The Monster Who Ate the Crown

Royal armorer Han Muyeong is ordered to lead Garam, the last iron-eating Bulgasari, into a rebellion and make him devour its weapons. Every memory Muyeong filters from the metal costs him another fingerprint—and the craft that proves who he is. When a black crown reveals the court built its power from murdered makers, the two men must choose what remains of themselves to burn for freedom.

A royal armorer chained to an iron-eating monster discovers the crown they must destroy remembers every maker the kingdom burned to keep its power.