Chapter 52
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Treasure No. 1
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The cadets attending Professor Kim In-cheol's Fundamentals of Artifact Origins class each had their own personal interests—and hidden agendas.
They aimed to cozy up to Kim In-cheol, one of Babel's top-supported guiding professors, in hopes of scoring various forms of assistance. It was almost exactly the same goal Lee Se-hun had in mind.
"What do you think of this one?"
"Hm. It's a bit iffy. Using attribute infusion to boost purity was a good call, but it doesn't leverage any of the other advantages. We'd need to tweak the smelting method, I think."
"Exactly what I was thinking. If it were me, I'd adjust the ratios during smelting..."
But witnessing the scene before them—Lee Se-hun and Kim In-cheol casually examining countless artifacts and exchanging thoughts—the cadets had no choice but to realize the truth.
The opportunity they'd been eyeing had been completely snatched away by the top first-year student in the department, who showed up just two weeks in.
"That's all for today's class. Whenever you have time, observe carefully, and once you feel like you've grasped everything, come find me right away."
As the class ended, the cadets shuffled out with slumped shoulders. Watching their retreating figures, Lee Se-hun wore an awkward expression.
"I didn't mean to kill their motivation like that... You okay with this?"
"I'm fine. If they're the type to get discouraged by something this minor, they're not worth teaching anyway."
The words were firm, almost harshly so, but Lee Se-hun nodded in agreement.
"Fair point."
Babel showed the path to those who wished to walk it—it didn't force anyone along.
If someone lost heart because the class was too hard, that was one thing. But giving up just because a rival outperformed them? No need to coddle types like that.
'Well, looks like all the competition's gone now.'
Now it was just a matter of figuring out how to extract funding from Kim In-cheol. As Lee Se-hun racked his brain for a strategy,
"Any other classes after this?"
Kim In-cheol asked in a subtle tone.
"No. This was the last one for today."
"Hm... Mind sparing a moment? There's a proposal I'd like to make."
Seeing Kim In-cheol's serious expression, Lee Se-hun sensed his chance had arrived and nodded.
"Sure. I'm free."
"Then let's move somewhere else. Follow me."
They left the lecture hall, heading to the parking lot behind the main building.
Babel's artificial island was so vast that plenty of people owned personal vehicles, and Kim In-cheol appeared to be one of them.
'Must be the Babel effect. Everyone's got such expensive rides...'
Scanning the lot, Lee Se-hun's eyes widened at a motorcycle tucked in the corner.
Tires at least three times the size of a standard bike's, an engine radiating menace, and a red-coated body that looked no less intimidating. But the real standout was the materials.
'A V16 mana-hybrid engine that could power a ship, tires textured like basilisk hide... The frame's an alloy? At least Hero-grade...'
Even judging by what he could see, it outpriced every other vehicle in the lot combined.
Lee Se-hun eyed the monstrous bike with keen interest.
'Who the hell rides something this insane?'
As he wondered about the owner, Kim In-cheol strode up, casually popped open a storage compartment on the back, and pulled out a red helmet.
"Put this on."
"...This is your bike, Professor?"
"It is. Why?"
Kim In-cheol's innocent gaze—what's the issue?—left Lee Se-hun with a bemused look.
"Nothing. Never mind..."
Apparently, Kim In-cheol wasn't quite the frugal craftsman he'd imagined. Tucking that away for future reference on Bond Stones, Lee Se-hun donned the helmet and climbed onto the back.
"Better activate the safeguards, just in case."
Gu-gu-gung—
Kim In-cheol, up front, hit a button on the handlebars. The engine roared, and thin red mana cloaked Lee Se-hun's body.
Single-use, sure, but its durability rivaled top-tier Hero-grade armor. Stunned by the feature, Lee Se-hun's admiration turned to disbelief.
"Incredible machine."
"I've been using it reliably since before I became a professor. Treasure No. 2."
"No. 2, huh..."
What could No. 1 be? Reading his thoughts, Kim In-cheol adjusted his goggles and grinned.
"I'll show you No. 1 soon enough."
Bwoong—!
The engine bellowed exhaust as the bike rocketed out of the lot, smoothly hitting the road.
Despite its ferocious looks and speed, the ride was vibration-free and plush. Lee Se-hun marveled at how it naturally dispersed impacts as he inspected it.
'Feels like it's only using 30% output... Full throttle out here would be a disaster.'
