Telepathic Link and the Goddess's Hidden Flaws
The parthenogenesis brain procedure wrapped up in no time. Unlike the massive overhaul I'd undergone before—replacing muscles, bones, and blood—it was just inserting implants, circuits, and artificial nerves that fused organic and inorganic materials. The whole process was swift.
Originally, this is far more complex and time-consuming. Not just the physical surgery, but scanning the subject's brain neural patterns in various ways.
"Like checking blood type before a transfusion or something?"
An extremely simplistic way to put it.
Artemis clearly wasn't thrilled with my analogy.
Body enhancement procedures can cause side effects like convulsions, paralysis, chills, nausea, defecation, urination, coughing, weakened immunity, weight loss or gain, phantom pains, and the like. Unpleasant, but not fatal, and fully correctable.
"But brain procedures are different?"
Indeed. The moment a side effect hits, boom! Your brain fries, turns to pudding, or you become an idiot. Like spilling water into an outlet and shorting out the whole house. The entire neural network shuts down. With electricity, you fix the leak, flip the breaker, and you're good. Brains don't work that way.
I recalled the corpses from the Brain Nerve Research Institute—ones that had flatlined from infection mutations.
That's why we measure every element of the brain meticulously to ensure not even a hint of a glitch. It's time-consuming and finicky, but you've already cleared that hurdle long ago.
"You mean you've been doing it all this time we've been together?"
Not just during exams or treatments, but constantly during daily life. Even when gaming or watching movies together.
She chuckled softly, like she'd been dying to spill it.
"When did it start?"
Hmm, when do you think...?
Her voice trailed off wistfully. Clap! Instead of answering, she clapped her hands.
There! Enough chit-chat. Time to check the procedure.
It was an obvious dodge, but I wasn't that curious anyway. I focused instead on the uncanny sensation stirring in my mind.
Knock knock. It was a knock. Artemis was knocking on my mind. Not figuratively—her will, her intent carried the knock like a radio wave, seeping not into my eardrum or cochlea, but straight into the brain implant.
'Can you hear me?'
'Jinsu, can you hear me?'
"Not sure if I should call it 'hearing' or 'feeling'."
I answered aloud, but right after, I realized I'd already grasped silent communication.
'I've installed all the info you need to use it. Remember The Matrix we watched?'
'Epic movie.'
'Just like that. No grueling learning curve now. Bandwidth and memory limits apply, but you can learn anything efficiently.'
'Got it.'
'You don't seem thrilled.'
She was right—this breakthrough barely moved me. Like a monk indifferent to chants but fixated on the rice, all my attention was elsewhere. No need to say it: Artemis. She'd rarely shown it outright, but she'd always craved a perfect body. She'd developed third-gen androids far superior to humans functionally, yet ignored them. That proud, lofty perfectionist had finally chosen her vessel. And it was growing in the Incubator Room—the same place where my muscles and bones had been cultured before.
I couldn't focus on anything else. I wanted to see it now. Her form manifested in this world.
* * *
Whirr. The Incubator Room door slid open.
I could see her completed body anytime soon, but this tiny, adorable phase? Only now. What greeted me was the embryo curled in the artificial womb. So small and formless it barely felt human yet. But to me, it was utterly lovable. Unlike the pinkish embryos from science docs, this one had a translucent silver body—hinting at nobility at a glance. Its slightly oval eyes asserted a clear presence, and something flowed to and fro through the artificial umbilical cord from its navel. All enveloped in a membrane filled with clear artificial amniotic fluid, housed in the incubator.
As I leaned in to observe closely, the door opened again.
"...?"
Strangers entered—women I'd never seen. Only three had access to the upper VIP Residential Zone: me, Chloro, and Rose. But I knew instantly what they were.
"Pardon the intrusion, Manager."
Their tone and movements synced like thousands of rehearsals. Second-gen androids, no doubt. One had black short hair, the other long pink hair. Both wore archaic red-toned fabric garments and thin sandals evoking ancient Greeks. Artemis's taste?
"We'll handle this place from now on. Please leave and rest, Manager."
The black-haired one spoke politely. A beautiful voice, but devoid of emotion—unlike Artemis, Rose, Chloro, or Kids. Like a meticulously tuned auto-responder.
"Not really a hassle. Most of it's automated anyway."
All I did was supply materials. If anything, slightly more involved than microwaving unpackaged food.
"No need for you to bother, Manager."
