Chapter 42
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Inhaler's Secret
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[How about settling your debt by giving that punk Jake a good thrashing?]
"What the hell has Yeom Seong-ha been up to...?"
Lee Se-hun woke up, checked the message on his phone, and made a dumbfounded face.
Seizing the chance to collect payment by suggesting private revenge. He might be a bit more restrained than before his regression, but he still showed no mercy, just like always.
'To think I have to drag a guy like this around again... What a fate.'
Lee Se-hun replied to Yeom Seong-ha telling him not to mess around, then immediately called Jake.
-Hello...
Jake's voice sounded utterly drained, like he hadn't slept for days. Lee Se-hun frowned in confusion.
"What's with your voice?"
-Huh? Oh... It's nothing. No big deal. What's up?"
"Just checking on that info you were looking into for me."
-Ah, that. Hold on.
There was a rustling sound as if he was moving somewhere secluded, then Jake continued.
-I dug into that incident from six months ago, and I found something suspicious.
"What is it?"
-You know about Babel's 'Ivory Tower,' right?
Ivory Tower. A 30-story high-rise in Ur's bustling district, mainly used by magic cadets, but it really referred to the 'Sponsorship Foundation' inside it.
The Ivory Tower was an independent foundation funded by magic professors, alumni, and related organizations.
Separate from Babel's support, it wielded significant influence over magic cadets.
"I know the basics."
-They select special cadets by year, and six months ago, senior Gerwin was gunning for second-year spot. There was another strong contender mentioned at the time...
"Louise Valente, right?"
Now the vague outline sharpened into focus. Lee Se-hun pondered for a moment before asking more.
"What about Bier Valmut?"
-The UD Group and Valmut family started business collaborations a few years back, so their families mingle a bit. They're even in-laws.
"In-laws?"
-The Kruger family's 22nd daughter married Valmut's eldest son. Right before the business deal, so probably a political marriage.
"Messy stuff."
Still, this confirmed Gerwin and Bier teaming up against Louise. Lee Se-hun organized his thoughts and tossed another question.
"Anything else that stood out? Connected to Louise Valente."
This much he had already guessed. Now he needed the source of that 'inhaler' she was using.
-Something else... Oh, right. You know about the legal battle between Louise Valente and Bier Valmut?
"Yeah, I know."
-After Louise lost, Bier countersued. Professor Charles from the Element Department mediated. He's still personally sponsoring and helping her.
"...I see."
To others, it sounded like a heartwarming tale of a mentor aiding his student, but Lee Se-hun saw right through the intent.
"Thanks. That's enough for now. Catch you later..."
-Wait, hold on.
"Hm?"
-Um... well... one favor...
Jake hesitated, hard to spit out, so Lee Se-hun asked curiously.
"What is it?"
-People are worried about you. Like senior Yeom Seong-ha... or Erika...
"..."
-If you have time, could you tell them you're okay? The glares are killing me...
One side eyed a prime chance to settle a debt, prowling around. The other fumed at him for harming a prized talent.
Considering their prickly personalities, Jake was probably suffering.
'And if Aria joined in...'
Lee Se-hun understood Jake's plight and gave a wry smile.
"Got it. I already messaged Yeom Seong-ha earlier, and I'll text Erika too."
-Thanks...
"I owe you more. Hit me up if you find anything else."
After hanging up, Lee Se-hun checked Yeom Seong-ha's reply.
[Got it.]
"Got it my ass..."
Lee Se-hun messaged him to stay away from Jake, then went to call Erika, but...
"...No number."
They always met when she picked him up or 'ran into' each other, so they'd never exchanged contacts.
He pondered briefly, then shrugged.
'What's the worst that could happen?'
Yeom Seong-ha might cause trouble, but Erika wouldn't.
He'd sort it through Jake later and paused his busy steps.
Louise's room, visited yesterday. Lee Se-hun knocked lightly.
Knock knock─
"...Who is it."
