Chapter 17
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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Before his regression, Lee Se-hun had never properly learned any martial arts.
It was more beneficial to swing the hammer one more time instead, and above all, he didn't have any real talent for it.
'You only learn up to the middle point. Put nicely, you're mediocre; honestly, you're just useless trash at everything.'
Even Mad Dog Yeom Seong-ha, who had a foul temper but was incredibly skilled at training, had thrown up his hands in frustration at Lee Se-hun's middling talent.
He'd picked up a few moves from other regulars too, but he truly had no gift for it—nothing changed.
So Lee Se-hun had never particularly coveted martial arts.
"……."
But the swordsmanship he'd just demonstrated had made the situation awkwardly complicated.
'Even before the regression, it never flowed this smoothly…….'
Not the stiffness of barely managing to mimic a technique, but the satisfaction of executing it perfectly from start to finish.
As Lee Se-hun stared blankly at the blood trickling from his palm, feeling this unfamiliar sensation for the first time in his life...
"You're hurt."
Ricardos Miles approached and looked at his hand.
"Ah. It's just a little tear."
"Hm. We can patch that up simply in the break room. Keep practicing for a bit."
After speaking to the other cadets, Ricardos led Lee Se-hun to the lounge inside the training center.
Sofas, beds, a fridge stocked with dozens of drink varieties—every convenience imaginable. Lee Se-hun gawked at the lavish setup that could practically pass for a living space.
'This damn school really doesn't skimp on money.'
As Lee Se-hun glanced around, Ricardos returned with a first-aid kit and nodded toward the chair opposite him.
"Sit."
"Ah, yes."
Ricardos personally applied antiseptic and regenerative spray to Lee Se-hun's torn right hand, and the wound healed in seconds.
As Lee Se-hun watched absently, Ricardos glanced around before slowly speaking.
"I have one question... It's not an interrogation, so answer comfortably."
"Got it."
"That swordsmanship you just used. Did you learn it from someone specifically?"
Lee Se-hun eyed Ricardos's expression at the expected question.
'He doesn't seem like he's grilling me.'
It looked like pure curiosity. Lee Se-hun pondered how to respond.
It was something he'd learned from one of his regulars before the regression as interest on a delayed payment, but he couldn't exactly explain that.
'Well, that old guy threw it together in ten minutes anyway…….'
It should be fine to say he'd improvised it. With that thought, Lee Se-hun answered.
"I didn't learn it. I just made it up myself."
"……You made it?"
"Yes. I watched videos of other heroes fighting on video sites and roughly……."
The old man who taught him had indeed created it that way, so it wasn't entirely untrue.
This time it had executed well, but it was a technique without solid foundations, so Lee Se-hun spoke casually.
'He made this himself……?'
Ricardos, who had experienced the technique firsthand, thought differently.
The exquisite step control that naturally lured the opponent into an opening, the grip that perfectly drew out the sword's characteristics, and the breathing that tied it all together seamlessly.
Each element alone wasn't special, but their perfect harmony inflicted lethal damage on foes unaware of it.
'It was slow enough that I could react on the spot, but if someone at my level or slightly below had used it…….'
Even with luck, it'd be a serious injury. Unlucky, instant death wouldn't be surprising.
Of course, sparring with cadets meant Ricardos was more relaxed than usual, but that was no excuse.
"Hmm……."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, no problem. No problem, but... Hm. Where to even start……."
After much deliberation, Ricardos made a decision and looked at Lee Se-hun.
"First, don't use that swordsmanship carelessly anymore."
"Pardon?"
"It's specialized for catching foes off-guard on first sight. Use it anytime and it gets exposed, losing power. Save it for specific situations."
He didn't elaborate, but Lee Se-hun grasped it immediately.
'Only use it when you mean to kill.'
The more who knew the technique, the duller it became. To preserve its edge, eliminate witnesses.
'Come to think of it, it got harder to execute properly after a while.'
It was useful at first, but eventually, everyone knew he used it.
That realization hit Lee Se-hun, sparking another thought.
'……Was that why it felt frustrating?'
Not because his swordsmanship was clumsy, but because opponents knew it inside out.
He mulled it over briefly before dismissing it.
'Nah, no way.'
No matter how talentless he was, he wouldn't miss something that basic.
As Lee Se-hun desperately ignored reality...
"And……."
Ricardos, after a pause, looked at him.
"Have you ever considered seriously training in swordsmanship?"
Creating something like that from videos alone was no ordinary feat. To let such talent waste away?
What educator could stomach that? Ricardos's eyes burned with passion and duty, leaving Lee Se-hun uneasy.
'I've been misunderstood big time…….'
Apparently, his self-defense technique was better than he'd thought.
One slip, and he'd be hailed a prodigy—then exposed and embarrassed.
Pondering how to handle it, Lee Se-hun recalled a key fact.
'Wait, does it even matter?'
Plenty of prodigies praised young only to crash later upon hitting limits.
He himself had embarrassed people before regression with his inconsistent blacksmith evaluations.
'No reason to refuse gifts handed over.'
He was a blacksmith anyway; a little face-loss now wouldn't matter if he forged great gear later. Decided, Lee Se-hun steered the conversation.
"Sorry, but I'm not really into swordsmanship."
"Hmm... That's a shame……."
"But I am a bit interested in moving the body itself."
Ricardos, about to persuade him, looked puzzled.
"The body?"
"Yes. More like how the body moves rather than specific weapons... I researched swords this time since they're common, but nothing special."
Interested in the 'body' moving, not the 'weapon' used.
