Became a Mechromancer - Chapter 74

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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 74.
A Reversal of Fortune
Uwaaaaaaaa!
Cheers echo throughout Yeouido.
Ghost! Ghost! Ghost….
Hunters who read the world announcement pour out of their homes, chanting Ghost’s name in unison.
Overnight, two layers of the Abyss had consecutively shifted to ‘Extinction Reprieve’.
This time, they weren’t connected layers.
“Before, it was because the 2nd Floor and 3rd Floor were linked.”
“That’s right~ This time the floors are different, so our Ghost must’ve really flexed.”
“Exactly! The world announcement for the 4th Floor just went up two hours ago, and he already cleared it!”
High-ranked Hunters are indeed fast when they descend.
But the reason Ghost was called the strongest wasn’t speed—it was the sheer absurdity of what he accomplished.
“A Rock Crawler Queen on the 4th Floor? Have you ever heard of such a thing?”
“The 5th Floor is even crazier. He fought a god head-on and got ‘acknowledged’.”
“He erased the dragon without leaving a trace. The Quests people receive are different, I’m telling you.”
Rumors passed through people’s mouths, their foundations thickening, flesh layering upon bone.
Then someone brought up the real reason.
“Sigh… let’s be honest. When Changtian Clan kept slipping on the 82nd Floor, I almost emigrated.”
“I… my heart would race every time I looked at the calendar.”
The air around them grew heavy for a moment.
As people shuddered at the memory, someone spoke.
“That’s when Ghost appeared like a comet and cleared two layers, buying us time.”
“Right!”
“That’s true!”
Excitement surged back to life.
What about now?
“Besides the layers that vanished, he’s stockpiled five more layers!”
In other words.
Even if they fail to clear the 81st Floor.
“The god still has 25 months of validity remaining!”
Someone’s jest.
The people around them burst into laughter.

Their expressions showed they were finally able to live with their feet stretched out, truly at ease for the first time in ages.
No one here denied that Ghost had brought them this ordinary life.
Rather, they were deeply grateful for it.
Perhaps that’s why.
“Ghost, you must have had a rough time this round?”
“If only we knew your identity, we’d do anything for you. But there’s no way.”
“Why do you insist on carrying everything alone….”
Now worry had transformed into genuine concern, spreading through the air.
* * *
Go Gyeong-taek sat on the Living Room sofa, his lips trembling as he read the global announcement.
Ghost, Ghost, Ghost….
The cheers from outside were unbearable to hear.
Arrrrrgh!
He screamed.
Woooooo!
Cheers echoed from outside the window in response.
…I’m losing it.
“Why did these crazy bastards suddenly climb another floor!”
Twice in a single night.
He had no more excuses left for Han Hyun-chul, his maternal grandfather.
‘I’ll have to lay low for a while and see how things develop….’
Whirrrrr—!
Notifications flooded his smart glasses.
Among them was Han Hyun-chul as well.
The lies he’d spun seemed to be crashing down on him like an avalanche.
Then.
He spotted an unexpected name.
『Best Friend: Yuk Ji-ho』
“…Ji-ho?”
Go Gyeong-taek connected the channel with his finger, and a man appeared as a hologram in the air.
Yuk Ji-ho, who had awakened after moving to America in middle school, was a proud friend with tremendous recognition even there.
Yuk Ji-ho grinned widely, his skin darkened from the sun and his hair styled in a sporty cut.
-Taek, it’s been forever!
“Tell me about it. How long has it been?”
Though Go Gyeong-taek was in a tight spot, seeing his friend made all that feel like someone else’s problem.
‘This is true escapism.’
Then Yuk Ji-ho scratched his head and replied.
-Sorry about that. I’ve been pretty out of it lately. How have you been?
“Me? Well… more importantly, how are your wife and kid doing?”
-Haha. They’re absolutely adorable~.
The two exchanged updates for a while before Yuk Ji-ho’s expression grew serious.
-Gyeong-taek. You saw the global announcement, right?
“Man, you don’t waste any time asking.”
Go Gyeong-taek laughed bitterly.
“This place is a festival for everyone except me.”
-Everyone except you? What do you mean by that?
“There’s a headache of a situation. You’re about to attempt the 87th Floor of San Francisco, aren’t you?”
Yuk Ji-ho fell silent for a moment.
-Actually, that’s why I called you.
“Don’t tell me you’re trying to scout me?”
Yuk Ji-ho shook his head.
Then he said something unexpected.
-What good is being praised as the best and having lots of money?
“…What?”
-If you die in the Abyss, it’s all over.
Yuk Ji-ho continued with a bitter expression.
-A senior who was attempting the 86th Floor of the New York Abyss died not long ago.
