Became a Mechromancer - Chapter 29

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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 29.
Misunderstanding (2)
Deputy Director Na Yong-seok’s bewilderment was written plainly across his face at my unexpected reaction.
But I paid it no mind and vented my frustration.
“Just moments ago, you were interrogating me about my relationship with Moru Workshop, and now you’re asking why I should display my abilities to you and even repair a cursed blade. That’s not even my job.”
Not a single word was wrong.
Moreover, this situation genuinely displeased me.
It was clear the Hunter Management Bureau intended to use me as leverage to bring Jang Moon-seo into their fold.
And on top of that, even if I succeeded at this Quest, I’d gain nothing.
Yet I had already accepted the Quest.
If there was no reward, I’d simply extract compensation elsewhere.
So.
‘Shall I get started?’
I rose from my seat and headed toward the door.
Deputy Director Na, startled, quickly stood up.
“Wait, wait!”
“My work hours are over, so I’ll be leaving.”
“Lim Doo-ho! Listen to me!”
Deputy Director Na urgently grabbed my arm and lowered his posture.
“Sit down. Come on, just sit. I’ll explain everything.”
I pretended to be persuaded and sat back down.
Deputy Director Na wiped his face with a dry hand, then opened his mouth while gauging my reaction.
“I apologize. When the higher-ups saw ‘Moru Workshop’ written on the competition paperwork, they went crazy—they wanted me to squeeze you and bring Master Jang Moon-seo here.”
Deputy Director Na continued with a bitter expression.
“But having met you in person, I’ve changed my mind. I’ve never heard of anyone creating weapons without forging, the way you do.”
At those words, I scratched my cheek.
‘He’s mistaking me for a production-type Awakened. That’s actually convenient.’
I could hide my true identity while still receiving treatment as an Awakened, and I could openly tell my family about it.
Production-type Awakened rarely ventured into the Abyss or Abyss Rifts anyway.
Then Deputy Director Na sighed.
“Grand Prize winner—congratulations again.”
“Yes? Ah… yes.”
“But here’s the thing. No matter how skilled a technician is, androids are just scrap metal in the Abyss or Abyss Rifts, aren’t they? Besides, we operate primarily around Awakened individuals.”
So he was asking me to understand his rudeness.
But my mind was in turmoil.
Scrap metal?!
-Doo-ho, sir! Is this man insulting me right now?!
-Mechanomancer, I wish to show this ignorant human my true form immediately!
Speaking on their behalf, I threw a pointed joke at Deputy Director Na.
“Someday, someone might create a mechanic that operates even in the Abyss.”
Ha ha.
Na Yong-seok laughed heartily.
“If someone created such a thing, the entire world would scramble to possess it. No, they’d wage war just to claim that person.”
-Oh! The path to world conquest remains open!
-I concur. This is our chance to reveal the greatness of robots.
The two of them looked ready to burst forth at any moment.
As proof, the empty space behind Na Yong-seok rippled.
Doo-ho gasped inwardly and cried out.
Ugh, you two!!
‘I can’t reveal it because of you!’
-Ah! Ah!
-Hmm??
The two fell silent, and Doo-ho sank into thought.
The Hunter Management Bureau had taken an interest in Master.
‘Given Master’s personality from everything I’ve experienced, it would only backfire.’
Doo-ho looked at the Quest reward once more.
‘Why not redirect all that attention to myself instead? I’ll secure the rewards I’m missing from the Hunter Management Bureau according to plan.’
Doo-ho’s gaze fixed on the “Frostbite Demon Sword” on the table.
Na Yong-seok was about to speak again.
“So, if you could show me how you repair this sword….”
Doo-ho picked up the sword and cut off Na Yong-seok’s words.
“Just a moment.”
Whirrrr—.
Nanobots flowed from my fingertips and enveloped the blade.
In an instant, the cracks that marred the sword were filled, and the chipped edges began smoothing out seamlessly.
Na Yong-seok’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Good heavens…!”
When the repair was halfway complete.
Clang.
Doo-ho withdrew all the nanobots and set the sword down on the table with a thud.
Na Yong-seok asked in bewilderment.
“Why did you stop?”
“You asked me to show you the repair process, not to actually fix it.”
“Well, I could finish it while I’m at it….”
When Doo-ho made a reluctant expression, Na Yong-seok waved his hand dismissively.
“Not that I’m forcing you! I mean, well… I thought fixing this might help with conquering the deepest levels of the Abyss….”
Na Yong-seok stammered in confusion.
