Chapter 4

Regressors have done it all 4th Chapter

After the exam was over, Lee Sehoon immediately went to the infirmary to have his wounds treated by the doctor.

"This should leave no scar. I'll treat it."

Woom-

A green light emanated from the doctor's hand, covering Lee Sehoon's right hand, and after a moment, all the wounds disappeared completely.

‘...It really is the past.’

The hand, which was once scarred and worn down, had vanished, leaving only a slightly calloused white hand.

Although he felt a bit nostalgic for the years of hard work that had disappeared, he was also glad.

Before the regression, his hands were in such poor condition that they often hindered his refining process.

‘This time, I need to take better care of them.’

Most of the injuries were the result of trial and error, so with the experience from before the regression, things will be different now.

As Lee Sehoon pondered how to proceed, he left the infirmary, recalling his long memories.

"Are your wounds okay?"

Kim Incheol, who had been waiting outside, approached.

"Ah, yes. They're... fine."

"Good. They say scars are badges of honor, but too many can be a burden."

"...That's true."

Kim Incheol, who seemed to be approaching him in a friendly manner, seemed to have other intentions as well.

‘A recruitment offer... but he doesn’t seem like that kind of person.’

The faces of those deeply involved in power had a certain oily, peculiar gleam, but Kim Incheol only showed the fiery passion of a craftsman dedicated to honing his skills.

‘Could he be suggesting I become his disciple?’

For an ordinary student, it might be a good opportunity, but for Lee Sehoon, who had reached a higher level as a blacksmith before the regression, it was a bit awkward.

As he pondered what to do, Kim Incheol, who seemed to have made up his mind, spoke with a serious expression.

"You. Do you know how Babel selects the top students in each department?"

In response to Kim Incheol's question, Lee Sehoon recalled and answered.

"I know that after each department conducts additional exams, they compare the results to select the top students."

Babel Academy divides its students into three departments:

Combat Department 'Aqar Quf', Support Department 'Ur', and Technology Department 'Borsippa'.

Each department has dozens of specialized majors tailored to the students' aptitudes, and today's exam was the entrance exam for the Refining Department, which is part of Borsippa.

"That's right. Only the top two students from each major participate in the additional exams, which means the competition becomes even more intense."

Kim Incheol, who had explained the structure of Babel, hesitated before sighing and continuing.

"Though it's a bit awkward to say... the Refining Department hasn't produced a top student for 12 years. The budget has also been decreasing year by year."

"..."

"Moreover, as this situation spreads, the quality of incoming students has declined, creating a vicious cycle that is the current reality of the Refining Department."

Lee Sehoon's expression became peculiar as he listened to Kim Incheol's complaints.

He was worried about the declining status now, but in 8 years, the Refining Department would be completely abolished.

‘The reason was that the quality had dropped so much that it was embarrassing.’

There were a few attempts to revive it, but none succeeded, and the Refining Department never came back to life.

Kim Incheol seemed to have foreseen this future.

"Ahem. I digressed a bit... but the main thing I want to tell you is this."

With a determined look, Kim Incheol gazed at Lee Sehoon.

"If you want to succeed as a blacksmith, you should go to the Vulcan Academy instead. The application period is over, but I can connect you through my connections."

"..."

Lee Sehoon's expression showed surprise at Kim Incheol's suggestion.

‘Vulcan is the top among blacksmith training institutions.’

It might be slightly inferior now, but after the Refining Department was abolished, it gained the reputation of surpassing Babel and reached the pinnacle.

Considering his growth as a blacksmith, it was indeed a better choice, and Kim Incheol, who was a professor at Babel, had suggested it.

‘Is he planning to move there? No, he doesn’t seem like that kind of person...’

The subtle regret in his eyes suggested that he was genuinely trying to offer a better path as a senior blacksmith.

‘...He’s a decent person.’

Although he hadn’t heard of him before the regression, he found him quite likable. After organizing his thoughts, Lee Sehoon calmly replied.

"Why would I need to do that?"

"You have talent. To fully utilize it, you need a better environment..."

"A better environment would be better, but isn’t that the story of when Vulcan is at its peak?"

"Even now, and in the future, Vulcan Academy will..."

Thinking that Lee Sehoon didn’t understand, Kim Incheol was about to explain again, but Lee Sehoon smiled slightly and continued.

"Why would I bow my head and enter a place that will be the best when I can make the place I enter the best? It would hurt my pride."

"..."

The place where he is will soon be the best. Though it was an arrogant statement, for some reason, it didn’t feel hollow.

Kim Incheol, who had been expecting a bit of confidence but received an answer beyond his imagination, was momentarily speechless before asking seriously.

"If you think that way, you should aim for the top student in your department first. Are you confident?"

