With the restructuring of the Tower of Heroes completed for the time being, Se-Hoon spent his time inspecting the Key of Whitespace and the treasures in Ludwig’s vault that it unlocked.
“Let’s see...”
Opening the vault once more, Se-Hoon began listing rare materials that were impossible to find in the marketplace. Then, moments later, a cascade of items tumbled out of the bright white void.
“Wow...”
Even though he had checked it several times over, his heart still raced at the sight of the rare materials stacked like a mountain.
While he still thought the quality of a material was important, having it in the first place was even more critical. In that regard, the vault was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
It had ninety-eight out of the hundred materials I asked for.... Is there anything this vault doesn’t have?
He had deliberately requested the hardest-to-find materials, yet the vault still brought out nearly everything. Judging by that, it was safe to assume it had an abundant supply of more common items as well.
Se-Hoon just couldn’t keep a neutral expression at the thought of the sheer value of the vault; he physically could not stop his lips from twitching into a grin.
I knew he was a wealthy man, but to think he had this much hidden away... Sёarch* The NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Until now, he had thought Ludwig’s resources were on par with Wurgen’s, but when considering the rarity of the materials before him, it was clear Ludwig’s assets could even rival any major organization.
At this rate, I’ll never need to search for materials again.
While Ludwig had instructed him to use the vault only when absolutely necessary, Se-Hoon wasn’t worried about that. He just couldn’t be reckless.
As long as the delivered product is top-notch, he won’t complain.
Wasting resources on failed experiments would be a cause for issue, but if they were turned into usable equipment or tools, there would be no issue. Knowing Ludwig, if those creations heightened Babel’s status, he wouldn’t mind in the slightest.
It’s all for the good of humanity, after all.
If this wasn’t “when necessary,” then what was? Eagerly checking the materials in the vault, Se-Hoon passed the time selecting items for his next forging sessions. And during that time, he began hearing rumors about the changes to the Tower of Heroes.
“I heard the Tower now offers choices.”
A week after the restructuring, rumors about the appearance of branching paths in the Tower had spread around Babel.
“Choices?”
Se-Hoon frowned, looking at Jake, who was stretching his arms.
“They say the Tower presents two trials, and you can choose which to challenge. My cousin went in two days ago and experienced it firsthand.”
“What kind of trials?”
“One path involved scaling a cliff, and the other required cutting through a swamp. My cousin has a fear of heights, so he picked the latter.”
Though both trials shared the purpose of overcoming obstacles with the sword, they differed in structure and exact demands.
“So? What happened after the trial?”
“He said he felt somewhat different from usual, but there weren’t any visible changes. Even the medical check-up showed nothing unusual.”
“Hmm... Sounds vague.”
“It definitely is. The Heroes Association is investigating right now, but no one seems to know what’s going on.”
Shrugging, Jake looked as puzzled as Se-Hoon felt.
So the choices intersect in some way, Se-Hoon thought, narrowing his eyes as he contemplated over what he just heard.
What Se-Hoon originally envisioned was a system that analyzed the ascender’s synesthetic mindscapes and sent them down the more suitable path. Given that the two paths were built on entirely different foundations, he had assumed the Tower wouldn’t allow free movement between them.
But from Jake’s words, it seemed the system allowed the entrants to switch paths through choices, deeply intriguing him.
I won’t be sure until we hear multiple accounts of this, but... this is huge.
If the old system of the Tower of Heroes was strictly selective, there must have been people who tragically died because they weren’t matched to the right trial.
For instance, if one were to assume the Tower of Heroes to be ten-stories tall, someone could have reached the seventh floor but fell on the fifth due to misaligned trials, wasting their potential.
And if that person had the ability to clear the eighth to tenth floors, humanity might have lost a future Perfect One.
His thought was a bit of an exaggeration, but the possibility wasn’t zero. Thankfully, the recent restructuring seemed to address those issues, introducing a revolutionary change.
And if the number of paths keeps increasing...
The implications were staggering. Not was there a chance more Perfect Ones could emerge, but humanity’s collective strength could also reach a significant turning point.
Thinking of the wide array of possibilities, Se-Hoon quickly became lost in thought.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Instinctively conjuring White Light with Celestial Infinity Blade, Se-Hoon reflexively deflected the crimson sword flying straight toward his head and awoke from his thoughts.
He then looked over to see Kwang-Soo frowning at him.
“The evaluation exam is coming up, yet your head’s still full of nonsense? Focus.”
“My apologies.”
“Enough. Both of you, step up.”
Seeing Kwang-Soo head to the sparring platform, Se-Hoon shelved his thoughts and followed with Jake.
“Starting today, we’re increasing the number to twenty. Stay sharp.”
