Became a Mechromancer - Chapter 81

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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 81.
New Year’s Eve (2)
Tap tap tap.
I walked toward the glass wall.
I needed to organize my thoughts.
Beyond the thick glass, fish silhouettes occasionally flitted past.
“Hey, Lim Doo-ho. We don’t have time to stand around like this….”
“Just a moment.”
I cut off her words.
“Something’s bothering me.”
Though somewhat flustered, Hyun Se-hee decided to wait for now.
After all, she was the one who had asked for this.
I gazed blankly beyond the glass wall, organizing my thoughts.
The first time I experienced the Android’s eyes rotating on their own.
‘It was around late June….’
Back then, I was in Basement Level 2, in the Machine Upcycling Department.
To get straight to the point.
‘It wasn’t a mechanical defect.’
Reporting it upstairs was useless.
Since it occurred sporadically and returned to normal once we left that area, the only response I got was to not escalate the matter further.
Glance.
I glanced back at Hyun Se-hee for a moment.
An adult novelty shop, huh….
‘At this point, I need to verify something.’
I activated my smart watch.
Contacting someone at year’s end was impolite, but….
“Can’t be helped.”
I boldly connected the channel.
Soon, a hologram of Na Manager appeared in the air.
I greeted him with a bright smile.
Manager!
“Happy New Year!”
-Oh, yes. You take care too, Lim.
Before I could even broach the subject, Na Manager asked first.
-I doubt you called just to say that. What’s going on?
I scratched my cheek sheepishly.
“Actually, I’m at the Night Market right now.”
-Night Market?
“Yes, I’m calling because of the vitality supplement that Director Ham mentioned before….”
Na Manager’s expression shifts subtly.
-Lim, don’t tell me you went to buy that?
“No, no, that’s not it!”
Doo-ho quickly waved his hand.
Then he gave a brief explanation of the situation.
Na Manager listened in silence, then glanced past Doo-ho’s shoulder.
-So you’re moving with the Director-General right now?
Instead of answering, Doo-ho tilted his smart watch slightly to show Hyun Se-hee.
She, standing behind him, picked up on the cue and offered a greeting.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Hyun Se-hee, Director-General of the South Korea sector on Chiko Island.”
-Na Yong-seok, Manager of the Hunter Management Bureau.
A brief silence.
Na Manager’s expression turns businesslike.
-Director Hyun Se-hee. You’re aware that this matter bypassed proper procedure, aren’t you?
“Ah, yes. I sincerely apologize. The situation was quite grave, and I was fortunate enough to meet Lim Doo-ho. I apologize again.”
As she quickly acknowledged it, Na Manager’s expression softens once more.
Na Manager had been about to issue a warning not to treat his subordinates carelessly, but he held back.
He turned to Doo-ho again.
-So what does our Lim want to know?
“When you purchased it, and what it looked like.”
Na Manager searches his memory.
-I bought that around mid-June, but the item actually got switched.
Doo-ho clenched his fist.
‘The timing lines up perfectly!’
“Then perhaps you left the switched item on the 2nd Floor?”
Hmm?
Na Manager in the hologram raised and lowered one eyebrow.
-My, our Lim should’ve been a detective instead of an engineer, it seems?
Doo-ho laughed it off.
And internally.
‘So Manager was the culprit all along!’
Unaware of Doo-ho’s true thoughts, Na Manager continued.
-Going back to exchange it would be such a hassle since it’s so far. And I couldn’t just leave it anywhere, so I put it in the 2nd Floor storage.
Just then, Doo-ho’s smart watch vibrated briefly.
Curious, he saw it was a message from Park Gyu-tae.
Doo-ho set it aside for now.
Shortly after, Na Yong-seok described the item’s appearance and location, then glanced sideways to gauge the situation.
-I’m on a family trip right now, so I’m a bit concerned about the timing.
“Oh, no! I’m sorry.”
-Don’t apologize. Still… if anything happens, contact me right away. It’d be a disaster if our department’s ace got into trouble.
“Yes, sir!”
As the channel closed, Hyun Se-hee behind him swallowed a small breath.
‘As expected, Lim Doo-ho was a core talent at the Reboot Center.’
Meanwhile, Doo-ho immediately opened Park Deputy’s message.
It was a selfie of him pathetically holding cup ramen. A short caption was attached as well.
‘Studying hard so I won’t be a burden!’
He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You’ve changed quite a bit.”
His finger stopped just as he was about to close it.
The background behind the photo looked familiar.
He’s here?
Doo-ho quickly connected a channel to Park Deputy and turned around.
“Please wait just a bit longer.”
“It’s fine, go ahead with what you need to do.”
Hyun Se-hee answered with a smile.
Time was limited, but looking at the current situation, it was actually Doo-ho who was unraveling the case.
Moments later, Park Deputy’s hologram appeared in the air.
“Park Deputy, you came to the Hunter Management Bureau even though it’s a holiday?”
