Chapter 11: The Regressor Takes Care of It

Community site 'Tower'.

This site, where students can act anonymously, was originally created by a graduate who was the top of his department to curse professors who didn't have a clue, but over time it became the unofficial community of Babel.

Students favored it not only for its convenience but also because they could speak freely without worrying about others' opinions.

And there was a topic on the Tower that was gathering a lot of attention, specifically about Lee Sehoon, or more precisely, his 'exhibit'.

"Calling him the best ever, I just can't understand it." [493]

Even the professors say it's a special phenomenon due to a skill, but just calling it special and the best ever...

It's not that the exhibit is bad, but it seems to be overrated for such simple reasons, which is a bit off-putting.

I get that the department is proud of producing a top student, but it would be nice if they could tone it down a bit.

[Anonymous 1]: It's really funny how they hype it up when they think it's the right time.

└[Anonymous 2]: Yeah, they should tone it down a bit.

└[Anonymous 1]: It's not the professors, but the students themselves overrating it that's the most amusing.

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[Anonymous 51]: It seems like you guys are just being petty.

└[Anonymous 1]: Yeah, you guys are worse.

└[Anonymous 2]: As usual, you pop up. 😂

└[Anonymous 13]: There are people who think anything grand is good.

They might hear that something is unique because it's somewhat special, but once it crosses that line, they only hear that it's eccentric.

Moreover, with the explanation that it's due to the skill's uniqueness, negative opinions poured in, such as it being a show-off, lacking substance, or just a gimmick to draw attention.

However, among them, there were also those who claimed they recognized its 'true value'.

"Why can't it be... no, why can't it be used?"

Professor Ryu Eun-ha was one of them.

"Isn't it supposed to return to the student's possession after the exhibition?"

Despite maintaining a blank expression, the passion in Ryu Eun-ha's demeanor made Kim In-cheol, standing opposite her, smile wryly.

'You've changed too much.'

While she shows no interest in other matters once her tasks are done, her attitude changes when it comes to Lee Sehoon.

Kim In-cheol, seeing Ryu Eun-ha as a connoisseur rather than a department head, explained the reasons step by step.

"Regardless of other things, this time the 'doppelgänger' cannot be allowed. You know what kind of item it is, don't you?"

The Metallurgy Department only creates doppelgängers using projection alloy twice: after the opening ceremony and before the graduation exhibition.

These are stored and displayed side by side during the graduation exhibition to show how much the students have grown during their time at Babel.

"I hope you can respect this tradition of our department."

Kim In-cheol, speaking firmly as if there was no room for compromise, made Ryu Eun-ha nod quietly.

"I apologize. I must have made a spectacle of myself."

"No, I understand your feelings as well..."

When he first saw the exhibit Lee Sehoon created, Kim In-cheol also felt the urge to analyze it immediately.

How could he have understood weapons to create such an item? He thought that if he could uncover that secret, it might help resolve his own dilemmas.

'But that much is not allowed.'

One could argue, "If you're so curious, why don't you just give him the projection alloy and ask him to make it again?" But both of them were firm on this point.

'Even if it's made the same, it won't have the same taste.'

'It will only be a mimic, looking the same but not quite the same.'

There can be no perfectly identical items in this world. Accepting a half-hearted imitation and analyzing it would only make one more curious.

"We should move on to business matters."

"That would be best."

Since continuing the conversation would only leave them with regrets, they quickly moved on to the next topic.

"It has become a topic of discussion even outside. How is the student Lee Sehoon reacting?"

"There's no particular reaction. He's attending classes normally and looking into his minor."

"Minor...?"

In the Metallurgy Department, one can roughly guess what kind of weapons a student will create based on their minor.

What will Lee Sehoon learn, and what will he create based on that?

"Personally, I think..."

Kim In-cheol smiled gently, as if answering Ryu Eun-ha's question.

"He might focus on physical training first."

* * *

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The regular sound of the hammer ringing out in front of the forge.

