Chapter 20
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Genius Enchanter
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In the shopping district of Borsippa sat the café 'Lilac'.
One of the shops run by alumni, it was famous for its vibrant floral decorations, drawing not just cadets but also plenty of outside visitors, keeping the place bustling year-round.
"The manager here is an Enchanting Department graduate—it's no joke. She's enchanted every flower in the café to keep them in peak condition 365 days a year."
"......"
"Oh, if you don't know much about enchanting, it might not hit home, but maintaining quality on living things like flowers with enchantments is insanely difficult..."
Lee Se-hun watched the chattering girl, Lea Clodel, with an odd expression as she rattled on endlessly.
Ask anyone what profession collaborates most with blacksmiths, and nine out of ten would say enchanters. Blacksmiths craft the gear, and enchanters amplify its power even further.
Unless you lived like a total hermit, a blacksmith and an enchanter were bound to cross paths.
'Lea Clodel, huh...'
As a blacksmith, he'd heard plenty about famous enchanters whether he wanted to or not, and the girl before him was no exception.
A genius who'd utterly shattered the enchanting industry. A madwoman who'd boosted rare-grade gear two whole tiers to legendary status.
That was Lea Clodel's future.
'I knew our age gap wasn't big, but I never imagined she'd be at Babel... Then again, maybe it's not that surprising.'
Most top heroes came from Babel, so anyone around the same age was likely inside its walls.
Lee Se-hun knew that much, but he'd never expected to run into someone this famous so casually, leaving him staring in wonder.
'Either way, if it's really her, it's not a bad thing.'
He had no idea what had happened, but a bond had formed in the blink of an eye. Considering her future fame, the Bond Stone's effect wouldn't be half bad.
Having sorted his thoughts, Lee Se-hun gazed at Lea, who was still babbling away.
"So the key is blood flow..."
"Enough chit-chat. Let's get to the point."
"Oh. Should we?"
"......"
Lea switched attitudes like she'd been waiting for it. Lee Se-hun shot her an exasperated look, and she gave an awkward grin.
"Sorry. It's been so long since I talked to anyone, I just unloaded all my pent-up stories without thinking..."
"The point."
"Right, right. The point."
Lea tapped her mouth, sipped her coffee, and resumed in a calmer tone.
"Straight to it: I want to enchant that bracelet you made."
"This one?"
Lee Se-hun rolled up his sleeve slightly to show the Ink Spider Ring, and Lea's eyes sparkled anew.
He twitched his arm, and her head followed like a magnet. At her utterly entranced reaction, he chuckled.
'Makes sense. With Ink-Heavy Darkness, who'd blame her.'
Hero-grade material that sold out instantly wherever it appeared—how could an average cadet get her hands on it?
Her once-dull eyes now gleamed with life as she stared. Lee Se-hun unwound the ring from his right arm and held it out.
"......Huh?"
"You haven't checked the info window. Take a look."
"Wait, info... window? No way, advanced... no, rare-grade?!"
Lea gawked at the ring in her hands, eyes wide. Lee Se-hun wore a peculiar expression at her over-the-top reaction.
'She really is one of a kind.'
She barely talked to people, and even as department topper, she knew things he didn't. She ignored the outside world, interested only in enchanting.
Even in his past life, he'd heard she was obsessed, but seeing it confirmed the rumors weren't exaggerated.
Some might find her off-putting, but Lee Se-hun rather liked it.
'As long as she's got the skills.'
A loudmouth with no talent would've gotten the hammer, but real ability changed everything.
"Rare-grade gear from Ink-Heavy Darkness. Mana absorption and storage to boot. If I add a few formulas... No, too good to stop there..."
Lea muttered incomprehensibly at the ring. Lee Se-hun didn't rush her, sipping his smoothie instead.
Ten minutes passed, then thirty, then an hour. Lunchtime hit, and cadets started grabbing sandwiches nearby.
"Ah. No way."
Lea set the ring down, murmuring blankly. Half out of it, she looked lost. Lee Se-hun, munching his pre-ordered sandwich, asked,
"Not as good as you thought?"
