Chapter 157
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Founder's Scrutiny
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Subspace terminal lobby.
In a place bustling with crowds 365 days a year, people's gazes naturally converged on one spot.
"That guy... it's Lee Se-hun, right?"
"Looks like it."
"Whoa, his face looks seriously pissed..."
People whispering as they passed by from a distance. A few thought this was their chance and started to approach, but they quickly spotted the paper placed on the seat next to him.
[No dealings forever with anyone who talks to me right now.]
A scribbled note.
But its contents were impossible to ignore, so those who had been about to pitch something to Lee Se-hun exchanged glances.
'If that's for real...'
'The guild master might not just discipline us—he could fire us outright.'
Right now, it wasn't them giving Lee Se-hun an opportunity; it was him giving them one.
They quickly grasped the situation and backed off hastily, lest they offend him. Naturally, the passersby around them cleared out as well.
Left sitting alone in the crowded lobby as if enclosed in an invisible barrier, Lee Se-hun ignored his surroundings and sank into thought.
'Yeom Jin-hyeon...'
The founder who established the Flame Sword technique of lingering embers and built the Flame Sword Gate. Yeom Seong-ha's master and legal adoptive father.
Someone he had always figured he'd meet eventually, but this sudden encounter stirred various thoughts in Lee Se-hun.
'Looking back now, it's weird there was no contact until today.'
He had come knowing Yeom Seong-ha's future as the Mad Dog, so he'd taught without hesitation. But to outsiders, it looked entirely different.
'Some unheard-of guy gets chummy with him, he starts using dark attribute mana he's never touched before... and remakes his lifelong spear arts into dual-wielding on a whim.'
Then trusting just that one cadet, he declares war on the gate leader and ends up in the ICU fighting heroes colluding with Myriad Demons' Mire. For an ordinary person, any one of those would be shocking.
Yet reaching out only now could be seen as somewhat insensitive.
'They say he was pretty rough back in his active days... wonder what he's like now.'
Half expectant, half worried, Lee Se-hun waited. Then, sensing a gaze from somewhere, he looked up.
There, side by side, walked a massive young man and a hunched elderly one. As his awaited guests appeared, Lee Se-hun leaned in for a closer look—
Bzzz.
A vibration buzzed from his pocket. Checking his phone, he saw messages from Yeom Seong-ha.
[Be polite in front of Master.]
[Make a sour face or talk big, and you're dead.]
[Talk shit about me, and you're dead.]
[Basically, if you upset Master, you're dead.]
...
Messages pouring in one after another. Lee Se-hun glanced at the approaching giant youth, Yeom Seong-ha's hand.
His fingers, hidden slightly behind his companion so as not to be seen, hammered away at the keys without pause.
At the sight, Lee Se-hun couldn't help but smirk.
'Acting all high and mighty.'
The nagging was a bit annoying, but in a way, it wasn't bad.
It meant he wanted to look good in front of his master.
'If he didn't care at all, he'd just watch and smack me if he didn't like it.'
Appreciating the gesture in his own way, Lee Se-hun didn't reply but nodded slightly toward the distant Yeom Seong-ha.
"..."
Yeom Seong-ha nodded back faintly, pocketed his phone, and moments later, the two approached.
"Sorry for being late. We left early, but my slow steps made it take longer."
The elderly man spoke in a deep, resonant voice. As Yeom Jin-hyeon appeared, Lee Se-hun stood and bowed politely.
"Pleased to meet you, sir. I'm Lee Se-hun."
"Mm."
Yeom Seong-ha eyed the courteous greeting with subtle satisfaction, and Yeom Jin-hyeon nodded.
"Nice to meet you. Yeom Jin-hyeon."
With the straightforward introduction, Lee Se-hun examined Yeom Jin-hyeon closely for the first time.
His hair was completely white, wrinkles etched deeply into his face.
His loose training robes hid his build, but his gait alone hinted at his condition.
'A hero in decline.'
His body broken by time and battle scars, the mana that once filled it now scattered beyond control.
'Around B-rank... no, effectively C-rank or lower.'
A body so frail it was hard to believe he'd once been an S-rank hero. Having seen this wretched state a few times before regression, Lee Se-hun's eyes deepened.
He'd heard the condition was poor, but it exceeded his imaginings.
'In this state, probably...'
As his thoughts delved into the traces on Yeom Jin-hyeon's body—
"Ahem!"
Yeom Seong-ha cleared his throat loudly, glaring.
