Chapter 78
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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The Valmut family, who had suffered their first defeat in the armament industry, and the emerging small-to-medium workshop alliance.
And the Pilgrimage Church, which had volunteered to be their backer.
The entire hero industry was abuzz with the appearance of this new group possessing ominous potential.
But Babel Academy, a step removed from all that, was stirred up for a different reason: the 'Subjugation Field Training' that was now just a week away.
"Heard where we're going this time?"
"Black Lotus Floodplain, they say. God, I hate that place."
"Make sure you pack your detection tools properly. Plenty of seniors botched their training by getting lost there."
Once it was announced that the training site was the Black Lotus Floodplain, the freshmen from Aqar Quf and Ur—who were mandatory participants—let out deep sighs.
It was the trickiest danger zone among the candidates.
As difficult as it was, a little bit of performance could earn big points. But on the flip side, one small mistake could ruin the whole training.
"What about this training? You going?"
"Was gonna if it was easy, but I'm sitting it out. No point risking injury and tanking the other exams—straight to the infirmary."
"Yeah, think I'll skip too."
In contrast, Borsippa freshmen—who participated by choice—easily declared their absence now that a tough location had been chosen.
For technical specialists like them, subjugation training was just an extra. There was no reason to take risks.
While the cadets busied themselves preparing for training and assignments...
"More! Squeeze out every last drop of blood!"
"Gah!"
Lee Se-hun was wringing blood from Jake's index finger like mad.
Pshh!
The spilled blood drops into the mana stone solution filling the basin, instantly sucked into the dormant Water Golem core.
Whumm!
The Water Golem core, now even darker red than before, begins to glow.
Lee Se-hun watches the mana stone solution ripple in response, then turns to Jake, whose face has gone deathly pale.
"Just a bit more! Really, just a little more and we're done!"
"You've said that ten times already... Gaaah!"
Ignoring Jake's pointless protests, he squeezes out more blood. Moments later, the Water Golem core suddenly stops moving.
And at that instant, an ominous tremor begins.
Shwooo!
All the mana stone solution in the basin gets sucked into the Water Golem core.
The core absorbs the solution, shifting from dark red back to its original blue.
Seeing the change, Lee Se-hun yells at the wobbly Jake.
"Now! Pour it in!"
They uncap the plastic jugs prepared beside the basin and dump them in.
Each jug holds mana stone solution worth at least ten million won.
No small sum, but Lee Se-hun and Jake pour in a whopping seven jugs without pause.
The moment the core, greedily sucking it all up, returns fully to blue...
Clang!
A clear metallic ring echoes as its form begins to change.
Crack, crunch.
Blue crystal erupts outward from within.
The fist-sized orb transforms into a cross-shaped crystal mass. Jake stares at the Water Golem core in wonder.
"What the heck just happened?"
"Maturation complete—the core fully mutated. Since your blood was the main ingredient, it turned into a one-of-a-kind ore."
"One-of-a-kind..."
As Jake gazes at the new ore entranced, Lee Se-hun carefully lifts the crystal mass from the basin and inspects it.
'No mana leakage... Internal circuits look normal too. Turned out exactly as planned.'
This armament required preparing only the frame and letting the materials mutate naturally, so variables abounded.
Jake's blood as the main material had been the biggest worry, but thankfully, it mutated without issue.
"I'll shape it now—step back a bit."
"Got it."
Jake retreats, and Lee Se-hun pulls out the White Light Dagger enchanted by Lea from his subspace pocket.
Whumm.
Pure white sword aura gathers on the blade. Lee Se-hun layers his own White Light Flow atop it, honing the edge sharper.
Shing.
Each pass slices through the seemingly tough crystal effortlessly. Watching from the side, Jake looks amazed.
'That technique... Feels even more solid than before.'
The aura is stable without a flicker, and above all, it has a dense, packed 'weight' to it.
'Before, it was just mimicking sword aura... Now it feels genuinely close.'
As Jake scrutinizes the uncanny change with serious eyes, Lee Se-hun also wears a puzzled look at the White Light Dagger's aura.
'Why's it cutting so smoothly?'
Even without extra focus, the White Light Flow aura sharpens keenly. Sensing something off, he checks the mana circulating in his body and quickly pinpoints the cause.
'...Lightforge Sword?'
The secret sword art of Lightforge Style he'd picked up intuitively.
Its operation was blending naturally into White Light Flow, bolstering the foundation.
'Hmm... Come to think of it, they do overlap.'
White Light Flow mimicked the sword aura of blades he'd forged; Lightforge Sword tempered internal mana into a sword.
Both centered on forging a 'sword.' Realizing the commonality, Lee Se-hun's expression turns intrigued.
'Might be able to weave them together.'
Intrigued, he links the two skills he'd been using unconsciously more tightly.
Shing.
The white aura extends thinner and sharper; his hands trim the crystal faster.
The faint resistance he'd felt vanishes entirely—one slip, and it'd sever his fingers with the crystal.
'Perfect. That's the feel.'
Far from fearing it, Lee Se-hun refines the aura like he'd found a prized tool. Gradually, the sword for Jake takes shape.
Shh, shh, slice.
A 40cm-long hilt and 30cm guard. Where the blade should be, a 15cm skeleton protrudes—like a blue crystal cross more than a sword.
"..."
An odd form for a sword. Yet Jake feels his chest swell not with disappointment, but excitement.
Weird-looking maybe, but as it nears completion, it evokes familiarity and longing—like reclaiming something lost.
'That's my sword.'
He hasn't touched it, but he knows instinctively.
Thus, heart pounding and head spinning from anemia, Jake watches the final stroke.
Whumm!
