Became a Mechromancer - Chapter 24

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

Chapter 24.
Fruition (1)
6 PM.
After clocking out from the Hunter Management Bureau, Doo-ho used a save point to slip into an alley near the Moru Workshop.
Though I’d already achieved my objective, Jang Moon-seo’s proposal had led me to take on work at the workshop.
An extraordinary opportunity to learn item crafting techniques.
Moreover, Jang Moon-seo was a properly awakened production-type Hunter.
‘If my stamina runs low, I can rest at the garage.’
I pushed open the workshop’s middle gate.
Hot air enveloped my face.
“I’m here!”
Jang Moon-seo lifted his head from the workbench.
“You’re clocking out at what time to arrive this early?”
Doo-ho changed into his work clothes.
“I came early to have dinner with you, boss.”
“Now that you mention it, it’s dinner time.”
“How about soft tofu rice bowl?”
“Sounds good.”
After placing the food order, Doo-ho approached the workbench.
“What should we do while waiting for delivery?”
“Help me cut some monster hide.”
Drake Runner leather was spread across the workbench.
Doo-ho released nanobots from his fingertips, cutting with meticulous precision.
Slice—
A clean, neat cut surface.
Jang Moon-seo’s expression grew satisfied.
Chuckle.
“You’re better than me now.”
Doo-ho scratched his head.
“You’re too kind.”
“I’m not flattering. With your skill, you won’t fall short anywhere.”
Just then, the door opened.
A Hunter stepped inside.
“Boss, could you repair these gloves for me?”
“Why don’t you just buy a new pair?”
“Come on, not again. If I just patch this spot, I can use them a few more times.”
As the Hunter joked around, Jang Moon-seo turned his head toward Doo-ho.
“You give it a try.”
After finishing the cutting, Doo-ho accepted the gloves.
I examined the torn section and found leather of the same material to patch and stitch it back together.
The hunter who tried on the gloves broke into a wide smile.
Oh, what’s this?
“It’s even sturdier than new! Master, you could retire now.”
“Damn brat.”
As the hunter left laughing, Jang Moon-seo added a comment.
“That guy might look like that, but he’s a veteran guide who can find his way through the Abyss up to the 30th floor with his eyes closed.”
“Ah! The 30th floor… that’s impressive.”
Working in the workshop had the advantage of naturally picking up such premium information.
That was when it happened.
“Meal service~!”
Almost simultaneously with the door opening, a nimble-looking young man moved like an afterimage.
Pap-pap-pat!
Two bowls of soft tofu stew with rice and side dishes were set on the table in an instant.
“Enjoy your meal!”
Whoosh—.
The young man disappeared like the wind.
‘Using a Wind Runner skill just for food delivery.’
Truly a city of hunters.
It was a quintessential Yeouido sight.
The two of us stopped working and had dinner.
And it was almost finished when it happened.
Creak—.
The workshop door opened again.
“Master, could you repair this armor for me?”
What?!
Lim Doo-ho’s expression hardened as he saw the visitor’s face.
The man was none other than Han San-ho.
He was the person who had come with the rescue team when Lim Doo-ho awakened in the Abyss Rift.
Han San-ho watched Lim Doo-ho clearing the dishes.
“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before….”
Jang Moon-seo answered.
“He’s been helping me out lately.”
“Ah, I see.”
Lim Doo-ho glanced at Han San-ho.
‘It seems he doesn’t recognize me.’
-Insufficient talent for world conquest. That goldfish-brained fool!
-A dimwit like that would probably find it easier just to follow our robot’s orders.
‘Shut up. Just do your jobs.’
It had likely been quite some time since the Bundang Rift incident, so Han San-ho wouldn’t recognize Lim Doo-ho.
Han San-ho asked.
“You seem like an Awakened One, but you don’t enter the Abyss?”
As Lim Doo-ho hesitated, Jang Moon-seo spoke bluntly.
“Really now, pestering someone else’s valued employee with questions.”
“Ah, so you’re a Production-type Awakened One.”
Han San-ho chuckled and handed Lim Doo-ho his business card.
“I’m Han San-ho, Guild Master of the Han San Guild. You seem like the successor to an elder, so I’m looking forward to working with you going forward. It’d be nice if you could give us a discount.”
“If we go any lower, we’ll be eating dirt!”
“Ah, I’m just saying that’s how it is.”
As Lim Doo-ho and Jang Moon-seo continuously repaired weapons for the relentless stream of Hunters, it was soon time to close the workshop.
