Chapter 6
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Flame-Stacking Sheath
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“Oh……”
Crimson flames undulated from his right hand all the way up to his elbow.
The Crimson Flame surged as if to devour his entire body, exuding an intimidating pressure that would make even artisans accustomed to fire shrink back. Yet Lee Se-hun grinned instead.
Because for all its ferocious appearance, it never climbed higher than his elbow.
‘This is beyond expectations.’
Before his regression, that might have been possible, but with his current body, wielding flames of this magnitude was nearly impossible.
He could control fire, but his mana reserves were too low to sustain it properly.
However, the skill that enabled him to do so efficiently was the newly added ‘Bond Engraving’ to his Blacksmith of Bonds.
Bond Engraving: Bond Stones can now be equipped on the body for use. Equipable areas: ‘Left Arm’, ‘Right Arm’.
A skill that allowed him to equip bond stones directly onto his body, which had previously only been used as materials.
It was a brand-new skill he’d never seen before his regression, and its potential was limitless, as evident from its effects alone.
‘The flame-gathering effect of the Flame-Containing Iron. Apply it to my right arm to contain the Crimson Flame.’
Then, using the resistance and control from the ‘Flame Artisan’ skill he’d acquired during the entrance exam, he manipulated the Crimson Flame.
A mere Lv.1 bond stone, which he hadn’t even been able to use properly in the past, now produced tremendous results simply by combining these elements.
‘Of course, it’s crude compared to before…… but this is more than enough.’
Lee Se-hun smiled as he gazed at the Crimson Flame in his hand, then picked up the materials he’d eyed in advance.
‘Hydraght and Crimson Blaze Stone. These two should do it.’
Just like the ones Hans had chosen, they were materials high in mana containment and infused with fire-attribute mana.
Michael narrowed his eyes at Lee Se-hun’s selection. Coincidence or not, it formed a symmetrical contrast to Hans’s water-attribute mana choice.
But his displeasure was short-lived. As he observed Lee Se-hun, Michael smirked triumphantly.
‘Looks like you’ve got some spirit…… but your skills don’t back it up.’
The material choices weren’t bad, and his control over the flames on his right arm was decent enough. However, his understanding of transmutation forging was woefully inadequate.
‘Transmutation forging uses pure mana to resonate and prevent attribute mana from rampaging. Wrapping himself in flames like that……’
He was probably trying to compensate for his lacking mana by using the flames for an easier resonance, but attribute mana didn’t just erode—it could introduce flaws when added in.
A classic mistake born of failing to grasp the essence of transmutation forging. As Michael sneered inwardly,
Boom—!
Another explosion rocked the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
He lightly tossed the ignition stone from his left hand like a pebble, and the flames engulfing his right hand roared wildly as they devoured it.
That alone was an astonishing sight, but the real marvel was at the center of the flames—Lee Se-hun’s fist.
Vrrr—
Within the violently churning flames, Crimson Flame flowed languidly around his fist like a protective embrace.
Hydraght and Crimson Blaze Stone had melted perfectly within it, merging into scarlet molten metal.
“What……”
Michael stared in disbelief.
Melting the ores quickly wasn’t strange—they were under firepower strong enough to cause explosions, after all.
But what he couldn’t comprehend was how the attribute mana within the two ores remained intact despite such a brutal melting method.
‘Clashing that much heat should naturally agitate the attribute mana into a rampage. It should, but……’
How had he melted the ores so quickly while suppressing the attribute mana’s outburst?
As Michael scrutinized for the cause,
“Cadet Lee Se-hun is quite remarkable.”
Ryu Eun-ha gazed impassively at his hand.
“To resonate the two ores the moment he activates transmutation forging. He must have exceptional understanding of materials or innate sensitivity to mana.”
“……He resonated them simultaneously with activation?”
“Yes. That seems to be why the attribute mana is preserved.”
Michael’s face twisted in incredulity at Ryu Eun-ha’s calm response.
Transmutation forging consisted of two main processes. First, resonating mana with the ore to alter its properties. Second, shaping the altered ore into a weapon.
Neither was easy, but the first—property alteration—was by far the trickiest.
‘Even identical ores vary wildly in resonance methods depending on mana arrangement and environment……’
Even Hans, well-versed in the technique, was still attempting resonance, and Michael himself needed over ten minutes with unfamiliar materials or settings.
Yet a mere freshman had completed the entire process instantly? It went beyond mere talent or understanding.
‘……There’s something more.’
No way a nobody like that had such talent and skill. Convinced, Michael’s eyes gleamed coldly.
‘I don’t know what trick you’re pulling, but it won’t go as planned.’
He could uncover any cadet-level shenanigans if he focused.
Deciding to examine closely, Michael activated his signature skill, ‘Jewel Eye (A)’.
Vrrr—
His vision shifted with a ringing in his ears.
The mana flows and structures within the ores, along with Lee Se-hun’s mana refining them, all became crystal clear.
The eye that had instantly detected impurities even in A-grade artisans’ work—the Jewel Eye that built Michael’s reputation—scanned Lee Se-hun thoroughly.
And then……
“……What?”
It witnessed the purest ore flows he’d ever seen.
* * *
‘He’s trying hard.’
Lee Se-hun inwardly mocked Michael’s glaring stare.
The strange ripple in his eyes suggested he was using a skill to check for cheating.
‘Can’t blame him.’
A cadet with an unremarkable record suddenly demonstrating masterful transmutation forging.
From the perspective of an industry expert overseeing the technique, it must seem unbelievable.
‘But I’m not here to explain.’
Michael and Hans seemed to view transmutation forging as an advanced refinement using alchemy and mana, but Lee Se-hun saw it differently.
