Became a Mechromancer - Chapter 38
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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 38.
Cleanup (5)
A few days later, during lunch hour.
Following Changtian Clan Chairman Han Hyun-chul’s statement, public interest in Ghost had reached a fever pitch.
Praise for Ghost flooded not only domestic media but international outlets as well.
And….
The Hunter Management Bureau’s cafeteria was no exception.
People’s gazes were fixed not on their meals, but on the massive holographic news broadcast across the wall.
『A Return After 67 Years… Ghost’s Final Message』
Within the hologram, an elderly woman clutched a worn military identification tag, tears streaming down her face.
She was the daughter of a search team member who had gone missing during the early days of the Abyss.
The daughter who had been just a child back then was now an elderly woman, finally receiving a trace of her beloved father.
Beside her stood a middle-aged man, his eyes reddening as he gazed upon his grandfather’s belongings.
The Hunter Management Bureau employees watching the hologram each added their own commentary.
“To organize all of this without asking for anything in return….”
“There really is a saint among us.”
“If it were other Hunters, they would’ve sold it all.”
“No kidding.”
“That’s why people overseas envy our country. They say we’re a nation overflowing with compassion.”
I swallowed.
I lifted a spoonful of seaweed soup from my tray.
The broth that should have gone down smoothly caught oddly in my throat.
‘A saint? Come on….’
I simply left those things behind….
Yet the world’s interpretation had transformed my actions into something far grander and more noble than my intent.
At the next table, employees were discussing another topic.
“Did you buy that ‘GHOST OF ABYSS’ t-shirt, Deputy Kim?”
“Don’t even mention it. I just barely managed to get one.”
“Wow, so you actually got one?”
“Of course. The resale price is 200,000 coins.”
My hand froze.
200,000?
A Ghost of the Abyss t-shirt?
I glanced over,
and there on the employee’s chest was an image of a masked Ghost.
…What?
The shape of the mask looked familiar.
More precisely, it resembled the way I normally concealed my face with nanobots.
Ugh.
‘It must be my imagination.’
That was when it happened.
-No, it isn’t!
Isto’s excited voice echoed through my mind.
-I took care of it!
Cough, cough.
I choked on my food.
‘What did you do?’
-Registered the design rights and wrapped up the royalty contract with the fashion company in record time!
‘???’
-Finally! I’ve taken a step toward branding for world conquest! Ehehe~
When did that thing have time to….
Ah!
The Lost and Found Center!
-Oh! Correct!
So that’s why you were dragging your feet when I asked you to bring the sacks.
I pressed my forehead.
Sigh….
‘You planned this from the start.’
Even so.
‘How did you manage to sign a contract?’
-The internet world is vast and deep! And in a capitalist world, there’s nothing that can’t be done!
‘Good grief….’
I stared ahead with an exasperated expression.
Park Deputy flinched.
“D-did I make some kind of mistake?”
“…No.”
Park Deputy caught his breath and resumed eating.
Isto spoke up.
-100 coins per t-shirt! The company printed 20,000 units and uploaded them, and they sold out in five minutes!
‘So…?’
Tada~~
-2 million coins have accumulated in my dedicated account!
‘2 million…?!’
I looked down at my soup bowl.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
An amount not far off from what I used to earn in a month.
‘Was making money really that easy?’
-When opportunity knocks and fortune flows, you row the boat! Ahem~
I pressed my temples firmly.
A glance.
I look again at the T-shirt worn by the employee sitting next to me.
‘Why would anyone want to buy something like that?’
Park Deputy, following the direction of my gaze, asked me.
“When the second batch arrives, I’m planning to buy one too. Will you get one with me?”
“…A second batch?”
Park Deputy projected a hologram from his smartwatch.
『Abyss Ghost! Second shipment arriving soon!』
For a moment, I felt a surge of emotion and nearly shouted ‘Why would you buy that!’ but I held back.
I took a breath and waved my hand dismissively.
“I’m not really into Ghost merchandise.”
“Come on, don’t say things like that. You’ll get stones thrown at you.”
“…Pardon?”
“Overseas media and some hunters revere Ghost. You’ll cause trouble if you carelessly criticize it.”
My lips twisted into a grimace.
‘Why are they all making such a fuss about this?’
Then.
-Lim Doo-ho, we’re also considering producing Ghost figurines! By building the brand’s worldview like this, we’re laying the foundation for global conquest….
‘Ugh, seriously!!’
I reluctantly began eating again.
If I complained about being upset, I’d only lose out!
That’s when Park Deputy asked.
“By the way, have you decided on a mentor for the Global Skills Competition?”
