Chapter 53: The Regressor Takes Care of Everything

Saturday morning.

Iseun, who woke up early in the morning, gathered his pre-packed luggage and headed to the 'Subspace Terminal' in Ure.

A massive building with five floors.

It was so vast and magnificent that it couldn't be compared to any ordinary public transportation terminal, and its security was extremely tight. Considering its importance, this was inevitable.

'It's a hub connected to the entire world...'

From the capitals and major cities to various dangerous areas, it was a central transportation hub that could travel to hundreds of regions without any time lag.

One of the pillars supporting the abnormal educational institution, Babel, was this Subspace Terminal.

'I've always thought... it's amazing that such a facility can be maintained.'

Considering the scale of wealth that flows through the Subspace Terminal, it would be the perfect target for miners or terrorists looking to exploit social chaos.

However, despite such concerns, the Subspace Terminal had rarely been directly targeted, even before the regression, and the reason was simple.

'Because the owner is Ludwig.'

The place was created and managed 'directly' by the Ascended One, the first and strongest hero, also known as the Ascended One.

Most of those who attempted a surprise attack were suppressed just before they could act, and even a member of the Ten Evils, known as the great evil of the Ten Thousand Beasts, suffered severe injuries and retreated.

Contrary to public concerns, its status was maintained until Ludwig perished with the Heaven-Destroying Demon God. In a sense, there was no better investment for investors.

'...Wait. Now that I think about it, I could just buy stocks here, right?'

The stock of the Subspace Terminal, which had consistently risen despite occasional drops due to crisis rumors and then sharply rebounded when Ludwig repelled the invasion, came to mind.

While Iseun was contemplating this potential investment, he noticed the surroundings becoming unusually noisy and looked ahead.

"..."

Ryu Eun-ha, dressed in a black suit, stood at the agreed location.

Her expressionless face and red hair made her instantly recognizable, and people naturally glanced at her and murmured.

"Why is Ryu Eun-ha here? Is she here to support someone?"

"What are you talking about? She's the one who publicly humiliated the son of the Serafin Guild Master. She's famous for not doing such things."

"Then, does it make sense for an S-rank hero to go to a D-rank dangerous area?"

People whispered, puzzled by why Ryu Eun-ha was in such a place.

Seeing their intense reactions, Iseun realized anew just how high her status was.

'S-rank heroes are still out of reach...'

Before the regression, he saw her so often that he was desensitized, but for most people, S-rank heroes were so distant that it was hard to even have a conversation with them.

With her position as a department head at Babel, most people wouldn't even dare to hand her a business card.

'Back then, she was just a picky regular customer... now she's a reliable sponsor.'

He was happy to have such a good connection, but on the other hand, it made him feel bitter to realize how low his own status was.

While Iseun was feeling these mixed emotions, he met Ryu Eun-ha's eyes.

"Ah."

Ryu Eun-ha, who had been waiting for him, approached without hesitation. People instinctively stepped back as she approached expressionlessly, leaving Iseun standing alone.

"..."

Ryu Eun-ha, who had approached, silently scanned him once and then asked calmly.

"Are your injuries okay?"

"Ah, yes. They're all healed now."

"That's good. I'm relieved."

Her expressionless face, yet her sincere response.

If there had been a problem with his arm, the quality of the weapons he would create in the future would have dropped, and Ryu Eun-ha, who was looking forward to new 'flavors,' would have been worried.

'She wouldn't care if I was a mess after the regression...'

He must never let his guard down when dealing with Ryu Eun-ha. While Iseun was reaffirming this, the crowd around them started murmuring again.

"Is it true that Ryu Eun-ha is sponsoring him?"

"Really... of all people, Ryu Eun-ha?"

While rumors had spread that Ryu Eun-ha had shown interest in Iseun after the auction, they were just rumors, so no one paid much attention.

But with this evidence of the two meeting on a weekend, the story would change.

A huge piece of news that would spread not only within Babel but also outside. The two of them glanced at the reactions and then looked at each other as if it were nothing.