Ricardos recalled the swordsmanship, chewing it over.
'Definitely... no special swordsmanship inspiration.'
He could mimic the steps and breathing easily, and the grip drew from blacksmith talent.
Not infusing 'inspiration' like a genius, but finding precise 'methods' to move as needed.
Understanding Lee Se-hun's talent, Ricardos's eyes gleamed.
'All the more reason not to waste it.'
Genuses blaze trails; Lee Se-hun paved them for others.
In some ways, more vital than typical prodigies.
'Classes exposing him to various weapons would be ideal…….'
His Tool Understanding class was decent, but too many cadets diluted focus, and facilities were limited.
He needed better. As Ricardos pondered options...
'……There is one.'
Exactly one class in Aqar Quf perfect for Lee Se-hun.
But recalling the professor soured his expression—skill aside, the personality was utter trash.
'No choice.'
It fit perfectly, and surprisingly, they might click unlike him.
Decided, Ricardos looked at Lee Se-hun.
"There's a class I'd recommend... How about auditing it once?"
At the awaited question, Lee Se-hun smiled.
"Of course."
After Tool Understanding class ended.
With Ricardos's recommendation letter in hand, Lee Se-hun returned to his dorm, changed clothes, and turned on his phone.
'Aqar Quf's Body Control class.'
The name sounded unremarkable. Even searching Babel's unofficial community, the 'Tower,' yielded little info.
'Hm. Never heard of it before regression either…….'
If Ricardos wrote a recommendation, something must be there. Why so secretive?
As Lee Se-hun searched puzzled, a popular post title caught his eye.
Why is this person here? [673]
Isn't this Ur's top freshman?
Standing in front of the Forging Department main building for 3 hours now lol
??
What is this?
Isn't she waiting for Borsippa's top student? She waited at the dorm entrance before until he came out.
Is that so?
Then she'd have contacted him to come down, idiot.
Just guessing. Can't even talk or something……
Please take down the post. Right of publicity violation.
Take it down quick.
"What the……."
Lee Se-hun stared in disbelief after reading the comments.
Initially confusion dominated, then mentions of him piled up, followed by demands to delete for Erika's sake.
Her associates must have caught wind and intervened.
'Professor showed up, talked, and she left…….'
Not certain, but perhaps after hearing forging was done.
Self-indulgent? Maybe, but why else would Erika wait at the Forging Department?
'Doesn't make sense.'
If a bond had formed, her personality might explain it—but no bond. Why act like this?
Her inscrutable motives baffled him as he headed to Aqar Quf via dorm entrance.
"Ah."
"……."
He locked eyes with Erika, now a spectacle for the cadets.
Their gazes followed, faces alight with odd amusement.
Probably recalling yesterday's Tower post, entertaining nonsense.
'Young... so young…….'
Ignoring expectant stares, Lee Se-hun approached Erika, still watching him.
"Why are you loitering here?"
"Heard you went back to the dorm."
"So you waited for me to come out?"
"Yeah."
She nodded innocently. Lee Se-hun looked at her pitifully.
"Use that time for classes or practice. Time's not infinite."
"I've been practicing."
"What?"
At his question, Erika pointed to her head.
"In my head."
"……."
From anyone else, nonsense—but from the top student, it rang plausible.
Staring blankly, Lee Se-hun sighed and changed topics.
"Anyway, why were you waiting?"
"The item from yesterday's forging. Can I see it?"
Predictable. Nothing secret, so he rolled up his sleeve, revealing the Ink Spider Ring.
"This."
"……."
Erika stared silently, as if reading its info window or dissecting its structure.
'Ugh. Awkward.'
Not fully realized, its potential untapped—showing it felt off.
As destructive urges bubbled deep within...
"Looks good."
"……That's it?"
"Yeah."
Better than prying, but the lukewarm response irked, stirring imagination.
Destruction spiking, Lee Se-hun narrowed his eyes at the ring.
'Remaking it by year's end, no matter what.'
As he ground his teeth, Erika pulled something from her pocket.
"Here."
"Hm?"
The same rectangular envelope design from her barrier demo. Spotting the thicker barrier, Lee Se-hun chuckled inwardly.
'Kid's still a kid.'
Unspoken grudge from last time's breach. Taking it, Erika watched intently.
Examining the barrier, Lee Se-hun inwardly admired.
'This one's solid.'
Similar yet flawless. Hesitating, Erika's eyes smugged slightly.
"It's different this time."
"Hm. Definitely."
Staring might reveal a breach eventually, but it'd take time—better another way.
'Black Spirit Thread.'
Ching.
Rank 『D』
A barrier technique compressing ritual formulas into threads.
Can deploy barriers anywhere; stacking increases durability.
*Mana cost rises with environmental mismatch.
*Durability rises with stacking.
Black threads extended from fingertips. Acquired making the Ink Spider Ring, its effect simple.
Universal for easy, simple barriers. Modest alone, but versatile in use.
'Basic framework matches…….'
Linking cores with threads, soon a black spiderweb crowned the envelope.
Observing, Lee Se-hun flicked one spot lightly with his index finger.
Whumm—
Shock rippled through via threads, web vibrating in resonance.
Scanning the motion, he adjusted the disruption formula, grabbed the envelope.
"Actually, that envelope……."
Rip! Rip!
The envelope tore vigorously again.
Erika's eyes widened; gasps rose from gathered cadets.
Lee Se-hun, amid them, gazed at the unrecognizable scraps.
"Mm-hm."
Nodding in satisfaction.