Chapter 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Don't Skip Classes
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There was one piece of advice commonly given to new students at Babel Academy, regardless of their department, shortly after enrollment.
"No matter what happens, don't skip classes until the end of the first semester."
It sounded like the usual encouragement to study diligently. But once freshmen truly began their life at Babel, they quickly realized the deeper meaning behind it.
"A friend who missed three days due to injury, eh? Take all these piled-up assignments and finish them by the end of the week."
"Today, we'll train to block 38 irregular attacks using automata. You missed last class? Then just skim it and keep up."
Missing just a few days meant facing dozens of stacked assignments or brutally unreasonable lessons.
Of course, every cadet at Babel was exceptionally talented, so they caught up quickly. The problem was that by the time they did, a new mountain of assignments had piled up.
"What kind of classes are these...?"
"I should've picked just one minor..."
Cadets who had casually signed up for multiple minors felt the burden grow, and some began abandoning the tougher classes.
As failing grades crept up on those who ignored the advice,
"Here are your backlog of assignments."
Thud!
Lee Se-hun faced the full brunt of it himself.
"......"
Staring at the mountain of papers before him, Lee Se-hun wore a puzzled expression.
He was sure he'd enrolled in Barrier Control, so why was this pile greeting him?
'Did they change the course in two weeks?'
As he absently pondered that nonsense while staring silently at the stack, Professor Robert, the instructor, spoke calmly.
"Due by the day after tomorrow. They'll all factor into your grade, so I recommend completing every one. Of course, if you're confident you can make it up on the first-semester exam, feel free to skip them."
"The day after tomorrow..."
"Class is starting now, so take your seat. In your current state, you won't follow anyway—feel free to work on assignments."
Turning away as if done, Robert prepared for class. Lee Se-hun stared blankly at the pile before sighing deeply and stuffing it all into his subspace pocket.
'This is why I hated school.'
How could assignments pile up this much in just two weeks? And this was only from Barrier Control—what chaos awaited in his other classes?
'Forging Department is mostly practical, so it'll be fine... tch.'
If it were a field he'd studied pre-regression, he'd half-ass it and recover on the exam. But barriers were new this time around.
Lee Se-hun's philosophy was to master anything thoroughly the first time, no redos needed. He steeled himself.
'Just pull an all-nighter or two.'
Deciding to complete every assignment, he sat in an empty seat.
"Hi."
Erika slid into the seat beside him as if it were natural.
"......Weren't you sitting over there earlier?"
"Yeah."
"Why'd you move?"
"Because you sat here."
Her blunt style showed no intent to hide anything. Lee Se-hun knew she meant nothing by it, but the surrounding cadets didn't.
Sip...
Huh...
Is it real...?
The cadets whispered, incredulous even seeing it themselves.
A few from the Sorcery Department glared with bulging eyes, as if he'd stolen their treasure.
'Anyone would think I forced her to sit here.'
As Lee Se-hun eyed them in disbelief, Robert finished prepping and tapped the board to gather attention.
"Continuing from last class, we'll cover control methods applying Five Elements counters in all directions. First, align with the cardinal points..."
Robert pressed on, ignoring those absent or struggling.
True to his word, the content was incomprehensible. Lee Se-hun sighed.
'Guess I'll do assignments.'
Pulling some out from his subspace pocket, he flipped through and read the instructions.
'Using the example spells, form a barrier with entrances at NNW and SSE on a 16-directional grid... In short, assemble it.'
It was like piecing together parts from shapes alone, no manual. Intrigued by the complexity, Lee Se-hun leaned in.
'Let's see...'
As he stared intently, nearby cadets glanced over curiously.
'Why's he just staring?'
'Mental math on that?'
Robert's assignments looked fine but had key omissions, requiring tweaks. Too many variables to solve without testing.
'Too conspicuous during class, maybe...'
'Tch tch, that's what you get for missing two weeks...'
As they watched skeptically, Lee Se-hun twirled his pen lightly, eyes sparkling as he gripped it.
Scratch-scratch-scratch-
He assembled the barrier in one go, flipping to the next.
'Now, SW entrance, SSW exit on 16-grid...'
The spells differed, but examining the structure, he smirked.
'Similar after all.'
Different spells, same twist pattern—the professor's "habit." Grasping it, Lee Se-hun easily fitted them.
Scratch-scratch-scratch—
Initially, he'd pause minutes per problem, but speed grew with practice.
Finally finishing the day's backlog, he wrote answers instantly upon reading.
"......"
"......"
Other cadets forgot class, staring blankly.
Problems they'd groaned over, manipulating spells—they watched him copy answers effortlessly!
'Showboating?'
'No way he'd waste time on that...'
Plus, his faint smile radiated the thrill of solving. Baffled cadets glanced at Erika beside him.
"......"
She ignored class, eyes fixed on his work, nodding slightly at the answers.
Realizing what that meant, their eyes widened.
'Real answers?'
'No way...'
