Chapter 15
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes It All
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“Huuuuuuh……”
Exhausted from head to toe, Lee Se-hun slumped over and gazed at the fruits of his labor.
Four ink-black bracelets sat on the workbench. Each one was of uniform intermediate quality, and their desired properties had manifested perfectly.
‘The incantation formula synergizes better with Ink-Heavy Darkness than I thought.’
The crafting process had been cut by more than half, and the effects exceeded his original plans. But what truly satisfied Lee Se-hun was something else entirely.
Woooong—
A faint resonance emanated from the clustered Ink Spider Rings.
It was just a slight ripple in his mana, nothing more. Yet in the world of armament forging, this resonance held immense significance.
A few refinements here, and these pieces could produce synergistic bonuses—what was known as a “set effect.”
‘I could probably pull it off with my current body... but maybe I should hold off a little longer.’
The Ink Spider Rings were already proving more potent than expected, bordering on burdensome. Layering a set effect on top might overwhelm him right now.
Lee Se-hun had decided to shelve it until his physical stats improved or a better solution came to mind.
“……Resonance?”
Ryu Eun-ha, spotting the phenomenon belatedly, widened her eyes and murmured.
“Yes. It’s not super strong, but with some tweaks, we could aim for a set effect.”
“…….”
Unlike Lee Se-hun’s casual tone, Ryu Eun-ha stared at the bracelets in disbelief.
For armaments to resonate, their materials and forging techniques needed common threads, and their completion levels had to match precisely.
That demanded a blacksmith’s skills be consistent and systematic—no fluctuations. And Lee Se-hun had achieved it already, across four regressor-grade pieces no less.
“Mm……”
It felt like hearing that a chocolate you’d been savoring bite by bite actually tasted better devoured in one go.
Ryu Eun-ha stared intently at the Ink Spider Rings, then squeezed her eyes shut to steady herself before bringing what Lee Se-hun had handed her to her lips.
Crunch crunch!
The casting scraps shattered in her mouth like cookies.
He’d offered them to soothe her after that pitiful gulp, but she was wolfing them down like they were just filling her stomach.
Keening.
With each bite of scrap, her red hair gave off the faintest glow, rippling like flickering flames.
It resembled the blaze of a furnace. Lee Se-hun watched with a wistful expression.
‘It’s been a while.’
A bodily reaction from her unique skill, Soul-Melting Furnace.
The power of the devoured armament was digesting and leaking outward. Compared to the spectacle he’d witnessed pre-regression, though, this was little more than a matchstick flame.
‘Back then, her hair and everything—it was insane.’
As Lee Se-hun recalled those pre-regression memories with a bitter look, Ryu Eun-ha caught his gaze. Meeting his eyes, she cleared her throat.
“Ahem. I got a bit noisy there. Sorry about that.”
“No, no. You’re putting up with all this for my sake, so I’m the one who’s sorry for not providing proper gear.”
Pre-regression, she’d told him directly: the effects—and flavors—varied richly by material and grade.
Which meant these rough casting scraps probably tasted like nothing more than salted flour crumbs. Seeing his sheepish look, Ryu Eun-ha shook her head.
“It’s fine. These are pretty decent.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s like... fried crumbs, if I had to compare.”
Better review than expected—Lee Se-hun blinked in surprise.
Even roughly shaped like castings, could they really taste that good? Pondering, he hit on a likely reason.
‘Must be the habit of tailoring them to her preferences.’
People had their tastes in food, and Ryu Eun-ha had hers in armaments’ “flavors.”
He couldn’t sense them himself, so perfect matches were impossible. But feedback had let him dial it in enough to hit the mark somewhat.
‘Might be easier to raise her bond level than I thought.’
An unexpected windfall. He smiled faintly.
“Glad you like them.”
“Of course, it’s a shame to eat with treasures like that right in front of me... Oh, speaking of—when do you plan to deal with the Five-Colored Flame Blade and Flame-Stacking Sheath?”
Her eyes gleamed with greed, as if the sight had only stoked her appetite. Lee Se-hun hesitated, then shared his honest thoughts.
“Not planning to sell them right now.”
“Pardon? If the price is an issue...”
“No, it’s for class prep.”
Most lessons used practice gear, but practical ones like monster hunts sometimes required personal equipment.
He wanted to keep his compatible Five-Colored Flame Blade and Flame-Stacking Sheath handy, just in case.
‘And... it still feels off.’
He’d sworn not to dwell on the past, but it was a sour memory all the same. Feeding her a properly forged armament felt hesitant.
Couldn’t drag it out forever, but with the bond established, a short delay wouldn’t hurt.
‘Hunger is the finest seasoning, after all.’
The higher her expectations built, the more dramatically her bond level would spike when satisfied.
Of course, failing would just disappoint her—but that wouldn’t happen unless he quit blacksmithing altogether.
“Fair enough, then.”
Ryu Eun-ha nodded as if convinced. Her face was impassive, but regret shone in her eyes.
Seeing that, Lee Se-hun chuckled softly and added,
“Once I’ve got other gear lined up, you’ll be the first to know, Department Head.”
“Ahem. I’ll hold you to it.”
Satisfied, she nodded, shoved the remaining scraps into her mouth, and turned to Lee Se-hun.
“Refining all wrapped up?”
“Yes. All done.”
“Then let’s head out. Staff will handle cleanup—no need to worry.”
“Whew, good thing. I’m wiped.”
