Chapter 4

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Translator: Ebonarch

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything

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After the exam wrapped up, Lee Se-hun headed straight to the infirmary to get his wounds treated by the doctor.

"No scars with injuries this minor. Let me heal you up."

Hummm—

A green glow flowed from the doctor's hand, enveloping his right hand. Moments later, every wound had vanished cleanly.

'...So it really is the past.'

The scarred, battered hand from decades of toil was gone, replaced by a pale one with just a bit of callus that wiggled in response.

It felt a shame to lose decades of hard-earned buildup, but at the same time, he was glad.

Before his regression, his hands had been in such poor shape that they often got in the way during forging.

'Gotta take better care of them this time.'

Most of the damage had come from trial and error anyway. With his pre-regression experience intact, things would be different now.

Pondering his next moves as he sifted through old memories, Lee Se-hun stepped out of the infirmary.

"Wounds feeling alright?"

Kim In-cheol, who had been waiting outside, approached.

"Ah, yes. They're fine..."

"Good to hear. Wounds are badges of honor and all that, but too many just get in the way."

"...You're right."

Kim In-cheol spoke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with easy familiarity.

It was partly from being impressed by the Five-Colored Flame Blade earlier, but there seemed to be more to it.

'A recruitment pitch...? Nah, he doesn't strike me as the type.'

People tangled up in power always had this oily sheen to their faces, no matter the reason.

But Kim In-cheol radiated only the fiery passion of a craftsman devoted to honing his skills.

'Maybe he wants me as an apprentice or something?'

A regular cadet might jump at that, but for Lee Se-hun—who had surpassed Kim In-cheol as a blacksmith before regressing—it felt off-putting.

As he mulled over how to handle it, Kim In-cheol cleared his throat and got to the point.

"You know how Babel selects the top freshman from each department?"

Lee Se-hun dredged up his memories to answer.

"Each department holds extra exams, then compares results to pick the winner... That's how it goes, right?"

Babel Academy divided its cadets into three main departments.

The combat department 'Aqar Quf,' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the support department 'Ur,' and the technical department 'Borsippa.'

Under each were dozens of divisions tailored to cadets' aptitudes, and today's test had been the entrance exam for Borsippa's Forging Department.

"Spot on. The extra exams feature the top two from each division. Competition ramps up big time."

After laying out Babel's structure, Kim In-cheol hesitated before sighing and continuing.

"Hate to say it myself, but... the Forging Department hasn't produced a department top in 12 years. Budgets keep shrinking year after year."

"..."

"Word spreads, applicant quality drops, and it's a vicious cycle. That's the Forging Department's reality."

Lee Se-hun's expression turned odd at Kim In-cheol's grumbling.

He was just worried about declining status now, but in eight years, the department would be outright dissolved.

'They said it dragged the academy's rep down too much.'

Revival efforts followed, but none succeeded. The department never came back.

Kim In-cheol could foresee it to some degree.

"Ahem. Got sidetracked there... Point is, I've got one thing to say to you."

Having steeled himself, Kim In-cheol looked at Lee Se-hun with a grave expression.

"If you want to succeed as a blacksmith, transfer to Vulcan Academy instead. Application window's closed, but I've got connections. I can pull strings."

"..."

Lee Se-hun blinked in surprise at the offer.

'Vulcan's one of the top blacksmith training spots.'

It was middling now, but after the Forging Department vanished, it claimed top dog status by surpassing Babel.

Objectively better for growth, yet here was a Babel professor suggesting it.

'He planning to jump ship? Nah, doesn't fit his vibe...'

The subtle regret in his eyes suggested genuine senior advice from one blacksmith to another, not some scheme.

'...Decent guy.'

Lee Se-hun hadn't heard of him before regressing, but he liked him well enough. Collecting his thoughts, he replied evenly.

"No real need for that, is there?"

"You've got talent. To make the most of it, you need a better environment..."

"Sure, better's ideal. But that's only when Vulcan's at its peak, right?"

"It is now, and it'll only get better—"

Thinking he'd missed the point, Kim In-cheol started explaining again. Lee Se-hun cut in with a sly smile.

"Why bow my head and transfer when the place I'm joining will be the best? Bruises the pride."

"..."

His own turf would become the best. Arrogant words, yet they didn't ring hollow.

Kim In-cheol had hoped for something like this—better than expected—and paused before asking seriously.

"Big talk. You'll need to claim department top first. Confident?"

"Of course. You brought it up because you think I can, right Professor?"

"...You read me like a book from the start."

Kim In-cheol gave a wry smile and eyed him.

"Borsippa's extra exam has you make one more submission. Theme's revealed on the day, scored including today's piece."

"When's it set?"

"One week. Uniform and ID will arrive home—wear 'em."

"Got it."

Kim In-cheol watched Lee Se-hun's unflinching, crisp response with wonder.

'Still a young guy, but... why does he inspire such trust?'

It felt like chatting with a fellow blacksmith his age. Caught up in the odd sensation, Kim In-cheol chuckled and extended his hand unthinkingly.

"Looking forward to working together."

