Chapter : 25
⚔ ITEM APPRAISAL ⚔
White Light Longsword
Grade:Advanced | Quality:Superior
A long sword with pure white sword energy meticulously forged into it.
The blade, polished to exquisite precision, interlocks perfectly with the mana array, granting it both resilient strength and razor-sharp edge. The work of a highly skilled blacksmith.
When mana is imbued, cutting power is enhanced.
"Hmm..."
"This is..."
"Tsk..."
The three Forging Department professors stared fixedly at the pure white iron sword—the White Light Longsword—laid out before them, at a loss for words.
If judged purely on performance, superior iron swords could be found all over Babel. But that wasn't the point.
"In-seong. Is this really made solely from pure iron ingots? No other materials or skills used at all?"
"Y-Yes... that's correct."
"Are you sure?"
"Really sure?"
The professors pressed him again, as if doubting their own eyes. Under their suspicious gazes, Han In-seong replied with a wronged expression.
"I swear! You professors can see it for yourselves...!"
"Well, that's true."
"But even so, isn't this level of perfection suspicious?"
The professors muttered, half-convinced yet still dubious. Han In-seong felt not just wronged, but utterly baffled by their reaction.
Even if a cadet had made it well, to doubt his own eyes as an assistant instructor? It was infuriating, yet he could understand why they reacted that way.
"How could a freshman—not even an active student—produce something like this?"
"Active students? I doubt even one in ten could make something this good."
"It's been ages since I last saw a sword this fundamentally sound. This is just..."
Even these professors, who had evaluated countless cadets' swords over the years, found it hard to believe. Such high completion.
And that was Lee Se-hun's submission, the iron sword right before their eyes.
"Brother. At this level, no need to agonize. Just slap the highest price on it and be done."
The short, stocky middle-aged man—Professor Rees—suggested. But Kim In-cheol shook his head.
"We still need to appraise the value properly. Mess it up, and we might create an image of him as some genius we fabricated."
"Brother, you worry about the strangest things. Turning basic iron ingots into advanced grade with fundamentals alone—who's gonna buy that as rigged?"
"Those in the know won't. But rumors spread among the clueless. We must be cautious."
If their actions somehow tainted Lee Se-hun's future, they'd owe him an immense debt.
As Kim In-cheol pondered a fair price without inviting misunderstanding, a voice cut in.
"Is this the sword made by the department topper?"
Michael Valmut led ten professors into the workshop.
The atmosphere turned heavy in an instant, thick tension suffocating the air.
The Pure Forging School led by Kim In-cheol. The Modern Forging School led by Michael Valmut.
Han In-seong tensed, gauging the mood amid the factions' clashing presence.
"Impressive indeed. As expected of the department topper... I have high hopes."
Michael praised Lee Se-hun's sword with a calm smile. It was unexpected, but Kim In-cheol's faction watched warily.
Michael's specialty was lulling with affable charm before striking from behind.
"What brings you here? We agreed this appraisal was ours."
"No need to be so cold. I just wanted to see the department topper's work."
"Then you can leave now."
Kim In-cheol dismissed him without a glance, as if that ended it. Michael's eyes narrowed slightly.
'Pushed to the brink, and now one chance makes him arrogant.'
He itched to crush him heedlessly, but Michael was still a guiding professor under President Ludwig's favor.
With a monster like Lee Se-hun under him, expulsion wouldn't be easy as before.
'Caution in such situations.'
It was only a matter of time. The outcome wouldn't change. Composing himself, Michael spoke again.
"But is this truly wise? He made something this good. Wouldn't it be better to seize more opportunities...?"
"We're busy with appraisals. Make it quick."
"Competing with peers seems pointless. How about including it in next week's second-years' regular auction? The theme is 'iron swords'—perfect match."
"What? That's insane..."
Rees gaped at Michael's proposal.
Lee Se-hun's White Light Longsword was excellent, but nowhere near ready for the second-years' auction.
Not due to lack of skill—the second-years' entries used skills and processed materials to boost performance, making conditions unfair.
"The department topper's talent should handle it fine."
"Second-years prepared theirs since winter break! Throwing him in there is..."
"Sounds good."
Kim In-cheol's calm acceptance drew all eyes.
"Then we'll appraise Lee Se-hun's budget based on the auction bid, like the second-years."
"No, Brother, that's..."
"Quiet."
Kim In-cheol cut Rees off, facing Michael with unchanged composure.
"Any other opinions?"
"...None."
"Then leave."
Turning away without another look. Michael stared inscrutably before departing.
Rees watched his back, then turned to Kim In-cheol in confusion.
"Brother! Why send our stuff into his auction trap?!"
"The department's face—our topper. He wouldn't dare sabotage."
"This isn't the time for jokes...!"
Rees pounded his chest in frustration at Kim In-cheol's nonchalance. Anyone else, maybe—but Michael saw smearing the department's reputation as routine to seize power.
