Chapter 279
Chapter 279
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 279
Chapter Title: Technological Revolution (1)
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Zaonic's cherished pickaxe 'Elinne' had given birth to the avatar Howard through it as a medium.
Diving headfirst into crafting with the body of that异種族, he had a sudden realization.
'Indeed. It's no wonder other races would feel deprived at this level.'
It was the sheer cheat-like nature of the existence known as 'dwarves'.
Technology, after all, was the culmination of blood, sweat, and tears from countless artisans, craftsmen, and engineers across generations—the towering pinnacle of knowledge built from their endless anguish and research.
Naturally, there were limits to how quickly it could be acquired or advanced in a short time.
'That's just common sense.'
Yet the dwarven race utterly defied that system.
Their mindset, their sensory capabilities—everything about them was different from other races.
They possessed an original creative logic that went beyond mere creativity as a baseline, instinctively handled minute processes surpassing precision machinery, and comprehended even complex calculations purely through feel.
It truly wasn't an exaggeration to say they were a race born specialized for creation itself.
'If they didn't have flaws in other areas, dwarves probably would have dominated the world.'
Fortunately—or unfortunately—their genius in crafting was so disproportionately overwhelming that they lacked any sense whatsoever in virtually every other field, to a hopelessly despairing degree.
Without even that talent, they would have gone extinct or ended up as slaves long ago, and no one would have batted an eye.
"Oho— this is... indeed!"
And that overwhelming dwarven talent had been fully inherited by the avatar, Howard.
In a secret safehouse prepared near Incheon in South Korea.
Inside its warehouse, Howard's eyes—summoned remotely—sparkled with light.
Before him, lined up like treasures, were the magitech artifacts from various worlds that Hans had gradually gathered one by one.
'Seeing them in person is on another level! All their functions are perfectly intact!'
The vividness assaulted his senses mercilessly, far beyond what he'd felt indirectly before.
It was an entirely different sensation from dealing with dimensional copies that had lost their unique essence after being transferred through sensory sharing or brought to Outerica.
"Heh, this one's fascinating too. What on earth is it made of?"
He picked up a metallic ornament shaped like a beast's fang, scrutinizing it closely before sniffing it.
*Sniff sniff—*
Not stopping there, he even flicked his tongue out to lick it.
*Lick—*
"Mmm, calcium phosphate? Feels closer to bone than tooth, though. Impressive—metallic yet organic. Infused with shamanism, perhaps? The heat treatment is laughably crude, but prioritizing the material's properties isn't a bad approach."
Howard, the scholarly dwarf versed in Earth's scientific knowledge thanks to systematic education, adjusted his custom-made glasses with one hand and nodded solemnly.
The gleaming lenses paired with his baggy pure-white lab coat lent him an air of exceptional intellect.
'Even Zaonic acknowledges me as a proper craftsman now.'
To him, these items originating from other worlds—with their unique systems—were like a feast laid out before a starving man.
Just as when Hans had encountered sorceries from other worlds.
Or when he had finally awakened to the "Path of Magitech."
And that immersion peaked when he laid eyes on the artificial eye recovered from the Ruler, surpassing even the reinforced exoskeleton.
"Ha!"
The moment he saw it, inspiration erupted like lava from a volcano, shattering the frameworks confining him.
Was this what true transcendence felt like?
'This thing...'
Observe, listen, touch, tap, sniff, bite.
After frenziedly running through that entire process, Howard finally regained his senses and became certain of one fact.
'...This is definitely made by a dwarf.'
A dwarf from another dimension, not his own.
Of course, that race likely wasn't identical to Outerica's dwarves.
Their name, appearance, and fine details might differ entirely.
'But...'
The foundational framework was unmistakably the same as his kin's.
The "Dwarven Creative Logic" deeply ingrained in him fiercely asserted as much.
'Fascinating. Do the gods share some kind of open-source blueprint for intelligent races?'
It was a question he'd pondered before upon encountering vampires from various dimensions, now surging back emphatically.
But such cosmic mysteries weren't his concern right now.
Howard snorted excitedly, voraciously devouring the technological marvels before him like a madman.
"Oho— splendid! Utterly splendid!"
Dwarves held an absolute edge in technology.
Yet despite their existence, Outerica's scientific level wasn't particularly advanced.
There were various reasons, but the biggest one boiled down to a single factor.
'The environment. Or more precisely... the civilization.'
A world teeming with monsters that could solo armies, where toppling a castle with a single spell wasn't impossible.
The Immortal King himself—a walking calamity—had once ravaged half the continent.
Naturally, that shaped the dwarves' ultimate goals.
Crafting peerless divine swords that cleaved anything, impregnable armors akin to mobile fortresses, magitech infused with miraculous abilities.
And those falling into the hands of the qualified to slay great evils.
'Differences in foundational science play a role too. Maybe the dimension's 'worldview' subtly influences it.'
But Howard, here on Earth where civilizations from countless dimensions intersected, was different.
The bespectacled researcher in white stroked his beard contentedly, lips curling upward.
He was bound by nothing.
No one could hinder his growth; not even the world could restrict his creative direction.
"Puhuhu! My hands are itching already!"
Howard bustled about, awaiting activation of the time acceleration barrier Hans had meticulously set up in the Incheon safehouse: the 'Chamber of Time and Space'.
Spacetime magic was notoriously complex, and the need for secrecy added constraints, so even Hans could maintain it for only about a day at a time.