Transmutation forging was a technique born to forge weapons using only mana in situations where normal forging was impossible.
Thus, its path diverged completely from standard methods.
‘Transmutation forging is about unfolding the life of the ore.’
Unlike conventional forging, which killed the ore and infused the blacksmith’s life into it, the structure was fundamentally different.
Yet they wielded it like regular forging, amounting to little more than boasting mana quantity.
Whoosh!
Resonance separated all impurities from the ore, and the scarlet liquid flowed alongside the Crimson Flame.
The lives within the two ores—the ore cores—had formed in Lee Se-hun’s hand.
“Whew……”
In transmutation forging, resonance was simply about locating and isolating the ore core’s roots.
But Hans had tried reshaping it to his desires, mixing in impurities and taking several times longer.
“Tch……”
Hans glanced over, bit his lip, and glared at his magic circle. Having underestimated his rival only to be surpassed, he must be feeling quite anxious.
‘Already messy, and now even more impurities……’
It wouldn’t prevent weapon creation, but impurities reduced durability and risked attribute mana rampage, turning it into a latent bomb.
That was transmutation forging’s greatest danger—and one of the misfortunes that befell ‘Violent Dog’ Louise Valente of the Three Dogs.
‘I was broke at Babel…… This Valmut guy said he’d make gear cheap if I did odd jobs. Worked for months, and he sold me a bomb.’
Before regression, the Three Dogs always claimed their twisted paths stemmed from past injustices.
Lee Se-hun couldn’t verify that and hadn’t cared to back then, but now was different.
‘To take down the Six Great Demon Gods easily, I’ll need their strength regardless. Better make them easier to win over.’
This time, he’d drag those mutts to the front lines, reformed physically or mentally.
And the first step was crushing Hans Valmut—the quack blacksmith who’d traumatized Violent Dog Louise Valente into dropping out.
‘Let’s go.’
Shaping the ore core into a weapon required infusing only the bare minimum intent to avoid damage.
And that minimal intent was the characteristics of the weapon’s destined user.
‘The perfect candidate here is……’
He glanced at the red-haired woman watching indifferently from the front—Ryu Eun-ha—then steadied his breath.
He eyed Hans groaning beside him.
“Watch closely.”
And began blooming the life of the ore core in his hand.
Whoosh—!
The Crimson Flame, rotating in a circle, gradually elongated into an oval, taking form according to his will.
To support the Five-Colored Flame Blade, the base shape was a scabbard. But a plain one wouldn’t impress the top student, let alone the strict department head.
Weighing various factors, the Crimson Flame sharpened in his grip, and the scarlet ore core slowly flowed inside.
Vrrr—
No flourish of dozens of magic circles, no grandeur of ores clashing in radiant chaos.
Just silently burning Crimson Flame and the flowing core within. A new life was forged from his fingertips.
‘Process complete.’
Boom—!
A massive pulse swept the exam hall.
Weapon ‘Flame-Stacking Sheath’ completed!
The most crucial aspect of any technique is grasping the intent behind it!
Though the mana and materials used are subpar, the blacksmith’s skill in newly blooming the ore’s life merits first-class acclaim.
Judgment: ‘Flame-Stacking Sheath’ grade is ‘Rare’.
Attribute mana ‘Crimson Flame (F)’ unlocked.
Dismissed the flurry of settlement windows before his eyes.
But Lee Se-hun focused instead on his right hand gripping the newly forged scabbard for the Five-Colored Flame Blade—Flame-Stacking Sheath.
Whoosh—!
Mana burned languidly, just like the flames he’d used moments ago.
Recognizing the familiar attribute mana, he promptly checked its details.
[Crimson Flame] 『F』
Fire-attribute mana reminiscent of vivid scarlet flames.
Specialized in melting metals into liquid form.
‘Wow…… It’s been a while.’
Before regression, during his apprentice days, this was the first attribute mana he’d unlocked and used daily.
He’d acquired it later than others and practiced obsessively—and now, once again, Crimson Flame was the first to bloom.
‘Not bad for my current state.’
Compared to the ‘Genesis Tincture Flame’ he’d wielded before, it was like a matchstick, but that was unavoidable now.
Resolved to steadily rebuild his strength, Lee Se-hun examined the completed weapon.
[Flame-Stacking Sheath]
Grade:Rare | Quality:Lowest
A scabbard infused with fire-attribute mana.
The ore cores of the source materials are fully preserved, amplifying fire-attribute mana potency.
Can store flames internally and maximize their flow for tremendous power. A creation highlighting the blacksmith’s ingenuity.
• Stores and amplifies fire-attribute mana.
• Enables skill ‘Wildfire’.
‘Hmm. As expected, the bond stone took effect.’
The materials used only held fire-attribute mana, but the completed Flame-Stacking Sheath gained the flame-storing property of Flame-Containing Iron.
Likely, using Bond Engraving during crafting had naturally infused the effect into the weapon.
‘This opens up truly endless uses.’
He could recreate pre-regression weapons earlier than before—and even improve upon them.
As his creative urges as a blacksmith surged,
Pop!
Something snapped in his right arm where Bond Engraving was equipped.
Bond Engraving ‘Flame-Containing’ fully depleted.
A notification that the Flame-Containing Iron equipped on his right arm had vanished. Lee Se-hun looked regretful.
‘Lv.1 doesn’t last long, huh.’
Still, better than nothing. Satisfied overall, he glanced at Hans, still midway through property alteration.
“Urk……”
Hans deflated upon seeing the completed weapon. He wasn’t talentless—he clearly recognized the gap.
‘Looks like he knows his place now.’
Lee Se-hun chuckled softly and waited leisurely for the remaining time.
“Exam end!”
Kim In-cheol’s voice signaled the additional test’s conclusion.