"The guy who helped yesterday..."
Bang!
Before he finished, the door flew open violently, pale hands grabbing his collar and yanking him down.
Revealed were blazing blue eyes. Mana resonating with her emotions, shining through. Lee Se-hun muttered inwardly.
'She's pissed.'
Pre-regression Violent Dog would've blasted magic until he was out for four weeks. As he mentally tallied the damage...
"You─"
Louise, lost to rage, opened her mouth.
"Fucking─bast─ard────!!!"
No mana infused, yet the sheer volume made his ears ring. Lee Se-hun looked annoyed.
"Why the sudden cursing?"
"Sudden? You have any idea what you've done to me?!"
His calm attitude flipped her stomach as she yelled.
Two weeks absolute bed rest. She could've accepted that as her own fault, but Professor An Jeong-wan went further.
'The rehab intensity seems too much for you now. Let's drop to level 1 and build up slowly.'
The grueling six months of rehab dropped from level 10 to 1.
Not worsening injury, but to Louise, who'd endured using it as a milestone, it was a bolt from the blue.
"If you hadn't told the professor... No, if you hadn't scared me with that mana incapacity bullshit...!"
She shook his collar furiously, indignant. Lee Se-hun's eyes lit up.
"You didn't use the inhaler yesterday?"
"Yeah, I didn't! Would you?!"
No progress lately, then hearing about worsening injury or mana loss—how could she?
'If I'd known it'd be like this, I would've just used it...!'
As she inwardly fumed, Lee Se-hun looked surprised.
'At least she remembers. Not quite the Violent Dog yet.'
With 'hope' of curing mana crystallization, she was lax on related matters.
Things might go smoother than expected. He waited for her shaking arms to stop, then spoke.
"So you trust me?"
"Hah... hah... Hell no! Why would I trust a fucking...!"
"Even if I can cure your mana crystallization?"
She froze mid-curse, eyes locking with his.
Three minutes of shaking, yet his gaze unmoved. Stating it like obvious fact, she swallowed dryly.
"...Do you even know what mana crystallization is?"
"Incurable even for Summit Climbers. For now."
"..."
She bit her lip at his confident tone.
Anyone else, she'd dismiss as nonsense. But Lee Se-hun...
[Rare-grade weapon manifests pseudo-sword aura!]
[Mass production of sword aura armaments—breakthrough ahead?]
[Vulcan Academy head: 'If rumors true, a new school emerges.']
Techniques advance by geniuses, not masses.
Lee Se-hun was one such genius, flaunting his talent.
Thus, even his wild claim sparked inexplicable 'belief'.
'Damn...'
This could be Bier Valmut's trap.
But ignoring it felt too regrettable.
After wrestling doubts, she gritted her teeth.
"One more bullshit word, and you're dead. Got it?"
"One more? When did I ever say anything weird...?"
"Shut up! Twisting words..."
Grumbling, she released his collar and turned.
"Come in."
She entered first. Cold response evoking old memories. Lee Se-hun smirked, followed, and shut the door.
"Sit here."
He pulled a chair by the desk. She perched on the bed, facing him.
Black eyes met blue, staring unflinchingly. Lee Se-hun spoke first.
"Lots to talk about... Let's start with what you want most."
He pulled a black case from the drawer, lifting the silver inhaler.
"Who gave you this?"
"That's..."
"Never mind. A professor from Element Department snuck it to you—hard to admit openly."
"What...?"
Her wide eyes confirmed his guess. He wiggled the inhaler.
"This inhaler—no official name, but I call it the 'Mana Erosion Device.'"
"Mana Erosion Device...?"
"Yeah. Easier to show than explain."
"Wait, no, hold on...!"
Before she could stop him, he popped it in his mouth, pressed the button, and inhaled lightly.
Vrrr─
Greenish mana seeped in through the device.
A strange coolness spread. He quickly formed a temporary pathway with Spirit Link Magic.
Click─
The green mana followed, circulating obediently, scouting a home.
