Chapter 21
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Regressor Crafts It All
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"……."
Seitz felt more bafflement than anger at Lee Se-hun's unshakable confidence.
'What the hell is he banking on to act like that?'
As the department's top student drawing public eyes, info on Lee Se-hun had already been quietly circulating beneath the surface.
And by all accounts, his physical prowess ranked dead last among this year's freshmen.
No formal combat training to speak of, not even proper gear.
'The only wildcard's those weapons from the entrance ceremony—but they're nowhere in sight...'
He double-checked for anything he'd overlooked, but nothing on Lee Se-hun screamed threat.
'...Figured as much.'
Pinpointing the root of that cocky vibe, Seitz let out a heavy sigh and spoke up slow.
"Fine. You made it into Babel, so you've gotta have some ace up your sleeve. Probably figured if you went all-out, you'd smoke the rest, right?"
That delusion of being Babel's standout talent. It cropped up plenty among cadets from nobody families—the reason was simple.
"But this is Babel. Every cadet here's packing that kind of gift and grit. You're just another face in the crowd. Get me?"
No chance to rub shoulders with betters, so they buy into the nonsense that mindset alone conquers all.
Most of those freshmen got a rude wake-up before semester's end.
"You're a nobody."
Today was Lee Se-hun's turn.
Kiiing!
The barrier hummed to life off Seitz's mana, twisting the surroundings.
A chilling air crushed in like a vise, shadows thickening as the forest plunged into gloom.
Then, from the depths, black shades bolted through the brush.
Pashuk!
A low, eerie howl evoked wild beasts—but their shapes stayed veiled in shade.
The sight preyed on fears of dark and fangs. Up to here, you might chalk it up to barrier-born illusion.
Sskak!
But the shadow whipping past his ear proved otherwise.
"Hmm."
A few strands of hair fluttered down, sliced clean like by a blade.
Lee Se-hun eyed them coolly as Seitz pressed on with icy glare.
"This is your absolute last shot. Apologize to the young lady."
If he still didn't get it after this, time to hammer it home. Lee Se-hun paused at the warning, then asked,
"That thing just now. That about you?"
"...What?"
"Dripping with raw feeling—like it's not just talk. Messed around in your first year and got your ass handed to you proper, huh?"
The off-the-wall reply left Seitz's jaw on the floor. Lee Se-hun nodded at the sight.
"Yeah, I get it. Thinking you're hot shit, then bam—leaves a bitter taste."
"You... you...!"
"Still, pride to uphold. No drive to level up yourself, just clinging and handling dirty work... tsk tsk."
Lee Se-hun shook his head pityingly, tongue clicking.
"No wonder folks call you a dogshit son of a bitch."
The calm stab cut soul-deep. Seitz's restraint snapped like brittle glass.
"Shut your hole!!!!"
Shadow Wolves Charge!
Dozens of black wolves lunged with guttural roars, fangs gleaming.
Seitz's ace—C-grade barrier Shadow Wolf Fang Shot, spawning shadow wolves to pin down targets.
Tadak!
Base illusions from the barrier, but pumped with extra mana, they gained form to shred flesh.
Fail to spot fake from real? Rags in seconds—a nasty trick.
'Black Spirit Thread.'
Only snared the clueless.
Puhwak!
His hand, webbed in black spider silk, speared a shadow wolf—it misted away.
"Wha...?"
"Not pure mana constructs after all."
Under Seitz's stunned stare, Lee Se-hun inspected his catch.
A black dagger, roughly 20cm. Its face etched tight with talismans, fresh mana residue.
"Dagger as conduit for mana boost, hits illusions too. Solid concept."
"How'd you...?"
One clash, and he'd dissected the talisman and its tweaks. Seitz gawked in disbelief; Lee shot back exasperated.
"How? Sound gave it away."
"Sound? Hold on—you can't mean..."
The daggers' whistle on first pass—he'd clocked it all from that?
While Seitz reeled, Lee Se-hun scoped the area.
'Roughly 25 daggers. Max ten at once, looks like... not ideal.'
Drag it out, his lower stamina and mana spell doom. Simple and bold it was.
'Bond Engraving.'
Bond Engraving: Iron Glutton
Limited activation via S-grade hero Weapon Eater's bond stone
Kwaduk!
Lee Se-hun's right hand flushed crimson; the gripped dagger melted inward like wax.
S-grade hero Weapon Eater Ryu Eun-ha's bond stone—"Iron Glutton," devouring iron for power—flared limited in his palm.
"Sto... stop!!!"
A custom dagger worth over a million won dissolved traceless in his grip.
Snapping to, Seitz unleashed full mana, siccing every shadow wolf.
Too late—he grasped Lee Se-hun's power dwarfed expectations.
'Ah.'
That exquisite savor no plain fare grants, stabbing from tongue to toes.
Blood surged hot from his hand, racing body-wide.
Hair tips flickered faint as embers. He slowly swept the encroaching wolves.
'Explosive Ring.'
His frame launched off the ground, distance vanishing in a blink.
Cha cha chang!
