Chapter 71: The Reincarnated One Does It All

“……”

A heavy silence filled the banquet hall.

Bier, whose brilliant move had come to naught, stared blankly ahead, while the startled students, shocked by the sudden explosion, rolled their eyes.

Isehun, who had created this entire situation, wore a troubled expression as he looked at Aria, the blonde woman, who was waiting for an answer.

‘Should I consider this a stroke of luck…?’

It was good that the matter was resolved without his intervention, but encountering Aria like this was far from ideal.

To the current Isehun, Aria was the person he least wanted to meet in Babel.

‘Jake, you bastard. If you were going to come, you should have told me…’

As he inwardly cursed Jake, who had left earlier.

“Hmm…”

Aria, who had approached Isehun, looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Did you not hear me?”

A soft but sharp question. Isehun sighed inwardly and replied.

“No, I heard you. I was just startled by what just happened, so my response was delayed.”

“Aah, I see. You could have been seriously hurt…”

Aria, who seemed to understand, smiled and scanned Isehun’s body with her eyes, which sparkled.

“Ah, I see. You might have been fine after all.”

“……”

Isehun felt his hair stand on end at her meaningful mutter.

He felt that she had read at least 70% of him with that casual glance.

‘She probably didn’t read my Lingyan Divine Magic, but she definitely noticed that I’m unharmed.’

It was impossible to pretend to be injured in front of Aria. Isehun, who confirmed this, slowly opened his mouth.

“Thank you for your help.”

“It’s nothing. But what about the answer?”

“…We are talking right now, aren’t we?”

Isehun’s attempt to dodge the question made Aria smile softly.

“I meant having a quiet conversation alone. Indoors is fine… but the garden would be better. It’s quite nicely decorated. What do you think?”

Aria, who had no intention of letting him go, showed her true colors. Isehun, who saw this, sighed inwardly but decided to think positively.

‘I couldn’t keep avoiding her anyway, so this might be for the best.’

Since his recently created sword aura weapon seemed to have improved his evaluation, he could use this opportunity to reduce unnecessary contact with Aria.

Isehun, who had made his decision, nodded at Aria, who was waiting for his answer.

“Let’s do that.”

“Great. Shall we go out then?”

Aria, who naturally grabbed Isehun’s wrist and tried to lead him out, caused everyone to be taken aback by the sudden turn of events.

“Why…?”

Bier, with a distorted face, blocked their path.

“Why to such a guy…!”

Bier, overwhelmed by his emotions, couldn’t even finish his sentence. Isehun, puzzled by his intense reaction, wondered.

‘Why is he suddenly like this?’

Why had the guy, who had been calm and composed just a moment ago, become so flustered? As Isehun observed the situation with a puzzled look.

“Hmm…”

Aria, who had been watching him, replied calmly.

“You’re still terrible.”

Aria, who seemed to find it not worth mentioning further, resumed walking. Isehun, who was being dragged by the wrist, naturally met Bier’s eyes.

Crunch

Bier, who looked like he was about to pounce, revealed intense emotions. Isehun, who saw the ripe ‘jade’ in Bier’s demeanor, stopped.

“Wait a moment.”

“Hmm?”

Isehun, who stopped Aria, approached Bier and naturally placed his hand on his shoulder.

[Extracting a bond from the target ‘Bier Varmuth’.]

[The bond level with the creator ‘Isehun’ is Level 1.]

The bond, like a thorn, pricked and seeped in.

Isehun, who clearly understood the emotions Bier harbored towards him, gently patted his shoulder.

“Practice more. Don’t waste your time.”

He left a sincere advice that everyone could hear.

“Let’s go now.”

Isehun, who finished speaking, headed towards the garden with Aria, leaving a heavy silence in the banquet hall.

A freshman, who had just enrolled this year, pointed out the skills of a third-year student. Normally, this would be impossible, but those who had seen Isehun’s abilities firsthand thought it was entirely possible.

“……”

Bier, who felt the atmosphere directly, looked at his shoulder with a blank expression.

Crunch

A chilling sound echoed in his mouth. Bier, who felt his teeth breaking and blood trickling, silently wiped his mouth.

And despite the excruciating pain, he didn’t blink as he walked out of the banquet hall.