"Shall we go now?"

"Sure."

Neither Iseun nor Ryu Eun-ha were the type to pay attention to such trivial reactions.

Ignoring the gazes around them, they headed straight for one of the gates.

Beep—

[A student, Iseun. Entry to the D-rank dangerous area is not permitted.]

The hologram appeared in the air as he presented his student ID. Ryu Eun-ha then presented her ID.

Beep—

"I will accompany him."

[Department Head Ryu Eun-ha. Accompanying to the D-rank dangerous area confirmed.]

The gate opened, and they walked through the passage, revealing the interior with a blue gate.

The gate was wide enough for ten adults to fit through simultaneously. Looking through it, Ryu Eun-ha warned Iseun.

"You might feel a bit queasy, so it's best to focus."

Ryu Eun-ha stepped through the gate first, and Iseun followed, stepping into the gate.

Whoosh—

With one step, he felt as if he had traveled a great distance, a strange sensation. The bizarre sense of distance in the gate made Iseun frown.

'This damn feeling is still the same...'

It seemed even more intense than before, perhaps because his body was weaker.

Shaking off the remaining sensations, Iseun stepped out of the building with Ryu Eun-ha.

"It's still early morning here."

"Yes. It will take about five hours for the sun to rise."

The terminal grounds, surrounded by a massive wall, were brightly lit, but beyond it, the D-rank dangerous area, Silver Moon Mountain, was pitch black.

'The item belonging to Wergen Kruger is in there...'

He had come earlier than before the regression, but would the item still be intact? While Iseun was looking around with a mix of anticipation and worry, Ryu Eun-ha spoke.

"Let's check your equipment first."

Ryu Eun-ha, standing opposite him, said with a slightly stern expression.

"Show me the equipment you'll be wearing today."

Following Ryu Eun-ha's request, Iseun took off his coat and showed the equipment he was wearing.

His weapons were the Five-Colored Flower Blade and the Fire Thorn, which he had made during the entrance exam. For defense, he wore a standard combat suit provided by Babel, with light armor covering only the vital points.

It might look like he had just thrown on a suit over a tracksuit, but in reality, it was as sturdy as wearing two or three layers of steel armor.

'Well, it's practically useless against proper opponents...'

But with Ryu Eun-ha by his side, there shouldn't be any major issues.

While Iseun was thinking this, Ryu Eun-ha commented.

"Your armor is still inadequate."

As if she had expected it, Ryu Eun-ha tapped her subspace pocket.

"Excuse me for a moment."

Ryu Eun-ha took out a black cube from her subspace pocket and, without waiting for Iseun to say anything, placed it on his body.

Click! Creak—

The black cube split into pieces like a puzzle and attached to Iseun's body, forming armor in an instant.

From a distance, it looked like a sleek and sharp suit. The seamless integration made Iseun slightly surprised as he checked the information.

[Shadow Matter Armor]

[Rank: Hero] [Quality: Supreme]

Armor made from Shadow Matter, a dark attribute material.

It adjusts to the user's body and disperses impact into the surrounding shadows.

* Adjusts to the user's body.

* Can disperse impact into connected shadows.

* Can use the skill 'Shadow Hedgehog.'

'This armor made from Shadow Matter... she really put some thought into it.'

It didn't interfere with his physical abilities, staying true to the purpose of the extermination training, and its automatic response to attacks he couldn't react to increased safety.

The performance was so excellent that it seemed custom-made for today. Iseun asked curiously.

"Did you buy this for me?"

"I received it as a gift before and didn't have a use for it, so I kept it in storage. It seems to fit well, as expected."

Ryu Eun-ha nodded slightly, seemingly pleased with Iseun's fully equipped appearance. Iseun looked down at the armor he was wearing.

'It must not have been something she really wanted...'

Ryu Eun-ha never casually gave away weapons or armor she truly valued or planned to use.

The fact that she gave it away so easily meant it was either of low quality or not something she had wanted.

'She must have tried to win someone's favor with it... whoever it was must have been clueless.'