His pre-regression academy had demanded handling even this personally. Little perks like this stood out.
As Lee Se-hun, packed with Ink Spider Rings and materials, rose contentedly—
“Ah.”
Dizziness hit, vision spinning half a turn.
Classic exhaustion from depleted stamina and mana. He’d felt it plenty pre-regression mid-hammering.
‘Pushed too hard?’
He’d thought he was pacing himself, but tension must’ve been the only thing holding him up. This’ll sting if I fall, he thought—
Tap.
A hand caught his back before he could tip.
Turning instinctively, he found Ryu Eun-ha holding him upright, concern etched on her face as she looked down.
“You okay?”
“Ah, yeah. Botched my stamina allocation a bit. Just dizzy.”
He was numb to these symptoms from endless experience, but she saw it differently.
“…….”
His body trembled from squeezing every limit; breaths came ragged. Exhaustion this bad should ache down to the bones—yet he showed no pain.
Not toughness—numbness. She stared a moment, then helped him up.
“Working hard is good, but don’t overdo it. Rest fully tonight.”
“Of course.”
“Really rest. Injuries aren’t reversible.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I mean it.”
“…….”
Her persistent warnings despite his assurances drew a puzzled look from Lee Se-hun.
‘What got into her?’
Pre-regression, she’d only nagged him to craft tasty armaments. Why the change?
Wondering, he realized.
‘Ah. Because I’m a cadet now.’
They’d met pre-regression as an active blacksmith. He’d been a customer then; attitudes naturally differed from her department head role now.
‘A freshly scouted prospect overdoing it and getting hurt would be the biggest waste.’
Circumstances had shifted dramatically from pre-regression.
Lee Se-hun smirked unwittingly. Her eyes narrowed at the reaction.
“Looks like you’re not taking me seriously.”
“No, it’s not—”
“Enough. I’ll walk you to the dorm—lean on me quietly.”
Strength returning, he insisted he could manage alone. She refused firmly, supporting him all the way.
Thus pressed close, they exited the main building. Ryu Eun-ha assessed her body.
“This should be...”
Perfect for a single leap. Calculations done, she eyed Lee Se-hun.
“Afraid of heights?”
“No... Urk?!”
Before he finished, her hand slipped under his knees, hoisting him in a bridal carry.
Suddenly draped over her neck, he made a bizarre face as the tips of her red hair ignited vermilion.
“Here we go.”
Grrrrum.
A heavy hum resonated from her core. Her toes lightly pushed off the ground—
Thwump—!
The pair rocketed skyward.
In a blink, the scenery transformed. Under the pitch-black night sky, Lee Se-hun overlooked Borsippa’s full panorama, eyes bulging.
‘The casting scraps did this much?’
That gulp meant no prior armaments digested.
Pure scrap power—and over double his expected output.
‘Better the taste, bigger the boost, huh.’
Pre-regression, he’d chalked it up to his improving skill. Apparently, flavor played a huge role too.
As he marveled down at Borsippa’s districts, a familiar silhouette caught his eye at the Forging Department main building’s entrance.
‘Erika?’
He peered harder, but descent hid her behind another structure.
Recalling the glimpse, he dismissed it.
‘No way it’s Erika.’
She’d finished her Barrier Composition exam—what would she be doing tailing him to wait hours out front?
Mis-sight, he thought, erasing it from mind. Ryu Eun-ha touched down before the dorm.
Thud.
A gentle landing, unlike the launch height.
Her hair tips’ faint vermilion glow faded to normal. She set him down promptly.
Grabbing his shoulder again, she spoke sternly.
“Like I said earlier, tonight you—”
“…….”
“……rest fully. Won’t say more.”
Reading his face, she cut off and released him, switching topics.
“Today’s refining was outstanding.”
Praise stirring ancient memories. He smiled, hiding the bitterness.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be off, then.”
With a parting nod, Ryu Eun-ha departed. Up in his room, Lee Se-hun rinsed off roughly and collapsed onto bed.
“Ugh……”
Even the soft mattress brought aches everywhere.
Now he saw why she’d fussed—he’d overestimated his body.
‘Gotta actually rest tonight.’
Surrendering halfway to drowsiness, he stared at the ceiling.
Exhaustion screamed for sleep, yet lying down sharpened his mind. Pre-regression memories bubbled up.
‘Meeting Ryu Eun-ha must’ve triggered it...’
He’d holed up in the workshop all day, but compared to normals, he knew plenty.
Late in life, he’d been central to the Human Alliance. And among the Three Dogs, info-hoarding Ice Dog Amir Singh loved bragging.
‘But most of what he spilled was events far in the future.’
Sure, some brewed covertly now—but fragments weren’t enough to counter.
‘Well... stick to what I can do inside Babel for now.’
Priority was set long ago. Pulling out his phone, he read pre-searched news.
[Intangible Cultural Asset ‘Flame Ring Remnant Flame Spear’ Faces Delisting Crisis. Controversy over Current Sect Leader’s Qualifications.]
[Flameblaze Sect: “We’ll Prove It with Results Soon.” Will an Heir End the Vacancy?]
[Korea’s Rising Star to Shoulder the Nation. Who Is Flameblaze Sect’s ‘Yeom Seong-ha’?]
That punchable mug plastered everywhere. Staring at the still-youthful Mad Dog, Lee Se-hun smirked unwittingly.
‘Just you wait.’
This time, he’d clamp down hard—no more nonsense. With resolve firm, Lee Se-hun closed his eyes.