Became a Mechromancer - Chapter 119

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 119.
Invasive Species
Arlington, Virginia, USA.
Pentagon Strategic Conference Room.
Whirr.
The automatic door slid open as US Secretary of Defense Liam entered. Deep furrows creased his brow.
David, director of the US Hunter Management Bureau, offered a greeting.
“You’ve arrived.”
“…Yes.”
“What did the White House say?”
Thud.
Liam collapsed into a chair instead of answering, then released a long, weary sigh.
“My son’s been acting like he’s president—I thought the Oval Office had changed hands.”
“…It was that severe?”
….
Liam drummed his fingers silently on the table before finally speaking.
“The companies he invested in are entangled with Chinese resources. But once the Yantai Abyss situation unraveled, his calculations fell apart.”
“…So that’s why he was demanding resources so brazenly.”
“He was absolutely unhinged. If the President hadn’t been there, I would’ve crushed his skull right then and there.”
Liam spoke tersely.
“A man possessed by greed.”
David pressed his lips together and averted his gaze.
Just then, the conference room door opened and staff members entered. Jacob was among them.
Liam straightened in his seat.
“Let’s begin.”
Moments later.
Hum.
A massive hologram materialized above the table’s center.
Images of Chinese Hunters gathered near the Yantai Abyss appeared first, followed by reports detailing the bizarre acts Ghost had committed.
Liam opened his mouth.
“The White House’s message is simple: the fact that Ghost is an alternative to the Abyss hasn’t changed, but they don’t want his power extending into diplomatic territory.”
David crossed his arms.
“This incident has crossed that line.”
“Exactly. There’s no guarantee we won’t suffer the same treatment Ghost inflicted on China.”
“Then we should first narrow down those suspected of being Ghost.”
“Agreed.”
David spoke up.
“We should request the Awakeners database from the Korean Hunter Management Bureau.”
“Will they hand it over willingly?”
“Well, if that’s the case….”
David trailed off, his gaze fixed on Jacob.
Jacob twisted one corner of his mouth upward.
‘The messy work falls to me, then.’
Liam observed Jacob, grasped the implication, and cleared his throat before steering the conversation elsewhere.
“What became of that problematic satellite?”
David exchanged a meaningful glance with Jacob.
Jacob turned his head toward the waiting room door.
“They’re standing by as we speak.”
Whirrrr.
The waiting room door slid open, and a man stepped inside.
Distinctly, two pairs of arms extended from both shoulders—a man whose body, save for his head, had been almost entirely replaced by machinery.
He was none other than Gerald Fox, Deputy Director of the NASA Science Mission Directorate.
Gerald took his seat.
“We’ve made preparations, though there are still some inadequacies….”
“We’ll account for that. Go ahead and brief us.”
“Ah, yes.”
Fox’s fingers swept through the air, and an unidentifiable object materialized in the center of the conference room.
The assembled officials exchanged puzzled glances.
“…What is that?”
Fox answered.
“We believe it to be a satellite designed for hijacking Ghost’s relay and broadcast networks.”
Its form was markedly different from anything they’d encountered thus far.
David’s brow furrowed.
“For a satellite, its shape is rather peculiar. That large ring-like structure—that must be the hijacking antenna, yes?”
“That’s our working hypothesis as well. The external design is certainly unusual, but what’s truly remarkable is….”
Fox trailed off and began moving all four hands. As his fingers danced, Earth materialized behind the satellite in the hologram. Red observation points appeared in sequence.
He commenced his explanation.
“Initially, it was detected above South Korean airspace. Then, at some point, it appeared above Chiko Island. And it doesn’t move on any fixed schedule—it moves erratically.”
The satellite’s predicted orbital path was traced.
Yet its actual trajectory deviated significantly from that calculated orbit.
David tilted his head.
“Quite right. This looks less like a satellite and more like a moving vessel.”
“Precisely observed. And the truly astonishing part comes next.”
With those words, the satellite in the hologram vanished.
A moment passed.
The same satellite reappeared at an entirely different location.
“It disappeared from our observation network as if it had teleported, then reappeared at an entirely unexpected position.”
Liam’s brow deepened with creases.
“Teleported?”
“Yes. The object traveled an enormous distance in an instant, yet there’s no propulsion signature. The communication signals don’t match any transmission method we recognize either.”
