Became a Mechromancer - Chapter 61

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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 61.
Willfulness with Reason (3)
“You want to change the order?”
“Yes.”
“So that means… wait a moment.”
The Industrial Science Complex staff member overseeing the proceedings hastily projected a hologram and began flipping through the regulations.
Simultaneously, mental calculators whirred to life around the room. Lee Jun-ho, the Korea University team representative, was no exception.
The Korea University team’s original strategy had been straightforward.
In case Lim Doo-ho secured Choi Tae-jin as his mentor, they would preemptively claim Yu So-young.
That had definitely been the plan.
‘If Lim Doo-ho drops to a later position… does that mean I can choose Choi Tae-jin?’
For some reason, it seemed the opponent was waiting to see his own options before deciding.
A glance.
Lee Jun-ho studied Doo-ho carefully.
The SSP processor embedded in his smart glasses attempted to predict Doo-ho’s emotional state.
‘If I gauge his true intentions from that…’
『Error Code 666: Unable to Read』
What?
After processing for a moment, the smart glasses went dark and rebooted themselves.
…What’s going on?
Just as Jun-ho’s head began to throb from the incomprehensible situation, he realized others around him were experiencing the same malfunction.
The most severe case was Professor Yu So-young, the full-brain cyborg, who was enduring a dizzying moment of complete darkness.
Once her ocular system rebooted, she glared disapprovingly at Choi Tae-jin.
“It seems I’m not the only one experiencing this error. What’s happening, Representative Choi Tae-jin?”
It was natural for her to ask, since SSP was Sanin Heavy Industries’ technology.
But Choi Tae-jin’s mind was fixed on Lim Doo-ho’s unexpected move.
Why?
‘Did Lim Doo-ho change the order?’
The truth was.
He had planned to bring Lim Doo-ho to Sanin before the mentor selection.
But.
The Hunter Management Bureau had invoked the Awakener Act, and his plan fell through.
He did not give up.
As part of his contingency, he donated one billion coins to the Hunter Management Bureau, and as expected, he was able to meet with Director Kim Tae-sung separately.
One billion coins?
It was worth every coin.
Once he became Lim Doo-ho’s mentor, he could naturally acquire the core technology of the smart actuator!
Moreover, he had learned during drinks with Director Kim Tae-sung that Lim Doo-ho’s Hunter Management Bureau contract renewed on a yearly basis.
‘I emphasized to Director Kim Tae-sung repeatedly how crucial visibility is for the Global Competition!’
But you’re changing the order?
Choi Tae-jin’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Surely not….
‘Did that bastard Kim Tae-sung just betray me?’
At that moment, the flustered moderator answered Doo-ho.
“Well, there’s no such regulation, but I think we should report this to our superiors first.”
Typical bureaucratic caution from an Industrial Science Complex employee.
But then, unexpectedly, Lee Jun-ho raised his hand sharply.
“Moderator, I found a precedent for this.”
“Ah, yes. Let me see it.”
Lee Jun-ho displayed the article prominently on the hologram.
“It’s from the 24th Skills Competition article. Back then, the Grand Prize winner was late due to unavoidable circumstances, so the Excellence Award winner selected their mentor first.”
The Industrial Science Complex employee examined the screen and quickly searched for follow-up articles.
After confirming there were no records of objections.
“Since there is a precedent, if both parties agree, we can adjust the order.”
Choi Tae-jin’s eyes looked ready to pop out of his head as he watched.
This son of a bitch!
‘…don’t do this.’
When Lee Jun-ho agreed, Choi Tae-jin squeezed his eyes shut.
‘I didn’t spend my hard-earned money to get someone like you!’
Since matters regarding selection were the mentees’ right, he as a judge couldn’t interfere.
The moderator, unaware of his inner turmoil, made the announcement.
“With both parties’ agreement, Korea University team representative Lee Jun-ho will select his mentor first.”
Lee Jun-ho walked up to the podium.
Dr. Yu So-young, whose eyes met his, shrugged her shoulders.
She was certain he would naturally choose her.
But then.
Lee Jun-ho hesitated.
At his infuriating attitude, Dr. Yu So-young let out a hollow laugh.
Meanwhile, Professor Han Ji-hyuk’s gaze was blatant.
Feeling that persistent stare, Lee Jun-ho’s chest grew tight.
That damned professor trying to force his choice just because they were from the same school.
‘When he hasn’t even helped me properly!’
If results came from the Global Competition, he’d probably go around claiming credit for it.
‘I won’t let him profit off me anymore!’
A glance.
Soon he looked at Representative Choi Tae-jin, then subtly observed Lim Doo-ho’s expression.

