Chapter 279

Chapter 279
## Chapter 279

Technological Revolution (1)

The most treasured asset of Zaonic, a pickaxe known as “Elinor,” served as the very foundation for creating the avatar Howard.

As he immersed himself in the art of making and building while inhabiting this new dwarven form, an understanding dawned on him.

‘It is completely logical that other species feel an sense of being left behind.’

The sheer, unmatched superiority of being a dwarf was undeniable.

True technology represented the ultimate peak of generations of maestros, creators, and inventors pouring their lifeforce, sweat, and tears into their craft. It stood as a grand monument erected atop their unending labor, deep exploration, and gathered expertise.

Naturally, conventional boundaries dictated how rapidly a person could grasp or advance such knowledge.

‘That is simply how the world works.’

Yet, dwarves existed entirely outside of that standard framework.

Their cognitive processes, their sensory perceptions, everything about them operated on a different level.

They possessed an inherent inventive logic that went far beyond basic cleverness, a natural comprehension of intricate mechanisms that matched high-precision instruments, and an instinctive grasp of elaborate computations that defied rational explanation.

They were fundamentally designed to create.

‘If they lacked their distinct flaws, dwarves would have easily dominated the entire world.’

By some stroke of luck, or perhaps misfortune, their preposterous gift for creation was balanced out by a severe absence of talent in different fields.

Had they not been so lacking in those other aspects, they would have likely faced total erasure or been reduced to servitude a long time ago.

“Oh! This is… truly magnificent!”

And that staggering dwarven capability had been completely passed down to the avatar Howard.

Deep within a hidden sanctuary located close to Incheon, South Korea.

Howard, who had been called to this location via remote means, gazed upon the assortment of mystical instruments he had accumulated, his eyes wide and burning with excitement.

‘Observing them in person changes everything! Their underlying capabilities are perfectly preserved!’

The sharp, real-world sensations swept over his consciousness, presenting a massive departure from his earlier encounters.

It was a world apart from simply receiving data through shared senses or inspecting dormant alien relics back in Auterica.

“Huh, this is quite captivating. What sort of composition does this have?”

He lifted a metallic trinket shaped like the fang of a wild creature, scrutinizing it from every angle, before bringing it toward his nose to catch its scent.

Lick—

He went so far as to extend his tongue to give the object a taste.

“Hmm, calcium phosphate? This resembles skeletal structure far more than dentin. Marvelous, a blending of the biological and the mineral. And it carries a magical charge? The thermal processing is quite rudimentary, yet they successfully maintained the raw traits of the substance. Quite impressive.”

Howard, an analytical dwarf who had systematically integrated the scientific principles of Earth through structured learning, gave a solemn nod.

He pushed up his spectacles, making the lenses catch the light, while the massive white lab coat hanging from his frame added to his scholarly demeanor.

‘I may project this kind of image, but even Zaonic respects my status as a true maker.’

To his perspective, these devices originating from foreign realms, each possessing a distinct matrix and structural concept, offered a magnificent feast for his perception.

It mirrored the thrill Hans experienced when uncovering unfamiliar incantations.

Or the moment he finally unsealed the 「Path of Magic」.

That soaring emotion hit its absolute peak as he scrutinized the artificial optical unit and mechanical frame he had taken from Yulryeongja.

“Ha!”

An explosive burst of creative vision tore through the boundaries of his mind.

‘This right here… ’

He analyzed the item with absolute precision, every sense dialed to maximum intensity.

He observed, listened, handled, tapped, scented, and even clamped his teeth upon it.

Following that exhaustive investigation, he arrived at a singular, undeniable truth.

‘…This object was unquestionably crafted by a dwarf.’

A dwarf hailing from an entirely separate plane of existence.

Naturally, they would not be identical copies of the dwarves native to Auterica.

Their titles, physical traits, and various attributes might diverge entirely.

‘Nevertheless… ’

The underlying architecture, the essential reasoning driving its construction, was unmistakably dwarven.

The deeply rooted 「Dwarven Creation Logic」 within Howard blared that reality loud and clear.

‘Fascinating. Could there be a type of open-source template for constructing sentient life forms that the deities distribute among themselves?’

