Chapter 17: The Reincarnated One Completes It

Before the regression, Lee Sehoon had never properly learned martial arts.

It was more profitable to hammer away a bit more during that time, and besides, he didn’t really have any notable talent for martial arts.

'You only learn things halfway. To put it nicely, you’re mediocre, but to be honest, you’re just a useless jack-of-all-trades.'

Even the fierce and temperamental Yeom Seongha, who was incredibly skilled at training, had thrown up his hands in frustration at Lee Sehoon’s half-baked talent.

He had tried to learn a few moves from other regulars, but it seemed he really had no talent for it, as there was no improvement.

That’s why Lee Sehoon had never been particularly ambitious about martial arts.

“……”

But the smooth sword technique he just performed made the situation ambiguous.

‘I’ve never executed it so smoothly before the regression……’

It wasn’t the stiffness of barely managing to follow the technique, but a sense of satisfaction from executing it perfectly from start to finish.

As Lee Sehoon, feeling this unfamiliar sensation for the first time, looked down at his bleeding palm with a puzzled expression, Lycaros, who had approached him, looked at his hand.

“Are you hurt?”

“Yes, it’s just a small tear.”

“Hmm. This can be treated simply in the lounge. Keep practicing for a while.”

After speaking to the other students, Lycaros led Lee Sehoon to the lounge inside the training center.

The interior was equipped with various amenities, including sofas, beds, and a refrigerator stocked with dozens of types of beverages. Lee Sehoon looked around with a bewildered expression.

‘This school really doesn’t skimp on money.’

While Lee Sehoon was surveying the surroundings, Lycaros, who had brought first-aid supplies, pointed to the chair opposite him.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lycaros treated Lee Sehoon’s torn right hand with disinfectant and regenerative spray, and the wound healed almost instantly.

As Lee Sehoon watched this, Lycaros, after checking the surroundings, slowly spoke.

“I have one question… I’m not interrogating you, so feel free to answer.”

“I understand.”

“The sword technique you just used. Did you learn it from someone?”

Lee Sehoon, who had anticipated this question from Lycaros, observed his expression.

‘He doesn’t seem to be interrogating me.’

It looked like genuine curiosity. Lee Sehoon pondered how to respond.

He had learned it from one of the regulars as interest on a late fee, but he couldn’t explain that.

‘Well, it was a technique the old man made up in about ten minutes……’

Lee Sehoon decided it would be fine to say he had just cobbled it together and replied.

“I didn’t learn it; I just made it up myself.”

“……You made it yourself?”

“Yes. I watched other heroes’ battles on video sites and put it together……”

The old man who taught him the technique really did create it that way, so it wasn’t entirely false.

Lee Sehoon spoke casually, as the technique was fundamentally flawed, but this time it had worked well.

‘He made it himself……?’

Lycaros, who had experienced the technique, thought differently.

The subtle footwork to naturally lead the opponent into a vulnerable position, the perfect grip to fully utilize the sword’s characteristics, and the breathing to perfectly integrate these two elements.

Individually, they weren’t particularly special, but the three elements combined to inflict fatal damage on an opponent who was unaware of them.

‘I could react quickly because it was slow. If someone with similar or slightly lower skill used it……’

A serious injury at best, and death at worst.

Of course, it was a sparring session with a student, so Lycaros was more relaxed than usual, but using that as an excuse would be just that—an excuse.

“Hmm……”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, there’s no problem. But…… hmm. Where do I start……”

After much deliberation, Lycaros made a decision and looked at Lee Sehoon.

“First, don’t use the sword technique you just used casually.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s a technique specialized for first-time encounters. If it becomes known, its effectiveness will diminish. It’s best to use it only in specific situations.”

Although he didn’t explain in detail, Lee Sehoon immediately understood what Lycaros meant by specific situations.

‘Use it only when you’re going to kill someone.’

A technique that loses its edge as more people know about it. The only way to preserve its power is to eliminate witnesses.

‘Come to think of it, it became difficult to use properly at some point.’

At first, it was quite useful, but later, there was no one who didn’t know he used this technique.

Thinking this, Lee Sehoon suddenly remembered something.

‘……Could that be why I felt frustrated?’

It wasn’t because he was inexperienced in sword techniques but because the opponent knew everything about them.

Considering this hypothesis, Lee Sehoon pondered for a moment and then dismissed it.

‘No way.’

No matter how untalented he was in martial arts, he couldn’t have missed such a basic point.

While Lee Sehoon was desperately trying to ignore reality, Lycaros, after some thought, looked at him.

“And……”

Lycaros, who had been thinking, looked at Lee Sehoon.