Kim In-cheol offered his right hand with a warm smile.

Forging Department profs, assistants, and cadets would freak at the sight—but oblivious, Lee Se-hun just met his gaze steadily.

Expectations and trust directed his way. Short time together, but a 'bond' had surely formed.

'In that case...'

Realizing conditions were met, Lee Se-hun clasped Kim In-cheol's hand firmly.

"Likewise. Looking forward to it."

His first successful bond extraction since regressing.

The abrupt entrance exam finally over, Lee Se-hun headed straight home.

He'd turned down Kim In-cheol's dinner invite—had a few things to check first.

"Hmm. Definitely this way..."

Dredging up old memories, he climbed the steep slum stairs.

His body remembered it as yesterday's home, but his mind saw it as a place abandoned decades ago.

Relying on faint recollections, he reached the top stair. Far off stood a familiar yet alien house.

"..."

A rickety old place squatting in a clearing against a wild hill.

Lee Se-hun chuckled despite himself at the shoddy structure that looked ready to collapse at a touch.

"Same as ever."

He'd once desperately wanted out, but seeing it after so long stirred nostalgia.

Rusted gate, cramped six-mat single room. Bathroom was indescribable; mold and bugs everywhere.

'Ugh.'

Memories soured by the sight. But spotting the workshop nearby softened his expression.

A second-hand mana forge bought scraping every last penny. Tools and materials neatly arranged around it—far better kept than the house.

'Awakened mana here and bet my life on it.'

To avenge his parents against the mana beast that killed them, he needed power. As a blacksmith by aptitude, his path to power was selling weapons for 'money.'

So he'd liquidated his meager assets to buy essentials and this space.

'Oh yeah. That guy's probably still alive too.'

The enemy he'd devoted his twenties to killing. It used to grind his teeth just thinking of him, but now? No big reaction.

Pre-regression payback had settled emotions, and bigger priorities loomed.

'Top is the Six Great Demon Gods—or rather, the whole Myriad Demons' Mire.'

Monsters threatening not just humanity but the planet itself. Uprooting them to avert doom was paramount.

For that, he'd rewrite the fates of heroes who died pointlessly and reform those uncooperative bastards.

'Plenty to do...'

Upcoming events, old bonds and grudges flooding back. Lee Se-hun steadied his breath and sorted his mind.

'Overthinking's no good.'

He was a blacksmith above all. Planning on shaky intel would snag eventually.

Best to build from his immediate circle—Babel outward—reacting to major incidents only.

'Gotta snag gear or skills for memory, dates can't get fuzzy.'

With priorities set, he calmly eyed the forge.

'Time to check my condition.'

No chance since regressing straight into the exam. He knew it was trash, but needed exacts to chart direction.

Steeling himself, Lee Se-hun opened his status window.

"..."

Lee Se-hun silently rubbed his furrowed brow at his status.

'Babel freshmen average C-rank. This is just...'

Bad enough to raise transfer suspicions. Empty skill list beyond Flame Artisan stung.

'Bargain for turning back time.'

Youth's priceless, let alone time reversal. This was mild.

'Stats aside... unique skill time.'

'Still as unhelpful as ever.'

Unique skills were trickier than normals, but this one was notoriously obtuse.

Told you could extract bonds, but zilch on how to form, forge, or use them.

'Different this time, though.'

Infusing mana into his right hand, Lee Se-hun recalled 'Kim In-cheol' from today.

Languid boredom at first, hollow. Image: a withered old tree trunk.

Wuuung—

But spotting talent, sensing potential—flames ignited instantly.

Outwardly frail, inner embers burned strong. That was his read on Kim In-cheol.

Surface-level, but enough for now.

Fwoosh!

A faint glow, and material formed in his hand.

Pale brown with wood-grain waves—more log chunk than ore.

"Hmm. Not bad."

Solid grasp on his understanding. Satisfied, Lee Se-hun checked the info.

'Iron like wood, huh.'

Thud thud.

Woody texture, but definitely iron on tap.

Properties clicked—forging path clear—but size (two fingers) drew a tsk.

'Lv.1's the issue.'

Too small for main material; mixing dilutes traits.

Early weapons needed matching complements.

'Tough to source now... Level up or tap Babel resources.'

Regrettable, but time would fix it. Setting Flame-Containing Iron aside, he glanced at his body.

'Check my own bond stone too.'

If memory served, the final dagger birthed Mental Image skill 'Return to Origin.'

Unknown effect, but name screamed regression link.

'If it's got that power, gotta exploit it.'

Eyes gleaming, Lee Se-hun placed hand on chest and extracted.

"Huh?"

The slot always blank pre-regression now showed 1. Lee Se-hun's eyes widened.

'No way, for real...'

Stunned, he examined the bond stone in his palm.

Colorless ore like before. But peering close, faint impurities mingled inside.

'Not quite impurities... different vibe.'

Heart pounding, he pulled up the info.

His eyes narrowed at the description.

"Got worse..."

Previously just subpar to iron; now outright abysmal.

No regression hint whatsoever. As disappointment set in—