'Tenfold acceleration isn't bad at all. Comparable to what I had in that other world.'
Having already used heterosis to prepare the safehouse and complete all prerequisites.
Now, all he had to do was devote himself fully to research.
And currently, he was benefiting from the 'Elixir of Growth' as well, wasn't he?
[Alright— let's get started.]
Soon after, Hans quietly appeared outside the safehouse—uncertain when he'd arrived—and activated the barrier, causing time inside to flow differently from the outside world.
"Oh ho! This artificial eye gets more intriguing the more I look!"
"Hmm, come to think of it, this reinforced exoskeleton was from that 'Doctor' guy who gave it to the Ruler. Definitely different from the others. Handmade with otherworldly materials?"
"If someone else can do it, no reason I can't! Let's give it a shot!"
Muttering to himself nonstop, Howard moved with fervent passion.
And so time passed.
When the clock's hour hand had nearly completed a full circle—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The entity has gained enlightenment through repeated training. Acquired skill 「Magitech Engineering」. Whether from steadily consuming the Elixir of Growth and immersing in training, Howard grasped the essence of magitech engineering in under five days of secluded practice.
By external time's mere day—or ten internal days, just before the barrier faltered—
'...I see. It's starting to click.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The entity has fulfilled the conditions, awakening its potential. Acquired special skill 「Technological Revolution」. He had finally achieved the modest goal he'd initially set.
Even sooner than anticipated.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Entity Information
■ Entity Name: Howard ■ Race: Dwarf ■ Common Traits: 「Mind Hub」, 「Persona」, 「Super Recovery」, 「Clear Mirror Still Water」, 「Herculean Strength」, 「Hypersensitivity」, 「Piercing Insight」, 「Xenoglossy」 ■ Entity Traits: 「Artisan's Spirit」, 「Dwarven Creative Logic」, 「Song of Fire and Metal」, 「Artisan's Soul」, 「Technological Revolution」, 「Metallurgy」, 「Precision Craftsmanship」, 「Magitech Engineering」 ■ Notes: Influenced by the 'Elixir of Growth', all activities receive additional growth bonuses. Through persistent effort, delved into magitech engineering and grasped its essence. Can now intervene in and partially modify items crafted with other worlds' technologies using 「Technological Revolution」. '...Hold on. If I use this right...'
This might yield even greater results than expected.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the imperial hospital nestled in one corner of the Azerion Empire's palace.
Following the assault by Starb—now a Dark Knight—and his masked cohorts, Hesperon found himself once again confined to a long-term hospital stay.
"Eh? Really, no good?"
"Absolutely not. You must remain completely at rest and monitor the situation a bit longer. No need to worry—we've arranged the Church's sacred formations for neural stabilization, aromatherapy, massages, and even palace bards. Plus, a variety of books and on-call mages to assist with training whenever needed. Please rest easy here."
Even after treatment for those aftereffects had concluded some time ago, no matter how much he insisted he was fine, the medical staff—under direct orders from the princess—remained immovable.
After all, they needed to impress her, not him.
—Riley, I'm really okay now.
—...Sorry. Things here are almost wrapped up, so just hang in there a little longer. Once I'm back, I'll sort it all out right away.
Riley replied apologetically through their "Chains of Oath" connection.
He knew why she was being so cautious.
The palace's atmosphere was palpably ominous, even from his hospital bed.
After the princess assassination attempt.
Even with the Imperial Guard Captain's involvement, that uproar had settled, but the capital's defenses had only tightened further—and mere months had passed since then.
Naturally, this attempted abduction of Hesperon should never have happened.
It was the continent's strongest empire, and the heart of its capital, no less.
'Yet it happened anyway.'
Even if they'd dug a trap in the outskirts' slums—where security gaps were inevitable—and lured him with a disguised coachman... it was no excuse.
The results spoke for themselves.
Some high-ranking official had deliberately created a security lapse, and in that orchestrated crime scene, the perpetrator was captured.
The former Imperial Guard Captain, believed dead, corrupted by black magic.
'The imperial family's face is in tatters.'
It didn't matter that the target was merely a guest, not royalty.
The blow to their pride was so severe that the emperor—who'd stepped back, letting the princess lead—now intervened personally.
They'd crossed a line he'd overlooked due to family ties.
—They got desperate and blundered. But cornered foes might try anything crazy, so the hospital's safest for now. The director's neutral, but he won't tolerate incidents in his domain. Honestly, aside from the Guard Captain, he's the strongest in the palace.
—That much?
—They say he's senior to Tower Master Marquis Lawrence. Switched paths due to personal reasons.
—I see...
He acquiesced outwardly but inwardly smacked his lips in disappointment.
Essentially, stay put—it's dangerous.
'Appreciate the concern.'
For him, who'd planned a quick Earth trip during a break, the situation was suffocating.
He could slip away anytime via avatar dismissal if he wanted, but that would unleash an even bigger storm.
'They monitor life signs in the palace real-time.'
And the director was a grand mage rivaling the Tower Master.
The moment he vanished, it'd trigger alarms; reappearing later wouldn't end quietly.
'Tch, wanted to test it right away, but guess it'll wait. ...Wait. Actually, do I really need to go to Earth?'
After a moment's thought, his eyes lit up as he sprang from bed.
Striding forward purposefully, a milky-white orb had appeared in one hand.
A smooth sphere, like mere decoration, emanating no energy whatsoever.