With each strike, the heated metal is carefully shaped into a precise blade. The students, who were also forging, whispered to each other in low voices.

"Did you time it?"

"Up until just now, there was not even a 0.01-second difference."

"He's really insane..."

In the new refining techniques established after the appearance of the Hero's Tower, there are two important elements.

The first is to evenly arrange the mana within the ore, and the second is to adjust the ore so it doesn't twist during the mana infusion process.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

If one focuses only on the mana arrangement, the ore will twist, and if one focuses only on the ore, the mana arrangement will be disrupted and become useless.

Therefore, it is most important to forge in a way that balances these two elements, and Lee Sehoon is doing it perfectly without a single error!

"Hmm..."

Seeing this, Han In-sung, the teaching assistant who was conducting the metal refining class, had a peculiar expression.

'What am I supposed to teach him...'

Lee Sehoon's forging skills were already beyond the level where he could receive advice from Han In-sung. After a moment of contemplation, Han In-sung made a decision.

'I'll just let him be.'

If he tried to give half-hearted advice, he might embarrass himself in front of the students. Han In-sung acted as if nothing had happened and moved on to the other students. A short while later, the class ended with an announcement.

"..."

Lee Sehoon, who had been hammering continuously, stopped and looked at the swords he had made, drenched in sweat.

The blades were finely polished, adhering to the basics. Although there was nothing special about them since only basic refining was done, with a bit more refinement, they would be good enough for lower-tier heroes to use.

"Hmm..."

However, as Lee Sehoon looked down at the swords, his eyes began to gleam, and his hand, holding the hammer, trembled.

"Hmm..."

Just as his hand, holding the hammer, was about to move like lightning.

"Trying to break them again?"

Han In-sung, who had not approached during the class, came over quietly.

"You need to use them in the next class, so try not to break them. After this week's refining class, they need to be delivered to the market."

"Delivery?"

"How else will the students get their budget? They sell them outside the department and receive support from Babel based on sales performance. If you're not from a wealthy family, you need to pay attention to this."

The swords would be sold for use in combat training or to active heroes through external companies, also serving as an evaluation and a way to give students social experience.

"Hmm."

In the past, he would have broken them immediately upon hearing about the delivery, but with the budget at stake, he needed to compromise.

Lee Sehoon, relaxing his grip on the hammer, looked at his body with a dissatisfied expression.

'I really need to completely overhaul this body.'

Since his regression, he had been dissatisfied with his physical abilities, but recently, it had reached a breaking point.

He had tried to refine one of the materials Ludwig gave him, Mokjo Rock, to make training tools, but his physical abilities were so low that he couldn't even attempt it.

'The easiest method, and I couldn't even do that...'

He tried several times in the refining room at night, but all he got was muscle pain and anger at his weak body.

As Lee Sehoon clenched his teeth, remembering this, Han In-sung, who had been observing him closely, asked.

"What exactly is bothering you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it your physical abilities? Tell me if it's your body or your mana."

Surprised by Han In-sung's serious question, Lee Sehoon thought for a moment before answering.

"It's my body right now."

The method to refine Mokjo Rock this time requires a lot of stamina and less mana.

Lee Sehoon was continuously struggling with the stamina part.

"Your body... Is it needed during refining?"

"Yes."

"Then it's fine if your physical abilities only improve during refining... Ah!"

Han In-sung, realizing something, asked Lee Sehoon.

"Wouldn't a buff be faster than training?"

Han In-sung's question made Lee Sehoon's eyes widen, and he couldn't help but laugh.

'I didn't think of that.'

Since it was a method he had avoided before his regression, he had unconsciously not considered it this time.

Finding a solution, Lee Sehoon stood up and bowed to Han In-sung.

"Thank you for the advice."

"Well, it's nothing. There are various types of buffs, so it's best to try them out yourself at different places."

"Understood."

Han In-sung, who seemed like a clueless person during the entrance exam, was indeed a senior who had graduated earlier.

