Chapter 10
Today was the first day of class.
Normally, freshmen would be trying their best to establish themselves in the hierarchy, but it was different here at Babel Academy.
“Were there classes today?”
“No, no. They said the first day is only for tests.”
“Ugh. We’re going to be sweating buckets again.”
Most departments encouraged freshmen to socialize even before the entrance ceremony. They greeted each other and started casual conversations, as ties had already formed among them. Naturally, cliques that ruled over the classes had also formed. And, for this class and the Department of Blacksmithing, the leader was Hans, who was second-ranked in the department.
“Where should we have our lunch later?”
“Oh, sorry. I have an appointment with Howard sunbae later.”
“Howard sunbae… you mean the top-ranking third-year student of Borsippa College? You guys know each other?”
Hans chuckled and nodded in response to the unconvinced reaction from his classmate.
“Our families are close, so we meet sometimes. He said we should meet up so he can give me some advice on academy life.”
“Wow… will other sunbaes be there too?”
“I’m not sure, but I did hear that a few top-ranking sunbaes from other departments will join us.”
“Then it seems you’re getting introduced to them … lucky you.”
As Hans spoke, both the students who sat around him and the ones who were far away leaned in to listen. Most of the students admitted to Babel Academy were children of well-known heroes, guild masters, or company CEOs, which meant that there was an unspoken hierarchy in the classrooms. In this class, Hans was right at the top of that hierarchy.
Dealing with people like these is a piece of cake.
The Barmuths were well known around the world for their blacksmithing, and they were a leader in the development of alchemical forging. It was obvious that Hans ruled over the entire class, as his background was outstanding even among classmates who came from relatively well-off families.
“Hm. I’ll ask the sunbaes later if I can bring some friends along.”
“Really? I’d really appreciate it if you would!”
“Can you also bring me with you, please?”
“No need to worry, guys. We’re meeting in a spacious place; there should be plenty of room left for you all.”
The moment Hans mentioned this, the other students exchanged glances with each other. Then, after hesitating for a while, a few finally mustered the courage to stand up and cautiously approach Hans.
Click!
The atmosphere in the lecture room changed drastically when Se-Hoon entered the room with a sharp look in his eyes; it was as if he had just killed a man. His face was full of discontentment, and he seemed ready to explode in anger at any moment.
Seeing him, the students all tensed up as if they were about to witness a volcanic eruption.
“…”
Noticing the changed atmosphere, Se-Hoon slowly looked around the room. His eyes landed on Hans, who was surrounded by other students.
“…”
“…”
Faced with the same ferocious expression Se-Hoon had when he entered the room, Hans maintained a calm demeanor, but his gaze flickered faintly.
What is up with him?
Even though they clearly looked like they were about the same age, when Hans’s eyes met Se-Hoon’s, Hans couldn’t help but cower. It was as if he were facing an insurmountable superior. Overwhelmed by this instinctive fear, Hans bit his lips.
It looks like he knows his place now. Se-Hoon smirked when he saw Hans’s reaction.
He was worried that Hans might belittle him and pick a fight without understanding how puny he actually was. But judging by his reaction, it seemed he had clearly learned how drastically far apart they were in terms of skills.
Having assessed the situation in the department, Se-Hoon slumped down on a seat in the corner.
“Whew…”
“Woah…”
When he sat down in the corner, the students exchanged subtle glances and murmurs. The center of attention seemed to have shifted toward him. Hans’s grasp over the class, which he had been gradually building since the freshman orientation, was now instantly handed over to Se-Hoon.
“…”
Hans bit his lips and clenched his fists tightly.
At that moment, In-Cheol opened the door and stepped into the room. The students, who had momentarily been in a commotion, promptly composed themselves. In-Cheol stood by the podium and briefly scanned the room.
“It looks like everyone’s here. Today is our first class, so we should probably just go over attendance and introduce ourselves… but we’ll leave those things aside for now, and I’ll give you a quick overview of the courses.”
