Chapter 611: Selection Ceremony (3)

“Next up is a craftsman who participated in the Selection Ceremony through Committee Member Langmuir’s recommendation.” The staff member, who had been guiding them through the stadium to see the artisans’ creations, spoke.

“His name, as recorded in the registry, is Lyman. He was absent for the past few years but recently returned to his workshop and resumed business.”

The judges, following the guide, turned and whispered among themselves as if remembering Lennok’s face.

“Oh, he’s the fellow who was ordering the other artisans around earlier.”

“He seems like an artisan with exceptional sensory perception. I’m looking forward to his work.”

“Then, shall we start with the fabrication category? Lyman, could you explain what you’ve created?”

“These are mechanical wings, meticulously crafted with intricate joints,” Lennok replied calmly.

“They would be difficult to attach to a human body, but they could be effective if connected to the nervous system of a bird that has lost its wings.”

The mechanical wings were a simple model, mimicking only the external structure of Gileon’s Iron-Plated Wings.

Since he remembered the form and structure, he was able to produce a passable result using only the metallurgy of the other artisans.

Naturally, unlike Gileon’s wings, which were artifacts or usable equipment, these were merely artificial body parts for birds.

As expected, the judges’ reactions were lukewarm, just as Lennok had anticipated.

“Hmm, the structural design is highly rational.”

“The idea of replacing a bird’s wings is unique, but its practicality isn’t very high.”

“I do acknowledge that you did your best. Shall we move on to modification and maintenance right away?”

Lennok was slightly surprised that the evaluation wasn’t harsher than he’d expected.

However, upon seeing the judges’ gazes sharpen as they turned their attention, Lennok belatedly realized their true intent.

They had, to some extent, already recognized that Lennok’s exceptional field as an artisan was not fabrication.

Fabrication aside, they must have intended to rigorously evaluate the results he submitted for his true specialties: modification and maintenance.

While Lennok was lost in thought, one of the Meisters approached and picked up another item resting on Lennok’s workbench.

“This is what?”

A small metal sphere that fit in one hand. Smaller than a fist, but slightly larger than a human eye.

Several Meisters gathered around it, each offering different opinions.

“There was no such item among the equipment submitted for this Selection Ceremony. This must be a result from the modification category, not maintenance.”

“The external shape itself isn’t ideal. A perfectly spherical object requires a stand for storage.”

“It doesn’t react even when mana is flowed into it. Does it require a specific trigger?”

Lennok answered the Meisters’ questions calmly, without flinching.

“It’s a filter.”

“…A filter, you say?”

At Lennok’s words, the judges’ gazes involuntarily turned back.

Coincidentally, the artisan judged just before Lennok had chosen a filter as their submission for the maintenance category.

And the filter that artisan had maintained was an enormous, jar-shaped device, almost the size of a moving truck.

The artisan, looking at the house-sized filter and the small metal sphere held in his hand, asked, “Surely you’re not suggesting that filter and this tiny iron ball are the same item?”

“Explain its purpose precisely. Did you choose the same item that artisan maintained?”

“Yes, I did,” Lennok nodded.

“Considering the seawater power generation sector, which is responsible for a significant portion of Machina’s power supply, I attempted to miniaturize the seawater filter.”

“Miniaturization, miniaturization…” someone among the laughing artisans holding the sphere remarked.

“I’d like to see a demonstration, if that’s alright.”

“I’ll prepare it.”

The artisans exchanged glances as they watched Lennok begin pouring water into a basin he had prepared behind his workbench.

“…It seems we were mistaken.”

“Were we expecting too much?”

“Miniaturization of a filter? Why undertake such a reckless task…?”

Most equipment like seawater filters used for mana supply are typically employed in large-scale facilities like factories.

Since they must withstand mana overloads generated during the filtration process, it’s crucial for their design to be rough but robust.

Of course, if filters could be miniaturized and used, that alone would allow for their reuse in various fields, but it’s almost certain that the miniaturization process would somewhat compromise the stability or durability of the equipment.

