Chapter : 29
'...What the hell?'
Even though he'd seen it with his own eyes, Yeom Seong-ha couldn't believe the scene unfolding before him.
The embers left by the Crimson Ring Ember Spear were supposed to explode only in response to the 'gathering blast' mana wave created by the caster.
So in today's spar, something like scattering them as Aria had done might have been possible, but having control stolen away? That shouldn't have happened.
'But... it was taken.'
The moment that guy's hand, wrapped in mana, touched his embers, every explosion's trajectory twisted and poured back toward him.
Realizing that his Crimson Ring Ember Spear had been completely countered, Yeom Seong-ha's thoughts froze for a moment.
Whoosh!
Instinctively, he swung his fist toward Lee Se-hun.
Bam!!!
The fist grazed the tip of Lee Se-hun's nose by a hair's breadth.
If the previous strike had been worth about four weeks of recovery, this one could have meant twelve weeks—or worse, permanent damage.
'This bastard's eyes are rolling back.'
Any semblance of rational thought had vanished from his eyes.
There were many reasons Yeom Seong-ha had earned the moniker Mad Dog in his previous life, but the biggest was his reckless, no-holds-barred execution. Once he decided on something, he'd follow through regardless of the cost to himself. It was an obsessive determination, and the first incident that showcased it was the massacre at his own sect, the Flame Flower Sect.
'They said it was innate... and it wasn't just talk.'
Realizing that what he'd dismissed as bullshit was true, Lee Se-hun deftly dodged and deflected the fists raining down on him.
Thud! Bam!
This was the result of absorbing Lea's bond stone 'Adhesive Explosive Flower' into the Covetous Iron. But Lee Se-hun coolly assessed the situation.
'Covetous Iron's effects are almost done... and honestly, my body's at its limit.'
Someone would come running at the sound of explosions, but if they were even a little late, one solid hit from that fist would mean severe injuries at minimum.
'...No choice, then.'
He didn't like it, but he had no other option.
The moment Lee Se-hun resolved not to just forge a casual bond but to smash the Yeom Seong-ha in front of him...
Whoosh!
A massive fist, cloaked in mana, hurtled toward his face.
Kaboom!!!
The shockwave swept across the entire clearing. Yeom Seong-ha, who had swung a punch powerful enough to shatter a skull, stared at the scene before him.
Then, scowling, he addressed the blond young man gripping his fist with both hands—Jake.
"...You two know each other?"
"Y-Yeah... sort of..."
As he answered Yeom Seong-ha's question, Jake's hands trembled violently.
He'd managed to block it, but he hadn't fully redirected the impact, leaving his hands—and his entire body—numb.
'What the hell was he thinking...'
If Jake hadn't intervened, Lee Se-hun would have taken at least a serious injury—or died in the worst case.
As Jake stared in disbelief at Lee Se-hun's reckless actions, Yeom Seong-ha silently eyed Lee Se-hun behind him.
"..."
Lee Se-hun stood calmly, hand on his chest, meeting his gaze without a hint of cowering. Seeing this, Yeom Seong-ha withdrew his fist.
"...Go."
"Got it! Let's go, Se-hun!"
At Yeom Seong-ha's words, Jake shoved Lee Se-hun's back toward the park exit like he'd been waiting for it.
Unable to resist the brute force, Lee Se-hun could only turn his head to look at Yeom Seong-ha.
"Remember what I said..."
"Quit talking nonsense and get lost...!"
Pushed by Jake before he could finish, Lee Se-hun vanished from the clearing. Watching him go, Yeom Seong-ha closed his eyes and regulated his breathing.
'That was close...'
To think he'd considered beating his opponent half to death just because his Crimson Ring Ember Spear was countered.
If that had happened, the technique's reputation would have plummeted, putting both him and his master in a tough spot.
Thankful he'd come to his senses, albeit late, Yeom Seong-ha suddenly recalled that final image.
'...'
Had he truly regained his composure on his own? Or had he snapped out of it sensing some inexplicable threat?
From start to finish, that arrogant underclassman was an enigma. Recalling his face, Yeom Seong-ha muttered softly.
"Lee Se-hun..."
A name etched in memory from their first meeting. It was progress, of a sort.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"What the hell were you thinking, picking a fight with that senior?"
Unable to comprehend, Jake asked, and Lee Se-hun replied calmly.
"I didn't pick a fight. I just said what was true."
"No... you could've died if things went wrong!"
Lee Se-hun chuckled at Jake's fussing.
