Chapter 53
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Subjugation Practice
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Saturday dawn.
Lee Se-hun, who had woken up early in the morning, packed his pre-prepared gear and headed to the 'Subspace Terminal' in Ur.
It was a massive five-story building.
Far grander and more luxurious than any ordinary public transit terminal, with security so tight it was ironclad—and rightfully so, given its importance.
'It's the hub connecting everywhere in the world...'
The central transportation nexus allowing seamless travel to hundreds of locations, from major capitals and cities to outposts in hazardous zones.
This Subspace Terminal was one of the key pillars sustaining the anomalous institution known as Babel Academy.
'I've always thought this, but... how do they even keep a facility like this running?'
Considering the sheer volume of wealth flowing through the terminal, it was prime bait for villains or terrorists looking to sow chaos in society.
Yet, despite those concerns, direct attacks on the Subspace Terminal were virtually nonexistent—even before his regression. The reason was simple.
'Because the owner is Ludwig.'
The place was personally created and managed by the Ascendant Emperor, the first Summit Climber and hailed as the strongest hero.
Most who attempted ambushes were neutralized beforehand, and even one of the Ten Evils from the Myriad Demons' Mire—known as the Great Evil—suffered heavy wounds and retreated.
Contrary to public worries, it maintained its prestige until Ludwig's mutual destruction with the Demon God of Annihilation. In a way, it was the ultimate investment opportunity.
'...Hold on. Why not just buy stock in this place?'
Whenever crisis rumors tanked the price, Ludwig would repel an intrusion, sending shares skyrocketing again in a steady upward trend.
As Lee Se-hun mulled over this sudden investment idea, he noticed the surroundings growing subtly noisy and looked ahead.
"......"
There stood Ryu Eun-ha at the agreed meeting spot, dressed in a sharp black suit.
With her signature expressionless face and red hair, no one could miss her. People naturally stole glances and murmured.
"Why's Ryu Eun-ha here? Backing someone?"
"Nah, she publicly chewed out the Seraphim Guild Master's son back then. She's famous for not doing that kinda stuff."
"Then does it make sense for an S-rank hero to head to a D-grade Danger Zone?"
The crowd buzzed with curiosity about her presence.
Watching their heated reactions, Lee Se-hun gained fresh insight into Ryu Eun-ha's stature.
'Even S-rank heroes are on another level.'
He'd seen her so often before his regression that he was numb to it, but normally, an S-rank hero was an untouchable existence—hard to even converse with, let alone befriend.
Add her role as Babel's department head, and few could stand before her without faltering.
'She used to just be a picky regular customer... Now she's a reliable patron.'
He felt glad for forging the right connection, yet bittersweet at how low his own position still was.
As Lee Se-hun gazed at her with mixed emotions,
"Ah."
Their eyes met—Ryu Eun-ha, waiting for him.
Spotting him, she strode over without hesitation. Her blank approach made the crowd reflexively part, leaving only the stationary Lee Se-hun.
"......"
Stopping right in front of him, Ryu Eun-ha silently scanned his body before asking calmly,
"Any injuries left?"
"Ah, yes. All healed now."
"Good. That's a relief."
Her emotionless tone carried genuine concern.
If his arm had issues, the weapons he'd craft next would suffer, robbing her of anticipated 'flavors.'
'Once she's hooked, she wouldn't care...'
Dealing with Ryu Eun-ha demanded constant vigilance. As Lee Se-hun reaffirmed this inwardly, the surrounding crowd buzzed anew.
"So the rumors of her sponsoring him are true?"
"No way... Ryu Eun-ha, of all people...?"
Rumors from the auction had spread about her interest in him, but they'd been dismissed as mere gossip.
Now, with proof of their private weekend meeting, it was different—news that would ripple through Babel and beyond.
Glancing indifferently at the reactions, the two locked eyes again.
"Shall we go?"
"Sure."
Neither was the type to fret over such trivial attention.
Ignoring the stares, they headed straight to a gate.
Beep—
Cadet Lee Se-hun. Entry to D-grade Danger Zone unauthorized.
Scanning his cadet ID summoned a hologram in the air. Ryu Eun-ha followed with her own ID.
Beep—
"I'll accompany him."
Department Head Ryu Eun-ha. Escort to D-grade Danger Zone confirmed.
The gate opened, leading to a passage where a massive blue gate shimmered—wide enough for ten adults abreast.
Ryu Eun-ha eyed the landscape beyond and warned Lee Se-hun briefly,
"It might make you queasy. Stay focused."
She stepped through first; Lee Se-hun followed.
Whoooosh—
One step, yet it felt like crossing vast distances—the gate's bizarre spatial distortion made him grimace.
'This shitty sensation hasn't changed...'
Perhaps because his body was younger, it hit harder than before.
Shaking off the lingering feeling, Lee Se-hun exited the building with Ryu Eun-ha.
"Still dawn here."
"Yes. Sunrise is five hours away."
The terminal grounds blazed with light, walled by massive barriers, but beyond lay the D-grade Danger Zone, Silver Moon Mountain—pitch black and lightless.
'Jurgen Kruger's item is in there...'
He'd arrived earlier than in his previous life; would it still be intact? Half-expecting, half-worried, he scanned ahead.
"Gear check first."
Ryu Eun-ha, facing him, spoke sternly.
"Show me what you'll wear today."
At her words, Lee Se-hun shed his coat, revealing his setup: Five-Colored Flame Blade and Flame-Stacking Sheath from the entrance exam; standard Babel combat suit underneath, with light greaves covering vitals.
It looked like gym clothes with slapped-on armor, but equated to two or three layers of steel plate.
'Paper-thin against real threats, though...'