All those scribbles were correct?
As shock rippled through the cadets at his unexpected skill,
"This year's advanced class is impressive."
The professor's admiring voice echoed from the front.
"So basic you didn't need to attend? I underestimated you all."
"Ah..."
"Th-that's not..."
Suddenly aware, they broke into cold sweats. Among Sorcery professors, this man was notoriously ruthless.
"Don't worry. I'll 'adjust' to your level properly."
Finishing calmly, Robert resumed class. The cadets' faces hardened.
Barrier Control was already tough in Sorcery. Now harder?
Half-hearted study could mean real failure.
'We're screwed.'
'Insane...'
As dismay spread, the two stayed focused.
Scratch-scratch-scratch—
Lee Se-hun powered through; Erika checked and nodded beside him.
Two hours later, the bell rang. Robert ended class.
"That's it for today. Grab the new assignments on your way out."
Sighing at the thick stacks from the TA, cadets rose. Lee Se-hun paused his frantic pen.
"Phew..."
Two hours of unfamiliar work left his head throbbing, but worth it.
'Didn't expect to finish the day's in one go.'
A mountain beside him—all two weeks' worth done. Pride mixed with unease.
'But is solving it like this okay?'
Exploiting Robert's patterns felt more like puzzles than barrier study.
Would it help? As he pondered,
"All done?"
Robert approached, eyeing the stack.
"Ah, yes. All finished."
"Hm..."
Glancing at Lee Se-hun, he pulled a few, skimming answers.
Flawlessly complete barriers, grasping the caster's intent perfectly.
With this, similar ones could be dismantled simply, like before.
'No wonder the young lady's watching...'
Eying Erika's stare, he set them down.
"Good work. Don't forget the new ones."
"Yes. Thank you."
Bowing, Lee Se-hun gathered them and left, Erika following naturally.
Walking side-by-side amid stares—routine now—Lee Se-hun pondered his next class.
'Next is... Weapon Fundamentals?'
Taught by Forging Professor Kim In-cheol. Hospitalized right before, first time today.
'Curious about this one.'
Pre-regression, a fringe theory; now researched at Babel, maybe different.
As he mulled,
"Can you make a weapon for me too?"
Erika asked casually.
"Weapon?"
"Yeah."
"Why suddenly? You don't even use weapons."
Her entrance demo: just a plain crow familiar, no talismans or aids.
She seemed as distant from weapons as bare-handed Jake.
"I want one you made."
"Never cared before... Wait, is this about Louise?"
Others saw Louise stronger; Erika witnessed Berg's creation and power firsthand.
No wonder her interest sparked.
"......A little."
Her hesitant admission drew an involuntary chuckle from Lee Se-hun.
'Even she's a cadet at heart.'
She hid it, but craved strength.
Natural, to claim her family head position.
"What kind exactly?"
"Anything you make."
"......Got it."
Lee Se-hun sighed inwardly.
Rookies saying "anything" meant the trickiest, most annoying requests.
'Make something helpful, unobtrusive, perfectly suited—figure it out.'
Casually whipping one up led to regret. He'd learned that as a newbie.
'A weapon for her...'
Observe talent, mana, style for specs.
But Erika? No need—he knew her pre-regression S-rank hero weapon.
'Roughly replicate that mythic-grade one.'
Materials tough, but her problem.
Blueprint draft formed instantly—not hard. Meeting her gaze,
"Sounds tough."
He refused outright.
"......Why?"
"Prior commitments, backlog to make."
Dream Tusk memory aid urgent. Jake's sword. Yeom Seong-ha's spears, Louise's gear too.
Yeom and Louise had time till bond stones; Dream Tusk and Jake delayed too long—must now.
"......"
Shocked, as if rejection unthinkable. Her high hopes evident, Lee Se-hun wavered when—
"Ah, there you are!"
Blond Jake bounded over excitedly.
"Got all the materials you wanted! Ready now?"
Too pumped to notice Erika, spilling freely. Lee Se-hun nodded.
"If prepped, yeah. But like I said, even starting now, a week till done."
"Fine by me. But details on the sword...?"
Grinning, he froze at sudden chill, glancing aside.
"......"
Erika stared blankly.
Her sunken, concentric eyes made him flinch.
'Wh-what?'
Annoyed at his interruption?
Her unease rivaled no-contact anxiety. Panicking, she turned to Lee Se-hun.
"That prior commitment... Myers?"
"One of them."
"Why accept his?"
Intent clear, Lee Se-hun smiled slyly.
"Hero-grade item, good intel. Paid well—gotta reciprocate."
"Commission fee..."
Muttering, she pondered, then nodded.
"Got it. I'll come back later."
Glancing at Jake, she left. Lee Se-hun smiled warmly.
Her auction splurge meant solid offerings next time.
'Worthy of a slot.'
Musing possibilities, Jake beside him asked cautiously.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Utterly baffled, drawing Lee Se-hun's chuckle.
"A little?"