Chapter 54: The Reincarnated One Completes It

After starting to climb Mount Yin Yue in earnest, Lee Sehoon displayed an overwhelming battle.

Bang!

Every time the five-colored sword was drawn from his waist, most of the monsters that fearlessly charged at him ended up dead on the ground.

Occasionally, some quick-witted ones managed to survive by throwing themselves to the side, but even then, the outcome didn't change much.

Thud!

He threw the five-colored sword in his hand, instantly cutting off their breath.

Crack!

He pulled out the Firebrand from his waist and shattered their heads.

Swoosh!

He surrounded the blade with a stream of white light and cut through them in a continuous series of attacks, leaving no time for resistance.

His skills showed no signs of being a first-time combatant. However, Lee Sehoon himself wore a face full of dissatisfaction.

'Tsk... It's harder to control my strength than I thought.'

He ended up severing the spine along with the heart, and in situations where moving one step would have been enough, he moved two.

While these were minor mistakes that had little impact on the battle, Lee Sehoon meticulously checked and immediately corrected them.

'If it's not fun and efficient, I can't do it.'

Lee Sehoon, who was a blacksmith to the core, did not enjoy honing his strength through battles like ordinary heroes.

With so little time to hammer metal, how could he enjoy fighting to the death and risking injury?

However, since he couldn't avoid it, he found a solution: the 'optimization' of battles.

'With my current physical abilities and equipment, the cost to defeat one silver wolf is 5. But the average cost used so far is around 5.7... I need to reduce it further.'

Considering his mana, stamina, and the capabilities of his equipment, he aimed to use the most optimal movements to bring down the monsters.

This dry and mechanical approach to battles, treating them purely as 'work.'

Lee Sehoon didn't have any particular thoughts about it, but the other heroes reacted with cold disdain.

'He has no foundation.'

'He acts just as he looks.'

'Sir, just keep hammering metal.'

Not only Samgyeon, who was teaching him various things, but even experienced heroes criticized his combat style harshly.

Although he felt a bit irritated, Lee Sehoon didn't complain much, as he himself had often criticized blacksmiths who only cared about efficiency in making weapons.

'But there were some who looked at it positively.'

One was Ma Gwangsu, who seemed to cater to his tastes for some reason. The other was...

Rumble!

Ryu Eunha, who was making constant stomach noises from the back.

"..."

Ryu Eunha, who had been silently watching Lee Sehoon's battle, immediately took out a red dagger from her subspace pocket and bit into it.

Crack! Crunch! Crunch!

The blade of the dagger, like a chocolate bar, broke off and melted in her mouth.

The fire elemental magic contained inside and the sharpness of the well-honed blade penetrated from her tongue to her entire body.

The clean taste of a high-grade weapon. It was enough to satisfy her palate, and normally, it would have quenched her hunger to some extent.

Rumble!

But today, her stomach growled even louder, as if in protest.

"Ugh..."

Ryu Eunha frowned as her hunger worsened despite eating.

A reaction clearly different from her usual self. She couldn't figure out the reason at first, but now she had a good idea.

'It must be because of Lee Sehoon...'

The combat style that actively utilized the abilities of weapons.

At first, she thought it was just excellent, but as the battles continued, she gradually realized the terrifying aspect of Lee Sehoon's combat style.

Whoosh!

The five-colored sword, which burst out from the Firebrand, weaving five colors of flames.

Others might only think he was using the Firebrand to enhance his attacks, but Ryu Eunha saw the intricate usage.

'The five flames contained in the five-colored sword. He is enhancing the power of his strikes by utilizing each of their properties.'

Balanced with five different flames, Lee Sehoon increased the proportion of 'green,' making the flames spread like the wind, thus increasing the speed of his strikes.

'The subtle properties of the flames, which are not even indicated in the information window. To amplify and use them with the Firebrand...'

His deep understanding of weapons and his excellent sense in handling them made such techniques possible.

Thanks to this, the Firebrand and the five-colored sword performed at over 100% of their power, and Ryu Eunha became curious about the added 'taste.'

Swallow!

Like a gourmet dish that becomes even more delicious with an expert's advice.

It was like showing a person who was debating whether to pour or dip sauce on their sweet and sour pork the overwhelming choice of frying it!

To Ryu Eunha, who had already been eyeing the Firebrand and the five-colored sword, the ongoing battle was almost a form of torture.

Rumble!

She faced a situation where eating didn't satisfy her hunger.

'This is a first...'

Even when she saw people who treated weapons as part of themselves, she never felt this way. What was the difference?