He tapped a panel on the podium, and three documents appeared in midair.
“Our academy encourages students to be independent learners. In simple terms, that means you can take any class you want as long as you pass your major classes.”
The curriculum at Babel Academy allowed students to take up to dozens of classes in a semester, which included not only classes within the College of Borsippa but also those of other colleges.
But there was one thing to be careful of.
“However, once you sign up for a class, you cannot drop it mid-semester. And once you receive three failing grades, you will be expelled from the academy immediately. Please keep this in mind.”
The students were given freedom, but they were held responsible for their choices.
That was Babel Academy’s motto, and it was something the students had to remember until the day they graduated. Problems regarding this matter occurred very often, so In-Cheol gave them a stern warning.
“Registration for elective classes for this semester is available through the Registrar's Office until the end of the week, so you all better be diligent and do your research when you have time. Understood?”
“Yes!”
“I assume this is enough for registration and whatnot; now, let’s talk about the major courses.”
In-Cheol touched the panel again, and the display changed, showing three categories.
“The major course consists of three classes: Ore Analysis, Metallurgy, and Understanding Tools. These can be considered the basics of blacksmithing.”
Grasping the nature of materials, refining them correctly, and drawing out their potential using the right tools—these competencies were necessary not only for a blacksmith but for any craftsman.
“After completing these three classes this semester, you will all be assigned to different classes based on your grades and aptitude. There are still six months left, so let’s save the talk for later. Come on in.”
At his call, the door to the classroom opened, and Associate Professor Han In-Sung stepped inside along with a large, cloth-covered cart.
The students’ eyes lit up, and they adjusted their postures as if they had been waiting for him.
What is that? Se-Hoon was puzzled by the students’ sudden change in attitude.
Then, In-Cheol peeled back the cloth covering the cart.
Isn’t that…
Revealed under the cloth were immaculate silvery ingots, without a single speck of dust. Although they looked like ordinary iron, there was one key difference.
The center of an ingot was transparent, and a small flame burned faintly within.
“This ingot is made of what’s called ‘projection alloy.’ It’s tuned to be dozens of times more sensitive to mana than normal metals.”
In-Cheol pulled a projection alloy ingot out of the cart and held it up in front of the students.
“If you infuse mana into the projection alloy…”
As his mana was infused, the flame at the center of the ingot slowly made it melt inward. And then, as if Alchemical Forging had been utilized, the alloy collapsed into a liquid form, transforming into a longsword.
“You can easily forge the equipment that you are depicting in your mind.”
Hmm. It’s not as bad as I thought… Se-Hoon looked at the longsword and couldn’t help but be impressed.
In-Cheol’s foundational skills were flawless, reaching a point where there was no room for Se-Hoon to criticize. He demonstrated a mastery that justified his inclusion among the world’s top 100 blacksmiths.
Yet, the longsword wasn’t entirely without room for improvement.
I sensed it in his Fatestone, too… he seriously has some issues with his blacksmithing.
As In-Cheol raised the longsword, Se-Hoon’s eyes narrowed upon discovering small dents on the blade. In-Cheol turned his head, noticing the glare, and their eyes met in midair.
“…”
“…Let me go on with the explanation.”
In-Cheol turned his head as if nothing had happened, casually shoving the longsword under the cart and continuing the conversation.
“Because of its sensitivity, using projection alloy to forge combat equipment is challenging, but its reflective nature allows you to see aspects of yourself that you may not be aware of. That’s why a piece of equipment forged from projection alloy is commonly referred to as a doppelgänger.”
This was a material that showed a side of oneself that one may not be aware of. At that description, the eyes of all the students lit up in curiosity.
