Chapter 124
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes It All
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"Hoo..."
After washing off the sweat and changing his clothes, Lee Se-hun stepped into the living room and gazed at his right hand.
'Let's see...'
Lee Se-hun channeled his mana, mulling over how his impression of Kim In-cheol had changed since their first meeting.
The boredom and emptiness had vanished completely, replaced by a fierce blaze ignited by newly discovered potential. That passion brimmed with vitality, yet it was also deeply shackled to the past.
A ferocious flame that would burn even itself as fuel to shake off the past. That image took shape in Lee Se-hun's mind.
Woooong.
A faint light shimmered, and atop his right palm, it formed.
A crimson ore block etched with wave patterns, like a piece of wood. Compared to the bond stone he'd made before, it looked similar at first glance, just a different color—but the texture emanating from within felt entirely different.
'It feels stickier.'
Where the previous bond stone had been bone-dry, this one was damp, with a subtle heat that made it oddly clammy.
Confirming the sensation, Lee Se-hun checked the info window next.
[Bond - Flame-Adherent Iron]
[Grade: Advanced] [Quality: Top]
A metal to which flames cling.
It possesses properties akin to wood, maintaining its nature until fully burned away once ignited.
*Durability can be consumed to sustain flames.
"It's changed a lot from before..."
The previous bond stone had stored flames, but this one sustained them instead.
If flame-related abilities were Kim In-cheol's talent, it showed his mental image had shifted in a far more extreme direction.
'This could be dangerous if mishandled.'
Gazing down at the Flame-Adherent Iron, Lee Se-hun set aside his thoughts and pulled out the unidentified finger bone from his Dream Storage.
Swish.
The rune-etched finger bone naturally seeped into his right index finger, and an alien power stirred from within.
The more he used the unidentified's finger bone, the clearer the power became. Lee Se-hun realized it was the unidentified's 'authority'.
'Maybe because it's unprocessed. Unlike the Ascendant Emperor's ring, it feels like it's trying to erode me a bit.'
Confirming prolonged wear could cause issues, Lee Se-hun wiggled his finger briefly before activating his Boundary Eye.
Shhh.
The familiar power enveloped his eyes. Simultaneously, boundaries fractured like cracks within the Flame-Adherent Iron, revealing countless lines.
Spotting what appeared to be a memory among them, Lee Se-hun promptly drew his Dream Phantom Blade and pressed it against the ore.
'Dew Transformation.'
Roooar!
The violet blade turned to flame, converting the Flame-Adherent Iron into a dream while burning away the unnecessary parts.
Due to its properties, it burned faster than before, but Lee Se-hun took care not to damage the memory.
And at last, only Kim In-cheol's crimson-tinged memory remained.
Puk!
He plunged the blazing blade into his heart, sinking his consciousness.
A disgusting sensation enveloped his body like diving into sticky water. Then something invaded his mind, churning and ripping through it from within.
'Ugh...'
Unlike before, when he'd naturally slipped into past memories, this was entirely different. As Lee Se-hun debated forcing himself awake amid the revolting feeling—
"Hey, you. Get up."
An unfamiliar voice rang in his ear.
His vision cleared to reveal a gray, unfamiliar ceiling. He sat up in bed and spotted a man leaning against the door with arms crossed.
"What's with the oversleeping?"
A tall, amiable-looking man with a ponytail tied by a pink hairband, clad in black light armor. A red scabbard hung at his waist—clearly high-grade at a glance.
As Lee Se-hun scrutinized the face he'd never seen, the body's owner—past Kim In-cheol—spoke.
"And what's that bullshit on your head?"
A younger, pricklier voice than the current Kim In-cheol's. He stood, dramatically shaking out his ponytail with his hand.
"My daughter did it. How's it look? Not bad, right?"
"Creepy."
"Yeah, yeah. What would a guy who's not even married know."
The man chuckled and shook his head. Kim In-cheol scowled at him before stepping out of bed.
"The meeting?"
"No idea. But they went in looking serious, so probably deciding today."
