#279
Technological Revolution (1)
Born as an avatar through the precious mining pick ‘Elin’ of Jaonic, Howard.
While dedicating himself to creating using the body of a different race, he suddenly realized something.
“Indeed. It must be difficult for other races not to feel a sense of deprivation.”
It was the fraudulent nature of the ‘Dwarves.’
Technology, after all, is the aggregate of countless artisans’, craftsmen’s, and engineers’ blood, sweat, experiences, and theories accumulated over long generations, a golden tower of knowledge built from their endless agony and research.
As such, it is only natural that there are limits to learning and developing in a short period.
“That’s common sense.”
But the race that completely disregarded such a system was the Dwarves.
Their mindset and sensory functions were fundamentally different from those of other races.
Their creative logic was so original that it was insufficient to describe it merely as creativity, instinctively performing delicate processes that surpassed precise machines and understanding even complicated calculations purely through intuition.
Truly, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were a race specialized in creating something from birth.
“Had they not had flaws in other aspects, the Dwarves might have been the race to dominate the world.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, despite their unreasonable genius in crafting, they lacked a sense of despairingly low levels in various other fields.
If they had lacked such talents, it wouldn’t have been strange if they had gone extinct or fallen to slavery long ago.
“Oooh— So this is… indeed!”
And this overwhelming talent of the Dwarves was passed down to the avatar, Howard.
In a secret hideout near Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Howard’s eyes sparkled as they lit up when he was summoned remotely inside the warehouse.
Before him stood various magical equipment he had gathered from different worlds, lined up as if they were treasures.
“Indeed, seeing them in person is another thing! All the functions are alive and well!”
The vividness that hit his senses was completely different from what he had felt indirectly.
This was a sensation so fresh compared to the objects he encountered while having lost their uniqueness after moving into Auterica.
“Heh, this is fascinating. What on earth is this made of?”
He picked up a metallic ornament shaped like a beast’s tooth and gazed at it closely while sniffing it.
Lick—
Not stopping there, he even licked it with his tongue.
“Chomp, calcium phosphate? It seems to be closer to bone than a tooth. Indeed, while it’s metallic, it has biological qualities. Did they cast a spell on it? The heat treatment looks awfully crude, but paying attention to maintain the properties of the material isn’t so bad.”
Howard, an educated Dwarf with a good grasp of Earth’s scientific knowledge, nodded seriously as he raised his specially crafted glasses with one hand.
The shining lenses along with the fluffy white laboratory coat he wore made him appear exceptionally intellectual.
“Despite appearances, I’m already recognized as a craftsman by Jaonic.”
To him, items unique to another world containing peculiar systems were no less than a sumptuous feast laid out before him.
Like when Hans first encountered the magic of other worlds.
Or when he finally comprehended the “Path of Magic.”
And this appreciation peaked when he laid eyes on the enhanced exoskeleton collected from Yul Ryeong-ja.
“Ha!”
The moment he saw it, inspiration erupted like a volcano, breaking the confines that had trapped him.
Is this what a breakthrough feels like?
“This…”
After seeing, hearing, feeling, tapping, smelling, and tasting, Howard could finally confirm one fact.
“This is definitely a product made by Dwarves.”
Dwarves from another dimension, of course, wouldn’t be entirely the same as the Dwarves from Auterica to which Howard belonged.
Perhaps even their race name, appearance, or other detailed traits might be completely different.
“But…”
The fundamental framework that underlies it is undoubtedly that of his fellow kind.
The “Dwarven Creative Logic” deeply ingrained in Howard was fiercely asserting this.
“Fascinating. Is there some sort of open-source for creating sentient beings shared among gods?”
The question that had arisen while encountering vampires from various dimensions surged back again.
But what mattered to him right now was not the secrets of such worlds.
Howard puffed out his cheeks, fervently indulging in the civilization’s fruits before him.
“Oooh— Magnificent. Simply magnificent!”
A race with an absolute advantage in technology—the Dwarves.
Yet, despite their existence, the scientific level of Auterica wasn’t particularly high.
There were many reasons for this, but in the end, one stood out.
“It’s the environment. To be more precise… it can be called civilization.”
This was a world where monsters faced armies alone, and it wasn’t impossible for a single spell to wipe out a castle.
In fact, the Undead King had once ravaged half the continent.
Naturally, the ultimate goal of the Dwarves would be influenced by this.
To create legendary holy swords that can cut through anything, impenetrable armors akin to moving fortresses, magical tools that embody miracles, and so on.
And for them to end up in the hands of qualified individuals to vanquish great evils.
“There must be differences in the foundational scientific knowledge. Perhaps the ‘worldview’ of the dimension subtly influences it.”
But here, in Earth, where civilizations from various dimensions intersect, Howard was different.
The Dwarf dressed in a researcher’s attire with glasses flashed a satisfied grin as he stroked his beard.
He was bound by nothing.
No one could interrupt his growth, and the world couldn’t limit the direction of his creation.
“Huheuheu! My hands are itching to get started!”
Howard moved busily, waiting for the activation of the time-accelerating barrier Hans had painstakingly installed in the Incheon hideout, “Room of Time and Space.”
Since time-space magic was exceptionally intricate and had to be discreetly unfolded, even for Hans, it could only be maintained for about a day at most.
“Ten times accelerated time isn’t so bad. At least it’s on par with when I was in the other world.”
Having already made all the necessary preparations while getting the heterosis setup ready, the only thing left for him to do was devote himself entirely to his research.
Also, he was presently under the effect of the ‘Leap of Growth.’
[Hoo— Shall we begin?]
Soon, Hans quietly revealed himself outside the hideout, activating the barrier, and the time inside began to flow at a different pace than the outside world.