“Now, the way you’ll introduce yourselves today is by forging these ingots of projection alloy into your own pieces of equipment. They will be displayed in the main building’s exhibition hall for a week, so make sure you try your best. Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
At the enthusiastic replies of the students, Se-Hoon finally understood why the atmosphere of the room had suddenly changed. The equipment they were about to forge would be showcased to fellow classmates, sunbaes within the department, and even beyond—to all members of Babel Academy. Therefore, it was inevitable that they felt a sense of tension.
It looks like we are going to have a fancy, Babel-like self-introduction.
With projection alloys of that quality, each one would easily exceed ten million won. It was absurd that they were using that much money just for self-introductions.
Although it might seem overly extravagant, considering its effectiveness, it wasn’t a waste. As In-Cheol had mentioned, the equipment forged from projection alloys reflected even the subconscious. It was not only for assessing a student’s potential but also for identifying potential issues.
And in some cases, it might even help uncover informants hired by the demons.
This effect would be discovered by research that hadn’t been done in this era yet, but that was precisely why it could be useful to him, depending on the circumstances.
As Se-Hoon entertained all these thoughts, In-Cheol grabbed an ingot of projection alloy from the cart and looked at the students.
“Then, let’s have everyone come out in order, starting from the front.”
According to In-Cheol’s instructions, the students went up to the podium one by one. Each of them forged a piece of equipment using the ingot of projection alloy they had been given.
“Hmph!”
The students, despite feeling nervous due to their unfamiliarity with the new alloy, began to forge their own equipment without losing their composure.
Se-Hoon, who had been examining the scene carefully at first, quickly lost interest.
They’re not bad… but there’s nothing else to say other than that.
Compared to the students at other academies, they were certainly outstanding. But none of them had the pinnacle of talent that Babel Academy sought.
“Woah…”
“Wow…”
At least Hans’s rapier, which their classmates were eyeing with awe, was bearable to see. But to Se-Hoon, that rapier was also disappointing.
Although it’s pretty fancy on the outside, the insides are completely hollow.
His skills were passable for now, but once he started creating equipment that reflected his true self, he’d get stuck right away.
After witnessing the average skill of the students at Babel Academy, Se-Hoon reconsidered In-Cheol’s offer to study at Vulcan Academy.
“Lastly, Lee Se-Hoon. Please come forward.”
“Yes.”
Responding to In-Cheol’s summons, Se-Hoon stepped forth to the podium. In an instant, all the attention was focused on him. Everyone wondered what skills and talents he had that helped him win the title of honor student, a feat unattained by their department for over twelve years.
Amidst the curious gazes, he checked out the ingot of projection alloy in his hand.
Projection alloy, huh…
Before his regression, he had extensively dealt with this alloy in the pursuit of acquiring a new skill, but the alloy was otherwise useless to him. If he leveraged that experience, it would be easy to conceal his skills from In-Cheol.
But he didn’t see the need to do so.
I'm already an honor student; there’s really no point in hiding the entirety of my ability.
Keeping a trick up his sleeve might work in a fight, but since he was a blacksmith, hiding his skills would only make him look bad. For the sake of the people that he planned to meet in the future and for the possible funding he might receive from Babel Academy, it was best for him to show off his skills here.
While I’m at it, should I just go all out?
If he forged it too perfectly, others might raise suspicions against him. But if he forged something that they wouldn’t even be able to tell what it was, there wouldn’t be any doubts.
Having made his decision, Se-Hoon channeled his mana into the projection alloy.
Infused with mana, the ingot’s shape started changing gradually.
He pondered what to forge to amaze everyone in the room. Various shapes filled his mind, and naturally, the blueprints for those designs were also drawn out. One by one, the completed blueprints piled up in his mind until they became a pile.
Boom!!!
A huge explosion ripped through the entire room.
***
Located on the seventh floor of the main building of the Department of Blacksmithing, the exhibition hall was where the graduation works of previous students were typically displayed, and they usually attracted few visitors. However, during the period when the projection alloy works of the freshmen were showcased, it was a different scene. Visitors flocked from all corners of the academy, looking to collaborate, entrust projects, or discover new talents or potential apprentices. And this year’s exhibition, in particular, was notably different.
