Chapter 72
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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The banquet hall, thrown into chaos by a series of incidents, was quickly brought under control and returned to its warm, lively atmosphere.
Cadets milled about the venue, introducing themselves and chatting. With the freshman recruitment over, they were finally getting to the original purpose: mingling and exchanging stories.
This was the moment everyone participating in the exchange event had eagerly awaited. Everyone buzzed around enthusiastically, but...
"......"
The table where Lee Se-hun sat felt utterly isolated, as if it shared no connections with anyone.
The space around him was empty, like an invisible wall had been erected.
No one even approached, let alone struck up a conversation. Lee Se-hun rested his chin on his hand, watching them.
'Talk about being treated like I'm invisible...'
The atmosphere was a far cry from earlier, when crowds had swarmed him just to exchange a few words. But after witnessing him openly clash with the Valmut family, everyone had backed off.
'Well, what did I expect? They're just cadets. They can't make bold decisions like that.'
The Valmut family wielded massive influence within Borsippa, led by Vice Department Head Michael Valmut.
No matter how impressive Lee Se-hun's skills were, no one wanted to rashly oppose such a powerhouse.
'As long as they don't side with them and hassle me, that's a win.'
From today onward, he was fully at odds with the Valmuts. Attacks would come not just from within the Forging Department but from all directions.
He couldn't afford to let his guard down. Lee Se-hun mentally reviewed his ongoing plans.
'Mass-producing sword auras should be fine if I team up with Myers... but to be safe, maybe I should line up more investors.'
As he sat alone at the table, lost in thought, Jake approached from the crowd, looking exhausted.
"Sorry. I kept getting held up by people on the way over..."
"No need to apologize. More importantly, where'd you disappear to earlier?"
At Lee Se-hun's question, Jake glanced around cautiously before speaking quietly.
"My sister summoned me. She told me to come quietly without telling you."
"As expected..."
He'd suspected as much. She must have arrived at the venue early and scoped things out.
While Lee Se-hun inwardly admired Aria's thoroughness, Jake scanned the surroundings again.
"By the way, I heard you talked one-on-one with her earlier... Everything okay?"
"Everything okay?"
"You know... if she was pushy or anything..."
Lee Se-hun chuckled at Jake's roundabout wording, wary of her possibly eavesdropping.
"Nothing like that. We just talked about your sword and mass-producing sword auras."
"Good... Wait. Mass-producing sword auras?"
Surprised by the unexpected topic, Jake's eyes widened. Lee Se-hun nodded calmly.
"She suggested collaborating, but since I don't even have a prototype yet, we put it off. She said to let her know once it's ready."
"R-Really?"
Jake looked bewildered at Lee Se-hun's explanation.
Lee Se-hun had drawn attention at the auction with a pseudo sword aura, but it wasn't at the stage for mass production talks. His family hadn't mentioned it much either.
For such a conversation to happen meant his sister had made the call unilaterally.
'I've never seen her take the initiative like this...'
Her attending the exchange event after two years was unusual too. She clearly valued Lee Se-hun more than he'd imagined.
Grasping the situation, Jake asked even more cautiously.
"Anything else she said?"
"She asked why I turned down the commission, but I explained it well, so don't worry. She won't bother you anymore."
"R-Really?"
Jake's face lit up.
Just earlier, when she'd dragged him away, she'd chewed him out for failing the commission and selfishly handing off only his sword.
'Freedom at last...!'
As Jake inwardly cheered, Lee Se-hun smirked at his reaction.
"She must've given you hell."
"Nah, it wasn't that bad..."
"Come on, it's written all over your face. She's probably gone already anyway. What's a little venting?"
Lee Se-hun sipped his drink casually. Jake glanced around at his brazen attitude.
'Yeah, if it's her, she'd leave once business was done...'
Feeling safe, Jake relaxed and sighed deeply.
"It wasn't too bad, but... honestly, it was tiring."
"She tells you to handle it yourself, then rags on you when she doesn't like the results, pretending it's encouragement. That's totally her vibe."
"Exactly! It's worse than straight-up yelling because she keeps at it..."
Lee Se-hun's spot-on agreement, as if he'd been through it himself, prompted Jake to vent all his pent-up frustrations about Aria.
As he finally unburdened himself, an announcement echoed through the banquet hall.
