Chapter 154
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Swarming Admirers
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Three weeks had passed since the Babel Academy raid on Myriad Demons' Mire.
The once chaotic interior had now completely settled down, and the cadets were focusing on their studies as before—in some ways, even more diligently.
Babel's new collaboration push with the UD Group and the Pilgrimage Church.
Though still under discussion, its exact form was unknown, but one thing was clear: it would expand Babel's influence even further.
'They always shower rewards early on, no matter what.'
'If I can snag department top spot—or even just crack the top ranks and get picked as a UD Group scholarship student...'
Babel, now jointly run by the three Summit Climbers.
Cadets who had once aimed only for graduation were now fired up by a dazzling future no one had imagined before, and naturally, the entire academy's atmosphere followed suit.
And in the Borsippa Forging Department main building, which was said to be emerging from a slump into its golden age.
"Again."
A chilling voice filled the lecture hall.
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
A cadet who had gone out holding multicolored ore hurried back to their seat, while Helena, standing at the front, scanned the room with cold eyes.
"I've said it time and again: it's not about just mixing them willy-nilly. The goal of this class is to understand each ore's structure and alloy them together in the most efficient configuration."
Helena picked up one of the five-colored ores from the table and brought it straight to another.
Squelch—
A faint burst of mana accompanied the two ores merging into one, and she repeated the process three times.
Hummm.
A green ore formed from the five blended together.
She set it down on the table demonstratively and surveyed the focused first-year cadets.
"Depending on the combination, not just properties but characteristics can vary wildly. No matter the forging method, this is the foundational skill—so pay attention."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The cadets began combining their ores again, and Helena watched with an odd expression.
'I'd heard the level had dropped, but... I didn't expect it to be this pathetic.'
Overall skill was down at least 30% from when she had been a professor.
Of course, the top tier was still solid, but for Babel's standards, it was woefully inadequate.
'All the promising ones must've gone to Vulcan... Maybe this incident will lure a few over.'
With a few years to revise the lax curriculum, bolster the faculty, and pour in more budget, she could restore it to its former glory, though it would take time.
As Helena mentally reviewed her plans, she noticed the cadets glancing toward one spot.
Hummm—!
An ore whose color shifted in real-time with every knead of his hands.
Instead of assembling five individually, he rearranged their internal structure on the fly after merging them.
Helena stared in disbelief at Lee Se-hun casually performing a technique that would stump active blacksmiths.
'No more playing modest, huh.'
She'd heard from other professors that he only showed the minimum needed for class, but it seemed the recent incident had changed his mind.
A skill level unmatched not just among first-years but the entire Forging Department. As the other cadets watched entranced,
♪♬♩—
The bell rang from the speakers, signaling the end of class. Helena addressed the cadets.
"Your assignment is to experiment with today's ore combinations at home. See you next class."
With that brief announcement, Helena left first. The cadets packed up while stealing glances at each other.
'Damn it. Dad said to get friendly somehow...'
'But how do you even approach that?...'
He'd always had a fierce look that kept people away, but lately, an ominous aura seeped from him, making it even harder.
As the cadets hesitated without leaving,
A girl strode boldly inside.
"Hey."
Lee Se-hun, who had just packed up and stood, gave a puzzled look at Erika, who had come all the way to the lecture hall.
"What's up?"
"Came to see you."
Her now-familiar bluntness drew an odd expression from him.
"Did we have business?"
"Just wanna ask some stuff."
"Alright. Let's talk on the way out."
He grabbed his bag nonchalantly and headed out. The cadets hurriedly tried to follow but froze.
"......"
Erika's purple eyes stared silently at Lee Se-hun's back.
The pressure from those violet pupils kept the cadets rooted, and once outside the building, Lee Se-hun sighed.
"Thanks. Was worried they'd tail us."
"No big deal."
Erika replied flatly, then eyed his fatigued face.
"You always like this?"
"Lately? Pretty much everywhere I go."
Since the mass-produced sword aura artifacts were unveiled, Lee Se-hun's standing at Babel had flipped 180 degrees.
