Chapter 60
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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"What an idiot..."
Yeom Seong-ha muttered in dissatisfaction as he stormed out of the hospital room. Lee Se-hun watched his retreating back, narrowing his eyes.
'That guy's always been paranoid, even back then.'
He had a personality where if something didn't seem rational to him, he'd suspect it first and ask questions later.
That mindset wasn't inherently bad, but for Yeom Seong-ha—or more precisely, Mad Dog—it was taken to an extreme that caused problems.
'It took three years before he'd even drink the water I gave him.'
Before that, he'd smash every water bottle I tossed him with a spear, or if I approached when he was injured, he'd flip out thinking it was an assassination attempt. It had given me headaches more times than I could count.
'Compared to back when he was Mad Dog, this is tame... but I still need to sort him out depending on the situation.'
He could flip his own table all he wanted, but if he started trying to upend someone else's—like he just did under the guise of helping—that was a real problem.
As Lee Se-hun pondered how to handle that paranoia,
"Don't get too close to Yeom Seong-ha."
Erika, perched on the edge of the bed, spoke calmly.
"He's become even more precarious since officially taking his place as heir. One wrong step, and you'll get dragged into the Flame Flower Sect's power struggle."
"What... He wouldn't make a fuss just because we're acquaintances, right?"
"He will."
Erika answered immediately, looking at him with a serious expression.
"The current sect leader, Yi Won-ryong, is exactly the type to do that."
Whether Yeom Seong-ha was still at Babel Academy or not, if Yi Won-ryong saw him as a hindrance, he could act drastically at any moment.
At Erika's warning, Lee Se-hun revised his view of the Flame Flower Sect's current leader.
'I've heard he's a sly bastard... but apparently even more than I imagined.'
With timelines diverging from his regression, he'd need to watch his movements carefully. Having reached that conclusion, Lee Se-hun looked at Erika.
"Then tell me if it starts getting dangerous."
"......"
She'd warned him not to get close, and here he was asking her to warn him if danger arose. Seeing his attitude that showed no intention of backing down, Erika wore a strange expression.
'Does Yeom Seong-ha have that much value to him?'
The world saw Yeom Seong-ha as a promising talent, but hero circles tended to avoid him.
Regardless of his talent, his position within the Flame Flower Sect meant any entanglement could lead to annoying misunderstandings of internal interference.
Yet he knew that and still wanted to keep him around. After pondering Lee Se-hun's intentions for a moment, Erika came to a quick conclusion.
"Got it."
Getting involved in the Flame Flower Sect's power struggle could be a hassle, but Lee Se-hun clearly deemed it worth the risk.
"In exchange, you need to make my armament soon."
Then she'd just leverage that. Lee Se-hun nodded readily at her condition.
"That's no big deal."
The Yin-Yang Ring he'd brought this time was probably the advance payment for the armament they'd discussed last time. Add in the info on the Flame Flower Sect, and it was a fair trade.
"Oh, here. Eat as much as you want."
"Okay."
Lee Se-hun pulled a handful of Jason Cherries from the bag and handed them to Erika. Louise narrowed her eyes at the sight.
"I bought them for you to eat, not her."
"Once given, it's done. Why fuss over it...? Want some?"
"No thanks. Don't get all smug just because you got something expensive..."
Louise grumbled in annoyance and glanced away, only for her eyes to meet Erika's as if on cue.
"......"
Munch munch─
Erika ate the cherries pointedly, staring right at her.
The provocation was obvious. Louise's eyes twitched, and she ground her teeth, muttering.
"That stupid hero-grade elixir... Just you wait..."
Her mutter was filled with resentment. Ignoring it, Lee Se-hun turned to Jake.
"What about you? Something happen?"
"Huh?"
"You look thinner these past few days."
His pallid, gaunt face and visibly deteriorated condition puzzled Lee Se-hun. Jake gave a wry smile.
"Ah, that. Actually... that's what I came to consult you about."
"Consult?"
At Lee Se-hun's echo, Jake glanced at Louise and Erika. Catching the hint, Lee Se-hun turned to them.