The closing ceremony will begin shortly. Cadets, please proceed to the garden.
Cadets chatting nearby began filing out one by one. Watching them, Lee Se-hun stood up.
"Guess I should head out."
"Not staying for the closing? They say the fireworks are different from the opener."
"Fireworks are fireworks. Catch you in class next time."
Jake considered grabbing him as Lee Se-hun walked away but let it go. He looked worn out from all the day's events.
'Maybe I'll stick around a bit longer too.'
As Jake thought of his friends waiting outside and rose to leave—
Bzzz.
His pocket vibrated briefly.
A chill of unease hit him. Jake froze, then slowly pulled out his phone.
His eyes trembled as he checked the message.
[^^] - Aria Myers
"Ah..."
He sighed at the despair to come.
Bang!
Fireworks exploded noisily behind the building.
Some promoted clubs, others formed intricate patterns. Lee Se-hun watched with interest.
"They're already making those?"
Variable fireworks that shifted shape based on mana injected just before launch.
Before his regression, he'd weaponized them—pricey, but effective.
'Hard to use now. Needs mods anyway.'
He'd look into it later if needed. As he started down the hill—
Whoosh—
A black limousine pulled up smoothly beside him. Lee Se-hun looked puzzled as the window rolled down, revealing an elite-looking young man: Ren.
"Heading back?"
"...Yeah, pretty much."
"Dorm's a long walk. Ride with me?"
Lee Se-hun studied Ren's face briefly before nodding.
"If you're offering, I'd be grateful."
Lee Se-hun boarded and sat opposite Ren. The limo glided forward.
Boom!
Fireworks burst nonstop overhead. Lee Se-hun gazed out the window, and Ren gave a wry smile.
"Feels pointless, right?"
"...No."
"No need to hide it. Even I, who planned it, think so."
Ren turned to the window, murmuring calmly as he watched the display.
"No matter how brilliantly they bloom, they all fade away. That's why I don't care for fireworks."
"Then why approve them?"
"Sponsoring the Enchantment Department, consolidating control. That's how it works, isn't it?"
Ren smiled lightly before turning back to Lee Se-hun.
"Opposing Bier there was a mistake. The Valmuts have deeper, wider roots than you imagine."
Publicly a rising powerhouse, but their true influence ran far deeper.
Having gauged them himself, Ren shared freely.
"Babel's still safe. It's the garden President Ascendant Emperor tends."
"......"
"But outside these walls? No guarantees. Unless you become a Summit Climber."
Lee Se-hun met Ren's sincere warning not with fear, but calm silence, urging him to continue.
Impressed by the composure, Ren's eyes widened slightly before he smiled and got to the point.
"Take my hand."
"......"
"Then I'll wipe the Valmut family from existence before you graduate."
Not bravado, but ironclad certainty—like he'd foreseen it. Lee Se-hun looked intrigued at Ren's confidence.
'Willing to go full enemy with Valmut? Unexpected.'
He'd expected caution or opportunism, not this aggression.
Sensing the reason, Lee Se-hun paused thoughtfully before replying.
"Sorry, but I'll pass."
"If you're trusting Myers, I can say that's unwise."
"Not because of them."
"Then why?"
Lee Se-hun answered flatly.
"You used Valmut as bait, but I can handle trash like them myself. Deep roots or not, weeds are weeds."
After decades regressing, failing at this would doom him against the Six Great Demon Gods.
He already had rough plans; no need for Ren's help.
"And above all, I've already joined hands with someone else."
"Who?"
"The next head of Inoue, naturally."
"...!"
Ren's eyes bulged in realization. He bowed his head to hide his expression.
His shoulders shook faintly, then he threw his head back laughing.
"Hahaha! Of course. You outmaneuvered me. Never saw that coming."
Ren laughed uproariously at the absurdity of Lee Se-hun and Erika teaming up, then composed himself with a nod.
"Fine, no more recruiting. Once I'm head, you'll serve me anyway."
"Pretty confident."
"Naturally."
Ren smirked arrogantly yet naturally at Lee Se-hun.
"Our positions differ."
A bond has been established with target 'Inoue Ren'.
Lee Se-hun narrowed his eyes at the alert. His presence had clearly imprinted on Ren.
'Annoying bastard...'
Ren had seen him as a useful pawn until realizing he was a foe—sparking interest.
'Siblings both missing a screw.'
