Chapter 9
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Regressor Makes Everything
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After the entrance ceremony ended, Lee Se-hun—summoned by Ryu Eun-ha—stood facing her in an alleyway.
"……."
"……."
"Hey, I need to clean up this side too... cough."
A faculty member heading into the alley for cleanup spun around and beat a hasty retreat, as if he'd just seen something he absolutely shouldn't have.
The top cadet, who'd caused the commotion, and his department head, who bore responsibility for it, standing side by side. To anyone else, they must've looked like a bomb about to blow.
'Not quite the case, though.'
Her blank expression might've seemed angry, but given Ryu Eun-ha's personality, if that's what she'd called him out for, she'd have pointed out the mistake from the start and given him a warning.
So what on earth was she thinking, standing there silently with him right in front of her? There was only one possibility.
"......That technique you just showed. You meant to do that, right?"
It only happened when she spotted gear worth devouring.
"The flames within the Five-Colored Flame Blade clash with each other by nature. That's why I designed the Flame-Stacking Sheath to channel those flames and control them."
"So it wasn't just to boost transmission power."
"That was part of it, but I also had some complementary techniques in mind to pair with it."
Ryu Eun-ha stared intently at Lee Se-hun as he spoke nonchalantly.
When he'd first chosen his project, she'd imagined the gear merely supporting each other. But he'd gone beyond that, creating an explosive synergy.
'And he even adapted the gear's skill, Wildfire Blade, into it... which means he planned that during forging too.'
To think such a delicate process had been woven into that brief smelting window.
Realizing Lee Se-hun's skills surpassed even her expectations, Ryu Eun-ha felt her mouth go dry.
'Beyond imagination.'
Like cutting into a tonkatsu on a whim and finding it oozing with cheese.
Gulp.
Her appetite for Lee Se-hun's talents—now not just promising but something she wanted to taste right now—made her swallow dryly without realizing it.
A bond with target 'Ryu Eun-ha' has been established.
A new alert popped up before Lee Se-hun's eyes.
'......Damn, that's fast.'
Before his regression, it had taken feeding her multiple pieces of gear before a bond formed. This time, without even doing that.
Considering his skills were lower now than back then, it felt a bit unfair, but such differences were inevitable.
'A promising cadet with a bright future versus an active blacksmith at industry average. Which one's more appealing is obvious......'
Either way, forming a bond with Ryu Eun-ha was nothing to complain about.
He was familiar with handling bond stones after working with them many times, and she was Borsippa's department head—no less than someone who might smooth his academy life.
'Still, things might've changed since before the regression, so better confirm properly.'
Pondering how to extract the bond naturally, Lee Se-hun settled on a simple ploy.
"Ugh......"
He suddenly clutched his forehead and pitched forward.
Ryu Eun-ha instinctively reached out and caught him as he collapsed defenselessly.
"You okay?"
Lee Se-hun nodded with an awkward expression at her worried gaze.
"Used a bit too much mana...... I'm fine."
As he naturally righted himself, he casually gripped the arm she'd used to support him.
Bond Extraction.
Extracting bond from target 'Ryu Eun-ha'.
The bond with creator 'Lee Se-hun' is Lv. 1.
Ryu Eun-ha's bond seeped into his body.
'Nice.'
Having smoothly extracted the bond, Lee Se-hun straightened up, and Ryu Eun-ha regarded him seriously.
"If something like this happens again, tell me ahead of time. The academy president let it slide this once, but next time you could face disciplinary action."
"Yes. I'll be careful."
She nodded at his compliant remorse, then glanced around cautiously for a moment.
"Well, with the entrance ceremony over, about our previous deal......"
"Ah, there you are."
Kim In-cheol cut her off as he entered the alley, eyeing the pair.
"The president's doing the commendation ceremony right away. Mind if I borrow Cadet Lee Se-hun?"
"......Understood."
Lee Se-hun stifled a smirk at the subtle dissatisfaction creeping into her stoic face, giving a quick bow.
"See you later."
Lee Se-hun and Kim In-cheol left the alley, leaving Ryu Eun-ha alone to stare blankly at their retreating backs.
Gurgle.
A small rumble echoed, like a complaint bursting forth.
'Same as ever, huh.'
Ryu Eun-ha, who always schemed to devour any intriguing gear she found.
