Chapter 11
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Tower Forum Frenzy
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The community site 'Tower'.
This site, where cadets operated anonymously, had originally been created by a department top graduate to vent about unlucky professors. Over many years, it had solidified as Babel's unofficial community hub.
It wasn't just the convenience—cadets loved it because they could speak freely without worrying about prying eyes.
And on that Tower, one topic was drawing massive attention: Lee Se-hun. More precisely, his 'display piece'.
I don't get why everyone's hyping it up as the best ever. [493]
Even professors are calling it a unique phenomenon from a skill, but just because it's unique, they're saying it's the greatest of all time?
I'm not saying the display piece is bad, but it feels overrated for such a simple reason. Kinda hard to watch.
I get that producing a department top feels good, but tone it down a bit.
It's hilarious how they're jumping on the hype train right now.
For real, tone it down.
The funniest part is they're hyping it themselves, not even the professors.
Maybe you guys are just bitter?
Yeah, you guys are worse.
Here they come as expected lol.
Some people think bigger is always better.
You need a certain level of uniqueness to be called original. Cross that line, and you're just called eccentric.
Plus, with the explanation that it's a skill's unique trait, people are saying it's all flash, no substance, or just for show.
But even among the negativity, there were those insisting they'd recognized its 'true value'.
"Why can't I... no, why can't it be bought?"
Borsippa's department head, Ryu Eun-ha, was one of them.
"Doesn't it revert to the cadet's possession after the exhibition anyway?"
Kim In-cheol gave a wry smile at Ryu Eun-ha's impassive face laced with barely contained heat.
'She's changed too much.'
She showed no interest in anything else beyond finishing her duties, but her attitude flipped the moment Lee Se-hun was involved.
As Kim In-cheol patiently explained to the 'gourmet' rather than the department head...
"Anything but the 'doppelganger' this time. You know what that item is, right?"
The Forging Department created doppelgangers with Projection Alloy exactly twice: after entrance ceremony and before graduation exhibition.
These were stored and displayed side-by-side at graduation to show how much cadets had grown during their time at Babel.
"Please respect our department's tradition."
Kim In-cheol spoke firmly, as if this was non-negotiable. Ryu Eun-ha watched quietly before nodding.
"My apologies. I lost my composure."
"No need. I understand your feelings too..."
The first time he'd seen Lee Se-hun's display piece, Kim In-cheol had felt the urge to analyze it immediately.
How did he comprehend artifacts to produce something like that? Unraveling the secret might solve my own dilemmas.
'But not that one.'
They could just hand over Projection Alloy and ask him to remake it, but both knew better.
'Even identical recreations won't taste the same.'
'It'd just be a knockoff that looks the same.'
No two things in this world are perfectly identical. Accepting a half-baked copy would only deepen the curiosity.
"Shall we move on to business?"
"Yes."
No point dwelling; they shifted topics.
"It's gotten so much buzz even outside—how's the cadet holding up?"
"No particular reaction. He's attending classes normally and looking into minors."
"A minor, huh..."
The Forging Department could roughly predict a cadet's future artifacts from their minor.
What would Lee Se-hun learn, and what would he create from it?
"Just my personal take..."
Kim In-cheol smiled softly at Ryu Eun-ha's musings.
"I suspect he'll start by tempering his body first."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Rhythmic hammer strikes echoed from the forge.
Each blow spread the heated metal, precisely shaping the blade. Nearby cadets, forging similarly, whispered.
"Timed it?"
"...Zero-point-zero-one-second margin up to now."
"He's insane..."
In the new forging techniques post-Hero's Tower, two elements were key.
First, uniformly aligning mana crystals inside ore. Second, infusing mana without twisting the ore.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Focus solely on mana alignment twists the ore; focus on ore disrupts mana alignment, ruining it.
Balancing both perfectly during forging was crucial—and Lee Se-hun was nailing it flawlessly!
"Hmm..."
Han In-seong, the assistant instructor leading Metal Forging, wore an odd expression watching him.
'What am I supposed to teach him...'
Lee Se-hun's forging was beyond needing advice. No room to intervene. After a moment's thought, Han In-seong decided.
'Just skip the kid.'
Bad advice might embarrass him in front of cadets. He moved to others as if nothing happened. Class soon ended with a chime.
"..."
Lee Se-hun halted his relentless hammering, drenched in sweat, gazing at his swords.
Perfectly honed blades, faithful to basics. Nothing special from plain forging, but a quick polish would suit low-tier heroes.
"Hmm..."
But his eyes burned hotter, hand trembling on the hammer.
"Hnnngh..."
As his grip tightened for a lightning strike—
"Gonna smash 'em again?"