Lee Sehoon, looking at Han In-sung, glanced at the sword he had made as a demonstration and said.

"While forging."

"Hmm?"

"You're using too much mana. Reduce it to 70% of what you're using now and focus on hitting one point. That will work better for you."

Without waiting for a response, Lee Sehoon walked out.

Han In-sung, who had been staring blankly at his back, realized his situation and muttered in disbelief.

"He's giving me advice?"

A freshman who had only been in the school for a few days was giving advice to a teaching assistant?

In other circumstances, he would have exploded, but strangely, he wasn't angry.

Was it because the other person was the top student of the department? Or because he felt something from the advice?

"..."

Han In-sung, glancing around the empty refining room, quietly picked up the hammer he had left on his seat.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

And a strangely passionate hammering began to ring out.

* * *

"Hmm."

After showering and changing from his work clothes to his student uniform, Lee Sehoon immediately took the light rail to the 'Uru' area, where the support students gathered.

'Having to take the light rail every time I go somewhere. The place is too big, which isn't good.'

Babel, except for the central square where the Hero's Tower and the Madurk Mansion are located, is divided into three major areas.

Each area is managed by different departments, creating a slightly different atmosphere, making it feel like different towns.

'Borsipa feels messy with prototypes everywhere, while Uru feels clean like a new city.'

Looking at the outside scenery, Lee Sehoon pondered which department to visit first.

'Even if I strengthen my body, it can vary depending on the technique used.'

While it can easily enhance physical abilities, it might lack precision and not be suitable for crafting, or it might distort specific senses, resulting in a product different from the design.

Therefore, many believed that using a buff during crafting was worse than not using it at all. Lee Sehoon, who had agreed with this in the past, thought differently this time.

'In a way, I'm in a debuffed state.'

His current body, compared to his pre-regression body, was so decayed that using a buff to enhance his physical abilities was closer to returning to his original state.

'Since I need to use it continuously during crafting, a simple and long-lasting one would be best.'

As he narrowed down the candidates in his mind, an announcement came from the speaker.

-The next stop is the 'Enchantment Department.'

'Enchantment...'

While using enchantment for a buff is simpler than magic, its effects are applied simply and do not match refining.

'But it has excellent durability, so I might as well take a look.'

The Enchantment Department of Babel is one of the leading departments in Uru, known for its high standards and support. It might have a buff to enhance precision.

Lee Sehoon got off the light rail and saw Erica, the top student of Uru.

"..."

"..."

Her pale skin and jet-black hair.

Instead of avoiding eye contact, Erica stared at him, creating a strange atmosphere between them.

Erica looked as if she had something to say, and Lee Sehoon looked as if he was inviting her to speak.

Just as this strange standoff was about to continue,

"Hey."

A student standing around Erica, a young man with a fierce look, glared at Lee Sehoon.

"Move out of the way."

Despite trying to speak politely, his tone was full of hostility.

Seeing an opponent who looked ready to pick a fight, Lee Sehoon narrowed his eyes.

"You should move."

It makes more sense for people to get off and then get on.

To Lee Sehoon, it was a natural statement, but the young man and his group twisted their faces as if they had been insulted.

The atmosphere quickly turned hostile, and Lee Sehoon was taken aback.

'Am I that easy to provoke?'

Just as his dirty temper was about to surface due to the incomprehensible hostility,

"Where are you going?"

Erica asked quietly.

Lee Sehoon, looking at the group surrounding Erica, answered indifferently.

"To the Enchantment Department."

"For what?"

"To see if there's a minor I can take."

Erica, after some thought, seemed to make a decision and said,

"Then come with me."

Surprised by Erica's sudden suggestion, Lee Sehoon and her group were taken aback.

"Excuse me? Miss Erica, we have a meeting next..."

"Go without me."

"But the seniors said you must attend..."

"I don't care."

Ignoring her flustered subordinates, Erica waited for an answer. After a moment of contemplation, Lee Sehoon looked at her and said,

"No."

He watched her eyes widen in real-time.