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Chapter 89

“This should be fine; there’s no need for hospitalization. You’re cleared to be discharged today.”

“Thank you.”

Relieved that he wouldn’t have to be trapped in the dreary hospital ward, Se-Hoon teased Jake, who had received a two-week prognosis, for a bit. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize that he wasn’t as free as he thought he’d be after he stepped outside the hospital.

“You found the marionette fragments in a Lotus Tree and realized something was off. Was there anything else unusual before that?”

“Were there any precursors before that new monster appeared? Like was there anything inside the Black Lotus Seas that seemed different than usual...”

“Lee Se-Hoon! Just a word about what happened that day... agh!”

Investigators from Babel and the Heroes Association, as well as reporters who had entered without permission, were all over the place.

It was no wonder; major incidents such as this one hadn’t happened for quite some time. Both Babel and the outside world had been stirred up, naturally leading to attention on the living witnesses, particularly Se-Hoon, who had just been discharged.

I was wondering why Jake was smiling...

He felt like climbing back to Jake’s room and hitting him with a hammer right then and there, but unfortunately, the people surrounding him didn’t seem like they would let him go easily.

“Demons Cause Atrocities Every Day: Is this really okay?”

“Mysterious Monster Appears in the Black Lotus Seas! Estimated to have inhabited the area for at least fifteen years...”

“Wurgen Kruger, Head of the UD Group: ‘The Heroes Association is currently incapable of managing all the Danger Zones.’”

After all, it wasn’t just any demon, but the Puppeteer who had sent in his subordinates and launched an attack on Babel’s students. The impact of such a thing was massive, especially because the culprit was one of the Ten Evils, as not one but two major incidents had occurred simultaneously.

Thus, taking advantage of the opportunity, various groups seized the moment to criticize each other for their own interests. And Babel, too, was dragged into the fray.

“The True Face of Babel is Now Exposed Beyond the Artificial Island.”

“The Undisciplined Curriculum of Babel Must be Revised Now!”

“Evan Flynn, Principal of Chiron Academy: ‘This incident is just the beginning.’”

All kinds of sensational articles that undermined Babel’s capabilities were all over the news. The fact that there were zero casualties was remarkable, but criticism was inevitable due to the lack of prior response.

Thus, Babel opted not to clarify anything and just cleanly acknowledged their mistake, diverting the spotlight elsewhere.

“Second Son of the Myers Family Saves Classmates by Defeating a B+ Rank Mutant Monster!”

“The Unfortunate Genius Abandoned by Numerous Blacksmiths: Who gave him the sword!?”

The spotlight now shone on Jake, who defeated the B+ rank Divine Tree, and Se-Hoon, who forged his sword and assisted him in battle. Thanks to Babel highlighting the duo’s heroic deeds to divert public attention, the focus began to shift.

Ultimately, Babel was primarily an educational institute that wasn’t responsible for overseeing all the Danger Zones like the Heroes Association was. For that reason, while there were some shortcomings in their response to this incident, overall, it wasn’t something they could be found faulty for.

“Thanks to you, we managed to handle this situation pretty well. You’ve worked hard.”

Now that the situation had somewhat settled, Se-Hoon was invited to a famous Japanese restaurant by Kasar.

“You’re the one who’s been through a lot, Professor. Weren’t you incredibly busy with press conferences and association investigations?” responded Se-Hoon awkwardly due to the praise.

“Yup, you’re right. Whether it’s the past or now, it’s more tiring to deal with all of this unnecessary talk after the fights than the fights themselves.”

Kasar’s tone was full of disgust due to having to deal with all the aftermaths, but he also seemed somewhat relieved that the situation was concluding. Noticing his shift in mood, Se-Hoon decided to cautiously ask a question.

“Professor, I have something I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“What exactly are you doing in there...?”

Seated at the counter, Se-Hoon’s questioning look was met by a calm reply from Kasar, who was preparing fish on the opposite side.

“What do you mean, what am I doing? I’m getting ready to make some sushi.”

Like it was obvious, Kasar’s response was nonchalant.

Still confused, Se-Hoon glanced between Kasar, dressed neatly in a chef’s white robe that didn’t quite match his large build, and the name of the restaurant written on the menu: Mist Battalion.

I thought he was just the owner... but it turns out he’s the head chef.

Shocked by the revelation, he quietly watched Kasar finish preparing the sushi.

“Being an S-rank hero and a head professor puts everyone—professors and students alike—on their toes around me. I became annoyed at that, so I started this place to have relaxing conversations with people as a hobby.”

“Oh... so, has it made you more relaxed?”

“Not really. Everyone ends up with indigestion and buys antacids after eating here. It seems bringing up work topics is too stressful.”

“...”

Then what was the point of all this? Sensing Se-Hoon’s puzzlement, Kasar cracked a smile.

“At least I’m more at ease than before, so that’s still a good thing.”

Before, it was a situation where both sides felt uncomfortable, and now, it was still basically the same situation, just one side feeling a bit less so. Still processing that face, Se-Hoon suddenly noticed something.