Lim Doo-ho and Jang Moon-seo tidied up the workshop.
“How’s the competition going?”
“Well… the participants are all quite remarkable people.”
“Just because the participants are remarkable doesn’t mean their works are good.”
Jang Moon-seo unfastened the auxiliary device he had been wearing at his waist.
“Your work… it’s truly magnificent.”
Since the day he received it as a gift from Lim Doo-ho, he hadn’t gone a single day without using it.
Even for a Production-type Awakened One, fatigue was inevitable.
But with this device on.
“It’s a masterpiece made with a precise understanding of what the user needs from their perspective. Thanks to it, I feel like I’ve become ten years younger.”
“You’re being too generous with your praise.”
Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw.
Jang Moon-seo laughed heartily.
* * *
The next day.
A massive Waste Processing Facility on the outskirts of Seoul.
In the middle of a workshop reeking of dust and oil, Lim Tae-sang, the father of Lim Doo-ho, stood before a pile of steel reinforcement bars that easily weighed over 100 kilograms.
Whirrrrr—.
The moment he drew in a breath, the auxiliary devices fitted snugly to his waist and legs operated smoothly as if they were his own muscles.
The pile of steel reinforcement bars that would normally have been moved by a grab crane lifted effortlessly in Lim Tae-sang’s hands.
“…Huff!”
The coworker watching had his jaw drop.
“Tae-sang! What… what is that? It doesn’t look like an implant?”
Lim Tae-sang gently set down the steel bars in their designated place and clenched his fists tightly.
Heh heh….
“This? My son made it for me.”
“Your… your son? Wow… is that even possible?”
“My son works with androids at the Hunter Management Bureau. He’s an expert, a real expert.”
Pride dripped from every word he spoke.
The steel bar organization that normally took a full two hours was finished in less than one. But then, something unbelievable happened.
‘…My back doesn’t hurt?’
My legs were fine too.
There wasn’t even a dull ache.
Every time I worked, admiration escaped my lips unbidden.
During break time, two coworkers approached with drinks in hand.
“Lim Tae-sang. That thing really… looks amazing.”
“I saw it earlier, and it didn’t seem to require any effort at all. My back’s been killing me too….”
Lim Tae-sang tapped the support device gently.
“This thing is the real deal. My son made it himself.”
At those words, his coworker’s eyes sparkled.
“Lim Tae-sang! Could I… possibly get one too?”
“If the price is right, I’ll buy it on the spot!”
“I want two—one for me and one for my wife!”
“I’d love to get one for my mother. Her back’s been terrible….”
The resting coworkers swarmed around Lim Tae-sang like a hive of bees.
Lim Tae-sang waved his hands in bewilderment.
“It’s still, well, my son entered it in some competition….”
“A competition?”
“So we can buy it right after the competition ends? I want to reserve one! Let me reserve!”
“Get in line! I mentioned it first!”
His coworkers’ eyes blazed with anticipation.
…And so time passed until lunch.
The workshop cafeteria buzzed with talk of the ‘Lim Tae-sang support device’.
“That support device was made by Lim Tae-sang’s son, apparently.”
“He’s an engineer at the Hunter Management Bureau, I heard?”
“Some kind of technician competition? He submitted it there. Bet he wins first place?”
“It’s supposedly so comfortable and effortless?”
Word of mouth spread through the entire Waste Processing Facility in an instant. Eventually, even coworkers from other teams came looking.
“Excuse me, but you are Lim Tae-sang, right?”
“Yes?”
“I’ve heard about it. I’d like to place an order for one as well.”
“Is it possible for our whole team to place a group order….”
Lim Tae-sang broke into a cold sweat.
Why?
‘Why does this keep getting bigger?’
Coming to his senses, he spoke.
“I need to ask my son first. I apologize.”
He’d barely managed to send them away when the site supervisor came over, tapping his shoulder with interest.
“Lim. I’ve been watching it for a few days now. That thing’s absolutely top-notch. Where’d you get it?”
“Ah, my son made it himself.”
“Is that so?”
The director stroked his chin, his expression turning meaningful.
“If the price is right… I’m thinking of proposing we introduce it company-wide.”
With that, the director handed over his business card.
“Could you give me your son’s contact information? I’d like to consider this seriously.”
By the time I clocked out, I had become a walking advertisement for my son’s equipment.
‘I’m not sure if I actually did my job or just promoted my son’s device.’
But I couldn’t help feeling an overwhelming sense of pride. My son—I was so incredibly proud of him.
