Chapter 113
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes It All
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Yesterday morning, a near-catastrophic incident occurred during the Ivory Tower's special student selection tournament when the building's mana supply facility went haywire. The culprit behind the malfunctioning equipment? Shockingly, the Myriad Demons' Mire.
All executives and researchers from TL Technology, who colluded with the Myriad Demons' Mire, have been arrested. Even regular employees are undergoing intense investigations.
This is why we need harsh punishments for even basic supply corruption. Who would've thought Babel and Ivory Tower staff were tangled up with the Myriad Demons' Mire? That kind of complacency...
The news snippets drifted out from every hospital room he passed.
Lee Se-hun turned his gaze back to his phone at the story shaking the world.
'So this guy's the one they caught...'
A man being transported with restraints on both arms and legs.
He was an Ivory Tower official who'd rushed to Charles after the incident—and now arrested for supply corruption and collusion with the Myriad Demons' Mire.
'Which means Charles kept him separate from the start... His position must've been higher than I thought.'
Lee Se-hun had assumed he was just a squad member since he'd personally handed the mana erosion device to Louise, but it seemed he'd underestimated him.
'Not Legion, then. According to the Violent Dog, those guys are obviously weird on sight.'
From the situation, he seemed like an executive below Legion. But that raised a question in Lee Se-hun's mind.
If he really held such a high position, why had he personally delivered the mana erosion device to Louise?
'It was easy because of his mentor position, and he was confident it wouldn't be discovered. But is that all...?'
Mulling over possibilities, Lee Se-hun suddenly recalled a story the Violent Dog had told him before his regression.
'They let me slip away mid-way because Legion screwed up and lost interest. Otherwise, they'd have used me till I dropped dead.'
The Violent Dog had spoken with utter disgust. From that, Lee Se-hun could guess one thing.
'They initially rated Louise highly.'
Highly enough for him to check her in person.
As a 'creator' himself, Lee Se-hun understood Charles's actions and pondered deeply.
'Her performance this time might've caught his eye.'
With the massive losses at the Ivory Tower, he might be going all-in for one last score, ready to cut ties with Babel entirely.
A highly dangerous move—but also a chance to land a real blow on Dawn.
As Lee Se-hun sank into thought on countermeasures,
"I'm really fine now!"
A familiar voice came from the room ahead.
"The doctor says there's something wrong. How are you fine? Lie down and quit fussing."
"People's heart rates spike when they're excited. Giving me a three-week prognosis over that? Something's fishy!"
"Your average heart rate doubled overnight, and you call that normal? Lea. Lie down while I'm asking nicely."
"No way! As if I don't know your grandma scheming... Mmph!"
Crash!
A racket echoed through the slightly ajar door. Lee Se-hun approached and knocked lightly.
Knock knock.
"It's Lee Se-hun. May I come in?"
The noisy room fell silent for a moment before the door opened, revealing Rebecca.
"Come in."
"Pardon the intrusion."
They entered, spotting Lea on the large bed at the back.
"Mmph!"
Her brown hair splayed out without hairpins or combs, a white blanket rolled up to her nose.
Enchantments etched on it marked it as Rebecca's doing. From afar, it looked like kimbap with gobo sticking out, making Lee Se-hun's lips twitch involuntarily.
"Ahem. How's the condition...?"
"She keeps throwing tantrums about discharging, so I tied her down temporarily. Don't mind her."
Rebecca shook her head wearily and looked at Lee Se-hun.
"Need anything to drink?"
"I'll gratefully accept whatever you offer."
"Sit comfortably and wait, then."
Rebecca headed to the kitchenette. Lee Se-hun sat in a chair by the bed.
"Thought you were unscathed, but you must've been hurt bad."
"Mmph! Mm!"
Lea protested indignantly at his question. Instead of untying her, Lee Se-hun checked the bedside monitor.
'Heart rate at 120... It's up quite a bit.'
Normally, heart rate rises due to insufficient blood flow. But Lea's case was different.
Her heart pumped more blood per beat, and the rate was faster too.
In short, her entire metabolism was running 1.5 times faster than before.
