jake's helped me plenty, so no worries. Does that settle the previous request?"
He thought it perfect, but better confirm with Aria.
She chuckled lightly.
—Of course. If that coward transfers to swordsmanship, it's resolved. No complaints later—don't worry.
"......"
Her faith in Jake brought a strange expression to Lee Se-hun's face.
She usually felt somewhat twisted, like in his past life, but talk of Jake brought out a hint of humanity.
'Blood is thicker than water, huh.'
He'd met post-Jake's death, so never heard their dynamic.
He'd assumed Jake held no value, but maybe he'd judged too hastily.
'Gotta watch this angle.'
Noting the new observation point, Lee Se-hun organized his thoughts and asked,
"So, the reward..."
—As discussed, I'll help as much as I can to match the favor. Think carefully what to ask.
Aria was strong but not yet S-Rank. Unreliable as a bodyguard, but perfect for 'securing' one item.
'Useful in the past life too... First, locate it.'
As he pondered where to inquire,
—Ah. Right.
Aria sounded like she'd remembered something.
—How's the sword aura mass-production going?
"Ah. That..."
He was long ready, but partner Lea? Unsure.
Worried about blowback on her, he hesitated, but Aria continued.
—Not rushing, but Dad called.
"Dad... You mean Aaron, head of the Myers family?"
—Yep.
Aaron Myers, current head of the Myers family and active S-Rank Hero 'Light Dragon Sword'.
Lee Se-hun's eyes sharpened with curiosity at this heavyweight's interest.
"What'd he say?"
—Family event this summer. Wants production line secured and manufacturing started before then... Can you make it?
"Hmm... Tight."
He could start anytime if he wanted, but dragged it out.
Too firm, and issues later would suck; plus, he wanted their extra terms first.
—If you meet the deadline, Dad offers a bonus beyond payment. Give it a shot.
"What bonus exactly?"
How big was the Myers family scale? Aria chuckled slyly.
—The warehouse.
"......Warehouse?"
—Pick one item from the family vault.
The Myers family vault, amassed over decades as swordsmanship nobility with vast wealth, fame, and hidden treasures.
Lee Se-hun's eyes lit up at access to the secret vault he'd visited before regression.
"I'll finish the prototype and show you soon."
He quickly headed toward the Enchantment Department's main building.