Chapter 39
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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Ma Kwang-su.
A former S-rank hero who had roamed the world alongside Ludwig in the past, hunting down countless monsters and villains.
His nasty personality and rude manner of speaking meant he wasn't highly regarded, but he had once been spoken of as a potential Summit Climber.
Even now, as a professor at Babel Academy, he was endlessly respected by the graduates who had passed through his hands.
However...
"......"
"......"
Knead, knead.
In front of Lee Se-hun, he was nothing more than a senile old geezer relentlessly groping his body.
"Don't move. I warned you."
Starting from the shoulders, then the forearms and chest. The back, stomach, thighs, and calves were basics, and he even poked and prodded the hands and feet.
Lee Se-hun, seated in the chair and being poked and prodded without respite, watched Ma Kwang-su examine his body and wore a strange expression.
'No matter how I look at it, he seems totally senile...'
He'd thought the man was half-senile before, but seeing him now confirmed it.
Lee Se-hun was seriously pondering if this was some butterfly effect from his own interference when...
"You. What are you, really?"
After just ten minutes, Ma Kwang-su pulled his hands away and fixed Lee Se-hun with a sharp gaze.
"Last time, you had the posture of some rickety old blacksmith. This time, it's the stance of a seasoned spearman. What trick are you using?"
"Pardon?"
"An innate skill? Or is that your true ability?"
It was less a simple question and more an interrogation. Amid the suspicion and faint hostility in Ma Kwang-su's eyes, Lee Se-hun naturally realized what the man was thinking.
'He thinks I'm a spy from the Myriad Demons' Mire?'
The Myriad Demons' Mire corrupted Earth's environment, altering ecosystems to spawn demonic beasts. And the forces that followed it were collectively known as the Myriad Demons' Mire faction.
"You'd better answer carefully so I don't misunderstand."
He wasn't baring any overt killing intent, but Ma Kwang-su's eyes darkened deeply as he raised the blade of his right hand from below.
He wasn't attacking yet out of mere suspicion, but the moment he was convinced, one of Lee Se-hun's limbs was as good as gone.
It was a situation that would make even an A-rank hero break out in cold sweat. But seeing it, Lee Se-hun only looked nostalgic.
'Whoa. It's been a while since I've seen this...'
Come to think of it, that was how it had been the first time he met Ma Kwang-su.
A sudden old memory surfaced, and Lee Se-hun chuckled inwardly. Reading the emotion, Ma Kwang-su wore a strange expression.
'...Is he just a lunatic?'
He was interrogating the kid with barely veiled killing intent, and this was the reaction? It made him seem less like a spy and more like a half-mad genius.
As Ma Kwang-su pondered how to respond, Lee Se-hun calmly spoke up.
"In short, you're saying my posture is too perfect, so it's suspicious."
"......Yeah."
At Ma Kwang-su's reply, Lee Se-hun glanced down at his own body.
'I thought it'd just help with precise body movements... but it seems I exceeded expectations.'
He hadn't just wielded the spear skillfully—he had taken on the stance of a master spearman. They might sound similar at first glance, but Lee Se-hun knew the vast difference.
It was a state where every part of the body, from head to toe, was optimized for spear handling. It wasn't just talent; it required the years to ingrain it into the body—that was the 'posture' Ma Kwang-su meant.
'I need to explain this properly.'
He'd forged a connection with Ma Kwang-su thanks to the misunderstanding, but failing to clear it up could twist that bond into enmity.
He didn't want to waste this rare opportunity, so Lee Se-hun recalled how he'd dealt with Ma Kwang-su in the past and slowly opened his mouth.
"This is just a minor technique from adapting one of my skills. It's not as impressive as you might think."
"A minor technique?"
"I'll stand for a moment."
Lee Se-hun rose from his seat and lightly jumped in place, beginning to move his body in a familiar way.
The threads embedded throughout his body unraveled one by one, loosening the tightly bound muscles.
Confirming that all traces of the Four-Way Stone had vanished from his body, Lee Se-hun looked at Ma Kwang-su, who was staring intently.
"The posture you just saw was temporarily mimicked using the skill. Once the effect ends, it disappears right away."
"Hm......"
"It's an effect from adjusting the muscles this way and that... You could even say it's like turning into someone else's body."
Adjusting parts of the body could be called reinforcement, but when it extended to organs and extremities, it was no longer ordinary enhancement.
'The more I think about it, the more amazing this technique is...'
The Four-Way Stone itself was impressive, but feeling how it enabled such applications made him realize just how extraordinary Tan-cheol and Ryu Eun-ha's talents were.
He'd have to put extra care into their next equipment, Lee Se-hun thought. Then Ma Kwang-su asked with a serious expression.
"That skill. Any limitations?"
"It takes time to observe, and forcing it on the body puts a huge strain on it. Right now, I can barely stand."
In truth, it was perfectly recreating techniques he knew from before his regression using the Four-Way Stone's power. But seeing the effect this time, such adaptations seemed viable.
"Observation, huh... Then......"
Ma Kwang-su muttered with an unusually serious expression. Seeing his deeper-than-expected interest, Lee Se-hun realized what he was thinking.
'He's thinking of that Doppelganger bastard.'
The villain 'Doppelganger,' one of the Ten Evils.
A monster that mimicked opponents' martial arts and killed them with it, severing countless heroes' legacies.
For some reason, Ma Kwang-su harbored deep grudge against the Doppelganger and would fly to any sighting.
'That's probably why we connected this time.'
Whether he'd suspected him of being the Doppelganger or seen the skill as useful for hunting it, he'd deemed Lee Se-hun valuable enough to bond with.
In other words, to raise Ma Kwang-su's bond level easily, he'd need to help hunt that Doppelganger.