'I adjusted it as best I could... Still this much side effect, huh.'
As Lee Se-hun examined Lea, Rebecca returned with simple snacks and tea.
"It's hot, so be careful."
"Thank you."
He sipped carefully. Rebecca sat opposite and drank silently.
"Mm! Mmm!"
Only Lea writhed on the bed. Rebecca sighed and snapped her fingers.
Snap!
The enchantments dissolved into the air, and the tight blanket loosened instantly.
Finally free, Lea cried out in a pitiful voice.
"Why didn't you help? I sent you so many looks!"
"What could I do when the professor said so? Had to stay put."
"Since when do you listen so well? You should take my side!"
"I've always been good at listening. And."
Lee Se-hun glanced at Lea calmly.
"I checked earlier—it was already half-undone. Touching it would've made it worse, right?"
"......"
"......"
Silence fell. Lea, who'd been aggrieved moments ago, wore an awkward expression.
"N-No, that's not... Suddenly what nonsense..."
"I see."
Rebecca set down her cup and eyed Lea.
"You were pretending to be tied up to slip away later."
"W-Well, more like for emergencies like needing the bathroom..."
Lea averted her eyes with a lame excuse. Various thoughts flashed through Rebecca's mind.
'Even a simple spread-out enchantment shouldn't be easy to undo.'
Much less from the inside. Seeing Lea's unbelievable growth in months, Rebecca pondered briefly before sighing deeply.
"Fine. Forget the withdrawal talk."
"......Pardon? Not the hospitalization?"
Rebecca replied calmly to Lea's startled question.
"You kept trying to discharge because you thought I'd forfeit you from the tournament by keeping you here."
"......"
"I was a bit inflexible, but I'm not that heartless. What do you take me for?"
"Bo... Nothing."
Lea clamped her mouth shut under Rebecca's sharp gaze.
Rebecca frowned, looking pained, and continued.
"I only pushed withdrawal to keep your talent hidden. But now your name's worldwide— what's the point?"
The Ivory Tower's fame spread the news globally, drawing massive attention to Lea, the solver.
Especially from enchanters—the spear she'd submitted was too powerful.
"Not content with hijacking the Ivory Tower's systems, she overloaded and destroyed every item with specific spells... Going home might be riskier now."
Such an item and its user were prime targets for the greedy.
Realizing she could no longer protect Lea, Rebecca turned calmly to Lee Se-hun.
"Cadet Lee Se-hun."
"Yes."
"My daughter, Lea's mother Reina, is the Puppeteer of the Ten Evils."
"G-Grand... ma!"
Lea jumped at the bombshell, but Rebecca continued unfazed.
"One day she killed her husband Dane and vanished, returning as a demon. The enchantment spells she researched alone were found in early puppets she made—it's certain."
"......"
"And Lea's goal is to kill that Puppeteer."
Rebecca stared earnestly at Lee Se-hun after revealing the family secret.
"Stay close to Lea like now, and you'll get tangled with the Puppeteer whether you want it or not. Do you fully grasp what that means?"
"Yes. I do."
The Ten Evils.
Monsters who could easily kill S-rank heroes and held the 'potential' to slay Summit Climbers as demon gods.
Being targeted meant a blade at your throat anytime—hardly an overstatement.
"Can you still stay with Lea as before?"
Rebecca brought this up mostly for Lee Se-hun's sake.
Getting dragged into their mess blindly and marked by the Ten Evils? Unfair didn't cover it.
'And half-hearted resolve endangers Lea too.'
With her talent exposed worldwide, Lea would be hunted by demons and rotten humans alike.
To stand by her amid unknown perils required true resolve.
That mindset was what Rebecca sought.
"Of course I can."
Lee Se-hun answered nonchalantly.
Too casual, too genuine. Rebecca looked slightly flustered.
"Not scared?"
"I'd be lying if I said no, but..."
Lee Se-hun smiled sheepishly at her.
"From the Black Lotus Flood, it looked like the Puppeteer's already marked me."
No point dodging if targeted already. Rebecca finally realized something.
'Cadet Lee Se-hun's no different from Lea.'
