The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 345

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 345
345.
“I will do everything in my power to help.”
Tabuk solidified his resolve upon seeing Jin-woo’s Undead Mechanic.
Even if their forces were small, it didn’t matter.
With Jin-woo at the center, simply assisting him would surely allow them to turn the situation around.
Tabuk observed the materials the Mechanical Engineers were holding.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll provide you with the materials properly.”
He then sprang to his feet and headed toward one corner of the Workshop.
“This is something I can only open myself. I should have mentioned it earlier.”
As he smiled and placed his hand on the Workshop wall, a deep hum resonated and the wall began to glow.
“This is a storehouse only I can access. I had it created due to the unease Hamus caused, and I’ve been storing materials here.”
Crash!
As the Workshop’s storehouse opened, its interior came into view.
The storehouse contained numerous materials arranged with meticulous order.
Jin-woo and Baxter’s party stepped inside.
“Wow…….”
“Look at these High-Grade Rune Stones!”
“Various alloys… screws… circuit connectors too.”
“Incredible. Isn’t this the rare Sacra Natural Diamond? I can’t believe so much of this precious material is stacked here.”
At least a dozen Sacra Natural Diamonds, each glowing with pale yellow light mixed with green, were visible.
All dozen of those materials were Grade A or higher.
Tabuk’s expression showed satisfaction at their reaction.
“I’ve assembled this by dedicating my entire fortune. I even gathered some pieces despite risking suspicion.”
Tabuk spoke.
“I never imagined I’d face such circumstances.”
Being confined like this was one thing, but he’d never imagined it was to be used this way from the very beginning.
“If I’d become bait by mistake and killed those walking the same path…… it would have been unforgivable.”
“Someone capable of such actions…….”
“It’s highly likely that others have suffered the same fate and remain imprisoned.”
Hamus was cruel.
“Special Months could never have orchestrated this. They lack the deep understanding of Mechanical Engineering needed.”
Such a scheme could only be conceived by a specialist in Mechanical Engineering.
“Hamus…… what on earth has happened to him? You all know it. Hamus was never such a cruel man.”
“……From what I know, that’s correct.”
“Yes. Council Member Hamus was as fragile as his Ether Core Theory. He suffered greatly within his family, and even after being forced into a Council position, he was constantly swayed by them.”
The family he belonged to was on a path of decline.
Yet his Council seat was not immediately revoked, so the family pressured their only son, Hamus, ruthlessly to maintain that position.
They claimed he was the family’s glory.
That everything could change because of him.
So they denied him sleep, demanded he live solely for the family’s sake.
He could not pursue his desires, could not eat what he wished, and even lost the one he loved.
“When his lover died…… wasn’t there even a rumor that the family had assassinated her?”
Before his lover’s death, Hamus had desperately tried to carve out a space of his own, to escape the family.
His Council seat was one thing, but he was fighting against the immense responsibility that weighed on his shoulders.
Yet after his lover’s death, he grew even more fragile and lived entirely for the family.
Of course, work done under duress cannot succeed, and at some point he began receiving the worst evaluations, eventually facing the loss of his Council position altogether.
“Perhaps researching Ether Core Theory was his way of trying to create his own domain and maintain his Council seat.”
Tabuk spoke thus and clicked his tongue.
Then he ventured deeper into the Workshop’s storehouse.
“This is truly precious. This is what I suffered through to obtain.”
Tabuk lifted out a massive box.
Inside that enormous box lay a gleaming mineral.
“Frost Titanium.”
A sharp shimmer.
Titanium glowing with blue light rested within.
-Frost Titanium [MR+]
It was material of MR+ Grade.
This Workshop of Tabuk’s contained materials more precious than all the materials obtained from District D combined.
Jin-woo gathered all the materials from the Workshop’s storehouse that Tabuk provided.
“Mm.”
It was an impressive lineup that warranted admiration.
“High-Grade Rune Stones.”
Following the Frost Titanium, what next caught the eye was the High-Grade Rune Stone.
-High-Grade Rune Stone [MR+]
Until now, Jin-woo had never once worked with a quality Rune Stone.
From Baxter’s Workshop in Positano onward, even here in Sacra, he’d only used mediocre Rune Stones.
‘The Pozitarium Baxter created is likely a High-Grade Rune Stone.’
He’d only seen it as a completed product and never used one before, so this was his first time seeing a High-Grade Rune Stone itself.
“So this is what ‘high-grade’ means.”
Jin-woo marveled as he observed the High-Grade Rune Stone.
A sharp shimmer.
Despite it being unprocessed, the Rune Energy bursting forth could be felt with striking clarity.
“Is this your first time seeing a High-Grade one?”
“I’ve never even used one.”
“Then you’ll be quite surprised. Very much so.”
Tabuk smiled.
Jin-woo immediately placed the High-Grade Rune Stone on the work table.
A resonant hum.
Rune Energy spread outward like lightning. Jin-woo studied the Rune Energy carefully.
‘How elegant.’
Each material possesses its own distinct force characteristics. In this Rune Energy, Jin-woo sensed elegance.
