002
Creak, creak.
The rough-looking android removed my broken prosthetic limb and repaired it. After replacing a few twisted parts, the red color indicating a malfunction on the repair screen changed to green.
-I’ll connect your nervous system, Luca.
“okay.”
With my answer, the android established a connection between the bionic and the mechanical.
Crunch.
The pain was excruciating. It felt like dozens of needles were digging into my thigh at the same time.
-If there is anything abnormal… … .
“No, go.”
I said, folding and unfolding my broken leg. The android stood up and walked away stiffly.
The room was quiet. I closed my eyes and meditated. I let my senses drop to a slack, allowing my overworked nervous system to rest. It was all something I learned in the Guard training camp.
I enjoyed being alone. From my perspective, even this felt like a privilege.
‘I didn’t have any time for myself at the orphanage. There were fifteen people sharing one room.’
My days in orphanage felt like a distant memory.
In the guards, even cadets have private rooms. It was quite a luxurious treatment. In addition, those who graduated from the guards were considered elite officers, so their future was smooth.
‘It seems like the path to success is guaranteed.’
The Royal Guard is the direct command of the Emperor. It is an honorable position that every citizen of the Accresia Empire covets. When the opportunity comes, it must not be missed.
I was more desperate than my peers. Unlike them who were of noble birth, I was of lower class and had no other option but to become a cadet in the Royal Guard.
I opened my eyes, frowning slightly as I was lost in thought. This was because I heard footsteps in the hallway outside the door.
Knock, knock.
Even the sound of the knock on the door was neat. After a moment to exhale, a voice was heard.
“I am Ilay Kartika. Luca, I want to talk to you.”
Ilei Kartika, I know that guy. The gunfighter cadet who fought the death row inmates is Ilei.
I think I know why he came here. I was actually aware of him throughout the training.
“… … Come in.”
I sat upright and greeted Ilay. The door opened and Ilay came into my room.
‘Ilay Kartika.’
He was a boy from a prestigious family. His calm blond hair and blue eyes gave him an aristocratic impression. Even without mentioning his name or origin, people would think of him as a boy of noble birth. Even his plain gray cadet uniform suited him well.
“Can I sit down?”
Illai said, looking at the chair by the window. It was dark and stuffy outside the window, as the sun had long since set.
“I have no intention of making you stand. Sit down.”
“I saw your skills fighting the death row inmate today. You were quite good.”
Illei said, lifting his chin slightly. His pupils had already been replaced by cybernetic prosthetics, so the edges often glowed faintly.
“If you want to build friendship by complimenting each other, you have come to the wrong place, my lord.”
Thinking rationally, I didn’t need to speak aggressively. However, perhaps because my nervous system was tired, I had a hard time holding back my irritation. It was as if I hadn’t slept for several days. I was quite sensitive.
Well, this is just an excuse. There is a fundamental reason for my sharp attitude. I know it well.
The reason is my jealousy. Orphanage… … and for me, who came from a double-digit family, I didn’t like the noble boy even though he was the same age. Unlike me, who only had prosthetic limbs, Ilay had cybernetic organs and prosthetics stuck here and there.
Illai just shrugged and took out a pill from his pocket.
“If you eat this, your nervous system’s sensitivity will temporarily decrease. Your relaxation efficiency will increase.”
Ilay was the first to put the pill in his mouth and swallow it. He spoke as if he knew and understood my condition. That made me dislike him even more.
“No need.”
“If you’re that tired, you’ll have trouble training tomorrow. You know very well that it’s not something that can be done with mental strength alone, right? You’re excellent.”
I closed my eyes and sighed. Ilay was right. I knew my condition well. Right now, I was being swayed by ineffective emotions.
Ssuk.
I reached out and took the pill. It was some kind of sensory blocker.
Gulp.
The effects appeared quickly as soon as I took it. It was different from the crude imitations sold in back alleys. Even though my senses were dulled, I didn’t feel unpleasant. I felt comfortable, like the warmth right before falling asleep.