"You two, step out for a bit."
"Tch..."
"Sure."
Once they left, Lee Se-hun immediately asked Jake,
"Something wrong with the Water Golem's core?"
It was the only thing that fit—a sudden decline after a few days, prompting him to seek me out.
Jake shook his head at the question.
"The core itself is fine. Assimilation seems to be going well."
"Then?"
"But... it's consuming too much blood? I have to give it so much every day that it's getting tough. That's why I came looking for a solution."
Lee Se-hun looked puzzled at Jake's weary explanation.
"How much blood are you giving it?"
Assimilation blood needs varied by temperament, but it shouldn't drain him this much in days.
"About 1L a day, I think."
"......What?"
Lee Se-hun's eyes widened at the answer.
For someone Jake's build—around 170cm—total blood volume was roughly 3L. Using a third daily for assimilation?
As Aqar Quf's top student, he'd only ended up gaunt. A normal person would've collapsed long ago.
'No, more than that—there's no way it needs that much.'
In his past life, Lee Se-hun's max during assimilation was 300ml. Three times that?
This wasn't temperament; something else was at play.
"Got photos?"
"I filmed a video."
Lee Se-hun took the phone and played it.
Jake cut his hand instead of fingertip, dripping blood into the mana stone solution. The massive volume soaked into the submerged Water Golem core.
Examining closely, Lee Se-hun spotted changes and looked surprised.
'Well, look at that... Magic circle's altered, and it's smaller.'
Red lines had appeared between the ones he'd inscribed, and the core had shrunk about 5% since last time.
For something as delicate as a Water Golem core, it should've shattered. Yet assimilation progressed smoothly—even improved.
"Those red strokes on the magic circle—did you draw them, Jake?"
"No way. I just gave blood as instructed."
"Hmm. I see..."
No involvement from Jake meant one explanation: the core had modified the circle and mutated on its own.
'No such function in the material, so the cause is Jake's blood...'
Pinpointing it, Lee Se-hun glanced at the waiting Jake.
'Never imagined he'd have a mutation constitution.'
A rare trait where one's body 'mutates' due to personal abilities like skills, circuits, or affinities.
Uncommon even among heroes—and Jake was one.
'Core shrinking suggests link to his unique skill... This could turn out interesting.'
Might yield better than expected. Returning the phone, Lee Se-hun explained. Jake looked shocked.
"Me, a mutation type...? Never crossed my mind."
"Effects build over time, so it's hard to notice. Without assimilation, you might never have known."
In his past life, no mention of it—possibly undiscovered till death.
"Maturation's fine, so no worries. The blood might even make a better sword."
"Ooh..."
Jake's eyes sparkled at the prospect. Lee Se-hun placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"But for that, you'll need to push a bit more..."
"What? Anything I can do!"
Seeing his enthusiasm, Lee Se-hun looked awkward.
"From the video, longer maturation seems better. How about two more weeks?"
"......"
Jake's eyes twitched.
Already exhausted juggling blood-giving, classes, and assignments—extend it?
The retort nearly escaped, but he swallowed it.
'A better sword...'
He'd make swords like this repeatedly anyway. Better adapt now.
After a moment's thought, Jake steeled himself and met Lee Se-hun's gaze.
"I'll give it a shot."
"Good. I'll check when I can, so keep at it steadily."
Visual checks helped, but nothing beat hands-on.
Jake nodded.
"Got it."
"Alright, that wraps it up?"
"Yeah... Wait, hold on."
Jake stopped Lee Se-hun from calling back the others, as if remembering.
"Forgot to mention something amid the talk."
"What?"
Jake grew serious.
"The exchange meet. Date's set."
Evening, after everyone left. Lying in bed, Lee Se-hun sank into thought.
'Noblesse exchange meet, huh...'
A gathering of cadets from prominent hero backgrounds and the talented ones they selected.
Called an exchange among cadets, it was essentially a microcosm of the hero world—vast, sticky with intrigue.
'Not my favorite place... but I should go.'
Future powerhouses gathered there. Leverage past knowledge, and gains could be huge.
'First, escape this room.'