"Ah, shall we talk details at the restaurant? I booked a nice Korean restaurant."
"Lead the way."
"Taxi stand first, then."
Lee Se-hun nodded and started forward when Yeom Jin-hyeon, taking a step, suddenly staggered and nearly fell.
Lee Se-hun reached to catch him—
Thud.
Yeom Seong-ha swiftly supported Yeom Jin-hyeon's body gently.
"Master, you okay?"
"Ah... fine. Just walked too much."
"Maybe use the wheelchair now..."
"No need to worry. Not that bad yet."
"But..."
Despite Yeom Jin-hyeon's reassurance, Yeom Seong-ha fretted on.
Watching, Lee Se-hun looked mildly surprised.
'That guy can make that face?'
The kid who'd only scowled or sneered now showed dripping worry.
Realizing how much Yeom Jin-hyeon meant to him, Lee Se-hun approached after a moment.
"Sir, let me assist you."
"No need for that..."
"Don't worry. It's not that kind."
Lee Se-hun connected Black Spirit Threads to Yeom Jin-hyeon's body and swiftly formed a barrier.
Shhh.
Yeom Jin-hyeon's creaky body straightened neatly, his unstable movements stabilizing.
Yeom Jin-hyeon widened his eyes at the instant change.
"This is..."
"Adjusted your body slightly for easier movement. Better now?"
Yeom Jin-hyeon stared at Lee Se-hun's face briefly, then nodded.
"This much is fine. Thank you."
"I'll lead the way."
Having handled it, Lee Se-hun turned to walk ahead but caught Yeom Seong-ha's expression.
"Mm."
"..."
A sly, very pleased smile. Lee Se-hun's eyes narrowed briefly before he walked on.
As Yeom Seong-ha matched steps behind Yeom Jin-hyeon—
Bzzz.
A message arrived with the vibration.
Yeom Seong-ha glanced at Yeom Jin-hyeon cautiously, checked his phone.
[Don't smirk like an asshole.]
"..."
He struggled to smooth his twisting face.
At the reserved Korean restaurant, contrary to expectations of jumping straight to business, the meal began without fanfare.
"Good no aftereffects. Still, be careful with injuries from now on."
"Yes. I plan to."
Yeom Jin-hyeon ate neatly, chatting lightly about the Myriad Demons' Mire terror and injuries. Watching up close, Lee Se-hun looked intrigued.
'How does a guy like Yeom Seong-ha come from someone like this? Unbelievable.'
Not biological parents, but raised under him—how did such a personality wreck emerge?
Amazed by the polar opposites, Lee Se-hun ate on until dishes were cleared, leaving simple dessert and tea.
"Delicious. Feels like a proper meal in ages."
"Glad you enjoyed."
"Who'd complain about such care?"
Yeom Jin-hyeon smiled faintly, sipping tea.
He straightened slowly, meeting Lee Se-hun's eyes again.
"Shall we get to the point... if that's alright?"
"Yes. Soundproofing's solid—speak freely."
Yeom Jin-hyeon nodded and spoke deliberately.
"I called you suddenly today to ask one thing."
A question about Yeom Seong-ha?
As Lee Se-hun waited, Yeom Jin-hyeon asked quietly.
"What do you want to do?"
"...You mean what I plan with Yeom Seong-ha?"
"Nothing to do with Seong-ha. Just purely curious what you yourself want."
The unexpected question drew an odd look from Lee Se-hun.
'Wasn't this about Seong-ha?'
He'd assumed it was about his disciple's ICU stay, but apparently not.
As Lee Se-hun hesitated, Yeom Jin-hyeon continued.
"I heard you're aiming to explore the Six Great Demon Realms. Helping Seong-ha now is part of that deal, right?"
"Correct."
"What I wonder is, after the exploration—what do you want to achieve with the materials gained and weapons made from them?"
The next step after the Six Great Demon Realms—a topic never broached publicly. Lee Se-hun pondered before answering.
"Erase Myriad Demons' Mire and the Myriad Demons' Swamp from this world completely."
Ten Evils, Demon Gods—mere gateways to purging that cancerous blight from the planet.
"Erasing Myriad Demons' Mire and the swamp... What role does Seong-ha play in that goal?"
"If I'm not wrong, a reliable ally. Beyond even the Summit Climbers."
"..."
Yeom Seong-ha, listening beside, looked shocked.
'Beyond Summit Climbers...?'
Did he really rate him that highly?