I shook my head.
“What? Still haven’t?”
“I’m about to decide now.”
As I said that, I organized my criteria internally.
Someone who seemed least likely to interfere.
In that case….
‘Dr. Yu So-young might be the better choice.’
She had praised my auxiliary device, and her personality seemed quite cool.
My choice was already leaning in one direction.
* * *
Yeouido Zone 1, which harbors the Abyss.
A massive single-story building standing on prime real estate.
『Changcheon Workshop』
Built through joint investment by the Five Major Hunter Families, this place was the pride of the Changtian Clan and a symbol envied by all other guilds.
It prioritizes repairs for internal clan equipment and only accepts external requests during spare time. Yet despite this, the workshop’s annual revenue reaches hundreds of billions. It was literally raking in money with a hook.
At the center of the workshop.
Two master craftsmen stood facing each other across a workbench.
Two pillars supporting the Changcheon Workshop.
Master Kang and Master Cheon.
Around them, several apprentices held their breath, their eyes drinking in every movement of the master craftsmen’s hands.
“That Go fellow really got cocky, trusting the chairman like that. Don’t you think?”
Master Kang placed a crude piece of armor on the workbench and clicked his tongue.
“Indeed. The appraisal grade is at best high-tier, yet he purchased it at rare-grade prices. And now he’s even asking us to handle the repairs.”
Master Cheon nodded in agreement, clearly displeased.
In their eyes, those items were nothing more than high-tier equipment. Not only had they been purchased at rare-grade prices, but now the Hunter Management Bureau was asking them to repair them—there was no end to their grievances.
Yet despite it all, a fierce determination burned in both masters’ eyes.
This was their chance to prove themselves so thoroughly that the Hunter Management Bureau would never dare speak of their work again.
“This time, we’ll knock them down a peg or two.”
“Ha. Indeed we will.”
Soon after.
Master Cheon placed a frost-attributed sword and shield on the workbench.
“I’ll refine the blade, so reheat it. We’re replacing the grip, so prepare a new one in advance.”
The apprentices moved with practiced efficiency.
As mana stones were hurled into the furnace, blue-tinged flames roared to life.
The sword was placed into the inferno, waiting for it to heat through, then carefully transferred to the anvil.
Master Cheon placed his hand upon the blade.
His body glowed faintly.
The skill possessed by Production-class Awakeners, ‘Item Restoration,’ activated.
In that moment.
“Hmm?”
The faint patterns etched into the blade gradually began to fade.
“This, this… Someone carved unnecessary patterns into the blade.”
Master Cheon stroked the sword confidently and muttered to himself.
“I’ll smooth it out for you.”
Clang! Clang! Clang—!
The hammering continued.
The hammering went on, and soon the patterns on the blade had vanished completely.
Sigh….
“Now it’s back to its original form.”
The work proceeded smoothly.
Every piece of equipment that had come in as a commission was restored to its ‘original state.’
Both masters gazed at the gleaming equipment with satisfied expressions.
“It’s been a while since we’ve really shown our mettle.”
“Ha. Go Gyeong-taek won’t be able to say anything foolish now.”
“Indeed. Not a chance.”
They looked upon the items reborn(?) in their hands, their smiles brimming with satisfaction.
.
.
.
Two days later.
The executives of the Changtian Clan and Go Gyeong-taek appeared at the Workshop.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Ha ha, you’ve arrived!”
When the masters greeted them with broad smiles, the executives knew the entrusted work had proceeded smoothly.
One executive asked.
“There were no problems?”
“It’s what we always do—there couldn’t be any.”
Guffaw!
When Master Cheon answered with his chest puffed out proudly, the executive burst into hearty laughter.
See, I told you!
“We could’ve fixed it ourselves. Why waste money on unnecessary outsiders?”
He glanced at Go Gyeong-taek with a sneer.
“Well then, let’s take a look.”
“Right here.”
Items arranged neatly on a marble table.
The executives examined the cleanly refurbished equipment with satisfied expressions.
Several of the blades had even been fitted with superior handles compared to the originals.
One executive looked at Go Gyeong-taek.
“Look at this craftsmanship. Could the Hunter Management Bureau do something like this?”
Then he channeled mana into the blade, infusing it with power—
“Wait, what? Why isn’t the chill flowing out properly?”
The executive beside him poured power into his shield as well.
Huh? Huh?
“Mine’s the same?”
The Workshop fell into turmoil.
The problem was that all the items now had noticeably less chill than before.
The masters, who had never used them, were bewildered by the executives’ reactions.
Eventually the executives glared at the masters.