"......Ahem. Sorry for coming on strong earlier... There's a villain with that kind of ability, so I reacted sensitively."
His suspicions eased somewhat, Ma Kwang-su looked sheepish as he spoke. Lee Se-hun nodded.
"Can't be helped if it's about villains. I'd do the same."
"Right? These days' heroes lack vigilance against villains. Back in my day......"
As Ma Kwang-su started to ramble about the old days, Lee Se-hun quickly pretended to wince and sway.
"Urgh......"
"Oh, right, you said it strains you a lot. Looks like class is off for today."
"Sorry."
"No. Actually, perfect timing."
Ma Kwang-su scanned Lee Se-hun up and down and stroked his chin.
"Seeing your skill, I need to overhaul the entire curriculum. I was just going to refine your techniques at first... but fundamentally changing it would be better."
"Fundamentally...?"
"How to use your body more efficiently. Once I solidify it, I'll explain. Go home for today."
"Understood. Then......"
Lee Se-hun bowed his head and left the training hall. Watching his back, Ma Kwang-su stroked his chin.
'Why'd a guy like that go to Borsippa?'
That spar, and his talent—if he put his mind to it, he could aim for top spot in Aqar Quf.
'Come to think of it, his family situation was pretty bad...'
He hadn't cared much before and hadn't looked into it, but Ma Kwang-su decided to investigate Lee Se-hun later.
He was intrigued, and more importantly, to involve him in the Doppelganger hunt, he needed to know what it would take.
'If he grows properly... I could even recommend him for Executioner after graduation.'
Of course, whether he'd reach that level was uncertain, but this time, he'd pay a bit more attention than usual.
For the first time, Ma Kwang-su—who was always indifferent to teaching—showed some enthusiasm.
And...
"Sword......"
Jake, pushed to the corner, murmured lowly as he stared piercingly at the door Lee Se-hun had exited.
"Hmm......"
Out of the classroom, Lee Se-hun mulled over what had just happened with a wondrous expression.
'Who would've thought I'd bond with that Ma Kwang-su guy...'
Lee Se-hun had awakened his unique skill, Blacksmith of Bonds, after the all-out war against the Myriad Demons' Mire and the Six Great Demon Gods began.
And Ma Kwang-su had vanished while tracking the Doppelganger before that war, effectively killed by it.
'Wonder what bond material he'll give.'
Given Ma Kwang-su's skills, it'd likely relate to physical abilities. He'd have to check to know for sure, but as an S-rank hero, it'd be useful.
As Lee Se-hun racked his brain on how to naturally extract the bond later...
Bzzz─
His pocket vibrated. Few knew his number, so he checked the caller immediately.
[Yeom Seong-ha]
"......Tch."
Not eager, but he couldn't ignore it, so Lee Se-hun answered curtly.
"What?"
-Decided on your reward yet?
Yeom Seong-ha's blunt question made Lee Se-hun furrow his brow.
"It's only been a day. What's the rush?"
-......Not paying feels uncomfortable.
"What?"
-Anyway. Even partial is fine; I want to pay something.
It bugged him that it felt like charity rather than a transaction without payment. Guessing Yeom Seong-ha's inner thoughts, Lee Se-hun sighed deeply.
"You live such a tiring life......"
-Quit yapping and name it. Materials or whatever, I'll get it.
"Reward, huh......"
Should he just ask for some expensive material? Pondering briefly, Lee Se-hun hit on a fitting price.
"Find someone for me."
-......A person?
"Someone I'm personally curious about. Name's Louise Valente. A mage, probably from Babel."
Violent Dog Louise Valente, one of the Three Dogs.
Unlike Yeom Seong-ha, she hadn't been that famous in the past, making her hard to find with a simple search. But Yeom Seong-ha should be different.
'Plus, this guy's not the type to blab.'
If word got out he was inquiring around, the sensitive Violent Dog's personality would ensure things went south, never smoothly.
Thus, secrecy was paramount, even if it took time.
-First time hearing the name. You know her?
"None of your business. Just find out where she is and what she's doing. But do you even have the connections?"
-Aren't you underestimating me?
"Can you pull it off? You're a stray in the Flame Blade Sect."
-......I have other routes.
He didn't deny being a stray. Chuckling, Lee Se-hun continued.
"Anyway, just find out what she's up to. Don't mention I asked. Got it?"
-Got it. I'll call when I find her.
Click─
The call ended abruptly, as if there was nothing more to hear. Whether before or after regression, he always hung up right after business.
'If this guy's like this, I wonder about Louise...'
If Mad Dog Yeom Seong-ha was a headache due to his lone wolf personality, Violent Dog Louise Valente was a straight-up time bomb.
She'd seem fine, then suddenly explode into incidents, and by scale, she was unrivaled among the Three Dogs.
'But she got prickly after her injury, so it should be milder now.'
Of course, like Yeom Seong-ha, she was likely still a personality wreck pre-incident, but as long as it wasn't her post-regression level, he could manage.
As Lee Se-hun organized his thoughts...
Bzzz─
His phone vibrated again. Seeing Yeom Seong-ha's name right after the last call, Lee Se-hun looked puzzled.
'What now?'
Some other business? Answering, Yeom Seong-ha's gruff voice came through.
-Found her.
"......What?"
Information he couldn't find no matter how he searched popped up in minutes? Doubting Yeom Seong-ha's info network exceeded expectations, just then...
-Louise Valente, second-year in the Elemental Studies Department. Top prospect in her department, they say.
"Oh. Second place, not bad... Wait. Was?"
Why past tense? Sensing something wrong, Lee Se-hun's expression hardened.
-Half a year ago, during a spar in the Martial Hall, her weapon exploded, causing major injuries. She's on leave.
"Ah."
For the first time, Lee Se-hun cursed his thick skull.