Confirming no other mana in the pathway...
Crunch─
It revealed its true nature, rooting into his circuits.
"You pervert... Huh?"
Louise lunged to snatch it, but froze at the sight.
Lee Se-hun glowed faintly green. Seemed like mere absorption, but she sensed the change instantly.
'Who the hell...'
His face was that rude blacksmith, yet felt like someone else sat there.
She grasped the meaning of 'erosion'.
'It... replaces the entire mana circuit...?'
Not just mana—roots into circuits, altering their nature. Reflexively, she clutched her throat.
The green mana always lingered, healing her wounded neck.
But truth: it rooted in her weakened circuits from crystallization.
"Ugh...!"
Felt like discovering parasites in her throat.
Impulse to rip it out made her tremble. Lee Se-hun, inspecting himself, frowned.
'She'll backlash again.'
Another reflux might mean isolation. To calm her, he infused Crimson Flame into the temporary circuit.
Whoosh!
Green mana burned away, roots and all. He reined in the flame, grabbed her wrist.
"Don't clutch your throat. Deep breaths."
"Hah... haaak..."
Ignoring him, curled up shaking.
He forced her face up, locking eyes.
"Don't close your eyes. Look at me and breathe. Now."
Closing eyes recalled trauma, worsening fits. Force reality on her.
Familiar from pre-regression, he commanded breaths eye-to-eye. She improved gradually.
"Hah... whoo..."
Breaths steadied, eyes cleared.
Fit ending, he released her, waited full calm.
Finally normal, she sighed and spoke.
"Thanks..."
"Forget it. Understand why you'd lose mana use?"
She nodded.
"If erosion continued, your throat circuit changes. Clashes with rest, blocking mana entirely."
Simply: her circuits 110V, throat becomes 220V. Conflict overloads, no mana.
"..."
All revealed, she looked hollow.
Even when ousted from Ivory Tower or nearly expelled on false charges, her mentor supported her.
'You'll overcome crystallization. Never give up, no matter the pain.'
The elderly Charles handing the inhaler with a smile replayed.
Then his lips curled into Bier's mocking sneer.
Crunch─
She ground her teeth.
All she wanted was to be a great hero. What wrong justified this torment?
Pathetic reality stirred injustice, fury, maddening rage.
"I'll... pay them back... no matter what."
Whatever it took, repay those who brought this misery—hundreds, thousands-fold until sated.
Grind─
Blood dripped unnoticed as teeth gnashed viciously. A strange change occurred.
Vrrr─
Room's mana trembled. Responding to her 'will.' Lee Se-hun smiled faintly.
'Perfect.'
Trace of her unique skill 'Mana Assimilation.'
Not awakened yet, but enough for Violent Dog's signature 'magic.'
All set. He eyed her snarling.
"I'm looking into Professor Charles too. We'll talk when sure. Okay?"
"...Yeah."
"Next, mana crystallization."
She flinched but breathed steady, nodding.
"Tell me."
"Precisely: can't fix crystallization itself. I'm a blacksmith, not healer."
"..."
"But I can 'adjust' so you cast magic."
Impossible for others at his level, but Violent Dog Louise Valente's talent could manage.
She met his eyes calmly, then spoke.
"What do you want?"
No doubts on ability, but motives deepened post-Charles.
Vague answers would sour trust. He answered straight.
"Two things. First: help explore the Six Great Demonic Realms later. Second..."
Paused, eyeing tense her, smirked.
"Become stronger than anyone."
"..."
"If you have the confidence, I'll help with revenge or rehab—full force."
Unexpected, she stared blankly, then grinned.
"No backing out later?"
"Says you."
They clasped left hands naturally, shaking.
No bond level up notice, but trust solidified.
Could train her pre-discharge. He glanced at the inhaler on desk.
'That... could be useful too...'
Deciding another test, he reached for it.
"One more time..."
"Don't!"
Snatched before mouthing.