Chapter 18

The Regressor did it all, Chapter 18

"…I’ll come back next time."

Erica, seeing the torn envelope, spoke in a dejected voice and turned away. Recalling her slumped shoulders, Lee Sehoon stroked his chin.

"Even if I do this, it doesn’t mean our connection is established…"

The definition of a connection can vary from person to person, but for Lee Sehoon’s unique skill, 'Connection Blacksmith,' the definition was simple.

How significant you are in the other person’s heart, and how much you understand and recognize the other person.

That was the only criterion for forming and leveling up a connection, regardless of the feelings involved.

In that sense, the way Erica is showing interest and concern should normally be more than enough to form a connection, but it doesn’t appear.

"It’s not that the inside and outside are different…"

Thanks to the Connection Blacksmith before the regression, he was adept at discerning such hidden intentions. If that’s not the case, there’s only one possibility.

"The fundamentals are different, I guess."

Her values are so different from ordinary people that a connection can’t be formed through conventional means.

That’s the only way to explain the current situation.

"What a difficult one."

It looks like some level of friendship has formed, but it could be severed at any moment.

There’s a saying that even brushing against someone’s sleeve can form a connection, but it doesn’t seem to apply to Erica.

"It’s troublesome, but… the more twisted the person, the more unique and useful the connection stone is."

Since this won’t progress as it is, it’s necessary to understand what type of person Erica is.

While Lee Sehoon was pondering how to approach her, a voice came from the speaker.

"[We are now entering 'Akalkup.']"

Turning his head, Lee Sehoon looked out the window at the scenery.

Unlike other areas, this area was filled with wide buildings. It was the region of Akalkup, where combat students lived, and Lee Sehoon looked at it with curiosity.

"By area, this is about 1.5 times larger than other department zones, right?"

Not only did combat students need a lot of space, but the department itself was the strongest in Babel.

"For decades, they’ve been the top in the department competition."

Occasionally, other departments take the top spot, but most of the time, they lose it by the end of the year.

"And Borshifa is always third."

Not just the Refining Department, but the technical field itself tends to be weaker when compared to other departments, which is inevitable.

Unlike visible military power, technology lacks flair and can quickly fall behind if it lacks persuasiveness.

"The sorrow of the technical field…"

While Lee Sehoon was thinking about various things and looking outside, a voice echoed from above.

"[The next stop is the 'Muto Department.']"

The Muto Department, where the 'Body Control' class introduced by Lycaros is located.

It’s a traditional department that has existed since the early days of Babel. In the past, it only dealt with pure martial arts using the body and mana, but now it teaches a variety of techniques.

Arriving at the main building, Lee Sehoon was amazed at the scale.

"Wow. This is about twice the size of the Refining Department…"

Even this is considered small compared to the largest department building in Akalkup, which gives a sense of its status.

As Lee Sehoon looked around and entered the main building, he started to see affiliated students, and soon their gazes began to focus on him.

"Should I ask him?"

"Hey, he’s just a freshman. What do you expect?"

"He made a rare-grade weapon, didn’t he? Do you know about it?"

Unlike the hostile atmosphere of the Enchantment Department, the mood here was quite friendly. Seeing their reactions, Lee Sehoon couldn’t help but smile.

"Personal orders, huh."

There are two main ways for students in Babel to obtain weapons.

The first is to buy them from outside, and the second is to purchase items made by students. In the case of finished products, the latter is more cost-effective.

Students receive support from Babel to make items, so they can be bought much cheaper than external equipment.

"But if it’s a personal order, the story changes."

With finished products, you can see and choose, but with a custom order, there’s no guarantee of the quality.

Therefore, placing a personal order with a student whose skills are not proven is like gambling, especially for a freshman.

"Still, they’re giving me a bit of a higher rating because I’m the top of my department."

For a department where weapons are not as significant, showing this much interest means that in other departments, they might actually place an order.

"Still, it’s a bit early."

In Babel, freshmen can officially take orders from the second semester. Before that, Babel doesn’t even provide material costs, so no one would take the risk.

Indeed, no one actually proposed, so Lee Sehoon walked straight into the building and arrived at the lecture room at the far end.

"Is this it?"

The lecture room with a sign for 'Body Control.'

It was tucked away in a corner and looked small, suggesting it wasn’t well-treated, but you never know until you look inside.

With that thought, Lee Sehoon walked into the lecture room.

