Chapter 174
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 174
Splash.
I sank into the bathtub, letting my body relax. My prosthetic body grew sluggish as it was submerged in the water.
Bathing is not recommended for prosthetic body users. Every manufacturer includes a warning in their manuals stating they cannot guarantee performance if the product is submerged. Not that many people read the manuals, anyway.
Machines are vulnerable to water. Because of this, plenty of people in the Lower District didn't even shower, let alone take baths. For them, wiping themselves down with a wet rag was the closest they got to bathing.
Fortunately, I didn't have to live in such unhygienic conditions. My prosthetic body was custom-made and brand new, so it was thoroughly waterproofed. Soaking in a tub for twenty minutes or so wouldn't break it. Besides, even if it did malfunction, the one person who could repair it lived in this very building.
'If I run into the killer, there might be a fight. I need to relieve my nervous system fatigue before I go.'
I let my eyes fall halfway closed, shaking off the exhaustion from the previous night. The moment I shut them, my eyelids trembled slightly.
…When I opened my eyes again, twenty minutes had passed in what felt like an instant. Warm steam billowed from the surface of the bath. This was enough rest.
Splaaash.
I stepped out of the tub and roughly dried myself with a towel. I wasn't someone who pursued a clean and comfortable lifestyle. As long as I was hygienic enough to avoid getting sick, I was content.
Click.
I threw on my clothes and gathered my gear. Then, I opened the network on my terminal and contacted Gaya's Hospital, where Gabriel was admitted.
“Ah, what is it? You don’t exactly strike me as the caring guardian who calls every day to check on his patient.”
Gaya answered in a leisurely tone.
“Is Gabriel in any condition to move?”
“He’s stabilized. Whether he can move depends on what kind of activity you have in mind.”
“Put me through to him. I have something to say to Gabriel.”
“As his primary physician, I must ask what you intend to tell him.”
“Something’s happened that Gabriel is going to love.”
“Hmm. My intuition tells me that whatever you have planned won’t be very good for the patient’s mental health.”
“I’m Gabriel’s guardian.”
Stepping out of the building, I headed straight for Gaya's Hospital.
“The hospital fees have already been paid. During the treatment period, the patient's well-being is my responsibility. If we're not careful, all our progress could be undone. And just so you know, there are no refunds.”
“You’re annoying. Get Gabriel ready for discharge. I'm on my way.”
Despite my harsh tone, there wasn't a hint of intimidation in Gaya's voice.
“Let’s talk when you get here.”
Gaya's Hospital wasn't far from the Japa Trading office. It made sense; Japa had probably recommended it because of its proximity.
I looked at Gaya's Hospital. The three-story building, nestled at the end of the alley, looked cozy and well-established.
Creak.
Before I could even step inside, the hospital entrance creaked open. Gaya, wearing a loose white lab coat, was looking at me.
“Mr. Gabriel is under my care for four weeks. Until then, no one is allowed to interfere. Not even his guardian.”
“Don't make me laugh. If you want to stop me, try calling the police. Are there even any cops in this neighborhood?”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I didn’t know you had a sense of humor. I almost laughed.”
“If there's something to laugh about, it's best to laugh. Laughter is good for your mental health,” Gaya said, leaning casually against the doorframe.
He was staring at me with brilliant blue eyes. They had originally been brown.
'An artificial glow.'
The glow was faint, as if only his pupils had been dyed blue.
“I take it you have some cheap trick up your sleeve?” I said, slipping my hand inside my coat.
“It's not easy running a hospital in Border City without any bodyguards.”
Gaya took a step forward, blocking the main entrance.
“Doctor, you don’t know me. You’d better just step aside.”
“And you don’t know me, either.”
“I know you’re not a combat expert, at least. You might have been something in the past, but that was then. I’m active duty. I killed several people just a few days ago.”
I slowly walked toward Gaya. The blue-white light lingering in his pupils intensified, now looking like a true ocular glow.
The Force is closely linked to the Arcane civilization, and the Kora Holy Nation is the group most deeply involved with it. Yet, even within Kora, Force users were extremely rare.
'Was Gaya a Force user too?'
The Force was an incredibly rare ability. In my entire combat-ridden life, I had rarely encountered a Force user.
'The nameless Korain, the Holy Knight of Kora, and Rick Kaiser, who used an Arcane artifact for limited teleportation.'
None of them were ordinary. Even the Imperial Guard's rules of engagement classified Force users as extremely dangerous entities.
'An ability that defies the laws of physics.'
Force abilities were countless, and because they weren't bound by physics, they were difficult to predict. That advantage alone was enough to seize the upper hand in a fight.
For thousands of years, one concept had never been omitted from humanity's combat doctrines.
'Know your enemy to win.'
The Force was an ability that made it easy to catch opponents off guard while keeping one's own full strength hidden.
If Force abilities could be manifested through sheer will alone, without rituals or catalysts, they would be invincible. Fortunately, using the Force required physical tells, and a special tool called a catalyst was also necessary.
Clink.
Gaya revealed the bracelets beneath his sleeves and lightly tapped them together. The metallic bracelets let out a clear chime, and as if on cue, a thin layer of Force enveloped his body like an aura.
Hummmm.
The Force wrapping around Gaya's body flowed downward like a low-lying mist.
'The catalyst is the bracelets.'
What kind of ability it was remained a mystery. There was no telling what function the Force aura surrounding his body served. The alarm bells in my head blared like a red alert.
I narrowed my eyes, observing him. I had to rely on my limited experience to predict what Gaya's ‘weapon’ might be.
“Seeing your calm reaction, you must have encountered Force abilities before. And given that you're from the Empire, combined with your prickly personality… I doubt you had friendly chats with those Force users.”