* * *

[The bond level with the target ‘Bier Varmuth’ has increased to Level 2.]

[As the bond level increases, the relationship is established. The relationship with the target ‘Bier Varmuth’ is ‘Envy’.]

[Relationship: Envy]

Selfish and arrogant people tend to envy and resent those who surpass them rather than admire them. Those who find fault with others rather than themselves will try to eliminate this relationship in any way possible.

* A bond stone is created whenever the target envies.

* The maturation speed of the bond stone increases when the target is envying.

* Currently created bond stones: None.

‘That’s right!’

Isehun, who had stepped out into the garden, inwardly rejoiced.

He had prodded Bier, whose gaze was full of dissatisfaction, and as expected, the bond level had increased.

‘Envy… I didn’t expect a bad bond to form so quickly.’

A relationship filled with malice towards him, unlike a positive or neutral one. Isehun categorized this as a ‘bad bond’. When dealing with such bond stones, caution was necessary.

Typically, bond stones amplify abilities, but those derived from bad bonds have a curse-like effect that either diminishes or amplifies abilities.

‘Using it as a bond rune seems risky… maybe I’ll use it to create a cursed item later.’

As Isehun pondered how to use the bond stone he obtained from Bier.

“This should be enough.”

Aria, who had been walking for a while, slowly turned around.

Under the moonlight, the beautifully decorated garden and the fountain, which sprinkled water in the light, formed a picturesque scene with Aria, who seemed to glow on her own.

While anyone would be amazed by this scene, Isehun, recalling the recent events, asked without much emotion.

“What happened between you and Bier Varmuth in the past?”

“It wasn’t anything significant. Two years ago, he showed me a sword he had made for me, and I gave him my opinion.”

Isehun immediately understood Aria’s response.

“You said it was terrible.”

“Yeah, it really was.”

Aria, who smiled softly, gave an answer that felt devoid of malice. Isehun finally understood why the bond level had risen so dramatically.

‘I unintentionally touched on his past trauma, it seems.’

At this point, Bier might even send an assassin to kill him. As Isehun thought this.

“By the way, when did you start?”

“Huh?”

“When did you start using sword auras?”

“Why… Oh.”

Isehun, who was puzzled by the sudden question, quickly understood her intention.

‘Because of the iron bars I showed earlier, right?’

To create a sword aura weapon, the help of a hero who can handle sword auras is needed. Since this is now common knowledge, Aria assumed he could use sword auras.

“I think there’s a misunderstanding. I can’t use sword auras.”

“Then how did you create the sword aura weapon just now?”

Isehun, who was asked by a puzzled Aria, replied calmly.

“A sword aura is ultimately compressed mana. So, I added a compression formula to create it.”

To handle sword auras, one needs to compress their sword skills into a single blade in their mind, a process often referred to as ‘enlightenment’.

However, this is more of a mental aspect. In reality, if the mana on the blade is compressed into a specific form, it can easily transform into a sword aura.

‘Of course, it’s not as simple as it sounds.’

The compression formula for sword auras is a combination of various elements, including the nature of mana, the characteristics of sword skills, and the shape of the mental blade.

Thus, standardizing this process is akin to turning a part of a living person into a mana circuit.

This is why mass-producing sword auras has failed in the past.

‘But it’s not impossible.’

For Isehun, who had modified his body and mana circuits with Lingyan Divine Magic, this was a familiar method.

“Compression formula…?”

Aria, who pondered Isehun’s explanation, asked.

“It seems inefficient. Is there a way to improve it?”

“With the auxiliary enchantment I’m developing, D-rank heroes should be able to use it a few times.”

Heroes who can handle sword auras with their bare hands are typically C-rank, and even then, only those who have mastered the techniques. In reality, B-rank is the standard.

The goal of mass-producing sword auras is to strengthen lower-rank heroes, so if D-rank heroes can use it, it’s sufficient.

‘The power is also not bad at that level.’

Recalling the quality of the sword aura he had tested earlier, Aria quickly made a decision and looked at Isehun.

“Have you signed any contracts for mass-producing sword auras?”

“Not yet.”

“What about working with us?”

Isehun, who had somewhat expected this proposal, asked.

