Chapter 16
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Tool Understanding
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Early morning.
The freshmen of the Forging Department, gathered in the lecture hall for their major class, glanced furtively toward one side.
Lee Se-hun had his head buried on the desk, not twitching a muscle. His entire body hung limp, to the point where it looked like he might be dead. The cadets whispered among themselves at the sight.
"Did he fail to make it properly?"
"He's just tired. He forged a Rare-grade armament, so this should be nothing for him, right?"
"Still, those were Hero-grade materials. Who knows."
This was the first intermediate forging session for the freshmen, attempted by the department's top student no less. Attention was bound to focus on it.
Naturally, everyone was curious about the finished product, but not a single cadet dared approach to ask.
Lee Se-hun's expression upon entering the lecture hall had been so menacing, and his aura was so far beyond what you'd expect from a peer that starting a conversation felt impossible.
'Touch him now, and he'll blow up for sure.'
'He's the department top. Better tread carefully.'
While they eyed him warily and speculated silently in their heads, Lee Se-hun—head still planted on the desk—muttered to himself inwardly.
'I'm dying...'
He'd figured a young body like his would bounce back after some sleep, but he'd clearly overestimated himself.
Every inch of him ached; he couldn't muster any strength and just slumped there.
'Still, pushing this far was worth it.'
Unique Skill:Bond Armament
Attribute Mana:Crimson Flame (F)
Skills: Flame Artisan (C), Black Spirit Thread (D)
He hadn't even started any proper training yet, and his stats had risen by an average of over 5.
Of course, compared to the road ahead, it was a drop in the bucket. But relative to his past self, it was blazingly fast progress.
'And now the real start begins...'
The heavy weight of the Ink Spider Ring dragged at his wrists and ankles, while it sucked in his mana relentlessly.
His already depleted strength seemed to ebb even faster, but Lee Se-hun smiled instead. The greater the pain, the quicker his body would grow.
'By the end of freshman year, I'll have forged a body worth using.'
Lee Se-hun's eyes flashed even as he slumped there. That's when the lecture hall door swung open.
'Professor's here.'
The class today was "Tool Understanding," one of the core major subjects. It covered the characteristics of various tools, but the gym uniform requirement suggested some physical activity.
'Perfect chance to test the Ink Spider Ring's performance.'
Lee Se-hun lifted his head and peered down at the podium. A burly man who looked like the instructor stood there.
Muscles bulged so massively across his frame that it was questionable if he could even scratch his own back. The man looked more weapon than human, leaving Lee Se-hun puzzled.
'Why's a guy like that in the Forging Department?'
Not just the visible bulk—traces of a warrior's life scarred his body everywhere, far more than a smith's.
His skill seemed top-tier too; he could've taught at Aqar Quf's Combat Department without issue.
As Lee Se-hun eyed him curiously, the professor at the podium spoke up.
"I'm Ricardos Miles, your instructor for Tool Understanding starting today. Like you all, I just took the post this year, so let's get along."
Clap clap clap.
Ricardos flashed a bright smile at the light applause from the cadets and continued.
"That'll do for introductions. Head to the training center for class. Everyone, up."
"What?"
"Isn't this a theory class?"
The gym clothes had been a hint, but this differed from what the seniors had described. As the puzzled cadets rose,
"The last one there runs 20 laps."
Sadistic glee sparkled in Ricardos's eyes.
"Go!"
At the command, Lee Se-hun bolted out of the lecture hall.
Sensing something off, he'd prepared—and the other cadets snapped to attention a beat late, chasing after him.
"What's this all of a sudden?!"
"No idea! Just run!"
The training center was about 2 km from the Forging Department's main building. Even as technical majors, they had baseline fitness, so they dashed off quickly. But one lagged behind.
"Huff... huff...!"
Lee Se-hun, who'd reacted first, plummeted to dead last in moments.
It looked almost deliberate, but of course, that wasn't the case.
Rumble—
Sinister groans emanated from his limbs.
With focus lax from running, the suppressed Ink Spider Rings began devouring his mana at terrifying speed!
Like wet cotton soaking up water, the rings grew heavier by the second. Running was out of the question; even walking strained him. Lee Se-hun twisted his lips into a grin.
'The performance... is no joke...!'
To push his body this hard during a simple jog was exactly what he'd wanted. But at this rate, he'd collapse before class even ended.
So Lee Se-hun activated another function of the Ink Spider Ring.
'Explosive Release.'
Bzzz!
The stored mana burst free, seeping into his body. Vitality trickled back into his near-collapse frame.
Teetering on the brink without falling—his body strained to its limits, mana-infused growth accelerating.
'Perfect...'
While he grinned through what others would call insane training, Ricardos watched from behind with a troubled expression.
'...Didn't expect this much.'
Professor Kim In-cheol had warned him Lee Se-hun's physical stats were lacking, but he hadn't imagined the department top being this bad.
Clueless about the Ink Spider Ring, Ricardos stared in disbelief. The pair arrived at the training center late.
"Huff... huff..."
Five minutes behind the others.
They'd gone easy since he was guaranteed last; otherwise, it'd have been ten minutes or more.
'I'm dying...'
The Ink Spider Ring's effect was too good.
As his body teetered on collapse, a thick hand clamped his shoulder.
