Chapter 40
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Violent Dog
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「Louise Valente
Former second-year runner-up in Aqar Quf's Elemental Studies Department.
Both parents were C-rank heroes who died eight years ago during a subjugation operation. She has relatives but no contact with them.
From the moment she enrolled, she displayed exceptional talent and grew rapidly following the curriculum.
In her second-year first semester, she rose to runner-up and became one of the top candidates for Aqar Quf's departmental leadership, receiving full support from the 'Ivory Tower.' Confirmed to have been invited to the Noblesse Exchange—though she declined to participate.
However, half a year ago during summer break. An accident occurred when her wand, an artifact, exploded during a spar with 'Gerwin Kruger,' then the top second-year in Aqar Quf's Summoning Department.
She suffered 'mana crystallization' in her neck and right hand, reducing her mana control by more than half, and all support from the Ivory Tower has been suspended.
She is currently on leave, and returning seems difficult...」
"......"
Lee Se-hun, who had been reviewing the documents handed over by Yeom Seong-ha, gazed out at the dark night beyond the window.
"What a fucked-up life..."
He'd scoured the news and internet but found nothing, so he'd assumed the incident hadn't happened yet. Turns out it had ended half a year ago.
For Lee Se-hun, who thought he'd prevented Louise's injury, it felt like a slap to the back of his head.
'She still ended up with mana crystallization... What a pain.'
Mana crystallization was a permanent injury that damaged the body's mana circuits.
It was one of the most terrifying injuries for heroes—not just because it reduced mana efficiency, but because it caused excruciating pain every time mana passed through the affected area.
'A mage with mana crystallization in her neck and hand. That's basically game over.'
Every time she channeled mana for casting or seals, the wounds felt like they were tearing open, shattering her focus.
The documents from Yeom Seong-ha only noted a drop of over 50% in mana control, but in reality, it was no exaggeration to say more than 90% was crippled.
For a mage, it was practically a death sentence. It wouldn't be strange if she became a cripple. But...
'At least it's only this bad...'
Lee Se-hun still had a chance to turn things around.
「...She is participating in vitality tests at Ur's general hospital for rehabilitation treatment, but there has been no significant progress, and internally, the outlook is skeptical.」
'As long as she's still at Babel.'
If he'd been even a year later, the Violent Dog would have signed a 'contract' and left Babel behind.
The thought of her roaming the world fighting deranged mages made Lee Se-hun's head spin.
'I need to deal with this bitch's memories ASAP.'
But right now, priority one was resolving the situation around the Violent Dog, Louise Valente.
Lee Se-hun flipped through the pages of the documents from Yeom Seong-ha and reviewed the earlier section again.
「Louise Valente sued 'Bier Valmut,' the creator of the wand she used and then the top second-year in the Forging Department, claiming he intentionally introduced defects into the artifact.
However, the investigation found no fault on the creator's part, and Bier Valmut countersued for defamation but suddenly dropped the charges, bringing the matter to a close.」
The trigger that turned Louise Valente into the 'Violent Dog.'
It wouldn't be an overstatement to call Bier Valmut, now the top third-year in the Forging Department, the root of all evil. Reading his name, Lee Se-hun muttered in a low voice.
"Yeah. So it was you, not Hans..."
The incident was already over, but revenge was never too late as long as the target was still alive and well.
Lee Se-hun rubbed the back of his still-stinging head and coldly mulled over his senior's name.
The next morning.
Lee Se-hun descended to the main dormitory building and wore a bored expression at the sight of cadets crowding around.
'They're so diligent from the morning...'
It wasn't like they came once or twice, yet they gathered like this every time. Wondering how they never got sick of it, Lee Se-hun wove through the crowd and stepped out the front door.
"Good morning!"
He came face-to-face with the cheerful blond youth, Jake.
"...You guys aren't ganging up on me, are you?"
"Huh? What're you talking about all of a sudden?"
"No. Never mind. What's up?"
"Oh, the professor showed up out of nowhere yesterday, so we didn't settle up. And also..."
Glancing around cautiously, Jake lowered his voice.
"I have something to say about that proposal we talked about."
"...I see."
No firm yes, but showing up like this was as good as acceptance. Lee Se-hun glanced at the surrounding cadets and nodded.
"Let's talk on the way. If we stick around, they'll complain we're blocking the entrance."
"Ahem. My bad for being thoughtless."
Word must have spread that it was Jake instead of the usual Erika, because even more cadets had gathered at the entrance.
Maybe because he was Aqar Quf's top combat student, a few even looked ready to approach. Lee Se-hun quickly led Jake toward the stop.
"First, the settlement."
"Here."
