Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Howard
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“Ugh, ugh. Ahh—!”
A low baritone rumble echoed through the cave like thunder.
Broad shoulders packed with solid muscle, fierce eyes, and a glossy beard to top it all off.
“Eh— this low viewpoint just doesn’t sit right with me!”
And with a diminutive stature that barely reached his chest, a perfect dwarf stood there before him.
No surprise—it was the latest avatar he’d created.
‘Even maxing out the height with “Customization,” this is all I get? I figured as much, but actually being in it feels totally different.’
In fact, racial limits capped the maximum height, so even stretched out, it wasn’t much.
He lightly stroked his chin while eyeing the dwarf from every angle.
⚔ ENTITY INFO ⚔ 📛 Name: Howard 🧬 Race: Dwarf 🔗 Common Traits: “Mind Hub”, “Persona”, “Super Recovery”, “Clear Mirror Still Water” 🛠 Entity Trait: “Craftsman Spirit” 📝 Notes: Han Seonghyeon’s eighth avatar. Formed using a craftsman’s cherished pickaxe as the medium, birthed as a dwarf. “Craftsman Spirit” applies extra bonuses to all production-related activities. Immortal King Hans, Vampire Heinz 2nd, Saint Heinrich, Dragonkin Harley, Merchant Hubert, Elf Harris—and now Dwarf Howard!
Excluding the deceased original Heinz, this made seven active avatars in total.
“Perfect, just as planned. Even the starter skill is exactly what I wanted.”
Avatars created via “Customization” apparently gained traits tied to their race.
‘I didn’t plan on using Howard for combat anyway. A top-tier craftsman who can custom-make whatever I need on the spot? Those are rare as hell.’
Crafting wasn’t limited to weapons—anything made depended wildly on the artisan’s skill.
With “Craftsman Spirit” plus buffs to growth rate and learning ability, Howard’s expertise would skyrocket.
And with Merchant Hubert sourcing materials instantly, the setup was ideal.
One hitch remained, though...
‘Like with Elf Harris, he starts with zero foundational knowledge.’
If anything, this was worse.
Skills evolved across generations, refined and passed down.
No matter the talent or dexterity, self-teaching had limits.
‘Guess I’ll have to tap Harley’s connections again?’
Harley and Jaonik had been through life and death together—surely he’d help with this much.
Besides, whether Jaonik knew it or not, he and Howard weren’t strangers!
Strictly speaking, they were practically father and son.
‘Nah, more like grandfather and grandson, actually.’
His daughter Elinne—separated by circumstance—had left Howard behind in a far-off land as her final gift.
A tragic tale, neatly woven.
‘Not that I can ever tell Jaonik. Pointless fantasy.’
Still, different races were rare on Ion Continent, so they stuck together in tough times.
Pose as a young wandering dwarf short on proper training, and Jaonik wouldn’t turn him away.
‘Not right now, though. Too chaotic.’
With the north still in turmoil, better to wait till it settled.
In the meantime...
“Heh heh—shall we start with Earth’s tech, then?”
Howard stroked his beard with a sly grin.
Far better than starting from scratch—proven scientific principles would give a solid edge.
‘Unlike spirit arts, smithing basics are learnable on Earth.’
Laws differed between worlds, so advanced stuff might vary, but fundamentals should align.
Grasping machine principles alone would help tons.
‘Might even uncover insights comparing worlds later. Earth’s info is easy to grab, so prioritize that.’
He’d begin with materials science—metallurgy and metalworking.
Of course, he wouldn’t be researching.
Who had time to sift docs, adapt for practical use, tier by tier?
“Hey, Jin So-ran. Long time. Doing well? Got an urgent job for you.”
Heinz, fresh from bolstering garden security, pulled out his burner phone and dialed Heterosis manager Jin So-ran.
‘What’re subordinates for if not times like this?’
Blood Alliance wasn’t just combat vamps.
Plenty in office jobs, experts, even daylight hires as it grew.
“Yeah, money’s no object—fast as possible. Rope in profs, tech specialists, whoever...”
Thesis, videos, know-how—whatever.
He’d just issue orders and collect the sweat-soaked results.
‘Need a workshop in Tar拉克. Hands-on in Outerica to save time.’
Earth side? Just review materials.
Absorbing and applying? That fell to the dwarven “Craftsman Spirit” bearer, Howard.
‘All those buffs mean he’ll self-teach far. Beyond that, summon Earth artisans—or otherworld ones if possible.’
