Chapter 57
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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[Phalanx of the Nameless One]
Grade:Hero | Quality:Top
The left index finger bone of the absolute being, 'Jürgen Kruger,' who succeeded in the complete ascent.
The body of a necromancer who treads the boundary between life and death serves as a powerful catalyst for necromantic magic all on its own.
Infuse it with mana to activate the three necromantic spells engraved upon the finger.
• Skill 'Eye of the Boundary' can be used.
• Skill 'Call of the Dead' can be used.
• Skill 'Nether Eye Realm-Darkness' cannot be used yet.
A hero-grade item from just a single finger bone... As expected from a summit climber. Terrifying.
One severed finger rivaled top-tier gear.
And that was after being separated from the body for so long. Had it not been, it might have held even greater power.
'Anyway, so this is the sensation... Definitely intriguing.'
Before his regression, by the time Lee Se-hun learned Jürgen Kruger's secret, every part of the body had already been reclaimed.
So he'd only heard the tales. This was his first time seeing it for himself, and it exceeded expectations.
'It spent ages inside Pholmont's body... yet not a trace of demonic corruption.'
Hero grade by classification alone—its potential might surpass that. The sight set Lee Se-hun's entire body tingling with excitement.
'This... could be put to good use if handled right.'
It came from a summit climber, so it wouldn't be easy. But impossible? No.
Designs flooded his mind in an instant. As Lee Se-hun pondered, a wet splat echoed from the cavern wall.
A dark crimson mass emerged.
"Me... long... endure... such... mistake..."
A halting voice reverberated. The dark crimson mass began to swell relentlessly, like contents bursting from an overstuffed barrel.
Eyes and teeth sprouted haphazardly across its surface. Limbs erupted only to smash back into the clay-like flesh.
Lee Se-hun narrowed his eyes at the form of Pholmont—or what had once been Pholmont.
'The item holding the knot vanished, so it rampages immediately... Old technique, poor completion rate.'
This predated his knowledge, so the 『Molting』 craftsmanship was inferior.
Wondering if there was more to gain, Lee Se-hun watched the rampage unfold.
"You...!"
Hundreds of eyes sprouting across the mass glared in unison.
"Kill...!"
Even as its ego crumbled, the killing intent burned clear. The flesh surged like a tidal wave in response.
The mass barreled toward him with enough force to engulf the entire cavern. Rather than flee, Lee Se-hun stood his ground and watched.
Krraaaang!
Thousands of teeth sprouted, poised to shred his body—
Crack—
A massive rift tore through the space before him.
BOOM!
The onrushing mass slammed back into the walls amid a colossal shockwave, trembling—not in rage, but fear.
Two hands emerged from the rift's gap, seizing it and wrenching it wide with brute force.
Grrrrrind!
A red-haired woman stepped from the pitch-black void. Ryu Eun-ha urgently scanned Lee Se-hun.
"Cadet Lee Se-hun! Any injuries...?"
"Ah. Perfect timing."
He greeted her casually, as if nothing had happened. But her eyes quivered at the sight.
His armor lay in ruins, his body bloodied from wounds everywhere. Clutching his chest with a trembling right hand—internal damage, clearly.
"......"
No fatalities, but grave injuries all the same. Her face hardened like frozen steel.
She appeared devoid of emotion. In truth, a storm of feelings churned within, too fierce to name.
And as it threatened to spill over—
"─────!!!"
The cavern quaked with a guttural bellow.
No ego remained in the mass, but it knew the most efficient use of its flesh: collapse the cavern and smother him.
Rumble—
Battle-worn cracks in the cavern. Dark crimson tendrils burrowed into them, shaking the surroundings violently.
'Collapse the place, then envelop and crush me with its body...'
Impressively quick thinking. As Lee Se-hun surveyed, Ryu Eun-ha approached with a calm gaze.
"Cadet Lee Se-hun."
"Yes?"
"You're in the way of finishing this monster. I'll relocate you briefly. Understood?"
"Ah, yes."
"Just in case, wear this. Looks ordinary, but it's hero-grade gear. No more injuries."
She shrugged off her black jacket and draped it over him, then gripped his shoulders.
"Planning to devour the White Light Sword to end it... Sorry I can't uphold my promise to let you watch up close."
"Ah, that's fine..."
She eyed only the kill, no savoring in sight. Lee Se-hun looked mildly troubled.
'If she doesn't enjoy it properly, that's a problem.'
Her verdict on the White Light Sword would shape future expectations. To ensure she didn't forget its purpose, he added:
"Please eat it deliciously."
"...Pardon?"
"I made it for you."
Caught off guard, she stared blankly before slowly nodding.
"I'll savor it properly."
She summoned all remaining light blood to amplify her mana, seized him firmly.
Gazing at the gaping hole in the ceiling, she drew her full power.
"Hup...!"
With all her might, she hurled him upward through the breach.
"Gyaah—!"
Alone now, Ryu Eun-ha drew her final weapon from the sub-space pocket.
Hummm—
Even in the dim cavern, the longsword radiated pristine brilliance.
Its elegant form proclaimed its presence without restraint. Unbidden, she swallowed hard.
'Made... for me.'
She knew it was flattery, yet anticipation swelled inescapably.
Suppressing the surge, she lightly bit the blade just above the guard.
She'd always devoured armaments whole before, but it wasn't strictly necessary. Devouring the indwelling power was key.
A single bite sufficed if she willed it.
Snap!
The blade shattered, its power melting into her mouth.
Devoured armament 'White Light Sword'.
Unique skill 'Dragon Soul Furnace' activates.
The honed blade's crisp texture. The mana circuits' rich savor. The artisan's profound umami binding it all—perfect harmony.