This thing could probably mulch most monsters without braking.
As he admired the bike's prowess, Lee Se-hun noticed the scenery shifting.
'External district.'
Beyond the department zones where cadets roamed, this area housed Babel staff—and personnel from dispatched companies and guilds.
Practically a normal residential neighborhood. Kim In-cheol pulled up to a house in the remotest corner.
"This is my place."
A tidy two-story detached home with a yard—nothing to nitpick. But Lee Se-hun's gaze drifted to the adjacent building.
A structure topped with a massive chimney, built from alloys meant for specialized facilities. Obviously Kim In-cheol's workshop.
"You built here for the workshop?"
"Closer to the department zones means more restrictions on personal research. Had no choice but to come this far."
"Ah, yeah. Professor experiments can get risky."
They probably had safeguards, but one slip-up and who knew what could happen.
Even he, in his past life, had obliterated several mountains—workshop included—over a minor mistake.
'Headache getting wanted for that...'
Lost in old memories, Lee Se-hun snapped back as Kim In-cheol parked in the garage and beckoned.
"This way."
He led Lee Se-hun to the workshop and heaved up the shutter.
Chalala-lak—
"Whoa..."
Lights blazed on as they entered.
First to catch the eye: five furnaces lined along the wall. Through their translucent lids, distinct flames churned within each.
'Custom-tuned for specific uses. Maintenance on those must cost a fortune...'
Shelves and walls held neatly organized tools, plus mana engines and magitech devices galore.
A far cry from his modest exterior—this was a state-of-the-art workshop built with serious cash. It gave Lee Se-hun a solid read on the man.
'Open-minded when it comes to his field.'
No hesitation spending money or adopting tech.
But that revealed flaws too.
'If I impress, he'll fund me big. Otherwise, he'll just blow it all himself.'
To snag a budget, he'd need to sell himself hard.
As Lee Se-hun surveyed, Kim In-cheol donned thick gloves and grabbed tongs.
"Got any fire resistance skills?"
"I've got Flame Artisan, C-grade."
"That won't cut it. Suit up in the protective gear over there."
Lee Se-hun nodded and grabbed the suit from the wall.
[Salamander's Protective Suit]
[Grade: Hero] [Quality: High]
A protective suit crafted from the hide of the fire spirit salamander.
Consumes mana to regulate body temperature and absorbs external heat to generate mana.
• Consumes mana to regulate body temperature.
• Absorbs heat to generate mana. Restorable via heating if damaged.
• Grants skill 'Heat Control'.
'Gotta wear this?'
At least A-grade skill needed to handle the heat. Curiosity piqued about Treasure No. 1, Lee Se-hun suited up and approached.
"Stay put."
Kim In-cheol steadied his breath, stepped to the largest central furnace, and opened its lid.
Hwaaak—!
Heat blasted out the instant the lid lifted.
The workshop's barriers blocked it instantly, but the rippling air showed the flames' properties were no joke.
"Hoo..."
Facing the blast head-on, Kim In-cheol plunged the tongs deep and withdrew something.
Hwaruruk!
A blade glowing blinding white, seething with immense heat.
Slightly curved like a talwar, with a massive fissure along the inner edge leaking flames.
Woo-woong—!
Moisture evaporated instantly; even mana boiled. Like a shard of the sun. Lee Se-hun's eyes narrowed.
'That's...'
Different from what he knew, but familiar.
As déjà vu stirred his memories, Kim In-cheol grimaced, swiftly moving the blade to the anvil.
Kuung!
The anvil morphed into a massive cage, magic circles layering dozens deep to seal the heat.
Setting down the tongs with a sigh, Kim In-cheol beckoned from afar.
"Come closer. Keep the suit on, just in case."
"Got it."
Lee Se-hun approached in the suit and reexamined the blade—Treasure No. 1, by the look of it.
White-hot, suspended midair, caged in black metal and multilayered spells. He checked its info window.
[Broken Flame]
[Grade: Hero] [Quality: Top]
A blade infused with fire-attribute mana.
Originally a complete sword, but its core was destroyed, stripping all functions—even its ability to contain its own heat.
Releasing all stored heat will permanently destroy it.
• Permanently destroyed if all heat is expended.
• Current heat charge: 89%.
"Heh..."
Hero-grade top quality, even damaged with all functions lost. Intact, it must've been Legendary.