“You’re telling me a communications satellite isn’t transmitting any signal?”
“It makes no sense, but that’s the situation we’re facing.”
A brief silence fell over the room.
Gerald Fox spoke again, his expression brightening slightly.
“To be frank, it doesn’t look like anything from this world.”
As the conference room quieted, Gerald Fox seized the moment to speak.
“Which is why I propose we capture it rather than shoot it down. If we could just open it up and examine it directly, the technological intelligence we could obtain….”
“Doctor Fox.”
Liam cut him off.
He looked at the doctor and clicked his tongue.
Tsk.
“This is why scientists are like this.”
“…!”
“I understand your admirable spirit of inquiry.”
Liam gestured toward the satellite in the hologram.
“But if your greed leads us to bungle a capture attempt and Ghost decides to turn on us because of it, what then?”
Gerald Fox had no response.
“As a scientist, you know better than anyone what happens when a meteorite falls on the White House.”
“….”
Separate from that concern.
‘If Ghost dropped a small asteroid on the president’s son’s head, I’d have no complaints.’
Liam swallowed the thought and tapped his finger on the table.
“Don’t touch it until we have a foolproof plan.”
“…Understood.”
“Whether it’s curiosity or inquiry, if you move on that basis, I’ll tear off all four of your mechanical arms myself.”
Gerald Fox’s four mechanical arms drooped limply at his sides.
Then David unfolded his arms and asked.
“Doctor, I hear you’ve narrowed down the candidates capable of launching such a satellite?”
Gerald Fox flicked his fingers.
Several names appeared above the hologram.
“We’re currently investigating promising tech companies and space contractors.”
David pointed to one name first.
“Choi Tae-jin of Sanin Heavy Industries.”
At the mention of the name, Jacob’s artificial eye flickered briefly.
David continued.
“SSP prosthetics, premium androids, and full-brain bodies—his company produces them. If Ghost hijacked the broadcast network, there aren’t many corporations with the equipment and computational resources to manage that.”
David pulled up academic conference records on one side of the hologram.
“Moreover, Choi Tae-jin has openly discussed methods for private companies to launch satellites at past academic conferences.”
Liam nodded slowly.
“Suspicious, indeed.”
Gerald Fox pulled up the next name.
A hologram displayed the face of a cunning-looking elderly man.
David narrowed his brow.
“…Ellen Baker? Why is this old man coming up?”
“As you know, he’s the founder of Stasis. This angle has merit too.”
“Didn’t this guy go to Mars?”
David let out a hollow laugh.
“He was famous for it back then. Something like ‘Fucking Abyss, see you never’? Then he departed for Mars.”
Gerald Fox continued cautiously.
“It’s true he launched toward Mars. However, there are rumors he returned via a small spacecraft partway through.”
A brief silence.
David’s brow furrowed.
“…You’re not suggesting this man is Ghost’s benefactor?”
“I can’t say for certain, but if he planned this knowing Mars terraforming was impossible, and given his technological capabilities….”
Liam’s eyebrows twitched at Gerald Fox’s unexpected conjecture.
“So he pooled all the investors’ money, went to space, then snuck back? And created that hijacking satellite?”
Gerald Fox nodded.
David let out a hollow laugh.
“Ellen’s not exactly sane, but would he really go that far?”
“Ellen Baker posted on his SNS at the time that he would develop a warp drive.”
In other words, it seemed Ghost’s satellite wasn’t entirely unconnected.
Eventually, David looked at Ellen Baker in the hologram and continued.
“Then let’s investigate Ellen Baker’s movements as well.”
Just as the lengthy meeting was wrapping up.
David turned to Jacob.
“By the way, what about Blood Soo?”
Jacob answered.
“Seems like he’s already backed off.”
Liam regarded Jacob for a moment, then muttered inwardly.
That kid.
‘Different from his father. No persistence.’
* * *
Whirr.
The Awakeners Registration Office door slid open as Susan stepped out.
‘After the US government’s failed attempt to scout Ghost and the commotion that followed, I’d half given up.’
“I didn’t expect permanent residency to come through.”
My extended stay in Korea, aside from the contract killings, apparently helped.
‘I paid taxes too.’
Hmm….
“Did her fluent Korean help smooth things along?”