Other dimension crafters struggled on Earth, but their experience endured.
Their unique tech paths offered unique lessons.
And Blood Alliance—Seoul’s shadowy powerhouse—had the pull to snag experts and pay for lessons.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Roselia Grand Temple.
“Haaah... I’m exhausted. Might just die...”
Saintess Riesta, visiting Heinrich to discuss work, slumped bonelessly over the table with a groan.
Despite her words, her flawless skin and lustrous hair showed no fatigue—thanks to immense holy power and blessings.
She devoted every waking hour minus bare essentials to duties.
Her meticulous responsibility clashed so hard with her usual sloppiness, it was reevaluating-Saintess levels.
“Waaah—! I miss Tion and Myu and Cellie! The other kids too! It’s been a whole week—wonder if they’re okay?”
...Though such slips shattered that impression quick.
For reference: Tion and Myu were earthworms; Cellie, a ladybug.
How she told them apart or spotted tinies in vast flowerbeds? Still a mystery.
‘And she names them with such affection... yet doesn’t grieve when nature claims them.’
She showered bugs with blessings for peak condition but...
Even watching predators strike? Just a pitying gaze, no interference.
Like a god overlooking the world.
“Why not sneak a quick flowerbed visit? Won’t eat much time.”
“N... No. One peek and I’d be stuck hours. Promised myself—no garden till work’s done! And it’s almost over...”
Her task: prepping the continental summit.
Delegates with full authority gathering? No simple feat.
‘Talia Kingdom’s sending Duke Bright himself. Empire’s crown prince, I hear? Bound to be tricky.’
She handled external affairs, her fame as long-time saintess perfect for it.
Heinrich, newly minted saint, lacked tenure to frontline diplomacy.
Ex-paladin, he managed knight and warrior orders—martial arms—learning on the fly amid brutal hours.
Vital against Immortal King, so his load rivaled hers.
Mid-shop for linked ops...
“Oh, you heard too, right, Heinrich?”
Her casual tone sobered; voice steadied.
One topic earned that demeanor.
“...The northwest mountains in Tulk Kingdom.”
“Yes. Monster descent wreaking havoc, then massive mana clash detected—Immortal King’s black magic too.”
Info he’d gotten beforehand.
Hans had warded carefully, but mad dragon brawl overwhelmed hasty barriers.
And her senses were exceptional.
“...I can guess what happened. It’s begun for real.”
Her golden eyes gleamed as she whispered to him.
“Dragon hunting.”
Past Immortal Kings deemed dragons the biggest conquest hurdle, pouring all into exterminating them.
Now near-extinct, survivors hid silently.
“Stirring monsters for chaos and purging dragons. Time’s ticking, yet so many stay complacent...!”
Frowning, teeth gritted—stress from uncooperative parties must’ve peaked.
‘Well, it was dragon hunting.’
Heinrich comforted her gravely while inwardly reeling.
‘Normal reaction, I guess. My track record’s spotless.’
Who to blame? All prior glimpses fit the bill.
Like a kid tattling to parents, her tirade dragged on.
Uncooperatives snowballed to root cause: Immortal King—elegant curses of resentment unleashed.
In her words:
The continent’s ultimate evil, world-rotting parasite, font of all wrong, depravity incarnate—Immortal King Hans was...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Cheerfully unwrapping Saint Heinrich’s gift.
⚙ IMMORTAL KING'S VOICE ⚙ ‘Indeed, most useful. To think it’d come so easily into my grasp.’ Hans eyed the pristine crystal in his hand with a sinister chuckle.
Encased in solidified holy power, it was Arch-Lich Dwell McCain’s core—sent via “Avatar Cloud” by Heinrich.
‘No fame like Karam or Olivia, but damn useful guy.’
Middling military rank due to raw power, but a sharp staff officer regardless.
With Elder Arch-Lich—2nd Immortal King’s brain trust—gone in final battle, arguably the smartest left.
‘Actions weren’t trustworthy, though.’
Only glimpsed his true self in Holy Sword’s trial illusion.
No sword replicated personality perfectly—only raw strength.
‘Whatever. Smarter minions suit me fine.’
Hans poured black magic into the crystal.
Crack—!
Holy shell shattered, flared brilliantly, then devoured by darkness...
Hummm—!
The dormant Arch-Lich core began to vibrate.
⚙ IMMORTAL KING'S VOICE ⚙ ‘Keh heh! Rise, then. Much work awaits.’ To Hans, brimming with vast black magic...
Reviving Dwell took negligible energy.