If only that high school dropout hadn’t existed.
‘Choi Tae-jin would have been our team’s mentor.’
Anyone could see this was Lim Doo-ho yielding to us, wasn’t it?
Having finished his self-justification, he opened his mouth.
“Our team’s choice is… Director Choi Tae-jin.”
Choi Tae-jin’s expression twisted for a moment. He quickly masked his displeasure with a smile.
‘…Damn it, why me?!!’
Had Professor Han Ji-hyuk, unaware of his circumstances, let out a sigh.
Dr. Yu So-young simply stared at Lee Jun-ho intently.
‘I never thought he’d be such a shallow person.’
Disappointment.
Anger?
There was none of that.
Without affection, how could such feelings arise?
Rather, it was fortunate they wouldn’t be entangled.
At that very moment.
The moderator’s voice rang out.
“Lim Doo-ho. Please come forward.”
As I ascended the platform and calmly surveyed the three judges, a whisper reached me from behind.
-Master, the atmosphere… what should I do, ribbit?
It was none other than Bom-i, who had been disguised.
This one really does stick to me everywhere.
It wasn’t uncomfortable. His way of seeing mana had proven helpful in many ways.
Just moments ago, I clearly felt Lee Jun-ho’s emotions surge when he mentioned wanting to change the order, and the result was satisfying.
The moderator spoke.
“Please choose your mentor.”
“Um… before I choose, would it be alright if I asked the mentors one question?”
At this unexpected move, Professor Han Ji-hyuk sighed again. The moderator glanced at the judges before responding.
“Please keep it brief.”
With permission granted, I posed my question.
“If I may ask, is there a judge here who could outline the structure of my smart actuator, even roughly?”
The conference room turned cold in an instant.
From below the platform, Lee Jun-ho’s muttering escaped.
“Crazy bastard….”
I knew this question could be seen as a challenge to authority.
A moment of silence.
The moderator, now flustered, interjected.
Ha ha….
“Just choose your mentor.”
“No. I will not choose a mentor.”
…What?
Choi Tae-jin and Han Ji-hyuk simultaneously parted their lips halfway.
Yu So-young was not surprised.
She had heard it directly from Lim Doo-ho at Jang Moon-seo’s workshop days ago.
However.
‘So he’s being stubborn after all….’
What was he trying to accomplish?
As if he had heard her inner thoughts, Lim Doo-ho offered his reason, alternating his gaze between Choi Tae-jin and Han Ji-hyuk.
I….
“After this competition concludes, I plan to mass-produce the auxiliary devices. I simply wanted to prevent any misunderstandings beforehand.”
Though he didn’t elaborate further, the officials could discern his true intentions.
Of course, acceptance was another matter entirely.
Sure enough, the moderator stepped forward.
Lim Doo-ho.
“You must select a mentor.”
“Let me just confirm—is mentor selection explicitly mandated in the regulations?”

Of course it wasn’t.
While the moderator struggled for words, Lim Doo-ho added his point.
“Just moments ago, you changed the order of proceedings, which wasn’t in the regulations either.”
“That, well….”
The moderator’s face hardened as he gestured for a staff member.
“Administrator… please bring them here quickly.”
One staff member hurriedly left the conference room.
A frigid silence descended.
In that moment, Bom-i peeked her head out from behind Lim Doo-ho’s shoulder, surveying Choi Tae-jin and Han Ji-hyuk.
-Master. Things are about to explode, ribbit.
Even Lim Doo-ho’s eyes betrayed his displeasure.
‘I need to resolve this.’
He turned his gaze toward Choi Tae-jin, the most pressing concern.
“Actually, I was hoping you would address the actuator in detail, sir.”
“…Was that so?”
“Of course. That’s why I even studied SSP.”
Choi Tae-jin’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Then, my friend, stop being reckless and simply choose me, won’t you?”
A glance.
Lim Doo-ho looked at the bewildered Lee Jun-ho below the platform.
Indeed.
‘Why betray Dr. Yu like this.’
Even if a mentor were decided this way, Lee Jun-ho and his team faced a thorny path ahead.
Well…
Every choice carries responsibility.
So I must take responsibility for what I’ve done.
And more than that.
‘I need to make it crystal clear to Choi Tae-jin that this willfulness has reason behind it.’
I steadied my breathing and changed the subject.
“Actually, sir, there’s something I wanted to ask.”
“…?”
Just a moment ago…
“When you tried to infer my emotions using SSP, didn’t you get an error?”

