Chapter 202
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202
From her wheelchair, Ragnata loaded a pistol. A smirk played on her lips, and a wide variety of firearms lay scattered across the table before her.
"Think about it, Student Luka. In the beginning, we have to consciously correct every single movement, even for a simple kick or punch. But once you repeat and master those movements, you can throw a punch or kick flawlessly without a second thought. That is how we internalize a technique."
"Sounds plausible, but aren't kicking and Ballistic Prediction on completely different levels?" I grumbled as I warmed up, feeling my nervous system thrum with energy.
"Don't be weak. What about our physical capabilities? Are we even comparable to ordinary humans? You have an enhanced nervous system and a prosthetic body. We are superhumans who can easily pull off things that baseline humans—or natural-bodied humans, to be precise—wouldn't even dare to dream of. Throw away those old stereotypes and show some creativity."
Ragnata raised the loaded pistol and aimed it at me.
"Tsk, damn it. This is madness..."
"Since the technological singularity, humanity's imagination has never kept pace with technological advancement. People defined their limits with their meager imaginations and refused to cross them. Only madness—a complete disregard for common sense and danger—could shatter those limits. That is progress. That is development."
"Alright, alright, enough with the boring lecture. Just pull the trig—"
My focus sharpened instantly. As my concentration spiked, I could see the tiniest cracks in Ragnata's fingernails.
Ping!
With the back of my hand, I deflected the bullet flying straight for the space between my eyebrows. It was an insane way to train. Not even the Imperial Guard pulled stunts like this. A single mistake meant death.
Even in the Imperial Guard, we used simulations when practicing skills like Ballistic Control. Pain Tolerance Training also used virtual signals rather than inflicting actual physical damage.
Every Imperial Guard cadet was a precious resource, and the majority were children of nobles. Dying in training, rather than on an actual mission, would be a massive loss.
In any case, the principle behind this insane training was incredibly simple.
Repeatedly master advanced applied techniques until they become internalized as basic instincts.
If you repeat an action countless times, you can perform it without thinking. Theoretically, it made sense. Still, I doubted whether a skill like Ballistic Prediction could truly be internalized through sheer repetition. But since Ragnata said it was possible, I chose to believe her.
Click.
Ragnata rolled her wheelchair around, swapping firearms—a simple act that fed all kinds of new variables into my body.
Zip!
I frowned. The bullet I tried to deflect with my forearm grazed my cheek. My calculations had been slightly off.
"Your concentration is slipping, Luka. Normally, even our most trivial movements require a massive amount of physical calculation. Yet, we skip that process and execute them effortlessly, without any computational load. That’s only possible because we've grown accustomed to it. Just as you learn to run after getting used to walking, what do you think the next step is once you internalize Ballistic Prediction?"
Ragnata spoke as she pulled the trigger of a rifle. But the barrel was pointed in an odd direction.
A chill ran down my spine. My eyes widened.
Ping!
Ragnata had aimed at the floor. It was a ricochet.
Clang!
The bullet glanced off the floor and shot toward my flank. I deflected it with my elbow.
"Hmm, a close one. That's enough for today. Any more and you might actually die."
Ragnata spun the rifle with a casual air.
If I push myself any harder, my brain might actually get damaged.
I had no desire to experience my brain frying again.
As I cleaned up the training room, I stole a glance at Ragnata. She was a woman weakened by age.
No matter how strong you are, everyone withers away eventually.
My lips parted. I wanted to ask her how it felt. It wasn't out of mockery, but genuine curiosity.
The feeling of the strength you spent a lifetime building slipping through your fingers like sand.
I didn't think I could endure it. The thought of that day eventually coming for me was terrifying. If it was all destined to vanish anyway, what was the point of all this training?
I'm not afraid of death.
But I was terrified of losing the strength that sustained me. Without power, I was worthless. The only reason people tolerated a rogue like me was because I was strong.
Ragnata, aren't you afraid?
There was no trace of the fear of decline in her words or actions. Was she hiding it, or did she truly not feel it?
My lips felt dry.
"What are you staring at? Something to say? Ask me anything, as long as it's not a confession."
Snapping out of it, I let out a chuckle and pushed Ragnata's wheelchair.
"Rejected before I could even confess. Never mind, then."
"How boring."
* * *
"Even a stray cat picked up off the street would get more attention than this."
Every time Japa's scolding crossed my mind, I paid a visit to Boyan's room. The kid was my responsibility, so I had to keep tabs on him.
True to his Crawler nature, Boyan had fully recovered and returned to his daily routine. It was hard to believe he had been on the verge of death after the beating I’d given him.
"You're studying. I'll come back later," I said, glancing at the holograms and books spread across his desk.
"Ah, no. It's fine. I was just taking a break."
I glanced at the text on the hologram and in the books. It looked difficult.
"Hmm, I see. Uh, right. How are your studies going?"
Even to my own ears, I sounded incredibly pathetic. But I had actually put some thought into it before speaking.
"I'm not really sure yet. I think I'll know once I take the upcoming exams."
It seemed he had exams coming up. Since I didn't plan on staying long, I didn't sit down.
"Well, you're smart and you work hard, so you'll be fine. Let me know if you need anything. Japa will take care of most of it anyway."
"I'm already receiving more than enough support. I don't need anything else. And..."
"And? Don't hesitate, just spit it out."