“Do you have any interest in seriously practicing sword techniques?”

If he could create such a technique just by watching videos, he was no ordinary person. To leave such talent unpolished and neglected?

There was no worse attitude for an educator. With a burning passion for education and a sense of duty, Lycaros looked at Lee Sehoon with a serious expression.

‘I must have been misunderstood……’

It seemed his defensive technique was better than he thought.

If he was misunderstood as a martial arts prodigy, his true abilities might be exposed, leading to an embarrassing situation.

Pondering how to handle this, Lee Sehoon suddenly realized something.

‘Come to think of it, it doesn’t matter, does it?’

How many people in the world had been praised as geniuses in their youth only to fall from grace later?

Even he, as a blacksmith, had caused embarrassment to many people due to his inconsistent evaluations before the regression.

‘If they want to give it to me, there’s no reason to refuse.’

Since he was a blacksmith, even if his reputation took a hit, it wouldn’t matter as long as he could make good weapons later. Making a decision, Lee Sehoon subtly steered the conversation in the direction he needed.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any particular interest in sword techniques.”

“Hmm…… That’s a shame……”

“But I do have some interest in movement itself.”

Lycaros, who had been trying to persuade him, looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Movement?”

“Yes. I’m more interested in the way of moving the body rather than a specific weapon…… I only researched this sword technique because swords are commonly used, but I didn’t have any particular feelings about it.”

Interest in the ‘body’ that moves rather than the ‘weapon’ used.

Lycaros, recalling the sword technique he had just experienced, pondered Lee Sehoon’s words.

‘Indeed…… There was no particular inspiration in the sword technique itself.’

The footwork and breathing seemed easy to follow, and the perfect grip to utilize the sword’s characteristics could be seen as a talent as a blacksmith.

Instead of infusing his ‘inspiration’ as a prodigy into the technique, Lee Sehoon had found a precise ‘method’ to move his body as needed.

Understanding the exact nature of Lee Sehoon’s talent, Lycaros’s eyes lit up.

‘Then, I mustn’t let this talent go to waste.’

While geniuses blaze new trails, Lee Sehoon was the one who polished those trails so others could walk on them.

In a sense, he was even more necessary than typical geniuses.

‘Then, a class that exposes him to various weapons would be best……’

The tool understanding class he taught wasn’t bad, but with too many students, it was hard to focus, and the facilities were limited.

A better environment was needed. After much thought, Lycaros had an idea.

‘……There is one.’

There was one class in Akalup that would be suitable for Lee Sehoon.

But recalling the professor in charge, Lycaros involuntarily frowned. The professor’s character was terrible, even if his skills were unknown.

‘Still, there’s no choice.’

It was a perfect fit for Lee Sehoon’s talent, and the two might actually get along well.

Making a decision, Lycaros looked at Lee Sehoon.

“I have a class to recommend…… How about you go and observe it once?”

Lee Sehoon, who had been waiting for this question, smiled.

“Of course.”

* * *

After the tool understanding class ended.

Lee Sehoon, who had received a recommendation from Lycaros, returned to the dormitory, changed clothes, and turned on his phone.

‘Akalup’s Body Control Studies.’

The class didn’t seem particularly special from the name. He searched on the ‘Tower,’ the unofficial community of Babel, but found no significant information.

‘Hmm. I’ve never heard of it before the regression……’

If Lycaros had written a recommendation, there must be something to it, but why hadn’t it become well-known outside?

While Lee Sehoon was searching with a puzzled expression, a post on the popular tab caught his eye.

Why is this person here? [673]

“……”

A sense of foreboding. Sensing something was wrong, Lee Sehoon immediately clicked on the post.

The photo showed Erica standing alone in front of the main building of the Refining Department, with an almost surreal atmosphere. What made Lee Sehoon more alarmed was the background.

‘That’s……’

The spot where he had seen Erica’s shadow when Ryu Eunha carried him back to the dormitory.

Seeing Erica standing exactly there, Lee Sehoon realized the situation and read the post.

Why is this person here? [673]

Is this person the top student of the new Ur class?

She’s been standing in front of the Refining Department for three hours now. ㄷㄷ

[Anonymous 1]: ??

[Anonymous 2]: What?

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[Anonymous 38]: Isn’t she waiting for the top student of the Borshifa class? She waited until the dormitory entrance before.

└[Anonymous 22]: Is that so?

└[Anonymous 18]: Then she would have called and asked her to come down, you idiot.

└[Anonymous 38]: I’m just wondering. Can’t she even speak……

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[Anonymous 128]: Please take down the post. It’s a violation of privacy.