Everyone in the conference room looked startled at my question.
As I watched their reactions, a memory from days ago flashed through my mind.
.
.
.
After Park Deputy told me something on the rooftop, I went through the SSP data that Isto had gathered and discovered a file.
『Possibility of Recognition Error Under Specific Lighting Conditions』
I was about to brush past it.
-The person who left this was Park Hyun-sik, a researcher.
“Park Hyun-sik?”
-He’s… like Park Deputy’s grandfather, right?
Ah!
After reviewing the contents, I went to my younger sister’s room.
“Duna, can I borrow your smart glasses for a moment?”
“Sure, here.”
“If you don’t mind, could you help your brother for a bit?”
“Got it~.”
In the living room, following Isto’s instructions, I positioned my sister under the lighting and took a reading.
“Stay right there, okay? Don’t move.”
“Like this?”
“Yeah, don’t move.”
I activated the SSP function on the smart glasses while Duna stood rigidly in place.
『Error Code 666: Unreadable』
I drew a sharp breath.
“…It worked on the first try?”
Of course it did!
-That’s me, Isto! Ehehe~.
That was when I truly grasped how remarkable he was.
“What worked on the first try?”
“Want to take a look too?”
“Ah, if you ask like that, let me see it.”
Dubin, now wearing the rebooted smart glasses, looked at Duna and furrowed his brow.
“Duna, your glasses—I broke them~.”
“Oh no!”
A moment later, the misunderstanding was cleared up.
Dubin, finding it fascinating, had asked Doo-ho to teach him the method.
.
.
.
Doo-ho, having shaken off his thoughts, now gazed at Choi Tae-jin.
‘I never expected Dubin’s friends would upload it as a short video.’
So this is what they mean by heaven helping you.

Director.
“Actually, while researching SSP materials, I happened to come across a short video.”
“A short video…?”
Watching Choi Tae-jin’s bewildered expression, I moved to my position before stepping onto the platform.
Then, following Isto’s instructions, I positioned myself at an angle beneath the ceiling LED lights.
“Let me show you myself through SSP.”
Gasp!
What—what is this?
The error message appeared, as expected.
And after infinite loading, it rebooted.
Toward the people who could only stare at Doo-ho in confusion,
he pointed to the lighting.
“It seems this phenomenon occurs when the flicker effect of LED lights and the input interference conditions align perfectly.”
That was when Choi Tae-jin’s face went pale.
Whoa~.
-This is ridiculous. You try it too.
-Is this real? Smart glasses that cost 3.2 million won?
Looking up at the empty air in confusion, a hologram displayed students performing the exact same demonstration Doo-ho had just shown!
The one who had found and displayed the video was Professor Han Ji-hyuk, who harbored considerable resentment toward Choi Tae-jin.
And soon after,
a video of the smart glasses disassembly show appeared.
Actually, this was a hologram video Doo-ho was seeing for the first time.
The product reviewer had apparently begun analyzing after watching the students’ video.
-Wow, crazy—they put in cheap sensors.
-I don’t think even continental manufacturers would use this.
Director Choi Tae-jin’s jaw trembled as he watched.
Lim Doo-ho’s mentor no longer mattered.
His mind was consumed by a single thought.
SSP hardware defect news and the company’s plummeting image.
Before his eyes unfolded the specter of trillions in stock value evaporating.
I have to stop this! Stop it!
The video!!!
Choi Tae-jin shot to his feet.
“Who the hell uploaded this garbage?!”
Fury boiling over.
His eyes locked with Doo-ho’s.
You… you…
Lim Doo-ho, you bastard…
Huff, huff.
Then, feeling everyone’s gaze upon him, Choi Tae-jin took several deep breaths to compose himself.
In truth, he had no right to blame anyone.

Long ago, knowing the specifications, it was he who chose the cheap sensors.
If I had to make an excuse.
‘The AI simulations showed an error probability of one in ten million!’
Someone had found an error rarer than winning the lottery jackpot.

Choi Tae-jin clenched his teeth.
He quickly checked the video’s upload date.
‘It hasn’t been long at all?!’
The video hadn’t spread widely yet.
Wait… wait a moment.
He looked at Lim Doo-ho again.
‘Did he tell me before this blew up…?’
The method didn’t sit right with him.
But regardless, Lim Doo-ho was his benefactor.
“Lim… Lim Doo-ho.”
“Yes, CEO.”
“…I will repay this debt.”
With those words, Choi Tae-jin bolted from the conference room.
Forget the mentor!
What’s happening to my company!
And then…
An official from the Industrial Science Complex hurried into the conference room.
Carrying a proposal to persuade Lim Doo-ho.
He had become a Macromancer.
Author |
Keongang E
Publication Date |
February 25, 2026
Publisher |
Talesyx
Website |
https://talesyx.com
Email |
[email protected]
ⓒ Keongang E, 2026
This publication is protected under copyright law and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission.
UCI |
G720:N+A277-20260210015.0061

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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
—————