Before, uncertainty about his skills, his brash attitude toward the Valmut family, and interest from powerhouses like Inoue and Myers had kept people away.
But once he developed the off-spec mass-produced sword aura tech, everyone started risking it to approach.
'Snag even one connection, and they could become a powerhouse family.'
A life-changing gamble.
The approachers might be resolute, but for Lee Se-hun, handling them all was wearing thin.
'Admiration's fine, but the chit-chat's a hassle.'
He used to curse flashy heroes with managers as show-offs, but now he got why they hired them.
Just say "Contact my manager" and bounce—how convenient.
'Maybe hire one for real...?'
A diligent manager to handle the grunt work. As he pondered,
"Here."
Erika handed over a subspace pocket.
"The materials you asked for."
"Oh."
Valmut family intel.
He'd said any trivia was fine, share whatever they could—and she'd prepared it in days.
"How much is there?"
"Hm. Three..."
"Three boxes?"
Subspace pocket, so maybe that much. But Erika replied calmly.
"Around 300 boxes."
"......"
Box size unknown, but 300 meant every scrap of trivia printed out.
A bit more than expected, but exactly as requested, so he nodded.
"Thanks. I'll put it to good use."
"Yeah."
Erika nodded curtly and walked quietly beside him before asking.
"How's the incantation decoding?"
"Ah, that?"
The homework Erika had scribbled on paper during her visit. Lee Se-hun made a subtle face.
"Hm... Still no clue."
He pored over shamanism books daily, but couldn't grasp the effect.
Plus, each decoding yielded different results, impossible to tell which was right.
Erika pondered his answer, then nodded.
"You're decoding it right."
"This?"
"Wrong direction means same result every time. Changing means you get the incantation's mental image."
"Hmm..."
Varied answers meant progress? The vague explanation left him puzzled, but he shook it off.
"No deadline, right?"
"Nope."
"Cool. I'll take it slow."
Valmut came first now. Erika nodded at his reply.
"Just don't forget."
"No worries... But how far you following?"
At her trailing to the station, he gave a reluctant look. She glanced around.
"Where you headed?"
"Enchant Department."
"Then up to there."
"......"
Her bolder attitude puzzled him.
'She likes me or something?'
Part affection, part staking claim publicly.
Her changes since the announcement made him think, then ask,
"Your family got any projects going?"
"Why?"
She turned, eyes expectant.
Caught off-guard but answering,
"Just, if there's something worthwhile, we could team up. You've helped me a ton."
"......"
She stared silently, then spoke slowly.
"I'll compile and show you."
"Sure. Exams coming up, so when I'm free..."
"Won't take long."
With that, she darted down the station stairs. Moments later, a crow took flight overhead.
Caw—!
It flew frantically, like fleeing a threat. Lee Se-hun smiled wryly.
"She was waiting for that..."
Worried about lagging Myers, it was natural.
Her demeanor left him thoughtful.
'Wonder what she'll pull out.'
He'd broached it for two reasons.
First, dispel rumors of a Myers contract.
Second, probe the Inoue faction's "observers."
'That Ice Dog file from the Dream Labyrinth. Said Inoues regularly mingle with observers.'
No specifics, but suspects came to mind.
'Probably the "Inheritors."'
The "Inheritors," researching body mods to pass talents and power intact to heirs.
They modded powerful demons for demon god potential. Exposure caused uproar.
Heroes aiding humanity were caught boosting kids' talents via deals.
'Still gives me chills.'
Some argued use them for lack of manpower; others, execute now.
Led to infighting amid demon war—one of humanity's top blunders.
'Then Violent Dog and Ice Dog escalated it... Sigh.'
Recalling made his head throb, firming resolve to leash them.
'Ice Dog... Gotta see him soon anyway.'
To tackle Dream Demon and Pleasure District, using Ice Dog Amir was best.
Unlike before, he was still a low-trust peon. Better meet and plan.
'Valmut and Dream Demon—paths set, but tricky...'
Deep in thought, he reached the Ancient Enchantment Studies lecture hall.
"Let us audit!"