Were all geniuses like this? As Lee Se-hun sighed inwardly, Ren glanced at his right hand.
"Oh, right—one apology."
"Apology?"
"I cast a simple spell to gauge your skill. Sorry."
Ren openly admitted the prior curse. Lee Se-hun looked surprised, then frowned in displeasure.
"And then you try recruiting? That's not cool."
"Meant to lift it quick, but incidents piled up—forgot. I'll send atonement via Erika."
Lee Se-hun eyed the fireworks—piles of cash—exploding outside, then nodded reluctantly.
"I'll decide based on the sincerity."
Send plenty.
Ren smiled softly at the bluntness.
"Won't disappoint. Now, to lift the spell—mind your hand?"
"Sure..."
Lee Se-hun extended his right hand. Ren clasped it naturally.
"Black Fog Chariot"
"Fog Dark Mirror"
⟨ Muamgyeong ⟩
Waves from Ren's hand seeped deep into Lee Se-hun's body.
'One last peek.'
'Fog Dark Mirror'—a spell merging with the target to illuminate inner darkness. Not malicious, it induced self-reflection, slipping past defenses via the black fog.
Whumm—
Ren's eyes mirrored Lee Se-hun's shadows. A faint voice echoed.
'I'll spare you. As promised.'
A man stood amid blood and corpses. Before him, a powerless youth slumped.
'I swear... I'll kill you... no matter what...'
Tears streaming, the youth hammered iron relentlessly. Those raw emotions and thoughts flooded Ren vividly, then vanished like a mirage.
Ren pondered the glimpsed memory, then released the hand as if nothing happened.
Shhh.
The black fog dissolved into mist and faded. Confirming the curse gone, Lee Se-hun eyed Ren.
"Business done. Drop me off."
"Dorm's still far."
"Feels creepy riding now."
Ren pressed the call button with a shrug as Lee Se-hun bristled.
Click!
Stepping out, Lee Se-hun grabbed the closing door, glaring at Ren.
"Sincerity. Make it proper."
Slam!
Ren chuckled leisurely at the unyielding back vanishing into the distance.
'Now I get why he's so reckless and hasty.'
Personal revenge against a notorious underworld 'villain' even Ren knew.
Unable to grasp how to approach it, he was exposing his talents wildly, multiplying foes and allies.
'I could wait till I'm head and claim him naturally... but that's a waste.'
Harnessing Lee Se-hun's gifts, Inoue could devour the armament industry in a decade.
And perhaps forge the 'divine artifact' sealed in the main house into his weapon.
Decision made, Ren spoke calmly to the driver.
"Gather all intel on A-rank villain 'Unkillable'."
"......"
Walking to the dorm after the limo, Lee Se-hun glanced at his right hand.
The curse from their first meeting—he'd left it, suspecting utility. And it paid off big.
'Probes the mind by burrowing in. Plays dirty, as expected.'
No direct interference, just stealthily bypassing mental barriers—tricky to counter.
Hence Ren's confidence. But his opponent this time was mismatched.
'Blacksmith of Bonds is the perfect counter.'
A skill extracting inner shadows into material form outclassed mere peeking spells.
Overlapping domains let Lee Se-hun feed Ren regression-irrelevant memories while extracting the bond.
Memories mingled in bonds—confirmed via Dream Tusk.
Not easy to view others', but merging with Ren let him glimpse fragments.
'To become head, discard even familial bonds—petty emotions all.'
A man's shadow flickered by candlelight beyond a thin veil.
His words to his barely ten-year-old son were icy beyond belief, yet father and child ignored it.
'If needed... I can discard them.'
'Then kill Erika. That day, you become head.'
The man demanded proof by slaying his daughter and the boy's sister. Young Inoue Ren replied without hesitation.
'I will prove it.'
Brief exchange. No Inoue secrets revealed, but one certainty emerged.
'These guys are rotten to the core.'
Pre-regression human sacrifice spells. Insane family demanding filicide for succession. No way it was normal.
'Myers: full cooperation. Inoue: wary watch.'
Helping Erika would reveal if Inoue allied with observers.
With strategies set for both families, Lee Se-hun recalled his top priority.
'Valmut: crush utterly.'
Ren mentioned before graduation, but they'd last less than a year.
His plans solidified, the corners of Lee Se-hun's mouth curled up.