"No, the gear's flawless. Better than I imagined—it's overwhelming."
She downed her fourth coffee, eyes shining as she stared at him.
"But I want to do too much with it."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
"Yes! This bracelet's weird! Made from Ink-Heavy Darkness, yet the compatibility's insane! So many formulas fit, I can't decide which to pick..."
As Lea geared up to ramble again, Lee Se-hun slid a pre-ordered sandwich her way, cutting her off.
"So, too many enchanting options, and you're stuck choosing?"
"Exactly."
"Then no issue."
"Huh?"
Lea blinked in confusion. Lee Se-hun rolled up his other sleeve, revealing another Ink Spider Ring.
"I've got more."
"......"
"Oh, and."
He pressed the returned ring against it, and they resonated, vibrating faintly.
"Resonance effect too. Keep that in mind for enchanting."
"......"
Lea stared blankly, rubbed her forehead, and ordered another black coffee.
"Hold on. Feels like overload. Give me a sec."
She chugged the fresh coffee, wolfed down the sandwich, thought hard, then looked at him.
"Who the hell are you?"
Thinking their intros had taken forever, Lee Se-hun replied,
"Lee Se-hun. Forging Department first-year, Borsippa department topper this year."
"First-year? Well, department topper explains it. Impressive..."
Lea coughed lightly after her impressed murmur and introduced herself.
"Lea Clodel, Enchanting Department third-year. And... uh... anything else worth mentioning?"
"Well, if you want to enchant my gear, shouldn't you show me your skills first?"
He'd gauged her personality; now for skills. Lea nodded.
"Fair. You've shown me something this good, so I'll return the favor."
Click.
Lea pulled a hairpin from her braided hair and handed it to him proudly.
A blue gem centered in a silver body, it resembled a shooting star. Lee Se-hun looked intrigued.
'Higher completion than expected... No way.'
Wondering, he checked the info window right away.
[Mercury Mk.1]
[Grade: Rare] [Quality: Top-tier]
A hairpin mimicking the form of the water star.
Processed ore infused with water-attribute mana, its power refined, mimicking the star's origin to enhance the granted skill's potency.
*Increases wearer's water-attribute resistance and control.
*Grants skill 'Water Comet'.
'Rare-grade top quality. Materials aren't even that great, but well-crafted.'
Grade high relative to materials, and overall completion superb. A bit more finesse, and hero-grade was within reach.
Of course, grasping that finesse wasn't easy, but preparation made all the difference.
'As expected... impressive.'
As Lee Se-hun examined the hairpin with interest, the café entrance grew noisy.
He figured it was just a group grabbing lunch and ignored it.
"Hey, behind you."
"......Hah."
Lea pointed back, and prickling stares bored into his back. He sighed and turned.
First in view: a fierce-faced young man he'd seen before. Scanning him and his cadets, Lee Se-hun recalled their identities.
'Erika's lackeys.'
Why they'd come glaring like that? Too many reasons sprang to mind. He stared up at them expectantly.
"......We need to talk. Care to step out?"
The words invited, but his eyes threatened. Same as the bus stop. Lee Se-hun pondered.
'How to handle this.'
By their looks, ignoring each other was off the table now.
Some resolution was needed. As he mulled options,
"Step out where?"
Lea, across from him, narrowed her eyes at the lackeys.
"Can't you see I'm talking to him first?"
"......We want this quiet. It'll be quick—please."
The youth, Seitz, ignored her blatantly, addressing only Lee Se-hun. Lea's eyes sharpened, then her lips twisted.
"Figures a lapdog only hears its master. Can't understand people, huh."
"......What?"
"Need it simpler? Shoo! Fuck off, mutt!"
Lea barked mockingly. Seitz's face twisted viciously; he ground his teeth, glaring.
"Still as arrogant as ever, dropout who couldn't hold department top."
"Ha! Says the mutt who's never topped a department, let alone a class. Unbelievable..."
"Arrogant? Just stating facts. Dragging failures to exams tanked your scores—true, isn't it?"
Grind.
