Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Persistent Pursuit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lee Se-hun stepped off the bus and headed toward the main building of the Sorcery Department, with one person scurrying along a few steps behind him.
The presence trailing him wasn't even trying to hide—staying just three steps back without any sign of turning away. At the sound of those persistent footsteps, Lee Se-hun stopped and turned around.
"……."
Erika had halted as well, staring up at him with wide eyes.
Her gaze seemed to ask why he wasn't hurrying off, and Lee Se-hun shot her an incredulous look.
"You planning to follow me the whole way?"
"Yeah."
"I told you I didn't want company."
"I know. But I've got my own business now."
"What business?"
Erika pondered Lee Se-hun's question for a moment before answering.
"Following you."
"……."
Lee Se-hun's expression turned peculiar at Erika's brazen reply.
'What's her deal?'
There hadn't been any incidents between them—nothing beyond locking eyes once at the entrance ceremony.
Her suspiciously intense interest made Lee Se-hun study her closely.
"Have we met before?"
"Entrance ceremony was the first time."
"Then why are you so interested in me?"
Erika stared at him blankly before tilting her head in genuine confusion.
"Can't I be interested if it's our first meeting?"
"Well……."
He'd been about to say of course not, but Lee Se-hun paused to consider himself objectively.
Before his regression, he would've been a nobody at this point, so someone famous like Erika showing interest would've been downright suspicious.
But now? He was the top student in Borsippa, a rising star drawing attention inside and outside Babel.
'Not that strange, I guess.'
Talent drew people like moths to a flame, everywhere—not just at Babel. Somehow convinced, Lee Se-hun gave Erika a reluctant glance.
"Can't I?"
She looked like she truly wanted to know if it was off-limits.
Seeing no malice there, he hesitated before mumbling awkwardly.
"Well…… it's not not okay."
"Good."
Erika nodded in satisfaction.
Her casual attitude left Lee Se-hun feeling oddly embarrassed, and he turned to keep walking.
"What exactly are you looking for in a sub-major?"
Assuming she'd gotten the green light, Erika closed the gap to walk beside him, and Lee Se-hun answered readily.
"Something related to buffs."
He'd initially just planned to find someone or something to apply buffs, but on second thought, learning it himself for the future didn't sound bad.
Self-application meant easier control, and it'd come in handy later too.
'I've been too stuck in my pre-regression mindset.'
He'd defaulted to old growth patterns, but circumstances had changed—he needed to broaden his horizons.
And this buff sub-major would be the first step.
"What kind of buffs?"
"Something that enhances specifically. Can't interfere with forging."
"Forging……."
Erika thought for a moment before suggesting.
"How about Barrier Arts?"
"Barrier Arts? Isn't that defensive?"
"Depends on how you use it. For example."
She pulled a luxurious square envelope from her pocket and smoothly ran her right hand over its surface.
Silver mana trailed behind, forming a ritual pattern that settled naturally onto the envelope.
"Here. Tear it."
Lee Se-hun took the envelope from Erika and gripped it with both hands, ripping upward without hesitation.
Riiip.
But the envelope didn't crumple—it held firm like forged steel. His eyes narrowed at the result.
'Increased rigidity? No, more than that…….'
Sensing something different, he opened the flap instead of tearing further.
The envelope bent softly as if the stiffness had been a lie. Intrigued, Lee Se-hun's expression lit up.
'I see. So it can be used like this.'
It hardened like steel under sufficient force but retained its original properties otherwise.
Contextual, active reinforcement levels—perfect for forging's need for precise, moment-to-moment adjustments.
'And this ritual pattern…… feels familiar.'
Maybe from pre-regression reference materials?
As Lee Se-hun stared at the envelope, Erika explained proudly from the side.
"Complex applications like this aren't easy, but for specific scenarios, you could craft a fitting Barrier Art with a professor's help."
"Hmm……."
"I know the Barrier Composition professor well. I can introduce you if you want. But……."
"Ah. This, right?"
Riiiip!
The envelope tore cleanly in half in Lee Se-hun's hands. Erika's eyes went wide.
It was family Barrier Art-enhanced, even if simply inscribed. For it to shred so easily without proper mana infusion?
"……."
Only two possibilities: a skill specialized in breaking barriers, or he'd 'understood' and dismantled it in seconds.
Either way, no ordinary talent. As Erika stared stiffly, Lee Se-hun shredded the remaining ritual patterns completely.
'This structure's definitely useful.'
Tricky in combat, but for forging? A little training would suffice.
Satisfied, he looked at Erika.
"Barrier Arts sounds solid. Thanks for the tip."
"……Yeah."
"I'm heading to sign up for class. Go grab lunch with those guys tailing us. I'll toss this."
He waved and strode toward the Sorcery Department building without waiting for a reply. His silent pursuers rushed to Erika like they'd been holding back.