While pondering this, Ryu Eunha chewed on a new weapon to calm her stomach.

Lee Sehoon, who had kicked the head of the last remaining silver wolf, took a deep breath.

"Huff... Huff..."

In 20 minutes, he had killed a total of 94 silver wolves. Without resting, he had been fighting continuously, and his stamina was starting to wane.

'I can probably kill about 80 more, but... it's better to conserve my strength from now on.'

The purpose of coming to Mount Yin Yue today was to find and conquer the dungeon where Jürgen Krüger's item was hidden.

Even if he left all the fighting to Ryu Eunha, he needed to reserve some stamina for any unexpected variables.

After making his decision, Lee Sehoon looked at Ryu Eunha, who was eating a double-edged axe.

"Professor."

"..."

"Professor?"

Crunch! Crunch!

Ryu Eunha, who continued to chew the blade of the axe without answering, made Lee Sehoon curious. He then noticed her eyes were fixed on the Firebrand and the five-colored sword and smiled.

'She must be really hungry.'

He thought about selling them at a much higher price, like the cup noodles sold at the mountain summit. With this thought, he put the Firebrand and the five-colored sword into his pocket.

Click!

"Ah, hmm. I was listening. What is it?"

"I want to take a short break. Is that okay?"

"You can do as you please. If you want, I can take you back to the terminal. What would you like to do?"

"I'll rest here. It's also an experience."

With Lee Sehoon's answer, Ryu Eunha looked around and, confirming there were no issues, nodded.

"Here should be fine. Do as you please."

With Ryu Eunha's permission, Lee Sehoon went to a spot he had already checked, sat on the ground, and leaned against a rock.

Crunch!

The Shadow Matter Armor adjusted its form like a wave, and the uncomfortable sensations from his buttocks and back disappeared.

The Shadow Matter Armor, which changed to fit not only his body but also the environment, intrigued Lee Sehoon.

'This... It's better than I thought.'

The technology to create the armor was subpar, but the Shadow Matter itself was a versatile and excellent material, making the performance quite good.

The wearing sensation was more like skin than armor. Lee Sehoon was satisfied with the effect but felt a bit disappointed.

'If I could use this properly, I could reduce the cost to 4, no, even 3.'

However, the Shadow Matter Armor was primarily a protective device to prevent injuries. Using it actively in combat would likely earn him a poor review from Ryu Eunha.

'Besides, it might break if I use it that way.'

Even if Ryu Eunha didn't particularly like the item, breaking it could mean she wouldn't lend him other items in the future.

While contemplating this, Lee Sehoon examined the Shadow Matter Armor.

"Lee Sehoon."

Ryu Eho, who was sitting a bit away, spoke.

"I have a question. Is that okay?"

"Ah, yes. Please ask."

"During the battle, I often saw movements that seemed to come from long experience. Could you tell me if you learned such combat techniques from someone?"

Her question, filled with curiosity, expectation, and a hint of doubt, made Lee Sehoon slightly uncomfortable.

'Did I show too much?'

He thought it would be fine to show his movements without using any special techniques, but it seemed to have piqued her curiosity even more.

However, this was a question he had anticipated after his reincarnation, so he calmly provided the prepared excuse.

"I didn't learn from anyone. It's just something I developed on my own."

"Developed?"

"Yes. I kept thinking about how to move my body efficiently. As I continued to do this, my movements naturally became more efficient in battle."

Lee Sehoon's calm answer made Ryu Eunha even more curious.

"What kind of life did you lead to develop such efficiency?"

Understanding the environment and moving efficiently.

It sounded simple, but it was far from easy to consciously control every action.

To have this become second nature? A hint of doubt began to form in Ryu Eunha's mind.

"I didn't have any money."

Lee Sehoon continued calmly.

"My parents' inheritance was used to set up the workshop, and the monthly support was spent on materials for practice, leaving almost nothing. So, I changed my approach."

"Changed...?"

"Yes. I thought, 'As long as I can maintain my body, it doesn't matter what I do.'"

He focused on nutrition and cost-effectiveness for meals, bought clothes only if they affected heating or cooling, and used his personal time for rest by lying on the workshop floor.

"This might sound easy, but finding the right balance is quite difficult. If I ate too little, my stamina would drop, and if I ate too much, I'd have insufficient materials."

"..."

"So, finding the right balance was crucial. At first, I often collapsed from exhaustion. During the first winter, I almost died..."

Though it was a recent event in terms of time, for Lee Sehoon, who had reincarnated 31 years back, it felt like a distant past.

But when he recalled it, the memories were vivid, especially since he was obsessed with avenging his parents' death at that time.