-You know I’m lacking in a lot of ways. There’s nothing special to do on a day off anyway. So I came out. But I’ll be heading back in a bit. I’m worried about the security Android noticing….
It was hard to believe a person could change this much, but work was more important right now.
So Doo-ho got to the point.
“Park Deputy, I have one favor to ask of you.”
-Huh? Yeah, go ahead.
“It might be a burdensome request.”
The smile faded from Park Deputy’s face.
-Why, why? What is it?
“Could you go down to the warehouse on Basement Level 2 right now, find one item, and send me a photo of it?”
Park Deputy’s face went pale in an instant.
-B-Basement Level 2?
“Yes.”
-Alone?
Doo-ho nodded.
Park Deputy’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.
He wasn’t sure if this would reassure him.
“It’s about the Android’s eye problem—I think I’ve actually found the cause.”
Park Deputy’s eyes widened.
-The cause?
“Yes.”
-Wasn’t it a ghost…?
He shook his head.
Lim Doo-ho shook his head.
Park Deputy swallowed hard at that.
-Tell me.
“Well, here’s what happened….”
.
.
.
After hearing Lim Doo-ho’s full explanation, Park Deputy’s expression grew somewhat deflated.
-Wait! Let me come take a look.
“If it’s too much trouble, you don’t have to come.”
-No, I’m coming. Let me come!
With those words, the communication cut off.
Lim Doo-ho turned around and looked at Hyun Se-hee.
She blinked her round eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just give me the shop’s location, and from here on, we’ll move separately.”
“Separately?”
Hyun Se-hee checked the time while pressing her temple. Thirty minutes had already passed just getting here.
Of course, they hadn’t made zero progress.
In fact, they’d gained quite a bit.
But still….
‘Lim Doo-ho… I can’t figure out what this person is thinking at all.’
Then Lim Doo-ho explained calmly.
“I’ll go in as if I’m here to browse adult products.”
“And me?”
“Manager, when I send a signal via my smartwatch, please let just one Android inside.”
Hyun Se-hee’s brow furrowed.
Her expression showed she was beginning to grasp his intent.
Lim Doo-ho continued.
“If the same phenomenon occurs, then the item must be inside that shop. Since I’ll be in there, the shop owner won’t be able to remove it carelessly. Then you can come in and handle the rest.”
A brief silence fell.
Hyun Se-hee stared intently at Lim Doo-ho.
For just a moment, Lim Doo-ho seemed like an expressionless robot.
She couldn’t explain why she had that impression.
One thing was certain.
This person’s work capability is extraordinary.
‘Now I understand why the Hunter Management Bureau takes care of Lim Doo-ho.’
Hyun Se-hee nodded.
“Let’s do it that way.”
* * *
A while later.
Doo-ho gazed up at the storefront.
『Let’s Play』
The unforgettable hologram sign caught his eye.
He found himself glancing nervously at his surroundings.
‘This is more embarrassing than I expected.’
Then his eyes met those of Hyun Se-hee, who stood at a distance.
She clenched her fist and struck a fighting pose.
Doo-ho’s brow furrowed involuntarily.
‘Is this really the moment for a fighting pose?’
Just as Doo-ho was about to step inside, he swallowed a sigh.
A man carrying a paper bag emerged from within.
The elderly shopkeeper called out to him from inside.
“Hey, Zhang Wei. You’re taking just that? You said you didn’t have much time.”
Zhang Wei glanced at Doo-ho, then answered briefly in Chinese.
“I’ll be back.”
Doo-ho watched Zhang Wei’s retreating figure and murmured to himself.
‘Since this is the Neutral Zone, Chinese customers come here too.’
And he stepped inside the shop.
Ding.
The entrance sensor chimed, and Doo-ho flinched.
The shopkeeper looked at Doo-ho.
“First time?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Well, there’s nothing to be ashamed of—stand tall and proud!”
“Y-yes!”
Take your time looking around. If you have any questions, just ask me.”
Doo-ho nodded awkwardly and began surveying the shop.
Everything seemed to have a pinkish tint.
It was sweltering.
Ugh, why is it so hot?
-Master, why are your ears so red? Croak.
‘Yeah, they always are.’
-Don’t be embarrassed. We’re undercover right now, aren’t we? Croak.
Doo-ho couldn’t help but laugh.
When he thought about it, Bom-i felt like a life mentor.
Afterward, the two of them browsed the display cases.
Bom-i’s harsh critiques came as a bonus.
-Why are they selling vibration crystals stuck on sticks? Croak!
-Since when did potion ingredients become stamina boosters? Croak!
In short, it’s definitely an item.
The only problem was that its intended purpose had been twisted.
But then….
‘If I keep searching for them one by one like this, there’s no end to it….’
Whirring.
Just then, my smartwatch vibrated.
Opening it, I found the message I’d been waiting for from Park Deputy.
