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Chapter 210

And Dawn was no exception.

Squirm-

Locked within three layers of mana circuits, a small, insect-like green wisp of mana squirmed violently, as if spasming. It was the mana from the mana corrosion device that Luize had once used without knowing its true nature.

Good thing I didn’t throw it away.

Though Luize had wanted to smash the device to pieces at the time, Se-Hoon had saved it for a day like today. After all, members of groups like Dawn, known for their unique ideology and specific type of mana, were easy to identify if one possessed a sample of similar mana.

The problem is that mishandling the mana Dawn usually uses causes magic corrosion.

Keeping a sample of their mana was like planting a bomb in one’s own body and then handing the detonator to the enemy. It was extremely reckless and something Se-Hoon would never have attempted in the past. Now though, with his enhanced physical abilities and the various countermeasures, it was manageable.

Stay still.

Calmly subduing the volatile green mana in his body without changing his expression, Se-Hoon released the hand he had been shaking with Allen.

“If you have any questions while touring, feel free to ask. I’ll answer as best as I can,” offered Allen.

“Understood.”

“Well then.... Everyone, please gather over here!”

Smiling at Se-Hoon, Allen turned and called the group to gather. Taking the chance, Luize quietly sidled up to Se-Hoon.

“...”

“...”

When their eyes met, Luize instantly realized Allen\'s connection to Dawn without them needing to exchange a single word.

“What do you think?” asked Luize.

“He’s got decent skills. I guess it makes sense that he’s the chief researcher.”

“Hmmm...”

Se-Hoon was signaling that Allen was more than just an ordinary member, that he was a higher-up of Dawn. Perhaps Se-Hoon thought he could even be on par with, or even surpass, Charles.

But after processing that information, Luize just nudged Se-Hoon in the ribs with her elbow.

“You\'re the one who suggested coming here, so you take care of him. I’ll just watch from the side.”

Se-Hoon nodded, quickly figuring out that she was planning on just following his lead.

“Sure, sure. Do as you like, Your Highness.”

“You’ve got a death wish or something?!”

In the meantime, while they were bickering, Allen had led the group deeper into the workshop, stopping at a small checkpoint.

“We’ll do a quick check of your belongings here before you enter. This is simply for security, so we appreciate your cooperation.”

With no one resisting, the security guards thoroughly searched everyone’s bodies with detection devices. Such a situation had been anticipated in advance, so no issues arose and both Luize and Se-Hoon passed without any problems.

As expected, they can’t detect anything stored in the void pocket or the Netherworld.

Though hiding his countermeasures would make his response slower than usual, it was still better than going in completely unarmed. Satisfied by his preparations, Se-Hoon glanced at Luize beside him.

“Good thing you didn’t throw that away after all.”

“Huh? Oh, you mean this?”

Realizing what he meant, Luize glanced down at the choker around her neck, the broken Vargr, and chuckled softly.

“Everything has its use.”

With the checkpoint successfully passed, they finally entered the workshop, where the stretched-out production line for prosthetics could be seen behind transparent glass.

The variety of prosthetics surpassed expectations, ranging from arms and legs all the way to smaller parts like finger joints.

“Whoa...”

“So this is how they’re made...”

Seeing the students students marveling at the sight, Allen, who was leading the group, smiled.

“In the past, all prosthetics were handmade, but thanks to advancements in mass production, we can manufacture them on a larger scale. And it’s all possible thanks to the Seeker\'s standardization of mana circuits.

“...”

At the mention of the name of “Seeker,” one of the Perfect Ones, Se-Hoon was reminded of her past.

It’s been a while since I’ve heard that name.

The Seeker had climbed a Tower of Heroes a year after Ludwig’s ascension. However, unlike Ludwig, who had made his success public, the Seeker kept it a secret for several years, though her influence on the hero industry was substantial.

In the early stages of the war against the Demon Force, when the concepts of magic and synesthetic mindscapes were still poorly defined, it was the Seeker who organized and systematized everything, laying the foundation that every future development was built on.

If only she were still around.... Who knows if she’s even alive?

The Seeker had always been a mysterious figure, someone who Se-Hoon assumed was just hiding away somewhere to continue her research. But even near the end of humanity, when the demonic invasion escalated and Earth faced annihilation at the hands of the Six Harbingers of Destruction, the Seeker never reappeared.

I’m curious about her whereabouts, but there’s no need to dig deeper.

If she were dead, that was the end of it. And if she were alive but hadn’t shown herself even as humanity faced extinction? Well, what would be the point of searching for her now?

Brushing aside the thoughts of the woman he’d never met, Se-Hoon turned his attention back to Allen.

“This is the line where we produce combat prosthetics. These are made with special alloys to enhance their mana conductivity...”

On the surface, Allen seemed like a young researcher enthusiastic about his work. But when Se-Hoon viewed him with the assumption that he was a high-ranking member of Dawn, Se-Hoon began noticing a few things.

His right arm...