'Never thought I'd see something like this so soon...'
As Lee Se-hun examined it with fascination, Kim In-cheol gazed at the blade and spoke slowly.
"I've had it since before Babel. Back then, heat was under 10%. I threw every trick I knew at it to build it up."
But without fixing the core issue, maintenance drained him dry—his fortune vanished overnight.
"Sold everything but the workshop, poured every penny into upkeep... Still couldn't keep up. Was about to give up when the president showed up."
Agree to teach Forging Department, and Babel covers Broken Flame's maintenance. Irresistible offer from Ludwig—he accepted on the spot and moved to the island.
Lee Se-hun's interest piqued.
"So that's why you're researching artifact cores. To fix this."
"Precisely? I'd study anything if it fixed Broken Flame. President's just pushing that angle."
Kim In-cheol looked sheepish. Lee Se-hun eyed the blade again.
Wildly leaking heat warped the air, obscuring its shape—but he could guess.
Red blade etched with white flames. Meant to condense fire within, but the damaged core let it spill endlessly.
"Showing me this means you want my help with the research."
A Forging Department guiding professor asking a first-year freshman for aid. Absurd to most, but Kim In-cheol nodded calmly.
"Yes. Embarrassing to admit, but... I'm at a dead end."
No matter the field, decades of mastery brought unwelcome realization.
This was it—you couldn't go further alone. Fixing Broken Flame had hit him with a wall beyond past limits.
"That's why I want your help. Among every cadet—no, every blacksmith I've seen, you have the greatest talent."
Some denied their limits. Kim In-cheol accepted his and sought genius counsel. And that genius was Lee Se-hun, who'd stunned him repeatedly.
'I like him.'
Sincere, no bluster. Lee Se-hun nodded, pleased.
"Understood. Rare chance to study an artifact like this. If anything, I'm the one asking."
"Really? Thank y—"
"One condition."
Lee Se-hun glanced sidelong.
"Proper research means all sorts of materials... My semester budget's tight, so... ahem."
Beating around the bush but crystal clear. Kim In-cheol stared blankly, then chuckled.
"Don't make it that obvious."
Generous where it counted.
Confirmed, Lee Se-hun beamed and extended a hand. Kim In-cheol gripped it firmly.
Babel's prime funding source. Straw inserted.
"We'll do research once a week. Classes are full marks anyway—skip if something urgent comes up."
"Got it."
"Alright then."
Bwoong—!
The bike roared off into the distance. Gone in a blink, Lee Se-hun watched in wonder.
'Lots of reevaluation today.'
Not just artifact cores, but Kim In-cheol himself.
'Didn't think funding would be this easy.'
Seemed too rigid for flexibility. Who'd guess he'd hand it over willingly?
Endless possibilities ahead—but headaches too.
'Broken Flame... Totally screams Five Elements Armament.'
Among Legendaries, five dominated 'attributes': the Five Elements Armaments. Famous among heroes.
Madman gets one? City vaporized. Normal guy? Dead and stolen. Vanish, then spark wars. Pure trouble.
'All Legendaries draw fights, but these especially.'
They massively amplified same-attribute mana, permanently boosting affinity and control. Insane versatility.
Slaughterfests inevitable. Kim In-cheol's Broken Flame—"Fire Heaven Great Blade"—was one too.
'Last sighted pre-regression... with the Puppeteer.'
One of the Ten Evils, modding corpses and artifacts into automata.
He turned Fire Heaven Great Blade into 'Surtr'—an auto-puppet that roasted an S-rank hero, over 600 others, and 40,000 civilians.
Final self-destruct erased a city. Cataclysm didn't cover it.
'Prioritized for extermination because of that... But better if it never happens.'
If word got out, Puppeteer and worse would come hunting.
No clue how it'd get stolen from Ludwig's Babel, but prep ahead.
'Wouldn't agonize if I couldn't fix it...'
Misfortune or luck—he knew how upon seeing it. But it'd need specific prep...
Woo-woong—
Vibration cut his thoughts. Phone out, he read the message.
[Subjugation practice we discussed. This weekend works best—free? Reply please.] - Ryu Eun-ha
The practice he'd promised Ryu Eun-ha. Lee Se-hun pondered, then sighed.
'Not sure about fixing yet, but better secure it now.'
Miss this, who knows when next. Decided, he replied.
[Let's go right now.]