It was gratifying that someone dubbed a gourmet showed such interest, but Lee Se-hun never let his guard down.
'She's like that now because it's a new menu item.'
At first, the novelty would keep her coming back, but once accustomed, his gear would just become another 'ordinary' rare-grade piece.
'Your gear's starting to bore me.'
Before his regression, he'd failed to realize this and suffered humiliating critiques. Not this time—he wouldn't slack off.
'Plus, meeting her early means I can aim for Lv. 5.'
His bond level with her pre-regression had maxed at Lv. 4—one step shy of the Lv. 5 he'd achieved with the Three Dogs, leaving lingering regrets.
Regrets over her death before reaching it, and his own failure to prevent it.
"Eating your gear was a regret......"
The murmur echoing in his ears—that unforgettable line—made Lee Se-hun's eyes narrow.
'Tch......'
Water under the bridge, gone and forgotten. As he shook off the memory, Kim In-cheol spoke up from ahead.
"This way."
A massive mansion stood at one edge of the central plaza where the ceremony had been held.
This was the old main building, dubbed the heart of Babel Academy: Marduk Mansion.
"The historic site where Babel began. You won't come here often, so take a good look."
After a brief explanation, Kim In-cheol proceeded, and Lee Se-hun followed him inside.
From the outer garden onward, the mansion was lavishly appointed. Hard to believe it was built forty years ago—it was impeccably pristine.
'Less well-maintained, more... preserved. Like a specimen.'
As Lee Se-hun took in the mansion's subtly eerie ambiance, Kim In-cheol spoke again.
"Just in case: mind your manners around the president."
They'd reached the president's office door.
"You know as well as I do—he operates on a different level from us."
"No worries. I'm not clueless."
"......"
Kim In-cheol gave him an odd look at his calm reply.
A tense cadet would've been less worrisome; this casual confidence unnerved him.
'Right, he's no fool about the basics......'
Shaking off needless concern, Kim In-cheol carefully pushed open the office doors with both hands.
A massive window overlooked the central plaza; bookshelves lined with aged tomes. Faded red carpet covered the floor, dotted with antiques and worn furniture.
'All outdated.'
Unlike the mansion's flashy exterior, the room mixed browns and reds in a stately yet dilapidated air.
The elderly man seated at the desk within—President Ludwig Schubert—smiled warmly at Lee Se-hun.
"Come in."
"......Pardon the intrusion."
Lee Se-hun bowed slightly and entered; the doors closed soundlessly behind him, just as they'd opened.
Suddenly alone with Babel's supreme authority. Lesser men might've fainted from the pressure, but Lee Se-hun met his gaze unflinchingly.
'Ascendant Emperor......'
One of humanity's top powerhouses, who'd perished alongside the Demon God of Annihilation—one of the Six Great Demon Gods—in his previous life.
A hero who'd remained legendary to the end. Seeing him up close, Lee Se-hun's assessment was curt.
'Fitting for a Summit Climber.'
Absurdly strong beyond human limits, his inner thoughts impenetrable.
The same uncomfortable vibe as before made Lee Se-hun uneasy when Ludwig smiled softly and asked,
"Seen all you wanted?"
A question implying he knew Lee Se-hun had been sizing him up. Another cadet might've panicked, but Lee Se-hun shook his head calmly.
"No. Couldn't see enough."
"I see. Short on time?"
"My ability's lacking."
Impossible in his current body—unlike pre-regression—to gauge Ludwig's power.
Having answered honestly, Lee Se-hun turned the question back on the still-staring Ludwig.
"Did you see everything, sir?"
No way the old man had been idly eyeing wallpaper while being appraised.
Ludwig looked surprised at the query, then flashed a deep smile and shook his head.
"I couldn't see it all either. My ability fell short, it seems."
"Ah."
A casual remark had unwittingly branded him a madman mocking a Summit Climber's 'lacking ability.'
Recalling Kim In-cheol's earnest plea, Lee Se-hun hurried to add clarification—but Ludwig spoke first.
"We'll appraise each other properly next time fate allows. For now, let's handle business."
"Ahem. Understood."
Ludwig smiled at Lee Se-hun.
"All the gear from today's demo intrigued me. Can't say there were no disappointments, but the promising aspects outnumbered them."