There was something strange about the way he was moving. It was like the attention of his entire body was drawn to his right arm like it was a newly discovered treasure trove. And that observation meant Se-Hoon could easily guess the man’s position within Dawn.

He must be the Right Arm.

Though Se-Hoon had never met the Right Arm personally, he had heard about his abilities from another informant before the regression. With that and what he observed, he had gathered all the information he needed about Allen, so Se-Hoon fell into contemplation.

Now, what’s the next play...

He had two primary objectives for this field study. The first was to locate Dawn’s hidden members, and the second was to find the gemstones that had replicated the various high-ranking heroes’ synesthetic mindscapes since he needed to prepare for the assault on the Pleasure District.

This guy likely manages the gemstones... but, if we eliminate him now, it could complicate our efforts to recover them.

In that case, Se-Hoon had to consider whether there was a better approach. Lost in thought, he followed the group away from the production line and into a smaller workshop.

“This is where we craft more intricate prosthetics capable of finer movements. Despite the prosthetics’ familiar framework, their details are different.”

Sizz-

Inside the room, technicians worked on the prosthetics using magic welding tools and other machinery, with schematics spread out beside them.

Like before, the students watched in awe, making Allen smile.

“Since we’ve come this far, why not try your hand at it? Come, follow me.”

They made their way deeper into the workshop, where various parts and tools were lined up on workbenches. There, Allen took a seat at one and then looked around at the students.

“First, I’ll demonstrate a simple assembly procedure.”

He began assembling the prosthetic arm, explaining each part as he went along. Before long, a right arm prosthetic was complete. Observing it, Allen placed his hand on the connection point and then infused it with his mana.

Powered by his mana, a soft buzz filled the air and the prosthetic arm began to move. Its movements were diverse, crawling across the floor with its fingers and even standing upright at times.

The sight lit up the eyes of the young students watching.

“A well-made prosthetic can smoothly interpret the user’s intent with just a bit of mana,” Allen explained. “Go ahead, give it a try.”

One by one, the curious students eagerly approached and infused their mana into the prosthetic arm. None of them could hide their amazement at how the device responded to their will—except Se-Hoon and Luize. They just stood quietly at the back, clearly disinterested.

“...”

Noticing, Allen clapped his hands lightly, regathering their attention. “Alright, now that you’ve all seen a demonstration, try assembling one yourself. I can’t assist everyone at once, so let’s work in groups of ten.”

At his words, the eager students were about to step forward for the first chance, but then Allen turned his gaze toward Se-Hoon and Luize.

“How about you two try first?”

All the eyes shifted to the back of the room.

Under their gazes, Se-Hoon nodded after considering it for a moment.

“We’d be grateful for the opportunity. Let’s go.”

Striding forward like he had been waiting for the offer, Se-Hoon chose a sport at a workbench, Luize silently choosing the one next to him.

Glancing down at the prosthetic parts, Luize turned her head to Se-Hoon to ask, “So how do we do this?”

Thanks to the earlier demonstration, she didn’t find the assembly process too difficult. However, she had no experience with adjusting internal mana circuits, which left her uncertain.

“Just do it like you always do,” Se-Hoon replied.

“What I always do?”

“Yeah. If you do it like that, you’ll probably do just as well as I will.”

At those words, Luize’s eyes widened in understanding.

“Ah...I see what you mean,” she said with a grin.

While they prepared, the other eight students took their places at the empty benches.

“And... begin,” Allen announced, prompting the students to start assembling their prosthetics. Given that they were all young talents in the field, they quickly finished the assembly and moved on to adjusting the mana circuits.

“...Done!”

Confident, one of the young students began channeling their mana into the connection point.

Smack!

Despite his confidence, the prosthetic arm began jerking wildly, swinging up and smacking the student square in the jaw.

“Ugh...!”

Staggering from the unexpected hit, the student’s face flushed with embarrassment. Fortunately for them though, they weren’t the only ones having trouble.

Slap!

“Ow!”

Whoosh!

“What’s happening?”

Though they all had no issues assembling the prosthetics, every time they infused some mana, the arms started moving unpredictably.

At their confusion, Allen chuckled and explained, “The rough movements are probably due to the mana circuits not being properly fine-tuned. Try paying more attention to the details.”

However, despite Allen’s advice, the students still struggled to get satisfactory results.

If ours turned out this badly, how amazing was the one he made earlier...?

He’s far more skilled than I thought...

But just as the students began to fully realize just how impressive Allen’s prosthetic was, Se-Hoon finally completed his. A faint hum filled the air when he powered up his prosthetic arm.

Whoosh!

Unlike everyone else’s, the arm moved almost as fluidly as Allen’s had earlier, using two fingers to dexterously walk across the table, like a pair of legs. It looked quite comical, but the prosthetic’s ability to balance perfectly on two fingers indicated just how precisely Se-Hoon had fine-tuned the mana circuits.

“How is he...”

In some ways, Se-Hoon’s prosthetic seemed even more remarkable than Allen’s.

