Chapter 291

Words : 2743 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 291 “...” Sitting on a bench on one side of the central plaza with a slightly awkward expression, Se-Hoon glanced at his side. “Oh...” Next to him, Li Fei was taking in the view of the central plaza with sparkling eyes. With her head darting curiously in all directions and her legs swinging excitedly, it was clear she was enjoying herself. However, that sight made Se-Hoon raise an eyebrow. She should be around five right now... He was getting accustomed to people being younger than they were before the regression, but it was the first time he'd encountered someone like Li Fei, who had regressed all the way to early childhood. The gap between her current state and his last memory of her was utterly jarring, stirring up a lot of thoughts within him. Part of him felt disappointed that she no longer offered much anymore in terms of actual strength, while another part of him felt uneasy about the amount of influence he could possibly exert on her now. The latter even almost made him feel like carrying around a ticking time bomb was better, but unfortunately, he had no choice. It’s too late now. Given the situation, he figured the best approach would be to just make a good impression on her in hopes of her aiding in persuading Li Kenxie later. Settling his thoughts, Se-Hoon quickly devised a plan before softening his expression as much as he could. “Is there anywhere you'd like to go?” At his question, Li Fei, who had been absorbed in her surroundings, turned to look at him. Then, after staring at him for a moment, she called out, “Fake Grandpa.” “Hm?” “Why does your face look so weird?” “...” Her question hit deeper than any insult. Needing a moment to recover, Se-Hoon then somehow managed to ask back, “What about it looks weird?” “Um... it seems like a cracked vase someone haphazardly tried to fix.” Her answer didn’t make him feel any better, but it allowed Se-Hoon to figure out quickly what she was pointing out. Acting immediately, he let go of his contrived expression, letting his natural sharp gaze return. “How about now?” Observing him again, Li Fei nodded happily. “Yup! It looks fine now.” It turned out that she wasn’t taking note of his facial expressions but rather reading his emotions themselves. She was more perceptive than he’d initially thought, making Se-Hoon more interested in her. “So, is there anywhere you’d like to visit?” “Um...” Pondering thoughtfully for a moment, Li Fei then answered, “Wherever Fake Grandpa wants to go.” “Where I want to go? Why?” Considering the two of them were touring Babel at her request, it was only natural that they would go where she desired. Worried that she was being overly conscious of him, Se-Hoon watched her curiously, waiting for a response. “I just think I’ll have fun wherever we go. So it’s best if we go somewhere where you would also find it interesting,” Li Fei explained, her voice steady. “That’s... not wrong.” It wasn’t that she was interested in visiting a specific place; she simply wanted to explore Babel, which was completely new to her. For that purpose, anywhere would be fine, and it was only natural to hope the person accompanying her would also enjoy it. It was such a logical and considerate response that it drew a small smile from Se-Hoon. Funny how a five-year-old is more thoughtful than those three... Mulling over whether he should admire Li Fei or scold the Three Dogs, he slowly rose from the bench and looked at her. “Alright, then let’s go where I want to go.” “Okay!” Ready to go, Li Fei hopped off the bench enthusiastically, but before they started making their way, Se-Hoon briefly paused. Should we just walk there? Though she was overly intelligent for her age, she was still a five-year-old, and as she was Li Kenxie’s granddaughter as well, he felt he should be mindful. So, after hesitating for a second, Se-Hoon asked cheerfully, “Would you like to go there with a safety rope, holding hands, or by piggyback?” “Hmm... safety rope!” Not deterred from trying out new experiences, she chose the most unfamiliar option with a curious look. “Alright, safety rope it is.” Smoothly, a shadow-like rope extended from his left hand and wrapped around Li Fei’s upper body, fastening around her like a belt. It looked a bit unusual, but since she seemed pleased, he didn’t dwell on it. With safety assured, he pointed ahead. “Okay, let’s get going.” “Let’s go!” Crossing the plaza together, the two headed to the station, intending to take the light rail to a different area. “Isn’t that Lee Se-Hoon?” “Looks like it... but who's that kid next to him?” “Wait, could she be...?” Though Se-Hoon was used to being noticed when walking around Babel, people’s reactions were especially strong today, likely because of Li Fei. Judging by the way they’re staring, I bet some weird rumors are going to start again. Such rumors could get annoying at times, but he still decided to ignore them. He had people that would handle any problematic rumors before they could go out of control, and he knew that in time, people would eventually learn about Li Kenxie and Li Fei's visit which