A top prospect drawing even more spotlight than Lea stood before her.
"Besides, the Ten Evils aren't invincible. And it's not something I can avoid forever."
Dangerous, yes—but not omnipotent.
S-rank heroes could topple them exploiting weaknesses; Summit Climbers could fell them trivially if they slipped.
Having seen it all, Lee Se-hun was certain.
"Touch us wrong, and they'll shatter."
"......"
The eyes of a hero who knew his foes, their weaknesses, and bided his time.
Seeing Lee Se-hun's true face for the first time, Rebecca gazed silently before nodding.
"I'll trust those words."
She downed her tea and stood, looking at them.
"I'll step out briefly. You two talk."
Rebecca left, leaving silence in the room.
Lea fiddled awkwardly with her hair; Lee Se-hun sipped tea and munched snacks wordlessly.
After a long quiet, Lea steeled herself and spoke first.
"I had a dream last night, but I don't remember the details."
"......"
"One thing's clear: I was furious, wanting to kill some bastard just like me."
Recalling hazy memories, Lea looked at Lee Se-hun.
"Was that your feeling, junior?"
The 'blood essence' created via Spirit Link Magic to pass his experience to her.
She'd felt his emotions naturally embedded within.
"Yeah."
"......Right. So that's it."
Pondering his answer, Lea resolved and met his eyes.
"Then, since it's come to this, let me make a formal proposal."
"Proposal?"
"Help me kill that monster who murdered my dad... the Puppeteer. Myself."
Calling her enemy by name without parental ties, Lea stared at him.
"In return, I'll help you kill your unknown foe."
Until now, mere technical collaboration as blacksmith and enchanter.
Now, true alliance for mutual goals.
'No downside.'
He'd reconfirmed her talent; pre-regression, her help was essential to kill the Puppeteer easily.
The 'poison' hidden in the spear needed her to activate fully.
"Deal. But one condition."
"......What?"
As Lea tensed, Lee Se-hun grinned.
"Don't whine it's too hard."
Her eyes widened briefly before she chuckled.
"You better not chicken out facing the Puppeteer, junior. The Ten Evils are on another level."
He'd faced worse—even demon gods—but stayed silent.
No explaining, and boasting at his regressed age felt off.
'Shame. Nice mood for a bond stone.'
As he felt a twinge of regret,
"......One thing I wanna ask."
Lea glanced slyly.
"Can you use the spear too, junior?"
"Huh? Why suddenly?"
"I got your experience, so... maybe you could wield it directly."
Wondering if she could truly help, she asked cautiously.
Lee Se-hun thought then answered.
"Doubt it."
"......Really?"
"I'm bad at calculations. I know how to solve 'em, but mental math? Nowhere near your level."
Grasping overall structure and patterns was easy; real-time complex ops like the spear? Painfully slow.
"Hmm... Hm......"
Lea twitched her face oddly before muttering softly.
"I win."
Target 'Lea Claudel' has gained the upper hand.
Target 'Lea Claudel's Bond Stone has been created.
"......"
Staring at the alert, Lee Se-hun blinked blankly before turning back.
"Heh heh......"
Lea grinned ear-to-ear. He thought one thing.
"Seniors really are impressive."
"R-Really? Uhaha!"
Acting immature suited her age just fine.
After wrapping up with Lea, Lee Se-hun got one request from Rebecca before leaving.
"Absolute rest for three weeks—no work for her."
"Pardon? I'm totally fi..."
"Want withdrawal instead of discharge? Try me."
"No contact during vacation!"
Lea agreed to three weeks' hospitalization for potential injuries, in exchange for dropping withdrawal.
Partly health concerns, but mostly to wait out the spotlight.
'By then, it'll have died down completely. No issue.'
Her elevated heart rate was rebound from his experience merging via blood essence—would normalize soon.
Confirmed no problems, Lee Se-hun strode out refreshed when,
Vroom.
A black limousine pulled up. Recognizing it, he paused as the window rolled down, revealing a man.
Jet-black hair, rimless glasses—an elite vibe.
"Long time no see."
Inoue Ren, Erika's brother.