“Set-”

A short incantation escaped Luize’s lips when all eyes had been drawn to Se-Hoon. The incantation resonated with the prosthetic, causing it to click into place and settle down neatly. Luize then placed her hand on the connection point.

Woong-

The arm began to move naturally, but unlike Se-Hoon’s which walked on two fingers, hers scurried around like a spider on all five. Its movements were rough at best, yet it still had a strange, lifelike quality that made it seem almost alive.

“That’s just incredible...”

“Was that Incantation Magic just now?”

While those familiar with Luize’s abilities watched in amazement, Allen unconsciously clenched his right fist.

Impressive...

Se-Hoon’s work was extremely detailed, seemingly aiming to achieve lifelike movement, while Luize’s prosthetic seemed to breathe life into the creation itself. Their talent, which Allen had only heard about in stories and memories, made him feel an overwhelming urge to kidnap the two of them immediately, but he quickly calmed himself.

Calm down. It’s not time yet.

Kidnapping them was only viable if everything went completely wrong. For now, he just had to stick to the original plan. He approached the two of them.

“May I take a closer look?”

Examining the prosthetics that Se-Hoon and Luize had created, Allen’s expression briefly shifted to one of surprise before soon turning to a smile.

“Both of you did an excellent job. With such skills, you could even join our company right away.”

Though such a compliment came from none other than the chief researcher as an acknowledgment of their extraordinary talent, neither Se-Hoon nor Luize were particularly pleased.

“We’re done here,” Luize said, briskly walking back to join the rest of the group.

Instead of following, however, Se-Hoon just stared at the prosthetic with a dissatisfied expression, not even bothering to reply. And at those dismissive reactions, Allen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Is this the latest model?” Se-Hoon abruptly inquired.

“Hm? Ah, yes, it is,” Allen responded.

“Hmm...”

Inspecting the prosthetic again, Se-Hoon softly muttered to himself, “I expected better...”

His voice carried not only disappointment but also a strange sense of ennui.

That kind of reaction is...

The clarity of that emotion in Se-Hoon’s mutter reminded Allen of himself before he joined Dawn. It was so familiar that he nearly revealed his own emotions, but he managed to compose himself.

No, it’s too soon to know for sure.

However, Allen decided to keep a closer eye on Se-Hoon before continuing the workshop tour as though nothing had happened. Allen could tell that through the remainder of the tour, Se-Hoon was becoming more and more disappointed as his gaze drifted indifferently around his surroundings. And then eventually, his expression became completely blank, as if he had given up, leaving Allen feeling as though he were the one at fault.

Now that I think about it, Charles mentioned he only attempted to recruit Luize...

While they knew Se-Hoon was a compatible candidate, much less was known about his personality and tendencies. In fact, it was only thanks to today that Allen could even begin to understand what kind of person Se-Hoon was. Getting a good idea of how Se-Hoon thought, Allen recalled one of the plans he had prepared.

“Thank you all for today. Tomorrow, we’ll be touring the automaton section, so please go home and take a good rest.”

With those words, the first day’s schedule concluded, and the students began leaving with their guides. Some had tried to approach Allen to speak with him, but Allen ignored them all, calling out instead to Se-Hoon.

“Lee Se-Hoon! Do you have a moment?”

“Huh? Sure, I guess...” Se-Hoon responded with a somewhat annoyed expression.

Checking his surroundings first, Allen began the conversation. “How did you find today’s tour?”

“It was... a good learning opportunity,” Se-Hoon replied curtly.

“Please be honest with me. That way, I can actually help you.”

At those words, Se-Hoon studied Allen quietly for a moment.

“...To be honest, I was actually disappointed. I’d heard that the prosthetics here were refined enough to match the skills of high-ranking heroes, but from what I’ve seen, they’re nowhere close.”

“I see...”

“I came here hoping they would be a source of inspiration, but... I suppose finding something like that isn’t so easy.”

There it was—that feeling of boredom and frustration, the sense of being stuck, that often plagued master craftsmen. Recognizing the familiar sentiment, Allen’s eyes flashed with interest.

“What if I told you such a thing really exists?”

“What?”

“The prosthetic you’re talking about. I’m in charge of its development.”

“...Really?”

Seeing Se-Hoon’s eyes light up, Allen smiled.

“Yes. If that’s what you were looking for, I would have mentioned it sooner.... By the way, do you have any plans for this evening?”

“No, nothing in particular.”

“Then how about joining me for dinner? We can continue our conversation, and if time permits, I could show you around the workshop in more detail.”

At the offer, Se-Hoon fell silent, pondering whether to consider it. And upon seeing him like that, Allen quietly added, “If you’re not too interested, we can forget about it...”

“No! I’ll go!” Se-Hoon answered quickly, seemingly afraid Allen would withdraw the invitation.

It was a reaction that made Allen smile.

“Alright then, I’ll see you this evening.”

“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”

They then exchanged contact information before turning away from each other, both subtly smiling to themselves.

I got him.

He’s totally tricked.

Their thoughts aligned perfectly for that one moment.