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Chapter 11

The students loved it not only because of its convenience but also because they could speak freely without being judged. And on Tower, there was a topic that had been generating a lot of buzz: Lee Se-Hoon, or more accurately, his exhibit.

[I don’t get what they’re all hyped up about] (493 comments)

Even the professors say that it was due to an unusual phenomenon caused by his skill. But people still claimed it was the best exhibit in history just because of its uniqueness.

I’m not saying that the exhibit was bad, but it felt a bit off to rate it that high just because it’s unique.

I understand that they are excited about having an honor student after twelve years, but it would be nice if they just toned it down a bit.

Anonymous 1: It’s really funny that they are boasting about it this much like its their moment.

└Anonymous 2: I know right, they went too far.

└Anonymous 3: It’s funny that they’re judging the exhibit as if they were professors.

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Anonymous 5: I think you guys are just twisted.

└Anonymous 1: ‘Sure’ we are; you guys are even worse.

└Anonymous 2: Of course, someone’s going to cover for him.

└Anonymous 13: Some people think everything that’s grand is a great piece of work.

It was a common belief that one had to be unique, but only to a certain extent—enough to be called “original.” If that line was crossed, the evaluation would turn into “eccentric.”

Moreover, because Se-Hoon’s work was explained as the result of his unique skill, negative opinions poured in, with people saying that it was pretentious, insubstantial, or made up to attract attention.

However, there were also those who claimed to have recognized the true value of the exhibit.

Eun-Ha, the Dean of Borsippa College, was one of them.

“Why can’t I eat—uh, I mean, purchase this piece of work?”

“Isn’t it supposed to be returned to the student after the exhibition anyway?”

In-Cheol, standing across from her, smiled bitterly. He could tell from her expression that she was struggling to maintain a poker face and contain the hunger she actually felt.

She changed too much compared to before.

She used to be the kind of person who got things done without caring about anything else, but when she handled matters that involved Se-Hoon, her attitude changed.

Seeing that Eun-Ha was acting more like the Gourmet than the Dean, In-Cheol explained to her step by step why she wasn’t allowed to purchase the exhibit.

“I’m not telling you not to buy equipment to consume, but when it comes to exhibits, you should surely know why you shouldn’t purchase it.”

The students of the Department of Blacksmithing were only allowed to forge doppelg?ngers twice: once after their entrance ceremony and once before their graduation exhibition.

After being forged, the two doppelg?ngers were stored and then displayed side by side during their graduation exhibition. The intention was to showcase how life at Babel Academy had influenced and fostered the growth of the student.

“As it is our department’s tradition, I would like you to respect it.”

In-Cheol spoke firmly as if there were no exceptions that could be made. Eun-Ha stared silently and then nodded her head.

“I apologize. I’ve been a bit rude.”

“No, ma’am. I do understand where you’re coming from...”

When In-Cheol first saw Se-Hoon’s exhibit, he also felt the urge to analyze it immediately. He wondered how someone could forge such an inexplicable object. He thought that discovering the secret behind it might help unravel some of his own concerns.

Still, buying it is the last thing I could do.

Some might suggest that if they were that interested, why didn’t they just ask Se-Hoon to reforge it? However, the two of them were in fact in agreement on that matter.

No matter how many times he reforges it, it will never taste the same as the first one.

They will all be knockoffs of the original piece of work.

No two objects in this world were perfectly equal to one another. Eating or analyzing another version of Se-Hoon’s work would only make them crave more.

“We should probably get back to work.”

“That would be great.”

Continuing the conversation would only leave them with a sense of regret, so they moved on to the next topic.

“The exhibit has caused quite a stir; how is Lee Se-Hoon doing?” asked Eun-Ha.

“He hasn’t shown any noticeable reactions. It appears he is attending his classes as usual and exploring his options for his minor degree.”

“A minor degree, huh..."

In the Department of Blacksmithing, one could roughly guess what kind of equipment the student would forge in the future by examining which minor subjects the student signed up for.

At that thought, questions arose in Eun-Ha’s mind: what minor would Lee Se-Hoon choose, and what would he forge based on the knowledge gained?

“This is just my personal opinion, but...” said In-Cheol, as if to answer Eun-Ha’s question.

“I think he would start by training his body first.” In-Cheol chuckled softly.

***

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Hammering sounds echoed regularly in front of the furnace.

With each blow, the heated iron unfolded, meticulously shaping into a refined blade. All of the other students in the room, who were also forging, observed Se-Hoon and whispered to one another softly.

“Did you check the time?”