Thanks to that, she breezed through the Hunter Management Bureau and completed the Awakener registration process without a hitch.
The moment she put on her smart glasses, a holographic certificate materialized before her eyes.
『Awakener Registration Certificate (Foreign National)
Name: Susan Borza
420814-6××××××
Registration Date: 2070. 01. ××』
Wow.
‘This is kind of amazing?’
It almost felt like I’d become Korean.
Just as she was humming contentedly to herself.
“Wow. She looks like a doll.”
“Is she an android?”
“Right? How can she be that beautiful?”
“My goodness, what’s with the silver hair?”
Voices drifted from those around her.
Susan felt her face flush with heat.
Silver hair and a doll-like appearance.
Words that had always followed her around.
She tapped lightly on the frame of her smart glasses.
Whoosh.
A cat-faced holographic mask covered her face.
As the stares from passersby faded, she shook her head.
‘That’s better.’
“I’m not some zoo monkey on display.”
Muttering to herself, she took a step before coming to an abrupt halt.
“Reboot Center?”
A nearby information android approached her.
“How may I assist you?”
Susan gestured with her chin toward the Reboot Center.
“What kind of place is that?”
“It’s a facility that handles inspection and repair of Awakener equipment and items, as well as maintenance for androids affiliated with the Hunter Management Bureau.”
“Androids too?”
“Yes. Our technician is exceptionally skilled.”
Hmm.
‘Interesting.’
An item craftsman who also works on androids.
Suddenly, one person came to mind.
Copycat.
‘Now that I think about it, wasn’t that where I first saw them? In the alley next to the Workshop in Yeouido?’
Was that the reason?
Jacob’s words drifted through my mind.
「Copycat is among those candidates, after all.」
Why does it bother me….
I shook my head.
I brushed away the intrusive thoughts.
Tsk.
‘I should take another commission quickly. I shouldn’t have listened to that unnecessary talk.’
She pulled a fork from her pocket and showed it to me.
“This is made of mithril. Could you trim the edges a bit?”
“It’s almost lunchtime, so if you could register the request first….”
“No, never mind.”
With that answer, Susan glanced at the Reboot Center door.
She had no intention of waiting.
Besides, today was rather special.
‘I should go to the market and get some tteokbokki and fried snacks.’
The moment she turned around.
Whoosh.
The Reboot Center door opened.
“What are you eating today, Lim?”
“We’ll see when we get there.”
“Hey, I’m thinking Chinese today.”
“Then I’ll have Chinese too.”
“Okay, we’re on the same page.”
“What, am I the only one having Western food?”
“Don’t you eat Western food every day, Manager?”
Giggle, haha.
As Doo-ho walked toward the cafeteria with his colleagues, I spotted a woman heading toward the main entrance.
Hmm?
‘What? That gait seems familiar….’
Then Ham Manager called out to me.
“Lim, we’re leaving you behind.”
“Oh, yes. I’m coming.”
I quickly caught up with my colleagues.
Then Ham Manager asked.
“Was it around 2 PM that Dr. Yu So-young was supposed to arrive?”
“Oh, yes… I mentioned I’d go for a mid-term checkup tomorrow, but she insisted on coming today instead.”
Hearing that, Ham Manager smiled broadly.
“She’s curious about your work environment, so what can we do.”
“I apologize.”
“Oh, don’t apologize. The doctor just cares deeply for our Lim Doo-ho.”
Park Deputy interjected from beside him.
“Did you finish all the preparations for that mid-stage inspection?”
“Ah, I think I’ve implemented most of what the doctor mentioned.”
At my words, the two men gave thumbs up.
Calling me the ace of the Reboot Center, as expected.
* * *
Yu So-young toured the interior of the Reboot Center.
One would typically expect the smell of oil and noise from an Android repair facility, but this place was different.
She brought her finger to a nearby shelf.
Swipe.
Almost nothing came away on her fingertip.
My goodness, this is a workshop?
‘How is it this clean?’
Even the inspection equipment was state-of-the-art.
‘The Hunter Management Bureau really does take exceptional care of Lim Doo-ho.’
At a slight distance, Ham Manager and Park Deputy were watching carefully.
A mentor visiting her mentee’s work environment.
This was more than adequate.
Rather, it was impressively immaculate.
Thunk.
Then Lim Doo-ho opened the storage compartment beneath his workstation and set down an auxiliary frame.