“Wow, there are so many people here.”
“Are they all here because of Lee Se-Hoon?”
“To be honest, it’s hard not to take a look at his work.”
Se-Hoon was the honor student that the Department of Blacksmithing hadn’t been able to produce for over twelve years. Not only had he already forged Rare-tier equipment, but he had also given a demonstration during the entrance ceremony that had overshadowed Jake Myer’s and Erika Inoue’s. He had prevailed over these two students from prestigious families who had been known as prodigies even before they entered the academy.
The buzz around him was so great that he was considered one of the biggest names in the lineage of honor students, so onlookers came from all over.
“I heard that Jake and Erika already came by to look.”
“Ah, I heard that too. Erika came in a couple of hours before the exhibition opened and went in first.”
“Come to think of it, those two weren’t the only ones…”
Rumors spread that not only the fellow honor students of the freshmen but also famous undergraduates had come to see Se-Hoon’s work, so naturally, a mass amount of attention was drawn.
Consequently, skeptical conversations about his work began to emerge.
“Isn’t he still just a freshman?”
"Honestly, the works made by freshmen are all pretty much the same. It’s kind of ridiculous to say that the lines are different or the grain is different.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Sure, Se-Hoon was still just a freshman.
Those in technical fields naturally held prejudice against newcomers, and a few entered the exhibition hall with that condescending attitude. Then, reaching the innermost section, they arrived in front of Se-Hoon's work, which seemed to be occupying the entire spacious hall by itself.
“…”
“…”
In front of the gigantic exhibit, measuring five meters, everyone was left speechless. There were swords and spears, shields and axes, sickles and claws, gauntlets and staves, and an uncountable variety of equipment sticking out in an eerie formation throughout a sphere.
The sight alone was staggering, but what was even more astonishing was the intricate craftsmanship of each protruding weapon.
“They somehow look pretty good.”
“They seem better than my current weapon.”
Despite knowing that equipment made from projection alloy was unusable, for some reason, they found that these pieces looked even better than the ones they were using.
They all stared at the exhibit speechlessly, overwhelmed by the sheer perfection of the work, and only later did they notice the sign at the bottom of the display.
“While forging this exhibit, an anomaly occurred where nineteen projection alloys in the surrounding area were absorbed. Considering it as an inherent mark of Lee Se-Hoon’s capabilities, we are presenting this as is.”
Everyone was confused when the explanation informed them that the work was created by an unexpected event.
This is…
How should we describe it?
Se-Hoon’s work set itself apart from all the other exhibits, and therefore, the reviews about it were quite diverse.
“It’s probably just a coincidence resulting from his skill.”
“It’s not like there have never been such cases.”
The majority of people described the work as a result of the peculiarity of his skill, regarding it as not particularly impressive.
“How are we supposed to evaluate something like this?”
“Isn’t this just the result of using multiple pieces of projection alloy? He forged under an entirely different condition, which obviously made the result different from everyone else’s.”
“It’s been a while since the Department of Blacksmithing had an honor student. Are they pushing the ‘genius’ narrative for him?”
The general consensus was that they couldn’t really judge Se-Hoon based on this work alone. His work was so different from what was expected that there were more negative reactions than positive ones.
“I have some different thoughts about it.”
“Same here.”
But there were also some positive responses, and they all conveyed the same sentiment.
That amount of projection alloy was insufficient to fully portray Lee Se-Hoon’s abilities.
kyokon's ThoughtsPenguin’s thoughts: the word used here for “doppelgänger” is a word many of you might recognize from Naruto, “bunshin” 😂
if you write it with different hanja, though, it means self-immolation, i.e. setting yourself on fire
do what you want with that informationSigh: Setting yourself on fire seems like a very blacksmith thing to do.
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