Committee Member Brahms, standing nearby, uncannily noticed the Meisters’ reactions and added his opinion. “Choosing the same filter as a result doesn’t seem to be a good intention. Don’t the other artisans feel the same way?”

“…”

Because the artisan who had submitted a filter just before belonged to the Steel Heart faction, Brahms was also determined not to miss this opportunity.

Among the Ex Machina committee members participating as judges, there were also members from the Machine Head and War Hammer factions, but rather than worrying about Brahms’s challenge, they were contemplating the feasibility of filter miniaturization.

Ultimately, it was up to the Meisters to decide the final scores in this Selection Ceremony, and the criterion would be the artisan’s inherent skill, not their faction affiliation.

Knowing this, Brahms did not give up and continued speaking. “Think about it. Regardless of whether the filter is miniaturized, how much its stability would be doubted—!!”

But the moment Lennok poured the water and tossed the metal sphere into the basin, Brahms too was forced to shut his mouth.

Crack…!!

Like air being blown into a deflated tube, the metal sphere rapidly expanded as it absorbed water, transforming into a colossal, jar-shaped filter right before their eyes.

Only then did the artisans realize how Lennok had modified and miniaturized the filter, and they murmured, “He used an alloy that expands by absorbing moisture to construct the filter’s shape…”

“That’s it. If we periodically replace the filters and membranes used in it, transport won’t be difficult either.”

“However, the problem lies elsewhere.”

The artisans turned to Lennok, their gazes sharp as they asked, “Among the alloys currently used in the Machine City of Machina, there’s no such thing as an alloy that expands by absorbing moisture.”

“…”

“Using materials other than those provided for this Selection Ceremony is strictly prohibited. Where did you get your hands on such a metal?”

The Meisters, instead of getting caught up in how Lennok miniaturized the filter, didn’t miss the fundamental issue, which was related to the rules of the Selection Ceremony.

They had visually confirmed the metal’s expansion speed and direction on the spot and realized that it was an alloy not present in this Selection Ceremony.

Should one say that it was truly artisan-like to first understand the principle and then pursue the cause?

Lennok thought so and calmly replied, “I made it.”

“…You made it?”

“Considering that I had to make my own tools, I didn’t think making the alloy needed for modification would violate the rules either.”

“…”

One of the Meisters, exchanging incredulous glances, asked, “You know that an alloy isn’t something that can be easily made, don’t you?”

“That’s right. Making a metal expand by introducing water, or controlling that expansion in a desired direction, is nearly impossible,” Lennok said, glancing back at the filter he had made.

“However, if I set a limit so that it only expands into the basic shape of the filter and adjust the metal’s properties, then it’s not entirely impossible.”

“An alloy that only transforms and expands into the shape of a filter…”

Only then did the artisans finally grasp the true meaning, and they nodded with stiff expressions.

“That’s no longer the realm of metallurgy or modification techniques. In a way, it can’t even be called an alloy. Do you understand this fact?”

“…”

Their words were not wrong.

The metal that Lennok had forcibly created, which expanded by absorbing moisture, to miniaturize the filter.

As the artisans said, this was not metallurgy, but a substance closer to a workaround created using Lennok’s alchemy.

Although it was made by mixing different metals, it had lost a significant portion of its metallic properties through alchemy, so it might not be truly considered an alloy.

From the outset, the very concept of a metal expanding by absorbing moisture was far removed from the conventionally defined concept of a metal.

However, Lennok, knowing this fact, did not hesitate to use alchemy to create his submission for the modification category.

Although he had combined metals to create a non-metallic substance, he was confident that it would leave a stronger impression on the judges who were looking for extraordinary talent.

As expected, several of the judges approached with noticeably changed expressions and began touching the alloy used in the filter.

“I suspected it when I saw you handle the Foldring, but you are indeed an artisan with an excellent sense for manipulating mana by hand.”

“He created a new material with the limitation that it only transforms into the shape of a filter. This is proof that he inherently understands concepts like Geas correctly.”

