Chapter 45
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Viral Challenge and Oral Examination
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Who is Louise Valente???
Asked a senior. Apparently, she's the one who sparred with Gerwin Kruger half a year ago and lost.
She's the top student in the Elemental Department, second year. But she got badly hurt in that spar and took a leave of absence.
But she's challenging him again? That's impressive...
Overcoming mana crystallization lololol What kind of bullshit is this on the popular posts.
For real, moderation is a mess. No way she wrote that herself—gotta be impersonation, right?
There's cadet ID verification below. It's legit.
If she's really healed, this is newsworthy...
The 25th son might be the heir to the UD Group—a Summit Climber—and the top third-year in the Command Department, as well as one of the Ivory Tower's special cadets.
Gerwin Kruger was a cadet whose fame and influence outshone even the department heads—three per year across all grades.
The kid doesn't wanna be a hero later lolol
For real lololol
Maybe she just went all-in before getting expelled?
To think someone would throw down a gauntlet like that at a guy of his stature.
Cadets naturally grew curious about Louise amid the unbelievable spectacle, and the spar from half a year ago came under renewed scrutiny.
A week before the duel, all of Babel was buzzing.
"You crazy bastard!!!"
The star of the show grabbed Lee Se-hun by the collar and shook him.
"You said it was no big deal! Said there was no need to worry!!!"
"It isn't. It's not like she announced a murder."
"Is that something you just say?!"
Louise felt her stomach churn at Lee Se-hun's unflinching delivery.
She'd thought overcoming her trauma meant something tied to the scar on her neck, but he'd gone and sent a challenge letter on his own. The sudden turn left her baffled—and suspicious.
'Did this jerk plan this from the start?'
Sure, she could use word spirit magic now, but she was barely at a crawling stage. Plus, she'd spent the last half-year on rehab, so all her skills had rusted.
And he wanted her to face Gerwin, who'd only grown stronger in that time? It reeked of him trying to get rid of her.
'No... that can't be... but still...'
As Louise wore a conflicted expression amid the absurdity, Lee Se-hun spoke calmly.
"Calm down. You think I'd pull something like this without a plan?"
"...Haa."
Letting out a deep sigh, Louise smoothed out Lee Se-hun's rumpled collar and flopped into a chair.
"Fine. Of course you had a reason. Who am I to doubt the great one..."
The scale had thrown her, but hadn't he done the same when teaching her word spirit magic basics?
Half-resigned, Louise eyed the relaxed Lee Se-hun.
"So, what's the plan?"
"Like I said before, word spirit magic relies more on your will than precise calculations. It's instinctive, so your subconscious plays a huge role. What does that mean?"
"...It's sensitive to the user's condition?"
"Spot on."
When conjuring flames with word spirit magic, a fire-loving mage could produce stronger, more varied flames.
But for one with flame trauma, control would falter—or the spell might fail outright—as their subconscious rejection seeped in.
"You might not admit it, but that incident half a year ago left you afraid to use magic. That's why yesterday's orb spell— which should've worked fine—only half-succeeded."
"...Could be."
"Good thing your desire to cast outweighs the fear, but it's still a major limiter. Simply put... it's like running on two legs when you could sprint on all fours."
"That analogy..."
"Means your talent's the real deal."
She'd overcome the nightmare of magic impotence with word spirit magic, but the emotional shock and anxiety lingered.
Like a scar after healing, remnants festered deep in her subconscious.
'And if left alone, it could be exploited.'
In his past life, mana-l crippled Violent Dog had accepted an offer from a group called 'Dawn' claiming they could cure her, undergoing illegal human experiments.
They'd reworked her mana circuits, implanting a 'collar' that triggered by eroding mana to stimulate trauma.
'The mana erosion before, and who knows what else they'll try. Time to nip it for good.'
Best would be yanking the eroded mana at the root, but her condition risked worsening crystallization.
So, tackling the root trauma was optimal now.
"Whatever else, this duel is essential to beat the trauma. Bear with it."
Louise sighed at his earnest words.
"Fine. If you say so, I'll do it. I did say anything."
"Thanks for understanding."
"But what if I lose and the trauma worsens? Shouldn't you have been more careful with something this big...?"
Lee Se-hun chuckled dryly at her muttering displeasure.
"Quit talking nonsense."
"What?"
"No way you'd lose to a punk like that."
Sons of whoever—Violent Dog's talent wasn't so light she'd fall to some no-name from his past life.
Louise stared at his confident tone, then smirked.
"Cocky bastard."
"Less chatter, more prep. You said you could—you never said you had time to spare."
"Yeah, yeah. What's on for today? Sparring-related word spirit practice?"
She switched to cheery as if the outburst never happened. Lee Se-hun pulled out prepped sanitary gloves.
"Dental."
"...Huh?"
As Louise blinked in confusion, he tugged the gloves taut.
"Oral exam."
Ascus Second Ward.
Passersby halted in shock, whispering as a black-haired girl strode impassively down the hall.
The aloof figure, unblinking under stares—rumored Inoue Erika—drew murmurs.
"That's Erika, right? Ur's first-year top student."
"Looks like it. What's she doing here? Doesn't seem hurt."
"Y'know, that Lee Se-hun or whatever—the Borsippa first-year topper's hospitalized. Probably visiting him."
"Damn, so those rumors..."
They whispered excitedly. Erika's sharp senses caught it all, but she ignored them, prioritizing Lee Se-hun's check.