Changing into work clothes while listening, Kim In-cheol slipped past the man at the door and headed out.
A rather cold attitude mid-conversation, but the man followed without minding, chattering away.
"Oh yeah, heard the news? Another Summit Climber showed up."
"Who."
"That 'Fist Saint' who just hit S-rank. Guy suddenly entered Hero's Tower and came down as a Summit Climber."
"Gonna be a shitstorm again. Title?"
"What was it... 'Forerunner', I think?"
Kim In-cheol responded indifferently, the man yapping excitedly. Their rapport seemed good yet not, but the talk flowed smoothly. Listening in, Lee Se-hun looked intrigued.
'If the Forerunner appeared... about 20 years ago.'
The time when the six Summit Climbers began suppressing Myriad Demons' Mire, bringing imperfect peace.
Pinning down the timeline, Lee Se-hun surveyed the surroundings through Kim In-cheol's eyes.
'Pretty big facility.'
Even accounting for 20 years ago, the basic defenses he passed were impressive, but above all, the people's caliber was outstanding overall.
A sight worthy of a world-renowned research group. As he calmly observed, the two passed an auto-door into a meeting room.
"It's still not refined enough for the ritual. We need to reinforce the vessel more..."
"I've told you a hundred times—that imperfection is the key piece to completing the ritual! Now's the time!"
"If it fails and the vessel shatters, you taking responsibility? If you're gonna talk big, bring a vessel that good first!"
"Ooh..."
"Tch."
A marketplace-like room where dozens shouted over each other.
Oblivious to the newcomers, the bickering continued; the man clucked his tongue, Kim In-cheol openly clicked his.
As the mood grew uglier—
"Enough."
The woman at the head of the room spoke.
"This isn't a shouting match. You've all aired your views plenty, so let's vote. Hands up if you're for the ritual."
The room quieted at her command—neatly bound brown hair—and hands rose here and there.
"14 to 14. Excluding me and the tardy Researcher No. 12, it's split down the middle."
Gazes turned to the two at the entrance.
"Sorry for being late, Director."
"It's fine. You pushed hard yesterday."
The director smiled faintly. Kim In-cheol's body flinched, eyes averting sideways.
"Ooh..."
"Shut it."
The man teasingly elbowed him; Kim In-cheol flushed and swatted irritably. Others chuckled softly.
The room turned harmonious as if the shouting never happened. Watching, Lee Se-hun looked intrigued.
'So the director's his lover.'
Who'd have thought the man showed zero interest in that had such a past. As Lee Se-hun watched fascinated—
"Anyway, final call to Researcher No. 12. I'll follow his decision."
Handing it to Kim In-cheol—not just as a lover, but trusting him as a researcher.
The others nodded without complaint. Kim In-cheol scanned them, pondered, then replied slowly.
"Better to proceed now. Vessel completion matters, but delaying risks distortion in the bonding."
"Good. Full ritual prep starts today."
The director nodded satisfied; even the shouters acquiesced smoothly.
The scripted flow made Lee Se-hun realize who these people were.
'Different paths, same goal.'
And to achieve it, they'd treat even themselves as parts. Certain now of the place—
"Oh right. My daughter wants you over sometime. Loved that toy you made her."
The man pressed; Kim In-cheol hesitated, then said:
"If I find time."
"Always 'if I find time'. She'll make snacks herself. Think that's everyday stuff?"
Undeterred by the prickliness—
"Security Chief."
"Y-yes!"
The director called; the man—chief—snapped to.
"Talked with the researchers—ritual frame needs ultra-pure material. Can you get it?"
"Ultra-pure? Then the orphanage..."
"No."
She shook her head calmly.
"Your daughter seems perfect."
An eerie silence fell; all eyes on the chief.
"..."
Kim In-cheol slowly turned to the man who'd invited him over.
"It'd be an honor!"
The chief beamed brighter than ever.
[Awakening Dream has activated.]
Whoosh—!
A bizarre clarity, like having his head dunked in ice water. Eyes snapping open, Lee Se-hun shuddered at the alien sensation wracking his body.