A slight furrow appeared on Yu So-young’s brow.
‘What is this? It’s unchanged?’
The only difference was the small sensors affixed to various points on the frame.
‘Considerable time has passed—what has he been doing all this while?’
Hmm….
Perhaps he’s grown complacent from all the praise around him.
She decided to offer some candid criticism as his mentor.
“Lim Doo-ho.”
Then.
“Ah, yes. Doctor, I’m here.”
Yu So-young frowned as she looked at the item Lim Doo-ho extended toward her.
‘…Smart glasses?’
She accepted the smart glasses he offered somewhat bewilderedly.
Looking closer, the exterior finishing was still incomplete.
Hmm.
‘I told him to adjust the indicator orientation… and he actually implemented it?’
Yu So-young donned the auxiliary frame and then put on the smart glasses.
A circular holographic icon appeared in one corner of her vision.
『Initiating auxiliary frame assistant. Please provide your name.』
“Yu So-young.”
A soft voice responded immediately.
-Hello, Yu So-young. I am your auxiliary assistant.
Dr. Yu’s lips curved slightly upward.
‘Lim Doo-ho, this is unexpectedly entertaining.’
He even prepared something like this.
Soon a loading indicator appeared at the edge of my vision.
『Synchronizing with wearer….』
At that moment, Doo-ho spoke while observing the external hologram being mirrored.
“Doctor, I’ll make some adjustments here on my own.”
Dr. Yu nodded with a slightly relaxed expression.
“Go ahead.”
The display switched immediately.
Dr. Yu’s body was captured as a simple outline on the hologram.
Looking closely, dots were marked at the points where the auxiliary frame made contact.
Wait?
“Don’t tell me the sensors were for that purpose?”
“Ah, yes. This one is calibrated for natural use.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Doo-ho extended his hand toward the hologram and explained.
“I need to manually adjust it to match the full-body sensor positions.”
As Doo-ho shifted several positions, the misaligned dots found their proper places one by one.
Dr. Yu, watching intently, was astonished.
‘How is he pinpointing the full-body sensor locations so precisely?’
Lim Doo-ho handles androids well.
But full-body suits are entirely different.
Full-body suits have countless sensors embedded beneath artificial skin, with their signals directly connected to the entire nervous system.
That’s what makes them different from androids, which lack sensation.
Yet Lim Doo-ho was adjusting the calibration values without hesitation.
‘What is he trying to do anyway?’
Beep.
Doo-ho stepped back after adjusting to the final position.
“Done.”
At that moment, the loading completed.
『Wearer confirmation complete.』
The assistant’s voice from earlier returned.
-My goodness. You don’t need my help at all?
“What is this thing saying?”
Doo-ho laughed awkwardly.
“The doctor doesn’t need auxiliary frames.”
Ah.
Right.
Yu So-young immediately lowered her body’s output.
As I reduced my strength to natural levels, the auxiliary frame responded instantly.
Whirr.
『Strength decrease detected.』
-Don’t worry. I’ll assist you.
The missing strength flowed into her waist and knees.
‘What on earth is this?’
Yu So-young took a careful step forward.
Whirr.
『Stabilizing gait.』
I continued walking and lowered my output even further.
Then.
-My. Yu So-young, your strength is quite lacking. We’ll need to exercise together from now on.
Another message appeared.
『Strength dependency monitoring initiated.
※ During prolonged assistance, muscle usage will be automatically adjusted.』
In other words.
It would adjust to prevent the user’s muscles from weakening.
Ha….
Yu So-young nearly burst out laughing.
“This is amusing.”
Huh…?
Her eyes widened in an instant.
Wait.
‘I only asked him to display battery level and output strength, didn’t I?’
But.
‘What exactly did he create in such a short time?’
She looked at Lim Doo-ho with astonished eyes.
“Lim Doo-ho.”
“Yes?”
“Are you trying to bankrupt all the exoskeleton companies?”
It was an invasive species disrupting the ecosystem.
He had become a Mechromancer
Author |
Keongang E
Published |
February 25, 2026
Publisher |
Talesyx
Website |
https://talesyx.com
Email |
[email protected]
© Geongang E, 2026
This publication is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced or copied without permission.
UCI |
G720:N+A277-20260210015.0119

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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