"You’ve been told several times that I have nothing to teach you!"

"Please, just hear me out!!"

He saw an old man shouting and a young, blonde man clinging to his pants, pleading.

"…."

Lee Sehoon was stunned by the scene before him.

Not only because the young, blonde man clinging to the old man’s pants was Jake Meyers, the top of this year’s Akalkup, but also because there was an unexpected person.

"…And who are you?"

The old man, noticing Lee Sehoon, asked irritably.

Short-cropped hair, a white beard covering his upper lip, sharp eyes, and a twisted mouth—all indicating a dirty personality, but that wasn’t the important part.

"Can’t you hear me? I’m asking who you are."

The old man frowned at Lee Sehoon’s silence. Realizing this, Lee Sehoon pulled out a recommendation letter.

"I’m Lee Sehoon, a first-year from the Refining Department. I’ve come with a recommendation from Professor Lycaros."

"Lycaros? That guy sent you?"

The old man scanned him up and down with a disapproving look, as if he couldn’t understand why Lycaros would recommend him. Jake, still clinging to the old man’s pants, explained.

"This guy is this year’s top from Borshifa. He performed better than me at the demonstration."

"Hmm."

The old man turned his head and started to scan Lee Sehoon up and down again.

The same look he had during their first meeting. Seeing this, Lee Sehoon realized the old man was someone he knew.

'People can be short of money sometimes, what’s the rush?'

'Who’s taking it?! Just wait a bit!'

'Cough! I lost money on that small investment. Just a little extension… wait! I get it, don’t break the sword!!!'

'Techniques! I’ll teach you techniques! I’ll teach you, so stop!!'

An old man who would take on jobs while always being late on payments, teaching hastily created techniques as interest.

A retired S-rank hero and a regular customer before the regression, 'Broken Sword' Ma Guangshu. Lee Sehoon couldn’t believe the appearance of this troublesome connection.

'This guy is a professor?'

A human trash who was addicted to gambling and drank all day.

He would only go hunting when he ran out of money for alcohol and would fix every flaw in weapons when heroes handling weapons appeared on TV.

Regardless of his skills, his personality was far from suitable for a professor. Why was he here?

"Tsk. You don’t look like much… Is this really a recommendation?"

Ma Guangshu, openly scoffing and belittling him. Seeing the same look as he remembered, Lee Sehoon pulled out the recommendation letter.

"Here’s the recommendation letter."

"Let me see it."

Ma Guangshu snatched the letter and read it. As Lee Sehoon watched, he suddenly felt a gaze from below and looked down.

"…Haha."

Jake, making an awkward smile as he met Lee Sehoon’s eyes.

It looked awkward, hanging from the old man’s pants, but considering the other person, it was somewhat understandable.

'If it’s this guy, it’s understandable to grab his pants.'

While he was a human trash, in terms of skills, it was hard to find anyone better than Ma Guangshu.

Ma Guangshu was one of the few colleagues of Shengtian Ludwig, the headmaster of Babel and a perfect ascender, during his active years.

'Ludwig even said he learned a few things from him officially…'

Whether it’s true or not, he definitely had some talent in teaching.

Lee Sehoon himself had found the techniques he learned from Ma Guangshu before the regression very useful.

"You made a sword technique?"

Ma Guangshu, having finished reading the letter, looked at Lee Sehoon skeptically. Lee Sehoon nodded.

"Yes, but it’s not very impressive."

"Of course not. I know, so no need to explain."

"…."

While Lee Sehoon’s eyes were twitching, Ma Guangshu, stroking his chin, seemed to have an idea and looked down at Jake, who was still hanging from his pants.

"You. Do you really want to take my class?"

"Yes! I really want to!"

"Is that so?"

Ma Guangshu, smirking at Jake’s answer. Seeing his dirty personality, Lee Sehoon narrowed his eyes.

"Then why don’t you spar with him? If you win, I’ll take you."

Jake’s eyes sparkled at Ma Guangshu’s suggestion.

* * *

A small training ground set up inside the lecture room.

Despite the shabby exterior, the internal facilities were well-equipped, and the training ground seemed to have the latest equipment.

'So, he’s still taking care of his old colleague.'

While Lee Sehoon was looking around, Ma Guangshu glanced at the two of them.

"Stand facing each other."

At Ma Guangshu’s command, the two stood facing each other in the training ground.