"Are you alright, miss?!"
"Did that guy do something weird……."
They fussed over her, checking every inch.
But Erika ignored them, eyes fixed on Lee Se-hun heading inside—or rather, the crumpled envelope he'd discarded in the trash.
"……The invitation."
The "Noblesse" exchange for elite upper-class cadets only—coveted by regular students. And he'd ripped it to shreds.
"I gave it to him……."
Erika mumbled with a pout.
"……."
Sunlight filtered through the blinds onto the dim ceiling.
Waking up, Lee Se-hun lay in bed, steadying his breath as he reviewed yesterday's events one by one.
'Finished sub-major signup, then trained at the Training Center.'
No fuzzy gaps or awkward spots in his memories. He checked his body and surroundings by touch.
After thirty minutes, he flopped back with a sigh.
"It's real."
His daily post-regression morning ritual.
Was he dreaming on his deathbed? Or had Myriad Demons' Mire remnants preserved his brain, stimulating it with mana?
Confirming it wasn't the case.
'I know it's not, but skipping feels off…….'
A bit frustrating, but time would heal it.
Feeling both down and refreshed, he got up, headed to the living room.
Sofa, table, TV—fully furnished. Spacious for one, all perks of being top student.
'Better than my pre-regression place.'
Gazing at Borsippa's panoramic view, he showered, changed into his cadet uniform, and stepped out.
'Just Sorcery Department this morning.'
His new sub-major, Barrier Composition, had a simple test—quick visit required.
Then lunch before holing up at the Training Center to wring out this pathetic body.
Planning his morning, he exited the elevator.
"What? Why's she here?"
A strange murmur came from the dorm entrance.
"No idea. Here for that guy?"
"Come to think of it, at the last exhibition too…… Hey. She's spotted him."
Cadets whispering at the entrance turned as one toward Lee Se-hun upon seeing him.
'What the?'
He glanced where they stared.
"……."
Erika stood rigidly at the entrance, back to him.
He wanted to think it was other business, but the stares and yesterday made it obvious who she awaited.
Sighing inwardly, he approached.
"Waiting for someone?"
Erika, who'd been facing forward, slowly turned to meet his eyes.
"You."
"……Figures."
Why did it always hit when he hoped otherwise?
Forcing a wry smile, he asked the still-staring Erika.
"What's up?"
"Barrier Composition test today. I have to take it too, so I figured we'd go together."
"You could've waited at the department……."
Why come here and stir this up? As he gawked, Erika looked puzzled.
"Can't I come find you?"
"……Fine. Sure."
She'd seemed promising at the ceremony, but now? All show, weird inside.
Deciding not to bother, he shook it off.
"Let's go then."
"Okay."
They walked side by side to the Sorcery Department, naturally drawing eyes everywhere.
Early yet, but cadets out for morning training or breakfast abounded. Both top students—everyone knew them.
'Hope this doesn't spark weird rumors.'
To others, it looked like Erika fancied him. But he knew better.
His unique skill "Blacksmith of Bonds" would've forged a link if real.
'Probably just mild curiosity. Gone from memory if it fizzles.'
Glancing at silent Erika, he recalled her pre-regression self.
S-rank hero wielding mythic gear, dubbed "Myriad Etchings" for mastery of countless sorceries.
'Later became the fiend "Gluttonous Oblivion'…….'
Fiends: humans corrupted by Myriad Demons' Mire.
Elite ones, deadly even to S-ranks, called the "Ten Evils." Erika, as Gluttonous Oblivion, claimed a spot.
He didn't know how, but caution was warranted.
'No need to worry now, though.'
Far future, when Myriad Demons' forces backed humanity to the brink.
Distant, and his presence—a massive variable—could change it all.
Lost in thought, they reached the Sorcery main building. Erika pointed aside.
"Test's outside. Follow me."
She led the way. Trailing, Lee Se-hun noted the sharper stares now, scanning around.
'Front was curiosity…… this is hostility.'
He'd heard departments fostered strong in-group loyalty, but Sorcery felt intense.
No stares yesterday—likely Erika's presence.
'She's popular.'
Great family, talent—followers inevitable unless she pushed them away.
Feeling the enmity, they entered the rear garden and plunged into dense woods.
"Hm."
Dim, sunlight-scarce forest with an eerie vibe.
Other cadets there for the test looked off, all wandering restlessly.
"Damn……."
"Where the hell is it?"
Grumbling, searching everywhere. Lee Se-hun frowned curiously.
'Treasure hunt?'
Maybe barriers hid items to find. Annoying test. He trailed Erika, eyes narrowed.
Crunch.
A wide clearing appeared abruptly.
Lee Se-hun blinked at it in confusion; those inside stared back, equally shocked.
A heavy silence hung.
"T-test passed."
"……Huh?"
An even more baffling response echoed.