Chapter 59: The Reincarnated One Takes Care of Everything

"…For now, I'll only take this much."

In response to Ludwig's continued offers of compensation, Lee Sehoon decided to only take the ore waste. He had already secured all the urgent items, and considering Ludwig's abilities, it seemed wise to save some for later.

‘There must be some standards, but if my value increases, the likelihood of receiving more will be higher.’

And having an excuse to receive more compensation later would provide an opportunity for a private meeting, which wouldn't be bad.

"Take it as soon as possible, or you might forget."

"I will keep that in mind."

"Then, you should go back and rest now."

Whoosh—

The moment Ludwig's gaze fell upon him, Lee Sehoon disappeared from the principal's office as cleanly as he had appeared.

After confirming that Lee Sehoon had safely arrived at the hospital bed from a distance, Ludwig retracted his senses and looked at Ryu Eunha.

"I'll handle it as an attack by Mina, as we discussed. Although it will be troublesome, if there are any interview requests, I'll adjust accordingly. The opponent… just name the ones you usually dislike."

"Understood."

"And for the research budget… let's start with 1 billion. Since it's just the two of you, it wouldn't be fair to the other professors if it were too much."

Although it was a small amount compared to the research grants professors usually receive, it wasn't bad considering that Lee Sehoon, a student, would be using it alone.

And if they produce results, the budget and support can always be increased. Since the conditions weren't bad, Ryu Eunha nodded.

"I'll do that."

"It might be the path to 'Ascension.'"

"…"

Ryu Eunha looked at Ludwig silently.

A title and qualification granted only to those who have climbed to the top of the Hero's Tower, one step above S-rank heroes.

Feeling both close and distant, Ryu Eunha replied calmly.

"I'll try my best."

"I expect great things from you."

"Then…"

Ryu Eunha bowed slightly and turned to leave the principal's office. Just as she was about to go out, she suddenly turned back to look at Ludwig.

"Principal."

"What is it?"

"Lee Sehoon is someone I noticed first."

Caught off guard by Ryu Eunha's sudden statement, Ludwig stared at her for a moment before chuckling and asking.

"What do you want to say?"

"…I just wanted you to know."

Ryu Eunha answered evasively and left the room. In the principal's office, a low voice echoed.

[Even a lump of iron has desires.]

The voice from beyond the white hole. Ludwig nodded at the taunt.

"That's true. I didn't expect to receive a warning from you, Professor Ryu."

[Be careful. From the way they're growling, they'll bite if you touch them.]

This time, it was just a matter of the principal taking care of it, so there was no particular issue. But if he had offered support with a contract, Ryu Eunha wouldn't have just stood by.

Recalling how Ryu Eunha had tried to intervene during his conversation with Lee Sehoon, Ludwig chuckled.

"Don't worry. It's not that serious yet."

[Do you really understand this hobby…? Anyway, which side do you think it is?]

In response to the voice's question, Ludwig's smile faded as he answered.

"Probably the place where 'Shedding' was being researched. The item used as the knot seems to be part of Wurgen."

[Transplanting the body of an Ascender into a monster to accelerate awakening… the technology has advanced even further.]

If this were to become public, it would cause a huge stir, but Ludwig felt no particular emotion. As the head of Babel, an educational institution and a massive research facility, he had always expected to reach this domain.

"But… it seems a bit premature."

[Then what?]

A slightly higher voice than usual. Reading the expectation in it, Ludwig answered calmly.

"I think it's best to put a stop to it now."

With that, Ludwig disappeared from the principal's office, and the white hole vanished without a trace.

From that day on, inexplicable landslides and building collapses occurred around the world.

* * *

"Hmm…"

After returning to the hospital room and taking a nap, Lee Sehoon immediately checked his condition.

A sensation like being pricked all over his body. His bones throbbed, and his joints creaked as if being squeezed. The terrible pain that felt like being beaten all over made Lee Sehoon sigh.

‘This is actually not bad.’

Although it was extremely painful, injuries without pain are more frightening.

In that sense, this level of injury was not bad, but no one around him would listen.

‘I should have asked Ludwig for some elixirs…’

If he had the right elixirs, he could have used the Spirit-Linking Magic to heal himself instantly.

While Lee Sehoon was pondering whether to save the compensation or shorten the six weeks, there was a knock on the door.

"Hey. Are you sleeping?"

A perfunctory knock and a lackadaisical voice. Recognizing the owner, Lee Sehoon sat up in bed and replied.

