Chapter 109 – History Journey (2)

Watching Rough return to the Path of the Fairies after leaving Henrietta’s colony, Lee Hanseong once again created a passageway leading to another continent through the mask.

An oval-shaped Rainbow Portal formed by linking Pheidippides’s Shrinking Earth with the Path of the Fairies.

Whoooosh!

“It seems the next place I’m going doesn’t require skipping through time.”

According to the divination he performed, his next destination was where Alter, who had been interacting with Henrietta, was located.

This was because the only one existing in the same era as Henrietta was Alter Goulds.

Step—pat.

As he stepped through the portal, the space where Rough had been was replaced.

From the Arpelgia Continent to the Ardenia Continent.

To be precise, it was an island village called ‘Kuruwari’ located on the outskirts of the Ardenia Continent.

“Everyone! What I will teach you today is called multiplication.”

When Rough arrived there, Alter was teaching the indigenous people of Kuruwari the Empire’s knowledge, applying his newly acquired <Pedagogy>.

All while maintaining an attitude of relativism, focusing on practical knowledge like basic literacy, the Four Arithmetic Operations, and First Aid.

“Huh?! That person! He wasn’t here before, but he suddenly appeared!”

At that moment, one of the natives who discovered Rough’s appearance exclaimed in surprise, making Rough’s presence known to everyone.

“Greetings, everyone. I am the Jester, Rough.”

“How did you get here?”

Alter, who recognized Rough, showed wariness.

“The Transcendent who summoned us guided me here.”

“What is your purpose?”

“Well, I don’t know the Transcendent’s intention, but what I desire is simply your laughter. To that end, I intend to perform.”

Whirr—tap. Tadak.

As Rough began his acrobatic performance with precise yet fluid movements, the gazes of the natives naturally gathered upon him.

For the natives of Kuruwari, who were disconnected from the Empire’s civilization, even this was a great stimulus.

Rough’s performance, after a round of dancing, did not end there.

“Eolssu! And then, wouldn’t you know it, a monster with an ox head snorted through its nostrils and began tapping the ground with its hooves, following me?”

This time, Rough became a storyteller, unfolding an interesting tale about the performance he gave for the monsters in Henrietta’s monster tribe.

Just by describing the monster he met in detail, the residents of Kuruwari became as excited as if they had seen the monster themselves and immersed themselves in Rough’s story.

And Alter was no different.

“I see, so that’s how it was.”

The knowledge that had been lacking from Henrietta’s less articulate explanations was filled by Rough’s story, completing Monsterology for Alter as well.

[…<Monsterology> is formed.]

Moreover, the fact that Rough unfolded Great Fortune Circulation along with his performance was the same here as well.

Whoooosh—

Just as it had with Henrietta, the Wind of Heavenly Fortune wrapped around Alter, triggering additional changes from his transformation.

[Conditions are met, integrating <Medical Knowledge> and <Funeral Knowledge>.]

[Rare Skill <Anatomy> is formed.]

The unique biological structure of monsters learned through Monsterology and the structure of the human body obtained from Medical Knowledge and Funeral Knowledge intertwined.

Thus, he comprehended the principles of Anatomy, which studies the overall structure of living beings.

* * *

Hyu’s Reverse World.

Shhk.

Henrietta and Alter’s Shadow Gods, having each internalized the new realizations gained after meeting Rough, turned their heads toward Rough.

Having seen the Wind of Heavenly Fortune when Rough completed his Three-star promotion, they had realized that Rough had brought them fortune.

Rough’s Shadow God, noticing their gaze, redirected the credit by pointing toward the Black Curtain.

“If it’s thanks, direct them over there. I merely followed that person’s will.”

“Ah…”

At those words, the two turned their heads and bowed respectfully toward Lee Hanseong behind the Black Curtain.

Bow.

* * *

After finishing his performance in Kuruwari, Rough spent the next few days learning about the geography and culture of the Ardenia Empire from Alter before moving on to his next destination.

Perhaps because he had come to the Ardenia Continent, the target indicated by divination was pointing toward Ardenia’s past.

Once again, Lee Hanseong wove together Shrinking Earth and the Path of the Fairies to create a portal, and Rough stepped through it without hesitation.

Step—pat.

Near the Dwarf industrial zone in the Dragon Mountain Range, in the central inland region of Ardenia.

Rough appeared in the ruins of a village where humans who likely once sought to interact with dwarves were presumed to have lived. He stopped his steps before an old, dilapidated Smithy.

