Chapter 203
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 203
As always, the training room was filled with the acrid stench of gunpowder.
After finishing my ballistic prediction training, I began peppering Ragnata with questions, steering the conversation toward the topic of temperament.
“Simply put, temperament is the way the brain operates and processes information,” Ragnata said, spouting knowledge from some unknown source. “It’s forged from countless complexities: the structure and shape of the brain, which areas are dominant, its reaction sequences, the development of neurotransmitters and receptors…”
“I know this is a stupid question, but I’ll ask anyway,” I said, wiping sweat from my brow. “Is it impossible to change one’s temperament?”
“The mind has a structure, just like the body. Just as you can’t achieve something physically impossible no matter how hard you try, the mind has structural limits you can’t push past. The mind’s blueprint can’t be physically mapped out, and what little we understand is laughably shallow. That’s why the ignorant believe the mind has no structure and that its potential is infinite. But once the brain stops growing, its structure is set, and there is almost no way to change it. Just as we alter our physical bodies to transcend our limits, the brain must undergo physical changes for the structure of the mind—the temperament—to change.”
Unlike the body, whose blueprint was fully mapped and even replicable, the brain had no such blueprint. Thus, brain modification remained a murky, uncharted territory. Even performing the exact same surgery on members of the same species often yielded wildly different results.
“But sometimes, people’s personalities change after a major event.”
“When an event is traumatic enough to actually alter someone's personality, it’s because the brain undergoes a structural change from the sheer pressure and shock. It’s an acquired change. But even then, it doesn’t deviate too far from the original framework. Think of the mind as a building. During the growth period, when the brain isn’t fully developed, it can change flexibly through various experiences and be built in a certain direction. During that time, you could introduce new shapes and structures if needed. But once you’re an adult and the brain's growth stops, its structure is fixed. It's hard to make major changes then. If you experience trauma severe enough to alter the structure, it’s not a modification—your mind will simply collapse.”
Ragnata looked up at me after her long explanation. She added, “...You’re not asking because you want to change your own temperament, are you? Something’s on your mind.”
Her eyes seemed to pierce right through me. My lips twitched, but I said nothing as I put my clothes back on.
“I was thinking of taking this opportunity to change my temperament and become a Versatile Type,” I said. “I just need to enhance the cold, rational side of my temperament.”
Ragnata laughed out loud. “If you're going to lie, at least make it believable. Honor-Seeking Types like you take pride in their own temperament.”
“It’s insufferable when you show off your independent research, Ragnata,” I said bluntly, leaving her behind as I walked out of the training room.
After walking down the hall for a while, I checked my terminal. A message from Japa was waiting.
Boyan’s test scores. He probably didn't want me to see this...
Still, as his guardian, I had a right to know. That must have been why Japa sent them to me.
I calmly scanned Boyan’s grades.
Bottom tier in every subject.
Since he had just enrolled, poor grades were to be expected. The problem was that Boyan himself had likely realized his learning ability was inferior to that of the other students.
I knew he had studied hard. He had crawled his way up from the very bottom to seize this opportunity; he must have been trying desperately.
Japa’s voice message played in my ear.
—Passive, lecture-style classes must be unbearable torture for Boyan. On top of that, a Crawler's brain is extremely weak at memorizing trivial details. Their ability to recognize text is also poor. To us, it’s as if their entire species has dyslexia.
I hadn’t been sitting idle either; I had read several books about Crawlers. Unsurprisingly, books written from a favorable perspective were practically nonexistent.
Crawlers were known as a lazy and violent species. Unnecessarily sturdy and strong, they were a nuisance to Planet Novas in many ways.
The reason the Crawlers, a species far from a scientific civilization, had managed to achieve space travel was through “technology plunder.” They had reportedly attacked a nearby civilization, stealing their technology and equipment to reach the stars.
Crawlers seem stupid on the outside, but their actual intelligence isn't low. Crawler warrior groups move with the intelligence of special forces and employ systematic tactics. They just only use their brains for fighting and hunting.
Because their intelligence was applied so differently, they appeared dull.
In the first place, they were a species that should have never achieved space travel.
Most species that advanced into space on their own shared a preference for and admiration of technology and knowledge. Crawlers, who had entered space with plundered tech, had no such tendencies. Boyan was the anomaly.
A Crawler’s brain was highly advantageous for learning combat and hunting. They reacted quickly to external stimuli while observing the overall flow of a situation. Since flexibility is crucial in a fight, their focus shifted constantly, and their aggressive nature allowed them to respond bravely without being shaken by unexpected dangers.
But those same traits are a disadvantage in academics, which require persistent focus.
On the other hand, Crawlers were born with bodies made for combat. Even without enhancements, they could withstand a decent barrage of bullets and trade blows with cyborgs. They were beasts that could tear a human to death with their bare claws.
“Hmm, this is tough,” I muttered, scratching my head as I continued down the hall. Valek’s memory extraction would be completed tomorrow. I should probably turn in early.
* * *
Japa and I visited the simulation room located in the company building.
The bio-hacker in charge of the memory extraction greeted us. Glowing electronic circuits were tattooed intricately across his body, and his goggle-type prosthetic eye was particularly noticeable. Even if he wasn't a full-body cyborg, a significant portion of his body seemed mechanical, and several ports were connected directly to his brain at his temples.
He practically reeks of an underworld hacker vibe.
I watched the bio-hacker with narrowed eyes and remained silent. The conversation was Japa’s job.
