Chapter 262
Chapter: 262
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 262
>Chapter Title: Source Editor (2)
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After that, Dexter's long-winded explanations continued for a while.
The grand birth of the Homunculus Engine and the mysterious power of the Oracle that formed its foundation. The unsolved mysteries still contained within the Milestone.
It felt less like the scientific history of a world and more like listening to myths or ghost stories.
Thanks to that, Seongjin briefly wondered if Dexter was actually an engineer or just a yellow journalist obsessed with UFOs and conspiracy theories.
But fortunately, the explanation didn't last long. While Dexter was chattering away, distracted, Seongjin swiftly snatched the Milestone from his hand.
"Urk...!"
Dexter gaped at the crimson gem now in Seongjin's grasp. His face was as forlorn as a child who'd had a candy snatched away mid-lick.
Ignoring him, Seongjin thrust the Ice Heart toward him instead and spoke firmly.
"Look at this first. I'll give you time to study the Milestone later."
"But...!"
"Mr. Dexter. As I said, this comes first."
Did he think there was time to dawdle like this? With his father, always plagued by insufficient karma, able to stay in this place for long?
Facing Seongjin's icy expression, Dexter had no choice but to bow his head.
"Then, you must show it to me later...!"
"I swear it on the honor of this elder."
Of course, it held no value to him, nor did he have the authority to swear by it.
But that seemed enough. With a resigned face, Dexter swallowed his tears and picked up the Ice Heart.
"...Kkh!"
Ah, I'll give it back later!
So stop making that lost kingdom Logan face. You're making my resolve waver.
In any case, taking the Milestone hostage was a brilliant move. After that, Dexter was exceedingly cooperative.
He placed the items Seongjin had requested in a row before a massive machine that occupied an entire wall of the workshop and began the analysis.
Homunculus Engine Source Editor.
It had a name that sounded like adware full of malware, but Dexter had explained several times that this machine was the pinnacle of Ionian over-technology.
The circuit boards embedded with densely packed, antiquated crystals did look quite impressive on the surface.
"This one first?"
"Yes, it's the Ice Heart from the Glacier Troll."
Dexter placed the Ice Heart on the analysis plate and activated the machine. The small crystals on the boards flashed chaotically, and soon a massive screen filled with lines of text. Even Dexter looked startled, his eyes widening.
〚Glacier Troll's Ice Heart〛
〚Divine relic obtained from Glacier Troll King, boss of Jeradubelly Dungeon. Sets activity conditions for registered entities and allows commands via simple sentences.〛
〚Item Grade: A〛
〚*Cannot confirm Northland server at this time.〛
It included the information Seongjin had once seen with his divine eyes. Perfectly intact, in complete text form.
"This is indeed a high-grade item. It's just not properly converted, so it doesn't function in reality. There are an enormous number of concepts packed inside. The data is unnecessarily heavy."
Dexter explained it was probably because it wasn't originally created with the Homunculus Engine.
Indeed, records of Glacier Trolls appearing in the demon realm dated back at least several hundred years.
That sparked another question in Seongjin.
"But earlier, you said the Homunculus Engine was developed in Ionia not long ago. Just a few decades. How could an item from the source realms exist before that?"
Hadn't he said the concept of source realms itself wasn't that old?
"It's true that source realms have proliferated rapidly recently based on the Homunculus Engine. But time doesn't flow the same across dimensions, and before source realms, there were entirely different forms of sources. Namely, 'games.'"
"'Games'?"
He'd certainly gotten that vibe before. But Seongjin feigned ignorance and asked back.
"Yes, I heard one of the engineers based the engine on that. In fact, my connection to Ionian technology came through a game company called Impulse Soft."
Dexter scratched his head, looking a bit troubled.
"Hmm. How to explain this. It might be unfamiliar to otherworldly beings like you. But aside from the underlying theory, the way the Homunculus Engine operates is remarkably similar to Earth's 'games.'"
That's why game data sometimes converted poorly into source realms. It happened frequently when the rules governing source realms recognized it as source data.
Games themselves could transform into entirely new worlds. They were called "proto-source realms." The name distinguished them from meticulously crafted worlds built on the Homunculus Engine.
"The Glacier Troll you controlled with this probably wasn't in its proper form either. Want to see the original?"
Dexter fiddled with the boards, and soon an image of a massive monster appeared on the screen. A crude beast with enormous tusks and long white fur.
It evoked a yeti, but it was far closer to the name "Glacier Troll" than the current inanimate form.
"This is also source data from an unknown origin. Very primitive, with a polygonal skeleton. When it gains physical form through source realm laws, the shape collapses entirely and even defies main world physics."
Seongjin nodded, scrutinizing the screen.
The Glacier Troll had indeed moved in utterly incomprehensible ways. Without bones or joints to support it, swinging arms around an empty pivot in midair like a floating ice mass.
"So, how can we modify it now?"
Dexter suggested altering the Ice Heart's shape first. A round spherical ice lump was cold and cumbersome to carry.