'They say no major injuries, but I need to confirm.'
His auction improv: honing the white light sword to near-sword aura sharpness.
That 'technique' demanded flawless precision—no room for error.
If this injury dulled that sense? Disaster for blacksmithing—and her.
'If so... I won't let it slide.'
Jake, sweating buckets whenever their eyes met. Recalling him chilled her expression further.
"Hey!!!"
A bellow shattered the door, piercing the soundproofed room.
Erika's gaze flicked to the nameplate.
[Room 204] [Louise Valente]
Spotting her target, she entered.
Silver-haired girl in a chair, black-haired youth opposite—close, but not odd.
Until you saw what they were doing.
"My ears are ringing, you brat."
Lee Se-hun, wincing like no injury, probed every corner of Louise's mouth with his right hand.
"Jerk."
Louise, mouth agape like at the dentist, eyes trembling with shame and rage.
"..."
Erika froze at the incomprehensible scene.
They noticed her late.
"Huh? What're you doing here?"
"Eek! W-what?! Who's this?!"
Lee Se-hun puzzled; Louise flushed crimson, freaking out.
Opposites. Erika stated flatly:
"Myers had urgent business, so he asked me to deliver his item."
"He told me he had nothing today..."
"Sudden."
Blunt as ever. Lee Se-hun got it, smiled wryly.
"Alright. The item?"
"Here."
A small case from her subspace pocket. He unlocked it eagerly.
Silver ingot sealing a tiny flame in its clear core. Louise peered curiously.
"What's that? Projection Alloy?"
"Yep."
The special metal from intro week.
Lee Se-hun withdrew it, inspecting.
Projection Alloy
Grade:Advanced | Quality:Top
An alloy with extremely heightened mana sensitivity.
Skips smelting, forging, and honing—morphs via infused mana.
Post-morph reprocessing sharply drops durability.
*Infuse mana to morph shape.
"Nice pick."
Projection Alloy wasn't ideal for proper gear, but this quality? Usable.
As Lee Se-hun approved Jake's choice—
"I got it."
Erika stated firmly.
"...You?"
"Yeah. Not Myers. Me."
No mistake. Lee Se-hun nodded, grasping her intent.
"Mm. Impressive."
"..."
"Next time, I'll ask you first. Cool?"
"Anytime."
She nodded satisfied at the praise. He smirked at her transparency.
"Hey."
Louise tapped his arm from across.
"So, what're we doing with it? Spill."
"Got it. No need to rush... Ah, you're free to go now. Thanks."
"..."
Erika eyed the alloy and pair, then spoke slowly.
"Making gear now?"
"Yeah."
"Lemme watch."
"Uh..."
"What're you saying?"
Louise snapped first, glaring irritably, eyes narrowed.
"We're done. Out. Don't interfere."
"..."
"Deaf? Get out of my room."
Erika stared blankly, then ignored her completely, turning back to Lee Se-hun.
"Lemme watch."
Treated like air. Louise's eyes twisted, teeth grinding.
Grind—
Air chilled instantly; mana churned with their emotions. Tension spiked. Lee Se-hun eyed them pitifully.
"Fighting over nothing... Curious? Watch then."
"Yeah."
"Hey!"
Louise protested fiercely, but he approached unfazed.
"Come on. Time's wasting. Open up."
"Ugh..."
She glared rebelliously at his beckoning finger, sighed, and opened wide again.
Fresh gloves on, Lee Se-hun resumed probing her mouth depths meticulously.
"Continuing: Wands or staves don't suit you. Word spirit's activation is way shorter than standard spells."
"What's that got to do—?"
Erika questioned for the gagged Louise. He explained evenly.
"To wield properly, infuse refined mana to make it an extension of your body. But she only refines in her mouth."
"Location issue."
"Right. Bite a weapon, sure, you could infuse—but then no spells."
Word spirit users stuck to body aids or custom 'dedicated weapons'.
"This oral exam's part of crafting one. Clear now?"
"..."
No clue how mouth-probing tied to weapons, but Louise trusted he wasn't lying—nodded faintly.
Cranky, but honest.
'Still, kick her out...'
Erika stared blankly—at him, precisely her mouth.
Ignored her earlier, but not him. Irritation bubbled oddly in Louise.
'Why's she piss me off so much?'
Bad first impressions? Face alone grated.
Especially post-chat, she seemed smug—like she'd won.
As Louise unconsciously ground teeth—
"Hey, my hand."
"Oops. Sorry."
She startled, reopening. He stroked her molars.
"Don't grind bare. Teeth'll ache on cold stuff later."
She snorted.
"Worry 'bout yourself."
"Worry? This is all for your health."
"Gross."
He eyed her brush-off oddly.
Those tips? Future Violent Dog's words to him.
'Yeah, won't get it till you're old.'
Ice cream face-sourer. Smirking at the memory, Louise narrowed eyes, clamping down.
"Ow! You bit on purpose."
"Did not."
"Liar. I'll just—"
"Mmph?! Hey! No tongue tug!"
Bickering mid-exam. Erika watched with a strange look.
'...Feels familiar.'
Met day one—barely a week, yet like years together.
Lee Se-hun, always distant regardless— this intimacy felt like another person.
"..."
For the first time, she took in the silver-haired girl opposite: Louise Valente.
Maybe the real threat wasn't Jake Myers or Department Head Ryu Eun-ha.
Thus, Erika reassessed Louise.
'That glare's nasty.'
The rift between them deepened.
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