"Come in."

As soon as he gave permission, the door opened, and a silver-haired girl, Louise, entered with a black plastic bag.

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were attacked by Mina and came to see."

Answering confidently, Louise sat in the chair next to the bed and examined Lee Sehoon's body.

"But you seem fine? I heard you were badly injured…"

"It's not that bad. This is as bad as it gets."

Apart from the bandages, there didn't seem to be any pain, which made Ryu Eunha look puzzled.

"Really? Professor An wouldn't say that without a reason…"

"It's true. Just some muscle tears, a slight crack in the bone, and a bit of damage to the magic circuits."

"Which parts?"

"Everywhere."

"…"

Hearing Lee Sehoon's answer, Louise stared at him for a moment before muttering with a bitter expression.

"I thought you were badly injured… but it was just a head injury, huh?"

"…"

"Here, eat this and calm down. It's Jason Cherry, which you like."

Handing over the black plastic bag with Jason Cherry, Louise spoke kindly, making Lee Sehoon look bewildered.

While others might do this, it was strange to hear it from Louise.

‘If it were the old days, she would have spat on it and said it would heal with saliva.’

It was a sign that she hadn't gone completely off the rails, which was a relief, but it was also disappointing not to have anyone who could empathize.

As Lee Sehoon sighed and ate the cherry, Louise asked cautiously.

"So, you're not that badly injured, right?"

"I'm fine. Are you that worried?"

"What am I worried about? I was just curious, and you're making a big deal out of it…"

Louise grumbled, looking annoyed. Lee Sehoon stared at her for a moment before slightly raising the corners of his mouth.

"Really? Professor An said you were asking if I was okay, which was tiring for her."

"What?! No, don't tell anyone…!"

Reacting reflexively to Lee Sehoon's words, Louise's eyes widened in realization, and her neck turned red.

"You… you…"

"Sure, sure. No one else, but you should worry about me."

Since she had helped him in the hospital and taught him a suitable incantation magic, it was only natural to worry about him.

Nodding in satisfaction, Lee Sehoon recalled a method he often used before his reincarnation.

"Ah, it's perfect. Use incantation magic to wish for my quick recovery. The more sincere, the better."

"…"

"What are you waiting for? I'm in pain, you know?"

At Lee Sehoon's urging, Louise's eyes glowed blue, and she clenched her fists, trembling.

Knock knock—

"I'm coming in."

Before receiving a response, the door burst open, and a young man with black hair, Yeom Seongha, entered with a stern face.

"What? Why are you here?"

"I came when I heard you were injured."

Yeom Seongha's indifferent answer, as if there was no other reason, made him approach and examine Lee Sehoon from head to toe.

"You don't seem badly injured. Are you just exaggerating?"

His tone suggested he was picking a fight, but Lee Sehoon, who knew him well, replied with a bright smile.

"Right? I said I was fine, but they wouldn't let me leave…"

"You shouldn't have come to the hospital in the first place. In the future, don't seek treatment unless you're on the brink of death."

"I was thinking the same thing."

Seeing the perfect chemistry between Lee Sehoon and Yeom Seongha, Louise looked at them with a strange expression.

'Am I the odd one out…?'

As she was confused by their natural conversation, Yeom Seongha took a small book from his pocket and handed it to Lee Sehoon.

"Take it."

"What is this?"

"A list of items I think you might need."

Lee Sehoon quickly flipped through the book, which contained a catalog of various elixirs and equipment to assist his body, all with excellent performance. He looked surprised.

"What? Choose from these?"

"Yes. I'll pay for it with this."

"Thank you… what?"

Confused by the unexpected answer, Lee Sehoon looked at Yeom Seongha.

"Isn't this a get-well gift?"

"I'm settling a debt I haven't paid yet. You might need something now."

"…"

"Is there a problem?"

Yeom Seongha's indifferent gaze made Lee Sehoon stare blankly before sighing.

"Of course…"

It wasn't surprising that Yeom Seongha, of all people, wouldn't bring a get-well gift.

Seeing this as an opportunity to settle the debt, Yeom Seongha's appearance made Lee Sehoon wonder how to educate him.

"Then, do you want to take it?"

Louise, who had been watching from the side, looked at him with an annoyed expression.

"If you want to sell something, set up a stall in the market. Don't come to the hospital and act like a brat."

Louise's overt hostility. Yeom Seongha turned to look at her and asked calmly.

"Are you Louise Valentine?"