The artisan, who looked like a young man wearing glasses, turned to Lennok with a gaze full of goodwill and said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen an artisan with such extraordinary talent.”

“So that’s why Enforcer Isabella personally brought him. As I recall, Clark—”

“Oh, now! That’s not something to discuss here.”

“His metallurgy skills seem very lacking, but if taught well, he could become someone who creates truly special items.”

“If he’s selected in the ceremony, I’d like to take him on as my apprentice for a while and teach him.”

“Keep in line, Marlon. This friend needs his metallurgy fixed first.”

As if there was nothing more to see, several Meisters, instead of looking at other artisans, were conversing around the filter, some of whom were from other factions who had initially seemed uninterested in Lennok.

“Uh, um…” Brahms, whose face was red from listening to the artisans praise Lennok, hastily changed the subject.

“We haven’t even checked the maintenance category submission yet. Everyone is being too hasty. Isn’t it too early to make a judgment?”

“Ah, you’re right.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen an artisan with such unique metal combination talent, so we got carried away.”

“First, we’d like to check the equipment you chose for the maintenance category, Lyman—”

As they spoke and turned their heads, the Meisters discovered the old musket rifle placed on the workbench and gasped in utter shock.

It was an abandoned piece of equipment, with no name or score sheet attached, and nobody had paid it any attention.

It was the item Lennok himself had procured from the last display case, with the old man’s help.

But from the moment Lennok took out the musket rifle, not a single one of the judges standing around him spoke.

“…”

“This is…”

“Hmmm…”

The judges, eyes wide, froze as if the cheerful atmosphere from moments ago had been a lie.

Even artisans who were looking at the musket rifle’s form with a sense of wariness, rather than interest.

Even Brahms, who had been trying to keep Lennok in check, stopped, looking flustered by the sight of the musket rifle.

Other artisans, who had been watching Lennok’s evaluation process with envious gazes, also noticed something was wrong and turned their attention.

The silence, spreading from Lennok’s workbench, soon enveloped the entire stadium as if consuming its surroundings.

“That’s one of the artifacts displayed in the last exhibit case.”

Among them, one of the Meisters who had been standing silently at the very back of the group walked quietly forward.

“Most of the artisans participating in this Selection Ceremony might not know, but most Meisters have handled this relic-grade artifact at least once.”

“…”

“Most of the Meisters selected in the ceremony tried to maintain this relic, but no one succeeded. Do you know why?”

The artisan’s eyes glinted sharply.

“Because this artifact was not made with the technology or parts of this world.”

He knew.

The countless unnamed artifacts displayed without explanation in the last exhibit case.

They weren’t merely items exhibited because they were thought to be difficult to repair.

They were items whose very specifications were completely different from artifacts completed with mana or will-thought.

Commonly referred to as relics of the Old World, traces of a destruction that had passed through a great cycle.

“Do you understand what it means for you to personally attempt to maintain it?”

“…”

“Maintaining equipment always carries the possibility of worsening its condition. If you fail to repair this artifact and instead make its condition worse, you will bear the sole responsibility.”

Was that why the number of artisans who tried to excel in the maintenance field was relatively small?

However, Lennok knew this fact and readily nodded.

“May I proceed with the demonstration before we discuss it?”

“…Very well. If you’re that confident.”

Even Meisters who had previously shown no interest in Lennok came forward to warn him, but Lennok remained largely unfazed.

Lennok already knew where this musket rifle came from.

A relic of the Old World, found in the last exhibit case of the Selection Ceremony with the help of the old man and the power of Penteract.

But Lennok had already been aware of this fact even before the artisan explained it to him.

The fact that this artifact was a relic of the Old World.

And that this rifle was exclusive equipment used for a specific profession: a Magic Gunner.

The highest-grade item he had used as a Magic Gunner in the second major update of the game Lennok enjoyed.

A Magic Gun, considered a top-tier item, which he had certainly once acquired as a Magic Gunner in the world of WORLD 2.0.

This musket rifle, mentioned by the old man, was, among them, equipment used by an Old World Magic Gunner.