The meet was next Saturday.
Only a week left—move fast.
Decided, Lee Se-hun pulled out the Yin-Yang Ring and Shadow Ether from Erika and Jake.
'Haven't raw-dogged elixirs like this in ages.'
People thought swallowing them raw built strength easily, but it wasn't.
A lapse could clash with mana, cause reflux, twist skills via constitution shifts—side effects galore.
—I'll assign a pro support team later, so don't take any till recovered. You could die.
His body was like cracked glass now.
Even fully prepped, risks high—Erika had warned repeatedly.
If common sense ruled, he wouldn't. But he'd ditched that long ago.
Gulp─
The Yin-Yang Ring evaporated down his throat.
A heavy mana slammed into his gut, exploding outward.
"Urk...!"
Like a bomb in his belly. Amid shredding pressure, Lee Se-hun activated Mental Image Divine Magic.
Vmmm!
Common wisdom: don't strain injuries. Lee Se-hun disagreed.
Forging happened on hot metal—vulnerable states take change easiest.
'Injuries are the same.'
His wounds: traces of overexertion beyond limits.
'Forge' them right, and a superior body emerges.
Crunch─
The ring's energy tore muscles and bones per his mental blueprint, forcibly rebuilding.
One slip, and he'd burst. Balancing on that edge, he pressed on without hesitation.
'Muscles and bones done...!'
Finishing physical tweaks, he shoved remnant energy into his mana circuits.
Whoosh!
Vast influx ignited his fire-affinity 'Crimson Lotus' like fresh fuel, blazing fiercely.
Sizzle─
It scorched his weakened circuits, racing wildly.
So violent the restraining bandages singed. Lee Se-hun gritted through the pain.
The rising heat tempered circuits stronger, deepening fire power.
"Hup...!"
Steam rose from his body. Devouring the ring, Crimson Lotus flared endlessly—then faltered.
Pure yin mana it couldn't absorb. Confirming essence formed, Lee Se-hun swallowed the held Shadow Ether.
Rumble─
It seeped into organs like glue.
Crimson Lotus resisted fiercely, but he preempted a new path.
Shhhr─
A separate circuit, non-overlapping.
Recognizing its home, Shadow Ether flowed in naturally. He infused the yin mana from Crimson Lotus.
Grr rumble─
Denser Shadow Ether absorbed it. Crimson Lotus at peak blaze.
Affinities cycled domains, honing body to his design.
At limit—
Clang!
Mental hammer struck the finished form.
"Cough cough! Ack..."
Ears rang from the forge-echo, dry coughs nonstop.
Black smoke poured instead of spit. Lee Se-hun grimaced.
Waste incinerating from tissues—indescribable stench.
"Tch... Better than before, at least..."
Past life, so much smoke he'd been banned from workshop and shunned by master for a month.
Smiling at the memory—
Crack─
Bandages burst.
Overwhelmed by mana surges. Lee Se-hun shed gown, inspected.
"Oh..."
Muscles sharper, structure robust—like years of training.
'This... the power of money...?'
Admiring the superior polish—
Skill 'Mental Image Divine Magic' greatly increases all stats.
Attribute Mana 'Crimson Lotus (E+)' has been strengthened to 'Crimson Ring Flame (D+)'.
Attribute Mana 'Moon Shadow (D)' has been awakened.
[Lee Se-hun]
A vivid crimson fire-attribute mana that circulates on its own.
Specialized in melting metals into liquid; controls flame flow for 'circulation,' reducing consumption.
A dark-attribute mana like shadows under moonlight.
Weak dominance but excels at eroding objects; can partially 'project' target's properties.
"Oh... Turned out nice."
All stats up 50+, hitting C-rank. Magic power—his biggest gripe—led the pack.
Second affinity Moon Shadow was solid too: compatible with Crimson Ring Flame, useful for upcoming armaments.
'Prep's good... Just need an assistant.'
When would that boastful senior contact him? As he debated reaching out—
Vmmm─
Phone screen lit. Lee Se-hun checked.
[Complete] - Lea Clodel.
Two confident words. He chuckled.