No matter how much she liked weapons, if the gift was too obvious, it would be awkward to accept.

Ryu Eun-ha, who seemed indifferent on the surface, was actually quite meticulous in such matters. She might have been cautious, but she wouldn't have gained any goodwill.

'If it had been well-made, it might have been different, but it wasn't.'

The armor was simply made from Shadow Matter without much creativity or skill.

'It's a bit of a waste...'

While Iseun was thinking this, Ryu Eun-ha, who had finished her inspection, took a step back.

"Let's start now. Follow me."

"Ah, yes. I understand."

Iseun followed Ryu Eun-ha, looking at the entrance to the wall in the distance.

The entrance was blocked by a blue magnetic field, with occasional sparks. To first-time visitors, it looked quite threatening.

"It's a magical device that blocks demonic energy. It's harmless to humans, so don't worry."

Ryu Eun-ha explained and stepped through the magnetic field first, followed by Iseun.

Zap!

A blue spark swept over his body.

It felt like static electricity passing through him. If he had been a monster or a demon with demonic energy, he would have been fried inside.

'It's still a dangerous thing, whether before or now...'

Having safely crossed the magnetic field, Iseun turned his gaze to the forest.

A dark forest with a chilling wind. It looked like a gloomy mountain, but there was one difference.

"The air in the dangerous area contains not only mana but also demonic energy. It will cause a reaction, so try to calm it down slowly."

Even breathing normally made his lungs feel prickly, and his body reacted as if threatened by the small amount of demonic energy. Iseun smiled slightly, feeling the sensitivity of his new body.

'Seeing this, it's definitely a new body...'

He was mentally accustomed to the polluted air of the dangerous area, but this was his body's first time, so it instinctively shrank back.

However, the strange sensation was short-lived. His body quickly adapted to the demonic energy, and the foreign feeling disappeared.

"Is this enough? How about it?"

Iseun had naturally filtered out the demonic energy through his breathing within a minute of entering. Ryu Eun-ha's eyes widened slightly at this.

"Remarkable. Even if you're quick, it's usually difficult at first..."

"I have a knack for this kind of thing."

While his knack was impressive, adapting in less than a minute was an abnormal level, but Ryu Eun-ha didn't comment much on it.

"Excellent."

She had known Iseun's talent was extraordinary, and as a genius who had achieved many abnormal things herself, she took it in stride.

"Let's move on then."

Ryu Eun-ha took the lead again, and Iseun followed her into Silver Moon Mountain.

Whoosh—

A chilling wind carrying demonic energy. The forest was so quiet that even the sound of insects was absent, making their footsteps echo loudly. There was also a sense that something was watching them from the darkness.

"It's a magical device that blocks demonic energy. It's harmless to humans, so don't worry."

Ryu Eun-ha explained and stepped through the magnetic field first, followed by Iseun.

Zap!

A blue spark swept over his body.

It felt like static electricity passing through him. If he had been a monster or a demon with demonic energy, he would have been fried inside.

'It's still a dangerous thing, whether before or now...'

Having safely crossed the magnetic field, Iseun turned his gaze to the forest.

A dark forest with a chilling wind. It looked like a gloomy mountain, but there was one difference.

"The air in the dangerous area contains not only mana but also demonic energy. It will cause a reaction, so try to calm it down slowly."

Even breathing normally made his lungs feel prickly, and his body reacted as if threatened by the small amount of demonic energy. Iseun smiled slightly, feeling the sensitivity of his new body.

'Seeing this, it's definitely a new body...'

He was mentally accustomed to the polluted air of the dangerous area, but this was his body's first time, so it instinctively shrank back.

However, the strange sensation was short-lived. His body quickly adapted to the demonic energy, and the foreign feeling disappeared.

"Is this enough? How about it?"

Iseun had naturally filtered out the demonic energy through his breathing within a minute of entering. Ryu Eun-ha's eyes widened slightly at this.

"Remarkable. Even if you're quick, it's usually difficult at first..."

