Chapter 105
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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The main building of the Martial Combat Department resembled a circular dome.
This place had more recovery rooms than any other building, all thanks to the nature of martial incantation arts.
Typical martial arts drained physical stamina, while magic depleted mana and mental strength. Martial incantation arts, combining both, consumed all three in equal measure.
That meant even a slight mistake could leave practitioners utterly exhausted, stamina, mana, and spirit all hitting rock bottom.
"Huuuugh..."
"Professor! One more down!"
"Then have someone on the verge of collapse carry them and rest together."
In the Martial Combat Department, cadets collapsed from exhaustion not just during lectures but even in training.
As a result, rest rooms were designed as individual private suites—a necessity on this scale. Some cadets even used them for hushed gossip.
And in the most secluded room among those private suites...
"So... you're saying you're entering the special cadet selection tournament because of that Leah girl or whatever?"
Louise stared at Lee Se-hun in disbelief after hearing his full story.
"Exactly."
Lee Se-hun nodded calmly, but Louise crossed her arms and shot him a skeptical look.
"Then why tell me about it?"
"I figured it'd help if you assisted."
"..."
Louise stared silently before her thoughts seemed to settle, and she asked,
"You know why my neck and hands ended up with holes in them, right?"
"Because they targeted you over the special cadet selection tournament."
"And you know Professor Charles is one of the judges?"
"Of course. How could I not, when it involves you?"
"...Ahem."
Looking uncomfortable, she cleared her throat softly and composed herself before pondering a moment and asking,
"And you're still asking for my help... You plan to poke at them this time, huh."
"Something like that."
Charles Reynolds, a professor in the Elemental Department and a member of Dawn who had tried to render Louise mana-incapable.
Lee Se-hun had avoided contact so far due to the risks, but now a natural pretext had arisen. He planned to probe Charles—or more precisely, Dawn.
"You sure that's smart? You said those guys were dangerous."
"That's only in all-out war. A light jab like this? No problem."
Groups aligned with the Watchers prioritized secrecy above all, though to varying degrees.
Unlike Myriad Demons' Mire, which had sunk deep roots into humanity, exposure would crumble them instantly.
"What if they slit your throat from behind?"
"That's for when the target's a nobody. And I'm doing pretty well these days, aren't I?"
Not just Ludwig, but Ryu Eun-ha, Ma Gwang-su, Kasar—the heavyweights he was tied to numbered more than a few.
Reckless types like those in Myriad Demons' Mire might charge in, but cautious Watchers like these wouldn't act rashly.
"...You're so full of yourself."
Ignoring Louise's disgusted glare, Lee Se-hun continued.
"Anyway, if we stage it like we stumbled on a criminal and are pursuing them, they'll cut tails and run rather than fight. Safer and more profitable for them."
"Hmm... Sounds plausible."
"Of course, they won't just take it lying down. Charles probably has countermeasures that don't expose his identity. What I'm after is figuring out those 'limits.'"
Dawn's valuation of Louise and himself. And Charles's authority.
Once he gauged that, trimming any exposed tails would be trivial.
After hearing him out, Louise mulled it over and nodded.
"Fine. If it's revenge-related, count me in. Where do we start?"
Her eyes gleamed with fervor at the mention of vengeance. Checking the time, Lee Se-hun replied,
"Then let's check your skills for the first time in a while."
"Out of nowhere, why?"
"The special cadet tournament is solo entry. I'll craft something incantation-magic related, and you'll join as my assistant."
If Louise entered separately, handling foul play like at the Martial Pavilion would be tricky. Staying glued together was ideal.
"Skills, huh... Then come this way."
Lee Se-hun followed her out of the rest room.
"Coming through..."
"Ugh..."
Cadets casually carrying collapsed, exhausted comrades. It was a sight Lee Se-hun had noticed on entry, now viewing it with curiosity.
"Even higher years collapse from exhaustion here."
He'd thought it was just freshmen at first, but second- and third-years were common too.
Unlike other departments where students grew more dignified and haughty with seniority, this was a different scene. Louise smirked and explained,
"Professors live by the creed that one practice exhaustion saves a life in real battle. So they grind everyone, no matter the year."
"Hmm... They know their stuff."
In real combat, it was different, but repeated practice exhaustion built growth—that was Lee Se-hun's, or rather his master's, philosophy.
It let you grasp your limits precisely, and pushing the body to extremes fostered greater strength.
'One slip and you're done for... But since it's Babel, they manage the risks well.'
He'd dismissed it as irrelevant since he'd never heard of it pre-regression, but it seemed decent.
'Maybe they shone in the war against the Demon Gods, and I just never knew.'
As he reevaluated the Martial Combat Department, they passed automatic doors into a new section.
"This is?"
"Mana control room. I use it a lot lately."
A straight white corridor lined with evenly spaced doors. Louise stopped at an empty one and pulled out her cadet ID.
