Chapter 8
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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A pure white tower stretched beyond the clouds.
Beneath that unrealistic edifice, which seemed beyond human craftsmanship, a single podium stood alone.
And into this discordant scene, an old man slowly walked forward, taking his place on the podium with the tower at his back.
"Fifty-four years ago, the world changed."
His voice spread widely from the podium, carrying to the surroundings.
"From the heavens came the Hero's Tower to evolve humanity, and from the underworld flowed the Myriad Demons' Mire to corrupt life."
No amplification device was in use, nor was any mana detectable.
Yet the old man's voice seeped clearly into the ears of the tens of thousands gathered in the vast plaza.
"Some call it a blessing and a curse. We gained new possibilities, yet a colossal disaster arose alongside them."
"But I see it as labor pains. The final trial humanity must endure before stepping into a new realm. And today, all of you have been cast into that trial."
At the words of the old man—Ludwig Schubert, president of Babel Academy—the eyes of everyone in the plaza gleamed.
Some burned with pure duty, others with raw greed. Their thoughts differed, but their purpose was one.
"Press onward."
The plaza brimmed with freshmen and returning students, along with countless visitors from outside and cameras broadcasting the scene live.
To all those watching him now, Ludwig spoke calmly, as if issuing a decree.
"That is the duty of all who have ascended to Babel."
As Ludwig's address concluded, thunderous applause erupted across the plaza.
Amid the deafening ovation ringing in his ears, Lee Se-hun clapped half-heartedly while glancing around.
'This is no joke...'
The entrance ceremony at the academy he'd attended before his regression had been filled with obligatory, lackluster applause. This was on another level entirely.
Part of it was the excitement of enrolling in Babel rather than some third-rate school, but the biggest reason was surely the fame of the old man who'd just spoken.
'Same as ever, past or present.'
The title of "Summit Climber" was given to those who reached the top of the Hero's Tower.
The legendary figure who achieved it first in human history stood before them now: "Ascendant Emperor" Ludwig Schubert.
'Not exactly a saintly fellow, though.'
As Lee Se-hun eyed the benign-faced Ludwig with a peculiar expression, the announcer's voice boomed through speakers placed around the plaza.
-Next up is the demonstration by this year's top freshmen. Department heads, please come to the stage.
"...Tch."
Clicking his tongue, Lee Se-hun stepped out of line and walked toward the stage as rehearsed.
Only three people moved amid the tens of thousands seated.
Under the gazes pouring in from all sides, Lee Se-hun couldn't help but smirk.
'So this is what it feels like.'
Even without showing anything yet, the looks treated him like someone extraordinary.
Before his regression, he'd never understood why the hotshots acted so arrogant. Now that he was experiencing it, though, it kind of made sense.
'Maybe I'll play the arrogant artisan this time around.'
As Lee Se-hun chuckled at the idle thought, the announcer's voice rang out again.
-First, the department head from Aqar Quf: a demonstration by Jake Myers.
With the announcer's cue, a blond cadet climbed onto the stage.
At around 170 cm, he wasn't particularly tall, and his youthful face gave more the impression of a boy than a young man.
Lee Se-hun narrowed his eyes at Jake, who bore no visible gear or weapons.
'Myers, huh...'
A swordsmanship dynasty boasting prestige among the great houses that had produced countless heroes.
Before his regression, Lee Se-hun had taken a few official commissions from them, resulting in a tangled web of bad blood.
'If I recall, Jake was the third direct descendant?'
He'd never met the man personally, but he'd heard enough through the grapevine to remember a few details.
'A Myers who fights with his fists—an oddball. Died in his mid-twenties, if I remember right.'
Not knowing the exact age, but with Babel being a four-year program, he'd likely died not long after graduating and entering active duty.
Recalling this, Lee Se-hun smiled as he watched the confident Jake.
'As department head, he's got some potential... but I'm curious just how impressive he is.'
To gauge if he was worth forging a bond with, Lee Se-hun focused on the stage. A black steel mannequin about two meters tall rose before Jake.
