Chapter 27: The Reincarnated One Completes It

"Professor Jeon, you say?"

"Yeah. He said he quit five years ago and opened a hardware store in Akalup."

"How surprising."

I Se-hoon, who was walking in the park while listening to Lea's story, wore a puzzled expression. It was strange that a man who had been a professor in the Metallurgy Department was now running such a small hardware store.

It would be one thing if he lacked the skills, but it seemed even more peculiar given that he could rival the world's top 100 craftsmen, like Kim In-cheol.

"Is there some story behind it?"

"Well... I don't really know. Whenever I ask, he just says it's always noisy."

"Hmm..."

"Ah, but it's not really a big deal. Quite a few professors in the Metallurgy Department have left in the past ten years."

"Really?"

This was information he didn't know before his reincarnation. I Se-hoon's interest was piqued.

'Professors have been leaving since ten years ago...'

It could be due to individual reasons, but considering that the Metallurgy Department is the weakest section in Babel, it was a rather significant story.

'I should look into this.'

As the Metallurgy Department grows, the support he receives will also increase, so it would be beneficial to understand the situation.

While I Se-hoon was lost in thought, Lea tapped his shoulder.

"More importantly, how was my enchantment?"

"Oh, it was good. Your fundamentals were solid, no room for criticism. I checked it again."

"......Hmph. What's the big deal about that."

Lea laughed awkwardly, not expecting such praise. I Se-hoon smiled and continued the conversation.

"But you're too narrow-minded."

"......What?"

Lea's face stiffened.

It seemed like a direct hit, and it also looked like her pride was hurt.

I Se-hoon, confident that he had hit the mark, continued without hesitation.

"When we were at the hardware store, you didn't use a better method even though you thought of one, right?"

"......Well, that's true, but...... I don't understand......"

Lea looked at I Se-hoon with a bewildered expression.

She had only hesitated for a moment before engraving the enchantment, but for him to notice the difference?

This was beyond the level of talent in enchantment.

"There's no excuse for not doing something you know. Especially if it's out of fear, it's as good as having no talent."

"Ugh......"

"Imagination is very important in both enchantment and metallurgy. It's a weapon and a talent, so how can you suppress it?"

"......Grr..."

The more I Se-hoon's indifferent evaluation continued, the more Lea's body twitched as if stabbed by a needle, and she let out a groan.

'Is it because she doesn't know......'

She had already identified her problem and had tried various methods for over a year, even using her emergency funds, but nothing changed.

The item locked in the safe in her workshop. The aftereffects of the event that plunged her into a slump were still fresh in her mind.

Crunch!

The shame of being criticized by a junior and the self-loathing. Without realizing it, Lea gritted her teeth, and I Se-hoon's eyes gleamed.

'So, this is the kind of person she is...'

Her attempts to hide her slump made it hard to see her true character, but now everything was clear.

Having achieved his goal, I Se-hoon stopped the criticism and brought out the carrot he had prepared.

"Look at this."

Lea looked at the hand I Se-hoon extended.

A short dagger in his hand, with a simple enchantment engraved on a black background, looked very ordinary compared to the prayer beads.

"What's this for?"

"I can't show it for long because I have something to do later, so focus."

"......?"

Lea's reaction showed she didn't understand. I Se-hoon demonstrated with actions instead of words.

Before his reincarnation, he had selectively learned only the enchantments that could help with metallurgy, but he still understood the basic structure.

'Unlike metallurgy, which builds from the ground up, enchantment is like overlaying a completed image.'

If you were asked to put a stone under the water, metallurgy would create the stone and place it, while enchantment would engrave the shape of the submerged stone on the surface.

Thus, the essence of enchantment is imitation and reproduction. It's a technique that, though intangible, can be distinguished by the observer, like a dream.

'It's usually hard to show just the basics, but there's a suitable one now.'

I Se-hoon lightly scanned the enchantment on the black dagger, then covered it with his hand and drew out the attribute magic, Hongnyeon.

Whoosh!

The crimson magic power bloomed in his hand.

I Se-hoon erased the enchantment, which had a protective spell, in one go and then used a new skill he had recently learned.

'White Light Stream.'

Swoosh~

A bright white aura bloomed above the black dagger.

Lea looked down in surprise at the incomplete reproduction of white light through magic.

'What kind of method is this......?'

Usually, skills to enhance weapons would reinforce the outer structure. However, I Se-hoon's White Light Stream only reinforced the 'shell' on the outside, not the core.

Why choose such an inefficient method? As Lea pondered this, I Se-hoon continued.

"If one layer doesn't work, divide it into layers."

Hongnyeon seeped into the White Light Stream.

"From the outside, it should look like one layer. But the inside should be clearly distinguished."

The aura of the White Light Stream, combined with the 'flow' property of Hongnyeon, gradually turned red and began to flow.

I Se-hoon coated the dagger with the mixture and then threw it into the flower bed for Lea to see clearly.

Thud!

The black dagger, piercing through the flower petals and embedding itself in the ground.