"......"
His eyes twitched at the 'disappointing' verdict, ire bubbling up—but Lee Se-hun quelled it swiftly.
From the moment he'd submitted the gear, he'd braced for such critiques.
'Can't judge by my pre-regression self. Face reality.'
Part of him wanted to hurl the Five-Colored Flame Blade and Flame-Stacking Sheath into a furnace for earning this, but he had to endure.
As Lee Se-hun took a deep breath, Ludwig continued with a gentle smile.
"Thus, in praise of your talent and effort, I'll grant two rewards. Name what you need."
The commendation ceremony reserved for top cadets.
Under Ludwig's discretion, they received tailored support—skills, gear, elixirs, letters of intro, and more.
'Two rewards? More generous than expected.'
He'd pondered mana boost versus memory enhancement, but no need to choose.
Slightly appeased, Lee Se-hun replied promptly.
"A reward to raise my mana and one to boost my memory."
"Hm. Mana and memory."
Ludwig murmured intriguingly, pondered briefly, then extended a hand into the air.
Clank.
A golden keyhole appeared as two fingers lightly traced downward. It rotated 90 degrees, split top to bottom, revealing a pristine white void.
Thud. Thump.
Two items tumbled from the void onto the desk: an inky ore and ivory etched with bizarre patterns.
Far from what he'd expected, Lee Se-hun's expression turned peculiar.
"Those are......?"
"Your rewards."
"......"
Not that he didn't recognize them, but Ludwig seemed disinclined to swap.
As Lee Se-hun looked nonplussed, Ludwig grinned and slid the items to the desk's edge.
"Take a look first."
"Ah, yes."
Stepping up, Lee Se-hun brushed the rewards lightly.
They quivered faintly in tandem, and info windows appeared.
Ink-Heavy Darkness
Grade:Hero[Quality: Top-grade]
An inky fragment fallen from the night itself.
Possesses the property of devouring all but darkness.
*Absorbs mana from anything contacting the crystal.
Distortion visible near its lusterless surface.
Lee Se-hun's eyes widened at the rare material he'd seen a few times pre-regression: Ink-Heavy Darkness.
'Whoa. Getting this already?'
Hero-grade, but its mana absorption made it hard to acquire. Impressive enough, yet the real prize was the other.
Dream Tusk
Grade:Hero[Quality: Mid-grade]
The dream-devouring molar of some beast.
Imbued with dreamlike mana that traverses the boundary of reality and dreams.
*Use dreamlike mana to contact dreams.
'Dream Tusk......'
Pristine ivory etched with grotesque patterns.
A special material enabling not just physical but mental contact—rarer than Ink-Heavy Darkness by far.
Ink-Heavy Darkness could be sourced with effort; Dream Tusks were scarce, and wizards studying dreamlike mana near-monopolized them.
"......"
Unexpected rewards, but staring at them, his lips twitched upward unwittingly.
Pre-regression as a successful blacksmith, maybe he'd have shrugged—but as a novice cadet, acquiring these was no small feat.
To obtain such rarities so easily...
'Tough to work with now, but... I can picture how to use them.'
Impossible in his current state, but with prep, feasible soon.
As Lee Se-hun mentally outlined plans, Ludwig smiled and asked,
"To your liking?"
Lee Se-hun nodded without hesitation.
"Perfect."
After Lee Se-hun exited, a low voice emanated from beyond the still-open white void.
"Why does that kid get two rewards?"
The mere transmission shook the air, space creaking under the immense pressure. Ludwig replied evenly to the colossal presence.
"Unlike the others, he has the capacity to handle them."
"Is that so? He did have a bit of an old-soul vibe..."
"Enough depth to seem so even to you."
Ludwig, still seated, gazed at Lee Se-hun traversing the hallway.
Perceiving objects via his mana fused with ambient mana—sharper than eyesight. An intrigued expression crossed Ludwig's face.
'Still no end in sight.'
With prior top cadets, he'd seen their potential limits by departure.
But Lee Se-hun's stretched on, even now crossing the plaza—boundless.
Ludwig eyed the white void.
'Meant to give three, but... can't overdo it.'
The last would depend on how he assimilated the two.
Feeling rare delight, Ludwig watched Lee Se-hun until he left the plaza.
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