[Anonymous 129]: Take it down quickly.

“What is this……”

After reading the comments, Lee Sehoon had a bewildered expression.

At first, most comments were asking why she was there, but as his name was mentioned a few times, later comments were asking to take down the post.

Clearly, people related to Erica had heard about it and asked to take it down.

‘She must have talked to a professor and then left……’

While he wasn’t sure, it seemed she had heard that he had finished refining and left.

He thought it was too self-conscious, but if not, there was no reason for Erica to come to the Refining Department and stand there.

‘I don’t understand.’

If there was some connection, it might make sense, but why was she acting like this?

Unable to understand her motives, Lee Sehoon, still puzzled, went down to the dormitory entrance to head to Akalup.

“Ah.”

“……”

He met Erica’s gaze, who had become a spectacle for the students.

As their eyes met, the students’ gazes also focused on him, and their expressions showed a strange interest.

They were probably recalling the post on the Tower and making unnecessary assumptions.

‘Young…… so young……’

Ignoring the expectant gazes, Lee Sehoon approached Erica, who was still looking at him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I heard you went into the dormitory.”

“So you were waiting for me to come out?”

“Yeah.”

Erica nodded as if it wasn’t a problem. Lee Sehoon looked at her with a disapproving expression.

“You should be attending classes or practicing. You don’t have that much free time.”

“I am practicing.”

“What?”

Erica pointed to her head in response to Lee Sehoon’s question.

“In my head.”

“……”

If someone else had said it, he would have thought it was nonsense, but as the top student of her class, it sounded plausible.

Sighing deeply, Lee Sehoon changed the subject.

“So, why were you waiting?”

“To show you the item I made yesterday through refining. Can I see it?”

Indeed, that was the purpose. Since it wasn’t a secret, Lee Sehoon rolled up his sleeve and showed her the prayer beads.

“Here.”

“……”

Erica looked down at the prayer beads without saying a word.

It seemed she was reading the information window or analyzing the structure of the prayer beads.

‘Hmm. This is a bit uncomfortable.’

If it was well-made, it would be fine, but showing her a poorly made item with untapped potential made him feel uneasy.

As the urge to destroy it resurfaced in the depths of his heart, Erica slowly spoke.

“I’ve seen it.”

“……That’s it?”

“Yeah.”

While it was better than being grilled with questions, her lukewarm reaction was quite irritating.

Feeling his urge to destroy it intensify, Lee Sehoon narrowed his eyes and glared at the prayer beads.

‘I’ll definitely remake it this year.’

As he clenched his teeth, Erica took something out of her pocket and held it out to him.

“Here.”

“Hmm?”

It was a square envelope with the same design as the one she had given him before to demonstrate boundary techniques. Noticing the thicker boundary on it, Lee Sehoon couldn’t help but smile.

‘She’s still a kid.’

She must have been a bit upset that the boundary was broken last time. As Lee Sehoon took the square envelope, Erica looked at him intently.

Examining the boundary around the envelope, Lee Sehoon inwardly admired it.

‘This time, it’s really well-made.’

It looked similar to the last one but had no obvious weaknesses. As Lee Sehoon hesitated, Erica looked at him with a slightly smug expression.

“It’s different from before.”

“Hmm. Definitely different.”

While he could figure out how to break it if he kept looking, it would take time, so a different approach seemed better this time.

‘Black Spirit Thread.’

Sssss.

A black thread extended from his fingertips. It was a skill he had obtained while making the prayer beads, with a very simple effect.

[Black Spirit Thread] 『D』

A boundary technique that compresses incantations into thread-like forms.

It can be used in any environment, and its durability increases with each layer.

*The mana consumption rate increases based on the environment where the Black Spirit Thread is deployed.

*The durability of the boundary increases with each layer of Black Spirit Thread.

A boundary technique that could be easily deployed anywhere.

While its effect was basic, its versatility made it infinitely useful depending on how it was used.

‘The basic structure is similar……’

The central parts were connected one by one with Black Spirit Threads, and soon a black web covered the envelope.

After examining it, Lee Sehoon lightly flicked a part of it with his index finger.

Wooom-

The shock from the Black Spirit Thread spread through the entire boundary, and the web vibrated from the rebound.

After observing the subtle movements, Lee Sehoon quickly modified the previous method and grabbed the envelope.

“Actually, the envelope……”

Rip! Rip!

The square envelope was torn apart again with a strong force.

Erica’s eyes widened, and surprised voices came from the students gathered behind her.

And Lee Sehoon, standing between them, looked down at the envelope, now unrecognizable.

“Hmm.”

He nodded with a satisfied expression.