Seitz sneered. Lea's teeth ground; her eyes blazed, lips curling.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Still top ranks, though? Sounds like a failure chasing juniors for post-grad scraps."
"You..."
"Just facts. Oh, forgot your 'young master's' bidding? Sorry~"
Grind.
A ferocious aura swirled between them.
The tension screamed imminent brawl. Amid it, Lee Se-hun calmly noted key info.
'A slump. Unexpected.'
Given her past fame, he'd assumed smooth sailing. Apparently not.
Realizing why she'd fixated on the ring and bonded instantly, he spoke to wrap up.
"That's enough."
Clap!
Lee Se-hun clapped lightly, drawing eyes, then eyed Lea—half-unhinged.
"One question."
"What?"
"Any recommended minor for the Enchanting Department?"
Beat around the bush a bit, but she wasn't clueless.
At his positive nudge, Lea beamed like nothing happened.
"Ancient Enchanting Studies. Great prof, and an awesome senior. Perfect fit."
"Noted."
Bond formed anyway; he'd learn details in class.
Bond Stone later. Lee Se-hun stood, facing Seitz and his crew.
"Quiet spot, right? Lead on."
"......Follow."
"Tell me if that jerk pulls anything weird!"
With Lea's send-off, Lee Se-hun left, trailing the group.
They arrived at the Cursing Department, not far from the shops. High status in Borsippa, its main building and surrounding woods oozed gloom.
"Just us from here."
Dismissing others, Lee Se-hun and Seitz entered the woods alone. Amid the eerie vibe, he scanned around.
'Secluded woods, no eyes. Textbook setup.'
As expected. Following with interest, Seitz halted abruptly and turned.
"First week of term's busy, so straight to it."
"Shoot."
Lee Se-hun nodded impatiently. Seitz scowled, sighed, and spoke.
"Apologize to Lady Erika for your rudeness."
"Never been rude."
Seitz bit his lip at the calm reply, took a breath, continued.
"You shredded her invitation twice in public, and say that?"
"She told me to shred it."
Just followed orders—why blame him? Lee Se-hun stared incredulously. Seitz nodded.
"Fair point..."
Then eyed him coldly.
"If not for Jake Myers' invite."
"What's tha—oh."
Seitz's baffling words furrowed his brow—then Jake's words hit.
Noblesse mixer: elite cadets with lavish backgrounds. Not all allies, obviously.
Some rivals in fields, others bound by grudges.
'Myers and Inoue aren't on good terms, huh.'
Shredded Erika's invite twice, took Jake's.
Coincidence to him, but gossip fodder for those types.
'Lost face, so they came crawling.'
Ridiculous to him, but group-honoring types couldn't stomach it.
Grasping it, Lee Se-hun thought, then asked Seitz,
"Erika's orders?"
"Lady doesn't know. My call."
Lee Se-hun smirked.
'Sure it is.'
Group prestige fanatic acting solo? Possible, but Seitz didn't seem that dumb.
Quick think: he pegged the instigator.
"That 'young master' guy, huh."
"......Apologize. It'll end there."
No denial—admission.
Lee Se-hun recalled the 'young master': Inoue Ren, Erika's brother, heir, genius shikigami user.
Heard shady rumors from Ice Dog Amir—apparently true.
'He made first move.'
Fit his past family-face focus. All clear, Lee Se-hun relaxed, scanned woods.
"Won't apologize. Gonna kill me here?"
"Not that far. But..."
Snap.
Seitz snapped fingers. Mana surged from woods spots; chilling air enveloped them.
Barrier activated. Seitz glared coldly, hostility bare.
"Might stumble into Cursing facilities, get hurt, found that way."
Beat senseless without trace. Message clear. Lee Se-hun smirked.
"All prepped clean, eh."
No need to endure, then. Resolved, he met Seitz's eyes evenly.
"You. Know what I make best after gear?"
"......"
Seitz eyed him like he'd lost it. Lee Se-hun shed his jacket casually.
"People."
"......What?"
At Seitz's stunned repeat, Lee Se-hun tossed the jacket back.
"Making dumbass people into proper ones."