I checked the message while avoiding the shop owner’s gaze.
The first of two photos showed a green stone nestled inside an old wooden box.
‘So that’s what it looks like.’
And as I looked at the very next photo, I smiled faintly.
It was a selfie of Park Deputy with bloodshot eyes, giving a thumbs up.
『I think I’ve overcome it!』
That message was written there.
‘He must have been pretty terrified.’
Still, it worked out well.
Based on this photo, I scan the shop interior again.
But.
It wasn’t visible anywhere.
‘Let’s proceed with the plan.’
I send a signal to Hyun Se-hee via smartwatch.
Whirring, whirring.
Soon, with a motor sound, the security Android enters the shop.
The shop owner’s eyes widen in shock.
Oh no.
“D-don’t come in….”
Crash!
Before he can even finish speaking, the Android loses its balance and tumbles onto the display shelf.
Looking closely, the Android’s eyes are spinning wildly, preventing it from maintaining balance.
Oh dear!
“What is this madness!”
The startled owner shouts in fury.
“Why are you causing trouble in someone else’s shop! Get out. Get out of here!”
Passersby outside notice the commotion and gradually crowd toward the shop entrance.
In all this chaos, my gaze remains fixed solely on the owner’s movements.
Just as I thought.
‘…Something’s off.’
Why isn’t he moving away from that spot despite all his shouting?
Of course, he might be worried about the Android getting hurt.
But.
Despite the register being in its original location, he deliberately lingers only around the wooden crate on the opposite side.
‘Is that it?’
Hesitation only wastes time.
Sssss.
Soul Bot flows out from my fingertips.
Since people can’t see it anyway, there’s no reason to hesitate.
The Soul Bot avoids the shop owner’s legs and touches the bottom of the crate.
As Doo-ho channels mana through it, a small hole opens instantly.
Bounce. Whoosh.
Bom-i, who had already sensed his intention and descended to the floor, quickly thrust her head into the hole.
Master.
-Wooden boxes are packed full in here, ribbit.
Bingo!
Doo-ho sends another signal via his smart watch.
And soon.
“Make way! Management Bureau!”
Hyun Se-hee and the awakened staff members push through the onlookers and burst into the shop.
Doo-ho staggers backward in feigned surprise.
Seeing his act, Hyun Se-hee clicks her tongue inwardly.
The more I see him, the more fascinating he becomes.
‘He could make a decent actor.’
She plays along by grabbing his arm and shouts decisively.
“Everyone except authorized personnel, please leave!”
“Ah, yes!”
With that, Doo-ho becomes an uninvolved customer in this incident.
Doo-ho, pretending to exit the shop, whispers low.
“Open the crate.”
Hyun Se-hee’s lips curve upward.
As she approaches the crate, the shop owner’s face flushes red as he deliberately lashes out in Chinese.
She activates simultaneous translation on her smart watch.
Soon the shop owner’s shout flows out translated.
-This is a neutral zone! How dare you touch me, a Chinese person?!
Hyun Se-hee smirks, her lips curving upward.

“Kim Chul-su, or should I say Jintesh? Don’t worry. I’ll clean this up without touching anything.”
Whirrrrr.
In that instant, an absurd pressure erupted from Hyun Se-hee’s body, mingling with mana and exploding outward.
Craaaaaack!
The surrounding objects were relentlessly crushed, and the suffocating pressure sent the shop owner crumpling to the floor.
“Gasp…!”
As Hyun Se-hee took a step forward, the shop owner instinctively crawled out of the way.
Only then did the Awakened employees pry open the crate.
But.
Huh?
The interior was completely empty.
The shocked employees and Hyun Se-hee.
The owner seized the moment and began hurling curses.
Seeing this, Bom-i spoke to me.
Master.
-Actually, the most expensive item in this shop is that crate, ribbit.
“So what should I do?”
-Why overthink it? Just like when we drilled a hole in the crate’s bottom, simply destroy the box itself, ribbit.
Hearing that, I immediately extended my Soul Bot to envelop the entire crate.
In that moment, I pushed mana into it.
Crack!
The crate shattered into pieces,
And tumbled down.
Wooden boxes hidden inside came pouring out.
That was when.
A Cyborg Man pushed through the crowd of onlookers gathered in front of the shop.
‘What’s going on here?’
The moment the man saw the spilled wooden boxes.
Wh-what?!
The man’s pupils began trembling uncontrollably.
“Wh-why are my eyes like this?!!”
The man staggered and collapsed to the ground.
And….
Hyun Se-hee’s expression twisted upon witnessing this.
Became a Mecromancer
Author |
Geon-gang E
Published |
February 25, 2026
Publisher |
TalesYX
Homepage｜
https://talesyx.com
Email｜
[email protected]
ⓒ Keongang E, 2026
This publication is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced or copied without permission.
UCI｜
G720:N+A277-20260210015.0081

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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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