Doo-ho reached out to Isto in the Garage.
‘Isto, find information on this demon sword.’
-I’ll give it a try!
A moment later.
-Currently, Abyss level 80 is a lava zone requiring cold-attribute weapons. The demon sword in question is high-grade, valued at 50 million coins. Upon Quest completion, it’s expected to become rare-grade with a premium value in the hundreds of millions.
Hawkeye added further.
-For reference, item grades are: Common, High, Rare, Heroic, Legendary, Mythic, and Unique.
‘I see.’
The Sword Spirit just needed a bit more refinement for Quest success.
There was only one thing bothering me.
‘I actually prefer working with machines over weapon repairs….’
Still.
I needed to make good use of the leverage I held right now.
Doo-ho opened his mouth.
“Director Na.”
“Speak.”
“What if I were to elevate this demon sword’s grade one tier higher?”
“What, what?!”
I’d witnessed countless scholars leave the Machine Upcycling Division after inflating their market value.
‘Wasn’t it said to maximize one’s own worth?’
I left room for contingencies in case things went sideways,
“It’s not something I can do anytime, but my condition is particularly good today, so it seems possible.”
I packaged the Quest reward as an ability.
Director Na immediately lit up.
“Really?!”
“Call the Item Appraiser first.”
Director Na jumped from his seat and contacted someone.
* * *
The conference room door swung open.
A middle-aged man rushed in breathlessly.
“What’s the matter, Director!”
Director Na pointed to the demon sword on the table.
“Appraise this for me.”
The appraiser picked up the demon sword.
Hmm…?
“Isn’t this the ‘Frost Blade’ I previously deemed irreparable?”
He carefully traced his finger over the cracked section.
Sigh.
“Someone’s tampered with it, but it’s futile work.”
As the Item Appraiser set the Frost Blade back on the table, I picked it up again.
“You heard that clearly, didn’t you, Director?”
Director Na Yong-seok shrugged his shoulders.
“Since I’m the one who called them, there’s no need for verification.”
The bewildered Item Appraiser glanced back and forth between the two of them.
Just as Doo-ho grasped the Demon Blade and began to concentrate.
Wait, wait a moment!
“What is this situation?”
“You should wait outside, and I’ll call you when—”
“No, Director. If you put it that way, it’s insulting. I’m not some wandering appraiser.”
At those words, Director Na Yong-seok projected a hologram into the air, displaying a confidentiality agreement.
“Then sign there.”
While the Item Appraiser read through the document, Director Na Yong-seok asked a question.
“Is it alright if I film Lim Doo-ho? I need to report this upstairs.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
After all, filming wouldn’t allow anyone to replicate the ability.
Doo-ho steadied his breathing.
Soon, nanobots flowed from his fingertips.
“Wh-what is that…?”
Shh!
Director Na shook his head toward the appraiser.
The nanobots flowed along the blade’s surface.
At a speed far faster than before, the remaining cracks were instantly sealed.
[Proficiency increases]
Soon the damaged blade edge was restored to a smooth finish.
“This… this is possible?!”
The shocked appraiser grabbed his own head.
Director Na Yong-seok, who had already witnessed this, felt his filming hand tremble.
‘Even seeing it with my own eyes, it’s hard to believe.’
The restoration of the Demon Blade was complete.
But Doo-ho was deep in thought.
‘It would be good to utilize the mana circuits…’
Demon Blades consume an Awakened’s mana.
In a sense, mana circuits do the same.
So then…
‘If I inscribe mana circuits related to amplification?’
It was originally a blade I couldn’t use anyway,
and even if I fail, it doesn’t matter much.
‘I won’t be asked to do something like this again.’
So there’s nothing to lose.
I reached out boldly.
A trajectory began to form in the empty air.
Gasp!
Na Yong-seok’s head trembled involuntarily as he continued filming. The Item Appraiser was equally unhinged.
Both stood transfixed, gazing upward at the mysterious patterns weaving mysteriously through empty space.
[Mana Circuit comprehension increases]
[Mana Circuit comprehension…]
A skill that grew more refined with each attempt.
Beads of sweat gathered on my forehead, trickling down my cheeks.
And then.
The completed Mana Circuit hung suspended in the air.
A simple pattern designed solely for amplification.
Steadying my breathing, I raised both hands and began compressing the Mana Circuit smaller.
As its size diminished, the Mana Circuit became more vivid and defined.
The moment the Mana Circuit I had drawn settled onto the Frost Blade lying on the ground.