“Oh! The more I look at this exoskeleton, the more fascinating it becomes!”
“Hmm, by the way, this enhanced exoskeleton was given by that Doctor to Yul Ryeong-ja. Indeed, it’s quite different from the others. Is it handmade using materials from the other world?”
“If someone can do it, why can’t I? Let’s give it a try!”
Continuously muttering to himself, Howard moved passionately.
Time flowed, and when the hour hand on the clock indicated nearly a full rotation…
《The individual has gained enlightenment through repeated training. Acquired Skill: “Magic Engineering.”》
It seemed that through consistent consumption of the Leap of Growth and diligent training, the fruits were beginning to emerge, as less than five days had passed since Howard entered intensive training, gaining a deeper understanding of Magic Engineering.
Just as the external time reached around a mere single day, and ten days passed in internal time before the barrier lost its power—
‘…I think I get it now.’
《The individual has achieved the conditions, unlocking potential. Acquired Special Skill: “Technological Revolution.”》
Finally, he managed to achieve the modest outcome he had initially set as his goal.
Even earlier than he had anticipated.
[Individual Information]
-Individual Name: Howard
-Race: Dwarf
-Common Traits: “Mind Hub,” “Persona,” “Super Recovery,” “Clear Mind,” “Great Strength,” “Hyperesthesia,” “Insight,” “Xenoglossy”
-Individual Traits: “Craftsmanship,” “Dwarven Creative Logic,” “Song of Fire and Metal,” “Spirit of the Artisan,” “Technological Revolution,” “Alchemy,” “Fine Workmanship,” “Magic Engineering”
-Special Notes: Under the influence of the ‘Leap of Growth,’ additional growth corrections are granted to all actions. Through consistent effort, he explored Magic Engineering and grasped its essence. Using “Technological Revolution,” he can intervene in items produced by techniques from other worlds and modify some aspects of them.
‘…Wait a minute, if I use this well…’
This could perhaps yield greater outcomes than expected.
*
In the imperial hospital located on one side of the Azerion Empire’s Imperial Palace.
After the attack by the masked individuals, including the Dark Knight Stav, Hesperon found himself once again confined to the hospital.
“Well, is it really not possible?”
“It is not. You must remain absolutely stable while we monitor the situation a bit longer. Don’t worry; we’ve procured the sacred incense for nerve relaxation from the church, as well as aroma therapy and massages. We can summon wizards at any time to assist you, so please rest comfortably here.”
Even though a considerable amount of time had passed since the treatment for the side effects, the medical staff, under the direct orders of the princess, remained steadfast despite Hesperon’s continual protests claiming he was fine.
Their true priority shouldn’t have been him after all.
– Riley, I’m really okay now.
– …I’m sorry. We’re almost finished here, so please bear with me a little longer. Once I return, I’ll sort everything out quickly.
Riley, connected through the “Chain of Pact,” replied in a apologetic tone.
He actually understood why she was being so cautious.
Even being hospitalized, the entire atmosphere of the palace felt quite oppressive.
Ever since the last incident involving Princess Riley’s attack.
After the chaos involving the Imperial Guard Captain had settled down, the defenses of the capital had become even more stringent in the few months that followed.
Naturally, this failed abduction of Hesperon was also something that should have never happened in the first place.
After all, the empire was the mightiest in the continent, and no one could dispute that the capital was at its heart.
“But the fact that it actually happened…”
No matter how much one could say that there were security gaps in the outermost slums, it was still no excuse to gloss over the matter.
Regardless of the circumstances, the results were now undeniably clear.
Someone in the upper ranks had intentionally left gaps in the security, creating a crime scene where the outlaw was captured.
Not to mention that the former captain of the Imperial Guard, who was rumored to have been killed, was now corrupted by dark magic.
“The royal family’s face has taken quite a hit.”
Even if the objective of the operation was to target a member of the royal family or just an insignificant guest, it did not change the fact.
How hurt must their pride be for the emperor himself, who had been stepping back and supporting the princess, to take direct action?
It was a clear indication that the lines that had been turned a blind eye in their dealings with the family had been crossed.
– It was a move out of desperation. However, given the current situation, we cannot know what madness they might attempt, so for now, this is the safest place. The hospital director is completely neutral, but anything happening in his hospital he absolutely does not overlook. In fact, apart from the captain of the guard, he’s likely the strongest inside the palace.
– Oh, so it’s that significant?
– I heard he’s a senior to Marquis Lawrence of the Magic Tower. Apparently, he altered his career path for personal reasons.
– I see…
Hesperon acknowledged this, yet he couldn’t help but click his tongue in frustration.
After all, to sum it up, it meant he should remain quietly for now, as it was dangerous.
“While I appreciate the concern…”
He temporarily entertained the thought of making a quick trip to Earth, but the current situation left him feeling entrenched.
Of course, if he wanted, he could always use Summoning Release to sneak off at any time, but if he did that, an even greater commotion would ensue.
“Life signs within the palace would be checked in real-time, after all.”
Furthermore, hadn’t the hospital director allegedly been a great magician beyond even the Magic Tower’s standards?
He thought that as soon as he vanished, an emergency would be declared, and if he were to reappear within the palace immediately after…
“It won’t end in an awkward situation.”
“Tsk, I was so eager to do it right away, but I guess I have to put it off for later… Wait a second. Thinking about it, there’s really no need to go all the way to Earth, right?”
After a moment’s contemplation, a glint appeared in Hesperon’s eyes as he jumped up.
With a brisk stride, one of his hands was already clutching a smooth ivory orb, devoid of any discernible energy—a mere decorative sphere.