Shing-
A serene sound resonated as Kwang-Soo summoned his blade, Blue Chime. It was now a familiar sound to Se-Hoon and Jake, who had grown accustomed to facing the blue sword during relentless sparring sessions over the past few weeks.
Like clockwork, Jake drew his Windchaser Sword and controlled six floating blades around him, while Se-Hoon manifested his three swords—White Light, Golden Origin, and Violet Halo.
Then, once Kwang-Soo saw their preparations to charge were complete, he gave a simple command: “Begin.”
Forty manifestations of Blue Chimes rained down like a storm.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sword auras of Blue Chime, which fiercely surrounded the two, split into two even groups. They looked like schools of living fish, encircling them and attacking from all directions.
In front, behind, above, and below—every possible angle was covered by the swords. The onslaught of attacks was more than just coordinated; it was an unreasonable barrage, unlike anything one could experience in normal training.
“Ugh...!”
Clang!
When Jake blocked attacks from the front, three more came from behind. And once he blocked those three, nine more poured down from above and below.
Jake had never experienced such a relentless chain while sparring with other students. He couldn’t think of a way to fend it off with just two hands, so Jake gritted his teeth and moved his wind swords to intercept the strikes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The six wind swords of Windchaser that he controlled methodically deflected the attacks coming from his blind spots. Initially, even ten swords had been an ordeal to handle with his six, but now he had improved enough to handle twenty attacking at once. But...
This won’t do.
The end goal of the sparring session wasn’t to hold his ground. He had to break through the storm of swords and approach Kwang-Soo at the end of the training ground. If Jake stayed in place and only defended, that would never be achieved.
Determined to move forward, Jake intensified his focus on controlling his swords while beginning to take slow, deliberate steps.
Thunk!
Even the slightest delay in reaction allowed the Blue Chime sword auras to slip through, forcing Jake to deflect them at a dangerously close range. And every time his stance faltered, it disrupted his rhythm, causing him to lose ground again.
Three months had passed since Jake began using the Windchaser Sword, but controlling the wind blades wasn’t getting any easier—in fact, it was becoming even more difficult.
The more I learn, the harder it gets...
All he could do at first was to launch the wind swords forward or use them to block. But now, he had learned to mimic basic swordsmanship with them, broadening their offensive and defensive capabilities.
However, while that had indeed increased his range of options, it also introduced more complexity. He had to control the movements of the six wind swords while making sure they didn’t clash with one another, all while anticipating follow-up attacks.
On top of that, he even had to move his own body in coordination, which made even a slow walk feel as exhausting as an all-out sprint.
How does Professor manage forty at once?
If Kwang-Soo had a unique skill specifically for controlling the swords, Jake could understand. But as far as he knew, Kwang-Soo didn’t possess any such skill. In other words, everything Kwang-Soo had achieved was purely the result of his own mastery.
For Jake, it was a truth almost impossible to believe.
Clang!
“Ugh?!”
Having momentarily lost focus, Jake allowed one of the flying swords to slip through, nearly hitting him before he barely deflected it at the last second.
Seeing that, Kwang-Soo spoke in a calm, composed voice from the end of the sparring ground. “Stop overthinking and focus.”
“Y—yes, sir!”
As Jake refocused, Kwang-Soo shifted his gaze to the side.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Unlike Jake, who had managed a few steps forward, Se-Hoon hadn’t moved a single step. On the surface, that made him appear less skilled, especially considering he was controlling only three swords. However, reality was quite different.
Clang!
While White Light emitted a sharp sword aura that cleaved through its targets, Golden Origin crushed the incoming swords with overwhelming density. Meanwhile, Violet Halosuppressed the mana flow around, dulling the movements of the Blue Chime manifestations. Unlike with Jake, if Kwang-Soo had even the slightest lapse in focus, the Blue Chime swords would be left vulnerable to being destroyed.
This brat.... He’s gotten better.
Kwang-Soo’s unique technique, Celestial Infinity Blade, wasn’t simply about controlling multiple swords. Its true strength lay in utilizing the unique properties of each sword. That was why, rather than increasing the number of swords under his control, Se-Hoon was focusing on maximizing each of their unique traits, deliberately aiming to counter Kwang-Soo’s swords.
I’m sure I didn’t teach him any of this... so how is that possible?
Kwang-Soo briefly wondered if, in a drunken stupor before quitting alcohol, he had accidentally revealed the secrets of the Celestial Infinity Blade to Se-Hoon. However, he rapidly dismissed the thought. He was certain he had never shared such knowledge.
Aside from that... his style of combat is starting to change as well.
At first, Se-Hoon’s technique seemed like pure mimicry of Kwang-Soo’s style. But at some point, it had begun subtly changing.
They were still minor for now, but knowing who lay at the end of that path, Kwang-Soo couldn’t just ignore them.
Doppelganger...