Scratch, scratch.
The nanobots began etching the settled Mana Circuit into the blade’s surface.
Shortly after.
The nanobots returned to my fingertips.

[Quest Complete!]
Reward: Frost Blade Grade Upgrade
Phew….
Success.
That instant!
[Overachievement Bonus Granted]
Reward: Grade Adjustment Upgrade
An overachievement window suddenly appeared.
This….
‘I haven’t seen this since repairing Isto.’
Ooooh!!
-Congratulations! As expected of you, Master Doo-ho!
Hawkeye objected to Isto’s words.
-You stupid iron-head!
-Huh?!
-The Mechanomancer gets nothing, so what are you congratulating?!
-Huh? Huh?! Huhhhh??
I chuckled at Hawkeye’s sharp retort.
What do you mean I got nothing?
‘If I inscribe a Mana Circuit properly onto a specific item, it can become an amplification item that utilizes mana.’
-…Ah!
‘And the real rewards are just beginning.’
-Tall one gets it!
-Get that blockhead out of here!
While those two bickered, I picked up the demonic blade and handed it to the Item Appraiser.
“Let’s have you take a look at it.”
The Item Appraiser accepted the sword with trembling hands.
He had the expression of someone who had barely escaped from a tempest named Lim Doo-ho.
He began examining the demonic blade with meticulous care.
Na Yong-seok was still filming.
A moment passed.
The Item Appraiser lifted his head and looked toward Na Yong-seok.
“He… He…”
“What? You’re saying it’s unusable?!”
“No, sir. It’s Hero-grade!”
The Item Appraiser cried out those words.
He gazed at me with a quavering voice.
“To my knowledge, this is the first time a production-type Awakened has elevated an existing item’s grade.”
And by two entire ranks at that!
With those words, Na Yong-seok’s resolve hardened.
If I let Lim Doo-ho slip away….
‘I should just go out and die!’
Na Yong-seok gripped my hand firmly.
Lim Doo-ho.
“Tell me what you want. I’ll do my best to make it happen.”
Finally, the compensation phase had begun.
Starting with a permanent position, job titles were being discussed—
“We’ll make sure your family’s welfare is taken care of!”
Na Yong-seok came at me with unbridled enthusiasm.
He soon projected a hologram.
An elegant high-rise apartment complex came into view.
Below it was written:
『Management Bureau Rental Housing Complex 3
Move-in available in 2 weeks
50-pyeong unit, top floor (rooftop bonus space: 11 pyeong)』
Na Yong-seok enlarged the photograph.
A spacious living room.
A sweeping view of the Han River through the expansive windows!
“The surrounding infrastructure is excellent as well!”
He went on explaining for quite some time, as if possessed by a real estate agent….
“How would it be if your family moved in, Lim Doo-ho?”
“Pardon?”
Unlike my surprised expression, Na Yong-seok’s face beamed with satisfaction.
The truth is.
I’ve been waiting three years for the chance to move into that rental housing complex!
But.
If I can secure Lim Doo-ho, I can eventually bring in Jang Moon-seo the craftsman as well.
Coming to his senses, Doo-ho felt the weight of it all.
Getting a Hero-grade rating was simply good fortune.
More than anything.
There is no such thing as kindness without a price in this world.
‘How much are they planning to squeeze out of me?’
But.
Looking at the apartment, my resolve wavered.
The image of my family living happily there shimmered before my eyes.
Get a grip, Lim Doo-ho!
Shaking my head once to steel myself, I spoke calmly.
I need to discuss it with my parents first.
“I think I should consult with them.”
“Huh? Really?”
Na Yong-seok’s mind went blank.
Could it be.
‘…it’s not enough?’
Still, he forced a smile.
“Right, of course you should consult with them. Just don’t overthink it too much.”
Na Yong-seok clenched his teeth.
“If you need anything else….”
As he was about to offer additional conditions, Doo-ho quickly excused himself and left the conference room.
Phew.
‘How much more is he planning to extract from me by throwing money around like that?’
* * *
That evening.
Doo-ho sat in the main room.
My parents and the twins stared at me blankly.
After a long moment of deliberation, I opened my mouth.
Father, Mother.
“Would you like to move?”
Became a Mecromancer
Author |
Keongang E
Published |
February 25, 2026
Publisher |
TalesYX
Website｜
https://talesyx.com
Email｜
[email protected]
ⓒ Keongang E, 2026
This publication is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced or duplicated without authorization.
UCI｜
G720:N+A277-20260210015.0029

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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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