"Of course. Didn’t you mention the top student because you think it’s possible?"

"...You read me completely from the start."

Kim Incheol, with a bitter smile, looked at Lee Sehoon.

"The additional exam for Borsippa involves making one more submission. The topic will be announced on the day, and the score will include today’s submission."

"When is it?"

"In a week. Your uniform and student ID will be sent to your home later, so wear them and come."

"Understood."

Kim Incheol looked at Lee Sehoon, who answered confidently without any signs of tension, with a curious expression.

‘He’s still a young man... but I don’t know why I trust him so much.’

It felt like talking to a blacksmith of a similar age. With this strange feeling, Kim Incheol couldn’t help but smile and extend his hand.

"Let’s work well together from now on."

Kim Incheol, with a gentle smile, extended his right hand.

If the professors, teaching assistants, and students of the Refining Department saw this, they would be shocked, but Lee Sehoon, who didn’t know about it, just looked at Kim Incheol calmly.

The trust and expectation in his direction. Though they had only met for a short time, a clear ‘connection’ had been formed.

‘Then...’

Realizing that the conditions were met, Lee Sehoon took Kim Incheol’s hand.

[Connection with 'Kim Incheol' has been established.]

"I look forward to working with you."

[Extracting connection from 'Kim Incheol'.]

[Connection with 'Lee Sehoon' is at Level 1.]

The first material extraction after the regression was successful.

* * *

The somewhat sudden entrance exam was over, and Lee Sehoon headed home immediately.

He had declined Kim Incheol’s invitation to dinner because he had a few things to confirm.

"Hmm. It was definitely this way..."

Recalling his long memories, he climbed the steep stairs of the slum.

Though it was the house he had been living in until yesterday, mentally it was a place he had left decades ago.

Relying on his faint memories, he climbed the last stairs and saw his familiar yet unfamiliar house in the distance.

"..."

An old house standing alone in an open space next to a hill.

Lee Sehoon couldn’t help but smile at the dilapidated house that looked like it would collapse at the slightest touch.

"It’s the same."

Though it was a house he had wanted to leave as soon as possible in the past, seeing it after so long made him feel nostalgic.

The rusted gate and a small, six-pyeong house. The toilet was unbearable, and mold and insects infested every corner.

‘Ahem.’

The scene that made all his nostalgic feelings fly away. But when he turned his gaze to the workshop, his expression relaxed slightly.

The second-hand magic furnace he had bought by pooling all his money. The refining tools and materials around it were the only things in good condition, unlike the shabby house.

‘I dedicated my life to this place after awakening my magic power.’

To avenge his parents, he needed to gain strength, and the strength he thought of as a blacksmith was the ‘money’ he would earn by selling weapons.

That’s why he sold all his remaining assets to buy the necessary items and a place to work.

‘Ah, come to think of it, that guy is still alive.’

The enemy he devoted his 20s to killing. Back then, just thinking about him made his teeth grind, but now, even knowing he was alive, he didn’t feel anything.

He had settled his feelings before the regression, and there were more pressing matters now.

‘The most important thing is the Six Great Demons, or rather, the entire Ten Thousand Demons War.’

Monsters that threaten not only humanity but the entire planet. Stopping their destruction and eradicating them was the most important task.

To do this, he needed to change the fates of the heroes who died in vain and reform the uncooperative ones.

‘There’s a lot to do...’

The events to come, the connections and enmities from before the regression. The memories that kept popping up made Lee Sehoon take a deep breath and organize his thoughts.

‘Thinking too deeply isn’t good either.’

He was, after all, a blacksmith. Trying to make plans with unclear information would only lead to confusion at some point.

For now, it was best to start from his surroundings, gradually expanding from Babel, and only respond to major events.

‘I need to get items or skills related to memory to avoid confusion with important dates.’

Having set his priorities, Lee Sehoon looked at the furnace with a calmer mind.

‘I should check my physical condition now.’

He had participated in the exam immediately after the regression and hadn’t had time to check his body. Though he knew it was in bad shape, he needed to accurately assess it to set a direction.

With a determined mind, Lee Sehoon immediately opened his system window.

[Lee Sehoon]

Strength - E (62) Endurance - E (56)

Magic Power - F (43) Agility - F (47)

Unique Skill: 'Blacksmith of Connections'

Attribute Magic Power: None

Skills: Master of Flames (C)

"..."

Seeing his current physical condition, Lee Sehoon silently rubbed his forehead.

‘The average for Babel freshmen is C, but this...’

This was enough to make people suspect he had entered the school unfairly. The empty skill slot, except for Master of Flames, made his heart ache.

‘Considering it as the price of returning to the past, it’s a good deal.’

They say youth can’t be bought with money. Since he even got his time back, this was