“The place I must go next… is the past of this place.”

There, Lee Hanseong linked Space-Time Step with the Path of the Fairies, once again creating a rainbow-colored tunnel in the Void Space outside of time.

Unlike the previous leap into the future, this was a regression into the past.

A time travel made possible because the record of Alter, where Rough currently was, was history recorded by the Chariot Constellation that Harmonizes Laws.

Step step—

A walk toward the opposite side of the page where Rough had entered.

The old Smithy building gradually returned to its intact state.

The ruined village became whole again, reaching the period when people lived their lives.

Knock knock.

Finally, Rough, having arrived in Non Smith’s present, knocked on the door of his Smithy.

―Who is it?

Clank, clank, creak—

Immediately after a mechanical voice was heard, the door opened with the sound of iron armor clashing.

Non, who used Demon Armor as his body, revealed himself.

―What brings you here?

“I’ve come to repay a debt.”

―Debt?

“Wouldn’t you like to obtain Artisan?”

When Rough completed his Three-star promotion, he inherited Non’s Dexterity to complete Artisan.

Now it was Rough’s turn to teach him his Acrobatics.

Since Non had also seen the Skill combination formula for Artisan, upon hearing Rough’s intention, he readily accepted the proposal.

―Come in.

“Then, I will show you Acrobatics through a performance.”

Whirr—tap tap. Chack.

Here too, Rough unfailingly began his performance.

This time, it was a performance focused on the dazzling techniques of Acrobatics.

After the performance, which Rough performed with the intention of showcasing all the Acrobatics he could display, Non stood still and silent for a moment.

“How was it?”

―I enjoyed the performance. It’s been a while since my eyes were so pleased.

After offering that review, Non activated 《Perfect Body Control》.

―Is this how it’s done?

Kiriik—clank clank, thud.

Non began to perfectly reproduce the performance Rough had just given, from start to finish.

Perhaps because it was Acrobatics performed with a body of iron, it appeared noisier and more dazzling than when Rough performed it himself, drawing out an involuntary exclamation of admiration.

“Wow.”

[Conditions are met. General Skill <Dexterity> evolves into Rare Skill <Artisan>.]

And when Non’s performance ended, a message appeared before his eyes stating that he had acquired Artisan.

―Now I can test Enchant as well. Will you help me?

“Let’s give it a try.”

At Non’s request, Rough readily nodded and moved to his workbench.

New experiences during his travels would only enrich his performances, after all.

* * *

Based on the results Non tested before Rough’s arrival.

<Granting Magic: Enchant>, obtained during his Three-star promotion, was difficult to succeed with using Dexterity alone.

The possibility of failure was over half, one might say.

But now that Dexterity had evolved into Artisan.

The chance of success rose to 90%.

‘And if the fortune of that jester named Rough aids me, that 90% success rate will rise to 100%.’

Having seen the scene in the Reverse World where Rough brought fortune upon completing his Three-star promotion, Non considered his visit a boon.

Today would be the day to inscribe Enchant onto the Demon Armor.

Non made a request to Rough.

“First, could you unfold your ability to bring fortune here?”

“Of course.”

Whoooosh.

As Rough’s Great Fortune Circulation unfolded, a strand of wind swirled inside Non’s Smithy.

“Next, after watching what I do, you just need to perform the same work on the parts my hands cannot reach.”

“Understood.”

After advising him to watch carefully, Non immediately began the work.

Vrrrm.

Upon activating Enchant, Starlight condensed at the fingertips of the Shadow God’s Demon Armor, honed like a blade.

It was a kind of minute Sword Qi.

Griiind—

Using it, he engraved the Spell Formula he wished to grant onto the surface of the Demon Armor.

What Non desired was consistent.

More precise and detailed crafting ability.

‘I am still lacking.’

A fact realized because the Demon Armor sublimated into a Treasure Vessel upon reaching the threshold of 5-Star through the effects of Second Stage Transcendence.

The body control ability possessed by the Demon Armor had already reached its limit.

But there was still room to go higher.

If he could raise the Mana Control Ability to handle Starlight itself, his crafting ability would undoubtedly evolve another stage.

Grind, grik— screech—

First, he engraved the Spell Formula on the reachable areas.

The visible parts were, of course, crafted perfectly, and even the unseen parts were calculated perfectly in his mind and crafted without a single error.

The range of motion of the Demon Armor’s joints when Perfect Body Control was deployed surpassed human limits.