It was an idea he had mulled over previously, specifically after crossing paths with vampires originating from diverse realms.

However, that puzzle was not his primary concern at this moment.

Howard, his enthusiasm overflowing, passionately threw himself into analyzing the technical masterpieces laid out before him.

“Oh! Splendid! Absolutely splendid!”

Dwarves held an incomparable supremacy regarding mechanical development.

Yet despite their presence, the general state of technology within Auterica had not reached an advanced stage.

Numerous variables contributed to that outcome, but the most dominant factor…

‘Stems from the setting itself. Or more accurately… the core focus of their society.’

In a setting where single individuals could take on entire legions by themselves and a solitary incantation could shatter fortresses…

Where an active catastrophe like the Immortal King could lay waste to half of a landmass…

The ultimate aspiration of the dwarves was inevitably shaped by the realities around them.

They sought to forge mythic blades capable of slicing through any defense, impenetrable suits of armor that could repel any blow, and enchanted implements filled with reality-bending capabilities.

Their goal was to place these masterpieces into the care of exceptional figures, supporting them in their battles against darkness.

‘There is additionally the discrepancy in their basic scientific understanding. And perhaps the intrinsic perspective of that specific universe plays a part as well.’

Yet Howard, existing now in this junction where countless planes collided, stood apart.

The dwarf, wearing spectacles and a lab coat, smirked as he stroked his whiskers thoughtfully.

He remained completely unconstrained by the boundaries of any singular realm.

No force could block his advancement, and not even the fabric of reality itself could place boundaries on his inventive pursuits.

“Hahaha! My fingers are tingling!”

Howard eagerly anticipated the triggering of the localized chronomancy field, the “Room of Time and Space”, which Hans had carefully constructed within the secret base.

Manipulating the fabric of space and time was extraordinarily intricate, and the demand for absolute discretion made its deployment even tighter. Even someone of Hans’s caliber could only sustain the phenomenon for slightly more than twenty-four hours straight.

‘Still, a tenfold acceleration of time is highly acceptable. It roughly mirrors the conditions back in Auterica.’

He had already completed every vital arrangement utilizing Heterosis.

At this point, his sole task was to completely throw himself into his investigations.

Furthermore, he possessed the “Growth Elixir” to accelerate his developmental trajectory even further.

[“Well then, shall we commence?”]

The moment Hans, who had been waiting patiently outside the perimeter, triggered the magical field, the passage of time inside the laboratory began to move at a completely decoupled velocity.

“Oh! This optical device is truly captivating!”

“Hmm, this mechanical frame was likewise crafted by that specific Doctor, intended for Yulryeongja. It bears distinct markers. Artfully put together by hand using components gathered from an alternate realm?”

“If another mind can achieve this breakthrough, then I am fully capable of it too! Let us initiate the process!”

Howard murmured under his breath, his fervor completely evident as he labored without a single pause.

In this manner, the hours piled into days.

Following what felt like a day of continuous effort,

《The subject attains deep understanding via continuous practice. You have successfully unlocked the capability “Magical Engineering”.》

Likely owing to the influence of the Growth Elixir coupled with his unwavering commitment, Howard rapidly pierced through to the core principles of magical engineering.

By the time the temporal pocket began to reach its absolute operational boundaries, marking five full days of internal time—which amounted to barely a single day on the outside—

‘…Understood. I believe I have grasped it.’

《The subject satisfies the necessary criteria and releases latent capabilities. You have successfully unlocked the unique capability “Technological Revolution”.》

…He had ultimately secured his objective.

Far ahead of his initial projections.

-Individual Name: Howard

-Race: Dwarf

-Common Traits: “Mind Hub”, “Persona”, “Super Recovery”, “Clear Mind”, “Super Strength”, “Hypersensitivity”, “Insight”, “Xenoglossy”

-Individual Traits: “Artisan Spirit”, “Dwarven Creation Logic”, “Song of Fire and Metal”, “Artisan’s Soul”, “Technological Revolution”, “Metallurgy”, “Precision Crafting”, “Magical Engineering”

-Special Notes: Actively benefiting from developmental enhancements provided by the “Growth Elixir”. Has fully internalized the core tenets of magical engineering through intensive investigation. Gained the capacity to alter and duplicate specific elements of machinery produced via foreign dimensional technology owing to the activation of “Technological Revolution”.