At first glance, it seemed no different from a dagger thrown with magic, but...

Rip~

The flower below, untouched by the dagger, was cleanly cut in half, showing the extraordinary technique.

"......"

The aura on the blade, influenced by the flow property of Hongnyeon, flowed downward and cut the flower.

The droplets falling from the blade, now transformed into a knife. Though different in detail, it could be considered a form of enchantment. Lea's eyes widened and her face froze.

'How will this turn out......'

A spur-of-the-moment improvisation using the knowledge and skills he had before his reincarnation. It might not be a proper technique, but it would look different to Lea.

After a long time of facing and pondering her issues, someone might call it a plateau, but I Se-hoon had a different view for geniuses.

'It's not a block, it's a gathering.'

Though not visible, geniuses unconsciously prepare the next step while hesitating.

And if that block is broken by a small trigger...

"Junior!!!"

Inspiration would pour in like a dam breaking.

"I, I, lend me that! I'll return it after I make it properly, please, please, please!!!"

Her dull green eyes sparkled as if they were about to emit light, and her whole body trembled with excitement.

In a flash, she grabbed his shoulder and pointed at the dagger embedded in the flower bed, pleading.

I Se-hoon, slightly taken aback by her intensity, thought, 'This kid is a bit much.'

It was natural for her to be excited at the moment her slump broke, but he didn't expect this much.

Thinking she might cry if he refused, I Se-hoon took out the nine daggers he had been carrying.

"Take these too and work on them together......"

"Thank you! I love you!"

Before he could finish speaking, she grabbed the daggers he handed her and the one in the flower bed and ran off like a madwoman.

I Se-hoon, looking at her fierce back, smiled in satisfaction as he looked at his hand, which had briefly touched hers.

'She's young.'

[Extracting a bond from the target 'Lea Claudel'.]

[The bond with the creator 'I Se-hoon' is at Level 1.]

* * *

After sending Lea off, I Se-hoon didn't return to the dormitory but headed to another part of Akalup.

He had a specific place to visit today.

'There are a lot of people......'

Even just approaching, people were already gathering. A mix of freshmen and upperclassmen.

The scene showed that all of Babel's attention was focused here. I Se-hoon looked at the building as he got closer.

'Is that the Martial Arts Hall?'

Despite its dull name, it was a modern 6-story building.

One of the symbolic buildings of Akalup, it was famous both inside and out. The crowd today alone proved its reputation.

Larger than he had imagined from stories, I Se-hoon was interested as he looked at it.

"Huh?"

A familiar voice came from behind.

"What, you're here to watch too?"

A blond youth approached naturally. I Se-hoon nodded at Jake.

"First, I am. Are you here to watch too?"

"Yeah. My friends wanted to come."

Following Jake's gaze, I Se-hoon saw about four students gathered together.

From a quick glance, they seemed to be friends from before entering the academy.

"Did you come alone?"

"More or less."

"Hmm... Then do you want to watch with us? You'd be welcome."

Jake's friendly smile and invitation made I Se-hoon look at him curiously.

'Strange. The only thing he feels towards me is competitiveness...'

To be so friendly despite grinding his teeth in his heart. He must be either really nice or really devious.

Seeing no ulterior motives in Jake's expression, I Se-hoon shook his head.

"No, it's fine. I want to watch alone."

And personally, there are a few things I need to confirm. Jake, looking disappointed, nodded.

"Alright. See you next time!"

Waving to his group, Jake turned and left. I Se-hoon turned his head and saw Erica standing quietly at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall.

Normally, he would think she was waiting for him, but she might be waiting for someone else, like Jake.

Thinking this, I Se-hoon naturally moved towards the south entrance.

"......"

He saw Erica standing at the entrance again, seemingly having moved.

"......What are you doing?"

"I was waiting."

Erica answered calmly to I Se-hoon's question.

It seemed like a concept, but her gaze, which looked like she really didn't know, suggested she was just a unique person.

Having seen many unusual people before his reincarnation, I Se-hoon looked down at her, accepting it.

"If I tell you to go, will you?"

"I'll go. I can watch from a distance."

"......Alright."

He couldn't really object to watching from a distance, and having someone nearby wouldn't be a big problem.

I Se-hoon, having made his decision, pointed inside with a wry smile.

"Let's go in."

"Okay."

Entering the Martial Arts Hall, the management committee checked the students' IDs or tickets, and at the end of the corridor, a large hall was revealed.

Various shops selling food and drinks. The scale was like a huge sports stadium. I Se-hoon whistled and looked around.

'Really, unnecessarily grand......'

Though it was used for inviting heroes from outside, it was mostly used by students. What was the point of building it so grandly?

While I Se-hoon was looking at Babel's incomprehensible scale with a curious expression, a loud cheer echoed from inside the arena.

Realizing the scheduled match had started, I Se-hoon left the snack stands and entered the seating area.

The hall was illuminated by dazzling spotlights.

There were thousands of students in the stands, and at the center of the arena, two students stood facing each other.

- Welcome, freshmen of Babel! We sincerely welcome you to the ranking