The unbearable irritation has subsided to a level that can be controlled. Now I think I can give compliments that I don’t mean.
“Your skills are quite good, Ellie. I just copied you.”
Ilay is a master at deflecting bullets with bullets. If I hadn’t seen it right in front of me, I wouldn’t have thought of deflecting bullets with a blade.
“It’s more impressive that you did it on the spot without even learning it. As you can see, I have a combat eye, so calculating the trajectory isn’t difficult for me, but you did it just by feeling.”
Ilay tapped his eyeball with his fingernail. His words didn’t sound fake. It seemed like he was genuinely praising me. Suddenly, I felt like a small person.
And there are few people who dislike compliments, and that includes me.
I tried hard to keep a straight face.
“… … So why did you come to see me?”
“I heard you’re an Irregular from an orphanage. I’d like to hear your story. I’ve never been to the lower levels.”
It was a remark that could have easily offended someone. The young master, who was so well-off, was curious about the life of the lowest class. However, his tone was cautious and polite. Above all, it felt like he was genuinely curious.
“Nothing much. The streets are dirty, and the people are tough, if not brutal. Homeless people drag their broken limbs around, and they are lying in back alleys, high on drugs. Starving children, knowing it is dangerous, go out of the orphanage at night to the dump… … .”
“Wait a minute, the daycare center receives as many supplies as there are people.”
I laughed out loud at Ilay’s comment.
“… … Do you think that will all come down to us?”
“The orphanage is a place to nurture talent for the empire. Such embezzlement cannot be tolerated… … If I say that, will I sound too ignorant of the ways of the world?”
Ilay smiled bitterly. I didn’t necessarily deny it.
“Embezzlement or whatever, it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’m going to be a guard.”
My reasoning has gradually pushed away my negative emotions. When I think about it, there is no reason to be jealous of the young master of a noble family.
Right now, Ilay and I are on equal footing. We were going to have to fight back to back in the future. It’s foolish to maintain bad relations with your comrades.
“If you have any questions, just ask. I’ll answer if I know anything.”
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My tone was relaxed. Ilay smiled faintly and rested her chin on her hand.
“Then have you ever been outside the empire?”
I opened my eyes half-heartedly. The guy’s question was subtle. It was hard to read his intentions.
“I was born and raised in the capital city of Akbaran.”
I answered calmly. Ilay stood up, still maintaining her smiling face.
“so do i.”
With those words, Illai left my room.
* * *
The captain of the guard often appeared at the training and education sites of the cadets, usually during dangerous or important training sessions.
Today was a dangerous and important training day.
Crunch.
I felt a cold sensation on my wrist. My limbs were locked in restraints. All I could do was wiggle my fingers and toes.
When I turned my head, I saw cadets who looked just like me. Their faces were clearly tense. My expression probably wasn’t much different.
‘Pain tolerance training.’
It was notorious as the most horrific training among the various curricula. It was essentially torture training.
I looked at the people beyond the glass window. The instructors, consisting of retired guardsmen, stood with cold expressions. Behind them, scientists and engineers walked about.
And the captain of the guard with his arms crossed was looking at us. He looked at me for a moment, then turned his gaze to another cadet.
Dismissal.
Electricity surged from the electrodes attached to my head and limbs. Before I knew it, my whole body felt tense.
‘It’s a fake signal that was created anyway. It’s not real.’
Even though I hummed it like that, the sensation my brain felt was just as real.
Phew!
A piercing sound came from the speakers in the ceiling. No one had actually stabbed me.
‘It’s a penetrating abdominal wound.’
I looked at my stomach. My abdominal muscles were cramping. My skin was red and bruised without anyone touching it.
bang!
The realistic gunshots disturbed my brain. My shoulder felt numb as if it had been shot.
S- Gung!
The details cut off his arm and passed by. The gap between reality and signals confused his brain. It sounds like a joke, but it’s real. It really, really hurts.
“Don’t be fooled by your brain, fool your brain.”