“...Huh?”

He was surprised by the sight of the kitchen knife that Kasar pulled out.

That knife is...

It was the very same knife he had sharpened on the special whetstone at the workshop of Helena, a retired professor of the Department of Blacksmithing. Though it had been quite some time, the knife still bore the marks of his own handiwork, causing his surprise to grow and prompting Kasar to glance over.

“I heard you honed this knife; am I right?”

“Ah, yes. How did you know?”

“I heard it from my sister. I thought it was nonsense at first when I heard that a freshman had sharpened it...”

Thinking back to it now and considering what Se-Hoon had achieved recently, that very conversation might have been a precursor.

A moment later, Kasar skillfully finished slicing up the sushi, “For now, it’s been decided that both you and Jake will be given perfect marks on the subjugation practical. Considering you two even took down a mutant monster, this much is granted.”

“Thank you.”

“There will also be an award ceremony this weekend. The Chairman has arranged some special rewards, so start thinking about what you want to receive.”

Any other academy would have merely given a mere certificate, but Babel always went the extra mile, which pleased Se-Hoon.

“Also, the investigation of the mutant monster, the Divine Tree, will soon be concluded,” added Kasar.

Upon this particular bit of news, Se-Hoon adjusted his seat attentively.

“There seems to be no issue, so the materials from it will be distributed based on contribution to the battle... and Jake has decided to transfer all his shares to you.”

“Yes, we had a promise earlier.”

They had agreed on this being the reward for forging the Luminescent Sword for him.

“So, you will take eighty percent, and I will have twenty.”

“...”

Se-Hoon felt his heart pound at the thought of owning eighty percent of the drops from the Divine Tree, which countless companies and heroes had split into hundreds of shares in the past.

No, I shouldn’t be too complacent yet. Let’s stay calm.

Unlike the Divine Tree subjugated before the regression, this one was barely B+ rank due to being awakened in an imperfect state. Accordingly, it was important to secure as much as possible, with as immature as it was, since using it like before might now require several trials and errors first.

And choosing which part to take is also crucial.

Calming his excited heart, he looked at Kasar.

“Do you have any plans on selling your share to me?”

“Ho, you want to have it all for yourself?”

“The more materials, the better, and these don’t seem like something you can just go out and get again.”

Before responding, Kasar finished making a piece of sushi and placed it on a plate in front of Se-Hoon.

“There are just two conditions.”

“I’m all ears.”

“The exact date isn’t set yet, but soon there will be a major subjugation mission of the Pilgrim’s Path in Indonesia. If you have no special plans when that time comes, come with me.”

“The Pilgrim’s Path...”

The Pilgrim’s Path was a route along a holy barrier erected by the Pilgrim Karl Andersen, a Perfect One, to block the advancement of the Abyss of Demons. As such, a situation team was regularly organized to prevent the Abyss of Demons from eroding it. And Kasar was proposing that he participate in the mission.

If it’s in Indonesia, it should be a C to B-class Danger Zone... there shouldn’t be much risk.

Of course, it wasn’t a completely safe decision, but since Kasar would be going as well, there was no need to worry too much. Putting the sushi in his mouth, Se-Hoon contemplated it further for a moment before nodding.

“Alright. What’s the second condition?”

“I happen to know a few people who are quite skilled but can’t properly wield their weapons. If there’s time, I’d like you to take a look.”

Intrigued by the unexpected request, Se-Hoon asked for more details, “You mean... people like Jake?”

“Not exactly like him, but similar. Also, I’m not saying you must forge something for each of them; you just need to meet and assess their issues.”

Considering they were individuals recognized by Kasar for their skills, he might also have known them in the past. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to network with some of them, so he nodded.

“Taking a look shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll do it.”

“Good. I’ll contact you when both schedules are set. I’ll give you a two-week notice, so just focus on your own tasks in the meantime.”

“Understood.”

With that out of the way, Kasar glanced at the now-empty plates.

“Shall I make more?”

“I’ll gladly have more.”

When else would he get to enjoy sushi made by the Mist Battalion Sword himself? Noticing that Se-Hoon didn’t even hesitate to ask for more, Kasar smiled in amusement.

This guy doesn’t seem to be bothered by anything...

Considering how he had handled the Puppeteer’s minions, he truly was a bold one. With a chuckle, he pulled out a fresh fish, his fondness for Se-Hoon growing.

“Alright, I’ll feed you all you can eat today.”

Watching Kasar prepare the fish, Se-Hoon suddenly remembered something and asked, “By the way, where has the Chairman gone? He didn’t seem to have been at the press conferences.”

“Ah, the Chairman?”

Completely nonchalant, Kasar skillfully skinned the fish, and the moment he chopped its head off, he opened his mouth.

“He must be dealing with some ignorant fool.”

***

In a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of France, a hooded figure strode in briskly, swirling the dust within. Gazing at the light of the setting sun streaming through the broken windows and casting shadows in the increasingly dark warehouse, the figure, Vier Barmuth, spoke.

“Come out.”