"20 laps."
"...Yes, sir. On it."
Lee Se-hun steadied his breath and hit the track again. Some cadets snickered at the sight.
"His stamina's rock bottom."
"Yeah, combat must be a total bust for him."
Seeing the department top—who'd exuded such presence—like this made him feel more approachable, even amusing to some.
Just another cadet like them. The realization settled back in.
"Alright, eyes front."
Ricardos clapped to draw attention, starting class loud enough for Lee Se-hun to hear.
"Tool Understanding is normally theory-heavy, focusing on armament structures. But with the ongoing 'Flame Blade Hunt' incidents, we decided to adapt."
Mention of the Flame Blade Hunt stirred murmurs. A string of raids targeting smiths who'd forged Hero-grade or higher fire-attribute blades, stealing them outright.
No deaths yet, but highly controversial—the victims lost their swords and both hands.
"Even smiths need basic combat ability. Some argued sub-majors suffice, but after the Flame Blade Hunt, we ruled no exceptions."
Ricardos grew solemn, scanning the cadets.
"No defense lasts forever; in the end, only you protect yourself. Use this class to deepen tool understanding and find skills to safeguard your body. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Today, swords. Grab training blades over there..."
As Ricardos began the lesson, Lee Se-hun—lapping the track—frowned thoughtfully.
'Flame Blade Hunt, huh... Oh yeah, that happened.'
A distant memory, hazy now, but clearer than most.
It remained unsolved even in his previous life, perpetrator unknown to the end.
'Last one stolen was the Phantom Flame Ghost Blade, I think.'
He didn't recall the maker, but it was a Legendary-grade masterpiece.
Recalling the Flame Blade Hunt renewed his caution toward his own body.
'Guess I need to be more careful this time.'
Babel's department top meant high regard as a future artisan, skill aside.
Better prepare for accidents. Glancing at the ongoing class mid-thought,
"See, you can deflect like this too."
Clang!
Ricardos effortlessly parried a cadet's swing. Lee Se-hun watched the clean motion intently.
'Handles a sword well, but not his specialty... What, then?'
Those honed in specific arts leak traces even with other weapons.
But Ricardos showed pure swordsmanship traces, mismatched with his evident power—jarringly off.
'Hmm. Feels familiar...'
Narrowing his eyes, Lee Se-hun studied the swings while running. Ricardos noticed and shouted,
"Stop running and come here!"
Lee Se-hun pivoted toward him.
Sweat drenched him head to toe, looking utterly wrecked. But inspecting him, Ricardos looked surprised.
'Condition's not half bad.'
Panting, yet his posture stayed centered. Poor stamina aside, he clearly knew how to use his body.
Intrigued, Ricardos handed him a training sword.
"Heard the class purpose, right?"
"Yes."
"I'll check if swordplay suits you. Give it a swing."
Gripping the blade, Lee Se-hun reflexively assessed it.
'Shoddy.'
Not the worst, but far from good. Training gear, so inevitable, but unsatisfying.
'With this balance...'
He adjusted his grip slightly. Ricardos's eyes narrowed.
'That just now...'
Too natural for others to notice, but Ricardos caught the grip shift.
Lee Se-hun's sloppy stance snapped perfect in an instant.
'Not trained in swordplay... Talent?'
The dramatic change gave Ricardos pause. Lee Se-hun checked his own form.
'Ink Spider Ring'll make clean moves tough.'
Flailing wildly would just frustrate him with the sluggish blade.
'Hmm. Might as well use that.'
Not the best technique, but it'd look decent at first.
Mapped in his mind, Lee Se-hun swung forward. Ricardos's eyes lit up.
'Posture's solid.'
But post-run fatigue sapped his power. Ricardos could've smacked it away but matched speed to gauge potential.
Clang!
Their blades met slowly. Onlookers whispered.
"So slow. That run wrecked him that bad?"
"Form's decent, though."
"I could do that swinging that sluggish."
Anyone could see Ricardos was humoring him. But the one clashing blades thought differently.
'Impressive.'
Unlike the wild flailing cadets, Lee Se-hun's sword traced a steady path, unshaken.
That required either sword mastery or exceptional body control.
'No wonder they picked him top.'
Low physicals held him back now, but nurtured, he'd transform.
Growing interested, Ricardos sparred earnestly. Then the mood shifted abruptly.
'Oh...'
A glaring opening where he'd blocked fine before.
A stride misstep, his bad habit surfacing amid fatigue limits.
'Gotta address that.'
Fine in sparring, fatal in real combat.
Ending on this strike, Ricardos lunged—then froze.
"...?"
Lee Se-hun's eyes, eerily calm for someone exposed.
Ricardos's mind raced; his gaze tracked the blade tip.
Its trajectory widened his eyes in shock.
Clang!
A sharp ring echoed as one sword flew into the air.
"......"
"......"
An eerie silence fell over the cadets.
Ricardos stared at his hand, still gripping his blade.
Recalling his actions, disbelief twisted his face.
'I... doubted myself?'
Thinking a mere Borsippa tech cadet—a freshman, not even Aqar Quf—might disarm him?
Shocked, Ricardos stood frozen.
'...What just happened?'
Lee Se-hun, equally stunned, stared at his own hand.