-The item for this bout is the 'Automaton' series golem produced by Marionette Factory. This Model 9 can even spar with C-rank heroes.
A bit much for a freshman, but Lee Se-hun figured it was par for the course.
'Aqar Quf's department head should handle at least that much.'
Aqar Quf housed the combat-track cadets, and their supplemental exam was sparring.
In other words, Jake was the strongest freshman by force of arms this year. For that position, smashing something like that should be a breeze.
-Let the demonstration begin!
At the announcer's shout, Jake assumed a barehanded stance, and a blue glow lit the Automaton's empty eyes.
The moment it lunged at him—
Boom!
A brutal clash of metal resounded.
The Automaton floated in the air, its abdominal plating grotesquely crumpled. Below it, Jake unleashed full-force punches from his braced stance.
Krunch!
With each impact, the Automaton's armor buckled.
Considering he wielded no weapons—just fists—it was an astonishing sight. But the real show came next.
Boom!
Jake clenched his fists tighter, blue mana flaring up as his speed and power surged relentlessly.
Finally, reaching critical mass, his punch streaked forward with a blue afterimage.
Splat!
The Automaton's head exploded without a trace, and its body collapsed into scrap.
"Thank you!"
Jake bowed energetically, and applause poured from the once-silent crowd.
A natural response: a freshman overwhelming a C-rank-capable Automaton head-on with raw physical prowess, no techniques involved.
Lee Se-hun, watching from below, felt the same.
'And this guy peaked at A-rank?'
This level of talent emerged once a decade from Babel. How did he meet such an early end?
As Lee Se-hun marveled at Jake's greater-than-expected potential, the stage cleared, and the announcer continued.
-Next, Ur's department head: a demonstration by Inoue Erika.
Following Jake was a girl with jet-black long hair and skin pale as porcelain.
She still looked youthful, but her composed demeanor and deep violet eyes tempered that impression.
'Another big shot.'
Eldest daughter of the Inoue clan, one of Japan's three great houses.
An S-rank hero who hadn't summited the Hero's Tower but wielded one of the world's rare mythic-grade artifacts.
Never met her personally, but he'd often heard tales of her frontline exploits.
'Fell to corruption as a demon in the end, though... and got purged by her own clan.'
As Lee Se-hun regarded Erika with a strange look, she slowly turned her head from the podium.
"...?"
Her gaze locked precisely where Lee Se-hun stood, staring intently.
He glanced around, wondering if someone else was nearby, but he was alone.
'What the hell?'
Flustered by the suddenness, Lee Se-hun looked back up. Erika had already turned away and unveiled the cloth from the item in her right hand.
"Caw."
A silver birdcage containing a crow.
Nothing particularly special at first glance. Calmly, Erika unlocked it and transferred the crow to her left hand.
-This Automaton is Model 9 with added armor plating—about 1.5 times the defense.
Lee Se-hun eyed the crow on her left hand.
'Just a normal crow... She's probably gonna buff it with a spell to show its power.'
Ordinary creatures without mana could collapse if over-enhanced, requiring delicate control.
-Let it begin!
Hummm—
At the announcer's call, silver mana flowed from Erika, seeping into the crow.
As its feathers gleamed silver—
Twang!
A streak of light shot skyward like a flash.
The crow streaked through the air, leaving a white trail—like an arrow. Gasps of admiration rose from the crowd.
At its peak, it spread its wings wide and halted.
Whoosh!
Piercing the air, it plummeted toward the ground.
Clang!
The Automaton jolted once, and the crow landed softly. At a glance, nothing seemed amiss—but from the front...
Thud!
A massive hole pierced the shield and chest. The image projected on screens across the plaza.
"Caw!"
The crow's cry unleashed a frenzy of reactions.
Applause rivaling Jake's thundered. Even Lee Se-hun was impressed.
'No slouch here either.'
Turning a plain crow into a one-shot piercing a C-rank defender. As expected of a future S-rank.
With both department heads exceeding expectations, Lee Se-hun's expression turned ambivalent.
'Showing my status screen won't cut it anymore.'