"Die? At worst, I'd roll on the ground a few times."
"...What?"
The Crimson Ring Ember Spear that Yeom Seong-ha wielded required delicate mana release, belying its ferocious appearance.
That last punch looked lethal, but if Yeom Seong-ha willed it, he could reverse the mana flow and adjust the power freely.
'That final swing wasn't meant to kill—it was to knock me down.'
Having sparred endlessly with Yeom Seong-ha in his previous life, Lee Se-hun could tell the difference.
That's why he'd pulled back before crossing that final line.
'Softer than before, no doubt about it.'
If it had been the Mad Dog instead of this young version, one of them might not have walked away. As Lee Se-hun smirked at the memory...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
A bond has been established with target 'Yeom Seong-ha'.
'As expected.'
Lee Se-hun took the notification in stride.
After all that commotion, it would have been weirder if no bond formed. With that settled, he turned to the next issue.
'How to extract the bond, and how to raise its level.'
He knew Yeom Seong-ha well, but strictly speaking, it was the 'Mad Dog Yeom Seong-ha' he knew.
The same person could change based on experiences. That soft side he'd just shown made it hard to believe it was the same guy.
'Might need some adjustments...'
The bond stone's effects might shift a bit too. But innate talents wouldn't change, so Lee Se-hun wasn't too worried.
'Anyway, I'll think on that later...'
Having sorted out his thoughts on Yeom Seong-ha, Lee Se-hun glanced at Jake, who looked puzzled beside him.
'This guy's solid too.'
He'd jumped in before Yeom Seong-ha could pull back his mana, blocking the attack without budging an inch.
Not full power or anything, but for a first-year who hadn't even entered the Hero's Tower yet, it was impressive.
'Definitely useful...'
Raising his evaluation of Jake, Lee Se-hun looked down at the hands that had blocked the blow.
"Hands okay?"
"Yeah. They're tougher than the rest of me."
Jake flexed them demonstratively. They were a bit red, but no real damage.
'Tough hands, huh...'
Etching that trait into his mind, Lee Se-hun considered candidates as...
"Anyway."
Remembering why they'd come, Jake looked at Lee Se-hun with a serious expression.
"Did you say something weird during the match?"
"Weird?"
"Yeah. Like... something bad about my sister...?"
"Sister? Aria Myers?"
Jake nodded at Lee Se-hun's question.
"Yeah. Anything?"
"Well... not really."
"Really? Then why..."
"Just that her style rubs me the wrong way?"
"..."
Jake stared blankly at the answer, then sighed deeply.
"Should've warned you..."
Muttering about the headache, he looked at Lee Se-hun tiredly.
"Be careful from now on. She's taken an interest in you."
"Me?"
"Yeah. She overheard what you said in the arena."
"..."
Lee Se-hun made a face at that.
In a stadium roaring with cheers and chatter, from hundreds of meters away in the stands? Hearing his voice clearly wasn't just good ears—it was monstrous perception.
'They said she's already A-rank hero level... but even accounting for that, she's a monster.'
A fitting spec for a future Summit Climber, or just absurd.
Realizing he'd unwittingly declared war on Aria, Lee Se-hun pondered briefly before brushing it off.
"Eh, interest is just interest."
"It's not something to take lightly. You don't know her, but sis is..."
"Petty and scheming?"
Jake flinched at the question, then tensely scanned the surroundings.
His silent affirmation made Lee Se-hun chuckle and pat his shoulder.
"Relax. She's not the type to sic goons on you, right?"
"N-Not that bad, but your life might get a bit rougher..."
"That's fine. It's what I want."
From what he'd seen, Yeom Seong-ha's top priority was beating Aria.
If he drew her rival's attention, his presence would naturally loom larger.
That would make reforming Yeom Seong-ha much easier.
"...Why do you hate her so much anyway?"
Jake stared, baffled by Lee Se-hun's reaction.
Most blacksmiths would kill for a chance to equip their gear on someone like her, so why the hostility?
Meeting Jake's puzzled gaze, Lee Se-hun recalled the past.
'Another worthless sword.'
A bored voice, weary eyes, and a back striding unhesitatingly toward the Myriad Demons' Mire legions without looking back.
The Holy Swordmaster, one of humanity's frontline Summit Climbers, vanished just like that.
"Dunno."
In her wake came the Demon God of Annihilation, wielding the remnants of a monstrous demon god as his sword.
"Her face rubs me wrong."
It was the distant future now, but it had already happened to him. No way he'd view that psycho narcissist without bias.