would also help clarify things. And that’ll naturally link me with that old man. At that thought, he began musing over how Offering would respond to the news of him being affiliated with the Sacred Craftsman, and soon, the scenery outside the train began changing. Towering buildings packed together soared into the sky, black mist spreading out throughout the gaps between them. It was the middle of the day, but thanks to the fog and the darkness mana from the Netherworld, the area looked eerie. So this is Gehenna. They had officially entered Babel’s new Special District, which was managed by the UD Group. It was Se-Hoon’s first time seeing it in person, having only seen it in the videos during the opening ceremony. And just like Se-Hoon, who was taking in the sight with interest, Li Fei was also looking around in wonder, standing on tiptoes. “Ooh...” As she gazed excitedly out the window, the train arrived at the station and the doors slid open. “Welcome to Gehenna.” A skeletal station worker, impeccably dressed and ready to assist passengers, greeted them as they disembarked the train. Like the other passengers, who all looked at the worker in amazement, Li Fei also seemed intrigued. “Is it common for the undead to work like this in the outside world?” “Not really; they only work like this here. The undead usually aren't tasked with handling mundane chores like this because of the mana and concentration required to keep them moving.” In Gehenna, however, the black mist blanketing the city streets supported the undead, providing the darkness mana needed to sustain them. It’s probably only Wurgen who can pull something like this off. Marveling at the setup, Se-Hoon stepped out onto the streets with Li Fei and began to explore Gehenna with her. “Welcome!” “Oh, if you’re looking for that building, just head that way.” The streets were filled with undead mingling freely with the living, with some taking on specific tasks like the skeletal station worker they previously met. It formed a strange yet peaceful scene that was both unsettling and intriguing. Looks like Wurgen really went out of his way. Even the UD Group’s headquarters didn’t use the undead to such an extent outside of night shifts. It was almost as if Wurgen was testing whether the undead could act as human replacements for an entire city. “Huff... Huff...” Hearing someone panting lightly, he turned to find out that it was Li Fei. I guess she’s tired. Though strong for a five-year-old, she still had her limits. Looking around for a place to rest, he guided her to a convenience store with tables. “Let’s rest here for a bit. Go and pick anything you want to eat.” “Okay!” The two wandered around the store choosing snacks and drinks, and when they finished, they sat down at a table to enjoy their choices. “Ooh... ooh...” Trying each snack, Li Fei was captivated by each one. And when she tried soda, her eyes practically lit up like fireworks, making Se-Hoon chuckle. She’s having a blast. Others might think she was overreacting too much, but having grown up with only her grandfather in the mountains, Li Fei hadn’t experienced anything like it before. Her excitement was only natural. Because of that, Se-Hoon let Li Fei relish in her current happiness, only glancing occasionally at her joyful expressions. But then she shifted her gaze outside all of a sudden, drawing his curiosity. “...” People passing by kept glancing at the convenience store, their eyes inevitably landing on Se-Hoon, seated near the window. “Why is everyone looking at you, Fake Grandpa?” “Hm? Ah, it's because I’m famous,” he replied nonchalantly. Pondering over his answer, Li Fei then asked, “How famous are you?” “Well, maybe not as much as your grandfather... but pretty close, I’d say.” With his current level of notoriety, even if people didn’t recognize his face, they would likely have heard of his name at least once. “Do you think if I become famous, people will look at me like that, too?” Her eyes were full of curiosity. “Of course. You will probably become as famous as me when you grow up.” With her identity as the grandchild of a Perfect One and her innate talent, it was certain she would draw attention whether she wanted it or not. Currently, she was young and kept a low profile, but it wouldn’t be long before she became as renowned as the Li Fei he’d known before the regression. “Hmm...” However, contrary to his expectations, Li Fei’s expression shifted to something mixed, showing neither pleasure nor displeasure. It was a bit surprising to Se-Hoon, who knew her as someone who hadn’t disliked attention even if she didn’t particularly seek it. Well, I did meet her when she was in her twenties... Perhaps she had a completely different personality at her current age. Curious, he asked, “Do you dislike the idea of being famous?” “I don’t dislike it... but I’m not sure if I should say I like it,” she denied, shaking her head. “Why’s that?" She hesitated, remaining silent. Then, after a moment, she cautiously replied, “Because... it would mean getting closer to people...” There was clear worry in her voice, making Se-Hoon narrow his eyes. Did that old man say something