'That was a period when I was really working hard on various things.'

Days without any rest, mentally or physically. Each day was tough, but now, it felt like something that happened in the past.

Time had passed, and he had achieved his goal of revenge.

'Even the gods need to be beaten thoroughly...'

While lost in these thoughts, Lee Sehoon suddenly realized there was no response and looked to the side.

"..."

Ryu Eunha, who was silently staring at him with a complex look, made Lee Sehoon realize he might have been too brief.

'Did I leave out too much?'

He had endured some hardships, but his explanation lacked persuasiveness. So, he decided to share more of his past experiences.

"Do you know the E-grade monster Horned Pig? Its meat tastes like rubber soaked in food waste, but it's very nutritious and cheap, so I ate it regularly. The discomfort of eating it made me conserve my stamina."

"Once, I was lifting a pot of molten metal with a used claw, and it broke, spilling onto my foot. I almost lost three toes, so I started spending more on equipment."

"I once injured my shoulder and, without money, had to hammer with my other arm. Two weeks later, I went to the hospital and was told that if I had been a bit late, it would have been permanently damaged... After that, I started checking my body condition more carefully."

As he spoke, Lee Sehoon became more animated, recalling his past.

"Alright."

Ryu Eunha, with a stern expression, interrupted him.

"If you've had such experiences... your combat style makes sense."

Pushing his life to the limit to develop his talent was a natural result. The harsh days that couldn't be seen from his records.

Ryu Eunha looked at Lee Sehoon with a slightly sympathetic gaze.

"But you're not living like that anymore, right?"

"I don't anymore. Living that way doesn't allow my physical abilities to grow."

Ryu Eunha's tense expression relaxed slightly at Lee Sehoon's answer.

"Instead, I focus on maximizing my muscle and mana circuit growth without causing necrosis..."

"Lee Sehoon."

Ryu Eunha, who had moved closer, gripped his shoulder with a serious look.

"I understand your desire to grow quickly, but you shouldn't push yourself too hard. Do you understand?"

"Um... I'll... I'll be careful..."

"Do you understand?"

Determined to get the answer she wanted, Ryu Eunha's expression was one Lee Sehoon had seen before his reincarnation. He had no choice but to nod.

"I understand."

"Really?"

"Of course. Don't worry."

He had no intention of doing so, but in such situations, it was more efficient to agree and move on.

'Besides, I'm not pushing myself too hard.'

He didn't need to consciously move each organ, his nervous system wasn't twisted, and he didn't cut and reattach his mana circuits daily. What was the problem?

Ryu Eunha, perhaps sensing his thoughts, sighed.

"It's early in the semester, but many opportunities will come to the students. As the top student of the Borsipa department, you will have even more..."

While listening to Ryu Eunha's explanation about the benefits of being the top student, Lee Sehoon's eyes moved over her shoulder.

"..."

A faint light pouring over the dark mountain ridge. Lee Sehoon immediately looked up at the sky.

The moon, visible through the thick clouds, was about to be hidden again. Lee Sehoon quickly looked at Ryu Eunha.

"Professor! Please carry me and jump high!"

"Excuse me?"

"It's urgent. Quickly!"

Surprised by the sudden request, Ryu Eunha, nonetheless, quickly activated her Bloodline and carried Lee Sehoon, pushing off the ground.

Whoosh!

The incredible wind slapped their faces as the view changed instantly. The landscape of Mount Yin Yue, stretching beyond the horizon, came into view.

Lee Sehoon quickly scanned the surroundings.

'The dungeon where Jürgen Krüger's item is located absorbs mana infused with moonlight.'

Before his reincarnation, A-grade heroes had discovered this phenomenon by chance and, after a three-week investigation, successfully found the dungeon.

The search was impossible without the moon, and the flow of mana was so subtle that it was hard to trace.

The heroes boasted that they wouldn't have found it so early if it weren't for them.

'But that's the story of finding it from below.'

The polluted air flowing like the wind. As Lee Sehoon observed the natural flow of mana, he noticed a place where his 'calculations' didn't match.

A seemingly ordinary mountain peak. But a small amount of mana was naturally seeping into the clearing halfway up.

Lee Sehoon, having spotted this, pointed without hesitation.

"Over there!"

"Is that...?"

Ryu Eunha, recognizing the anomaly as an S-grade hero, reacted quickly. Lee Sehoon, seeing her reaction, immediately shouted to prevent her from having second thoughts.

"It might disappear soon! We need to break in!"

Though the structure wasn't complex, if Ryu Eunha