“...There wasn’t even a single deviation between his swings up to the hundredths of a second.”

“He’s literally insane...”

After the appearance of the Towers of Heroes, two key factors were integral to the newly established blacksmithing techniques.

The first was the uniform distribution of mana within the ore, and the second was the precise adjustments made during the mana infusion process to prevent any warping of the ore.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

If he only focused on the distribution of mana, the ore would be distorted, but if he only focused on maintaining the shape of the ore, the distribution of mana would be disrupted and render the piece unusable.

Thus, it was of the utmost importance that these key factors were properly balanced throughout the forging process. And that was exactly what Se-Hoon was doing right now, without a single error.

“Um...”

When In-Sung, the substitute proctor teaching this Metallurgy course, saw Se-Hoon’s peculiar actions, he was perplexed.

What am I even supposed to teach him...

Se-Hoon’s blacksmithing abilities were already beyond the point where he could give some advice. He momentarily pondered the undeniable skill that left no room for intervention, then promptly reached a decision.

I should just ignore him.

He might be embarrassed in front of the students if he tried giving advice without much thought. He went to the other students as if nothing had happened, and a while later, the class ended.

“...”

Se-Hoon, with his hands drenched in sweat, stopped hammering. He looked at the swords he had forged.

The blades were well-ground, adhering to the fundamentals of blacksmithing. There was nothing really special about the swords, as only simple forging methods were used. But with a little more tuning, these would be good enough for lower-rank heroes to wield.

“Hm...”

But Se-Hoon’s eyes flashed with anger, and his hands that were gripping his hammer trembled as he examined the swords.

“Hmmm...”

After much thought, he was about to swing the hammer with the speed of lightning, but...

"Are you going to break them again?” asked In-Sung, who hadn’t stood near Se-Hoon for the entire class.

“We’ll need those for our next class, so try not to break them. We’re delivering them to the market after this week’s lesson is over.”

“You mean we’re selling them?”

“Where do you think the students’ budgets are coming from? We sell the equipment to the market, and based on the performance, we receive subsidized fees from the academy. Unless you come from a wealthy family, you should be mindful of this.”

The equipment was either sold to students for combat training or to active-duty heroes through external companies. This was a part of their evaluation as well as an opportunity to give students some social experience.

“...Sigh.”

In the past, Se-Hoon would have smashed the swords as soon as he realized they were being sold to the market. However, since it would affect the budget he would receive from the academy, he had to reach a compromise.

Loosening his grip on the hammer, he looked down at his body with a dissatisfied expression.

I should just rebuild my body from scratch.

Since the regression, there hadn’t been a day when he wasn’t dissatisfied with his physical abilities, but recently, his dissatisfaction peaked. He had tried to forge equipment using the inkstone ore, one of the materials he’d gotten from Ludwig, but his physical capabilities were so lacking that he couldn’t even make a proper attempt.

I used the easiest forging method, but... I didn’t expect that method wouldn’t work either.

He had tried numerous times in his forging room late at night, but all he got out of it was muscle pain and frustration toward his seemingly useless body. As he recalled those memories and sharpened his resolve once again, In-Sung, who had been watching closely, asked him, “What exactly are you unhappy about right now?”

“Sorry?”

“You don’t like your physical abilities, right? So I’m asking you if it’s your body or your mana that you’re not happy about.”

After a moment of contemplation in response to In-Sung’s unexpectedly serious question, Se-Hoon answered, “For now, it’s my body that I’m not happy about.”

The forging method for the inkstone ore he would be using didn’t require a lot of mana, but it took a long time, so it demanded some physical stamina.

Se-Hoon was currently struggling with the stamina aspect.

“The body, you say... is this going to help you with your forging?”

“Yes.”

“So it doesn’t matter if your physical abilities are temporarily boosted only when you’re forging... ah!” In-Sung seemed to have figured something out.

“Then, wouldn’t it be faster to buff yourself rather than do training?”

Se-Hoon’s eyes widened at In-Sung’s idea, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.

Why haven’t I thought of that?

Since he had avoided buffing himself during forging before the regression, it seemed he had unconsciously neglected the method this time as well. Having found a breakthrough, Se-Hoon stood up and appreciatively bowed his head to In-Sung.

“Thank you for your advice.”

“No problem. Since buffs come in various types, you should visit different places and experience them firsthand.”

“Got it.”

During the entrance exam, In-Sung looked like a rookie to Se-Hoon, but looking at him now, In-Sung was indeed a sunbae. Se-Hoon looked at In-Sung and then glanced at the sword In-Sung had forged for demonstration.