Analyzing others was my specialty. That didn't mean I liked being analyzed. Being read so easily left a foul taste in my mouth.
I remained silent, refusing to give him any information.
…If he stood in my way, I’d kill him. No, I should just subdue him. Gaya was trying to treat Gabriel out of a strong sense of professional duty. Since Japa recommended him, his skills had to be genuine.
'Since the bracelets are the catalyst, I can just cut off his arms. Or break them.'
Gaya probably wouldn't try to kill me, either. Our conflict wasn't deep enough to warrant murder.
Keep it soft. Keep it gentle. There's no need to kill him.
I tried to suppress the rising aggression. My forehead throbbed with a burning heat, right where my frontal lobe was.
“Phew.”
I let out a short breath.
My entire body was itching. Tens of thousands of ways to tear Gaya apart flashed through my mind. A Force user? So what? How strong could he be? Could he even hold a candle to the powerhouses I knew? He probably just had a cheap trick or two.
Show me what you've got. I'll dismantle it and crush you. I'll trample that lofty attitude of yours into the dirt.
“Ha…”
I fought to suppress a laugh. The mere thought of fighting an unknown opponent filled me with anticipation. Every strand of my combat nervous system stood on end, craving the stimulation.
Come at me. Anything goes. I hope you're strong enough to blow off one of my limbs. I live for the thrill of breaking the strong.
Clang!
Gaya tapped the bracelets on his wrists together once more. The shimmering light of the Force collapsed like unraveled threads. A moment later, even its trace had vanished.
Gaya had given up the fight.
“Hey, what the hell are you doing?” I demanded, thoroughly deflated and annoyed.
Gaya let out a deep sigh, then chuckled. “You are right. There is no point in me showing off my clumsy tricks against the real deal. The power I possess is only useful against half-baked thugs.”
“And you just give up before we even start? What a rotten attitude.”
I kicked a can that was rolling on the ground.
“I am no warrior. And above all, I have no desire to fight a man who smiles so ominously right before a battle. It felt as though the very concept of violence had manifested before me.”
I couldn't tell if that was a compliment or an insult.
“So, what exactly is your Force ability, anyway?”
“That is a secret. Please, come inside. Since I cannot match you in strength, let us settle this with words.”
“You’re a slippery one.”
“Let’s call it life experience.”
Gaya pulled down his sleeves and walked into the hospital. I rubbed my now-cool neck and followed him.
The hospital corridor was orderly, reflecting Gaya's neat personality. The occasional decorations consisted of abstract shapes and curves whose meanings were entirely unclear.
“Mr. Gabriel's condition is extremely poor. Several worst-case scenarios have overlapped. Post-traumatic stress disorder, drug addiction, nervous system overload from overusing his cybernetics… every single one is detrimental to mental health.”
Gaya stopped walking and stared at me intently.
“What?”
“You probably have quite a few of those overlapping as well.”
“Everyone lives with injuries, big or small. Mind or body. If you start whining just because you’re hurt, there’d be no end to it.”
“That is also true. One must not avoid pain. A comfortable life completely devoid of misfortune ruins a person just as much as drug addiction. In fact, a healthy life requires a certain degree of pain…”
Gaya lightly flicked a scale sitting on a wall shelf. It tipped with a clear chime before regaining its balance.
“However, excessive pain breaks us. It leaves permanent scars and makes life difficult. That is the state Mr. Gabriel is in right now. The cumulative pain has exceeded his resilience, making it impossible for him to stand on his own. Treating that is the job of someone like me.”
“Stop beating around the bush. I need to see Gabriel right now.”
“I do not have the power to stop you. But I will give you one warning. If Gabriel breaks down any further, there will be no turning back. A person can die without physically ending their own life.”
I smirked. Gabriel's room was just ahead.
“Don’t worry about that. We’re going to do something that's fantastic for his mental health.”
I opened the door to his room. Gabriel, dressed in a patient gown, was staring blankly out the window. He slowly turned his head to look at me.
“Lu…ka? You’re… you’re real, right? Damn it, it really wasn't a dream.”
I’d lost count of how many times I’d heard that. It seemed Gabriel’s cognition and memory were also impaired.
“Get a grip and get ready to leave.”
“Leave? Leave here?”
“I found the bastard who killed your woman and your stepdaughter. We’re going to hunt him down together.”
Gabriel’s hazy eyes widened. He sprang up and flung the wardrobe open so hard it nearly broke.
“R-really? You found that bastard? How?” he asked, putting his clothes on backward.
“I did some legwork.”
And spent some money. Without Japa’s financial backing, even I wouldn't have found him this easily.
Thud!
Gabriel’s sense of balance was clearly shot; he tripped while putting on his pants. He spat out a curse and pointed a finger at Gaya.
“Hey! Doctor! Give me something to wake me up, like washing my brain in ice water! Right now! Ah, damn it, my head isn't working!”
Gabriel was demanding a stimulant. I stared quietly at Gaya.
“Are you going to take revenge on the source of his trauma?”
“It’s no use opposing it. I’ve already decided. Look how excited he is.”
Gaya stroked his chin, crossing his arms, before replying.
“I have no intention of opposing it. Surprisingly, revenge can aid in recovery and overcoming trauma. If I may offer one piece of advice, make sure the revenge is absolute. You must completely incinerate the trauma that clings to him like mold. If you only burn it halfway, the soot will only grow larger, staining him even darker.”
“I didn't expect you to encourage revenge,” I said with a soft whistle.
“There is no law stating that an effective treatment must be ethically correct. Humans are not particularly ethical creatures to begin with. Even less so in Border City.”
That was music to my ears.