Caught off guard by the praise, Yeom Seong-ha glanced subtly. Yeom Jin-hyeon pondered, then nodded.
"I see. Then no issue."
"Issue?"
Sipping tea, Yeom Jin-hyeon replied calmly.
"Your purpose shapes Seong-ha's growth too. If it was petty, I'd have cut ties."
His voice turned resolute, dispelling the prior warmth like a lie.
Lee Se-hun understood the conversation's intent.
'Testing how far I'd raise Yeom Seong-ha.'
If it seemed like he'd just train him to A or S-rank for use and discard, Yeom Jin-hyeon would've severed it ruthlessly.
But voicing a goal even Summit Climbers couldn't easily claim made him deem it worthy of entrusting his disciple.
'Maybe a tougher old man than he seems.'
His disciple hospitalized from overexertion, yet no worry—just probing growth potential.
As Lee Se-hun wore a strange expression, Yeom Jin-hyeon finished his tea and set down the cup.
"So, what now?"
"Well..."
"No need to overthink. Just curious if I can help somehow."
His cooperative tone, pleased by the prior answer? Lee Se-hun pondered, then recalled something.
"Know anything about the Twilight Core?"
If Violent Dog's words in the Dream Tusk Pattern were true, Yeom Jin-hyeon, former Flame Sword Gate manager, might know.
Yeom Jin-hyeon thought deeply, then spoke slowly.
"Not the Twilight Core itself... but something related comes to mind."
"What?"
"Back in my active days, there was a 'Mental Image Projector' tool for training mental images. They said it used Twilight Core."
"Mental Image Projector..."
A tool unheard of, even pre-regression. Lee Se-hun looked puzzled; Yeom Jin-hyeon explained flatly.
"You probably haven't heard. Pitched only to top heroes like me, later halted due to defects. A product of transition."
"Who made it?"
"That was probably..."
Yeom Jin-hyeon pondered, then said slowly.
"Max Valmut. I think."
Flame Sword Gate's new main hall top floor conference room.
Gate leader Yi Won-ryong at the head, flanked left by his eight instructors; opposite, right side, sat one man alone.
Golden hair streaked with gray, loosened dissolutely like a drunk. Felix Valmut muttered regretfully.
"Such a shame. If I'd come sooner, it'd be our armament project, not Seraphim Guild's."
"..."
"Care to cut that deal and switch now? We could discount..."
"Enough."
Yi Won-ryong cut him off with cold eyes.
"Not here for chit-chat. Show the item."
"So stiff..."
Grumbling, Felix gestured lightly aside. One bodyguard approached, handing a gray metal briefcase.
Felix placed it on the table, unlocked it, and displayed the contents to Yi Won-ryong and the instructors.
Hummm.
A bead emitting dreamlike light blending orange and purple. The instructors' eyes slowly widened.
"Oh... oooh..."
"That..."
The bead unchanged, but each instructor's pupils reflected different visions.
Their own movements at the next realm, swirling faintly within.
Using it could break their long stagnation. With that certainty, they leaned in—
Snap!
The case shut swiftly.
"Sample over. Pay from here on, folks."
The instructors scowled at Felix's smug tone but recalled who needed whom, turning aside.
"..."
Yi Won-ryong stared silently at the closed case from the head seat. After long thought, he spoke.
"What do you want?"
Voice cold yet faintly heated. Felix smirked inwardly, replying leisurely.
"No money. Just help take out one person."
"Who."
"Lee Se-hun. We'll kill that bastard."
Silence fell. The belatedly snapping instructors shouted urgently.
"What nonsense!"
"Do you know how dangerous touching him now is?!"
A promising star under Ascendant Emperor's protection, developer of mass-produced sword aura tech—world-famous.
Assassinating him? Success aside, it risked the gate's annihilation.
No matter their martial desire for the next realm, they weren't suicidal.
As instructors moved to oppose—
"You don't expect us to handle it all."
Yi Won-ryong's words froze them; Felix grinned.
"Of course. Just two things."
"Say."
"First, use that Yeom Seong-ha kid to lure Lee Se-hun outside Babel. Second..."
Felix eyed Yi Won-ryong and the instructors calmly.
"Pretend you see nothing, whatever happens. That's it."
"..."
Pretend blind to anything.
The simple, chilling demand hardened the instructors' faces further. Gazes naturally turned to Yi Won-ryong.
Under all eyes, he closed his briefly, then murmured flatly.
"Yeom Jin-hyeon. Use that old man."