“What are the terms?”

“The production and sales company will be decided in consultation with our family. And for the next two years, the mass-produced sword aura weapons will be limited to swords. These are the two main conditions.”

Isehun, who found Aria’s conditions interesting, replied.

“It’s not bad, but since we haven’t even produced a prototype yet, it would be better to discuss it in more detail once we’ve made more progress.”

“Alright. Let me know through Jake when it’s finished.”

“Is that all, then?”

Aria, who was asked by Isehun, smiled and nodded.

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“Then….”

“And from here on, it’s personal business.”

Isehun, who saw Aria’s eyes light up as she looked at him, sighed inwardly and reluctantly asked.

“Go on.”

“You’re making a sword for Jake, right? Using a unique method involving blood.”

Aria, who sat on the edge of the fountain, looked intrigued.

“As far as I know, such a production method is only used for ‘biological weapons,’ which are legally prohibited. Am I wrong?”

Aria, who knew everything, pressed Isehun, a tactic she used before his reincarnation.

Isehun, who recognized this, replied calmly.

“It would be illegal if used extensively. But the process I use for inscriptions is fine.”

Unlike before his reincarnation, when the production of biological weapons was allowed due to an emergency, they are now prohibited.

Isehun, who was cautious about this, wouldn’t be unjustly labeled a criminal as he was before.

“That’s a relief. It would be troublesome if Jake was involved in illegal weapon production.”

“I’m paying proper attention to that, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Good. I hope it turns out well.”

Aria, who smiled, gave a subtly critical response. Isehun, pretending not to notice, continued.

“Is there anything else you want to say?”

“Yeah.”

“Then….”

Isehun, who bowed his head, was about to turn and return to the banquet hall when.

“Why won’t you make a sword for me?”

Aria’s soft voice came from behind, but the chill in it made Isehun realize her expression had turned blank.

‘As expected, she’s not letting it go.’

If he hadn’t made a sword for Jake, it might have been less noticeable, but avoiding it in this situation would look suspicious to anyone.

‘I can’t keep refusing forever…’

Isehun, who decided to lay some groundwork this time, answered without turning around.

“I believe any weapon should go to someone who truly needs it.”

“……”

“But what’s the point of giving a regular sword to someone who can handle a twig like a master sword?”

Of course, it’s not entirely pointless. Even a master swordsman would prefer a steel sword over a twig.

But what Isehun was trying to say was slightly different.

‘What’s the point of giving a mediocre sword to someone who treats a master sword and a twig the same?’

Even a master sword or a twig becomes meaningless in Aria’s hands.

The abnormal disconnection between weapon and user, which results in a 0% affinity, is a characteristic unique to Aria Meyers.

“I can’t make a sword that Aria-senpai needs right now. And I don’t want to give you a subpar sword that would just be a burden.”

“……”

“So, I’d prefer if you didn’t bring up the request again.”

Isehun’s firm words were followed by the quiet sound of the fountain.

As the silence continued, a softer voice came from behind.

“Alright. If it’s that burdensome, I can’t force you. I won’t mention it again.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Isehun, who gave a short reply, headed back to the banquet hall before she could say more, while Aria watched his back from the fountain.

“Not right now…?”

If it were anyone else, it would have been a fabricated excuse to avoid the situation, but Isehun exuded a strange confidence.

As if he already knew his weaknesses and how to address them.

“Interesting…”

She had worried that meeting him might be disappointing, but now she found the wait more enjoyable and even a bit frustrating.

Feeling an emotion she hadn’t experienced in a long time, Aria tried to suppress it but then let it go.

‘There’s no need to do that.’

No matter how it ends, she wanted to savor this anticipation. Aria, who thought this, recalled the sword Isehun was making for Jake.

‘He thinks it’s just a matter of solving Jake’s abilities, but the real issue is the succession ritual.’

A ceremony where a swordsman is recognized and given a sword. It’s known as a traditional event, but it’s not a simple procedure.

‘How far can he go…?’

The outcome would significantly affect Isehun’s evaluation.

Aria, who felt her heart race, smiled and looked at Isehun, who was entering the banquet hall.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

And with a small mutter, she disappeared from the garden.