His voice echoed throughout the warehouse, stirring something from a shadowy corner, and then a shadow that resembled a human appeared.

Creak, squeak.

The puppet, still hidden in the shadows, moved jerkily before collapsing into a chair in the shade.

“Our esteemed client seems quite upset.” Despite its eerie movements, a clear woman’s voice came from the puppet.

Vier furrowed his brow at his teasing tone.

“Are you making light of the situation even though you know what’s happened?”

“Of course, I know what happened. Or should I not know? I didn’t receive any reports from my subordinates after all...”

Seeing the puppet stroke its chin, Vier clenched his fist without realizing it and shouted, “Your damn puppets failed to kill Lee Se-Hoon, let alone inflict any serious injury!”

He hadn’t expected guaranteed success when he first commissioned the task to the Puppeteer. He knew how thoroughly Babel prepared for subjugation practicals and that an S-rank hero, the Mist Battalion Sword Kasar, was present at the scene.

Hence, he had halved his expectations. As long as they managed to inflict Se-Hoon with severe injuries that required long-term care, they could have disabled his mana circuits in cooperation with Dawn.

However, the result was a complete disaster. Far from being injured, Se-Hoon had ascended to an even higher position, complicating everything further.

“Now everyone around the world knows about him. If the Emperor of Ascension decides to protect him because of this, it’s all over! What am I supposed to do now?!”

Being an outstanding student and receiving the protection of Babel’s very own Chairman, the Emperor of Ascension Ludwig, were two completely different things. As the leader of Babel and a Perfect One, Ludwig wielded an enormous amount of societal influence. It would only be a matter of time before everyone around him would distance themselves since he had opposed someone Ludwig swore to protect.

It’ll be inevitable that everyone related to us in Babel will be reexamined for employment, including my father, and our business will also likely shrink...

For them to survive, the only option that would be left was to go under Wurgen Kruger of the UD Group, who wielded the same amount of influence as Ludwig. But if they were to do so, the identity of the Barmuth family would disappear and they would become just another subsidiary, unable to enjoy the same status and freedom as now.

And with failure after failure, Vier’s situation grew increasingly dire, so his fists clenched in anger and fear.

“Ahahahaha!” The puppet burst into laughter at Vier’s words, its hearty laughter causing dissonance with the eerily twitching shadow puppet.

The twisted form sent shivers down Vier’s spine as he watched, trying his best to keep a stern face. The puppet then waved its hand dismissively.

“You don’t seem to understand what kind of person that old man is.”

“What?”

“That old man does have a thing for talented individuals, sure, but his standards aren’t that simple. Se-Hoon’s nowhere near receiving his protection yet.”

Completely assured, the puppet stroked its chin.

“But... given how obvious you made it seem like you were involved in this, it wouldn’t take much for him to start pruning if something about you starts bothering hi—”

Vier flinched at the suddenly severed voice, waiting as the ensuing strange silence filling the warehouse stretched.

“Ah. Sorry. One of my relay points just blew away, so I got cut off for a moment. It seems the old man is a bit annoyed.”

“That means...”

“Our glorious Emperor of Ascension is flip—ping over my ba—se like he’s hunt—ing mice. Want me to keep talking until he comes here too?”

Vier’s face turned pale at the Puppeteer’s sly narrative. If he was accused of dealing with the Ten Evils, it would lead to unforeseeable consequences.

But if I go back like this...

If he wasn’t able to negotiate for another chance with the Puppeteer, then not only would he be fired, but his father might be as well.

Vier became torn over whether to leave.

“Anyways, you don’t need to worry about Lee Se-Hoon. I’ll make sure he’s taken care of next time,” the puppet said calmly, leaning back in its chair.

“Really?”

“The owner of the tree I used this time is quite mad at me. I agreed to help him with a job in exchange for keeping his mouth shut... so I think I can handle it then.”

Was the Puppeteer plotting something else with a different group? Vier frowned at their vague explanations.

“If it ends like this time again...”

“Don’t worry about that.”

The puppet cut off Vier, leaning slightly forward from its chair. Now, out of the shadows, its face could be seen—a collage of patches of human skin except for a grinning mouth.

It then whispered softly, “If necessary, I’ll eliminate him by turning all of you into my puppets.”

“...”

Vier’s body instantly began to tremble faintly; though the Puppeteer’s tone was filled with what seemed like kindness, they were suggesting that they would resort to erasing his entire lineage.

Remembering what kind of being the Puppeteer was—a fiend known to hunt even S-rank heroes for materials; a creator of thousands, if not millions, of puppets; a being whose true form was unknown to anyone—Vier clenched his fist tightly and barely managed to respond, “That... won’t be necessary.”

Leaving those words, he promptly left the warehouse, the puppet watching his retreating figure through a window bathed by the sunset.

“Babel...” it murmured.

The Puppeteer, once a part of the Emperor of Ascension’s little garden as well, thought of a flower that might have bloomed there and smiled, “I hope it has grown well.”

Then, like a thread had been cut, the puppet slumped lifelessly over the chair.