"So what?"

"Hmm."

Yeom Seongha, who had been openly examining Louise, muttered in a deflated tone.

"You're not very strong."

"…What?"

"Be quiet and leave. This isn't your business."

Ignoring Louise, Yeom Seongha's overt dismissal made her eyes turn cold.

"No way."

"What?"

"No. Are you deaf?"

Louise looked up at Yeom Seohun and twisted her lips.

"What makes you think you can tell me what to do? You're a joke."

"…Arrogant."

"I'm not as rude as you."

As their conversation continued, the temperature in the room dropped, and magic power trembled ominously. The atmosphere was so tense that they seemed ready to attack each other at any moment.

Lee Sehoon watched with a curious expression.

'These guys… their personalities don't match, just like in the past.'

Before his reincarnation, he thought they had met after their personalities had already clashed, but it seemed their innate personalities just didn't match.

'But compared to before, they're both more polite.'

If they were like wild dogs, they would have already attacked each other. Watching the two of them growl at each other, Lee Sehoon found it interesting.

"Excuse me."

"Hey, what's going on? Why is the door open… Senior Yeom?"

Erica and Jake entered through the door Yeom Seongha had left open. Their arrival slightly defused the tense atmosphere, and Lee Sehoon looked surprised.

"What? Are you here to visit?"

"I heard you were badly injured… but what happened?"

Noticing the unusual atmosphere, Jake was on guard. Erica walked in confidently and stood between Louise and Yeom Seongha.

"Here. A get-well gift."

Erica handed a neatly made wooden box to Lee Sehoon.

A small pill in the shape of yin and yang. The unusual appearance made Lee Sehoon immediately check the information window.

[Yin-Yang Pill]

[Grade: Hero] [Quality: Best]

An elixir with balanced yin and yang magic power.

Specialized in activating the body and can amplify the power of the magic attribute you possess.

However, if the opposite magic power is consumed, it may cause a conflict, so caution is needed.

*Body regeneration is activated.

*Yin and yang magic power amplify the attribute magic power.

"…"

A Hero-grade elixir, and a highly versatile and effective one, the Yin-Yang Pill, which is hard to obtain.

Seeing the valuable item, Lee Sehoon looked at Erica, who was beaming.

"Is this a get-well gift?"

"Yes. Open it."

Following Erica's words, Lee Sehoon carefully opened the wooden box.

A small pill in the shape of yin and yang. The unusual scent made Lee Sehoon immediately check the information window.

[Yin-Yang Pill]

[Grade: Hero] [Quality: Best]

An elixir with balanced yin and yang magic power.

Specialized in activating the body and can amplify the power of the magic attribute you possess.

However, if the opposite magic power is consumed, it may cause a conflict, so caution is needed.

*Body regeneration is activated.

*Yin and yang magic power amplify the attribute magic power.

"…"

A Hero-grade elixir, and a highly versatile and effective one, the Yin-Yang Pill, which is hard to obtain.

Seeing the valuable item, Lee Sehoon looked at Erica, who was beaming.

"Is this a get-well gift?"

"Yes."

"Are you asking for money in return?"

"I don't do petty things like that."

Erica's firm answer made Lee Sehoon glance at Yeom Seongha.

"…"

Yeom Seongha, who finally seemed to realize something, had a stiff expression. Meanwhile, Jake also approached and handed a black box.

"I… I brought something too."

Taking the box from Jake, Lee Sehoon immediately opened it.

A black jelly the size of a palm. It looked like a slime, but a strong dark attribute magic power could be felt from inside.

'This is…'

Recognizing the familiar material, Lee Sehoon immediately checked the information window.

[Shadow Ether]

[Grade: Rare] [Quality: Best]

Ether refined from dark attribute magic power.

Rapidly restores damaged dark attribute magic power and increases sensitivity.

*Restores dark attribute magic power and increases sensitivity.

'This Shadow Ether… with this purity, it could even be used to awaken dark attribute magic power.'

He was planning to cultivate dark attribute magic power soon, and this was just what he needed. Satisfied, Lee Sehoon smiled, and Jake smiled back.

"I heard that injuries to dark attribute magic power are hard to heal, so I got this. How is it?"

"It's great. But you didn't pay for it, right?"

"That kind of thing… I… I usually don't do it."

Jake, who seemed to understand the situation, glanced at Yeom Seongha. Lee Sehoon subtly turned his gaze.

"Didn't you feel something?"

At this point,