"No credits needed, just let us watch...!"
Cadets clustered at the door, pleading desperately. Stunned, he wryly smiled.
'Yep... Popularity explosion here too.'
He'd led design and production, so less spotlight, but Lea's enchants were key to sword aura mass-production.
Thus, cadets flooded this niche Ancient Enchantment class.
'Sheesh...'
Normally he'd approve, but Professor Rebecca and Lea weren't that type.
At the chaotic entrance, he smoothed his glare and approached.
Tap tap.
"Who—?!"
The tapped cadet whirled, eyes bulging.
Cold eyes like he'd culled dozens; even slouched, bloodlust reeked.
"Uh... I... um..."
The combat-inexperienced enchant cadet paled; others turning followed suit.
All eyes on him, Lee Se-hun mentally invoked Mad Dog and spoke.
"All of you, scram."
Or he'd gut them.
The threat, laced with malice, scattered them in panic. Clearing the hall, he relaxed his glare.
"Jeez..."
Shaking his head, he knocked on the firmly shut door.
"It's me. Open up."
A faint stir inside, then Lea peeked out.
"They gone?"
"Probably."
"Phew... Come in."
She sighed in relief and let him in.
"......"
Dozens of gun barrels aimed at the entrance.
Non-lethals, but enough for the outside crowd.
"They must've pissed you off."
"Big time."
Lea flopped into a chair, dark circles worse than all-nighters.
"Everywhere: 'Teach me enchant!' 'Let's collab!' 'Great contract offer.' Workshops pile business cards at my door..."
Clutching her head, she muttered. He made an odd face.
He'd suffered, but plainer-seeming Lea had it worse.
As he pondered what to say,
Lea glanced up.
"Junior. Wanna make something together?"
"Like what?"
"Self-defense gadget that zaps anyone repeating keywords with shocks."
Her broken vibe drew a wry smile.
"Hang in there a bit. I'll figure something out soon."
"...Figure out?"
"Set up a company, hire a staffer, redirect them there."
He'd waffled, but her state made it serious-worthy.
'And slot in useful pre-regression folks... Could work.'
No power before, but now viable.
As he mulled seriously,
"Uh, that... maybe not yet..."
Lea waved flustered hands.
"What, don't wanna start a company with me?"
"No! Not that, just... too soon? Better think calmly."
She averted eyes awkwardly. He narrowed his.
'Something's off.'
Old Lea would've joked "Boss!" demanding funds.
This flat refusal? Sudden change. Staring, he prodded.
"Famous now, so ditching me for someone else?"
"...Huh?"
"Taught you with such passion... And this betrayal..."
His bitter mutter panicked her; she shot up.
"N-No! Just think more seriously! You think I'd do that?"
"Not before... Maybe now."
"No!!"
Incredulous, she yelled. Watching, he pressed.
"Really not?"
"Yes! Just give me time to think..."
"Hmm... Fine. For now."
Nodding, he chin-jerked aside.
"Thirsty. Brew some coffee."
"...Rude ass."
Grumbling, she rose and fired up the enchanted coffee machine.
Watching her back, he reflected on recent events.
'Started after the raid...?'
She'd only messaged post-incident, no visits. Recalling her tale,
'Puppeteer nearly kidnapped her, but president intervened.'
What happened then? Why the shift? As he pondered, coffee arrived.
"Here you go, esteemed junior."
"Thanks."
Lea sat, sipping hers.
Watching, a pre-regression deja vu hit him.
"Puppeteer threatened to kill me or Professor Rebecca if you don't go to him, right? You're agonizing over it."
"Pffft!!!"
Rebecca—er, Lea—spewed her coffee.
"Cough! Hack! Gack!"
Choking on the remnants, she hacked violently.
Her reaction confirmed his guess perfectly. He looked dumbfounded.
'Wrong target for recruitment.'
Shaking his head as she recovered, messy-haired Lea looked up desperately.
"H-How did you...?"
Secret even from grandma—how'd he nail it?
Stunned, she stared.
"Nailed it."
"......"
His smug reply twisted her face.