"Scan and come in."
Beep—
The door opened after she scanned. Lee Se-hun followed suit and entered.
Dull gray ceiling and walls, white floor with grid patterns. Louise walked to the center, stretched lightly, and turned.
"How do we do this? Same as usual?"
"Sounds good."
"Okay. 60% setting."
Whirr—
Mana sucked into the walls at her setting, and soon the room's mana density stabilized at 60%.
The air felt slightly thicker than normal. Feeling it after so long, Lee Se-hun looked intrigued.
'Come to think of it, low-mana environments are a first for me now.'
It only occurred in hazardous zones or prolonged high-hero duels—rare without dedicated training.
As Lee Se-hun adapted, Louise regulated her breathing and prepared her incantation magic, unfazed.
【Set—】
Blue magic circles the size of a human head formed in the air.
They multiplied one by one until thirteen hovered above Louise's head.
Mana filled them completely, glowing brightly.
【Lightning Vortex】
⟨ Lightning Vortex ⟩
A blinding white flash engulfed his vision.
Krarung!
Thirteen bolts erupted from the circles, intertwining into a vortex that lashed the walls and floor.
Lee Se-hun was quietly impressed by the incantation magic's power, enough to pulverize foes.
'Not bad at all...'
Incantation magic, reliant on ambient mana, suffered in low density—power, speed, control all weakened.
Yet Louise wielded it fluidly, thanks to her 'dominance' over mana.
Whirr—
Unlike his 60% surroundings, hers neared 100%.
The moment she willed a spell, ambient mana 'assimilated,' crafting an optimal field.
'Pre-regression, plenty fell to the Violent Dog because they didn't know this.'
This was without her unique skill 'Mana Assimilation' awakened; her past self would have claimed the room's entire mana.
"Hoo... How was it?"
"You've improved a lot. Max power about the same?"
"I could amp it more by ditching control, but that risks backlash, so I cap it here."
"Hmm. Control, eh..."
Raw power hinged on mental image, hard to boost externally. But aiding control? Straightforward.
'A tool to refine incantation circuits... That'll shine in the tournament.'
Mages would salivate, especially Dawn's magic obsessives.
With a plan solidifying, Lee Se-hun mentally sketched designs and smiled.
"Got the gist. I'll whip up a prototype frame tomorrow."
"...That's it?"
"Yeah? Got more to show?"
Louise flinched at his question, then grumbled,
"Not that... Just feels too confident after one look."
"One's enough to see it all. Who am I? The Forging Department's unparalleled genius..."
"Ugh, enough. If you're done, get out."
She grabbed his shoulder and shoved him toward the door. Her prickly response left him baffled.
'Tried bragging since she seemed worried... Tch.'
Like her old self, her moods flipped unpredictably. Clicking his tongue inwardly, he let her push him—until,
"Ah."
She halted, something dawning.
"Wait. Got something to do."
"What?"
"Lemme try some incantation magic too."
Unlike pre-regression, he'd confirmed his own talent for it. Time to gauge its level.
Perfect mana density here. He spun Louise around, gripped her shoulder, and marched back to the center.
"While I'm at it, let's check yours more. Looked like you're ready for new applications."
"...Ahem. Was gonna head back and rest, but you're a pain."
Pretending reluctance, her excitement showed. Narrowing his eyes, Lee Se-hun thought,
'Is she stressed like pre-regression?'
Her Violent Dog mood swings suggested something off.
Vowing a deep talk later, he positioned her behind and stepped forward.
"Let's see... 30% setting first."
Whirr—
The room's mana halved instantly.
A barren, arid density like parched earth. Louise grimaced.
"You sure you can handle this for real?"
60% gathered with focus; 30% resisted.
Wondering how he'd incant, she watched as he shrugged.
"Might fail. Just testing limits."
An impossibility for his past self. He'd ramp density on failures. Refining mana in his mouth, he recalled her old advice before imprinting intent.
'Told you a million times—it's simple. Imagine rumors spreading. Like this... No, why can't you, you blockhead!!!'
A technique he'd barely learned amid her fury, never mastered in combat.
Recalling it, he imprinted the image into the mana and chanted.
"〈Incantation Diffusion〉"
Incantation waves rippled across the room.
Whirr—
A strange hum filled the air. Sparse mana particles stirred in unison, converging into a stream before him.
"This is..."
Like crowds drawn by gossip, the scant mana gathered at Lee Se-hun.
Imbuing the swollen mass with his prepared incantation,
"〈Thunderbolt〉"
⟨ Thunderbolt ⟩
A massive blue bolt lanced from before him.
Krarung!!
It slammed the wall. Its burst outdid even Louise's, leaving her stunned.
Skill 'Incantation: Bestowal (C)' has been upgraded to 'Incantation Engraving (B)'.
"...You've got talent."
Lee Se-hun muttered with a wry expression.