Professors fired by his schemes weren't few, and the Forging Department's decline owed much to the Valmut faction.
"At this rate, the department might fall to them!"
The other two professors shared Rees's worry. Kim In-cheol eyed them.
"Tsk tsk..."
Clicking his tongue pityingly, he pointed at the White Light Longsword.
"Look."
"Pardon?"
"Feel nothing?"
Rees frowned puzzled.
"What?"
Well-made, sure—but irrelevant now. The others echoed him, prompting Kim In-cheol's sigh.
"Just watch."
He gazed at the gleaming white blade and smiled meaningfully.
"What happens next."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Saturday morning.
Babel's first weekend for freshmen: they dressed up and hit the streets, while upperclassmen swarmed to recruit for their circles.
Save for events, Babel's busiest time inside. A chance to see the pre-enrollment dreamscape—but.
"Here, huh..."
Lee Se-hun stood alone before a classroom in the Enchantment Department main building.
[Ancient Enchantment Studies]
The elective intro class from Lea. Reaching the door, he knocked lightly.
"Ah, come in!"
A familiar voice from within. Opening it revealed a room crammed with clutter.
"...What a mess."
Cabinets, desks, floor—scarce empty space. More warehouse than classroom.
As Lee Se-hun grimaced at the chaos—
Whoosh!
"Welcome to Ancient Enchantment Studies!!"
Lea burst from junk by the entrance, greeting exuberantly.
"..."
Her body plastered with unknown cloths, talismans, papers. Lee Se-hun stared silently.
Cold enough to embarrass even the thick-skinned—but.
"Nice."
Lea sparkled with interest.
"Eyes chilled like doused in ice water. Perfect."
"...What's perfect?"
"Excitement in this doesn't suit enchantment. Cool, rational types like me fit better."
Peeling papers, she grinned.
"In that sense, you're excellent. Mental potential rivals mine—not exaggeration."
Praise or insult? Lee Se-hun took it as compliment and scanned around.
"Classroom always like this?"
"No, not usually this bad..."
Lea glanced sheepishly.
"Pulled stuff out to impress you, and it snowballed."
"Impressive... in a way."
"Right? Few seniors go this far for juniors."
Audacious—aware or not? Lee Se-hun gawked, then asked.
"Professor?"
"Out on business. Left applications to me—no worries."
"Some test?"
"Nah, simple interview. Wait a sec."
Weaving through junk skillfully, Lea went behind a ornate large box and pressed its red gem lid.
Shoooo!
Scattered items sucked into the box instantly; soon, all clutter vanished save cabinet items.
In a blink. Lee Se-hun eyed the box intrigued.
"Freely stores enchanted items?"
"Ooh, spotted it? First sight, yet you know—talent confirmed..."
"But that alone wouldn't yield this performance... Ah, replication."
"...Huh?"
Missing Lea's fluster, Lee Se-hun admired the box.
"Assumes full state when stored, restores on retrieval. Plus isolation formulas to prevent merging. Right?"
"Y-Yeah, probably..."
"Higher level than expected. Didn't think I'd see this right away."
Lea blanked as he examined eagerly.
Shed feared waning interest; planned hype regardless of talent for elective. But this?
'No info window, just watched intake and deduced all that?'
Sensing mana flow is easy for enchantment; parsing formulas demands more than instinct.
Either encyclopedia knowledge or keen sense. For a freshman, likely the latter.
'Really good...'
Suppressing a twitchy smile, Lea gestured to the cleared space.
"Sightsee leisurely later. Interview first."
"Sure."
Seated, Lea sat opposite, back straight, serious-faced, building atmosphere.
"Cadet Lee Se-hun."
"...Yes."
"What do you think is most important in enchantment?"
Subjective. No right answer; he replied honestly.
"Harmony."
Poor base weakens even great enchantment; vice versa. Harmony key, his view.
"Hm. I see."
Lea nodded gravely, then grinned and clapped.
"Great! Interview passed! Nice to work with, junior!"
"So perfunctory..."
"Means no fluff. Anyway."
Leaning close, eyes gleaming.
"Interview done—shall we discuss constructive, forward-thinking matters?"
Transparent intent. Lee Se-hun chuckled.
"The Ink Spider Ring's enchantment?"
"That, or anything else you made. Feels like it'd be gold regardless."
"Enchantment... Not bad."
Lea bounced up thrilled.
"Then to my workshop now—!"
"Hold."
Lee Se-hun cut in coolly.
"If you prove your current skill."
Future Lea Clodel? Reliable. But now, unknown slump.
Ink Spider Ring for ongoing use—scrutinize.
'Check her exact slump too.'
Lea stared, then nodded.
"What specifically?"
"Basics first."
"Hm... Fine."
Striding to the door. Lee Se-hun puzzled.
"Where?"
"You want basics."
Turning, she grinned.
"To my workplace."