"I don't know if I should say this... but you look a lot better lately, Luka. You used to look so gloomy."
If even Boyan noticed, then everyone else must have too. Japa and the others were probably whispering and snickering behind my back. Ugh, that was annoying for some reason.
There were several reasons for my improved state. I had fought enough satisfying battles to soothe my aggression, and having Ragnata as an advisor gave me a sense of psychological stability. There was also the anticipation of gathering more information once I made contact with Ilay.
I reached out and patted Boyan's head.
"You've got a sharp eye."
After our brief conversation, I left his room. I didn't want to take up any more of the kid's time while he was studying so diligently.
* * *
While the memory extraction from Valek's brain was underway, my peaceful daily routine continued. Of course, it was anything but peaceful when I was deflecting and dodging the bullets Ragnata fired at me.
– The analysis phase is complete. As expected of an Akies Victima user, extracting information hasn't been easy. However, it will be finished within two weeks at the latest.
I checked the message from Japa. In two weeks at most, Valek's memory extraction would be complete. There was still plenty of time before my scheduled meeting with Ilay.
I stopped in my tracks while walking down the hallway.
Boyan?
Boyan was walking toward me. He was a Crawler with highly sensitive senses, yet he seemed so lost in thought that he didn't even notice me standing right in front of him.
"Uh, ah, Luka... Mr. Luka."
Boyan startled as he finally saw me. He looked incredibly haggard, his eyes dull and unfocused.
"Hey, did someone mess with you again...?"
"No, no! Absolutely not! The rumors have spread so widely that no one dares touch me," Boyan squeezed out, trying to sound energetic. I shrugged.
"Well, that's good then. Why do you look so exhausted?"
"The, the exams were harder than I thought. I guess I was just nervous because it was the first day."
"You can't expect to get it right on the first try," I replied nonchalantly, but I couldn't take my eyes off his retreating back as he walked to his room.
What if...
I hoped my worries were unfounded.
Around the time Boyan usually returned to the office building, I started loitering around the first-floor lobby and hallways. This time, I sipped a drink in the lobby, observing him from a distance.
Boyan's shoulders slumped lower with each passing day. His expression was terrible. It was getting harder to ignore, to just brush it off as a kid's personal issues. I knew exactly when that kind of look appeared on a person's face.
A hopeless situation.
I had expected Boyan to hit a wall of despair eventually. But it had come far too quickly.
Beep.
I tapped my ear, opening a channel on my communicator. Soon, Japa's voice came through.
– Hmm, what brings you to contact me first?
"I have something to discuss."
– You can come up to my office right now. I can always make time for you, Mr. Luka, hoyot.
"No, it's not something we need to meet in person for. It's about Boyan."
Japa fell silent, as if he had already suspected as much.
– Go ahead.
"Is it even possible for a Crawler to catch up to other species when it comes to academics?"
– Hoyoyoyo... To put it bluntly, it is extremely difficult. Boyan actually has excellent academic ability for a Crawler. The problem is that it's only "for a Crawler."
"But it doesn't seem like there's a gap in intelligence. Where does the difference come from?"
– It is a matter of temperament. Crawlers possess the brains of hunters and warriors. Even if Boyan is an outlier, his capacity for academic achievement is bound to fall below the average of other species. No matter how much intellectual curiosity he has, his learning capacity cannot support it. It is as if he is running with heavy shackles on his ankles.
There was that word again. Temperament.
"Since Boyan's school is filled with elites from the upper class, he must feel that gap even more acutely. You already expected this, didn't you?"
– I, too, hoped my prediction would be wrong. He was clearly a bright child. That is why Boyan himself probably had no idea the gap would be this vast.
I cut the connection with Japa.
"Sigh..."
A deep sigh escaped from the bottom of my chest.
In my case, my temperament and talent aligned perfectly. That's probably true for most people. Temperament and talent usually go hand in hand.
But occasionally, there were exceptions like this.
In situations like that, most people eventually compromise with reality.
I was willing to teach Boyan how to fight if he wanted.
...But if he chooses the life of a warrior, then there was no reason for him to struggle and crawl all the way here. It would mean denying everything he has lived for so far.
It was a difficult dilemma.
I slowly stood up and headed to the floor where Boyan's room was located. Since it was a floor for guest rooms, the hallway was dead silent.
Crash!
A loud crash echoed from Boyan's room, followed by the sound of furniture being smashed. Unable to contain his rage, Boyan was likely venting.
He needs to let it out somehow. Anyone would do the same, whether they're a Crawler or any other species.
I leaned my back against the hallway wall and waited. After about five minutes, the sounds of destruction ceased and silence returned.
I hesitated, debating whether to enter Boyan's room.
"Ugh... huff... ah, ah, aaaah... uaaagh..."
Boyan's choked sobs leaked through the door.
Even if I opened that door, I wouldn't know how to face him. I had no practical advice to offer, and while I was good at sarcasm, I had no idea how to comfort someone.
Standing before the door, I hesitated a moment longer before turning around and walking away. I knew this was a cowardly thing to do.
But if I opened that door and spoke to him, I would only end up hurting him more. I was a hopeless human being, after all.
Damn it. That was just another excuse.
But what was I supposed to do? I didn't have the luxury to care. I had to face Ilay soon. And behind him, the Empire itself might be waiting. Where would I find the spare energy to worry about Boyan?