What could he create?
Or rather, what did it wish to become?
‘What do you wish to become?’
Until now, seeing materials had always sparked ideas of what to make.
Observing their traits, feeling their texture, and then naturally a sense of what to craft would emerge.
‘I never asked until now.’
So Jin-woo asked.
What it wished to become.
Tabuk continued providing materials.
Jin-woo remained unable to take his eyes from the Rune Stone.
New crafting methods and new materials.
And with new crafting tools acquired as well, Jin-woo’s mind continued to spin with fervent intensity.
A sharp shimmer.
As if transformed into a Mechanical Engineering apparatus, steam rose from Jin-woo’s body.
“And this is…….”
At that moment, Baxter quietly brought Tabuk over.
“No need for further explanation, Tabuk. He’s already entered concentration.”
He was recalling the battle with Alliema.
The equipment they had wielded.
The numbers.
Combat mechanics.
The attack patterns of Abyss and JU-2.
He could gauge just how powerful the Undead Mechanic was and obtain precise numerical data on the enemy.
Moreover, he could discern the level of the combat mechanics and the equipment they carried.
And.
‘The power my Familiars currently possess.’
Like interlocking gears, they meshed and spun with fierce momentum.
‘I’ve gained much from the battle with Alliema.’
Currently, Jin-woo’s Familiars had not yet experienced the utility of Mechanical Engineering equipment.
‘If I equip First and Pur with Mechanical Engineering apparatus, they’ll be capable of far more than they are now.’
Weapons were unnecessary.
His plan was to gift these two the utility that Mechanical Engineering equipment possessed.
‘The hazy picture is becoming clear.’
This matter in Sacra Engineering City was not something Jin-woo could handle alone.
Tangled circumstances and weak allies.
As for forces, only Jin-woo himself could fight on his side.
‘It’s decided.’
The direction forward was now set.
‘There’s no need for caution anymore.’
Having knocked on the door, he could now break down the front gate and enter.
Jin-woo, about to grip the Hammer, paused.
‘I’ll wait.’
He wanted to begin crafting right now, but this was a moment to exercise restraint.
Click. Click.
With his mental organization complete, Jin-woo looked toward Tabuk.
“Tabuk.”
“Yes, Jin-woo.”
“I have a request.”
“Anything I’m capable of, I will do!”
Tabuk held infinite gratitude toward Jin-woo, his benefactor.
Moreover, upon witnessing the Mechanical Engineering mechanic that Jin-woo had created—the Undead Mechanic—he felt considerable respect as a Mechanical Engineer himself.
“Are you well-versed in Ether Core Theory? Could I possibly learn it?”
Jin-woo was already Baxter’s student, having inherited Baxter’s Magic Core Theory.
That Jin-woo now wished to learn Ether Core Theory surprised Tabuk. He looked at Jin-woo, then turned to Baxter behind him.
“Don’t be constrained by theory. He’s my student, but he’s an excellent Mechanical Engineer. Just keep that in mind.”
Baxter did not wish for Jin-woo to learn only Magic Core Theory. Both theories had their merits.
There was no need to be absorbed into a single approach.
“Understood. I will transmit the Ether Core Theory I possess. Don’t worry about time. Since you’ve learned Magic Core Theory, you’ll pick up Ether Core Theory quickly.”
Tabuk smiled.
“Then let’s head toward the Harbor for now…….”
“No.”
Jin-woo spoke.
“We’ve reclaimed this place. If we retreat now, it will be taken from us again.”
“……Then you cannot learn Ether Core Theory. It’s too dangerous.”
Now it was known that Jin-woo had achieved victory against Alliema and occupied this district.
Within mere hours, then.
Or perhaps in less than an hour, a counterattack was highly likely to come.
If that happened, learning Ether Core Theory would be impossible.
It’s not something you can learn in a few hours.
“That’s fine.”
Jin-woo spoke.
“I’ll learn what I can in the time we have.”
“……Understood.”
Tabuk clenched his fist.
“My role will be significant!”
* * *
“……?”
He had to teach everything he could in the short window of time available.
So Tabuk strived with all his might. He needed to teach it simply enough for immediate comprehension, so he poured all his effort into it.
Furthermore, he was tense.
Not knowing when Special Months would come, not knowing when combat mechanics would break through and demolish the Workshop, he maintained considerable tension while teaching.
And then 2 hours passed.
“I’ve learned well.”
The time it took Jin-woo to grasp the essence of Ether Core Theory was exactly 2 hours.
In just 2 hours, he learned everything and even created Mechanical Engineering Goggles by directly applying Ether Core Theory.
Click.
Tabuk’s jaw dropped as he observed what was visible through the Mechanical Engineering Goggles Jin-woo had created.
“You’ve made them very well…….”
The excellently crafted Mechanical Engineering Goggles showed a stark difference from goggles made using Magic Core Theory.
“What’s next?”
“Next?”
Tabuk shook his head.
“That’s all I can teach you. There’s nothing left.”
There truly was nothing left.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————