“….”
-At the funeral, seeing his family… damn it. It all just felt so futile.
Go Gyeong-taek’s brow furrowed.
His friend—America’s greatest hunter with a beautiful wife and children, possessing everything.
From Go Gyeong-taek’s perspective, cornered at the edge of a cliff, his friend’s words stung.
Yuk Ji-ho, unaware of this, continued his lament.
-That day, I envied the androids. They have a whole new world opening up if they just succeed in transferring their consciousness to a clone.
Hey, Yuk Ji-ho!
“You’re envying androids? You’re talking like someone who’s never gone hungry.”
-Taek, I’m not even asking for immortality. Just….
Ji-ho’s voice trembled.
-The fear that I’ll die in the Abyss before my daughter even turns ten… it’s too much to bear….
While Yuk Ji-ho looked sorrowful, Go Gyeong-taek’s insides were boiling with rage.
‘I’m the one who looks like I’m about to kick the bucket!’
Then came Yuk Ji-ho’s next words.
-I’m going to apply for naturalization in Korea.
Go Gyeong-taek’s eyes widened.
Did you drink?
“If you change your nationality, your Abyss will transfer. How could a 86th Floor conqueror possibly be demoted to the 80th Floor?”
-What can I do? I looked into it, and dual citizenship seems to be getting harder to obtain.
Surprisingly, dual citizenship had special privileges. When entering the corresponding Abyss, one could enter directly up to the lowest floor where that Abyss had been successfully conquered.
So Yuk Ji-ho had aimed for dual citizenship, but recently America had caused a commotion over the Ghost incident, making it a lost cause.
“You don’t mean….”
Yuk Ji-ho nods.
-I’ll coordinate with like-minded friends and enter Korea without overlapping schedules.
“You think the American government will just let that slide?”
At Go Gyeong-taek’s question, Yuk Ji-ho chuckled softly.
-They can’t stop someone as strong as me. It’s more realistic to pressure the Korean government instead.
Yuk Ji-ho’s reason for contacting Go Gyeong-taek at this moment was crystal clear.
-Ghost has consecutively delayed the collapse of multiple floors.
“And?”
-That Ghost is entangled with my friend. If I enter Korea, how might the situation change?
Go Gyeong-taek’s heart raced as he listened to Yuk Ji-ho’s words.
Gyeong-taek.
-I’m going to establish my own guild. So connect my guild with the Changtian Clan.
“…Keep talking.”
-For the Changtian Clan to descend into the lower layers of the Abyss, they’ll need information from someone as strong as me.
“…!”
-Delaying the collapse buys time, but it’s not the end. Eventually, they’ll have to descend to the lower layers. What’s needed then is data from someone who’s already experienced it.
The picture Yuk Ji-ho painted thereafter was remarkably ideal.
Eventually, Ghost will reach the deepest layer. In preparation for that day, those who would conquer the deepest layers should delay as long as possible before joining forces.
-From then on, Ghost only needs to collapse one floor at a time. Then we’ll completely dismantle every layer of the Abyss.
Thump! Thump!
Go Gyeong-taek’s heart thundered.
‘Why didn’t I think of something like that?’
Yuk Ji-ho spoke with unwavering conviction.
-If Ghost lends his strength, we’ll complete the ultimate strategy.
“….”
-Complete annihilation of the Abyss.
Yuk Ji-ho was wagering his future to unleash a ‘strategy’.
Not in America, but in South Korea where Ghost exists!
Go Gyeong-taek fell silent for a moment.
It’s such a brilliant plan.
‘…My nose is three feet long.’
Wait, hold on!
If I play this right, isn’t this my lifeline?
Go Gyeong-taek’s eyes narrowed even further.
“I’ll cooperate.”
-I knew you’d say that, you bastard!
“On one condition—I become your second-in-command in the guild you’re building.”
-…!
A parasite’s choice for survival—clinging to power.
Honestly, deceiving the Changtian Clan over the Ghost issue any longer was becoming impossible.
I became convinced that it would be better to wage a war of public opinion while waiting for my friend to arrive, meeting with Ghost again to persuade him.
-I need to consult with my colleagues about this.
“Of course you should.”
-But you….
Yuk Ji-ho interjected abruptly.
-That connection link with Ghost—can you share it with me too?
“…!”
Cold sweat trickled down Go Gyeong-taek’s spine.
Honestly, I wanted to share it.
But.
‘That’s a scam, buddy….’
As silence fell, Yuk Ji-ho stepped back with a disappointed expression.
-If it’s difficult, just help me get settled in for now.
He ended the channel with a request to stay in touch.
Go Gyeong-taek stared into empty space.
Beyond his smart glasses, pending messages accumulated.