“Heheh, the extracted memories had to be processed into a simulation. If he were still alive, a direct video feed would have been possible, but with him being dead… well, the work was difficult,” the bio-hacker explained.
“That is more than enough. Thank you for your hard work, hoyot,” Japa replied.
“Don’t mention it. However, to maintain the clarity of the memories, the minimum depth level has been set high. Since you are of a different species, Lord Japa, it might be difficult for you to enter the simulation.”
“Hoyooo, you needn't worry about that. The person next to me will be viewing it. He’s a human male and does similar work to the extraction target, so simulation synchronization should be easy.”
In memory extraction simulations, the greater the similarity to the target, the easier the synchronization and the higher the clarity. Even when accessing the exact same memory, the amount, accuracy, and detail observed could vary depending on this homogeneity.
The bio-hacker and Japa chatted amicably for a bit longer. Once the atmosphere had warmed, the bio-hacker spoke cautiously.
“You can pay after you check the results. You’re a long-time regular, after all.”
“There’s no need to check the contents. I trust your skills.”
“Hehe, then the payment as usual…”
The bio-hacker was an outsider, not affiliated with Japa Trading. That part bothered me.
This is unsettling.
Valek’s memories had to contain important information. If that bio-hacker sold them elsewhere, it could cause serious trouble.
Since I don't know him, I can't gauge how much he can be trusted. I can only hope Japa is a good judge of character.
I sat in the chair where the virtual simulation equipment was mounted. Structurally, it wasn't much different from the ones used in the Imperial Guard's simulation training room.
Click.
I pulled the simulation helmet toward me and composed my breathing.
“I have just sent the payment,” Japa said, taking his hand off his terminal. The bio-hacker’s goggle-like eye flashed as characters appeared on his retinal display.
“Heh, heheh, confirmed. Thank you as always, Lord Japa. Well, call me again when you have another job.”
The bio-hacker turned, standing before the exit. The door to the simulation room slid open… and standing on the other side was an Equesian Mercenary.
“Heh?”
The bio-hacker’s eyes widened.
Step. Shove.
The Equesian Mercenary shoved the bio-hacker back inside as he entered. Then, he grabbed the man’s head and squeezed.
Crack!
The bio-hacker’s neck snapped helplessly. A chilling sound echoed through the room. It was a sudden, brutal death.
The Equesian Mercenary caught the collapsing body and slung it over his shoulder.
“Weren’t you two long-time acquaintances? You seemed pretty close,” I asked calmly before entering the simulation. Japa just clicked his claws together and flicked his tongue.
“Not close enough to be entrusted with important information. Besides, he sold memories extracted at my request to outsiders several times. Yet, because I kept giving him work, he probably thought I hadn’t noticed and took me for a fool.”
I frowned. “You gave work to someone you couldn’t trust?”
“...That’s why no one will find it strange if he suddenly dies or disappears. He often did things that deserved death.”
Japa stared at me with his snake-like eyes.
Is this a warning to me?
Japa had gone out of his way to dispose of the bio-hacker right in front of me. It was an act loaded with multiple meanings.
Don’t betray me or cross the line.
That was the message I received.
There was no way to know if the bio-hacker had truly sold Japa’s information. For all I knew, Japa had just made up a convenient excuse.
Click. Whirr.
With various thoughts swirling in my head, I pulled down the virtual simulation helmet. As I leaned back in the chair, the equipment started up.
White noise buzzed in my ears at regular intervals. The lenses inside the helmet glowed, flashing before my eyes and bringing on a faint, unpleasant headache.
Whirrrr.
My senses began to drift, as if reality itself were distorting.
I rolled my tongue, shifting the razor blade I had hidden in my mouth into position. In an emergency, the pain would be enough to jolt me back to reality.
Well, I don't completely trust Japa either. That’s why I came prepared.
My consciousness was being sucked into Valek's memories. Signals composed of his memories were fed into my brain, reconstructing the past.
I adjusted the focus of my consciousness to scan the memory timeline. They were sorted chronologically and by clarity. Except for a few intense moments, I could only see the last three years or so.
...Memories from right before death.
It was the first one that appeared.
He was ambushed by Ilay.
I could see the scene just before Valek lost his life to Ilay and his subordinates. But one thing bothered me.
Valek’s skills were no joke. And he had two weapons called the Hwagwang Magnetic Sword.
Even in an ambush... Valek isn't someone who would go down this easily.
There was more to the story. I pushed aside my uneasy thoughts and paused the memory. Even in a virtual simulation, experiencing death, however indirectly, wasn’t good for one’s mental health.
Whirrr.
I rewound the memory, delving further into the past. The world of the simulation seemed to flow backward, making my stomach churn.
Stop.
I was seeing everything through Valek’s eyes.
Static.
The static cleared, and the scenery of the memory came into sharp focus.
“Valek, stay right there. This spot should be good. Just think of your eyes as a camera.”
The moment I heard that voice, I almost bit down on the razor blade. He stood there, his face and voice completely unchanged from the past.
Kinuan.
Kinuan was looking at me through Valek’s eyes. Valek’s gaze naturally followed him.
Drip, drip.
The background was the same cave where Valek had died.
“...I don’t know where to start. Ah, right. I’m really looking forward to seeing who is viewing this memory right now. Are there about five people who come to mind?”
Kinuan folded his fingers one by one and smiled quietly.