Lee Se-hun took Jake's subspatial pocket and pulled out the Black Flame Hammer inside.
'Hm. Still solid.'
As he flicked his wrist to test the grip, Jake, who had been watching, hesitantly spoke up.
"You said yesterday you'd make a sword I could use."
"I did."
"Is that really possible?"
His question mixed doubt and anticipation. Seeing Jake look a bit excited, Lee Se-hun smirked.
"No reason it wouldn't be. Unless your grip strength surpasses even the Summit Climbers."
"N-not quite that level, but..."
Glancing at his hand, Jake muttered awkwardly.
"I've broken a hero-grade sword before..."
"Hero-grade?"
Lee Se-hun stopped walking and stared at him.
"What was the durability bias?"
"Uh? Oh... 20% offense, 80% durability. I commissioned it specially to handle my grip, but... it broke right away."
80% durability meant they'd poured everything into withstanding his strength, yet it shattered instantly.
Lee Se-hun eyed Jake's hand with a subtle expression and pointed aside.
"Come with me for a sec."
Leading Jake to a nearby park, Lee Se-hun confirmed no onlookers and beckoned.
"Give me your right palm."
"My palm? Why all of a sudden...?"
"Don't want the sword?"
"Here."
Jake immediately offered his right palm. Lee Se-hun supported the back of his hand with his own right, then raised the Black Flame Hammer over his shoulder with his left.
His stance, hammer poised to swing, made Jake's eyes widen.
"Wait. What are you—"
"Relax your hand. Keep your mana still."
"No, explain first—!"
Kwang—!
The hammer smashed down on Jake's palm before he could finish. The sound echoing through the park showed its force, and Jake's face and hand flushed red.
"Urk... fu...ck..."
He barely swallowed a scream and curse. Lee Se-hun examined the reddened palm—or rather, the mana reflexively released above it.
'...I see. It's not enhanced grip strength; it 'transforms' the material.'
With that structure, no wonder normal materials and skills couldn't make a usable sword. Having confirmed Jake's 'talent,' Lee Se-hun proceeded to extract his bond.
Extracting bond from target 'Jake Myers.'
Bond with Creator 'Lee Se-hun' is Lv.1.
The bond seeped into his body. With a rough estimate in hand, making it wouldn't be hard, but Lee Se-hun paused the work and looked at the slightly pissed-off Jake.
"What the hell was that for...?"
"Looks like I can make it."
"...For real?"
Jake's anger vanished as he asked. Lee Se-hun nodded.
"The materials are tricky, but you can get them easily. Won't take long to forge. With prep time, about a week?"
"A... week..."
Even famous artisans backed by his family had given up, yet this guy casually declared he could do it in a week.
He wondered if it was just talk, but the unwavering confidence didn't seem like a lie.
'No reason to lie when it'd be obvious anyway...'
Given Lee Se-hun's genius so far, maybe he really could make a sword for him. Swallowing dryly, Jake cautiously asked.
"Then, could you maybe start right—"
"Not now."
"Why not?"
As Lee Se-hun stowed the hammer in his subspatial pocket, he replied.
"Got something else to handle first."
He could raise Jake's bond level anytime, but the Violent Dog was a bomb with a lit fuse.
If things followed his past life, she'd be safe for a year, but his butterfly effect could burn it all in an instant.
'Better settle it ASAP for peace of mind.'
So for now, everything else on hold—check her status and establish the bond quick.
Jake bit his lip anxiously at Lee Se-hun's firm answer.
"Can't wait even a week?"
"No."
"...What if I triple the pay?"
"Ten times wouldn't change it."
"......"
If Lee Se-hun had said it was hard or would take forever, Jake would've shrugged it off.
He'd gone without a sword plenty, and even at home, commissions took months.
But a week. Materials ready, sword done in a week. Having felt the possibility, even one more day was torture.
"...You got a set end date?"
"Gotta see. Need to look into stuff, might take a while."
"If I help?"
Lee Se-hun looked surprised at Jake's offer.
"You'd help?"
"Anything I can. Just promise to make my sword right after this."
Jake was dead set on getting that sword. Seeing his enthusiasm, Lee Se-hun pondered then nodded.
"Sure. No skin off my back."
Compared to the stripped Yeom Seong-ha from the Flame Blade Clan, Jake, second son of the Myers family, had better info networks.
'And it's free.'
He'd hated paying for info anyway—perfect timing. Lee Se-hun named the two persons of interest.
"Gerwin Kruger, top third-year Summoning Department. Bier Valmut, top third-year Forging Department. Know 'em?"
Jake nodded.