The captain of the guard spoke softly. No cadets paid attention to his words. Everyone was just frowning and barely enduring the pain that followed. Many were unable to overcome their physiological needs and were embarrassed.
‘Don’t be fooled by your brain, fool your brain.’
I could barely get the words out.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
This time it was a burn. The room was hot and there was a sound of flames rushing in. My hands and feet were shaking and every orifice in my body felt like it was opening up.
I feel like I’m going to die from training or anything. I also tried to twist my body to get out of the restraints. It’s not a very cool sight.
“Save me! Please, ah, aaaaaaah!”
Fortunately, it wasn’t my voice. The cadet next to me was crying. I hadn’t even peed yet, and the moans coming out of my throat were acceptable. I was holding up well.
“Remember why you are suffering like this.”
The captain’s voice seemed to come from far away.
The reason I suffer. The reason I undergo hard training. Success? Of course, that’s part of it. But… … .
“For the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor!”
Someone let out a scream of evil.
‘okay…….’
I know him too. Defender of humanity, founding father, emperor of the empire… … .
“For His Majesty the Emperor… … .”
The cadet next to me muttered. I also moved my lips. Would it relieve the pain if I just muttered those words?
‘but…….’
But, what?
Woohoo.
Moving on to the next step. My breathing became rapid. It was hard to breathe. The sound of the water splashing grew louder, and then my ears were filled with it, making me feel stuffy.
Drowning.
It’s just a false signal, but it feels so real, it’s amazing. Those damn scientists. They made this kind of device with their smart brains.
‘Don’t be fooled by your brain… … .’
My mouth is full of blood. It looks like I chewed my lips and cheeks quite a bit.
‘… … trick your brain.’
What the hell is that!
I opened my mouth and tried to scream, but there was no air in my lungs. They felt like they were shrunken.
Breathe. It’s not real. It’s fake. It’s not real.
I wanted to smash my head and beat the contents like dough. This stupid gray matter couldn’t tell the difference between the real and the fake. There’s no such thing as a real bastard.
When the hell is this fu*king torture going to end? Is this supposed to be training? Are you kidding me?
Wow!
I heard the sound of the electrical signal output decreasing. The pain that had been engulfing my body was also subsiding.
“Whew, whoosh.”
I gasped for breath. I couldn’t even raise my head or open my eyes. Even after the signal disappeared, the aftereffects of the pain that tore through my nervous system and brain remained.
Thud, thud.
The footsteps stopped in front of me. I opened my eyes dimly.
“Luka, was it bearable?”
It was the voice of the captain of the guard. He was standing in front of me. I wanted to spit out a bunch of curses, but I held back with the last of my patience.
“Well, even so, it’s fake… … .”
“Yeah, it’s fake.”
The captain of the guard pointed his finger at my face. I looked puzzled.
Now, what, the dog… … .
The captain of the guard was smiling coldly. His fingers and nails were coming towards my right eye.
“But this time it’s real.”
As the captain of the guard finished speaking, half of my world disappeared.
Phew!
The captain of the guard took out my right eye. My eye is not an artificial eye or anything. It is a real eye with an optic nerve connected to it.
Splash!
The captain of the guard burst my eyeballs by crushing them with his index finger and thumb.
Fear, confusion, and doubt. The colors of emotion changed quickly within me.
The pain is minor. It’s just a hollow feeling of physical loss. It’s bearable pain. It’s nothing compared to pain tolerance training.
Instead, my mind grew cold.
Damn, the training worked. I had to admit it. I didn’t lose my mind even though I lost my eye. It was an eye that would be removed later anyway. My body would be converted into a full-body prosthesis later.
“… … If possible, please change it to one with a ballistic predictor.”
The captain of the guards opened his eyes wide and smiled after hearing what I said. He seemed satisfied with my answer.
Ssuk.
Bloody tears flowed down from under my empty right eye socket. I raised my head and looked around with my half-vision.
I could see why the captain of the guard had come before me. Everyone else was unconscious except me.
Ha, damn it.
