Chapter 70
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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"Then, I'll come see you again next time!"
"Sure. I'll be looking forward to it."
"Th-thank you!"
The cadet bowed at a perfect ninety degrees, treating him like a superior, before leaving. Watching the cadet's retreating figure, Ren spoke calmly.
"That last guy showed some real potential. Let the Archery Department know and encourage more applications from him."
"Understood."
"And cut back sharply on that Alchemy Department kid from earlier—he doesn't have the talent. If he clings, make him sign a contract."
"Got it."
The Exchange Club members who had brought the cadets nodded at Ren's instructions. It was a selection process targeting new students.
Some might dismiss it as just cadets ranking each other, but the reality was different.
Cadets in the Exchange Club were backed by various corporations, guilds, and high-ranking heroes, each sponsoring selected talents.
'It's stronger than before.'
Especially after Ren took control of the Exchange Club, it had become far more organized and started receiving support from diverse groups.
An elite faction solidly united by their Babel origins. A new power was emerging where none had existed before.
As Erika quietly observed the scene, Ren checked the time and smiled.
"Let's wrap it up here for now. Good work, everyone."
"You too, sir."
The cadets bowed their heads and left, leaving Ren and Erika alone. Ren spoke plainly.
"When I move to fourth year, you'll take over, so pay close attention today. Once the foundation is solid, it'll be a huge boon for the family."
"Understood."
She thought it meaningless, but if the family needed it, she'd do it. At Erika's curt reply, Ren glanced at her before slowly speaking.
"By the way... that Lee Se-hun kid is a bit disappointing."
"......"
"I figured he'd at least notice the Black Mist Link."
The forbidden ritual 'Black Mist Link' that connected the target to the caster.
By itself, it was a curse with no effect, but its true value shone when combined with other spells.
It linked the target and caster, allowing curses and rituals to bypass resistance and seep deep into the body.
"A mere finger snap could rob him of bodily control, yet he's oblivious. What a joke."
Just like with Carter, whom he'd expelled from the banquet hall earlier, Ren could summon Lee Se-hun and force him to kneel if he wished.
Sighing in disappointment at the still-active Black Mist Link and the unstable mana beyond it, Ren continued.
"No need to watch him anymore... What do you think?"
"......"
At Ren's question, Erika recalled Lee Se-hun's reaction from right beside her.
'He definitely noticed.'
The moment the Black Mist Link pierced his right hand, she'd sensed his consciousness briefly turn toward it.
A faint reaction, hard to detect unless constantly observing him. Based on that, Erika guessed his intent.
'Given the level of countermeasures he showed before, something like the Black Mist Link would be trivial to dispel. Leaving it means... he's planning a counterattack.'
If so, her course of action was clear. Erika replied indifferently.
"If that's what you think, then do it."
Her response seemed apathetic yet carried conviction. Intrigued, Ren's expression shifted.
'This level of certainty...'
Was there something he hadn't seen? Ren, about to dispel the Black Mist Link, paused and reconsidered.
'Watching a bit longer wouldn't hurt.'
As he eyed his aloof sister Erika thoughtfully...
Chwajajak!
A burst of light and murmurs rose from one side of the banquet hall. Mana stirred through the Black Mist Link.
Recognizing the light's origin as the Valmut demonstration area, Ren quickly pieced it together.
"Bier..."
Daring to act despite seeing him step in. Frowning in rising displeasure, Ren headed straight for the demonstration hall.
And the moment he arrived, pushing through the crowd...
Chalkak chalkak.
He saw a weapon reassembling in midair.
Alchemical armament.
Highly versatile weapons assembled from parts to suit situations, dominating the future armament industry.
But early on, they drew little attention, for two main reasons.
"First, the performance sucks, and stability? Might as well have eaten it for breakfast. This scar on my chest? Not from a monster—from a prototype gone wrong."
S-Rank hero 'Weapon Master,' one of Lee Se-hun's regulars, had once specialized in alchemical armaments. He'd often griped about nearly dying from a sponsored prototype.
Lee Se-hun remembered the tale—and the storyteller was the 'Ironclad' before his eyes.
'Yeah... no wonder it blew up.'
True to hero-grade, its output was excellent, with 18 transformation forms—a solid number. Overall decent, but the structure was perilously unstable.
'Refining is a mess, tanking durability. Forcing extra mana circuits for more forms dropped the threshold way too low.'
Like stacking blocks into an inverted pyramid without glue.
Impressive-looking, but one nudge would topple it.
'Durability's too low for standard cold weapon use... Better specialize in armament skills.'
Direction set, Lee Se-hun manipulated the Black Spirit Threads linked to the Ironclad.
Chalkak! Kiririk—
Perfectly disassembled pieces repositioned and reassembled under his control.
A sword of layered small blades like an alligator tail. Grotesque form, but no instability anywhere.
Cheolkeok!
All pieces assembled, Lee Se-hun snatched the completed sword.
"Let's see... Waiter, over here."