"Senior Gerwin's the 25th son of Chairman Wergen. Senior Bier's the second son among the Valmut family's three sons."
"Any connection between them?"
"Connection...?"
Thinking hard, Jake recalled something.
"Ah. Both are in the Noblesse Exchange. You know what that is?"
"...Yeah."
The Noblesse Exchange: an invite-only gathering where Babel's elite scouted talented cadets from upper-class circles.
The Violent Dog had rejected their invite. Coincidence or not, Lee Se-hun was certain.
'Those two set her up.'
The wand explosion was no accident.
"Half a year ago, Aqar Quf second-year runner-up got critically injured sparring Gerwin Kruger. See if Bier Valmut was involved."
"...Bigger headache than I thought. I'll look into it. Anything else?"
"And..."
After a moment's thought, Lee Se-hun grinned as an idea struck.
"Break my arm."
"...?"
"Clean break."
"......"
Ascus General Hospital, at the eastern edge of Ur.
This massive facility, three times the size of most department buildings, boasted enormous renown not just within Babel but worldwide.
President Ludwig's full backing, the healing heroes he hired as professors, and their elite medical staff made it unparalleled.
"Haa... haa..."
Ranked among the world's top three hospitals, it held undisputed first in 'rehabilitation'—the field heroes feared most.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Yet even they had untreatable cases.
In the center of a stark white room, a girl in patient garb extended her right hand. With each breath, her dull silver hair swayed to her chin, cold sweat beading on her pale skin.
She looked ready to collapse, but instead of sitting, she glared with blue eyes and spat out.
"159th... beginning..."
Steadying her ragged breath, she focused on her fingertips. Mana flowed from her heart.
Imagining molten lava surging through veins to shoot from her fingers. Forming the spell's structure, she naturally recalled the incantation and gathered it at her fingertips.
Kwaduk—!
Agony hit instantly.
Her palm pierced by a massive blade—breath caught, mana nearly backlashed, but she bit her lip and continued shaping the spell.
Wooong!
Mana gathered at her fingertips, a spark igniting within.
Detonate it, and the spell in her mind completes. Recalling the scene, her mouth opened.
"Lava Bul—"
Kwajik
Her throat tore, blood vomiting from her mouth.
"Urp...!"
Blood soaked the floor amid retching.
She knew it was from her bitten lip, but Louise Valente trembled as mana backlashed.
The pain, identical to before, and the spreading red pool tricked her into thinking the wounds had reopened.
[Mana reflux detected. Initiating mana freeze.]
The room's magic circle instantly calmed her mana. Medical staff rushed in from outside.
"Halt the test. Administer mana neutralizer and nerve stabilizer immediately."
"Yes!"
"Check her mana circuits too—just in case new crystallization forms."
The assistant professors moved swiftly at the professor's orders.
A sting at her neck as the drugs entered her system, gradually easing the pain.
Realizing it was all illusion, Louise steadied her breath and looked at the stern-faced professor.
"I-I'm fine... Just need a short rest... then back to testing..."
"No. That's enough for today. Rest."
"But..."
"And for the foreseeable future, limit rehab tests to 50 per day. Downgrade to beginner spells."
"...Pardon?"
Cutting trials to a third and restricting to useless beginner spells for rehab?
It was basically halting her rehab. Shocked, Louise urgently protested.
"Wait, Professor! I—cough...!"
"Go rest. Everyone, clean up."
The professor turned and left, refusing argument.
Louise tried to say more, but the stabilizer kicked in, plunging her into darkness.
When she opened her eyes again.
"...Ah."
Staring at the familiar hospital ceiling, she rasped from her dry throat.
"Fuck... barber..."
Kicking her out after one puke.
Resentments flooded her mind, but she swallowed them.
She'd begged to raise the trials from 100 herself.
'Should've stuck to 150...'
She'd overreached thinking something might change, only to blow her chance.
Sighing repeatedly on the bed, Louise forced her limp body up.
'No rehab tests? Fine, something else.'
Exercise, reading, meditation—anything to heal the crystallization in her neck and hand, regain her prowess.
In a situation that would break most, she burned with resolve and stepped out of her room.
Thud!
She slammed face-first into a young man's chest passing the door.
"Oof! Ah... shi...t..."
She'd tried to stop, but the stabilizer hadn't worn off fully.
Having unwittingly buried her face in a stranger's chest, Louise flushed with embarrassment and looked up.
"......"
Inky black hair like smeared ink, sharp eyes like he'd just killed a crowd.
His fierce, more beast than man impression intrigued her for multiple reasons when...
"What're you staring at?"
The hound-like youth—with his right arm in a cast—greeted her in a foul tone. Lee Se-hun.