Han In-seong, who'd kept distance all class, sidled up.
"Need 'em for next class too, so try not to. After this week's forging, we deliver to the market."
"...Deliver?"
"How else do cadets fund stuff? Sell to the academy shops, get Babel support based on sales. Unless you're loaded, gotta care."
Sold as sparring gear for combat cadets or to pro heroes via vendors—part evaluation, part real-world experience.
"...Sigh."
Before regression, he'd have smashed on hearing 'deliver'. But with budget at stake, compromise.
Relaxing his grip, Lee Se-hun glared down at his body discontentedly.
'Gotta scrap this whole body.'
No day passed without gripe over his regressed physique, but lately, it was explosive.
He'd tried forging Ink-Heavy Darkness from Ludwig's training materials, but his stats were too low—even attempts failed.
'Easiest option, and even that...'
Midnight forge tries yielded only soreness and rage at his trash body.
Recalling it, he gritted teeth anew. Han In-seong, watching intently, asked.
"What's bugging you exactly?"
"...Pardon?"
"Your physicals suck, right? Body or mana—spill."
Surprised by the earnestness, Lee Se-hun pondered before answering.
"Body, for now."
Ink-Heavy Darkness forging used little mana but demanded endurance over long hours.
He was bottlenecked there.
"Body... Needed for forging?"
"Yes."
"So temporary boost during forging works? Ah!"
Han In-seong's eyes lit up.
"Buffs over training, then—faster, right?"
Lee Se-hun's eyes widened; he let out an involuntary chuckle.
'Didn't think of that.'
Avoided pre-regression, so unconsciously skipped again.
Breakthrough found, he shot up, bowing to Han In-seong.
"Thanks for the advice."
"No biggie. Buffs vary a lot—shop around, test 'em yourself."
"Yes, sir."
Seemed bland at entrance exams, but a solid senior indeed.
Eyeing Han In-seong's demo sword, Lee Se-hun commented.
"When forging."
"Hm?"
"Too much mana. Cut to 70%, focus per strike instead. That'll work better now."
He walked out, no reply needed.
Han In-seong stared blankly, then muttered in disbelief.
"Did he just backseat me?"
A newbie days in, advising the assistant instructor?
Normally, he'd explode—but oddly, no anger.
Because department top? Or something in the advice?
"..."
Glancing at the empty forge, he snatched his hammer.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Hammering with newfound fervor echoed late.
"Whew."
Showered and changed from work clothes to cadet uniform, Lee Se-hun boarded the monorail straight to Ur, where support cadets gathered.
'Monorail everywhere. Too spread out ain't all good.'
Babel split into three districts around Central Plaza (Hero's Tower and Marduk Mansion), managed by departments—each with distinct vibes, like separate towns.
'Borsippa's cluttered with prototypes; Ur feels like a sleek new city.'
Gazing out, he pondered first stop.
'Same body boost, but technique matters.'
Easy strength might lack precision for crafting; warped senses could yield off-blueprints.
Many said mid-forge buffs worse than none. Past Lee agreed—but now?
'I'm debuffed, kinda.'
Post-regression body shamed his old one. Buffing now was restoring baseline.
'Needs constant use mid-craft—simple, high affinity type.'
Narrowing options mentally—
Speaker announced:
-Next stop: 'Sorcery Department'.
'Sorcery, huh...'
Sorcery buffs simpler than magic, but crude effects mismatched forging.
'Affinity's top-tier though—worth a look.'
Babel's Sorcery was Ur's elite; high level, good support—maybe precision buffs.
Deciding to check, he alighted.
"Hey."
"..."
And bumped into department top Erika Inoue.
"..."
"..."
Her unchanging pale skin, jet-black hair.
She stared without averting, weaving a weird tension.
Her, expectant; him, inviting words.
As standoff dragged—
"Hey."
A fierce youth from her entourage glared.
"Don't block, move."
Polite-ish, but hostile tone.
Lee Se-hun narrowed eyes at the hothead.
"You move."
Exit first, board after—basic etiquette.
His reasonable retort twisted their faces like insults.
Air turned hostile; Lee Se-hun baffled.
'Do I look that pushover?'
Perplexed aggression stoked his temper—
"Where to?"
Erika asked quietly.
He scanned her posse, replied flatly.
"Sorcery Department."
"Why?"
"See if minor-worthy."
She pondered, then:
"Go together."
Lee Se-hun blinked in shock; her crew startled.
"Miss Erika? Meeting next..."
"You go."
"B-but seniors insist you..."
"Not interested."
Ignoring fluster, she awaited. He pondered, eyed her.
"No."
Her eyes bulged live.