"Shall I make it a flat stone? Reworking unidentified sources like this with the Homunculus Engine was quite trendy in Ionia. Stones are the most basic form, so they're popular."
That gave Seongjin a realization.
'So that's how all those magic stones in the imperial reports were born!'
They'd been simplified for use in the main world, but dissecting their source code might reveal incredibly high-grade items.
From then on, the arduous task of reshaping the Ice Heart and Glacier Trolls as desired began.
Dexter tweaked the data to match Seongjin's requests, showed the results, and adjusted again.
During this, Seongjin asked a few more questions.
"Mr. Dexter. While using this Ice Heart, my soul became unstable several times. Do you know why?"
"Well? The soul stuff isn't really my domain. I'm just a technician."
Dexter adjusted his goggles and continued.
"I've seen early Ionian research materials. Unprocessed sources, especially overloaded ones like this, burden body and mind if taken raw. That's why Ionians favored downsizing them."
"Then one more. I entered this space purely as a soul. How can source realm items come here with a soul? And how do changes here reflect in reality?"
Perhaps the most crucial question, but Dexter's answer was simple.
"Because all source realm items exist based on the 'concept' called the Homunculus Engine."
Manipulating the concept here applied it to the ice constructs in the real world too.
Unfortunately, adding entirely new things was impossible. Only entities already registered in the Ice Heart could be adjusted.
But after the fierce battle, aside from Ice Construct No. 1 that was obliterated and vanished from the list, and excluding the badly damaged ones, only about five remained.
The two Ice Hearts stolen from the demon were the same. Seongjin had gleefully smashed the demon's ice monsters.
'Had I known, I should've registered more intact Glacier Trolls when I had time.'
No helping it. He'd have to make gifts from what was left.
Seongjin finely crafted one Glacier Troll for the imperial capital. He didn't forget to engrave the divine crest on its chest.
'And this one for the kid....'
Next, Seongjin put effort into a gift for Sisley.
He had rough ideas for Amelia's sister and Logan, but nothing suitable came to mind for Sisley.
For sister's gift, he already had the fine sword pried from the border lord. When shown to Logan, expert with Henessis greatswords, he'd been deeply impressed, calling it a rare masterwork.
-The weight balance is similar to Arjuna. Probably the same smith. You can tell it's his signature quirk, only experienced swordsmen notice. To think such a craftsman still makes blades like this after Ortana's fall.
Logan had grimaced at its fierce appearance, deeming it unfit for a lady. Seongjin had grinned confidently.
-It's fine, it's fine. I guarantee it's totally sister's style!
He'd thought of something for Logan too.
Combining it with the Schmidt branch chief's ingenuity in Regina would yield something impressive.
'And there's the Zigsmund territory issue too....'
He was roughly shaping his mental plans when—
"Graaak!"
Dexter suddenly hurled off his goggles, emitting a strangled groan.
"Ah, no! At this rate, withdrawal symptoms...!"
Then he clutched his throat and rolled around the workshop!
"Gack! Gack! My passion and curiosity are suffocating to death! I can't take it anymore! Save me!"
"......"
Seongjin stared at the dramatics with a sour face, thinking.
'Jeez, withdrawal symptoms for everything.'
Engineering majors had always clashed with him in weird ways.
Even the junior he'd met in a university club, stayed friends with through work and hunter days, was an engineering grad. A bit eccentric too.
"Sigh...."
But since Dexter had delivered beyond expectations so far, Seongjin handed over Grandmother's pendant without protest. Not forgetting to warn him.
"Please be careful."
Instantly recovering, Dexter's eyes gleamed as he shouted.
"Of course! I won't mishandle this treasure. I'll treat it with utmost care, without a single scratch! I promise!"
No, that's not—
Something had felt off since earlier. A bad premonition.
'Well, can't be helped. A promise is a promise.'
Thus, the crimson shattered gem entered the analyzer.
The moment the machine activated—
"Ooooh!"
Amid dazzling lights from the gauges, an enormous volume of data poured out.
Windows stacked on windows. Text overlaid text. Far more than the Ice Heart!
Beep-beep—
Suddenly, odd noises came from the crystal gauges. Then thick black smoke billowed out!
"Danger!"
With Dexter lost in the monitors, Seongjin swiftly snatched the pendant from the plate.
And right after—
Boom!
The Homunculus Engine Source Editor exploded spectacularly, shattering.
"Uwaaaah! Nooo! My Source Editor! The essence of over-technologyyy!"
Dexter collapsed to the floor, wailing in despair.
Ah, that's why I told you to be careful.
[What happened, Dexter! Are you alright?]
Then the workshop door burst open. The dragon elder strode in.
Spotting the smoking machine, he froze on the spot.
[Ionia's legacy....]
Seongjin shrugged, but then locked eyes directly with the Holy Emperor following behind the elder.
Calm gray eyes, as if he'd foreseen everything.
Realizing what he was thinking, Seongjin screamed silently.
'No, seriously, it's all a misunderstanding! I didn't do this! For real!'
No matter what, Seongjin felt truly wronged.