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Chapter 104

That person, Rebecca, was dead silent as she examined a blueprint with a monocle. A long while later, she slowly opened her mouth.

“This is an actual enchantment that produces sword aura...”

She tried her best to suppress her emotions, but she couldn’t stop her voice from faintly trembling. What Rebecca felt as she looked at the blueprint in her hand far surpassed amazement—she was astounded.

I heard she was up to something strange in the communal workshop... but to think she was creating such an enchantment...

The enchantment was formed by stacking three layers of ten segments each. And while that alone was impressive, what astonished her the most were the organic links that connected the thirty different segments.

The links between each segment change depending on the characteristics of the enchanted object, optimizing the compression rate of mana.

The enchantment guaranteed sword aura would be formed as long as a certain threshold of infused mana was surpassed. The complexity of the inscription process did reduce its versatility, but just being able to come up with such a complicated method was a remarkable feat in and of itself.

If we increase the variability of the links a bit more, it could become widely compatible and thus be recognized as a proper mass-production enchantment. Which means...

It meant that her granddaughter would achieve the monumental feat of successfully mass-producing sword aura equipment—something no one else had managed.

Calming herself, Rebecca steadied her trembling heart and looked at Lea.

“Did you really create this enchantment?”

“...Who else could?” Lea declared confidently, hiding her slight nervousness.

It was a response that normally would have made Rebecca scold her, warning her not to get cocky, but she couldn’t help but nod this time.

“That does make sense.”

Apart from using it to judge Lea’s enchantment skills, Rebecca decided to view it in a different light, as this was an enchantment she herself could never have created.

Grasping Lea’s talent anew, Rebecca returned the blueprint and asked, “So, what did you want to say?”

“Um... it was really tough coming up with this... and I think this proves I’ve gotten over my slump. So...”

Pausing to gauge Rebecca’s reaction, she cautiously continued, “Can we cancel the bet about the student scholarship selection...”

“No.”

Rebecca answered without hesitation, leaving no room for consideration. At this reaction, Lea’s eyebrows twitched and she forced a smile before saying, “Don’t decide so quickly, at least think about it for a while...”

“Are you saying that I spoke without thinking?”

“That’s not what I mean; I just want you to consider it more carefully...”

“Carefully... huh?”

Adhering to Lea’s request, Rebecca closed her eyes tightly for about three seconds before opening them again and giving the same reply, “No.”

Bang!

“What do you mean, ‘no’?!” Lea shouted, abruptly standing up and slamming her palms down on the desk.

“This is an enchantment to produce sword aura, of all things! With just a little help from Se-Hoon, this could be used for mass production—it’ll be one of the biggest achievements in the equipment industry! Yet you’re comparing that to a mere student scholarship selection?”

“Wasn’t the whole point to test if my talent had reached its limits? Since I’ve surpassed those limits, you should just say, ‘Well done, keep it up’! Why can’t you cancel the bet?!!!”

Bang, bang!

Frustrated beyond measure, Lea pounded on the desk continually.

Contrasting Lea, Rebecca just watched her quietly before nodding.

“You do have a point there.”

“Then...”

“But a promise is a promise.”

With unwavering eyes, Rebecca infused her mana into the void ring on her left index finger and pulled out a neatly coated piece of paper.

Whoosh-

It looked important, so Se-Hoon, who had been sitting silently the entire time, briefly glanced over the content.

Pledge

I, Lea Claudel, swear that if I am not selected for the third-year student scholarship in this year’s Ivory Tower selection competition, I will immediately withdraw from Babel without making excuses and return to my family home.

A pledge, huh... what a headache.

Pledges used curses to enforce a promise, imposing various restrictions if not adhered to. While it wasn’t powerful enough to completely control one’s actions, it could affect delicate actions like mana control, making it impossible to disregard.

“You wrote it yourself here. If not selected for this year’s student scholarship, you would return home without making any excuses.”

“I did indeed write this, but the context is different here!”

“Context, huh...”

Trailing off for a moment, Rebecca responded to Lea’s argument, “Then can the promise you made when you enrolled in Babel also be changed depending on the context?”

“That, that’s...”