He'd planned to just flash the info panels and call it a day, but the crowd's reaction demanded more to leave an impression.
Resolving to unleash his prepared "performance," Lee Se-hun revised his mental script as a faculty member approached.
"Cadet Lee Se-hun. Get ready."
With his turn imminent, he headed for the stairs—and crossed paths with Erika descending, crow on her shoulder.
"...?"
"...?"
They stared at each other midway.
Under her wordless gaze, Lee Se-hun spoke first.
"Got something to say?"
"...Nothing."
She murmured softly and brushed past. Lee Se-hun watched her go.
'What was that about?'
He racked his brain, but nothing came to mind beyond passing her during rehearsal.
As he puzzled over it, the announcer boomed.
-Finally, Borsippa's department head: a demonstration by Lee Se-hun.
Ascending the stage, tens of thousands of eyes bore down.
'Damn, that's a lot.'
Brushing off the stares, Lee Se-hun opened the two bags on the faculty-prepared table.
Click.
The latches released, revealing the Five-Colored Flame Blade and Flame-Stacking Sheath he'd forged. Massive holograms of their forms and info panels appeared in the air.
"Oh..."
"Rare-grade?"
"What's the Forging Department doing here?"
Those who recognized the value murmured in awe, but reactions were otherwise muted.
The previous two had demolished Automatons with flashy displays; just showing info felt anticlimactic.
'Alright, time to make it fun.'
As expected, Lee Se-hun addressed the announcer to kick off his performance.
"Automaton Model 8 with armor plating, please."
-...Pardon?
The unplanned request flustered the announcer.
Babel had stacks of Model 8s, no issue there. The problem was...
'Model 8 already has high defense, and now armor on top?'
It could withstand B-rank attacks to some degree. The prior two could smash it easily, but a technical-track like Lee Se-hun?
'Rivalry getting to him? Oh man...'
Understandable not wanting to be outdone by fellow heads, but springing this curveball?
As the announcer scrambled for a way out—
"Brought it."
Kim In-cheol wheeled the Automaton onto the stage.
Faster than expected. Surprised, Lee Se-hun glanced down at a familiar gaze.
Ludwig smiled softly at him. Lee Se-hun instantly got the message.
'Give it a shot.'
Supporting a cadet's daring as per his speech? Or did he already know the outcome?
Shrugging off Ludwig's inscrutable motives, Lee Se-hun gripped the Five-Colored Flame Blade and Flame-Stacking Sheath.
Hummm!
The sword and sheath trembled faintly, as if one from the start. Feeling the sensation, he addressed the audience.
"These are designed to unleash their true power together, so please judge them on performance alone, beyond their grade."
He'd only learned basic self-defense swordplay, but it sufficed for this show.
Lightly swinging the Five-Colored Flame Blade, he sheathed it smoothly into the Flame-Stacking Sheath.
Clack!
Blade locked perfectly. Crouching slightly, he gripped the hilt tight and channeled his attribute mana, Crimson Flame.
Vrrr—
Flames charged inside the sheath via the blade.
At first, they stacked and amplified steadily. But as the volume grew, changes emerged.
Whoosh!
Five-colored flames leaked from the sheath's exterior.
Vying to devour each other in endless tangles, they resembled artwork—though not merely for show.
"Hoo...!"
One lapse, and they'd erupt everywhere in a blink.
Suppressing the savage blaze, Lee Se-hun controlled it via Crimson Flame's nature.
Whirr—
The clashing flames swept into the Crimson Flame's flow, coursing along the sheath's mana circuits to its surface.
Snap—
Stamping his left foot, he drew the blade in one fluid motion.
"Wildfire."
Five-hued flames engulfed the stage.
Kaboom!!
The blaze swallowed the entire platform.
Reducing the Automaton to charcoal wasn't enough; the freed flames collided wildly, exploding spectacularly.
"...?"
"...?"
Borsippa's demos had always ranked low at entrance ceremonies for lack of spectacle.
Everyone was speechless before the new department head's dazzling display.
"That's all."
Lee Se-hun smiled, thoroughly satisfied with their reaction.