Radiant light bursts from the blue cross.
Armament 'Brilliant Light Sword' completed!
A sword crafted by a master blacksmith solely for one swordsman! The skill and creativity to forge even a new ore for perfection deserve applause.
Judgment: 'Brilliant Light Sword' grade is 'Hero'.
Skill 'White Light Flow (C)' absorbed into Skill 'Lightforge Sword (S)'.
"...Huh?"
Lee Se-hun skims the rapid alerts, eyes widening in surprise. White Light Flow absorbed into Lightforge Sword?
A situation he'd never seen pre-regression. He immediately checks Lightforge Sword's info.
[Lightforge Sword] 『S』
A sword art that tempers internal mana into a blade.
Channels all bodily strength into forming sword aura, sharper and more powerful than standard.
If a completed sword exists internally, formation is faster and more efficient.
Higher effects not yet acquired.
*Sword aura properties vary by mana used.
*Body fatigue accumulates with each use.
*Current completed sword: [White Light]
'So it's superior at forging swords, huh.'
Lightforge Sword being the perfect upgrade to White Light Flow explained it. As Lee Se-hun eyes the structure with interest...
"Ahem!"
Jake, waiting beside him, clears his throat loudly.
"Done? Can I see now? Feels like my heart's gonna burst."
Excitement has flushed color back into his pale face. Chuckling at the eager sight, Lee Se-hun hands over the Brilliant Light Sword.
"Here, check it out."
"Th-thanks."
Taking it gingerly lest it break, Jake tensely views the info window.
[Brilliant Light Sword]
[Grade: Hero] [Quality: Mid-High]
A sword crafted from special crystal.
Consumes mana to generate 'Crystal Water'; apply pressure to hilt to form blade.
Absorbs ambient mana and moisture to reinforce blade, but size increases mana/mental drain.
*Generates 'Crystal Water' via mana.
*Reinforces blade with ambient mana/moisture. Larger size = higher mana/mental cost.
*Enables Skill 'Blue Radiance Star'.
"..."
Jake's eyes go wide reading the Brilliant Light Sword's info.
Turning a Rare-grade Water Golem core into a mid-high Hero-grade armament.
The mana stone solution used in maturation wasn't cheap, but still—upgrading a whole grade above the materials was a massive feat.
'If word gets out he made a Hero-grade armament solo before first semester's even over...'
His rising fame post-exchange meet would explode, wings not enough.
Vowing secrecy over courting rivals, Jake grips the hilt with both hands.
Whumm—
In his grasp, the sword trembles faintly.
Hilt and hands fuse as one; his mana flows naturally inward.
"Whoa..."
The sensation at his fingertips draws an unwitting gasp.
He'd wielded hundreds, thousands of swords at home, but this was a first.
'Feels just like my own body.'
Master-crafted arms feel like extensions of self without break-in—or so they'd said. This must be it.
Heart racing wildly, Jake looks at Lee Se-hun with trembling eyes.
"Wh-what now?"
"Grip it tight first. That's key."
"Right."
Nodding, Jake gazes down again.
No matter how well-made, if he couldn't hold it right, nothing changed.
It felt fragile enough to shatter under pressure, but he steels himself.
'Trust it.'
Lee Se-hun's skill. The massive material costs. His own blood!
Resolved, eyes gleaming, Jake squeezes with full power.
Bang—!
Air explodes from his fists; ambient mana twists, warping the scene briefly.
First full-power grip since sparring Lee Se-hun. He slowly opens his reflexively shut eyes.
"Ooh..."
Not a single crack—the hilt intact.
Unbelievable sight wells emotion in him.
'Finally...'
While siblings and cousins trained with real swords from age seven, only he couldn't even swing a wooden one properly.
The alienation in his swordmaster clan. Now, one step free. Eyes reddening, he murmurs.
"Thank you. Really..."
Sincere gratitude. Chuckling, Lee Se-hun nods at the empty blade slot.
"Save the thanks till you see it all."
"Yeah, right."
Grinning, Jake infuses mana. Blue-glowing Crystal Water rises above the guard.
Texture like molten glass. He grips the hilt hard; it quivers, compressing.
Crunch—
Volume shrinks, edge honing razor-sharp. Blue light fills within, unveiling the complete Brilliant Light Sword.
"Wow..."
Transparent glassy blade with starry blue mana inside. More art than sword—Jake can't stop marveling.
'With this...'
He could ace the clan succession rite with record scores. Chest swelling, he turns to Lee Se-hun.
"Thanks okay now?"
"Yeah, that works."
"Seriously, thank you. Pay won't be stingy—no, it'll be over the top."
At Jake's sparkling eyes, Lee Se-hun smirks faintly.
"Gonna be hard to overpay me."
Not just anyone—he rivaled the academy president's generosity. Could Jake's pockets handle it?
Unaware of the benchmark, Jake snorts confidently.
"Don't worry. Never short on cash, me."
Whumm.
Phone buzzes in his pocket. Checking the caller, Jake tenses up.
"One sec, call... Yes, sis. Got it. Yes... Was just about to call you..."
Dispersing the sword and pocketing it, he answers politely with both hands. Lee Se-hun stares dumbfounded, like it's a video call.
'How bad did they whip him...'
As Lee Se-hun pities Jake's back...
"Yes? No need... Ah, no... Yes... Understood..."
Hanging up, Jake turns, gauging the mood before speaking.
"Uh... One favor?"
Stressing it's not his idea. Chuckling pityingly, Lee Se-hun asks.
"What?"
"Come with me to our family villa?"
"Villa?"
At the question, Jake nods awkwardly.
"Sis wants to invite you to the succession rite too."