His current body couldn't trade blows with elites anyway, and with Ryu Eun-ha along, no big issues.
As he thought this,
"Armor is lacking, as expected."
Ryu Eun-ha tapped her subspace pocket.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Out came a black cube; before he could protest, she pressed it to his body.
Click! Scraaaape—
The cube disassembled like a puzzle, clinging to his form and reshaping into sleek armor.
Clean and aerodynamic—like a suit from afar, fitting like a second skin. Surprised, Lee Se-hun checked its info.
Shadow Matter Armor
Grade:Hero | Quality:Top-tier
Armor forged from shadow-attribute material, Shadow Matter.
Adjusts to the wearer's body, dispersing impacts into surrounding shadows.
• Reshapes to fit wearer's form.
• Offloads strikes to connected shadows.
• Enables skill 'Shadow Hedgehog'.
'Armor from Shadow Matter... She put thought into this.'
No interference with physical prowess—true to subjugation practice goals—while auto-deflecting unresponsive attacks for safety.
Performance so perfect, it seemed custom-made for today. Curious, Lee Se-hun asked,
"You didn't buy this just for me, right?"
"A gift from before, unused in storage. Thought it might suit; fits perfectly, as expected."
Ryu Eun-ha nodded approvingly at his fully armored form. Glancing down, Lee Se-hun pondered.
'Not to her taste, then.'
She never casually handed over cherished or future 'meal' gear.
Giving it freely meant it was subpar or unwanted.
'Gift, huh? Someone tried currying favor clumsily... Tone-deaf.'
Even weapon lovers balk at obvious ploys.
Ryu Eun-ha might seem oblivious, but she was meticulous here—likely rebuffed the favor.
'Slapdash work too. Just shaped Shadow Matter into armor.'
Best case: material-faithful. Worst: lacked skill or ambition to maximize it.
'Bit of a waste...'
As he stared thoughtfully,
"All set. Let's move. Follow me."
"Ah, yes. Got it."
Tailing her, Lee Se-hun eyed the distant barrier gate.
A bluish magnetic field sealed the entrance, sparks crackling menacingly—intimidating to newcomers.
"Anti-magic magitech barrier. Harmless to humans—no worries."
She crossed first; he followed.
Zap!
Blue lightning coursed over him—like static everywhere.
Monsters or villains with internal magic would fry from rejection.
'As brutal as ever...'
Safely through, he turned to the forest.
A chill wind through dark woods—gloomy hills, but with one difference.
"Danger Zone air mixes mana and magic. It'll resist; acclimate slowly."
Breathing normally stung his lungs, body flinching as if threatened. Sensitive to trace magic, he smirked.
'Proves it's a fresh body.'
Mentally accustomed to tainted air, but physically new—instinct recoiled.
The oddity faded quickly; body synced with mind, filtering magic smoothly. Discomfort vanished.
"Think that's enough. How is it?"
In under a minute, he breathed naturally, filtering via respiration. Ryu Eun-ha's eyes widened slightly.
"Impressive. Even the quickest struggle at first..."
"Got some knack for it."
Adapting in under a minute was abnormal, but she didn't press.
"Excellent."
She'd long known his extraordinary talents; as a genius of abnormals herself, she shrugged it off.
"Then let's proceed."
She led into Silver Moon Mountain; he followed.
Whoooosh—
Magic-laced chill wind. No insect chirps—footsteps echoed loudly. Something watched from the dark.
As he surveyed the eerie magic-spawned ambiance, Ryu Eun-ha spoke plainly,
"Silver Moon Mountain monsters are nocturnal. Keen senses, high intelligence for scouting and ambushes."
Rustle—
"Hunting splits two ways: raid nests by day, smash patrols at night."
Glancing around, she veered.
"Nights like now: hide and pick off, or sweep indiscriminately. Usually the former."
She halted abruptly, staring into the brush.
"Here for your subjugation practice, so minimal intervention. Your move?"
After basics, she offered choices. To her direct question, Lee Se-hun faced forward and advanced.
"Got a solid guardian, so frontal assault."
"Reminder: no intervention unless critical. Armor prevents severe injury, but if it hits that threshold, we stop."
Drawing a firm line against reckless reliance on the armor.
Her ironclad nature meant she'd enforce it.
"Fine by me."
Lee Se-hun replied calmly to her warning.
This decrepit body wouldn't struggle against these foes.
"......Understood."
She stepped back; he took point.
Quiet woods. But hostility and gazes from the brush encircled silently.
As he walked on obliviously, trapped in the tightening net—
Grrrrr—!
Black wolves burst from cover, baring white fangs in unison.
Silver Wolves, E-grade monsters infesting Silver Moon Mountain.
Weakest here, but coordinated ambushes terrorized novices.
'Eight... A bit many.'
Armor ensured no harm, but combat's unpredictability lingered—especially hand injuries.
Ryu Eun-ha tensed for intervention when—
Vrrrrm—
His red-sheathed waist: Flame-Stacking Sheath boiled with fire mana.
Right hand crushed Five-Colored Flame Blade's hilt—
Bang—!
Five-colored flames arced crescent-like, cleaving wolves.
Thud, plop!
Bisected corpses tumbled; charred cross-sections reeked of burnt meat. Ryu Eun-ha's eyes rounded.
"......!"
Perfect timing: waited for all eight in range, then drew.
Technique masterful, but his weapon mastery neared 'perfection.'
'Amazing...'
Combat radiating distinct blacksmith essence, alien to other heroes.
Captivated by the novel spectacle, she silently admired him and his blade.
Grrrooowl—
"......"
"......"
A slightly embarrassing rumble echoed through the silent woods.