As I finished my day and opened the front door, my wife greeted me.
“Welcome home, dear. You must be tired.”
I carefully removed the support device, unable to suppress a broad smile.
Dear, dear.
“Listen to this! My colleagues… they all want to buy this support device our son made. They were causing such a commotion I could barely get any work done.”
At those words, the twins came scurrying out of their room.
“Really? That’s amazing!”
“Our brother is so talented!”
I smiled faintly and sent a text on my smartwatch.
‘Thanks to you, my body feels so comfortable. I love you, son.’
A moment later, a reply came through.
‘Enjoy your dinner.
I love you too, Father.’
“I love you too, Father.”
I smiled contentedly.
‘When did my son grow up so much?’
It feels like just yesterday he was toddling around.
For some reason, my eyes grew warm.
* * *
A few days later.
After finishing work at Moru Workshop, Lim Doo-ho returned to his room via a Save Point.
He had recently relocated the Save Point that had been installed near his house to his room instead.
There was no particular reason.
‘Coming home late was waking Mother up.’
So I boldly connected it directly to my room.
‘Besides, no one else can use it anyway, and no one would look into my room.’
After changing clothes and stepping out of my room, I ran into Father.
“When did you get home?”
“A while ago.”
“Isn’t it tiring working again after clocking out?”
“I do it because I enjoy it.”
My entire family knew I was working at the workshop.
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yes, Father.”
Just as I was about to enter my room.
“Son, are you… busy by any chance?”
“No, sir. What is it?”
“Well, about the auxiliary device…”
Father broached the subject, and we talked for quite some time.
Returning to my room afterward, I headed to the Garage to unwind.
Isto, who had been looking at his laptop, greeted me.
-You’ve come to rest!
“Yeah. By the way, it seems Father’s colleagues want to buy auxiliary devices in bulk.”
Oh! Oh!
-Since you created them, sir, they naturally want to praise and purchase them~ Ehehehe.
I looked down at the sycophant—no, at Isto.
-…Why are you looking at me like that?
“After you conquer the world, what will you do next?”
-Huh??
At the sudden question, @ symbols spin lazily in his LED eyes.
‘He hasn’t thought about it at all.’
-I, I’ll brief you on it next time!
“No, don’t bother.”
-Huh, huh?!
Meanwhile, Hawkeye approached calmly.
-I anticipated this reaction from the moment Father began wearing it.
He snatched the laptop away from Isto.
Tap-tap-tap, tap! Tap!
He typed rapidly.
Soon he showed me the laptop screen.
-Look at this.
Images of people flashed across the screen.
A construction worker sweating on a job site.
An elderly man leaning on a cane.
A patient undergoing rehabilitation therapy…
Hawkeye, having set the mood, spoke.
As if delivering a presentation.
-60% of South Korea’s population are Naturals.
“That many?”
-Worldwide, the Natural population exceeds 5 billion.
I was momentarily taken aback.
5 billion?
Actually, you see.
By only frequenting the Hunter Management Bureau, I hadn’t realized how many Naturals existed in the surrounding areas.
Hawkeye continued the conversation.
-They either lack funds or despise mechanical prosthetics. But your auxiliary devices are different, Doo-ho. They function the moment you put them on comfortably.
-We’re about to strike it rich!
-Especially the core technology—the Smart Actuator—will prove invaluable in countless applications.
-Just the licensing fees alone will set us up nicely! Hehehehe~.
Isto, brimming with excitement, kept interjecting.
Smack!
-Don’t get ahead of yourself, you blockhead!
-Huh?!
Isto was taken aback.
Pfft.
In that moment, I burst out laughing.
‘These two actually make a great pair.’
I pulled up a hologram on my smart watch.
『Patent Registration Complete
Applicant: Lim Doo-ho
Registered Name: Smart Actuator』
From that point onward, a cascade of related patents for the Smart Actuator appeared, all marked as registration complete.
I smiled at Isto.
“Isto. You’ve worked hard.”
-Not at all! I simply did what needed to be done. Hehehehe~.
Truth be told.
Because Isto had prepared patent applications down to the smallest details, it had cost me a fair amount of money.
But then again….
There’s nothing left to be stolen from me.
I Became a Mech Mancer
Author｜
Gungang E
Published｜
February 25, 2026
Publisher｜
TalesYX
Website｜
https://talesyx.com
Email｜
[email protected]
ⓒ Gungang E, 2026
This publication is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission.
UCI｜

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