weird to her again? If she simply disliked interacting with people, she’d probably be uncomfortable even accompanying him here. But since she hadn’t shown any signs of such discomfort, it was likely something specific that Li Kenxie had said or implied that troubled her. This smells fishy. In the first place, it was certain Li Kenxie hadn’t taken her from her parents for no reason. But while he was curious about her backstory, he held off on asking for now. I shouldn't pry too much yet. They were just starting to get along, so he didn’t want to risk raising her guard. Deciding to change the subject smoothly, he asked, “Are you going to keep calling me ‘fake Grandpa’?” “Ah... it’s just that...” Trailing off, Li Fei fidgeted a bit before quietly saying, “I’m not sure what to call you.” She’d spent her life only with her grandfather, so addressing someone else or interacting with them was unfamiliar. But he knew that, so Se-Hoon offered a simple solution. “Then call me Uncle.” He was too young to be called “Mister,” but “Uncle” had a nice balance, and it was what she used to call him before he regressed. “Uncle...” Li Fei repeated, nodding her head. “Okay, I’ll call you that from now.” “Good. Where should we go now? Is there anything specific you’ve wanted to see?” Prompted by the question, Li Fei fell into deep thought. And not long later, it seemed an idea had sparked, as her eyes had lit up. “I want to see a fight!” “...A fight?” “Yeah, like where people use magic to do this and that!” Demonstrating, she made punching motions in the air, causing Se-Hoon to give her a reluctant look. She wants to see a sparring session, huh... In the current era, it was common for even young children to hear stories of heroes and grow familiar with violence, but he still thought it would be a bit inappropriate to show it to someone so young as her. And since he wasn’t sure how Li Kenxie would react, that was especially the case. So, he would find out more before anything else. “Has your grandfather shown you any fights before?” “Yeah, he said I need to understand how weapons are used, so he sometimes showed me videos of people fighting monsters.” Taken aback, Se-Hoon paused before asking, “And... there was no blood?” “How could there not be blood in a fight?” The look she gave him, as if he were asking something ridiculous, made him rub his temples unconsciously. That crazy old man... How could he show a video of an unfiltered battle to his own five-year-old granddaughter? Struggling to process the answer that exceeded his expectations, he gave in and replied, “Alright, let’s go see a fight.” “Yay!” The sight of Li Fei being thrilled at the thought of seeing blood opened up Se-Hoon’s eyes to a darker side of her that he hadn’t known before the regression. If I can’t avoid showing a fight to her, I’ll at least show her another side of combat. If she found the thrill of battle exciting without necessarily needing to see blood, it might help keep things under control. With that thought in mind, he moved on to picking the suitable location and opponents. Hm... those guys should do just fine. Smiling slyly, he pulled out his phone. *** Valhalla, one of Gehenna’s core facilities, was a massive training and research complex designed for battles against various undead. It boasted an enormous size, ten times that of a regular gymnasium, with fifteen floors filled with different types of training arenas, each tailored to different needs. And currently, on the thirteenth floor, three individuals stood apart from each other, waiting. “...” “...” “...” Luize was frowning as she looked at her phone, Sung-Ha was standing with his arms crossed, and Amir was scrolling through his tablet. Ten minutes had passed since they’d gathered, yet not a word had been exchanged since their initial greetings. However, none of them seemed to find the silence uncomfortable; in fact, it felt strangely natural to them. But soon enough, that unending silence was finally broken. Clack! Hearing the door opened, the three looked up simultaneously to see two new figures enter. “Oh, wow. Everyone’s here early,” Se-Hoon remarked casually. But his remark just made Luize shoot him a sharp look. “Since you were the one who called us, shouldn’t you be the one to be waiting here for—huh?” She cut off her scolding as her gaze shifted downward, having noticed the tiny figure hiding behind Se-Hoon. Who’s that? To her knowledge, Se-Hoon didn’t have any relatives, so who could the child be? And after a moment of deliberation, Luize arrived at a possibility. Could it be... his daughter? Who else would stick so close to such an intense, unfriendly man? Meanwhile, as Luize pondered over the idea seriously, Sung-Ha opened his mouth. “So, why did you call us here?” “I’m quite busy nowadays, so please get to the point,” Amir added. Nodding in agreement, Se-Hoon got straight to the point. “It’s nothing big. I just wanted to ask you guys for a favor.” Sung-Ha and Amir exchanged curious glances, wondering what he could possibly need from them. “I want you guys to fight me. All three of you.”

Chapter 291

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