Chapter 106
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: [Word Seal Engraving] B
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[Word Seal Engraving] B
A skill that engraves word spirits onto targets.
The effect and duration vary based on the mental image used in the word spirit, the amount of mana invested, and the target's material.
Engravings that persist without being erased can be reactivated by infusing mana.
*Duration varies by target.
*Inactive word seal engravings can be reactivated by supplying mana.
Lee Se-hun stared at the information window for his newly acquired skill, Word Seal Engraving, with an expression of utter disbelief.
A perfect upgrade to the Word Spirit: Bestowal skill he'd been using up until now. That alone was shocking enough, but what truly floored him was the skill's name.
Not 'Word Spirit: Engraving,' but just plain 'Word Seal Engraving'...
Skills that referred to an entire category rather than a specific technique were exceedingly rare.
In other words, simply swinging a sword downward wouldn't grant you a skill like Swordsmanship: Downward Strike.
But while rare, such skills weren't impossible. They only appeared under one specific condition.
You have to be utterly, hopelessly untalented.
Take the sword example: if executing a basic downward strike was impressive enough to be recognized as its own skill, it meant your talent was that abysmal.
Before his regression, Lee Se-hun had mainly used bestowal—one application of word spirits—and even that had earned him praise, granting him the Word Spirit: Bestowal skill!
But acquiring Word Seal Engraving this time around... does that mean I've developed my own unique style?
The new word magic technique he'd devised himself. And its effects were perfectly tailored to his needs.
"Flame Ignition."
Fwoosh!
A casual word spirit shot from his lips conjured a finger-sized flame in midair. Once it consumed all its mana, the fire winked out.
Normally, that would be the end of the spell. But Lee Se-hun's Word Seal Engraving didn't vanish completely—it left behind a faint trace.
That's the word spirit I fired earlier.
A cluster of overlapping characters that resembled a flickering flame. Faded as it was, Lee Se-hun pressed his hand to it and infused mana.
Fwoosh!
The word spirit reignited as vividly as if it had never faded. At the sight, memories from his past life flooded Lee Se-hun's mind unbidden.
'Why... why can't you do this? Even a seven-year-old can manage it—what the hell is wrong with you? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Say it! Say yes!!!'
'There were a few times in my life when I questioned my existence... and half of them were while teaching you word spirits...'
'Why teach me this advanced technique? Who said I was good at the easy stuff? Shut up and listen—if you don't want a real beating.'
The Violent Dog's lessons, laced with rage, regret, and eventual resignation. How many wounds had those tirades inflicted back then?
He'd desperately wanted to master word magic just to shove it in her face as revenge, but with his lack of talent, all he could do was hurl insults right back.
My first regression feels almost wasted...
As Lee Se-hun gazed at the flame before him with a mix of pride and regret,
"Hey."
Louise, who'd been practicing nearby, scratched the back of her head and approached.
"I can spread the word spirits out just fine, but getting them to reconverge is impossible. How do you do it?"
She wore a puzzled frown, clearly not grasping the knack. Seeing echoes of his past-life tormentor in her, Lee Se-hun couldn't help but chuckle.
"...What? Why're you laughing all of a sudden?"
"Oh, nothing. Just reminded me of an old friend who always called me hopelessly talentless."
Louise shot him a glare, as if he were mocking her, then blinked in confusion.
"Talentless?"
As much as she hated to admit it, who else had talent across so many fields? At her puzzled question, Lee Se-hun grinned.
"Yeah. There was someone like that."
The roles were reversed from his past life, but nothing had really changed.
Just as the Violent Dog had never stopped teaching—despite her sighs and curses—so too would he teach Louise with utmost sincerity.
Shaking off the old memories, Lee Se-hun rolled his neck.
"You said the reconvergence after diffusion is the hard part, right? So, imagine it like rumors drawing a crowd..."
For hours after that, he coached Louise on word magic until sunset, when they finally stepped out of the Martial Combat Department building.
"Feels like time flew faster than usual..."
It seemed like no time had passed, yet evening had already fallen. Louise glanced up at the sky with a vague expression, then turned to Lee Se-hun.
"You okay, though? Didn't you say you'd finish the frame by tomorrow?"
"Yeah, no problem. Thought of a good method while practicing earlier."
He'd originally planned to use Word Spirit Bestowal, expecting it to take time, but Word Seal Engraving had given him some breathing room.
At his reply, Louise checked the time and ventured,
"Oh? In that case... wanna grab dinner together?"
She looked awkward, unused to making such invitations. Lee Se-hun nodded.
"Sure, why not."
"Great! There's this place I scoped out before..."
"Junior!!!"
A booming shout echoed from afar. Both heads turned naturally, spotting a figure sprinting toward them.
"Huff... pant..."
Her hair was a wild mess, as if she'd torn at it repeatedly, her white coat half-on and dangling from her elbows.
Dust from what looked like rolling on the floor coated her uniform and face. At the ridiculous sight, Lee Se-hun gaped in disbelief.
Did the workshop explode or something...?
As he stared in bewilderment at her disheveled state,
Lea staggered up to them, gasping for breath.
"Wa... help... urgent... *cough cough*!"
She hacked violently, her breathing a tangled mess from the sprint. Lee Se-hun sighed and placed a hand on her back.
Bzzz.
His blood arts stimulated key points in her body, steadying her ragged breaths effortlessly.
"Whew... thanks. Feel like I can breathe now..."
"So, what's the sudden emergency?"
"Right. I need a favor regarding my selection tournament entry. You free right now?"
"Time? Well, no issue..."
"Hey."
A cold voice cut him off. Louise narrowed her eyes at Lea.
"Aren't we getting dinner?"