A clarity unimaginable for rare grade. Startled yet perplexed, Ryu Eun-ha reeled.
'This...'
First time tasting his work, yet it evoked aching nostalgia.
A flavor she'd savored long ago and yearned for endlessly.
As bafflement gripped her, changes stirred.
Furnace 1 'Flame Transformation' has reached critical point.
Furnace 2 'Vermilion Eye' activates.
The blaze scorching her red hair sank lower, igniting her eyes vermilion.
Heat roiled within, light blood boiled. Power beyond her projections left her stunned.
'Vermilion Eye in one go?'
Her unique skill, Dragon Soul Furnace, triggered bodily shifts as light blood accumulated, amplifying gains exponentially.
Phase 1, Flame Transformation, fired on any armament. Phase 2, Vermilion Eye, demanded prime rares—at least ten.
Yet this single blade achieved it.
'How...'
As Ryu Eun-ha faltered amid the anomaly, the mass reacted swiftly.
"────!!!"
It had sought to kill until moments ago. Now, terror drove it to flee.
The mass burrowed into the ground. Weakened B-grade with regeneration—letting it escape spelled trouble.
"...Tch."
No time to savor further.
She scowled and clenched her right fist.
Roooar!
A colossal hum erupted from within, her fist glowing hot.
Vast heat from light blood and mana melted her custom shirt's sleeve. Her arm, crimson to the elbow, blazed gloriously in the gloom.
All power converged in her fist.
"Hup...!"
A red meteor plummeted toward the cavern floor.
"Urk...!"
Confirming the battering wind had ceased, Lee Se-hun peered below.
Silver Moon Mountain's vista had vanished; only mana-tainted dark clouds filled his view.
Flung beyond the clouds, he marveled at Ryu Eun-ha's strength while gazing down.
'Hope she actually tasted it properly.'
Compared to his pre-regression self, his gear and physique lagged in every way. But one edge: Bond Engraving on Sense Iron let him experience the elusive 'armament flavor' firsthand.
'Limited samples make it iffy, but way better than blind guesses.'
Drawing from her pre-regression tales and his own tastings, he'd crafted the White Light Sword with flavor in mind.
Imagining her devouring it now, he watched tensely.
'Hope it didn't turn out mediocre.'
Countless smiths had slumped chasing her palate. He'd endured the same nightmare phase.
Anxiety resurfaced from old memories—then.
Thoom—
A red glow pierced the clouds.
"That's..."
The impossible sight widened his eyes. He hastily clapped hands over his ears.
"─────!!!!!"
A crimson flash rent the clouds, rocketing skyward.
Rumble rumble rumble—
Muffled through his palms, the deafening roar. The shockwave reached him, but the jacket shrugged it off cleanly.
"Ugh... my eyes..."
He'd shut them late; waiting out the afterimage, he looked down again.
A massive rent in the clouds. Hundreds of trees uprooted by the blast, landslides scarring the slopes.
"Holy..."
The terminal's barriers flared full-force, mistaking it for monster or cultist assault.
Gazing over the devastation, his eyes locked on the blast's epicenter.
"Insane..."
A colossal crater, hundreds of meters deep. The dungeon and nearby peaks vaporized entirely.
Lee Se-hun gaped at the carnage from one White Light Sword by Ryu Eun-ha.
'From a single blade? No way...'
That output demanded Phase 2 Vermilion Eye—prime rares times ten, minimum.
What the hell? As confusion mounted—
Whoosh!
A red meteor ascended from below.
"Descending."
The instant he felt grasped, he plummeted, landing softly at the crater's heart.
"Ugh..."
Dizziness hit harder than usual—his weakened state.
Cradled in her arms as he swayed, Ryu Eun-ha fixed him with a grave stare.
"Cadet Lee Se-hun."
"Y-yes..."
"What on earth did you do to the White Light Sword?"
No mere rare could unleash that. Her puzzled query drew a steady reply as he quelled his nausea.
"Just tailored it to your taste."
"...Pardon?"
"Figured you'd prefer this flavor profile. Not to your liking?"
"That's..."
Words failed her.
Past armaments weren't bad, but always nagged by tiny flaws: too sweet, salty, spicy, bitter. Infinitesimal regrets, uncorrectable.
'No one knew...'
Only she perceived armament flavors. None could comprehend or adjust for her.
She'd abandoned hope of a perfect match. Better to ignore than yearn fruitlessly.
"...No."
But this budding genius smith before her had reawakened that palate.
The lingering delight unveiled her nostalgia's truth.
The joy of finally meeting someone who understood her.
"It was truly delicious."
Target 'Ryu Eun-ha''s bond level rises to Lv. 2.
Bond level rise establishes a relation. Relation with target 'Ryu Eun-ha': 'Empathy'.
For one long isolated, an understanding soul becomes an unshakeable pillar.
Full understanding and empathy won't come easily, but widening that bond thread by thread forges an unbreakable tie.
• Bond stones generate each time the target feels empathy.
• Bond stone maturation accelerates when the target feels understood.
• Current bond stones: None.
The alert floating before him left Lee Se-hun dumbfounded.
'What the...'
Bond level jumping straight to 2 from a taste tweak?
He'd vaguely hoped it possible, but this easily? Unthinkable.
As he stared in shock—
"So, about that... I have a proposal for you, Cadet Lee Se-hun."
Still holding him, Ryu Eun-ha gazed intently. Unlike her usual impassivity, raw desire shone on her face.
Her eyes gleamed like she'd unearthed legend-grade—or beyond. Lee Se-hun realized instantly.
"How about making my meals every day from now on?"
His plan had overdelivered—big time.