Ferocious wolves slashed empty air; inner daggers clanged, scattering floorward.
Lee Se-hun blasted through, planting before Seitz.
Paak!
His iron fist rocketed up, gut-drilling force.
"Guhek!?"
"Barrier till death"—barrier mages' iron creed.
Seitz's Shadow Wolf Fang Shot shattered on one hit.
That fist hurt hellish.
"Sto..."
Whatever trick—no way more of those, or skull shatters.
Gut feel screaming, Seitz stammered to stall.
Kwaak!
Too slow—Lee's paw clamped his throat rough.
"Kek!"
Speech stolen, trembling eyes met truth at last.
"Told you, didn't I?"
Lee hadn't scorned or dismissed him.
"Turning dumb shits into people? That's my thing."
Flat, emotionless—like rating workbench scrap. Nothing more, nothing less.
To him, this scrap was straight-up "forging."
"Wa-wait..."
Forging quits when the gear's done.
"Be a man."
Shoulders loose-rolled, fist cocked tight.
"Then I stop."
"Speak."
Swollen-faced Seitz rasped at the prompt.
"No matter the lead-up... forcing our side's bullshit... sorry."
"And."
"Won't project my fuckups on others... or overreach past orders..."
"Hmm..."
That dissatisfied drawl twitched Seitz's shoulders. Every time, more pounding—"not human enough."
'Please... please...'
Blackout from pain? Nah—agony dialed max, mind razor-sharp.
Uncanny hell-beating had him shuddering full-body when—
"Eh, close enough."
Lee shrugged like no choice.
"Senior or whatever—can't go overboard."
"......"
If that's not overboard, what the fuck is?
Chills from mere thought blanched him ghost-pale. Lee rose, carrying on.
"Tell that young master crystal when you're back: quit dragging him into pointless scraps."
"......"
"Answer."
"Y-yes..."
Grudging mumble earned a tsks and skull-smack.
Paak!
"Kyak!"
"Sigh. Loser..."
Not all crews rotten—but dispatching for this? Peak mediocrity.
He might fancy Inoue pedigree, but to Lee? Swappable cog.
'Bet he learns something today.'
Nothing? Grind as part till bust, then trash.
Lee shook off the thought, snagged his tossed jacket.
"Out. Clean your mess."
"Yes..."
"Next run-in? Your funeral."
With that, he retraced steps out. Till echoes died, Seitz knelt bowed—then slumped flat.
"...Fuck my life."
Came to warn a freshie—got thrashed instead, now mop-up duty?
Misery maxed, but no outs.
Overplayed anger handed him the loss on platter.
'Nah—tanking that and still losing? That's the killer.'
Third-year mid-pack, but full tilt? Top-tier sure...
Deluded one was him.
Stuck same old self, hollow sighs heaved when—
"All done."
A girl emerged from woods.
"Ah, young lady...?"
Erika's arrival bugged Seitz's eyes cartoon-wide.
Since when? Whole overreach on display?
Paled to bone.
"Uh... th-that..."
"Don't care for excuses. Questions only—from now."
Her gaze pinned him, but blank—like staring through junk.
Emptier than Lee Se-hun's. Seitz gulped, nodded stiff.
"G-got it..."
"Lee Se-hun slurped your dagger, pulled some shit, right?"
"Yes..."
"Fetch 'em."
"Yes!"
Seitz scooped floor daggers—eyes bulged.
'What? Only 14.'
One crunched—24 left normal. Huh?
Missing ten's trail dawned; jaw dropped.
"Doing?"
"R-right!"
Haste piled remnants for her; Erika scanned surfaces keen.
'Yup—anti-theft enchants etched deep.'
Medium gear stolen? Useless instant—blockade vital.
Seitz's blades bore 'em; Lee shrugged 'em off.
'That black web sorcery made it happen...'
Form and kick screamed Prof. Robert's Blood Array Thread plus her Shadow Spirit Formation—remixed fresh.
Pure utility distilled, hyper-optimized spell.
Raw edges showed, but skill-grade solid.
Erika tallied his flashes of genius, tweaking her mental scorecard.
'Forging aptitude: S+ min. Sorcery: B bumped to A+.'
That raw upside? Even slacking, he'd hit floor.
Locked verdict, eyed Seitz.
"Gonna report to big bro back home?"
"...Yes."
"Skip it."
Eyes saucered.
"B-but the young master..."
"Cool. I'll loop in the head myself. Clear?"
"Ah, yes!"
"Tomorrow on—you work for me."
Whiplash turn; Seitz floundered but rallied quick.
Ruined flat. Ride this weird tide, cling for survival.
"Roger. Orders, ma'am?"
"Shadow Lee Se-hun. Aid if he needs. That's your gig."
Her directive froze his game face. "Handle your own next time"—Lee's parting shot rang clear.
And pocketing ten blades casual? Meetups = mayhem guaranteed.
"Uh... cross paths again, could get pounded..."
"Yeah?"
Ice reply.
"Stress relief jackpot."
"......"
"Tank it full-force."
"......"
Ur Sorcery Division third-year Seitz.
His Babel days sealed then and there.
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