Lee Sehoon took a practice sword, and Jake, as in the demonstration, stood unarmed.

While Lee Sehoon with a sword might seem advantageous, considering their departments, that’s far from the case.

'He was controlling his strength during the demonstration.'

Even then, the skill gap was significant, and he might have received a reward from Ludwig like Lee Sehoon.

Depending on what that reward was, he could be much stronger than at the opening ceremony.

'To spar with such a guy…'

While the intention might be to test Lee Sehoon’s sword skills, it’s not necessary to make Jake so enthusiastic.

Feeling more annoyed than expected, Lee Sehoon frowned. Ma Guangshu, smiling, said:

"A one-shot match. The one who lands a ‘valid hit’ wins. The training ground has equipment, and I’m here, so don’t worry about getting hurt."

Even though he’s retired, he’s a former S-rank hero. Stopping student spars is easy for him.

Both of them knew this, so they didn’t worry about injuries and looked at each other.

"Then…"

Ma Guangshu’s right arm slowly rose, and the two got into their stances.

As the tension reached its peak and their eyes locked, Ma Guangshu shouted:

"Start!"

At Ma Guangshu’s shout, Jake charged at an incredible speed.

'He’s coming!'

Facing Jake in a direct confrontation would be suicidal. Therefore, the only chance for a win was to find a ‘weak point’ in the 10 meters or so he was running and strike it.

'Using the counter sword technique would be safe, but…'

Lycaros advised to hold back except in killing, and it doesn’t feel like it would work on Jake.

Therefore, Lee Sehoon decided to use a different ‘self-defense technique’ he learned from Ma Guangshu before the regression.

'The grip should be a bit looser… and the step should be…'

Lee Sehoon’s rigid stance softened, and Ma Guangshu, noticing the change, showed an interested expression.

'This guy… is quite skilled at releasing tension.'

'Releasing tension' is a technique to maximize flexibility by removing force from the body while maintaining posture.

It sounds easy, but finding and maintaining that delicate balance is not easy.

It’s a skill that requires a deep understanding and control of one’s body. Considering he’s from the Refining Department, it’s quite impressive.

'But that’s not enough.'

That’s all he could do.

'Releasing tension, huh.'

Noticing Lee Sehoon’s change, Jake lowered his body, extended his hands forward, and changed his stance.

Adapting to Lee Sehoon’s use of releasing tension, he switched from striking to grabbing, and to prepare for any counterattacks, he reinforced his body with mana.

Whoosh!

No matter what move Lee Sehoon made, there was no way out. Seeing the overwhelming gap, Ma Guangshu clicked his tongue.

'Tsk. I don’t like these talented guys.'

He doesn’t want to teach them, and watching the fight is no fun.

He wanted to send them away, but he had a favor from Ludwig.

Finding it less interesting and more annoying, Ma Guangshu watched with displeasure.

Thud!

Suddenly, Lee Sehoon kicked off the ground and charged forward.

An unexpected charge. It looked like he was going to use releasing tension to deflect the attack, so Ma Guangshu frowned.

Making an already disadvantageous situation worse. What was he thinking?

'This guy…'

As he watched the incomprehensible action, Lee Sehoon’s right hand, gripping the sword, moved.

Whoosh—

A weak swing. A pathetic strike that was embarrassing to call a feint. Jake easily swung his fist.

Thud!

Lee Sehoon’s sword, struck by the fist, flew away, and the already loose gap widened.

Seeing the loss of the two advantages Lee Sehoon had, ‘distance’ and ‘weapon,’ Jake quickly closed the remaining distance and extended his left hand like lightning.

Snap!

Lee Sehoon’s right arm was caught with ease. Just as he was about to pin it to the ground with all his might, preventing any use of releasing tension.

'Explosion.'

The prayer beads on his left arm glowed blue.

"?! "

"…!"

The surrounding air flipped, and the lost gravity accelerated, pulling his body to the ground.

Boom!

"Ugh!"

A lightning-like pain piercing his entire body, starting from his back.

A shocking blow that could have killed him if he had fallen headfirst. Lee Sehoon squinted and looked up.

He saw Ma Guangshu, who had grabbed Jake’s arm, looking down at him with wide eyes.

Drip.

Jake, hit in the face, was bleeding from the nose and had his mouth wide open. Seeing the dazed expressions of the two, Lee Sehoon smiled and said:

"I struck first."