In effect, the entire surface of the Demon Armor was now crafted.

―Hoo. That’s all I can do. Now it’s your turn.

The problem was the core inside the Demon Armor, which could be considered the most important part.

To complete the Enchant that would raise Mana Control Ability, he needed to remove the core located where a heart would normally be and craft it as well.

However, removing the core would temporarily sever the connection between the Demon Armor and Non’s soul, so he couldn’t craft the core alone.

That’s why Rough’s help was needed.

―Just look at this and craft it the same way.

“Do you trust me? If I make a mistake or harbor ill intent, you will lose your body, won’t you?”

―Then, it would mean my judgment was wrong.

“…I won’t disappoint that trust.”

Touched by Non’s trust in him, whom he had practically just met, Rough began the work with the resolve to succeed at all costs.

Clank.

Non’s breastplate opened, revealing the interior filled with gears.

After separating the gears and revealing the core, Non carefully detached it.

Vrrrm…

The light shining from inside the Demon Armor’s helmet went out.

Thump thump.

The core held in Rough’s hand pulsated.

Although clearly a heart made of steel, Non’s core pulsated like a real heart.

Griiind— grik!

Since Rough couldn’t hone Sword Qi at his fingertips like Non, he proceeded with the crafting using tools.

Possessing Artisan, the precision of his work did not fall short compared to Non’s.

Moreover, the Heavenly Fortune swirling inside the Smithy was erasing the very probability of him making a mistake.

“Done.”

Tap, clack.

After reattaching the crafted steel heart inside the Demon Armor and returning the separated gears to their places.

Vrrrm—

The light in the Demon Armor’s helmet turned on again, and Non regained consciousness.

And as the opened breastplate closed as well, completely connecting the Spell Formula crafted on the surface.

Vrrrrrm!

Following the Spell Formula engraved all over the Demon Armor, Starlight circulated and took effect.

Thanks to the Circuits through which Starlight flowed, the gap existing between the Demon Armor and Non’s soul narrowed significantly.

Fwa-ba-ba-bat.

On each of Non’s fingers, the minute Sword Qi he had deployed during Enchant appeared and disappeared repeatedly.

The speed was gradually shortening.

―The mana moves as I think! Uahaha!

A result surpassing even the design value Non had initially anticipated.

The Great Fortune Circulation cast over the Smithy added beneficial variables to Rough’s work, inducing a Great Enhancement Success beyond a normal success.

And changes in the body naturally lead to changes in the spirit.

―Ah, so this is what the primitive man was talking about.

Only now did the Hunting Knowledge of Utangka, with whom he had been interacting through the Shadow God in the Reverse World, begin to be understood.

With the help of the Starlight Circuits, the Demon Armor’s physical abilities became as strong as Utangka’s body, allowing previously incomprehensible content to be newly accepted.

―Both hunting and blacksmithing ultimately involve striking weaknesses to obtain what one desires. So in the grand scheme, they are the same, is that it?

[Rare Skill <Hunting Studies> is formed.]

And the moment Hunting Studies was formed.

Pshoo-sh-sh-shuk!

Not just from simple fingertips, but Sword Qi surged from the entire Demon Armor like a porcupine’s quills, transforming the Demon Armor’s form to appear even more threatening.

It was a form specialized for hunting and combat.

And through these changes, the enhanced level of the Demon Armor, if not quite a Divine Artifact, clearly surpassed that of ordinary Treasure Vessels.

[Feat, ‘Great Enhancement Success’ has been achieved.]

[The Steel Throne records Non Smith’s Feat and the Altered history.]

[Third awakening skill 《Treasure Tool Enhancement》 Blooms.]

[Non Smith’s Three-star promotion is completed.]

[Continues Historical Alteration to complete Four-star promotion.]

[Remaining achievement is consumed. Current number of remaining achievements held: 5 > 4]

Naturally, this was a sufficient Feat for promotion completion.

―It’s thanks to you. You said you came to repay a debt, but I feel like I’m the one who owes a debt now.

“No. I’m glad I had a new experience too.”

Rough’s words were not empty.

Thanks to the crafting work he experienced this time, Rough also gained new inspiration and was able to comprehend the true utilization method of the <Dual Identity> Skill.

“Well then, it’s time for me to leave.”

―Leaving already? Where do you plan to go next?

In response to Non’s question, Rough performed a brief divination before answering.

The next target indicated by divination was…

“Next… it seems I’m to go to Ardenia’s future.”

It was pointing toward Ardenia’s future.