Calling a passing golem, he plucked a fruit slice from its tray.
Tossed it into the air, then lightly swung the Ironclad.
Pang—!
Air tore with a rip, a wind blade cleaving the fruit in half.
Kugung!
The blade continued, clashing against the hall's protective magic on the ceiling. Such power from a casual swing.
As everyone stared blankly...
"Hand it over!"
Bier rushed up, snatching the Ironclad and checking the info window.
[Ironclad: Gale]
Grade:HeroQuality:Mid-High
An alchemical armament forged with Wave Stone crystals.
Organically linked joints allow whip-like flexibility, while mana circuits accelerate sword winds to form wind blades.
• Can generate wind blades by infusing mana.
• Skill 'Gale' usable.
• Can transform into other armaments.
"......"
The original Ironclad was a low-end hero-grade weapon; no transformation ever improved its quality.
Yet Lee Se-hun's version jumped to mid-high. Meaning he'd truly 'fixed' its flaws in that instant.
'Impossible...'
He'd chosen the Ironclad as bait—easy flaws to spot, impossible to fix.
Even their researchers couldn't mend it, yet he'd improved it on first sight. Bier's eyes chilled at the unbelievable truth.
'Must eliminate him.'
Miss this moment, and he'd climb beyond reach.
Composing himself, Bier glared at Lee Se-hun.
"A trick."
"What?"
"Boosted output without a thought for stability to raise the grade. Think I'd fall for such a cheap ploy?"
Murmurs rippled at "trick." Seizing the mood, Bier pressed on.
"Trying to fool me right in front of my eyes? Do I look that stupid?"
His voice dripped not just hostility, but disgust—like genuine contempt. It made other cadets feel it was true.
"Real trick?"
"Quality went up, though."
"Output hack, he says. Stability's key for alchemical gear—meaningless otherwise."
Bier, third-year Forging topper and Valmut heir. Lee Se-hun, first-year top but mired in injury scandals.
Opinions predictably swung; doubtful, suspicious gazes turned on Lee Se-hun.
No solid proof, and it might stick. Sensing Bier's ploy, Lee Se-hun smirked.
'Gonna drag this out no matter what.'
He could guess how. So, he met Bier's eyes with a grin.
"If you're so unhappy, test it."
"......"
"If it's a hack like you say, overloading with mana will fry it. Easy verification."
Tension gripped the crowd at his confidence. Gripping the Ironclad, Bier replied coldly.
"Don't regret it."
Woooong.
Gray mana gathered in Bier's hand—vast from hero elixirs consumed. The Ironclad trembled.
Unstable already without full infusion. It could break now, but for certainty, Bier activated his skill 'Core Resonance'.
Keeeing—
A-Rank skill resonating his mana with metal origins for control. Usually for forging, but could shatter armaments too.
'He'll get hurt worse than planned... but no choice.'
It'd clear suspicions perfectly. Resolved, Bier surged mana into the Ironclad.
Kikikigik—!
Metallic screeches like it might burst any second.
Blade unable to contain mana shivered; gaps widened as if crumbling.
Bier aimed to shatter the core for final explosion...
Chwajajak!
A gray sword blade unfurled before his eyes.
"...?"
Spine-like blades separated in midair, gray mana between them forming the blade.
Utterly unexpected. As all froze in shock, someone murmured incredulously.
"Sword ki...?"
Too defined for mere mana clump—pure sword ki. Everyone gaped; even Bier looked disbelieving.
'How...'
Sword ki armaments existed, just couldn't mass-produce. The shock stemmed from crafting.
'Need a sword ki hero to refine the circuits...'
Even identical circuits won't produce ki without that processing. That hurdle blocked mass production.
Yet Lee Se-hun bypassed it—fixing their "failure."
"......"
Realizing it, Bier unhesitatingly turned his eyes gray, maxing Core Resonance.
Kugung.
The clear sword ki wavered; cracks spiderwebbed with a bang.
Cracks spread to the Ironclad, shattering it.
Kwaaaang!
Explosion hurled gray sword ki shards everywhere.
'Pulling that, huh.'
He knew it was personal, but endangering other cadets?
At Bier's excessive response, Lee Se-hun's eyes chilled, drawing prepared mana—
"Hmm."
A pale hand extended from the side.
Chwaak.
Finger blurred with afterimages; ki shards vanished traceless.
At the overwhelming sight, Lee Se-hun's eyes widened. The hand's owner stepped forward.
Ttak tak ttak.
White jacket over shoulders, elegant red dress hugging her form. Long golden hair seeming to glow.
Her presence silenced all; she casually toyed with a ki shard.
"Real sword ki..."
Examining it curiously, she clenched lightly.
Pagak—
The shard, tougher and sharper than steel, crumbled to dust.
She'd shown how she'd erased the fresh shards. Babel's strongest cadet—future Summit Climber and Demon God of Annihilation's Bane.
"Shall we talk?"
Aria Myers smiled brightly at Lee Se-hun.