For the first time in the conversation, Lea was at a loss for words, opting just to clench her trembling hands tightly. After a while, her lips quivered and her expression twisted.

“The hell if I know!!”

Bang!

Unable to bear it any longer, she slammed the door as she ran out of the classroom.

“Sigh...”

How did what should have been a joyous occasion come to this? Rubbing her temples due to her throbbing headache, she looked back across the desk.

“Aren’t you going to follow her?”

“Why? She’ll still be somewhere in Babel anyway.”

Since running away from Babel would ironically play right into Rebecca’s plans, Lea wouldn’t do that.

I’ve already noticed it before, but... he’s a strange one, Rebecca thought, slightly taken aback by Se-Hoon’s indifference.

His involvement in the creation of the mass production of sword aura equipment, as well as his role in pulling Lea out of her slump to create such an enchantment, both made him far from ordinary.

What he had done for Lea made Rebecca look at him with mixed feelings of gratitude and resentment. At that moment, Se-Hoon spoke up.

“I have something I’d like to ask.”

With a curious expression, he got straight to the point, “Are you trying to send Lea back home because her talent is too exceptional?”

Taken aback by the unexpected question, Rebecca hesitated for a moment before sighing deeply.

“Was it that obvious?”

“I also recently realized that being too exceptional can make life a bit exhausting.”

Being globally recognized ultimately meant constant subjection to the scrutiny of the Demon Force, and to someone who knew all this as a retired hero, being concerned for Lea was inevitable.

It seems there’s more to it, though.

Back when he was examining the archives compiled by the Frost Dog in the dream created by the Phantasmal Spyblade, Se-Hoon had also stumbled upon information related to Lea.

“Lea Claudel, CEO of Galaxy Company. A creditor-debtor relationship with one of the Ten Evils, the Puppeteer. Details require further investigation.”

Before the regression, Lea had mysteriously disappeared one day. Back then, he had thought a typical assassination by the Demon Force was the reason, but the new piece of information from the Phantasmal Spyblade suggested a new theory.

If Lea’s obsession with enchantments is for revenge against the Puppeteer...

That could explain why she was so anxious now and why Rebecca wanted to send her back home. When his thoughts reached that point, Se-Hoon felt like he had gotten much closer to the truth.

Now that her intention had been revealed, Rebecca adopted a serious manner and asked, “Lee Se-Hoon. Can you help me persuade Lea?”

“Hmm...”

“It’s not because I want to stop the mass production of sword aura equipment. As her grandmother, I just want to protect her until she can stand on her own by not exposing her to the outside world for now.”

Her voice was full of deep fear and genuine concern.

Gazing at Rebecca’s anxious face, Se-Hoon pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

“I would like to respect Lea’s wishes.”

“...I see,” she murmured.

Acting like she had expected such a response, Rebecca’s eyes became calmer.

“Then I won’t ask you further. But if I happen to find out you are aiding Lea in breaking her promise... I won’t stand idly by either.”

“I will respect your wishes as well. Then...”

Picking up the blueprint Lea left behind, Se-Hoon nodded and left the classroom.

With no one left besides her, Rebecca leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes tightly. With a voice filled with fear and longing, she murmured very softly, “Reyna...”

***

“How dare she bring up something from so long ago? And even though Grandma clearly said she’d send me back because I’m not talented enough, I never said that I wanted to be sent back!!”

Thump, thump!

Frustrated beyond belief, Lea, lying face down on her bed, punched the mattress repeatedly.

Bemused by the sight. Se-Hoon, sitting in a chair beside her, casually said, “Then you should have told her that at the time.”

“...Ugh!!”

Thump, thump!

Ignoring Lea who continued to beat the helpless mattress, Se-Hoon shook his head and looked around.

I thought her workshop would be messier... but this is tidier than I expected.

They were in a small house located near the Borsippa shopping district. It was a home that had been renovated into a workshop, and it was cleaner than Se-Hoon thought it’d be. The desk was piled high with various blueprints and books, but there was still room to rest an arm. And while the floor had various bits and pieces scattered around, there was still space to walk.

It’s cluttered, but... not dirty.

Examining the unexpectedly tidy interior, he noticed a picture frame on the table.

Isn’t that...