'This...'
Crack!
Bones, muscles—even organs—twisted into entirely different shapes, screaming.
Realizing it was trying to recreate the body of another—past Kim In-cheol—Lee Se-hun's eyes widened.
'This...'
Physical confusion from memory disarray.
He'd expected it somewhat from before, but mistaking himself for a total stranger was another level.
Bam!
Two attribute manas clashed inside him.
Recognizing the containing body as 'enemy', they rampaged wildly.
Sizzle!
Red steam rose from his body, blood trickled from nose and mouth. Vision reddening, Lee Se-hun thought fast.
'Less the twist... more mental image influence.'
Kim In-cheol's past had seeped into his body as a mental image, making attribute mana see the flesh as foe.
Pinpointing the cause, Lee Se-hun swiftly operated Spirit Link Divine Magic to purge the remnants.
Clang—!
Like hammering off slag from hot metal, the sticky mental image peeled away.
The rampaging manas instantly calmed. Lee Se-hun quickly checked his state.
'A mess...'
Caught early, no major injuries—but mana circuits were frayed badly.
Left alone, it'd form mana crystals. Pondering fixes—
'Right, for this level of injury...'
In agony where a twitch would scream, he gritted teeth and pressed his subspace pocket.
Whoo.
A ochre ore emerged from the pouch.
Faint earthy scent and purifying aura—this was Pure Land Stone's cleansing power, bearing earth attribute mana.
'Can't split it...'
Placing his left hand on it, Lee Se-hun steadied his breath and clenched hard.
[Bond Engraving 'Prospector Iron' Activated]
Crunch!
The Pure Land Stone compressed in half then melted. Lee Se-hun dumped it straight into his mouth.
Woooong—
Faint hum as radiant blood formed inside, mingling with the earth mana.
Confirming both, he shoved them into his wrecked body.
Groooar!
Earth mana seeped into torn flesh; radiant blood followed, scorching and reinforcing to force settling.
Like cement, earth mana permeated deeply, shoring up. Body realigned in a blink. Lee Se-hun pushed the rest into the third path.
Shhhh!
A third path avoiding the existing two attributes.
Mingled with radiant blood, the sluggish earth mana circulated swiftly, claiming its spot and adhering firmly in the circuits.
Smooth as prepped, Lee Se-hun visualized a final hammer in his mind.
Clang—!
A full-body strike completed the forging.
"Pha! Cough cough!"
Exhaling, acrid smoke poured from his mouth—waste from healing. After coughing it out, he looked around.
"Hmm... total disaster."
Clothes, sofa—all blood-soaked.
From the initial rampage. To others, it'd look like he'd barely survived death.
'Anyone else would've died, so not wrong.'
Stripping the ruined tank top, Lee Se-hun inspected his body. Sharper contours, and above all, greater 'density'.
Squeeze squeeze.
"Hm. Not bad."
The earth mana's durability finely infused his muscles during reinforcement.
Tougher now. Recalling the Dream Phantom Blade-induced rampage—
'With earth mana settled, I can handle it.'
Until then, better avoid others' memories as precaution.
Gauging the limit mentally—
[Stats increased via 'Spirit Link Divine Magic' effect.]
[Earth Attribute Mana 'Pure Land(D)' Awakened.]
Info windows popped up. He checked the changes.
Earth attribute mana like purified land.
Specialized in straightening bodily flows, alleviating injuries, and 'purifying' turbid mana and demonic energy.
'Strength and endurance rose a good bit.'
Magic power ticked up to true B-rank—insane growth from enrollment.
'And earth mana's Pure Land... fine enough.'
Third attribute settled successfully. Finally exhaling, Lee Se-hun recalled Kim In-cheol's memory from the Dream Phantom Blade.
'20 years ago, cutting-edge lab. Vessel and ritual. And...'
The mad security chief offering his daughter as 'material'. Amid the insanity, Lee Se-hun was certain.
'Observer origins confirmed.'
That Kim In-cheol had once belonged to the Watchers.