"I have a knack for this kind of thing."

While his knack was impressive, adapting in less than a minute was an abnormal level, but Ryu Eun-ha didn't comment much on it.

"Excellent."

She had known Iseun's talent was extraordinary, and as a genius who had achieved many abnormal things herself, she took it in stride.

"Let's move on then."

Ryu Eun-ha took the lead again, and Iseun followed her into Silver Moon Mountain.

Whoosh—

A chilling wind carrying demonic energy. The forest was so quiet that even the sound of insects was absent, making their footsteps echo loudly. There was also a sense that something was watching them from the darkness.

Ryu Eun-ha, walking ahead, explained calmly.

"The monsters in Silver Moon Mountain are all nocturnal. They have a keen sense of smell and are intelligent enough to conduct reconnaissance and coordinated attacks."

Rustle—

"There are two methods for hunting. One is to attack their lairs during the day, and the other is to defeat the monsters that roam at night."

Ryu Eun-ha scanned the surroundings and naturally changed direction.

"Another method is to hide and ambush them at night, or to sweep through them. Naturally, the former is the more common choice."

After walking for a while, Ryu Eun-ha suddenly stopped and stared intently at the bushes.

"We're here for Iseun's extermination training today, so I won't interfere unless it's a dangerous situation. How do you plan to move?"

After giving the basic instructions and leaving the choice to him, Ryu Eun-ha asked clearly. Iseun looked straight ahead, just like her, and stepped forward.

"I have a reliable protector, so I'll go for a frontal assault."

"I'll say this again: I won't interfere unless it's a dangerous situation. Even with the armor, if you sustain serious injuries, I'll immediately stop the extermination."

Ryu Eun-ha, concerned that he might fight recklessly relying on the armor's performance, clearly set the boundaries.

She was thorough, and it wasn't an empty threat.

"It's fine."

But Iseun answered calmly.

No matter how weak his body was, he wasn't at a level where he would struggle against the creatures here.

"Understood."

Ryu Eun-ha nodded and stepped back, and Iseun moved forward as if taking the baton.

In the quiet forest, the hostility and gazes from the bushes silently spread out, forming a包围圈.

当李勋继续毫无察觉地走进越来越密集的包围圈时，突然——

吼——！

黑色的狼从灌木丛中跃出，露出雪白的牙齿，一齐扑了过来。

银月山的E级怪物——银狼。

虽然在这里是最弱的个体，但它们拥有紧密的协同攻击体系，对初学者来说是非常危险的怪物。

“八只……有点多了。”

虽然有影质装甲保护，不会受伤，但实战中会发生什么，谁也说不准。

万一李勋受伤，尤其是手受伤，所以柳恩哈随时准备介入。

嗡——

腰间的红色刀鞘内，火属性魔力沸腾，躁动不安。

就在李勋右手紧紧握住五色花刀的刀柄的瞬间——

啪——！

五色的火焰划出半月，将银狼的身体一分为二。

扑通，扑通！

被劈成两半的银狼尸体惨不忍睹地在地上翻滚，断面被烧焦，散发出焦味。柳恩哈看到这一幕，睁大了眼睛。

“……！”

李勋等待八只银狼完全进入攻击范围后才出刀。

不仅是技巧，他对所使用武器的理解也几乎达到了“完美”的程度。

“厉害……”

与其他英雄不同，他作为铁匠的特征非常明显。

这种异质而有趣的场景让柳恩哈默默地看着李勋和他的五色花刀，感到惊叹。

咕噜——

“……”

“……”

一阵略显尴尬的声音在寂静的森林中回荡。

（注：最后一段的翻译中，"包围圈" 应该翻译为 "encirclement"，"异质" 应该翻译为 "heterogeneous"，"略显尴尬的声音" 应该翻译为 "slightly awkward sound"。）

In the quiet forest, the hostility and gazes from the bushes silently spread out, forming an encirclement.

As Iseun continued to walk into the increasingly dense encirclement without noticing, suddenly—

Roar—!

Black wolves leaped out