It held a photo of a young man and a child, clearly a family photo from Lea’s childhood.

But rather than the two in it, Se-Hoon examined the shoulder of the man who appeared to be her father.

That looks like her mother’s hand... why was she removed from the photo?

Was this the only photo remaining? Or did Lea not want to see her mother? Debating which was more likely, Se-Hoon scrutinized the photo, prompting Lea to turn her head and narrow her eyes.

“...Hmph. Looking through someone’s room like that... don’t you think that’s a bit rude?”

“Isn’t it a bit petty for the host to say that?”

“I invited you to cheer me up, not to have you snoop around. You didn’t even chase me immediately when I ran out earlier; you really are tactless.”

“And you should watch less drama.”

His nonchalant reply caused Lea to bury her face back into the bed with an annoyed expression, but after a moment, she quietly spoke.

“There’s actually someone I want to take revenge on.”

“Grandma is scared of that person and wants to hide me at home... but I don’t want to hide.”

Clenched the sheets tightly, she continued with a heated voice, “I want to make a name for myself, earn money, and gain fame. I want that bastard to know that I’m coming after them.”

“Hmm...”

Listening to her words, Se-Hoon pieced together the puzzle in his mind.

A person she wants revenge on; a photo with only her mother cut out; a vengeful connection with the Puppeteer; a father he had never heard about, both before and after her regression.

So it was like that...

While it was pure conjecture, if it were true, it was understandable why Rebecca was trying to dissuade Lea. What else could be as tragic and dangerous as killing her own mother, the Puppeteer, who left after murdering her father?

Did she ultimately fail before the regression?

Though Lea had just disappeared one day and the Puppeteer had been subjugated by other heroes later on, it was unclear exactly what had happened. Regardless, the fact that she wasn’t able to achieve her revenge made it the worst outcome for her.

So what now...

What could he possibly do to help her? Mulling over it for a while, Se-Hoon then spoke up.

“Then there’s all the more reason for you to try to be chosen for the student scholarship.”

Before he regressed, Se-Hoon had heard a few things about Lea, but none of them involved Babel. That meant there was a high chance she had not overcome her slump and had failed to receive the student scholarship, leading to her withdrawal.

I have to make sure she doesn’t withdraw this time.

For the sake of revenge and walking a different path than before, it was an absolute must that she stayed at Babel this time.

However, the person in question trembled and slumped over. Then, Lea muttered in a defeated tone, “But... I don’t feel motivated at all...”

When she was working on enabling the mass production of the sword aura enchantment, her mind was buzzing with ideas, but now, there was absolutely nothing.

To that, Se-Hoon just asked calmly, “That student scholarship competition. Was there an application period or any qualifications needed?”

“No, anyone from Babel just needs to submit a creation that uses mana within a certain period.”

“Good. Then I’ll participate too.”

“...What?”

Startled, Lea lifted her head to look at him, which prompted Se-Hoon to calmly repeat his words, “I said that I’d participate too. Wouldn’t that motivate you a bit?”

“Huh...? What does that have to do with my motivation?”

“Didn’t you confidently tell me that you’d one day make me stand up and applaud you sincerely?”

Relationships typically result from bonds. On the surface, it might seem merely a reflection of one’s own perspective of their relationship with others, but there was an additional element involved.

“That means you intend to surpass me.... So, if you score higher than me this time, that would mean you’ve done it, right?”

That element was motivation, whether positive or negative; it was fine as long as it moved one’s heart. That was the exact way Blacksmith of Bonds defined relationships between oneself and others.

“...Seriously.”

At Se-Hoon’s words, Lea snickered and sat up.

“Do you really think that will spark my motivation? It’s not like I’m some three-year-old... Wait? No, it doesn’t make sense... this is...”

She became flustered out of the blue, stumbling over her words. Soon, her eyes fluttered.

“Oh my gosh...!!”

Crash!

Scrambling off the bed, she flipped over a blueprint on the desk and frantically began to scribble something down. She just stood at her desk awkwardly without ever sitting down, furiously sketching the inspiration that had suddenly come to her.

Seeing this, Se-Hoon stood up from his chair with a shake of his head.

“Such a simple person...” he said before quietly leaving.