“What did you do to these?!”
“We repaired them as you can see.”
“Then why are they like this?!”
“We’re done talking! We did this! We even worked overtime, and we finally got to show off our skills, and this is what we get?!”
“I’m out! Can’t do it! Forget it!”
As the two masters erupted in protest, the executives went pale.
Items worth hundreds of millions to billions had been downgraded in tier.
Go Gyeong-taek, who had been watching silently until now, finally stepped forward.
He gazed down at the armor that had been restored like new. The first thing he checked was none other than—
‘There’s no pattern on it.’
I examined the remaining items, and it was the same for all of them.
In that moment, a faint smile crossed Go Gyeong-taek’s lips.
Hmm~.
‘Just as I suspected, the vanished pattern was the trigger for skill activation.’
The truth was.
Only Go Gyeong-taek knew that when purchasing the items, the same pattern had been engraved on them.
The remaining executives had no idea, since they simply divided them among themselves.
‘So if luck favored me, the executives would stumble into the trap all on their own.’
That part was fine.
Tsk—.
I clicked my tongue while glancing sideways at the craftsmen.
Their lack of discernment was truly pathetic.
Master Jang Moon-seo would have tested the items himself before repairs and noticed something was off….
Go Gyeong-taek lifted his head and regarded them with cold composure.
“If you had listened to me from the start, there would have been no need for anyone to lose face.”
At Go Gyeong-taek’s chillingly measured words, one of the executives hastily waved his hand.
“No, that’s not what I meant….”
“I’ll be reporting this to the chairman.”
The executives’ expressions were dumbfounded.
Just because some items were damaged?
Was this guy insane?
But.
‘Surely Go Gyeong-taek wouldn’t go this far just for that?’
“You all have been embezzling portions of the Changcheon Workshop’s profits like you were stealing dried persimmons.”
“What, what?”
“This bastard’s going to cause a real disaster!”
The executives and the two Changcheon Workshop craftsmen convulsed, jumping to their feet.
“I’ve found the double ledgers and kept them safe.”
I flicked my wrist, and a hologram materialized from my smartwatch.
As portions of the incriminating double ledgers were magnified on display.
The faces of the executives and craftsmen who saw the entries turned rigid and pale.
“I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Go Gyeong-taek took a step forward.
Wait, wait!
“Couldn’t we work this out between ourselves?”
Go Gyeong-taek raised an eyebrow.
“You’re asking me to overlook this?”
“We’ll return the money as quickly as possible.”
Go Gyeong-taek appeared to be considering it.
“Then who will handle the item repairs?”
“Well, naturally our Director Go… Director Go would….”
A hollow laugh escaped Go Gyeong-taek’s lips.
“Are you saying I should go handle the cleanup myself? And you’re the ones who caused this mess.”
“That is… I’m sorry, but….”
A soft exhale.
Looking around, all the executives and masters stood frozen in bewilderment.
“Of course.”
“Oh, oh… thank you.”
“I’m sorry, truly.”
“I have no face to show.”
Apologies tumbled out one after another.
Go Gyeong-taek narrowed his eyes even further.
“Now then, regarding today’s agenda—the guilds we’re bringing into the clan and those we’re expelling….”
As his words trailed off, every executive’s gaze snapped toward his mouth.
“Please reflect my opinions.”
A brief silence.
“Surely you don’t think I’d behave so unreasonably.”
“….”
The executives remained silent.
Go Gyeong-taek turned coldly and walked away.
As he headed toward the workshop door, an executive’s voice followed belatedly.
“Un… understood.”
With those words, a smile bloomed across Go Gyeong-taek’s face.
This way….
I would fill the clan with my people, one by one.
‘Next will be the Hunter Management Bureau, perhaps?’
* * *
Hunter Management Bureau, first floor, reception desk.
Go Gyeong-taek sat in the waiting area as his subordinate approached the reception counter.
He gazed at the automatic doors across from the counter.
His eyes fixed on a particular spot.
『Reboot Center
※Authorized Personnel Only』
The entrance beneath the sign.
‘So that’s where the newly established department is.’
Whoosh—
The automatic doors slid open, and two men walked out from inside the Reboot Center.
Men in ordinary clothes.
Lim Doo-ho and Park Deputy.
Go Gyeong-taek’s narrowed eyes surveyed them carefully.
Hmm~.
Could there be someone among them who knows the secret of the patterns?
‘I need to get my hands on that person.’
I Became a Necromancer
Author |
Keongang E
Publication Date |
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 transmitted in any form without permission.
UCI |
G720:N+A277-20260210015.0038
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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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