I’m their meal ticket, aren’t I?
“Once Ji-ho arrives….”
Go Gyeong-taek trailed off, leaning back against the sofa as he organized his thoughts.
* * *
An hour later.
Click.
Go Gyeong-taek removed his smart glasses and placed them on the living room charger.
Whirr—.
The smart house system detected the charging and projected a hologram into the air.
Go Gyeong-taek stared at Han Hyun-chul’s open channel among them.
I had deliberately stalled for an hour.
Hoping that accumulated anger would cloud his judgment.
‘If I drag this out any further, things will get messy.’
Go Gyeong-taek pressed the accept button.
Han Hyun-chul’s hologram materialized in the living room.
-Director Go! Are you in your right mind? If Ghost moves again….
“Chairman.”
Go Gyeong-taek cut him off decisively.
“This time, Ghost didn’t fail to contact us—he was unable to.”
-You think that excuse will fly?!
“It won’t, sir.”
-But then!
“It seems Ghost temporarily moved up to Floor 5 to prepare for the next strategy….”
-Moved up to Floor 5, what?!
“It seems I’ve been performing a forced Quest.”
Go Manager!
-Isn’t that merely your speculation?
“That’s correct. My speculation. However, there was another problem.”
Go Gyeong-taek continued immediately.
“The truth is, the hacked main chip bothered me, so I replaced it—and that was a grave mistake.”
-A m-mistake, you say?
Han Hyun-chul flinched slightly at the mention of the main chip.
He had intercepted the main chip midway because he didn’t trust Go Gyeong-taek, and had entrusted the reassignment to Blood Soo instead.
Unaware of this, Go Gyeong-taek continued his explanation.
“Since I replaced the chip, they would need to hack again to make contact.”
The problem was….
“That chip went to Blood S…”
-That’s enough!

Silence.
Han Hyun-chul cut him off with a sharp rebuke, preventing further probing.
As Go Gyeong-taek’s eyes narrowed, Han Hyun-chul deliberately adopted a displeased expression.
His grandson Go Gyeong-taek possessed an exceptionally keen sense of perception, after all.
Go Gyeong-taek shifted the direction of the conversation.
He couldn’t keep making excuses forever.
Moreover, for his own position, he decided to reveal fresh information.
“The reason my call with you was delayed is because I received contact from Yuk Ji-ho.”
-…Yuk Ji-ho?
Go Gyeong-taek spoke to Han Hyun-chul, who tilted his head in confusion.
“The Korean-American Hunter Yuk Ji-ho. My friend.”
-…?
Han Hyun-chul’s expression suggested he wondered why such irrelevant information was being brought up.
Go Gyeong-taek reframed the main point and delivered it.
“Hunter Yuk Ji-ho made me a scouting offer on the condition that he comes to Korea.”
-Wh-what?!
This caught Han Hyun-chul off guard; his eyes widened slightly.
Someone who lacks for nothing?
‘Coming here? But more than that….’
Go Gyeong-taek’s mention of this carried an underlying threat—that he would go there if things went wrong.
Han Hyun-chul’s voice dropped.
-So you’re trying to pressure me, your own grandfather?
“Me, pressuring you, Grandfather?”
Go Gyeong-taek’s words denied it outright.
Yet his expression held a subtle smile.
The two stared at each other in silence.
Han Hyun-chul felt his insides churning as he looked at his troublesome grandson.
When he thought about it, ever since Ghost appeared and Go Gyeong-taek became involved, it felt like walking through a mirage.
‘How much of what that bastard says should I believe?’
His own father had been a chronic liar too.
But what if all of this was the truth?
Then he’d essentially be handing Ghost’s connections over to Yuk Ji-ho intact.
In the end, he decided to play along and appease him, even if it meant being fooled.
Sigh….
-Gyeong-taek, you’re family. Don’t talk nonsense about being scouted….
Han Hyun-chul trailed off, his gaze fixed on Go Gyeong-taek’s back.
The reason was that the Android standing behind Go Gyeong-taek seemed to be listening to their conversation.
Go Gyeong-taek, noticing Han Hyun-chul’s gaze, turned around.
Then Coco raised her hand slightly in greeting.
Oh!
-Well, well, looks like I’m lucky today?
Go Gyeong-taek stared at Coco with a dazed expression.
Coco tilted her head with a sharp, mechanical precision.
What an expression.
-Did you think I couldn’t do anything after changing chips?
Seeing Coco hacked once again, Go Gyeong-taek felt tears prickling at his eyes from sheer joy.
He Became a Mech Romancer
Author |
Geongang 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 transmitted in any form without permission.
UCI |
G720:N+A277-20260210015.0074

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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
—————