“When you’re forging...”

“Hm?”

“You’re using too much mana. Reduce it to seventy percent of what it is now and hammer like you are focusing on one single point. You’ll be better off that way.”

Se-Hoon then promptly walked out of the room, as if he didn’t feel the need to hear any responses. In-Sung stared blankly at his figure.

“Did he just give me advice on how I should forge?” he muttered in a low voice after realizing his situation.

A freshman who just started school is giving me a lesson?

If it were any other time, he would have made a fuss about it, but strangely, he didn’t feel angry at all right now.

Was it because Se-Hoon was an honor student at Borsippa? Or was it because In-Sung thought there was something to that piece of advice?

“...”

After glancing around the empty forging room, he grabbed the hammer he’d left at his post.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Strangely intense hammering sounds echoed.

***

“Whew.”

After showering and changing from his workwear to his school uniform, Se-Hoon hopped on the light rail and headed to Ur, the college for students who specialized in support.

It’s annoying that I have to take the light rail every time I go somewhere. I guess it’s not all that great to have such a large campus.

Babel Academy was divided into three large sections, excluding the central square where the Tower of Heroes and the Marduk Mansion were located. Each section was managed separately by each college, and because of this, the atmosphere in each area subtly differed, as if they were different villages.

Borsippa feels cluttered with equipment prototypes scattered all over the place. Ur gives off a clean vibe, almost like a newly developed city.

Looking at the scenery outside the window, he pondered which department to visit first.

Even if I use buffs to enhance my physique to the level I need, it doesn’t mean it’s the same as actually training to that level.

While it was easy to enhance his physical abilities, the precision of his forging could suffer, which could lead to equipment that didn\'t match his intended designs. Some of his senses could also be distorted, which would render him unable to forge according to the blueprints.

Consequently, the common belief was that it was better not to forge at all than to forge while buffed. Before the regression, Se-Hoon had also shared this sentiment, but things now were a bit different.

One could say I’m currently debuffed.

His body was so deteriorated that it was almost shameful to compare it to what it was like before the regression. So, boosting his physical abilities with buffs was more like returning his body to its previous state.

Since I have to keep the buff throughout the forging process, it should be simple and last a long time.

As he was narrowing down possible buffs that matched the requirements, an announcement blared from the speaker.

—The next stop is the Department of Spells.

Spells, hm...

Although spells were simpler to cast than buffs, their effects were applied in a more straightforward manner, which didn’t quite match the complexity of blacksmithing.

Still, they have excellent duration, so maybe I should take a look.

Babel Academy’s Department of Spells was one of the prominent departments even within Ur. Since their standards were high and they received ample funding, there might be spells that also enhanced precision.

Having decided to take a look, he got off the train.

“Uh.”

“...”

“...”

As he got off the train, he bumped into Erika, who had the same pale skin and jet-black hair as before.

Her way of not avoiding eye contact and staring more intently created a peculiar atmosphere between the two. She looked at Se-Hoon as if she had something to say, while he gazed back at her, prompting her to say anything.

“Hey.” One of the students that were surrounding Erika broke this strange standoff.

“Move out of the way.” He glared at Se-Hoon fiercely.

It seemed like he was trying to speak politely, but his speech was filled with hostility.

Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the student, who seemed to be the belligerent kind.

“You guys should get out of my way.”

Wasn’t it common sense to wait for the people to get off first before boarding the train? Even though Se-Hoon had stated the obvious, the student and his gang scowled as if they had just been insulted. Se-Hoon was stunned at the rapidly intensifying atmosphere.

Do I seem like that much of a pushover?

Subjected to this hostility that he didn’t understand at all, his fiery temperament began to emerge.

“Where are you headed to?” Erika asked quietly.

In response to her question, Se-Hoon casually glanced at the gang of students surrounding her.

“The Department of Spells,” answered Se-Hoon nonchalantly.

“For what?”

“To see if there’s a course I should take for my minor degree.”

Upon hearing his response, Erika thought for a while, then made a decision.

“Then let’s go together.”

Her sudden proposal surprised not only Se-Hoon but also the gang of students surrounding her.

“Excuse me? My lady, you have a meeting after...”

“Attend it yourselves.”

“B-but, the sunbaes really wanted you to attend this meeting...”

“I don’t care.”

Erika waited for Se-Hoon’s response as she ignored her stuttering subordinates. Se-Hoon hesitated briefly, then looked at her.

“I don’t want to go with you.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at Se-Hoon’s unexpected response.