She looked seriously annoyed by Lea's sudden intrusion. Lee Se-hun made a troubled face.
This one's grudges last forever...
Whatever the favor, couldn't it wait until after dinner? Adjusting his plans, he opened his mouth.
"In that case..."
"Junior."
Another icy interruption. Lea, who'd been eyeing Louise, turned back.
"Didn't you say you'd motivate me? That wasn't a lie, was it?"
"Not a lie, but..."
"And who are you to keep butting in?"
Lea snorted at Louise's irritated question.
"You can butt in, but I can't? What a joke."
"The joke's your sloppy getup. Grown woman dragging dirt everywhere—real sight to behold."
"Says the grown woman whose mouth is the real eyesore. Bragging about spewing curses and strutting around?"
"..."
"..."
The two locked glares and stepped forward aggressively. Sensing the tension, Lee Se-hun tactfully backed away.
Louise glared down with blue-glowing eyes; Lea stared up through heavy dark circles.
After a long standoff, they spoke in low tones.
"Scram."
"No."
Neither budged in the heated standoff. Lee Se-hun's expression turned serious.
Bad chemistry between these two...? Nah, their cursing styles match—they might click eventually.
They were snarling now due to the situation, but give them the right chance, and they could mesh perfectly.
As he gauged their compatibility,
"Hey."
"Junior."
Louise and Lea demanded without breaking eye contact.
"Pick a side."
"I trust you'll choose wisely."
They'd left it to him, but he'd bear the full fallout. After a moment's thought, Lee Se-hun pulled out his phone.
"Hmm... hm..."
He tapped away calmly. Impatient, Louise scowled over her shoulder.
"We said pick—what're you doing?"
"Ordering takeout."
"...What?"
Lea blurted in confusion at the unexpected reply.
"We'll eat at the workshop."
Lee Se-hun brushed past them toward the delivery spot.
"..."
"..."
Pizza, chicken, and pasta crowded the cleared desk. Louise and Lea sat across from each other, the food between them, wearing odd expressions.
How did it end up like this...?
Something's off...
Normally, you'd pick one or bail saying you couldn't choose, right?
Feeling played by Lee Se-hun, they both sulked subtly when
"Not eating? What're you waiting for?"
He returned from washing his hands, sat at the head, and eyed them curiously. At his nonchalant attitude, they started to speak but glanced at each other.
Me first.
Go ahead.
Avoiding overlapping words, they settled the order tacitly. Louise spoke up.
"Fine, we came here. But why pick the menu on your own?"
"You said dinner; she said come here. So I pick the food—fair, right?"
"..."
The persuasively logical answer shut Louise up. Lea followed.
"Still, usually you'd pick one person..."
"Then I'd be the bad guy. You two started cursing and brawling on sight—why should I take the blame?"
"..."
Lea's mouth closed quietly. Watching, Lee Se-hun clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk. You two and your tempers... I'm starving. Eat first."
He grabbed a slice of pizza without another word. Their eyes twitched in unison.
That jerk, I swear...
Even when he's right, he's annoying.
As they glared at him, they suddenly noticed each other's expressions and awkwardly averted their gazes.
While picking at food awkwardly, Louise glanced at Lea.
"Lea Claudel, right? Top of Borsippa first year?"
"Oh, yeah. You knew?"
"I enrolled that year too. On leave, so still second-year... Louise Valente."
Lea furrowed her brow briefly at the awkward intro, then her eyes widened in realization.
"Wait, the one who smashed that obnoxious Gerwin?"
"Yep. You know him?"
"Know him? That trash who terrorized everyone on daddy's name from year one. You did good smashing him."
"...Ahem."
Common ground thawed the mood slightly, leading to casual back-and-forth.
Lee Se-hun smirked quietly as he ate.
Shared wavelength is key, after all.
Whether rage at someone or a hot topic, latch onto one, and the young bond fast.
Confirming the atmosphere lighten, he ate contentedly.
"Sometimes he struts so much I wanna deck him."
"His explanations suck. Like earlier—could've let us pick the menu if we were eating together. So frustrating..."
"Right? And the day before, he springs enchant plans out of nowhere..."
Pent-up gripes poured out endlessly. As they vented excitedly, Lee Se-hun cleared his throat.
"Ahem. So, what's this favor?"
"We're eating. Can't you tell?"
"No business at the table."
"..."
United in scolding him, he narrowed his eyes.
Forget the help I gave—these ungrateful...?
Pondering how to handle them, Louise and Lea exchanged looks and chuckled.
"Kidding, kidding."
"Just messing with you."
"...Whatever. Get to the point."
Lea smirked and fetched an item from behind.
"This."
"Hmm..."
Four interlocking rings, reminiscent of an ancient armillary sphere, but scorched black and slightly dented in places.
"This exploded?"
"Yeah. I engraved a new enchantment, and boom. Something's wrong with this thing."
"Hmm. First, what exactly is it?"
"Oh, hold on."
She rummaged through clutter and returned with a blueprint.
"Here."
The diagram matched the object, but with erased notes and incomplete sections—clearly unfinished.
Creator: Dain Claudel... Lea's dad?
Lee Se-hun scanned the story-laden blueprint.
A control device artificially inducing resonance via simple enchantments. Clever concept... huh?
A nagging itch in his mind. Squeezing his memory, a recollection surfaced.
'Don't get me started. At the end, the puppets resonated, amplifying their power... If Ryu Eun-ha hadn't arrived and destroyed the device, we'd have been wiped out.'
Ma Gwang-su griping after a past-life puppet master subjugation. Lee Se-hun eyed the blueprint again.
"...I see."
The puppet master's trump card lay within.