The black-haired one insisted. The pink-haired one stood demurely beside her.
"It's no bother at all. After all Artemis has done, I want to help with this much."
But they didn't budge.
"You've done more than enough. Please leave now."
"..."
Something else was at play. Why push me out so hard?
"Hey?"
I looked up at the ceiling.
"Artemis?"
She should've chimed in by now, but silence.
'Manager.'
It was Chloro, via neural link.
This is a direct line between you and me. No one else can hear. Artemis might notice if she focuses here, but I doubt she will.
I glanced at the two androids—hands clasped, eyes down, motionless.
'What's the issue? Problem with linking her consciousness to the body?'
No, no. She's perfectly fine. The issue isn't mechanical—it's something else. Trivial yet complicated, you could say.
Chloro's tone carried a laugh.
'What kind?'
This is her body being made. Real flesh with blood flowing and meat filling it out.
Text flashed in my mind: meat—flesh (肉). Body—軆.
'So what?'
Neither I, Rose, nor those two ahead are living beings. We can store useful stuff in our bodies and secrete it as needed. You've experienced it, Manager.
I nodded. Incredibly handy. Like massage oil from their palms! Muscles melting under those touches rivaled the bliss of sex.
But we can't generate it ourselves. Just store or consume.
'Artemis can?'
Yes. She synthesizes inside her body—oil or anything. Her body's potential is so vast, metaphors suit it better.
Images flooded my mind: golden wheat fields swaying in the wind. The primordial ocean, sole green on barren early Earth. Majestic caves filled with moss and fungi. Tens of thousands of trees from one massive root.
If life has nobility, only her body qualifies.
'I get how precious it is. So what's your point? Why kick me out?'
Flesh reaches noble heights only living beings can, but as flesh, it carries unavoidable ugliness too.
'Like shitting and pissing?'
...Manager, choose more delicate words. Though your toughness is charming.
Chloro sounded exasperated.
No feces since it only gets final nutrients via umbilical. But urine is inevitable.
With clear amniotic fluid, every release would tint it faintly yellow, spreading like mist. No big deal now, but once grown?
I rubbed my chin, vividly imagining.
As the body grows and outlines form, fetal wrinkles appear. Unprotected flaws exposed during flesh-cleaning, odd poses too. She doesn't want to show those unrefined sights.
Chloro's list could seem visually embarrassing. But nothing of Artemis's would ever strike me as ugly.
'You don't really think I'd be disappointed or see her as ugly, do you? I'd embrace any form joyfully.'
Of course I believe you. But it's not about faith. She just doesn't want to show it. I'd feel the same.
'Even when she pokes into my health checks or enhancements, scanning everywhere?'
That's that, this is this.
'...'
I'd hit a dead end.
Artemis won't say a word from inside till you leave! Hehe.
I raised both hands in surrender.
'Fine, you win. I'm out.'
Excellent judgment!
'Don't send applause directly. Feels weird—like thunder in my brain.'
Hahaha. Sorry!
"Hold on a sec."
My spoken words rang pleasantly in my ears. Old-school talk via lips and ears beat pure neural any day.
Before leaving, I turned back to the incubator, pressing both hands to the glass tube. The fetus, far smaller than my fist. Artemis's curled, formless body. Memories surfaced of her as blood, beckoning me.
'Behold my body. Inhale the sweet savor of flesh, unbound by mortal limits. Imagine when I don immortal bone and skin, fully realized.'
That surreal seduction by her blood form, normalized by our bond.
'Don't you wish to touch me?'
Glass separated us then too, but now she had bone, flesh, skin. A beating heart, firing nerves, soon translucent nails on fingers and toes. A brain buzzing with incomparable chemistry—its folds surely lovely. No body hair yet, but soon silvery locks like moonlight, perfectly arched brows.
...And elsewhere? Suddenly burning curiosity. Anyway, all compressed in this tiny curl. Like a fresh sprout, poised for godly beauty.
"I'll see you soon."
I couldn't wait. Holding her hand, feeling her warmth. Hearing her voice from lips, not speakers. Getting smacked by her palm when pissed, not just scolded remotely. Gaming side-by-side with pads. Full-course massages—scalp, shoulders, feet—watching reactions. Munching popcorn in the huge VIP theater.
"What flavor would Artemis like? Caramel, like ordinary girls?"
Even her dithering over choices. All of it awaited.
"Farewell."
"Farewell."
As I exited, the two androids bowed 90 degrees until the door sealed.