Se-Hoon not only possessed talents similar to his archnemesis, but he also appeared to be following the exact same path. The thought brought a surge of unpleasant memories, making Kwang-Soo frown and lose focus briefly.
Now!
Boom!
Se-Hoon launched himself forward with explosive speed, not missing the opening
“?!”
Caught off guard, Kwang-Soo quickly resonated his swords, moving them to intercept.
Buzz!
The twenty Blue Chime sword auras resonated together, their movements faster and heavier than before. However, it was as if Se-Hoon had predicted Kwang-Soo’s response. With just three swords, he deflected every attack and closed the distance.
Then, just as Se-Hoon reached out to close the remaining gap—
“You’re still far from it.”
A voice he didn’t want to remember echoed in Kwang-Soo’s mind, prompting his body to move on its own.
BOOM!
A devastating slash tore through the sparring ground, shattering the barrier and splitting the floor in two.
“...!”
His face twisted in rage, Kwang-Soo resembled someone facing their sworn enemy. Immediately after, however, he realized what he had done and his expression froze and he hurriedly looked toward Se-Hoon.
Standing next to the gash on the floor, Se-Hoon remained unharmed, the crimson blade missing him by a hair’s breadth. But while it appeared Kwang-Soo had deliberately shifted his attack, the truth was different.
Se-Hoon had used his three swords to deflect the attack at just the right angle.
If he hadn’t blocked it...
The strike, aimed at Se-Hoon’s head, would have killed him instantly. Kwang-Soo still didn’t know why he had reacted in such a way, but regardless, it was a mistake he couldn’t easily brush aside.
Just as he was about to apologize, however, he felt something on his shoulder.
Tap, tap.
“Got you. That was the deal, right?” Se-Hoon asked, patting his shoulder.
“What? That’s not—”
“You seem tired, Professor. Let’s call it a day here. Jake, let’s go shower.”
“...Oh, yeah. Sure.”
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Jake nodded discreetly and headed to the locker room first.
Only once he had disappeared did Se-Hoon remove his hand from Kwang-Soo’s shoulder.
“Professor, you know you were acting weird just now, right?”
“...I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I anticipated and acted accordingly.”
Se-Hoon had only been able to break through Kwang-Soo’s offensive earlier because he understood the movements of Blue Chime and because he had used the power of Perception. By accurately observing and seizing the optimal moment to break through, he had capitalized on the best scenario.
“What... oh, did you use the power of Perception?”
“Yes. While assessing the situation, I noticed a possibility where you might try to kill me. I wondered why, so I tested it.”
“...”
Kwang-Soo stared at Se-Hoon, his face blank with astonishment.
Se-Hoon had foreseen the possibility of someone attempting to kill him, yet had charged straight in instead of avoiding? It was done without hesitation at that, leaving Kwang-Soo utterly dumbfounded.
“But if you’d been hurt...”
“I was sure I wouldn’t, so I went for it. More importantly, why did you act that way just now?”
Se-Hoon had been thinking Doppelganger manipulated Kwang-Soo’s psyche, but upon closer inspection, that seemed unlikely.
Hesitating to say, Kwang-Soo momentarily remained silent before sighing deeply and responding. “Memories of fighting Doppelganger resurfaced and confused me.”
“Hallucinations and auditory illusions... that’s not a good sign.”
Even for ordinary people, hallucinations and auditory illusions were troubling. And when it came to heroes, they were especially dangerous. If not caused by external interference, it suggested a deeper psychological issue—possibly something wrong with their psyche or synesthetic mindscape itself.
“I think you should take a break for a while.”
“...I understand. I’ll inform Ludwig.”
Making a bitter expression, Kwang-Soo left the training room, watched by Se-Hoon with a troubled expression.
...Losing to the Doppelganger must have left a deep scar.
If it had been a brief encounter, Kwang-Soo might have brushed it off as bad luck. But during the extermination operation, he had been pushed to the brink of death, leaving him no choice but to confront his shortcomings.
Before his regression, Kwang-Soo had often drowned his sorrows in alcohol while lamenting his lack of skill, so the impact must have been significant.
For now, it’s better to wait. I should ask him about this after the exams.
Thinking Kwang-Soo would be more open to accepting help, given his current state of vulnerability and self-awareness of his flaws, Se-Hoon headed toward the locker room.
Vrr-
Suddenly, his phone vibrated, drawing his attention to the screen.
He saw a message from Babel had arrived: Second Semester Evaluation Exam Schedule.
“Right on time.”
Just like the first semester’s special exam, entering the Tower of Heroes would be a given. What remained were the other tests.
Curious, Se-Hoon checked the schedule.
Babel: Second Semester Evaluation Exam Schedule Monday - Physical Examination (1) Tuesday - Physical Examination (2) Wednesday - Physical Examination (3) Thursday - Final Assessment
“...”
The dull and uninspired schedule left him with a sour face.