"Let's go."
Ending the talk abruptly, Lee Se-hun turned and left. Watching his back, Jake wore a strange expression.
Something between them he didn't know about? Or did he really judge by faces? Either way, their chemistry was terrible.
"What the..."
Bzzz─
A vibration from his pocket. Jake pulled out his phone and read the message.
[Looks like you've made a fun friend. Keep telling me all about him.]
Planning to use him as a go-between from now on? Sighing, Jake glanced at the end.
[Petty and scheming big sis asks nicely^^]
"Ah."
He realized he was in deeper trouble than Lee Se-hun.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Monday morning.
Stepping out of the dorm, Lee Se-hun winced at the sensations wracking his body.
'Pushed too hard...'
Side effects of body enhancement via Adhesive Explosive Flower and Covetous Iron. His whole body throbbed like it had been torn apart, and that was only thanks to Eternal Spirit Magic—otherwise, something might have actually burst.
'Took a full day off and still not recovered.'
Consuming prime materials like Adhesive Explosive Flower in one go, plus the massive bodily backlash. He'd be more careful in the future. Arriving at the lecture hall, Lee Se-hun...
"Hoo..."
Sat and slowly scanned the room.
A week in, people were chatting casually, but they flinched when his gaze landed.
"Th-The exchange event... soon... schedule's... coming..."
Hans especially stuttered and jerked every time their eyes met, his heightened senses from his seat making him extra sensitive.
'Fun.'
Amused, Lee Se-hun kept needling Hans when...
Rattle-rattle─
The door opened, and a short, burly professor rolled in on a cart golem.
Stunned by the intense entrance, everyone stared. The professor on the cart rapped the board behind him.
"Eyes up!"
His voice boomed despite his stature.
Cadets straightened up, and the professor crossed his arms.
"I'm Reese Dobida, handling smelting for the next two weeks. Subject's 'Attribute Smelting'."
Required major smelting rotated professors each semester segment to expose cadets to various fields, assessing potential for second-semester specialization.
"If you think basics are a joke you can half-ass, go ahead. I'll flunk you freely."
Cadets tensed at Reese's threat from his cart perch.
Reese was infamous in the Forging Department. Once, he'd grabbed a threatening upperclassman by the collar, slammed him on an anvil, and shattered his ribs with a hammer.
'Avoid him like the plague. Remember.'
'Ever seen anyone stand up to a rabid dog?'
'Don't wanna get bit? Steer clear.'
Recalling seniors' advice, they composed themselves. Gauging the vibe, Lee Se-hun smirked.
'Good prof.'
As Lee Se-hun grinned slyly, Reese plopped down on the cart and continued.
"Before class, evaluations for last week's smelting submissions and first-semester budgets."
First budget since Babel—free for personal use. Cadets watched eagerly.
"Come up when called."
Reese called names, distributing papers. Cadets rejoiced or sulked.
As turns passed, eyes converged on one spot.
'How much will he get?'
'Triple mine at least.'
Lee Se-hun's overwhelming submission was obvious. The top freshman stirring drama—how much budget would he snag?
Tension mounted when...
"Finally... Lee Se-hun."
"Yes."
"Your budget's not out yet."
Shock rippled. Reese added gruffly.
"Your submission's quality is high, so it's up for public auction with second-years this Wednesday. Budget based on sale price. Wait."
Lee Se-hun grasped it from Reese's expression.
'Pulled it out specially... scheming again.'
If Michael orchestrated it, not ideal. But Lee Se-hun shrugged it off.
Kim In-cheol would block real issues. It was manageable, so he'd accepted.
'And... might be entertaining.'
Smirking, Lee Se-hun nodded calmly.
"Understood."
"..."
Reese scowled at his unbothered demeanor.
'No pushback... what's his deal.'
He'd planned to handle objections, but now? Sighing, Reese shifted topics.
"Back to class. Today: Applying fire-attribute mana to smelting. Specifically, handling 'residual mana' to prevent dissipation in gear."
Lee Se-hun perked up.
Residual mana in flames—perfectly matching last weekend's Yeom Seong-ha encounter.
'Timing's perfect.'
He'd wanted basics before the bond stone anyway. Satisfied, as Reese continued.
"And to assist with residual mana lessons, a cadet volunteered."
"Cadet?"
"Who?"
As confusion spread, Lee Se-hun instinctively glanced at the door, sensing it.
"Come in."
Slide─
Yeom Seong-ha entered with a stone-faced expression.