‘…Hold on, if I deploy this capability correctly… ’

The implications of this breakthrough might stretch far beyond what he had predicted at the start.

—

The Azerion Imperial Hospital, situated deep inside the grounds of the royal palace.

Following the violent confrontation involving Staub and the masked assailants, Hesperon found himself confined to a medical ward once more.

“Are you completely certain I am forbidden from departing?”

“Without question. You require absolute immobility in your quarters. Rest assured, we have established a sacred protective barrier to maintain your peace of mind, supplemented by therapeutic scents, physical therapy, and even performers from the royal court. We likewise provide an extensive library and spellcasters ready to aid your mental training, so please ease your mind and dedicate yourself to regaining your strength.”

Despite the fact that he had fully gotten through the mending process for the residual effects of the malediction, he remained locked within his quarters, overriding all his complaints. He simply could not disregard an explicit command issued directly by the Crown Princess.

-Riley, I am genuinely recovered at this point.

-… I apologize. We are reaching the conclusion of this ordeal, so I ask that you endure these restrictions just a bit longer. I will personally manage every detail the moment I make my return.

The regretful tone of Riley reached his consciousness via their telepathic connection, 「Chains of the Oath」.

He fully recognized the reasoning behind her extreme level of care.

The current mood within the royal residence was incredibly strained, a fact that penetrated even the walls of his medical chamber.

Ever since the coordinated attempt on Riley’s life.

Followed closely by the subsequent event where Hesperon himself was ambushed.

The defensive measures throughout the capital city had been escalated to an extreme degree.

‘And yet, it managed to occur regardless.’

Even taking into account that the strike had been meticulously arranged, utilizing an isolated poverty-stricken district and a compromised carriage driver… it still counted as a massive lapse on their end.

The consequences could not be denied.

An individual occupying a prominent seat of power had intentionally engineered a blind spot in the defenses, and the responsible party had been seized right at the location of the crime.

None other than the former Captain of the Imperial Guard, Staub, who had fallen into corruption through the use of forbidden dark arts.

‘The royal bloodline must be absolutely livid.’

Even though the intended casualty was not a blood relative of the crown, but rather a prominent visitor…

The reality that the ruler himself, who had previously taken a back seat to permit Riley to handle the situation, was now directly taking charge of the matter indicated that their royal honor had been severely insulted.

They had shown leniency toward the Hermanheart lineage due to their marital connections, but this act crossed an unforgivable line.

-You are fully secure in that location. They executed a desperate gamble, and now they find themselves backed into a corner. Even if they attempt another strategy, that medical wing is the most fortified position available. The chief physician maintains absolute political neutrality, but he will never permit any chaos within his domain. Furthermore, he stands as the most powerful figure within the estate, trailing only the Commander of the Royal Knights.

-His power is truly that immense?

-He is senior to Marquis Lawrence from what I understand. He altered his life’s direction due to private circumstances.

-I comprehend…

He inclined his head, conceding to her logic, yet he could not suppress a wave of mild irritation.

She was deeply invested in keeping him out of harm’s way, an action he truly valued… however, he had intended to use this block of time to make a quick trip back to Earth.

He possessed the capability to utilize Dismissal to slip away, but taking that path would trigger an absolute frenzy among the guards.

‘They are tracking the vital signs of every inhabitant within the estate.’

Moreover, the chief medical officer was a master Archmage, wielding power that eclipsed even Marquis Lawrence.

He would instantly spot Hesperon’s sudden absence, and should the youth reappear inside the palace grounds after such an event… the repercussions would be severe.

‘Perhaps I ought to simply delay the plan… No, hold on a moment. Going to Earth isn’t even necessary.’

A sudden realization flashed through his consciousness, causing his eyes to brighten up instantly. He slid out from beneath the blankets and stood up.

He reached out and picked up a compact, pale white sphere resting on his side table.

The object gave off no detectable magical resonance, presenting the appearance of an ordinary, decorative trinket.